Best month to fish the Missouri River

Month-by-month fishing quality

Why these months?

Two things decide your odds on the Missouri River: flow and season. You need the river in its fishable-flow band — so a freestone in spring runoff is out no matter how good the hatch would be, while a dam-fed tailwater holds shape year-round. On top of that, the hatches and water temperatures line up best in September and October and April and June, which is why those months edge out the rest. The Missouri River's season runs year-round tailwater; prime april–june & september–october.

The Missouri below Holter Dam near Craig — "the Mo" — is a broad, even-tempered tailwater often called the world's largest spring creek. Stable, cold dam releases and a rich weed-bed insect factory produce huge populations of strong rainbows and browns and some of the most reliable dry-fly fishing anywhere, from Mother's Day caddis through summer PMDs and tricos into fall BWOs.

Where to fish the Missouri River

The Wolf Creek-to-Cascade corridor through Craig is the heart of it; long even runs and weed-lined banks reward both the drift boat and the wading angler. Releases are managed, so the river rarely truly blows — but watch the discharge for the seam between "prime" and "high".

Guided trips & lodges to book