Wade94/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
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Fly fishing report · West
Missouri River Fishing Report — Montana
Is Missouri River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Montana before you go.
See the flow chart ↓Photo: Jsayre64 Opens in a new tab. · CC BY-SA 4.0
Good day to fish?Latest river check
Great
Yes. This is a strong time to fish.
94
No clear best access mode. Wade, Bank / edge, and Float have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
See update time and confidence
Live data checkHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Today's callHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Score calculated Aug 22, 2026, 10:51 PM MDTUsually checks again about every 45 minutes
Access choicesNo clear best mode
Wade, Bank / edge, and Float have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Bank / edge94/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
Float94/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Your plan
Today's Missouri River plan.
The Montana Missouri below Holter Dam is a famous trout tailwater, but it still needs a current plan. Check the gauge, wind, FWP rules, ramps, and hatch timing before choosing a section.
- Check first
- Use the below-Holter gauge for this page. Cascade and Fort Benton are different river reports.
- Try
- Start with depth and speed before changing flies. Most nymphing failures are rigging failures.
- Leave when
- Skip or simplify when wind makes boat control unsafe, flow changes expose or flood wade shelves, FWP restrictions affect the plan, weed conditions are poor, or ramps and takeouts are too crowded for a clean float.
Live river check
What the river is doing
Check the latest flow and weather before you go. A quick change can make the river harder or less safe to fish.
Showing the latest stored river check while current readings load.
- Flow
- 3,490 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 65.7°F · 24h high 65.7°F · USGS provisional
- Air now
- 74°F
Current NWS forecast period
- Next 24h high
- 89.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 10%
For this forecast period
Latest stored weather check
Cloudy
Cloudy
- Wind
- 10 mph
- Weather checked
Recent flow chart is loading
The latest stored reading is shown above. Check the official source below if you need the newest value now.
More forecast and source details
National Weather Service
Missouri River below Holter Dam
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Missouri River below Holter Dam
Water 65.7°F · provisional · 24h high 65.7°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
How to fish it
How to fish Missouri River today.
The best Missouri days have stable tailwater flow, manageable wind, and a clear hatch or nymphing plan. If wind is heavy or flows change, simplify the float, fish protected banks, or wade a safer shelf.
Stable generation
Dial depth, watch for pods, and match PMD, caddis, trico, or midge activity.
Windy
Fish protected banks, shorter floats, heavier rigs, or streamers where casting stays safe.
Clear flats
Use long leaders, small dries, and patient presentations to feeding trout.
Flow change
Recheck wade shelves, boat position, and nymph depth.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Technical fishing
- Technical fishing means the fish are hard to fool, so careful casts and natural drifts matter.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Presentation
- Presentation means how you cast and move the fly so it looks natural to a fish.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowHelps
USGS shows 3,490 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1946-2025, 80 readings) show a typical middle range of 3,340 cfs to 4,510 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
SeasonHelps
Summer: PMDs, caddis, tricos, and dry-fly pods draw technical fishing.
Water temperatureHelps
USGS water temperature is about 65.7F, and the rolling 24-hour high did not trigger a heat caution. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip or simplify when wind makes boat control unsafe, flow changes expose or flood wade shelves, FWP restrictions affect the plan, weed conditions are poor, or ramps and takeouts are too crowded for a clean float.
Trip notes
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use RiverReports and USGS 06066500 below Holter Dam together. Stable generation is the best platform for depth control and dry-fly pods. Sudden flow changes should trigger another wade-safety and boat-position check.
Skip or simplify when wind makes boat control unsafe, flow changes expose or flood wade shelves, FWP restrictions affect the plan, weed conditions are poor, or ramps and takeouts are too crowded for a clean float.
Start with the below-Holter flow, wind forecast, and one defined ramp or wade access. Then decide whether the day is a nymph-depth exercise, a dry-fly pod hunt, or a streamer bank plan.
If the Missouri is too windy, crowded, or flow-shifted, compare the Bighorn for another technical tailwater, the Gallatin for canyon wading, or the Madison for a different west-side trout plan.
What to try
Missouri River flies through the year.
Match the time of year, then let rising fish and current speed guide the next change.
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Winter to early spring
What to look forMidges, scuds, sowbugs, slow nymphs, and occasional olives
May to July
What to look forPMDs, caddis, midges, yellow sallies, and worms during bumps
August to OctoberCurrent
What to look forTricos, pseudos, caddis, hoppers, ants, and small baitfish
Flies to try
Also try hopper-dropper
Late fall
What to look forMidges, BWOs, scuds, sowbugs, and streamer windows
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
Access and safety
Missouri River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter. Montana FWP rules apply to the Holter Dam to Cascade area and include trout and non-trout species rules. Check current rules and restrictions before fishing.
Holter Dam to Wolf Creek
Upper tailwater reach and primary flow context.
Craig area
Core drift-boat, wade, and technical trout planning area.
Wolf Creek Bridge FAS
FWP-listed public access with ramp and site facilities.
Use official FWP Fishing Access Sites and public ramps. Private banks are common.
Boat traffic is part of the Missouri experience. Give wade anglers and anchored boats space.
Wind can turn a reasonable float into a hard row or unsafe small-craft plan.
River sources
Official Missouri River sources.
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This Missouri River report is maintained from RiverReports and USGS below-Holter flow data, Montana FWP fishing regulations, current closure and restriction sources, stream-access law, FishMT Wolf Creek Bridge access information, weather, media-credit, and Craig-area tailwater planning guidance.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 7 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
Quick answers
Quick Missouri River answers.
What should I check first before fishing the Missouri River?
Check the below-Holter gauge, wind forecast, FWP rules, ramp plan, and current hatch or weed conditions.
Are there special fishing rules on the Missouri River?
Yes. The Holter-to-Cascade area has specific trout and non-trout rules that should be checked before fishing.
What flies should I bring for the Missouri River?
Bring the hatch-chart flies, a few confidence nymphs, and a streamer box. Then adjust for water temperature, clarity, and the insects you actually see.
Can I wade the Missouri River?
Yes in some shelves and islands, but boats are common and private banks matter. Use official access and watch flows.
When should I skip the Missouri River?
Skip it when flows are unsafe, temperatures stress trout, wildfire or emergency closures are active, or legal access for the reach is not clear.