bluestreamflyFind water
Menu
Missouri River water or watershed scenery in Montana
All Montana reports

Missouri River Fishing Report — Montana

Photo: Jsayre64 Opens in a new tab. · CC BY-SA 4.0

Should I go fishing?

Yes — worth going.

No single best way to fish. Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.

Rating updatedRiver local time:

Why this recommendation?

USGS shows 3,200 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 median near 4,090 cfs and the lower quartile near 3,230 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.

Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes

If you go

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.

Flow and weather

Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
Flow
3,200 cfs
From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 61.9°F · 24h high 62.6°F · USGS provisional
Air forecast
46°F
Next 24h high
60.0°F

NWS air forecast near

Rain chance
0%
Latest stored weather check

Mostly Cloudy

Wind
3 mph
Weather checked
More forecast and source details

Mostly Cloudy

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 61.9°F · provisional · 24h high 62.6°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Official USGS station Opens in a new tab.RiverReports gauge Opens in a new tab.Official NWS forecast Opens in a new tab.

Flies for this time of year

Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.

See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try

Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.

More fishing tips

Methods, fish species and trip notes

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.

Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option

Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.

Wading80/100

Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

Bank fishing80/100

Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.

Floating80/100

A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.

Full river report

Is Missouri River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Montana before you go.

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.

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

FlowUse caution

USGS shows 3,200 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 median near 4,090 cfs and the lower quartile near 3,230 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.

SeasonHelps

Fall: BWOs, streamers, and cooling water can improve brown-trout movement.

Water temperatureHelps

USGS water temperature is about 61.9F, 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

Check these before you choose a reach.

Best flows

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.

When to leave

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.

Local plan

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.

Backup water

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.

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.

Before you go

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.

Where to access the river

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.

If this water does not fit the day, check another report before you start the drive.

MontanaBighorn River fishing reportAnother Montana tailwater with technical hatches and steady flow checks.MontanaGallatin River fishing reportA freestone option when you want canyon wading instead of tailwater boats.MontanaMadison River fishing reportA famous nearby system with different flow, access, and hatch timing.
See all Montana fly fishing reports

Sources and report details

Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.

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.

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.

Source check is old. Last checked . Open the official links now and check for changes.

See something wrong? Report a source problem. Please do not send private spots or private access notes.

How this report was checked

How this report was checked

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.

Quick questions

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.