What is Provided to Customer:

Whether the guest brings their own fishing equipment, prefers to travel light or is new to the sport of fly fishing, the Lodge has waders and boots available in all sizes and our outfitter and guides have rods and reels to suit most anyone. We also have a fully stocked pro shop in case something catches your fancy or is forgotten in the bustle of packing.

Sample of Typical Itinerary:

Most of our guests fish 2-5 days and stay 3-6 nights, arriving late afternoon from a flight into Helena or Great Falls in time to get settled and have dinner. You will fish a variety of water – depending on your interest and ability. A typical day: breakfast made to order, depart for fishing from the Lodge with your guide between 7:30-9:00 am (weather dependent), stop in a beautiful spot along the river to enjoy a packed lunch and return to the lodge about 4-5:30 pm. Guests typically depart on their last day after breakfast or, if you are unable to get a flight out until later, many decide to fit an additional half day of fishing in, go for a walk along the river, sleep in or get a massage!

Activities:

First and foremost, we are a fishing lodge so we pride ourselves on taking very good care of folks looking to fish and relax in comfort. Aside from world-class trout fishing with excellent guides, there are a few other things to do in and around the lodge. The lodge sits on the river with an astounding view of Eagle Rock, named by the Lewis and Clark expedition. You can relax by the fire and connect with friends, or challenge them to a game of pool, shuffleboard, darts, horseshoes, or corn-hole. There are short hikes nearby that you can drive to and plenty of wildlife can be viewed, including Big Horn Sheep and Bald Eagles. We do work with a local guest ranch for horseback trail riding and can drive you there for a small fee. We are happy to suggest local historic points of interest and eclectic shopping or eateries in nearby towns and cities. However, if you are looking for a first-class fishing expedition, fantastic food, friendly faces, and extremely comfortable beds, we would love to have you book a trip with us for boatloads of fishing fun!

Date Range:

We have great fishing year-round! However, weather dictates that our season typically runs March through November. Please see FAQs for "When is the Best Time to Fish the Missouri?" as this provides information about specific hatches and other details.

Region/Terrain Where You Fish:

The Missouri River, Dearborn River and Prickly Pear Creek.

Species You Fish for by Season:

We fish for a variety of species throughout the season. The most commonly pursued are Rainbow and Brown Trout. We have access to Cutthroat Trout and some Brook Trout as well. We even offer charters for Walleye, Yellow Perch, and even Carp!

Typical Weather by Season:

The Montana mantra may be "wait 5 minutes and the weather will change", but we can boast an amazing average of 270 days of sunshine most years.

April-May: Spring in the Rockies! 40-70 degrees. Can be beautiful, sunny and still chilly or very warm t-shirt weather; or rain/snow and cold abound, but the fish are aggressive and hungry this time of year.

June: 50-75 degrees. Tough to determine as it decides whether to remain spring or move into summer! The fishing is wonderful though, and June bookings fill up fast.

July-August: 70-95 degrees. Summertime fun and fishing! Great weather to be on the water!

September: 50-80 degrees. The last few years we have had incredible weather and phenomenal fishing.

October/November: 35-75 degrees. Fabulous fall colors and oh, the fish!

Lodge at Eagle Rock 2022 Rates:

2 days guided fly-fishing, 3 nights lodging: $2,400
3 days guided fly-fishing, 4 nights lodging: $3,200
4 days guided fly-fishing, 5 nights lodging: $4,000
5 days guided fly-fishing, 6 nights lodging: $4,800
6 days guided fly-fishing, 7 nights lodging: $5,600

Please note all package rates above are based on double occupancy.
Please inquire for non-angler as well as single room and/or boat occupancy rates.

When is the best time to fish the Missouri?

That is a tough question, because there is never really a bad time to fish the Missouri. We are spoiled by the tail-water system controlled by several dams, so runoff and high water are not much of a concern. Our prime fishing season usually begins in March and ends mid-November. Fishing in the spring and fall is usually very good, but the weather can be unpredictable.

The best dry fly fishing is typically mid-May through mid-August and picks up again in mid-September through the end of the Autumn.

The small streams we fish are usually best in June and July.

March/ April- Baetis and midges, and the ever-present aquatic life of a tailwater.

May/June/July - March Browns Caddis and PMD's

July/August - Trico's and Terrestrials

September/October - Psuedo's and Baetis

The Nymphing is always pretty good.

How do I get to the lodge?

The lodge is located near the town of Craig, which sits halfway between Helena and Great Falls on interstate-15. Depending on where you are traveling from and connecting flights, one airport may offer a better itinerary than the other. Each airport is within an hour of the lodge. The lodge does offer a shuttle service for those who do not wish to rent a car.

How are gratuities handled?

The average Missouri River guide tip is $100-150 per boat and it's preferable that the tipping be handed directly to your guide. If you would like to leave a tip on a card or by check, our manager will see to it that guide tips are paid out as requested. We utilize a gratuity pool for staff tipping and the manager can advise which staff are included in the pool. Most guests tip 10% percent of their invoice total towards the staff pool. These are guidelines and suggestions only.

Directions to the lodge?

The Lodge is very easy to find. We are located right on the river near I-15 and just off the Dearborn Exit, or Exit 240.

From Helena: Take I-15 north towards Great Falls to Dearborn Exit (240). The lodge is located off to the left of the interstate on Cooper Drive.

From Great Falls: Take I-15 south towards Helena. Take Dearborn exit (240). The lodge is located directly in front of you on Cooper Drive.

What should customers bring?

Clothing:

• Socks (2 polypro/wool/cotton)
• Light weight shirts (2 long sleeved/1 short sleeved)
• Fleece pullover or sweater
• Warm jacket (mornings can be below 40 degrees)
• One pair thermal wear (2 pair if no fleece pants) – early/late season
• Pants: one pair quick dry; one pair casual (jeans/chinos); one pair fleece for underneath waders – (early/late season)
• T-shirts and shorts (quick dry)
• Gloves or convertible mittens (fleece) – (early/late season)

(Of course, how much you pack will be determined by how many days you are staying. Housekeeping will do your laundry the day it best fits with your stay or every other day if it’s a long stay)

Footwear:

• Slip-ons for comfort wear in and around the Lodge
• Wading boots or river sandals/shoes
• Camp shoes or Hiking shoes

Fishing Gear:

• Hat (wide brimmed)
• Sunglasses (polarized are best)
• Rain jacket
• Rain pants if not using waders – (early/late season)
• We provide any/all fishing equipment, as needed. Or you are welcome to bring your own. Guests usually fish 8 or 9 foot; 4-6 weights.

Montana Fishing License: MT fishing licenses can be purchased in advance on the Montana FWP Online Licensing link: https://app.mt.gov/als/index/index.html You can also visit one of the several fly shops in Craig or go to any Montana sporting goods store.

Miscellaneous:

• Camera
• Book or journal
• Sunscreen & lip protection Species Tab