Big Hole River
Bighorn River
Bitterroot River
Bitterroot River, East Fork
Bitterroot River, West Fork
Blackfoot River
Lower Clark Fork River
Clark Fork River
Middle Fork Flathead River
North Fork Flathead River
Flint Creek
Gallatin River
Georgetown Lake
Kootenai River
Madison River, Between Quake Lake and Ennis
Madison River, Below Ennis Lake
Rock Creek
Yellowstone River
| Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby: |
|---|
| Blue Damsel Lodge |
| Fins & Feathers |
| PRO Outfitters |
| Montana Hunting and Fishing Adventures |
Water flow: 4380 (normally 3950)
Visibility: 36 inches
Water temperature at mid-day: 67 Degrees F
Water condition: Clear
Best time of day to fish: early Morning & Evening
Best stretch: Dam - Dearborn
Best access point: Holter Dam, Wolf Creek Bridge, Craig, Dearborn
Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:
Tricos!!, Psudos, PMD's, Midges, Caddis, terrestrials
Fish species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Whitefish
Fishing season: Summer
Nearest airport: Helena, Great Falls
Recommended fly fishing leader: 12 Foot Leader
Recommended fly fishing tippet: 5X Tippet
Best fly fishing rod: 9' 5 Weight Fly Rod
Best floating fly line: WF Trout Fly Line
Best sinking fly line: Clear Sink Tip Fly Line
One of the largest and most easily accessed rivers in Montana is the Missouri River. The mighty MO' is certainly a trout factory! Three reservoirs in a row make this tailwater fishery have a constant water flow and stable temperatures from day to day. Amazingly fertile, with prolific hatches of mayflies, caddis, and midges, the Missouri is a 365 day river. You'll see fish rising just about every day of the ...
This is prime dry fly time with lots of rising fish in the morning until about 1pm and then again in the evening from 7 to dark. The trout are mostly eating Spent Spinners (mostly Tricos but also PMD and Rusty) Because they are eating the dead bug they WILL NOT MOVE FOR YOUR FLY! You must put it in their exact feeding lane -at the right timing -with ZERO drag!! You also really need to get the fly to the fish first -meaning downstream casts and drifts or some really good curved/reach casting if they are upstream from you. Be prepared to be humbled by a creature with the brain the size of a pea! Deep or Short-Leash Nymphing and the Hopper-Dropper are the way to go after the feeding freezing frenzy peter out about noon or 1 on most days. (Or when the W rears it's ugly head.)
The forecast looks really good for August as we are supposed to have some clouds (besides the smoke!) and cooler temps (in the upper 70's and 80's). That's much better than the 95+ temps we just rolled through. Sign up for on of our Fly Fishing Schools this Spring in our Helena shop. Call or stop by our Downtown Helena Store for more info or to put your name down for a class! Open Tying every Saturday in our downtown Helena shop! Come on down, bring a vise (or demo a new one) and hang out, shoot the breeze, twist up a few flies -we'll show you some cool patterns, drink some delicious Firetower Coffee Roasters coffee and snack on sweet treats that Larry "The Urban Legend" provides! It's a good time!
