Missouri River

What Fish Eat

Mid-March to Late April: BWO Baetis; Late April-Mid July: Caddis; Late June-July: PMDs, Caddis, Ants, Beetles, Tricos; Late August-Mid Actober: Hoppers, Tricos, Baetis, Streamers (always...very good streamer action in the spring as well)

About the Missouri River

Undoubtedly one of the premier rivers in the nation, this blue-ribbon trout stream is home to healthy populations of large rainbow and brown trout along with schools of native rocky mountain whitefish (the rocky mountain bone). From its tail-water origins below Holter Dam to the town of Cascade, the Missouri is considered by many to be the best dry fly fishery in North America. There is a plethora of aquatic insects in the river, creating the perfect environment for fish growth. You won't catch many small fish here. The average size trout is in the 15-17" range with many fish booming up to the 22-25" range. Casting to these wild trout can be very rewarding, yet frustrating at the same time.

Seasons of the Missouri

You can find great fishing on the Missouri every month of the year, some much better than others though. Late March marks the first major hatch of the fishing season on the Mo (disregarding midges) which is a strong hatch of BWOs that usually last into early May. This is also a great time of the year to bust out the newly renovated streamer pattern that you've been perfecting all winter long. The midge fishing can also be outstanding this time of year, but note the majority of fish caught this time of the year will be brown trout because this time of the year marks the annual rainbow spawn. On top of the outstanding BWO hatch, late April brings March browns and Skwala stones (in the canyon) to the Missouri. This time of year also marks the return of the eager, post-spawn rainbows to the river, refueling the river with life. Beginning the second week in May, an outstanding phenomenon known as the "Mothers day" caddis hatch comes to the Mo. Lasting only 2-3 weeks, this intense sweep of #14, dark green-bodied caddis drive the fish so nutty that even the hogs can't resist it. After these couple weeks of nirvana, the river tames itself back into mainly a nymph and streamer game till the month of June. Once June comes around, the river becomes truly alive for the rest of the fishing season. Tan and brown caddis begin to hatch with a mix of Yellow Sallies, as well as PMDs and Brown Drakes (on the lower sections). These fuel the river for the rest of the month, along with a terrestrial here and there. The most effective way to fish this time of year is spinners and cripples in the morning, nymphs throughout the heat of the day, and Caddis in the evenings. Beginning usually the second week in July, intense hatches of Tricos hit the river; bringing up pods of rising fish. This can be the most frustrating time of the year to fish the Mo, requiring 5-6X fluorocarbon and size 18-22 flies. As frustrating as this time can be, it can also be one of the most fun because it means its terrestrial time (ants, beetles, damsels, hoppers, etc.). Again, spinners in the morning, terrestrial/dropper rigs in the heat of the day, and caddis in the evenings. Some of those lucky enough to be on the river in the evenings around late July can experience something truly insane, the Flying Cinnamon Ant hatch. It happens only a few times out of the year, but is by far the best hatch of the year. Biologists found through research that Cinnamon Ants contain salicylic acid, giving them a sweet taste, so we refer to them as fish candy. When the hot month of August hits it is a good idea to hit the river in the mornings and evenings and give the fish a rest during the heat of the day. Hopper-droppers are the go to rigs this time of the year because of the buffet of Mo river salad (seaweed). Trout become rather lethargic this time of year when the water temps reach the upper sixties and this is why it's a good time to fish in the mornings, allowing the water to cool over night. Once the hot months of summer blow through and the fish begin to winter up by feeding in a pattern that has no stop switch, fishing throughout the heat of the day becomes an option again. Waning hoppers and caddis pick up fish through the beginning of September. As the end of September approaches, the BWOs beginning to make their second appearance on the river, but this time a size smaller (usually in the #16-18 range). This also marks the beginning of the Brown trout spawn and stripping big streamers vigorously can be truly rewarding. October Caddis begin to appear at the end of September and will hatch into the beginning of October. Skating a #8 Stimi-chew toy with a soft hackle under it can turn up some fatties. These two mark the last true hatches of the year but nymphs and streamers will work into the month of December. Winter fishing can be good on warm days with small midge nymphs and san juans deep under the indicator. Just ask Sam how a #18 lightening bug on a 13' spey in January works. My advice on those extremely cold winter days; stay home and tie bugs, its not fun removing the ice from your guides every other cast. Or you can hit the flats, that's fun too!

Float Recommendations- The dam to Craig (7.9 river miles):

Probably the most popular float on the river, this float is packed full of rainbows, browns, and whitefish in every size. It's mainly a nymph game up here, other than when a strong hatch is coming off, but there are some days when streamers work. Small nymphs such as: Lightening bugs, Flashback Sows, Arnold's Sili Scud, BH Pheasant Tails, Zebra midges, Nymphicators, Little Green Machines, Serendipities, WD 40s, Czechs, and San Juans all dominate up here. The flows are mellow throughout this stretch and both the put-in and take-out are well maintained.
NOTE there is one side channel on this stretch you DO NOT want to take the boat into and it can be found river right a half mile above Craig.

Craig to Mid-Canon (7.4 river miles):

Beginning at Craig, the river starts to break way from its sluggish flows and picks up a little speed (still fairly slow paced though). From here on, you will experience more variety of water than the sections above including riffles, back eddies, slicks, and rocky banks. The Mo increases in volume on this section with influx of clean mountain water from the Dearborn. From here to Pelican Point, you can get away with fishing slightly bigger patterns because of the different flows than above. Nymphs like BW Bugs, Palominos, Ray Charles, Sparkle pupas, Tungsten Thin Skins, Zugs, Bubbleback PTs, and Soft Hackles (along with bugs from above) work well on this section for most of the year. If you are planning on taking out at Mid-Canon, be sure to take the left side channel at Rhoda Island, unless you can back row like a machine. Both the put-in (cement ramp) and the take-out (gravel) are well maintained year around.

Mid-Canyon to Mountain Palace (5.3 river miles):

This water is very similar to the water as stated in the previous section, but this stretch will take you through a beautiful rock wall canyon. Being the most scenic stretch of river, don't expect to find solitude here (or any other stretch really) so be ready to play bumper boats with the pleasure floaters on those hot summer days. Again, the usual Mo suspects will keep you bent all day on this section. Both the put-in and the take-out (long cement ramp) are well maintained.

Mountain Palace to Pelican Point (6.5 river miles):

The first three miles of this float seem very similar to the previous sections mentioned. It isn't until you reach the interstate bridge where the water breaks into more "freestone-esk" water. From here to the take-out at Pelican Point, the Missouri picks up a fair amount of speed and seems like a continuous riffle all the way there. This is GREAT caddis and hopper water and can also be great streamer water. The put-in (cement) and take-out (cement) are well maintained throughout the year.

Pelican Point to Cascade (7 river miles):

This section is definitely the most underrated and overlooked piece of water on the river. Yes it may be broad and slow moving through pasture land, but where it lacks in scenery, it makes up with its fishing. There aren't many fish per mile but there are some brutes that swim down here. There are great hatches of BWOs, PMDs, and caddis down here, not to mention some killer hopper and damsel fly action in late July. There is also some GREAT streamer action to be had on this stretch during the fall months. Both the put-in (cement) and take-out (newly renovated gravel) are well maintained year around.