Missouri River Montana Hatch Chart - Holter Dam to Craig
North-central Montana, flowing north from Holter Dam through the limestone canyon and open prairie valley to Craig. The Upper Missouri River from Holter Dam to Craig is one of the most celebrated tailwater trout fisheries in the American West - a broad, spring creek-like river with exceptional populations of large wild brown and rainbow trout, legendary PMD and trico hatches, and the kind of consistent year-round fishing that only a major dam-controlled tailwater can produce. This is destination water that draws serious dry-fly anglers from across the country, and for good reason.
Check current Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regulations before you go. The Missouri River has standard Montana regulations on most sections with catch-and-release strongly encouraged on wild fish. A Montana fishing license is required. The river is entirely wadeable in normal flows but can rise quickly with dam releases - check flows at the USGS gauge near Ulm and monitor Holter Dam releases before wading deep water.
Shop by type: dry flies, nymphs, Euro nymphs, hoppers and terrestrials, streamers.
The river
The Missouri from Holter Dam to Craig runs approximately 30 miles through one of Montana's most productive tailwater corridors. The dam regulates flows and temperatures year-round - cold, clear water releases from the bottom of Holter Reservoir produce the consistent conditions that allow exceptional insect populations and fish growth. The river in this section is wide and flat by Montana standards, with long glassy runs, shallow riffles, and the kind of spring creek surface that makes presentation everything. This is not forgiving water - the fish are large, educated, and selective, and they will refuse a dragging fly or a fly that doesn't match what's hatching.
Brown trout and rainbow trout are both present in exceptional numbers and sizes. The Missouri is one of the few rivers in Montana where legitimate double-digit fish counts per mile are documented in FWP surveys. The combination of tailwater stability, abundant insect life, and consistent angling pressure has produced a population of fish that are simultaneously large and highly selective - a combination that makes the Missouri simultaneously one of the most rewarding and most humbling fisheries in Montana.
Craig is the hub - a small town on the river with outfitters, lodging, and boat ramps that serves as the base for most Missouri River anglers. The river is excellent for both wade fishing and float fishing. The wade fishing from the numerous public access points along the canyon and valley sections is outstanding for anglers willing to put in the time to read the water and present precisely. Float fishing with a drift boat or raft opens up the full river and is the preferred way to efficiently cover the productive riffles and runs between access points.
The Missouri is also among the most RV-friendly blue-ribbon tailwaters in Montana. Montana FWP maintains several fishing access sites with good parking along the corridor, and the Craig area has RV-accessible camping options that put anglers within minutes of the best water. Highway 434 and the river road provide good access throughout the section.
Year at a glance
| Month | Primary hatches | Also carry | Typical sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Midges | Small nymphs, streamers | 20-26 |
| Feb | Midges, BWO | Small nymphs, streamers | Midge 20-26, BWO 18-22 |
| Mar | BWO, midges | Skwala start, small nymphs | BWO 16-20, midge 20-24 |
| Apr | BWO, skwala, caddis | Midges, small nymphs | BWO 16-20, skwala 8-12 |
| May | Caddis, BWO, PMD start | Midges, small nymphs | Caddis 14-16, BWO 16-18 |
| Jun | PMD, caddis, BWO | Yellow sally, midges | PMD 16-18, caddis 14-16 |
| Jul | PMD, trico, caddis | Hoppers, yellow sally, ants | PMD 16-18, trico 20-24 |
| Aug | Trico, PMD, hoppers | Caddis, ants, beetles | Trico 20-24, hopper 8-12 |
| Sep | BWO, trico, caddis | Hoppers, mahogany dun | BWO 16-20, trico 20-24 |
| Oct | BWO, midges | Streamers, mahogany dun | BWO 16-20, midge 20-24 |
| Nov | Midges, BWO | Streamers, small nymphs | 20-24 |
| Dec | Midges | Small nymphs, streamers | 20-26 |
January - February
The Missouri is a year-round fishery and winter is genuinely productive. The tailwater keeps water temperatures consistent and the midge populations that define winter Missouri River fishing are dense - this is some of the finest winter midge dry-fly fishing in Montana when conditions align. Midges throughout. BWO begin on overcast afternoons by mid-February. Small nymphs subsurface in the deeper runs. Streamers for large browns in the deeper pools. The Missouri in January and February with midging fish and minimal pressure is a compelling experience for the angler willing to deal with cold prairie temperatures.
- Midges - 20-26. Red zebra midge and small Euro nymphs subsurface. Midge cluster or spent midge dry when fish are dimpling on the surface - which happens even in January on the Missouri.
- BWO beginning mid-February - 18-22 on overcast afternoons. Parachute BWO and CDC Baetis emerger.
- Streamers for large browns - streamers in the deeper pools.
March - April: skwala and BWO
BWO hatches strengthen significantly through March - the flat Missouri surface in a strong BWO hatch with rising fish in the canyon sections is early-season dry-fly fishing at its best. The skwala hatch arrives in late March and April, bringing the largest fish to the surface on the slower runs and flats. Caddis begin building by mid-April and overlap with the continuing BWO and skwala activity. The spring Missouri before the PMD season begins is excellent fishing with manageable pressure compared to the summer crowds.
- BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO and CDC Baetis emerger on overcast afternoons. Fine tippet required on the flat water.
- Skwala - 8-12 late March through April. Large early stonefly adults on the slower runs and flats. See dry flies.
- Midges throughout. Red zebra midge subsurface.
- Mid-April: caddis - 14-16 beginning. Elk hair caddis afternoons and evenings.
May - June: caddis and PMD
May is the caddis month on the Upper Missouri - dense evening caddis hatches that bring fish up across the full width of the river in the canyon and valley sections. BWO continue through May on overcast days. PMDs begin by late May and build through June into the signature summer hatch that defines the Missouri River experience. The combination of caddis evenings and PMD mornings in June is what draws serious dry-fly anglers from across the country to Craig. June is the finest month on the upper Missouri for the angler who wants consistent dry-fly action with a variety of hatches and still-manageable crowds.
- Caddis - 14-16. Elk hair caddis and soft hackle emergers evenings. Dense evening hatches May through June.
- BWO - 16-18 on overcast days through May. Parachute BWO.
- Late May - June: PMD - 16-18. Pale Morning Dun mornings and midday on the flat runs. The Missouri PMD hatch is one of the finest in Montana - fish rising in pods across the full width of the river.
- Yellow sally - 14-16 in the faster riffles.
- Midges and small nymphs subsurface throughout. Nymphs.
July - August: PMD and trico
The Missouri in July and August is the most famous dry-fly fishery in Montana. PMDs continue through July mornings - pods of large rainbows and browns rising in the flat runs to consistent morning hatches. The trico spinner fall begins in July and dominates August - dense early morning falls of tiny trico spinners with fish rising in concentrated pods across the river flats. This is the hatch that separates committed Missouri River regulars from occasional visitors - tiny size 20-24 trico spinners require 6X tippet minimum, precise presentation, and patience. Hoppers begin along the prairie margins in July and build through August. The combination of trico mornings and hopper afternoons makes July and August the most complete season on the river.
- PMD - 16-18 mornings through July. Pale Morning Dun and PMD emerger. Fish rising in pods - approach carefully and present precisely.
- Trico - 20-24 early morning spinner falls July through August. Spent-wing trico spinner. 6X tippet minimum. The signature Missouri River summer hatch.
- Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
- Hoppers - 8-12 along the prairie margins July through August. Hoppers and terrestrials.
- Ants and beetles midday. Hoppers and terrestrials.
September - October
September is the finest month on the Upper Missouri. Tricos continue through mid-September. BWO return strongly with the cooling temperatures - excellent afternoon olive hatches on the flat river with minimal pressure after Labor Day. Mahogany duns on overcast days. Hoppers through mid-September. By October the river belongs to streamers and BWO - pre-spawn browns becoming aggressive in the deeper runs and pools. The Missouri in October with BWO afternoons and streamer evenings is world-class fall fishing with dramatically reduced crowds from the summer peak.
- Trico through mid-September. Spent-wing spinner early morning. 6X tippet.
- BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO and CDC Baetis emerger on overcast afternoons. The dominant fall hatch.
- Mahogany dun - 14-16 on overcast afternoons.
- Hoppers through mid-September. Hoppers and terrestrials.
- Caddis evenings through September. Elk hair.
- Streamers October - streamers for pre-spawn browns in the deeper runs and pools.
November - December
BWO and midges as the season closes. November is excellent uncrowded fishing with strong BWO hatches and virtually no pressure - the Missouri in November is one of Montana's best-kept late-season secrets. Midges year-round in the deeper tailwater runs. Streamers for large post-spawn browns through November. December midge fishing in the deeper pools with the river essentially to yourself is a genuine option for the angler willing to deal with cold north-central Montana temperatures.
- BWO through mid-November. Parachute BWO on overcast afternoons.
- Midges - 20-26 year-round. Red zebra midge subsurface. Midge dry when fish are dimpling.
- Streamers for post-spawn browns through November. Streamers in the deeper pools and runs.
- Small nymphs subsurface. Nymphs.
A western dry and nymph assortment is a starting point, but the Missouri demands dedicated trico and midge patterns in sizes 20-24 and fine tippet down to 6X and 7X. Bring a full PMD selection for June and July. The Upper Missouri from Holter Dam to Craig is the finest tailwater dry-fly fishery in Montana - consistent year-round hatches, exceptional fish density, and the kind of selective wild trout that make every successful fish deeply satisfying. See also the Missouri River - Craig to Cascade for the lower section hatch chart.