Craig, Montana

Best Flies For Missouri River

Updated Apr 24, 2026, 7:27 AM MDT

Think small and clean: midges, BWOs, and sowbugs are the deal, with technical nymphing early and more dry-fly potential when the light softens.

Current Conditions
  • Flow: Tailwater flows are usually stable enough to keep fish in predictable buckets, shelves, and seams.
  • Water Temperature: Cold but steady tailwater temperatures keep fish active even when the weather swings.
  • Weather: Cloud cover usually improves olive activity. Bright calm afternoons can make fish visibly selective.
  • Overall Rating: 8/10
Today's Read

Missouri River is fishing around midges and blue-winged olives. Start with the patterns below and adjust only after fish show you something different.

Best Flies Right Now
  • Tailwater Sowbug, size 14-18, nymph
  • Zebra Midge black or red, size 18-20, nymph
  • Split Back BWO, size 18-20, nymph
  • RS2 gray or olive, size 18-22, emerger
  • CDC BWO Dun, size 18-20, dry
What They Match
  • Midges, size 18-22, morning and low-light periods
  • Blue-winged olives, size 18-20, midday through afternoon
  • Sowbug and scud food base, size 14-18, all day subsurface
How To Fish These Flies
  • Start with a long, light indicator setup and enough split shot to keep small bugs in the lower third of the column.
  • Fish flats, shallow shelves, and the slow seam next to bucket water rather than pounding only the obvious banks.
  • When heads appear, lengthen the leader, get downstream, and make the first drift count. Missouri fish do not forgive sloppy line.