FISHING REPORTS

Missouri River Report
Map of Missouri River

RIVER PHOTO GALLERYS

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Missouri River Fishing Report Updated as of 8/18/10

Missouri River Double Rainbows

The Missouri River is down at 4750CFS and water temp. is 62 today and the river is fishing great some days and good on others, it is August. We have good hatches of Trico's in the mornings and there are still some caddis around. Nymphing is working best, but we are getting some great fish on hoppers and droppers, fishing close to the bank.

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Dries that are working best are: 

Elk Hair Caddis Tan Size 12 to 16
Bloom's Caddis Size 12 to 16
Purple Parawulff Size 16 & 18
Parachute Ext. Body PMD Size 14 & 16
Brook's Sprout PMD Size 14 & 16
Yeager's Neversink Caddis Black Size 14 to 18
Hi-Vis Parachute March Brown Size 12
Yeager's Neversink Yellow Sally Size 14 & 16

Nymphs & Buggers that are working best are:

Tailwater Sow Bug Size 14 & 16
Quasimodo Pheasant Tail Size 16 & 18
Lighting Bug Silver Size 14 & 16
Tungsten Rainbow Czech Nymph Size 14 & 16
Tungsten Case Caddis Czech Nymph Size 14 & 16
Trigger Nymph PMD Size 16 & 18
Trick or Treat Bugger Size 4 & 6
Olive Thin Mint Size 8
3-D Everglades Streamer

Below is the Missouri River Fall of 2009 Fish Counts from Grant Grisak, Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks fisheries Biologist;

As you can see from the charts, both sections of the Missouri River are above the Historical long-term mean for Rainbows and Brown Trout. The Missouri is looking great for 2010 with over 4000 fish per mile in the Craig section and about 2180 fish per mile in the Cascade Section. 2009 was also a great water year for most of the rivers in Montana. The more normal water levels on the MO in 2009 made it a great year for the fish, they are big, fat and sassy. If you would like to see Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks video "Tracking Montana Fish" on Grant Grisak's ongoing radio telemetry study on the fish of the Missouri, just go to our Video Library page and go to "Tracking Montana Fish, by Montana Dept. Fish, Wildlife and Parks".

Smith River Fishing Report Updated 8/18/10

The Smith River is on it's way down running 220CFS and water temp is 60 today. The river is still floatable if you know what you are doing. Hopper and droppers are what is working best. The water temp goes up as the day goes on, so fish early and and kick back in the afternoons.

Dries that are working Best are:

Golden Stimulator Size 8 t0 12
D. Hitters Size 8 & 10
Roque Foam Golden Stone Size 6 to 10
Henry's Fork Golden Stone Size 8 & 10
Mr. Rapidan Para Wulff Brown Size 10
Lawson's Brown Drake Size 10

Nymphs & Streamers that are working Best are:

Beadhead Prince Nymph Size 10 & 12
Lighting Bug Silver Size 14 & 16
Brown or Black Yuk Bugs Size 4 & 6
Brown or Black Buggers Size 4 & 6
Trick or Treat Bugger Size 4 & 6
Olive Thin Mint Size 8 

The Smith River to low and to cold to fish. Look for reports starting in April. Below is the 2009 fish counts for the Smith River, by Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks fisheries biologist Grant Grisak. The Smith fish well in 2009 and as you can see from the chart the fish count is up from 2007. Montana Dept. of FWP has only been able to check the uppper section of the river ( Eagle Creek section) the last few years and has not been able to do the lower section ( Deep Creek section).