July 28th, 2022

The Missouri River is legendary even by Montana standards. With trout averaging 18 inches, and fish counts regularly exceeding 6,000 per mile, it’s easy to see why the Missouri is considered one of the greatest fisheries in the Western United States.
 

Fly Fishing Update:
July is almost over, and what a month is has been! This years Trico hatch is being described as "plumes of smoke over the river". Despite the beautiful sunny days, fish have been caught on dries all day long! Tricos, hoppers and caddis are all in play. The future forecast looks like warm sunny days, but the river is still experiencing wonderful flows! Currently sitting at ~4,300 CFS and 66°F, we anticipate wonderful AM fishing for the rest of the summer. Wade fishing MRR's 1.4 miles of private river bank has produced some wonderful fish for our guests. We expect the hopper fishing to really kick into gear this week!

Tricos are strong early and late. Hoppers are the name of the game in the afternoon! Technical fishing with long drifts, longer leaders and good presentations will produce quality fish on a variety of trico patterns. As the sun and wind picks up, anglers should transition to fishing hopper patterns for some incredible eats!
 
Nymphing is a great option to "beat the heat". Short leashing frenchies, purple/gold weight flies, green machines and zebra midges can be a wonderful method for connecting with fish as the day moves on. Certain sections of the river are still being prospected with zirdles.

Streamer fishing is slow, so take this time to clean your line and tie some flies in preparation for the fall streamer bite!

Drop us a line and we hope to see you soon! 

160 Acres on a Private Stretch of the Missouri River
Craig, Montana
www.missouririverranch.com