Montana ·
Missouri River Fly Fishing Report - August 16, 2026
MISSOURI RIVER
ReportAUG 16 — 23, 2026
🌊
Flow
—CFS
🌡️
Water Temp
—
☀️
Weather
52–76°F
Chance Rain Showers
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Live USGS gauge data is unavailable for today, but recent reports place flows between 3,100–3,970 CFS — slightly elevated yet clear and fishable — with water temperatures in the comfortable low-to-mid 60s°F below Holter Dam. Expect active trout throughout the morning and evening windows, with slower action during the warmest afternoon hours.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
#20
Stealth Link Mercer - PMD #20
#20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
#20
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Bionic Hopper - Tan #12
#12
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
#12
Egan's Frenchie #12
#12
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Tungsten Rainbow Warrior - Extra Heavy #14
#14
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Morning Dun (PMD) | #16-20 | Heavy | 9 AM - 1 PM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) | #20-22 | Moderate | 3 PM - 6 PM |
| Caddis | #16-20 | Moderate | 6 PM - 8 PM |
| Midge | #20-24 | Light | 7 AM - 9 AM |
| Terrestrial (Ant/Hopper) | #10-16 | Moderate | 11 AM - 3 PM |
Best Time Window
- 7 AM - 9 AM: Early midge and pre-hatch nymphing in the slower flats and tailouts before boat traffic picks up.
- 9 AM - 1 PM: Prime PMD hatch window — work emerger nymphs and dry-fly patterns in the riffles and tailouts for the most active surface feeding of the day.
- 6 PM - Dark: Evening caddis push along the banks; skitter a CDC caddis through the foam lines as light fades for aggressive, visual takes.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows in the 3,100–3,970 CFS range, the Missouri is carrying enough water to push fish tight to the inside seams and softer current breaks along the banks — focus your drifts there rather than the main channel. During the PMD hatch (9 AM–1 PM), watch for subtle sipping rises in the tailouts and match the emerger stage before going to a dry; trout on the Mo are notoriously selective. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible after 3 PM — use that cloud cover to your advantage, as BWOs will pop and fish will move up in the water column. If the storm pushes through, get back on the water immediately after; the post-storm window with cooler temps and overcast skies can be the best dry-fly fishing of the day.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Mountain Whitefish
