Montana ·
Missouri River Fly Fishing Report - June 21, 2026
MISSOURI RIVER
ReportJUN 21 — 28, 2026
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Flow
3160CFS
Missouri River bl Holter Dam nr Wolf Cr MT
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Water Temp
61.5°F
Updated 2026-06-20
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Weather
45–68°F
Mostly Clear
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running 3,160 cfs at 2.34 ft gauge height with water temps at a prime 61.5°F — conditions are textbook for both dry-fly and nymph fishing below Holter Dam. Clarity is excellent and the river is in great shape heading into the summer solstice.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
#20
Stealth Link Mercer - PMD #20
#20
Split Case - PMD #14
#14
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
#20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Egan's CDC Rainbow Warrior #22
#22
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Egan's Frenchie #12
#12
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
#18
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Morning Dun (PMD) | #16-20 | Heavy | 10 AM - 2 PM |
| Caddis | #16-18 | Heavy | 6 PM - 8 PM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) | #20-22 | Light | 8 AM - 11 AM |
| Midge | #20-22 | Moderate | 7 AM - 9 AM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | #16 | Light | 1 PM - 5 PM |
Best Time Window
- 7 AM - 9 AM: Midge and early BWO window — nymph the deeper slots and watch for subtle risers in the flat water before the sun hits.
- 10 AM - 2 PM: Prime PMD hatch — target rising fish on the long flats with emergers and dry flies; this is the best dry-fly action of the day.
- 6 PM - 8 PM: Evening caddis push along the banks — work grassy shorelines with CDC caddis patterns as light fades and fish become aggressive.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 3,160 cfs and water temps at 61.5°F, the Mo is fishing at peak summer form. During the PMD window from 10 AM to 2 PM, position yourself at the head of the long flats and cast to individual rising fish — identify the rhythm of the rise before presenting. In the evening caddis push, work the grassy banks on the inside of bends with a CDC caddis pattern, and don't be afraid to give it a subtle skitter across the surface to imitate egg-laying adults. Between hatches, nymph the inside seams with a tight-line setup at 18-24 inches off the bottom where fish are stacking up out of the main current.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Mountain Whitefish
