My dad and I take an annual spring break trip (if his farm cooperates). We usually fish the Bighorn in MT, Bighorn in WY, Reef, and have even went over to the Madison and Henry's Fork. This year we were thinking about trying the Missouri for a couple of days. I have never been there, but have heard good things. What sections would you float? Are flies just standard tailwater fare??? Any help is appreciated. Thanks
Nick

You're going to want to float from Holter dam downstream. If you're looking for guides, there are three shops in Craig, but I think only Trouthunter and the Trout Shop are open during that time. Rooms should be inexpensive that time. Look for BWO's and midges. Streamers and nymphing (pink lightning bugs and rainbow scuds/czech nymps) should produce well for you. Tons of wading options along Rec Road, and the flows should be low enough that you'll have no problem exploring the river.

I'll tell you though, I hate that river. Fishes like a spring creek, full of big, powerful fish, but temperamental and finicky. Hopefully Snowbear chimes in. He's the resident Mo expert.

Yeah, the Mo is a son of a b...

Boo. You guys are weak sauce. Even I caught fish there. I wouldn't want to fish it every day, but it was fun to go there.

I have heard it can be challenging. Never fished it, so we will see. We always have the backup plan of the horn if things don't go well on the Mo. What is the deal with pink lightning bugs? I read they are killer there. Do you put in right at Holter? Where do you take out then? Hopefully I can locate a decent map between now and then. I am just fire up to be back to fishing season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks a lot for the advice.
Nick

pipe down, greenie

If you're headed all the way to Mo, remember that it's going to be about 250-300 miles between the horn and Mo. If you get here, I'd head over the pass and head towards Missoula and check things out there. Or you could head 100 - 150 miles upstream and set up on the Maddy, Jeff, Beaverhead, etc. So many options, so little time.

Speaking of greenies, here's a greenie question for ya:

Can you tuff MT guys put it in terms I can understand? I've seen smart fish (and I do not like them too much), but what are we talking here?

sometimes picky like the Reef?
overfed and overfished like the Pan?
downright PhD like Cheesman?

Myself, I like fish accustomed to big stoneflies and lazy mayflies that are not too accustomed to getting a hook in the snout. That's hard to come by, but I'm really just curious as to the nature of this misery place I've heard so much aboot.

Cheers!

Don't ask me. I'm just a lousy fisherman.

My scientific answer is this: It depends. Folks aren't kidding when they say it's like a huge spring creek. There's a ton of cross currents and structure is not always visible, so depending on flow, it's not always an easy read. Fish can be stupid or PhD. I certainly don't have it figured out. Some of my biggest river fish have come out of the Mo, and I rarely walk away skunked, but it doesn't produce consistently for me, and it's my fault. I just don't fish it enough to get a good feel for it.

No map necessary. Just go to the fwp website and look up fishing accesses on the mo, there are like ten btw holter and gf, and many allow camping.

Dam to Craig is a good float, but has most of the traffic. Craig to Stickney is another good float. Both have campgrounds, and Craig has Isaacks and Peter's favorite bar.

I like the canyon stretch better as far as scenery goes. Remember that you'll be next to a freeway most of the float though.

Yeah, that place was grand. Free bbq and aggressive biker chicks.

We could have been in free beer all night if you had just taken one for the team.

And the name of the bar?????????????? I guess I did not think about it being that far between the horn and th mo. We are not too afraid to put on a few miles. One year we went over to Ashton, bought a raft, fished the Henry Fork, Madison the next day, fished the bighorn in MT, Bighorn in WY, and then the Reef. We had no plan going in other than buying the raft! That was extreme and we spent a lot of time driving at night. I guess we will see as we get closer. There still is just something intriguing to me about floating a new river. Have never been on the Missouri, so we talked about trying it. I am sure I would catch more fish if I just stayed in my own back yard, but the sense of adventure is fun. Is there anything too tricky on the Mo a guy needs to be aware of?

There are 6 buildings in the town of Craig, 3 of which are fly shops. I don't know the name of the bar, either, but I'm sure you'll be able to find it.

If I can pilot a boat on the Mo, anyone can. It's just a frog's hair tougher than the Reef. Spring can be excellent fishing. The bar is the one that has the huge neon sign that say "bar" you'll see it. It's the only one other than Isaak's, which is decent food. Trout Shop has a hotel there, clean rooms, nice shower and a breakfast joint. Trout Shop proper has a small store in it with beer, cigars and a deli, as well as a good fly shop. They're the only one's I've dealt with though.

FYI, You're 140 miles from Rock Creek when you're in Craig, and you have to drive through the Blackfoot valley and part of the Upper Clark Fork valley to get there.

MMMMM? Never fished Rock Creek either. Nice option! Thanks! I tend to have a nose for a watering hole after a "good" day of fishing..... I bet we can locate it. Thanks for all of the info guys!

I just finally ran across this thread. Thanks for the compliment Ben, I don't consider myself anything more than an interested student, but I'll try to add something that hasn't been stated already.

The Missouri River is populated with some fairly large trout. This tailwater also lacks a lot of visible structure, so the traditional runs, pools, riffles, etc are often absent and that's a bit of a challenge to many. The slow moving and sometime near glassy "Spring Creek" like surface adds to the challenge.

A few things I've learned about the Missouri

1. Drag. If you can't eliminated drag, even micro-drag, you will have a very hard time on this river. Drag is evil.
1a. If you ignore that you are on a tailwater and think that your success on freestones will of course guarantee success on the Mo, prepare to be spanked by the trout.
Casting dry flies upstream to Cutts or stocker rainbows on freestone rivers works really well. Do that on the Mo and you'll mostly get refusals.

Learn to throw really great reach casts partially downstream so that the first thing the trout sees is your fly, and life on the Mo becomes momentous.
But, remember, DRAG FREE!

2. Spooked Fish. In a nutshell, it you aren't going to catch a spooked fish on the Mo.
2a. Wade very, very, cautiously with a boatload of stealth. If you want to know how to wade the Mo, watch a Heron. He doesn't make 60 foot casts, he catches fish between his feet because of stealth.
2b. If you are fishing from a driftboat, wear clothes that blend with what's behind you. A white T-shirt will put down more fish than you can imagine. Think about what the trout's greatest natural predator looks like. Yup, those osprey, pelicans etc all are white underneath. If you mimic their threat, they will flip you the fin and leave.

3. Hatches and Patterns. Tailwaters do not have enough O2 and rocky substrate to support large stoneflies. Throwing large stonefly patterns will work at hopper time and during a few other times of the year, but for the most part, think smaller. There is a huge population of scuds in the Holter to Cascade section, more so closer to the dam. Buy or tie small PTs, Scuds, and whatever the shops are telling you is working and you'll do better. If you are not having any hits, and you've eliminated drag, drop your pattern size down instead of going up.
3a. Of the 4 orders of insects, Caddis is what they will often key on during the summer months, but in early April, you'll likely have better luck fishing midge clusters and Baetis patterns.
3b. Cripples, stuck in the shuck, transition patterns, stillborns, are going to produce better than high riding quill wings etc overall.

That's about all I have time for now. Keep in mind that there is no absolutes, so there's an exception to everything I just wrote.

Any recent reports? I heard the wind has been a b*#*h! I hope we still get to go. My dad was diagnosed with some wierd lung disease. Test results are at Mayo clinic now and they are talking a possible lung biopsy next week. Our plans might have changed, but I am hopeful the measures the doctors have taken alreay will lead to a speedy recovery. Thanks for the info.

Sorry to hear about your Dad...hope he recovers quickly.
-Hef

You have done your homework! Thanks for sharing.... Good advice for all tailwaters!

Thanks for the thoughts. It is Hypersensitivity Pnuemonitis, or farmers lung. He breathed in some fungus filled dust that settled into his bronchials causing scarred lung tissue. They think they can get it under control. I tell him fresh air on the water will help

Do what Snowbear says and you'll be in to fish. He knows that river well.

Check these guys for up to date reports: http://www.thetroutshop.com/

There's been some wind, but nothing horrible. It's stayed under 60 mph.

Good luck to your dad, and have fun!