Missouri River - Upper

Missouri River - Upper

MT

River

About Missouri River - Upper

The Upper Missouri River, a 149-mile designated National Wild and Scenic River, flows through wide-open valleys flanked by buttes and thinly forested mountains. This section offers a seasonally fluctuating fishery, with migratory brown and rainbow trout providing exceptional opportunities, alongside a challenging warmwater fishery for tailing common carp. The river upstream of Toston Irrigation Dam and the forty miles below it to Canyon Ferry Reservoir are not known for great trout fishing, but large trout do migrate from Canyon Ferry up to the irrigation diversion at certain times. However, these forty miles offer good to great fly fishing for carp, especially in late summer when grasshoppers are abundant. Above Toston, the slower moving waters offer scattered trout, and the Missouri becomes a fabulous fishery again below Holter Dam.

Access

Easy AccessRemote

Seasons

SummerFall

Terrain

Scenic Valley

Water

FreestoneLarge River

Fish Species

Trout

Grayling

Walleye

Carp

Regulations

Fishing Styles

Dry FlyNymphingFloat Fishing

undefined USGS Water Conditions

Water conditions for the last 7 days. You can gain insights to fishing activity based on these conditions, like water temperature and flow.

Data sourced from the USGS National Water Information System

Methods

Wade Friendly

Float Friendly

Land Ownership

Public Blm

State Wildlife Area

Quick Actions

Location

Regulations

Trip Planning

Best fishing typically occurs during summer and fall. Check water conditions before heading out.

See what insects are emerging on Missouri River - Upper's hatch forecast — including active hatches, water temperatures, and which patterns to have in your box this month.