The biggest and most easily accessed river in the Helena area is the Missouri River.  Sometimes called "A giant spring creek", the 'MO' is a trout factory!

Missouri River SHUTTLES

If you're floating the river, the most convenient service you can get is a vehicle shuttle.  Let us know where you're putting in and where you're taking out and we'll move your vehicle to the take out while you are on the river so all you have to do when you're done is back the trailer up, load the boat and drive away.  Quick, easy, convenient and cheaper than driving two vehicles to the river.  No advanced reservation is needed, just call or stop by to arrange your shuttle with CrossCurrents. We also run shuttles for the Dearborn River during it's brief but wonderful float season.

Our prices for 2011 will start out the same as last year and start at only $18.  The attached Shuttle Price Chart will fluctuate upward during the season because fuel will be going back up to crazy levels again (you can’t inflate the money supply and stop drilling for oil and expect oil prices to stay the same or drop but then again, we serfs are certainly not smarter than those in DC and at the Fed!)  However, we think you’ll find CrossCurrents to be reasonably priced, punctual and friendly to boot!  We also can do some pretty weird shuttles.  Three Forks to Craig?  Marias Pass to Benchmark?  Yep, we've done 'em.  We don't make a habit of them because we focus on the Missouri and Dearborn, but if you have a weird one and we have the time and personnel, we'll try anything.  YOU CALL, WE HAUL!

Click here to view/download/print a pdf of our Shuttle Price Chart:

Shuttle Price Chart -2-2011.pdf

This river is known for its excellent dry fly fishing.  But it's also amazing when fished with emergers.  or small bead-heads as a dropper behind a dry fly.  The MO fishes fantastically in the “shoulder” seasons of Spring and Fall with Baetis and Midges for dries and big, ugly streamers!  That’s when some very big fish are caught!

Even though the Missouri has one of the highest trout populations* in the West it certainly doesn't mean the fish are easy to catch.  These are wild trout and in the smooth, clear

water they are very much on guard for predators (which includes anglers) and suspicious looking flies.  Trout also change their habits and locations at different dam-released flows, weather, time of day and seasons of the year.  A great way to ensure the best success is to hire one of our experienced Guides.  They know where the trout hang out and what they eat and can get you to the fish and help you make the right presentation.  When you go with one of our Guides on the Missouri (or any other river for that matter) you can just relax and concentrate on having fun.  You won't have to occupy your mind with…is this the right fly?… am I in the right spot?…am I making the right presentation?…are we having fun yet?  Our Guides will ensure that the answers to those questions are, "YES!"  Please check out Guided Trips page and Lodging page for information on all our Guided Trips and Lodging on the Missouri.   > Click Here to BOOK A GUIDE TRIP Online Now <

Wade fishing is excellent and accessible on the Missouri but one of the best ways to get to the fish (and get away from other anglers) is to use a boat.  CrossCurrents rents Drift Boats (the preferred water craft for the MO), Rafts (good for large groups or for floatin’ just for fun), Catarafts (2-3 person, agile pontoon boat), and Outcast Pontoon Boats (single person boat).  The Missouri’s mild flow and lack of whitewater make floating the MO available even to the novice oarsman.  We rent a lot of boats each season and only have a limited number.  So if you want to sneak up on the wary trout in the river and enjoy experiencing the scenic beauty of the Missouri give us a call or e-mail to reserve a boat.  Check out our Boat & Equipment Rentals page for details.

MISSOURI RIVER INFORMATION

Links for the Missouri River:

For Streamflow & Water Temp. on the Missouri River below Toston Dam click here:  MO below Toston.

For Streamflow on the Missouri River below Hauser Dam click here:  MO below Hauser.

For Streamflow & Water Temp. on the Missouri River below Holter Dam see below or click here:  MO below Holter.

For LIVE WEATHER (air temp., wind speed & directions) & WEB CAM for the Missouri at the Gary Cooper Bridge click here:  RWIS for MO.

For the Weather Channel weather report for the Craig, MT area click here:  Weather.com-Craig.

For the National Weather Service (NOAA) weather report for the Craig, MT area click here:  NWS/NOAA-Craig/WolfCreek.

Three reservoirs in a row make this tailwater fishery unique in that the water flow and temperature is relatively constant from day to day.  Amazingly fertile, with prolific hatches of mayflies, caddis flies, and midges, the Missouri is a 365 day river.  You'll see fish rising just about every day of the year.  Take a float trip down the Missouri and you'll know why it made such a powerful impression on Lewis and Clark during their great expedition.  During the summer, caddis and mayfly hatches are so prolific that it looks as though there is a mini blizzard over the river.

Click here- Missouri Map from CrossCurrents.pdf -to download

a pdf of the Missouri River Map shown above.

Below is the live streamflow info for the Missouri River below Holter Dam

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*Good news continues for trout numbers in the river. There’s almost 3,400 Adult Trout per Mile in the upper river!  To view all the 1981 - 2010 Missouri River Trout Populations from Montana FWP go to our News & Events Page.  This is good news but we still must be ever vigilant on taking care of the Missouri.  Please click over to the Conservation page to see what you can do to help.  Some of the information on that page is especially important for the traveling fly angler - who fish several bodies of waters throughout the region, country and/or world.  Learn how to help prevent the spread of Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS).

To  Smith River Page >

<  To  Fishing Reports Page

Favorite Fly Patterns for the Missouri:

Dries:

#12-#20 Parachute Adams

#12-#18 Tan/Brown Elk Hair Caddis

#12-#18 CDC Elk Hair Caddis

#16-#22 Parachute BWO/Baetis

#16-#20 Parachute PMD

#16-#20 Comparaduns & Hackle Stacker (BWO, PMD)

#18-#24 Sprout Emergers (BWO, PMD, Midge, Trico)

#6-#12 Hopper Patterns (Stalcup’s, Streambank, DeBruin’s, Parachute)

#6-#14 Parachute Madam-X [aka PMX] (Peacock, Royal, Yellow)

#12-#18 Ants & Beetles  (Blooms Parachute, Two-Tone)

#18-#24 Trico Spinners

#18-#24 Midge Patterns (Griffith’s Gnat, Harrops CDC Midge Adults, etc.)

Nymphs:

#16-#18 Lightning Bugs (Silver, Gold)

#16-#18 Pink Lightning Bug (our #1 nymph for late Fall through late Spring)

#16-#20 Mirage Nymph

#12-#18 Scuds (Pink, Olive, Grey, Orange)

#14-#18 MFG Nymph

#16-#20 Tungsten Flash Bug

#16-#20 Superflash Pheasant Tails

#16-#20 Pheasant Tail (B/H, Tungsten, standard, Flashback)

#10-#18 Hare’s Ear (B/H, Tungsten, standard, Flashback)

#12-#18 Soft Hackles (Ray Charles, PT, Hare’s Ear, Peacock)

#14-#20 Copper John (Red, Copper)

#6-#12 San Juan Worms (Steel Worms, Red, Brown)

#18-#22 Zebra Midge

Streamers:

#2-#10 Bead-Head Woolly Buggers (Black, Olive Wine-Tail, Brown, Olive)

#2-#10 Beach Head Girddle Buggers (Black, Brown, JJ Specials)

#6 Flash Fry Zonkers (White, Brown/Yellow)

#6 Shiela’s Sculpin

#4-#6 Conehead Bow River Bugger (Black, White)

#2-#8 Conehead Kiwi Muddler

We have many of these patterns either as recipes & instruction or videos on our Fly Tying Pages.  Click on the colored text above.

To see how the Missouri River is fishing TODAY, go to our Fishing Reports page.

For information on the “Land of the Giants” section of the Missouri River above Upper Holter reservoir and for a special, jet boat Guided Trip option for some truly huge trout, please see our Other Waters  and Guided Trips page.