CrossCurrents Fly Shops in Helena and Craig, Montana

OUR FLY SHOPS

Historic Downtown Helena Store:

326 N. Jackson Street

Helena, Montana 59601

(406) 449-2292

(406) 449-2293 -Fax

Nationwide Catalog Sales, Guides & Lodging and Boat/Equipment Rental

Helena- 406-449-2292

Craig- 406-235-3433

Missouri River Store & The Fish Inn Motel:

311 Bridge Street

Craig, Montana 59648

(406) 235-3433

(406) 235-3443 -Fax

We have 2 locations to serve you. Our Downtown Helena Store has been at the same location since 1994 and is open year around. In 2001, we opened our second store on the Missouri River in the tiny, trout town of Craig, Montana. Our Missouri River store is open seasonally from April through October. In 2006 we built our brand new, 2 story fly shop and motel, The Fish Inn, at our Craig location providing more room for our expanding fly shop and boat rental business and some much needed lodging.

The Helena Store is located in the heart of Historic Downtown just one block East of Last Chance Gulch (“Main Street” in Helena) at 326 North Jackson Street between Lawrence Street and 6th Avenue. Our neighbors are the Montana Book & Toy Company to the North with the Coney Island Restaurant and US Bank to the South. We are the tallest building on the block and have a red clock tower on top of the roof. There is free parking on the street directly in front of the shop and two city parking lots immediately across the street that are only .50¢ per 1/2 hour (both lots are free after 5 pm and on weekends & holidays). Vehicles towing boats or RV’s can pull up and easily park in front of the shop provided there are no cars already parked in that location. (See “Notes about Helena” below.)

Our Missouri River Store and Motel is hard to miss in the micro metro of Craig, Montana. There are only four commercial buildings along Bridge Street in Craig so if you don’t read the signs you have a 25% chance of walking in our door. The exit off I-15 is called “Craig” and that puts you directly on Bridge Street. (It’s called “Bridge Street” because if you drive past the shop on that road you will cross the Missouri River on the new, 2-lane, Forrest H. Anderson Memorial Bridge (the old, steel bridge built in 1903 was decommissioned in Winter 2006. Sad to see the old landmark go but it was becoming a bit rickety and unsafe. Not to worry, though, the river still flows downhill underneath the new bridge and the fish face into the current.) On the East side of the river, Bridge Street intersects with the “Missouri River Recreation Road” (or Old Highwy 91) which takes you either upstream to the dam and Holter Lake or downstream to Cascade, roughly paralleling the river the entire way.

Craig is located halfway between Helena and Great Falls (approximately 45 miles from each city). The mighty MO and the Craig Fishing Access Site (& boat ramp) are only a hundred yards from our shop. How convenient is that?! (See “Notes about Craig” below.)

LOCATIONS & DIRECTIONS

HELENA

Notes about Helena:

There is much to do in Downtown Helena – from dining and shopping to the ever popular, Alive At Five every Wednesday evening during the summer. If you’re visiting in the summer you have to check out the Mount Helena Music Festival. This multi-day, multi-stage festival features amazing musical talent from reggae to rock, bluegrass & blues to country & folk. CrossCurrents is a proud member of Downtown Helena, Inc., our local business association and sponsor of the Mount Helena Music Festival, Alive At Five and other great events. Click on the link below to check out all the activities and businesses in Downtown Helena and the dates for this year’s Mount Helena Music Festival.

If you like the outdoors, you'll love Helena! Located just East of the Continental Divide and about midway between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, Helena has a bit of outdoor heaven for everyone. From scenic driving to white water rafting and of course world class fly fishing and hunting. You can do it all right here in the heart of the Rockies.

Helpful Links & Things To Do in/near Helena:

Downtown Helena

Helena Area Chamber of Commerce

Montana Historical Society & Museum

Last Chance Tour Train

Great Divide Ski Area

Travel Montana

Visit MT (official state travel site)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Yellowstone National Park

Carroll College

Holter Museum of Art

Montana Web Cams

Check out the Live Web Cam of aimed at our Downtown Helena store! -pretty cool

The old, 1903 steel & wood bridge at Craig, Montana.

Notes about Craig:

The tiny town of Craig has two fly shops, two restaurants, two bars, one law office, about 50 full time residents but thousands of trout! It might be minute but it’s big on things to do. We have fantastic fly fishing, hunting, bird watching (which describes most of my hunting trips), exploring our numerous historic and cultural sites or just plain taking it easy in a place that lets you slow down and savor life. Craig and the surrounding country side is a small slice of heaven on Earth.

“I have laid aside business and gone fishing.” -Izaak Walton

Izaak’s Fresh Foods opened in 2004 giving Craig a great place to eat, drink and tell lies about our big fish. In 2007 they built a wonderful outdoor stage for live music & fun! Best of all, it’s about 50 yards from our new Fly Shop and Motel and within a short walking distance of The Fishin’ Shack and the CrossCurrents Cottage. CrossCurrents recommends Izaak’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (You will frequently see our staff in the restaurant – or probably more often in the bar!) They also make “River Lunches” boxed up with all you need to enjoy a delicious meal out on the river. Perfect for “Guide lunches” or for anyone that wants to stay out on the river and fish, instead of coming back into town to eat lunch. An excellent way to go if you are renting one of our Drift Boats, Rafts or Pontoon Boats for the day. Izaak’s phone number is (406) 235-3456.

For Anglers, Craig is an easy choice but if you are not a fly fishing enthusiast or are traveling with someone who wants to explore other options, well not to worry, as there are plenty of fun and interesting places to check out and activities to do in the Craig area. We do rent boats just for the fun of floating the river and taking in the scenic grandeur of the Missouri. You could also rent a motor boat on Holter Lake and explore this beautiful reservoir on your own. Better yet, take in the Gates of The Mountain interpretive Boat Tour. This is practically a must do for all visitors to our area. Below is a list of some other activities and places to check out.

Helpful Links & Things To Do in/near Craig:

Izaak’s Restaurant

Gates of The Mountain Boat Tours

Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center Museum

Charlie M. Russell Museum

Travel Montana

Visit MT (official state travel site)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Where’s the Old Craig Bridge Now? -The Bridge Conservancy

Glacier National Park

Great Falls Chamber of Commerce

(If you are nostalgic for the classy, ol’ steel bridge, we have a wonderful, framed, hand sepia toned painted photo of the 1903 Craig Bridge by photographer/artist Paul Pacini from Helena.)

CRAIG

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