Missouri River Fishing Report

This Missouri River fishing report is valid from mid-March through mid-April.

Except on the Upper Missouri, right now is “nymph season, especially pink.” Fish AMEX, Rainbow Czech, Caviar Scuds, pink worms, pink Lightning Bugs, pink everything. Anything natural-colored (Zebra Midge, WD-40, assorted BWO nymphs) is sort of an afterthought, especially below Hauser. Look for fast walking-speed runs. Below Holter, avoid shallow gravel. Below Hauser, the population depends on stocking and you will see many anglers fishing redds. I still suggest fishing the deep runs, but you do you.

The Upper Missouri between Toston Dam and Canyon Ferry Reservoir is a sneaker bet for enormous trout this time of year. Nymph or swing streamers through the big, obvious runs. You will not catch many fish. You might get one or two huge ones, though. This is experts-only fishing more like steelheading than most area trout fishing. Check current regs to make sure you’re not fishing areas with seasonal spawning closures.

Land of Giants (Hauser Tailwater) is a great bet for about the next month. From mid-April through mid-May it’s honestly kind of a gong show due to spawner-raping crowds. These crowds will be extra bad this year due to low water, which will allow wade-anglers to clog areas they usually can’t reach and for casual boats to anchor, clogging even more water (guides never fish anchored like this, which lets everybody get a turn).

The Holter Tailwater will get rapidly busier into April as the potential for hatches increases. For now there’s a few midges about. In April, there might be BWO.

Learn more about fishing the Land of Giants section of the Missouri River.

Missouri River Fishing Report – Relevant Links