Today
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 3 to 7 mph · 1% precip
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Today’s verdict
Current River Conditions
As of (2 days ago)
This past week, the river has been fishing well.
The Missouri below Holter Dam is fishing well right now, with nymphing delivering the most consistent action throughout the day. Cooler nights have kicked the fall fishing into a better gear, and the late morning through afternoon window is where you want to be on the water. Weeds are still floating around in spots, so check your flies often — it's an easy thing to overlook and it'll cost you eats.
2,730 CFSFlow
51°FWater temp2,730 CFS is on the low side for October — this stretch typically runs 3,490–5,080 CFS.
With flows lower than usual, wading is generally easier and more forgiving — but beds still shift and cold water saps strength fast, so read the water, stay within your limits, and check conditions on-site. You remain responsible for your own safety.
At 51°F, the water is in the prime range for trout — cold enough to fish and to handle fish safely.
Weather
40°F
Wind NW 3 mph
Sunrise 8:07 AM · Sunset 6:15 PM
Observed (1 hour ago)
NWS / weather.gov · fetched 15:00
Today
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 3 to 7 mph · 1% precip
Tonight
34°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 1 to 6 mph · 8% precip
Tomorrow
53°F
Partly Sunny
SW 6 mph · 14% precip
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Size #18-22
Size #18-22
Conditions are estimates from USGS data. Always assess on-site conditions and use your own judgment.
The gauge below Holter Dam sits at the head of the Craig tailwater — the technical dry-fly water with famous PMD and trico hatches that anglers from Helena and Great Falls target. It carries both flow and water temperature, so the read reflects the section you'll fish, not the reservoirs upstream.
Location
© OpenStreetMap contributors · © Geoapify
Helpful Links
Montana fishing resources
Other Montana rivers with live conditions
The Missouri below Holter Dam near Craig is a broad, productive tailwater renowned for high trout numbers and highly technical dry-fly fishing. Rainbow trout dominate, with brown trout also common. Its long flats, riffles, weed beds and deep runs are best covered by drift boat, although numerous fishing-access sites provide good walk-and-wade opportunities. Stable cold water supports year-round fishing. Midges and blue-winged olives drive winter and spring fishing, followed by caddis and PMDs in late spring and summer. Tricos become important in midsummer, with terrestrials and October caddis adding seasonal variety. Sight-fishing small dries to selective trout is the river’s signature experience, but short-leash nymphing over shallow flats and deeper indicator rigs remain more consistent. Sowbugs, scuds, worms, mayfly nymphs and caddis pupae are staples. Streamers can produce during cloudy weather and seasonal transitions. The river can become busy during prime hatches, and wind is a defining challenge, so early starts, late shifts and accurate presentations are useful.
