How to book and get set-up:
Reservations are suggested for guaranteed lodging, guides, and boat rentals, as these are booked completely out at times. It will ensure you the most appropriate and guaranteed services by booking in advance! Arriving before the day before a scheduled guide trip, is a good idea! This will ensure that you have adequate time to fill out necessary forms and stock up on “Hot Flies” at the MRO shop and obtain your fishing license (available at the Canyon Store). By doing all this before-hand you will be able to get directly onto the river and fish more quickly the morning of your trip!
The fishing day:
Days are long during Montana summers, and as mentioned, each guide will have his or her own game plan adapted to your preferences. Our guides are excellent at doing their part to help you catch the fish on the river but are also adept
at adapting the fishing (dry, nymph, streamers) to your preferences ensuring that you have the greatest time while you are with us! Guides will put you on the river for up to 10 hours a day, usually finishing up between 5:00-8:00 pm, some may choose to stay later. Many times the guides like to get early starts, around 8:00 am, to beat the rush and get you out on those fish and first glances before anyone else! Our guides want to make it the best fishing day of your life and do this by getting you the first shot at the fish! At other times, guides may start later in the morning or afternoon and stay out on the river chasing the catch until dark. This again will be a collaboration of your preference and the guide’s expertise!
If you desire a shorter day or would like to be in by a certain time, be sure to let your guide know! Half day trips, either morning, mid-day, or afternoon, are available, as well. All guides are willing to give fly fishing instruction, and are full of local fishing lore. Some have guided in Montana for 10-20 years. Feel free to question them about any and all fishing matters!
Most guides recommend you bring two rods, one for dry fly flies, one for wet flies. While our guides do have some back up fly patterns on board, they’re not "carrying the store." We suggest you purchase a modest selection of the current “Hot Flies” at the MRO store prior to departure on your trip. While the Missouri is warm enough to wade "wet" in summer, we also suggest you bring lightweight waders for cool times, rain storms, and deep wading. Other useful items to bring include sunscreen, hat, bug repellent, sunglasses, jacket, rain gear, and camera. These items and more are available at our fly shop!
MRO provides a generous lunch and assorted drinks on day trips, but not on half day trips. Feel free to bring extra snacks, food, and drinks on any trip. The guides will have a cooler.
Shuttles:
If you have brought your own fishing boat or flotation devices with you to your much anticipated stay on the Missouri River we also have shuttle services available. We will shuttle your car from put in to take out point any time during the day, and if you like to stay out until darkness reigns we can shuttle until 11:00pm!
| Full Day Guided Trip (Lunch included) |
$450 per boat |
Fly tying anglers often ask what patterns they should tie before visiting. While there always seems to be some new "hot" pattern, the following are Missouri stand-bys. These fish can be picky at times!
DRY FLIES
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Griffith’s Gnat #18-22
Baetis Thorax #16-22
PMD Spinners (pale olive) #16-20
CDC PMD’s #16-22
Caddis (all variations) #16-22
(Fish often prefer lower lying, more realistic ties.)
Orange Stimulator #6-14
Trico Duns & Spinners #18-22
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Parachute Adams #14-22
PMD’s (all variations) #16-22
CDC Baetis #16-22
CDC Caddis #16-22
Royal Wulff & Trudes #14-20
H&L Variant #14-20
Hoppers #6-10
Damselfly #8-10
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NYMPHS & WETS
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Beadhead & Regular Pheasant Tail Nymphs #14-20
Beadhead & Regular Hare’s Ears #12-18
Beadhead & Regular Serendipities #14-18
Beadhead Midge Pupa #18-24
San Juan Worms #6-10
Sowbugs #12-16
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RS2 Emerger #16-20
Caddis Emergers #14-20
Muddler Minnows #4-10
Pink Scuds #12-16
Crayfish #6-10
PMD Emergers (all types) #16-20
Woolly Buggers #4-12 (We like brown a lot. Some times in mid-summer small ones work better.)
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