Finest Professional Fly Fishing Guides on the Missouri River near Craig Montana

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Guided Trips on the Missouri River

Our Guides:

Without a doubt, Montana River Outfitters has the finest guides on the Missouri River. Many of our distinguished guides have fished the Missouri all their lives, and the list reads like a who's who of Montana Fly Fisherman. If you want an experienced professional who spends every day on the water, knows the Missouri like the back of their hand, and will ensure that you are putting fish in the boat all day, then you have come to the right place.

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 the day before a scheduled guide trip, is a good idea! This will ensure that you have adequate time to fill out necessary forms, 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 have 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 flies, and 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 for 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 a 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 provide 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 the put in to the take out point any time during the day.

Half Day Guided Trip (Lunch not included; drinks only)	$395 per boat
Full Day Guided Trip (Lunch Included) 1 or 2 Anglers	$495 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!

Fly Patterns

Missouri River

Dry Flies

Griffith's Gnat #18-22
Baetis Thorax #16-22
PMD Spinners (pale olive) #16-20
Caddis (all variations) #14-20
(Fish often prefer lower lying, more
realistic ties.)
Orange Stimulator #6-14
Trico Duns & Spinners #18-22

Parachute Adams #14-22
PMD's (all variations) #16-22
Royal Wulff & Trudes #12-20
H&L Variant #14-20
Hoppers #6-10
Damselfly #8-10

Nymphs & Wets

Beadhead & Regular Pheasant Tails #14-20 Lightning Bug #16-20 Beadhead & Regular Serendipities #14-20 San Juan Worms #6-10 Sowbugs #12-18 RS2 #16-20 WD-40 #16-20	Muddler Minnows #4-10 Pink Scuds #12-16 Zebra Midge #16-20 PMD Emergers (all types) #16-20 Crayfish #6-10 Caddis Emergers #14-20 Rainbow Warrior #16-20 Rainbow Czeck #14-18
Streamers
JJ Special Woolly Buggers #4-12 (We like brown a lot. Sometimes in mid summer small ones work better.) Zoo Cougar Clouser Minnow	Double Bunny Bunny Sculpin Sex Dungeon Skiddish Smolt Thunder Creek