Montana
Missouri River: Wolf Creek to Mid Cannon
About this float trip
The Missouri below Holter Dam is a big, wide, slow tailwater that fishes like a giant spring creek. Fish rise in pods to tiny insects in flat water, and it rewards a good drift more than casting distance. Craig, the town in the middle of it, is essentially a fly shop, two bars and a boat ramp, and it functions as the base for the whole fishery.
The Land of Giant Rainbows, floating the tailwater through Craig on Montana’s upper Missouri.
Highlights
What earns the trip
- Spring-creek style dry fly fishing on a river the size of the Missouri
- Craig is one of the most concentrated fly fishing towns in the country
- Access sites every few miles along the whole stretch
- Big rainbows in numbers, with browns mixed in
Stops
- 1
Wolf Creek Bridge Access
Upper access at the top of the canyon stretch.
- 2
Craig Fishing Access Site
The ramp in the middle of the fishery, beside the fly shops.
- 3
Mid Cannon Access
The lower take-out for a full-day float.
When to go
Best time to go
April through October. The trico and pale morning dun hatches in summer are the draw.
Planner estimate for the mapped line: 51 min
Before you go
Know before you go
- The river is exposed and the canyon funnels wind. An afternoon can be genuinely hard rowing.
- It is crowded in season. Boat traffic at the ramps peaks midmorning.
- Montana licensing and AIS rules apply, and boats need the current inspection where required.
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