It’s a fishing day

Missouri River at Craig fishing conditions · Montana

Now until 11 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 80. Water is 50°, inside their 45–68° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 80 for rainbow trout, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 802 pm
  2. 80
  3. 80
  4. 805 pm
  5. 80
  6. 80
  7. 808 pm
  8. 80
  9. 80
  10. 7211 pm
  11. 72Sun
  12. 72
  13. 722 am
  14. 80
  15. 80
  16. 725 am
  17. 72
  18. 80
  19. 728 am
  20. 72
  21. 72
  22. 7211 am
  23. 72
  24. 72
  25. 722 pm
  26. 72
  27. 72
  28. 805 pm
  29. 80
  30. 80
  31. 808 pm
  32. 80
  33. 80
  34. 8011 pm
  35. 80Mon
  36. 80
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
50°F

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
10 mph

From the south-southwest

Flow
2,570 cfs

steady · -4% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:03 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
59°F

NWS hourly forecast

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Montana Central District regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

80Worth the tripNow until 11 pm

Water

50°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside rainbow trout's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 3 trout a day and in possession, only 1 over 18" and only 1 a brown trout. Walleye 10 a day; northern pike unlimited.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Missouri River, Holter Dam to Black Eagle Dam

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Jun, Oct–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

80Worth the tripNow until 11 pm

Water

50°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside brown trout's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 3 trout a day and in possession, only 1 over 18" and only 1 a brown trout. Walleye 10 a day; northern pike unlimited.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Missouri River, Holter Dam to Black Eagle Dam

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperature50°F
  • River2,570 cfs · steady · -4% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.27 inHg

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:03 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:21 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:30 pm–12:30 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:40 am–7:40 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Montana FWP has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Montana FWP · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The blue-ribbon tailwater below Holter Dam around the hamlet of Craig — a wide, weedy, spring-creek-like river holding extraordinary numbers of wild rainbow and brown trout. The cold, regulated flow fishes year-round, and the trico, PMD, and caddis hatches draw fly anglers from everywhere.

Holter Dam to Black Eagle Dam: 3 trout a day, only 1 over 18" and only 1 brown trout. Walleye 10 a day, 20 in possession; northern pike unlimited.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Canyon Ferry Lake36 mi · MontanaBest now until 6 pm
90Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Missouri River at Craig?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Missouri River at Craig you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Missouri River at Craig?

Missouri River at Craig is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Missouri River at Craig?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Missouri River at Craig against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Missouri River at Craig have?

Missouri River at Craig has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Holter Dam to Black Eagle Dam: 3 trout a day, only 1 over 18" and only 1 brown trout. Walleye 10 a day, 20 in possession; northern pike unlimited.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Missouri River at Craig?

state agency regulations apply at Missouri River at Craig. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Missouri River at Craig tidal water?

No. Missouri River at Craig is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.