MISSOURI RIVER | CRAIG, MONTANA

MISSOURI RIVER | CRAIG, MONTANA :: MISSOURI RIVER ::

The Lewis & Clark expedition mapped the headwaters of the Missouri River over two centuries ago. The river starts at 9,396 feet at the Continental Divide at the border between Montana and Idaho in the headwaters of Hell Roaring Creek. The “MO” as locals call it, is the longest river in North America and longest tributary in the United States.

The might MO is indeed a significant waterway. The “MO” has also quickly become known in the fly-fishing world as one of the most productive trout fisheries in North America. It’s known for its prolific hatches and fish that key on surface insects.

MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS MISSOURI RIVER FISH SURVEY RECENT FISH SURVEY OUTLOOK

Great fishing news just in from Helena this week. Fish surveys by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks this year revealed that rainbow and brown trout numbers remain above the long-term average in the Missouri River between Holter Dam and the town of Cascade, according to Grant Grisak, a state fisheries biologist. And while the numbers haven’t been crunched upstream, FWP biologist Eric Roberts said they were finding a lot of fish and that they’re pretty good size.

HELENA (AP) — Chances are, if you had a “trout on” while fishing on the Missouri River between Helena and Great Falls recently, it was a nice-sized one. Fish surveys by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks this year revealed that rainbow and brown trout numbers remain above the long-term average in the Missouri River between Holter Dam and the town of Cascade, according to Grant Grisak, a state fisheries biologist.

And while the numbers haven’t been crunched upstream, FWP biologist Eric Roberts said they were finding a lot of fish and that they’re pretty good size. “This year we did (the fish survey) below Hauser Dam, and while the number of fish may have dropped a little bit, the size of the fish was noticeably larger for both rainbow and brown trout,” Roberts said.

“The average size of fish was in the four-pound range, and that’s about the middle; so we handled quite a bit of fish that were bigger than that.” Roberts noted that he alternates each year between surveys below Hauser and Holter dams. Downstream near the town of Craig, state fisheries crews estimated the Missouri River held 5,194 rainbow trout that were greater than 10 inches long per mile. That’s not quite as many as in previous years —6,034 per mile in 2011 and 7,312 in 2012 — but it surpasses the long-term average of 3,174 rainbows per mile. 

The Lodge at Eagle Rock is the first all-inclusive, full-service luxury fishing lodge on the Missouri River. In addition to some of the finest trout fishing in the world, guests at the Lodge at Eagle Rock will enjoy attentive service, gourmet meals, luxury accommodations, and personalized packages that pair them with professional outfitters and guides.

Whether you want to pit your skills against the browns and rainbows of the Missouri, take a jet-boat ride to the "Land of the Giant's," wade-fish hoppers on Prickly Pear Creek, or raft down the Dearborn, the Lodge at Eagle Rock is the one destination on the Missouri River that can put it all together for you.