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Fishing Missouri River: what the data says
Holter Dam (Craig) to Cascade The river tops out around 11 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Missouri River
Spring rainbow trout on Missouri River hold shallow, usually 3 to 11 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 11 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 11 ft. Current seam (mile 11.8) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 11 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Common Carp fishing at Missouri River
Start shallow in spring: common carp sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. They move out to 2 to 11 ft in summer and finish the year down in 3 to 11 ft. Eddy pocket (mile 8.9) is the standout, a eddy pocket at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for winter common carp. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 2 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 3 to 11 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 3 to 11 ft | midday |
Brown Trout fishing at Missouri River
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 11 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 11 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 11 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 11.8), a current seam in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 11 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 11 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 11 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 11 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 7.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.3): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 21.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 24.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Inside bend (mile 14.8): point, around 8 ft
- Channel swing (mile 23.2): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Current seam (mile 11.8): current seam, around 8 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 8.9): eddy pocket, around 8 ft
Common questions
How deep is Missouri River?
Missouri River is about 11 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Missouri River?
Anglers target rainbow trout, common carp, brown trout on Missouri River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Missouri River?
Current seam (mile 11.8) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Missouri River?
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Hound Creek Reservoir · Gollaher Reservoir · Lewis Pond South · Hauser Lake · Lake Helena · Wadsworth Lake
See how Missouri River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Montana · best common carp lakes in Montana · best brown trout lakes in Montana
Browse all Montana fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.