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Missouri River

River fishing  Montana · 06:57 - 19:43

Missouri River runs through Montana. Most people come here for Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and Muskellunge.

Prime 90% The bite right now
Top bet: Smallmouth Bass Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 16 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow
83%
71°
Mon
87%
62°
Tue
88%
62°
Best day
Wed
84%
63°
Thu
81%
72°
Fri
81%
72°

The bite over the next days, scored at dusk. Based on the weather forecast, so it is guidance, not guarantees.

Conditions right now

Weather
Overcast
Water temp (est.)
61°F
Air temp
47°F
Wind
7 mph
Pressure
30.13 inHg ↓ falling
Clouds
99.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 06:12–08:12 Dusk 18:28–20:28

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Feeding times today

New moon 0% lit
Major period 13:20–15:20 Major period 01:20–03:20 Minor period 07:55–09:25 Minor period 19:16–20:46

Solunar times are a traditional guide based on the moon's position, separate from the live ranking above. Local time at the spot.

Next hours

08:00
47°
09:00
49°
10:00
52°
11:00
55°
12:00
58°
13:00
60°
14:00
62°
15:00
62°
16:00
61°
17:00
61°
18:00
60°
19:00
58°

Likely catch now (11 species)

Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
90%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 16 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
Tap for details
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
86%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 16 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
Tap for details
Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
86%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 16 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
Tap for details
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
86%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 16 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
Tap for details
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
86%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 16 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
Tap for details
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
83%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 16 degrees, peak season, overcast lifts the bite.
Tap for details

About the fishing here

The usual catches here are Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout.

Smallmouth Bass fishing is usually best around May-Jun, Sep-Oct. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Guides for this water

Tips right now

Technique Start with a soft-plastic jig for smallmouth bass, the most likely catch right now.
Timing This is a prime window for smallmouth bass at dawn. Fish hard now.
Colour Low light: try chartreuse, orange or black for smallmouth bass.
Lure Soft-plastic jig for smallmouth bass: Tube jig on rock.
Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

About this water

The Missouri River is a river in the Central and Mountain West regions of the United States. The nation's longest, it rises in the eastern Centennial Mountains of the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Montana, then flows east and south for 2,341 mi (3,767 km) before entering the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, Missouri. The river drains a semi-arid watershed of more than 500,000 sq mi (1,300,000 km2), which includes parts of ten U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Although a tributary of the Mississippi, the Missouri River is slightly longer and carries a comparable volume of water. A fellow tributary, the Ohio River, carries more water. When combined with the lower Mississippi River, it forms the world's fourth-longest river system.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Missouri River?

Popular catches here include Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Largemouth Bass and Walleye.

Do you need a fishing license at Missouri River?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Missouri River?

For Smallmouth Bass, the fishing tends to peak around May-Jun, Sep-Oct. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

What is biting at Missouri River right now?

Right now Smallmouth Bass is the most likely catch, at about 19%.