All spots

Missouri River

River fishing  Montana · 05:42 - 20:42

Missouri River is a river in Montana. Anglers here fish mainly for Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass and Muskellunge.

Fair 42% The bite right now
Top bet: Smallmouth Bass Water near its preferred 23 degrees, bright sky slows things.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow
75%
87°
Mon
77%
72°
Tue
75%
76°
Wed
78%
84°
Best day
Thu
76%
83°
Fri
76%
87°

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

Conditions right now

Weather
Clear sky
Water temp (est.)
73°F
Air temp
75°F
Wind
3 mph
Pressure
29.91 inHg ↓ falling
Clouds
0.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 04:57–06:57 Dusk 19:27–21:27

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

Feeding times today

Waning gibbous 91% lit
Major period 02:20–04:20 Major period 14:20–16:20 Minor period 20:56–22:26 Minor period 08:14–09:44

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

09:00
75°
10:00
80°
11:00
85°
12:00
89°
13:00
92°
14:00
94°
15:00
96°
16:00
97°
17:00
97°
18:00
96°
19:00
93°
20:00
90°

Likely catch now (10 species)

Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
42%
Water near its preferred 23 degrees, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
37%
Water near its preferred 23 degrees, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details
Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
36%
Water near its preferred 23 degrees, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
31%
Slow during the day, water near its preferred 23 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
21%
Bright sky slows things.
Tap for details
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
20%
Bright sky slows things.
Tap for details

About the fishing here

Popular catches here include Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Channel Catfish, Brown Trout and Northern Pike.

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.
Lure Soft-plastic jig for smallmouth bass: Tube jig on rock.
Colour Clear water and good light: try brown, crawfish and natural tones for smallmouth bass.
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, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Channel Catfish, Brown Trout, Northern Pike, Black Crappie and Brook Trout.

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?

Smallmouth Bass fishing is usually best 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 29%.