It’s a fishing day

Missouri River at Craig fishing conditions · Montana

Tomorrow, 12 am–1 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 92. Water is 52°, close to the 55° rainbow trout like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 82 for rainbow trout, worth the tripTap 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. 821 am
  2. 82
  3. 82
  4. 824 am
  5. 82
  6. 82
  7. 847 am
  8. 84
  9. 92
  10. 9210 am
  11. 92
  12. 92
  13. 921 pm
  14. 92
  15. 92
  16. 924 pm
  17. 84
  18. 82
  19. 827 pm
  20. 82
  21. 79
  22. 7910 pm
  23. 74
  24. 89Tue
  25. 921 am
  26. 92
  27. 89
  28. 894 am
  29. 92
  30. 92
  31. 927 am
  32. 92
  33. 92
  34. 9210 am
  35. 92
  36. 92
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
52°F

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
1 mph

From the west

Flow
2,890 cfs

steady · -6% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 8:01 am

Sky
Patchy Fog

No rain expected

Air
31°F

NWS hourly forecast

Moon
100% lit

Full

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

92GoTomorrow, 12 am–1 pm

Water

52°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in rainbow trout's ideal range. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Central District rivers and streams: 3 trout a day and in possession, only 1 over 18" and only 1 a cutthroat; grayling must be released. Open all year unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Central District

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

84Worth the tripTomorrow, 12 am–1 pm

Water

52°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in brown trout's ideal range. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Central District rivers and streams: 3 trout a day and in possession, only 1 over 18" and only 1 a cutthroat; grayling must be released. Open all year unless an exception says otherwise.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Montana Central District

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

The water

  • Water temperature52°F
  • River2,890 cfs · steady · -6% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.40 inHg

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today8:01 am
  • Sunset today6:22 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 am–2:10 am
  • Minor solunarToday 8:20 am–9:20 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:30 pm–2:30 pm

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.

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.