The “Blue Ribbon Stretch”

The Missouri River flows north from its origins in Three Forks, Montana where the Madison, Jefferson, and Gallatin rivers combine to form what is regarded by many as the premier trout fishery in the United States. We fish the “Blue Ribbon Stretch,” a tailwater which is 32 miles long winding from Holter Dam to Cascade. Despite being a tailwater, the low gradient and a bottom made of mostly small gravel and sand gives this section of the Missouri the appearance of a spring creek only much larger. Whether you prefer to fish from a boat or like to walk and wade, there is something for everyone to enjoy here. The Missouri boasts incredible populations of wild brown and rainbow trout (the most recent survey by the Montana FWP shows over 500 brown trout and over 2500 rainbows per mile). With insect populations that keep hatches coming nearly 12 months out of year, the Mo is the place to get your fly fishing fix over and over. Check out the links below for a more in-depth look at the individual seasons and what you can expect during each of them. For up to the minute fishing conditions, weather, and streamflow data, check out our fishing report.

The Four Seasons: