Fly Fishing Craig, Montana: Missouri River Tailwater, Seasons and Local Pros
Location Details / Montana / Towns / Craig
Fly Fishing Craig, Montana: Missouri River Tailwater, Seasons and Local Pros
Craig is a tiny town on the Missouri River tailwater below Holter Dam, built around technical dry-fly and nymph fishing for rainbows and browns. The river below the dam is open year-round, Holter Lake sits upstream, and the Dearborn and Little Prickly Pear Creek add small water. Fly into Helena (HLN) or Great Falls (GTF).
Craig exists for one reason: the Missouri River below Holter Dam. In Making Your First Fly Fishing Trip to Montana I called the Missouri near Craig the technical challenge with the high reward, and that is still the right way to think about it: steady tailwater flows, lots of fish, and trout that have seen every fly. For the statewide picture, see Fly Fishing Montana.
Top species
Rainbow and brown trout; mountain whitefish; walleye in Holter Lake
Best months
April to October; tailwater fishable year-round
Top nearby waters
Missouri River below Holter Dam, Holter Lake, Dearborn River, Little Prickly Pear Creek
License and regs
Montana FWP 2026 fishing regulations; nonresidents need a Conservation License, a fishing license and an AIS Prevention Pass
Nearest airports
Helena (HLN) or Great Falls (GTF)
Closures
FWP waterbody closures: check the morning you drive
Rivers and Lakes Near Craig
- Missouri River, Holter Dam to Craig and beyond: The tailwater. FWP allows 3 combined trout from Holter Dam to Black Eagle Dam, only 1 over 18 inches and only 1 brown. Like other Central District rivers, it is open all year unless an exception says otherwise. Expect clear water, steady flows and selective fish.
- Holter Lake: The reservoir above the dam. FWP makes browns catch-and-release (anglers 14 and under may keep one), allows 5 rainbows and kokanee combined, and limits walleye to 5 daily with only 1 over 25 inches.
- Dearborn River: A smaller river joining the Missouri below Craig, open the third Saturday in May through November 30.
- Little Prickly Pear Creek: A Missouri tributary near Wolf Creek; from the mouth to Big Sheep Creek, FWP opens it the third Saturday in May through Labor Day.
When to Fish Near Craig
A tailwater fishes when freestones are blown out or frozen, so the Missouri is a spring, summer and fall river with winter days too. The chart is our reading of a typical Missouri tailwater season, not agency data.
| Target | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midges | ||||||||||||
| Blue-winged olive | ||||||||||||
| Caddis | ||||||||||||
| PMD and trico | ||||||||||||
| Hoppers and terrestrials | ||||||||||||
| Streamers for browns |
Intensity:LightModerateHeavy
Even tailwaters can see hoot-owl restrictions in extreme heat. Read Hot Water, Hoot-Owl Closures, and When to Stop Fishing before an August trip.
Christian's Note: Where Craig Fits in a Montana Trip
My rule for first Montana trips is to start with forgiving water and save the technical water for later, and I put the Missouri near Craig on the technical side of that line. It is a tailwater, so it holds up when the freestones are running high or warm, and it rewards anglers who can read a seam, change flies small and drift a dry without drag. If this is your first Montana trip, spend a guided day here learning how the fish feed, then fish it yourself. My full first-trip plan, including rods, leaders and how to split guided and do-it-yourself days, is in Making Your First Fly Fishing Trip to Montana.
Hire a Local Pro in Craig
No Craig guide, lodge or outfitter is in the FFIP Certified directory yet, so we won't name one we haven't vetted. On selective tailwater fish, a day with someone who knows the current hatch is the fastest way up the learning curve. Find a Pro lists every pro we stand behind, and Frontiers International Travel can plan a full Montana lodge trip.
Tips from Podcast Guests
-
Fish one dry fly instead of a two-fly rig
On seamy, flat water, a single drag-free dry out-fishes two flies fighting each other.
Alice Owsley, Yellowstone-area guide, on Guided EP #2
Browse every tip in the Fly Fishing Tips Library.
Nearby Fly Fishing Towns
See every base on our Best Fly Fishing Towns in Montana page.
Craig Fly Fishing Questions, Answered
Where can you fly fish near Craig?
The Missouri River below Holter Dam is the main water, running past Craig on its way toward Cascade and Great Falls. Holter Lake sits above the dam, the Dearborn River joins the Missouri downstream, and Little Prickly Pear Creek comes in near Wolf Creek. The tributaries have shorter seasons than the main river.
When is the best time to fly fish the Missouri near Craig?
April through October is the core season: midges and blue-winged olives in spring, caddis, PMDs and tricos through summer, then fall olives and streamers. As a tailwater the Missouri stays fishable when freestones are blown out, and it is open all year, so winter midge days are possible.
Can you keep fish on the Missouri River near Craig?
Yes, within limits. From Holter Dam to Black Eagle Dam, Montana FWP allows 3 combined trout daily and in possession, with only 1 over 18 inches and only 1 brown trout. Most anglers release their fish anyway. Holter Lake above the dam has separate limits, including catch-and-release for browns.
Is Craig or Bozeman a better base?
Choose Craig if you want to spend most days on the Missouri tailwater and do not mind a small town with few services. Choose Bozeman for variety and the airport, with the Missouri as a longer day trip. Helena and Great Falls are the closer airports and towns for a Craig-focused trip.
Go on a fly fishing trip you'll never forget
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Tight lines, everyone!
By Christian Bacasa, host of the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast. Last reviewed November 2026.
Seasons, regulations, closures and license requirements change, sometimes mid-season. Rules here come from Montana FWP's 2026 regulations or Yellowstone National Park at the time of writing. Confirm current rules with the agency, and availability with your Frontiers specialist, before you book anything.
Sources: Missouri River, Holter Lake, Dearborn River and Little Prickly Pear Creek rules and Central District season: Montana FWP 2026 Fishing Regulations. Closures: FWP waterbody closures. Trip framing: Christian Bacasa, Making Your First Fly Fishing Trip to Montana.