May on the Mo

Big Trout, Steady Flows & Spring Hatches

Every May, snowmelt can make most of Montana's freestone rivers high and off-color. The Missouri River below Holter Dam keeps running cold and clear with stable flows. That's when we head east over the Continental Divide to Craig, Montana, home to one of the most productive tailwaters in the West.

The Mo holds thousands of wild trout per mile. Most are thick, hard-fighting rainbows, with a healthy population of browns mixed in, and fish in the 15- to 20-inch range are common.

Above Craig the river runs through open ranch country under the Big Belt Mountains. Below town it slides into a quiet, rock-walled canyon. Spring crowds are lighter than in summer, and the fishing rewards good presentation, whether you're nymphing a deep run or casting to a pod of rising fish on the flats.

Each day runs 6–8 hours on the water with a riverside lunch. Trips are a two-day minimum, so you have time to settle in, learn the river and make the most of the best hatches.

Why May

• Caddis: Sporadic through the day and turns on later in the day throughout the evening.
• Blue-Winged Olives: Best on cool, overcast days, with excellent dry-fly fishing on the flats.
• PMDs: Pale morning duns start showing late in the month, mostly late morning through midday.
• Nymphs & Midges: Sowbugs, scuds and small mayfly nymphs keep the subsurface bite reliable from launch to takeout.

Two Ways to Reach Craig

Fly Into Missoula (MSO)

• We offer transportation with your guide to and from Missoula.
• You'll need to book your lodging in Craig and stay for the length of your trip.
• A good fit if you'd rather leave the driving to us.

Fly Into Helena (HLN)

• Helena is the closest airport, roughly 45 minutes from Craig.
• You'll need a rental car to drive to Craig each day to meet your guide, then back to your hotel.
• A good fit if you want more flexibility on lodging and schedule.

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