The beginning of summer has came on with rising temps and rising fish!
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
June 18, 2026
We have had an unbelievable start to our summer at the Missouri River Ranch. The only thing better than the fishing has been the people that have spent their time with us at MRR. We have had groups come in as guests but have left feeling more like family. From return anglers that spend their early summers with us every year to first time visitors that we look forward to seeing for many more seasons to come, we are truly thankful for everyone that has chosen to spend their valuable time with us at the Missouri River Ranch. There is a quote from a country singer, Ray Wylie Hubbard, that is getting thrown around as of late and really hits home with us, "The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, I have really good days." We have had a lot of "really good days" at MRR. With that being said, the flows are still hanging in around 3100 to 3300CFS and water temps in the mid to high 50's. Bug life is abundant and the wildlife has made it tough to keep an eye on your drift. Bald eagles and osprey in the trees, deer and antelope on the hillside. Chef Justin's world class meals have been coupled with a show from our wild Montana residents. Â
When the wind is down, the bugs are up! We have kicked off our summer with amazing angling on the dry fly front. Even when conditions aren't ideal, we are still having anglers stick incredible fish on surface flies. We even had a diehard dry fly purist pulling in respectable trout in 40mph gust. Where there is a will, there is a way on the Missouri. Caddis, BWOs, and PMDs are all still in play so take a second to scan the water to see what the prevailing hatch is to best cater to the appetite of the rising fish. PMDs seem to be getting the most attention with the Caddis coming on strong as things begin to heat up. Missing Links, CDC Para Spinners, and Hi-Vis Spent Caddis have all been great options.
Whether it is under an indicator or tied onto a larger dry fly, subsurface nymphs remain effective regardless of conditions on the Mo. While much of the fly selection and techniques are dictated by the weather in our valley, running a dual nymph setup is out-fishing any other strategy on the river most days. The key is finding the depth and combo of flies to connect with trout consistently. This is where relying on the knowledge bank of your guide's years on the river helps cut down on that learning curve. While the first set of flies might not produce more than a few whitefish, stay patient because we have some of the best guides in the West operating through MRR. They will eventually tune in to what the trout are eating that day and all you have to worry about is hanging on once they're hooked. Give a Spanish Bullet and Frenchie patterns a try and work from there. Split Cases and Tailwater Sowbug are solid options as well. If you're still having trouble, tie on the Wire Worm...we won't tell anyone.
Take your streamer rod out for a walk along the banks of the Missouri after dinner and catch a bonus fish on property. Guides and guests alike have been luring big trout to the net using streamers along the Wing Dams at the Ranch. Not only is it a great place to chase that trophy fish to cap off your trip to MRR, but it is also one of the best places to take in the sunset on the "Mighty Mo." Dark Bugger patterns and Sparkle Minnows have still been the choice amongst anglers but to change things up, try tying on a Hare's Ear nymph or small streamer off the hook of your lead streamer to entice picky fish not willing to commit to larger streamers. Be careful though, this combo has been known to catch trout and anglers alike, so mind your cast and be ready for a big eat.
Drop us a line, and we'll see you soon at the ranch!
This is sure to be an unbelievable season on the Missouri.
Missouri River Ranch
406-206-6989