Missouri River Fishing Report: April 24, 2026

Summary

The Missouri is in classic spring form. Volatile weather has stepped water temps down to 44°F, priming the BWO hatch, and post-spawn rainbows are spreading through the canyon to feed. Plan launches around the Craig Bridge closure and give the active redds near the dam a wide berth.

At a glance: ~3,370 to 3,500 CFS at Holter, stable | Clear | 44°F, down from 48°F | Volatile, snow and rain into the weekend, lows in the 30s | BWO and midge daily, March Browns on deck

Spring volatility is the headline, last Tuesday touched 84°F, this weekend drops into the 30s with snow and rain Sunday and Monday. Water temps have stepped down from 48°F to 44°F, slowing the streamer strip a touch but priming the BWO hatch. Flows are stable in the 3,370 to 3,500 cfs range. Rainbows up near Holter are finishing the spawn and most fish are now spreading down through the canyon as bug activity strengthens. Cloudy days are fishing best for streamers; sun is pushing the hatch later into the day, sometimes evening.

Craig Bridge is closed for repairs through the weekend (possibly longer). The river is still open and shuttles are running daily, but plan launches around the closure. Veteran anglers are launching at Craig and floating to Mid, or running Mid-to-Mountain, Prewett, or Pelican.

Rainbow spawn is winding down but redds are still active near the dam. Stay off the gravel and give post-spawn fish room to recover, the future of this fishery depends on it.

Best techniques

• Nymphing: Primary technique. Run 6 to 7 ft in the morning; 3 to 5 ft in the afternoon as fish look up before the hatch. Some are fishing without split shot using heavy tungsten patterns.
• Dry fly: BWO hatch fires roughly 2 to 6 PM most days. On bright high-sun days the hatch waits until evening. When natural bugs flood the water, switch to a contrast dry (Purple Para Wulff, Adams) or drop an emerger 12 to 18 in. behind.
• Dry-dropper: A larger mayfly or Skwala Chubby suspending a small nymph is in play in skinny water.
• Soft hackles / swing: BWO softies behind a leech or small minnow are picking up grabs, good way to cover water.
• Streamers: Bite is improving, best on cloudy days and at low light. Browns are chasing harder than rainbows. Fish intermediate or sink-tip lines and mix in pauses; water temps in the low 40s argue against a fast strip.

Hatches and flies.

Mayfly nymphs (BWO subsurface): Pill Popper, Green Machine (incl. Little Green Machine), Two Bit Hooker, Psycho May, Frenchie, Pheasant Tail Nymph (incl. Tung Jig PT), Tungsten Tailwater Tiny, Olive and Brown Perdigons

Midge nymphs / pupae: Zebra Midge (incl. Tufted Zebra), Mercury Midge, Ruby Midge, Two Bit Hooker, Three Dollar Dip, Jujubee Midge

Sows / scuds / worms: Pink, Orange, or Red Bead Soft Hackle Ray; Pink Bead Tungsten Epoxy Back Sow; Natural Grey and Rainbow Tailwater Sows; Pederson's Sow; Caviar Scud; Wire Worm; Hot Bead Power Worm; San Juan Worm

Mayfly dries (BWO): Pederson's 401K Baetis, Purple Haze, Parachute Adams, Purple Para Wulff, Royal Wulff, Hi-Vis BWO Spinner, Film Critic, Winna Spinna BWO, Olive Haze, Sparkle Flag, Split Flag, CDC Para Spinner

Mayfly emergers / cripples: Sprout Baetis, Last Chance Cripple, Flash Cripple, Nyman's DOA Cripple Baetis, Jake's Hatchback Baetis

Midge dries / clusters: Griffith's Gnat, Cluster Midge, Harrop's Hanging Midge, Bucky's Midge Cluster, Adams Midge Cluster, Hi-Vis Midge

Streamers: Sex Dungeon, Mini-Dungeon (incl. Micro Dungeon), Skiddish Smolt (Silver, Brown/Yellow), Goldie, Sparkle Minnow (incl. Sparkly Minnow), Kreelex, Lil' Kim, Peanut Envy (incl. Micro Peanut Envy), Montana Intruder (incl. Mini Montana Intruder), Thin Mint Bugger, Woolly Bugger (Black, Peacock, Sparkle variants), Heisenberg, Gamechanger, Swim Coach, MoJo Minnow, Baby Gonga, Polar Leech, Dirty Hippy

Outlook. Cool, unsettled weather Sunday and Monday should sharpen the BWO hatch and keep the streamer bite going under cloud cover. Watch for March Browns to start showing in size #12 to #14 as the next wave of the spring hatch progression, Trout Shop is already rolling #12 to #14 PT-variety nymphs above a #18 BWO nymph as a setup. As more rainbows finish the spawn, the post-spawn hungry-fish bite should strengthen through the next two weeks.

Plan launches around the Craig Bridge closure. Best windows: cloudy afternoons for both dries and streamers.

Sources and Thanks

Shop	Report date	Coverage
Headhunters Fly Shop (Craig)	April 24, 2026	Missouri River
The Trout Shop (Craig)	April 23, 2026	Missouri River
Cross Currents Fly Shop (Craig)	April 23, 2026	Missouri River
Wolf Creek Angler (Wolf Creek)	April 9, 2026	Missouri River