MISSOURI RIVER, HELENA
Missouri River
Helena, MT
July 7-11, 2025
Rainbows, Browns
$1,695/3d fishing
Per Person / dbl. occ.
Place Deposit
Destination Overview
Our Missouri River/Helena is a hybrid-type trip. Fly Fishing Travel is constantly exploring unique trips for our clients. The fishing is spectacular and downtown Helena is so much fun we just had to offer it to our clients.
You will stay at The Double Tree by Hilton in Downtown Helena it is really nice and right next to the historic downtown Helena. Helena Historic downtown has many good restaurants. Here are a few we sampled and loved within walking distance: Windbag Bar & Grill, Silverstar Steak Company, Lucca’s, Montana Club, Mediterranean Grill, Bella Roma…lot’s to see in this wonderful historic district. We hope you enjoy the trip as much as we did.
The fly fishing on the “Land of the Giants” and below the Holter dam is epic to say the least. The guides are really good guys. Our package includes staying at the Double Tree by Hilton in Downtown Helena. The fishing will include one day on “Land of the Giants” in jet boat and two days below Holter Dam in drift boats.
This is your opportunity to cast flies to thousands of wild, not hatchery-raised, rainbows & brown trout, that populate this blue ribbon stream. That’s a lot of fishing packed into a three or four day package.
If you are an experienced Montana angler, you will enjoy the great fishing that you’ve come to expect during a Montana trip, plus have a chance to learn new techniques and skills that experienced guides will be happy to teach. If you are a first timer, you will have an opportunity to fish on and learn about one of the most fabled waters in the US.
At a Glance
Target Fish: Rainbow & Browns
Location: Helena
Seasons: All year
Lodge Capacity: unlimited
Nearest Airport: Bozeman or Helena MT
Fishing Program
Missouri River
A fly fishing trip to the Land of the Giants on the Missouri River can be the experience of a lifetime for many fly fishers. You will have an excellent opportunity to catch 20+ inch rainbows and browns consistently throughout the day on a beautiful stretch of canyon water on the fabled Missouri River.
Just outside of Helena, this three mile section of the Missouri River starts at the base of the Hauser Reservoir dam and flows to Upper Holter Lake. Flowing through a beautiful canyon with steep walls, there is limited access to this section of river – hence, jet boats required, keeping the fishing pressure low on these huge, well fed fish.
When the Missouri River finally emerges from Holter Dam, it creates the beginning of a 30-miles long stretch of water that looks like a giant spring creek, that is perhaps the best trout habitat in Montana.
The "Mo" fishes like you’ve found the keys to the hatchery. Near the town of Craig, state fisheries crews recently estimated the Missouri River held 5,194 Rainbow Trout per mile that were greater than 10 inches long. In that same section they estimated that there were 745 Brown Trout that were 10 inches or longer per mile. Between the Brown Trout and the Rainbows there are approximately a whopping 6000 fish per mile!
The MO’s fish aren’t dumb and you’ll need to match their appetite, which usually leans towards size 16-18 nymphs and dry flies. Consistent hatches of PMD's, Caddis, Tricos, BWO's and Midges bring these selective trout to the surface. You can find pods of fish sipping or solitary risers eating dries throughout most of the year. Of course, a San Juan worm may work in early spring, and a streamer is the right choice for fall. But during peak months odds are excellent that you’ll be tossing small dries, perhaps with a dropper and, in mid-late summer, a ‘hopper.
It’s trout fishing at its finest.
Sample Itinerary
After a freshly cooked breakfast at the hotel, your guide will pick you up and head to the day’s destination. You’ll cover 7 – 9 miles of water in a 16-foot drift boat with an experienced guide who has been plying these waters for years.
That means you will be positioned to fish the best water, with stops to fish the pockets. Your guide will find a comfortable spot for a streamside lunch, spend the afternoon looking for trout, and have you back to your lodging in time for an early dinner.
Best Fly Fishing Seasons
May through October
Accommodations
Double Tree by Hilton - Downtown Helena
Rooms will be fresh, clean, and well -appointed with firm mattresses, flat screen TVs, WiFi. You’ll start the day with a freshly cooked breakfast!
On Site Amenities and Activities Include
Satellite TV and VCR
Wi-Fi/internet access
Close to many pubs and restaurants
Non fly fishing activities: visit historical sites, shopping, pub crawling
Hot breakfast at hotel
Getting There
Flights are available to Bozeman and Helena. From Bozeman, you can rent a car for the 1.5 hr drive to Helena. From Helena you can rent a car, or get Uber for the 15 min ride to the hotel The following morning your guide will pick you up at the hotel and return you that evening.
Rates
All rates are based on double occupancy and two persons per boat/guide. Breakfast is provided by the hotel. Not included are alcoholic beverages, and dinner.
Missouri River package
Four nights lodging, three days guided fishing $1695 per person
To book any of our trips give us a call to start the process
