Missouri River at Craig: early-fall nymphs, ants, and October caddis

The Missouri around Craig is in the early-fall groove. Yellow Dog Flyfishing’s Sept. 16, 2026 report, posted by Montana Outdoor, says fishing is good, mornings are the main event, and nymphing is catching the most trout. Cooler weather is waking fish up. Ants and hoppers still draw eats on top, Callibaetis is in the mix, and jumbo October caddis is starting to show. Flows are low and steady with plenty of weeds — fish smart, don’t just fling hardware.

Below the surface, a caddis or crayfish paired with a midge, perdigon, or drowned ant has been the money, especially in faster, shallow water. Dry-fly windows are brief; trout are grading drifts. Tricos, Cornfed Caddis, hoppers, and ants are all worth a shot, and covering water with a terrestrial is the plan when noses aren’t showing. Streamers stay the harder card in the weeds, though smaller natural patterns and the occasional flashy fly can still get eaten.

Get out early, bring the nymph box and a few terrestrials, hunt the quicker water, and make the first cast count. Confirm current FWP regulations before you fish.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Montana Outdoor — Missouri River Fishing Report: Cooler Temps, Hungry Trout & Fall Flies (Angela Montana, Sept. 16, 2026, citing Yellow Dog Flyfishing).