GREAT FALLS AREA FISHING REPORT
July 30th, 2026
Lower Mo
Dam Temps: 66.4°F
Cascade CFS: 3,530 cfs
Ulm CFS: 3,180 cfs
Morony Dam CFS: 4,190 cfs
Fort Benton CFS: 4,830 cfs
**IF YOU ARE TROUT FISHING IN THE AREA PLEASE BE AWARE OF WATER TEMPERATURES AND DO YOUR PART IN PROTECTING OUR FISH!**
HOOT OWL RESTRICTIONS CAN BE FOUND BELOW:
https://fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions/waterbody-closures
Missouri River Pelican Point Down
Please be advised of water temperatures in this lower stretch. The water temperature coming out of Holter Dam has gotten as high as 69° in the last few weeks, so the water temps below Pelican Point will be significantly higher. If you are going to fish for trout below Pelican Point, get out early in the morning and take off the river early. Keep trout in the water, opt for in-the-net pictures if necessary, and allow the fish plenty of time to recover before releasing. Remember, the health of the river starts with us!
If you do want to give this section a whirl, throw a grasshopper along the banks with an ant in tow, or a small Perdigon or attractor nymph 2-3 feet below. I personally would not recommend nymphing as the river is incredibly weed filled. However, if this is what you wish to do, then keep trying your favorite Zirdle bug and a Perdigon behind it.
Recommended Flies
Eric Paramore’s Thunderthigh’s size 8-12 in Peach, Yellow, or Tan
Kris Keller’s Henneberry Hopper size 10-12 in Yellow, Pink, or Green
Arrick Swanson’s Arrick’s Ant size 16, 18
Kelly Galloup’s Ant Acid size 14 or 16 in Black and Red or Cinnamon
George Daniel’s Gasolina Perdigon size 18, 20
Greg Garcia’s Darth Baetis in grey size 18, 20
Fred Telleen’s JZ in Tan
Cascade Downstream
Not much has changed here over the past month or so. When I have been chasing pike, I have stuck to the surface. Trying to elicit a topwater eat, with divers and a few poppers. I have found that using flies like Tommy Lynch’s Drunk and Disorderly, that come to the surface on the pause, and then dive back down on the strip, get eaten more successfully. Your standard popper that stays on the surface doesn’t get in the fish’s face enough to cause the kill reaction. It will work for the smaller pike but if it is the big guys your after, look no further than your local House of Fly shop or houseoffly.com for a selection of topwater pike flies.
Pike Flies
Tommy Lynch’s Drunk and Disorderly
Matt Grajewski’s Yardsale Black, Chartreuse/ White, Olive/ White
Satkowkis Devil Tail
Blackfoot
*Be aware of Hoot Owl restrictions, from Cedar Meadows FAS down to the confluence of the Clark Fork
Get out early, get off early. If you are fishing farther up the river, fishing will be better throughout the day. Hopper season is here for a lot of the fisheries around Great Falls, so try a big yellow Thunderthighs Hopper with a Perdigon below it. Small Chubby Chernobyl’s have been productive as well.
Clark Fork
Hoot Owl restrictions from the confluence of Warm Springs Creek and Silver Bow Creek to the river’s confluence with the Flathead River. Get out early, get off early. Hoppers, ants, and beetles will be go-to’s.
Creeks and Lakes
No changes here. Throwing a big hopper with an ant behind it would be the first team all American offering for me. But if you wanted a dropper, try any 16 or 18 Perdigon 2-4 feet below the hopper.
Flies for the freestones in the area:
Eric Paramore’s Thunderthigh’s Hopper in Pink or Yellow size 8-12
Kris Keller’s Henneberry Hopper Yellow or Tan size 8-12
Kelly Galloup’s Ant Acid Black and Red size 14
High Mountain Lake Flies:
Kris Keller’s Rocky Mountain Mint in purple size 14,16
Tom Baltz’s Hi-Vis Paranymph size 12,14
Jack Horner’s Humpy Red size 14,16
Frank Sawyer’s Pheasant Tail bead head size 12,14
Kelly Davidson’s Sno Cone Black and Red size 12,14
Other fisheries!
The Carp bite is on! With these warm days, the carp are up on the flats and chowing down. If you want to practice your flats stalking game, or you are just looking to catch something other than a trout, this is for you! Head down to the slow water here in Great Falls, or below any of the dams downstream and start looking. The best time of day for these fish will be from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Having a high sun at your back is beneficial for sight fishing these guys. You will see them mudding, tailing, or just cruising. Try and get your fly out in front of them and then drag it into their feeding lane. If the fish is feeding well, he will key into it and make a move. From here, use long, slow strips and you should come tight to these scaley beasts.
Carp Flies:
Andrew Grillo’s Carpholio Brown or Olive size 4
Chase Smith’s Carp Nugget Olive or Craw
Fulling Mill’s Carp Worm
Dick’s Carp Magic
Detroit Mop City
MISSOURI RIVER WEATHER FORECAST
OTHER REPORTS WE LIKE TO FOLLOW
Missouri River fishing reports aren't always the same. One stretch of the river may fish better than others which is why we like to check a number of different fishing reports from other shops in the area. We've gathered our favorite fishing report sources in the links below.