Waders & Boots
Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders
Durable, breathable four-layer waders built as a daily driver for seasons of wading.
Pack It For: Sep to Jun
Check Price Maker's Page
Rivers & StreamsFly FishingSpin, Cast & Bait
Missouri River (Upper Missouri Breaks) Fishing Guide
Montana
The Missouri River through BLM's Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, a float from Fort Benton past Coal Banks and Judith Landing to the James Kipp Recreation Area, where common sportfish include walleye, sauger, northern pike, channel catfish and smallmouth bass.
Part of the Missouri River.
Photo: Roger Peterson, U.S. Forest Service via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Trip at a Glance
Anglers come to the Missouri River (Upper Missouri Breaks) for smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, channel catfish and sauger. No agency season found for the species here.
We don't list a shop nearby yet, so stock up before you go.
Season at a Glance
No agency season found for these fish here.
Licenses & Regulations
Most anglers need a Montana fishing license; age cutoffs and exemptions are set by the state. Seasons, limits, and tackle rules vary by water, so check current regulations before you go.
Parts of the Missouri River
- Main PageMissouri RiverThe Missouri River in Montana, from the trout tailwater below Holter Dam at Craig to the Upper Missouri River Breaks, where BLM lists walleye, sauger, northern pike, channel catfish and smallmouth bass.
- Rivers & Streams · MontanaMissouri River (Craig)The 35-mile tailwater below Holter Dam, from Wolf Creek past Craig to Cascade, which FWP calls one of Montana's premier trout fisheries, with wild rainbow and brown trout.
- Rivers & Streams · Montana · You're HereMissouri River (Upper Missouri Breaks)The Missouri River through BLM's Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, a float from Fort Benton past Coal Banks and Judith Landing to the James Kipp Recreation Area, where common sportfish include walleye, sauger, northern pike, channel catfish and smallmouth bass.
Missouri River (Upper Missouri Breaks) Species
Species per BLM.
Images: Duane Raver and Timothy Knepp, USFWS. Public domain.
What to Use
Fishing In
Fish
Smallmouth Bass
No agency season found
Fly
9 ft 6 or 7 wt rod, floating line, 10 to 12 lb leader. Crayfish patterns, Clousers, and poppers.
Rod, Reel and Line
- RodOrvis Clearwater 9 ft 6 wt Fly RodCheck Price
- ReelRedington Behemoth Fly Reel · for 6 or 7 weightCheck Price
- LineScientific Anglers Mastery Infinity Fly Line · 6 or 7 wt.Check Price
Tie On in November
Typical picks from October, our closest listed month. Ask a local shop what is working in November.
- Fly for October · #2/0-6Clouser MinnowSee Options
- Fly for October · #6-10Crayfish FlySee Options
Spin / Cast
7 ft medium spinning rod, 2500 reel, 8 lb braid to a 6 to 8 lb fluorocarbon leader.
Rod, Reel and Line
- RodSt. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod · 7 ft 0 in, medium, fast, 6 to 12 lb line, 1 pieceCheck Price
- ReelShimano Sedona Spinning Reel · 2500Check Price
- LinePowerPro Spectra Braided Line · 8 lbCheck Price
Tie On in November
- Lure for November · 2.5 to 3 inNed Rig · Z-Man Ned Rig KitCheck Price
- Lure for November · 1.5 to 4.75 inJerkbait · Rapala X-Rap JerkbaitCheck Price
- Lure for November · 2.75 to 3.5 inTube Jig · Strike King Tube JigsCheck Price
Picks: general for this fish, each checked against state and federal agency pages, not specific to this water. Ask a local shop what is working.
Gear: rods, reels and lines are starting points, sized from each maker's page. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Map of Missouri River (Upper Missouri Breaks)
Planning for a Month
Prime in November
No agency season found for the species here.
Daylight
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Moon
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Typical Weather
46°F high, 19°F low
About 0.6 in of precipitation for the month.
Typical Flow
5,922 cfs
Most years 4,536 cfs to 8,017 cfs.
Typical, Not a Forecast: weather from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals at a station about 43 mi away; flow from USGS gauge 06109500, 1935 to 2025.
Also Worth Packing
Clothing for November comes first, picked from typical weather here.
Waders & Boots
Simms Freestone Wading Boots
Supportive wading boots with determined traction for a full range of wading conditions, worn over waders or wading socks.
Pack It For: Year-round
Check Price Maker's PageApparel
Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer
A 100% merino wool base layer for temperature regulation and moisture management, under waders or a jacket.
Pack It For: Nov to Mar
Check Price Maker's PageApparel
Glacier Glove Alaska River Flip Mitt
Fingerless fishing gloves with a fold-over mitt for cold hands between casts.
Pack It For: Nov to Mar
Check Price Maker's PageNets & Tools
Frabill Rubber Mesh Landing Net
A floating trout net with tangle-free micromesh rubberized netting and a flat bottom that supports the fish's weight evenly.
Check Price Maker's PageTerminal Tackle
Northland Rock-Runner Bottom Bouncer
A bottom bouncer with a 10 in stainless steel wire feeler that glides over rocks, logs and weeds, for drifting and trolling spinner rigs and live bait for walleyes.
Check Price Maker's PageTerminal Tackle
Gamakatsu Circle Hooks
Circle hooks designed to set in the corner of a fish's mouth, for fresh and saltwater bait fishing.
Check Price Maker's PageApparel
Simms SolarFlex Sun Hoody
A UPF 50+ hooded sun shirt with a vented hood and extended sleeves, for long, bright days.
Pack It For: Jun to Sep
Check Price Maker's PageApparel
Buff CoolNet UV Neckwear
A UPF 50 sun gaiter for the face and neck.
Pack It For: Jun to Sep
Check Price Maker's PageWaders & Boots
Simms Neoprene Wading Socks
Worn inside wading boots in place of waders when the water is warm enough to wet wade.
Pack It For: Jul to Aug
Check Price Maker's PageSome links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Shops Near Missouri River (Upper Missouri Breaks)
No shops listed nearby yet. Suggest one.