Written by Mike Fitzgerald:

Between two family reunions in Montana, Kristene and I snuck off to the Missouri River for a couple of days of trout fishing.  We were invited to see Missouri Cliffs Lodge, a new option on the mighty Mo. Not only did we have two exceptional days of dry fly fishing, we were super impressed with our visit to Missouri Cliffs. 

The fly fishing epicenter on the Missouri is the tiny town of Craig. Missouri Cliffs is about 7 miles downstream sitting above the canyon with sweeping views of the river. It is extremely well appointed with a spacious dining room wrapped in windows, a rustic bar and saloon, a large gathering room with vaulted ceilings and a rock fireplace, and a massive outdoor deck – all complemented with an exceptional lodge team dedicated to fine cuisine and an exceptional service. With six bedrooms, the maximum capacity is 12 guests, but 10 is the norm. It’s a perfect lodge for a group or family to take over on a private basis. We are excited to introduce this lodge to our clients. A 4-night/3-day inclusive package is $3475, which is great value in the American West!

The first day, we fished Wolf Creek Bridge to Craig; and the second day, launched at Craig to Spite Hill. The tricos were incredibly prolific early in the day, and we spent most of the days “head hunting.” There were rising pods of fish everywhere. They are selective and challenging, but we hooked and landed many great fish, including a handful over 20”. After lunch, we fished some hopper dropper rigs and caught about 50% of the fish on the dries and the same number hit the tiny nymph. The caddis hatch in the evenings looked like a cloud over every tree. I will be back again next year in early July. 

For more information about fishing Missouri Cliffs Lodge, please reach out to our American West Sales Specialist, Joe Koziara. Now is the time to secure great dry fly time for 2024!