Missouri River — Craig & Cascade
The first place to check before you head to the river. Live flow, water temperature, and weather for the upper Missouri — pulled directly from USGS and the National Weather Service.
Today on the water
Good
Solid day on the water.
5-Day Weather — Craig, MT
weather.govSaturday
76°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
NNE 1 to 12 mph
Sunday
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 2 to 10 mph
Labor Day
68°F
Rain Showers
WNW 1 to 15 mph
Tuesday
71°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 13 to 18 mph
Wednesday
76°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 2 to 9 mph
Gauge Stations
Live data refreshed every 30 minutes. Tap any chart for hourly readings.
Missouri River below Holter Dam, MT
Top of the reach, immediately below Holter Dam — the master gauge for the Craig–Cascade tailwater.
Solid day on the water.
Latest reading Sep 5, 2:45 AM
14-day flow
cubic feet per second14-day water temperature
°FToday's read
- Flows are in the sweet spot (3,710 cfs) — wadeable, fishable, and predictable.
- Water temp 64°F — fish hard early, give them a rest in the heat of the day.
Missouri River at Toston, MT
Upstream of the reservoir chain — sets the stage for what reaches Holter Dam in the days ahead.
Worth a look — adjust tactics.
Latest reading Sep 5, 3:00 AM
14-day flow
cubic feet per second14-day water temperature
°FToday's read
- Very low flows (1,760 cfs). Fish are spooky — fish early, light tippet, longer leaders.
- Water temp 63°F — fish hard early, give them a rest in the heat of the day.
Smith River below Eagle Creek, near Fort Logan, MT
Upper Smith River near Camp Baker, above the canyon — close to UMOWA's macroinvertebrate monitoring sites.
Worth a look — adjust tactics.
Latest reading Sep 5, 3:15 AM
14-day flow
cubic feet per second14-day water temperature
°FToday's read
- Very low flows (69 cfs). Fish are spooky — fish early, light tippet, longer leaders.
- Water temp 63°F — fish hard early, give them a rest in the heat of the day.
How we read the river
Fishing condition ratings combine real-time flow and water temperature from USGS gauges with published thresholds for the Missouri River tailwater fishery. Excellent conditions cluster between 3,000–5,500 cfs and water temperatures of 48–58°F. Always check current angler reports, local guides, and on-the-water observations before making the call.
Data sources: USGS Water Services · NWS Forecast API.
Help us keep watching the river.
UMOWA's water quality, macroinvertebrate, and aquatic plant monitoring is what makes long-term river health visible. Your support funds the science behind every cfs reading on this page.