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.govThis Afternoon
87°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 17 mph
Saturday
62°F
Partly Sunny
WSW 13 to 20 mph
Sunday
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNE 0 to 5 mph
Monday
72°F
Sunny
SW 1 to 7 mph
Tuesday
71°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 9 to 18 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 25, 8:45 PM
14-day flow
cubic feet per second14-day water temperature
°FToday's read
- Flows are in the sweet spot (3,250 cfs) — wadeable, fishable, and predictable.
- Water temp 63°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.
Fishable, but pick your windows.
Latest reading Sep 25, 8:00 PM
14-day flow
cubic feet per second14-day water temperature
°FToday's read
- Lower flows at 2,370 cfs concentrate fish — focus on slots, drop-offs, and shaded edges.
- Water temp 64°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.
Fishable, but pick your windows.
Latest reading Sep 25, 8:15 PM
14-day flow
cubic feet per second14-day water temperature
°FToday's read
- Lower flows at 111 cfs concentrate fish — focus on slots, drop-offs, and shaded edges.
- Water temp 60°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.