Missouri River | Montana
On DeMark Lodge
Overview
Craig and Becky DeMark have created an oasis near the banks of Montana's fabled Missouri River. The Mighty Mo sees its share of head-hunting fly fishers, and high season can be chaotic. But, no matter what the angling public throws at this incredible river, it's fish continue to cooperate. Epic hatches that start with the first warm sunshine in the early spring and last well into the central Montana autumn give anglers on the Missouri plenty of options over the course of an extended fishing season. The DeMarks provide the ideal home base for a trophy-hunting adventure. Come see how unbelievable fly fishing and personalized service and hospitality come together at On Demark Lodge.
The Fishing
If you asked a dozen hard-core fly fishers to name the best trout river in America, at least half would rattle off the Missouri in just the first few sentences. And they'd be right — this uber-productive river is a veritable bug factory, and, while the river sees a constant stream of angling traffic — particularly in the summer months when other Montana rivers are struggling with low and warm water — it still continues to offer some of the best big-fish opportunities anywhere in the U.S.
From the put-in just below Holter Dam in the mountains near Craig to well below the prairie community of Cascade, the river is a trophy-fish factory. The Missouri's mayfly and caddis hatches are epic, and they come and go literally from the first nice days of spring until the first deep freeze of winter. This makes for a uniquely long season in the Rockies — anglers can float and fish the river from late March will into November in some years.
And, while the purists of the fly fishing craft love the Missouri for its prolific dry-fly hatches, the river also offers some of the best streamer fishing in the West. Big, angry browns and acrobatic rainbows enthusiastically chase streamers all season long. And there may be not better place to put your feet up after a long day on the river than in the cozy confines of On DeMark Lodge.
Accomodations
LODGING: With room for only six anglers at a time, OnDeMark Lodge might seem a bit antithetic to the manic nature of fishing the Missouri. Here, at Mid Cañon, well below the town of Craig where finding a good place to park your truck is almost as rare as buying a winning lottery ticket, life moves a bit slower. The lodge boasts three spacious bedrooms and two full bathrooms, a very comfortable living area, a full dining room and a kitchen. Outside, it boasts a spacious deck and a great little fire pit to warm up once the Rocky Mountain chill kicks in as the sun slips behind the mountains.
FOOD/DRINK: Nothing goes over better after a full day spent battling everything from the elements to the wily browns of the river than a home-cooked plate piled high with delicious fare. Becky is an accomplished cook, and she's very inventive in the kitchen. Meals, supplemented by a solid choice of Northwest wines, really hit the spot after a day on the river. Breakfasts offer clever takes on standard American fare, and lunches, kept cold in coolers on the boat, are tasty and filling. The lodge offers an open bar during the evenings, and cold beer is kept on ice in the cooler every day on the boat.
CONNECTIVITY: Cell coverage is spotty at Mid Cañon, but On DeMark has high-speed wireless internet for those who need to stay connected, or who might like to check in at home each evening.
Sample Itinerary
You'll pull into the modest yet meticulously maintained lodge grounds around 4 p.m. after a beautiful drive along the Missouri River in west-central Montana. The lodge team will meet you in the driveway and take your gear to your assigned room. As soon as you step into the lodge, you'll likely get a whiff of the dinner Becky is preparing. It's a good time to relax, take your shoes off and make yourself at home. Soon, an incredible dinner will be served, and then it'll be time to pour a cocktail and get your gear together for your first day on the Mighty Mo.
Mere seconds after launching the drift boat at the put-in below Holter Dam, Craig DeMark, your guide for the day, is on to to rising trout. Pointing to a seam in the middle of the river, you're impressed not only by the regularity of the rises, but the by the sides of heads breaking the surface during the start of a prolific PMD hatch. You make your first cast and throw in a mend to get the right drift. As you watch your imitation floating high and dry among a river of naturals, you begin to doubt that your bug will get a look. Then, as if it was meant to be, a big pair of jaws opens up beneath your fly. Just like that, you're into your first Missouri River brown.
After a fairy-tale first day on the river, you're not sure what to expect on your second day. But, when you arrive at the put-in at Craig, the Missouri's trout are still rising to spinners from the most recent PMD explosion. Nevertheless, Craig suggests something different. He ties a size 6 Sparkle Minnow to the tippet of your 7-weight as the day's float starts, and it doesn't take long for the fish to start chasing the hapless pattern. First, a 16-inch rainbow grabs the streamer and cartwheels across the river. A few minutes later, the streamer pulls a nice 18-inch brown off the bank.
Later in the day, when you spy a true Missouri River trophy rising regularly to PMD spinners in a protected little back eddy, Craig ties a size 16 Parachute Adams to your tippet and puts you right where you need to be. You make the cast. The big jaws open under your fly and ... you miss the hook set and sting the big trout. Wiser for the experience, it settles to the river bottom.
"That fish is two feet long," Craig says. "It won't rise again today." You have one more day to exact revenge the Missouri's big browns. Are you up to the task?
The Missouri is a big river and, while it certainly gets its share of pressure, anglers can stretch out a bit and go on legit trophy hunts. Perhaps the best stretch of river that offers both a mix of big trout and plenty of them is the iconic canyon stretch. And, with its sheer granite cliffs and awe-inspiring crags that often reveal bighorn sheep, bald eagles and osprey, it might be one of the prettier fishing floats in the West.
Enjoy one last delicious breakfast prepared with Becky's crafty touch, and take in the views of the canyon and the river one last time. The DeMarks, now good friends, waive goodbye as you pull out of the driveway, and you know, as sure as the mayflies hatch in the Missouri virtually every day, that you'll be back. And you'll return to visit your friends who made you feel right at home on one of the best trout rivers in America.
Included
- Lodging You'll stay in comfortable perfectly appointed double-occupancy rooms in the lodge just steps from the river.
- Guided fishing Enjoy fully-guided fishing each day at the lodge.
- Meals The lodge offers three delicious and carefully prepared meals each day.
- Beverages On Demark Lodge offers a full bar, wine with dinner and beer on the river every day.
- Gear For anglers in need of loaner gear, On DeMark offers quality rods, reels and flies for visiting anglers. Waders are available for rent if needed.
Getting There
Far-flung anglers can choose to fly into Helena or Great Falls and anglers driving up to the Missouri can easily reach the lodge from the Mid Cañon exit on Interstate 15 north of the trouty town of Craig, Mont., and south of Cascade. Anglers flying in can rent vehicles in either Helena or Great Falls, or use a ride-share service.
