Three Days in Montana: Day 3 on the Missouri River

Here’s Day 3 of your Montana fly fishing series — the perfect wrap-up to an unforgettable trip, with plenty of storytelling, gear highlights, and gratitude woven in:

 

If you’ve fly fished for a while, there are a few rivers that carry a certain kind of weight — rivers that feel iconic before you ever step foot in them. The Missouri River near Craig, Montana is one of those places.

For the third and final day of this trip, Jake and I drove two hours east to fish this legendary tailwater. Joining us was Drew Baker, a professional photographer and videographer who came along to capture photos and drone footage for Pescador on the Fly. Let’s just say: he delivered. You’ll be seeing his work across our site and social channels for a long time to come.

Rigging Up: The Full El Rey Lineup

With Drew along, we wanted to get great shots of every model in the El Rey G6 lineup. So we rigged four rods:

• El Rey G6 8’6” 4wt

• El Rey G6 9’ 5wt

• El Rey G4 9’ 5wt

• El Rey G6 9’ 7wt for streamers

Now, if you’ve fished the Missouri, you know it’s a big, technical river. The fish are strong, the drifts have to be clean, and most people wouldn’t think to fish a 4 weight out here. But I brought the 864-6 for exactly that reason — to prove what it could do. And honestly? It became the rod of the day.

We started the morning nymphing and throwing dry-dropper rigs, and the 4 weight just kept catching fish. It was light, precise, and handled bigger trout than you’d expect with total control. At some point, we admitted we were just too lazy to swap rods — but the truth is, we didn’t need to.

The Fishing: Steady Action, Big Smiles

We were into fish all day — healthy rainbows, solid browns, and plenty of action. The rigs were dialed in, the drifts were clean, and Drew was capturing it all from behind the lens and above with the drone. Watching him work while we fished was a cool experience. He blended right into the boat and knew exactly when to snap the shutter.

One of my favorite moments came when Jake — a lifelong guide with hundreds of rods under his belt — turned to me and said, “These rods feel damn good.” By the end of the day, he ordered two of them — one for guiding, one for himself. That’s the kind of validation money can’t buy.

Factory Matters: Built in South Korea

This trip wasn’t just a field test — it was confirmation. Moving production to our new factory in South Korea has been a game changer for us. The performance, the finish, the consistency — all of it stepped up in a big way. And now, we’re applying that same level of craftsmanship to our El Jefe v2 series, which is launching this month.

Final Thought: Gratitude & Gear That Performs

Fly fishing has always been personal for me. It’s a connection to nature, to the people I care about, and to the simple moments that matter most. After losing my dad last summer, I hadn’t spent nearly enough time on the water. This trip — these three days with Jake — reminded me why I do what I do.

The fish were great. The rods were even better. But the best part? The friendships, the laughter, and the joy that comes with chasing trout in wild places.

Thanks for following along. If you ever find yourself in western Montana, look up Jake Hensley (@missoulaflyguy). And if you’re looking for a travel rod that fishes like a top-end 4-piece, check out our El Rey Series. These rods are changing minds, winning over guides, and proving themselves on the water every day.