The Marias River flows from the Rocky Mountain Front near Glacier National Park through the northern Montana prairie to join the Missouri River near Loma. The river is named after Maria Wood, the cousin of Meriwether Lewis, and was explored by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Below Tiber Dam, the river supports populations of walleye, sauger, northern pike, and some trout in the cooler tailwater sections. Lake Elwell (Tiber Reservoir) provides warmwater fishing for walleye, northern pike, perch, and stocked rainbow trout. The lower river flows through agricultural country with limited public access, though several FWP sites provide entry points for bank and boat anglers. Spring and fall offer the best fishing conditions before summer heat and irrigation demands reduce flows and water quality. The Marias River country offers wide-open prairie landscapes and excellent opportunities for solitude away from the crowded western Montana waters.