Holy Blue-Winged Olive weather right now on the Mo....will it last? Hard to say once Snowmageddon moves on and we get back to clear skies on the Mo. Late April and May is the usual Trout Disney Land action that is the Missouri River tailwater fishery has been a little slow to get cranking this spring, but these next two weeks are when things usually make a hard turn of the corner and it is all systems-go on the Mighty Mo!
Blue-Winged Olives will really show up in big numbers any day and then there are legitimate opportunities for dry fly fishing, but conditions have to be perfect--no wind, a little sunshine in the morning to penetrate into the water to kick-start the insect activity, and then some overcast to roll in. The fishing on the upper waters can produce some nice rainbows that are in the river from Canyon Ferry but it is never a high numbers game. The water below Craig has been fishing well on nymphs but also some dry action on midges and early baetis.
Even with the potential for good dry fly fishing, it is still mostly a nymphing game on the Missouri River and the normal Missouri River standards of scuds, sow bugs, worms, and smaller midge larvae or baetis nymphs will produce. Just make sure you find what water the fish are holding in as they won't be uniformly spread out this time of year. Some dry fly action over midge hatches can also be a lot of fun in the late afternoon. Dress warm, wade smart and safe because if you fall and fill your waders with water you don't have long before hypothermia sets in...and nobody wants that.
The Month Ahead:
Wind can be an issue in early spring, but the trout should still be feeding in the afternoon hours on a daily basis.
Where to Find Trout on the Missouri:
The Missouri below the dam at Wolf Creek can be a great spring fishery. Nymphing the slower seams will be the staple until the stronger midge hatches arrive in the later winter and early spring.
Long Term Missouri River Forecast
The Missouri near Craig can produce some good wade fishing for the next month or so, but it is a big and windy river to float in the winter months. Standard fair, like a pink sow bug trailed by a midge larva, is a good option.
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