Current Conditions:
Fall is here on the Missouri River and the dry fly fishing and streamer fishing have turned a corner in the last week. To learn more about the Blue-Winged Olive mayfly, be sure to read our latest blog: The Mayfly You Need to Know: Catch More Fish by Understanding Blue-Winged Olives. Fishing will really be good for the next month or so. Dry fly fishing with baetis on cloudy days with no wind can be challenging but good. Nymphing will always produce good numbers. The streamer bite is finally turning on with the fish feeling the temps drop and wanting to bulk up before the shortest of days are upon them. This is a great option to search for a true monster this time of year.
October caddis are bumping around. This hatch is not the consistent for fall on the October but it is worth having a few caddis in your box in case you get the urge. October caddis do not hatch in great numbers but they are large enough adult fly that if a trout is hungry enough they will rise to a well presented fly. And hungry trout on the Mo in fall happens often enough that being prepared with some October caddis is never a bad idea.
Even if BWOs are still on their summer vacation, the tandem nymph game is heating up for sure on the Mighty Mo at the moment. The weeds of summer are still there but not as bad and getting better every day. A good drift these days is much easier to come by than in summer. The best rigs are two small mayfly nymphs fished in about 4 to 6 feet deep water in medium current. Fly selection isn't as important as presentation and fishing the right water...isn't that mostly always the case on the Mo---it's not what you are using it is how you are using it! See below for the list of best flies to use right now.
Streamer anglers haven't really hit their groove yet as not all of the weed growth has washed away. Fish are still being caught with streamers and large flies on the Missouri River but the best action has cleary been with sink-tip lines or even full sinking lines in the deeper, slower holes to find those aggressive brown trout who are just holding out for water temps to drop to cue them into spawning season.
Do it yourself wading anglers will find plenty of accessible water and options for good fishing. Floating anglers and those anglers on guided fly fishing trips will find it very nice to have a boat to help cover more water.
Favorite Flies for Fly Fishing the Missouri River Right Now:
Your favorite BWO or pseudocleon nymphs in appropriate sizes.
Almost Dun in BWO is sizes 16-20
Trico adults and spinners in size 20
Para Adams in sizes 16-20
Purple Haze in sizes 16-20
Little Green Machines in natural or olive in size 14 through 18
Zebra Midge in black, olive, or purple in sizes 14 through 18
Perdigons in fav color in size 14 through 18
Para PMXs in size 12 through 18....larger sizes for skwalas and smaller sizes for caddis
Scuds and sowbugs in various colors in size 10 to 18
Sculpzillas in black, olive, or purple in sizes 2 to 6
Home Invader in any contrasting color scheme in size 2 or 4
Sparkle Pupas (beadhead or not) in sizes 14 to 18
October caddis dries in sizes 8-12. A Bloom's Hi-Vis in a size 8 is good choice.
The Month Ahead:
We need that daytime high to drop into the 40s for the Blue Winged Olives to really kick start into hatching. When that happens hordes of Blue-Winged Olives will be seen on the surface and hungry trout will be very happy. Below Holter will continue to fish well with nymphs and streamers as it is one of the last stretches to drop into winter. Browns will continue to spawn through the month and fish will look to gather their last bits of calories before days grow short. Those hatches begin around 10/11 AM and last until 3/4 PM. Additionally, after the first cold front passes, the amount of available terrestrials available to trout dwindles as well. Trout on the Missouri River will eat hopper patterns well into September, but most anglers find better success with tandem nymph rigs using Blue Winged Olive and October caddis patterns.
Things for streamer anglers will definitely improve in the next month. As the Missouri River's large population of wild brown trout grow aggressive as spawning season approaches, using a variety of streamers is successful. These fish can be targeted in many of the Missouri's prime trout habitats--steep drop-offs along canyon walls, the tailouts after long shelfs and riffles, and in the variety of buckets and holes throughout many of the Missouri's long runs.
Right now the Missouri River is fishing well, but it is also just primed for some gonzo-good dry fly fishing here any day.