Autumn is a magical time on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

As far as I’m concerned it’s never too early to talk about fall fishing.

After all, Autumn is creeping in. The days have grown substantially shorter (seemingly all of a sudden), the nights are cool, the green grasses of spring and summer have mostly faded to brown and the leaves are just starting to turn ever so slightly to the red and yellow hues of fall. The branches of the chokecherry trees are sagging under the weight of an bumper crop and it likely  won’t be long before the bears arrive for the harvest.

Looking at the water projections we recently received for the remainder of the season the mind wanders far from the 100 degree scorchers we’re about to encounter to the cooler days of fall which lie ahead.

Water levels are projected to hold pretty much where they’re at for the rest of the season (4380 CFS as of this writing) which is as close to perfect as you could ask if you’re a wade angler.

There’s no time like the present to pick up the phone and book your autumn stay. Lodging and prime guide dates are starting to fill up from mid September through late October and by the looks of it it’s going to be a busy fall on the Missouri.

Autumn is probably my favorite season and it’s an absolutely magical time to fish in Montana. There’s nothing quite like the bright blue sky of a chilly autumn day on the water, accented by the brilliant yellow shades of the cottonwood trees.

And speaking of fall colors, there are none quite as striking as those of the  spawning brown trout. Streamer fishing anyone?

Good terrestrial fishing, hot nymphing and perhaps the best time of the year for streamer fishing…fall has it all.

A few months from now it’ll all be drawing to a close. Don’t miss out on what could very well be the best fishing of the season.