Cray Days on the MO

Cray Days on the MO

Guest Blog from WCA Guide Jim Murray

We’ve officially reached the Dog Days of summer. Few fisherman, fewer boats and A LOT of smoke signal that the middle of August has arrived. While it has been smoky the last few days, it hasn’t stopped a few of us from getting out on the river and having some fun. The few of us who have been on the river this week have been rewarded with some pretty good fishing. In the last week, I’ve fished the entire river from the Dam to Cascade, and it is all fishing well.

Hoppers, chubby, ants, leaches, pheasant tails, caddis nymphs, and the good old Cray Daddy have all produced. In addition to catching a large number of healthy rainbows, it seems the Big Browns have come out to play. A large number of piggy browns have been brought to the net recently, both on nymphs and dries. Big Browns = happy anglers.

Big fish, a lot of them, and few to no other anglers on the river…what are you waiting for? While we all wish the fires will subside and the smoke will clear, it is a good time to be fishing the Missouri, and it only figures to improve as August turns to September and we receive some relief from the heat. Grab your box of big flies and terrestrials, your six weight rod, and hit the river. Or better yet, book a guide trip and leave all the work to us! Either way, if you like the river to yourself, and the chance to catch a big brown, it’s time to get on the Missouri.

The fish are feasting on Crayfish until they puke! photo by Jim Murray

The fish are feasting on Crayfish until they puke! photo by Jim Murray