September is flying by and though we’re still a week away from the official start of autumn it’s definitely feeling and fishing like fall.

We’ve seen some snow and some colder temps already which has us thinking it may just shape up to be a normal fall instead of the extended summer we’ve seen the past couple of years. We have hit a brief warm up and will see temps near 80 with blue skies and sunshine for the next couple of days but things return to normal on Sunday and into next week with a return to more normal temps in the 50’s and 60’s . Cool nights are keeping that water temp on the descent and we’re already on that edge of the magical trout apex range of 57 – 60 degrees.

Fishing has been consistently good with the cool cloudy days being the best. Not to say there haven’t been some tougher days out there but overall we’re comfortable reporting that the fishing is good. It may not be lights out every day but suffice it to say that there are significant numbers of fish being caught each day from Holter Dam to Cascade. The dam has seen the highest concentration of traffic coinciding appropriately with the highest concentrations of fish but don’t hesitate to fish other sections, the fish are EVERYWHERE!

It remains a nymhing game for the most part but we’ve seen some good caddis action on a handful of evenings and pseudos have been plentiful daily if that’s your thing. BWO’s on the way! We have yet to abandon fishing terrestrials as we’re continuing to get enough action to at least give them a try most days. Hoppers or Chubbys paired with beetles or ants or your nymph of choice will still get eaten and when they do it makes the lull worthwhile and it’s so much more entertaining than watching the bobber all day long.

Status quo on the nymphs with black zebra midges leading the charge followed by a host of mayfly standards, crayfish, sows, Czechs…..you name it – they’re eating it…..sometimes. Some are running the double zebra rig which isn’t a bad way to go but we like to add some variety and generally spend some time switching things up just to see if we can find something else they’re liking as much as the zebra.  As always,  sooner or later there will come a day where they decide they’ve had enough of the zebra and it’s time to move on to something else. We’re always working to figure out what that something else is going to be.

Bugs on the move this week other than zebras have been Lightning Bugs in Purple, Pearl and Olive; Split Case BWO’s; BWO Magic Flies; Olive Micromays; LGM’s in grey; BWO Wondernymphs; October Caddis Nymphs; Brown S & M’s  and Olive WD -40’s along with a bunch of other odds and ends.

We will continue to push the streamer game and we just keep adding to our already impressive selection of big bugs, many of which you won’t find stocked in any other shop. We’ll always have you covered as far as the standards go (sparkle minnows, JJ’s, Buggers etc…) but you (and I include myself in this)  really need to break from your habitual selections and start showing them something they haven’t seen. We’ve got you covered there is well. Stop in and check out our ever-expanding selection of streamers and while you’re at it why not treat yourself to a new streamer line from Rio or Airflo. We’ve got a line for every application. Need a reel to put that line on and a rod to put that reel on? We can help you out there as well with some awesome new reels from Nautilus and Loop and rods from Loop, Echo, St Croix and Redington.

Enjoy these late summer days. We’re all excited for fall but before you know it the snow will be flying and we’ll all be dreaming of summer and  longing for warmer days.  In the meantime we’ve got you covered with everything you need for the impending cold. Wading gear from Redington, Layering,  Outerwear and piles of hats and gloves from Simms, Kast, Outdoor Research and more.

We are your Missouri River fly fishing destination!