February fishing on the MO

It’s starting to feel a little more like late winter with longer days and more moderate weather conditions but I have a feeling we’re probably far from done with winter weather so don’t put the shovels and cold weather gear away just yet.

That being said, we’re looking at a very spring-like week here on the MO’ with abundant sunshine and highs near 50 expected all week.

The ramps are clear for the most part and much of the shelf ice has disappeared but keep in mind the water is still very cold and you are likely to encounter some treacherous spots where ice remains so please be careful out there.

I have a feeling we’ll see a little more boat traffic out there from here on out which is a welcome sign of spring to me. I don’t mind wade fishing in the winter, in fact winter is the only time I wade fish the Missouri but I for one am excited to be back in the boat.

The minimalism of wade fishing is nice. Carrying what you need on your person forces you to limit yourself to one discipline and stick to it. I used to carry a streamer rod and a dry-fly rod on my walk in outings but gave it up. It’s just not practical to carry two rods and limiting yourself to one option forces you to work hard at that option. This is a good thing!

Stay focused on the slow winter water. Again, the water is very cold and the fish aren’t overly active. They are in extreme energy conservation mode so while they do need to eat, they aren’t going to expend any more energy than is absolutely necessary to do so. You’ll need to find them and make it easy on them by presenting a meal they don’t have to work for. They are hungry and they will eat. You just need to put the flies in front of them. Once you get that figured out you could very well be in for some great days of winter fishing on the Missouri.

There’s no time like the present! Following a week of frozen plumbing woes at WCA, we are back in shape with plenty of lodging available. $99 for a cozy bungalow with full kitchen and private bath. The rooms sleep three comfortably with two twin beds and a pull-out couch.

New this season, for a $10 fee we are offering a king bed option (instead of the two twins) for those interested. Please let us know at the time you book. Remember we are Dog Friendly but we do charge a $25/dog cleaning fee so please inform us ahead of time if your dogs will be joining you. We’re still running at somewhat limited lodging capacity but we’re keeping an eye on the weather and will likely open up more lodging soon.

Don’t forget we’ve got some great winter specials going on as well. Full day guide trips on the MO for just $350 OR two nights lodging and a full day guide trip for just $500 (plus tax). You won’t find a better deal ANYWHERE!

We are your Missouri River winter fly fishing destination with everything you need for your time on the water. Shuttles, bugs, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, Simms cold weather gear, Loop rods and reels, the best guide trip and lodging deals around and much more.