Happy Anglers and Perfect Fall Fishing Conditions right now on the MO’.
We’re enjoying the mild late October weather here on the Missouri River and with it some of the best fishing we’ve seen this season.
Nymphing continues to produce consistently in most if not all sections of the river and is as accessible now as you’re going to see it.
It’s no secret that nymphing is almost always your best bet for numbers but there are many times when it’s difficult to figure out the program. Now is not one of those times.
Short leashing is working, dredging is working and those running somewhere in the middle are finding plenty of success as well.
We’ve continued to have great luck with sow bugs but there are others who have been running the Rainbow Czech/mayfly nymph combo for weeks now, finding no reason to run anything different.
Shallow fast water? Yes. Deep fast water? Yes. Medium depth/medium fast? Yes. Slow deep water? Not yet, but soon enough. That means you’ve essentially got limitless options right now so if someone is in your favorite spot/run so what? Move on. The fish are everywhere!
Your best bets for bugs right now include tailwater sows, soft hackle sows, firebead sows, Rainbow Czechs, Tan UV Czechs, LGM’s, PT’s, BWO Magic Flies, Rainbow Warriors, Purple Lightning Bugs, Rainbow Weight Flies, Jujus, Juan’s Hi Def Baetis and many more including local favorite Ninch’s Bubble Yum Scud which is a great point fly and which got plenty of eats the last couple outings.
Once again, some are running shallow weightless rigs, some are dredging with tungsten bugs AND weight and most are running medium depth rigs (4′-5′ indicator to first fly) with tungsten bugs but without weight. There are a lot of flies that are working. We recommend you try something from the above list or whatever you like, rig it up the way you like to fish and then find the water where it works. Don’t over think it.
The dry fly scene is still a waiting game. We’re seeing a few bigger bugs around daily but it isn’t happening just yet. It could be any day now. Water temps are right where they need to be in the low 50’s and we’ve had plenty of overcast skies. I’ve had my big BWO rig at the ready but it’s remained untouched as it’s still primarily tiny pseudos providing the surface action. This is a game I don’t enjoy all that much but for the die hard dfo’s there are plenty of opportunities to be had.
Streamer fishing has been so so. The strippers have been getting enough action to keep it interesting and we’re starting to see the swingers out there as well, doing their Trout Spey thing with varying degrees of success. If streamer fishing is your thing this is your time on the MO’.
Fishing traffic has been on the decline so if you want to have the thing to yourself (comparatively speaking of course) then now is the time. Give us a call to book lodging or guides or drift boat rentals or stop in for shuttles and bugs and anything else you may need on your way to the river. Wolf Creek Angler is your year-round Missouri River fly fishing destination.
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