We started this first day of summer on the MO at a chilly 39 degrees. It’s warmed up a bit to the mid 60’s but not exactly what we’d expect on the first day of summer. The cooler weather will persist throughout the week with daytime highs in the low 70’s but it looks like we’ve got some heat arriving Sunday when temps will finally hit 80 again. I can’t even recall an 80 degree day so far in June. We may have had one but overall it’s been a chilly and wet June on the MO.

We are smack dab in the midst of PRIME TIME and conditions are starting to come into shape just in time. Current flows are 10,400 CFS with water temp right around 60 degrees. We should see a continued draw down on those flows over the next couple of weeks.

PMD’s are underway and gaining momentum. Also a few caddis around providing ample opportunities even in these higher flows for the dry fly set.

A benefit of the cooler weather and higher flows is that the weeds are slow in coming. Plenty of clean water out there making things easy on the nymphers and keeping the streamer game alive.

Still a sow bug game but if you aren’t mixing in some Caddis pupae and some PMD nymphs, you should be. And if you haven’t been trying a crayfish or Zirdle here and there, you should be doing that as well.

This is our busiest week of the season by far for guide trips and that doesn’t seem to be limited to us. The river is definitely busy though with most transient guides having returned to their home waters it doesn’t feel quite as busy as it did a few weeks back. Early starts get you ahead of the crowds. Late starts get you behind them. Maybe best to avoid the 8 – 9 window. The busier days have seen waits up to an hour at the ramp.

We’re open early at 7 AM daily and usually around well before that running rental boats to and fro. These next three weeks are the busiest ones of the season for guide trips, lodging and boat rentals so we don’t have much availability but there are a few holes in the schedule here and there so give us a call if you’re in need of a place to stay and we’ll see what we can do.

We’re stocked up on PMD’s and Caddis and terrestrials on the dry side and plenty of nymphs to boot though the sowbug shortage is real! We’re working on it.

Lots of new WCA T’s and sun hoodies and hats in stock with more on the way and all the sun protection you need should summer ever settle in. The brand new Korkers All Axis Wading shoes and Swift Wading sandals are flying out the door – get em’ before they’re gone.

The word is out – WCA has the Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO! We appreciate the increase in shuttle business and invite you all to give us a try.

The calendar says summer, the weather says not quite but regardless, we’ll see you soon at your favorite Missouri River Fly Shack.