Guest blog from WCA Guide Luke Koerten
April has turned to May and not much has changed on the Missouri River. Bugs are out and fish are up eating them…when the wind isn’t blowing. The W has definitely been keeping a majority of the action subsurface the last few days, as most of the bugs have been blowing to Great Falls and beyond. If the weatherman is correct that should change starting today. Sunny and calm, clouds and hopefully a little rain as we progress through the week. Don’t let the sunshine get you down, as even on sunny days there are dry fly opportunities, so long as there are bugs on the water. Keep an eye out for noses and backs in shady spots, soft edges, and eddy lines. As those clouds begin to roll in they will become progressively easier to find.
Small mayfly nymphs continue to produce daily. A chunkier #16 with a more slender body #18 behind it has been my rigging of choice as of late. I could rattle off a bin full of nymphs that are catching fish right now (PT, peep show, magic fly, S&M, LGM, WD-40, 2bit hooker, etc.), but the key is the depth. Pick a depth you are comfortable fishing and hunt that type of water. The fish are there. Keep in mind with the lower flows you might have to shorten up your rig a little bit or remove your split shot. If you are floating, you can also move the boat out a little further than usual to find the appropriate zone.
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