Things have really heated up here on the Missouri River. It’s hot and so is the fishing. The water is nearly at a good level to fish some dries. The nymph fishing is quiet hot! We get a big brown almost every day. Hopper fishing will be soon. Time to get on over to the Mo!!!
Lots of water, Lots of big browns! The river has been plenty high this year, high water makes for some big fish. That being said, I’m over the high water and the nymph fishing! We can look forward to a good hopper fishing season but I’m afraid the may-fly and caddis hatch will be wasted due to high flows. If you waited to long to make plans this season, that might be a good thing. Lets hope the water drops and the fish rise. Until then we will just keep catching these!
We have been doing well catching Big Trout. High water always makes the fish big! I have been getting lucky landing some bigs every day. The water is back on the rise due to heavy rain storms up river. The fish are just getting bigger eating all the worms, ants, sowbugs and emerging insects. We are hopeful that the river will drop to offer a better dry- fly bite. Until then, we will be catching these to pass the time,
Had some fun times with the Tim Stein group. These guys do it right! Rent a house in Craig Montana and fish the Missouri for 3 days. Great food and great guides. They are booked for the same time next year because it is that good! Yes they do have a little competition, The biggest brown takes the cup. Ray won the prestigious award two years running. Not easy to do when the guides are trying to crush each other and the clients are out for blood! Good times with good guys!
We have high water here on the Mo. The fishing is very good! On years when the water gets really high the fish get really big! Of course the dry-fly fishing is not happening until the water gets below 12000 CFS. If you like to nymph fish with long leaders and lots of weight now is your time! We hook big ones every day when the water is high!
Fishing is getting good on the Missouri! Although we have high water, the fishing is very consistent right now. Lots of hard fighting fish are coming to the boat. It seems like the run-off is going to be gone sooner than later. We can’t wait for some dry-fly fishing! Stay tuned.
Spring fishing is fun! Big fish and big water!
The fishing has been pretty darn good over here on the Mighty Mo! We have had high water for ever up until now. Even though the water was higher than normal the dry fly bite has been good some days. The above picture was of Steve P. with a big old fish that ate a streamer. Nice one Steve! He is already booked for next June. Make your plans now folks or that river cottage you like to rent might be taken!
May is a great time to fish Montana’s Missouri River. We are on the verge of a large caddis hatch along with a some sizable drakes. The water volume is at the upper limits for the fish to rise well but I’ve seen some big fish rise in the past with similar conditions.
As of now nymph fishing is really good some days and really tough other days. Most guides are getting it done day to day. Most do it yourself guys are having some really tough days, especially in the sun. I have not heard many great reports about streamers but as the water warms fishing certain banks can be good.
We are moving into spring! We all start to feel the need to fish this time of year! The water temp is getting close to 40 degrees on the Mighty Mo. I usually don’t start fishing until the water hits 40. That is when fish start to chase things. At about 42 degrees you can get those blue wing olive hatches, that’s when big dumb ones eat the dry fly! Hope to see you soon.