12 Reasons Why I Love Fly Fishing the Missouri River in the Fall

12. It’s warmer than winter fishing.

11. I actually like fishing in lousy weather because bad fall weather is usually super productive. I wear Gore-Tex waders and a Gore-Tex jacket so I can stay comfortable while doing it.

Waders leaking when the steelhead are running? Learn how to quickly repair waders here.

10. Fall fish are fat, healthy, and strong. After a summer of bountiful eats, fall fish are in excellent condition.

9. Smells. Whether it’s crisp and cold or damp and earthy, fall smells remind me that I’m right where I want to be.

8. Colors. I love fall colors and fall light.  There is a rich golden glow on a clear day that lasts for hours.

7. Winter is looming and every nice day you get on the water before winter is like a bonus.

6. Swinging with a 2-hander is ideal for presenting soft hackles and streamers. You can trout spey from dawn to dusk.

What's the perfect Missouri River spey setup? Read about Fred's favorites here.

5. Wading is easy. If you don’t have a boat or don’t have a partner who can row, you can still fish lots of great water.

4. You can fish banker’s hours. In the summer, you need to be out really early and really late.  Now that the days are short and the nights are cold, daytime fishing is just fine.

3. My beer stays cold, even if the fishing is so good I forget about it for 20 minutes.

Want to know how the river is doing? Check current Mo conditions here.

2. I like wearing waders. Wet wading in the summer can be great, but honestly, I prefer to stand in the river and be dry.

1. And the number one reason why I love fly fishing the Missouri River in the fall is that hunting season keeps many sportsmen occupied and gives me more space on the water.