Missouri River Fishing Report 4.13.17

All systems go. It’s coming up on mid-April. While the fishing is not always red hot, the conditions are good for the season. The water has eclipsed the magic 42 degree mark. Flows are near normal.

Scuds and Sow Bugs are a mainstay as the water rises and they get stirred about. The river bottom is a veritable smorgasbord and many fish literally make their living gobbling the little amphipods and isopods all day long. Tailwater Sows, Rainbow Czech Nymphs, Pink Amex and Mini Mo Czechs fit the bill.

Create the perfect spread of nymphs you need to slay. Shop online here.

BWO’s are starting to pop. It’s time to fish those #18 and #20 BWO nymphs daily. Whatever flavor you like of Pheasant Tail, JuJu, Radiation, Magic Fly, Hogan’s, Crust Nymph and Little Green Machine should be in favor.

If you get on the risers in the afternoon, you’ll want to go dry. The Spotlight BWO is one of my favorites. A good old size 20 Para Adams is hard to beat and you can always go with a little Purple Haze.

Purple Haze + a whole lot more dries up and online here.

Before the hatch gets strong, soft hackles can get you plenty of attention. It’s hard to beat the Pulsating Emerger in olive or gray. Sometimes I’ll even get them on a size #14 Partridge & Orange or Partridge & Yellow.

Not sure what’s happened to the midges. While there are always some hatching daily, they have not come off like we’ve seen in the past. Maybe they will pop off in massive mats all on one day. The zebra stuff is still on the menu and Griffiths and Custer Midges will still get the eaters focusing on the adult midges in the slow water zones

Streamer fishing is also a viable option. I did a little two handed swinging last night on the lower river and got some nice grabs on a gold, silver, copper Flash n Grab. If you want a really cool fly that tickles the interest and ire of Missouri River browns, check out the Smoke N Mirrors. The Gold Polar Minnow and Skiddish Smolt are also favorites.

Smoke N Mirrors? Yep, we've got those as well. 

Come one, come all to our 2nd annual Trout Spey Clave at the Mid Canon Fishing Access site (exit 240) on the Missouri River. You don’t to have a two handed rod. You don’t even need to want one.

You will learn techniques that are valuable in all facets of fly fishing. We’ve got a free clinic on Friday from 3-5 where you can bring your own rod or try a demo. On Saturday, we’ll have presentations going from 10 am to 5 pm. We’ll have a food truck on site serving tasty breakfast and lunch items. If you are planning to fish the Mo this weekend, you should swing on over.