Missouri River Report 6.29.16
The water is currently flowing 4140 CFS Water temps are 58-60 degrees. Flows have been fairly consistent for over a week. Consistency is good. Consistency means patterns emerge. Daily spinner falls and emergence periods are happening. This means the fishing is great-
The fishing is great, but the catching can be a challenge. More so if you want to go dry. PMD hatches have provided the most consistent action, but the fish are getting picky and nervous. If you can sneak up on a bank sipper, you might get him on the first drift. If you try the mid river risers, good luck. They keep moving and they often know after the first cast that they are being hunted. I guess that’s fair chase, but many anglers are discouraged by the challenge. Others relish it.
Tough dry fly fishing is something experienced anglers appreciate. They accept the challenge, but there can be many frustrations. "That cast was perfect, why didn’t he eat it?" The timing of the drift, the angle of the fly on the water, a micro hydraulic impact the angler can’t perceive, a reflection on the tippet, the fish was taking a break, he saw the shadow of a bird, or just because. And then there is the opposite end of the spectrum. You’ve made a hundred drifts. Some appeared perfect. Then a fish eats as you are lifting to recast and you break him off.
Dry fly fishing a big river like the Missouri is not for everyone. The margin for error is slim. The fish don’t tolerate mistakes. But what a great place to perfect your craft. To learn to pay attention to details. To challenge yourself to be a better angler. To struggle for the ultimate reward. I’ve seen anglers bursting with delight when they finally stick a 19" rainbow. You would think it was a 100lb tarpon.
Dry fly fishing can build tensions and desires to the point of bliss when success happens. A look from the fish gets an exclamation. An eat and a miss will elicit squeals and groans. If you hear it from another boat, you know exactly what happened. The cheers that can accompany success are the equivalent to your team scoring in the Super Bowl.