Missouri River Report 11.3.16

The weather over the next week looks really good. Possibly too good for prime dry fly and streamer fishing, but it’s going to be hard to complain. It is November.  You can’t take a nice day for granted. Especially a week of them. So the question is not do you go fishing. The question is how you approach the fish.

Want to know how the river is doing? Check out current river flows here

Nymphing is going strong. Really strong. If you want lots of action, you should definitely get out there and drift some nymphs.

Lots of flies are working. The Tufted Zebra, Mo Zebra, and any small mayflies in the #18-#20 range are in the game. It’s hard to beat the good old scuds, sows and worms though. Mini Mo Czech, Tailwater Sow, Rainbow Czech, UV Czech, Wire Worm, and the classic chenille San Juan Worm are on the menu daily.

Dry fly fishing is variable with the lighting conditions, the wind and the hatch volume, but opportunities exist every day. A well-dressed Griffths is always a good bet for the midgers. A #16 Adams or Para Adams works for a general searching dry. When fish are rising on BWO’s, emerger style dries like the Donatello, Tilted BWO and the TFP Cripple are players.

Streamer fishing is always high on my to-do list. Some days the streamer bite is strong and other days a bit plucky. I love trying to figure out the mood of the fish and then find the flies and retrieves that will tempt them.

Need to stock up on flies? Check out our fly selection here

Trout Spey time is here. I’m more likely to be fishing a rod over 11’ then anything else for the next 5 months. I love Spey casting and I love getting grabs on the swing. Fly selection and water choice are big factors in the swing game.

Sometimes, the flashy flare on broad flats is all that it takes to get steady hookups. Other times, flies must be scaled and toned down. Small buggers and leeches are always a good choice in fishy lies. Then there are those fish who will ignore a small fly, but savagely attack a big bunny leech. Picking your water and your fly correctly will put a big bend in the long rod.

As always, we are here to help you have your best days on the water. Many folks are sticking to dry land and chasing mammals and fowl. For those of you ready to fish, we have the flies, tackle and knowledge you need to procure before you head out on the water. Hope to see you soon.

If you're heading out to the river, make sure to stock up on gear here