Missouri River Report 6.1.16
June is here, heralding summer weather and summer bugs. PMD’s and caddis are in the water, in the air and on the water again. Missouri River fish are eating the PMD nymphs and caddis pupa sub surface. They are eating the emerging bugs and the returning adults, both egg layers and spent. In order to be successful this time of year, you need a variety of patterns for each stage of these bugs. It’s not rocket science, just fishing by the numbers. The higher the numbers of a particular bug or stage of that bug, the more fish will be feeding on it.
Complications arise when you have hatching bugs, egg layers, PMD spinners and spent caddis all at the same time. Further complicating the problem is the fact that there may be several different caddis of varying size, color and behavior in the mix. Whether you view this as a challenge or it makes you switch to a Woolly Bugger is up to you. If you want to be in the bug game, you are going to need a variety of PMD and Caddis patterns.
Make sure your current fly selection includes some PMD nymphs and Caddis Pupa in sizes #14-#18 along with emergers, dries and spent / spinner patterns of the same. If you need help filling out your selections, we can help. Here are some of the favored patterns in my fly box that will be getting wet this next month.
PMD’s: Tung Split Case PMD, Crack Back PMD, Little Green Machine PT, Pheasant Tails, Military May PMD, Mercers Poxyback Emerger PMD, Freestone Cripple PMD, Last Chance Cripple PMD, Sunburnt Cripple PMD, TC’s Tilted PMD, Sparkle Flag PMD, High Vis Spinner PMD
Caddis: TC’s Caddis Purger, Partridge and Peacock, N40 Caddis, Bloom’s Tung Dart, Sparkle Pupa, Iris Caddis, Stalcups CDC Emerger, Balloon Caddis, Outrigger Caddis, Missing Link Caddis, Stalcups Adult Caddis, X2 Caddis
Looking for flies but can't make it to the Fly Shop? Check them out here!
Missouri River Flows recently pushed over 7000cfs below Holter Dam. Currently they have dropped back to 6180cfs. The minor bounce stirred things up a bit and moved some weedy debris. That’s a good thing! The bugs also got activated. Will we see it begin to hike back up? Canyon Ferry still has a bit of area to fill. It’s about to start getting warm out, so the remaining snowmelt should cycle though fairly quick.
Find Current Water Temps & Flows Here
The water temp below the dam is currently reading 52 degrees and it should climb this week. That’s pretty buggy and fishy. Warming weather this week should get the PMD and Caddis hatches rolling. Beyond the Missouri River, all the area streams are quickly coming into shape. So fill up your fly boxes. It’s go time.