Missouri River Report 6.21.16
Summer solstice has long been a special day for me. I spent my first summer solstice in Alaska fishing all night with some new friends, waiting for it to get dark. It didn’t. Around midnight, we went to the local establishment for some refreshment between fishing spots. We were there just long enough for me to meet my future wife.
Astrologically speaking, we had an interesting event last night. The full moon was rising at sunset on the longest day of the year. I don’t think I will be here 70 years hence when it happens again. I figured I better be fishing during the occurrence. I enjoyed an all too brief 45 minute evening rise period on caddis and then I skated up a brown under the full "Strawberry Moon". A fleeting window of opportunity, but worth the effort of being there.
I was on the river a couple days last week. On Thursday, we fished below Hauser. The Wire Worm, #10-#14 Rainbow Czechs and #14 Tailwater Sows were eaten very well. Even when the PMD’s came off, the fish still kept eating the wormy/shrimpy/sow bug stuff. It was uncomplicated fishing. That’s just right sometimes.
On Friday, we fished below Holter. Fish were eating PMD nymphs in the morning, so we went with double PMD’s. PMD Split Case, Crack Backs, Green Machines and Big Hole Specials all got eats. Then when the water loaded up with bugs in the afternoon, the fish got up on spinners and cripples. I have never seen so many PMD’s on the water as I saw on Friday. It was pretty cool. We got fish to eat Rusty Spinners and Poxy Back Emergers. After the PMD’s began to fall off, we managed to get a few more fish on a #16 Tung Dart Hare’s Ear (Caddis Pupa) and #16 Crack Back PMD Nymph.
Looking to try out some of these flies? Check them out here.
I heard some great reports of caddis and PMD dry fly and dry dropper success over the weekend from Craig all the way to Cascade. Fishing is pretty good out there. The water is low and clear at 4300 cfs. The water temperature is ranging between 58-62 degrees. PMD’s are hatching strong during the middle of the day. Lots of spinners and spent bugs are on the water. Caddis action can be great in the evening. The fish are feeding. The only issue to face is the "W". Sometimes it blows.