Missouri River Fishing Report Weekend Update
Dry Fly Season on the Mo
Weekend Update from us here at Headhunters of Craig Montana on the banks of the Mighty Mo. The Missouri River is fishing well. For part of the day.
High daytime highs recently have brought the summer right to us. Water Temps in the am are 65F with evening temps at 68F. That is at the dam. The coolest portion of the river we fish here locally. We suspect higher temps as you move downriver. Be aware of water temps and handling of trout. Bigger water temps equal less handling of fish. Take pics in the fall again. Take pics in the spring. Late summer is not the time to take a hero shot. Just take a beautiful image of the trout in the net. It’ll be great.
Trout Unlimited Temp Chart
Nymph fishers are gearing up with the Zirdle. And a smaller fly like a Zebra or a dark mayfly pattern. Also a good bet is.a Purple Weight Fly along with a small French. Out a larger Frenchie teamed up with a sow bug. Fishing in the deeper locales has been good. Center river styles can reward you.
Dry Fly Anglers fishing the morning session as well. Finishing when the fish tell you too. When they stop feeding on the surface, it may be an indication for an afternoon nap. Many dry fly anglers wrapping it up at noon. Techy mornings with the blind dry fly technique or single Trico dries of your choice. Quigley’s Clusters, Buzzball, Griffith’s Gnat, Renegade, Reneball, Harp’s CDC Spinner, CDC Trico Emergers, Drowned Trico patterns in the film or just below, Adams or Purple Haze in the tiny variety, small black soft hackle.
Trico’s hatching on Montana’s Missouri River.
Nymphing Tips
Dead drift for many of our nymphing applications. Flies moving contrary to the current get noticed less often.
The fish with the lower waters are spooky. And, this is the time of year that the fish are less entertained by boat traffic which now includes lots and lots of non angler users. You may need to get the fly out and away from the boat. Longer casts can be required as we move into August. This applies to the dry fly game, and the blind dry fly game. Also includes the hopper huck and hope campaign.
Dry Fly Tips
Posted up anglers must remember that the first drift on the trout, is there best drift. The first impression is key in trout to angler intro’s.
Fly first. If the fly line is beside the fly, in any manner, the odds have been created substantially.
First drift is a good idea. A good plan. A must in the latter days of July and August.
Fly, placement your hope for the fish looking at the fly…are secondary to drift. The fish are mostly, commonly, nearly every minute of every day (surface feeders) enjoying dead or dying insects. And many of the disciples of this blog and of catching trout on the Mo all understand one common and primarily important goal. Dead Flies Don’t Swim.
Dog Days of August coming to this river and yours too. Hoot Owl Conditions and river closures in this state are numerous and statewide. No restrictions on the Mighty Mo. Yet. Only two Hoot Owl Clusres in our history. The last one being 5 or 6 years ago. The first in 2000. Check out the Montana Hoot Owl Restrictions here.
Headhunters is your source for the great flies of the Mo. We have them all in stock. A fantastic selection of techy dry flies for the Mo, the best in nymphs tied for your success. Perdigons and the family of Euro Fly Patterns that just get ‘em. We got ‘em. The Best Flies Under the Big Sky here at Headhunters Fly Shop in downtown Craig Montana. Open daily 6am.