Early Spring Fly Fishing on the MO
It’s been really cold for a long time and suddenly it’s not. You realize that you can go fishing again. You have not been out for weeks or even months. Where do you start?
In the chill waters of February and March, midges are the hatch. Read more here.
Early season fishing is all about water temperature. In the fish’s world, early spring is generally an extension of winter. While it may be 50 degrees in our world, the water is likely under 40 degrees in theirs. This means their level of activity and the water they choose to reside in is quite predictable.
Degrees Matter
The Missouri River below Holter Dam is a tailwater. Water coming from the dam seldom changes temperature more than a degree within 24 hours. This means the fish in the first mile or so below the dam are used to a fairly stable environment. When the sun comes up, they start eating and when the sun goes down, they settle into a relatively dormant state. If you want to fish all day, this is the area to target.
Looking for tactics for tailwaters on the MO? Learn more here.
On a mild day, as water flows further from the dam, the temperature can rise a degree or several. Fish that are miles below the dam are keyed into these daily fluctuations. You will likely find little feeding activity first thing in the morning, but when the water rises a degree or so around say 11 a.m., the fish can switch from mostly dormant to active feeding. As days get longer and milder, the daily temperature fluctuations get larger, happen earlier and last longer. The active feeding periods of the fish follow this curve.
Fishy Locations
You will find that most of the fish are stacked up in slow-moving water with moderate depths. I look for walking speed current. If I can make a cast and easily walk along with my drift, the water is usually perfect. This water is usually found on the inside turns of the river or anywhere a point, large rock, or island breaks the main current flow.
Another key feature to focus on are the initial breaks where the water gets slower and deeper after running shallow and fast. The longer the run before the first break, the more likely you will find fish concentrated near that breaking zone. At these spots, you can cast into relatively quick water and drift your flies down to fish that are stationed and actively feeding near the bottom where the current slows. You will often find that these breaks or shelves light up with activity in the later morning and then cool off quickly as the sun begins to drop again.
If you Nymph
On a typical summer day, several different insects may be hatching, and fish can be feeding on multiple stages of those insects. Choosing the right fly and knowing where to present it can be challenging. In early spring, fish don’t have a lot of choices. Scuds, sow bugs, midge larva or pupa, and small mayfly nymphs are the standard fare.
Nymphing? Check out our favorites.
When the water is cold, and fish are not activated by emerging insects, most feeding takes place near the bottom. Nymphing is an incredibly effective way to target these hungry fish, stationed and concentrated in the predictable locations previously mentioned.
One of the most important keys to success, after you’ve selected the correct water, is to understand the physics of the slow water eat. Since most fish are going to be eating your fly in slow-moving water, your leader will be hanging almost straight below your indicator at max depth. When a fish takes, there is very little indication. The current does not quickly pull line away from the fish, telegraphing the stoppage of the fly. You need to be focused and paying attention to the slightest little tick, slow down or micro bob of your indicator. If you don’t, you will miss most of the takes and not realize how good the fishing actually is. Really good nymph anglers learn to anticipate where on the drift the bite is likely to happen, and they are ready to set at the subtlest of cues.
If you Swing
Swinging is a great way to cover water. It’s also a great way to target hungry opportunistic fish. Winter swing water is much the same as nymphing water, with the caveat that the swinger can also cover long slow-moving zones that would take forever to cover with a nymph. While fish are less concentrated in some swing water areas, they are very catchable.
There are many flies that can be effective on the swing. Small dark buggers are always a solid choice. Micro intruders, balanced leeches, small Clouser’s and even soft hackled wets can take fish on any given day. Some days the fish will respond well to flashy flies. At other times, flash seems to turn them away. You will have to experiment. That’s what keeps it interesting.
Beyond the fly choice and selecting the right water, another key is to play with your presentation. Sometimes, adjusting your swing speed, angle of swing, and fly action will make all the difference. At times, fish will take aggressively on a straight swing with no added action. Sometimes, twitches or a jigging motion will also get their attention. Sometimes, a quicker swing across the current with a broadside fly profile is ideal. Other times, they want it slow and easy. Often, fish will follow a fly on the swing and then eat at the beginning of the retrieve. It’s up to you to determine the triggering combination. That’s what makes it so much fun.
Going Dry
Midges hatch every day of the year on the Missouri River. In late winter and early spring, there are some hatches that will get lots of fish looking up and feeding on or near the surface. I always like to have a four-weight ready with a long leader tapered to 5X ready to go.
If enough bugs are on the water to get fish rhythmically feeding, the venerable Griffith’s gnat or a midge cluster fly is a good place to start. Fishing a tiny parachute or hackled midge adult can provide a nice challenge if the fish are picky. If fish are cruising just below the surface and zone feeding, stripping a soft hackled pulsating emerger near the film can draw solid takes.
Any Day Spent Outside is Good!
It’s always great to be out and any day spent on the water feels good, regardless of how many fish you bring to hand. At least that’s what we tell ourselves when we don’t catch many fish. I still believe that to be true, but with a little knowledge and a game plan based on that knowledge, you can prepare for the possibility of some very successful early spring days.