Missouri Report Fishing Report 4.20.17

April fly fishing results can be sporadic, like the hatches and the weather. Lots of midges are finally coming off, but there has been little surface feeding in the main river. Some pockets and channels will bulge with some eats if you know where to look, but the big time dry fly fishing has not been happening yet. Maybe today?

BWO’s are popping off in bursts in some stretches of the river. If you are on the right run at the right time, you can find some great emerger action. A good old size 20 Pheasant Tail can get lots of attention in the early afternoon. If the sun is shining or the wind is blowing hard, you won’t find many risers or any once the hatch is underway.

Clouds and modest wind are the ticket. Everything is conditional and sporadic. One of these days it will be really good. I hope I’m out there, but if not, I know I’ll hear about it.

Check out our selection of flies if you need to get your box filled quick. 

River levels have been on the climb and will likely top 7K cfs in another day. Rising water means the fish have to make adjustments to find their comfort zone. Rising waters also create feeding opportunities. Just when we are getting excited about the building hatches, the river is going to be serving up lots of scuds, sow bugs and annelid worms.

Nymphing these items in high water conditions is always a strong choice.

Now is a great time for streamer action. The browns are hungry and often willing to attack the larger flies this time of year. Galloup’s Barely Legal, the Dungeon and the Dirty Water Smoke N’ Mirrors put some fish in the net on a recent outing. We found that the fish were ready to chase and a quick pace was required to get them to commit. The water has warmed up just enough to get them on the chase and the chomp.

The extent of our Smoke N Mirrors selection is just one click away.

Conditions will be changing daily for the foreseeable future. Water adjustments, weather being weather, fish being fish, bugs doing their thing one day and not the next. One thing that never changes is that spring fishing is great. Regardless of the catch rates, it’s a wonderful time to be on the water. We are here to outfit you so you can make the best of it.

Stop by for fresh conversation, fresh info, fresh flies, fresh gear and fresh coffee. I hope to see you in the shop or on the river soon.