Missouri River Report: 10-19-15

missourriverreport

We are finally getting some cloudy days, and the water temperatures are cooling (down to about 56 degrees).  We swung streamers, and although the fishing isn’t lights out yet, we did catch some big fish on the swing.  The weeds have subsided quite a bit making streamer fishing and nymphing a fun experience again.

If you are swinging streamers, we caught fish on Ish’s Cool Herc, and some other olive sculpin swing patterns.  This time of year brown trout like flash so don’t be scared of it.  If you are using a Skagit head on your double hand rod 5 feet of T-11 is plenty for almost everywhere on the river right now with the current flows.  So the MOW tip from Rio that is 5 feet of floating and 5 feet of T-11 was plenty.

If you are dry fly fishing there were lots of fish eating on top.  However, most of the action was on the smaller pseudo hatch.  Fish a small size 18-20 watery olive colored baetis pattern and they will eat it with the right presentation.  We have dozens of options in the Great Falls fly shop- take your pick- but they are going to eat what looks most natural.  Sparkle flags, Brianne Duns, CDC Comparaduns, Split Flags, Hi-viz, and a few others will get the job done.  Get saucier, and add a size 18-20 pulsating emerger off the back of your dry fly 18-20 inches and you will get eats (Grey or olive but I’d use grey- just saying).

On the nymphing game, look at Little Green Machines in 18-20, and check out the new grey color.  We have a punch of other PT versions like the red headed step child, purple crust nymph, and a few others, and with the BWO’s about to come to life a selection of small PT’s would be very productive.

There will be October Caddis soon- didn’t see many yesterday or today but they are coming to a lower Missouri near you.

 

October is one of the best months for fly fishing on the Missouri river- hope you all can get out soon.

 

Sam Wike