Weekend Fishing Report 10.10.24 Montana’s Missouri River
Water Flows at 3200cfs.
Water Temps 57.5F
Dry fly fishing looking up. Fished a couple days this week hunting heads along with blind fishing dry flies, attractors, and am finding some success. Good dead free drifts are the key, yes, once again. Always.
Ants, beetles, Adams, October Caddis, 14-16 tan caddis, BWO Emergers, dead junk aka Buzzball or Griffith’s Gnat, hoppers. Those are all flies that have performed this week. Next week? Likely more of the same.
Posted up dry fly fishing pretty good yesterday on the upper reaches. Pseudo’s and some skittering caddis, and a bundle of microscopic mayflies. Hard seam lines and likely rising trout regions had catchable trout on them.
Saw a couple dry fly anglers yesterday. Dry fly anglers are certainly the minority on this river, in this period of time. Not October or November. This period meaning the current trend of fly fishing and the values, the techniques, and the continued rise of nymphing as a discipline, dead drifting boat skills, knowledge and understanding of shelf lines/lanes. The community is certainly getting damn good at the indicator game.
Stating here that it is OK to give any angler, any angler some room when passing. It is OK to communicate with your voice before you pass, or have to come close to another angler. Communication, is the key to keeping both parties congenial/friendly.
Nymphers loving the fall period. Mayflies and Sowbugs are the most common patterns for the month, and will trend that way as we enjoy the fall here locally. Most fishing 18″-48″ of water depth with an unweighted or weighted rig. Upper river fro many.
Remember that Holter Dam, BLM land, will soon, if not already, begin charging for use of the BLM property at the Holter Dam Boat Ramp. Commercial users are paying for use in ’24 and into the future. Our Dam Shuttle price has been raise a bit to absorb the fee for shuttle vehicle pay for every shuttle leaving the dam. Recreational Holter Dam fees are coming. Pay daily. or get a season pass. More info as it becomes available to us here. Your information source of all thins Missouri River.
Streamer anglers looking towards more seasonable weather conditions. i.e. cloud cover, rain…
Swingers? A few out there. A few doing well. Scandi lines for sure at 3200cfs.
Rental boats, rental waders, lots of nightly lodging choices, fall weather clothing from Skwala, NRS, Orvis, Sleepy Zips, and more. Gloves, hand warmers, hats, guide trips, sale items, and so much more from Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service in Craig Montana.
Open daily at 7am.
