PAST MISSOURI RIVER FISHING REPORTS 2023
NOVEMBER
Date Posted: Nov 15, 2023
The Missouri River below Holder down is flowing at 3950 CFS and water temps hovering around 45 degrees. The weather is partly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a southwest wind 9-14mph increasing to 18-23mph. Psuedo's and BWO's are a maybe. Short leash nymphing with sow bugs, BWO nymphs, zebra is producing numbers. For the two-handed trout spey guys, swinging soft hackles, leeches and streamers is good.
Looking forward, lows will dip below freezing in the next couple days with highs hovering around the upper 50's. Fishing is best when the air temperature is at it's highest, so plan your fishing accordingly. The bite has been best around 11-3pm.
December 7, 2023
Location: Missouri River
Flows: CFS/4770
Temperature: 41 Degrees below Holter Dam
Dry: A few midges out there. Not much dry fly action to speak of.
Nymph: Sow Bugs will be the anchor moving forward into winter. Some anglers are fishing a sow with a Zebra Midge (Tufted Zebra) or Mayfly (Black #18 IPT), or simply running two sows with a pink Tung version followed by another pattern (Pill Popper/Tailwater Sow). Anglers are still finding success short leashing (flies 2-3' under Palsa Tab indicators) along the banks and over skinny flats. As temps continue to fall, running longer leaders with split shot will be the norm.
Streamer: Solid action this time of year. Browns are coming off the spawn and they are hungry. I like the SA Sonar Titan Int/S2/S3 for larger flies. For smaller weighted streamers, the Rio OutBound Short Floating or the F/H/I are excellent choices. Flash N’Grabs, Flare-A-Bou, Chicago Overcoat, and the She Demon Bugger are good smaller choices. Now is a great time to tempt those hungry larger browns on the larger articulated flies like Galloup's Dungeon and all the other variations.
Trout Spey: Prime time for swinging. Leeches (Balanced Squirrel, Squirrely, Thin Mint) and Buggers are always on the menu. Foxxy Clouser, Montana Intruder, Mini Montana Intruder, Bald Eagle and many more on the swing. Scandi set ups will work for fishing over the flats and inside turns. Swing Skagit tips for streamers over the buckets, deeper runs and shelves. T-8 tips in 5/5 and 10’ or the OPST tips in the Riffle (S2/3), Run (S4) and Bucket (S9) Series will cover all bases.
Location: Upper Holter Lake
Fish hot headed balanced leeches two or three feet off the bottom in 8-10' of water, especially along the river channel. Sometimes a San Juan Worm or attractor nymph will work too. Stripping buggers and Clouser's will get fish if you can find the depth. The fishing is excellent and should be good, until the water ices up.
December 12, 2023
Location: Missouri River
Flows: CFS/4220
Temperature: 38 Degrees below Holter Dam
Dry: A few midges out there. Not much dry fly action to speak of.
Nymph: As temps continue to fall, running longer leaders with split shot will be the norm. Sow Bugs will be the anchor moving forward into winter. Some anglers are fishing a sow with a Zebra Midge (Tufted Zebra) or simply running two sows with a pink Tung version followed by another pattern (Pill Popper/Tailwater Sow). Some anglers find success short leashing midges (flies 2-3' under Palsa Tab indicators) in the slow edges, channels and back waters.
Streamer: Solid action this time of year. Browns are off the spawn, and they are hungry. I like the SA Sonar Titan Int/S2/S3 for larger flies. For smaller weighted streamers, the Rio OutBound Short Floating or the F/H/I are excellent choices. Flash N’Grabs, Flare-A-Bou, Chicago Overcoat, and the She Demon Bugger are good smaller choices. Now is a great time to tempt those hungry larger browns on the larger articulated flies like Galloup's Dungeon and all the other variations. Just make sure to make it easy for the fish to eat your flies. Cold water slows things down. Get them deep and move them slowly.
Trout Spey: Prime time for swinging. Leeches (Balanced Squirrel, Squirrely, Thin Mint) and Buggers are always on the menu. Foxxy Clouser, Flare-A-Bou, Trout Spey Bugger, Trout Spey Intruder, Montana Intruder, Mini Montana Intruder, Bald Eagle and many more on the swing. Scandi set ups will work for fishing over the slower water flats and inside turns. Swing Skagit tips for streamers over the buckets, deeper runs and shelves. T-8 tips in 5/5 and 10’ or the OPST tips in the Riffle (S2/3), Run (S4) and Bucket (S9) Series will cover all bases.
December 27, 2023
Location: Missouri River
Flows: CFS/4160 increasing to 4700 later in the week
Temperature: 35-36 Degrees below Holter Dam
Quite a few anglers have been fishing the past week in our mild temperatures. Most are wading, but a few are still rolling their drift boats. Currently, all the boat landings are snow and ice free.
Dry: A few midges out there. Not much dry fly action to speak of.
Nymph: Running longer leaders with split shot is the winter norm. Sow Bugs are the primary standby imitation throughout the winter months. Some are fishing their sow behind a worm. Others drop a Zebra Midge off their sow bug. Running a double sow bug rig with beaded and non-beaded versions is also popular. If you want to get technical, anglers find success short leashing midges (flies 2-3' under Palsa Tab indicators) in the slow edges, channels and back waters.
Streamer: Smaller weighted streamers like Flash N’Grabs, Flare-A-Bou, Chicago Overcoat, and the She Demon Bugger will provide action. Cold water slows things down. Whether you choose a floating line or a sink tip, get them deep and move them slowly.
Trout Spey: Prime time for swinging. Buggers like the Thin Mint are always on the menu along with Balanced Leeches in dark colors. The Foxxy Clouser, Flare-A-Bou, Trout Spey Bugger, Trout Spey Intruder, Montana Intruder, Mini Montana Intruder, Bald Eagle, Pocket Rocket and many more will find connections. As fish tank up, Scandi set ups with tung head flies will work for fishing the soft inside zones. Swing Skagit tips for streamers over the buckets, deeper runs and shelves. T-8 tips in 5/5 and 10’ or the OPST tips in the Riffle (S2/3), Run (S4 or S6) and Bucket (S9) Series will cover all bases.
We will have a crew out fishing on January 1st for our annual Slay Day. Check Instagram @flyprojectusa for details and some photos.