Missouri River Fly Fishing Report: September

We’re seeing flows on the Missouri holding at 3,500 – 3800 cfs with water temps sitting in the 63–65°F range. Boat traffic has thinned out. Fall is settling in early this year, and it’s showing up in how the river’s fishing.

Missouri River Fly Fishing Conditions

Weeds, which had been a factor through late summer, are currently a non-issue, we’re fishing streamers, and dry flies clean through the water column. Fish have also shifted their timing on us. Instead of first light, we’ve been finding them getting active closer to 9 am following the trico spinner fall.

Current Hatches Below Holter Dam

We’re seeing a layered hatch right now, Callibaetis, Tricos in the morning and Pseudos in the afternoon. Tricos are starting to taper off and the hatches are localized, Pseudos are moving in behind them. We expect that Baetis activity to build through the rest of September and kick off into October.

Techniques Producing Fish

Nymphing has been our most dependable approach through this transition. Sow bugs, worms, crayfish and thin-bodied mayfly nymphs have been producing.

Terrestrial fishing is still in play. Ants, beetles and hoppers. We’re finding fish holding in the 1-2′ of water. Center river flats, over the weeds and shorelines. Anglers who fish from a seated position and can get those flies a distance from the boat are getting the better shots right now.

Streamer fishing. I personally streamer fished yesterday with the crew from the Orvis company and it was steady. Thin mints , black buggers and the kreelex in gold. We expect it to keep improving as water temps continue to drop through fall.

Dry Fly Fishing : We had a pretty good week of dry fly fishing in the mornings on Tricos and Callibaetis. The Hi Viz spinner, the parachute adams were our top producers. Long leaders, 5 x and and some trimming the flies is what it took this weekend.

Weather Outlook

There’s been some unsettled weather with wind and rain. We’d expect that to push water temps down further and could shift things.

Fall Fly Fishing Forecast

September is the start of our fall transition on the Missouri, fewer boats, cooling water, and Tricos giving way to Baetis. We typically see October build on all three: stronger Baetis hatches, streamer fishing picking up, and some of the lightest traffic of the season. It’s technical enough to reward good presentation, generous enough to reward the effort. That’s your Missouri River Fly Fishing Report for September.