Missouri River Intimidation

I remember the first time I saw the Missouri. I had come from Missoula upon recommendation from the owner of the Missoulian Angler who suggested I go to the Missouri. All Westside rivers were blown out due to torrential rains in the last couple of days. Having never heard of the Missouri, I pointed through the plate glass window towards the dilapidated Subaru out front, mentioned I had only 7 days left of my vacation, and did not believe I could make it to Missouri (the state) on this trip. He turned and looked at me with a smile on his face, trying not to laugh, and said, "Oh, it's in Montana, less than two hours away." So I purchased the Montana State Gazetteer and Montana Angling guide, shelled out $60 in thanks to him and was off to the Missouri. Having no idea what the Missouri River was about, not knowing what a tail water was at this early and very green point of my fly-fishing life. I had only fished small creeks/streams and lakes in the northwest. So you can imagine my surprise when I first saw the Mo crossing the Wolf Creek Bridge. My first reaction…"Ooooh shit! I hope that's not the Missouri. It looks like a slow moving lake!"

I'm sure more than a few of you had a similar initial reaction to the World's Largest Spring Creek. It really took me a long time to start understanding how to read such a large body of water. I was so used to stomping up a creek and casting behind rocks, where the trout would ultimately be. This all changed as I started to crack the code of the Missouri…or did it. I will spare you the details of days too many to count that I was not catching fish do to both naivety and ignorance. Don't make the same mistakes I did by being intimidated by the vastness of the Missouri.

The way one can be immediately successful is to breakdown the large river into small river components. Although it resembles a slow moving lake, do not treat it like one.

Seams

, the obvious spot for trout on any stream, are the first place to look. Seams are evident on the shore lines, and also spread throughout the width too. Any slow/fast water interface is a damn likely feeding lane. Think of them even as invisible rocks…the rock may not be there, but the current change is. So slow down and look for these situations. You will soon notice that there are seams everywhere. During hatches, there will almost always be fish holding in these spots, even if not actively feeding on the surface at that time. Seams can also be created by subsurface structure. By examining the bottom topography of the river you will see a landscape of rises/falls, gravel/weeds, occasional rock piles, or dark green holes. These are all places where trout can be…whether it be a change on or near the surface, or more commonly a change somewhere in the water column…they all can be productive.

One of the secrets that guides possess, although they are not afraid to impart this knowledge to any passerby, is the understanding that all fish do not live within 4 feet of the shore. Yes, some do, but the majority of fish are not glued to the banks. The distance between banks on the Mo is enormous; spanning 300ft, so there has got to be fish in the 292ft between the shoreline zones. Trying to convey this to a freestone/small creek fisherman is like speaking to a brick wall. Some people are unwilling to learn…there are a lot of ways to skin a cat; I just like to take advantage of all my options. Understanding this concept alone will allow you to catch many more fish than the average angler. I am certainly not saying avoid the banks, but the center river fish feel a lot less pressure, and can be fooled easily with a decent first presentation. Those poor bank fish have seen more flies than most of us have in our boxes. My advice; Broaden your fishing horizons.

A common mistake of even the best dry fly fisherman is they do not believe that anything below the top two inches of water account for much. Understanding the entirety of the water column, from the surface to the streambed is essential for all day catch rates. One of the quickest ways to learn what's below the surface is to walk bank lines and take a mental picture of what you see through your polarized glasses,( I find Costa del Mar by far the best quality glass on the market), noting shelf lines, weed banks, drop-offs, etc. It takes just a few moments and is great ways to stretch your legs, refocus, and get back on it. The second thing I do is to watch other boats on the river. The fellas that are catching lots of fish know something that you don't, so watch and figure out what kind of water they are in. It does not always mean that they have 'the Magic Fly'. You may notice that these are boats, commonly guides, which are not glued to the left bank. They may not even fish the right bank, which is fished less than the opposite because most fishermen are right handed, and are using their natural casting side to fish on. Guides have fished the water more than most and are in tune with what is happening on a daily basis, so one can learn volumes by watching their behaviors. By that I mean fishing behaviors, not behaviors exhibited after work.

One thing that you will also notice is the lack of riffle water. Yes, there are plenty of runs that you may recognize as fishy, but they are not plentiful enough to fill a day's float. They also attract fisherman who may still be intimidated or may believe that riffles are the only place to find fish. Again, keep in mind that riffle runs are heavily fished; I suggest looking for less obvious trout lies. If you can find a fish that has not seen a fly all day…boy it really increases the odds.

It has been too long since I learned the phrase…"hedges, ledges, edges" to remember who said it, but I think it was Tom Rosenbauer in

Prospecting for Trout

. The fact is that this phrase was burned in my memory and I have used it to break down many rivers since, including the Mo. It is a great rule of thumb for anybody to remember and use in various fishing situations.

Hedges… meaning any aquatic vegetation that provides the habitat for aquatic insects as well as current breaks providing an environment for holding/feeding fish. Hedges can be anywhere. Elodea and watercress are two primary weeds we have on the Mo. We like it when they stay attached to the bottom, and despise them when they release and clog the surface. Just keep in mind that without the weeds; no spring creek environs, no insects, no fish, etc. Always keep an eye out for them, they may not be providing many chances today, but may produce the next time or at a different water level.

Ledges/Shelves…meaning any change in the depth of the water. On the Missouri there are three sets of ledges. The

Primary Ledge

is first drop-off near the shore. The depth of the water may not change significantly, only a couple of inches. This is the kind of water fish will scavenge in the mornings and evenings, and low light situations. You may also find fish here during great hatches too. It is classic skinny water that usually demands the first cast be right on the nuts. These fish are spooky. The

Secondary Ledge

is the second drop-off point anywhere from 5 to sometimes 50ft from the bank. A great place to nymph, drifting along with the flies near the ledge, generally more productive as the insect population moves to this water depth based on sun penetration. It can be a productive structure for blind dry fly fishing, casting hoppers and attractor flies mid-day. The fish will hold in the safety zone, hiding themselves from predators that come from above, including us! The

Tertiary Ledge,

meaning third, is the guides' favorite. This is where you will see fellas with red and white commercial stickers in the middle of the river roping the fish with bobbers. It is the most difficult to find and can change from year to year, as all of the shelf/ledge lanes can. This is the type and depth of water fish begin everyday in. That is where the insects live, lots of crustaceans, and move according to water temps, light penetration, stage of life (ie larval, pupal) and such. Just look for the historical channel, or the darkest water you can find, toss in the fly and check it out.

Edges…meaning of course the bank lines, seam lines, or any differentiation of current. The easiest one to identify and the one that most fishermen spend their time on. Again, smart fishermen seek all of the above, not concentrating on one type of water all day. Speaking with anglers at the end of the day that describe "underwhelming" results leads me to this first question. "Did you fish tight to the bank all day?" Typically the answer is yes. Of course there are times to fish in this manner, with streamers, hoppers, etc, but do yourself a favor and expand your fishing horizons. You will be rewarded with more fish and more knowledge. Those fish that have not seen countless flies drag over them are more likely to eat your fly!

These are two of the ways you can break down the Missouri to acceptable components. Seam lines throughout the river and hedges, ledges, edges. I wish I would have learned about these techniques earlier in my life, it would have eased some of the frustration. Most importantly fish the Missouri with confidence, and do not be afraid to explore away from your comfort zone.