Dry Fly Action Heating Up for Opening Week!

Apr 9
1 min read

April 9, 2026

With Opening Week at the Ranch quickly approaching, the trout seem just as excited as the staff to welcome everyone back to the Missouri. After some much needed snow to start the month, the weather and fish are starting to find their Spring form with hatches being found up and down the river. Flows have been holding in the 3000-3500CFS range and water temps in the low 40s°F.

Midges are still the name of the game, with anglers being rewarded for persistence and having the dry fly rod at the ready. BWOs are starting to pick up with hatches working their way up from the Canyon. With more heads starting to appear along the Ranch, it will surely make that "one last cast" before dinner harder and harder to achieve. Griffith's Gnat, Midge Clusters, and small attractor flies have been the go-to's along the Wing Dams of an evening.

Nymphing with sow bugs, zebra midges, and baetis patterns have continued to produce the most consistent fishing. Trout seem to still be holding in the deeper, slower pools and generally, where you find one, there will be more. As the hatches start to come off more prolifically, don't be afraid to hang a nymph below your attractor dry to cover both levels of the water column.

Streamer fishing continues to produce quality fish during overcast portions of the day. Mini dungeon, sparkle minnows and thin mints have all been seen in the mouths of healthy brown trout.