5 Must Do Tips for Missouri River June

A quick overview of the things that you must do in June on the MO.

They include not only technique but also timing for your best shot here on the dry fly stream of choice in central Montana.

No run-off here on the Missouri River allows us to fish all the way through the historical brown water months here in Trout Valhalla. That’s right we have a dam or two or three above us here in Craig that regulates the flows and color of the river. So no down time here for us in Craig. Just go, go, go…and fish.

5 Must Do Tips for Missouri River June

• Stay out late. You don’t have to be the first boat or angler on the river in June. You may want to start later and fish til dusk? Not for everybody but it is an option if you like to toss the dry fly at rising trout. Not as many anglers out after 4pm. Can be nice and quiet. And fishy!
• Blind fish the dry fly. You don’t always have to sight fish trout here fishing the Missouri River. You can toss the dry fly out there and fish it hoping for a take. Find the 18″-36″ water and let it ride. Good flies for blind fishing this time of year include any good floating caddis or PMD dun. Some even roll the PMD cripple like  DOA or a Quigley pattern. A big giant PMD spinner? That would work. An X-Caddis? How about a Parachute Adams or any fly form the Purple Haze franchise.
• Run the short leash. Tired of fishing the deep water lanes with your nymph? Try it short. With the water getting lower this month you can employ the 2′-3′ rig with a worm and a PMD nymph and get it done. How about a PMD Frenchie type pattern with a caddis pupa or a soft hackle? All good ideas for your short leash day. Eliminate the split!
• Do unto others…Be Polite and give anglers room. The walk/wade gang got there by foot. Give them a wide berth if you are in a boat. Don’t assume that they are not fishing if they are standing on the bank. Go way around and give them some room. And do the same with boat anglers. Give them some room. Big river. Let’s not bump into big river problems.
• Big Brown Trout Love PMD’s. Cripples and spinners are the two stages that big brown trout eat. Find that bank sipper and make the cast. First cast is the best cast. Make practice casts next to the fish before presenting to him. The goal is to catch the trout, not to see how fast you can put him down. There is no rush when casting a fly at rising trout. The feller who catches the fish wins. Not the feller who can do it the quickest. Don’t blow your load before the action begins. I see it all the time. There is no rush. Make a plan and catch the trout. Do not see how fast you can put it down.

June is a fantastic month. June and October are the two I love the most. How about you? Which month(s) do you love? I love to dry fly fish and June is one month when you can catch some bigger trout on a dry fly. The techy sight fishing stuff gets me worked up for sure.

If you need anything trout related here fishing the Mo let us know. We have the best in guides, gear from Sage, RIO, Abel, SIMMS, Hatch, Airflo, SA, Howler Bros, stuffed fly bins, galvan, Orvis, G. Loomis, Epic Fly Rods, Nautilus Reels, Costa, Smith, Fisherman Eyewear, Suncloud, Just Add Vise Tying Kits, Adipose Boat rentals, rental waders by SIMMS, rental fly rods, and much more!

Open daily @ 7am and late til 9pm. Your one stop fly shop in Craig MT.