Missouri River – Below Holter Dam

February 3, 2010 back to Fishing Journal

Fond memories brought me back to the Missouri River below Holter Dam a year to the day that I caught my first fish of size from the river. I also read this week Norman Maclean’s famous novella that includes a good bit about nearby Wolf Creek.

The weather was beautiful, if barely above freezing. I chose to fish the east side of the river for the first time in this section. Upon arriving, I decided to watch the water for a little bit, rather than jump in as I’m normally wont to do. Sure enough, trout were rolling the surface, suggesting they were picking up emergers here and there.

Water

This water is so clear, it’s amazing. It’s temperature just above freezing probably has something to do with that, as well as the fact that it has just arrived here from the bottom of a large, deep reservoir. It’s almost like a giant spring creek. The aquatic vegetation is also amazing, if thankfully a bit more sparse than during the height of the summer. A midge hatch peaked around 4:00 p.m.

Fishing

It’s hard to be disappointed in such beautiful country in the midst of what otherwise would be a pretty dull time of year. I sure would have liked to hook into something, but didn’t get a bite despite trying about everything in my fly box.

As I wrapped up the day well after sunset, I continued to see sippers picking emergers from just below the surface. Ah, another day!