Little Missouri Fly Fishing

It's now 12 days of no bunger valves running. I checked the water temperatures this morning: Riverside = 60 degrees, Hinds Bluff = 64 degrees and Old Factory = 66 degrees.  Long shut down periods could give us water temperature problems in the future. The lake is currently at 539.68, only up one inch since they shut down 12 days ago. That's good, considering how much rain we have had.

Today catch and keep ended from the dam to the pipeline!!👏👏. I feel there are more fish in the wall hole than I can ever remember at this time of year. Some nice strong ones too!!  I caught fish, one right after the other, on a Slider. It was fast and furious. Also caught fish at River Ridge and Hinds Bluff on my brown flies and my biscuit . Didn't try the slider there because the water was murky. I think they stocked sometime in the past 2 weeks, most likely on high water. I did fish up thru the skinny water toward the dam and it was slow, nothing like the deep hole at the wall.

If we can keep the poachers off the wall at the park, it could shape up to be a good summer of fishing, unless the problems with the trash racks at the dam give us water problems on the river.

Drove up yesterday morning, fished till about 1:30.  Fish are really strong and feisty. Lots of fish, 10-14 in size! Was wet all day from slight drizzle to heavy rain till about the time I left. Saw no fishermen at other sites.  Was a great day of fishing!  Also a token of thanks to HEN for so much information! RR

As of 5:00 am this morning they are still not "bungering". I looked at River Gages but it shows all "M"s, so don't know where the lake is at, so who knows when they might start considering all the rain we've had.

I've been fishing the Norfork River for the past week so don't know what the situation is here on the LIL' MO". Plan on checking it out today, weather permitting!!  I've had reports of some bad catch rates!!😬😬.

No new information from the Corp on the repairs at the dam. I'm sure we will see another week or so of the bunger valves running in the near future!! 

Now that I'm home, will try and post as soon as they crank up the flow.

Thanks for the update.  This has been a frustrating trout season for the Little Mo for sure.

Today at 4:00 pm, with the lake at 538.50 they closed the bunger valve. It is still closed at 8:00 pm as I post this. 👏👏.

For the past three days there have been divers, both Corp and private contractors, inspecting the trash racks on the dam. I spoke with them Tuesday at Sawaha. They are still trying to formulate a repair plan 😬🤔🤔. Who knows how long that will take. For about one week they had one bunger valve WIDE open!!  The water level came up over my river dock. They were getting the lake level to 540, the level which the divers requested for their inspection.

I have told you before "you can never step into the same river twice". We will see how that holds up as I expect, because of the long period of high water, that there have been many changes in the river. New deep holes, trees down, washed out areas, and new places for trout to hide. A river is ever changing!! 

Don't know how long they will hold this time. I think it depends on the rains and how fast the lake rises. They MAY try to work the trash racks at this 540 level, that would be nice 👍.

‼️ Friday 19 April 2024 @ 5:39 am:  Bunger valves still closed. Think I'll fish today 🤣🤣. Still seeing lots of March browns and I THINK they stocked this week??  See ya on the river.

At 12:30 today they opened one bunger valve half way!!  Too much flow to fish but not enough to make a big dent in the lake water level??  We knew it was coming!! 

‼️ 13 April 2024 @5:00am:  for all you weekenders, as of right now they are still bungering!! At least they have increased the flow of the bunger to a full river. Maybe that will get the Corp to what ever lake level they are going, quicker!! 

‼️ 18 April 2024 @ 5:00am: still bungering!!! May quit anytime.....or not!! 

We have had a whole week of excellent fishing 😁. We got 4 inches of rain in past 3 days but Langley only came up a foot to 5 foot and the lake came up 3/4 foot to 542.42, maybe that's why they are still not running the bunger valve as of 8:00 this morning. BUT, it could happen anytime, or not!

Some of you noticed that Jeff's site was down a couple of days, some of you panicked 😱!!  I have texted him asking what happened but haven't heard back from him. Will let you know when I know, or maybe he will "chime in"🤔🤔.

As noted fishing has been great, and if they don't crank-up the bunger it should be a really nice few days coming. Tight lines to you.

At 3:00 pm today, with the lake at 541.24 (about 7 feet below flood pool) they turned off the bunger valve! Don't know for how long, but it's still off as I post. Maybe they decided to turn it off for all the tourist coming for the eclipse.🤣🤣🤣.

Fish while you can and I'll advise as soon as they start back up. Should be some nice strong fish scattered all over the river.

‼️ 6 April 2024 @ 6:00 am: Not running water at this time. 👏👏.

They are still "slow rolling " the river. They are barely making a dent in the water level, the lake is at 542.56. Only about 1 1/2 foot down from when they started on the 20th of last month. I can't say why and the Corp puts out no information!!

Jim, like I just noted, I agree with you, seems the Corp could have a little concern for the fishermen but they don't. I don't know what it costs Jeff to maintain this site, maybe he will chime in?? I do know we should all be thankful to him 🙏. It seems like a year since I've seen you and Judy? I made you and Judy each a box of my summer blend flies LAST SUMMER, and still haven't seen you. They will still work this summer if we ever get to fish and y'all get up this way. 🤔🤔. I'll do my best to keep you informed so you will know if waters running before you leave headed this way.

I still see a lot of fisher people standing by the river, shaking their heads, having just driven up here, wondering what is going on since the generation schedule shows no generation. Seems a lot of folks don't know to check Jeff's site. Its a shame that SWEPCO misleads people the way they do.

Thanks Mike!  You're always appreciated.  Enjoy a blessed Resurrection Day