Little Missouri Fly Fishing

As of 4:30 this morning there is no bunger valve or generator running on the Lil' Mo'.  Yesterday the water temperature was 61 degrees at the park and River Ridge. Water clarity is murky at park and muddy below Milk Creek. Don't see any rain for here today. If these conditions hold, should be a fishable day on the river. The lake level is at 544.95 and Langley is running at 4.45 so there is about a foot of water to come down the river from there. Have heard nothing new on the plans to repair the trash racks on the generators.

How does Thursday the 6th look for a quick trip look.

Today at about 3:00 pm, while I was napping 💤, they shut down the bunger valve!!  The lake is at 543.74 and it is raining cats and dogs!!  This "river flush" has been perfect, will just have to see how long they stop.


31 May 2024 @ 11:00am :  Just checked the water temperatures, the entire 6 miles of trout water is at 58 degreese now that they ran the bunger valve. I didn't get skunked fishing but it smelled a lot like it!!  Maybe the drop in water temperature has them a little lethargic??🤔🤔. Water also has a lot of silt still suspended in it.

It's Saturday morning @ 6:00 and they are not running any water on the Little Mo!!

It's Wednesday morning @ 6:00an and they are not running any water on the Little Mo!!  As soon as I can predict the future, like for tomorrow, I'm gonna start charging for this information!🤣🤣.

Quote from: HEN on May 19, 2024, 04:15 AMSorry, nothing like the slider I'm talking about. Look at the fly in Jeff's speciality flies. That's what we call a slider.

Ah! Thanks!

 ‼️ Today at 10:30 am, with the lake at 545.84', they fully opened one bunger valve. We will just have to watch a see how low they pull the lake and how long they run the bunger. Will most likely not be any fishing for days if not a week or two.

The good news is, this will cool off the water down river and flush all the trash that has built up in the river bed over the past 40 days of no water flow. Yesterday the water temperature at River Ridge was 77 degrees. There are still a lot of fish down river and this should save them for a few more weeks. The water coming out of the bunger valve is exceptionally cold because it pulls right off the bottom of the lake.

Are the bait fishers complying with the summer rules or are they still taking fish out?  Thanks for your report Mike.  Looks like there are no fishermen in the corps.

It's 6:45 Saturday morning and no water is running on the Lil' Mo', except for the muddy runoff into the river from the 5 inches of rain this past week. The lake has come up 2 feet and Langley is running at 5 foot so as I always say, they could start releasing water at any time. It would actually be good if they did because the river needs flushed!!  It's very muddy and the water temperature down river is above 76 degrees.

The fishing at the park, and down river, has been really good. Hope it stays that way thru the summer. Still no word as to any plan the Corp may have to repair the generator trash racks.

Will post if I see them start releasing water. If you come fishing, bring your muddy water flies!! 

This makes 37 days with no water release, longest I can remember.

To oversimplify things, a popper has a flat (or even concave) face that pushes a lot of water and makes a lot of commotion when you "pop" it.  A slider has a convex face that "slides" through the water easily.  A Gurgler usually has a lip that is in between a popper and a slider.  You can push a lot of water when on the surface, but once under water, it will slide through easier than a popper.

Sorry, nothing like the slider I'm talking about. Look at the fly in Jeff's speciality flies. That's what we call a slider.

Thought I would share with everyone they "Carlton" of one of the Louisiana fly fishing clubs, advised me today that they stocked here last Monday, the 6 of May I assume. I missed it, must have been taking my nap 😴. Guess that's why the river is so full of fish.

Water temps are still about 74 degrees at River Ridge and below and about 63 at River Side park. The fish are really active in this warmer water. 

No water has been run on the river since 18 April. That will be a month tomorrow. The lake is at 542'. Don't know the magic number for the Corp to crank up the bungers? I'll try and post as soon as the water comes by my house 🥴🥴.