Forget the morning grind—May on the Mo is all about the afternoon shift, according to a recent fishing report by Living Water Guides. The river is currently running low and crystal clear, which means the trout are eagle-eyed and ready to pick apart a bad drift. If you want to find success, you need to play it smart.
Tactical Rundown
- Go Late, Stay Later: The early bird isn’t getting the worm this month; the late riser is getting the caddis hatch. Afternoon cloud cover is your best friend.
- The Dry Fly Advantage: With heavy BWO activity and a serious caddis emergence in the canyon, the surface game is unbeatable. It’s technical, so bring your A-game with long leaders and precise presentations.
- Subsurface Staples: If you aren’t looking up, keep it simple. Standard patterns like sowbugs, scuds, and small pheasant tails are doing the heavy lifting, especially when you target shallow flats and scum lines.
- Stealth Mode: Because the flows are lower than average (3,250 CFS), these fish are skittish. Drop the volume, keep your profile low, and treat every first cast as your best chance.
The Outlook
The water is a crisp 49°F and the fish are acting like they haven’t eaten in a week. While the river could definitely use a little more precipitation to fill out the banks, the current conditions are prime for anyone willing to put in the time. Streamers are currently sitting on the bench while the dry fly action steals the spotlight—don’t fight it, just join the party.
