Best Flies for Barren Fork Creek (Missouri)

What's hatching now

Month, insect, size, and pattern from the Barren Fork Creek hatch chart. August is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.

Nymphs

Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.

• 

  Beadhead Caddis Pupa

  #12–#18

• 

  Emerging Caddis Pupa

  #12

• 

  Midge Larva

  #18

• 

  Thread Midge

  #18

• 

  Zebra Midge

  #16

• 

  Top Secret Midge

  #18

• 

  Pheasant Tail Nymph

  #12–#20

• No photograph

  Super Simple Pheasant Tail

  #16–#18

• 

  BWO Loop Wing Emerger

  #18

• No photograph

  Roza's Pink Pheasant Tail

  #12–#18

• 

  RS2

  #18

Dries

Dries and terrestrials for the Barren Fork Creek. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.

• No photograph

  BWO Sparkle Dun

  #14

• No photograph

  Olsen's CDC Midge

  #18

• 

  Griffith's Gnat

  #18

• No photograph

  Monster Midge

  #18

• 

  BWO Parachute

  #16

• 

  Parachute Hopper

  #8

Streamers

Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.

• 

  Black Spider

  #12

Setup

5X and 6X fluorocarbon on nymphs, 5X on dries unless the fish are on Tricos, then 6X or 7X. A 3.0–3.8mm tungsten on the point and a lighter dropper is a default until you see the water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.

FAQ

What flies work on the Barren Fork Creek?

Start with BWO Sparkle Dun and Beadhead Caddis Pupa, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The Barren Fork Creek does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.

When is the best time to fly fish the Barren Fork Creek?

The editorial window we list is March, April, May, June, September, October. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.

Do I need a guide on the Barren Fork Creek?

Missouri has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.

Where can I see live flow for the Barren Fork Creek?

The Barren Fork Creek has no USGS gauge mapped yet. The river page says so; we are not guessing a number. Access notes and the hatch chart are on that page. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.

Is this a report of what's working now on the Barren Fork Creek?

No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.

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