About Jason Orzechowski

Outfitter, Fly Fishing Guide and Owner of Wolf Creek Angler - Chasing a dream, counting my blessings daily and writing about it in the midst of mountains, rivers and trout in amazing Montana.

Autumn Fade

As we approach the middle of October the season’s end is looming.

You wouldn’t know it, based on the weather which has been consistently pleasant. Daytime highs have been in the 60’s and low 70’s with blue skies and sunshine more often than not. Overnight lows are chilly, dipping into the high 30’s and 40’s but you really couldn’t ask for nicer weather.

Even so, every good thing must come to an end and while it may feel like September, time is marching on. Soon the 2022 campaign will be in the rearview and we’ll all be sitting back and reflecting on what went well and what could’ve gone better as we look toward the next.

Fall traffic has been fairly heavy, especially these last two weeks but this week feels like things are coming to a close. Just a handful of trips out this week and while our lodging is still fully open there aren’t quite as many folks around.

Many guides have either completed or are counting down to their last trips of the season and as is always the case, while we hate to see it come to an end, everyone is ready for a much-anticipated break in the action.

The fishing remains good with nymphing and streamer fishing continuing to make up for the majority of our trips. BWO’s have yet to make a showing but dry fly fishing is still an option if that’s where your heart lies. Terrestrials and October Caddis could still get a look and you might find success prospecting with a Purple Haze or Parachute Adams. Try trailing a CDC Caddis Emerger behind whatever it is you choose to lead with. They seem to eat it more often than what you might expect.

Stick with the sowbug program if you’re nymphing. A #14 Tungsten Tailwater Sow trailed by a #16 unbeaded Tailwater Sow has been a good go to but BWO nymphs like the Little Green Machine, Split Case BWO, BWO Magic Fly, BWO Redemption, BWO Psycho May and a plain old Pheasant Tail have all been getting noticed as well. Medium fast current, medium depth water should still be your target. The swirlies have been full of food and full of fish so maybe go deep there but otherwise 4 ish feet from bobber to first bug should suffice, with our without a spit shot.

Streamer fishing has been good, better during the low light or under cloud cover but definitely worth your time regardless of conditions. Small black buggers and Thin Mints have been consistently good but the larger, flashier offerings are finding plenty of willing players as well. Weeds are a hindrance but there’s plenty of clean water to throw to. Choose a good long stretch and push through the weedy stuff.

Flows are on the low side (currently around 3300 cfs) with temps holding in the 58 – 60 range. Traffic has finally spread out from the dam stretch with the entire river fishing well.  A little more water would be nice but all in all the water and the fish are in great shape and it’s really been an idyllic fall fishing season thus far. The weather looks to hold steady for the foreseeable forecast with no sign of a winter shift on the horizon but it’s coming sooner or later so get out there and enjoy this amazing fall weather and this amazing fall fishery while you can.

We’re open at 7:30 AM Monday – Saturday and 8 AM on Sundays for all of your Missouri River fall fly fishing needs. Shuttles, bugs and so much more including awesome Simms fall flannels and hoodies and plenty of waders, boots now that wader season has returned.

October Magic

Autumn Magic on the MO

These are the autumn days we were dreaming of as summer lingered on.

Chilly mornings. Heavy dew on the grass. The morning sun warming the soul.

Blue bird skies with a burst of oranges, yellows and reds mixed with plenty of green still holding on.

The afternoon heat quickly dissipates as the sun drops below the horizon.

Evening chill and an early shroud of darkness.

Rising fish breaking the glassy autumn stillness.

Autumn beasts lurking below

It’s October Magic on the MO

By |2022-10-04T14:02:54-06:00October 4th, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Late September on the MO

Summer heat has returned this week with temps back in the 80’s and near 90 tomorrow. Overnight lows in the 40’s and low 50’s have made for cool mornings so despite the daytime highs being a little warmer than what we’d like right now it still definitely feels like fall. More seasonable conditions will resume on Thursday with temps dropping back into the 60’s and 70’s with cloudy skies and a daily chance for some precipitation through the weekend.

Traffic has dropped off for us a bit this week after last week’s guide trip marathon but there are a fair number of folks getting out and enjoying these summer-like afternoons and the upcoming change in conditions will likely bring out the streamer set as well as those in search of fall dry fly action. We’re not expecting much on that front just yet but it won’t be long. While you wait for the fall BWOs you can bide your time with terrestrials, October Caddis and those dreaded pseudos.

Nymphing continues to be your best bet for numbers with sows, scuds and zebras getting it done and crayfish patterns still providing some solid action on the right days.

Conventional wisdom dictates small leechy patterns on intermediate lines if you want to try your hand at the streamer game and we’ve undoubtedly been selling plenty of Buggers, Thin Mints, Balanced Leeches, Pine Squirrel Leeches, Polar Leeches etc and getting some glowing reports. However, it’s not conventional wisdom that made us THE Streamer shop on the MO so you won’t be surprised to hear that we’ve been defying convention by running big bugs and heavy lines, searching out the water that allows it and finding plenty of success (and plenty of weeds)ourselves.

We keep the streamer bins as full as the supply chain allows so be sure to make us your first stop of the day for the best streamer selection on the MO and a variety of specialty lines and leaders to fit your preferred technique.

We’re down to the last of the summer gear but we’re fully stocked with cool weather essentials like Simms WCA Challenger hoodies and guide flannels as well as a full selection of hats, gloves and layering and of course waders and boots from Simms, Redington and Korkers. We stock Simms G3 and Freestone waders as well as Redington Sonic Pro waders and Escape wading pants.

Our fall rod and reel sale has been a huge success and is still going strong.

Our lodging is busy but not SOLD OUT on most nights. Give us a call for last minute reservations. Our guide calendar has peaked as we start to close out the 2022 campaign. We have openings throughout October and despite having had our busiest guide week of the fall last week we feel like the best fishing of the fall is still ahead of us.

It’s definitely the home stretch with the winter’s quiet looming but that being said it’s currently 80 degrees and sunny with clear blue skies above and a symphony of fall color….it’s the best of fall fly fishing in Montana. Get out there!

We’re open at 7 AM daily for all of your Missouri River fall fly fishing needs.

Autumn Arrives

 

Autumn Creeping In

46 degrees this morning on the MO with intermittent drizzle and a northerly breeze. Feels like fall to me!

Piles of streamers leaving the bins today as our friends from the annual Schultz Outfitters trip brave the elements and the weeds and hunt for those prized fall browns….Michigan style. Go Big or Go HOME.

Today’s taste of quintessential fall weather will be short-lived as we even out in the 60’s for the next few days and back up into the high 70’s early next week but the overnight low dipping into the 30’s tonight should definitely make for a chilly start tomorrow.

Waders and boots and raingear are starting to move and I expect we’ll move some hats and gloves over the next day or two before the heat returns.

Our Annual Autumn Rod and Reel Sale is going strong with 25% Off all rods and reels and 30% off when you buy any rod, reel and line.

It’s our busiest guide week of the fall with the aforementioned Schultz crew here and it seems everyone keyed on late September this year. Always a safe bet for the start of the fall season but as I’ve said in the past, for my money – October is where it’s at. And it just so happens that we’ve got a fair amount of availability for lodging and guide trips should you decide to give October (and even early November) a try.

Dry fly fishing is not at its best as we await fall BWO’s though there is enough action between terrestrials, callibaetis and the occasional October Caddis to keep it interesting.

Nymphing is the go to with sows, zebras and crays leading the charge but don’t be afraid to try something outside of that realm. Purple weight flies, Rainbow Czechs and Frenchies paired with a Little Green Machine or any old PT might just get it done.

Streamers are getting eaten with consistency for those willing to brave the weed mass. Seek out the cleanest water you can and maybe opt for the intermediate versus the full sink. Small leechy patterns are getting it done but the big stuff works too. Roll through those streamer boxes until you find something that moves them. Sparkle Minnows, Dirty Hippies, Baby Gongas, Mini Dungeons, Thin Mints, Swim Coach, Peanut Envy, Autumn Splendor, JJ’s….fish what you like. Hit the banks, hit the buckets, hit the riffles. They could be anywhere.

Cold dark mornings typically translate to later starts though the low light morning hours could definitely work in your favor. We’re starting most of our guide trips around 8 AM so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get out ahead of the crowds. That, or wait em’ out and play clean up once the guide boats move on.

We’re sticking with 7AM open for them time being but that will get later as morning light and temperature conditions dictate.

Stop in for shuttles, bugs, hats, gloves, waders, boots, boat rentals and much much more. We are your Missouri River Autumn Fly Fishing Destination, a one-stop shop for anything and everything you may need.

Back At It

What a difference a week makes!

A week ago we were looking for ways to pass the time with the late summer lull in full effect. The days in the shop tend to drag during the lull, especially after 9 am when you often don’t see much in the way of customers for the rest of the day. A few folks stopping in out of curiosity or maybe asking for change for the pop machine or directions to the river. Suffice it to say, we haven’t been setting any retail records over these past few weeks but the switch flipped this week and we’re back in the thick of it.

A full house and a pile of guide trips going out most days these next couple of weeks. It’s taken a minute to get back into the swing of things but we’re there now and ready to finish this season strong.

Not much has changed on the river since last week. It’s still primarily a nymphing game but there are some surface opportunities as well with terrestrials and the occasional callibaetis and October Caddis which may be few and far between but our trout LOVE them so don’t be afraid to invest some time in an October Caddis dry/dropper rig.

Weeds are definitely creating challenges for the sub-surface set but you’ve likely dealt with much worse. Check those rigs often and keep em’ clean. Trout prefer NO SALAD with their meal!

Weeds aside, the water is in great shape with flows holding steady in the 4200 CFS range and temps on the drop (currently 63 degrees).

Smoke from wild fires in the region has been pretty thick this past week for the first time this season but seems to have started to dissipate today. Cooler weather trends ahead with a chance for precipitation most days should continue to cool the water temps while the fishing heats up.

There’s nothing like fall fishing on the MO. Chilly mornings and evenings, fall colors popping and big browns on the prowl. Get out there!

We’re open at 7 AM daily with everything you need for your day on the water. Hats, Gloves, Sun protection, the best streamer selection on the MO and the sale of the season happening NOW on all rods and reels.

Lodging is busy but plenty of last minute options available most nights. We can’t really say the same thing where guide trips are concerned. It’s a busy month on the MO with many of our summer guides who moonlight as educators during the off season back to work, shrinking our guide pool substantially. It never hurts to call and ask but September is pretty well full. We do have plenty of openings in October though which in my opinion is the better month to fish but that’s neither here nor there. Give us a shout if you’d like to set something up for October or early November.

Another Summer Season in the Books

The calendar still says summer. The weather at the moment definitely concurs but Labor Day has come and gone and with it Summer Season Number Nine at Wolf Creek  Angler.

Summer angling crowds have been absent for weeks now and the river has been busy with rec floaters enjoying one last summer fling before it’s back to the fall grind.

Things have been on the lonely side these past few weeks for those of us in the fly shops but that’s about to change as we close the books on the summer season and make the shift to fall. It appears as though it will continue to feel like summer for the time being with a taste of what’s on the horizon coming Friday with expected daytime highs in the 50’s. The heat returns for the weekend but we’re definitely in the transition from sweltering heat to cooler days and nights. The leaves are turning, ever so slowly and the vibe has turned from Endless Summer to everything fall.

Fall sports are either already or very soon to be underway and many have already put away the fishing gear for the season, making the switch from hunting heads to hunting horns. Big Game Season is here which means the pursuit of deer and elk for many but for others Big Game Season means the pursuit of monster browns on the prowl as the fall spawning season gets underway.

I spent Saturday afternoon in Missoula sweating through a convincing Griz win for their season opener. Sweating aside – it felt GREAT to be back in the stands watching football again. It’s the time of year when hopes are high for all of our favorite teams with a clean slate from which to start. It’s hard to be anything other than optimistic prior to that first snap, even if you’re a Detroit Lions fan. This could be our year!!

September and October are among my favorite months of the year. I love everything about the fall and find myself savoring these autumn months more and more as the years pass by. Many of you share this love for autumn as evidenced by our bookings for September. It’s going to be a busy month on the MO but at this point availability for lodging and guides in October looks good.

You simply can’t beat autumn days on the MO. As those cooler temps begin to take hold and our water temps start to drop you can expect fishing to improve dramatically. Terrestrials will continue to be your go to for surface action while the nymphing and streamer fishing start to heat up. Folks have already started asking about BWO’s…it typically doesn’t happen until mid-October or later depending on the weather but we’ll certainly keep you posted. A few Callibaetis here and there for the hard core DFO and a great time to throw an October Caddis.

It was a fun summer and a hot one at that. And so we bid farewell to Summer 22. We’ll miss those green hills and long days and warm nights but we shall not mourn summer’s passing. Instead we embrace the change and welcome this season of the harvest.

We hope to see you on the MO this fall.

 

Farewell August…Autumn is upon us

 

We enjoyed a brief respite from the heat last weekend but we’re right back in it this week with highs in the 90’s and pushing triple digits. The good news is we’re cooling WAY down overnight with temps dipping into the 40’s and 50’s. This bodes well for keeping water temps in the comfort zone and as we close out the month of August it’s certain that cooler weather will be here soon.

In the meantime start early and skip the heat of the day. 7 AM has felt like the ideal as of late with darkness starting to overtake that summertime early morning light.

River flows are holding steady at around 4,000 CFS with water temps in the 64 – 66 degree range. With an abundance of our regional waters on Hoot Owl Restrictions right now you really couldn’t ask for better water conditions that what we’re seeing right now…especially by late summer standards. Yes, weeds are an ever-present challenge but definitely not nearly as bad as they could be.

The shift in the weather seemed to trigger the autumn bite these past few days. We’ll see if that maintains through this next run of hot days which looks like it’s going to run into the middle part of next week.

Black Zebra midges getting it done, autumn style. Pair it with a purple weight fly, beaded sow or beaded Pheasant Tail or do the double zebra, medium to shallow depth on your rig with or without a bb. Pairing with a Zirdle could also be the right call but whatever nymph rig you’re running be sure to check it often and keep it clean.

The hopper bite has slowed a bit but it’s still good enough that you should be able to move at least a few fish it you put your time in. Trail with an ant or drop a zebra or green machine to up your odds or just run solo if casting proficiency is an issue. Grassy banks are the obvious target, mid-river riffles and shallow flats might surprise you.

We’re clearing out summer gear at 40 percent off….get it while it lasts. Fall gear arriving daily including killer WCA logo Simms Challenger Hoodies.

We’re fully stocked with Simms G3 and Freestone waders as well as wading pants and waders from Redington and a bunch of boot options from Korkers and Simms.

Summer fly bins are being rapidly depleted. Streamers, October Caddis and fall/winter options are in great shape.

Our Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale is underway with 25 % off ALL RODS AND REELS. Lamson, Echo, Redington, Ross, Loop….all 25% off. The best deals of the season happening NOW.

We’re open at 7 AM daily with everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, bugs, ice, fishing licenses, sun protection, stream thermometers, anchors, nets, fly boxes in all shapes and sizes, lines, leaders…if you need it we more than likely have it. If we don’t have it you probably don’t really need it.

We are your Missouri River Fall Fly Fishing One Stop Shop.

Summer Fading Fast

It’s hard to believe but August is already coming to a close. Summer 22 is about to be but a memory as we turn the page and start to look towards fall fishing.

It’s been one of the hotter summers in recent memory with the number of days above 90 degrees far outpacing the average. We’ll see 90 today but cooler temps and maybe even some rain are on the way for the remainder of this week.

We’ll see highs in the high 70’s and low 80’s all week with a good chance for rain showers and possible thunderstorms starting tomorrow and running through Friday. Overnight lows will continue to dip into the low 50’s which should provide some relief to our stressed waters around the region. Fingers crossed that we get some precipitation and hopefully avoid any serious fire activity. 

We anticipate solid fishing this week with the change in conditions, especially on the days with cloud cover which we should see starting tomorrow. The hopper bite continues to be strong on the right days with the hopper/ant rig outperforming the hopper/dropper rig but both have been effective. A single hopper or ant also gets it done for those who are working to improve their casting proficiency but perhaps aren’t quite there yet.

We’ve had better luck on smaller hoppers in the #12 – #14 range but don’t be afraid to mix it up and try the #8’s and #10’s. Tan Donkey Kong and Morrish and More or Less hoppers in Tan, Peach and Yellow have been money. Trail with a Stealth Ant and work the banks as well as the mid-river riffles.

Tricos have been hit or miss but there have definitely been some stellar days. Those opportunities should persist into early September.

Sow bugs, Green Machines, PT’s, black or olive zebra midges, weight flies in purple or gold, Peep Shows, Frenchies and Zirdles have all been good nymphing options though weeds are making things challenging so be mentally prepared for that.

The river remains quiet for the time being. Most traffic is concentrated at the dam as you might expect with most opting for the coldest and cleanest water but as those water temps hopefully start to drop a bit this week it might be worth your while exploring lower river options.

Rec traffic has been heavy, especially on the weekends but that’s all about to change as the world shifts out of summer mode and back to the grind.

Angling traffic will increase next month. It’s one of our busier Septembers as far as guide trips go with folks looking to get the jump on fall fishing. We’ve got several large groups coming in for annual trips starting the second week of the month so last minute bookings in September will be tough to fill but October is pretty wide open at this point if you’re looking to make plans for a fall pilgrimage to the MO.

With the days getting shorter and things hopefully cooling down soon we’re going back to opening at 7 AM this week. End of Summer Sale happening now with 40% OFF ALL SUMMER GEAR including cool T’s from Yakoda and all WCA summer logo wear. Annual Fall Rod and Reel SALE coming SOON.

Enjoy these late summer days on the MO.

Ten Years After


It was ten years ago this week we left our Michigan home in the rearview and headed west.

With no jobs, no prospects and no real plan we chased a dream to Helena MT in search of the next chapter. What materialized over these last ten years I could never have imagined…I could never have dreamed this Big.

Montana felt right from day one which was a good thing as the first job I found was working in the warehouse at George’s Distributing with a crew half my age picking orders, loading and unloading trucks and moving product around the warehouse, sometimes into the wee hours of the night.

I was thankful for the job but extremely humbled as I’d gone from business owner to entry-level laborer with no clear path before me but it was all providential as we would soon find out.

Following a couple of years of unsuccessfully negotiating purchases of a few different fly shops in Montana I’d all but given up on that dream and settled for a move to the state which was the object of my obsession with the thought that whatever I ended up doing would be just fine because I’d be doing it in Montana. And while this was in fact the case in those early days I wasn’t so sure about the next chapter consisting of spending the next stage of my career working in a wine warehouse.

Fast forward to the spring of 2013…seven months into our new life in Montana I found myself going to work for Montana River Outfitters in Wolf Creek as Fly Shop Manager and also guiding on the Missouri River.

My desperate search for an opportunity to purchase a fly shop had been put on hold as I sought other avenues but just like that the opportunity materialized, providentially, just as it was meant to.

A year and four months into our journey I found myself the co-owner of a fly shop and lodging operation. And not just a fly shop, but a clean slate of a fly shop which we were able to develop into our own unique brand.

The next nine years would of course see change as we worked to improve our fly shop offerings while chipping away at making improvements to the lodging…a process which it turns out is never ending.

Nine years in we like where we’re at with Wolf Creek Angler. Our brand is well established and we continue to grow our business and to look for opportunities to improve and expand our services.

My outfitting business Iron Fly Outfitting has steadily grown and the future, as they say, is wide open.

Ten years after arriving here in Montana it still feels like a dream. This decade has flown past and while living here still in some ways feels new, life is happening as the narrative continues to develop.

My wife Sheila found work at one of the high schools in Helena as a career counselor when we arrived and returned to school for a degree in education. She is now a fixture at Helena High where her gifts and talents are on display every day as she makes a meaningful impact on the lives of so many students. There are challenges with every job. I can’t imagine the challenges of being a high school teacher but she rolls with those challenges better than anyone I know and for this season she is where she is supposed to be. Just ask her students.

Our son John was starting sixth grade when we arrived here. To me, there is no clearer gauge of the ridiculously accelerated passage of time than the fact that middle school, high school and three years of college are now behind us. Our “kid” is now an adult, making his way in Missoula with a world filled with possibilities laid out before him.

As those who read this blog know we lost our dear dog Jake last summer. His life of 12 years encompassed this immense amount of change. A complete reinvention of our lives in a new place and the adolescent years of our son come and gone.

We now have Zeke, just shy of 10 months into his life journey with us. He is amazing and as we embark on this journey with him we don’t know what changes his lifetime will bring but we do know his life with us is yet another hourglass of mortality counting down our days.

Our first ten years in Montana have been an amazing journey…a story we could not have imagined. And though we still miss our friends and family back in Michigan and I sometimes romanticize my days working in the foundry…there is simply no place I would rather be than here in Montana and we continue to feel blessed beyond measure.

Here’s to the next 10 and beyond!

 

 

Summer Heat

Summer heat has started to take its toll around the state with an increase in wild fire activity and Hoot Owl closures on many of our rivers. That being said, the Missouri is still flowing relatively cold and has not yet approached the water conditions which would dictate a Hoot Owl closure, that being three consecutive days with water temps reaching 73 degrees. We’re currently seeing water temps in the 65 – 67 degree range at the dam which means lower river temps are likely considerably warmer. It’s time to put that stream thermometer to work and start keeping track of water temps throughout the day. Once that water hits 67 it’s time to stop fishing!

Daytime highs in the 90’s all this week will exacerbate the situation but hopefully the relatively cool nighttime lows will keep us in good shape until things cool down. We’ve been starting our guide trips early (6 – 6:30 AM ) and will continue to do so until conditions improve. Traffic has thinned to the point where we’re not as concerned about the pressure on the fish but you can expect your guide to check water temps frequently and as stated above, once that temp hits 68 degrees, it’s time to quit fishing and sit back and enjoy the summer scenery.

The bite has slowed a bit but hopper fishing has been good enough and Tricos are providing daily opportunities for those who can get it done. Nymphing has been hit or miss and has been increasingly challenging with a fair amount of weeds now in the system. Warm water, hot sun, weeds….it’s August on the MO but don’t let that scare you. There are plenty of fish to be caught out there, it’s just a matter of modifying your techniques to fit the conditions and perhaps adjusting your expectations.

The crowds are gone and the bugs are here. Get on early. Get off early and leave the heat of the day to the rec floaters.

The shop is still opening at 6:30 AM Monday – Saturday. Closing time has been somewhat random as we’ve been known to cut out early when it’s blazing hot out there. We’ve officially changed our Sunday hours to 7 AM – 2 PM to accommodate staff changes as our summer crew is soon to be cut in half as Phil returns to school next week.

Should you decide to add a visit to the MO to your late summer agenda we’ve got all kinds of lodging available and could likely even come up with a guide for you.

Great end of summer deals on Simms summer gear and much more at Wolf Creek Angler. 

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