Jason Orzechowski, Author at Wolf Creek Angler

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.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Autumns’ Prime. Photo by Jason Orzechowski

One of the most frequent questions we hear year after year is “when is the BEST time to fish the Missouri”?

My stock answer is that it depends what you mean by the “best” time because it all depends on what you like to do and how you prefer to fish.

For those without a preference who define “best time” by sheer numbers I would say spring is the best time to fish the MO but you’re going to be bobber or streamer fishing for the most part. If dry fly fishing is your game and “best time” is defined by bugs on the water and the opportunity to target rising fish, then June is the start of PRIME TIME for you.

All that being said, there is a magical time each year that lasts for around three weeks, give or take, and that time is NOW.

In my mind, these first three weeks of October are unrivaled, maybe not specifically as the best time to fish, but just the best time to be outdoors in general.

It’s the peak of fall colors and the weather is often as close to perfect as you can get. It’s not too hot and not too cold and there’s plenty of sunshine and an abundance of blue sky more often than not. The cool mornings are often followed by warm afternoons and an evening chill arrives just as soon as the sun drops below the trees.

Personally, this is my absolute favorite time of the year. October is the end of the busy season and the time to get away from the grind and enjoy Montana to the fullest before winter arrives. Since moving to Montana we have done an annual trip to the Flathead and an annual Halloween streamer float on the Yellowstone and I spend as much time as I possibly can outdoors throughout the entire month.

Much of that time is spent fishing but it doesn’t really matter to me what the activity is, it’s just the best time of the year to be out there. Maybe it’s cleaning up the yard, maybe it’s hiking, maybe it’s floating down the MO, or maybe it’s sitting around a campfire with baseball in the background on a chilly autumn night. It’s all the best of what fall has to offer so get out there and enjoy it while it lasts. With any luck soon you’ll be shoveling snow!

And how’s the fishing you ask? The fishing has been consistently solid though some days have been much better than others. Nymphing is getting the numbers and the streamer bite has been decent with more than a couple of giant browns already having been brought to hand. The October caddis/zebra dropper rig has been good for a fish or two most days and while the DFO’s are dreaming of and patiently waiting for those cold dark and snowy BWO days, there have been limited opportunities to hunt heads on any given day.

The point is, however you’re fishing or whether or not you’re fishing at all, there’s simply no better time to be outdoors than right now. So whether you’re fishing or hunting or hiking, or watching a high school or college football game or just sitting back and taking it all in, enjoy the blessing of autumn while it lasts.

Our updated shop hours for fall are 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-10-06T12:16:46-06:00October 6th, 2021|Categories: Local Buzz, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Late September Update

We’re seeing classic early fall fishing conditions on the MO this week with chilly mornings followed by moderate temps, blue skies and sunshine and gusty afternoon winds more days than not.

Nymphing is good with Zebras still ruling the day and streamer fishing has been decent with the better action coming during lower light conditions in the mornings and late afternoons/early evenings.

Dry fly enthusiasts and streamer freaks are biding their time, piecing together decent days here and there while they wait for more fall-like conditions. We got a couple of hours of cooler, cloudier conditions yesterday morning but have yet to see much in the way of those cold, dark and drizzly days which often usher in the best of fall fishing. On the contrary, we’ll see more of the same this week and another shot of summer arriving early next week with temps back near 80. We’re hoping this is the last of it!

We’re ready for fall with a fresh shipment of streamers on the way and FINALLY some cold weather gear which should have been here weeks ago but better late than never. Flannel shirts, hats, gloves, wool socks, jackets, waders and boots…we’re ready. All we need now is some real fall weather.

Our Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale is now officially underway with 25% OFF ALL current inventory of rods and reels.

Lodging seems to come and go. We’ve got a couple of busy weeks ahead starting this weekend but we do have at least a room or two available most nights. As always, the weather will dictate when we start shutting things down but at this point our plan is to do the first phase of winter shutdowns around the third week of October which will limit our availability to the cabins and bungalows. We’ll likely close the cabins mid to late November and will again have our bungalows available all winter long. Off season rates go into effect in November. We’ve decided to hold off-season rates for this season at $99 plus tax.

This has been one of our busier Septembers for guide trips and the last minute requests seem to just keep coming. We’re pretty well booked through the first week of October and then things start to thin out. As those trips thin out the guide staff follows suit and after what will likely go down as one of the busiest guide seasons in recent memory many of our guides have plans to flee the vicinity for a well-deserved rest. A few of us will be around for the duration so don’t hesitate to give us a shout and we’ll see if we can’t get you booked for a late fall or early winter trip on what will soon be the lonely MO.

Shop is open daily at 7 AM.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-29T12:45:04-06:00September 29th, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Autumn is a magical time on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

79 degrees and sunny on this first day of fall 2021 with blue skies and a respite from the howling winds of the past few days. Perfect autumn weather and good fishing to boot.

Status quo through the weekend with plenty of sunshine and high temps in the 70’s and 80’s. Chilly in the mornings and cooling down as soon as that sun dips down in the evening. You really can’t beat fall weather and there’s no better place to be than on the water.

It’s our busiest guide week of the fall with the crew from Schultz Outfitters here doing their annual rendezvous. What a great week to spend with these guys kicking around the MO and Blackfoot. It’s always a highlight of the year having this crew around from the Michigan motherland.

The nymphing bite has continued to improve and it’s been good more days than not. Zebra Midges continue to produce better than most with Little Green Machines, BWO Magic Flies, Split Case BWO’s, Psycho Mays, Micro Mays, Tailwater Sows, Purple Weight flies and Rainbow Czechs all proving to be effective on any given day.

The traffic continues to be pretty concentrated at the dam but the river is fishing good all the way down to Cascade so don’t be afraid to spread out.

Dry fly fishing is a possibility on the less windy days. Pseudos and Callibaetis mostly but keep those hoppers in play, especially lower down river, and try an October Caddis for the Big Gulp. It’s definitely not PRIME TIME for dries but looking at the long term it could shape up to be an excellent fall and we’re hoping for at least a handful of epic BWO days in the not too distant future.

Fingers Crossed.

In the meantime, if you really want to see what fall fishing is about, get your mind off of floating flies and dead drifts and start dredging. It’s Big Game Hunting season on the MO and anywhere else giant browns are on the prowl. Big flies, heavy lines and the hope that every cast could be THE ONE that entices that behemoth brown and elicits that violent strike with an epic battle to ensue.

Get after it!

Got questions? We’ve got answers. We are your go-to source…your Streamer Headquarters on the MO and beyond.

We are your Full Service Missouri River One Stop Shop for fall fly fishing with clean and affordable lodging, the hardest working guides on the river, a fully stocked shop, shuttles, bugs, Adipose Drift Boat Rentals and so much more.

Open daily at 7 AM for EVERYTHING Missouri River Fly Fishing.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-22T14:51:44-06:00September 22nd, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Adipose, brown trout, dry fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

September Stride

Halfway through September and about a week away from the official first day of fall and we’ve hit our September Stride.

The late summer lull is over and we’re back to bustling mornings at the shop getting trips out the door and making certain all of our guests and clients have everything they need for their day on the water.

The morning and evening chill has arrived and with cooler daytime temps settling in it’s probably about time to put away those shorts and flip flops. Not quite wader weather just yet but it’s coming soon, possibly as soon as this weekend. Hot temps and high winds on Saturday followed by cooler weather and rain on Sunday and Monday with highs in the 60’s and 50’s respectively. Classic autumn days on tap after that with blue skies and sunshine and highs in the 60’s with overnight lows in the high 30’s/low 40’s.

The colors are rapidly changing, the weather is cooling, the fishing is heating up…you really can’t beat autumn fishing on the Missouri.

Nymphing is the go to river wide with most traffic occupying the upper reaches from the dam to Craig. Zebra Midges are the ticket, #18 or #20 in black, olive or purple. Pair it with a weight fly, a Tungsten Tailwater Sow, a Peep Show, any old tungsten bead Pheasant Tail or go with the Double Deadly Double Zebra rig.

Most are running short, some with weight some without. All are keying on the fast moving, choppy water in the 1’ – 3’ range. Crayfish have dropped off but still worth a trial run. If it doesn’t produce relatively quickly, ditch it. It ain’t happening.

Hoppers are hanging on. Maybe the fish have had their fill. It might be worth a try with a Zebra or Green Machine dropper but like the crayfish trial, probably best to not spend a whole lot of time on it if you don’t see something happen in relatively short order. The better bet for your dry selection might be an October Caddis.

Streamers are En Vogue and are worth your time. Weeds will test your patience but the risk/reward ratio favors persistence. And while I’ve advised abandoning crayfish and hoppers if they don’t produce in short order the same does not hold true where streamers are concerned. Stick with it…you’ll be glad you did. Buggers, Clousers, Sparkle Minnows, Circus Peanuts, Dungeons, Dirty Hippies, Swim Coach, Peanut Envy, Autumn Splendor, Lil’ Kims, Inflated Egos and anything and everything else you might want to throw at them. Black, Olive, Brown, Natural, White all fine choices. JJ or Brownie Sparkle Minnows can be $$ on any given day.

River flows are flat-lined at 3100 and change with temps holding in the low 60’s with no big changes on the horizon.

See us at 7 AM daily for shuttles, Adipose boat rentals, the best bug selection on the Missouri, hats, gloves, socks, sun protection, waders and boots, outerwear, layering….and much more. And speaking of waders – get your Simms G3 Waders for 30% off in-store and online, while they last.

Lodging available most nights, guides as busy as they can be with September as close to completely booked as we’ve ever seen. Always worth a call but probably best to look to October if you want to get a day booked this fall.

See you soon for autumn fishing on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-16T20:14:23-06:00September 16th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Craig MT, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, nymphs, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

The Wreckage Remains

It’s been 20 years.

As is the case for so many, it’s still seared in my brain. Others seem to have forgotten or at least left it behind.

Being that it’s been 20 years, many young adults today hadn’t even been born yet in 2001 or were too young at the time to have had it scorched into their psyches.

What is the legacy of September 11th?

Volumes have been written and will continue to be written which ponder this question. It’s complicated to say the least.

But clearly what the legacy is NOT is one of a unified, harmonious and tolerant country.

We are a long way from 9/12 when what we shared in common transcended partisan politics and was bigger than the distractions which have fractured a people and which continue to tear us apart.

A lot has happened in this world since 2001 and much of it has resulted in an ugly polarized world, which is sorely lacking in respect for human dignity.

We are a fractured people, torn apart by conflicting ideologies and we are seemingly often times more apt to abandon relationships in the name of like-mindedness than to simply agree to disagree like normal people used to be able to do.

We surround ourselves with those who think just like us making our existence so much less interesting than it could and should be. And we drink from the well of confirmation bias, getting our daily dose of poison from our favorite media cheerleaders who do their best to keep us all as polarized as possible while sowing dissension and hatred for those with whom we disagree.

It’s a sickness that seems to have infected so many and in the grand scheme of things, in my mind it’s a sickness that is much deadlier than something like Covid, as it seems to be fueling our national demise.

Those who would like nothing better than to see the USA as we know it cease to exist must be thrilled watching us entrench ourselves in our respective ideological camps, divided over things like vaccines and masks and climate change and social justice and infrastructure and inflation and immigration and equity and equality and taxing and spending and race theory and gender theory and whatever other issues we’ve decided are more important than actual people and relationships.

This is something that has been building up over time and I’m sure it will continue to build but it feels like we’re reaching the boiling point and I think it’s astonishing, disheartening and disgusting.

So on this September 11th, I’m making a personal commitment to back away from all of it which is difficult to do but which is made much easier by living in amazing Montana, a long way from the world.

I’m doing my best to limit my media consumption, to abstain from wasting my personal time on toxic social media and to spend much more time working to maintain the relationships I hold dear, regardless of political ideologies. I’m focusing on faith, family and relationships….the rest be damned.

What’s happening “out there” has little to do with what happens “in here”. The “in here” is my day to day. My family, my friends, my business, my passions…my world and my relationship with the author of my being. These are the things that matter to me!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I try to steer clear of political/cultural discussion which is not a result of the blissful ignorance that comes as a result of checking out from the world out there but which is instead a conscious effort to reject the temptation to define who I am by expressing my opinions on the matters at hand.

My opinions don’t matter to anyone other than me and I would much rather have a diversity of relationships than to alienate one side or the other because I happen to think one way or another about something that really has very little effect on any of our lives.

On this day I’ll proclaim that if you’re “in here” your ideological/political/cultural stripes don’t mean much of anything to me. If you’re “in here”, I am more interested in who you are and how you connect with me than I am about any of those things. And I’ll even go on to say that if you’re “in here” then we’re “in here” together and I would bet that if we wanted to we might even have a discussion with differing opinions about things happening “out there” and live to tell about it. Or at least that’s the way it should be.

So save your vitriol and disdain for what’s “out there” and don’t waste much time on it. It’s in here that matters and I for one can’t help but feel anything other than tremendously blessed to be here.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-09T07:33:04-06:00September 11th, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|4 Comments

Fall is in Bloom on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The mental shift to fall is underway, even as summer returns this week with daytime temps climbing back into the 80’s and 90’s. Not to worry, there’s plenty of cool (followed by COLD and likely even frigid) weather in store for the not too distant future.

Last weekend’s unofficial end of the summer season was a great mix of warm sunny summer days on the water combined with the embrace of the signs of the upcoming season. There was plenty of traffic on the river this weekend, both angling and recreational floating with beautiful weather for both. And while it may still be tubing weather, change is underway.

Fall colors are emerging as the green leaves of summer transform into brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. Choke Cherries are thick this year and the bears have been feasting on them up and down the banks of Little Prickly Pear.

The evening chill in the air is immediate and unmistakable once the sun fades and there’s nothing quite like the feel of that fall morning sun as it climbs over the horizon, warming everything upon which it falls and chasing the chill away.

High school and college football are underway (Go Griz!) and couch-bound NFL Sundays commence this weekend. It’s time to trade in our T shirts, shorts, sun shirts and flip flops for hoodies, long pants and socks and shoes. It’s time for Oktoberfest brews and elk tenderloin on the grill.

But elk aren’t the only big game we’re pursuing. For many, fall is time to put away the fly rod and pick up the bow or rifle. For others, fall IS fishing season and colored up browns are the quarry.

It’s streamer season in Montana now through the end of autumn and we couldn’t be more excited. It’s just getting started mind you so by all means, the best is yet to come.

We’re still on the early side but if yesterday was any indication we could be in for an epic fall streamer season. There’s already a fair amount of aggression out there amongst the brown trout population with plenty of fish of all sizes willing to chase the streamer, if for no other reason than to defend their territory and chase off intruders. Hook ups were hard to come by but if you’re like me and measure streamer fishing success by the number of fish moved rather than just those hooked and landed then you would not have been disappointed with yesterday’s action.

Stop in for everything Missouri River Streamer Fishing. Streamer X rods, a streamer line for every occasion, stripping guards, the best streamer selection on the Missouri and most importantly, all the advice and practical information you could ever want from a staff well-versed in the game and more than ready and willing to talk about it. We live for this.

For those outside of the streamer set the nymphing has been solid with black Zebras and Zirdles still ruling the day. Small mayfly nymphs and sow bugs should also be a staple of your fall nymph arsenal.

Hopper fishing should continue to be solid for the next couple of weeks. Tan and peach hoppers have been working well in sizes ranging from #10 – #14. Trailing an ant is never a bad idea though we have not had a ton of action on the ants as of late. Fish the banks. Fish the mid-river riffles. Fish the non-descript random water whether you think it looks fishy or not. The trout are everywhere. They’re opportunists on the hunt for calories and they may just surprise you when you’re least expecting it so don’t take your eye off of the ball.

We are adjusting our shop hours for fall this week in accordance with the morning darkness and will now be open at 7 AM daily.

Lodging is moderately busy but we do have a fair amount of availability. The guide book is getting busier by the day but we do have some openings here and there and things do open up again around the second week of October. We’re happy to fish any way you like but we absolutely love to guide streamer trips. Book yours today!

Stop in for clean and affordable lodging, Adipose Drift Boat Rentals, vehicle shuttles, summer clearance items like Smith Sunglasses and Simms sportswear and amazing fall deals on select waders, boots and more.

Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale coming very soon. Stay Tuned

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-07T14:33:20-06:00September 7th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, brown trout, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Smith, Streamer Fishing, Streamer X, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges, Zirdle|0 Comments

Fall on the Mighty Missouri

Summer is soon to be but a memory as we close out August and welcome September and the arrival of autumn fishing on the MO.

Looking back, it was really a great spring and summer. Sure the high temps and low flows were not ideal and having Hoot Owl Restrictions placed on the Missouri was something we’d not seen since we’ve been in business and it definitely took a toll but aside from this the 2021 season started strong and was exactly the return to normalcy we’d all been craving since Covid hit.

We had a record spring, our strongest start ever and in spite of the challenges of the late summer season we’re still on track for one of our best seasons to date.

These last couple of weeks have been very quiet but as always happens in conjunction with September’s shift to cooler weather, shorter days and the return to the Grind for most everyone, an uptick in traffic is underway.

Fishing is what we’ve come to expect during the summer to fall transition. We’ve had some off-the-charts days and some really tough days. Hit and miss to be sure.

Conditions have improved drastically, as least as far as water temps go. We’re currently holding in the low 60’s and will continue to do so thanks to those cool nighttime lows in the 40’s and fewer hours of sun heating the water.

Trout are responding accordingly trading warm water lethargy for cool water energy so you need to be on your game with those fish fighting skills if you hope to land even a portion of them.

Dry fly opportunities are somewhat limited right now with hoppers, ants and beetles being our go to. Pseudos and callibaetis in the mix as well as the occasional trico opportunity but those days are definitely waning.

Best bets for dry flies – More or Less Hopper, Donkey Kong Hoper, Panty Dropper Hopper, Stealth Ant, Cinnamon Parachute Ant, Sparkling Ant, Foam Beetles, October Caddis, Parachute Adams, Buzzball, Trico Indicator Spinner, Drowned Trico Spinner, Olive Pseudo.

As always, nymphing will be your best bet for numbers with the fish still concentrated in the faster, mid-depth runs. The Black Zebra Midge is king during the fall, especially in the grass flats below the dam. Run in tandem with your choice of BWO nymph or Sowbug or roll the dice and run a cray fish with your zebra. It’s not always the ticket but when it’s on it can be absolutely ridiculous. We like a tan or olive zirdle or a throwback like the Snapping Cray or Claws R Cray. And if you’re one of those who likes to mend CONSTANTLY – this is your rig. The erratic fly movements caused by incessant mending mimic exactly the natural movements of actual crayfish so mend away!

Not so with any other nymphs. Keep them on a dead drift with the current as indicated by your INDICATOR. They call them strike indicators, we also refer to them as drift indicators. Skating and dragging are not desired, a dead drift is what you’re looking for and the occasional mend up or downstream (depending on the situation) can accomplish your goal. When that goal is accomplished LET IT RIDE. No mending necessary. LESS MENDING = MORE FISH

Best bets for fall nymphs….Black or Olive Zebra Midge, Tailwater Sow, Tungsten Tailwater Sow, Little Green Machine, BWO Magic Fly, Split Case BWO, Psycho May Olive, Jig Crack Back Bullet Olive, Spanish Bullet Black, Redemption BWO, PT’s, Pearl or Olive Lighting Bug, Thurman’s Zaddis October, Soft Hackle Sow, Micro May, Tan Czech, and more.

We’ve seen some traffic around the streamer bins as of late and while it is perhaps a little early, from what we’re hearing it sounds like it may in fact be time…..streamer time… which is, in this author’s humble opinion, the most wonderful time of the year.

I will confess that spring is my favorite time for streamers due to the lack of aquatic vegetation at that time of year but I throw them every month of the year and despite the challenges of fishing through salad, I will say that you really can’t beat fall if you’re looking for aggression.

The Big Browns are on the move, they’re coming into spawning colors and they’re pissed off and hook-jawed and ready to do battle. These are the fish every streamer junkie dreams of.

Again, we’re on the early side of it but there’s no time like the present. Let the games begin!

Sparkle Minnows in all flavors will of course be a staple from here on out. Autumn Splendors, JJ Specials, Peanut Envy, Dungeons, Circus Peanuts, Swim Coach, ZK’s Inflated Ego, Dirty Hippies, Wedge Heads and smaller buggers and minnows all worth a try.

Convention dictates smaller streamers on the MO and if you decide to go that route you’ll likely move plenty of fish. We at WCA however prefer the unconventional where streamer fishing is concerned and for that reason you’ll find our streamer bins full of bugs you’ll likely not find anywhere else on the MO. We prefer the bigger and flashier bugs and while it’s true that articulation and stinger hooks make fishing the salad exponentially more difficult it’s all part of the game. We’re driven by dreams of 30” browns hunting down and smashing our offerings, a life-long pursuit residing in our DNA.

So sure, we’ll sell you buggers but in our world, life is way too short to waste your time playing with wooly buggers. That being said, we’re well aware that people fish what is effective so we won’t be surprised (or deterred) if you happen to land a River Monster on a Wooly Bugger.

We sincerely hope you make us your one stop shop for fall fishing on the MO. We’ve got it all from affordable lodging to drift boat and equipment rentals to a shop full of essential gear to the hardest working guide crew on the river. Wolf Creek Angler is truly your one stop Missouri River Fly Shop.

Open daily at 6:30 AM, earlier than ALL the rest.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-08-31T11:04:01-06:00August 31st, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|2 Comments

JAKE

There is a day that looms large for every dog owner. It makes no difference whether a puppy or a middle-aged or senior rescue. Dogs of all sorts capture our hearts and hold them captive for an unknown number of days determined by destiny. We enter into a contract on the day we allow a dog to claim us as their human, a contract which stipulates that on the human side we will commit to caring for them and meeting all of their needs while on the dog side the commitment is much deeper.

People have been known to breech the contract if for some reason it becomes an inconvenience. Not so with dogs. The dog’s commitment is one of unconditional love and absolute devotion for all of the days we’re together no matter what.

Dogs exemplify what is good and what is right and they are everything humans wish they could be but of which they so often fall short. Dogs are there by our sides, through the peaks and the valleys with nothing but love for us. It has been said that dogs are just a part of our lives but to them we are their whole life. Truer words could not be spoken.

And then comes the dreaded day. The day we have to say goodbye.

Today was that day.

Today we said goodbye to our beloved Jake after 12 joyous years. Today we are overwhelmed by sadness but at the same time feeling incredibly blessed to have had him in our lives through these years which have brought so much drastic and transformational change in the best way possible.

Jake’s arrival was a bright and cleansing light in a time of darkness.

Jake spent the first years of his life watching a plan materialize. A plan to leave the life we knew in Michigan to chase a dream in Montana.

Jake saw the dream come to fruition and spent the last nine years as an integral part of the re-making of our lives. New city, new state, new jobs, new careers, new business ventures, a middle-schooler making his way through the challenges of a major move and of adolescence and now navigating his way at the University of Montana. And of course, endless rivers to float and places to wander all with the backdrop of amazing Montana.

It’s been a pivotal 12 years, 12 years we wouldn’t trade for the world.

Many of you who frequent the shop likely met him here and he was always a favorite subject of mine for photographs and social media posts. He was a kind and gentle soul and a better dog we could not have had.

This is a day of sadness for us but a day of freedom for you as you are released from the shackles of arthritis and cancer and years to run the hills and the trails and swim the rivers free from pain.

Rest easy Jake. You will live in our hearts until our paths cross again.

Montana River Outfitters Exterior

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-08-25T14:14:59-06:00August 25th, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|7 Comments

Relief on the way

It appears as though the heatwave which has defined the summer of 2021 is coming to an end, at least for now.

Drastic change is underway and while we will see mid 90’s once again today, you’ll want to break out the waders and raingear starting tomorrow as temperatures drop and we start to get some much needed precipitation.

The general trend looks like daytime highs in the low 70’s and overnight lows in the mid to high 40’s though Wednesday will see a high of only 55 with a good chance for some significant precipitation starting tomorrow and running through Wednesday night.

Let’s hope these cooler temps lead to the lifting of the Hoot Owl Restrictions very soon.

Get your hopper fishing done today and look to the subsurface game starting tomorrow. Rainy day nymphing could be exceptional these next couple of days as the new weather system settles in.

It might be the perfect time to get away for some late summer action on the Missouri. Traffic has slowed to a crawl which means plenty of prime water for you and your buddies. In addition to prime water there is also an abundance of lodging available as things have gone full ghost town in Wolf Creek and Craig.

I don’t want to oversell the fishing because truth be told, it’s been a little slower than what we’d like as of late but we’re optimistic that the change in the weather will bring about a vast improvement in the fishing. If nothing else we should see some major improvement in the air quality as the cooler weather assists with fire fighting efforts.

Stop in and see us on your way to the river for vehicle shuttles, Adipose drift boat rentals, Simms wading and rain gear, Rio lines, leaders and tippet and the biggest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We’re open at 6 AM daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-08-16T12:05:24-06:00August 16th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Dog Days photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Sunday’s rain accompanied by a much-needed cool down has us thinking fall as we power through the Dog Days of what has become one of the doggier late summer seasons in recent memory.

Between the hot weather, the low flows and the resulting Hoot Owl restrictions the MO has become a rather quiet place as of late.

A few weeks from now these Dog Days will be but a memory as we ramp up for the fall fishing season. In the meantime our rooms are getting some extra attention during the lull, the grass is looking better than it has all summer and the shop has undergone de-cluttering and deep cleaning and we’re in the process of re-stocking with everything you need for fall fishing on the Missouri and anywhere else your travels might take you.

Those who have stuck around these past couple of weeks and those who have maintained their August arrival plans have been rewarded with some pretty good fishing as well as an abundance of solitude on the MO.

With Hoot Owl in effect it’s early on and early off though the march of the season continues to shorten our days and those first light 6 AM starts are slowly returning to 6:30 or 7 AM. Regardless, we’re here early at 6 AM for those looking to hit the pre-dawn bite.

Trico action has been spotty by most accounts but those who are working hard at it are finding ample opportunities on any given day provided the conditions are favorable. Many have shifted their focus to terrestrial fishing, giving the hoppers and ants a go with varying degrees of success. It’s always important to keep your expectations in check and that’s especially true this time of year when things tend to get a little weird out there.

Must Have Dries – Trico Indicator Spinner, Double Wing Trico, Hi Vis Trico Spinner, Stockingfoot Caddis, Buzzball, Outrigger Caddis, Missouri River CDC Caddis, Cornfed Caddis, More or Less Hopper, Donkey Kong Hopper, Blooms Stealth Ant, Cinnamon Parachute Ant, Moorish Mouse 2.0, Midnight Express Mouse, Mouse Pouch, Mr. Hankey Hickman Mouse.

Blind fishing a hopper/ant or a dry/dropper rig generally isn’t going to rack up the numbers but if you take it for what it is which is essentially prospecting, it’s really not a bad way to spend your day and you might even get a few big eats and you simply can’t beat hopper eats!

The best shot at numbers is going to be nymphing which has been decent and which will continue to carry the day from here on out. Zirdles and Crays are a go-to this time of year, and like those hopper eats, you’d be hard pressed to find a better sub-surface hit than that of a hungry trout annihilating a cray! Pair that Zirdle or Cray with a Black Zebra or tailwater sow and fish it hard.

Other productive options have been Frenchies, Little Green Machines, Peep Shows, PT’s, Weight Flies, Tung Darts, Nitro Caddis and Soft Hackle Sows.

The swingers and strippers have been quiet for the most part though all of this unoccupied water has been an open invitation to the swing set who have begun to show up in various haunts up and down the river. Light traffic equals perfect swing conditions. And what about stripping you ask? As you know, it’s ALWAYS streamer season at Wolf Creek Angler so while I’m not going to say conditions are optimal I will say that the low-light early starts are the perfect time to target those Missouri River giants with an intermediate or sinking line and your go-to big bug selections. Hit the banks with a quick retrieve or do a slow sink off the drops with a varied retrieve and prepare for that unexpected grab. Weeds will be a hindrance though definitely not enough to shut you down. Like the terrestrial fishing, streamer fishing is basically prospecting which involves a lot of blind casting, a lot of stripping and hopefully a good grab every now and then to keep things interesting.

And while hot summer nights have traditionally been the time to skate a rodent Hoot Owl has eliminated that option so why not smack that mouse down and skate it in the pre-dawn darkness just to see what happens. The mice don’t care how hot it is and they don’t care if it’s late night or early morning darkness and those carnivorous browns are opportunists and will eat when fed so have at it.

Shop hours are 6 AM – 5 PM daily. A glut of lodging currently available as well as Adipose rental boats and a shop full of everything you need for your short day on the water. We’re sticking with no new August guide trips for the time being but we’re booking trips for fall and also filling in the blanks for Prime Time 2022.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-08-10T13:16:06-06:00August 10th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Adipose, brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Hoot Owl, Midnight Express Mouse, Missouri River, Montana, Moorish Mouse 2.0, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

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