406.235.4350    Contact Us

FacebookInstagramEmail

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.

Prime Time

PMD’s are what’s on the menu. Stop by Wolf Creek Angler for the widest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

The folks at the Bureau of Reclamation have made good on their promise to decrease flows, so much so that we’re currently sitting at 12,000 CFS. Remember it was just one week ago that we were bumping up against 20,000 CFS. A significant drop to say the least and one which has brought us the return of drift boat rentals (including the Project Healing Waters boat as of now) and a renewed optimism following a tough month of big flows and a lot of phone and email conversations having to do with high water.

The fish have begun to expand their diets to include the abundant PMD nymphs now mixed in with the sowbug smorgasbord which defined spring fishing in 2018.

PMD’s are hatching and dry fly fishing, while still a long way from prime, is becoming a real possibility with each drop in the flows and each passing day.

We’re just over a week out from the Summer Solstice….the longest day of the year which, consequently, means that, depressing as it may be,  the countdown to winter will soon be underway. The clock is ticking on your 2018 season.

Traditionally we are in the thick of the grind by this point in the season but it seems the grind will be delayed this year. Don’t get me wrong, things are abuzz at WCA. Our lodging is running near capacity as you would expect in June and we’ve been busy in the shop most mornings and have been nearly overrun on more than a couple of occasions.

All that being said, things seem a little quiet on the MO’.

There are definitely folks around but there hasn’t been much waiting at the boat ramps and you can usually find a table or at least a seat at the bar on any given night at all of our local watering holes and restaurants. This isn’t typically the case in June.

It’s true that other waters around the state are coming into shape so that could account for some of it but for whatever reason traffic is down so  you couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to come out and enjoy a bit of relative solitude on what is arguably one of the best fisheries in the country, if not the world.

The forecast looks good for dry fly fishing to improve daily. There are bugs hatching and the fish are starting to key on them. PMD’s and Caddis are  the game and the long- dormant dry fly bin has finally started to get some attention.

Some suggestions for your dry fly  arsenal….

PMD’s – Snowshoe Emerger, Greg’s Para Emerger, Nyman’s DOA Cripple PMD, Helen Keller PMD, PMD Flash Cripple, Brooks’s Sprout PMD, Hi Vis PMD, Rusty Spinner.

Caddis – Blooms Para Caddis, Outrigger Caddis, CDC Caddis Emerger, Jake’s Hi Vis Caddis, Cornfed Caddis, Front End Loader.

Essentials – Parachute Adams, WCA Trude, Purple Haze, Rocky Mountain Mint, Blooms Stealth Ant, Cinnamon Flying Ants, Buzzball.

Still chasing bobbers? Try tailwater sows, Split Case PMD’s, PMD and Rusty Magic Fly, PMD Redemption, Psycho May, S & M, Wondernymph, Weight Fly (purple or gold), UV Czech Caddis, Nitro Caddis Pupa, Tung Dart, Peep Show, PT’s , Lightning Bug (purple), Zirdle.

Streamer fishing seems to have fallen off a bit but with the water on the drop there’s an abundance of water back in play which had been negated by the higher flows. Many have moved on from streamers considering dry fly fishing is a real option so it’s an excellent opportunity to hit those spots you’ve been waiting all spring for. Sparkle Minnows, MK Ultras, Dirty Hippies, Circus Peanuts, D & D’s, Gongas, Dungeons….throw the ones you like, the fish like them too.

The water is expected to continue to drop barring any extended precipitation events and if the most probable outlook shown below comes to fruition we’re in for an awesome season with near perfect water conditions.

Near Perfect Water Conditions

The water is dropping, the sun is shining, the bugs are hatching, the fish are eating…life is good on the Missouri.

We hope you’ll join us for Prime Time on the Missouri River.

 

 

 

By |2018-06-12T19:22:38-06:00June 12th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments
Read More

June Delivers

Missouri River Awesomeness Underway

2018 has proven to be a new experience for me in the world of Missouri River Fly Fishing.

Higher than average flows have presented challenges we’ve not had to deal with thus far at Wolf Creek Angler. Not really fishing challenges mind you but shop challenges which require a bit more creativity and finesse and faith.

The high water fishing challenges are easy. Longer rigs and more split shot make the world go round. That doesn’t do much for the Dry Fly crowd but they’ll get theirs soon enough. The flows will come down and the dry fly fishing will happen  but it’s the promise of the future that really has us stoked following the scouring we’ve gotten this spring. Flushing Flows for sure!

Unfortunately shop challenges are not as easily met. We’ve muddled through however and it feels like the worst is behind us. Sure we’re still getting plenty of calls about the flows and we’re still having to have the unpleasant discussions pertaining to cancellations but as of yesterday it’s all starting to feel better. Pair this with the return of a full house of lodging and some very busy mornings in the shop and everything seems right with the world again.

Granted we may see some precipitation which could slow the drop in flows but yesterday’s notice from the Bureau of Reclamation that the peak inflow into Canyon Ferry Reservoir from the snowmelt runoff has occurred in the Upper Missouri Basin was sweet music to our ears. Yesterday’s 1000 CFS drop will be followed by another 1000 by tomorrow afternoon. It’s doubtful they’ll continue with such drastic decreases but it’s definitely on the drop and we will keep you posted on what we’re hearing is coming.

The fog of  high water trauma has lifted. I can’t help but think that we’ll be renting out drift boats again  soon (15,000 cfs) and look for the Project Healing Waters boat to be available before long as well (12,000 cfs).

As you would expect, the big drops tend to have a temporary adverse effect on the fishing which has been widely reported as off the charts as of late but which slowed a bit yesterday.

Obviously nymphing is going to continue to be the game for the time being but that dry fly  light at the end of the tunnel you see…that’s PMD’s coming soon! Accordingly you should start adding PMD nymphs to your arsenal. We like the PMD Magic Fly, Split Case, Crack Back, PMD Wondernymphs, Doc’s PMD, Superflash PMD’s and PMD S & M’s (amongst many more). Worms and sows are still the staple and will be for the near future but we would definitely recommend getting some mayfly nymphs in the mix. Green Machines, Psychomays and PT’s could be the ticket.

As the flows recede you could do worse things than throw a streamer. Heavy sink is the key for the time being. Get it down fast and give it some life. The target zones will begin to expand and if you hit it on the right day (preferably overcast) you may just stumble into some excellent streamer fishing over these next couple of weeks. Olives, whites, naturals, black…..try the ones you like and see what happens.

Rooms and guides will be a little harder to come by from here on out but there’s been enough shuffling of the schedule that you’ve still got a good shot at both so give us a call today to book your Missouri River fly fishing trip of a lifetime.

Stop by the shop on your way to the river for everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, ice, licenses, sun protection, wading gear, rods, reels, rain gear, tools and accessories, lines, leaders and tippet a plenty, tons of split shot and of course the largest selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We hope you stop in no matter where your are fishing but if you’re starting at Holter Dam or Wolf Creek Bridge you’d be foolish to go anywhere else. We are closer to these launch sights than any other shop. Come discover the best Missouri River Fly Shop you never knew was here.

 

 

 

By |2018-06-05T19:20:59-06:00June 5th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |1 Comment
Read More

Goodbye May…Prime Time Coming Soon

Like the view? Call Wolf Creek Angler and book your Missouri River Fly Fishing Guide Trip today.

As we bid farewell to May we can’t help but look forward to what lies ahead.

High water has obviously been the major topic of conversation state-wide for the past several weeks and while we expect the Missouri to bump up against 20K by tomorrow, the hope is that the peak is soon to be behind us.

From today’s Bureau of Reclamation water order…
Tributary flows downstream of Canyon Ferry to the Missouri River have decreased which has created additional river capacity. Therefore, releases to the Missouri River will be increased in order to continue to manage the rate of fill at Canyon Ferry Reservoir.

Based on the SNOTEL data as well as conditions at Canyon Ferry we can surmise that we should be close to seeing peak flows followed by stabilization , hopefully somewhere in the 12-15K range which will keep things on target for filling the reservoir by mid June. As of today the reservoir is at roughly 88% full.

Snowpack Going Green.

So what does this mean for your 2018 Missouri River fly fishing plans?

The bottom line is that while conditions may not be what you’re used to and may in fact not be ideal, there are plenty of fish to be caught. If you don’t mind nymphing from a boat and you are willing to make some basic adjustments to your game or better yet,  let our guides take care of making those adjustments to your game, fishy days await.

We who make a living in the fly fishing industry and who write about it have been challenged this season. The winter dragged on and then the waters started to rise. Winter weather in the spring and big water are not great selling points so blogging has not been easy. We won’t tell you everything is great when it isn’t but it’s obviously not in our best interest to publish doom and gloom. There’s a fine line there between accurate reporting and embellishment and we are totally committed to providing you with honest information no matter what. We are your glass half full fly shop on the Missouri, greeting and meeting each challenge and feeling incredibly blessed to be doing so.

The fact of the matter is, that despite having to figure things out again with each big push of water, overall the fishing has been consistently good for most of the spring. This is as big as I’ve seen the river since I’ve been here.  I missed 2011 by a season which is the last time we saw water this big and I’ll be honest, it’s not only been a challenge to write about it but it’s been a real challenge learning how to fish it.

Long rigs, worms, big bobbers and lots of split shot are elementary…it’s where to fish that can be puzzling but not so puzzling that you can’t get it figured out. Just remember those thousands of trout per mile are still here and while the water is big it’s also clean for the most part. Those big muddy flood waters you’ve perhaps been seeing on the nightly news…that is not the Missouri. So if you’ve been picturing yourself in a drift boat careening down a raging torrent, dodging trees and house trailers think again.  It’s big water but it’s clean water and controlled water.

The fish are hot and hungry and while you may have to work a little harder to dial it in there is no better place to be fishing in the state of Montana right now than the Missouri. A visit to your favorite local fly shop will get you half way there with the latest info on rigging, bugs and where to go. Beyond that, spend some time watching what other folks (guides in particular) are doing out there and follow suit.

If numbers are your game your time is best spent nymphing but bring the streamer stick as well and don’t hesitate to use it, especially on the overcast days.

Traffic has been light despite what you may have heard. Its’ true that the Missouri is one of just a couple of options you have right now if you’re planning on fishing in Montana but despite this fact we are far from overcrowded.  Come experience the best fly fishing in the state, you’ll be glad you did.

That being said, if dry fly fishing is what you seek the wait continues but the good news is that when flows drop (which they’re bound to sooner or later) the dry fly fishing could just be off the charts and maybe even a little on the easy side as most of these trout have yet to be fished to with a dry fly this season. Will you be here when it happens?

Stay tuned for updates and don’t hesitate to give us a call at the shop anytime for the latest. We’re open at 7 AM daily for all of your big water Missouri River fly fishing needs.

 

 

 

 

By |2018-05-29T22:27:20-06:00May 29th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: , , , , , , , |1 Comment
Read More

5/22/18 Status Quo on the MO’

With much more of May behind us than ahead of us and just a month to go until the official start of summer things have settled into a biggish water groove here on the Missouri River.

We did hit that 15K CFS mark last Saturday and it looks like we’ll hold there (give or take) for the foreseeable future. We did make the call that day that drift boat rentals will not happen at 15K or more. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused over the weekend or may cause for the weeks ahead. The safety of our customers is our number one concern when it comes to boat rentals and we’d much rather pass on the rentals than have any of our clients get into trouble out there. Not that something drastic happens on the water at 15K that isn’t happening at 14,500K but you have to draw the line somewhere.

That being said we would be more than happy to book you with one of our guides for an awesome day on the water. Our guides are out there every day and know the water better than anyone. They know where it’s safe to drop anchor and where it’s not and more importantly…they know where the fish are and they will do everything they can to put you on them.

Fishing has been good and will continue to be from here on out. It’s never a given but suffice it to say that we’ve had many more good days than bad as of late. Nymphing has been where it’s at though we have done a few streamer trips as well  with moderate success most days.

The year of the Tailwater Sow continues and judging by the empty sow bug bins in all of the shops it’s time to find the next HOT bug. Stick with worms (we like firebead steelies and Fish Finders) and don’t get stuck on the one bug mentality. It may seem like #14 Tailwater Sows are the ONLY thing that’s working but there are all kinds of sow bug patterns and despite the fact we are often humbled by these fish they really aren’t THAT smart or that discerning. Show them something similar and they’ll likely eat it. Or show them something completely different and you just might be surprised.

Other good bets from the nymph bins right now include Rainbow Czechs, Tan UV Czechs, Pink Amex, Firebead Rays, Soft Hackle Sows, Purple Lightning Bugs, Pill Poppers, UV Crush, Tung Darts, weight flies, Little Green Machines, Psycho Mays, Bubbleback Emergers, Peep Shows, Split Case BWO’s, Micromays, Zebras and straight up old school Pheasant Tails.

Dry Fly action has been sporadic at best. There are bugs. There are always a few fish rising but they seem to be few and far between. Don’t count on making a day out of it.

Streamer Fishing continues to have its moments but you’ve got to know what you are looking for water wise and you have to have the right line to get down  fast.  The higher flows haven’t made for the best streamer fishing but as always we encourage you to keep at it. It’s totally worth your while!

Need a new streamer line or a whole streamer set up? We’d love to walk you through your options and get you set up with what works best for you.

Following an extremely busy Caddis Fest Weekend things have quieted down considerably this week. We’ve got plenty of lodging available through the weekend though we’ve been busy with bookings this morning so don’t wait too long.

What better way to spend the UNOFFICIAL start of the summer season than a fly fishing getaway to the Missouri River? The small streams opened last weekend and while I did see a few folks trying their luck on the churning muddy waters of the LPP your best bet for clean, fishable water and lots of hungry trout is without a doubt, the Missouri.

Dawn is coming earlier each day which has led to some earlier starts but there still aren’t many on the water before 8 am. We’re open daily at 7 am, earlier than most, for everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, ice, sun protection, rain gear, wading gear  and the biggest and best bug selection ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

 

By |2018-05-22T21:48:20-06:00May 22nd, 2018|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments
Read More

Mid May Water Update

These are a couple of videos showing the extensive flooding in Western Montana. As you can imagine, videos and news reports like these have led to a lot of calls from folks who have Missouri River fishing trips booked for sometime this month or next and who, understandably, are wondering what their options are.

Let me start by saying I don’t want to downplay the seriousness of the situation in any way. The flooding is a real thing which has affected thousands of people in Montana….fishing guides and outfitters included. The snowpack is still well above average for this time of year so there’s plenty more to come.
Some rivers are reaching, or have already reached flood stage and many are flowing at levels which haven’t been seen in some cases in over 100 years.

The Missouri is not one of them.

While the Blackfoot, Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers are all running dangerously high the Missouri, while bigger than we’ve seen it for some time, continues to offer a safe and high quality Montana fly  fishing experience.

Like we saw with the wildfires last summer, national news coverage can be misleading. Just because the state of Montana is on fire (which much of it was) or western Montana is underwater (which some of it is), it doesn’t mean these things are necessarily happening in the places you are headed to and if you’re headed to the Missouri here’s what you can expect…

The birds are singing, the sun is shining, the water is relatively clean and well within its banks and most importantly the trout are eating. Conditions are great for fishing from a drift boat and while there are a few wading anglers around we wouldn’t advise it at this point. It’s spring time in Montana and the fishing is just fine so we hope to see you soon on the Missouri.

Once again, if you have concerns about your trip by all means give us a call and let’s talk about it but please keep in mind that there is a major difference between 13,000 – 15,000 CFS of run off on a freestone…

and the same dam controlled flows in a tailwater like the Missouri. It may not be exactly what you had in mind but not only is there great fishing to be had  but these  flushing flows are exactly what the river needs and it should pay big dividends when it comes to this season’s aquatic vegetation and next season’s bug life.

It’s Caddis Fest weekend so expect plenty of traffic in and around Wolf Creek and Craig and drift boats a plenty on the MO’.  Stop in and see us for up to the minute Missouri River intel and the biggest and best bug selection ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

By |2018-05-15T22:57:09-06:00May 15th, 2018|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments
Read More

Spring Fishing in Full Swing on the MO’

Book your Missouri River trip of a lifetime today.

The busy spring season is now fully upon us and while there have been some challenging days out there you can rest assured that there are plenty fish being caught. We’ve been getting a lot of calls about the river flows and where they might be headed and many are wondering, understandably so, what effect these bigger flows are going to have on the fishing.

Here’s what we know.
At the time of this writing flows below Holter continue to hold at 12,400 cfs which is where they’ve been for the last couple of days. Water temperature continues to climb and is currently just over 46 degrees.

We have received notice that flows will be increased this afternoon and again tomorrow afternoon to control the rate of fill at Canyon Ferry which is currently 70 percent full.

Snow pack for the Missouri mainstem remains at around 125% of average. There is some rain in the forecast for the next couple of days but cooler temps will go a long way in slowing the snow melt.

So what does this all mean for your Missouri River fly fishing plans?

Here are some answers to FAQ’s.

  1. How’s the fishing?  Fair to good. The majority of the fishing is happening between Holter Dam and Craig right now. Nymphing is by far your best bet. Some days its ON, some days it’s a little tougher. Some who are fishing on their own have had a tough go of it, some have had exceptional days. As you would expect guided anglers have had more success overall than those fishing on their own but guided or not, the majority of the traffic has been and will continue to be between the dam and Craig. The water between the dam and Little Prickly Pear is of course the cleanest which would explain the traffic jams happening on occasion up there. Don’t be afraid to launch at Wolf Creek though as there is plenty of good water between Wolf Creek and Craig. At these flows you can cover that stretch fairly quickly with plenty of time to go up and do the dam to Wolf Creek for the second half of your day. Don’t tell anyone about this sneaky move! Tailwater sows, Pill Poppers, Wire Worms, Caviar Scuds, Pink Amex, Rainbow Czechs, Grey Little Green  Machines…pretty much the same stuff you’ve been running for the past couple of weeks. All available now at Wolf Creek Angler. Some are running short, more are running long with more weight than they want to but it’s all about adjusting to the conditions. Keep this in mind, act on it and you should do just fine.
  2. Is there any wade fishing?  Some. Not a lot. Fishing is definitely best done from a drift boat these days but there are a few guys wading out there. Should you decide to wade please use extreme caution and don’t try to wade out too far.  Keep in mind while you may think you need to get out further look at what the guys in the boats are doing. More often than not they’re hugging the banks and fishing out to the same water you’d be fishing to from your wade spot. We aren’t expecting ideal wade conditions this spring. Think summer!
  3. Is it worth coming out?  Absolutely it is. If you made plans ahead of time to fish in Montana in May then the Missouri is the place to be. The clean water flowing from Holter Dam and the awesome trout population make the MO’ THE place to be no matter the flows.
  4. What will the flows be in June?  We don’t know. There are many variables, most of which have to do with the weather. Temps and amount of precipitation are key. The graph below is what the experts expect….we’ll go with that for now.

5. Do you have amazing Missouri River Fly Fishing Guides and clean and affordable lodging available for prime dates?     Why yes, yes we do.  It just so happens that we’ve had a few prime dates open up with some of the most sought after guides on the river. Give us a call at (406)235-4350 or drop us a line at info@wolfcreekangler.com to see what we can do for you.

It’s going to be a good, long season here in Montana and we’d love for you to be here. We understand and appreciate your concerns about the water and we encourage you to give us a call if you would like to talk about it. The bottom line at this point is that wading is not going to be optimal, at least not for the immediate future but if you don’t mind fishing from a boat we are of the opinion that you’re in for great times on the Missouri this spring.  Green hills, blue skies, sunshine and hot fish…does it get any better?

By |2018-05-09T20:59:59-06:00May 9th, 2018|Categories: Uncategorized|1 Comment
Read More

May Day on the MO’

Welcome to May on the Missouri.

It’s one of  our favorite months to fish the MO’ and this year is no exception.

Snow is melting and rivers are swollen and dirty leaving the Missouri River one of very few Montana fly fishing options available in the state right now. Lucky for you it just so happens that your only fishing option is a one of the premier trout fisheries on the planet!

We’re currently looking at some big water which happens to be on the dirty side as well below Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn. The flows (currently 10,900 cfs) are not a problem. The stain we could do without but we’ll make the best of it as we wait for LPP and the Dearborn to clear.

Don’t curse the mud, embrace it and use it to your advantage. The Double Dirt Snake in the mud is never a bad call and there’s no better time to fish large water pushing streamers. Work the mud line and work the banks. There are plenty of hungry fish willing to grab a fly…you just need to find them.

That being said the consensus from the last few days is that overall the fishing has been on the tough side. Fluctuations in flows and the influx of muddy water tend to make things challenging. We’ve had plenty of both as of late but those who are putting their time in and adjusting to the conditions seem to be enjoying moderate success.

We will continue to see increases in flows this week which will keep things challenging but with another warm up on the way for the remainder of the week we’re expecting a busy river right on through the weekend. Expect to have some company out there.

Traffic is definitely a thing right now with wade fishing all but eliminated from the equation but it’s not so bad…there’s plenty of river for everyone. River etiquette should always be observed but it becomes even more important during times like these when we’re seeing high concentrations of traffic.

If you want to avoid being stuck in the middle of it try starting early (or late for that matter). Most are getting on the water between 9 am and 10 am so if you’re on by 8 you keep moving you should have plenty of water to your yourself all day long. The other option is to wait until 11 or so and roll in behind the crowds.

The hottest selling nymphs this week have been Firebead Steelies, Caviar Scuds, Tailwater Sows, Rainbow Czechs, Little Green Machines, Fishfinder Worms, Bubble Yum Scuds, Pill Poppers and Pink Amexes.

Fish are eating dry flies regularly but it’s tough to make a day out of it. There are bazillions of midges and plenty of BWO’s as well. I haven’t seen much going on with the midges lately (as far as fish eating them) but we’ve had good luck with the Para Adams/BWO trailer rigs.

Best Dry fly bets… Brooks Sprout Baetis, BWO Flash Cripples, Quigley’s Film Critic BWO, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, Wilcox’s Micromay BWO, WCA Trudes and don’t forget the potential for March Browns if you’re fishing low. The big, muddy is not ideal for dry fly action but we’re anticipating plenty of dry fly love once things start to clear.

Streamer Fishing has been a little tough but if you ask me it’s ALWAYS worth your while. The higher flows have forced us to expand our target areas but there is plenty of good streamer water out there. Even some of the old stand-by streamer banks which have been become less desirable in these flows are still worth your time, but just like you’re doing with the longer nymph rigs, you’re going to have to change your approach in many of these areas.

While you may be used to throwing at the bank and stripping all the way to the boat in some of these places the bigger flows have, in many cases, taken a bunch of that water out of play. That soft water on the bank will still hold fish but now that’s the only thing you’re fishing. Once you’ve stripped through that couple of feet of water directly off the bank then you should pick it up and throw it to the next spot because once your line and your streamer catch the current you’re wasting your time.

That being said, I did have a fish attack my sparkle minnow in the middle of a Mega Boil the other day so you just never know.

We’ve been throwing 280 grains or more and will continue to do so for the duration of the higher flows. Get it down and move it with plenty of pauses in between strips. Takes have been aggressive and with the water warming into the mid 40’s you can expect more of the same.

Best bugs have been the aforementioned Sparkle Minnow Sculpin, Olive Dungeons, ZK’s MK Ultras, Montana Minnows, Rainbow Clousers, Dirty Hippies, Circus Peanuts etc. If you like it and you believe in it then throw it…you’ll be amazed what a difference having confidence in your fly will make.

Whether or not streamers are your game do yourself a favor and spend a day (or at least a few hours) giving it a try. If you hit it right you’ll never be the same! Better yet, do yourself an even bigger favor and book yourself a streamer trip with WCA. Take the guesswork out of where to go and what to throw. Leave that up to us and cast away to your heart’s content.

Don’t  let the flows deter you. It’s going to be an awesome spring on the Missouri and we’d like nothing better than to assist you in any way we can.

 

 

 

By |2018-05-01T21:10:21-06:00May 1st, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments
Read More

Keeping up the Fight

Wolf Creek Angler recently celebrated a birthday. We turned four years old on April 1st and while it feels like we’ve come a LONG way the journey has not been without setbacks. Every season has unique challenges and I enjoy taking them on but every once in a while you run into a wall and feel like giving up.

It’s on these days I just have to step back and take a breath and realize that the  problems aren’t going to solve themselves so I’ll continue to do my best to not let the bastards grind me down.

Lodging

Since day one we’ve done our best to bring continuous improvement to our accommodations. We’ve done a ton of small things over the past four years and some major things as well that you’ll probably never notice.

Replacing broken, excessively worn and/or dated furniture and fixtures is a never-ending task. New blinds, new curtains, new bed frames, new dishes, new appliances, new towels, new paint, new mattresses, new art, new couches, new chairs, new paper towel holders, new sheets, new shower curtains….and on and on. These are things you probably don’t notice but you might if we didn’t stay on top of them so when folks compliment us on our rooms or write reviews on Trip Advisor or Facebook  it means a lot and we very much appreciate it.

By the same token, we absolutely appreciate when guests let us know when something isn’t right and we always do our best to address the problem immediately.

We’ve also made some more substantial improvements that you will have a hard time not noticing.

From the day we opened for business  we’ve been not quite embarrassed, but definitely not thrilled with our motel units (rooms 8 – 11). These rooms, while among our most popular, were dated at best and while we certainly kept them clean and in working order, three of the four have now been completely renovated into rooms we’re proud to rent and we’re confident you’re going to love what we’ve done with them.

Our double rooms (9 and 10) were the major project this winter and so far our returning guests have been thrilled with the changes and our new guests  have been pleased with our accommodations. We’re always excited to have returning guests since they see the dramatic changes but if you’re staying with us for the first time then we’re hopeful our improvements go a long way in making a good first impression and hopefully in keeping you coming back .

Guide Service

Our guiding business continues to grow as we distinguish ourselves from the rest with a humble commitment to providing our customers with an unparalleled Montana Fly Fishing experience that goes well beyond the numbers. Sure we want you to catch a bunch of fish and we’ll do everything in our power to make that happen but when you sign up for a guided day of fly  fishing with Wolf Creek Angler you can expect a day designed to optimize your experience and to exceed all of your expectations, whatever they may be. Whether you’re completely new to the sport or looking to sharpen and expand your skills a day on the water with WCA is money well spent.

Each one of our guides has been selected based not only on their skill as an angler but more importantly on their ability to teach and to tailor the day to meet your expectations and desires. A day on the water with WCA is all about you, not your guide.

There are a lot of big egos in the guiding profession…you won’t find them on our guide list. We steer clear of the drama and we are committed solely to providing you with the best possible experience we can give you. We can’t guarantee you’ll catch 50 fish but we can guarantee that we’ll do our very best each and every day to provide you with an excellent experience you won’t soon forget.

Some folks are all about the big ego guides and outfitters and that’s ok…there are plenty of them around. We didn’t invent fly fishing, we didn’t discover the Missouri River, we don’t measure our success solely by the number of fish we catch  and we don’t spend our time proclaiming our greatness or our expertise. We are Professional Fly Fishing Guides in the great state of Montana and we consider it an honor and a privilege and a blessing to be able to guide our clients on these storied waters.

We invite you to book a trip with us today and discover the difference.

Retail

Wolf Creek Angler is Your Missouri River Fly Fishing Destination

I could go on and on but I won’t.

I’m learning new things every season about the retail business and feel like I’m getting a handle on it.

We’ve continued to expand our inventory each year and we’re always on the lookout for items you might not find in other shops in the area. The other side of  that coin however is the fact that there’s a good reason we all carry a lot of the same items. That reason being  these items sell.

Without a doubt the most frustrating part of this business has been trying to bring in products our customers demand and going up against the vendor/rep/retail competitor machine by which we are held in check. It’s an exhausting and frustrating battle and one which thus far has not yielded the results we have hoped for but we’ll keep on fighting and maybe someday will be allowed the privilege of being able to sell certain brands/items.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…if there are brands and/or items you don’t see in our shop it’s not because we’ve chosen not to carry them. We are very well aware of what we don’t have and it’s not for lack of trying.

Let’s leave it at that for now.

Challenges aside we’ve got a shop filled with fantastic products from some of the best brands in the industry and we remain committed to providing our customers with a great selection and competitive pricing. Our bug selection rivals that of any of our competitors and we are fully stocked on terminal tackle, tools and accessories, rods and reels, sun protection, hot and cold weather clothing for men and women, WCA logo gear, waders and boots, packs and gear bags and boat boxes, books and gifty items and much more.

Come by and check out the best fly shop you never knew was here!

By |2018-04-26T20:32:08-06:00April 26th, 2018|Categories: Shop Life|0 Comments
Read More

Late April Water and Fishing Report

Old School High Water. Holter Dam circa 1928 – photo Helena as She Was

The Missouri has become a VERY busy place this week with displaced anglers, guides and outfitters arriving in droves.

There has been plenty of discussion recently about how high flows will end up going this season on the MO’, but the fact is it’s about the only game in town at this point so if you had plans to fish in Montana in the near future chances are you’re going to end up here.

We’re still not comfortable making predictions so we’ll leave that up to the experts but what we do know is that we’re currently sitting at around 120 – 180% of normal Snow Water Equivalent in western Montana. There’s plenty of snow in them there hills though it sounds like we’ll begin to see a reduction in snowpack as we get our first real heat wave of the season at the end of this week. It won’t be quite so warm in the high country but down here they’re calling for 80 degrees on Friday and Saturday. Things will return to more seasonable conditions on Sunday and early next week as we return to daytime highs in the 50’s.

The current flow on the Missouri below Holter Dam is 9670 CFS.  The flows have increased steadily over the past week as Canyon Ferry prepares for the imminent spike in inflows coming soon with runoff. How much water will we see? Again, we’ll leave the predictions to the experts but what we can tell you is that you have nothing to fear at these flows.

We wouldn’t necessarily recommend wade fishing at this point but you’ll be fine in a boat and there are plenty of fish being caught our there, primarily on nymphs and streamers, but we’ve heard of some successful dry fly outings as well. Look for these trends to continue as that water continues to warm.

It’s time to break out the split shot, the long leaders and the wire worms. Things have been consistently inconsistent out there due in large part to the frequent changes in flows but your best bet for the time being is definitely going to be deep nymphing.

I’d recommend starting out with something in the 7 – 8′ overall length. Go with a firebead wire worm or something on the large (#10 or #12) side with a tungsten bead (Amex/Weight Fly/Rainbow Czech) paired with a Tailwater sow, Pill Popper, Caviar Scud or something BWO ish like a Grey Little Green Machine, a dark Peep Show or a Psycho May. Add a bb or two and start probing your way through the likely runs. Which runs are the likely ones? The fish are going to be in many of the runs you’ve historically found them in but daisy chains of guide boats are a pretty good indicator of where the fish are.

Go deeper than you normally would and make sure you’re occasionally touching the floor. Start tighter to the bank than you’d normally be, fishing inside out and work your way out. Row arounds can be a challenge in these flows but not always. There are plenty of spots where the extra water actually creates easy row arounds where before there were none.

Bug selection has been a challenge with a bunch of different patterns catching fish here and there and nothing really lighting them up. You’ll want to make frequent changes until you find what works but make sure you’ve got the depth thing figured out before you start changing your bugs. Stop by the shop on your way to the water and we’ll tell you what we know whether you buy bugs from us or not. We’re always here to help you find success on the water. Whether that’s guiding you or just giving you honest information about where to go or what to use you can always count on Wolf Creek Angler for open, honest and up to date Missouri River intel.

Streamer fishing has been decent but you’ve got to choose your spots. Many of the go to banks are just too fast right now making it virtually impossible to get down where you need to be. That being said, if you know what you’re looking for there’s an abundance of great streamer water to be fished and these bigger flows often give up some monster browns seeking a soft water respite. Swing by WCA for the best streamer selection on the Missouri including a bunch of bugs you wont’ find anywhere else.

Like the streamer fishing, the dry fly fishing is somewhat limited right now for the same reason…too much water but once again, if you know where to look you could be in for some phenomenal dry fly fishing over the next couple of weeks as the water warms and the BWO’s flourish. Think quiet water…that’s where you’ll find the sippers.

Once again, if you’re planning to fish in Montana over the next month or so then you should plan on fishing the Missouri. As you might expect we are very busy with lodging and guide trips but we definitely have openings and we’d like nothing better than to get you booked and on the water. We’re full this weekend but things open up on Sunday and we do have availability next week.

Keep in mind you’ve only got a few days left to take advantage of the best deal on the Missouri. Two nights of premium lodging and a full day guide trip for just $550 (plus tax). We invite you to look for a better deal…you won’t find one.

Regular season rates resume on Tuesday, May 1st.

We hope to see you soon at Wolf Creek Angler. We are your Full Service Missouri River Fly Fishing Destination.

 

 

 

 

 

By |2018-04-25T17:29:16-06:00April 25th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments
Read More

Mid April on the MO

We’ve been flirting with actual spring weather a few times over these past two weeks only to be rudely thrust back into winter. This time it looks like it might be for real.

The weekend ahead could be the nicest we’ve seen in 2018 with plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the low 60’s on Friday and Saturday and looking ahead to next week it looks like that trend will continue.

If you’ve been itching to get out and fish but have been waiting for the weather to turn it’s GO TIME!

Most of the water around the region is on the rise and the Missouri is about to become a VERY busy place as anglers,  outfitters and guides from around the state converge on our little corner of the world in search of fishable water.

The Missouri has also been bumping up over the past week and while the current flows may present some challenges for the wading angler, we’re LOVING where we’re at (7800 cfs). If you like nymphing and/or streamer fishing and you don’t mind fishing from a boat you won’t be disappointed.

Bring plenty of Wire Worms and Tailwater Sows and run a little deeper than what you’ve been doing, maybe with an extra bb or two. It’s about to turn on! How’s the streamer fishing you ask? As always, it has its moments. If you’re looking for numbers stick with the nymphing. If you’re looking for that one monster brown to crush your streamer then you should expect to spend a lot of time casting and stripping and NOT catching fish but it could happen at any time…you just never know.

A lot of folks like the idea of streamer fishing and like the possibility of hooking into a Missouri River Leviathan but lack the patience to spend hours not catching fish when they could be cleaning up bobber fishing.

I overheard a pretty typical conversation between a guide and his client the other day. The client had expressed interest in streamer fishing (likely after spending too much time in the shop at WCA immersed in streamer speak). The guide was attempting to put together a plan for the day to accommodate only to be told by the client that if there was a good streamer spot where they could anchor up and fish for ten minutes then that would be enough streamer fishing for the day.

Now I’m not saying you can’t eye up a good streamer spot and anchor and beat up the water for ten minutes and hook a good fish but it generally doesn’t work that way. It usually requires committing to it for at least a few hours. Action comes in spurts….sometimes it doesn’t come at all. It’s all part of the deal. We love fishing streamers and we love guiding  streamer trips but if you’re looking for numbers you should stick to nymphing.

Waiting for Dry Fly Fishing? It’s happening daily! Widespread reports of BWO’s and midges a plenty and even the occasional Skwala getting crushed in the canyon.

Reports from the past few days have been all over the board but that’s due in part to having to re-adjust to these higher flows. We’re on the verge of being completely dialed at these flows so do yourself a favor and hire a guide for the day…you’ll be glad you did and you’ll be especially glad if you do it by the end of April and take advantage of our spring special. Get two nights of premium lodging and a full day on the water for just $550. Starting May 1st this same package will cost you over $800!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity. The fishing and the weather are heating up and you’ve still got two weeks to save a bundle while fishing one of the best trout rivers in the world with some of the best guides in the west.

Lodging is filling nicely but we’ve got everything opened up now so chances are if you’re looking to head this way we should be able to accommodate.

Don’t let April pass you by.

 

 

By |2018-04-17T21:47:28-06:00April 17th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|0 Comments
Read More

© 2022 Wolf Creek Angler | Site by The Wendt Agency

FacebookInstagramEmail
Go to Top