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.

This Week on the MO

Wolf Creek Angler is Your Missouri River Fall Fly Fishing Destination

Early August continues to deliver a welcome respite from the heat wave we suffered through for most of the month of July.

The fishing has been hit or miss but the weather has been gorgeous, the flows have been stable and we can’t think of any better way to spend a late summer day than floating the MO’ regardless of the fishing report.

The traffic is light though we have seen a steady trickle of folks in the shop and last minute rooms and guide trips are the norm during late summer. We’ve got plenty of rooms and guides at the ready so clear your schedule and make the call. Our Dog Days Special has been generating some interest and is definitely something you should take advantage of. Now through the end of August book a full day guide trip and a night of lodging and mention the Dog Days of Summer Special and get a second night of lodging on us.

Dry fly fishing is preferred right now though the fish are late summer spooky and wont tolerate bad cast shenanigans. Keep your distance and deliver the goods and you may be rewarded. Get too close, blow the cast or just look at the pod wrong and they’ll go down. If you’re going to play the Trico game you need to bring your A game.

Many have been opting instead to fish blind with hoppers and ants, with or without a dropper. This is a fun way to fish and while it may not produce big numbers, there’s nothing quite like the take. I’ll take a chug or two on a hopper over watching a bobber any day.

Nymphing has been a little tough as of late and weeds are definitely becoming a factor. The dam is probably going to be your best bet for nymphing as there are plenty of fish and cleaner water but you still need to be vigilant about keeping your rig clean. Weedy nymphs don’t catch fish. Check your bugs often and keep them clean. The lower you go the more weeds you will encounter so if you’re planning to nymph the lower stretches prepare to be frustrated.

The same can be said for streamer fishing right now. It’s definitely worth your time but you have to work hard at it, choosing your water carefully in an effort to minimize weedage and constantly checking your rig to make sure it is weed free. Battling the weeds can be extremely frustrating and can definitely try your patience. I suggest perhaps crushing your barbs if you’re going to throw streamers right now. If you happen to get to flailing around because the weeds are pushing you to the brink of madness you might just get a little sloppy and a little careless with your cast. Sloppy and careless and streamer hooks don’t go well together. Make it easy on yourself (and the fish) and go barbless.

My tried and true Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow moved more fish my last time out than I’ve moved on the Missouri in a LONG time, maybe more than I’ve moved EVER, but we just couldn’t get them to commit.

Being that things are on the slow side it’s the perfect opportunity to employ some different tactics out there just to see what happens and that’s exactly what we’ve been up to at WCA. Different bugs, different water, different techniques and some ultra-covert night ops in pursuit of behemoth browns of the MO’.

Stop by the shop and hear all about it.

We are your Missouri River late summer destination with lodging deals nobody can touch, the hardest working guide crew on the water and a shop full of everything you need for your day on the water. We’ve got the best gear from the top names in the industry. Loop, Ross, Smith, ARC, RIO, MFC, Umpqua, Fishpond, Simms, Redington, Nautilus and Echo just to name a few.

Open daily for everything Missouri River Fly Fishing.

Hopper Eating Piggy on the MO’.

Despite a long awaited change in the weather and a break from the 90’s we’ve hit the late summer slump.

Things are quiet around the shops and on the river and while many enjoy this respite from the chaos of prime time, after just a couple of days we’re rested and ready for the next round. Unfortunately for us, the next round is likely a few weeks out but fortunately for you it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the situation and enjoy a late summer getaway to the Missouri River.

The crowds are gone (for now) but the fish haven’t gone anywhere. Late summer fishing can have its challenges but I can’t say it enough, I’ve had some of my best days on the Missouri in August. You won’t know if you don’t go!

Tricos are in full force if you enjoy that challenge but we’re starting to concentrate our efforts on hoppers and ants. Nymphing has been more miss than hit as of late but you never know when it’s going to turn on. If nymphing is your thing we suggest you fish the dam to minimize the weed issues and maximize your opportunities based on the higher concentration of fish. They aren’t always willing to eat but they are always there and sooner or later you’re bound to hit it when they’re hungry.

Black zebra midges continue to be the hottest of the hot nymphs but we’re also having some luck with Green Machines, S & M’s, Split Case PMD’s, Weight Flies, Tung Darts, Psycho Mays, PT’s, Peep Shows, Red Headed Step Child, Doc’s Summer Bug, Purple Lighting Bugs and various crayfish including Snapping Craws and Claws R Crays.

On top you’ll want the standard lineup of Trico patterns including Indicator Spinners, Double Wings, Trico Hackle Stackers and an assortment of midge clusters and buzzballs. Keep your Elk Hair Caddis, Outrigger Caddis, Blooms Parachute Caddis, Cornfed Caddis and CDC Caddis Emergers at the ready but devote some time to ants and hoppers…there’s nothing quite like watching big browns crush a hopper! Moorish and More or Less Hoppers in Pink, Purple and Gold have all been getting eaten and Bloom’s Stealth Ant in purple is a must have for your terrestrial box.

Streamer fishing should start to heat up as we move towards September but the weeds will be an issue so prepare to be frustrated!

This is all happening NOW….and there’s NOBODY here! If you’re interested book a trip with us today and take advantage of our Dog Days Special. Book a full day guide trip and a night’s lodging and your second night is on us. Spend a second day with a guide or rent one of our Adipose or RO drift boats and do it yourself.

Food has been a challenge lately, especially on Tuesday evenings when nobody is serving dinner. We’ve got the perfect solution. With a full kitchen in your cabin or bungalow and access to barbecue grills your dining problems are solved. Eat what you want when you want it.

Lots of folks are busy trying to squeeze every last drop out of summer before the return to reality and we get that. If this is the case and fishing the MO’ isn’t in your August plans there’s no time like the present to book your fall stay. Mid September through mid to late November have become the Second Season with cooler weather, hungry fish and the magic of fall in the air. October is booking fast and November will follow so book your guides and lodging today while there’s still time.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T16:39:51-07:00August 3rd, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Hoppers, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

photo by Sam Casne

It’s time to take advantage of our annual Dog Days of Summer Special, going on now through the end of August.

Book a full day guide trip and a night of lodging and your second night of lodging is on us.

We’re still doing early starts to beat the heat so why not arrive the night before your trip and relax. Get a great night’s sleep and save yourself the morning drive. Your guide awaits…just a few steps from your door.

Spend a gorgeous summer day on the water with your guide and then return for another night of relaxation at Wolf Creek Angler. The sun and the heat (and all that reeling in fish) will take it out of you and you probably won’t feel like doing much of anything after your trip. You definitely won’t feel like driving home so kick back on the deck and relax. Share your stories from the day over a cocktail or two with the other guests or venture out on your own for an evening of hunting heads.

Fishing has been challenging as of late to say the least and we’re not going to tell you that the fishing is going to be great but as we’ve touched on before if you simply lower your expectations and just enjoy the late summer fishing for what it is you’re in for a great time regardless of the numbers.

It’s an awesome time of year to avoid the crowds of primetime and there’s no reason you couldn’t stumble into a spectacular fishing day. You just never know.

Prepare for the challenges of the season, embrace those challenges and you’ll have a great day.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T16:41:30-07:00August 1st, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Dog Days of Summer, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Caddis Sunset – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Hot, dry weather continues to be the story of the summer of 17.

We’ve been seeing highs in the 90’s for what seems like months now with no cooling trend in sight. Evenings have been pleasant however with temps dropping into the high 50’s making early morning the time to be on the water if you want to beat the heat.

Traffic has dropped off considerably which means it’s time to entice you with our Dog Days of Summer special to get you back on the MO’. Now through the end of August book a night of lodging and a full day guide trip and get a second night of lodging for free.

The fishing reports have been a mixed bag but it seems the consensus is that things have slowed down out there. Nymphing in particular has gotten tougher. It’s been good in the early morning most days and slower during height of the day as you would expect though even the mornings have been tough the last couple of days. Dam to Wolf Creek Bridge has been the preferred location for nymphing as of late and #18 Tungsten Black Zebra Midges have been the bug of choice but we’ve also had limited success with purple lighting bugs, green machines, Peep Shows, PT’s and S & M’s. Reports from lower down indicate the crayfish could be a good call, depending on the day. Regardless of where you go, expect weeds and pay close attention to keeping your bugs weed free.

Dry fly fishing has been consistently good with plenty of Tricos about and plenty of fish keyed in to them. Presentation is always important here on the Missouri but perhaps never as important as it is right now. A good reach cast and a perfect drift will get you hooked up but the hookup is only half the battle. Indicator spinners, midge clusters, Griffiths gnats and double wing tricos have all been good options.

There are plenty of caddis around though finding fish feeding on them can sometimes be a challenge. Outriggers, Blooms Hi-Vis, Cornfed and CDC Caddis Emergers will fool a lot of fish.

Streamers? Not the best time of year for stripping with the weeds and all but still worth your time in the right spots. Hoppers? Absolutely. You may only get an eat or two on that hopper rig but one hopper eat equals a dozen bobber drops in my book.

Lodging has opened up and we have plenty of availability both for guides and lodging through around the middle of September. It’s hot, it’s a little weedy, it’s a little smoky but it’s still an awesome place to be. The fishing could be challenging but so what? It’s fishing. A day on the Missouri River casting to rising trout and taking in miles of breath taking scenery ? What could be better? It’s time to lower those expectations and rise to the challenge of late summer fly fishing on the Missouri.

It’s also the perfect time to book yourself a day on the nearby Blackfoot to experience something completely different from the MO’. It’s what many consider to be the quintessential Montana fly fishing experience. You’ll catch more and bigger fish on the MO’ but the scenery is something completely different and it doesn’t get much better than throwing big bugs to eager cutties. Book a day on the Blackfoot with WCA today.

Give us a call for up to the minute river conditions and fishing reports and make us your first stop on the way to the river for shuttles, bugs, drift boat rentals and all things Missouri River Fly Fishing and beyond.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T16:43:20-07:00July 26th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Shotgun Annie’s…. A Sneak Peek

One of the major topics of conversation amongst our guests this season (and actually last season as well) has been The Frenchman and whether it will ever be open again.

The short answer is NO….the Frenchman is a thing of the past but don’t despair because there’s been a lot happening on the other side of those walls since last winter and very soon Shotgun Annie’s Eatery and Tavern will open its doors to an anxious public.

I had the chance to get a sneak peek at their progress over the weekend and all I can say is that this is EXACTLY what Wolf Creek needs!

Pending passage of all inspections they plan to open the doors on September 1st, getting things off to a big start with a Labor Day weekend opening.

If you were a regular at The Frenchman prepare to be amazed. Nothing is recognizable! New floor, new walls, new ceiling, new kitchen, new bathroom, new bar, new porch…..you get the idea.

The plan is to have family friendly dining in the restaurant with more of an “adult atmosphere” outside on the deck. Expect an excellent dining experience and a few Montana microbrews on tap along with a domestic or two and a full bar.

We are Super Excited and can’t wait to make Shotgun Annie’s our new haunt.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T16:45:57-07:00July 24th, 2017|Categories: Local Buzz, Uncategorized|Tags: running line, Shotgun Annies Eatery and Tavern, Wolf Creek|5 Comments

The Lookout Fire west of Wolf Creek MT Photo by Rocky Infanger

High water fears have given way to earthquakes and wildfires. It’s been an interesting couple of weeks here with Montana’s largest earthquake in decades taking place a couple of weeks back and now the Lookout Fire burning just a few miles west of Wolf Creek. Thankfully evacuation orders issued on Saturday have been lifted as crews have launched an aggressive approach to contain the 390 acre fire which they hope to have a line around by Thursday.

It wasn’t but a few weeks ago we were still getting calls about high water. That’s all changed and the wade anglers are loving it. 4100 cfs from here on out is what they’re saying. We were hoping for a little more water but we’ll take it. Things could be much worse.

From FWP –

Waterbody Restrictions, Closures & Reopenings – Region 3

Tue Jul 18 09:37:17 MDT 2017

(BOZEMAN, Mont.)—High water temperatures and low stream flows have prompted Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to implement “hoot owl” restrictions on several rivers in Southwest Montana starting Wednesday.

The following sections of rivers will be closed to fishing daily from 2 p.m. to midnight until conditions improve effective Wednesday:

Big Hole River from Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to the Mouth of the North Fork Big Hole River;
Big Hole River from Notch Bottom Fishing Access Site to the confluence with the Beaverhead River;
Lower Beaverhead River from Anderson Lane to confluence with Big Hole River;
Lower Madison River from Ennis Dam to the mouth;
Lower Gallatin River from the confluence with the Madison River at Three Forks to Sheds Bridge (Hwy 84) near Four Corners;
East Gallatin River from Spring Hill Road Bridge (Hwy 411) to the confluence with the Gallatin River;
The entire Jefferson River

These restrictions come two weeks later in the year than the first restrictions seen in 2015 and 2016.

Regional Fisheries Manager Travis Horton said, “We’ve been fairly fortunate so far this year with flows in general, but temperatures are high and could stay that way for a while.”

Additional restrictions are possible on other stretches of these or other southwest Montana rivers in the coming weeks.

For up-to-date information on restrictions related to drought, visit http://fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions/.

Dry Fly fishing continues to be off the charts and with the decrease we’ve seen in traffic as of late if you aren’t here fishing the MO’ right now you’re missing out on some of the best fishing we’ve seen in recent memory and you can have it virtually all to yourself (at least by July standards).

PMD’s are all but over leaving Tricos as the current focus though it might be hard to tell whether it’s trico columns or smoke you are seeing because there’s no shortage of either right now. Caddis are present throughout the day and more so in the evenings. It’s hopper time as well. I haven’t heard of any great hopper reports just yet but I’ve seen plenty of hoppers around and while this is not the best hopper river in the west there’s no reason you shouldn’t dedicate some time to throwing the big bugs. Like anything if you put your time in you will eventually be rewarded. My biggest fish on the Missouri to date was a completely random eat on a pink More or Less hopper last summer.

We like the Moorish and More or Less Hoppers in pink, purple, yellow or tan and also the Carnage and Panty Dropper Hoppers. Plenty of these and many more in the giant drawer of FOAM at Wolf Creek Angler!

Best bets for tricos include Indicator Spinners, Double Wing Tricos, Quigley’s Trico Hackle Stackers and Griffiths gnats and buzzballs. Our go-to Caddis rig is the Outrigger Caddis paired with a Grey CDC Caddis emerger. There are all sorts of other options but it’s been my experience that this rig rarely disappoints.

Hot nymphs this week include tungsten bead black zebra midges, Peep Shows, Brown 2 Bits, PT LGM’s, gold weight flies, tung darts, tan UV Czechs, Nitro Caddis, Doc’s Summer Bug, Rusty Magic Flies and Psycho Mays.

Lodging and guide availability are opening up, slowly but surely. Don’t let the hot weather and the smoke get you down. We’re continuing to do early starts to get you off of the water before the real heat sets in and the fishing goes south.

We’d love to have you as our guest but whether you’re staying with us or not stop by on your way to the river for bugs, shuttles, sun protection and anything else you need including what some consider to be “the best coffee in the canyon”. We are your Missouri River fly fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T16:49:02-07:00July 18th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Lookout Fire, Missouri River, Montana, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|1 Comment

The Cooper Clan

For many a visit to the Missouri River is a one-time Fly Fishing Bucket List trip. Some immediately fall under her spell and end up returning year after year. We routinely host guests who’ve been fishing here for much of their lives. It’s always interesting to hear their stories and to hear their perspective on how things have changed over the years.

Occasionally we like to feature some of our guests here on the pages of our blog. In the case of the Coopers, I’ve been wanting to feature their story here for as many years as I’ve know them and just had never gotten down to putting pen to paper. The annual Cooper visit to Wolf Creek Angler for two weeks each June always marks the onset of primetime at WCA. This year was no different and I actually made it a point to get together with David Cooper and let him know what I had in mind. Not only did he like the idea but being a newspaperman by trade, he offered to do the work and write the piece himself. I couldn’t turn down that kind of offer.

It’s been a great pleasure getting to know this family over the years and we look forward to more adventures with the Cooper Clan for many years to come.

The following is a guest blog by David Cooper.

The Coopers and Fly-Fishing in Montana, 1984-2017

We first fished the Missouri River in 1984 with Montana River Outfitters’ Neale Streeks and Craig Madsen. With only a few years’ exceptions, we have been back every year since.

June 2017 was our latest visit, with Wolf Creek Angler, which bought MRO’s Wolf Creek fly shops, cabins, rooms and operations from Madsen several years ago. Jason Orzechowski, the owner, has made improvements each year.

We were a family party of 10 our second week, with grandsons Kendall and Gray Cooper, Kendall’s fiancé, Kristi Elkins, nephews Andrew and Mike Whinery, Mike’s wife, Meghan, and Bridget and Stan Durham, Kendall and Gray’s mother and stepfather.

It was a great week of fun, laughter, sightseeing for newcomers to Montana, and some good fly-fishing. Kendall was top rod with a hefty 23-inch brown trout, but everyone caught some trophy fish, held back only by high upstream winds on several days.

Between 12 and 15 years ago, Joanne and I brought each one of our five grandsons to Montana so they could learn to fly-fish for trout. They included my other grandsons, Steven and Daniel Cooper, and James Perry, Joanne’s grandson. We delighted in camping at River Junction on the nearby Blackfoot River in expeditions outfitted by Craig Madsen’s MRO.

MRO also introduced us to the wild beauty and rugged limestone canyons of the Smith River, and we made seven or eight guided trips on the Smith over the years with family and friends, catching and releasing trout and enjoying gourmet meals and wine at our riverside campsites. We have fond memories of our Smith trips and the guides we got to know well over the years, including Neale Streeks, Brian Neilsen, Brian Scott, Joe Aanes, Mike Reitz, Dan Kelly and others.

As we’ve grown older—I turned 84 in 2017—we have stuck with the Missouri and our base in Room 12 at Wolf Creek Angler. And we have delighted in fishing with new guides, especially Justin Lawrence and Jerrell Beougher. Jason has always made sure that everything is just right for our visits.

The Missouri from the Holter Dam to Cascade is a special place for us. Whenever we fish it, we always think of the 1805 Lewis & Clark Expedition and what its stalwart voyagers must have thought and marveled at as they made their way upstream from what is now Great Falls and into its magnificent canyons, etched and tossed toward the sky millions of years ago.

The trout in the Missouri are large, strong and numerous. We have great memories of those landed and released and those that somehow got away, even right at the net. But the landscape itself, the river, the wildlife and Montana’s Big Sky are also what have kept us coming back year after year. Health permitting, we hope to do so again.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:00:14-06:00July 13th, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|1 Comment

It’s Trico Time on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

We’ve been enjoying this brief respite from the scorching heat these last two days with daytime temps only in the 80’s but it’s about to heat up again and we’ll be pushing 100 beginning on Thursday and running right on through the weekend.

Early starts are a good idea, something in the 6:00 – 6:30 AM range. Be off the water by early afternoon and refresh and refocus for the evening hatch. The hours spent in the hot sun can be exhausting but nothing a good old fashioned afternoon nap can’t fix.

It’s prime time for dry fly fishing right now with PMD’s, Tricos and Caddis all in play. PMD’s wont last much longer but not to worry. Tricos and caddis are going strong and terrestrials are about to become a major part of the mix. Bring your A game and come experience some of the best dry fly fishing in the country, if not the world.

Like you, we’ve got our favorite dry fly patterns. Unlike you, we’re happy to share them. Best sellers from the dry fly bins this season include Rusty Spinners, PMD snowshoe emergers, PMD smoke jumpers, Hi-Vis PMD Spinners, Nyman’s DOA Cripple PMD, Brooks Sprout PMD, Blooms Parachute Caddis, Cornfed Caddis, CDC Caddis Emergers, Outrigger Caddis, Extended Body Caddis, Trico Indicator Spinners, Barrs Trico Emergers, Double Wing Tricos, Quigley’s Trico Hackle Stacker, Eric’s Trico Spinner, Bloom’s Stealth Ant, Micro Chubby, Purple Haze, Parachute Adams and WCA Trudes. These are all great patterns to be sure but don’t get hung up on what’s HOT. Take some time to explore the countless other patterns we stock for every hatch. Show them something different.

The focus this time of year is obviously on dry fly fishing but there’s no shame whatsoever in nymphing so have at it. Zebra midges at the grass flats below the dam have been money. Pair them with a gold or purple weight fly or a Tan UV Czech Nymph. Other hot nymphs have been Little Green Machines, S & M’s, Magic Flies, Psycho Mays, Peep Shows, Nitro Caddis, Doc’s Summer Bug, Purple Lighting Bugs along with a host of other offerings. Once again, don’t get hung up on what’s HOT. Get creative and show them something they haven’t seen. You could also go the other direction and show them something they’ve seen since the start. Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears, Copper Johns…..there’s a reason they’ve been around forever. Never overlook the classics.

Streamer fishing has been getting tougher as the weed mass continues to build but it’s definitely still worth your time.

Stop by the shop and stock up on leaders, tippet, bugs floatant and anything else you might need. We’re still officially open at 7 AM daily but more often than not coffee is on and we’re milling about the shop by 6 or 6:30. Stop by if you’re getting an early start.

Traffic is down considerably this week, particularly of the drift boat variety. Plenty of wading anglers out there but overall expect fewer anglers then we saw throughout last month.

Missouri and Blackfoot Guide trips are available and while it is getting easier to find guides on short notice we still recommend you book as far in advance as possible. We’ve got limited lodging available for the next couple of weeks and then things open right up for late July and the entire month of August.

Fall is a different story. If you haven’t booked your fall dates yet we suggest you do it now.

Stay cool and stay fishy my friends.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:22:33-07:00July 11th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Summertime on the MO’

All is quiet this morning in a relative sense after a four day Fourth of July weekend which peaked yesterday with more folks on the river (or at least in the Wolf Creek Bridge parking lot) than I think I’ve ever seen.

Standing Room Only with overflow lining the Beartooth Road. A ton of revelers, not so many anglers but in spite of all the traffic I saw no shortage of fish up yesterday. I’m sure they are enjoying this morning’s relative peace and quiet.

It’s going to be an early morning and late evening game for the next while as the heat wave continues. Mid to high 90’s, maybe even hitting 100 a time or two over the next 10 days with no real cool down in sight. Evenings have been pleasant enough with temps cooling into the low 60’s but with water temps hanging in the 63 degree range we’ve definitely hit summer conditions. Wet wading is definitely an option which is nice but with lower flows (currently 6460 cfs and headed to 5300 by this weekend) and warmer water you can also expect to be dealing with weeds. Check your bugs often, make sure that rig is clean!

Tricos are firing up and we should see fishable numbers soon. In the meantime plenty of caddis and ample PMD’s. Some have been doing the dry/dropper routine, a summertime favorite on the MO’, but as of yet I haven’t had much luck with it and haven’t heard any great reports but it should definitely be a component of your summer bag of tricks.

Nymphing has been good and is almost always going to be your best bet for numbers. Status quo on what to use. We like a gold or purple weight fly or a Tung Dart paired with a Psycho May, Little Green Machine, Split Case PMD, S & M or something of the sort. Don’t forget about zebra midges, especially in the dam to Wolf Creek stretch. Target the medium depth, faster water (4-6 feet deep) running 6′ or 7′ overall with a B split. Also try shortleashing the fast shallows if the deeper rig isn’t producing.

We’ll be in zombie mode for the time being with pre-dawn and post-dusk boat launches and pickups every day. In between we’re doing what we can to stay on top of things in the shop, trying to coax our guided clients into super early starts to avoid the heat and even getting out for a little fun fishing here and there if you can believe that.

We hope you make us your first stop on the way to the MO’ for shuttles, bugs, sun protection, ice and anything else you might need for your day on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:24:17-07:00July 5th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Goodbye June – Holiday Weekend Forecast

As we bid a fond farewell to a great June it’s time to look ahead.

It’s Fourth of July Weekend and you know what that means….it’s going to be a busy weekend on the MO’ due in no small part to our second annual Make America Fly Again sale happening Monday July 3rd and Tuesday July 4th. 25% off ALL regularly priced flies and CLOSEOUT DEALS on some of our slower movers you don’t want to miss.

Additionally we’ll likely be hanging out celebrating our Independence on Tuesday while enjoying an adult beverage or two and maybe even throwing some burgers and dogs on the grill. Nothing official this year….just gonna let it happen, whatever “it” may be.

PMD’s are on the wane. Trico sightings happening daily and caddis proving they are still on the Missouri River Dry Fly Menu. With sunshine and highs near 90 in the forecast the biggest hatch this weekend will likely be of the splash and giggle variety and that’s ok, the river will be yours again come Wednesday.

We’re all booked up with our summer regulars….one more time around. It’s my favorite time of the lodging season re-connecting with old friends and making a few new ones too. Afternoon and evening fishing reports a plenty right now on the porches at WCA during cocktail hour.

Enjoy the height of the season on the MO with us this weekend at WCA.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:26:17-07:00June 30th, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|0 Comments

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