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.

Weekend Report

Christmas is two weeks from today so time is running out to get that shopping done. That being said, it’s going to be a nice weekend on the Missouri (by December standards) with highs in the 40’s and manageable winds so why not kill two birds with one stone and do your Christmas shopping at Wolf Creek Angler on your way to fish the Missouri.

We’ve got lodging available for the weekend at $99/night and we’d love to have you here. Fishing has been good most days and will continue to be but you need to find the right water or you could be in for some long days.

Winter water is definitely the target. Slow, deep and lacking features – this is the water you want, the water you would never fish during the normal season. We’re happy to get you pointed in the right direction but once you get there you need to grid that water out working inside out to find where they’re at. A tungsten Rainbow Czech, Pink Amex or Pinkalicious paired with a pink LB or Firebead Sow of some sort will get the job done.

Throwing a streamer can be productive this time of year as well but nymphing will almost always be your best bet for success during the winter months. Flows bumped a bit over the past couple of days and are currently at 3420. Water temp is a chilly 37 degrees so don’t expect a real aggressive take or a big fight from these fish right now, they’re a little on the lethargic side. Focus on that indicator and hit any slight dip or pause, that’s often all you get this time of year.

Having a hard time figuring the winter fishing thing out? We encourage you to spend a day on the water with one of our guides. $400 gets you a full day on the water for the winter months. It’s a great value and will be money well spent. You’ll learn more in a couple of hours with one of our expert, professional guides than you would in a whole winter of fishing on your own trying to figure it out. We’ve been out there regularly keeping things dialed in and we’d love to show you what a great winter fishery the Missouri can be.

Whether or not you book lodging or guide trips stop by the shop and stock up on everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, bugs, cold-weather gear, hot coffee and Christmas gifts galore.

Today’s Gift suggestion feature is the perfect gift for someone who has everything. The River Series wooden fly boxes from A.L. Swanson Craftsman Studio in Helena are a gift that will be handed down for generations. They are beautiful boxes which are designed to be utilized.

Features Include:

replaceable rippled foam inserts
solid-brass internally mounted hinges that won’t snag a shirt seam
magnetic closers capped in abalone or mother of pearl that gently keep the box closed
a unique lanyard post made of solid brass
a water resistant finish that feels like butter to the touch

This box has been finished with varnish and requires minimal care.

Originally published in May.

We’ve recently started selling handmade River Series wood fly boxes from A.L. Swanson. They are beautiful boxes made in Helena Montana and constructed from sustainably harvested lumber, inlaid with exotic woods, metals and shell. They feature inlaid shell and earth magnet closures, brass hinges….the whole nine yards.

The River Series features three different size boxes from three classic Montana rivers, each box with it’s own unique characteristics just like their namesakes, the Missouri, the Madison and the Smith Rivers.

Starting at $129 these boxes aren’t cheap but they are a perfect Montana keepsake for the fly anglers in your life and we think they make a perfect Father’s Day gift which could very well be passed on for generations to come…they’re THAT nice.

Swanson, the maker of the boxes, expects them to be used rather than set on display somewhere collecting dust. They are as functional as they are beautiful and while it would certainly be a drag to lose one of these boxes the normal scratches and dings you can’t avoid with wood will only add to the character of the box as it ages.

I’m not sure I would use this box on the water if I had one, I tend to lose things, but I would definitely put it on display and it would definitely hold a prominent place amongst my prized possessions. A box like this can take on a significance you could never predict or expect.

I was given a beautiful hand-made wood fly box by a friend many years ago. I never considered actually using it for the purpose for which it was intended, I knew exactly what it would be used for. It would become the permanent home for a black and white Rooster Tail spinner.

I was still just dabbling in fly fishing at the time and had not yet committed. My dad asked me if I would like to fish with him one June evening which I did. I don’t remember if we caught anything but I closed the night out with the Rooster Tail. A few weeks later he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Seven months later he was gone. It was the last time we fished together and while it may seem sacrilege to store a Rooster Tail in a handmade fly box, this was the purpose for which this particular wood fly box was destined.

Stop by the shop and check out these beautiful boxes. We’re positive your dad, grandfather, husband or anyone you know who loves Montana and loves fly fishing would LOVE to have one. Better yet, why not treat yourself to one. After all, you deserve nice things too!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 11th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: A.L. Swanson Craftsman Studios, Christmas, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

Small World on the MO

The one vehicle that was at the Craig takeout the other day had a Thule on top with a bunch of stickers on it so I did what I usually do in that situation which is to put a WCA sticker on the windshield of the vehicle. Kentucky plates, Orvis Endorsed Guide Stickers, brand new Black Dog Deluxe trailer…must’ve picked up a new Adipose in Helena and doing the maiden voyage on the MO.
Yesterday morning that vehicle pulled up in front of the shop which I thought was cool. Imagine my surprise when Frank Willetts emerged from the vehicle. Who is Frank Willetts you ask? Frank is a co-owner of the Pere Marquette River Lodge in Baldwin Michigan. http://www.pmlodge.com/

The PM Lodge was a significant part of my journey into the sport of fly fishing which has ultimately led me to Montana and to the birth of Wolf Creek Angler.

While I was still on the outside looking in, still bringing the spinning gear along in case the fly fishing didn’t work out (which was pretty much every time), I was given a full day PM guide trip for my birthday through the Pere Marquette Lodge. We ended up doing a late August late afternoon/night float from M-37 to Gleason’s Landing. We spent a lot of time working on casting and presentation and while the fishing was not good that day I did hook into a beast in the darkness which I never saw but I was instantly hooked on night fishing on the Pere Marquette.

Following that first trip with the lodge I would stop there occasionally to get my fly shop fix. I met Frank the winter following that first guide trip. He and his partners had just purchased the shop. Frank’s enthusiasm was contagious and I soon became a regular at the PM Lodge. The second trip I booked through the shop Frank paired us with Brad Turner who would turn out to be the one who would teach me much of what I know about fly fishing and who encouraged me all along to chase this dream. Brad and I are great friends to this day and we fish together whenever we can, sometimes in Montana, sometimes in Michigan.

The two fly shops in Baldwin MI (PM Lodge and Baldwin Bait and Tackle http://www.fishbaldwin.com/index.cfm ) were my shops when I lived in MI and while I drifted from one to the other over the years I consider them both great shops in a great fly fishing community and I visit them every time I’m back there, you should too.

I hadn’t seen Frank since 2012 when I left Michigan so to see him in my parking lot and visit with him in my fly shop was definitely a full circle moment for me.

It just goes to show you, you never know who you’ll run into on the Missouri River.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 10th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Baldwin Bait and Tackle, Baldwin Michigan, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, Pere Marquette River Lodge, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

December Bows on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

WCA Guide Jim Murray and I braved the high wind warning and hit the river yesterday for a little early winter R & D. Aside from a few gusty spells the wind wasn’t bad, the fishing was good and we had the Wolf Creek Bridge to Craig stretch pretty much to ourselves for the most part with just one boat behind us and a few wade anglers around.

High winds were forecast for the day but this is what we found at Wolf Creek Bridge when we launched. It didn’t stay like this for long but the winds never really materialized into what they were calling for.

We hit all the winter water with standard winter rigs and picked fish up where we expected to find them. Rainbow Czechs, Pink Firebead Soft Hackle Sows and Casne’s Pinkalicious all saw some action with the Sow leading the charge.

I spent some time throwing streamers and while it wasn’t great it was definitely worth the time. The Hot Head Kreelex and a brown Polar Leech both got some attention stripped SLOW. I was targeting primarily deeper water but we did move a few in the shallow slack water so don’t overlook anything if you’re going to play the streamer game.

As we’ve been saying the best nymphing water is definitely the winter water right now. Deep, slow, froggy, non-descript – that’s where they are. We were running around 8′ overall on the nymph rigs and fished with and without weight catching fish both ways but probably more without the weight. I prefer to keep it simple and run a #10 or #12 tungsten bug as my weight but sometimes you need the extra weight.

The unseasonably warm temps are on the way out, hopefully along with the high winds which did in fact materialize today. We’ll see a return to more seasonable temps tomorrow with highs in the high 30’s and a good chance for some rain and snow showers. The weekend looks good with mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 40’s.

Why not treat yourself to a weekend of early winter fishing on the Missouri? We’ve got rooms with full kitchens available for $99/night, call and book yours today.

While you’re here get the shopping done for all the fly fishers on your list. We’ve got a shop full of essential Missouri River fly fishing gear, great gift ideas, plenty of sale items you don’t want to miss and WCA Gift Cards which make excellent stocking stuffers.

Looking for the big-ticket item they won’t believe you bought them? How about a Titan Rod Vault?

The gift they’re dreaming of available now at Wolf Creek Angler

The Titan Rod Vault locks both function and fashion to your roof through its aluminum construction which is not only weather-proof, rust-proof and able to stand up to all of Mother Nature’s fury but it’s also quite the head-turner with its brushed finish and sleek design.

What does this mean for you? More fishing! And not just more fishing, but more fishing in more places since you can take this roof-trophy anywhere – even on your bucket list cross-country fishing extravaganza!

Sturdy aluminum construction
Weather-proof and rust-proof
Aerodynamic for quiet travel

The Titan Rod Vault allows you to easily load all of your gear including up to 3 fully rigged rods and reels, and get on your way. No more hooks in the seats (or your arms), rattling and bouncing rods or even the more embarrassing ‘rods under the windshield wipers’ gimmick.

When your rods are conveniently secured away in the Titan Rod Vault that awesome drive out the river will be that much more relaxing and enjoyable without you worrying about damaging your gear or your vehicle’s interior.

Travel with rods fully rigged and ready to go
No more hooks in the seats of your vehicle interior
More convenient than other in-vehicle rod carriers

In a hurry to put your Titan Rod Vault to use?

No problem! The Titan Rod Vault can easily be installed by one person in a matter of minutes without having to buy any extra parts.

When you’re out on the water, relax knowing your rods are safe with double lock-down security. The Titan Rod Vault securely locks to your roof rack and your rods are snuggly locked away inside the Vault. Now you can plaster your alarmingly robust collection of fish stickers everywhere without worrying about another smash-n-grab through those now awesomely decorated windows.

Easy installation / removal
TRV locks to your roof rack and vault locks rods inside
Can be installed alongside most other roof rack attachments

Stop in today and pick one up for your favorite angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 9th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Titan Rod Vault, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

Missouri River Winter Fare Top to Bottom – Casne’s Pinkalicious, Firebead Soft Hackle Sow, Firebead Rainbow Czech, Pink Lightning Bug

It was a relatively busy weekend at Wolf Creek Angler with the warm weather bringing out quite a few people. It was nice to get back in the groove of shuttles and bugs after the quiet of the cold snap.

We’re looking at continued above average temps for this week though we are under a high wind warning starting at noon today and running through early Wednesday morning. It may not be the best conditions for floating but wade fishing can be pretty good even on the windy days as you can generally find some relatively sheltered spots out of the wind.

Judging by the flies leaving the bins over the weekend the word is out. As we reported here last week the MO has definitely gone pink. We saw a big run on Casne’s Pinkalicious as well as Pink Amex, Pink Lightning Bugs, Pink Sow Bugs and Rainbow Czechs followed closely by anything with a firebead. We’re fully stocked on all of these and many more.

A few guys throwing streamers with varying levels of success though nymphing is definitely going to be your best bet from here on out through the winter months.

The phones have started to get busy again with folks making their plans for 2016 which promises to be a great season for us based on our current bookings. We are going to be looking at rate increases effective January 1st but if you book by the end of the year we will lock you in at 2015 pricing.

For those following our Christmas Gift suggestions today we are featuring the highly coveted Steelhead Glove from KAST Extreme Fishing. In our opinion these are the best fishing gloves on the market….hands down and you would be hard pressed to find an angler anywhere who wouldn’t be thrilled to find a pair of these under the tree this year. We are fully stocked with all sizes so stop in and pick a pair up or give us a call if you don’t plan to be in Wolf Creek anytime soon, we’re happy to ship anywhere.

There are not too many things that’ll cut a day of cold-weather fishing short quicker than losing the feeling in your digits. Keeping your hands in your pockets doesn’t lend itself to being ready for that explosive take. And gloves always seem to solve only one part of the warmth/waterproof/dexterity equation. Until now.

Our Steelhead Gloves are designed to keep your hands bone-dry, give you maximum dexterity, and provide a layer of warmth when fishing in cold environments. Patented OutDry technology makes our gloves 100% waterproof/submersible, windproof, and breathable. Plus the warm fleece lining, and durable stretch shell give you the snug fit and uncompromising feel that you need in the fingertips, and an extended cuff for valuable additional coverage at the wrist. Go ahead, chase chrome in a snow squall, or tail a trophy king in frigid water, you can trust your hands will stay warm and dry.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 7th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Christmas, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

Gorgeous Missouri River Winter Bow – photo Eric Mondragon

Last week’s snow has all but disappeared with temps close to 50 yesterday and more of the same for this weekend and the week ahead. We may see 60 by mid-week. Given a choice we would prefer snow and cold but we’ll take it either way.

The traffic has been very light even with the warm temps. The winds are keeping some away but those who have been out there have been enjoying some good to great days both nymphing and swinging/stripping. Water temps have been hanging right around 38 for the past couple of days with flows stable at around 3030 cfs. The colder temps have caused the fish to move to the slow, deep winter water which can make things easy if you know where they are. A #12 Casne’s Pinkalicious or Pink Amex trailed with a firebead softhackle sow or a tailwater sow or a pink lightning bug or something of the sort will get you into the action and keep you there. We’ll often run the same rigs for days, even weeks at a time during the winter months with or without split shot. I prefer no split shot opting instead to use a heavy tungsten bug as my weight but it’s all a matter of preference. We typically aren’t doing much with depth adjustment either as the fish are generally concentrated at the same depth in each of these winter runs.

While nymphing is our go-to this time of year it’s also never a bad call to swing or slowly strip a streamer. Our bins are overflowing with all kinds of new streamer patterns. The Hot Head Kreelex, Skiddish Smolt, Sparkle Minnow and various Polar Leeches have all been getting some attention. Stop in and check out our selection, you won’t be disappointed.

Lodging has filled for this weekend and there will be a little more traffic out there than there has been but you will still have plenty of options for solitude on the water. Stop by the shop on your way to the river for shuttles, winter bugs and everything you might need for your day on the water and then some. While you’re here take the opportunity to get your Christmas Shopping done. We’ve got something for all the fly fishers on your list and if you can’t decide what to get them we’ve got WCA gift cards good for everything we sell.

Today we’re highlighting rods and reels. We’ve got some great deals going on Echo and St Croix rods and select Nautilus and Ross reels as we clear the way for some redesigned Echo rods and the launch of a soon-to-be announced new product line in the rod/reel department that we’re super excited about .

St Croix Bank Robber – The Ultimate Streamer Stick

If Anyone Starts Talking About Getting Sensitive Around Here,
They Better Just Be Talking About Light Tippets.

There’s stepping up to the plate, and then there’s stepping up to the fly rod and casting like a big boy. If you want to know more about it, just spend a day with Kelly Galloup. If you plan on chasing trophies with huge streamers, here’s a little tip – bring a big boy rod. Something like the Bank Robber.™ Simply put, they are the ultimate streamer rods. Forged from high-modulus / high-strain SC^V graphite blanks with SC^VI graphite in the lower sections for added power with reduced weight and St. Croix’s proprietary ART^™ and IPC^® technology, it’s something Kelly would approve of. Especially since he helped design them.

Can a fly rod really change your life?
Depends on how much of a life you have outside of fishing.

When it comes to understanding the latest sub-surface fishing techniques, few people know more than Kelly Galloup – which is why we asked him to help us develop the High Stick Drifter. Designed specifically for today’s advanced nymph fishing methods, they feature a unique lightweight tip that reduces angler fatigue when the rod is held high for long periods of time, while emphasizing sensitivity for better strike detection. High Stick Drifter rods also feature SC^VI graphite in lower sections for added power with reduced weight and St. Croix’s proprietary ART^™ and IPC^® technology. And the balance? Incredible. Can these rods change your life? Yea. We think so.

Pick up a Bank Robber or High Stick Drifter today for 20% off the regular price. We’ll also match either one up with the appropriate reel and line for additional cost savings.

Echo Carbon Rods

When Tim Rajeff set out to create the next generation of affordable trout rods he had no idea they were going to turn out so darn good-looking. Getting the action and power correct was his main goal. Tim dedicated a full year of product development to make sure every model in the ECHO Carbon family has a smooth action and is easy to cast. All but a few of these rods have smooth Medium Fast actions and possess power that would be considered close to “average or normal” for each line rating. So you get no surprises when choosing an ECHO CARBON rod. “Not too stiff, not too soft, juuuuuuuust right!!!” With a matte brown finish and a custom Rajeff Sports / ECHO man reel seat the ECHO CARBON rods stand out as the best looking rod under $200 that has ever been made.

Echo has redesigned the Carbon for next season so we’re clearing this year’s models out at 30 % off the regular price. Let us match your new Carbon with the appropriate reel and line for an additional cost savings.

Nautilus Feather Weight Xtreme

The Nautilus FWX (Feather Weight Xtreme) series is the most technologically advanced and the lightest machined aluminum disc drag trout fly reel on the market.

The award-winning FWX reels feature our Sealed Carbon Fiber (SCFTM) drag system with the proprietary TORQ-XTM clutch drive and TPX bushings. This completely sealed, maintenance-free draw bar type carbon fiber disc brake delivers the smoothest drag on the market in a light fly reel. No sand, gravel, water or snow will affect the flawless performance of this amazing disc drag.

Come check out these rods and reels and many more today. We’ve also got some great starter kits from Redington which include everything you need to get started fly fishing. Rod, reel and line and a lifetime warranty on the rod for under $200.

A moderate-fast action rod great for beginner casters or those who have a more relaxed casting stroke. 2-piece and 4-piece models offer flexibility for the traveling angler.

All water, moderate-fast action rod
Durable anodized aluminum reel seat, ideal for all fresh and saltwater applications
Alignment dots for easy rod setup
Rods come with black cloth rod tube
Combo includes: Path rod, Path reel pre-spooled with RIO Mainstream® WF fly line, and zippered carrying case
8 and 9 weight, saltwater application, available with RIO Saltwater® Floating Line
Lifetime warranty *Rod only

Not sure what kind of rod to get them? We’ll walk you through all of your options and explain the differences and get you set up with exactly what you need.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 5th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report, Product Review|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, St Croix, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

WCA Gift Cards make the perfect stocking stuffer.

With Christmas exactly three weeks from today it’s time to get your shopping done!

We are stocked up with great gifts for the fly fishers on your list. We will be highlighting some gift ideas here between now and Christmas so check back daily. If you see something you like come on by the shop or give us a call at (406)235-4350 and we would be happy to ship anything anywhere.
If you aren’t sure what they want we would be happy to give you some ideas or why not get them a Wolf Creek Angler gift card good for anything we sell from shuttles to bugs to guide trips and lodging and everything in-between.

We are your one-stop shop in Wolf Creek for everything Missouri River Fly Fishing.

Today we’re highlighting Fishpond Nomad Nets. These nets have been extremely popular over the last couple of seasons for wade anglers and boat anglers alike. At $125 for the hand net and $239 for the boat net they aren’t cheap but despite the price tag we sell more of these than any less expensive alternatives.

Nomad Nets are constructed with carbon fiber/fiberglass composite material. The result is a very lightweight and durable net. Nomad Nets are built for the conditions that prevail where great fishing exists; they are waterproof, UV protected, and float like a cork. All Nomad Nets come standard with a rubber bag.

The first ever Nomad Net. The basket is big enough to scoop it all, and the short handle/cord & clip combination means it’s always secure behind your back until you need it.

We’ve got plenty of these nets in stock including a limited edition “Montana Camo” mid-length net.

I can’t think of any angler who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive one of these nets for Christmas.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 4th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Christmas, Fishpond Nomad Nets, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

2016 Water Forecast

With the recent snows we’ve had we are off to a good start for the 2016 water year here on the Missouri.

Snowpack is currently around 80 percent of average for the Missouri Headwaters and while they are calling for another mild winter due to El Nino with above average temperatures and below average precipitation the outlook from the Bureau of Reclamation is for flows to continue at or slightly below 3500 CFS for the winter months. We will likely see a slight increase in April and May to around 4000, maxing out at around 5500 in June and holding in that 4000 range for the summer and fall. The maximum probable prediction is for a peak of around 13000 CFS in June with summer flows at or slightly above 5000 CFS. We would love to see the maximum probable! Minimum probable sees things holding right around where they currently are for the entire year. Canyon Ferry inflows for November were 87% of the 30 year average with the reservoir at 78% full which is 93% of average for this time of year.

Pray for snow. We are.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. What some consider perfect flows others consider too high or too low. There are certainly ideal flows as far as maintaining the fishery is concerned and those flows would definitely be more on the high side – higher than the maximum probable prediction. From a wading/fishing standpoint however 2016 looks like it’s going to be similar to what we saw this year. That being the case, it should be another good year on the Missouri.

Why not take this opportunity to book your guide trips and lodging for next season. We’re looking at rate increases for 2016 but if you book by the end of the year we will hold 2015 pricing.

June and July lodging is already getting tough and guide dates are filling quickly, especially for those prime dates so don’t wait too long. We’re looking forward to another great year at Wolf Creek Angler and judging by our current bookings we’re definitely on track to have our best season yet.

We’ve got the same great guides in place for 2016 and will be adding a couple more as well to keep up with the demand. If you’ve fished with us in the past you already know that all of our guides are committed to making your day with them an experience you’ll not soon forget. We don’t measure success simply by the number of fish you catch, we measure success by the overall experience. We not only want you to catch fish, we want to teach you things that will make you a better angler and also teach you things that will help you to appreciate and understand the resource. We are so blessed to be able to live and work here and there’s nothing we enjoy more than introducing our guests to the amazing Missouri River and other surrounding waters.

Our guides are among the best on the Missouri. You won’t find a harder working crew of dedicated professionals committed to making your day on the water the trip of a lifetime. No matter what your skill level or your expectations, we’ve got the perfect guide for you. We are outfitter owned and operated and dedicated to making your Missouri River experience exceed your expectations. Whether you are staying with us, fishing with us, shopping with us or any combination of these, you are our number one priority and we will always do whatever we can to help you to get the most out of your Missouri River fly fishing experience.

The break in the action has been nice but we can’t wait to get back at it.

Don’t think you have to wait until spring to book a guide trip. The seasons make no difference to us, fishing is what we do….year round. $400 guide trips and $99 lodging all winter long with no cancellation fees. Keep your eye on the weather – if you see a day that looks good give us a call and book a room and a guide. If the day arrives and the weather goes south or you just change your mind no worries. It’s winter in Montana. We get it.

Guide trips make great Christmas gifts as well!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00December 3rd, 2015|Categories: Montana Fly Fishing|Tags: Christmas, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

Starting to get it! – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The general deer and elk season ended on Sunday the 29th. I did not fill the freezer this year however the season was a huge success nonetheless in that it was my son John’s first hunting season. He has gone hunting with me on occasion over the years and he has always had some interest in taking up the sport himself but he is by no means what you would consider a hard-core hunting enthusiast.

He aced the hunter safety course a couple of years ago but chose not to hunt. He’s never been a fan of loud noises so the thought of firing a rifle had zero appeal to him. He has always had an interest in archery however and he’s been shooting for a couple of years. We had him take the archery hunter safety course last summer so he would be ready to hunt with a bow this year.

Something clicked on that first trip out this archery season as we snuck through the woods with our bows in search of deer and elk. We didn’t see any animals that day but I was ecstatic because I could see that he got it. Not that he was begging me to take him hunting but we did make it out a few times and had a great time together. The lack of action however became an issue as he struggled with that whole patience concept.

Once firearm season arrived I figured he was done. I felt bad that we hadn’t had much action. A friend has access to some private land and he suggested that we take John out and find him something to shoot. While he was extremely reluctant I did get him to go to the range with me. It took a fair amount of coaxing and discussion but he finally did squeeze the trigger on the 270. Another obstacle overcome – I could see once again that he got it. He’s been intrigued by guns for the last few years so it was a huge step for him to overcome his fear of the noise and the recoil and to get to the point where he was asking me to take him to shoot. Once again… I was elated.

We did hunt the private land and we did see a bunch of animals. John had a shot at a nice size mule deer buck and it was a perfect scenario with the deer coming ever closer and giving him all the time in the world to settle his nerves and take the shot. He ended up just missing and later that day he passed on a shot at a nice whitetail but it was such a positive experience and we’re so thankful for having had the opportunity to hunt there.

Following this outing we returned to public lands hunting and the frustration started to set in for both of us as we hunted hard yet failed to find any animals. The success of the season was reinforced for me however as I went out a few times alone and felt there was something missing. Hunting has always been a solitary activity for me, I’ve never been much into hunting with a group but now I’ve discovered the magic of hunting as father and son. Hopefully he will stay with it!

Sunday was cold. We decided to drive to a few of our spots and check things out. Lots of people out trying to fill tags. Between the single digit temps and the crowds we ended up just going for a ride. The season came to a close and we committed to putting more time into our hunting next season. From range time to pre-season scouting to making certain we set some blocks of time aside next year where we can hunt for more than a couple of hours at a time, we hope to get things dialed in.

Having grown up hunting in the deer blinds and tree stands of the Michigan woods I am trying to learn a whole different style of hunting here in Montana and I’m thrilled to have my kid out there learning with me.

Elk hunting? I don’t know the first thing about it but I do know I would love to fill the freezer with elk meat. Maybe next year.

The last day of hunting is always filled with mixed emotions for me, especially when I have a season where I failed to harvest anything. I’m bummed out but I’m also ready to put the hunting gear away and start getting back into fishing mode. This year I was also bummed I wouldn’t be hanging out in the woods with my kid for a while. We certainly have our differences, often even when we’re out hunting, but the hunting has added a dimension to our relationship we’ve never had before and I wouldn’t trade these days afield with him for anything.

I had planned on fishing the Missouri on Tuesday but called it off Monday night seeing that the winds were going to howl. No sooner had I cancelled these plans then a friend called to see if I was interested in joining him for an elk hunt on private ranch land. Montana is conducting shoulder season elk hunts in a couple of areas of the state where elk populations are exceeding target numbers.

I shifted back into hunting mode, excited at the prospect of harvesting a cow elk. We figured the odds would be fairly good of finding animals and of getting some opportunities. I awoke at 3:30 AM and made my way to Ulm where I met up with my friends and we made the 2 hour trip to our hunting grounds.

It was a different kind of hunt as we were able to ride our ATV’s anywhere we wanted to go in search of our quarry. We covered miles of prime elk habitat. We found tracks, some fresh, some not. We found an elk highway where a herd estimated at several hundred head judging by the size of the swath of land, had passed at some point in the last day or two. We saw amazing views from atop towering vistas but there were no elk to be seen.

As we made our way to a different section of the ranch we came across a cow laying in apparent distress on the hillside. As we approached she got up and tried to move away. One of her legs was severely broken and we knew we had to dispatch her. Since I have never harvested an elk my friends asked me if I wanted her. This was not the scenario I had envisioned when picturing harvesting my first elk so I passed. We did put her out of her misery and tagged her and while I had no qualms about doing this, I was reacquainted with the weight of our sport.

Thus ends my 2015 hunting season. I didn’t get out nearly enough and I didn’t harvest any animals but I did make a major connection with my son and I did go on my first official elk hunt which just so happened to involve an amazing piece of Montana with open and unlimited access via ATV’s. Meat in the freezer is great and hopefully we will have better luck next year but I consider this season a huge success and can’t wait for the 2016 season.

In the meantime – back to fishing. Report soon to come.

Taking a break to enjoy the view from the top of the world – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00December 2nd, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off

Monday Morning….All is Quiet

The long Thanksgiving weekend has come and gone. The river continues to be shrouded in freezing fog but the sun is burning through and the cold will loosen its grip over the next few days as we leave behind the frosty single digits for the time being and move back into very comfortable 40’s by mid- week. It looks like the mild weather will hang around for at least the next ten days or so.

Will the break in the weather bring some traffic back to the river? We’ll likely see a slight uptick in traffic once those temps creep back into the 40’s, however things will remain fairly quiet through the end of the year. The holidays are upon us and the next month will fly by for most with plenty of things going on to keep everyone busy.

Should you get a chance to sneak away for a day and wet a line however, we would love to see you. It’s the perfect time to take advantage of our off-season lodging and guide rates. $99 rooms and $400 Missouri River winter guide trips for the rest of the year and through the winter months.

Our winter hours are Wednesday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Sunday 8:00 AM – 12 Noon (ish). We will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for the winter months except when the weather is super fishy. We’re open for lodging and guide trips EVERY day and we’ll answer your calls whether we’re here or not. If you happen to come around on a day we aren’t at the shop please stop and see our friends at The Trout Shop or Headhunters in Craig or Trout Montana if you are Cascade bound and tell em’ we sent you!

Thanks to everyone who came out for our Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sales. We definitely appreciate your support and we always look forward to seeing you in the shop and on the water. Remember to pick up Wolf Creek Angler gift cards for all of the fly fishers on your list, available in any amount and good for anything we sell.

Reports from the river have been a bit hard to come by over the past few days but those who have been out have been enjoying some good days with very little competition. Think pink, think firebeads and think slow and deep winter water. We’ve got bins full of winter favorites and we’ll tell you exactly where to go and what to use when for your best shot at winter action on the MO.

We’ve also got the streamer bins fully stocked with a bunch of cool new patterns for your swinging and/or stripping fix.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00November 30th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

Small Business Saturday

Wolf Creek and Craig don’t see much traffic this time of year. The river looks gorgeous and the fish are likely hungry but you have to be pretty hard-core to fish in single digit temps. Not that there aren’t a few of those hard-core anglers around but they are few and far between. Tomorrow is the last day of the general deer and elk season so a lot of folks are still out trying to fill those tags.

Shops like ours can be a little lonely on days like today. Black Friday and Small Business Saturday aren’t much different from any other late November day in the canyon and we would never expect people to make a trip from Helena or Great Falls to shop with us unless of course they were here anyway to fish the Missouri.

We’ve got a SALE going on this weekend just like every other shop and you could get some great deals, though nothing like what you’ll find at the Big Box Retailers. We can’t sell you flies for $1 or give you 50% off much of anything but we can give you what you expect when you choose to shop at a local fly shop rather than a big box retailer. We can give you helpful friendly service, all kinds of honest advice on where to go, when to go and what to use. We can give you our time and our undivided attention and share with you our passion which brought us here and which drives us to do everything we can to welcome you to our world and to earn your business and hopefully your loyalty. Not necessarily loyalty to our shop (though we definitely want that) but loyalty to the fishery and to the local economy. We (the shops on the Missouri) all owe everything to this river. We make our living here selling flies, selling lodging, selling fishing trips….selling dreams.

Some might say we’re exploiting the resource. I’ve heard there are actually some people out there who don’t care for outfitters and guides and fly shops if you can believe that! Those individuals are certainly entitled to their opinions.

We all bear a responsibility as stewards of the river to represent the sport and the industry well and to do everything we can to care for and conserve the resource. Whether it’s being a member of a conservation group like Trout Unlimited, the Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance or Missouri River Fly Fishers (http://patbarnestu.org/ http://www.umowa.org/ http://www.missouririverflyfishers.com/), instructing our customers, clients and guests on river etiquette and conservation or something as simple as picking up the trash we come across when we’re out there on the river we can all play a role in conserving the resource. As fly shops we are ambassadors of the sport and of the resource and we take this responsibility very seriously.

At the end of the day however it is a business and it is how we make our living. We definitely want your business and we will continue to do what we do to earn that business which is to offer you exceptional customer service and the products you want in an ego-free, no pressure environment with no intimidation and zero attitude. We’re not the shop for everyone and we’re ok with that. There are plenty of options to choose from. We are building a loyal following at a pace we are thrilled with and we’re so thankful for all of you who continue to make this possible.

Small Business Saturday is a great way to show support for local brick and mortar businesses. We hope you support us today and every day!

Enjoy your Small Business Saturday.

Go Griz!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00November 28th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Small Business Saturday, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

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About Jason Orzechowski

Features Include:

If Anyone Starts Talking About Getting Sensitive Around Here, They Better Just Be Talking About Light Tippets.

Can a fly rod really change your life? Depends on how much of a life you have outside of fishing.

If Anyone Starts Talking About Getting Sensitive Around Here,
They Better Just Be Talking About Light Tippets.

Can a fly rod really change your life?
Depends on how much of a life you have outside of fishing.