Zach King, Author at Wolf Creek Angler

Chewy’s Top 5 FAQ’s of March

Now that the thaw is underway and I’ve succeeded in kicking cabin fever square in the chops; here’s the short list of calls I’ve been fielding at the shop consolidated into my Top 5 FAQs of March, so far.

“How are the ramps?”

Holter Dam is still drifted in but if you’re willing to put in some effort you can always slide a boat in from the campground. Is it worth it? That’s your call. On the other hand, Wolf Creek Bridge, Craig, Stickney Creek, Spite Hill and Mid Cannon are all good to go. Mountain Palace and Prewett Creek and socked in with ice and drifted snow. Looking like a few more weeks until we’re hitting the lower river.

“How’s the MO fishing?”

Excellent. Angler’s choice when it comes to tactics. Midges are out when it warms up mid-day and fish and eating them on top. Nymphing is still a great option too, standard winter/early spring fare. Zebras, Sows and anything in the pink or hothead family are all dropping bobbers daily. Still swinging up a few on the bigger bugs as well. Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolt, Polar Leeches and some in house specials paired with a sink tip are all good jumping off points.

“Any lodging left for June through 4^th of July?”

Hardly. We’ve got a few rooms open sporadically for prime time, but if you’re looking for a week it’s going to be tough. Remember last year when I told you those dates generally book a year in advance? I wasn’t joking. Is it worth giving us a call to check? Absolutely, if we can’t accommodate you, we’ll point you in the right direction.

“Will the water be high in June when I want to come walk wade?”

Probably, just like it is every year. Will it be as high as last year? Probably not. Do I have a crystal ball? Nope. Word from upstream is something between 9k-12k last I saw. Bottom line is we’re still a ways out from having a solid guess as to flows for summer. Call a week before you show up and we’ll have a better idea.

“Are the rainbows running up to the Dam yet?”

No. I left my soapbox at home so I’ll just leave it at that.

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2019-03-17T19:17:01-06:00March 17th, 2019|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

On The Road Report: Misadventure Edition.

Yesterday, what started out as quick probe into the back-country on the northern edge of Yellowstone National Park turned into what I would describe as a hellish march to the edges of human physical capability. Okay, so maybe not that bad, but it was tough none the less. With high water plaguing much of the state I figured my best bet for a day off would be cruising down to Big Sky and hunting down some high alpine lakes with my buddy Will. Truth be told, he called an audible in the morning after conferring with a friend of his so instead of a quick walk into one lake, we’d take our chances on one tucked deeper into the canyon. In hindsight, not the best of ideas.

I can’t tell you the exact location of the lake, because we never made it. The road the trail jumps off has seasonal motorized restrictions, meaning no cars past a certain point, before a certain time. Not like it would have mattered anyway; within the first few bends beyond the gate blocking us we hit the snow line. At first it was just giant, mostly ice balls strewn about, but the higher we climbed up the switchbacks, the boulders transformed into drifts consuming the entire road. By the time we neared the ridge where we were to turn off, the snow had become a little too much for the both of us. Post-holing for the better part of a half a mile was enough. We retreated down the hill back to our car, passing fresh bear tracks along the way.

Back at the car we reverted back to plan a). Drive into the lake, catch Cutties. Wrong again. The second go round we actually made it to the lake, only to see that it had turned in the last day or so. Minimal visibility and close to zero room for a back cast made the choice to abandon Lake Lame an easy one. Needless to say, not exactly a productive fishing trip. On the flip side, I’ve had worse days. Looking back now I’m calling the failed outing a success. Time spent exploring new country with a good friend on a shit road, in his car isn’t a bad way to wast an afternoon.

Will and I have had our fair share of misadventures over our relatively short time as fishing partners. Within the last two years alone we’ve dodged Moose in Wildlife Management Areas, thwarted an attempted robbery in Twin Bridges, patched a few flat tires on dirt roads, iced down swollen knees in spring creeks and on one occasion, Will came close to buying the farm in a side channel on Rock Creek. The bottom line is this, at the end of the worst of days, we laugh, imbibe and go to sleep that night no worse for ware. Save the quarter sized blister currently pestering my right heel. Whatever, that too shall pass.

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2017-09-21T18:59:31-06:00May 27th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized, Wolf Creek Chatter|1 Comment

Vince Wilcox Fly Tying Night.

It’s that time of the year again, high water and inclement weather in the woods of upstate New York, have driven Umpqua Signiture Fly Tier Vince Wilcox and his motley crew of feather-flingers west to the Rockies. Between checking out the MO and some local freestone, Vince will be joining us again on Friday April 28th at 6 p.m for a tying demo. He’ll be showing off a few patterns this year including some warm water bugs and a new twist on a Missouri River standard, the Little Green Machine. If you’ve fished the MO at all over the past few years, you’ve probably fished the LGM and if you haven’t, well I don’t know what to tell you. Other than you should probably get with the program, its been a top seller the past 4 years for a reason.

Same deal as last year, this is an informal event, wet waders and cold beverages are welcome. The shop’ll have a cooler of some drinks but feel free to bring something to share. We’ll be hanging out until about 8 o’clock or until the party moves to the Oasis.

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2017-12-08T15:47:12-07:00April 24th, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|1 Comment

The Boss Is Gone SALE!

By the time I publish this, Jason should be somewhere around 39,000 feet, cruising east on his annual trip back to the Mitten in search of steelhead. I’m taking this opportunity during his yearly home visit to unload the back-stock and clear off some shelf space. With new merchandise showing up everyday, there’s a lot to get out the door. So here’s the deal; For the duration of Jason’s trip, I’m putting it all on sale. Damn near the whole shop will be discounted starting this morning, until the boss is back behind the counter on April 1st. 8 DAYS of deals from the windows, to the walls. Oh, and if it’s already on the sale rack, we can negotiate. Here’s the straight up savings that’ll be happening….

40% off all Redington winter gear
20% off all 2016 SIMMS outerwear
50% off all Outdoor Research winter gear
$20 T-Shirts
40% off select rods

In addition, if you’re looking for a new rod/reel combo, we can talk. Just checked in new rods from Redington and LOOP including some bigger guns; 7 & 8 weights in both brands. On the opposite end we’ve also got a few new killer creek rods in 3 & 4 weights available across the board, Echo, LOOP & Redington. And as always we’ve got a slough of solid MO bug guns.

To balance them on the back end, a case loaded with new reels from Nautilus, Ross, LOOP, Echo & Redington. And of course lines to match. Streamer lines from RIO including their new award winning big bug tosser the InTouch Big Nasty and next level dry lines from ARC Fishing including the 99 & 99+ for the faster action rods. So if you’re looking for a new stick or full setup to toss into the mix we’ve got you covered.

So far the forecast is looking pretty solid for the upcoming week, warm temps with a chance of moisture and cloud cover. Typical spring fare for the Rocky Mountain Front. Looking forward to seeing everybody over the next week until Jason gets back to trade places for a bit. I’m already planning my next O.T.R Report, lets just hope the river gods cooperate!

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2017-09-21T19:04:36-06:00March 25th, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|1 Comment

On the Road Report: Madison River Edition.

Bathroom Art. Gravel Bar, Ennis MT.

That’s right, the OTR Report is back with the first installment for 2017. It’s been a long winter and its about damn time. Chewy needs a change of pace, luckily for me I was able to assemble a mostly willing crew of fellow fly tossers and head south for a day. From the looks of it, Ennis and a majority of the Madison River valley would be sheltered from the wintery-mix expected across most of the state. In addition to the promising weather outlook, word on the boat ramps was the streamer bite had picked up. Water temps were (and still are) much warmer than the MO and fish were chasing down big meals. If you know me or anything about me, you know that alone is enough to get me going.

If you’ve ever fished the Madison you know it can ambiguously frustrating. No real defined seams or obvious holding water, the entire river is, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, one big riffle. Fish hold in the tightest pockets, the smallest seam created by the most imperceptible of rocks. There are no limits to the number of targets to throw at and for that matter, no discernible spot where the next fish may come from. The opportunities are endless. It wasn’t too long after we launched that the big white streamers getting tossed starting getting some attention. Fish darting from their cover, inspecting and swiping. First fish to the net was a healthy Brown caught by WCA guide Billy Brann on a lil’ something whipped up by yours truly. Fly
selection varied throughout the day from white, to olive/white, to olive, to grey, back to olive/white. Fish seemed to react right after a bug change but their excitement for a fresh fly waned after a few dozen casts. Either way Billy and I were able to net a few nice fish over the course of our 16 mile float. That’s right, 16, windy, boulder dodging, low-bridge ducking miles. In hindsight, not the wisest of choices of floats, but I’ve done dumber things with less intelligent people.

By the end of the day Bill and I were both pretty well spent. Casting 7 wts with big flies in the wind all day paired with rowing can take it out of ya’. As good fortune may have it, the Gravel Bar in Ennis was still serving by the time we came back through town. After a round or two of draft beers we hit the road home. The Madison Range faded into the night as the clouds blanketed them once more, undoubtedly dropping more snow on the already frigid peaks. I’m looking forward to returning when the snow begins turning into runoff and the Salmonflies make their annual appearance.

With another weather window popping up later on this week, it looks like I’ll be getting out again. Make sure to check back for more updates from the road as we push into spring.

~CHEERS, CHEWY.

By Zach King|2017-09-21T19:03:40-06:00March 12th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Wolf Creek Chatter|0 Comments

Now Taking Applications for 2017!

Attention trout bums and feather flingers far and wide! Wolf Creek Angler is now accepting applications for the 2017 season!

Do you want to live and work in the epicenter of Montana fly fishing? Dreaming of big skies, wide-open spaces, wild trout and more rivers than you could fish in two lifetimes? Look no further.

Here are the essentials.

Passion. Fair weather anglers need not apply. We fish, and we fish daily. The conditions can change day-to-day and first hand experience is vital.

Personality. We pride ourselves on being the most personable shop on the MO and continuously going the extra mile for our guests and clients.

Willingness to work. Shop duties aside, there is always something to be done on the property. Landscaping, shuttles, boat cleaning, housekeeping, boat and property maintenance are all daily occurrences.

Bonuses for handyman capabilities, mad trailer parking skills, experience rowing and good taste in beers.

Clean driving record. I don’t feel the need to elaborate too much on this one; let’s just say that if you’ve got a pile of egregious traffic violations, look elsewhere.

Send a complete resume to BOTH jason@wolfcreekangler.com & zach@wolfcreekangler.com with Resume in the subject line. Things to include: 3 references with phone numbers, any retail experience, fly fishing experience, availability dates & a quick blurb on why you want to work in the fly fishing industry in Montana. Applications need to be received by the end of February so we have time to complete our due diligence.

Feel free to include links to your social media, blogs or anything else you feel will help you stand out.

Things to leave out: stupid selfies, rod in mouth shots, bad grammar, political affiliation, pompous self promotion & A River Runs Through It references.

Hope to hear from you soon!

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2017-02-01T00:07:31-07:00February 1st, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|3 Comments

Chewy’s Winter Welfare Check & Fishing Report 1.17.17

If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been largely absent for some time now. Considering its been colder than Shackleton’s ass on the sunniest of days for the past several weeks, not much has been going on at the shop, on the river or in general for that matter. Cold, abject misery has been the status quo in the canyon. With winter storm after winter storm rolling through, the unrelenting wind, my motivation to drop the thread bobbin and wader up has been practically non existent. Has being the imperative statement. Up until yesterday morning, my days consisted of sleeping in as long as humanly possible, strong coffee, hot soup and tying as many flies as my yeti-esque hands allow.

Weather improved enough to actually do more than drive the frontage road, dreaming of spring. How was the fishing? Awesome. Typical winter fare in the nymph department, pinks, hot heads, Zebras & San Juans. Bobber-lobbing definitely the most productive means at this point. Don”t
underestimate the streamer bite though. Swinging brought a few to the net today before a 5 man crew crowded me out of an otherwise, wide open river. White was the color of choice by a long shot. Slow swings over deeper water with a sink tip to get it down, the only way to go. We’ve got all the standards in stock along with some WCA exclusives tied up by yours truly.

If you plan on floating in the next few days be advised: RAMPS ARE SKETCHY! Even at the Dam today a truck struggled but succeeded to get off. Be smart choosing your float, Wolf Creek Bridge is a definitely a no go, along with Mtn. Palace, Stickney Creek & the Dearborn. Few buddies floated Craig to Spite today and did fine. Just be sure to check conditions before you commit and come prepared, even if its just to lend a hand to your fellow floater!

From the looks of it, we’ve got another few days of warmer weather before things get cold again. We’ll be at the shop for the rest of the week with anything and everything you need to stay dry, warm, caffeinated and fishy on your way to winter trout nirvana. The best outerwear and warmest layers from SIMMS, kick ass water resistant gloves from Kast Extreme Fishing Gear, the largest selection of flies in all of Wolf Creek and of course, the best free coffee in the canyon. What else do ya’ need?

Oh, lodging? Got that too. Booked solid for the night but the rest of the week is wide open. Clean rooms for $99 just minutes from the MO.

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2017-01-17T23:55:31-07:00January 17th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Report: Last Bastion of Summer.

The calendar says fall, but the last few days on the MO have felt more like summer. With the forecast pulling a crazy-Ivan in the next few days towards the former, I thought it best to hop on board the Adipose with Lakestream Fly Shop Owner and Guide Justin Lawrence when he invited me out for a day of d.f.o (dry fly only) on the lower river before the weather turns south.

Got a late start, per-usual for fishing with a guide on their day off, but once the boat was in the water it didn’t take long to bring a fish to the net. Dry fly fishing in the high sun is impossible according to some folks, we found it to be a little different. Plenty of fish up tight to the banks, when I say tight I mean yoga pants tight. Shady cut banks, root balls and scum lines all produced good fish on the surface.

Justin had his heart set on one final big hopper chug of the year and he got it amidst the clouds of pseudos that enveloped the boat at one point. Strong, violent hatch, then, nada. Few smaller caddis still making their way around, few fish to the boat on the caddis emerger.

Bluebird and close to eighty in the flats. Summer weather for a fall backdrop, dry flies, hot fish & cold beer doesn’t get much nicer than that.

Great day of fishing with a true professional. The man has caught fish in places many haven’t heard of and most never will. For every fish landed, it seemed like Justin was the most excited. If you’re ever in Whitefish and are looking to get out with the best, make sure to check out Justin and his crew at Lakestream Fly Shop.

From the looks of it the last day of summer has come and gone. Seattle forecast for the foreseeable future. No complaints, moisture is always a good thing. Looking forward to settling into my fall/winter routine. Soup, hot-toddies, trout spey and fly tying.

Still have a few lodging options open for October if you’re thinking of seeing what all the buzz is about. New outer-wear from Simms to keep you dry, so you stay warm. I’m already eyeing the cold weather pants and flannel, we’ve got em in sizes to match any waistband. New flies coming off the vise almost daily, WCA exclusives tied by yours truly and free coffee every morning from now until the end of time. Not to mention the most personable shop on the MO. Stop on in, see what you’ve been missing out on.

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2016-10-25T16:15:32-06:00October 1st, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing, Uncategorized|0 Comments

On the Road Report: Political Refugee Edition.

Over the past few weeks, with the mercury on the rise, water across the state flat-lining and the political climate starting to resemble an episode of Jerry Springer straight out of a Kafka book; I’ve found myself more often than not, getting the hell away from everything. I’m already done with hearing the political talk at the bars and on the river. Combine the never ending political ramblings with the unavoidable heat, lets just say that Chewy needs a change of pace. But first, onto the fishing report.

Like our goofy grinned friend up the street says, fishing right now, is as good as you are. Crowds, weeds, high sun and ohh yeah picky fish. Still seeing a good trico spinner fall in the morning providing some good targets and the hopper bite throughout the day has been picking up. Try a More-or-Less Hopper or a Chubby in the riffles and seams with a split case or cray dropper.

Limited options right now if you’re looking at getting off the MO onto some freestone or small water. Hoot-Owl restrictions on lots of Western District and a handful of Central waterways. Check out the complete list HERE but just be ready for more to be added on as we push into the latter part of summer. Even with a lot of big name rivers feeling the sting, still loads of options if you’re looking into something different. Our buddies at Lakestream Fly Shop in Whitefish have been posting some good reports from the Flathead & Swan as well as a handful of guides reporting good action on the Yellowstone. If you’re looking for something a little more local, you’ll have to work for it, but the options are still out there. Alpine lakes, and the higher reaches of rivers not being affected as much by low flows and high temps are a good place to start looking.
As for me, I’ll be loading up a cooler and hitting the high country in search of cooler temps, less crowded water and a total lack of political discourse. Not to mention the backcountry brookies and cutthroat. Jason will be manning the shop for the next few days while I claim refugee status in the greater Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Bourbon, Beer & Bear Spray, a solid recipe for a weekend if you ask me. If you don’t see me in a few days, don’t worry about it, something tells me I won’t be missing much.

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 1st, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing, Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

On The Road Report: River Closure Edition.

Few less options for the week ahead if you were thinking of hitting the road. Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks have announced the first of this summer’s Hoot-Owl Restrictions. Meaning NO FISHING FROM 2 P.M – MIDNIGHT, that is if you find yourself on any of these stretches of water….

The Big Hole from Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Drive to Dickie Bridge & from Notch Bottom f.a.s. to the mouth.
The Madison from Ennis Dam to the mouth.
The Beaverhead from Anderson Lane to the mouth.
The Jefferson; Entire river.
The Ruby from Duncan District Road to the mouth.
The Gallatin from Shed’s Bridge f.a.s. to the mouth.

Just a friendly reminder that this is not a suggestion from F.W.P. its’s mandatory and you can be ticketed for fishing during the closure. The official list this year is still pretty short, so far. We’ve still got a lot of summer ahead of us and things probably wont improve anytime soon. Forecast for July is above average temps, and below average precipitation. Bottom line is the summer of 2016 isn’t shaping up to be a banner year. With that said, I’m going to jump on my soapbox for a minute. Just because F.W.P. hasn’t listed your favorite stream, or where you planned on fishing this week, doesn’t mean it’s in good shape. Take for example the Smith River, temps at Camp Baker have been peaking at over 70 and temps at Eden Bridge have been close to 80. I’m no scientist, but that seems pretty warm not to make the list. And that’s just one example. What I’m trying to get at is this; common sense and decency go a long way this time of year to protect fisheries across the state. Take a few minutes to do some research on where you plan on fishing, if the water temps are in that upper 60 degree range(65-67), move on. Seriously, don’t be a @$$hat about it. I know it sucks to have to pass up on your favorite water but I assure you there are other options at this point. You may have to put some effort in or deal with the crowds like Matt did yesterday, but it’s better than screwing up a fishery for everyone.

~Cheers, Chewy.

Don’t be these people

By Zach King|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00July 3rd, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing|1 Comment

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