Fishing Report Archives - Page 15 of 41

August 21st Update

Just a quick river update this morning.

We got a good amount of rain yesterday along with cooler temps which has helped tremendously with the fires. I’m actually looking at some patches of blue sky this morning.

It’s feeling like fall out there with a current temp of 50 degrees. The high will be just shy of 70 today.

Patchy smoke, partly sunny skies and light winds combined with cool temps and no traffic could spell NEAR PERFECT CONDITIONS out there today.

We recommend putting in at Holter Dam if nymphing is your game plan. The Dam to Craig float has been very productive as of late with the run to Wolf Creek Bridge definitely producing the best results. Crowding is NOT an issue right now but if you don’t like being around other boats then skip the row arounds and just hot spot your way down. If you leave the dam crowd early you’ll have plenty of good water to yourself if you want to do row arounds.

Wolf Creek to Stickney has been my go to lately for a great mix of dry fly action and nymphing and the canyon has been great for solitude and is probably your best bet for terrestrial action.

Status quo on the bugs. Peep Shows, black zebras and Frenchies have led the charge in my boat but LGM’s, S & M’s, Weight Flies, Redemptions, Psycho Mays, Tung Darts, Tan UV Czechs and 2 Bits have all been producing as have zirdles and snapping crays.

Best selling Trico….BY FAR has been the Indicator Spinner followed by double wing, hi vis spinners, drowned tricos and buzzballs. No need to limit yourself to those though. We’ve got endless options if you want to show them something different. We would concur with what you’ve read elsewhere however that if you aren’t getting them the bug is generally not the problem. It’s all in the presentation so bring your A game. Practice in the offseason….not during the game!

There are a lot of folks missing out on the best dry fly fishing of the season and depending on the day the nymphing could blow your mind. Our loss is your gain…Get out there and enjoy it before the return of the crowds. They are coming.

You’ve got 10 days left to take advantage of our Dog Days Guide Trip and Lodging Special. Book a full day guide trip and one night of lodging and the second night of lodging is on us through the end of August.

Give us a call at the shop or swing by for up to the minute reports and conditions, the best bugs and the friendliest service you’ll find anywhere.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-21T15:01:13-06:00August 21st, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Your Mid August Missouri River Report

We’re half way through the month of August and continuing to enjoy one of the finest Trico seasons in recent memory.

Light traffic, and clockwork hatches with plenty of hungry targets…does it get much better?

Why yes, yes it does.

Couple these epic conditions with FREE lodging and that’s about as good as it gets.

Our Dog Days of Summer Guide Trip and Lodging Special will only be around through the end of the month. Book a full day guide trip and one night of premium lodging and the second night is on us! You simply can’t afford to pass this up!

How long will it last? It’s hard to say but you’d be wise to get here sooner rather than later if you want to get in on this action.

Go to dry fly selections include Indicator Spinners, Hi Vis Tricos, Double Wing Tricos, Buzzballs, Hi Vis Sprouts, Drowned Tricos and Caddis favorites like Outriggers, Bloom’s Parachute, Cornfed, CDC Caddis Emergers and Front End Loaders.

Nymphing has been solid as well, though much better on some days than others. Nymphing traffic has been primarily in the Holter Dam to Craig stretch with the highest concentration of boats in the grass flats…tis the season!

Even so, it’s far from overcrowded and if you’re willing to work some of the sneakier runs you can have it all to yourself (and still catch a bunch of fish). We’ve been doing well with the Peep Show/Black Zebra combo near the dam and also getting them pretty consistently on Frenchies and Little Green Machines. Red Headed Step Child, Military May, Tailwater Sows, Psycho Mays, Purple Lighting Bugs and PT’s are all good options as are Zirdles and Snapping Crays, especially in the Wolf Creek to Craig run. All of these and many more available now in the well-stocked bins at Wolf Creek Angler.

Hoppers and ants should be a part of your August dry fly arsenal as well. I’ve yet to have a stellar day with the big bugs this season but if you stick with it you should be able to at least move a few fish…especially from Craig down. Work them tight to the banks and don’t overlook the mid-river riffles. I’ve caught some of my best hopper fish in mid-river randomness. Throw anywhere and everywhere. The fish don’t live by our rules of where they should or should not be.

Streamer fishing has likely reached the point of diminishing returns for most anglers with the amount of aquatic vegetation currently in the system but that being said, I would never shy away from it, particularly on the rare overcast days.

Book your fall dates now while there’s still time and stop in for great deals store wide on summer sportswear and more.

Come out and experience the best dry fly fishing of the season and while you’re at it take advantage of the best deals of the season on great gear from the best brands in the industry.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-16T18:37:38-06:00August 16th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Trico Eat on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The clock is ticking on Summer 2018.

The streets of Wolf Creek and Craig are relatively quiet. The parking lots at the boat launches are relatively empty.

Rooms are readily available and immediate seating is the rule, not the exception.

Meanwhile, within the churning currents, eddies, seams and slack waters of the Missouri things are not so quiet.

It is here that the cycle of life is being played out daily as trico spinners swarm over the water in a mating frenzy at first light before dying and falling to the surface film where they become like candy to the ravenous pods of trout gorging themselves on clusters of the tiny bugs.

It’s the real deal…a feeding frenzy, and you can find it happening here daily.

Don’t like fishing tiny dries? No problem. Terrestrials are on the menu as well. We’ve been spending a fair amount of time throwing hoppers and have yet to find the magic but they are eating chubbies and ants. Hoppers were plentiful through several sections of the canyon yesterday so keep at it…sooner or later they’re going to eat them.

Overall the fishing has been pretty good with plenty of dry fly opportunities and good nymphing in most of the go to spots. That being said, it is fishing and you’re bound to have an off day here and there so keep those expectations in check and maybe hire a guide to get you dialed in. We can help you with that!

HOT weather is on the way. We’ll see highs near or possibly exceeding 100 degrees on Thursday and Friday but it appears as though more seasonable temps will return over the weekend.

Don’t miss out on the Dog Days of Summer Special all this month at WCA. We’re offering a FREE second night of premium lodging when you book a full day guide trip and a night of premium lodging along with great deals on sportswear, wading gear and rods and reels.

Give us a call at the shop for up to the minute reports and conditions and make us your first stop on your way to the MO’. We are your Missouri River One Stop Shop with everything you need for your time on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-07T19:44:49-06:00August 7th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Caddis Sunset – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

I overheard some folks at dinner the other night proclaiming that the season is back after apparently having had a particularly good dry fly day, and while I’m not sure it ever really started to begin with it does seem as though things are coming into shape….just in time for the late summer lull.

There are bugs (tricos a plenty, lingering PMD’s and caddis in the evening). The water is perfect for wading (right around 5K and holding) and most importantly, there are pods of rising fish.

It’s happening much later than what it usually does but better late than never!

As luck would have it the summer traffic cycle has been normal. Prime Time traffic is over but Prime Dry Fly Fishing has just begun.

The boat ramps are quiet (relatively speaking), there’s an abundance of lodging and guide availability and the river is calling.

As if that weren’t enough, starting tomorrow we’re running our Dog Days of Summer Lodging and Guide Trip special. For the entire month of August when you book a full day guide trip and a night of premium lodging we’ll throw in a second night of lodging for FREE.

Does it get any better?

Keep in mind prime time usually books out a year in advance. Now you’ve got a golden opportunity to fish prime conditions on the Missouri at a huge cost savings with a last minute call.

We can’t make any promises about the fishing. It’s been good these past several days and hopefully will continue to be but there are no guarantees. The conventional wisdom is that tricos will continue through the month of August. PMD’s are all but done but terrestrials are about to become a major player. Caddis activity has been somewhat sporadic but is always a possibility.

Will we see epic dry fly days throughout the month of August? Time will tell. I expect we will see some good days and some not so good days, as always.

Give us a call today to book your Dog Days Special. You’ll have the potential for some awesome Trico fishing and there is no better month to fish hoppers on the Missouri. Some of our biggest browns of the season are always caught on hoppers. I haven’t even mentioned the nymphing since most of the focus seems to be on top right now but should you want to fish the bobber you’ll likely do just fine.

Best bets for nymphing right now include Little Green Machines, Weight Flies (gold or purple), Tung Darts, Psycho Mays, PMD and/or Rusty Magic Fly, Black Zebra Midge, PMD Redemption, Purple Lightning Bug, WD 40’s, Soft Hackle PT jigs, Red Headed Step Child, Dark Peep Show, Doc’s Summer Bug, Nitro Caddis Pupa, Pulsating Caddis Pupa, 2 Bits and various crayfish patterns (Claws R, Snapping Cray, Zirdle etc.)

Best Dries- Indicator Spinner Trico, Hi Vis Trico Spinner, RS2 Trico, Drowned Trico, Barr’s Trico Emerger, Trinas Hi Vis Sprout Black, Bloom’s Parachute Caddis, Outrigger Caddis, CDC Caddis Emerger, X Caddis, Front End Loader and your grass hopper or ant of choice. We like More or Less, Moorish and White Cloud hoppers just to name a few.

It’s also time to take advantage of the best deals of the season on Simms sportswear during our Annual Summer Sale. 25% – 30% off men’s and women’s sportswear from Simms, Ouray and more.

This could be the best August we’ve seen in years. Will you be here for it?

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-01T21:19:57-06:00July 31st, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

photo by Sam Casne

Here we are, well past the mid point of July. Summer is almost a third of the way behind us but in some respects it feels like we’re still waiting for the season to get rolling.

The early morning/late night rental boat marathon is behind us. Our Delaware River contingent has all but disappeared and now we’re reaching the point in the season where typically the Dog Days would soon be upon us. Will that be the case this year? Only time will tell.

This strange season continues to perplex. We had been anticipating some phenomenal dry fly action once the water dropped. The water has dropped. The dry fly fishing has been shy of phenomenal. There are bugs (Trico Madness, evening Caddis and some PMD’s still hanging around), there are fish rising to well presented offerings but overall I would say the dry fly fishing has been on the mediocre side.

The targets seem to be few and far between most days and there are no shortage of dry fly anglers out scouring the river looking for them so it’s been challenging to say the least but if you happen to get there first and you are on your game you will indeed enjoy the Missouri River Dry Fly Experience. More targets would be great, fun for all! In the meantime start early, stay late and don’t overlook the heat of the day.

Will we get our phenomenal dry fly fishing? We’re still hoping so. It could happen any day!

On the flip side nymphing remains the path to numbers. The action on the Zirdle/Sow combo has finally started to slow down but you’d do well to at least give it a go before swapping bugs. Believe it or not there are still a few fish out there who haven’t gotten their fill. Give it a good 30 minutes or so in water you know should be productive and if it isn’t happening swap it out. A good second string has been the purple weight fly trailed with a green machine. Redemptions, S & M’s, 2 Bits and Split Case (all of the PMD variety) have also been effective.

River traffic has dropped off, as is typical for this part of the season, so with what we’ll continue to hope is just a delay in the peak of the dry fly fishing, it could be the perfect opportunity to enjoy solitude and great dry fly fishing on the Missouri. And don’t forget….hopper fishing is coming SOON.

Lodging is pretty well booked up for the rest of the month but there are some holes we’d like to fill. Please call for availability. Once we hit August things drop right off so you’ll have no trouble booking a room. That being said, I think many have started to look towards fall as mid September through November is starting to fill up. Make those fall fishing plans sooner rather than later and give us a call to make sure we can get you rooms and guides for your preferred dates.

Summer rolls on. Get out here and enjoy it while it lasts. Wolf Creek Angler is your one-stop shop for everything Missouri River Fly Fishing and beyond. Affordable lodging, the best guides on the river, Adipose Drift boat rentals, shuttles bugs and so much more.

Remember, we are your exclusive source for Montana Project Healing Waters Adipose drift boat rentals available to all active duty military and vets FREE OF CHARGE each and every day. We are so blessed to have so many brave men and women willing to serve and we feel honored to be able to provide this service for all of you.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-07-19T18:18:56-06:00July 19th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Rainy Days on the MO’

The rain keeps falling, the waters keep rising, the bugs keep hatching and believe it or not the fish keep eating!

It’s been a soggy few days here but the sky is brightening as I write and it sounds like drier weather is on the way.

The Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn are running very high and pumping a fair amount of muddy water into the system. The Missouri flows have come up a bit but are currently being held at 14,400 CFS. The weather forecast for later this week and into next week looks favorable for a return to reductions in flows.

We are under a Flood Warning until 11:00 AM tomorrow but hopefully we’ve seen the worst of it. Remember – Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Rising waters west of the divide have prompted yet another migration to the MO’ which, as is so often the case in these scenarios, is the only fishable water to be found. Expect summertime traffic…tis the season.

PMD’s have been popping daily and the fish are hungry for them. The return of the stain from the LPP and Dearborn should bring the Dirt Snake back into play for the next few days and the much talked about sow bugs have yet to exit play this season. Keep those PMD nymphs in the mix as well.

While you could continue to chase the bobber as you seek out bugs and rising fish this is also an excellent opportunity to break out that streamer stick. Overcast skies and mud lines…conditions don’t get much better than this for throwing the big bugs. We’ve heard some reports of off the charts streamer action and have also heard from some that it’s been a bust but it’s all site specific. As with all disciplines, streamer fishing requires you to be in the right place at the right time with the right bugs. As far as I’m concerned the best way to increase your odds of having an excellent streamer experience is to pick a moderately lengthy stretch of water to float and commit to throwing streamers all day long. Just because it’s slow for the first hour or two it doesn’t mean it isn’t going to turn on around the next bend so keep at it!

With LPP and Dearborn puking mud (Dearborn 9710 CFS) you’ll probably want to stay high and river right for the time being but when that left side starts to clear it could be epic.

The sun returns tomorrow afternoon and it sounds like it’s going to stick around just in time for the first day of summer which is Thursday.

The bugs are here, the fish are here and the long-time regulars have begun to take up residence at Wolf Creek Angler. Soggy days aside, Summer has arrived in Wolf Creek.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-06-19T23:21:43-06:00June 19th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some suggestions for your dry fly arsenal….

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

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

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

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

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

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

Near Perfect Water Conditions

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

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

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-06-12T19:22:38-06:00June 12th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, pmd's, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Awesomeness Underway

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-06-05T19:20:59-06:00June 5th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

Snowpack Going Green.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-05-29T22:27:20-06:00May 29th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Canyon Ferry, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

May Day on the MO’

Welcome to May on the Missouri.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-05-01T21:10:21-06:00May 1st, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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