Fishing Report Archives - Page 21 of 41

Welcome Spring

Springtime on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The long, cold winter has finally come to an end.

Spring arrived yesterday in a seasonably average fashion with temps in the 40’s and a mix of sun and clouds.

Traffic on the river was virtually non-existent following what was definitely the busiest weekend we’ve seen in 2017. It remains on the quiet side today though there are a few west-siders around seeking respite from their own raging waters.

It looks like it’s going to be a nice week to fish the Missouri with temps in the 50’s and 60’s throughout the week with plenty of sunshine and the ever-present, though minimal chance for rain and snow most every day.

Spring is an awesome time to fish the MO’ as the water temps rise and the fish get active and go to work stockpiling calories in preparation for the rigors of spawning happening now and in the immediate future. More on this to come but PLEASE mind your steps when wading out there taking care not to trample the redds.

So how’s the fishing? It’s definitely been a mixed bag of reports over these past few days but overall I would say it’s leaning towards being on the slow end of things. That being said, what could you possibly rather be doing than shaking off the winter with a trip to the MO’, regardless of the fishing conditions?

Firebeads, pink scuds and sows, Rainbow Warriors, Rainbow Czechs, Pink Amex, Casne’s Pinkalicious, LGM’s, Lightning Bugs, Tailwater sows, Bubble Yums, soft hackle sows, zebra midges….they’re all worth a try. How about a San Juan Worm fished in the dirty water? The currently gauge-less Little Prickly Pear is pumping some mud as is the Dearborn so don’t overlook the worms and definitely don’t shy away from throwing streamers. The water remains on the cold side, still in that 37 – 38 degree range but it’s world’s away from the sub 35 degree temps of the past few months and it’s only going to get warmer so expect things to improve dramatically very soon.

And as if the possibility of good to great nymphing and streamer action weren’t enough we have had some solid dry fly action as well depending on the day with good midge hatches and hungry fish eager to rise to a well-presented midge cluster. We’re stocked up on midge patterns with plenty to choose from but having your dry fly rod rigged up and ready with a Hi-Vis Parachute Adams and a Griffiths gnat or Bucky’s Midge Cluster is about as close to a sure-thing as you’re going to find should you be lucky enough to encounter those sipping trout.

Wolf Creek and Craig are still in winter mode where services are concerned but that’s all about to change as Izaak’s returns this Friday evening. The bar opens at 4 pm and they will be serving dinner from 5 pm – 9 pm six night’s a week. They will be closed on Mondays. It sounds like John and his crew have been hard at work this winter making improvements to their already awesome space. We can’t wait to see (and taste) what’s new.

Should you find yourself here on Monday in need of dinner make your way to The Oasis in Wolf Creek. Breakfast, lunch and dinner served Thursday – Monday. We’ll have yet another dining/drinking option here in Wolf Creek this season with Shotgun Annie’s, formerly The Frenchman and Me. They were hoping for an April 1st opening day but that has been pushed out to June 1st. We can’t wait!

The shop is open daily from here on out with hours changing as the season progresses but for the time being you’ll find us here at 8 AM every day anxious to help you out in whatever we can on the Missouri and beyond.

Piles of new gear arriving daily. A full reel case, a full rod rack, more clothing items than we know what to do with, waders and boots piled high and bins overflowing with all the bugs you need, no matter where you’re fishing.

Lodging options are about to double as we open the remaining cabins today and tomorrow and we’re aiming to have EVERYTHING open by the first week of April, including the completely renovated and soon to be much coveted room #8.

Don’t forget our Spring Lodging and Guide Trip special running through the end of April. $500 for two night’s lodging and a full day on the water with one of our expert guides. You won’t find a better deal ANYWHERE! There are other deals out there….NOBODY can touch this one.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:02:09-06:00March 21st, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Local Buzz|Tags: Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, running line, spring fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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

March means midge madness on the MO photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The weather is on the chilly side this weekend with a chance for some snow tonight and into tomorrow and Monday but the river is in good shape with flows holding just shy of 3500 cfs with water temps in that 35-36 degree range.

We’ll see that west wind pick up throughout the day today but we’re definitely looking at fishable conditions with highs near 30 today and tomorrow.

We saw some decent midge action earlier this week so keep an eye out for that. Look for the calm water in areas protected from the wind and have your midge rig at the ready. Some of our go-to midge patterns are Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Black Sipper midges, Adams Midge, Grizzly Midge Clusters and the tried and true Griffiths Gnat. I like a Hi Vis Parachute Adams paired with a Bucky’s Midge Cluster.

We are well-stocked with all of these patterns and many more. We are your source for midges on the MO’!

Nymphing remains your best shot at putting a bend in the rod with bug selection remaining status quo though I would definitely think about adding a black or red zebra midge into the mix. A #12 Tungsten Rainbow Czech with a gold bead trailed with a #18 black zebra could be the ticket but don’t turn your back on the pink stuff or the firebeads, it’s just been a little hit and miss as of late.

We recommend continuing to concentrate your efforts on the slow winter water but there are definitely fish being picked up in more transitional water (slightly faster, 4′ range) so don’t overlook those runs. The winter runs will produce but it’s time to start thinking outside of that box on occasion just to see.

It won’t be long before we’ll be trading in the nymph rigs for streamer rigs. Many have been sticking to swinging all winter long and while the swing is still the way to go, hitting the banks with a slow retrieve has been somewhat effective as well and will continue to improve as those water temps start to increase, hopefully soon. It is true that with the water being as cold as it is the fish will continue to be on the lethargic side but a well-placed streamer can change all that as instinct (and hunger) kick in and lethargy turns to aggression. Stick to the smaller patterns (buggers, clousers, leeches) for now and experiment with your retrieve. We like to combine the swing with a slow strip and plenty of pauses.

You’ll likely have more action with your nymph rig but you can’t beat that streamer tug.

Stop by the shop and check out what some consider to be the best streamer selection in the canyon.

We’ve got plenty of lodging available for the weekend and next week is wide open. I’m still seeing a good number of rigs headed to the lake but it seems we’re definitely on the waning side of Holter Lake ice action which means we’re anxious for the next warming trend and the business it will bring. By the looks of things it appears as though we’ll see those 40 degree temps return mid to late week next week.

Remember we’re offering the best deal on the river this winter with two nights of lodging and a full day guide trip for just $500 and NO CANCELLATION FEES. Don’t miss out. Book your trip with us today.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:01:45-06:00February 25th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, nymphs, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Presidents Day on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

We had a great shot of spring-like weather over the weekend brining the people out in droves, at least by February standards, to fish the Mighty MO’.

We had, what was by far our busiest weekend of 2017 in the shop and even ended up opening some additional lodging to accommodate demand for the weekend.

It sounds like maybe things are coming to a close on Holter Lake as the ice continues to deteriorate but this may turn around as we’re looking at colder temps for the next while starting tomorrow. Fishing reports from our ice fishing guests were not very good last week but things reportedly improved over the weekend.

Similarly, reports from the river last week were less than stellar though Saturday was a better day and a busy day at that with the first full parking lot at the Craig Ramp we’ve seen this season.

Shamefully, last Thursday was the first day my boat had seen the water since November and while the fishing wasn’t all that, it was awesome to be out there again. This was the longest stretch of time I’ve gone without floating a river since I’ve owned a drift boat. I’m not one to shy away from cold weather fishing but this winter has redefined the parameters of cold weather fishing and has kept me inside and off of the water for months.

I was out again yesterday and had similar results with enough hook ups to keep it interesting but definitely on the slow side.

If you happened to be out there this weekend you probably noticed a few areas with an abundance of anglers and a lot of empty water elsewhere. The reason for this is that the fish are still concentrated in those slow, lake-like runs they call home for the winter months. The water temps are still in the 35-36 degree range and will be on the drop for the remainder of this week which is going to keep them right where they’re at for the time being.

We did hear a few reports of some decent streamer action over the weekend with some fairly aggressive takes which is not really in keeping with trout behavior in winter water but as I’ve said before sometimes all it takes is a couple of ticks upward as the sun warms the water to get those fish going. It’s definitely worth your time on the warmer, sunny days to ply the waters with a slow strip or swing. You might be surprised!

On the nymphing side it’s been status quo though finding a consistently productive pattern has been a challenge. We’re still running something heavy and pink as a point fly and trailing with various firebeads, sowbugs, lighting bugs, zebra midges…..etc. I’ve had better luck with some additional weight than without and while we have picked up a few fish in what you would consider transitional water most of the fish are still being caught in the slow deep runs. My most productive rig has been about 9′ overall length with a single bb. Try something like a #12 pink weight fly, pink Amex or Rainbow Czech trailing a lightning bug, sow, zebra midge or firebead of some sort. It’s all about the depth for the most part though bug selection has definitely been playing a role as of late.

Your best bet is to have plenty of different bugs to show them. We can definitely help you out with that.

We’re back to winter for the ten day outlook with daytime highs in the 30’s and overnight lows in the teens and a chance for some sloppy wintery mix type precipitation for the next couple of days and while we definitely enjoyed the taste of spring we’ve got a lot of winter to go and we could definitely use some more precipitation in the high country.

Give us a call for current conditions or to book the Missouri River Fly Fishing trip of your dreams!

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:01:46-06:00February 21st, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Getting Green

The transformation continues as February snows transform the browns and yellows on the SNOTEL snow water equivalent map to the greens and blues we’ve been waiting for. Lately it’s been changing for the better daily as moisture-rich snows continue to accumulate in the high country.

Meanwhile on the MO’ a warm front is moving through. We saw a high of around 9 yesterday. Right now we’re sitting at 45 and will flirt with 50 before the day is done. As is usually the case, the warm up will be accompanied by plenty of wind and while it’s calm now there is a high wind warning in effect from 11 AM today through midnight tomorrow night with southwest winds at 25-35 mph with gusts as high as 65 mph expected.

The wind will likely make fishing conditions less than optimal for the weekend but next week looks ideal with temps in the high 30’s, a good mix of sun and clouds and at this point not much for wind in the forecast. This is the winter weather we’ve been waiting for!

The water is cold, still just shy of 35 degrees, but it’s in good shape with flows holding in the 3500 cfs range. Winter rules apply in spite of warmer air temps as it’s going to take some time to reach those 35 and 36 degree water temps which seem to make all the difference in the world.

Target the slow stuff. Think pink and run deep if you’re going to bobber fish and hit EVERYTHING as the takes can be super subtle in the cold water. Often that slight pause is the take….hit it! An ultra sensitive indicator like a balloon or yarn indi will give you a much better read of what’s happening below and could very well increase your hook-up rate but we tend to keep it simple using the same rigs we fish any other time of year. We are big fans of a 3/4″ Airlock Indicator (or Thingamabobber) and while they may not offer quite as delicate of a presentation I don’t think it makes much of a difference when fishing a deep rig. Again, the big advantage of the more sensitive indicators is that they give you a better read of what’s happening below the surface but it’s not as though you’re going to double your hook ups by ditching the bobber. Regardless of what type of indicator you are using you need to learn to read what it’s telling you, especially this time of year. If you’re waiting for a diving bobber before you set you’re likely missing most of the takes.

Some of our favorite winter nymps; Casne’s Pinkalicious, Pink Weight Fly, Ninch’s Thunderbug, Ninch’s Bubble Yum Scud, Pink Lightning Bug, Firebead sow in pink or grey, Firebead Ray, Pink Amex, Rainbow Czech, Rainbow Warrior, black Zebra, San Juan Worm, soft hackle sow. We’re fully stocked on all of these and MANY more. Pick a pairing you like, find the right water and the right depth and you’re on your way.

Plenty of swinging going on out there as well. Buggers, Polar Leeches and Hot Head Kreelex are all you need but don’t be afraid to experiment with any of the MULTITUDES of other patterns in stock now at Wolf Creek Angler.

Things should improve by next week but if you’re going to give it a go during these next few days please be cautious. The ramps are collectively sketchy and there is a lot of shelf ice everywhere.

Give us a call for current conditions and everything you need to know before you hit the river.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-02-09T18:07:54-07:00February 9th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|0 Comments

Winter Fare at Wolf Creek Angler

It’s hard to believe it but we’re already a month into 2017. In some respects this winter feels like a slow grind but in other ways it feels like it’s flying by. Either way, before you know it we will be fully immersed in the season and the snow and endless cold will be but a distant memory.

Looking back at last year’s mild winter we were doing a lot more fishing through these months. Not that there aren’t a few folks out there doing it on any given day, but the deep freeze has kept many of us inside for the most part.

It’s not all bad. Winter projects are getting completed which will make it a guilt-free spring on the water knowing the things you intended to get done during the off-season actually did get done.

We’ve had a couple of minor warm-ups which have definitely resulted in an increase in traffic on the river but at 34 ish degrees, the water is still too cold to get those fish going. 35 would be an improvement, 36 plus is what we’re waiting for.

When will we get there? It’s hard to say for sure but I’m optimistic about February which is going to start on the cold side but sooner or later it’s going to warm up enough to bring the water temps up and when it does we will be poised and ready.

Speaking of warm ups, it looks like we’re in for a nice weekend with high 30’s and low 40’s through Monday. I expect we’ll be busy in the shop as there are a lot of people suffering from some extreme cabin fever right now who will be looking to self-medicate with a dose of the MO’. Couple that with a football free Sunday and we may be in for our busiest weekend of 2017 to date.

If you intend to float this weekend the good news is the ramps are clear for the most part though it’s always a good idea to check them out for yourself before you go. If you’re wading there is still a fair amount of shelf ice around so please be careful.

It might be the perfect time to take advantage of our INSANE Winter Guide Trip and Lodging Special. $500 for two night’s lodging and a full day on the river for one or two anglers with one of our exceptional guides with NO CANCELLATION FEES, NO QUESTIONS ASKED! Don’t need the lodging? $350 for a full day on the MO’ for one or two anglers all winter long.

Nymphing will likely be your best bet for hookups targeting the slowest, foggiest water you can find. A #10 or #12 Pinkalicious, Ninch’s Bubble Yum Scud, Rainbow Czech, Pink Amex or Pink Weight Fly paired with a #18 pink lightning bug, Ninch’s Thunderbug, firebead sow bug in grey or pink, rainbow warrior, firebead Ray…..etc fished deep and true should do the trick. Hit the dip, hit the pause, hit the drop….hit everything as the takes are often extremely subtle in these conditions.

We’ve seen a lot of people swinging this winter as well, maybe just as many as we’ve seen nymphing. The Hot Head Kreelex has been by far the most consistent choice on the streamer side with polar leeches and anything in white getting attention as well. Swing or slooooow upstream retrieve. They aren’t going to chase, not until things warm up a lot!

Stop by WCA on your way to the river for shuttles, bugs, Simms cold-weather gear, Loop rods and reels, ARC lines and tippet and anything else you may need for your day on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-01-26T17:15:57-07:00January 26th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

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

Late December Missouri River Fishing Report

It almost feels spring-like out there this morning.

The gale force winds of the last couple of days have diminished (for the time being) and while it’s by no means warm we’re currently looking at a comfortable 20 degrees going up to near 30 this afternoon.

If you’re looking to close out 2016 with one more trip to the river today looks like your best bet. Temps remain fairly steady through the weekend but it looks like the winds will return tomorrow.

The new year will be ushered in with another arctic blast. We’ll be in the single digits for most of next week.

We’ve definitely reached winter water conditions with current water temps at just over 35 degrees and flows holding in the 3600 cfs range. Next week’s cold snap will likely drop the water temp even closer to that freezing mark so you may have to put your Missouri River winter fly fishing plans on hold for a while as we wait for a warm-up.

As the water temps drop the fish become extremely lethargic as their metabolism slows. Once the water temp drops below 35 degrees fishing becomes almost futile as the fish simply aren’t interested in eating or doing much of anything. The good news however is that a tick up a degree or two in these conditions can really turn things on as the fish emerge from their cold-induced lethargy to feed once again. They still won’t be overly active or aggressive but they are hungry so if you know where they’re at and you deliver the goods right to them you can have some pretty damn good days in the dead of winter.

The other nice thing about winter fishing is that you can pretty much run the same rig all winter long. If the fish are feeding they typically aren’t overly choosy. I’m currently running a #12 Pink Weight Fly with a #18 Pink Firebead Sow Bug and while I may play around with that trailing fly I’ll likely go with what I’ve got until I lose everything and then I’ll either replace it with the exact same rig or some variation thereof.

Some of our favorite winter bugs are Casne’s Pinkalicious, the aforementioned Pink Weight Fly, Ninch’s Bubble Yum Scud, Pink Amex, Rainbow Czech, Rainbow Weight Fly, Firebead Soft Hackle Sows, Pink Lightning Bugs, Firebead Rays, Caviar Scuds, Ninch’s Thunderbug….etc. Go Pink and Go Firebead and you can’t go wrong.

Swinging is also a popular option on the MO’ during the winter months but per the above, you’ll likely have more success with water temps above 35 degrees. Swinging versus stripping is key as those fish simply aren’t going to chase anything down with the water being as cold as it is. That being said, I’ve had some tremendous streamer days in 37 – 39 degree water with a SLOW strip. You can’t go wrong with Smallish Sparkle Minnows, Clousers, Kreelex, Polar Leeches and various buggers.

Dry Flies? Not so much at this point but as we roll into the heart of winter we’ll start to see some midge action so if winter dry fly fishing is your thing rig up a Hi-vis Parachute Adams trailed with a Griffiths Gnat, a midge cluster or a buzzball and have it at the ready.

If solitude is what you seek there’s plenty of it to be found out there right now. Keep an eye on the forecast and plan accordingly. We don’t anticipate much activity next week with holiday vacations winding down and sub freezing weather returning but the hard water fishing is starting to heat up on Holter so keep us in mind for lodging if you’re coming out to clean up on perch.

Once again we may not be around much in the shop next week if it’s as cold as what they are calling for but we are open EVERY DAY for lodging.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-12-29T17:53:56-07:00December 29th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Big Thaw

What a difference a couple of days makes! We’ve gone from “feels like” temps of -50 a couple of days a ago to highs near 40 today and tomorrow and it appears as though we’ll be above freezing all week until the next blast of cold air arrives on the weekend.

Unfortunately with the warm up we’re getting the wind. We’re under a high wind warning today with periods of 35-45 mph southwest winds with gusts as high as 65. Expect sustained winds of 20-24 mph.

I expect there may be a few folks out there today taking advantage of time off and moderate temperatures but the winds will keep many off of the water. Personally I would rather fish in below freezing temps with no wind than what we’re seeing today and tomorrow but that’s just me.

Water temps have dropped into the 35 degree range so I would definitely plan on shifting gears into winter fishing mode if you’re going out. Firebeads and/or anything pink should be coming into play and the assumption would be that the majority of the fish have made the transition to the slow deep winter water. I don’t have a recent fishing update as it’s been just too cold to fish or to do much of anything outside but we’ll likely be out later today and will post what we know as soon as we know it.

In the meantime target that winter water with a deep nymph rig, be patient and stay warm! I also wouldn’t hesitate to swing as it’s getting to be prime time for Polar Leeches and the Hot Head Kreelex!

It’s been tough trying to put together a consistent schedule in the shop with the weather being what it’s been. We had settled on regular hours of Wednesday – Saturday 8 AM – 2 PM, closed Sunday – Tuesday but then we ended up being closed most of last week because it was insanely cold. We’re here today and tomorrow because it’s warm and because we figure there may be some people around with the college crowd home from school and looking to spend some time on the MO’. We’ll be around all week if the forecast holds with limited hours on Saturday which is Christmas Eve and closed on Sunday for Christmas.

As we move past the holidays and get into the heart of winter we will try to stick to that Wednesday – Saturday schedule for the most part but once again if the weather returns to what we saw last week with treacherous temps we probably won’t be here and likewise if we have really fishy weather on the days we’re supposed to be closed we will more than likely be here, at least in the mornings. The best thing to do would be to give us a call before you come out if there is any doubt and if you’re coming out regardless of who is open when, you can see the shop from the Interstate so you’ll be able to see if we’re open or not before you hit the Wolf Creek Exit when traveling from the south.

Thank you for your patience with what has been a screwy schedule thus far this winter and remember if you happen to be out here to fish on a day we are closed we encourage you to see our friends at Headhunters in Craig for shuttles and bugs and more.

Looking at the long-term forecast for the winter months it looks like we’re still expecting below average temperatures for the most part but as we hit these periods of warmer weather keep in mind we’re offering our winter guide trip and lodging special all winter long. Two nights lodging in one of our cozy bungalows and a full day on the water with some of the fishiest, hardest working guides on the Missouri. Regardless of shop hours we are open EVERY DAY for lodging and guide trips…just give us a call. We can do it on extremely short notice but if you do choose to book ahead of time and are worried about the weather, worry no more. Rest assured there are NO CANCELLATION FEES for winter guide trips.

We hope you make Wolf Creek Angler your Missouri River Winter Fly Fishing Destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-12-19T17:14:49-07:00December 19th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Christmas, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Plenty of these and not a soul to be seen – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

GOOD!

That’s your late November Missouri River nymphing report and with relatively few folks around you stand to fare pretty well out there.

The darker days are better but there are plenty of fish being caught on sunny days as well.

The weather has been unseasonably warm and we’ve yet to see anything much in the way of precipitation though it looks like we may see a few snow showers late Sunday and into the first part of the week.

Nothing’s really changed on the bug front. A tailwater sow with a rainbow Czech get my vote but if you want to try something different we’ve also been getting plenty of action on Bubble Yum Scuds, Soft Hackle Sows, Rainbow Warriors, Purple Lighting Bugs, Rainbow Weight Flies, Dark Peep Shows, LGM’s, Ray Charles, Olive Psycho Mays, Juju’s and Double Bead Power Worms.

The fish have yet to move into the winter water though with the water temps on the drop it shouldn’t be long. For now continue to target medium depth, medium speed water. Some are reporting great success on the short leash, others are finding them deep. Our recommendation would be to start right in the middle and adjust accordingly. Once you find the sweet spot you likely won’t have to do much with changing bugs or adjusting depth. The days it’s ON it’s ON (all day long) and there have been a good number of these days as of late. That being said, it is fishing and like any other time of year it can go from damn good to really tough quickly so while we’re happy to report that it’s been a great fall fishery overall there are plenty of days when it’s not happening so keep your expectations realistic and don’t get frustrated if you run into a tough day.

Streamer fishing continues to please both for the two-handed crowd and the boat bound bank bombers. You’ll definitely catch more fish nymphing but by Missouri standards we’re pleased to report that the streamer bite is on, once again definitely better on those darker days but always an option.

We’ve got a streamer selection that is without equal including a bunch of exclusive patterns from ZK you can’t get anywhere but WCA! Black/Blood Circus Peanuts, Black Space Invaders, ZK’s Club Drug, ZK’s Stun Gun, Polar Leeches in Black or Copper, black buggers, Dirty Hippies and Sparkle Minnows all getting it done right now.

It looks like the weather will continue to be conducive to fishing for the near term. Don’t forget about our winter lodging/guide trip special. $500 gets you two nights in a cozy cabin or bungalow and a full day on the water with one of our expert guides. You won’t find a better deal ANYWHERE!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-11-25T17:05:23-07:00November 25th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|0 Comments

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