Fishing Report Archives - Page 29 of 41

Friday Fishing Report

Dan had his best day ever on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

It’s been a windy week on the Missouri with the exception of yesterday morning which turned out to be one of the better days we’ve had recently both weather wise and fishing wise. Calm winds and sunny skies made for an exceptionally nice November day on the water.

My friend Dan is in from Michigan for a few days and we had intended on fishing the Missouri every day. Wednesday’s winds forced a change in plans and we opted to go try our luck throwing streamers on the Blackfoot. I always enjoy wading the Blackfoot but the fishing was extremely slow and extremely challenging with high winds and snow. We covered many miles of water Wednesday between two rivers with only one fish landed and a couple of flashes and tugs to keep it interesting but a tough day overall.

We knew Thursday would be our window of opportunity on the Missouri with less wind in the forecast and it turned out to be even nicer that what we were expecting, at least up until mid-afternoon when the howl returned. We opted for the Dam to Craig run to keep it simple and had the whole thing pretty much to ourselves with just two other boats on the water. I had not been out on the MO recently so we started out with the rig and the water we’ve been hearing have been the go-to but the shallow water/short leash combo proved to be a bust for us. Once we found the right water and the right rig things turned on for the better part of the day up until the time the winds returned. The deeper, slower winter water was good for us running with a deeper rig but still no weight. We had success with black zebras and a pink amex but caught the majority of our fish on a #18 tailwater sow.

We had fully intended on throwing streamers but never got away from the bobber. We also had the dry-fly rig at the ready but unfortunately those opportunities didn’t materialize. That’s kind of been the story for most of the fall. There are BWO’s around but not very many and not with the consistency we would like to see. It’s been a disappointing fall for the die hard dry fly anglers but if you’re willing to chase the bobber it’s been good more often than not.

Traffic on the water is extremely light though there are a few folks around and we’re still booking trips and lodging for those who enjoy the solitude of fall fishing. We’re full for the weekend but have plenty of availability next week. It looks like this weather pattern is going to hold for the time being with breezy, but comfortable days so it certainly wouldn’t be a bad week to come out and fish with us. Colder temps expected by the end of next week.

Give the shop a call for up-to-the-minute reports on the weather and the fishing and stop by on your way to the water for shuttles, bugs, Kast cold weather gear, RO Drift Boat Rentals and great end-of-season deals on rods, reels and more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00November 13th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana|0 Comments

Missouri River Fishing Report 11.5.15

Based on my view from today, I’m calling it. It’s official, my favorite time of the year on the Missouri. That awesome transitional period of time when the foothills are getting dusted in snow, the crowds have all but disappeared, bugs are out, fish are up, the crock-pots’ been doing its thing all day and coffee comes with Kahlua and Beam. I got out just as the sun rose above the hills and started burning off the morning fog and lasted through the afternoon. If it wouldn’t have been for one other lone wader in some back water, I would have had the place to myself today. I won’t complain about that though, after all, when you start your day with Kahlua & Coffee, you really can’t complain about much.

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By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00November 5th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, winter fishing, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Frozen Boots Coming Soon – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Things are about to get wintry around here which could make for some great days on the water in the days and weeks to come. We’ll see temps close to 50 today but the rest of the week will be much colder with daytime temps struggling to reach 40 and overnight lows in the low 20’s. It also looks like we will be getting what looks like it will be our first significant snowfall of the season beginning tonight and lasting through Wednesday. If you’re fishing this week remember to bring those waders and boots inside at night! Cold waders and frozen boots are no way to start your day.
Will the change in the weather mean BWO’s? We’re hoping so. There have been bugs around but not in the numbers or with the consistency we would like to see. Let’s hope the changes in the weather this week brings the bugs. If not the nymphing should be just fine. Good action on sows and scuds as of late with the Tailwater Sow really coming on. Try a sow with a Tungsten Rainbow Czech or Pink Amex as a point fly. LGM’s, S & M’s, Zebra Midges, lightning bugs, WD40’s, Magic Flies, Dark Peeps, Red Headed Step Child, various Pheasant Tails and Grey and Pink scuds all getting some attention.

Counting flies all week at WCA. Care to guess how many we have? We’ll let you know but I can tell you this for certain – we’ve got more flies now than have ever been assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We’ve booked some lodging and a few trips for the week with those in the know taking advantage of the upcoming conditions and hopefully cashing in. Why not join them? We’ve got plenty of vacancies and we’d love to have you here.

Shop open daily at 7 AM for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs. Complimentary Hot Coffee, Cold Weather Gear from KAST, Redington, Outdoor Research and more. Hand Warmers, piles of warm hats and gloves and all the gear you need for your time on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00November 2nd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, Redington, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Perch on the Fly. Photo by Jim Murray

Finally feeling like fall around here with some sustained cooler weather. Highs in the 40’s and 50’s and lows in the 30’s this week and a pretty good chance we’ll see some snow showers tomorrow. Many of the leaves have already fallen and the traffic on the river has been light on most days. Many have shifted their attention to hunting for the time being and it won’t be long before the focus turns to the holidays. We’ll be right here through it all, awaiting your return to the river and enjoying a little solitude in the mean time.

Speaking of holidays – get all of your Christmas shopping done early with a visit to Wolf Creek Angler. We’ve got everything for the fly fishers on your list. Can’t decide what to get them? A Wolf Creek Angler gift card is the perfect choice. Good for anything we sell, including shuttles.
For those who choose to fish it should be good this week as we continue the transition into late fall/winter fishing. Things have been a little inconsistent out there with a couple of really good days and a fair share of not-so-good ones. A full portion of blue skies and bright sunshine served with a side of mediocrity! There have been BWO’s around but not like what we like (and expect) to see this time of year. Tomorrow’s snow and rain and cloud cover could change that, we’ll keep you posted.

Nymphing has been decent with many opting for the short leash as of late. We’ve been selling a ton of Strike Foundry Lil’ Nuggets as well as Palsa Pinch-On Indicators and we’re also fully stocked on Air-Locks in the 1/2″, 3/4″ and 1″ sizes if you prefer. Czechs, Zebras, Lightning Bugs, LGM’s, Magic Flies, S & M’s…..the usual suspects with the relatively recent addition of your favorite sows and scuds.

Streamers? We haven’t had great weather for streamer fishing but even so, it streamers are your game then by all means, throw streamers, rain or shine. I finally got a chance to hit the water last Friday with WCA Guide Extraordinaire Jim Murray and committed all of my fishing time to throwing streamers in the bright sun. I moved a couple of fish on the sparkle minnow and then covered all colors and sizes before settling into the JJ which ended up moving a dozen or so fish. Lots of chases (15-20), a couple engagements…nothing to hand. Not a bad day of streamer fishing in my opinion, especially given the conditions. It’s always nice to hook up but the chase is more than half the fun of streamer fishing for me.

We’ve got plenty of vacancies this week with the exception of Thursday night so give us a call today to book a room and/or guide trip. Our motel units are closed for the season but we will have cabins and bungalows through the end of November and the bungalows will be open all winter long. The forecast is for another mild winter so we expect we’ll be fairly busy with winter lodging and fishing. Off-season rates go into effect November 1st. Cabins and bungalows with full kitchens for $99/night plus tax.

Come enjoy fall on the Missouri.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00October 26th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Perch, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid Week, Mid-October Missouri River Fishing Report

The first half of October has been a blur with the “second season” definitely in full effect. Traffic on the river has been moderate for the most part with a couple of very busy days and a handful of days with no one around.

WCA has been abuzz with activity all month with a full house on the lodging end of things and a bunch of trips and boat rentals going out daily. We hired Zach just in time for the rush!

It’s been great catching up with our fall regulars as well as welcoming and getting to know many new guests who have fallen under the spell of the Missouri and have vowed to return. What a great time of year to be in the fly fishing business in Montana!

The weather has felt more like summer than fall thus far but we’ve been enjoying the cool nights and cold mornings and while we’ve had our share of wind and sunshine there have been a few relatively calm, cloudy days which have resulted in some awesome days on the water – the kind of days you expect in October. We’re hoping there will soon be more of those to come.

Flows have continued to drop (3030 as I write) which we’re not thrilled with here but the wade anglers are loving it. Water temps are hanging in the high 50’s but should drop over the remainder of the week and into the weekend with cooler weather on tap.

Dry fly fishing has been decent given the right conditions with fish rising in the areas you would expect. It’s definitely been a late afternoon/evening game when the wind cooperates. Primarily pseudos with some small bwo’s mixed in and a fair amount of October caddis activity as well. Hi Vis BWO’s, BWO Sprouts, Olive Pseudos, Para Ants, various BWO Cripples and emergers, October Caddis, CDC Caddis Emergers, WCA Trudes, Purple Haze, RS2’s and Parachute Adams have all been effective dry flies.

Nymphing has been good both with the short leash and the longer rigs. The cloudy days keep the fish concentrated in the shallows but there’s no reason you shouldn’t try the short leash on the sunny days or the long leash on the overcast days. You’re dealing strictly with probabilities out there, it’s not always as it should be so don’t be afraid to stray from the prescribed methods/bugs you are reading about on the blogs. We do the things that have proven to be effective under the given conditions and adjust accordingly depending on the results. Nymphs we’ve been selling a lot of this week have been Tailwater Sows (with and without the tungsten bead), LGM’s, BWO Magic Fly, black Zebras (silver bead and black bead), Hares Ears, Weight Flies, S & M’s, BWO Angle Case Emergers, Peep Shows, Pink, Purple and Pearl LB’s, 2 Bits in Red, PT’s and on and on. We say it all the time and we live by it – fish the flies you have confidence in and good things will happen.

Streamers continue to be a hot commodity though the sunny skies have not been conducive to great streamer action. That being said, why wouldn’t you throw a streamer on a sunny day? Dredge the depths just like you’re doing with the long leash rigs. You’ll likely move some fish. We can safely guarantee with 100 percent certainty that you won’t move any fish on streamers in you don’t throw them. Sparkle Minnows, Kreelex, Circus Peanuts, Polar Leeches, Olive Smolts and buggers should all be in your streamer arsenal. We’ve got a couple of demo St Croix Bank Robbers rigged up and ready to fish – take one for a test drive!

We hope you stop by Wolf Creek Angler on your way to the river for all of your Missouri River fall fly fishing needs. We’re stocked up on cold weather gear from KAST Extreme Fishing Gear including Steelhead gloves and some super cool Hell Razor and Velocity jackets. We’ve also got plenty of hats and gloves from Outdoor Research, Sonic-Dry base layers, waders, jackets and boots from Redington; piles of WCA fleece from Simms along with deeply discounted summer logo gear; Bank Robber and High Stick Drifter rods from St Croix; 20% Off Ross CLA reels; Air-Lock Indicators; Rio lines, leaders and tippet and the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Stop in and meet the new guy and grab a complimentary cup of Montana Maid Coffee.

See you in the shop and on the water.

Missouri River Baetis Box

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00October 14th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Kast Gear, Missouri River, Redington, RIO, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

This week on the MO…

After having to scrape ice off of the windshield on Monday we’re back to 70’s and 80’s for the remainder of the week before we return to more seasonal weather on Sunday.

The cold gray skies early in the week made for what was, by most reports, the best fall fishing to date this season on the Missouri river wide.

Sunshine returned mid-week making things a little more challenging for all. Later starts have been key with the fish coming up as soon as the sun gives way to late day shadows. The late afternoon/early evening is the time to be out there if dry flies are where your heart is.

Pseudos, tiny baetis and the occasional caddis are making up the current menu as we await the larger fare BWO’s which will hopefully happen as we move into the middle to latter part of the month. Play the mix and match game or go with something easy like a Parachute Adams and a CDC Caddis Emerger. Find the fish, make the cast and hope. There are plenty of fish being caught on dry flies and plenty of anglers getting frustrated as well. Don’t forget your reach cast – it’s critical! Stop by the shop for honest, no pressure advice on where to go, what to use and how to use it. Better yet, book a day with one of our expert guides and learn more in a few hours then you might ever learn doing it on your own.

Nymphing has been predictably good – better in the mornings and afternoons but good enough all day long to keep it interesting. Tungsten Tailwater Sows, Czechs, BWO Magic Flies, Juju Baetis, Psycho Mays, Micro Mays, Payczechs, Black Beauties, Black Zebras, Pink LB’s, Snack Nasty Sows and on and on. Fish what you like – like what you fish – it’s makes all the difference in the world.

Streamer sales are way up this season and we’re doing everything we can to keep those bins full of the stuff you love. Sparkle Minnows, Dirty Hippies, Circus Peanuts, Polar Leeches, Gongas, Kreelex in a myriad of colors and a bunch of bugger stuff along with a few of our own creations which have been getting some attention.

Stop by the shop on your way to the river for shuttles, flies, ice, cigars, fishing licenses, cold weather gear, deeply discounted warm weather gear, Echo rods, Nautilus reels, lines, leaders, tippet, tools, complimentary Montana Maid Coffee and much more.

Open daily at 7 am for all of your Missouri River fall fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00October 8th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, juju baetis, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The weather we’ve been waiting for

Wind, snow, rain….we’ve had it all this weekend and some pretty damn good fishing to go along with it.

The forecast for 40 mph North winds on Saturday scared some people off. In fact we bought in and moved a couple of guide trips to Sunday. By most reports it really wasn’t that bad out there on Saturday. Things were calm in Wolf Creek and I think a little breezy on the water but nothing like what they had been calling for.

It sounds like those who stuck it out were rewarded with a solid afternoon both on top and below.

Streamers were effective yesterday as we anticipated they would be with Sculpin Sparkle Minnows and Polar Leeches in silver and Olive/Copper getting the most action. We’ve been selling a few folks on running the double streamer rig and it’s been working well. Try the Sparkle Minnow in tandem with a polar leech or Pine Squirrel leech. Hit the shelves and drop-offs, bomb the banks, work the buckets. Lots of water out there holding lots of fish and unfortunately holding a lot of weeds as well. It can be frustrating but if you stick with it and acclimate you may very well hook into a giant.

New to the streamer game? Come by the shop and grab a demo St Croix Bank Robber, quite possibly the best streamer stick ever made.

As per usual nymphing is where the numbers are. Weight flies, Tung Darts or Czechs paired with your favorite baetis nymphs or a black zebra should do the trick. Stop by the shop on your way to the river and allow us to get you set up for your day on the MO. Got questions about rigging? Don’t be afraid to ask – we spend hours every day building and explaining how to build Missouri River rigs, it’s what we’re here for.

Even the DFO’s have been happy this weekend with some big time pseudo action. We’ve got plenty of pseudos and BWO’s to choose from on the dry side of the bin and we encourage you to try each and every one of them but should you choose to keep it simple a Parachute Adams trailed with a CDC Caddis emerger is hard to beat.

It looks like the sunshine will return this week with daytime highs in the 50’s and 60’s and while sunny days may not be exactly what we would like it is going to be a gorgeous autumn week on the Missouri and a busy one at that. No lodging vacancies at WCA for the week ahead but we do still have guides available daily and we’d be happy to help you find lodging close by so give us a call and book your Missouri River fall fly fishing extravaganza today.

The shop is open daily at 7 AM with everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles; boats; bugs; indicators galore (1/2″ and 3/4″ Air Locks back in stock Monday); cold weather gear from KAST, Outdoor Research and Redington; leaders; lines; and tippet from Rio, Airflo and Trout Hunter; rods from Echo and St Croix including the Bank Robber and High Stick Drifter; great deals on reels from Nautilus and Ross and much much more.

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By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00October 4th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Air Lock Indicator, Bank Robber, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, indicator, Missouri River, Redington, RIO, running line, St Croix, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Fall in Wolf Creek Montana

Some good days, some great days, some not so good days this past week as fall fishing continues to ramp up on the Missouri.

Nymphing is still the go-to for numbers but there’s enough happening on top between Trico hold overs, Pseudos, terrestrials, the occasional caddis and the promise of baetis to keep the DFO’s interested. Sub surface options remain somewhat status quo with black Zebras leading the charge followed by Grey LGM’s, Red 2 Bits, Micromays, Psychomays, Purple Weight Flies, Hot Belly and standard PT’s, Grey WD-40’s, Purple Lightning Bugs, BWO Magic Flies and a host of other baetis-themed bugs.

Streamers? Not on fire by any means but definitely worth your time. Stop by the shop and check out our ever-expanding streamer selection which is definitely starting to get noticed. We love the streamer game and we understand the addiction. Get your fix at WCA. Demo a St Croix Bank Robber designed by streamer legend Kelly Galloup. You might just get hooked!

The leaves aren’t the only colors of fall. The brown trout are colored up in spawning splendor this time of year and we’ve been catching some great ones this week.

It’s nice to have the shop abuzz with activity again in the mornings as we get the trips out the door each day and get you set up with everything you need for your day on the water.

Afternoons have been spent meeting with reps and looking at new products as we put together our plans for next season and work on getting those pre-season orders written. Can it really be that time again already

We’re really excited to see all the new products being offered for next season and as always we’re working hard to bring you the products you want from the brands you love as we continue to try to earn your business and become your Missouri River fly shop and guide service of choice. Expect big things from Wolf Creek Angler and rest assured that we will always be doing everything we can to meet your expectations.

Lodging vacancies have been hard to come by for the past couple of weeks and will continue to be a challenge as we head into October. Things start to open up towards the end of October but if the fishing is half as good as we anticipate in the weeks to come we will remain fairly full right on into November. Don’t hesitate to book your mid to late October lodging and guide trips – they’re going quickly!

Speaking of late fall – remember we’re open all year so keep us in mind when you are making your late fall/winter fishing plans. Once things start to shut down in Craig later in the fall Wolf Creek becomes the place to be with lodging, dining, gas, groceries and of course the best fly shop ever to call Wolf Creek Montana home. Look no further than Wolf Creek Angler for your late season Missouri River fly fishing needs. We’ve got everything you need and we’re closer to Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge than anyone.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 26th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, Craig MT, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, nymphs, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Fall Fishing in Montana

The eve of fall is officially upon us and while we’re experiencing summer-like temperatures this week we will see another cold front arriving this weekend making it feel more like fall.

The river has been in great shape with flows in the 4K range continuing to be maintained and water temps dipping below 60 degrees with the cool nights.

Abundant sunshine, gusty winds and weeds have all been atop the complaint lists of the half-empty angling crew but the half full bunch are enjoying the sunshine and blue skies and the changing colors while embracing the challenges presented by the winds and weeds and catching plenty of fish.

Dry-fly opportunities continue to present themselves in the form of lingering tricos and terrestrials along with the occasional skittering caddis but nymphing has definitely been the better option as of late. Black or purple Zebra Midges paired with Tung Darts, Weight Flies, BWO Magic Flies, Red Two Bits, S & M’s, Czechs, MicroMays, Purple Hot Belly PT’s, Chocolate WD-40’s, LGM’s, Bionic Chartreuse Midges and Psycho Mays have all been producing.

The streamer bite has been hit or miss but that being said, we’ve sold more streamers in the past week than I can remember ever selling in a week’s time. We’ve got more and better streamer patterns than we’ve ever had and we plan to continue to expand our selection. Come by the shop and let us get you set up with everything you need for streamer fishing the MO. From bugs to Airflo, Rio and SA streamer lines to St Croix Bank Robber specialty streamer sticks, we’ve got everything you need to get started. If you’re new to the streamer game or looking to upgrade your current set up grab one of our Bank Robber demo rods, you won’t be disappointed.

We encourage you to get out and enjoy fall fishing in Montana. Whether that’s floating the MO or exploring smaller waters it’s an awesome time of year to fish in Montana. Limited lodging available for the weeks to come and expert guides available any and every day. Give us a call today to book your Missouri River fly fishing trip of a lifetime – there’s no time like the present.

Shop open daily at 6:30 AM, earlier than ALL the rest, for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs. Shuttles, bugs, boats, hot and cold weather gear from KAST, sun protection, Montana Maid Coffee, leaders and tippet from Rio and Trout Hunter, Fishpond Nomad nets and accessories and much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 22nd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, Fall fishing, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

On the hunt. September also means archery season in Montana. Photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Cooler temps and overcast skies have put us in full-on fall mode and while fall fishing is certainly on our minds, this is also the time of year we become conflicted about whether to be on the water or in the field stalking deer and elk.

Archery season is just over a week old and we’ve been out a couple of times but the warm weather has made it easy to maintain our focus on fishing. That may soon change however as it’s looking and feeling like fall out there with temps dipping into the low 40’s at night making for some great mornings to be out in the field.

Rain in the forecast through Thursday could make for some great streamer days and while nymphing was reportedly on the slow side yesterday it should be turning on with water temps hovering right around 60 degrees. Tricos remain an option as do Pseudos, Callibaetis and terrestrials depending on where you’re fishing. Whispers of baetis seem appropriate with the current weather trend – bring em’ on!

Status Quo on the nymphing front with zebra midges, two-bit hookers, Rainbow Czechs, LGM’s, PT’s, Weight Flies, Tung Darts, Olive WD 40’s, S & M’s, BWO Magic Flies etc. all getting some attention. Rig up with the bugs you like and fish them like you know they’re going to get eaten. Faith in the fly you are using almost always trumps the pattern.

Not sure what to use or where to go? Stop by the shop on your way to the river. We’d love to get you set up and headed in the right direction. Shuttles, Lodging, RO Drift Boat Rentals, Expert Guides, Cold Weather Gear from Kast and Redington, Rock Bottom sale prices on Simms WCA summer logo wear and of course, the largest selection of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

See you at WCA. Open 6:30 AM Daily (Earlier than ALL THE REST) for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 15th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, RO Drift Boats, running line, Streamer Fishing, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

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