Fishing Report Archives - Page 29 of 41

This week on the MO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 7th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Christmas, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Gorgeous Missouri River Winter Bow – photo Eric Mondragon

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

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

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

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

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

St Croix Bank Robber – The Ultimate Streamer Stick

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

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

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

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

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

Echo Carbon Rods

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

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

Nautilus Feather Weight Xtreme

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 5th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report, Product Review|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, St Croix, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Monday Morning….All is Quiet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00November 30th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Fishing Report: A Day In The Life Of Edition. 11.23.15

November Shop Life Insights from Chewy

Been a pretty quiet week up on the Missouri. Seems like lots of you kids been getting scared off the water by the good ole’ reliable winter winds. I really don’t blame you. Wind is one thing, cold temps and freezing precipitation are another. The combination of the three can be unbearable. Fishing has been good however; if you’re one of the lucky ones to find a window of tolerable temps and fishable winds. It’s the time of year most of us start looking forward to spring fishing again, making plans for next year, refilling fly boxes, patching waders and staving off cabin fever at any cost. Not to mention soup, lots of soup. When I’m not at the shop I get into a pretty loosely regulated routine. Of course it varies day to day but only slightly. I’m a creature of habit, weather dependent albeit.

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By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00November 23rd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|0 Comments

The Missouri River is a year-round fishery – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

It’s a beautiful morning in Wolf Creek with light snow falling and calm winds. Could be a nice day to fish the Missouri though it is a bit on the chilly side at 21 degrees and it’s not supposed to get much warmer today.

The weekend looks good with plenty of sunshine and temps near 40 on Saturday and near 50 on Sunday and Monday. Expect possibly a bit more traffic out there this weekend as it looks like we’re going to get our first deep freeze starting on Wednesday when we will see highs in the teens and lows in the single digits through the latter part of the week.

We’re hearing very good nymphing reports this week with folks still doing well with the short leash rigs in the shallows as well as with the deeper rigs in the more winterish slow deep runs.

Sows bugs are it for the time being and have been for the last while. Tailwater sows, Firebead Sows, Soft Hackle Sows, Snack Nasty Sows, Soft Hackle Rays….etc are all working well. We’ve been running the sows in tandem with a Tungsten Rainbow Czech or Pink Amex and getting the occasional eats on those as well. Don’t abandon the black zebra midge yet either. A Tungsten Tailwater sow in tandem with a black zebra can be very effective. Most are running with no weight right now, opting instead to run something large and tungsten.

The transition to winter fare is upon us so think pink and think firebeads! The aforementioned Rainbow Czechs and Pink Amexes are a good call and you could also go with something like a Firebead Rainbow Weight Fly or my favorite, a #10 Casne’s Pinkalicious.

We haven’t quite gotten there yet but as the water temps continue to drop and those fish move into the depths of their winter homes the nymphing routine becomes much easier. Not that the fishing is always good, it’s not, but if there is any time of year you can run one rig with confidence and not be constantly second guessing your depth and bug selection, this is it.

Some would disagree I’m sure and they probably catch way more fish than I do but I’ve found that once the fish hit the winter water they’re either hungry or they’re not. If they are they will probably eat that pink/firebead/sow etc. offering at that same depth you had them eating it at the day before. It’s not that I never change things up in the winter, I do, but it’s generally a matter of changing the trailing fly and leaving the bobber and the Pinkalicious untouched for weeks at a time.
Winter fishing certainly has it’s own set of challenges, namely keeping warm. The last thing you want to do is spend your day changing flies and getting cold hands. Keep it simple!

There are fish rising daily. A few BWO’s and pseudos around but we’ve pretty much written the fall of 2015 off as far as BWO’s are concerned. Try a Parachute Adams, Purple Haze or Quiqley’s Peacock Cluster trailed with a the CDC Emerger of your choice. Speaking of CDC, while the snow and cold may not make for great fishing the duck hunting should be off the charts next week! The rising fish have not been easy but if you’re fishing dry flies in snow and sub-freezing temps you probably aren’t looking for easy anyway so have at it.

Streamers? Absolutely. Throw them all day long. Unlike the nymph game however I’m a firm believer in changing streamers until you find what they are after. Usually once you find it you’ll be set for the day but you could easily spend the entire day changing bugs and never find one that works. Such is the streamer game. Patience is key. Strip fast, strip slow, swing, speed up the retrieve, slow down the retrieve, upstream, downstream…and on and on. Often the retrieve can be as critical, if not more so, than the bug.

The fish we’ve moved recently on streamers have come on Coffey’s Sparkle Minnows, Polar Leeches, JJ’s, Pop’s Buggers, Olive Smolts and Black or Olive Buggers (among others) and have been on a moderately fast retrieve, most time hitting on the pause. Cloudy days have been better for sure but we’re not afraid to throw streamers on a sunny day, you shouldn’t be either. If you’re contemplating a new streamer rod stop in and pick up one of our St Croix Bank Robber demo rods for the day. We’ve been fishing them all fall and loving them.

Best section right now? We’ve heard good things from most sections but we tend to stay up high from now until spring. The fish are big (and plentiful), the crowds are not an issue and the dam and Wolf Creek Bridge are 5 minutes from the shop. We tend to start a little later this time of year and with it getting dark by 5:30 it works out perfect to limit road time and just float to Craig.

The shop is open at 7:30 AM daily so swing in for bugs, shuttles, free coffee and honest, open and always friendly advice on the where and when and how. Plenty of lodging available for the weekend and guides ready to show you how good winter fishing on the Missouri can be.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00November 20th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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

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

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

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

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