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Missouri River Fishing Report 5/21/15

Hot fishing on cold rainy days on the MO.

Last weekend’s Montana Monsoon rains which lasted into the early part of the week changed things up a bit bumping Missouri flows up over 4,000 for a couple of days, greening up the countryside and coloring the water up below Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn.
The streamer guys took advantage of the situation both on the MO and the creeks and the worm ruled for a short time as the mud dumped. We had a couple of outstanding bwo events on those cold rainy days despite the persistent north northeast winds which made things a little on the unpleasant side out there. All in all however, the cold wet weather made for some great fishing all the way around.
Yesterday the sunshine and blue skies returned and the action slowed a bit as the river cleared and the flows returned to sub 4K. Reports were mixed but overall it was on the slow side yesterday from top to bottom.
Tailwater sows were our ticket on Monday and Tuesday on the upper stretch but that all changed yesterday as we worked hard to find something they would eat with some consistnecy. It was one of those days constantly changing bugs and changing depths and failing to really find a consistent rig. There were some reports of the worm continuing to work below the Dearborn but we ran a wire worm of sorts for the better part of the day in the Wolf Creek to Stickney stretch and failed to get an eat. Little Green Machines, Peep Shows and the PMD Magic Fly were our best bugs of the day in slower, moderate depth water, usually working inside out and running the drop-offs.
The streamer bite was fair yesterday despite the bright sun with Coffey’s Sculpin Sparkle Minnow and the Circus Peanut getting some attention. Dry fly activity was spotty yesterday though there were a couple of spots with substantial pod activity between Craig and Stickney and it appeared as though an evening outing would have been quite productive judging by the diminished winds and the fish we saw up as we drove along the river back to Wolf Creek.
We’ve got another blue sky day with a slight chance of rain this afternoon with more of the same for tomorrow. We’ve got limited lodging available for the weekend and guides available anytime. Give us a call at the shop for up-to-the-minute river and weather conditions and stop by on your way to the river for bugs, shuttles, boats and everything you need for your day on the water. Don’t forget the DUB C A Soiree happening all day on Saturday with 15% off everything store wide except shuttles. Free barbeque beginning at 5 pm with music from Helena’s Sleeping Giants weather permitting.
See you at Wolf Creek Angler!

Our first day of outfitting on the Blackfoot with WCA guide Ryan Stultz

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00May 21st, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid Week Missouri River Fishing Report

Guest Blog from WCA Guide Matt Hargrave

Met a buddy and fellow guide at the shop Monday morning. I picked through the fly bin grabbing some usual suspects (#18 pt little green machine and some #18 olive s&m nymphs), and decided to grab some nymphs I never fish. I’ve been doing a lot of experimenting lately. Fishing different water and different patterns. This time I picked up some #12 bh flashback pt’s, some #14 hare’s ears, a downey baetis nymph, a bwo magic fly, and a two bit hooker. I am guilty of sticking to tried and true patterns and water that I know hold fish. I also know to improve as an angler and a guide that I need to expand my arsenal and my knowledge of the Missouri. Sometime’s you gotta take chances.

We floated Mid-Mt. Palace. The day was overcast, 60, but with a cold wind. I picked up a nice brown right away on the lgm. Sometime’s landing a fish that quickly is a bad sign. That was not the case that day. The fish were hungry and ate everything I presented to them.

Later in the day, my buddy Josh started wrecking them fishing blind with a brown para adams. I stuck with the short leash and landed fish everywhere you would think a trout would be.

Towards the evening we anchored on a pod of fish that would not go down. We all touched and caught several fish out of that pod, only leaving it because it was getting too late to fish. Just before the take out, Chad and I doubled up on two dry fly eating fish. Perfect way to end an epic day.

Moral of the story is to get out there and get out of your comfort zone. Start building confidence in different patterns and different water. Growing as an angler is what everyone should be striving for—Matt

Doubled UP

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:53-06:00May 13th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid Week Missouri River Fishing Report 5/6/15

WCA Guide Nick Kaufman with a dry fly eating Missouri River brown. This is how we spend our days off.

The spring crescendo continues on the Missouri as the daylight hours stretch and the bugs intensify and the numbers of fish feasting on the surface increase almost daily.
BWO’s, midges, March Browns and rumours of Caddis in the canyon mean the dry fly fishing is about to go insane and while you wait the nymphing has been keeping rods bend daily river wide.
We don’t have much new to report on the nymphing side of it. Green Machines are THE bug of choice. Shallow rigging has been successful depending on the day and the time of day and the deeper rigs are consistently working on the sunnier days which we’ve had no shortage of lately. Try a purple weight fly, Tungsten Tailwater Sow, Wire Worm, Hot Belly PT or a tan czech for a point fly and follow it with your LGM, S & M, Peep, Military May, Micro May, Magic Fly, Olive WD40. 2 Bit Hooker or various sow bug patterns and search the water columns until you find the fish. A BB split or two helps on the longer rigs, go weightless on the short rigs – the tungsten beads will get you where you need to be.
If you find fish up throw the kitchen sink at them. If you want to keep it simple throw an Adams and a bwo cdc emerger at them and build from there. We’ve got all kinds of cool BWO patterns at the ready. Come check them out and see if you can find something you like, chances are pretty good that if you like your bugs you will fish them with confidence and the fish will like them too.
How about streamers? We’ve been throwing them and getting some fish to move on Sparkle Minnows, Tan Circus Peanuts and brown Polar Leeches. Overcast skies on tap for tomorrow – could be a great streamer day which will give you something to do while you’re out there looking for heads.
Stop by the shop for a shuttle on your way out and stock up on all the dries, nymphs and streamers you will need as well as leaders, tippet, tools, Flyagra, Strike Foundry Lil Nugget Indicators, Buffs, Kast Extreme Fishing Gear and all kinds of cool WCA logo gear.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:53-06:00May 6th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Weekend Report 5/2/15

Danya Ann taming the MO – photo by Matt Hargrave

Widespread reports of Full-On sick nymphing the past couple of days river wide. Sunny skies and some stiff winds have limited dry fly opportunities during the day though it sounds like those returning to the water in the evenings have been rewarded with some near-epic conditions and lots of fish willing to eat.
Green Machines have been THE bug, hands down, no matter what the section though it sounds like the Pink Amex and the Rainbow Czech have had their moments as well. We restocked LGM’s this morning and while the #18 PT’s had been the most frequently picked over the grays are reportedly working as well, if not better, in some places so don’t hesitate to try them. Firebead sows and FB Rainbow Weight Flies have seen a bit of a resurgence over the past few days and we’ve been selling a ton of Olive WD 40’s. Purple Weight flies, tailwater sows, BWO Magic Fly, S & M’s , Micro Mays, 2 Bit Hookers, wire worms….all have been catching a lot of fish and last but not least…I haven’t heard too many reports about Peep Shows but for what its’ worth this bin had probably 8-10 dozen bugs in it when I opened this morning…

I haven’t heard any streamer reports though we’re thinking that should be on your agenda as well in the coming days.
Bottom line? The fishing is damn good right now no matter where you go. The word is that fish are more concentrated in the canyon section but that they are smaller overall than in the upper sections where there are reportedly fewer fish at the moment but much bigger average size. Pick a stretch and enjoy!
Lodging just shy of full this evening and opening up tomorrow and Monday before the next wave comes in on Tuesday. Completely booked mid-week but a few openings here and there towards next weekend. Guides at the ready. Don’t miss out on this awesome spring fishing. Book your trip on the Missouri today.

Make us your first stop on the way to the river for shuttles, bugs (other than #16 dark Peep Shows), bobbers, boats, fishing licenses, ice, Buffs and gloves for hot or cold weather, Rio and Trout Hunter leaders and tippet, all kinds of tools and accessories, a great cup of coffee, friendly and knowledgeable service, honest advice and much much more.

See you at WCA

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:53-06:00May 2nd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Two Days Left…

Dry Fly Eat on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Just two days remain to take advantage of our $300 spring special guide trips and winter lodging rates. The screaming deals come to an end on Thursday.
Good to great fishing continues depending on the day with midges and baetis aplenty and if you are lucky enough to have cloud cover you may just have the best dry fly fishing day you’ve ever had…or not.

The bugs are around on the sunny days as well but the fish eating them…not so much. Wade anglers are loving the sub 4K flows and are consistently having good days. Most of the tough day reports we’ve heard have been from the boat guys and usually the ones doing the Dam to Craig stretch. Our advice? Keep at it. Change bugs, change depths, change the water you are fishing, add weight and go deep, remove weight and go shallow. The fish are there, you just need to find them. Some are doing well with a shorter rig and no weight, others are going 10′ ish overall length with a bb or two and finding fish that way. Typically we’re thinking deep on these bright and sunny days but that isn’t always the case.

Shorten your float and work the water, that’s the best way to figure it out. I’m notoriously doing longer floats than I should, a product of my streamer chucking past, but if you aren’t throwing streamers the shorter floats make sense. You can spend time working the nymphing runs until you find the fish and you’ve got plenty of time to fish to any pods of rising fish you come across. If you try picking things apart this way on a 10 or 12 mile float you will almost always end up pushing through good water to get to the takeout at a reasonable time.

Hot flies? Olive WD-40’s, LGM’s, S & M’s, Two Bit Hookers, Dark Peep Shows, Magic Fly BWO, Hot Belly PT, MicroMays, Military Mays, Poxyback Baetis, beadless Zebras, Angel Case Emergers and miscellaneous sow bugs. Effective baetis dries are all over the map but I will say we’ve seen a run on CDC BWO’s and CDC Oliver Emergers over the past few days.

The only streamer reports I’ve heard as of late haven’t been very good but that’s no reason not to throw them. As that water continues to warm up it should result in some great streamer action. We’ve just replenished our Sparkle Minnow supply and we finally got in some more of Craven’s Dirty Hippy Rainbow. My go-to continues to be the tan Circus Peanut. Come by and check out our ever-increasing streamer selection.

It’s another busy week of lodging at WCA. We’ve got just two units left for the weekend so call soon if you need a room or a boat or a guide trip or all of the above. Open daily at 7:30 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:54-06:00April 28th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: $300 Missouri River Guide Trips, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Report

Missouri River Baetis Box

We’ve heard a couple of reports of tough fishing from yesterday and today but for the most part what we’re hearing is that it’s good to great out there.

Plenty of baetis, plenty of midges and plenty of fish up willing to eat a well presented fly. People are amazed by the sheer number of bugs on the water and it can be overwhelming and frustrating trying to get the fish to eat your fly when it is amongst so many naturals. This is the time for precision. Pick one fish in particular and deliver your fly to that fish without drag. Chances are they won’t move for it and they won’t eat it if it’s anything other than dead drifted directly to them. A well executed reach cast is a critical component of Missouri River dry fly fishing. It’s this technical challenge that brings many to fish the Missouri and also sends many away empty handed cursing the fish and the river.

Change bugs often and work on that delivery and presentation. More often than not it’s presentation issues which cause problems but there are plenty of times when a perfectly presented fly gets refused as well. How much fun would it be if they ate every well presented fly every time? It would probably get pretty boring pretty quickly. Are you up for the Missouri River dry fly challenge?

There are countless patterns out there and most of them work at one time or another. A good generic place to start would be a Hi Vis Parachute Adams or Purple Haze trailed with a cdc baetis emerger or some kind of cripple pattern. We’ve got bins full of all kinds of BWO patterns so come pick out some you like and try them. There are no true magic flies out there (other than the Parachute Adams) but there are a lot of flies that work and work well more often than not. What usually happens is that someone has a great day with some bug and the word gets out and the next thing you know everyone is out of them. Not to worry, there are countless others that will work just as well. We all tend to do it from time to time, but try not to get caught in the Magic Fly Trap.

Nymphing reports continue to be good with many opting for a shorter overall rig. Go to flies continue to be the S & M, Little Green Machine, Hot Belly Pheasant Tail in purple, Military May, Micro May, Juju Baetis and many more. Stop by the shop and we’d be happy to get you set up with flies, shuttles, boat rentals, leaders, tippet, indicators, rods, reels, floatants, and anything else you might need. We’re also happy to answer any questions you have about rigging, location, presentation, time of day or anything else you want to ask us. We may not always have the answer but we’ll always tell you everything we know and do whatever we can to help.

Shop open daily 7:30 AM to 5 PM.

Top to bottom from the left Row 1. Hi Vis Parachute BWO, Purple Haze, Hi Vis Para Olive, Hi Vis Parachute Adams. Row 2 Smith’s BWO CDC Hackle Stacker, Parachute BWO, Split Wing Parachute BWO, Parachute Olive Spinner, WCA Stacker, Polywing Spinner. Row 3 BWO Parachute Emerger, CDC Baetis Emerger, Cripple Thorax, BWO Biot Cripple, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, BWO Flash Cripple, Drown Spinner BWO. Row 4 RS2 CDC, Quiqley’s Hackle Stacker BWO, Almost Dun BWO. Row 5 (Nymphs) Mason’s Peep Show Dark, Purple Lightning Bug, Magic Fly BWO, S & M Olive, Two Bit Hooker Red, Little Green Machine, Kyle’s Superflash PT Olive, Juju Baetis

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:54-06:00April 25th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, green machine, juju baetis, Mason's Peep Show, Missouri River, Nyman's DOA Cripple Baetis, nymphs, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Late April Missouri River Fishing Report 4/24/15

Don and Leda doubled up on the MO – photo by Jim Murray

Guest Blog from WCA Guide Jim Murray. Call the shop and book a trip with Jim or any of our other guides. Six days left to take advantage of our $300 spring special guide trips. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

With April turning into May, the 2015 season on the Missouri is heading into full swing. I’ve been out guiding a few times this past week, and if you’ve been fortunate enough to be on the water you know what I’m going to say. The Mo is a pretty good trout river. Flows are down, water temps are up, and bugs are EVERYWHERE. Lots of bugs make for lots of happy fish. In these conditions, the fish are acting like it’s summer out there. Fish are holding in riffles, runs, scum lines, and shallow water. Fish are deep in the water column. Fish are shallow in the water column. Fish are EVERYWHERE. I’ve had a lot of success throwing the short leash rig with no weight my last couple of trips, but I’ve talked to other guides who are getting them down deep as well. Pick your favorite mayfly nymph and have at it. And don’t be afraid to throw a little bit bigger bug. You don’t have to throw a size 20 Green Machine to get ‘em out there. You like throwing dry flies? Well have at it, because while we aren’t seeing a ton of heads up, they are there if you know where to find them, and they seem more than happy to eat a properly presented dry/cripple/cluster/spinner pattern of your choice.
I’ve spent the last few trips down in the Canyon, but I’ve been hearing pretty much the same from the guys fishing between the Dam and Spite Hill. Fishing is good. If you aren’t here fishing the Mo right now, you should be! Grab a buddy to row. Teach your husband/wife how to row. Book a guide. Whatever you have to do, come out and fish the Mo….it’s a pretty good trout river.

Doubled up again! Photo by Jim Murray

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:54-06:00April 24th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: $300 Missouri River Guide Trips, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid Week Fishing Report

Warm and sunny spring days have limited the dry fly fishing opportunities for the past couple of days but it looks like we could be in for a great baetis weekend with cloud cover and a chance of rain and/or snow each day.

Nymphing has been good river-wide though the best reports we’re hearing are from Craig down. Green Machines and S & M’s have been the most popular nymphs by far leaving our bins this week but why limit yourself to two patterns? We’ve got bins and bins stuffed full of bugs that will get it done. Take some time and peruse our selection, LGM’s and S & M’s are great but there’s a bunch of other stuff that you should be trying and who knows, you may just stumble upon the next big thing.

When you find that bug you think is cool and you fish it and it happens to work it definitely builds your confidence. One of my go-to nymphs is Mason’s Peep Show. I was introduced to the Peep Show by a fishing buddy several years ago and I’ve always done well with it so I use it a lot. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had clients come into the shop to load up on them after a guide trip. Sometimes they find success with it, sometimes they dont. I think it’s a great bug – I’ve got friends who are excellent guides who hate it – it’s all personal preference.

Bottom line – we’ve got well over 100,000 flies not including a bunch of cool streamers. There are a lot of patterns besides S & M’s and Little Green Machines that will crush fish on the Missouri. Last season there was a few weeks where Two Bit Hookers were reportedly the hottest bug around. We didn’t have them. We do now. Guys would come in and ask for them and turn around and leave when we told them we didn’t have them – apparently when it’s a Two Bit Hooker you desire nothing else will do!

Stop in and check out our fly selection, we are confident you won’t be disappointed.

Lodging is full tonight and busy through the weekend. We did have one cancellation for Friday and Saturday so we do have one cabin available for the weekend. We’re busy with spring special guide trips this week but have plenty of guides around if you are interested in taking advantage of this great deal before it’s too late. It’s the last weekend for spring special rates and discounted lodging. Book your trips and rooms now!

The days are getting longer, the bugs are plentiful and the pulse is starting to return to Wolf Creek and Craig Montana.

See you in the shop and on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:54-06:00April 22nd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: $300 Missouri River Guide Trips, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Week Ahead

Are there any bugs you ask? Ummm….just a few! photo by Luke Koerten

By all accounts from the past several days it’s GAME ON on the Missouri right now. Unfortunately the only bugs I’ve seen recently are the ones in our fly bins but I hope to rectify this situtation soon. I’ve been hearing good reports from all of our guides and our guests are raving as well, one calling his Saturday afternoon outing “the best dry fly day he’s had in years”.

Plenty of dry fly action on baetis and midges river-wide and if it’s nymphing you prefer it’s happening right now! I’m still hearing the occasional complaints of tough days from those fishing the top section but it’s been lights out in the middle and lower sections so spread out and have at it. Best selling bugs over the past couple of days have been Hogan’s S & M, LGM’s , MicroMay in Olive, firebead soft hackle sow, hot belly PT in purple, Purple phase loop wing, BWO Flash Cripple, BWO Drown Spinner, DOA Cripple Baetis, 2 Bit Hooker in Red, Kyle’s Superflash PT in Olive, Circus Peanut, Polar Leech, Sparkle Minnow, Beadless Zebra Midge in Black and a bunch of other baetis stuff. We’ve got the bugs you want and the bugs you need and many many more. Come check out our selection, we’re confident you won’t be disappointed.

Bins full of BWO’s at Wolf Creek Angler

Weather wise we’re looking at sunny warm days through Thursday, possibly reaching near 80 on Wednesday. A 50 percent chance of rain on Friday may mean a better bwo day but the bottom line is that you really couldn’t pick a better week to come hit the MO. The weather is great, the bugs are plentiful, the fish are happy and hungry…what more could you ask for?

Remember our $300 spring special guide trips and our discounted lodging rates run through the end of April so time is running out. You’ve got 10 days left to make it happen so don’t put it off any longer. Give us a call at the shop today and book your Missouri River trip of a lifetime. It’s the best fishing we’ve seen this year and traffic remains relatively light, especially during the week.

Flows are holding around 3800 with water temps around 45. The lower water means more access for the wade anglers and less navigable water for boats and the increased potential for conflicts. Please be courteous to your fellow anglers whether wading or floating and try to give each other as much room as possible. There are miles and miles of water and there are fish everywhere. There is no reason to crowd each other.

Lodging is filling quickly for the coming weeks. We’ve got plenty of availability tonight and tomorrow but things start to become scarce starting on Wednesday. A couple of rooms remain for the weekend -they will likely be gone by the end of the day.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:54-06:00April 20th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: $300 Missouri River Guide Trips, dry fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Update

Guest Blog from WCA Guide Luke Koerten

First trout on a dry fly…..STOKED!

Darrel celebrated his birthday with his first ever trout on a fly rod.

Cold and wet. That is the report from Saturday as sideways snow greeted us on the river. The precipitation coupled with the strong and steady upstream wind made for a brutally cold morning. Anytime you have to cut through legitimate waves on your way downstream, less than stellar nymph fishing can be expected.

Cold and wet also happens to be Blue Wing Olive weather. They did not disappoint yesterday. As the wind subsided in the afternoon they blanketed the river and the fish took notice. Big rainbows gorging on the surface 10 feet from the boat was not an uncommon sight.

Flies that got it done underwater yesterday were scuds, sows, and small mayfly stuff. Pheasant tails and their fancier knockoffs both worked well. All phases of the mayfly are a good idea too (emergers, cripples, duns, spinners). Why not try a cdc emerger off the back of a parachute adams?

Today looks like less wind, less moisture, and less clouds. Sounds like a great day to be on the river. Book your $300 spring special guide trip with Wolf Creek Angler today…time is running out!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:54-06:00April 19th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: $300 Missouri River Guide Trips, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments