Fishing Report Archives - Page 7 of 41

A Taste of What’s to Come

October Snow – photo by Tony Van Dort

Parts of SW Montana saw a significant winter weather event earlier this week while here on the Missouri we got just a small dose of what’s to come.

While snow blanketed Bozeman and the surrounding area we only saw a dusting down here with a little more at higher elevations but the cold temps and dark skies were just what we needed to get some BWO action going out there.

Winds have limited those opportunities but with water temps continuing to drop we’re in good shape for those seemingly rare days when the wind isn’t howling. Keep an eye on the forecast and plan your trip around those cool and cloudy days….or not. Cloudy conditions are ideal but you can catch plenty of fish on the sunny days as well.

Missouri River Fall streamer fishing is moving towards peak season with plenty of bruiser browns on the prowl and the Bows eager to play as well. For my money a #4 Sparkle Minnow can’t be beat but there are plenty of other bugs that will elicit the chase and the attack. We’ve had good luck with Swim Coaches, Dirty Hippies, Mini Dungeons, Lil’ Kims, Circus Peanuts and MK Ultralights and if you’re more of a traditionalist black buggers and Thin Mints have been solid.

Nymphing will be your go to for numbers with sow bugs starting to take over that top spot which has been occupied by the black zebra midge for the past several weeks. Rainbow Czechs, Amex, Tungsten Tailwater Sow, Pill Poppers, Soft Hackle Sows, LGM’s, BWO Magic Fly, Olive Lightning Bug, Olive S & M, No big changes on the nymphing front. 3 (ish) feet bobber to tungsten lead fly. Fast (ish), medium depth and maybe a deep dive in the swirls for good measure.

Sprout Baetis, Cripple Baetis, Olive Haze, BWO Film Critic, CDC Baetis Spinner and baetis emergers all good bets on top with ants and October Caddis still worth a try.

Warm weather returns this weekend with plenty of sunshine and temps near 70 on Saturday and Sunday. We’ve got a few vacancies remaining for the weekend if you want to come out and enjoy what may very well be the last warm weekend of 2021 and our guide calendar has cleared substantially making guide trips a real possibility this weekend.

We’re in the midst of our Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale with 25% off ALL RODS and REELS and 30% off your total if you buy any rod and reel combo.

All remaining Simms summer sportswear as well as Confluence wading sandals and men’s and women’s Flyweight boots and all remaining G3 stockingfoot waders 30% off.

Not only is it what many consider to be the best time of the year to fish the MO, it’s also the time of year for the best deals on the best gear at Wolf Creek Angler.

Fall hours 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-10-13T13:07:34-06:00October 13th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Autumn is a magical time on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

79 degrees and sunny on this first day of fall 2021 with blue skies and a respite from the howling winds of the past few days. Perfect autumn weather and good fishing to boot.

Status quo through the weekend with plenty of sunshine and high temps in the 70’s and 80’s. Chilly in the mornings and cooling down as soon as that sun dips down in the evening. You really can’t beat fall weather and there’s no better place to be than on the water.

It’s our busiest guide week of the fall with the crew from Schultz Outfitters here doing their annual rendezvous. What a great week to spend with these guys kicking around the MO and Blackfoot. It’s always a highlight of the year having this crew around from the Michigan motherland.

The nymphing bite has continued to improve and it’s been good more days than not. Zebra Midges continue to produce better than most with Little Green Machines, BWO Magic Flies, Split Case BWO’s, Psycho Mays, Micro Mays, Tailwater Sows, Purple Weight flies and Rainbow Czechs all proving to be effective on any given day.

The traffic continues to be pretty concentrated at the dam but the river is fishing good all the way down to Cascade so don’t be afraid to spread out.

Dry fly fishing is a possibility on the less windy days. Pseudos and Callibaetis mostly but keep those hoppers in play, especially lower down river, and try an October Caddis for the Big Gulp. It’s definitely not PRIME TIME for dries but looking at the long term it could shape up to be an excellent fall and we’re hoping for at least a handful of epic BWO days in the not too distant future.

Fingers Crossed.

In the meantime, if you really want to see what fall fishing is about, get your mind off of floating flies and dead drifts and start dredging. It’s Big Game Hunting season on the MO and anywhere else giant browns are on the prowl. Big flies, heavy lines and the hope that every cast could be THE ONE that entices that behemoth brown and elicits that violent strike with an epic battle to ensue.

Get after it!

Got questions? We’ve got answers. We are your go-to source…your Streamer Headquarters on the MO and beyond.

We are your Full Service Missouri River One Stop Shop for fall fly fishing with clean and affordable lodging, the hardest working guides on the river, a fully stocked shop, shuttles, bugs, Adipose Drift Boat Rentals and so much more.

Open daily at 7 AM for EVERYTHING Missouri River Fly Fishing.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-22T14:51:44-06:00September 22nd, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Adipose, brown trout, dry fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

September Stride

Halfway through September and about a week away from the official first day of fall and we’ve hit our September Stride.

The late summer lull is over and we’re back to bustling mornings at the shop getting trips out the door and making certain all of our guests and clients have everything they need for their day on the water.

The morning and evening chill has arrived and with cooler daytime temps settling in it’s probably about time to put away those shorts and flip flops. Not quite wader weather just yet but it’s coming soon, possibly as soon as this weekend. Hot temps and high winds on Saturday followed by cooler weather and rain on Sunday and Monday with highs in the 60’s and 50’s respectively. Classic autumn days on tap after that with blue skies and sunshine and highs in the 60’s with overnight lows in the high 30’s/low 40’s.

The colors are rapidly changing, the weather is cooling, the fishing is heating up…you really can’t beat autumn fishing on the Missouri.

Nymphing is the go to river wide with most traffic occupying the upper reaches from the dam to Craig. Zebra Midges are the ticket, #18 or #20 in black, olive or purple. Pair it with a weight fly, a Tungsten Tailwater Sow, a Peep Show, any old tungsten bead Pheasant Tail or go with the Double Deadly Double Zebra rig.

Most are running short, some with weight some without. All are keying on the fast moving, choppy water in the 1’ – 3’ range. Crayfish have dropped off but still worth a trial run. If it doesn’t produce relatively quickly, ditch it. It ain’t happening.

Hoppers are hanging on. Maybe the fish have had their fill. It might be worth a try with a Zebra or Green Machine dropper but like the crayfish trial, probably best to not spend a whole lot of time on it if you don’t see something happen in relatively short order. The better bet for your dry selection might be an October Caddis.

Streamers are En Vogue and are worth your time. Weeds will test your patience but the risk/reward ratio favors persistence. And while I’ve advised abandoning crayfish and hoppers if they don’t produce in short order the same does not hold true where streamers are concerned. Stick with it…you’ll be glad you did. Buggers, Clousers, Sparkle Minnows, Circus Peanuts, Dungeons, Dirty Hippies, Swim Coach, Peanut Envy, Autumn Splendor, Lil’ Kims, Inflated Egos and anything and everything else you might want to throw at them. Black, Olive, Brown, Natural, White all fine choices. JJ or Brownie Sparkle Minnows can be $$ on any given day.

River flows are flat-lined at 3100 and change with temps holding in the low 60’s with no big changes on the horizon.

See us at 7 AM daily for shuttles, Adipose boat rentals, the best bug selection on the Missouri, hats, gloves, socks, sun protection, waders and boots, outerwear, layering….and much more. And speaking of waders – get your Simms G3 Waders for 30% off in-store and online, while they last.

Lodging available most nights, guides as busy as they can be with September as close to completely booked as we’ve ever seen. Always worth a call but probably best to look to October if you want to get a day booked this fall.

See you soon for autumn fishing on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-16T20:14:23-06:00September 16th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Craig MT, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, nymphs, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Fall on the Mighty Missouri

Summer is soon to be but a memory as we close out August and welcome September and the arrival of autumn fishing on the MO.

Looking back, it was really a great spring and summer. Sure the high temps and low flows were not ideal and having Hoot Owl Restrictions placed on the Missouri was something we’d not seen since we’ve been in business and it definitely took a toll but aside from this the 2021 season started strong and was exactly the return to normalcy we’d all been craving since Covid hit.

We had a record spring, our strongest start ever and in spite of the challenges of the late summer season we’re still on track for one of our best seasons to date.

These last couple of weeks have been very quiet but as always happens in conjunction with September’s shift to cooler weather, shorter days and the return to the Grind for most everyone, an uptick in traffic is underway.

Fishing is what we’ve come to expect during the summer to fall transition. We’ve had some off-the-charts days and some really tough days. Hit and miss to be sure.

Conditions have improved drastically, as least as far as water temps go. We’re currently holding in the low 60’s and will continue to do so thanks to those cool nighttime lows in the 40’s and fewer hours of sun heating the water.

Trout are responding accordingly trading warm water lethargy for cool water energy so you need to be on your game with those fish fighting skills if you hope to land even a portion of them.

Dry fly opportunities are somewhat limited right now with hoppers, ants and beetles being our go to. Pseudos and callibaetis in the mix as well as the occasional trico opportunity but those days are definitely waning.

Best bets for dry flies – More or Less Hopper, Donkey Kong Hoper, Panty Dropper Hopper, Stealth Ant, Cinnamon Parachute Ant, Sparkling Ant, Foam Beetles, October Caddis, Parachute Adams, Buzzball, Trico Indicator Spinner, Drowned Trico Spinner, Olive Pseudo.

As always, nymphing will be your best bet for numbers with the fish still concentrated in the faster, mid-depth runs. The Black Zebra Midge is king during the fall, especially in the grass flats below the dam. Run in tandem with your choice of BWO nymph or Sowbug or roll the dice and run a cray fish with your zebra. It’s not always the ticket but when it’s on it can be absolutely ridiculous. We like a tan or olive zirdle or a throwback like the Snapping Cray or Claws R Cray. And if you’re one of those who likes to mend CONSTANTLY – this is your rig. The erratic fly movements caused by incessant mending mimic exactly the natural movements of actual crayfish so mend away!

Not so with any other nymphs. Keep them on a dead drift with the current as indicated by your INDICATOR. They call them strike indicators, we also refer to them as drift indicators. Skating and dragging are not desired, a dead drift is what you’re looking for and the occasional mend up or downstream (depending on the situation) can accomplish your goal. When that goal is accomplished LET IT RIDE. No mending necessary. LESS MENDING = MORE FISH

Best bets for fall nymphs….Black or Olive Zebra Midge, Tailwater Sow, Tungsten Tailwater Sow, Little Green Machine, BWO Magic Fly, Split Case BWO, Psycho May Olive, Jig Crack Back Bullet Olive, Spanish Bullet Black, Redemption BWO, PT’s, Pearl or Olive Lighting Bug, Thurman’s Zaddis October, Soft Hackle Sow, Micro May, Tan Czech, and more.

We’ve seen some traffic around the streamer bins as of late and while it is perhaps a little early, from what we’re hearing it sounds like it may in fact be time…..streamer time… which is, in this author’s humble opinion, the most wonderful time of the year.

I will confess that spring is my favorite time for streamers due to the lack of aquatic vegetation at that time of year but I throw them every month of the year and despite the challenges of fishing through salad, I will say that you really can’t beat fall if you’re looking for aggression.

The Big Browns are on the move, they’re coming into spawning colors and they’re pissed off and hook-jawed and ready to do battle. These are the fish every streamer junkie dreams of.

Again, we’re on the early side of it but there’s no time like the present. Let the games begin!

Sparkle Minnows in all flavors will of course be a staple from here on out. Autumn Splendors, JJ Specials, Peanut Envy, Dungeons, Circus Peanuts, Swim Coach, ZK’s Inflated Ego, Dirty Hippies, Wedge Heads and smaller buggers and minnows all worth a try.

Convention dictates smaller streamers on the MO and if you decide to go that route you’ll likely move plenty of fish. We at WCA however prefer the unconventional where streamer fishing is concerned and for that reason you’ll find our streamer bins full of bugs you’ll likely not find anywhere else on the MO. We prefer the bigger and flashier bugs and while it’s true that articulation and stinger hooks make fishing the salad exponentially more difficult it’s all part of the game. We’re driven by dreams of 30” browns hunting down and smashing our offerings, a life-long pursuit residing in our DNA.

So sure, we’ll sell you buggers but in our world, life is way too short to waste your time playing with wooly buggers. That being said, we’re well aware that people fish what is effective so we won’t be surprised (or deterred) if you happen to land a River Monster on a Wooly Bugger.

We sincerely hope you make us your one stop shop for fall fishing on the MO. We’ve got it all from affordable lodging to drift boat and equipment rentals to a shop full of essential gear to the hardest working guide crew on the river. Wolf Creek Angler is truly your one stop Missouri River Fly Shop.

Open daily at 6:30 AM, earlier than ALL the rest.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-08-31T11:04:01-06:00August 31st, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|2 Comments

Dog Days photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Sunday’s rain accompanied by a much-needed cool down has us thinking fall as we power through the Dog Days of what has become one of the doggier late summer seasons in recent memory.

Between the hot weather, the low flows and the resulting Hoot Owl restrictions the MO has become a rather quiet place as of late.

A few weeks from now these Dog Days will be but a memory as we ramp up for the fall fishing season. In the meantime our rooms are getting some extra attention during the lull, the grass is looking better than it has all summer and the shop has undergone de-cluttering and deep cleaning and we’re in the process of re-stocking with everything you need for fall fishing on the Missouri and anywhere else your travels might take you.

Those who have stuck around these past couple of weeks and those who have maintained their August arrival plans have been rewarded with some pretty good fishing as well as an abundance of solitude on the MO.

With Hoot Owl in effect it’s early on and early off though the march of the season continues to shorten our days and those first light 6 AM starts are slowly returning to 6:30 or 7 AM. Regardless, we’re here early at 6 AM for those looking to hit the pre-dawn bite.

Trico action has been spotty by most accounts but those who are working hard at it are finding ample opportunities on any given day provided the conditions are favorable. Many have shifted their focus to terrestrial fishing, giving the hoppers and ants a go with varying degrees of success. It’s always important to keep your expectations in check and that’s especially true this time of year when things tend to get a little weird out there.

Must Have Dries – Trico Indicator Spinner, Double Wing Trico, Hi Vis Trico Spinner, Stockingfoot Caddis, Buzzball, Outrigger Caddis, Missouri River CDC Caddis, Cornfed Caddis, More or Less Hopper, Donkey Kong Hopper, Blooms Stealth Ant, Cinnamon Parachute Ant, Moorish Mouse 2.0, Midnight Express Mouse, Mouse Pouch, Mr. Hankey Hickman Mouse.

Blind fishing a hopper/ant or a dry/dropper rig generally isn’t going to rack up the numbers but if you take it for what it is which is essentially prospecting, it’s really not a bad way to spend your day and you might even get a few big eats and you simply can’t beat hopper eats!

The best shot at numbers is going to be nymphing which has been decent and which will continue to carry the day from here on out. Zirdles and Crays are a go-to this time of year, and like those hopper eats, you’d be hard pressed to find a better sub-surface hit than that of a hungry trout annihilating a cray! Pair that Zirdle or Cray with a Black Zebra or tailwater sow and fish it hard.

Other productive options have been Frenchies, Little Green Machines, Peep Shows, PT’s, Weight Flies, Tung Darts, Nitro Caddis and Soft Hackle Sows.

The swingers and strippers have been quiet for the most part though all of this unoccupied water has been an open invitation to the swing set who have begun to show up in various haunts up and down the river. Light traffic equals perfect swing conditions. And what about stripping you ask? As you know, it’s ALWAYS streamer season at Wolf Creek Angler so while I’m not going to say conditions are optimal I will say that the low-light early starts are the perfect time to target those Missouri River giants with an intermediate or sinking line and your go-to big bug selections. Hit the banks with a quick retrieve or do a slow sink off the drops with a varied retrieve and prepare for that unexpected grab. Weeds will be a hindrance though definitely not enough to shut you down. Like the terrestrial fishing, streamer fishing is basically prospecting which involves a lot of blind casting, a lot of stripping and hopefully a good grab every now and then to keep things interesting.

And while hot summer nights have traditionally been the time to skate a rodent Hoot Owl has eliminated that option so why not smack that mouse down and skate it in the pre-dawn darkness just to see what happens. The mice don’t care how hot it is and they don’t care if it’s late night or early morning darkness and those carnivorous browns are opportunists and will eat when fed so have at it.

Shop hours are 6 AM – 5 PM daily. A glut of lodging currently available as well as Adipose rental boats and a shop full of everything you need for your short day on the water. We’re sticking with no new August guide trips for the time being but we’re booking trips for fall and also filling in the blanks for Prime Time 2022.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-08-10T13:16:06-06:00August 10th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Adipose, brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Hoot Owl, Midnight Express Mouse, Missouri River, Montana, Moorish Mouse 2.0, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Exodus and Opportunity

The traffic has cleared out with the early arrival of The Dog Days of Summer and the implementation of Hoot Owl Restrictions on the Missouri which has thrown the proverbial wrench into the plans of many to whom evening fishing on the MO is nothing short of sacramental.

The late summer lull is nothing new though it has arrived a couple of weeks early this season under smoky skies, low flows and a continued heat wave that has us praying for rain and hoping for early snows.

So with the doom and gloom stage set let’s talk about silver linings embodied by the opportunities being presented by challenging conditions and a steady exodus of anglers.

On the brighter side, dry fly fishing, though far from exceptional, has continued to provide ample measures of opportunities, challenges and just enough success to keep the DFO’s engaged.
First light caddis followed by somewhat inconsistent Trico Spinners and late morning/early afternoon terrestrials. Again, maybe nothing to write home about but certainly enough action to keep things interesting.

Per usual nymphing gets the numbers with Zebra Midges, sow bugs and Caddis Pupae producing at the dam. Split Case PMD’s still getting eaten as are Little Green Machines and Frenchies. Drop any of the above off of a hopper or double your dry fly odds by trailing an ant instead of a nymph. Zirdles, Snapping Crays and the like have been effective on the right day in the fast water chutes.

Work your hoppers off the banks but don’t overlook the mid-river riffles keeping in mind that the low water has transformed our river, eliminating some go-to spots while at the same time creating new potential where before there was nothing.

Fewer folks around creates opportunities and while it’s tempting to get bogged down in the gloom, it’s not all bad. There’s smoke in the air for sure and the Harris Mountain Fire near Cascade is no joke and worthy of your attention but we’ve dealt with smoke before, this isn’t the worst we’ve seen. The water is low but the powers that be have done a good job keeping water temps in check despite air temps nearing 100 degrees daily.

Holter Dam to Craig is your go-to with the coolest water on the river but we would encourage you to explore downstream options as well, starting at first light, frequently checking temps and hanging it up when the water hits 68 degrees or 2 pm, whichever comes first.

We’ve got plenty of vacancies, plenty of flies and plenty of anything and everything you need for a great day on the water. And while we’re committed to not booking any new guide trips for the remainder of July and August and we fully support the Hoot Owl Restrictions we certainly don’t want to discourage folks from fishing during the prescribed hours here on the Missouri and elsewhere.

The resource is fragile and demands our utmost respect and stewardship but it’s also resilient and we have faith in those who have been taxed in an official capacity with managing and regulating use. It’s a smoky hot summer in Montana and we’re indeed struggling through drought but the sky is not falling and the fish are still are still eating so get out there early and enjoy your Montana summer.

Open daily at 6 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-07-28T15:36:46-06:00July 28th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

And Suddenly it was JULY

It’s hard to believe but June is officially in the books. Summer is in full swing and flying by. The BLUR has commenced!

We’re in the midst of our busiest three weeks of the year with all of our rental boats out daily and scores of guide trips starting earlier and earlier to beat this scorching summer heat.

Our day starts on the early side of 4 AM in order to get all of the boats where they need to be prior to opening the shop and it’s not uncommon to end our day in the dark hauling boats and getting them cleaned up for the next day’s launch.

We’re currently under a Heat Advisory through 9 PM on Friday. Temps are bumping up against 100 degrees daily with minimal chance of precipitation. Night time temps are comfortable in the 60’s but even so, with the flows being what they are, water temps are on the rise. We’re currently looking at flows of 3280 CFS and water temps holding right around 62 degrees. Keep in mind these readings come from just below the dam. The lower stretches are likely considerably warmer, something to keep in mind when choosing where to fish.

Low flows and high temps have already resulted in Hoot Owl Closures on several rivers in the region and with no cool down in sight we are likely in for more. The Missouri River water temps in the upper section are still in good shape, nowhere near the 73 degree threshold which prompts those closures after three consecutive days however the lower river, as already stated, is considerably warmer and may very well be subject to Hoot Owl Closures at some point in the not so distant future.

With the heat persisting we are responding by trying to get our trips out as early as possible and also giving our clients the option of doing half days if preferred. If you’re on your own please consider an early start and early off as the fishing tends to slow considerably during the afternoon hours. Should Hoot Owl Restrictions be placed on the Missouri we will shift all full day trip start times to 6 AM or earlier.

PMD’s and Caddis are your dry fly staples with Tricos knocking on the door. PMD’s in the mornings, Caddis in the evenings and the nymph forms of both effective anytime. Dry fly fishing has been good enough to keep the DFO’s busy and there are plenty of big fish looking up, willing to take a well-presented offering. We’re seeing plenty of fish up daily, perhaps not the mega pods of old but definitely enough to make a day of it.

Nymphing has been solid everywhere with the best action coming from the shallow, faster water. Split Case PMD’s and Crack Back PMD’s have been the go-to nymphs but there are all kinds of PMD and Caddis patterns they’ll eat right now. Stop in on your way to the water and we’ll get you set up with the right bugs for the right times. That way if you end up having a tough time out there you’ll at least be able to rest assured it’s not your bug selection.

The shop is officially open at 7 AM daily but we’re usually underway by 6:30 AM if not before, especially as we move those trip start times up.

Make us your first stop on the way to the MO for fishing licenses, ice, vehicle shuttles, sunscreen, Simms SolarFlex sun shirts, Fishpond Eddy River and Low Country Sun Hats, Smith and Suncloud sunglasses, our signature NO PRESSURE NO ATTITUDE FRIENDLY SERVICE and advice rooted in DECADES of Fly Fishing and Customer Service Experience and the biggest and best selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We’ve established a great following over these past 7 seasons but we still hear it enough from those who darken our door to continue to proclaim that we are the best Missouri River Fly Shop you never knew was here.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-07-01T13:48:40-06:00July 1st, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, Fishpond Eddy River, Fishpond Low Country, fly fishing, Hoot Owl Closures, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Small Dries, Shallow Water, BIG FISH! Photo courtesy of Rick Wen

We turned the corner on Monday and so commences the march towards winter darkness as daylight recedes from here on out.

Not to worry though. Winter is a LONG way off. Summer is here and we’re hitting our PRIME TIME stride.

Dry Fly Season is here with ample opportunities via Pale Morning Duns and Caddis to those on the hunt. It’s the time of year where expectations tend to be exceedingly high while successful outcomes are often times lagging behind.

Whether it’s a lack of targets or trouble sealing the deal with rising fish, the MO has the power to humble even the savviest dry fly angler. Bugs have not been a problem in 2021. Hatches have been consistent providing an abundance of food. Rising fish however, have been somewhat hard to come by. Those putting in the time and effort have been able to piece together some decent dry fly days and many of the fish we’re catching show no sign of malnourishment. Quite the opposite in fact. So they’re obviously gorging themselves on bugs somewhere at some time. Your challenge is to figure out the when and the where, to keep those expectations in check, to bring your A Game and to make that first cast count. Definitely easier said than done but it’s what’s demanded of you by the Mighty MO.

So while it’s obviously dry fly season, nymphing has been plenty good as of late with caddis and PMD nymphs getting it done. A purple weight fly trailed with a Split Case PMD has been money but there are all manner of bugs you could be using right now. Tung Darts, Peep Shows and Frenchies all working well as the lead fly. Crack Backs, Magic Flies, PMD Redemption, PMD Psycho May, Little Green Machines, Gold Lighting Bugs and straight up Pheasant Tails all worthy trailers.

Best Selling PMD dries have been the Hi Vis Spinner, CDC Spinner, Rusty Spinner, Film Critic, Flash Cripple, Hellen Keller, CDC Emerger and Brooks Sprout PMD while Outrigger, Cornfed, Stockingfoot, Iceberg and MO River CDC Caddis have all been on the move along with the classic CDC Caddis Emerger.

River flows are low, perhaps as low as you’ve ever seen them at 3160 CFS and the water temps are warming rapidly, currently at just over the 60 degree mark. Please keep these conditions in mind when playing, landing and handling our fish. Traffic is heavy and flows will remain where they’re at for the remainder of the season which means stressed fish.

Hot weather is on the way, with triple digits looming early next week. Fish early, fish late. Leave the heat of the day to the rec crowd.

Shop hours are 7 AM – 6 PM daily.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-06-23T14:04:14-06:00June 23rd, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|0 Comments

On the Dirty Water Prowl

And just like that summer arrived.

Memorial Day Weekend ushered in the nicest weather we’ve seen all season and with temps in the 90’s on tap for the next several days it seems summer has arrived. And to think 10 days ago we were getting in the midst of a spring snow storm which dumped over a foot of snow.

It was a busy holiday weekend on the MO with the vast majority of the angling traffic in the Dam to Craig section due to a steady flow of dirty water coming in from the Dearborn and Little Prickly Pear. Both continue to run dirty but are dropping fast with current flows of 834 CFS and 264 CFS respectively. Meanwhile the Missouri holds low and steady at 3730 CFS.

Traffic should start to spread out soon though 90 degree temps will likely continue to feed the runoff throughout this week. That being said, conditions in the canyon are PRIME right now for streamer fishing with the perfect amount of color and around a foot and a half of visibility below the Dearborn as of yesterday afternoon. Nymphing was adequate down there as well but if that’s your primary focus I would continue to stay higher up until the water clears a bit more. Best nymphing zone at the moment Holter Dam to Stickney.

The worm was on for the weekend but it seems that window has closed. Tung Darts and Weight Flies are rapidly becoming a go to on point with larger sow bugs, Split Case PMD’s, Frenchies, Psycho Mays, LGM’s and Magic Flies all fine trailing fly choices.

If you’ve been waiting for near-perfect streamer conditions on the MO the wait is over but the time is short. Get out there this week before things clear and see if you can’t coax a couple out of the dirty water. They’re definitely lurking in the shallows so you’ll want to beat the banks but strip all the way to the boat with plenty of pauses in between. We got a fair amount of action yesterday 2/3rds of the way back to the boat on the pause and while I assume those were all follows from the bank you never know where you’re going to find them.
Olive, natural, tan and grey all getting some looks and while the water is dirty I’d recommend you go big to help them hit their target.

Updated hours for the shop 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily.

We hope you make us your first stop on the way to the MO for shuttles, bugs, Simms sportswear and wading gear, Adipose boat rentals, ice, sun protection and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-06-01T13:23:32-06:00June 1st, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Springtime in the Rockies 2021

Monday we were guiding in shorts and flip flops, searing pale winter skin and feeling like summer with temps just shy of 90 all the while knowing a return to winter was looming later in the week.

A Winter Storm Watch became a Winter Weather Advisory which then became a Winter Storm Warning last night as a few flakes began to fall. This morning we awoke to a steady snow, heavy and wet and temps hovering just above freezing.

That winter storm warning remains in effect through tomorrow morning. We’ll continue to see a mix of rain and snow with temps holding near 40 and a brisk north wind thrown in just for good measure. We’ll dip down to 29 tonight before things start to turn towards more seasonable conditions late this weekend. We’re not expecting much for accumulation down here though Rodgers Pass is getting hammered and could see up to a foot of new snow by the time it’s all said and done.

By far not the worst winter can dish out but quite a contrast from a few days ago. And while 89 degrees felt great we are definitely in need of the precipitation so we’ll try to keep the complaints to a minimum and just be thankful for what we’re getting.

Traffic is light today as you can imagine but there are a few boats out and really, if it wasn’t for the north wind, it wouldn’t be a bad day to be out there. That being said, I’m happy to be in the shop today.

Fishing has been solid this week, status quo for the most part with good nymphing and the occasional dry fly opportunities with plenty of BWO’s around, a few March Browns and sporadic rising fish fairly willing to engage if you’re lucky enough to find them.

There haven’t really been any drastic changes as far as fly selection is concerned though we’ve definitely begun to move away from the pink stuff towards late spring staples like baetis nymphs and caddis pupae. A beaded tailwater sow in size #14 paired with a Little Green Machine is still tough to beat but it could be worth your while to swap that sow for a Tung Dart, a Weight Fly or the like trailing with the LGM, psycho may, nitro caddis, Radiation Baetis, Magic Fly, Split Case BWO etc.

We left the streamer rods home earlier in the week with the cloudless skies and the sun beating down on the water but streamer fishing could be the ticket in the midst of this storm system for the next day or two. And speaking of streamer rods, we’ve got Galloup’s Streamer X Rods from Echo in #7 and #8 back in stock. Get yours before their gone!

Supply chain challenges continue and we do have some holes in our inventory but all things considered we are in pretty good shape right now with newly arrived Echo rods, plenty of bugs, a bunch of new Ross and Lamson reels, a good selection of Simms G3 waders and various wading boots and spring/summer clothing arriving in fits and starts seemingly daily.

We’ve got lodging and guides available this weekend. Things fill up early next week. Call for availability if you’re interested in a last minute trip to the MO and we’ll see what we can do for you.

Official Spring shop hours are 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM daily. Stop in for shuttles, bugs, leaders, hand warmers and blow out pricing on all remaining cold weather gear from Simms.

We hope to see you soon at WCA, your Missouri River spring fly fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-05-20T10:48:12-06:00May 20th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Previous 678 Next