Shop Life Archives - Page 2 of 21

Go Time

Wolf Creek Angler is your Missouri River Fly Fishing Headquarters

And just like that May comes to a close.

It’s been an awesome spring on the MO and the way things are looking we’re in for a spectacular summer season.

BWOs fading, caddis making a strong showing and early reports of PMD’s already in play. Dry fly opportunities a plenty with late afternoons into evening being the prime time slots.

Nymphing has been ridiculously good more days than not and while we may lean positive in our reports we have no issue telling it like it is. If fishing is slow, we’ll let you know! Someone commented to me the other day that we “always say the fishing is good” and while this is not in fact the case, it really has been amazingly consistent this spring with literally just a few days out of the last month where fishing was not good. And not good on the MO means NOT GOOD as a so-so day on the Missouri is almost always better than a good day anywhere else.

All this to say the 2024 campaign is off to a tremendous start. Will it continue? We like the odds!

Look for that caddis action to continue to build as summer approaches and expect PMD action to blow up soon, very possibly by mid-week next week when daytime highs consistently climb into the 80’s under partly cloudy skies. You couldn’t ask for better conditions!

The weekend forecast looks good with mid 70’s on Saturday and Sunday, dipping back into the high 60’s on Monday and Tuesday with a chance for some rain showers before we hit our summer weather stride mid-week.

We’ve seen below average temps throughout the spring with slightly above average precipitation which is exactly what we needed from a water standpoint. The cooler temps have preserved our precious snowpack and prevented the blow out runoff we see around the region when things heat up too quickly. That being said, it feels as though we’re headed for stabilizing flows sooner than later on our freestone rivers and the Missouri is in great shape with flows having held steady this week just shy of 6,000 cfs. It did drop today and is currently sitting at 5500 cfs with water temps in the 50 – 54 degree range. We’ll see those water temps start to climb rapidly once the summer-like weather settles in.

Our late May has been a little soft on guide trips but that’s all about to change as we plunge into our busiest weeks of the year starting next week. Expect plenty of hustle and bustle around the shop most mornings as we do our best to get everyone logged in and on their way to the water.

We’re open at 7 AM daily with everything you need for your day on the water including THE CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES ON THE MO! The Bug bins are loaded up and we’ve got you covered with piles of Simms sun shirts, buffs, Fishpond Eddy River straw hats, Smith and Suncloud sunglasses and gallons of sunscreen.

Lodging is BUSY and full most nights for the next two months but there are holes here and there so give us a call for last minute accommodations and we’ll do our best to take care of you. Same with guide trips. June is by far our busiest guide month of the year but cancellations happen on occasion so it never hurts to check with us.

Welcome to PRIME TIME on the Missouri! We can’t wait to see you!

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-05-30T12:22:51-06:00May 30th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: caddis, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid May Rundown

May is already half gone as the blur of the busy season starts to overtake the rhythms of daily routine, replacing them with a steady immersion in the day to day essentials of the fly shop/guide trip/lodging/shuttle business.

With the accelerated passage of time that always ensues this time of year in the Montana fly fishing world it’s easy to let it fly by unnoticed which will likely happen at times during the season but while we’re thinking of it here’s a rundown of what’s happening.

Bugs – BWO’s have made a decent showing but are likely on the downward trend as the month of May slips past. Caddis have emerged. Good reports from the mid to lower stretches the last couple of days. PMD’s are next and generally show up late May/early June, weather dependent. The dry fly set is thrilled for the Caddis and waiting patiently for PMD days. Regardless of when those days arrive, if you’re nymphing you should be breaking out the PMD nymphs now. Baetis nymphs are getting plenty of attention so don’t abandon them just yet but do add Split Case PMD’s and the like to your repertoire sooner rather than later.

Streamer fishing has been hit or miss but with what looks to be a spell of wet, cooler weather ahead, if streamers are your game the week ahead could be good.

Creek Opener – The 2024 General Fishing Season opener is Saturday which is more of a Western District thing as much of the Central District is open all year but there are plenty of exceptions like the Dearborn and Little Prickly Pear in our neighborhood that open this weekend.

Dearborn Shuttles – And speaking of the Dearborn…flows are currently around 480 CFS, leveling off after peaking at around 540. It’s hard to say what will happen with these flows but it is floatable at the moment and we’ve done a few shuttles up there already and have gotten a number of inquiries about shuttles this weekend. Please call at least a day in advance to get on the list for Dearborn shuttles as we’ll be limiting them to just a couple of runs/day. We’ve got reservations on the books for both Saturday and Sunday and we have room to do a couple more each day but please do call ahead. We won’t be able to do them on a same day/walk in basis.

Guiding for the Future Featured Fly Shop of the Month – We are honored to be the first G4F Fly Shop of the Month in Montana. Guiding For The Future is part of a new continuing education program developed by the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana to inspire dedicated stewardship of aquatic ecosystems while increasing knowledge, professionalism, and ethics of fishing guides, outfitters, and the fly-fishing industry. I had the pleasure of attending the first Guiding for the Future program in 2019 and since that time nearly half of our guide staff has been through the program and those individuals are now acting Guiding for the Future Ambassadors. Please consider rounding up your next purchase at Wolf Creek Angler to donate to the annual program which is provided free of charge to guides and outfitters in Montana and is funded by monies raised by FOAM as well as by private and corporate donations. G4F is the future of guiding in Montana and beyond. Donations can also be made directly to G4F at https://donations.guidingforthefuture.org/…

You’ll notice the G4F flag and sign out in front of the shop for the remainder of this month and hopefully our fly shop associates will ask you if you’d like to round up your purchase as a donation. We’ve gotten overwhelmingly positive responses when we’ve been asking customers if they’d like to round up though not everyone wants to support the program. If it’s busy when you’re here we’ll likely not go into the whole spiel but as a G4F Ambassador I can tell you that it is a program worthy of your support. G4F has thus far graduated 80 Montana Guiding for the Future Ambassadors, all of whom have chosen to go above and beyond by seeking continuing education designed enhance their already superior guiding skills with a deep understanding of ethics and professionalism in the industry. Thus far the average “roundup” seems to be right around .30 – .45, a small sacrifice to fund an amazing program that is provided free of charge to participants.

Guiding for the Future operates on a $50k annual budget which is completely funded by a portion of FOAM Memberships and donations from outside individuals and businesses. If you are feeling particularly moved by our mission we are also accepting Sponsorships at the following levels…

$2500 – Silver Level Sponsorship (Annual Per Student Cost)
$5000 – Gold Level Sponsorship (Half of Annual Practicum Cost)
$50,000 – Platinum Sponsorship (Covers entire annual budget of G4F)

Every little bit helps. Please consider making a donation in any amount today and if you’d like to hear more about the program we love talking about Guiding for the Future.
G4F is delivered through FOAM’s separate non-profit organization, the Montana Fishing Outfitters Conservation Fund. The Conservation Fund is an exempt organization as described in Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 81-0523165. No goods or services were provided in exchange for this contribution.

Shop Hours – Currently 7:30 AM – 5 PM Daily. 7 AM Daily Open coming soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-05-16T14:43:04-06:00May 16th, 2024|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, Dearborn, Dearborn Shuttles, dry fly fishing, Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana, fly fishing, Guiding for the Future, Little Prickly Pear, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

It’s been a cold and wet start to May this week on the MO with everything from high winds to winter storms but change is on the way.

We awoke to several inches of wet, heavy snow yesterday in Helena and saw snow and rain showers come and go throughout the day. Temps in the low 40’s and north winds resulted in a few cancelled trips yesterday but plenty braved the elements and were rewarded with a decent (though cold) day of fishing.

The fun continued after fishing as the power went out in Wolf Creek and Craig shutting down dinner plans and leaving a lot of chilled anglers in the dark waiting for power to be restored which it was by 8:30 PM. Just another spring day in Montana.

Temps are considerably warmer today, in the high 50’s and the morning rains have pretty well subsided and it’s only going to get better (and likely busier) as the weekend arrives.

We’ll see temps near 70 tomorrow and will see 80’s on Saturday and Sunday with plenty of sunshine right on through Monday. A chance for rain again starting on Tuesday but it looks like winter weather may be behind us. That being said, while yesterday’s weather did present some challenges all the way around we were thrilled to get some desperately needed precipitation. The snowpack map is looking much better today for the entire region and with the moisture we got yesterday and today and temps warming, things should really start to green up this weekend.

Fishing will continue to be good though you may want to start looking at early or later starts to avoid some of the traffic that is bound to be here throughout the weekend and into next week. Spring bookings are about to be at their height for both guide trips and lodging now through Memorial Day with summer’s PRIME on deck.

Larger sow bugs and worms have been productive on the rainy days and will continue to produce with flows having bumped and the tribs adding a bit of color and volume. We saw a spike to 5600 CFS this morning but that’s been dialed back to 4600 cfs as of this writing. Water temps are right around 46 degrees and will continue to climb. The water conditions are ideal for hungry and happy trout…truly a perfect time to fish the MO.

Getting back to the bugs, baetis nymphs are consistently producing with Green Machines, Crack Backs, Psycho Mays, Radiation Baetis, Mosasons and plain old Pheasant Tails getting it done. Maybe start mixing in some PMD stuff as well, Magic Flies, Split Case, Redemptions…all on deck.

Dry fly action continues to please with ample BWO and midge opportunities to be had and streamer fishing will continue to be productive, especially on the overcast days. Skiddish Smolt continues to rule the 2024 streamer season but don’t limit yourself to what everyone else is throwing. Show them something they haven’t seen.

Even with the wet weather mornings have been extremely busy in the shop so we’re expecting the weekend to be even busier and we’ll be staffed up accordingly. We hope you make Wolf Creek Angler your one stop shop on the way to the river for The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO, the biggest and best bug selection ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana, Adipose drift boat rentals, Mending Waters Drift Boats FREE FOR ALL ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND VETS, Sage rods, Simms waders and boots, SA and Rio lines and leaders, tons of WCA 10th Anniversary Logo gear and so much more.

Shop Hours are 7:30 AM – 5 PM Daily.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-05-09T15:00:35-06:00May 9th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Sage, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Cold Weather, Hot Fishing. Welcome to May on the Missouri

The snow is falling on the MO this second day of May and while we’re collectively yearning for warmer weather to arrive, you’ll not hear much in the way of complaining from anyone lucky enough to be on the water this week.

A cool, wet spring is apparently just what we needed to usher in one of the better spring seasons in recent memory. Nymphing has been insanely good more days than not and with plenty of midges, BWO’s and a handful of March Browns in the mix, spring dry fly fishing has really been living up to its billing.

You couldn’t ask for better streamer fishing conditions. You could ask for better streamer fishing! This has been the one lowlight of the 2024 spring fishing campaign but plenty of time remains.

The upper river has seemingly been the better reach for those hucking the meat while the canyon, which has traditionally been the better streamer water, has been lackluster to say the least.

Not to fear – things can only get better. Keep an eye on the weather and keep after it. Conventional wisdom holds that overcast is where it’s at and we’ll stick with that assertion but don’t let the sunny days shut down your streamer game. Some of the better days have actually been on the sunny side with flashy copper with olive and/or yellow getting some attention. The Skiddish Smolt has still been ruling most days and Sparkle Minnows in all sizes and flavors are always a good go to but don’t be afraid to switch it up early and often and throw everything in your arsenal at them.

As we’ve mentioned on more than one occasion Wolf Creek Angler is your Streamer Authority on the MO and we’ve got, hands down, THE BEST STREAMER SELECTION ON THE MISSOURI. Don’t believe me? Shop around and let us know who has a better big bug selection….go ahead…we’ll wait!

Nymphing has been equal parts Sow/Scud and Baetis nymphs – typically with the sow stuff working better during the early part of the day. Switch out in the afternoon and add a Little Green Machine, Psycho May, Redemption, Magic Fly, Mosason or the like and don’t rule out the worm, plenty of eats happening on the worm in conjunction with either a sowbug or baetis nymph.

Dry fly opportunities are happening throughout the day though the last part of the day has been money both on midges and BWO’s. Our midge rigs have consisted of a Bucky’s midge cluster or Grizzly Midge Cluster paired with a Black Sipper or a Black Midge. A GWS BWO or Olive Haze paired with a BWO Film Critic or Last Chance Cripple is a good start should you find yourself in the midst of a BWO event. March Browns? We do have a couple of decent patterns in the bins but a larger Adams or Purple Haze would probably work just fine.

With the wet, cooler weather looking like it’s going to persist for the time being you might want to up your wader game with a new pair of the World’s Best Wader the Simms G3. We also stock the Guide Classic Wader and men’s and women’s Freestone waders as well as Freestone Wading Pants. We’re fully stocked on boots from Simms and Korkers with a model to fit everyone’s needs. Try the Simms Flyweight for an extremely light hiker style boot or the Korkers River Ops BOA for a Heavy Duty boot. We’ve also got Simms Guide Classic wading jackets and Waypoints rain jackets and rain pants if rain gear suits you better.

Shop hours are 7:30 – 5 PM daily. We’re easing into our busy time when rooms are hard to come by but we’ve got a fair number of vacancies for the next week or two if a last minute trip is in your plans.

Make us your first and only stop on the way to the river for The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO, all the bugs you need for your day on the water, fishing licenses, ice, cold weather gear, sun protection, loads of WCA 10th Anniversary Logo gear and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-05-03T10:06:25-06:00May 3rd, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Closing Out April on the MO

We’re in full-on spring fishing mode with the last weekend of April upon us and the Prime of the season on the horizon.

It’s been a busy week with idyllic spring weather, epic hatches, stupid-good nymphing and some amazingly good streamer days…and it’s just going to keep getting better!

The dam has been busy for good reason but traffic has yet to reach obnoxious proportions. Even so, if you want to get away from the crowds the whole system is fishing and you’ll likely have much of it to yourself in the lower stretches depending on the day.

Our summery week is coming to a close tomorrow with cool and wet days on tap for the weekend. No snow in the forecast at this point but you’ll likely want to layer up and bring the waders and rain gear if you’re planning on getting out there this weekend.

Rain likely after noon tomorrow with a high near 60 and light northwest wind becoming north northeast in the morning. Keep in mind it doesn’t take a whole lot of north wind to inject a bit of misery into your day but if those temps are in the high 50’s as predicted it shouldn’t be awful. Last week’s Friday forecast called for highs near 40 with “light north winds”. We didn’t make it much past 35 degrees and that light north wind chill was enough to make ice in the guides a thing all day long. A lot of shivering anglers on the water last Friday. Bring those extra layers this weekend, you’ll be glad you did.

Saturday looks to be much the same and Sunday things improve with partly sunny skies and highs in the mid 60’s, perhaps with a bit more of a breeze. Next week looks seasonably normal with temps in the 60’s and on and off chances for rain. In other words, fairly normal spring conditions on the Missouri.

What isn’t normal are the flows which are running low, bottoming out at 3300 cfs yesterday and back up in the 3500 cfs range today with water temps in the 45 – 47 degree range. These are lower flows than what you’re likely used to so prepare to adjust your game accordingly but the fish really don’t seem to mind.

A good mix of BWO’s and midges out there daily for the dry fly enthusiast and bins full of both here at WCA.

The nymph game is in transition so while you’ll still want to keep those Pill Poppers and Sows (and worms) in your arsenal the menu is definitely shifting towards baetis nymphs, particularly later in the day. Little Green Machines, Mosasons, BWO Magic Flies, Psycho Mays, Two Hot Baetis, Redemption BWO, PT’s, Peep Shows…all good choices…and don’t forget your Zebra Midges.

Streamer fishing has been hit and miss but the hit days have really produced with Sparkle Minnows (of course) leading the charge. Other good options include Galloups’s Dungeons and Peanut Envy as well as the cool new Micro Dungeons, mini Drunk and Disorderly, Baby Gonga and Baby Sparkle Minnows. Dolly Llamas, Skiddish Smolts, Mod Maidens, Dirty Hippy…all fine choices.

Shop hours are Monday – Saturday 7:30 AM – 5 PM and 8 AM – 4 PM on Sundays.

Make us your first stop on your way to the river for the Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO, raingear, waders and boots from Simms, Sage R8’s and Sonics, WCA 10th Anniversary Logo gear and bins overflowing with bugs and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-04-25T16:07:29-06:00April 25th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|0 Comments

The State of the Missouri (Spring 2024)

Summer weather on tap for this weekend with highs in the mid 70’s tomorrow and Saturday and pushing 80 on Sunday before we return to rain and more seasonable 60’s on Monday and back to winter starting Tuesday with snow and highs only in the 40’s. Welcome to springtime in the Rockies!

We’re expecting a busy weekend on the river with the weather being what it is and we’re ready for you with piles of new inventory on hand and a good number of open rooms if you’re looking to spend the weekend on the MO. We could probably even get you on the river with one of our exceptional guides if you call us today.

Fishing has been solid all week, especially the nymphing which is producing big numbers daily, but late afternoon/early evening dry fly fishing has also been good with plenty of midges on hand and the streamer crowd is also loving life on the Missouri at the moment. It’s all happening NOW and the best is yet to come.

The glum snowpack/water forecast has really turned around over these past few weeks to the point where what was looking like a substantially low water year is now predicted to be in the normal range, at least what we’ve come to know as normal in recent times. Canyon Ferry is currently sitting at 83.5% full and is expected to fill completely which is great news for the MO.

Flow predictions have improved substantially and while we could still definitely use more precipitation current most probable forecast has us at around 4,000 CFS right on through the season with a peak of around 4500 CFS in May. Minimum probable modeling shows flows kind of where we’ve been seeing them at for the winter months at just shy of 3,000 CFS and Max Probable would have us at around 5,000 CFS for the season with a peak of 9K in May.

As is always the case, Mother Nature will have the final say but confidence is high that flows will be in good shape on the Missouri in 2024. Obviously we’re lacking the flushing flows of 15K + that seem to have such a positive effect on the fishery but compared to what we were looking at 6 weeks ago we feel like we’re in great shape.

Currently flows are 3660 CFS with afternoon water temps pushing 42 degrees. Look for that temp to continue to tick upwards with these warm sunny days making for hot spring fish.

And speaking of spring fish….rainbows are spawning both up the tribs and on the river so if you’re wade fishing the MO PLEASE be mindful of where you are walking taking care not to trample those redds.

You’ll also be happy to hear that fish counts in the Craig stretch are as healthy as ever with over 8,000 fish over 10” per mile. With a ton of both browns and bows in the 15” – 17” range we should see a bunch of big fish this season.

All that being said, we are in draught stage and while things have improved considerably over the past few weeks, the overall picture for Montana waters is less than ideal. Without substantial precipitation this spring low flows and high water temps and high fire risk are all legitimate concerns so keep praying for that precip.

We are now open every day at 8 AM with the Cheapest Shuttles on the MO, the best lodging on the MO, legendary guides and a shop packed FULL of EVERYTHING you need for your day on the water and likely some things you don’t.

We are your EXCLUSIVE Simms dealer in Wolf Creek and the oldest dealer on the MO with plenty of waders and boots for men and women as well as sportswear and accessories. We are also your exclusive Sage dealer in Wolf Creek and we’re loaded up with all the best rods money can buy. Swing in for that new R8, Sonic or Igniter and a Spectrum series reel to match. We also feature rods and reels from Lamson, Echo, Redington and Loop.

If it’s flies you’re looking for then look no further. Our selection rivals that of any shop on the MO and with the new shipments continuing to come in we’ve got so many bugs we’re running out of bins in which to put them. We’ve got all of your Missouri River standards and much more.

WCA is also your Streamer Authority on the MO and while we’ve always had the biggest and best streamer selection around we’ve outdone ourselves this spring with an expanded selection of all of your favorites and likely some you haven’t seen before.

We’re also loaded up on Streamer lines from SA, Rio and Airflo…something for everyone.

It’s Go Time on the MO.

See you soon at Wolf Creek Angler

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-04-11T15:00:45-06:00April 11th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, Echo, fly fishing, Igniter, Loop, midge, Missouri River, Montana, R8, running line, Sage, simms, Sonic, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

A Decade in the books

Ten years ago today we opened our doors for the first time at Wolf Creek Angler.

Much has changed.

Much of what has drawn us a loyal following has and will continue to stay the same.

Ten years in we had what was by far our best season yet in 2023 and judging by our bookings for this year we should be on course for another stellar season.

I still remember vividly the night of March 31st, 2014. We were in the shop late putting the final touches on the massive overhaul we’d done in the shop. And by we, I mean mostly my business partner at the time Fred Davidson. Fred camped out in Cabin #1 for weeks chipping away at a complete makeover of the former Montana River Outfitters location while I did my best to assemble an opening day inventory that would make a statement while also making sure those who had booked in 2013 with MRO were made aware of the exciting changes underway at 515 Recreation Road.

Opening Day jitters prevented a good night’s sleep as we considered the journey on which we were about to embark. Snow fell overnight and opening day, from what I recall, was a fairly quiet Tuesday, typical of what we’ve now come to expect during the work week in early April with a fresh dusting of snow on the ground.

Beyond that opening eve and the opportunity to ease in to our first season it’s hard to remember specifics as it’s truly been a blur.

Fred did two seasons at WCA before returning to his life in Michigan. Zach King aka Chewy, arrived post-Fred and quickly became a fixture at WCA before moving up to full time guiding and most recently fatherhood. One of our first housekeepers Jeanette Beers, who came to us in the very first days of WCA inquiring about work, did an amazing job for us and has since moved on to become the postmaster of Wolf Creek. Matt Hargrave was our shop guy and guided for us in 2014 and has since been grinding away as a guide and became an outfitter in 2023. He still continues to handle a good number of our trips. Brian Scott was another MRO “legend of the MO” who was grinding then and continues to grind today, entering season number 39 this spring. Luke Koerten has been guiding for us since season one after I first met him in the Wolf Creek Bridge parking lot and gave him a flyer for the new shop in town. Brad Turner migrated from Michigan in 2018 and has established himself as the WCA Workhorse. Rob Weiker has also been with us from the start and has become an outfitting force in Montana. Other guides have joined our crew over the years but these are the long term “old timers”, a group in which I’d consider myself included.

Our staff has definitely grown with us and what was once Fred and I and just a couple of people is now myself, our Shop Manager Keith Tucker, a two-person housekeeping crew (Missy VanDort and Jude Anderson) and a shuttle crew led for the second season by Rhonda Gatch. Phil Peacy is returning for a third season this year as shop and shuttle help and has officially joined our guide staff as he continues to establish himself as a fixture on the MO. 2024 will also see a few new faces around WCA bolstering our core.

I remember in 2014 having discussions of bringing a raft into the shop to fill space. We opted not to do that, confident that we’d slowly but surely be able to fill our space with retail offerings. These past few years the walls are closing in and we’re truly at capacity with a whole lot of gear in not a whole lot of space. It’s a good place to be for us and for our customers and while we have no immediate plans for expansion you just never know what the future might hold.

A couple of feathers in our cap that I fought like hell to get were our Simms and Sage dealerships. We’ve been a Simms dealer since 2019 after years of lobbying and Sage finally came on board in 2023, giving us two of the top brands in fly fishing. We are blessed to be able to offer you the best products from the best brands in the industry.

A few changes we’ve made with our lodging over the past 10 years…complete remodel of the motel units, complete remodel of our bungalow units last winter, new mattresses in all rooms, new carpet in most of the rooms which have not yet been completely remodeled, new water heaters all around, new roofs on our cabins, Starlink internet with lightning fast Wi-Fi, complete remodel of guide/employee cabins and thousands upon thousands of dollar’s worth of new bedding, new lighting, new appliances, new plumbing, new electric, new window dressings, new bath fixtures….etc., etc. etc. Never let it be said that we aren’t committed to continuous improvement in every area of our business.

We’re ten years old. In some ways it feels like longer than that, but it also still feels new, like we’re just getting started. We couldn’t do any of it without you, our loyal customers. Thank you for making these last 10 years possible. Thank you for allowing us to truly live out a dream here in amazing Montana on the magnificent Missouri River.

We hope you join us in celebration of our first decade as we embark on the next, always looking to give you everything you expect from your Montana fly fishing destination.

Cheers!

Montana River Outfitters Exterior

Another Time, Another Place

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-04-05T13:50:12-06:00April 1st, 2024|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: 10th Anniversary, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Sage, simms, Ten Years, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|4 Comments

Farewell to The Dragon

We recently lost a beloved member of the WCA Guide family as Jeff Jennings was called home on February 28th, 2024, at the age of 51.

Jeff has guided for Wolf Creek Angler for most of the years we’ve been here and while I wouldn’t claim I knew him super well, he was, without exception, the most authentic, legit, gypsy fly fishing guide I’ve ever known. Jeff guided here on the MO for us and for other outfitters and also spent time guiding the Big Horn River in both Montana and Wyoming, the San Juan, the Olympic Peninsula and the home waters in Michigan where he, like me, got his start in fly fishing. We are still in shock over the news and we’re going to miss him terribly, as will the countless clients who shared a boat with him over the years.

I didn’t know Jeff in Michigan, though we were very close in age and grew up a couple of hours drive apart. Jeff hailed from Traverse City and I grew up to the south in Montague, both on the shores of Lake Michigan. Jeff got his fishing start on the lakes around Traverse City and was taught to fly fish and tie flies by one of his middle school teachers. He honed his skills on storied Michigan waters like the Boardman, the Manistee, the Betsie, the Platte and the Au Sable and went to work in a Traverse City fly shop right out of high school where his western wanderlust was accepted and encouraged.

Jeff got bitten by the fly fishing bug much earlier on in life than I and he was already a fixture on the waters of the west by the time I got in the game. That being said, we grew up fishing on the same waters and came from similar backgrounds which established an immediate hometown connection when we finally crossed paths in Montana.

In addition to being among the fishiest people I’ve met, what really set Jeff apart from the pack was his amazingly kind heart. He was, quite possibly, the nicest human I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and his authentically kind demeanor and positive attitude were infectious and made it impossible not to like him.

After his passing it was abundantly clear as evidenced by an explosion of social media tributes that Jeff meant the world to a legion of folks whose hearts he had touched throughout the duration of this, the earthly portion of his journey.

From a family who adored him to his fishing clients and fishing friends to the Montana guide community to the coterie of music lovers in which he was well ensconced, Jeff was loved by so many and while we mourn his loss, the mark he left on this world, the way he lived his life, warrants joyous celebration. If we could all live with half the positive energy and just a portion of his kindness, the world would be a much better place.

Again, I wouldn’t ever claim to have had a close relationship with Jeff but, being fellow Lions-obsessed Michiganders, I can say that I spent most every Lions game for the past however many years texting with Jeff, usually expressing my disgust with whatever happened to be going on in the game. Jeff would acknowledge those issues but at the same time he would always point out the good. Especially this past season when things were really going well for our Lions, I would usually find something to bitch and moan about and he would come back with something like “that wasn’t pretty, BUT we are 7-2!” As Lions fans we are conditioned to deal with disappointment on a fairly regular basis while maintaining an eternal optimism season after season. We’re all there but Jeff wore it better than most!

Unfortunately I never got around to asking Jeff about his origins story, about how he came to be a fishing guide. I expect I’ll learn much about him in the coming months as the discussions and tributes continue to populate my social media feed. What I do know is that it was very apparent that he was doing the job he was supposed to be doing. My own journey into the fishing business took me on a different course, one less to do with guiding and more to do with running my fly shop and lodging and outfitting businesses. I spend some days in the rower’s seat but that is not where my gifts lie. Those who spend days and weeks and months in that rower’s seat have my utmost respect for doing what they do and Jeff was no exception. He was a professional by all measures and his kind heart and positive attitude afforded him years of great days on the water making connections with all kinds of people from all walks of life and I would venture a guess that the vast majority of those days ended with plenty of fish to hand and smiles all around.

One of my favorite Jeff stories is about a client we had who was the polar opposite of Jeff. Definitely a glass half empty kind of guy. This client had been out with one of our guides the day before and hadn’t enjoyed the day much at all. He hadn’t caught enough fish in his opinion and basically considered the day a waste of his time. The next day he was scheduled to fish with Jeff and I warned Jeff what he was in for prior to the trip. He didn’t seem concerned.

By Jeff’s telling they were barely out of the parking lot and the guy started in about what a terrible time he’d had the day before. Jeff pulled over and stopped the truck and told the client this wasn’t how this day was going to go. He told him he was going to improve his attitude and that they were going to go out and have a fun day OR they weren’t going to go at all.

By all indications the guy took it to heart and they did end up having a great day after which this client, who had been nothing but negative for years about every guide and every trip he ever took with us, let me know what a fantastic day he had had with Jeff and of course requested him for his next trip.

That was Jeff!

A life well lived my friend. Well done. Until we meet again….

Tight Lines!

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-03-16T14:16:06-06:00March 14th, 2024|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Jeff Jennings, Lions, Michigan, Montana, Mr. Funny Shoes, The Dragon|12 Comments

Idyllic February Float on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

It’s not lost on us that to those who don’t live here it may appear as though some of us tend to take for granted this amazing world-class fishery that is the Missouri River…and perhaps some do. After all, people come from all around the world to fish the MO and even though it’s right here in our back yard some rarely fish it.

By “take for granted”, I don’t mean that in the defined sense that we fail to properly appreciate the river as a result of overfamiliarity but rather in the sense that with unlimited opportunity to enjoy the river some of us tend to be choosy about the conditions in which we will fish. Mind you, there is no lack of appreciation for this unbelievable resource from where I sit. She amazes me every day of every year I have been blessed to live here.

As fellow anglers, we too make plans on occasion to go fish other places and that being the case we’re very well acquainted with being at the mercy of Mother Nature. We know what it’s like to roll the dice with an idyllic picture of your destination in mind, only to have that picture obliterated by torrential rains, hurricane winds, Arctic cold fronts, scorching heat or any number of other conditions that could make your dream trip challenging at best, or a nightmare at worst. We get it. Such is the nature of vacations.

This is not that.

This is having the Missouri River as a backdrop to our respective daily grinds and establishing a healthy relationship with her. Having the option to fish the Missouri ANYTIME is a luxury not afforded to many, a luxury well recognized by the vast majority of those of us who work and live in this amazing place.

It’s different for everyone and all a very personal matter based on who and what and where we are. We’re all at different stages in life. That goes for our professional lives, our family lives, our recreational lives. We’re all fellow travelers with varying time and distance ahead of and behind us. I have nothing to say about anyone else’s journey, only my own.

When I moved to Montana some 12 years ago I fished a hell of a lot more than I do now. Familiarity with what was all brand new has definitely played a role but so has this journey of evolution happening every second of every minute of every day to each and every one of us.

Fly Fishing remains my passion. A passion that has evolved tremendously over the last 30 years and which has been tempered and refined but which still thrives in my soul and provides me with much of the spiritual sustenance I require.

Gone are the days when I would, as the Simms ad proclaims, “Forget the Forecast”. To the contrary, when we’re talking about the Missouri in particular, the forecast is of vital importance. My days of fighting the winds are behind me. My tolerance of cold has lessened considerably but in the absence of howling wind I’ll still row a boat and fish in freezing temps.

I’m still amped by overcast skies, perhaps with a rain shower or two thrown in….my conditional parameters tend to expand immensely during streamer season!

Backing out streamer season however I’m a big fan of sunshine and light variable breezes and temps somewhere between 44 and 84 degrees. The temp range allows for plenty of days on the water year round, the sunshine is vital to me during the colder months but in the summer it doesn’t play as big of a roll. The wind is my determining factor and is what keeps me off of the water more often than not.

Mind you, this is all having to do with fun fishing. We do what we have to do to make a living. Conditions notwithstanding.

All this to say that lately I’ve been feeling the itch to get back on the water. The spring-like weather has had me daydreaming about that magic, euphoric feeling of being in a drift boat, carried by the current and maybe, just maybe even getting a shot at a fish or two. You’ll likely read more from me about this sometime down the road but numbers increasingly mean less and less to me.

Looking at the forecast this week it appeared as though Wednesday was going to be the day. Sunshine, minimal winds and highs in the 50’s. Definitely not the weather we need at the moment but it really doesn’t get much better in February.

And so, once forecasted conditions were confirmed the CLOSED sign went up and I spent a much anticipated afternoon floating the MO, just the dog and me, just what I needed for a recharge.

With only a dry fly rod on board I spent the day head hunting, hoping for some February midge magic. This was not to be. I didn’t care!

Don’t get the wrong idea. I still LOVE to catch fish and had I been with someone I would have been happy to pass the time stripping a streamer as we hunted for rising fish but that’s not what I was after yesterday. What I was after I got…in spades.

I couldn’t wait to get to work today and once I got here I was happy to be busy with all the things that need to happen here before the season picks up again not long from now. On top of that we had a fairly busy morning with another nice day on tap and it was good to talk fishing again with a bunch of people who couldn’t wait to get out there and try to find what they came for.

Tight Lines!

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-02-22T16:10:21-07:00February 22nd, 2024|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

February Delivers Winter to the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

February continues to deliver some much needed winter weather.

The snow is piling up in the high country but we’ve still got a long ways to go. Snowpack is improving slowly but surely and while I’m tempted to curse the weather while I’m digging out my driveway in the pre-dawn hours, so far I’ve resisted that urge and powered through it, thankful we are getting exactly what we need.

This latest round of precipitation is being accompanied by a blast of cold arctic air which has us in the teens today with single digits on tap overnight. Friday will see an end to the snow but continued cold with a high of 20 and overnight low near 5 degrees. Things start to warm up on Saturday with a high near 37 and Sunday we’re back up near 40’s and bumping up against 50 again on Monday.

Friday fishing will be on the chilly side but the holiday weekend and into next week could be exceptional with those daytime temps in the low 40’s and an abundance of sunshine making for some ideal February conditions on the MO.

Expect plenty of top water action with winter midge madness underway. Pair a #18 Bucky’s Midge Cluster with a #18 or #20 Black Midge and feed those steady risers.

The nymphing action should be good as well with no real changes on the bug front. Pill Poppers, Bubble Yums, Rainbow Czechs, Amex, Weight Flies paired with Tailwater Sows, Soft hackle sows, Zebra midges, Pederson’s Sow, Radiation Baetis, Pink Lighting bugs or really any other of your go to winter offerings.

Target the slow, deep winter water and run as close to the bottom as practical but don’t get stuck on that. Especially on the sunny days when the sun is warming the water up a tick or two, don’t be afraid to target the moderately faster runs. Shorten up your rig accordingly and see what happens. You might be surprised.

Streamer action should be good as well, primarily working the slower tail outs and deep, slow buckets with a combination swing and super slow and long strip. But again, don’t get stuck on that. Bomb the banks, switch up your bugs, switch up your retrieve. You might find an aggressive retrieve off the bank to be effective, it all depends on the day.

The established winter techniques are a great starting point but the fish don’t always follow the script. Break those winter rules and see what happens.

The shop will be closed for the weekend as we make the trek up to Calgary for a long overdue return to a Wings/Flames game on Saturday but we do have lodging available for the holiday weekend and beyond.

We’ll be back in the shop on Monday for the big President’s Day rush which could well end up with getting out on the water ourselves for an afternoon outing.

Let’s hope the snow continues to pile up throughout the second half of February. Spring is just 33 days away and will be here before we know it.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-02-15T12:43:25-07:00February 15th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, nymphs, pill popper, running line, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

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