Shop Life Archives - Page 9 of 21

Welcome to MOvember

It’s hard to believe but November is upon us and a very busy 2021 season is coming to a close.

The transition to the off season is almost complete with the majority of seasonal folks having already disappeared. Things are quiet in Wolf Creek and Craig.

That being said, November brings its own dedicated contingent to the MO with swing season underway, streamer fishing still hanging on, fall dry-fly fishing at its apex and pre-winter nymphing providing plenty of action for those seeking a different Missouri River experience, one of solitude, absent the throngs.

Things look and feel deserted right now but a closer look reveals evidence of a different, more subdued season underway. A season where you can have the river seemingly to yourself on most days but a season which lacks not just the crowds but much of the infrastructure enjoyed by the prime season angler.

Commerce has slowed to a crawl with some businesses closing for the season and others shifting to abbreviated hours for the winter months.

Izaaks is closed for the season and Annie’s is open Friday – Sunday 11 AM – 8 PM but will be closing for winter on November 21st. Bottom line… you’d be wise to bring food if you’re headed this way any time before next spring.

The Canyon Store is OPEN all year with fuel, beer,food and other essentials and Wolf Creek Angler remains open every day for the time being. We’ve closed a third of our lodging thus far and have gone to winter rates on our remaining open rooms. $99 (plus tax) for a cozy cabin or bungalow, each with a full kitchen and private bath.

It is indeed our quiet time on the MO but that being said, Wolf Creek shines this time of the season with everything you need all in one place, just minutes from Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge where the vast majority of Missouri River winter fishing occurs. Why would you go anywhere else? There’s NOBODY closer to Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge than Wolf Creek Angler.

We’ve got everything you need for your day on the water from Adipose drift boat rentals to Simms waders and boots and cold weather gear to lines, leaders and tippet from Rio and Airflo to tools and accessories from Fishpond, Rising and Loon to the now near legendary largest selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. Our flies come from Montana Fly Company, Umpqua Feather Merchants, Solitude and Yellowstone Fly Goods and are the highest quality flies available.

So while things may look deserted out there on the river right now, we’re enjoying hosting a good portion of the late-season contingent this early November at Wolf Creek Angler.

We’re near full capacity all week long with awesome fall weather on tap for at least the next 7 days. Cabins 2 and 3 are available through the weekend and next week we’re wide open so if you’re looking to make the trip give us a call.

The late season is generally a DIY affair but if you’re looking for a guide we can likely accommodate. As mentioned above, many of the seasonal folks have left the area but most of our guides at WCA are local so if you’re looking for a late season guided trip let us know.

Great weather, great end of the season deals in the shop, and most importantly, GREAT FISHING happening NOW at Wolf Creek Angler.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-11-02T09:45:47-06:00November 2nd, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Adipose, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, MOvember, RIO, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Reflections on Autumn Woods

Last year about this same time I posted the above image on Instagram with the caption “Autumn woods are the best woods”.

Today these woods look very similar, and the sentiment still holds true but on this day there is sadness.

On this day we took our beloved Jake for his final walk on this trail in the Flathead Valley, a trail which he had come to love so much on our annual fall trips here over the years.

On this day we embarked on the trail carrying Jake’s ashes, intent on leaving a part of him here for eternity. But as we traveled that trail, with the sun lighting up the tamarack trees and the breeze gently rustling the aspen leaves, and even as we carefully opened the bag containing his ashes and each held those ashes in our hands and sprinkled them along the trail, I realized that he’s already here. He’s already here in the memories I have of the many walks we’d taken on this same trail for years.

He’s been gone since August and we’re growing accustomed to him not being there. His picture hangs prominently in the shop and I love to see him there every time I go to work. We miss him, but life’s rhythm is being restored.

Last night we arrived at our familiar destination. It’s so great to be back. But we were greeted by a dose of sadness when we arrived. I miss him more than I thought I would.

I miss him excitedly entering and exploring the cabin, I miss him laying in front of the fireplace, I miss him anxiously awaiting his dinner or breakfast (highlights of his existence to be sure) and of course I miss our early morning walks around the property. I think about the roughly 10 years we’ve been making this trip and it strikes me that we have never been here without him.

So yes, Autumn woods are the best woods, even still, and the trees and the dirt and the air hold a magic of their own, there is a soul in this place. But today it feels a little less magical, a little bit lonely.

This place captured my heart long ago and that will always be, but trees and dirt mean so much more when all is right with the world and you are with the ones you love.

I love that there is now a physical part of him here, mixing into the earth. It’s an appropriate place for his ashes to rest but that is but dust in the dirt. What I love more is the memories I have of him, of us, in this place.

The sun is shining on you and on us this day as we take one last walk with a physical part of you in our midst, but we will always walk with you in our hearts, cherishing the memories of our time together until we meet again.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-10-21T12:58:24-06:00October 21st, 2021|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Jake|1 Comment

Fall is in Bloom on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The mental shift to fall is underway, even as summer returns this week with daytime temps climbing back into the 80’s and 90’s. Not to worry, there’s plenty of cool (followed by COLD and likely even frigid) weather in store for the not too distant future.

Last weekend’s unofficial end of the summer season was a great mix of warm sunny summer days on the water combined with the embrace of the signs of the upcoming season. There was plenty of traffic on the river this weekend, both angling and recreational floating with beautiful weather for both. And while it may still be tubing weather, change is underway.

Fall colors are emerging as the green leaves of summer transform into brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. Choke Cherries are thick this year and the bears have been feasting on them up and down the banks of Little Prickly Pear.

The evening chill in the air is immediate and unmistakable once the sun fades and there’s nothing quite like the feel of that fall morning sun as it climbs over the horizon, warming everything upon which it falls and chasing the chill away.

High school and college football are underway (Go Griz!) and couch-bound NFL Sundays commence this weekend. It’s time to trade in our T shirts, shorts, sun shirts and flip flops for hoodies, long pants and socks and shoes. It’s time for Oktoberfest brews and elk tenderloin on the grill.

But elk aren’t the only big game we’re pursuing. For many, fall is time to put away the fly rod and pick up the bow or rifle. For others, fall IS fishing season and colored up browns are the quarry.

It’s streamer season in Montana now through the end of autumn and we couldn’t be more excited. It’s just getting started mind you so by all means, the best is yet to come.

We’re still on the early side but if yesterday was any indication we could be in for an epic fall streamer season. There’s already a fair amount of aggression out there amongst the brown trout population with plenty of fish of all sizes willing to chase the streamer, if for no other reason than to defend their territory and chase off intruders. Hook ups were hard to come by but if you’re like me and measure streamer fishing success by the number of fish moved rather than just those hooked and landed then you would not have been disappointed with yesterday’s action.

Stop in for everything Missouri River Streamer Fishing. Streamer X rods, a streamer line for every occasion, stripping guards, the best streamer selection on the Missouri and most importantly, all the advice and practical information you could ever want from a staff well-versed in the game and more than ready and willing to talk about it. We live for this.

For those outside of the streamer set the nymphing has been solid with black Zebras and Zirdles still ruling the day. Small mayfly nymphs and sow bugs should also be a staple of your fall nymph arsenal.

Hopper fishing should continue to be solid for the next couple of weeks. Tan and peach hoppers have been working well in sizes ranging from #10 – #14. Trailing an ant is never a bad idea though we have not had a ton of action on the ants as of late. Fish the banks. Fish the mid-river riffles. Fish the non-descript random water whether you think it looks fishy or not. The trout are everywhere. They’re opportunists on the hunt for calories and they may just surprise you when you’re least expecting it so don’t take your eye off of the ball.

We are adjusting our shop hours for fall this week in accordance with the morning darkness and will now be open at 7 AM daily.

Lodging is moderately busy but we do have a fair amount of availability. The guide book is getting busier by the day but we do have some openings here and there and things do open up again around the second week of October. We’re happy to fish any way you like but we absolutely love to guide streamer trips. Book yours today!

Stop in for clean and affordable lodging, Adipose Drift Boat Rentals, vehicle shuttles, summer clearance items like Smith Sunglasses and Simms sportswear and amazing fall deals on select waders, boots and more.

Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale coming very soon. Stay Tuned

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-07T14:33:20-06:00September 7th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, brown trout, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Smith, Streamer Fishing, Streamer X, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges, Zirdle|0 Comments

Relief on the way

It appears as though the heatwave which has defined the summer of 2021 is coming to an end, at least for now.

Drastic change is underway and while we will see mid 90’s once again today, you’ll want to break out the waders and raingear starting tomorrow as temperatures drop and we start to get some much needed precipitation.

The general trend looks like daytime highs in the low 70’s and overnight lows in the mid to high 40’s though Wednesday will see a high of only 55 with a good chance for some significant precipitation starting tomorrow and running through Wednesday night.

Let’s hope these cooler temps lead to the lifting of the Hoot Owl Restrictions very soon.

Get your hopper fishing done today and look to the subsurface game starting tomorrow. Rainy day nymphing could be exceptional these next couple of days as the new weather system settles in.

It might be the perfect time to get away for some late summer action on the Missouri. Traffic has slowed to a crawl which means plenty of prime water for you and your buddies. In addition to prime water there is also an abundance of lodging available as things have gone full ghost town in Wolf Creek and Craig.

I don’t want to oversell the fishing because truth be told, it’s been a little slower than what we’d like as of late but we’re optimistic that the change in the weather will bring about a vast improvement in the fishing. If nothing else we should see some major improvement in the air quality as the cooler weather assists with fire fighting efforts.

Stop in and see us on your way to the river for vehicle shuttles, Adipose drift boat rentals, Simms wading and rain gear, Rio lines, leaders and tippet and the biggest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We’re open at 6 AM daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-08-16T12:05:24-06:00August 16th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Our Hot Weather, Low Flow Summertime Strategy

2021 has, without a doubt, been our busiest season to date. Retail is up, lodging is up and as I’m sure you’ve noticed if you’ve been anywhere near the MO this past month, guide trips are also WAY up for everyone. And while we’re thrilled about the recovery after last year’s Pandemic debacle, the low flows coupled with the high temps and the heavy traffic have us re-thinking our game plan for the remainder of the summer season.

We have no knowledge of restrictions or closures coming to the MO but current flow and temperature conditions are definitely trending towards the thresholds which would dictate some sort of restrictions, especially on the lower river.

In light of this we have decided to do what we can to reduce the stress on the fishery by implementing a couple of self-imposed restrictions for the remainder of the summer season.

First – we are asking all of our clients to do a 6:00 AM start which puts our trips on the water from 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM which is essentially what we would be doing if Hoot Owl restrictions went into effect on the Missouri. At this point it’s more of a suggestion than a mandate but we are doing our best to make sure everyone is on the water at least by 7:00 AM at the latest.

Second- we are capping our guide trips for the remainder of the summer season and will be taking no more bookings for guide trips for July and August. We hope to resume bookings in September at which time we will re-evaluate and proceed accordingly. Hopefully things will improve as fall approaches. We recognize that this is an inconvenience for those making last minute plans for a guided day on the Missouri and we apologize for not being able to accommodate those plans but we feel it’s in the best interest of the river, the fish and all of our clients to do what we can to reduce our impact for the remainder of the summer season.

Daytime temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s will persist for the foreseeable future with Sunday looking like a scorcher with temps approaching 100 degrees.

Current river conditions – 2980 CFS with water temp 65 degrees at the dam. Please keep any eye on those water temps further down-stream and take appropriate measures to protect the fish. FWP policy is to implement Hoot Owl restrictions when max water temps reach 73 degrees for three consecutive days however anything over 67 degrees is stressful to the fish so Hoot Owl restrictions or not, it’s a good idea to stop fishing and seek cooler waters or other activities once water temps reach that point.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ drought policy provides for angling closures when flows drop below critical levels for fish, when water quality is diminished, or when maximum daily water temperatures reach at least 73 degrees for three consecutive days. These restrictions and closures are designed to protect fish, such as trout, that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when drought and warm water conditions combine with additional stressors, including catch-and-release fishing.

All stress to fish at this time of year is cumulative, and anglers should consider fishing in cooler waters during times of low flows and high water temperatures in rivers. Anglers can help reduce stress for fish by following these practices when catching and releasing fish, though fish mortality may still occur:

• Fish during the coolest times of day, where permitted.
• Land the fish quickly.
• Keep the fish in water as much as possible.
• Remove the hook gently. Using artificial lures with single and barbless hooks can make hook removal faster and easier.
• Let the fish recover before releasing it.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-07-08T12:08:11-06:00July 8th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: hoot owl restrictions, Missouri River, Montana, running line|2 Comments

Mid June on the MO

All is well here on the MO as we settle into summer and watch the BLUR commence.

Early mornings and late nights are the order of the day as guide trips have been starting extra early in an effort to beat that afternoon heat. Round two starts as afternoon shifts to evening and the night shift hits the water in search of caddis and rising fish, both of which are being found with some regularity by those who know where to look.

Evening and early morning parking spots have been at a premium these last couple of weeks at WCA with a full house most nights and piles of drift boats and rafts filling the lot. It’s the kind of thing that irritates me for a second or two when I pull up to the shop in the morning and there’s no place for me to park but then it strikes me that my little shop is packed to the gills with guides and guests and this is a thing that exceeds anything I ever envisioned when we opened our doors seven years ago. It’s truly awesome!

The “Hot” bugs of the year have been identified and I’ve heard it said that we’re the only shop in the area that has a few of these which is now a moot point as our bins have now been emptied but it was fun while it lasted. More on the way, no promises when we’ll have them.

So what are the hot bugs? Stop by the shop for all the latest Intel. Generally speaking it’s a PMD and Caddis game both on top and underneath. Your dry fly arsenal should include plenty of PMD spinners and cripples and various caddis varieties including Cornfed and CDC emergers. We also like Outrigger Caddis, Blooms Parachute Caddis, Iceberg Caddis and MO River CDC Caddis. PMD go do dries include Sprouts, Hi-Vis Spinners (PMD and Rusty), CDC Spinners, Flash Cripples, CDC PMD Emergers, Snowshoe Emergers and the like.

The subsurface game has been led by Weight Flies (Purple or Gold), Tung Darts, Caddis Pupa, Frenchies, Split Case PMD’s, Magic Fly (PMD or Rusty), PMD Redemption, S & M’s, Nitro Caddis, Peep Shows, Tailwater Sows and PT’s.

Early starts, afternoon siestas and late nights on the water define summer on the MO and it’s all happening right now.

The water is disturbingly low but we’re making the best of it. Low water changes the game. In some respects it shrinks the fishable real estate but this is offset by an increase in walk wade spots.

Embrace the change and adapt…you really have no choice but to do so.

We’re doing all we can to keep a shop full of product and I feel like we’re doing a pretty good job doing so all things considered but we are running up against supply chain issues just like everyone else. There are a lot of things that are hard to come by these days, among them certain flies, waders, leaders, tippet and such but most disappointingly we have yet to see any of our logo wear. We ended up cancelling an order or two due to the fact that they remain weeks out but we’re looking for alternative sources and will hopefully have something available soon. In the meantime, we apologize for the inconvenience. Nothing bums me out more than not having a wide selection of options for all of you who are looking to rep our brand. We’re doing our best and will hopefully have something available soon. Thank you for your patience.

Official Summer Shop Hours are 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-06-16T17:10:26-06:00June 16th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|0 Comments

Settling In To Summer on the MO

It’s here! The days we dream about all winter long have arrived. A landscape of green against cloudless blue skies, the backdrop as you drift down the MO in search of rising trout. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

School is out and the summer migration has commenced, swelling our tiny populations of Wolf Creek and Craig. The boat ramps are abuzz with activity each morning as the guides prep and the clients take it all in, anxiously awaiting their turn to climb aboard the drift boat and make that first cast.

It’s going to be a very busy season. The traffic is high and the water is low which means we’ll all have to do our part not just to get along with our fellow anglers but also to care for the resource. Low flows and heavy traffic are stressors for our fish populations and while we are 100 percent in support of catch and release fishing we urge everyone to do whatever you can to reduce stress to the fish including keeping them in the water to the furthest extent possible, not overplaying them with undersized tackle and crushing barbs to facilitate quick and easy hook removal. You may lose an extra fish or two but at least they’ll live to fight another day.

Catch and Release is great but if fish are mishandled or overstressed they often times won’t survive much beyond that release. Water temps are still cool at this point so that definitely works in the favor of the fish but as things heat up and the water temps rise it becomes even more critical that you do what you can to keep them in the water as much as possible. If you absolutely must have a picture of that fish get everything ready to go, wet your hands and then lift the fish out of the water for a quick pic. Ten seconds max!

And speaking of rising temps, the cool weather comes to an end this weekend. Things start to heat up on Sunday as we see highs in the high 80’s and at this point it appears as though we could see temperatures nearing 100 on Tuesday. Don’t forget the sunscreen and your wide brim hat…or better yet, do forget them and come see us at WCA for all of your sun protection needs.

Per the Bureau of Reclamation flows will remain low but steady for the remainder of the season and likely right on through to next spring. Stay tuned. We’ll keep you posted.
The fishing report is relatively speaking, status quo.

PMD’s and Caddis are in the mix however it has not been a DFO’s dream thus far. Those willing to put the time in and go on the hunt are finding limited opportunities daily but it has not been a target rich environment. Indications are that this may be about to change. There has been an abundance of bugs on the lower stretches and not quite as much activity up here however regardless of the presence or absence of bugs rising fish have been a rarity. We’ve finally started to hear some reports however of decent sized pods of smaller fish keying on the surface. Our fingers are crossed, hoping that the bigger fish will soon join the approaching gravy train.

In the meantime sowbugs, caddis pupae and PMD nymphs will get em’ sub surface.

Phones are ringing off the hook this week as folks look for some input regarding their upcoming trips to the MO.

Some of these questions I’ve tried to answer above with my discussion of flows and current fish activity. Here are a few more FAQ’s and our best answers.

Q. Have they started dumping water yet?
A. They’ve dumped what they’re going to dump by all indications. Hoping for flushing flows in spring 2022.

Q. Is everything opened up?
A. Yes and No. Masks are a memory and everyone is open for business HOWEVER due to labor shortages many businesses are unable to operate at full capacity.

Q. Are there restaurants nearby?
A. Izaak’s in Craig is open Wednesday – Sunday 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Shotgun Annie’s in Wolf Creek is open Friday – Sunday 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM and Mondays and Tuesdays 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

Q. Do you have any lodging available for June and July?
A. Slim Pickings. We’ve got a few single nights here and there but we’re not really able to string multiple nights together. Things open up in August. Fall is starting to fill up. Don’t wait until the last minute to book. If you are looking for just one night give us a call and we’ll see what we can do.

Q. Do you have guides available?
A. See lodging response above. It’s very similar with guide availability. A few random openings here and there but as busy a guide schedule as we’ve ever had. Book those fall dates NOW!

Q. Do you allow dogs?
A. We do allow dogs for a $25/night fee however we ask that you let us know ahead of time if you’re bringing your pooch and we would ask that dogs not be left unattended in the rooms while you’re on the water unless they are in a kennel.

Q. How close are you guys to Craig?
A. Craig who?

Shop hours are 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily. We hope you make us your first stop on the way to the river for shuttles, bugs, boat rentals, ice, sunscreen, fishing licenses, Simms waders and sportswear, Tornado Anchors, Lamson rods and reels and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-06-09T17:22:04-06:00June 9th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Izaaks, Missouri River, running line, Shotgun Annie's, simms, 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

The Shape of Water, Spring 21 Edition

As we close in on mid May it’s time to take a look at the water conditions both at present and for the season ahead.

We’ve been alluding to this for a few weeks now and the story really hasn’t changed. Flows are low on the Missouri right now at 3760 CFS which is a few thousand CFS short of where we’d expect them to be during an average year when May flows would typically be in the 6K range.

Precipitation has been considerably below average this spring which is not great for the water situation but what has helped us thus far has been the cooler temperatures we’ve been experiencing this spring which have kept the snowpack largely intact.

Current Snow Water equivalent around the region is basically between 80 to 100 percent of average and a little less in the southwest corner of the state where we’re looking at around 65 percent of average. Things could be better, things could be much worse as far as snowpack goes.

Canyon Ferry Reservoir is currently 77 percent full which means that if below average precipitation persists throughout the spring then we won’t be seeing much of an increase in flows as indicated by the chart below. Again, we’d definitely like to see a little more water but things could definitely be much worse. Here’s hoping for a wet second half of spring.

With the creek opener coming up Saturday there will be many miles of additional fishable water available although much of that is running high at the moment. We’ve gotten a lot of calls about the Dearborn this week and we will be running a limited number of Dearborn shuttles this weekend. It’s looking like borderline flows (currently at 256 CFS and dropping) but with warmer temps and the potential for some precipitation heading into the weekend we’re thinking it may be an option. We’ll keep you posted.

We posted on social media about this but in case you didn’t see our post, due to staffing limitations we’re limiting Dearborn shuttles to three each on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. We will not be able to offer these shuttles during the week but will have 5 spots available on Saturday and Sunday the 22nd and 23rd. Shuttles will be sold on a first come first served basis but we will take reservations if you have things figured out ahead of time and want to make sure you’re covered.

It looks like a nice weekend ahead and warm sunny days to kick things off next week.

The hills are rapidly greening. The Arrowleaf balsamroot flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, the bugs are popping and it’s about to be lawn mowing, creek fishing, flip flop wearing, sun soaking time in Montana.

See you soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-05-12T14:02:38-06:00May 12th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Dearborn River, Dearborn River shuttles, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

A Look Back

WCA Celebrated 7 years in business on April 1st.

We’ve come a long way since 2014, making all kinds of improvements both to our lodging and in the shop itself.
There are all kinds of additional things we’d love to do and we will continuously make improvements as our budget allows.

Not all improvements are noticed, in fact the majority aren’t but they’re all things you definitely would notice if we didn’t do them.

For instance, this spring we replaced the last of the mattresses which were here when we bought the business. That’s 21 box spring and mattress sets and 5 sleeper sofas, all replaced over the last few seasons. We also replaced the heating/AC units in the bungalows over the winter as well as replacing all of our bedding and all of the cookware and dishes in each of our kitchen units.

It’s been a couple of seasons since we’ve done any major renovations, the type that you would definitely notice. We did complete remodels on our motel units over three winters and also did new flooring in several of our other units.

Obviously these complete remodels are quite costly and coming off of 2020 we’re holding off on any major expenditures for the time being but we’re definitely not done and we’re looking forward to future improvements.

That being said, it’s always fun to take a look back and see how much things have changed since we took over. You’ve seen these shop before and after pics and we also found some old pictures of the lodging for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy!