Bridging the Gap

If you’ve floated the river this week you may have noticed that the Craig bridge is closed to traffic. The word is that the bridge will be closed through April 27th for repairs so please keep this in mind when making your fishing plans.

On the shuttle side of things, we’ve instituted temporary price increases on all shuttles affected by the closure so expect a significant bump in what you’re used to paying for Dam or Wolf Creek to Craig shuttles and if you’re planning on putting in at Craig we recommend getting out at Mid Canon as shuttles to Stickney, Spite Hill and Dearborn have been substantially increased to cover the extra travel.

Just to give you an idea of the logistics, the standard Holter Dam to Craig shuttle is 7.1 miles and the standard Wolf Creek to Craig shuttle is 5.1 miles. Since we have to come back through Wolf Creek and get on the Interstate to get to Craig we’re now looking at 12.8 miles and 10.8 miles respectively for these two runs.

A standard Craig to Stickney shuttle is 3.1 miles and Craig to Dearborn is 4.8 miles. Since we now have to get on the northbound interstate and drive to the canyon access and come back up the Recreation road we’re now looking at 18.3 miles for Craig to Stickney and 168 from Craig to Dearborn.

Hopefully all goes according to plan and the bridge will be back in service starting the week of the 27th.

Until then…bear with us. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.

Temporary Rates are as follows;

Dam to Craig                $45

Wolf to Craig                $45

Craig to Stickney         $50

Craig to Spite               $50

Craig to Dearborn      $54   

Go Time

 

While we’ve been anxiously awaiting a shot of spring snow and cold to slow things down and keep us in that early-season window, it doesn’t seem like Mother Nature got the memo. Buds are popping, grass is greening, and more days than not we’re seeing sunshine and temps that feel a lot more like mid-May than early April.

What’s also popping? Bugs.

Midges are everywhere, and we’ve been hearing reports of BWO’s showing up in fishable numbers in the canyon over the past week. Dry fly opportunities are on the table most days now, and only getting better. Midges are the Spring Training of the dry fly game—reliable, consistent, and a great way to knock the rust off—but the regular season is just getting underway. Look for BWO’s and midges to carry the load over the next 4–6 weeks, with March Browns and caddis not far behind. 

Best Bets for midges…Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Black Midge, Griffith’s Gnat, Hi-Vis Midge, Grizzly Midge Cluster, Adams Midge Cluster. GO To BWO’s – Guide Winna Spinna BWO, Olive Haze, Hi Vis BWO, Pederson’s 401K Baetis, Sprout Baetis, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, Last Chance Cripple, Flash Cripple, Jake’s Hatchback Baetis…and so many more. 

Spawning is still in full swing on the MO, so please be mindful of where you’re wading. Give those fish some space and let them do their thing—the future of this fishery depends on it.

If you’re looking for numbers, nymphing remains the go-to. Double sows are still punching the ticket more often than not. Zebra Midges, Ruby Midges, Little Green Machines, Magic Flies, Caviar Scuds, Pill Poppers, Amex, Pederson’s Sow, Bubble Yums, worms, and soft hackle sows are all getting it done.

The streamer bite has been solid—even under bluebird skies—but as always, low light is your best friend. Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolts, Swim Coaches, MoJo Minnows, Micro Dungeons, Baby Gongas, Polar Leeches, Dirty Hippies, Lil’ Kims…you know the drill. Fish what you believe in. Water temps are still hanging in the low 40’s, so no need to get wild with the strip, but fish are definitely getting more aggressive and will chase on the right days. Mix up your retrieve, build in pauses, and don’t be afraid to fish everything from the depths to the shallows and tailouts—it’s all in play right now.

There’s truly no better time of year to fish streamers on the Missouri, and with some rain, snow, and cloud cover in the forecast for Sunday and Monday, things could get downright epic.

We’re open daily at 8 AM with everything you need for your day on the water—Cheapest DAM shuttles on the MO, the biggest selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana, and all the latest gear from the best brands in the business. New rods, reels, waders, boots, lines, leaders—you name it—arriving almost daily. ’Tis the season.

Lodging is fully open and guides are standing by. Give us a call or book your trip online—we’ll see you out there.

Spring Season Underway

Spring is beginning to show itself on the MO. Photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Last Friday marked the official first day of spring and while in Montana we’re accustomed to winter weather for at least a portion of the start of spring, this year we got a taste of summer to kick things off with temperatures in the 70’s over the weekend and more mild weather this week.

Weekend traffic was moderately heavy and barring a return of winter weather, which is not currently predicted, it seems as though the 2026 season is officially underway on the Missouri.

Here’s what you need to know.

The new license year started on March 1st so if you haven’t yet purchased a 2026 fishing license you’ll need to do so before hitting the water. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks eliminated retail license sales at the end of 2025, so WE ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO SELL YOU A FISHING LICENSE. All license sales are now done through the FWP website. Some shops may, at their own cost, provide you with a tablet or a computer from which to purchase your license, but all sales run through the FWP online licensing process. You can purchase your license here

Spring means spawning fish and with the mild weather we’ve had all winter, spawning is well underway. Spawning means fish on gravel and eggs in the spawning redds. Rivers in the state of Montana are not stocked so the success of the fishery relies exclusively on wild fish doing wild fish things and anglers taking the utmost care to not disturb that process.

Please do not target spawning fish and avoid treading on redds at all costs! The future of our fishery depends on it.

In season rates go into effect on April 1st so you’ve got about a week left to take advantage of our lodging and guide trip special. Two nights of premium lodging and a full day guided trip for one or two anglers for just $750. Guide trips alone without lodging $550 through the end of the month and winter rates on premium lodging just $149 through the end of the month. One week from today regular rates return as does the 3% Resort Tax.

All of our cabins and bungalows are now open, and the motel rooms will be open the week of April 5th.

Izaaks in Craig is open for business Wednesday – Sunday from 3 – 9 PM. Lazy I Beerworks in Wolf Creek opens on Monday, March 30th. Their early season hours are Monday and Tuesday from 3-9 PM. Closed Wednesday. Thursday 3-9 PM, Friday 3-10 PM, Saturday Noon – 10 PM and Sunday from Noon to 9.

Here at WCA we are still assembling our crew for the season but we’re doing our best to be here from 8 – 4 daily. We’re busy checking in all the new gear for spring so come see what’s new. We hope you make us your first stop on the way to the MO for shuttles and bugs and anything else you might need for your day on the water.

There’s nothing quite like springtime on the Missouri. Come experience it today!

A Taste of Winter

 

Winter Holding On

Finally a week of winter weather in Wolf Creek. A week of snow and cold. A week of icy roads in the canyon and the results you might expect.

A week of quick morning visits to the shop to check voicemails and plumbing prior to afternoons spent back home on the couch watching Olympic hockey and not feeling guilty about being closed because there isn’t a soul on the river this week.

It’s a welcome taste of winter at the perfect time. I’m enjoying the respite as I’m sure the fish are as well.

I’m sure we built a bit of snowpack which is good for all of us who rely on water to live or make a living and I wish I could say we were just getting started but alas, it looks as though the mild weather will return next week with high temps back in the 40’s and 50’s and overnight lows in the 20’s and 30’s.

Expect a bump in traffic next week as we move towards the normal beginnings of the spring campaign.

Fishing should be good with the return to warmer weather so we’ll be back in the shop with more normal hours starting this Sunday. We’ll be open 8-12 on Sunday and 8 – 4 on Monday – Saturday as dictated by the weather. Remember, here at Wolf Creek Angler, in the winter darkness of the canyon we’re still at least a month out from seeing any sunlight so it does make it difficult to hang around for eight hours in the cold darkness knowing that just down the road the river is currently bathed in warm sunshine.

We’ll be providing shuttle service whenever we can which should be much more frequent from here on out. Again, depending on the weather!

Winter lodging rates remain in effect through the end of March, just $149/night for a bungalow with a kitchenette, a $100 savings off of normal season rates.

We are running a guide trip and lodging special through the end of March with two nights of premium lodging and a full day guided trip for one or two anglers for just $850.

We’re loaded up on Pill Poppers and Sowbugs which are all you really need at this point but should you look to switch it up from what every other angler out there is using we’ve got bins full of bugs that will get the job done whether nymphing, swinging or targeting fish on dries.

Spring shipments are starting to trickle in so while I’ve never been a fan haggling on prices, if there is ever a time to do it that time is now when we’re looking to move the old to make room for the new.

Sit back and enjoy the remainder of the Winter Olympics this weekend and we’ll see you back on the MO next week.

Mid-February on the MO

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

The mild weather on the MO continues with the first day of spring now just 30 days away. We got a brief taste of winter on Monday with just enough snow to cover the ground, but it didn’t last long with daytime highs in the 40’s disappearing any sign of winter.

The forecast holds steady for the remainder of the week with sunny skies and highs near 50 each day. We’ll FINALLY see a shift Monday night into Tuesday with temperatures dropping and a chance for some snow. We’ll see more seasonable temps with highs in the low 30’s and overnight lows in the teens through the end of the week.

If you want to treat your valentine to a day on the Missouri we have lodging available and guides at the ready for the upcoming Valentine’s Day/President’s Day weekend. Winter lodging rates are $149/night (plus tax). Unfortunately, our winter lodging is not pet friendly so please leave your pooch at home.

Our premium lodging includes a kitchenette with cook top, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, and coffee maker so dining in is an option. Eats are a little hard to come by this time of year in the canyon but it looks like the Missouri River Bar and Grill will be doing a Prime Rib dinner this Saturday night and I would expect that the Craig Taphouse will likely have something going on for Valentine’s Day as well but I was not able to confirm this so you might want to call ahead.

Our winter lodging and guide trip special is available through the end of March. Two nights premium lodging and a full day on the water for one or two angers for just $850 (plus tax).

Nymphing has been status quo with the Sowbug bite in full swing. And speaking of swinging, wintertime is swing time on the Missouri and with the mild conditions we have had all winter long you needn’t limit your efforts to the Holter Dam to Craig stretch.

Flows have been steady at around 3500 CFS with the water temperature at or around 35 degrees. Those water temps decrease as you move downstream, but shelf ice has yet to be a concern this winter. All ramps are clear and fishing reports have been solid as far down as Mid Canon. The canyon itself has been quiet as is generally the case in the winter but at this point, I wouldn’t hesitate to fish it if you want to have it all to yourself.

Staffing is a challenge during the winter months, snow, or no snow, so shop hours have been lacking consistency, but we will be here this Friday and Saturday at 8 AM and may or may not have shuttles available.

We are fully stocked on Pill Poppers and sows and all your other favorite winter nymphs as well as all the streamers you need for swinging or stripping on the MO. Check out our Valentine’s Day Big Ticket Sale, this weekend only, with 30% off all rods, reels, and wading gear.

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at WCA!

It’s Time to Bring Order to the Chaos

Image created by ChatGPT5.2

We’re not sure what to make of this “winter” but regardless of what weather we get or don’t get over the next two months, one thing is for sure, the spring fishing season is rapidly approaching, and this is the time to start sorting your gear as you prepare of the 2026 campaign.

For me, the usual routine involves being inside where it’s warm, watching the snow fly outside where it’s frigid, while emptying out my gear bags and fly pucks and trying to restore some order to the chaos generated over months of chasing trout in Montana. This routine often involves sipping a tasty beverage or two while contemplating the season ahead.

It’s a little different this year. I’ve spent plenty of time being inside where it’s warm but rare have been the days of flying snow or frigid cold outside my cozy confines and while there have been plenty of tasty beverages consumed, I just can’t seem to get motivated to tackle the task at hand. I’ve been waiting for that stretch of snowy days where there is nowhere to go and nothing to do but start sorting flies and gear. Now February is knocking and as has been the case all winter long, the weather says go fishing. There’s no reason not to, other than the fact that the chaos in the gear bags and in the back of the rig hasn’t been addressed since fall and is in desperate need of attention.

In my defense, my fishing rig (and everything in it) has been out of my possession since Thanksgiving, thanks to an unfortunate run in with a deer, so I really couldn’t get going on this project even if I wanted to, but supposedly I’ll have my rig back sometime this week and then I’ll have no excuses! Snow or no snow – it’s time to do the work!

For me, the brunt of “the work” is fly inventory and organization. Every season I swear off the fly puck system (which is chaos defined) and tell myself I’m going to keep my flies in my fly boxes where they will be organized and easy to access. No more will I dig through puck after puck in my boat storage box, looking for that puck of flies I just grabbed from the shop prior to the outing. No more will I sift through spool after spool of tippet looking for that fresh guide spool of 4X I just bought.

A place for everything and everything in its place! It would make things so much easier and would substantially cut down on fly purchases because I would always know exactly what I have and exactly what I need.

It all begins to come into focus as each puck is emptied and the flies are placed in the proper slot in the proper box with the boxes stowed in the proper bags, arranged in seasonal order and further organized according to hatches.

Boxes upon boxes of nymphs, dry flies and streamers…. each exactly where they belong. Old tippet spools tossed, fresh spools organized and accessible, empty leader packages in the garbage where they belong and all those fat used leaders coiled and stashed for future use (I’ll save this for hopper season) GONE.

A well-organized boat bag full of well-organized boxes in the well-organized storage area of a clean and orderly rig. Boat storage absent of clutter and ready for the season ahead.

Order emerges from the chaos, and the experience of that order is nothing short of bliss but alas, chaos will not be denied but will in fact return with a vengeance, soon overtaking your next season on the water.

It’s a battle we all fight and the struggle is real and I’m here to tell you (and to convince myself) that restoration of order must commence. The time is now!

Just a heads up, we are well stocked with boat bags and fly boxes and everything you need to bring order to your chaos to start the 2026 season out right and if you’re emptying pucks we’re happy to put them back into circulation, regardless of what shop logo is on them.

Image Created by ChatGPT5.2

Time is Running Out

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Christmas is one week from tomorrow…how can it be?

No need to panic. Get all your shopping done right now by clicking HERE. WCA Gift Cards are always a Christmas hit. Orders will be processed IMMEDIATELY.

In other news, winds are HOWLING in Wolf Creek and most of Montana today. Please be careful out there. High Wind Warning remains in effect until midnight with sustained winds of 35 – 45 mph and gusts up to 75 mph. Isolated gusts in excess of 85 mph will be possible in wind prone areas. Batten down those hatches!

Winds will diminish starting tomorrow but it will still be breezy with SSW winds at 10 – 20 mph through the weekend. Next week looks like an improvement with colder temps, partly cloudy skies, and winds in the 5-10 mph range.

We will be open the remainder of this week through Saturday, closed on Sunday and open Monday and Tuesday next week before closing for Christmas. We will be closed the remainder of Christmas week and will be back in the shop on Monday the 29th.

We have affordable lodging available if you are thinking of spending Christmas week on the MO. Give us a call and book your spot today!

July Fade

Summer Bliss on the MO

Barely a week remains as July fades and the dog days of late summer approach.

The beehive-like atmosphere we’ve seen for weeks on end has quieted as prime time now resides in the rearview of this 2025 campaign.

We’re still a week or two out from the late summer ghost town but the crowds have certainly thinned.

The Prime Time regulars have come and gone. The daily cat herding involved with getting a dozen or more guide trips out the door has temporarily ended, the endless rental boat launches/retrieves have subsided and the traffic jam at the front counter has eased significantly.

It’s been a BUSY spring into summer and in spite of the waning cash flows typical of this time of the season we welcome the pause, if for no other reason than to catch our breath and gear up for the next round.

Fishing has not disappointed, and it should continue to be good, especially with the decreased pressure. Look for Tricos to continue to provide an exceptional dry fly experience during the earliest and latest hours of the day followed by an adequate hopper bite and decent caddis activity throughout the day.

Nymphing hasn’t really slowed down though there have been a handful of slower days mixed in for good measure. Frenchies and Purple Weight Flies continue to outpace just about everything else in the nymph bins but there are plenty of other options that will catch fish right now including Zebra Midges, Sow bugs, Zirdles, PT’s and a wide variety of caddis pupae and emergers.

How about streamers you ask…definitely a challenge with the amount of weeds in the river but I’m hearing the bite has been solid so don’t overlook it as an option. Patience is required.

Hoot Owl Restrictions have gone into effect on many Montana waters as stream flows continue to plummet. Slightly below average temps and a shot of rain here and there have been helpful but the fear remains that this late summer season is going to be a struggle. We don’t anticipate restrictions on the MO though if angler migration from other rivers becomes an issue that could have an adverse effect on things here. We’re keeping a close eye on things.

We’re currently looking at flows of 4300 cfs on the Missouri with water temps in the 63 – 64 degree range. We encourage everyone to carry a stream thermometer and check water temps often regardless of whether or not there are restrictions in place on the river you are fishing. If you see water temps anywhere near the 67 degree (or warmer) mark, it’s time to quit fishing. We carry several different stream thermometers including the Fishpond Riverkeeper Digital. If you don’t have one and you plan on fishing in Montana between now and September you need to invest in one.

We are open daily from 7 AM – 5 PM for all of you Missouri River trout fishing needs. Ice, bugs, Stream Thermometers, sunscreen, fishing licenses, The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO and so much more. We hope you make us your first stop on your way to the MO.

Your Missouri River Fourth of July

Happy Independence Day from Wolf Creek Angler

Summer continues its frenetic pace with Independence Day upon us. We are definitely in the midst of the blur with a brief respite during the Fourth as the fishing set typically leaves the river to the splash and giggle crowd for the holiday.

It could be a relatively quiet weekend on the water with the forecast calling for cooler temps and rain tomorrow afternoon into Saturday but Sunday looks like a return to summer with sunshine and temps in the 80’s headed back to 90’s by the middle of next week.

The epic PMD campaign of 2025 is coming to a close but it’s not over just yet. Tricos have been ramping up this week so if early mornings and tiny bugs are your thing then this is your time.

Evening caddis action has been hit or miss but there are ample opportunities out there for those willing to put the time in.

We’re loaded up with a bunch of new Trico and Caddis patterns and well stocked on the old stand byes as well. Hopper bins are full, meticulously curated by yours truly yesterday afternoon. It’s on the early side for actual hoppers but ants and spruce moths are coming into play. We are your terrestrial source on the MO with piles of foam and the best selection of Micro chubbies in the canyon.

Still on the bobber program? Fear not! The nymph bins have been picked over pretty good this season but we’re pretty good at staying well stocked on the necessities. Frenchies, Weight Flies, LGM’s, PT’s, mountains of sow bugs and bin after bin of Zirdles and Crays.

There’s not much we don’t have in the bins at WCA. After all, it is the largest selection of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Rental boats are spoken for through the middle of the month. Guides will be hard to come by until August and though there is a slight lull in lodging just for these couple of days around the holiday we’re back to a full house starting Sunday.

Stop in for shuttles, bugs, ice, fishing licenses, sun gear, rain gear and so much more.

We’re open daily at 7 AM for all of your Missouri River summer fly fishing needs.

Happy Fourth of July from all of us at WCA!

Missouri River Memorial Day Weekend

It’s hard to believe but it’s already here. The unofficial start of the summer season. Memorial Day Weekend is upon us and it’s going to feel like summertime with abundant sunshine and highs climbing into the low 70’s tomorrow and near 80 on Sunday and Monday.

More of the same for the rest of next week as we close out the month of May with a week of sunshine and 80 plus degree days and it looks like we’re finally moving on from those chilly mornings in the 30’s to overnight lows hovering around 50. Sounds like a summer forecast to me.

Memorial Day weekend has traditionally been somewhat of a quiet angling weekend with the fishing crowd leaving the river to the rec floaters but I’m not sure that will be the case this year. Our lodging is full for the holiday weekend which has not generally been the case in the past so should you venture to the MO expect plenty of every kind of traffic with rec floaters, wade anglers and float anglers all converging on the MO to commemorate the kickoff to the summer season.

Be kind. Be patient. Be considerate. And if you don’t like a crowd maybe think about staying home.

We’ve got just a couple of trips out this weekend which is the norm for most outfitters on Memorial Day so know that most of the traffic you encounter out there will not be commercial traffic.

The boat ramps will be busy with folks that maybe don’t do this every day so again, please be patient and do your best to extend some grace if things seem to be devolving into a junk show.
Fishing has been up and down this week as it tends to be this time of year but the hot take from the past couple of days has been that PMD’s have arrived weeks ahead of what we normally see here on the MO. These have not been consistent hatches and the fish, while sporadically feeding, have not really keyed in on them just yet. It could just be a random occurrence which may go quiet for the next week or two or it could be that we’re starting early. Either way, you’ll want to have those PMD boxes organized and at the ready just in case.

Coincidentally, or not, we just received many of our PMD patterns over the past couple of days so we’ll be working this weekend on shuffling the bins to move the PMD’s front and center and the BWO’s to the back burner.

Whether we see more bugs this weekend or not you would do well to get some PMD nymphs into your mix. Split Case PMD’s, Magic Flies, Psycho Mays, Redemptions, Crack Backs, Gold Lightning Bugs and PT Little Green Machines all good options. The sows aren’t going anywhere so keep them in the mix and maybe try a worm as recent bumps in the flows have triggered the worm bite.

Streamers continue to be more miss than hit and with all of that sunshine in the forecast conditions are not optimal but we are nearing the end of spring streamer season so if you’re going to do it this is the time. Soon the summer aquatic vegetation will be taking hold making stripping an exercise in futility.

Go flashy, go yellow, go copper and strip fast, still incorporating plenty of pauses. The big browns are still on the hunt, setting up in the shallows for the ambush so you’ve still got a shot at that day maker or maybe even the fish of a lifetime.

We are open early at 7 AM every day for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. Tons of bugs, Adipose Drift Boat Rentals, The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO, ice, fishing licenses, sun protection and so much more. We hope you make us your Missouri River One Stop on your way to the MO this Memorial Day Weekend.

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