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October on the MO’

The second season is in full swing here on the Missouri on this second day of October and if the last few days are any indication we could be in for one phenomenal fall fishing season.

Cloudy skies and chilly temps (with the exception of yesterday afternoon when summer made a brief return) have made for ideal conditions. The bugs are going strong and the fish are feasting. These past several days have been a DFO’s dream….a target rich environment to say the least.

Those focusing their efforts below on nymphs and streamers are finding success as well. Fall is definitely among our favorite times to fish the MO’ regardless of the conditions but this fall feels like it has the potential to go down as one of the best in recent memory.

We do have some interesting weather on the horizon next week with the forecast calling for snow with highs in the 30’s and lows in the 20’s. Wednesday could be challenging with a high of 31, a low of 22 and up to 3” of snow. Thursday looks roughly the same. Will winter be here to stay come next week? I wouldn’t count on it but be prepared for the elements if you’re headed out there.

I hit the water a couple of days ago on a 40ish degree morning and opted for muck boots instead of waders and a flannel shirt and vest instead of a jacket. Bad call. The forecast was for highs in the mid 50’s which I’m not sure we ever saw. I didn’t bring gloves, I didn’t bring a stocking cap. Thankfully my buddy had extras.

To be fair, I have piles of gloves and hats and jackets stashed in my boat so I’m used to having what I need when I need it, but on this day we were not in my boat and I didn’t do a very good job of being prepared for the elements. Being cold will rapidly ruin a good day so layer up and bring an extra pair of gloves. Err on the side of too many layers….you can always remove the ones you don’t need.

Along these lines we’re stocked up in the shop with great base layers, outerwear and hats and gloves a plenty from Simms and waders and boots from Redington and Korkers. Stop by the shop for all the best cold weather gear.

With the exception of the chill in the air it feels a bit like July around here right now with close to a full house all month long. We have had a few cancellations from folks who didn’t like the looks of next week’s forecast so we do have a couple of rooms available should you decide to brave the elements. We do have guides at the ready as well who’d like nothing better than to get you dialed in to fall fishing on the Missouri.

Six weeks from now we’ll likely be looking back at the awesome fall season that was. Don’t let it pass you by. Give us a call and book NOW! We’re open daily 7:30 am – 5:00 pm and we invite you to come in and discover what the buzz is all about. Wolf Creek Angler is the best Missouri River Fly Shop you never knew was here. Our mission is to earn your business, one customer at a time by providing you with exceptional customer service and the quality products and services you expect from your Missouri River fly Shop.

Come discover all that Wolf Creek has to offer. Not only is Wolf Creek home to THE up and coming Missouri River Fly Shop, Lodge and Guide Service, but it’s also got great dining (and drinking) options with Shotgun Annie’s and The Oasis; the best cell service for MILES AROUND; The Canyon Store which is the ONLY gas station/convenience store between Helena and Cascade and all closer to Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge FAS than ANY OTHER SHOP.

And speaking of Wolf Creek Bridge FAS – The FAS will be closed to the public starting tomorrow for a capital improvement project which will take approximately 30 days or less.

This will definitely be an inconvenience for the time being but it sounds like we’ll soon also be closer to the NICEST and NEWEST FAS on the MO’.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-10-02T19:59:03-06:00October 2nd, 2018|Categories: Local Buzz, Shop Life, Uncategorized, Wolf Creek Chatter|Tags: fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek Angler, Wolf Creek Bridge FAS|0 Comments

Why you should hire a guide from Wolf Creek Angler

There’s no shortage of outfitters to choose from when planning your Montana Fall Fly Fishing Odyssey so we’re honored and humbled when you choose us.

You can feel good knowing that when you book a trip with Wolf Creek Angler you are booking with an outfitter who not only takes pride in providing clients with an exceptional fly fishing experience but who is also deeply invested in caring for the resource and contributing to the local community.

It’s not to take away from what anyone else is doing. There are plenty of great outfitters offering the same trips we do, but the big difference is that when you book with a local outfitter owned shop such as ours then by extension your dollars are actually going to support the resource and the surrounding community rather than just the outfitter or the guide. For me, giving back to the resource and the community is a no brainer.

My commitment to the resource includes a lifetime membership in TU as well as serving as Vice President of the Pat Barnes Missouri River Chapter of TU. Several of our guides also serve on this board. Wolf Creek Angler also supports and contributes annually to fund raising efforts by the Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance.

On a community level we hire locally and we make a significant contribution to the economy of Wolf Creek and Craig by bringing in a steady stream of guests and clients who shop and dine locally during their stay. Additionally I serve as Vice President of the Wolf Creek Water and Sewer District and Wolf Creek Angler also contributes annually to the Craig Caddis Fest and the Wolf Creek Community Spaghetti Feed fundraisers which raise money for our local volunteer fire departments.

We are also committed to supporting our veterans and active duty military personnel through hosting the Montana Project Healing Waters Drift Boat program which provides drift boat rentals on the Missouri River free of charge to all vets.

There are many from around the state who make a living off of this amazing resource. Not so many are those of us who have also invested our hopes and dreams and dollars into this amazing place.

Once again, we feel so blessed to be able to do what it is we do for a living and we are so appreciative of each and every customer for helping us to realize our dream. Thank you for your business and for your support of the Missouri River and the Wolf Creek community.

We can’t wait to see you in Wolf Creek this fall.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-09-13T18:59:52-06:00September 12th, 2018|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Image courtesy of Lady Fi https://ladyfi.wordpress.com/

I hope we all take the time today to remember this date and to reflect on what is truly important.

I’ve posted about 9/11 for each of the past several years and while I don’t want to rehash those posts I do think there are some ideas and thoughts which bear repeating.

This is not a day for politics. This is not a day for proving a point.

This day is for counting our blessings and for taking some time to appreciate our commonality rather than dwelling on our differences.

The world is changing rapidly and it seems kindness has become the exception rather than the rule.

We’re becoming more and more polarized as we throw in with our respective “teams” at any cost. Civility has increasingly gone by the wayside.

We should never forget the events of September 11th, 2001 but more importantly we should remember how it felt, however briefly, when we were all on the same team…when we all shared the shock/anger/sadness/outrage and we related to one another with empathy and kindness.

So maybe on this day make an extra effort to cherish the people you hold dear and to be kind to all of those whose paths you cross, even if you don’t particularly like them and even if their world view opposes your own. Kindness is contagious and makes life so much more enjoyable.

I strive to get there every day and almost always fall short. Days of remembrance like this one remind me why I should try harder.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-09-11T13:43:34-06:00September 11th, 2018|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|2 Comments

Fall Colors on the MO’

September has arrived.

Labor Day has come and gone. Summer Vacation is OVER. School is back in session. High School and college football are underway and NFL football returns this Sunday. Could this be the Lions’ year?

Technically we’ve still got almost three weeks of summer to go but for all intents and purposes autumn has arrived.

It even feels like fall today with a chilly 42 degrees this morning and a high only in the 60’s. We’ll see a return to the 80’s this week before things trend cooler again starting Saturday.

As you might imagine the Tuesday after Labor Day tends to be a quiet day in the shop and on the river but it won’t be long before things fire up again as we enter what we’ve come to refer to as our “second season”.

Rivaling our peak months of June and July, mid -September through mid- November offer some of the best fishing of the season. Having lost a good part of the prime time this season to high flows we’re hoping for an especially strong fall and by the looks of things we’re going to get it.

Guide dates and lodging are filling quickly for late September and the first half of October. The weather will dictate what happens after that but late October and early November have been money for as long as I’ve been here.

We’ll keep as much lodging open for as long as we can but as the cold begins to take hold we’ll be forced to start shutting things down, likely mid to late October. The motel units are the first to be closed and we generally keep the cabins open through Thanksgiving. Our bungalows and the shop are open year round and guides are available any and every day of the year.

Epic dry fly fishing and phenomenal streamer fishing along with great nymphing opportunities define late fall on the Missouri. Crisp autumn air, BWO’s and predatory browns on the prowl make fall my favorite time to fish the MO’ and in fact my favorite time to fish period.

Crowds will soon return, though not like what we see during the prime time so there is some solitude to be had out there as many turn their attention to hunting from here on out.

Expect tricos to continue for the next week or two and stay focused on your pseudo as well as your hopper/terrestrial game. Caddis have been resurgent as of late and will continue to offer opportunities as we await the autumn BWO’s.

Nymphers are finding success with gold or purple weight flies, Psycho Mays, LGM’s, Purple Lightning Bugs, PT’s, Peep Shows, Redemptions, Zebras, 2 Bits and the like. Claws R Cray, Snapping Crays and Zirdles continue to drive the numbers.

Streamer fishing is heating up and will only get better from here on out. Low light conditions and overcast days are key but don’t feel like you can’t fish streamers in the sun. Sunny clear days may not be optimal but you never know unless you throw. There are plenty of big fish caught on streamers on sunny days. Don’t wait for perfect conditions, work with what you’ve got.

Speaking of conditions, prepare yourself mentally to contend with the weeds no matter how you’re fishing. They can frustrate the best anglers out there but if you choose your water wisely and expect the inevitable it’ll go a long way in helping you maintain your sanity.

Olive has been working well as have natural and tan. JJ Sparkle Minnow shines this time of year but don’t give up on the Sculpin version which seems to get it done in just about any conditions. ZK’s MK Ultra in grey or brown and yellow, Dirty Hippies, ZK’s Inflated Ego, Montana Mouthwash, Galloups Peanut Envy, Skiddish Smolt, buggers and polar leeches all good choices right now.

You’ve heard it here plenty and we’ll continue to preach it…fish what you like and fish it well. Confidence in your bugs makes all the difference in the world no matter what discipline but it’s critical in the streamer game.

Most are stripping, some are swinging. Cover a lot of water and bomb the banks but don’t overlook the riffles, drop offs and buckets. The fish are everywhere. Stripping off of the bank will get you your best ROI but you could definitely hit pay dirt hitting the water overlooked by most.

Fish the next two weeks if you want solitude. Busy days are coming.

Holter Dam to Craig is still your best bet for mixing it up with nymphs and dries (emphasis on nymphs). I’d stay below Craig if it’s streamer or terrestrial action you seek.

Welcome to fall on the Missouri. Be sure and pay us a visit for obscene deals on summer gear. We’re in the process of shifting to colder weather gear and will see an influx of new arrivals coming soon.

From the top guides on the river to affordable lodging to shuttles and accessories, rods and reels, lines and leaders, boots and waders and the best bug selection in the canyon we are your Missouri River one stop shop for everything autumn fly fishing.

Don’t miss our Fall Wader Sale happening now. Fall is the time to drag the waders and boots back out. Why not treat yourself to an upgrade. 25% off all wading gear while it lasts. We proudly feature Redington waders and boots as well as Korkers boots which continue to dominate with interchangeable felt and rubber soles.

There are always great deals to be had at Wolf Creek Angler, the best shop you never know was here.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-09-04T19:17:49-06:00September 4th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, Redington, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Late August Report

We saw a big change in the weather yesterday as temps peaked in the high 40’s before dropping into the high 30’s last night. A soaking rain and gusty north wind gave us a taste of what’s soon to come. Those who braved the elements and fished yesterday hit it just right.

Lots of fish up, solid nymphing and the best streamer fishing we’ve seen since early spring. Hopefully this too is an indicator or what’s to come.

Don’t put away the flip flops and sunscreen just yet. After all, we’ve still got more than three weeks of summer to go. We’ll see temps in the 70’s this week but the shorter days and the cool nights definitely have us thinking about fall fishing.

The trico hatches continue to please most mornings and should last at least another couple of weeks. Terrestrial fishing has been improving and will run through mid October. And speaking of October, it won’t be long before we start seeing some October Caddis.

The Zirdle has reclaimed top spot this past week in the nymphing world. We’ve had good luck with both the tan and the olive. I’m not sure the color is critical at this point. Try a Claws R Cray or a Snapping Cray as well. Black Zebra Midges at the dam and Peep Shows, S & M’s, Psycho Mays, LGM’s, Purple Lightning Bugs and Frenchies all good options as well.

Medium depth, faster water running 5 – 6′ overall sans split shot has been the ticket for me but short leashing the shallows has also been productive.

The best nymphing has been from Holter Dam to Stickney. The canyon has provided plenty of solitude and plenty of fish as well. Give the hoppers a go through the canyon, with or without a dropper. We’ve been getting looks and eats on Chubbies (purple, gold and royal) and have finally started to get some action on hoppers as well. More or Less and Moorish Hoppers in peach or tan (#10 ) should do the trick.

I missed the action these last two days but as I mentioned above it sounds like the best streamer fishing of the summer….by far. Two words…. Sparkle Minnow…that’s all you need to know for now.

Weeds will be a frustration whether you’re dry fly fishing, nymphing or streamer fishing. Anticipate that going in and deal with it. If you don’t come mentally prepared you could be in for a discouraging day on the MO’.

As I mentioned, we’ve still got more than three weeks of summer to go but that fall feeling is definitely taking hold.

School is back in session, football is about to start, archery and upland bird hunting opens Saturday, Oktoberfest beers have begun to appear on store shelves, green leaves have begun to turn to oranges and reds and yellows and you may or may not have already fired up your furnaces.

Traffic is still relatively light on the river and with many switching their focus to hunting it may get even lighter for the next week or two but we’re not far from what we like to refer to as our Second Season. The shops and lodges and restaurants (and of course the river) will soon be abuzz with activity again as we close out the 2018 season.

Don’t miss out on Autumn fishing on the Missouri. It’s a magical time to be here.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-28T17:57:32-06:00August 28th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Wolf Creek Angler is the exclusive host for Montana Project Healing Waters free drift boat rental program.

Wolf Creek Angler is proud to be the exclusive host of the Montana Project Healing Waters drift boat rental program which provides free drift boat rentals on the Missouri River to all vets and active duty military personnel.

The shop hosts and maintains three custom Adipose Flow drift boats available free every day. The boats can be reserved by logging on to montanahealingwaters.org and using the Reserve A Drift Boat link to select dates and boat options. Two of the boats come equipped with removable knee braces, the third has no braces and can be fitted with custom wheelchair platforms if necessary.

The boats are typically hauled by the user (2″ ball required) but can be dropped off and picked up by Wolf Creek Angler for a fee. Vehicle shuttles are also available for purchase if needed.

“When the opportunity arose for Wolf Creek Angler to host all three of the PHW boats it was a total no-brainer” commented Jason Orzechowski, owner of Wolf Creek Angler. “We’d been impressed with the program from the start and had been lobbying PHW to place a boat with us since we opened the doors”.

They got their wish last fall when the board elected to add a third boat to the program and place it at WCA. Earlier this spring the other two PHW boats were relocated from Craig to Wolf Creek Angler, making WCA the exclusive host of the program.

“It was our privilege to finally get a chance to host a boat last fall” explained Orzechowski. “Having all three of the boats here this season has been awesome. We’ve met so many great people and the vast majority of them are so appreciative of the program. We owe these vets and active duty military a huge debt of gratitude and I feel like this is the least we can do to say thank you to those who are willing to serve.”

Montana Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of active military personnel and veterans through flyfishing, fly tying education, and outings, and education on the conservation, restoration, and improvements to Montana’s fisheries and their habitats.

Please consider donating your time or resources to this exceptional organization to help fund the outstanding work they do for veterans here in Montana.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-17T16:22:18-06:00August 20th, 2018|Categories: Local Buzz, Montana Fly Fishing, Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, Montana Project Healing Waters, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

One from the kid…A guest blog by John Orzechowski

This one is going to be a little different. This isn’t Jason, and this isn’t Zach. If we haven’t met before, I’m John, and I’m Jason’s son. I’m a senior at Helena High School and my days spent in Helena and on the Missouri River are officially limited. If all goes according to plan, at this time next year I’ll be preparing to move to Missoula to pursue a journalism degree at U of M.

I don’t know why it’s taken over four years for my dad to ask me to contribute to Running Line. Probably because I wasn’t set in my journalism mindset until just the last few months (and also probably because I never offered). When he asked me to write a blog I got excited because writing is a passion of mine and something that I personally think I’m pretty good at. At most this is a reflection of the time I spent here and at least it’s a break for my dad.

When my parents bought this shop in December 2013, I was twelve years old. If you met me then, you might remember me as the kid who ran around the property with sticks or his BB gun and had to be reined in by his dad because it looked weird to have a little kid running around with weapons, however fake they were. For the first couple years, I wasn’t the most helpful person around. I would spend my days climbing the mountain behind the shop, exploring the creek across the street, or just sitting in our camper with my Legos.

This is a coming of age story with one of the most influential settings being a small fly shop in a town of 400 people, fewer than half of which actually live in the town proper.

Of course, my entire life wasn’t spent here. During the school year, I was up here at 7:00 a.m. on Saturdays and during the summer I’d show up for two or three random days out of the week. Wolf Creek by no means became home. But as I grew up Wolf Creek Angler remained a constant in my life.

It is important to note that fishing has never really been my thing. My dad tried from my early years to get me interested, but I never developed a love for it like he or the other people that frequent this shop had. So to me, this was never a passion like it was for dad, Fred, Zach, or the countless regulars who are here at the same time in the same room every summer.

No matter how little I cared for fishing, this shop was a part of my life and part of me tried to make the most of it and the other part of me was forced to make the most of it by my parents. My early days in the American workforce were spent working for $5 an hour, doing random odd jobs any thirteen year old kid could handle. My salary grew with my responsibilities and eventually morphed into my steadiest source of income in my first couple years of senior high (although it’s become a secondary job now, behind a local grocery store) and my spending turned from Legos to clothes and gasoline.

So one might ask, why am I writing for the job that gets the scraps of my schedule? Because this place means more than money. It’s been about spending time with my dad, which becomes increasingly more difficult as I get older. It’s been about forging relationships with the regular guests from across the country who show up year after year.

As I started being more involved in the shop, I noticed the daily meeting of guides and clients at 7:00 or 7:30 in the morning. I was fascinated with the guide culture even though I didn’t like fishing. Every time my dad told me I should be a guide, I thought about those 15 minutes that the guides spent at the shop before I thought about the fishing. He’s stopped telling me I should pursue it because he realizes I’m set in what I want to do. Call me a poser, but that early morning bustle of guides and clients intrigued me enough to want to be up here. But not enough to make me want to fish.

To wrap it up, this place was my first job but it was more than a job for me. It was a social experience that I loved but didn’t belong in. I made some real friends from other states, people that I look forward to seeing every summer. I probably annoyed a lot of the guides I talked to every morning because I couldn’t talk fishing so either didn’t or spewed nonsense. It was a way for me to hang out with my dad. I didn’t treasure it when I saw him every night, but I probably will when I’m living in a different city than him.

I’ll write a few more of these throughout this next year, until I hopefully leave for college.

Until next time,
John Orzechowski

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-08T15:56:21-06:00August 8th, 2018|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|4 Comments

Caddis Sunset – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

I overheard some folks at dinner the other night proclaiming that the season is back after apparently having had a particularly good dry fly day, and while I’m not sure it ever really started to begin with it does seem as though things are coming into shape….just in time for the late summer lull.

There are bugs (tricos a plenty, lingering PMD’s and caddis in the evening). The water is perfect for wading (right around 5K and holding) and most importantly, there are pods of rising fish.

It’s happening much later than what it usually does but better late than never!

As luck would have it the summer traffic cycle has been normal. Prime Time traffic is over but Prime Dry Fly Fishing has just begun.

The boat ramps are quiet (relatively speaking), there’s an abundance of lodging and guide availability and the river is calling.

As if that weren’t enough, starting tomorrow we’re running our Dog Days of Summer Lodging and Guide Trip special. For the entire month of August when you book a full day guide trip and a night of premium lodging we’ll throw in a second night of lodging for FREE.

Does it get any better?

Keep in mind prime time usually books out a year in advance. Now you’ve got a golden opportunity to fish prime conditions on the Missouri at a huge cost savings with a last minute call.

We can’t make any promises about the fishing. It’s been good these past several days and hopefully will continue to be but there are no guarantees. The conventional wisdom is that tricos will continue through the month of August. PMD’s are all but done but terrestrials are about to become a major player. Caddis activity has been somewhat sporadic but is always a possibility.

Will we see epic dry fly days throughout the month of August? Time will tell. I expect we will see some good days and some not so good days, as always.

Give us a call today to book your Dog Days Special. You’ll have the potential for some awesome Trico fishing and there is no better month to fish hoppers on the Missouri. Some of our biggest browns of the season are always caught on hoppers. I haven’t even mentioned the nymphing since most of the focus seems to be on top right now but should you want to fish the bobber you’ll likely do just fine.

Best bets for nymphing right now include Little Green Machines, Weight Flies (gold or purple), Tung Darts, Psycho Mays, PMD and/or Rusty Magic Fly, Black Zebra Midge, PMD Redemption, Purple Lightning Bug, WD 40’s, Soft Hackle PT jigs, Red Headed Step Child, Dark Peep Show, Doc’s Summer Bug, Nitro Caddis Pupa, Pulsating Caddis Pupa, 2 Bits and various crayfish patterns (Claws R, Snapping Cray, Zirdle etc.)

Best Dries- Indicator Spinner Trico, Hi Vis Trico Spinner, RS2 Trico, Drowned Trico, Barr’s Trico Emerger, Trinas Hi Vis Sprout Black, Bloom’s Parachute Caddis, Outrigger Caddis, CDC Caddis Emerger, X Caddis, Front End Loader and your grass hopper or ant of choice. We like More or Less, Moorish and White Cloud hoppers just to name a few.

It’s also time to take advantage of the best deals of the season on Simms sportswear during our Annual Summer Sale. 25% – 30% off men’s and women’s sportswear from Simms, Ouray and more.

This could be the best August we’ve seen in years. Will you be here for it?

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-01T21:19:57-06:00July 31st, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Dog Days on the Way

As we look towards wrapping up this last week of PRIME TIME on the Missouri it’s time to plug our annual Dog Days of Summer Guide Trip and Lodging Special happening all throughout the month of August.

Beginning August 1st, one week from tomorrow, book a full day guide trip and a night of lodging and your second night of lodging is on us.

It’s no secret that August is traditionally a very slow time on the Missouri as far as angling traffic is concerned. The Prime bug events have come and gone and people are starting to look towards autumn outings despite the fact that tricos tend to last through most of the month and August is prime time for hopper/terrestrial fishing.

This being the case it has made sense for us to offer an extra incentive during the late summer to try to draw in more business. What’s different this year though is that since everything got off to a later start with the high water we’re still holding out hope that the best dry fly fishing of 2018 is yet to come.

It’s the perfect culmination of thinning crowds and ever improving fishing conditions. Throw in free lodging and you’d be absolutely crazy not to make a late summer trip to one of the best dry fly rivers in the nation.

We’re still doing early starts to beat the heat so why not arrive the night before your trip and relax. Get a great night’s sleep and save yourself the morning drive. Your guide awaits…just a few steps from your door.

Spend a gorgeous summer day on the water with your guide and then return for another night of relaxation at Wolf Creek Angler. The sun and the heat (and all that fighting fish) will take it out of you and you probably won’t feel like doing much of anything after your trip. You definitely won’t feel like driving home so kick back on the deck and relax after a great meal at Shotgun Annies, The Oasis, Izaaks or The Trout Shop Cafe. Share your stories from the day over a cocktail or two with the other guests or venture out on your own for an evening of hunting heads.

It’s an awesome time of year to avoid the crowds of primetime and there’s no reason you couldn’t stumble into a spectacular fishing day. You just never know.

Prepare for the challenges of the season, embrace those challenges and you’ll have a great day

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-07-24T21:01:59-06:00July 24th, 2018|Categories: Montana Fly Fishing, Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Dog Days of Summer Special, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

photo by Sam Casne

Here we are, well past the mid point of July. Summer is almost a third of the way behind us but in some respects it feels like we’re still waiting for the season to get rolling.

The early morning/late night rental boat marathon is behind us. Our Delaware River contingent has all but disappeared and now we’re reaching the point in the season where typically the Dog Days would soon be upon us. Will that be the case this year? Only time will tell.

This strange season continues to perplex. We had been anticipating some phenomenal dry fly action once the water dropped. The water has dropped. The dry fly fishing has been shy of phenomenal. There are bugs (Trico Madness, evening Caddis and some PMD’s still hanging around), there are fish rising to well presented offerings but overall I would say the dry fly fishing has been on the mediocre side.

The targets seem to be few and far between most days and there are no shortage of dry fly anglers out scouring the river looking for them so it’s been challenging to say the least but if you happen to get there first and you are on your game you will indeed enjoy the Missouri River Dry Fly Experience. More targets would be great, fun for all! In the meantime start early, stay late and don’t overlook the heat of the day.

Will we get our phenomenal dry fly fishing? We’re still hoping so. It could happen any day!

On the flip side nymphing remains the path to numbers. The action on the Zirdle/Sow combo has finally started to slow down but you’d do well to at least give it a go before swapping bugs. Believe it or not there are still a few fish out there who haven’t gotten their fill. Give it a good 30 minutes or so in water you know should be productive and if it isn’t happening swap it out. A good second string has been the purple weight fly trailed with a green machine. Redemptions, S & M’s, 2 Bits and Split Case (all of the PMD variety) have also been effective.

River traffic has dropped off, as is typical for this part of the season, so with what we’ll continue to hope is just a delay in the peak of the dry fly fishing, it could be the perfect opportunity to enjoy solitude and great dry fly fishing on the Missouri. And don’t forget….hopper fishing is coming SOON.

Lodging is pretty well booked up for the rest of the month but there are some holes we’d like to fill. Please call for availability. Once we hit August things drop right off so you’ll have no trouble booking a room. That being said, I think many have started to look towards fall as mid September through November is starting to fill up. Make those fall fishing plans sooner rather than later and give us a call to make sure we can get you rooms and guides for your preferred dates.

Summer rolls on. Get out here and enjoy it while it lasts. Wolf Creek Angler is your one-stop shop for everything Missouri River Fly Fishing and beyond. Affordable lodging, the best guides on the river, Adipose Drift boat rentals, shuttles bugs and so much more.

Remember, we are your exclusive source for Montana Project Healing Waters Adipose drift boat rentals available to all active duty military and vets FREE OF CHARGE each and every day. We are so blessed to have so many brave men and women willing to serve and we feel honored to be able to provide this service for all of you.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-07-19T18:18:56-06:00July 19th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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