That’s right. The fourth of JULY. Can it really be?

According to the calendar we should be well into our prime season on the Missouri but the fact is we’re actually just getting started.

The water has finally started to drop (12,200 cfs at the time of this writing) bringing a collective sigh of relief from the army of wade anglers  who’ve been patiently waiting for it to happen.

The BWO’s came and went and PMD’s are waning but you should be able to catch the tail end. There have been some near-epic caddis events (minus rising fish) and  Tricos are starting to enter the mix. We’ve been saying it for weeks now while we’ve been waiting for the water to drop but just to reiterate, we should be in for some awesome dry fly fishing in the days and weeks to come and late summer terrestrial fishing could be off the charts.

It’s July and the majority of these fish have not yet been fished to with dry flies.

Nymphing is another story. While the fish haven’t seen many dry flies they’ve seen a Zirdle and Sow bug hatch of legendary proportion…..and they continue to eat them! Most of the Zirdle bins on the MO are now empty but not to fear, they will soon be filled again.

And speaking of empty bins, we expect we’ll have more than a few as today is our third annual Make America Fly fourth of July fly sale. All flies HALF off. Don’t miss this one.

The river is on the quiet side today as far as anglers go which is generally the case on the 4th of July which is traditionally a big rec day on the MO’.

Celebrate Freedom today and celebrate the long-awaited arrival of hot sunny summer days and cold clean fishy water.

Wishing you all a Happy Fourth from all of us at WCA. We are so blessed to live in this great nation and we owe all of you a huge debt of gratitude for making it possible for us  to do what we do for a living.

Cheers!

With much more of May behind us than ahead of us and just a month to go until the official start of summer things have settled into a biggish water groove here on the Missouri River.

We did hit that 15K CFS mark last Saturday and it looks like we’ll hold there (give or take) for the foreseeable future. We did make the call that day that drift boat rentals will not happen at 15K or more. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused over the weekend or may cause for the weeks ahead. The safety of our customers is our number one concern when it comes to boat rentals and we’d much rather pass on the rentals than have any of our clients get into trouble out there. Not that something drastic happens on the water at 15K that isn’t happening at 14,500K but you have to draw the line somewhere.

That being said we would be more than happy to book you with one of our guides for an awesome day on the water. Our guides are out there every day and know the water better than anyone. They know where it’s safe to drop anchor and where it’s not and more importantly…they know where the fish are and they will do everything they can to put you on them.

Fishing has been good and will continue to be from here on out. It’s never a given but suffice it to say that we’ve had many more good days than bad as of late. Nymphing has been where it’s at though we have done a few streamer trips as well  with moderate success most days.

The year of the Tailwater Sow continues and judging by the empty sow bug bins in all of the shops it’s time to find the next HOT bug. Stick with worms (we like firebead steelies and Fish Finders) and don’t get stuck on the one bug mentality. It may seem like #14 Tailwater Sows are the ONLY thing that’s working but there are all kinds of sow bug patterns and despite the fact we are often humbled by these fish they really aren’t THAT smart or that discerning. Show them something similar and they’ll likely eat it. Or show them something completely different and you just might be surprised.

Other good bets from the nymph bins right now include Rainbow Czechs, Tan UV Czechs, Pink Amex, Firebead Rays, Soft Hackle Sows, Purple Lightning Bugs, Pill Poppers, UV Crush, Tung Darts, weight flies, Little Green Machines, Psycho Mays, Bubbleback Emergers, Peep Shows, Split Case BWO’s, Micromays, Zebras and straight up old school Pheasant Tails.

Dry Fly action has been sporadic at best. There are bugs. There are always a few fish rising but they seem to be few and far between. Don’t count on making a day out of it.

Streamer Fishing continues to have its moments but you’ve got to know what you are looking for water wise and you have to have the right line to get down  fast.  The higher flows haven’t made for the best streamer fishing but as always we encourage you to keep at it. It’s totally worth your while!

Need a new streamer line or a whole streamer set up? We’d love to walk you through your options and get you set up with what works best for you.

Following an extremely busy Caddis Fest Weekend things have quieted down considerably this week. We’ve got plenty of lodging available through the weekend though we’ve been busy with bookings this morning so don’t wait too long.

What better way to spend the UNOFFICIAL start of the summer season than a fly fishing getaway to the Missouri River? The small streams opened last weekend and while I did see a few folks trying their luck on the churning muddy waters of the LPP your best bet for clean, fishable water and lots of hungry trout is without a doubt, the Missouri.

Dawn is coming earlier each day which has led to some earlier starts but there still aren’t many on the water before 8 am. We’re open daily at 7 am, earlier than most, for everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, ice, sun protection, rain gear, wading gear  and the biggest and best bug selection ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

These are a couple of videos showing the extensive flooding in Western Montana. As you can imagine, videos and news reports like these have led to a lot of calls from folks who have Missouri River fishing trips booked for sometime this month or next and who, understandably, are wondering what their options are.

Let me start by saying I don’t want to downplay the seriousness of the situation in any way. The flooding is a real thing which has affected thousands of people in Montana….fishing guides and outfitters included. The snowpack is still well above average for this time of year so there’s plenty more to come.
Some rivers are reaching, or have already reached flood stage and many are flowing at levels which haven’t been seen in some cases in over 100 years.

The Missouri is not one of them.

While the Blackfoot, Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers are all running dangerously high the Missouri, while bigger than we’ve seen it for some time, continues to offer a safe and high quality Montana fly  fishing experience.

Like we saw with the wildfires last summer, national news coverage can be misleading. Just because the state of Montana is on fire (which much of it was) or western Montana is underwater (which some of it is), it doesn’t mean these things are necessarily happening in the places you are headed to and if you’re headed to the Missouri here’s what you can expect…

The birds are singing, the sun is shining, the water is relatively clean and well within its banks and most importantly the trout are eating. Conditions are great for fishing from a drift boat and while there are a few wading anglers around we wouldn’t advise it at this point. It’s spring time in Montana and the fishing is just fine so we hope to see you soon on the Missouri.

Once again, if you have concerns about your trip by all means give us a call and let’s talk about it but please keep in mind that there is a major difference between 13,000 – 15,000 CFS of run off on a freestone…

and the same dam controlled flows in a tailwater like the Missouri. It may not be exactly what you had in mind but not only is there great fishing to be had  but these  flushing flows are exactly what the river needs and it should pay big dividends when it comes to this season’s aquatic vegetation and next season’s bug life.

It’s Caddis Fest weekend so expect plenty of traffic in and around Wolf Creek and Craig and drift boats a plenty on the MO’.  Stop in and see us for up to the minute Missouri River intel and the biggest and best bug selection ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Book your Missouri River trip of a lifetime today.

The busy spring season is now fully upon us and while there have been some challenging days out there you can rest assured that there are plenty fish being caught. We’ve been getting a lot of calls about the river flows and where they might be headed and many are wondering, understandably so, what effect these bigger flows are going to have on the fishing.

Here’s what we know.
At the time of this writing flows below Holter continue to hold at 12,400 cfs which is where they’ve been for the last couple of days. Water temperature continues to climb and is currently just over 46 degrees.

We have received notice that flows will be increased this afternoon and again tomorrow afternoon to control the rate of fill at Canyon Ferry which is currently 70 percent full.

Snow pack for the Missouri mainstem remains at around 125% of average. There is some rain in the forecast for the next couple of days but cooler temps will go a long way in slowing the snow melt.

So what does this all mean for your Missouri River fly fishing plans?

Here are some answers to FAQ’s.

1. How’s the fishing?  Fair to good. The majority of the fishing is happening between Holter Dam and Craig right now. Nymphing is by far your best bet. Some days its ON, some days it’s a little tougher. Some who are fishing on their own have had a tough go of it, some have had exceptional days. As you would expect guided anglers have had more success overall than those fishing on their own but guided or not, the majority of the traffic has been and will continue to be between the dam and Craig. The water between the dam and Little Prickly Pear is of course the cleanest which would explain the traffic jams happening on occasion up there. Don’t be afraid to launch at Wolf Creek though as there is plenty of good water between Wolf Creek and Craig. At these flows you can cover that stretch fairly quickly with plenty of time to go up and do the dam to Wolf Creek for the second half of your day. Don’t tell anyone about this sneaky move! Tailwater sows, Pill Poppers, Wire Worms, Caviar Scuds, Pink Amex, Rainbow Czechs, Grey Little Green  Machines…pretty much the same stuff you’ve been running for the past couple of weeks. All available now at Wolf Creek Angler. Some are running short, more are running long with more weight than they want to but it’s all about adjusting to the conditions. Keep this in mind, act on it and you should do just fine.
2. Is there any wade fishing?  Some. Not a lot. Fishing is definitely best done from a drift boat these days but there are a few guys wading out there. Should you decide to wade please use extreme caution and don’t try to wade out too far.  Keep in mind while you may think you need to get out further look at what the guys in the boats are doing. More often than not they’re hugging the banks and fishing out to the same water you’d be fishing to from your wade spot. We aren’t expecting ideal wade conditions this spring. Think summer!
3. Is it worth coming out?  Absolutely it is. If you made plans ahead of time to fish in Montana in May then the Missouri is the place to be. The clean water flowing from Holter Dam and the awesome trout population make the MO’ THE place to be no matter the flows.
4. What will the flows be in June?  We don’t know. There are many variables, most of which have to do with the weather. Temps and amount of precipitation are key. The graph below is what the experts expect….we’ll go with that for now.

5. Do you have amazing Missouri River Fly Fishing Guides and clean and affordable lodging available for prime dates?     Why yes, yes we do.  It just so happens that we’ve had a few prime dates open up with some of the most sought after guides on the river. Give us a call at (406)235-4350 or drop us a line at info@wolfcreekangler.com to see what we can do for you.

It’s going to be a good, long season here in Montana and we’d love for you to be here. We understand and appreciate your concerns about the water and we encourage you to give us a call if you would like to talk about it. The bottom line at this point is that wading is not going to be optimal, at least not for the immediate future but if you don’t mind fishing from a boat we are of the opinion that you’re in for great times on the Missouri this spring.  Green hills, blue skies, sunshine and hot fish…does it get any better?

It’s been another wintery week on the Missouri with those April showers in the form of snow, not rain. If you look closely you can see the buds on the trees starting to take shape but for the most part it still looks and feels like winter.

The spring sun feels great when we’ve seen it and it generally makes quick work of melting the snow but we can’t seem to break away from winter precipitation and ridiculously cold temps in the forecast.

All that being said it could be worse….much worse. Spring precipitation and cold temps at night are exactly what we need to ensure a great season ahead so while we’re all anxious for sunshine, green vegetation, a steady stream of customs and warm spring days on the water we do appreciate the conditions and what they mean for the season ahead.

Looking towards next week it looks like we may just be emerging from winter’s grip, not that you haven’t heard that a time or two over the past few weeks but this time I think it might be for real.

We’ll see 50’s early next week, maybe even close to 60 on Tuesday. Unfortunately it looks like its going to blow but that’s to be expected and will come as no surprise to anyone who fishes here regularly. The better news is that overnight lows in the 30’s rather than the teens mean we may finally get the green light to open up the rest of our lodging including the newly remodeled #9 and #10.

Spring lodging and guide trip special going strong and running through the end of the month. $550 for two nights of premium lodging at WCA and a full day guide trip for one or two anglers with the best guides on the Missouri.

Don’t miss opening night at Izaak’s tomorrow night and whether or not you’re coming to stay with us you owe it to yourself to come check out the obscene deals on all kinds of great winter gear from all of your favorite brands. Amazing Deals while they last!

We published this last week and it mysteriously disappeared from our blog so we apologize if you’ve already read it.

We recently lost a long-time customer and friend of the Missouri, Perry Herst, who passed away last month. The following is a tribute to Perry written by his and our dear friend David Cooper. Rest in Peace Perry.

A good friend who was also a Missouri River fishing pal of ours, Perry Herst, died recently at the age of 88. Perry first joined us in Wolf Creek about a decade ago, bringing along his friends, Jim and Jean Crabtree.

Perry and the Crabtrees had fished and shot birds together in many parts of the world, including Africa, Alaska, Texas, Montana, and South America. Their tales of adventure, sometimes hilarious, could be spell-binding.

The Crabtrees usually joined us in Wolf Creek from their summer home in Idaho. Their winter residence was in the Los Angeles area. Sadly, Jim, a prominent physician, died several years ago. Jean continued to fish with us for several years and we had many happy times together.

Perry was a fine sportsman, either on the water with a flyrod, or in the field with a shotgun and one of his beloved birddogs. He delighted us always with tales of his exotic hunting and fishing adventures, most often with the Crabtrees. There were many happy dinners together at the Frenchman, Izaak’s or the 7R Ranch.

A native of Chicago, Perry had a keen mind and a successful career as a builder and developer of commercial office buildings, associated with the Tishman Realty and Construction Co. He guided the Los Angeles-based firm as it became one of the nation’s largest privately-held portfolios, with more than 40 million square feet of office space in the U.S. and Europe. Perry and his wife, Angela, had a home in Southern California.

Perry was a wonderful companion on our annual trips. At first blush, some might take him for a curmudgeon, but beneath his sometimes gruff exterior, there was a warm heart and kindness as big as the Ritz. He also was a quiet but significant philanthropist.

With Jerrell Beougher as his guide, Perry was also competitive on the river. “Well, my trout was 23 inches, how big was yours?” or, when nymphing, which he most often did, “How can you land those big trout with those tiny, little flies?”

He was fond of history and loved to talk about politics. He had a sense of humor and a great loyalty to friends and family. Our time together in June, 2017, with Wolf Creek Angler was to be his last trip to the Missouri and it was a bit of a struggle for him.

However, with Jerrell’s constant presence and watchful help, he was on the river everyday, thrilled by each trout he landed and released. Thanks, in part, to Jerrell’s skills, Perry always had a great fish story to tell at dinner. Funeral services were held March 2 in the Los Angeles area. We miss our pal.

By David Cooper, who has been fishing the Missouri from Wolf Creek almost every year since 1984

For your St Patrick’s Day Listening Pleasure….