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Final Fishing Report for January

We took advantage of the spring-like weather yesterday and got out for one final January float.

I’ve been doing most of my fishing below Craig this winter so thought it would be a good idea to get back on the upper section and see what was going on.

Pretty much the same story in the Wolf Creek to Craig stretch with fish holding steady in the slow winter water. We found them where expected though came up empty handed in a few of the winter go-to spots.

Traffic is still very light though with four boats launching within minutes of one another the ramp and the river almost seem crowded after having been alone out there more often than not for most of the winter.

Flows remain in the 4500 cfs range and water temps have begun to creep up ever so slightly into the 35 degree range. Expect status quo conditions throughout the week with colder temps and possibly some snow arriving this weekend.

Noon to 3 pm still seems to be the best time of the day. We got off to a slow start, putting in just before 11 am. We touched a couple right off the bat but then settled into a bit of a slump until just after lunch time. I changed bugs more often than I generally do in the winter looking for something to get things going and eventually found the black zebra to be the bug of the day. We also had moderate success with the pink Amex, the pill popper and the firebead pink sow but if I were fishing today I’d be starting out with a black zebra and a pink Amex.

The anticipated slow streamer day came to pass yesterday after a month of really good streamer fishing. We did manage to move a couple fish on white but overall I would rate the streamer bite poor. Had we started earlier in the day it probably would have been better but as it was the post 3:30 slot was not anything to get excited about.

Midges present in limited numbers and a few rises observed though we were not rigged for dry fly fishing. I’d say it’s probably time to start having the dry fly rig at the ready.

Expect river traffic to increase as we enter February and move ever-closer to spring.

We opened more lodging this week in an effort to accommodate those fishing the river as well as those fishing the ice. Weekends remain busy but mid-week lodging is rarely full. The shop remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but if you’re interested in lodging and/or guide trips on those days we’ll make it happen.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-01-30T18:33:05-07:00January 30th, 2018|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Mid January Report – What Lies Ahead?

It’s hard to believe but we’re already more than half way through January. Spring will be here before you know it…just 63 days away!

As you might expect the talk has turned to snowpack and spring flows. Everybody wants to know what the water situation will be when they arrive to the Missouri this spring.

Per usual, our response has been non-committal but if pressed on the issue we’ll tell you we are cautiously optimistic that we will see a similar season to last year and that we are hopeful for, but not counting on, a good flushing flow in the 12,000 – 15,ooo cfs range for at least a few days.

Most Missouri River blogs will spend at least a little time on flow predictions, as they should. Some have already proclaimed a great season ahead based on SNOTEL Snow Water Equivalent info which does look good at the moment but which is always subject to dramatic change.

Others have voiced a less optimistic outlook. We are in the camp of the moderate majority believing the glass is currently half full. The glass could remain half full, it could end up near empty, it could overflow. The data we are looking at today will change as the winter progresses. It’s important to keep this in mind when trying to predict the future but there is definitely value in keeping abreast of current conditions.

Snow pack and precipitation forecasts are elements of the map. The map is not the destination but it gets us there one way or another.

So what does this mean for your 2018 Missouri River fly fishing pilgrimage? Probably not a whole lot just yet but we will be keeping an eye on the map for you and will always be happy give your our best guess of what the spring will bring.

Based on today’s map it looks like the most probable outcome will be flows in 4200 cfs range for the remainder of the winter bumping up near 7000 in May and peaking at around 8000 before leveling off in the 4500 range for the summer season.

There could me more water, there could be less but statistically speaking the probability is high that we will see flows falling somewhere in the range presented in this chart…or not.

Our cut and paste water report proclamation….there will be water. How little or how much we don’t know. What we do know is that we will be enjoying awesome fishing on the Missouri no matter what the flows. It could be better fished from a boat, it could be a wade angler’s dream, it will likely be somewhere right in the middle.

We understand the desire to know so you can plan ahead but the best that anyone can do is keep a close eye on the available data and adjust one’s plans accordingly. A word of caution though, prime dates are filling rapidly and will continue to do so. Don’t wait too long or you will end up without a room and/or a guide for 2018.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-01-17T17:21:38-07:00January 17th, 2018|Categories: Uncategorized, Wolf Creek Chatter|Tags: Missouri River, Montana, Montana SNOTEL, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from all of us at Wolf Creek Angler! We wish you peace and prosperity for the coming year and thank you for making us your Missouri River fly fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-25T19:54:02-07:00December 25th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Winter Solstice

Winter has arrived, right on cue. Yesterday’s winter storm delivered around eight inches of snow to Wolf Creek and temperatures plummeted into the single digits last night. Today’s gusty winds could make for hazardous travel with blowing and drifting snow and the next round of precipitation will occur tonight with 2-4 additional inches of snow expected.

So what’s the good news?

Well, first of all, being that today is the first day of winter (the winter solstice) starting tomorrow the days will begin to get longer. The long cold nights won’t be quite as long. You’ll barely notice for some time but just keep it in your mind that the long march towards spring has FINALLY begun. Before you know it the long days of summer will be upon us.

Summer Days on the Missouri

On a related note, the snow and cold is exactly what we need. We’re building next season’s water right now so let’s keep it coming! Things are looking good so far.

We’ve gotten a lot of calls over the past two weeks from the hard water fishing folks wondering how the ice is on Holter. We should start to see some soon!

With highs in the teens and lows in the single digits for at least the next ten days it won’t be long at all before the tent cities spring up on the lakes. Keep us in mind for lodging if you plan on coming out.

Fishing on the Missouri has screeched to a halt after some of the best fall fishing in recent memory. Shelf ice is rapidly forming as water temps plummet. Current temp is 35 degrees and it’s only going to get colder so be sure to dress for it if you plan to brave the frigid waters. I think it’s a safe bet that the fish have migrated en masse to the slow winter depths so that should take some of the mystery out of things from here on out. SLOW, DEEP WATER and anything PINK….that’s what you need to know for winter fishing on the MO’.

Remember, if you still have Christmas shopping to do we’ve got multitudes of awesome last minute gift ideas. We’ll be here (weather dependent) right through Christmas Eve. If you live in Helena and don’t want to make the trip give us a call at the shop, tell us what you need and there’s a pretty good chance I can deliver the goods…free of charge.

Happy Winter Soltstice! Enjoy the snow, appreciate the cold, respect the hazards and think spring!

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-21T18:57:31-07:00December 21st, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized, Wolf Creek Chatter|0 Comments

The Window is Open

Brent with a streamer eating Missouri River piggy.

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect window of opportunity to come out and fish the Missouri it doesn’t get much better than this!

We are currently looking at 26 degrees, overcast skies, a few snow flurries and not a breath of wind (as of 7:45 this morning). The forecast is calling for a chance of snow, and possibly some rain this afternoon with calm winds. Tomorrow looks to be almost as good with partly sunny skies, a high near 40 and winds in the 7-10 mph range. These conditions will persist through early next week though winds return on Friday. We’ll see a return to more seasonable conditions late next week.

How’s the fishing?

It doesn’t suck.

More good days than bad as of late with the prime time slot between 11 AM and 3 PM. Nymphing is good. Go PINK or go home.

Streamer fishing is definitely worth your time as well, especially on overcast days like today. Swing is King during the winter months on the MO’ but that being said, there’s absolutely NO reason you shouldn’t be bombing the banks with a SLOW strip right now. The water is definitely getting colder (currently 37.5 degrees) so you need to keep this in mind and adjust your tactics whether you’re fishing nymphs or streamers but don’t think for a second that you cant catch fish on the strip all winter long.

We hit it just right yesterday afternoon and had one of the better hours of streamer fishing I’ve had this season bringing four nice fish to hand and moving a bunch of others. And then it was over. Just like that.

Will the window be open again today? You won’t know if you don’t go.

Conditions are abundantly adequate right now. Cloudy skies, unseasonably warm temps, CALM winds and NO traffic. What are you waiting for?

Stop by on your way to the river and stock up on Tailwater Sows, Firebead Rays, Pill Poppers , Pink Amex’s, Polar Leeches, Kreelex, Sparkle Minnows and anything else you think you might need but I’m here to tell you, you don’t need much else.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-13T17:02:33-07:00December 13th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Return

If you’ve been following this blog for a while you probably know that my Michigan roots run deep. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Montana and Montana is where I shall stay but there are many things I love about Michigan and as you know, every once in a while I just cant help but self indulge on this blog and share.

In addition to the friends and family who keep us coming back, some of the things I love about Michigan in no particular order are Lions; Tigers; Red Wings; Two Hearted Ale; Oberon; Montague; Traverse City; Mackinac Island; the Pere Marquette, Upper Manistee, White, Muskegon and Au Sable Rivers; Lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior; Norwood; White Lake; Bells; Founders; Legs Inn; Ludington State Park; The Mitten Bar; St Ignace; Leland; Art’s Tavern; Old Channel Inn; Old Channel Trail; Wildcats and Tahquamenon Falls just to name a few.

One of the things I really miss which hits home every November 15th is Michigan’s firearm deer season. Last year I talked about why which if you’re interested in you can check out here, and I also decided that I was going to return to the Michigan woods in 2017 which is exactly what I did last week.

The reaction I got from most everyone here at home when I announced I was going to Michigan to deer hunt was the same, a look of bewilderment generally accompanied by some comment regarding the unprecedented hunting opportunities afforded us here in Montana. I get it. Believe me. I’m well aware of the opportunities here and it’s not lost on me that leaving Montana to hunt deer in Michigan would be something akin to leaving the Missouri River to trout fish most ANYWHERE ELSE! There’s simply no comparison but sometimes we’re looking for something more than the best. Sometimes it’s the fabric of a place along with those with whom you share it that makes it great.

So off to Michigan I went to reconnect with lifelong friends and to spend a few days in the deer woods. Opening day was Wednesday so we spent Tuesday scouting the woods and making sure all was in order for Wednesday’s pre-dawn ritual. It had been six years since I was last in these woods so I wanted to take some time to reacquaint myself with the surroundings. A major wind storm had taken down many trees some time last year, blocking many of our old trails so we spent the good part of the day brushing out new routes to our blinds but aside from that not much had changed. What did strike me was the sweet smell of decaying leaves and soil which I can’t say I missed or even thought about but which I haven’t experienced since moving to Montana.

We hunt on the shores of Lake Michigan in an enchanted mix of sand dunes and cedar swamps and hardwood stands. The smell of the swamp and the carpet of oak and maple and beech leaves underfoot coupled with a few peeks of the late fall sun and a stiff breeze off of the lake made for a magical return. An abundance of huge scrapes and shredded saplings and scarred trees made it clear that there was no shortage of bucks in the area and made for a restless night of anticipation.

We awoke to a steady rain on Wednesday and spent the better part of the day fighting off the chill in our blinds before retreating to the comforts of camp. The nights of reminiscing about the past, of bourbon and beer in our glasses and wild game on our plates and the daylight hours in the blind watching and waiting blurred into one. And just like that it was over. I found myself tearing down my doghouse blind and once again fighting off the familiar melancholy that starts to creep in on that last day of deer camp. This is when the ghosts of the past are most active and I exit the woods sad that the trip has come to an end but on a deeper level saddened by the fact that I have to leave this portal to the past. These woods that hold the memories of times long past and of those who have departed stand in stoic silence, indifferent to our presence or absence. Life continues, lives end, change is constant and the woods remain.

As happens more often than not when hunting public land in Michigan we came away empty handed, at least as far as game goes. We saw plenty of does and a few nice bucks but were not able to seal the deal. My heart was heavy as we drove out of the woods on that last day but the sadness was temporary. By that evening my thoughts had turned towards home. I was ready to see my family and to be back in Montana but the trip turned out to be everything I had expected and more.

It’s often said that you can’t go home again and in some respects I agree. We can go to the physical place we once called home but we can never return to the essence and the actuality of what that place was when we lived there…that place still lives only in our minds. These deer woods on the shores of Lake Michigan still feel like home to me if for no other reason than the majority of my time spent in these woods has been spent one on one, just the woods and me. Midwest hunting is essentially sitting for hours on end with nothing but your thoughts, waiting for the deer to appear. The actuality of these woods has not changed and it will always be the same. The people and the events occurring outside of those hours in the blind continue to change but when it’s just the woods and me I feel the presence of home in my thoughts magnified by familiar surroundings.

I wonder if perhaps I will turn my back on this place when the rest are gone, I suppose that I may. But for now I am happy to have this place that binds together the present and past. This place that allows me to return.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-06T22:25:43-07:00November 21st, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: deer hunting, Lake Michigan, Michigan, Missouri River, Montana, running line|3 Comments

Thanksgiving Week on the MO’

Wolf Creek is your Missouri River late fall and Winter Fly Fishing Destination – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Near perfect late fall fishing weather here on the Missouri this Thanksgiving week.

We’re looking at cloudy skies and highs in the 40’s today and tomorrow with a chance for some rain each day and we’ll climb into the 60’s on Wednesday and Thursday. Partly sunny and mid to high 40’s return for the weekend.

We’re all filled up with hunters right now but we do have openings starting on Wednesday and once we hit Saturday we’re wide open.

We’ve begun to transition into our winter schedule at the shop so things can be a little hit or miss with shop hours but we are open EVERY DAY for lodging and guide trips so if a late fall getaway to the MO’ sounds appealing give us a call and book your trip today. We are hands down the best deal on lodging and guide trips you’ll find anywhere.

Our cabins and bungalows are clean, cozy and comfy and at $99/night (plus tax) they are the best deal around. At $350 our winter guide trip rates can’t be beat and if you really want a deal take advantage of our winter lodging and guide trip special….two nights of premium lodging and a full day guide trip with some of the fishiest guides on the river for just $500. You’ll pay close to that just for a guide trip elsewhere!

As many of you know, winter is when Wolf Creek shines. We’ve got Shotgun Annie’s, the only restaurant between Helena and Cascade. We’ve got the Canyon Store, the only gas station/convenience store between Helena and Cascade and with the best deals on lodging and guide trips and a shop filled with everything you need for fly fishing the MO’ at Wolf Creek Angler why would you go anywhere else? And as if that weren’t enough…we are closer to the Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge boat launches than any other shop. We encourage you to explore the entire river but the fact is the Holter Dam to Craig stretch is where people fish in the winter so why not stay where you’re going to play?

We’ll be here tomorrow at 9 am with regular hours on Wednesday ( 8 am – 4 pm). We will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday but will be back here with limited hours on the weekend. Our plan for winter days/hours for the shop going forward is to be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and open the rest of the week at 8 am. Weather tends to play a HUGE roll in our winter schedule so we encourage you to give us a call before you come out just to make certain we are going to be here.

It’s time to nymph em’ up….winter style.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-06T22:27:13-07:00November 20th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

All Hallow’s Eve on the MO

I would call it The Calm Before the Storm with the threat of winter weather on the way but that would be discounting the substantial sustained winds we’re experiencing this last day of October. On the bright side we’re pushing 50 degrees today so it’s not so bad but things are about to change. Expect much colder temps with a good chance for snow every day right on through the weekend.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t plan to fish…you definitely should. The wind forecast looks tolerable and with an abundance of clouds and occasional snow showers, the conditions could be just right for yet another week of excellent fall fishing. Couple this with the fact that you might just have the river to yourself and there’s no reason you shouldn’t welcome November with a trip to the Missouri.

Layer up and hit the water.

Nymphing has been off the charts most days and should continue to be your numbers option. Many are finding great success with the short leash but don’t feel like you have to. The longer rigs will get it done as well as the fish begin to transition towards winter water. We are currently holding in the high 40’s and it should remain that way at least for the next few weeks, barring a serious plummet into arctic air.

Your broken record nymphing report…..sow bugs and zebra midges. Ninch’s Pill Poppers have been effective and we’re getting a few to go on various firebead options but the plain old Tailwater Sow (no bead) has been the best bet. Mix it up with a soft hackle sow or a green machine, in fact you might even want to give the Cotton Candy LGM a go. We’ve had some action on the Pink Radiation Baetis and Pink Lightning Bugs though I’d definitely start with the aforementioned Tailwater Sows and Zebras before you venture too far into the slutty winter staples.

I got a request the other day to post an illustration of a standard double nymph rig (as opposed to a short leash rig). I would much rather have you come in and we can build one together because I’m not much of an artist but this should give you the general idea. Once you get your rig built it shouldn’t change from the split shot down unless you decide to add or subtract weight but I always recommend depth adjustments before doing anything with weight. To change the depth simply move your indicator up or down the leader to accomplish your desired depth.

The indicated measurements are just a baseline, everyone has their preferred rig but this should get you started. Some like to run a little shorter on the trailing nymph, others run longer. Some tie the trailing nymph off of the eye of the point fly, I prefer to tie off the bend of the hook. Start here and modify as you see fit.

If you want to convert to a short leash rig simply remove the split shot and move the indicator down the leader so it’s 3′ – 4′ from your point fly. We recommend downsizing your indicator to a 1/2″ bobber or a palsa pinch on type indicator and you might ditch the tungsten Czech and go with something on the lighter side.

Dry fly fishing in the snow? You bet. It’s been an awesome fall for fishing BWO’s and we’re hoping for a few more stellar days before it all comes to an end. I haven’t had much reason to change from my go-to BWO rig this fall. An Olive Parachute Adams paired with a DOA cripple has been money for me but your options are limitless and as we reach the tail end of fall BWO’s you may just find that you need to show them something sneaky to get them to go.

I’ve all but retired the dry fly rig for the time being, concentrating most of my efforts on the streamer game but there’s something for everybody right now and have I mentioned having the water to yourself? Big game hunting is in full swing which has drastically reduced the traffic and the forecast will keep many away as well. Those of us who live, work and fish here all year long love November on the Missouri, you will to.

Early winter hours go into effect tomorrow. We will be open Monday – Saturday (for the time being) from 8 AM – 5 PM and 8 AM – 4 PM on Sundays. We are open EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR for lodging and guide trips regardless of the shop schedule.

Fall Classic back in LA tonight at 6. And keep a sharp eye out for little ghosts and goblins prowling the streets and sidewalks after dark.

Happy Halloween from all of us at Wolf Creek Angler.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T15:54:35-07:00October 31st, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|1 Comment

Enjoy the weather….winter is on the way

Coming Soon!

It’s going to be another beautiful Indian Summer day on the Missouri today with highs nearing 65 degrees. Enjoy it while you can as the weather is about to take winter turn. A week from today we’ll be looking at snow and a high of 22 with lows in the single digits!

Sunny skies could hinder the bite today but given the choice of sunny skies and 65 versus rain, snow, north wind and 44 degrees expected tomorrow I would opt for fishing today. That being said, I would bet the fish will be seeing more than a couple of streamers thrown at them tomorrow and into the first part of next week.

This weekend has a bit of a last hurrah feel to it with close to a full house tonight but then comes the quiet.

We will definitely be closing our motel units on Monday but we will have bungalows and cabins available all winter long. Look for our winter lodging and guide trip special to start soon.

We hope to see you at WCA this weekend for fall fishing at its finest!

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T15:55:53-07:00October 28th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Mid October

We’ll see a bit of an Indian Summer this week as temps return to the 60’s and 70’s but expect plenty of wind to go along with the warm temps. We’re under a high wind watch for Tuesday afternoon and evening with southwest winds 25-40 mph and gusts as high as 65 mph.

This week’s weather may not be optimal as wind and sun don’t necessarily make for the best fishing conditions but we would never say you shouldn’t fish. The dry fly opportunities could be limited but you never know. It’s been the best dry-fly fall I’ve experienced on the Missouri and there’s no reason it shouldn’t continue to be great for the next several weeks.

Nymphing will be just fine so if you’ve got someone on the sticks who can hold a line you can expect to do well out there this week. If not, then hire us. We’ll take care of the rowing, we’ll take care of the where to go, the what to use, the netting the releasing…..even the lunch. All you need to do is fish and if you’re having any issues in that department we can take care of that too.

It’s been fall status quo on the nymph rigs with Tailwater Sows, Yum Yums and Pill Poppers leading all fly sales. Rainbow Czechs, UV Czechs, LGM’s and Zebras have been following close behind. Fish the medium depth (3-5′), medium fast water with about a 6-7′ double nymph rig and a single bb to start and adjust accordingly. Some have been sticking with the same rig all day and doing fine. Others are shortening up, losing the weight and plying the shallows later in the day with the palsa rigs and finding plenty of action.

The streamer bite has been hit or miss but we’re not telling you anything you don’t already know. If streamers are your game you’re going to throw them and you’re likely going to throw them all day long (or at least until you find heads to throw to). It may not yield the numbers nymphing does but a chase will elevate your heart rate more than bobber drop any day and a chase and a grab? One or two in a day spell success in the streamer vernacular.

Choose your offering in accordance with the light conditions and what’s been working according to the experts but don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and throw something completely off the wall just because you like the way it looks or you’ve had good luck with it in the past. If you like and have confidence in what you are throwing it can make all the difference in the world.

Lodging has really opened up this week and we should be able to accommodate those last minute travel plans from here on out. The current plan is to shut down the motel portion of our lodging at the end of the month but we will have cabins and bungalows available for the remainder of the fall season and will have bungalows available all winter long at discounted rates. We are your all seasons Missouri River fly fishing destination, open year round with everything you need from lodging to guides to boat rentals to bugs and everything in between.

We will be opening at 7:30 am starting this week as there hasn’t been much going on from 7 am – 7:30. Give us a call before you come out for the latest Missouri River reports and conditions.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T16:00:08-07:00October 16th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment