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Meet our 2017 Guide Crew

We’re pleased to introduce you to our 2017 guide lineup.

If you’ve fished with us before then most should be familiar faces but we are excited to introduce a couple of new additions in Kelly Harrison and Jeff Jennings.

If you’ve already booked a trip and you don’t see your guide here not to worry. These are our mainstays but we do utilize the services of many other fine guides, all of whom we feel represent our commitment to our clients as well as to ethical and sustainable resource utilization.

Wolf Creek Angler guides are among the hardest-working and fishiest guides out there and our number one priority is making your day on the water with us one you won’t soon forget.

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert or somewhere in between we’ve got the perfect guide for you.

Matt Hargrave Wolf Creek Angler Guide

MATT HARGRAVE

Matt has been obsessed with fish for as long as he can remember. Growing up he fished the lakes and streams of the Eastern Sierras and the coast of Southern California. Matt realized his goal to become a fishing guide in Montana in 2011 and since that time he has fallen absolutely in love with the Missouri River. The diversity of a day on the MO is a challenge that Matt loves to tackle. He enjoys the grace of dry fly fishing and the chess match of figuring out the nymphing game but his preference is fishing streamers for the larger fish that inhabit the Missouri.

Brian Scott Wolf Creek Angler Guide BRIAN SCOTT

Entering his 28th season of guiding on the Missouri, Brian Scott is a native Montanan who suffers from a life-long addiction to fly-fishing. He learned to fish on the Missouri and Big Hole Rivers in the 1970’s and got his first guiding job in Alaska in 1981. Brian prefers the challenge of the dry fly but can nymph for numbers if required. He tailors each day to fit the client’s individual needs. Brian lives on the Big Hole River near the town of Dillon, MT but you will usually find him on the Missouri during the summer season pursuing the wild rainbows and browns that make the Missouri River one of the finest fisheries on the planet.

JASON ORZECHOWSKI

Jason left a life-long career in the metal casting industry to pursue a dream of owning a fly shop and guiding in Montana. He has been honing his angling skills for over thirty years starting at the age of 8 when he was introduced to trout fishing on Michigan’s White and Pere Marquette Rivers. Jason officially began his career in the industry in 2013 as the manager of and guide for Montana River Outfitters. Following that first season on the Missouri he and his wife purchased the business and opened Wolf Creek Angler. In 2015 Jason got his Outfitter’s License and has since worked tirelessly on the water, behind the counter and behind the scenes growing the business and earning Wolf Creek Angler a reputation as THE up and coming year-round Missouri River fly shop and lodging destination. He enjoys working with new and experienced anglers alike and loves introducing first time visitors to the Missouri River and to Montana. Jason loves hunting heads and chasing bobbers but streamer fishing is his true passion and while the MO’ is his first love the Blackfoot is a close second and he loves exploring new water.

Luke Koerten Wolf Creek Angler Guide

Luke Koerten

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Luke headed west in 2002 in search of steep mountains and deep snow. Originally a ski bum with a fishing habit, these days you’re more likely to find Luke knee deep in the Missouri than in mountain snow, even in January. Having lived in Bozeman, Missoula, and Helena, Luke has spent countless hours exploring the waters of western, central, and southwest Montana. His knowledge combined with a flexible and upbeat attitude makes him an excellent choice whether you are a first time angler or a seasoned vet.

KELLY HARRISON

Kelly was born and raised in Missoula, Montana. As a young girl, she loved the outdoors and spent much of her time camping, hiking, horseback riding, and fishing all around the northwest part of the state. She has found success guiding new and intermediate anglers, with an emphasis on female anglers. Her positive reinforcement, guidance, and talents also benefit experienced anglers who are interested in fishing with an accomplished up-and-coming female guide. Kelly’s background is on the Bitterroot, Clark Fork, Blackfoot, and Missouri Rivers. And while Kelly feels at home on any water, the Blackfoot River is her specialty. Book a Blackfoot River trip with Kelly today.

BROCK LONG

Fly Fishing found Brock Long 16 years ago on The Current River in southern Missouri. He moved to Montana in 2009 and fell in love with the daily challenges of this big spring creek, The Missouri River. Whether posted up on a dry fly flat, stripping streamers or floating the bobber, Brock enjoys all the challenges presented by the Missouri however his favorite way to fish the MO is to blind dry fly fish the banks, runs, riffles and many side channels. Currently in his fifth season of guiding on the Missouri, Brock is eager to share his passion for fly fishing and his knowledge of the river with you.

Photo Credit Landon Mayer

ERIC MONDRAGON

Eric has been a professional fly fishing guide for sixteen years. He started his career in Colorado and New Mexico and has been guiding on the Missouri River for the past 11 seasons. Eric enjoys fly fishing and fly tying and he brings more than thirty years of expertise in these arts. Eric lives in Cascade with his wife and two golden retrievers, Trout Dog (TD) and Rio. Eric loves dry fly fishing with clients and also likes to chase bobbers and strip streamers. He is an excellent teacher and doesn’t pass up the opportunity to work with anglers of all ages.

JEFF JENNINGS

Jeff has been a fly fishing guide in the great state of Montana for over twenty years. In his off-seasons, he has guided in Argentina and during the winter run of native steelhead on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Jeff has also been a professional fly tyer for as many years and loves to share his unique creations with his clients. Feeling very fortunate to call the Missouri River his main office these days, Jeff provides a fun and relaxed environment where he teaches fly fishing basics to the novice fisherman or helps advance the abilities of even the most seasoned angler. If you are looking for a fun and memorable day on the river, Jeff is always friendly and accommodating to ensure your experience on the Missouri is exactly what you would expect.

Book a Missouri or Blackfoot river trip with Wolf Creek Angler today!

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:04:35-06:00April 6th, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Brian Scott, Brock Long, Eric Mondragon, Jason Orzechowski, Jeff Jennings, Kelly Harrison, Luke Koerten, Matt Hargrave|2 Comments

Spring Break 2017

I’m back in the shop today after a week in Michigan, our annual spring break destination. Most people tend to migrate to the warmer regions of the globe for spring break but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sure it was grey and cold and dreary for the majority of the time we were there but I’ll trade sunshine and hot weather any day for the once a year opportunity to reconnect with friends and family back HOME.

You Can Never Go Home Again!

We’ve all heard it said many times that you can’t go home and there’s nothing like a homecoming to prove the point. In some respects you really can’t go home but it doesn’t take long to discover that home is not so much a place as it is our existence in that place. It’s the collective of the people, the relationships and the experiences we’ve had in some geographic location. Take away those things and you are left with a physical place upon which our existence, or lack thereof makes not a shred of difference.

Places consist of landscapes and structures to which we may grow very attached but the reality is these things in and of themselves are not our homes and once we leave them behind the only connections we have with them are the ones in our minds. We are the essential component of the thing we call HOME.

Most of my trips back to Michigan over these past several years have been an emotional roller coaster, a case study in existential angst. There are places we’ve returned to because it seemed like the right thing to do only to find that these places held no special magic. After repeated attempts with the same results I concluded this time around that it’s ok to close the book on some of those chapters.

Thankfully there is still plenty of HOME left. Family and friends (and rivers) still remain and we will return time and again to experience HOME in new ways, creating new memories and riding the waves of emotion. It’s fun to be there and hard to leave and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So this is home in 2017…

A Huge Thank You to Mike Batcke at Stealthcraft Boats for the use of a boat on my beloved Pere Marquette River and as always a big thanks to Brad Turner aka The PM Angler for sacrificing a day of income to row me down the river.

It feels great to be back in Montana and despite my assertion that landscapes have no hold on us the mountains and rivers have been calling for as long as I can remember and while I cherish EVERYTHING that makes up my collective home, there is no place I’ve been that feels as much like home as this.

Now back to fishing the MO’. Up to date fishing report coming very soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:03:40-06:00April 4th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized, Wolf Creek Chatter|1 Comment

The Boss Is Gone SALE!

By the time I publish this, Jason should be somewhere around 39,000 feet, cruising east on his annual trip back to the Mitten in search of steelhead. I’m taking this opportunity during his yearly home visit to unload the back-stock and clear off some shelf space. With new merchandise showing up everyday, there’s a lot to get out the door. So here’s the deal; For the duration of Jason’s trip, I’m putting it all on sale. Damn near the whole shop will be discounted starting this morning, until the boss is back behind the counter on April 1st. 8 DAYS of deals from the windows, to the walls. Oh, and if it’s already on the sale rack, we can negotiate. Here’s the straight up savings that’ll be happening….

40% off all Redington winter gear
20% off all 2016 SIMMS outerwear
50% off all Outdoor Research winter gear
$20 T-Shirts
40% off select rods

In addition, if you’re looking for a new rod/reel combo, we can talk. Just checked in new rods from Redington and LOOP including some bigger guns; 7 & 8 weights in both brands. On the opposite end we’ve also got a few new killer creek rods in 3 & 4 weights available across the board, Echo, LOOP & Redington. And as always we’ve got a slough of solid MO bug guns.

To balance them on the back end, a case loaded with new reels from Nautilus, Ross, LOOP, Echo & Redington. And of course lines to match. Streamer lines from RIO including their new award winning big bug tosser the InTouch Big Nasty and next level dry lines from ARC Fishing including the 99 & 99+ for the faster action rods. So if you’re looking for a new stick or full setup to toss into the mix we’ve got you covered.

So far the forecast is looking pretty solid for the upcoming week, warm temps with a chance of moisture and cloud cover. Typical spring fare for the Rocky Mountain Front. Looking forward to seeing everybody over the next week until Jason gets back to trade places for a bit. I’m already planning my next O.T.R Report, lets just hope the river gods cooperate!

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2017-09-21T19:04:36-06:00March 25th, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|1 Comment

March Midge Madness on the MO’

It will likely be a BUSY weekend on the MO’ with nice weather on tap and spring fishing starting to come into shape.

It’s still been a mixed bag of reports throughout this week but it seems like the good ones are starting to edge out the bad ones, if ever so slightly.

The fish are where you would expect them to be and they are eating though not with quite the reckless abandon we love in the spring.

Concentrate your efforts on the slow winter water as well as the slightly faster transitional water. Stick with the pink stuff and the firebeads and maybe throw a zebra midge or mayfly nymph into the mix and see what happens. We heard of some good action on the Little Green Machine from a few folks but that being said, it’s primarily been a sow and scud game with the worm performing well in the mud.

The streamer bite has been decent and should only get better as that water ticks up towards 40 degrees. Current water temp is just shy of 38 degrees and flows are at 4180 and should stay in that 4100 range for the time being.

The key as of late has been to spend plenty of time working the spots you know the fish should be. They are there. Park the boat and get out and pick that water apart.

The majority of our lodging is now open and we do have a few vacancies for the weekend if you’re looking for a quiet place to stay. Next week looks as good as any for a spring trip to the MO’ with the current weather pattern holding through the end of next week. Expect daytime temps in the 50’s and nighttime lows in the low 30’s. Not quite shirt sleeve weather yet but it’s on it’s way and will be here before you know it.

Give us a call at the shop for up to the minute reports on weather and fishing conditions and we’d love it if you made us your first stop on the way to the river for everything you need for your day on the water.

April is booking quickly as folks just can’t pass up the best spring lodging and guide trip special on the Missouri but we’ve still got beds and guides a plenty so treat yourself to two nights lodging and a full day on the water with some of the best guides on the river for just $500. Operators are standing by.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:01:45-06:00March 24th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|0 Comments

WCA – New and Improved as Always

It’s been a busy winter behind the scenes at Wolf Creek Angler and while we haven’t had a whole lot going on in the shop day-to-day we’ve been plenty busy with all that goes on to make your WCA experience better every year.

Whether you’re lodging, fishing, shopping with us, simply visiting our website or all of the above you’ll find plenty of changes as we maintain our commitment to continuous improvement in every part of our business.

Some of these changes are obvious, some you’ll probably never notice though you would if we didn’t make them.

Let’s start with lodging.

Lodging is definitely a huge part of our business and while we would love to update and remodel everything at once we have chosen instead to plot a more gradual course.

If you’ve been a guest over our first three seasons you’ve probably noticed some of these changes. New towels, new furniture, new paint, the occasional new mattress…these are the types of changes on which we’ve focused our efforts. We’ve got an infinite list of improvements for each room and our strategy has been to address major issues and then make small improvements on the amenities side to make your stay with us as comfortable as it can be.

Visitors this season will find significant improvements in many of our rooms ranging from fresh paint, to new shower heads, to new carpet to new linens etc. and if you’re fortunate enough to be booked in #8 you’ll find a complete room renovation which is the model for renovations in the remaining motel units in the not too distant future.

What’s new in the shop?

As always, the challenge of bringing new product lines into the shop is an uphill battle to say the least. The Missouri has no shortage of fly shops and while we are removed from the self-proclaimed epicenter of Missouri River fly fishing we definitely operate in the shadow of Craig and therefore must navigate with caution as we lobby to earn the privilege of being able to offer you products from the best name brands in the business.

We’ve come a long way from where we were when we started and you can rest assured we will not give up the fight. Last fall we scored a HUGE victory in this fight with the addition of Simms sportswear, outerwear and accessories to our product offerings.

This spring you’ll find all sorts of new gear from great names like Simms, Fishpond, Redington, Smith Optics, Kast, Echo, LOOP, Ross, Nautilus, ARC, RIO, Trout Hunter, and more. We’re also excited to announce we’ve added Korkers wading boots to our product line and we’ve added a bunch of new logo gear featuring our new logo which debuted last spring.

We stand behind all of the products we sell and we wouldn’t be selling them if we didn’t believe in them. We are also well aware of what we don’t have and you can rest assured we are working on it. In the meantime, as I’ve said before, if we don’t have it or can’t do it we are happy to connect you with the folks who do or who can. There are a lot of resources between Wolf Creek and Cascade and there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to get exactly what you want when you want it. Don’t get me wrong, we want your business but more than that, we want to serve you and if that means sending you to another shop to get something we can’t offer you we’re happy to do it.

Have you checked out our website lately?

If you’re reading this then the answer is yes and we appreciate your being here.

We try hard to keep things current and to freshen up the site with new images on a fairly regular basis. Please take some time and look around. A couple of new highlights include the LUNCH section on our Services page and some changes to our guide roster.

We’re excited to partner with The Hub Coffee in Helena to offer you the best guide lunches on the Missouri and we will also be offering these same amazing lunches for our unguided lodging guests.

Look for a blog about our great guides in the near future but for the time being we’re super stoked to introduce you to Jeff Jennings and Kelly Harrison who have joined our team this season.

We hope you like the changes and we’re excited to see you soon in Wolf Creek Montana.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:04:36-06:00March 15th, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Jeff Jennings, Kelly Harrison, Missouri River, Montana, running line, The Hub Coffee, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter’s Last Gasp?

While we are currently sitting at just shy of 20 degrees and are under a winter storm warning through this evening a major warm up is on the way. Could it be that this is winter’s last gasp?

Not likely. But regardless, we are looking at mid 40’s for the weekend and it looks like we’ll hit 60 next week as the official start of spring looms, now just 10 days away.

Ideally things warm up and the snow goes away locally while winter holds tight in the high country for a while which looks like it’s going to be the case judging by the latest SNOTEL map which continues to grow increasingly blue indicating snowpack over 110 % of average for much of the region.

We’re expecting it will be busy on the river this weekend and next week, at least by late winter standards, with nice weather, warming water and hungry fish looking for a spring feast.

We’ve got plenty of lodging available and will be opening more soon to accommodate your early spring fishing plans. We’ve been doing a few trips here and there but guide trip season will get underway in earnest next week as the spring special trips start to roll. We’ve still got plenty of availability for March but April is starting to fill as word has gotten out about THE BEST SPRING FISHING DEAL ON THE MISSOURI….HANDS DOWN! $500 for two night’s lodging and a full day on the water with the hardest working guides on the river through the end of April.

You won’t find a better deal ANYWHERE!

Even if you don’t take advantage of our $500 special we’ve got great rates on guide trips without lodging as well as lodging without guide trips. $350 full day guide trips through the end of April and lodging in our cabins or bungalows for just $99/night plus tax.

It’s going to be a spectacular spring on the MO’ and the shop is fully stocked with everything you need and more with new shipments of Missouri River fly fishing essentials arriving daily. We’ve got cold weather gear from Simms and KAST; wading gear from Redington and Korkers; eyewear from Smith Optics and CLiC; Nomad nets, packs and accessories from Fishpond; lines, leaders and tippet from ARC, RIO and Trout Hunter; rods from LOOP, Echo and Redington; reels from Nautilus, LOOP, Ross, Echo and Redington and the near LEGENDARY largest selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Don’t miss our ever-expanding streamer selection including a bunch of EXCLUSIVES from ZK you won’t find ANYWHERE ELSE. Streamer Season is upon us and while we unapologetically love nymphing any time of year and love to fish dries to sipping trout on warm summer days (and cold winter days as well) it is chucking streamers that really gets us fired up. It’s all about the chase!

We’ve got a bunch of new WCA logo gear you’re going to love and you’re going to want to keep an eye on our sale rack throughout the spring as we clear out the cold weather gear and make room for warmer weather fare. That means the best deals you’re likely to find anywhere on top quality gear from the best brands in the business.

We’ve also offer RO and Adipose Drift Boat rentals and Missouri River shuttle service and if we don’t have it or can’t do it, we’re happy to connect you with the people who can. We pride ourselves on having a great relationship with every other shop in the area and while it’s no secret we are all competing for your business our business as a collective is taking care of your fly fishing needs and we will gladly send you to another shop if we aren’t able to accommodate you.

We think it’s going to be a great season on the MO’ and we hope to see you soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:04:36-06:00March 10th, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, Redington, RIO, RO Drift Boats, running line, simms, spring fishing, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Update

We’re continuing to enjoy the spring-like weather this weekend with temperatures forecast to be near 50 again today. We flirted with 60 degrees yesterday topping out at 57 here in Wolf Creek and the word from the river the last couple of days was that the fishing is definitely starting to pick up.

We’ve reached that magic 36 degree water temp (currently 36.5) so expect things to only get better as the water continues to warm and the fish snap out of their winter slumber and go on the hunt for calories.

Traffic is concentrated in the canyon right now but we’ve heard good reports all the way from the dam to Prewett.

We’ll see a brief cold snap on Monday but then right back to 40’s and 50’s through the end of next week. We’ve got plenty of lodging available all week long and more opening soon! It might be just be the perfect week to book that spring special guide trip.

We’re definitely transitioning into spring mode here on the Missouri and if the initial response to our Spring Special is any indication it’s going to be a BUSY spring at WCA.

Just as an aside, some Montana news as history was made this week with Congressman Ryan Zinke being confirmed as the 52nd United States Secretary of the Interior, becoming the first person EVER from Montana and the first Navy Seal to occupy a Cabinet position.

No matter what your political stripes this is a big deal for the state of Montana. We congratulate him and wish him the best of luck in this position where he will continue to serve this nation as he has for most of his career and while we will keep a close eye on what’s going on in the Department of the Interior, just as we should with every other department under every administration, but we will judge Zinke’s job performance by his actions rather than by the letter after his name or by his back cast.

Spring is in the air and we hope to see you soon at Wolf Creek Angler.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:03:41-06:00March 4th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized, Wolf Creek Chatter|0 Comments

Wolf Creek Angler Spring Special – The Best Deal on the MO’ Hands Down

The official start of spring is just 20 days away and while we’re still watching the snow fly and cursing the cold on a fairly regular basis it won’t be long before we’re enjoying some of the best nymphing and streamer fishing of the year as the water starts to warm up and the fish awaken from their winter slumber hungry and eager.

We’re welcoming spring and welcoming you back to the MO’ with THE BEST Spring fishing and lodging special you’ll find ANYWHERE.

$500 (plus tax) for two nights lodging and a full day on the water with one of our expert guides through the end of April .

You’ll stay in comfort in one of our cozy and clean cabins or bungalows. Each unit is furnished with a full kitchen and private bath. They sleep three comfortably with either two twin beds and a pull out couch or a full and a twin with a pull out couch. New this season we are also offering a king conversion for a $10 charge.

We consider our guides to be among the hardest working, most professional (and fishiest) in the state and after a long, cold winter they are ready to get back at it. Your trip includes approximately 8 hours of expert instruction, any tackle you need, flies, lunch, non-alcoholic refreshments and transportation to and from the river. The only thing not included in the trip price is your Montana fishing license and guide gratuity.

Our lodging/guide trip special is designed for those traveling some distance to get here. Arrive the night before your trip, relax and get a good night’s sleep with no traveling to do in the morning.

Don’t need the lodging? No problem! Spring rates are $350 for the day and are in effect NOW through the end of April.

Don’t need two nights? Regular spring rates are just $99/night (plus tax) and are also in effect NOW through the end of April.

You’ve got two months to take advantage of the HOTTEST deal on the Missouri River. There are other deals out there, NOBODY can touch this one.

Call and book your trip today. A deal like this is sure to fill the boats and the beds in short order.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:04:36-06:00March 1st, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

F3T Tonight in Helena MT

We hope to see you tonight at the Grandstreet Theatre in Helena for the 2017 Fly Fishing Film Tour. Doors open at 6:30 pm, the show starts at 7.

The original and preeminent exhibition of fly fishing cinema, The F3T is a one of a kind experience. Each year fishy folk of all ages gather at premieres to soak up films from around the world, spin a few yarns amongst friends and dream about casts still unmade.

2016 marks The F3T’s 10th lap around North America and this year’s lineup of films is without question the best the Tour has ever presented. From Bolivia to the Seychelles, British Columbia and Patagonia, from Saskatchewan to Zambia and Virginia to Montana, the notable characters, unique storylines and unparalleled fishing in these films will lead you on an adventure around the globe!

In addition to showcasing world-class fly fishing films, The F3T is dedicated to supporting the local fly shops and conservation groups that form the backbone of our sport’s educational and environmental efforts. Discount F3T tickets are available at more than 150 fly shops across the country. A portion of those ticket sales go directly to support fishing and habitat-related conservation groups. In 2015 we raised over $300,000 for our conservation partners and have used our voice to bring greater attention and support to groups like Trout Unlimited, Wild Steelhead Coalition, Bonefish Tarpon Trust, Utah Stream Access Coalition, Stop Pebble Mine and many more.

Grandstreet Theatre is located at 325 N Park Ave in downtown Helena MT.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:02:09-06:00February 28th, 2017|Categories: Local Buzz, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Reminder – Your 2016 Montana Fishing License Expires Tomorrow February 28th

Don’t forget it’s time to purchase your 2017 Montana Fishing License. 2016 licenses expire on February 28th.

This time of year we usually ask customers if they need a new fishing license and you’d be surprised just how many people have forgotten all about it and are fishing on an expired license. Don’t be one of them…pick up your license today.

While you’re at it, if you are a hunter remember that Resident and nonresident license and permit applications are due March 15th.

2017 Licenses available now at Wolf Creek Angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-02-27T18:41:39-07:00February 27th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

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