A blessed Thanksgiving from all of us at Wolf Creek Angler.

We are so thankful for being able to live and work in this amazing place doing what we love and it’s all because of you. Thank you so much to everyone who shops with us, stays with us and fishes with us.

We are truly blessed beyond measure!

Enjoy the day with family and friends and food and whatever traditions make this day what it is for you.

We’ll be back in the shop tomorrow – we hope to see you there.

Go Lions!

In advance of our Black Friday Rod Sale we thought we would take a minute and talk about fly rods.

Being a destination shop fly rods are not one of our biggest sellers. Most of those who come to fish with us are well equipped with rods so much of what we sell is of the backup variety of rods people tend to purchase if they break or lose a rod while they are here.

That being said, we have steadily grown our rod inventory each season to meet the demands of a growing following of both local and not so local anglers who have adopted us as their “local fly shop”.

We sell some great rods from some great companies with a focus on quality and affordability and our plan is to continue to grow in this area. Just to address the elephant in the room, there are brands we would love to carry which are considered to be Montana Fly Shop staples. Without going too deep on this let’s just say that we’re doing everything we can to offer you the products you demand. It’s a complicated situation but one which you can rest assured we will continue to address until we get what you want.

All that aside….we fish what we sell and we believe in what we sell so while we would love to offer some additional options we feel you owe it to yourself to come check out an awesome lineup of fly rods, some of which may not have even been on your radar.

We are the exclusive dealer of LOOP rods and reels on the Missouri and while LOOP certainly has a following they are often overshadowed by some of the other high-profile rod manufacturers. We’re here to tell you that LOOP rods are as good as any out there and we invite you to come in and take one for a test drive. You’ll be amazed!

We feature a wide variety of LOOP rods including the amazing Cross S1 series. If a high-end rod is what you’re looking for, the Cross S1 redefines high-end.

If the large arbor provided revolutionary function that made the fly reel exponentially better, you won’t believe the difference Cross S1 construction makes with fly rods. We could write an entire book on the adventure that has led to the Cross S1 series of fly rods. We could look up and write down all the available superlatives that are yet unused by other manufacturers (not many left nowadays), but the only way to truly describe what we mean is to hand one to you and let you test it for yourself. If there has ever been a time in our history of development of high-performance fly fishing gear where Loop merited a “look” and a test from the fly fishing world, it is now. Over a period of two years we have developed these fly rods where we used the new 3M™ Powerlux™ Composites. The result is amazing, the strength associated with the 3M™ Powerlux™ Composites generates a lightness and controllable elasticity that simply must be experienced.

We have carefully restricted the inherent elasticity of the Loop Cross S1 so that the rod is working evenly over a much wider range than other fly rods. We have managed to make super-strong featherweight fly rods, with an emphasis on fishing where the rod is working with minimum vibration through an entire load range – from close-in and out to even extreme distances. The design requires minimal input power where the rod does the job. It has never been so easy and taken so little effort to deliver precision loops at 10-meters or 30-meters while easily controlling the line or changing the pace of the cast.

We also offer the NEW Next Generation Evotec CAST series of rods from LOOP.

The CAST series maximizes the benefits of the full to mid curve actions favored in today’s fly fishing, but in three distinct flex tempos. Whether it’s small creek brownies or swinging heavy flies deep for Atlantic salmon, the CAST range offers high performance fly rods in Medium, Medium Fast and Fast actions to complement not only your casting style, but also your chosen discipline of fly fishing.

Irrespective of your favored action, each of the rods offer unrivaled performance and outstanding value for money in their class. The CAST series utilizes our very latest DCT (Dynamic Core Technology). This unique technology is achieved during blank construction by building directional carbon fiber in a specific inter layering sequence. Each carbon layer is designed to work in unison with the rod’s flex plane by adding integral strength throughout the length of the blank. This has the direct effect of enhancing tip recovery during the casting cycle and also increasing rod durability.

By integrating DCT with industry-leading taper designs, the CAST series not only achieves but surpasses performance expectations in a tasteful and thoughtfully designed color coordinated package. Castability and fishability are the inherent LOOP trademarks that inspired the CAST concept.

Echo has been by far our best-selling brand of rods each season and we don’t expect that to change anytime soon. Echo rods are the epitome of affordable quality and with an ever-expanding product line and an unmatched commitment to customer service we can’t say enough good things about them.

We carry a wide variety of rods from Echo including the exceptionally advanced, high modulus graphite Echo 3, the fast action Echo Boost for those looking for the ultimate balance of power and precision, the ultimate affordable workhorse the Carbon XL and the industry’s only high performance rod built specifically for kids the amazing Echo Gecko.

A couple of awesome rods from Redington we just started selling this season are the Vapen Black and the Hydrogen.

The Vapen Black is an All water, fast action rod featuring;

• X-Wrap graphite technology for maximum vibration dampening, strength and torsional stability
• PowerGrip, featured on the Vapen Black and Vapen Red, is a non-slip polymer grip technology created in conjunction with Winn Grips and to reduce fatigue and amplify power
• Integrated composite cork on the Vapen Black and Vapen Red for superior durability
• Carbon fiber reel seat insert with custom anodized highlights
• Machined hidden hook keepers
• Alignment dots for easy setup
• Durable cordura rod tube with black suede rod sock
• Lifetime Warranty

Vapen Black

New last season the Hydrogen is the lightest rod in its class and is an absolute joy to cast.

The lightest rod in its class

• Super-tuned, smooth,medium-fast action blank construction
• Single-foot guides for increased tip recovery
• Skeletonized, CNC machined, anodized aluminum reel seat
• Pinpoint accuracy delivered through improved rod tracking
• Matte finish blank for flash reduction
• Section tips epoxy coated to prevent sticking
• Half-wells, premium gradecork handles
• Euro nymph actions feature a softer tip for easier turnover
• Fully protected cordura rod tube with dividers
• Trout Spey models feature Scandi and Skagit grain ratings on rod blanks
• Trout Spey models feature downlocking skeletonized reel seats for superior in-hand balance
• Trout Spey models feature Zirconia stripping guide inserts to reduce guide/line freeze
• Lifetime warranty

We hope you come check out our rod selection during our Black Friday rod sale running all weekend long. We’re offering the best deals of the season on our rods and rod and reel packages and in keeping with our philosophy of affordable quality you’ll find rods ranging in price from $100 – $800 with the majority coming in at less than $400.

Throw in Black Friday savings and you’ve got deals too good to pass up. Whether you’re treating yourself to an early Christmas present or shopping for your loved ones, we’ve got a rod or rod and reel combo that will perfectly fit your needs and your budget.

Sunny and cold today on the MO’. Normal November weather.

We’ll see a warm up tomorrow with daytime temps climbing back into the 50’s for the remainder of the weekend and into next week. Not normal November weather but you may as well enjoy it while it lasts.

Fishing reports from yesterday were a mixed bag and with nobody out there to speak of the sample size is on the small side but generally speaking it sounds like you had to work for them.

A few reports of decent dry fly action but most are nymphing and/or chucking streamers right now. It sounds like both the nymphing the streamer fishing were on the slow side.

Similar weather/water conditions our there today so I would expect a similar result though it could very well return to the glory of the past few weeks. You won’t know unless you go.

Water temps continue to descend slowly and are hanging right around 49 degrees currently with flows just shy of 3700. Not bad conditions by any stretch but definitely a transition phase as the fish start to make their move into the slower winter water.

They aren’t there yet but I would concentrate my efforts on the medium fast, medium depth water in close proximity spending a fair amount of time at the top and bottom of some of those traditional winter runs. They are headed that way and you will likely find them concentrating in some of those areas. And that’s not to say you shouldn’t fish the slow stuff. We’ve been picking fish up in some of that water as well, but they definitely aren’t stacked in the winter water at this point.

Stick with the sow bug/scud combo or maybe try throwing a worm in the mix. Firebeads wouldn’t be a bad call either.

If you’re going to throw streamers try to concentrate your efforts in the shadows but don’t be afraid of the sun, you’d be surprised how many fish don’t play by those bright sunny day rules.

Best bets for streamers?  JJ Sparkle Minnows, Autumn Splendor, Hot Head Kreelex, Black or Rainbow Dirty Hippy, ZK’s Club Drug in Olive, Dolly Llama in Black/Olive, Space Invaders in Black or Yellow and Circus Peanut in tan or olive.

We’ve got one room left for the weekend and things open up on Sunday. It might be the perfect weekend to take advantage of the nice weather and the winter special – $500 gets you two nights of lodging and a full day guide trip ALL WINTER LONG.

We’re moving to winter hours in the shop next week but remember we are ALWAYS OPEN for lodging and guide trips. Shop hours starting November 20th will be Sunday 8 – 12, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and open 8-4 Wednesday – Saturday.

If you’re planning on coming out on a Monday or Tuesday  please give us a call at the shop. If it’s nice we’ll more than likely be around. If we’re not, we encourage you to visit our friends down the road in Craig for shuttles and bugs and shop stuff.

Things have definitely gotten very quiet in Wolf Creek as we settle in to our winter routine.

It’s starting to feel a bit more like late fall now with temps in the low 40’s rather than the 50’s and 60’s we’ve been experiencing the last couple of weeks.

A chance of snow today through tomorrow night and lows in the 20’s are par for the course and while we will see a return to above average temps this weekend and into the early part of next week it’s a safe bet winter is starting to take hold.

The snow in the high country is a welcome sight this morning and while we don’t expect any significant accumulations here anytime soon we’d be fine with it.

Fishing remains good though you wouldn’t know it judging by the number of boats on the water. There is plenty of solitude to be found out there right now and some good fishing to boot if you don’t mind the nymphing game. Status quo yet again with sows getting the nod more often than not. Czechs, Rainbow Weight Flies, Amex etc. all serve the purpose as your lead fly but your options are wide open. You can’t go wrong with something in the #12 – #10 range, ideally with a tungsten bead. Drop a Tailwater Sow or something similar or buck that trend and go with a zebra midge or mayfly nymph. Lightning Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Juju’s, Little Green Machines, 2 Bits, Peep Shows and many more.

Streamer fishing has been on the slow side but definitely good enough to give it a go but then again, when isn’t it?

Dry fly fishing? Pretty sure that ship has sailed but you never know. If nothing else midges are just around the corner!

Looking for a late season fix? We’ve got the best deal on the river. $350 for a full day float trip on the Missouri for one or two anglers all winter long or take advantage of our winter fishing and lodging special – two nights in one of our cozy cabins or bungalows and a full day of guided fishing on the MO’ for just $500. You won’t find a better deal anywhere.

We are your year-round Missouri River fly fishing destination with more on-site lodging than any other shop, the hardest working guide crew on the river and a shop full of everything you need for your day on the water.

Our winter shop  hours will go into effect next week. We will be open Wednesday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Sunday 8:00 AM – Noon. Open for lodging and guide trips EVERY DAY. Planning a Monday or Tuesday visit and need shuttles, bugs or other shop stuff? No worries. Our friends down the road in Craig will be happy to help you!

November Browns on the MO’

We’re continuing to take advantage of some extremely mild November weather this week on the MO’. Yesterday saw record highs pushing 70 degrees and it looks to remain unseasonably warm through the weekend and heading into the early part of next week.

Those who are anxious for winter to arrive will be glad to hear that the forecast is calling for colder temperatures and a pretty good chance for some precipitation in the form of snow starting on Wednesday of next week.

Cloudless blue skies and sunshine are not exactly the best for fishing but you can’t help but enjoy it out there right now as you soak up the sun knowing that soon enough you’ll be fighting the elements and battling ice in the guides with cold hands and numb fingers while you continuously reevaluate your decision to float the Missouri on a semi-arctic day.

Don’t get me wrong. We are anxious for some fishier days to arrive and when they do we’ll be out there, regardless of the weather but in the meantime we’ll enjoy what is likely the last gasp of Indian Summer.

And speaking of fishy days, we’ve got no complaints about the fishing this fall. Nymphing has been off the charts most days and while we would certainly benefit from some darker skies the streamer fishing has been good enough to keep us coming back.

Bugs and techniques have not really changed much over the past few weeks. Your best bet for numbers is going to be nymphing a medium to long rig with some sort of sow or scud combo. Tailwater sows, soft hackle sows, Rainbow Czechs, Ninch’s Bubble Yum Scuds, Pink Amex, UV Czechs, Rainbow Warriors, Rainbow Weight Flies….you know the drill. You also might not want to overlook pink or purple lightning bugs, grey Little Green Machines, Dark Peep Shows, Juju Baetis, Zebra Midges and Firebead anything.

Dry Fly fishing continues to be an elusive prospect though nobody would fault you for running a dry dropper rig with an October Caddis or something along the lines of a parachute Adams. BWO’s? So far pretty much a bust this fall but don’t give up….it could happen.

If streamers are your game this is your time. As I’ve stated many times the Missouri is not the best streamer river in the world and bright sunny days are not ideal for streamer fishing but that being said there is no reason you shouldn’t make a serious effort at it. There are plenty of big browns (and bows) willing to chase a streamer and if you cover enough water and are willing to change bugs as necessary you might just find yourself having a great streamer day on the Missouri.

Some like to swing and thoroughly work a piece of water. My preference is to fish from the boat, covering  a lot of water and working the banks and the seams, switching bugs and varying the retrieve until I find something that works. You can definitely catch fish either way and while I know some who measure success by numbers (fish to the net)  even when streamer fishing, I’ve always considered the number of fish moved to be my measure of a successful streamer day. Obviously fish hooked and better yet landed go a long way in making a good streamer day great but moving a few giants should definitely be counted as a success in my book.

JJ Sparkle Minnows, Black Circus Peanuts, Brown or Black Dirty Hippies, Dolly Llamas in Olive/White, ZK’s Ragnar in black, Hot Head Kreelex, Olive/Black Space Invaders and Polar Leeches in various flavors have all been moving fish. We’ve picked up a few in the bright sun but your best bet on the sunny days is to find the banks cloaked in shadows. Trout like to hide in the shadows on sunny days so you should fish them where they are most likely to be and then fish them where you wouldn’t expect them to be because they don’t always follow the rules.

Stop in for all the latest intel on the when/where/how and don’t forget, we are your destination for late fall and winter fly fishing on the Missouri River with more on-site lodging than anyone and a shop packed full of everything you need for your day on the water. Winter lodging rates are in effect now at Wolf Creek Angler.

Our vote is for fishing the MO’……early and often.