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The Week Ahead

Fall weather on tap this week on the MO’

BWO Weather on the way. Where will you be?

Enjoy this sunny, relatively warm day. It could be the last one we see for a while. Cooler temps and rain will roll in tomorrow afternoon. We’ll be spending the week in our waders and rain gear with an extra layer or two with temps in the 50’s and a good chance for precipitation daily.

Don’t let that bother you though. Perfect fall fishing conditions and just the type of weather we need to usher in the prime fall fishing.

Lacking the proper gear? Fear not. We’ve got you covered with wading gear from Redington and outerwear and layering from Simms, including our absolute favorite pants for fall and winter fishing – Simms Coldweather pants. We’ve also got great deals going on summer clothing as we clear space for new arrivals.

Per usual for fall, lodging is filling nicely, generally at the last minute. Fall outings seem to be a much more spur of the moment thing. We’ve got plenty of availability for guides and rooms this week but considering the weather that’s on the way, we expect it will be a busy week here on the Missouri so don’t wait too long to book.

Dry fly fishing is definitely an option this week but it’s the nymphing that has been getting things done and will continue to do so, even as the focus shifts more towards top water action. This is an awesome time of year to fish the Missouri because there is something for everybody. Whether it’s dry fly fishing, nymphing or chucking streamers you prefer, it’s all working right now on the MO’ and while early summer will always be prime time we can’t get enough of fall fishing here and on the surrounding waters.

That crisp fall air, the colored up leaves on the trees and colored up browns….how could you not love fall fly fishing in Montana?

We would love to have you as our guest this fall at Wolf Creek Angler and share with you the autumn awesomeness which we fondly refer to as our “second season”. Whether it’s a guide trip and lodging, drift boat rental or maybe just a shuttle and a few bugs you need, we are your Missouri River Full Service fall fly fishing destination with more on-site lodging than any other shop, the hardest working guides on the river, all the gear you need for the Missouri and beyond, RO and Adipose Drift Boat Rentals and of course an ever-expanding bug selection the likes of which has never been seen in Wolf Creek Montana. We are hands-on, outfitter owned and operated and since it’s primarily just ZK and I manning the shop you’ll get to know us personally and you’ll never be lost in the shuffle.

You are the reason we are here and we’ll always do whatever we can to help you in any way we can. Whether you are new to the sport or been at it for a lifetime we hope to be the shop you choose. No pressure, no intimidation, just a sincere desire to serve you with great products, great services and most importantly great customer service all in the most laid back atmosphere you’ll find anywhere. This shop is our pride and joy and we are committed to creating and maintaining a brand and a shop you’ll want to keep coming back to.

Come check us out and see what the buzz is about.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:32-06:00September 19th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing, Uncategorized|0 Comments

September 11th

911-terrorist-attack

It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years.

In some ways it seems like yesterday, but it also seems like a lifetime ago. A day we will never forget. A day that changed the world we live in forever.

Enjoy this day. Fish. Watch football. We’ll be doing the same but please take some time to reflect on the significance of this date.

It doesn’t take long, watching all the specials on tv the last couple of days, to remember how it felt on that morning 15 years ago and also how it felt on the days that followed as the country stood together, united by this national trauma. It was an event that transcended our differences, political and otherwise (at least for a short time) and we were collectively decent to one another.

Spend this day with the ones you love and take stock of all the ways in which you are blessed.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:32-06:00September 11th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Happy Labor Day from WCA

Autumn is starting to take hold on the Little Prickly Pear

Feeling like fall this Labor Day in Wolf Creek MT. Rainy and cold this morning followed by cloudy skies and cool temps struggling to reach 60.

A lot of activity around the streamer bin today as you might expect. Tomorrow will be a good streamer day as well.

Thank you to all who showed up for our 1/2 price Fly Sale on Saturday, we had a great turnout and we’ll do it again next year for sure.

It looks like it’s going to be a nice week to fish the Missouri with daytime temps in the high 60’s/low 70’s and nighttime lows in the 40’s. Lodging, guide trips, shuttles, boat rentals and much more available each and every day at Wolf Creek Angler.

6:30 AM is looking pretty dark these days so we’ll be opening at 7 AM starting tomorrow.

We hope you are enjoying what is for many the last day of summer vacation and that you are gearing up for some awesome autumn fishing on the Missouri River.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:32-06:00September 5th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

End of Summer Sale – WE’ll Match That!

Bins overflowing with bugs at Wolf Creek Angler

Planning on spending your Labor Day weekend on or around the MO’? Stop by Wolf Creek Angler for the best deals of the season on tons of killer gear.

We’re clearing out our summer inventory to make room for cooler weather offerings. Great deals to be had on Simms summer logo gear, Redington wet-wading gear and wading pants, Outdoor Research sun hats, Buff water gloves and much more.

Word is there’s a big fly sale going on down the road. Don’t tell anyone but we’ll match it! Half price on all flies Saturday only!

We are your Missouri River fly fishing one-stop and we are closer to Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge than any other shop. We are right on your way.

Shuttles, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, your exclusive source on the Missouri for LOOP rods and reels and ARC fly lines and the only Full Line KAST Extreme Fishing Gear dealer on the river.

Oh yeah and we’ve also got the hardest working guides on the river and more on-site lodging than any other shop in the area. Great guides, affordable lodging minutes from the river and THE up and coming Missouri River Fly Shop….everything you need nestled in the canyon far removed from the buzz of Craig but not so far removed that you can’t make the short drive and get your fill. And speaking of the buzz of Craig – don’t miss the second annual Browns and Brews beer festival happening tomorrow in front of Izaaks Restaurant from 4 – 8 pm. 5371e745410f938b5e7023a2d339d199

We hope to see you this 3-day weekend at Wolf Creek Angler as we bid farewell to summer.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:32-06:00September 2nd, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|1 Comment

Easing out of August

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One week to go!

We are anxious to bid farewell to what has been a very quiet August on the Missouri. Despite the fishing being consistently good, at least by late summer standards, we just haven’t seen much traffic on the water this month.

It’s been a nice break and a good chance to catch up on some maintenance projects around the property but we are definitely ready to trade lawn watering/blog writing/blog reading/inventory/cleaning/painting/mowing days for busy days in the shop getting trips out the door, selling bugs, booking rooms and trips and spending time visiting with our customers. Not that it’s been completely dead but let’s just say that we haven’t spent a lot of time re-stocking product as of late.

That’s all about to change as the fall season gets underway. Soon the parking lot will be full again and the night life at WCA will return as lodging fills up and guests spend their cool fall evenings swapping fish tales over cocktails on the porch while anxiously anticipating the next day on the water.

We’re stocked up with plenty of new bugs for fall and very soon it will be time to move summer gear to the sale rack to make way for the return of cold weather gear. Keep an eye out for great sales on great gear at Wolf Creek Angler.

We’ve been booking trips daily and it looks to be a very busy fall on the Missouri, especially with the current situation on the Yellowstone. We would love to have you as our guest this fall on the MO’. Guide Trips and rooms available now, book yours today.

You don’t need to wait until fall to fish either. You’ve got a week left to take advantage of our Dog Days of Summer special. Through the end of August book a full day guide trip and a night of lodging and we’ll throw in a second night of lodging for free. Hard to beat that deal.

September will be good. October will be better and for those willing to roll the dice on the weather – November can be lights out. And it doesn’t end there.

Usually around mid-November things get pretty quiet around here again but that doesn’t mean you can’t fish. We don’t winter in the tropics, we winter on the Missouri! We’re here 12 months a year providing you with the best guides on the river; clean, affordable lodging; and an up and coming Missouri River Fly Shop filled with everything you need for fly fishing the Missouri no matter what time of year. We are among the only outfitter owned and operated shops on the river and we live to share the stuff of our life dream with you.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 25th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Cooler Temps = Hotter Fishing?

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Renewed optimism around the shop this cool and cloudy Thursday. It definitely felt like fall out there this morning and will even more so tonight with lows in the 40’s and rain showers likely. They’re even talking snow for some of the higher elevations!

Just dark enough and just enough of a chill in the air today to draw some attention to the streamer bins. I haven’t heard back from anyone yet today but we had more than a couple of folks loading up on big ugly bugs this morning and you could sense the excitement as we’re offered a little taste of what’s to come in the not so distant future.

Temperatures will heat up again over the weekend but we’re definitely on the run towards fall. People are enjoying the final weeks of summer vacation and while we don’t like the fact that the summer flies by so fast it is the time of year when we start to anticipate the awesome fall fishing on the Missouri.

We get a lot of calls inquiring about when the best time to come for fall fishing is and as is so often the case we don’t have a simple answer.

For one, there is the Crystal Ball Factor. We have no idea what Mother Nature will be serving up this year. We could see sunshine and summer temps right on through October. We could see snow tonight. The weather is the unknown part of the equation.

We tend to think of the fishing improving with cooler temps (which I believe it does) but in thinking about that, what exactly is it about cooler weather that makes the fishing improve? I think there are many factors, not the least of which is the attitude shift that happens in us when we stop sweating and stop lamenting the passing of summer and opt instead to let the anticipation of autumn take over.

Whether its fall fishing or hunting or fall colors or football or kids going back to school or cold fleece clad nights around the fire ring or whatever it may be for you, everyone has their own idea of what makes fall in Montana so awesome and when we start to think these happy thoughts the anticipation grows.

I’m no scientist but there is definitely science happening here which causes changes in our chemical composition. Endorphins start to pump and the next thing you know instead of complaining about the heat and the weeds and the lack of bugs and on and on we instead start to daydream about those crisp autumn days on the water and since we can’t wait for fall we hit the river and just like that the fishing goes from painfully slow to insanely off the charts just because of our attitude adjustment.

Well maybe it doesn’t happen quite like that but a big part of the hum drum of the dog days of summer is the fact that there is nobody here! You can’t catch fish if you aren’t here. If nobody’s fishing then obviously there aren’t fish being caught! If you aren’t in the forest to hear the tree fall then does it make a sound? Likewise, if you aren’t on the water to hear that behemoth brown gulp that hopper you should be!

Was the fishing hot yesterday? Fish were eating yesterday but few were being caught as there were very few anglers out there to catch them. Is it hot today? Will it be hot for the weekend? I haven’t heard any reports today and as far as tomorrow goes see the Crystal Ball Factor above. It’s a total cliché but you really don’t know if you don’t go so get your heads together and get out there.

We’ve got lodging, we’ve got guides, we’ve got boats and we’ve got a shop stuffed full of everything you need for fly fishing the MO’ and beyond including a fly selection the likes of which has never been seen before in Wolf Creek Montana. We’re here to help you out in any way we can and we’ve got answers (of some sort) to all of your questions. We don’t claim to be the experts but we do spend a fair amount of time around here doing what we, and you, love to do and learning new things every day so we think it’s a good bet we just might be able to help you. If not, we’ve got damn fine coffee….and free!

Hoppers and ants. Zebras and Crays. Sparkle Minnows and Godzilla Sculpins just to name a few. Stop by or give us a call for up to the minute conditions and reports.

Tons of Bugs at Wolf Creek Angler

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 18th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|1 Comment

Looking Towards Fall

Fall on the Missouri – photo by Neale Streeks

Thinking about fall fishing on the Missouri? We are too!

October is one of our favorite months to fish the MO’ and judging by our lodging and guide trip bookings, it’s yours too.

The first three weeks of October look to be extremely busy though we still have openings so don’t put it off any longer, give us a call today and book that fall trip.

As of right now things are pretty busy starting around the middle of September and then thin out the last week of October. Keep in mind that these last few years the late October/early November fishing has been the best of the fall. The weather can be hit or miss but it’s typically cool/cloudy/snowy/rainy days that are preferred if fishing BWO’s is your game.

Fall is also the time for streamer fishing. Weeds will still be a factor but it’s definitely worth the effort when you hook into that giant Missouri River brown decked out in full spawning colors.

Don’t let the possibility of rain or sleet or snow or cold discourage you as it’s often the case that the worse the weather is the better the fishing is. And the beauty of lodging and fishing with WCA is that you’ve got a premier Missouri River fly shop on site ready to meet all of your fly fishing needs. Cold weather gear; layering; waders and boots; rods from Loop, Echo, St Croix and Redington; reels from Ross, Loop, Nautilus, Redington and Echo; ARC and Rio fly lines; packs, nets and accessories from Fishpond and the biggest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana, including a streamer selection that rivals that of any other shop with a bunch of WCA Exclusives you won’t find anywhere else. We’re starting to stock up for fall fishing with all kinds of new bugs and new gear. Stay tuned for a MAJOR shop-related announcement coming soon!

So while it’s definitely still summertime on the Missouri it won’t be for long. Leaves are starting to change, pre-season football has started, the first of the Oktoberfest beers have already hit the shelves and in two weeks your kids will be back in school and you’ll all be wondering where the summer went. Fret not, fall is a magical time on the MO’.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 15th, 2016|Categories: Montana Fly Fishing, Uncategorized|Tags: ARC Fishing, brown trout, Fall fishing, Fishpond, fly fishing, Redington, RIO, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Missouri River Weekend Update

Hopper Time!

Blue skies and sunshine this weekend, highs in the 80’s and 90’s for the next few days before we see another cool down late in the week.

Angling traffic is on the light side but do expect plenty of rec floaters out there this weekend. It’s going to be a gorgeous couple of days to float the river.

What fishing traffic there is seems to be concentrated in the canyon which by all accounts is fishing very good right now, especially by August standards. Weeds are a challenge, but nothing you can’t handle. While the canyon is getting some good press right now don’t limit yourself. Try the lower river, try the upper river…..there are fish everywhere!

Plenty of options right now if you’re willing to switch it up early and often but for my money I would go with a hopper (or a chubby) and either a Rubber Legs or your favorite mayfly nymph.

We’re liking the Moorish and More or Less Hoppers in pink and also having some luck with the #12 White Cloud Hoppers in peach. Don’t overlook yellow either, most of the naturals I’ve seen around (and there aren’t a bunch of them) have been yellow. We’ve had luck with everything from #8’s to #12’s but I think there’s a tendency to want to go big and that isn’t always the ticket. If you aren’t getting any looks at that #8 try something small or get the best of both worlds and trail an ant off that #8 hopper, then you’ll have the right size meal for any appetite.

As far as nymphs to drop, again we like the brown or brown/yellow rubber legs and all kinds of mayfly stuff. Split Case PMD’s, Military Mays, Docs Summer Bug, 2 Bits, Little Green Machines, Peeps, Purple Lightning Bugs, plain old PT’s….you get the picture. Additionally we’ve had some good days with the #16 purple weight fly, tan UV Czechs and various crayfish patterns.

Tricos? Yes and no. There are bugs. There are fish eating them but those who are here specifically for the Trico fishing have been disappointed for the most part. Rig up an indicator spinner and a cdc emerger and have it at the ready in case you come across some rising fish. Otherwise grab your hopper rig and fire away. Hit the banks, hit the seams, hit the riffles and be ready for the take.

We’ve been a little hum-drum with our reports as of late, after all it is August but it’s definitely worth your time to come out and give it a shot. Sure there are some tough days, but there are also some really good days and there’s NOBODY HERE! That’s bad for us but it’s great for you if you’re hoping to have some water to yourself. Besides that, it’s summertime in Montana. Why wouldn’t you spend your day floating down a river?

We’ve got plenty of lodging available as well as abundant availability with the hardest working guides on the Missouri. We’re also offering free lodging as part of our Dog Days of Summer Special. Now through the end of August book a full day guide trip and a night of lodging and we’ll throw in a second night of lodging for free.

We’re open daily at 6:30 AM for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 13th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, grasshoppers, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Summer Diversions

seattle skyline

If you’re looking for an updated fishing report come back soon, I’m working on it. In the meantime, allow me a bit of self-indulgence and feel free to read on…..or not.

It’s been a busy week, mostly away from the shop and away from the water. As summer winds down we typically try to do some family time mini vacations before the kid and the wife are back to school.

It just so happened this summer that things overlapped and we ended up with a week which took us to Missoula and back, followed by a quick run to Seattle and back and then on to Missoula to bookend a super fun week with a bunch of windshield time and some cool outings.

We started on Sunday in Missoula, going to see Emmylou Harris at the Wilma. We aren’t hard-core Emmylou fans but she is a legend and when you get the chance to see a legend like Emmylou at a great venue like the Wilma you go. It was a great show which was never really on “the list” for me but which should have been. Go see Emmylou if you get a chance. POSTER_FINAL_APR2016

She’ll be back in Montana on the 25th of August with John Prine for “An Evening at the Arch: Yellowstone Celebrates the National Park Service Centennial”. This is a free show happening in Gardiner MT. I believe it’s been SOLD OUT for a while now but maybe worth taking a trip to Gardiner anyway just to see what you can see.

If you follow the blog you know that I am a huge Detroit sports fan. Lions, Tigers, Wings, Pistons….it doesn’t matter which team….I love them all and will go to great lengths to watch them any chance I get. My son has been bugging me to take him to a ball game and it just so happened the Tigers were playing in Seattle three nights this week so off to Seattle we went on Wednesday for the final game of the series.

My last trip to Seattle was in the early 90’s and my son had never been so it was a great opportunity to get back there for a quick visit and to see our Tigers. It ended up being a losing effort (all week long) for the Tigers but the trip to Safeco Field was well worth it. What an awesome ball park in a great city. FullSizeRender (14)

During my last visit to Seattle in the early 90’s I was (and still very much am) a complete Twin Peaks Freak. It was the main reason I decided to head west for spring break that last year of college and it was at the height of the show. Visiting the filming locations was definitely the highlight of that trip for me.

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Last year my son started to get into the show so we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to revisit the real Twin Peaks on our way back from Seattle. He was excited to see the various locations and I was stoked to be able to see several locations I never found the first time around. To be able to look up TP Filming Locations on the IPhone and get turn by turn directions to all of them was amazing, especially considering when I did this trip back in the early 90’s cell phones weren’t widely used yet and there was certainly no such thing as a Smart Phone. Could I sound much older? Anyways, it was an awesome experience for both of us.

Tomorrow we will top off the week with another concert at The Wilma. This time it’s Ryan Adams and if it’s anywhere near as good as his show at Big Sky Brewing Company last summer it will be an awesome ending to a great week. I’ll be accompanied by my son who, while preferring the stylings of Kanye West or Drake, tolerates Ryan Adams maybe just to humor me. It will be one of his first concerts though so hopefully he’ll look back someday and thank me for taking him to such a great show.

Thank you for allowing me a bit of self-indulgence. Back to Missouri River Fly Fishing tomorrow!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 12th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|1 Comment

This Week on the MO’

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We’re definitely looking at cooler temps this week and we’re actually starting to hear some good fishing reports from our guides and even from a few of our guests who are out there getting it done on their own.

It seems the short leash has been the key to success though there have been some strong hopper outings as well. Try both on and see what happens.

We’re partial to the hopper/dropper rig because we LOVE to see them eat the hopper. Sometimes they crush it, sometimes it just disappears. Be on the alert. You typically aren’t going to get a ton of eats on the hopper so you need to make it count. It really sucks when you miss the take, you might not get another shot all day! Drop a mayfly nymph off of your pink or purple Moorish Hopper to increase your odds or we also like to run two on top and trail an ant. The trout like ants, sometimes more than hoppers!

Nymphs we would suggest include Split Case PMD’s, pheasant tails, Little Green Machines, S & M’s, Military Mays and weight flies in purple. If you’re going to run a two nymph rig we recommend Palsa pinch-on indicators and we also like the Lil’ Nuggets from Strike Foundry. Keep your rig under three feet, sans split shot and find your water.

We’ve been doing well in the fast water, medium depth. Same nymphs as above in addition to various crayfish and rubber leg patterns. Don’t overlook the worm either. A worm and a cray could be a deadly combination. If you aren’t comfortable with the weightlessness of the rig then make one of your nymphs something with a tungsten bead….it’s plenty of weight for what you’re trying to do.

Not much to report on the trico front. Still seeing bugs and occasionally fish on them but we’re not counting on it. Similar story with the caddis in the evening. There are bugs around and it’s never a bad idea to try your elk hair caddis or outrigger caddis/emerger rig during last light. Find the fish, show them a good presentation and see what the fish gods have to say about it.

Lodging has started to fill again after a quiet week but we still have plenty of availability for lodging and guides. Don’t forget our Dog Days of Summer Special if your thinking of coming out to give it a go. Book a guide day and two nights lodging and we’ll throw in a third night of lodging for free. Why not take advantage of the light traffic and book yourself an August getaway on the Missouri?

Days are getting noticeably shorter so we’re back to opening at 6:30 AM. It’s pretty dark (and getting darker every day) at 6 AM though I’ve still seen a few folks doing the early launch. If you’re wanting to be on the water prior to 6:30 don’t hesitate to come by. We’re generally in here at or just after 6 firing up the machine so feel free to stop. The coffee may not be quite ready but by the time you get that shuttle form filled out and load up on bugs we’ll have you out the door with a cup to go.

Come check out our ever-expanding bug selection, new arrivals in the reel case from Nautilus and great lines from ARC Fishing. We’re loving these fly lines this summer…you will too.

See you soon in the shop and on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 9th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: ARC Fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Strike Foundry, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments