Uncategorized Archives - Page 29 of 53

Weekend Update

front

Things continue to be a little tough out there but don’t despair. There are plenty of reasons you should be fishing the Missouri right now.

These are just a few of them.

1. HOOT OWL RESTRICTIONS

Screenshot (73)
Water levels continue to drop on many rivers around the state. Low flows mean high water temps, especially during hot weather. High water temps mean stressed trout. The Hoot Owl closure list continues to grow with a couple of rivers (Jefferson and parts of the Big Hole) now completely closed to fishing. Meanwhile on the Missouri we’re enjoying relatively stable flows in the 4100 cfs range and comfortable water temps in the low to mid 60’s. Rumor has it we’re going to see a drop in flows here as well but we don’t expect anything too drastic. Should we drop into that 3500 range you can expect more weeds but for the time being we’re liking the conditions on the river, especially by August standards. If Hoot Owl conditions have chased you off of your favorite water it’s time to hit the MO’.

2. LIGHT TRAFFIC

August is traditionally a slow month on the Missouri and while we appreciate the break after an extremely busy several months, six days in and we’re rested and ready to ramp up again! We typically see a big drop in traffic during August and early September despite the fact the fishing can be good. It can also be challenging but if it wasn’t a challenge what fun would it be? Regardless, for whatever reason, there aren’t a lot of people around in August so it’s the perfect time to come fish the Missouri if it’s relative solitude you seek. It’s not quite December solitude but you can usually find yourself a stretch of water void of other anglers. No waiting at the ramps, less competition on the water, immediate seating at Izaaks and plenty of vacancies in the area are all good reasons to try August fishing on the Missouri.

3. GRASSHOPPERS AND ANTS

Although not known as a great terrestrial fishery the Missouri gives up plenty of big browns to hoppers and ants strategically drifted and occasionally twitched through the right spots. Banks, seams, riffles…..you know the spots. Do a long float covering as much water as you can and be patient. Hopper fishing is rarely action-packed but there are occasional good days and frequent good parts of mediocre days so it’s definitely worth your while to give it a try. Not sure where to go? Stop by the shop and we’ll get you set up with the right bugs and give you some direction on where to go. If you really want to get your hopper game dialed in book a trip with us and we’ll have one of our expert guides take you to the ultra secret hopper hot zones. We’re happy to send you to these spots on your own but nobody knows the water better than those who are out there every day. If you are new to the Missouri or new to fly fishing or both we can’t stress enough how critical a guide trip can be to your future success or lack thereof. You’ll learn more in a day on the water with one of our guides than you could in a whole season of trying it on your own.

4. FLYSHOP EMPLOYEES ARE CRAVING HUMAN CONTACT

While it’s not quite that bad there are definitely some lonely spells in shop these days. The upside to this though is that we’ve got plenty of time to do things like cleaning the shop, grounds keeping….etc so the shop is really clean and the lawn is making a comeback after a bit of neglect since we’ve had plenty of time to dedicate to a sprinkling program. We’re busy working on fall fill in orders and starting to put together pre-season orders for 2017 and also doing a fair amount of lodging and guide trip boo

kings for fall and for next season. There are always things to do around the shop but our favorite thing to do in the shop is help customers so it would make our day if you came by.

5. DOG DAYS OF SUMMER LODGING SPECIAL

Now through the end of August book a guide trip and two nights lodging with Wolf Creek Angler and we’ll throw in a third night of lodging for free. That’s up to a $129 value. It’s a great opportunity to do a second guided day on the MO’ or to rent one of our RO or Adipose Drift Boats and try it on your own after which you can relax at WCA for another night for free.

See you soon at WCA.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 6th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, Dog Days, fly fishing, grasshoppers, Missouri River, RO Drift Boats, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Dont Miss The Dog Days

We’re looking at status quo weather for the next few days with sunshine and temps in the mid to high 80’s. The good news is we’re seeing temps drop into the low 50’s at night, keeping things at least somewhat cool for the morning hours. We’ll see cooler weather next week so it could be the perfect opportunity to take advantage of our Dog Days of Summer Lodging Special.

Book yourself a guide trip and two nights of lodging and we’ll throw in a third night of lodging for free. Get here the evening before your trip and spend a few hours exploring the area on your own. Do dinner at The Oasis or Izaaks or cook for yourself. Many of our rooms come equipped with a full kitchen and we also provide access to gas grills. Get a great night’s sleep away from the hustle and bustle and then spend a day getting dialed in on the Missouri with one of our expert guides.

Getting to sleep wont be a problem after a full day on the water. Relax on the porch or in our picnic/bar area and finalize your plans for another day of fishing. You could do a second guided day or rent a drift boat and try it on your own or we’d be happy to share our suggestions with you if you’d like to explore something other than the MO’ whether guided or on your own.

Top off that second day of fishing with another relaxing evening at WCA on us. Two days of fishing and three nights of relaxing at the WCA Fish Camp might be just what the doctor ordered.

While it’s definitely not prime time on the Missouri there are bugs (tricos, caddis, terrestrials), there are plenty of fish and the crowds are all but gone (for the time being). You just might have a spectacular day of fishing and you’re likely to have the thing virtually all to yourself.

Thinking about fall fishing? We are too. We can’t wait. October lodging and guide dates are filling quickly so don’t wait any longer, book that trip today. And speaking of booking, many of the prime-timer regulars have booked their 2017 dates upon their recent departure so if you are thinking about a trip to the MO’ during the prime time next year it’s NEVER TOO EARLY to book those dates.

These are quiet days in the shop which gives us a chance to get caught up on things we’ve been neglecting and also to prepare for the oncoming second season which will soon be upon us. We’re still open every day at 6:00 AM for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs. We hope to see you soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 4th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

No wait at the boat ramps for the time being. The fish are here – where are you? photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Things are pretty quiet around here this week. The bright sun and high temps are keeping things challenging on the river and while it’s still hard to beat a day floating the MO’, no matter what time of year, the current conditions have many anglers singing the summertime blues.

Trico action has been hit or miss. The bugs have been consistent but it seems more often than not the fish just don’t seem that interested. Our walk/wade DFO guests have had a particularly frustrating time of it. Between the finicky fish, the heat, the seemingly ever-present wind and the lack of any consistent evening activity it’s been challenging to say the least. We’ve spent plenty of time talking folks off of the ledge over these past couple weeks and will likely continue to have to do so. The bottom line is that August fishing can be tough. But then again, it can be tough any time of year and there are plenty of August days that the fishing is phenomenal.

One thing that helps is to adjust your expectations. Keep in mind that the fish have been extremely pressured for the last several months. Pair that with bright, sunny, hot days and you have the potential for some tough fishing but with that being said you could also have spectacular fishing and could have it virtually all to yourself.

We love to throw the hopper this time of year so what we recommend is a long float where you’ll have plenty of opportunities to nymph or throw hoppers and since you’re covering a lot of water you’ll likely find fish up here and there in areas that don’t see as much pressure so you’ll be able to satisfy your dry fly cravings as well.

Streamers are an option as well. It isn’t our favorite time of year to fish streamers due to the amount of sunshine and aquatic vegetation but if you choose your spots and deliver your cast with pinpoint accuracy you are likely to move a fish or two. I’ve spent a little time throwing streamers in select spots the last few times out and have moved a few each time, including one beast of a brown hooked and lost at the boat which was definitely pushing the two foot mark. Those who fish with me might accuse me of being a little hung up on Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin and I get it but all I will say is that I haven’t changed bugs in three weeks! Bright sunny days may not be ideal but I’m a firm believer that if you put the fly in front of them they’re going to go after it regardless of weather conditions.

Think quality, not quantity when it comes to August fishing. Big fish (and small ones too) eat hoppers and streamers and while you aren’t likely to rack up double digits you are apt to get a few to go if you cover enough water. I’ll take a hopper eat or a streamer chase over a bobber drop any day of the week, even if it means substantially fewer fish. Success is directly tied to your expectations and your perception. That is why I encourage you to perhaps lower your expectations and just enjoy the experience rather than focusing on the numbers.

We talk to plenty of anglers who are having a legitimately tough time hooking up and we will always do whatever we can to help but we also talk to a lot of anglers who are disappointed because they only got 6 or 8 and only one of those was over 20″. To me this is a great day, especially for this time of year, but for some these numbers equate to failure. It’s all in how you perceive things.

The list of Hoot Owl and Mandatory Drought Closures is growing daily so you may find yourself on the MO’ very soon if fly fishing in Montana is in your plans. If you do we invite you to stop by WCA for the latest river info and a bug selection that rivals that of any other shop. Find the complete list of restrictions and closures here http://fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions/waterClosure.html

And don’t forget our Dog Days of Summer Special. For the month of August book a guide trip and two nights lodging and get a third night of lodging for free. Get dialed in with a guide on day one and then get more dialed in with a second day of guided fishing or rent a boat and try it on your own.

Light traffic, plenty of sunshine and the potential for some pretty good fishing or not, but again, there are much worse things you could be doing than spending a day floating the MO’ on a sunny Montana summer day.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 2nd, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

On the Road Report: Political Refugee Edition.

Over the past few weeks, with the mercury on the rise, water across the state flat-lining and the political climate starting to resemble an episode of Jerry Springer straight out of a Kafka book; I’ve found myself more often than not, getting the hell away from everything. I’m already done with hearing the political talk at the bars and on the river. Combine the never ending political ramblings with the unavoidable heat, lets just say that Chewy needs a change of pace. But first, onto the fishing report.

Like our goofy grinned friend up the street says, fishing right now, is as good as you are. Crowds, weeds, high sun and ohh yeah picky fish. Still seeing a good trico spinner fall in the morning providing some good targets and the hopper bite throughout the day has been picking up. Try a More-or-Less Hopper or a Chubby in the riffles and seams with a split case or cray dropper.

Limited options right now if you’re looking at getting off the MO onto some freestone or small water. Hoot-Owl restrictions on lots of Western District and a handful of Central waterways. Check out the complete list HERE but just be ready for more to be added on as we push into the latter part of summer. Even with a lot of big name rivers feeling the sting, still loads of options if you’re looking into something different. Our buddies at Lakestream Fly Shop in Whitefish have been posting some good reports from the Flathead & Swan as well as a handful of guides reporting good action on the Yellowstone. If you’re looking for something a little more local, you’ll have to work for it, but the options are still out there. Alpine lakes, and the higher reaches of rivers not being affected as much by low flows and high temps are a good place to start looking.
As for me, I’ll be loading up a cooler and hitting the high country in search of cooler temps, less crowded water and a total lack of political discourse. Not to mention the backcountry brookies and cutthroat. Jason will be manning the shop for the next few days while I claim refugee status in the greater Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Bourbon, Beer & Bear Spray, a solid recipe for a weekend if you ask me. If you don’t see me in a few days, don’t worry about it, something tells me I won’t be missing much.

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 1st, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing, Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Drivers Training

197934_1011155372951_3779_n

FullSizeRender (13)

I’ve had the pleasure this summer of teaching my 15-year-old son how to row a drift boat, more specifically, how to row a drift boat effectively for fly fishing the Missouri River.

After years of being somewhere between indifferent and Lukewarm towards fly fishing, he has started to take an interest this season. An interest sparked by spending time hanging around the shop with super-cool fishing guides and his ultra uncool dad. He still isn’t all that enamored with fly fishing but he’s definitely a fan of the guide life (whatever that is) and the idea of making money rowing a boat definitely has some appeal. That and I think he figures having mad rowing skills might impress the ladies.

And so in between washing boats, mowing grass, cleaning rooms and working in the shop he’s committed to a day a week with me on the water and while my motives are pure I’d be lying if I didn’t acknowledge the fact that I’m pretty stoked to have someone rowing the boat so I can fish. He’s really come a long way over the past few weeks and is definitely to the point where he can get the boat down the river without a problem. He’s starting to understand and control speed and distance in relation to the location of the indicator and he’s even gotten pretty good at maintaining the proper speed and distance for streamer fishing. We’ve just started to tackle moving the boat laterally which will be what we concentrate on for the next couple of weeks.

The last couple of times out we’ve had big winds to contend with and he has rapidly discovered why wind is the bane of the Missouri River Fly Fishing Guide’s Existence. Is it really that bad? I think my son would tell you it is, judging by the couple of “I’m not doing it”, “I can’t do it”, “I hate rowing” meltdowns he’s had. I’ve had plenty of them myself so I’m not too worried about it but it sure detracts from my fishing when my guide decides he’s throwing in the towel!

We’ll keep at it and see if we can’t make him into a Montana fly fishing guide after all.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00July 30th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Free Lodging at WCA!

brown5

The Dog Days of Summer have arrived!

Things usually slow down here this time of year. In fact it can be a ghost town in August but that isn’t because the fishing isn’t any good.

We invite you to come experience summer fishing on the Missouri with our Dog Days of Summer Special. During the month of August book a full day guide trip and two night’s lodging and get a third night of lodging for free. That gives you an extra day to explore on your own or to do a second day of guided fishing if you wish.

What does August fishing on the Missouri look like?

The weather is hot, the traffic is light and the fishing, while maybe a little inconsistent, can be downright off the charts depending on the day.

It’s Tricos in the morning, Caddis in the evening and hoppers inbetween, perhaps with a dose of nymphing the dam just to get your card punched.

We like to do long floats, throwing big bugs and while we may not rack up the numbers we do at other times of year there’s nothing quite like watching a hopper get crushed by a big Missouri River Brown.

It’s a great time to think outside of the box and try some things you normally wouldn’t. We like to experiment with new bugs and new rigs and we’ve even been known to go nocturnal during the dog days. Long floats, big bugs and full coolers on hot Montana summer days (or nights)….does it get any better?

Give us a call today to book your August adventure on the MO’.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00July 28th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Hoot Owl Closures Expanded

hootowl

The high temps, along with the lack of precipitation we’ve been experiencing these last two weeks has forced more hoot owl closures around the state and it looks like the list is only going to get longer as we’re looking at above average high temps for the next while.

Following is a list of the current stream closures from FWP. Please check before you fish by going here http://fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions/waterClosure.html to check and see if the water you intend to fish has been added to the list and even if it hasn’t we encourage you to use common sense and steer clear of those low flows and warm water temps that stress the fish.

Notice that the Missouri River is not on the list. We continue to enjoy flows in the 4100 range and water temps in the low to mid 60’s most days. This is generally a slow time here on the MO’ traffic wise but it looks like we may see some angler migration as things heat up around the state. We’ve got plenty of availability for lodging and guide trips through August and into early September so keep us in mind if fishing the Missouri is in your plans.

Take advantage of our Dog Days of Summer Getaway special. During the month of August book a full day guide trip and two night’s lodging with us and we’ll throw in a third night of lodging for free. Despite what you may have heard August can be an excellent time to fish the Missouri. We’ve got plenty of Tricos, Caddis, Ants and Hoppers and the nymphing rarely disappoints. The best part is that depending on where and when you fish, you could very well have the river to yourself on any given day. Weekends tend to be busy with recreational traffic but there are plenty of places to go where that wont be a problem. Give us a call today and book your August Getaway.

If it’s fall fishing you’re waiting for we suggest you make those plans sooner rather than later as prime dates are booking up quickly.

We hope you make Wolf Creek Angler your early morning Missouri River Fly Fishing One Stop. Shuttles, Loop rods and reels, ARC and Rio fly lines, Ice, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, the best cup of free coffee in the canyon, a friendly fishy staff and the ever-expanding best and largest selection of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. Open daily at 6 AM for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing Needs.

RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES

Big Hole River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/23/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to North Fork Big Hole River Mouth (7/22/2016)

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/25/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Big Hole River from Maiden Rock FAS to Notch Bottom FAS. (7/25/2016)

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/23/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Notch Bottom FAS to confluence with the Beaverhead River (7/22/2016)

East Gallatin River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/08/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
East Gallatin River from Spring Hill Road Bridge (Hwy411) to the confluence with the Gallatin River. (7/7/2016)

Gallatin River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/01/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
From the confluence with the Madison River at Three Forks to Sheds Bridge (Hwy 84) near Four Corners, MT (6/30/2016)
View Water Body Report

Jefferson River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/01/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire river. (6/30/2016)

Madison River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 06/30/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Madison River from Ennis Dam to the mouth (6/29/2016)

Ruby River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/25/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Ruby River from Duncan District Road to the confluence with the Beaverhead River. (7/25/2016)

Smith River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/25/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Smith River from the confluence of the North and South forks of the Smith River to Eden Bridge. (7/24/2016)

Sun River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/25/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Sun River from the Highway 287 Bridge to the mouth of Muddy Creek. (7/24/2016)

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00July 26th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|2 Comments

Dawn Patrol

splashyrise

Trico Season means early morning starts on the Missouri.

I took a run down the rec road at 5:30 am the other day, looking for good photo ops and found a bunch of folks out and about pre 6 AM. Being that we exist in order to meet all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs we didn’t hesitate to move our open time to 6 AM.

Until further notice we will be open at 6 AM daily. Coffee is on by 5:45 so don’t hesitate to come on in. If the lights are on we are open.

Good trico action in the mornings, good caddis action in the evenings and PMD’s still making their presence known daily. Nymphing is reaching “On Fire” status at the dam and has been good in the canyon as well. Full fishing report coming within a day or two. Traffic is beginning to dwindle so if you’re thinking of coming out it’s a great time to do it. Plenty of lodging and guides available through the Dog Days and into early fall. October and early November are rapidly filling so don’t wait too long to make those plans.

Until then we’ll see you bright and early at Wolf Creek Angler for the latest reports, great coffee, shuttles, bugs and much more.

Open at 6 AM Daily

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00July 18th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Change in Scenery

I took advantage of an afternoon off last week to visit some of my favorite summer haunts.

Life on the Missouri has been great this summer. Business has been very good and the fishing has been what you would expect it to be on a world class fishery such as this.

Sometimes, during the height of the season, it’s nice to sneak away and escape the crowds and wander in the wilderness, amongst the bears. There’s nothing like fishing big bugs to eager Cutts.

We’ve been busy making hay here at WCA….so busy that the summer seems to be slipping away. I haven’t had much opportunity to get away so I savored every minute of the few hours I was able to wander.

Back to it on the MO’. Trico Time with the Dog Days and the August Lull just around the corner. Likely more opportunities ahead for wandering.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00July 13th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|1 Comment

A Taste of Autumn

Feeling like October this 11th of July as we sit in the middle of a cold front that has brought unseasonably cool temps and some much-needed precipitation in the form of rain and possibly a few snow flakes in the higher elevations. Summer will return tomorrow with sunshine and temps moving back towards the norm with high 70’s and low 80’s for the remainder of the week.

Rainy and cold and windy today which may not be the ideal conditions for dry fly fishing on the Missouri but we’re happy to have the relief as waters around the state have been dropping and warming already forcing Hoot Owl closures in some places. Long-term forecasts predict higher than average temps and lower than average precipitation for the rest of the summer so if nothing else we’re grateful for the temporary arrest of the trends that will undoubtedly result in more Hoot Owl closures in the future.

Here on the Missouri we are in great shape with current flows at 4440 and temps in the low 60’s. Canyon Ferry is full and it looks as though flows will be maintained in the 4000 cfs range for the summer months. Expect a busy river for the rest of the summer as anglers migrate to the MO seeking cooler waters.

Tricos and Caddis will be the game for the next while with PMD’s still holding on and the fish reportedly opting for those PMD’s when given a choice. Add your favorite PMD to the smorgasbord of tricos on the water and hold on. Best selling trico patterns have been Indicator Spinners, Double Wings, Eric’s Trico Spinner, Quigley’s Trico Hackle Stacker and Drowned Tricos in #20. Helen Keller and Almost Dun PMD’s paired with a rusty spinner have been the go-to on the PMD front and the good old #16 CDC Caddis Emerger paired with an Outrigger Caddis or X Caddis have been effective caddis patterns. All of these and many more available now at Wolf Creek Angler.

Nymphing has continued to produce good numbers, especially at the dam, with Purple or Gold Weight flies paired with a PMD S & M or Split Case PMD. Other good options have been Military Mays, black Zebra midges, brown 2 Bit Hookers, Peep Shows, Tan UV Czechs, Gold or Purple Lightning bugs, LGM’s, PT’s, and on and on.

It’s not exactly streamer season on the Missouri but given the conditions today I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to throw them. Sparkle Minnows, Rainbow Baby Gongas, Space Invaders, JJ’s, Polar Leeches, Buggers and all kinds of creations from the mind of Chewy available exclusively at WCA. The ever-increasing vegetation may present some challenges when you’re stripping streamers but it’s definitely worth your efforts to power through. Choose your water carefully and change your bugs and your retrieve frequently and you may just be rewarded with a Missouri River Giant.

DFO’s may sit this day out so it would be a great day to take advantage of the conditions and have the river to yourself, relatively speaking of course.

We’ve got a few lodging openings this week due to cancellations and we’ve got guides available each and every day so if you’re considering a spur of the moment trip to fly fish the legendary Missouri this week give us a call. Things open up next week as we start to enter the late summer lull which is a lull only as measured by the amount of traffic. If you want to experience great Trico and terrestrial fishing without the crowds, August is the perfect month to fish the MO’. We’ve got plenty of openings for lodging and guides so don’t hesitate to book a trip today. If you’re looking to book fall fishing don’t wait another day….October and early November are filling quickly.

Make us your first stop on your way to the river for shuttles, RO and Adipose Drift Boat Rentals, sun protection, rain and wading gear, LOOP rods and reels, ARC and Rio lines, leaders and tippet and the largest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00July 11th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, RIO, RO Drift Boats, running line, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Previous 282930 Next