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October Magic

Autumn Magic on the MO

These are the autumn days we were dreaming of as summer lingered on.

Chilly mornings. Heavy dew on the grass. The morning sun warming the soul.

Blue bird skies with a burst of oranges, yellows and reds mixed with plenty of green still holding on.

The afternoon heat quickly dissipates as the sun drops below the horizon.

Evening chill and an early shroud of darkness.

Rising fish breaking the glassy autumn stillness.

Autumn beasts lurking below

It’s October Magic on the MO

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-10-04T14:02:54-06:00October 4th, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Summer heat has returned this week with temps back in the 80’s and near 90 tomorrow. Overnight lows in the 40’s and low 50’s have made for cool mornings so despite the daytime highs being a little warmer than what we’d like right now it still definitely feels like fall. More seasonable conditions will resume on Thursday with temps dropping back into the 60’s and 70’s with cloudy skies and a daily chance for some precipitation through the weekend.

Traffic has dropped off for us a bit this week after last week’s guide trip marathon but there are a fair number of folks getting out and enjoying these summer-like afternoons and the upcoming change in conditions will likely bring out the streamer set as well as those in search of fall dry fly action. We’re not expecting much on that front just yet but it won’t be long. While you wait for the fall BWOs you can bide your time with terrestrials, October Caddis and those dreaded pseudos.

Nymphing continues to be your best bet for numbers with sows, scuds and zebras getting it done and crayfish patterns still providing some solid action on the right days.

Conventional wisdom dictates small leechy patterns on intermediate lines if you want to try your hand at the streamer game and we’ve undoubtedly been selling plenty of Buggers, Thin Mints, Balanced Leeches, Pine Squirrel Leeches, Polar Leeches etc and getting some glowing reports. However, it’s not conventional wisdom that made us THE Streamer shop on the MO so you won’t be surprised to hear that we’ve been defying convention by running big bugs and heavy lines, searching out the water that allows it and finding plenty of success (and plenty of weeds)ourselves.

We keep the streamer bins as full as the supply chain allows so be sure to make us your first stop of the day for the best streamer selection on the MO and a variety of specialty lines and leaders to fit your preferred technique.

We’re down to the last of the summer gear but we’re fully stocked with cool weather essentials like Simms WCA Challenger hoodies and guide flannels as well as a full selection of hats, gloves and layering and of course waders and boots from Simms, Redington and Korkers. We stock Simms G3 and Freestone waders as well as Redington Sonic Pro waders and Escape wading pants.

Our fall rod and reel sale has been a huge success and is still going strong.

Our lodging is busy but not SOLD OUT on most nights. Give us a call for last minute reservations. Our guide calendar has peaked as we start to close out the 2022 campaign. We have openings throughout October and despite having had our busiest guide week of the fall last week we feel like the best fishing of the fall is still ahead of us.

It’s definitely the home stretch with the winter’s quiet looming but that being said it’s currently 80 degrees and sunny with clear blue skies above and a symphony of fall color….it’s the best of fall fly fishing in Montana. Get out there!

We’re open at 7 AM daily for all of your Missouri River fall fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-09-27T14:53:03-06:00September 27th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: balanced leeches, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, pine squirrel leeches, polar leeches, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, thin mints, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Autumn Creeping In

46 degrees this morning on the MO with intermittent drizzle and a northerly breeze. Feels like fall to me!

Piles of streamers leaving the bins today as our friends from the annual Schultz Outfitters trip brave the elements and the weeds and hunt for those prized fall browns….Michigan style. Go Big or Go HOME.

Today’s taste of quintessential fall weather will be short-lived as we even out in the 60’s for the next few days and back up into the high 70’s early next week but the overnight low dipping into the 30’s tonight should definitely make for a chilly start tomorrow.

Waders and boots and raingear are starting to move and I expect we’ll move some hats and gloves over the next day or two before the heat returns.

Our Annual Autumn Rod and Reel Sale is going strong with 25% Off all rods and reels and 30% off when you buy any rod, reel and line.

It’s our busiest guide week of the fall with the aforementioned Schultz crew here and it seems everyone keyed on late September this year. Always a safe bet for the start of the fall season but as I’ve said in the past, for my money – October is where it’s at. And it just so happens that we’ve got a fair amount of availability for lodging and guide trips should you decide to give October (and even early November) a try.

Dry fly fishing is not at its best as we await fall BWO’s though there is enough action between terrestrials, callibaetis and the occasional October Caddis to keep it interesting.

Nymphing is the go to with sows, zebras and crays leading the charge but don’t be afraid to try something outside of that realm. Purple weight flies, Rainbow Czechs and Frenchies paired with a Little Green Machine or any old PT might just get it done.

Streamers are getting eaten with consistency for those willing to brave the weed mass. Seek out the cleanest water you can and maybe opt for the intermediate versus the full sink. Small leechy patterns are getting it done but the big stuff works too. Roll through those streamer boxes until you find something that moves them. Sparkle Minnows, Dirty Hippies, Baby Gongas, Mini Dungeons, Thin Mints, Swim Coach, Peanut Envy, Autumn Splendor, JJ’s….fish what you like. Hit the banks, hit the buckets, hit the riffles. They could be anywhere.

Cold dark mornings typically translate to later starts though the low light morning hours could definitely work in your favor. We’re starting most of our guide trips around 8 AM so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get out ahead of the crowds. That, or wait em’ out and play clean up once the guide boats move on.

We’re sticking with 7AM open for them time being but that will get later as morning light and temperature conditions dictate.

Stop in for shuttles, bugs, hats, gloves, waders, boots, boat rentals and much much more. We are your Missouri River Autumn Fly Fishing Destination, a one-stop shop for anything and everything you may need.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-09-20T12:35:01-06:00September 20th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Back At It

What a difference a week makes!

A week ago we were looking for ways to pass the time with the late summer lull in full effect. The days in the shop tend to drag during the lull, especially after 9 am when you often don’t see much in the way of customers for the rest of the day. A few folks stopping in out of curiosity or maybe asking for change for the pop machine or directions to the river. Suffice it to say, we haven’t been setting any retail records over these past few weeks but the switch flipped this week and we’re back in the thick of it.

A full house and a pile of guide trips going out most days these next couple of weeks. It’s taken a minute to get back into the swing of things but we’re there now and ready to finish this season strong.

Not much has changed on the river since last week. It’s still primarily a nymphing game but there are some surface opportunities as well with terrestrials and the occasional callibaetis and October Caddis which may be few and far between but our trout LOVE them so don’t be afraid to invest some time in an October Caddis dry/dropper rig.

Weeds are definitely creating challenges for the sub-surface set but you’ve likely dealt with much worse. Check those rigs often and keep em’ clean. Trout prefer NO SALAD with their meal!

Weeds aside, the water is in great shape with flows holding steady in the 4200 CFS range and temps on the drop (currently 63 degrees).

Smoke from wild fires in the region has been pretty thick this past week for the first time this season but seems to have started to dissipate today. Cooler weather trends ahead with a chance for precipitation most days should continue to cool the water temps while the fishing heats up.

There’s nothing like fall fishing on the MO. Chilly mornings and evenings, fall colors popping and big browns on the prowl. Get out there!

We’re open at 7 AM daily with everything you need for your day on the water. Hats, Gloves, Sun protection, the best streamer selection on the MO and the sale of the season happening NOW on all rods and reels.

Lodging is busy but plenty of last minute options available most nights. We can’t really say the same thing where guide trips are concerned. It’s a busy month on the MO with many of our summer guides who moonlight as educators during the off season back to work, shrinking our guide pool substantially. It never hurts to call and ask but September is pretty well full. We do have plenty of openings in October though which in my opinion is the better month to fish but that’s neither here nor there. Give us a shout if you’d like to set something up for October or early November.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-09-14T13:00:17-06:00September 14th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Another Summer Season in the Books

The calendar still says summer. The weather at the moment definitely concurs but Labor Day has come and gone and with it Summer Season Number Nine at Wolf Creek Angler.

Summer angling crowds have been absent for weeks now and the river has been busy with rec floaters enjoying one last summer fling before it’s back to the fall grind.

Things have been on the lonely side these past few weeks for those of us in the fly shops but that’s about to change as we close the books on the summer season and make the shift to fall. It appears as though it will continue to feel like summer for the time being with a taste of what’s on the horizon coming Friday with expected daytime highs in the 50’s. The heat returns for the weekend but we’re definitely in the transition from sweltering heat to cooler days and nights. The leaves are turning, ever so slowly and the vibe has turned from Endless Summer to everything fall.

Fall sports are either already or very soon to be underway and many have already put away the fishing gear for the season, making the switch from hunting heads to hunting horns. Big Game Season is here which means the pursuit of deer and elk for many but for others Big Game Season means the pursuit of monster browns on the prowl as the fall spawning season gets underway.

I spent Saturday afternoon in Missoula sweating through a convincing Griz win for their season opener. Sweating aside – it felt GREAT to be back in the stands watching football again. It’s the time of year when hopes are high for all of our favorite teams with a clean slate from which to start. It’s hard to be anything other than optimistic prior to that first snap, even if you’re a Detroit Lions fan. This could be our year!!

September and October are among my favorite months of the year. I love everything about the fall and find myself savoring these autumn months more and more as the years pass by. Many of you share this love for autumn as evidenced by our bookings for September. It’s going to be a busy month on the MO but at this point availability for lodging and guides in October looks good.

You simply can’t beat autumn days on the MO. As those cooler temps begin to take hold and our water temps start to drop you can expect fishing to improve dramatically. Terrestrials will continue to be your go to for surface action while the nymphing and streamer fishing start to heat up. Folks have already started asking about BWO’s…it typically doesn’t happen until mid-October or later depending on the weather but we’ll certainly keep you posted. A few Callibaetis here and there for the hard core DFO and a great time to throw an October Caddis.

It was a fun summer and a hot one at that. And so we bid farewell to Summer 22. We’ll miss those green hills and long days and warm nights but we shall not mourn summer’s passing. Instead we embrace the change and welcome this season of the harvest.

We hope to see you on the MO this fall.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-09-05T14:25:35-06:00September 5th, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, fly fishing, Griz, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, summer, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Summer Fading Fast

It’s hard to believe but August is already coming to a close. Summer 22 is about to be but a memory as we turn the page and start to look towards fall fishing.

It’s been one of the hotter summers in recent memory with the number of days above 90 degrees far outpacing the average. We’ll see 90 today but cooler temps and maybe even some rain are on the way for the remainder of this week.

We’ll see highs in the high 70’s and low 80’s all week with a good chance for rain showers and possible thunderstorms starting tomorrow and running through Friday. Overnight lows will continue to dip into the low 50’s which should provide some relief to our stressed waters around the region. Fingers crossed that we get some precipitation and hopefully avoid any serious fire activity.

We anticipate solid fishing this week with the change in conditions, especially on the days with cloud cover which we should see starting tomorrow. The hopper bite continues to be strong on the right days with the hopper/ant rig outperforming the hopper/dropper rig but both have been effective. A single hopper or ant also gets it done for those who are working to improve their casting proficiency but perhaps aren’t quite there yet.

We’ve had better luck on smaller hoppers in the #12 – #14 range but don’t be afraid to mix it up and try the #8’s and #10’s. Tan Donkey Kong and Morrish and More or Less hoppers in Tan, Peach and Yellow have been money. Trail with a Stealth Ant and work the banks as well as the mid-river riffles.

Tricos have been hit or miss but there have definitely been some stellar days. Those opportunities should persist into early September.

Sow bugs, Green Machines, PT’s, black or olive zebra midges, weight flies in purple or gold, Peep Shows, Frenchies and Zirdles have all been good nymphing options though weeds are making things challenging so be mentally prepared for that.

The river remains quiet for the time being. Most traffic is concentrated at the dam as you might expect with most opting for the coldest and cleanest water but as those water temps hopefully start to drop a bit this week it might be worth your while exploring lower river options.

Rec traffic has been heavy, especially on the weekends but that’s all about to change as the world shifts out of summer mode and back to the grind.

Angling traffic will increase next month. It’s one of our busier Septembers as far as guide trips go with folks looking to get the jump on fall fishing. We’ve got several large groups coming in for annual trips starting the second week of the month so last minute bookings in September will be tough to fill but October is pretty wide open at this point if you’re looking to make plans for a fall pilgrimage to the MO.

With the days getting shorter and things hopefully cooling down soon we’re going back to opening at 7 AM this week. End of Summer Sale happening now with 40% OFF ALL SUMMER GEAR including cool T’s from Yakoda and all WCA summer logo wear. Annual Fall Rod and Reel SALE coming SOON.

Enjoy these late summer days on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-08-22T10:08:40-06:00August 22nd, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Hoppers, Missouri River, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, Yakoda, zebra midges|0 Comments

Ten Years After

It was ten years ago this week we left our Michigan home in the rearview and headed west.

With no jobs, no prospects and no real plan we chased a dream to Helena MT in search of the next chapter. What materialized over these last ten years I could never have imagined…I could never have dreamed this Big.

Montana felt right from day one which was a good thing as the first job I found was working in the warehouse at George’s Distributing with a crew half my age picking orders, loading and unloading trucks and moving product around the warehouse, sometimes into the wee hours of the night.

I was thankful for the job but extremely humbled as I’d gone from business owner to entry-level laborer with no clear path before me but it was all providential as we would soon find out.

Following a couple of years of unsuccessfully negotiating purchases of a few different fly shops in Montana I’d all but given up on that dream and settled for a move to the state which was the object of my obsession with the thought that whatever I ended up doing would be just fine because I’d be doing it in Montana. And while this was in fact the case in those early days I wasn’t so sure about the next chapter consisting of spending the next stage of my career working in a wine warehouse.

Fast forward to the spring of 2013…seven months into our new life in Montana I found myself going to work for Montana River Outfitters in Wolf Creek as Fly Shop Manager and also guiding on the Missouri River.

My desperate search for an opportunity to purchase a fly shop had been put on hold as I sought other avenues but just like that the opportunity materialized, providentially, just as it was meant to.

A year and four months into our journey I found myself the co-owner of a fly shop and lodging operation. And not just a fly shop, but a clean slate of a fly shop which we were able to develop into our own unique brand.

The next nine years would of course see change as we worked to improve our fly shop offerings while chipping away at making improvements to the lodging…a process which it turns out is never ending.

Nine years in we like where we’re at with Wolf Creek Angler. Our brand is well established and we continue to grow our business and to look for opportunities to improve and expand our services.

My outfitting business Iron Fly Outfitting has steadily grown and the future, as they say, is wide open.

Ten years after arriving here in Montana it still feels like a dream. This decade has flown past and while living here still in some ways feels new, life is happening as the narrative continues to develop.

My wife Sheila found work at one of the high schools in Helena as a career counselor when we arrived and returned to school for a degree in education. She is now a fixture at Helena High where her gifts and talents are on display every day as she makes a meaningful impact on the lives of so many students. There are challenges with every job. I can’t imagine the challenges of being a high school teacher but she rolls with those challenges better than anyone I know and for this season she is where she is supposed to be. Just ask her students.

Our son John was starting sixth grade when we arrived here. To me, there is no clearer gauge of the ridiculously accelerated passage of time than the fact that middle school, high school and three years of college are now behind us. Our “kid” is now an adult, making his way in Missoula with a world filled with possibilities laid out before him.

As those who read this blog know we lost our dear dog Jake last summer. His life of 12 years encompassed this immense amount of change. A complete reinvention of our lives in a new place and the adolescent years of our son come and gone.

We now have Zeke, just shy of 10 months into his life journey with us. He is amazing and as we embark on this journey with him we don’t know what changes his lifetime will bring but we do know his life with us is yet another hourglass of mortality counting down our days.

Our first ten years in Montana have been an amazing journey…a story we could not have imagined. And though we still miss our friends and family back in Michigan and I sometimes romanticize my days working in the foundry…there is simply no place I would rather be than here in Montana and we continue to feel blessed beyond measure.

Here’s to the next 10 and beyond!

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-08-17T13:13:52-06:00August 17th, 2022|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: George's Distributing, Missouri River, Montana, Montana River Outfitters, running line, Wolf Creek Angler|4 Comments

PMD’s are what’s on the menu. Stop by Wolf Creek Angler for the widest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Our steady flow towards PRIME TIME on the MO was interrupted briefly yesterday with a significant bump from 3000 CFS to 5200 CFS reportedly due to dam maintenance. They dropped flows back to 4700 CFS today and we’ll likely see another drop overnight into tomorrow when things should begin to stabilize once again.

Conditions had been prime for the coming BIG PMD SHOW and we should be back on track soon with stabilizing flows and water temps hanging in the mid 50’s. The weather these next few days will be conducive to bug activity with highs nearing 80 through the weekend. We’ll cool down again starting on Sunday, dropping back to highs in the 60s and overnight lows in the 40s but the 10 day shows another warm up late next week.

Judging by the number of bugs we’ve been seeing, particularly in the canyon, we’re expecting good things to happen VERY soon. We can’t guarantee bugs or feeding fish on any given day but we can guarantee that if you aren’t prepared with the latest and greatest PMD patterns from WCA then you’re putting yourself at a tremendous disadvantage every time you hit the water with the potential for epic dry fly fishing looming.

Stop in and see us and we’ll get you set up for the Big Show and also get you lined out with all the must have nymphs you shouldn’t be without. Think SPLIT CASE PMD’s! We’ve got em’ by the bin full.

Crazy Big Snow pack numbers are keeping us perplexed and optimistic for what’s to come. Canyon Ferry continues to fill and is currently at 76.5% full. Tribs are not doing much. Little Prickly Pear hasn’t done much of anything and the Dearborn is on the drop. Still floatable for sure but trending the wrong way at this point. We’ll see what effect the coming mini heat wave has on flows over these next few days.

Water is on the rise around much of the region, making the Missouri River THE destination for fly fishing in Montana at the moment. A fair amount of traffic out there with busy boat ramps but everyone seems to be playing nice so far. Going out of your way to be kind and respectful to your fellow anglers and river recreationalists is the right thing to do and will stack your ledger with good fishing karma!

We’re just entering the outer edges of The Blur right now, that time of year when the rooms are all full, the boats are all out, the days blend together, the weeks fly by and before you know it Prime Time is in the rearview. But, we’re not there yet. We’re settling in and getting acclimated to making the proverbial hay.

We’re open from 7 AM to 5 PM daily with everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, bugs, boats, sun protection, Simms wading and rain gear, awesome Lamson rods and reels, SA, Airflo and Rio lines, leaders and tippet, Fishpond nets and accessories, piles of new WCA logo wear and the friendliest shop crew on the river.

Stop in and see us soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-06-08T16:51:31-06:00June 8th, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

An Epic Spring Season Rolls On

We are in the midst of what has been one of the best spring seasons on the MO in years.

Dry fly fishing has been exceptionally good since mid-February with consistent midge action daily and plenty of BWO’s around these last few weeks. Rumor has it March Browns are also now in the mix, albeit sporadically.

Nymphing has been reliably good more days than not with the usual suspects performing as you’d expect. Sows, scuds, assorted baetis nymphs and even some worm action in the mudline for a day or two following runoff bumps on the Little Prickly Pear and Dearborn.

The streamer action has been good with swingers and strippers both proclaiming plenty of success and the big browns are on the prowl as evidenced by a plethora of above average size browns making an appearance on social media as of late.

She truly seems to be firing on all cylinders this season and of course this is the year my ability to fish has been drastically curtailed by various limiting circumstances of my own choosing.

And so this this year, which is perhaps the best spring season in WCA history, I am relegated to living vicariously through all of you and your fish stories. I’m missing my time on the water but this too shall pass and with any luck I’ll be back out there

In the meantime we’re loaded up at the shop with everything you need and more. We’re loving the new rods from Waterworks Lamson and we’re stocked up in all weights with plenty of options for reels at any price point. Come on in and take a Lamson Velocity and Cobalt rods for a test drive, we think you’ll love them and at $399 they won’t break the bank.

We’re also stocked up on your favorite Echo rods including Carbon XL, Trout, Indicator, Streamer X, Boost and Boost Blue which, like the Lamson Cobalt, is a salt offering that doubles as a phenomenal streamer stick.

Simms sun wear has arrived and we’re fully stocked with buffs, Fishpond Eddy River and Lowcountry sun hats, Simms flip flops, Smith and Suncloud eyewear and plenty of sunscreen and more. The weather doesn’t quite feel like it but summer is on the way.

As you’d expect we are the FIRST shop open with FREE coffee on at 7:30 AM daily. No need to wait until the others open, stop in for your shuttles and bugs, hit On The Fly Coffee next to the Canyon Store for breakfast burritos and be on the water before anyone is stirring in Craiglandia.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-05-10T16:44:08-06:00May 10th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Boost, Boost Blue, brown trout, Carbon XL, Cobalt, dry fly fishing, Echo, Fishpond, fly fishing, indicator, Missouri River, On The Fly Coffee, running line, simms, Streamer X, Velocity, Waterworks Lamson, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

7,000 Trout Per Mile – source Jason Mullen FWP Fisheries Biologist

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Fisheries Biologist Jason Mullen delivered the annual State of the Missouri presentation last Wednesday in Helena in a meeting held at Montana Wild Education Center by Pat Barnes Missouri River Trout Unlimited and while there were some encouraging revelations, it sounds like the challenges posed by drought conditions will persist in 2022.

First the good news.

6,611 RAINBOW TROUT PER MILE.

Mullen reported the second highest number of rainbow trout over 10” long on record in the Craig section (Wolf Creek Bridge to Craig), more than doubling estimates from surveys from the previous two years. This number is second only to the 2012 estimate of 7,068.

Coupled with the brown trout estimate of 362 fish per mile which is down considerably from the long term average of 560 but still within normal parameters, that’s a trout count of nearly 7000 fish per mile in the Craig stretch. The Missouri fishery continues to amaze.

Drilling down into the data the good news continues. 2021 surveys saw an estimate of 1400 rainbows per mile in the 20 plus inch size class, a number we would expect to see drop off this season, though with the abundance of small fish in the 6” – 7” class we saw in 2020, it’s very possible the big fish trend will continue through 2022. 2021 surveys revealed good numbers of rainbows in the 9” – 10” range which should continue to bode well for big fish numbers on the MO.

The brown trout saw big numbers in the 6” – 8” range, very few in the 9” – 16” range and upward trends in the 17” – 24” range with each of those last size classes numbering somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 fish per mile. We would expect to see a lot of those fish in the 10” – 16” size range this season, hopefully with a stable population of big browns in the mix.

This is all great news on the fishery front in the Craig stretch and truly amazing when you consider the pressure on the fishery which ranked second only to the Madison in 2019, the last year for which we have data, with 154,628 angler days. It’s worth noting that this angler use figure is down from the previous two which were 170,736 and 183,479 in 2017 and 2015 respectively. It’s a lot of use no matter how you cut it but the downward trend is surprising and one I’d expect will change once the 2021 numbers are in which will include last year’s Pandemic Migration to Montana. Trip related expenses for anglers on the Missouri totaled over $60 Million in revenue in 2019 which makes the MO and fishing in Montana in general, a MAMMOTH portion of the state’s economy.

Now the not so good news.

2021 saw extremely low flows and high water temps and with not having had much of a winter the reality is that absent a very wet spring, we’re likely in for more of the same in 2022.

The Missouri saw Hoot Owl restrictions in July of 2021, the first time this has happened in over 20 years, when low flows and water temps in the 70 degree range coupled with high angling pressure caused FWP to announce the closure.

We had essentially self-imposed our own Hoot Owl restrictions for guide trips a couple of weeks prior and stopped booking new trips altogether for the summer season at that same time. It’s unfortunate, but we’re readying ourselves for similar conditions in 2022 and we’re prepared to do the same things again. Canyon Ferry is currently 68 percent full so we’ve got a ways to go and while snowpack is currently in the 70 – 80 percent range, most probable flow conditions project flows to be essentially right where there at, in the 3,000 CFS range, all season long.

We would love to see massive amounts of precipitation over these next couple of months to bring things back into shape but as always, our main concern is doing what we need to do to take care of the resource and if this means taking a financial hit we’re ready to do so.

Pray for rain!

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-04-06T12:06:18-06:00April 6th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, Canyon Ferry, Craig MT, Holter Dam, Hoot Owl Closures, Missouri River, Montana, running line, State of the Missouri, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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