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The March Toward Spring

The spring streamer game on the MO’ has commenced – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Last week I proclaimed that winter was loosening its grip. Winter countered my proclamation with yet another round of cold and snow.

Today I repeat my proclamation.

The sun is shining and the forecast is calling for highs in the 40’s for the next several days, trending towards 50’s next week.

Like the weather, fishing has been improving over the past several days though the ramps are still a problem and will likely continue to be for the next few days. Hopefully by the weekend the warmer temps and plentiful sunshine will have things in better shape but we encourage you to check out your put in and take out prior to committing to a float. At the very least give us a call before you come out and we’ll tell you what we know.

We did Craig to Spite Hill yesterday after hearing Mid Canon was a no – go. Both Craig and Spite were fine but they may get worse before they get better. We’ll keep you posted.

Nymphing was so-so yesterday and will be the preferred method for most for the next while. You’ll still want to concentrate your efforts on the slow, deep winter water…typically working inside out. Pill Popper was the bug of choice yesterday but you should do fine with anything pink. For my money it’s hard to beat a pink Amex trailed with a pill popper or a firebead anything but black zebra midges should also be a staple in your spring nymph arsenal. Tailwater sows, Bubble Yum Scuds, Rainbow Czechs, Rainbow Warriors, Wayno’s Cotton Candy, firebead rays, Rainbow Weight fly, Pinkalicious, Pederson’s Sow…you get the idea…status quo.

Dry fly fishing opportunities abound right now with an abundance of midges on the water and plenty of fish up. Yesterday was the most fish I’ve seen up so far this season. Keep your midge rig at the ready.

You won’t be surprised to hear that yesterday’s focus was streamer fishing. We fished some water I don’t spend a lot of time streamer fishing as well as some go-to spots and had a pretty good day overall. Slower, deep water and drop offs were productive. A slow and varied retrieve  was effective but we got some action with a little more aggressive and active retrieve as well.

Olive, natural and white variations have been getting noticed. Slender, leechy patterns are a good bet but don’t be afraid to try something different. The browns are hungry and seem to be on the hunt. One rainbow and one mammoth whitey yesterday, all of the rest were browns.

If you haven’t done so yet this season it’s time to break out the streamer stick and go to work. Granted there are likely more fish still being caught on the swing right now but stripping season is upon us. We’ve got what is considered by some to be the best streamer selection on the Missouri and while we love dry fly fishing and nymphing, there are few things we are as passionate about as the streamer game. Stop in and check out our bugs and pick our brains…we’d love to feed your streamer addiction.

Our Spring Special has been on for weeks though the weather has kept trips to a minimum. That’s all about to change.

Shake that cabin fever and get out there. It’s time for spring fishing on the Missouri. $550 for two nights lodging and a full day guide trip now through the end of April. There are other deals out there…nobody, and I mean NOBODY can touch this one! It’s the BEST DEAL and longest running special on the MO hands down.

Look for more lodging to open up within the next week or two as traffic continues to increase. It’s been a long cold winter (and is likely not over) but spring is definitely in the air. Book your spring trip with Wolf Creek Angler today.

Thinking Spring

Springtime on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Another week of winter weather underway, another week we wont be fishing the MO’.

Cabin Fever is running rampant as we await the coming thaw while daydreaming about the fishy spring days ahead.

When that thaw will come is anyone’s guess. We likely won’t break single digits today but there is a glimmer of hope in the forecast with weekend temps expected to reach into the 30’s. Not exactly time to break out the sunscreen but definitely fishable.

It’s time to gather your gear and get ready for the coming season. Clean (or replace) your lines, organize your fly boxes and get out here.

Waiting for our spring special? The wait  is over.

Spring may be a month away but the WCA Spring Special is here! $550 for two nights lodging and a full day guide trip now through the end of April. There are other deals out there…nobody, and I mean NOBODY can touch this one! It’s the BEST DEAL and longest running special on the MO hands down and the best part is you don’t have to wait until spring.  As if that weren’t enough there are NO CANCELLATION FEES for these trips. Book today, if the weather turns or if you simply change your mind you’re off the hook.

So what’s happening out there right now?

Nymphing is still going to be your best bet for numbers and there’s no reason to change what you’ve been doing all winter long. Go pink, go fire bead, go Tailwater Sow or zebra midge etc and go deep. Slow deep winter water is key. Pick it apart and do it again. The fish are definitely there. Find them and feed them!

Streamers are our focus right now and will be for the next couple of months. The water temp has dropped below 34 degrees again so you may be better off swinging for the time being but a slow strip with plenty of pauses should elicit some action as well if that is your preference.

Hot Head Kreelex, Polar Leeches, MK Ultras, Dirty Hippies, Polar Leeches, Inflated Egos, Clousers and buggers all getting noticed right now. Whites, greys and naturals have all been good.

If dry fly fishing is what you’ve been waiting for then your wait is over. Midges are definitely on the menu right now and the dry fly fishing will only get better from here on out.

We hope you make us your first stop on your way to the MO for everything you need for your day on the water. We’re loaded up with winter bugs and a huge selection of midge patterns as well as all of the above mentioned streamers and more. Cold weather gear from Simms, fresh new fly lines from Rio, ARC and Airflo; shuttles, drift boat rentals and much more. Don’t forget your 2017 fishing license expires at the end of the month, pick up your 2018 license at WCA while you’re thinking of it.

Think Spring!

 

By |2018-02-20T15:53:21-07:00February 20th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Wintering in Wolf Creek

I often get asked the question what do you do in the winter?

I think there’s a misconception out there amongst some that if you work in the Montana fly fishing industry then you must spend your winters in exotic tropical destinations,  living on all of that money you made during the season, roaming the flats in search of tarpon and permit and bonefish and sipping on pina coladas on the beaches at night as you await the return of spring time in Montana.

I’m not saying there aren’t those who actually do this but I sure haven’t figured out how to pull it off.

It’s true that Wolf Creek and Craig are transformed into near ghost towns during the long winter months. There are plenty of days during the dead of winter we won’t see a customer come through the door so why even stay open?

It’s a good question, and one I often ask myself as I’m white knuckling it out to Wolf Creek from Helena. The answer is that there’s a little more to it than selling flies and telling lies in the shop. What goes on behind the counter is much more than ringing up sales. All the product hanging on the walls and all of the flies sitting in the bins don’t just magically appear. Someone has to order all of it, trying not to order too much (or too little). Someone has to figure out what (and how much)  we should carry based on predicting what will sell during the coming season.

Someone has to negotiate favorable terms with vendors to maximize profitability and go to battle with reps to try to bring in more of what you expect and demand from your Missouri River fly shop.

Someone has to write blog posts and maintain social media.

How about lodging and guide trips? The rooms and boats obviously don’t book themselves. Those summer mornings with a parking lot full of guide rigs and those nights of a full house of happy clients relaxing on the decks telling fish stories over cocktails all start behind this counter at this keyboard in the dead of winter. Someone takes those calls, answers those emails and books and confirms those reservations.

And speaking of lodging, it’s our intention to continuously improve on all levels but we’ve made a truly dedicated commitment from the start to tackle major lodging improvements  as time and money allow. Someone has to make those improvements and they can’t be made during the season.

In each of these cases that someone just happens to be me. Of course I have some help, especially with the lodging improvements as a handy man I am not, but the long and short of it is there are plenty of things to be done during the winter months. And while much of this could be done remotely from elsewhere,  there remains an amazing fishery here year round so why wouldn’t we be here to provide winter anglers with everything they need for winter fishing on the Missouri?

Along those lines, why wouldn’t we be here to enjoy this amazing river all winter long when we can have it virtually to ourselves on any given day?

For the past three winters we’ve kept limited lodging open to provide a place to stay for those braving the cold and fishing the river and in doing so we’ve  become a destination for hard water anglers from around the region who come to fish Holter Lake. Our lodging has been full more weekends than not this winter which has been a pleasant and much welcomed surprise. Obviously things are a little lean during the winter so we’re thankful for anything we can generate to help offset heating and other operational costs incurred during the offseason.

Consequently, when people stay rooms need to be cleaned and while we’ve been busy enough this winter to warrant some help with housekeeping, I’ve spent more than a couple of days cleaning rooms and doing laundry. Just another aspect of living the dream!

So what do I do in the winter? I do the same thing I do the other three seasons of the year, I run my business (and try to not let it run me). Wolf Creek Angler is a living, breathing, ever-growing, ever improving outfitter owned and operated business. It is my life’s dream and it is the way I feed my family. This ain’t no hobby shop, this is how I make a living.

Come see us this winter at Wolf Creek Angler, we’d love to have you as our guest.

 

Wintery Week Ahead

Your 2018 Water Year in the making.

February’s arrival has brought a return to winter weather on the Missouri.

We are currently under a winter storm warning as the snow continues to fall. Cold temps will persist at least through mid-week, likely maintaining the quiet solitude which has for the most part exemplified this winter season in Wolf Creek.

It looks like we’ll see a slight warm-up Wednesday and Thursday into the 40’s with a chance for rain and snow and a return to fishing-prohibitive temps for the weekend. The ice on Holter is still in good shape and while reports have been a mixed bag I expect we’ll continue to see plenty of traffic headed that way.

If you intend to fish the river this week I’d recommend hitting it on Wednesday and/or Thursday and maybe leaving the boat behind as the ramps could be a challenge after yesterday’s snow and freezing rain followed by today’s continued accumulation.

Per usual the shop will be open Wednesday – Sunday at 8:00 am. Lodging is full for this weekend but it’s wide open until then, just in case you’re looking for that mid-week getaway to the MO’.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks on the phones with those prime guide trip and lodging dates becoming scarce. Don’t put it off any longer…make the call this week and book you 2018 Missouri River Fly Fishing odyssey with Wolf Creek Angler.

By |2018-02-05T16:18:25-07:00February 5th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Final Fishing Report for January

We took advantage of the spring-like weather yesterday and got out for one final January float.

I’ve been doing most of my fishing below Craig this winter so thought it would be a good idea to get back on the upper section and see what was going on.

Pretty much the same story in the Wolf Creek to Craig stretch with fish holding steady in the slow winter water. We found them where expected though came up empty handed in a few of the winter go-to spots.

Traffic is still very light though with four boats launching within minutes of one another  the ramp and the river almost seem crowded after having been alone out there more often than not for most of the winter.

Flows remain in the 4500 cfs range and water temps have begun to creep up ever so slightly into the 35 degree range. Expect status quo conditions throughout the week with colder temps and possibly some snow arriving this weekend.

Noon to 3 pm still seems to be the best time of the day. We got off to a slow start, putting in just before 11 am. We touched a couple right off the bat but then settled into a bit of a slump until just after lunch time. I changed bugs more often than I generally do in the winter looking for something to get things going and eventually found the black zebra to be the bug of the day. We also had moderate success with the pink Amex, the pill popper and the firebead pink sow but if I were fishing today I’d be starting out with a black zebra and a pink Amex.

The anticipated slow streamer day came to pass yesterday after a month of really good streamer fishing. We did manage to move a couple fish on white but overall I would rate the streamer bite poor. Had we started earlier in the day it probably would have been better but as it was the post 3:30 slot was not anything to get excited about.

Midges present in limited numbers and a few rises observed though we were not rigged for dry fly fishing. I’d say it’s probably time to start having the dry fly rig at the ready.

Expect river traffic to increase as we enter February and move ever-closer to spring.

We opened more lodging this week in an effort to accommodate those fishing the river as well as those fishing the ice. Weekends remain busy but mid-week lodging is rarely full.  The shop remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but if you’re interested in lodging and/or guide trips on those days we’ll make it happen.

 

By |2018-01-30T18:33:05-07:00January 30th, 2018|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Weekend Outlook

 

Game On – Photo by Jim Murray

Mild conditions persist as January draws to a close.

River traffic remains surprisingly light and while our lodging has been extremely busy this month, the majority of those staying have been ice guys who’ve been cleaning up on the perch on Holter.

Speaking of lodging, we’re full for the remainder of this week but next week looks like continued nice weather with highs near 50 on Monday. We should see a gradual increase in river traffic from here on out so if fishing the Missouri is on your to do list then make that call today and book your lodging and/or guide trips. Weekends have been booking up generally by Monday or Tuesday.

Waiting for our spring special? The wait  is over.

Spring may be two months away but the WCA Spring Special is here! $550 for two nights lodging and a full day guide trip now through the end of April. There are other deals out there…nobody, and I mean NOBODY can touch this one! It’s the BEST DEAL on the MO hands down and the best part is you don’t have to wait until spring.  As if that weren’t enough there are NO CANCELLATION FEES for these trips. Book today, if the weather turns or if you simply change your mind you’re off the hook.

If you’re looking for a guide trip this weekend we won’t be able to do the lodging but we’ll do the trip for $400. Guides are getting HUNGRY. Book the best today.

Spring merchandise is starting to trickle in, look for great deals on winter gear soon as we make room for the new.

Good reports from the ice, decent reports from the river though the wind has been ever-present lately making things a little unpleasant out there. Expect more of that the next several days and deal with it. Nymphing has been good, definitely better on some days than others. Status quo on the bugs. Streamer fishing has not disappointed. Strip or Swing…the choice is yours. Midges in small numbers but that will ramp up soon if you’re itching for dry fly action.

Don’t forget to stop by the shop if you’re out here this weekend. We are your Missouri River Winter fly fishing one stop shop with everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, hand warmers, cold weather gear from Simms, the largest selection of Redington gear on the river, Adipose and RO drift boat rentals (including a brand new Project Healing Waters Adipose Flow free to all vets and active duty military) and the near legendary largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We’ve also got a few tickets left for Tuesday’s Fly Fishing Film Tour in Helena. Get yours before they’re gone!

 

Great Start to 2018

The way to start the New Year!

I made it out Tuesday for the first float of 2018. It was a great way to kick off the season in every sense. The weather could not have been better, especially by January standards, with partly cloudy skies, calm winds and temps hovering around 50 all day. Not another boat on the water and just three wade anglers in seven miles of river…it doesn’t get much better.

Or does it? Yes it does when rods are bent for the better part of the day.

We nymphed a few rainbows up right away on the usual suspects (pink amex and various lucent pink beaded offerings). We  wouldn’t see another rainbow all day.

The plan all along was to spend most of the day streamer fishing and despite the water temps hanging in the 34 degree range I was optimistic. The day just felt right. And while it seems many on the MO’ have taken to swinging through the winter months I’ve spent enough time floating dead of winter days stripping frigid waters to know that big trout will chase down a slow moving, big meal target.

My optimism was rewarded as I connected with one of the meatier browns I’ve caught on the Missouri just a few casts in. What a way to start the year! And it didn’t end there.  A couple of hundred yards downstream after a swing and a miss by an equally impressive specimen I hooked and landed another 20″ beast and decided my day was complete…for the time being!

The action continued as we boated several more solid fish and broke off on a beast, all on the slow strip and all on variations of white. Things slowed after 3 pm and we only connected with one fish the last two miles of the float.

Every day is different but we’re finding that early afternoon 1-3 pm time slot to be the window for streamer action. Bomb the banks, let it sink and retrieve with slow, erratic strips with plenty of pauses in between. We fished relatively large patterns all day long and had action on everything we tried but it was ZK’s MK Ultra in grey which  delivered for me.

ZK’s MK Ultra

I’m due for a slow day out there but thus far this has been the best winter streamer season I’ve had on the Missouri. The strip has produced and I’ve heard plenty of successful reports from the swingers as well so it’s dealer’s choice. Polar Leeches, Kreelex, Dungeons, MK Ultras, Sparkle Minnows all finding  targets on the strip and the swing. White, grey, black, olive all  good options.

We dipped into the single digits the following day and have been there for the remainder of this week but a warm up is underway just in time for the holiday weekend and we should see high 30’s and even some 40’s for the weekend and well into next week.

Grab your sink tips and your streamers or your nymph rigs and get out here, the fishing should be good and even if it’s not, what else do you have to do?

If you really want to treat yourself why not leave the rowing to us? Remember our Winter Special, full day  Missouri River Guided float trips for one or two anglers  for $350 or two nights of lodging and a full day on the water for $500.

Either way, stop in and see us on your way to the river. Shuttles, bugs, lodging and so much more. We are your Missouri River Winter Fly Fishing Destination.

 

 

 

New Year on the MO’

As expected 2018 has gotten off to a sleepy start here in Wolf Creek with snow and cold still keeping folks off of the water. It’s all duck hunting and ice fishing right now but with a warm up underway we’re expecting a bit more activity towards the end of the week when we’ll see temps approaching 40.

Not quite spring weather but after enduring a week of arctic air and significant snow fall I think it’s going to feel that way.

The ramps are snow and ice covered at the moment so please use extreme caution if you’re going to attempt a New Year’s float on the MO’. Give us a call at the shop for the latest conditions before you head out here.

The holidays are over and based on bookings for the upcoming weekend people are ready to get out and do something. We’re full for the weekend but we do have plenty of openings during the week.

We recommend you call early in the week if you’re looking for weekend lodging. With our limited availability during the winter months things fill quickly. If you can get away during the week the lodging is wide open.

We’re settling in for what looks like could be a  long winter but I’m sure we’ll have plenty of days to get out and fish despite the wintery long term forecast. We don’t have a current fishing report to pass along as it’s just been too damn cold to fish. Chewy talked about getting out today so we’ll see if that happens. If not today, we’ll definitely be out there Thursday and Friday and this weekend so expect the first official fishing report of 2018 some time early next week.

In the meantime if you’re going to give it a go might I suggest slow, deep water and something pink. I have a sneaking suspicion this might be the ticket.

Barring future winter storms we’ll be in the shop Wednesdays – Saturdays, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM  and Sundays from 8:00 AM to noon for the next couple of months. As always we are open every day for lodging and guide trips.

Welcome to 2018. We hope to see you soon on the MO’.

 

 

 

 

 

2017 The Year in Review

Another year and another season in the books.

As we sit through the latest round of winter weather we can’t help but think back to those warm sunny days on the water. And while winter is barely a week underway we know that spring will be here before we know it, at least we hope it will!

Looking back over posts from the year it looks as though 2017 started out much as 2018 will, in winter’s icy grasp. With any luck however it won’t be long until we see that first January warm-up and get back to fishing the MO’. In the meantime, the ice has formed and the hard water anglers have started booking rooms for the days ahead, a welcome development after a slow and quiet December.

The early months of 2017 were quiet around the shop, as they always tend to be with the biggest story of the winter being the renovations to our motel.

Unit number eight received a much needed makeover and our guests loved it. Look for a similar transformation in number 9 this year. A paint job in Cabin #2 and new flooring in Cabin #3 were also welcomed changes.

River life resumed normalcy in late February as the winter weather began to retreat. March and early April brought phenomenal fishing on the Missouri and elsewhere and things got off to an early start at WCA with many eager anglers descending on the MO’. Run off began in mid May and kept things busy as the Missouri was the only fishable water in the region for a time.

We announced our new guide lineup in April, welcoming Kelly Harrison and Jeff Jennings to our team. Both were, and continue to be a great fit and will resume work for us in 2018. Prime dates are filling quickly so don’t miss your chance to fish with Kelly or Jeff or any one of our other amazing guides.

The spring fishing was nothing short of spectacular with the hatches coming off right on schedule and plenty of healthy Missouri River bows and browns willing to play. 

The idyllic spring season soon transitioned into an equally idyllic summer and then around the 4th of July things got a little weird. On July 5th I experienced my first earth quake, a 5.8 mag centered near Lincoln which rattled much of the west central part of the state. It was Montana’s biggest quake in decades and did not go unnoticed by many.

By mid July the heat and lack of precipitation brought Hoot Owl closures to many rivers around the region and also opened the door to what ended up being one of the worse fire seasons in our history with over a million acres burned state-wide.

Smokey skies, poor air quality and evacuations were the story for the remainder of the summer. Fishing was fine but the poor air quality led to a noticeable drop in business as we awaited the cooler weather of fall and prayed for precipitation which we finally got in mid September  in the form of an early winter storm which delivered rain and snow and effectively brought the fire season to an end.

The Lookout Fire west of Wolf Creek MT Photo by Rocky Infanger

October brought with it more winter weather along with some of the best fall fishing in recent memory. We had a handful of awesome BWO days throughout the course of the fall and streamer fishing was as good as I’ve seen it since I’ve been in Montana.

The BIG news in October was that after a couple of seasons of trying to make it happen,  Wolf Creek Angler received a brand new Project Healing Waters Adipose Flow Drift Boat available to all US Military Active Duty and veterans FREE of charge.

Wolf Creek Angler has partnered with Montana Project Healing WatersAdipose Boatworks and Headhunters Fly Shop to expand this popular program which up until now had been administered exclusively through Headhunters in Craig.  Now with one boat at Wolf Creek Angler in Wolf Creek and two at Headhunters in Craig we will be able to accommodate even more vets.  If you are a vet or an active duty US Military member you qualify for a free rental boat courtesy of Project Healing Waters, Helena Chapter.

Of course the other BIG news of October in Wolf Creek MT was the much anticipated Grand Opening of Shotgun Annie’s Eatery and Tavern.

The wait was worth it and we are so pleased to be dining and drinking in this establishment again. It was the topic of conversation all summer long amongst our guests, most of whom were unable to experience Shotgun Annie’s during their 2017 visit. We’re pleased to announce that dining has returned to Wolf Creek…breakfast, lunch AND dinner.

It appeared as though it was going to shape up to be an excellent late season on the Missouri with some off-the-charts fishing action and a brand new eatery and tavern in town. We were fully stocked with cold-weather bugs and gear and ready for that coveted last gasp of the retail and lodging season but alas it was not to be.

Mother Nature had different plans and early November brought snow and arctic air, essentially bringing the 2017 season to a close. The weather improved and the fishing stayed hot through the month of November and the first half of December but aside from local traffic the river was empty.

Late November Days on the MO’

Christmas brought more winter weather which brings us back to where we are today. Two days remain in 2017 and we are in the midst of a significant winter storm. I’ve fished my last day of 2017 (over a week ago) and it looks like it will be mid week next week at the soonest before I fish the new year.

Snowpack is in great shape and the season forecast is for below average temps and above average precipitation so all is well but watching the snow pile up outside I can’t help but dream of spring.

Happy New Year from all of us at Wolf Creek Angler.  Thank you for making 2017 our best yet. I have a feeling 2018 will be even better!

Winter Solstice

 

Winter has arrived, right on cue. Yesterday’s winter storm delivered around eight inches of snow to Wolf Creek and temperatures plummeted into the single digits last night. Today’s gusty winds could make for hazardous travel with blowing and drifting snow and the next round of precipitation will occur tonight with 2-4 additional inches of snow expected.

So what’s the good news?

Well, first of all, being that today is the first day of winter (the winter solstice) starting tomorrow the days will begin to get longer. The long cold nights won’t be quite as long. You’ll barely notice for some time but just keep it in your mind that the long march towards spring has FINALLY begun. Before you know it the long days of summer will be upon us.

Summer Days on the Missouri

On a related note, the snow and cold is exactly what we need. We’re building next season’s water right now so let’s keep it coming! Things are looking good so far.

We’ve gotten a lot of calls over the past two weeks from the hard water fishing folks wondering how the ice is on Holter. We should start to see some soon!

With highs in the teens and lows in the single digits for at least the next ten days it won’t be long at all before the tent cities spring up on the lakes. Keep us in mind for lodging if you plan on coming out.

Fishing on the Missouri has screeched to a halt after some of the best fall fishing in recent memory.  Shelf ice is rapidly forming as water temps plummet. Current temp is 35 degrees and it’s only going to get colder so be sure to dress for it if you plan to brave the frigid waters. I think it’s a safe bet that the fish have migrated en masse to the slow winter depths so that should take some of the mystery out of things from here on out. SLOW, DEEP WATER and anything PINK….that’s what you need to know for winter fishing on the MO’.

Remember, if you still have Christmas shopping to do we’ve got multitudes of awesome last minute gift ideas. We’ll be here (weather dependent)  right through Christmas Eve. If you live in Helena and don’t want to make the trip give us a call at the shop, tell us what you need and there’s a pretty good chance I can deliver the goods…free of charge.

Happy Winter Soltstice! Enjoy the snow, appreciate the cold, respect the hazards and think spring!

 

By |2017-12-21T18:57:31-07:00December 21st, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized, Wolf Creek Chatter|0 Comments

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