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Mid February on the MO’

February fishing on the MO

It’s starting to feel a little more like late winter with longer days and more moderate weather conditions but I have a feeling we’re probably far from done with winter weather so don’t put the shovels and cold weather gear away just yet.

That being said, we’re looking at a very spring-like week here on the MO’ with abundant sunshine and highs near 50 expected all week.

The ramps are clear for the most part and much of the shelf ice has disappeared but keep in mind the water is still very cold and you are likely to encounter some treacherous spots where ice remains so please be careful out there.

I have a feeling we’ll see a little more boat traffic out there from here on out which is a welcome sign of spring to me. I don’t mind wade fishing in the winter, in fact winter is the only time I wade fish the Missouri but I for one am excited to be back in the boat.

The minimalism of wade fishing is nice. Carrying what you need on your person forces you to limit yourself to one discipline and stick to it. I used to carry a streamer rod and a dry-fly rod on my walk in outings but gave it up. It’s just not practical to carry two rods and limiting yourself to one option forces you to work hard at that option. This is a good thing!

Stay focused on the slow winter water. Again, the water is very cold and the fish aren’t overly active. They are in extreme energy conservation mode so while they do need to eat, they aren’t going to expend any more energy than is absolutely necessary to do so. You’ll need to find them and make it easy on them by presenting a meal they don’t have to work for. They are hungry and they will eat. You just need to put the flies in front of them. Once you get that figured out you could very well be in for some great days of winter fishing on the Missouri.

There’s no time like the present! Following a week of frozen plumbing woes at WCA, we are back in shape with plenty of lodging available. $99 for a cozy bungalow with full kitchen and private bath. The rooms sleep three comfortably with two twin beds and a pull-out couch.

New this season, for a $10 fee we are offering a king bed option (instead of the two twins) for those interested. Please let us know at the time you book. Remember we are Dog Friendly but we do charge a $25/dog cleaning fee so please inform us ahead of time if your dogs will be joining you. We’re still running at somewhat limited lodging capacity but we’re keeping an eye on the weather and will likely open up more lodging soon.

Don’t forget we’ve got some great winter specials going on as well. Full day guide trips on the MO for just $350 OR two nights lodging and a full day guide trip for just $500 (plus tax). You won’t find a better deal ANYWHERE!

We are your Missouri River winter fly fishing destination with everything you need for your time on the water. Shuttles, bugs, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, Simms cold weather gear, Loop rods and reels, the best guide trip and lodging deals around and much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-02-13T18:08:42-07:00February 13th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Thinking Spring

The snow continues to pile up but we’re thinking spring at Wolf Creek Angler

It’s two degrees in Wolf Creek today but as we close in on just under six weeks until the first day of spring we cant help but begin to get excited about the rapidly approaching season.

Winter continues to make its presence felt with frigid temps and plenty of snow over the past couple of days. We’ve got more snow piled up around the shop right now than I’ve seen in my years here and we didn’t get a fraction of what our friends in NW Montana got over the last couple of days with some areas receiving up to 50″ of new snow.

The Montana SNOTEL Snow Water Equivalent map is beginning to transform into what we like to see and while much of the region is still below 90 percent of average we’re seeing more and more green (and some blue) daily which we’re hopeful will mean a good water year again on the MO’ and hopefully around the region. With plenty of winter ahead we are optimistic conditions will be ideal.

The SNOTEL Water Year map for total precipitation (% of average) looks even better but keep in mind this is total precipitation, not snow pack.

So what’s it all mean?

Once again, it’s still early to tell but we like what we’re seeing. We will hopefully continue to accumulate snow pack in the high country but as always, the unknown is the amount of precipitation we will see in the spring which will ultimately determine what we see for water this year.

The latest predictions from the Bureau of Reclamation are calling for most probable average flows on the Missouri below Holter in the 4ooo cfs range based on current conditions at Canyon Ferry Reservoir which at this point is 75% full which is 95% of the 30 year average for this date. Translation….good most probable flows but the Max Probable would be even better with a nice 10K flush in June.

It looks like we will see a hint of spring at the end of this week with temps in the high 30’s and low 40’s beginning on Thursday. The 10 day is calling for plenty of sunshine and sustained moderate temps through the end of next week so we may be on our way.

As we move towards the more mild temps of mid to late winter keep in mind Wolf Creek Angler has the undisputed best deal on the water this winter with two nights lodging and a full day of guided fishing with the best guides on the river for just $500 plus tax and NO CANCELLATION FEES!

Whether you’re fishing with our guides or doing things on your own, make us your first stop on the way to the MO’.

We are your Missouri River fly fishing one stop shop with clean and affordable accommodations, great guides and THE up and coming Missouri River fly shop fully stocked with anything you need for your day on the water.

Shuttles; Adipose and RO drift boat rentals; cold-weather gear from Simms and Kast; wading gear from Redington; rods from Loop, Echo and Redington; reels from Ross, Nautilus, Loop and Echo; Nomad nets and accessories a plenty from Fishpond; all kinds of great WCA logo gear and of course the biggest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-02-07T19:32:02-07:00February 7th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Echo, Fishpond, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Kast Gear, Loop, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, Redington, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Long, Cold Winter

Well the groundhog says six more weeks of winter.

We’re not going to argue but I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t growing weary of winter weather.

Don’t get me wrong, we’re happy to have the snow (which is still only 70-80 % of average throughout much of western Montana) and the cold is keeping it here but we are anxious for warmer days.

I haven’t fished much this winter, only getting out twice in January, and I haven’t floated the river since November. We had a brief respite from the cold earlier this week and I enjoyed a couple of hours out there on Monday, closing out January with a few fish to hand.

February rolled in on Tuesday with more snow and cold and it’s been back to sub arctic conditions for most of the week.

There is a warm up coming this weekend with highs reaching 30 tomorrow and Sunday looks to be a nice day (for a Super bowl) with partly sunny skies and highs breaking the 40 mark before plummeting again on Monday back into the teens for the first part of next week.

I’ll believe it when I see it but at this point it looks like we may start to see some warmer days towards the end of next week with average highs in that 40 degree range again for next weekend.

Ideally we’ll start to see some sustained periods of warmer weather here on the MO while the high country continues to get that much-needed precipitation. We’re all anxious to get out on the water again and while we’ve kept busy with lodging all winter with the ice fishing crowd we’re definitely ready to see some more traffic in the shop. Spring shipments are starting to arrive so expect some great deals on winter gear in the not to0 distant future.

Stop in and see us this weekend for shuttles and bugs and anything else you might need for your day on the water. Pink flies aplenty and bins full of streamers you can’t get ANYWHERE else. Take a look at that long-term and pick a day to come take advantage of the best deal on the Missouri. Two night’s lodging and a full day guide trip for one or two anglers with the best guides on the river for just $500 with NO CANCELLATION FEES. Don’t need the lodging? $350 for a day on the water. The perfect cure for your Cabin Fever and those Winter Time Blues!

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-02-03T19:39:38-07:00February 3rd, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Groundhog Day, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Late January on the MO’

Winter Fare at Wolf Creek Angler

It’s hard to believe it but we’re already a month into 2017. In some respects this winter feels like a slow grind but in other ways it feels like it’s flying by. Either way, before you know it we will be fully immersed in the season and the snow and endless cold will be but a distant memory.

Looking back at last year’s mild winter we were doing a lot more fishing through these months. Not that there aren’t a few folks out there doing it on any given day, but the deep freeze has kept many of us inside for the most part.

It’s not all bad. Winter projects are getting completed which will make it a guilt-free spring on the water knowing the things you intended to get done during the off-season actually did get done.

We’ve had a couple of minor warm-ups which have definitely resulted in an increase in traffic on the river but at 34 ish degrees, the water is still too cold to get those fish going. 35 would be an improvement, 36 plus is what we’re waiting for.

When will we get there? It’s hard to say for sure but I’m optimistic about February which is going to start on the cold side but sooner or later it’s going to warm up enough to bring the water temps up and when it does we will be poised and ready.

Speaking of warm ups, it looks like we’re in for a nice weekend with high 30’s and low 40’s through Monday. I expect we’ll be busy in the shop as there are a lot of people suffering from some extreme cabin fever right now who will be looking to self-medicate with a dose of the MO’. Couple that with a football free Sunday and we may be in for our busiest weekend of 2017 to date.

If you intend to float this weekend the good news is the ramps are clear for the most part though it’s always a good idea to check them out for yourself before you go. If you’re wading there is still a fair amount of shelf ice around so please be careful.

It might be the perfect time to take advantage of our INSANE Winter Guide Trip and Lodging Special. $500 for two night’s lodging and a full day on the river for one or two anglers with one of our exceptional guides with NO CANCELLATION FEES, NO QUESTIONS ASKED! Don’t need the lodging? $350 for a full day on the MO’ for one or two anglers all winter long.

Nymphing will likely be your best bet for hookups targeting the slowest, foggiest water you can find. A #10 or #12 Pinkalicious, Ninch’s Bubble Yum Scud, Rainbow Czech, Pink Amex or Pink Weight Fly paired with a #18 pink lightning bug, Ninch’s Thunderbug, firebead sow bug in grey or pink, rainbow warrior, firebead Ray…..etc fished deep and true should do the trick. Hit the dip, hit the pause, hit the drop….hit everything as the takes are often extremely subtle in these conditions.

We’ve seen a lot of people swinging this winter as well, maybe just as many as we’ve seen nymphing. The Hot Head Kreelex has been by far the most consistent choice on the streamer side with polar leeches and anything in white getting attention as well. Swing or slooooow upstream retrieve. They aren’t going to chase, not until things warm up a lot!

Stop by WCA on your way to the river for shuttles, bugs, Simms cold-weather gear, Loop rods and reels, ARC lines and tippet and anything else you may need for your day on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-01-26T17:15:57-07:00January 26th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

What A Difference A Week Makes

Winter Warm Up this week on the Missouri

A week ago we were firmly in the grip of winter with single digit temps, blowing snow and some of the worse travel conditions I’ve experienced since moving to Montana.

It’s been one of the coldest winters on record for this part of the state which has translated into some of the quietest days on record in the shop but all that changed yesterday with a dramatic warm up resulting in an influx of humanity in and around Wolf Creek.

Mind you it doesn’t take much to constitute an influx of humanity this time of year but we did see some traffic through the shop, a welcome sight for sure. We even got back into the shuttle business yesterday though most are still opting to wade rather than float.

The fishing report was not stellar from yesterday though earlier in the week it was close to as good as it gets for winter fishing (see Chewy’s last report).

It’s another gorgeous day today with temps hovering just shy of 50 degrees. Not quite as much traffic as yesterday but a respectable mid January day nonetheless.

Look for temps to hold in the 30 ish range through the weekend before we see some colder air and a chance for snow early next week. I expect it will be fairly busy this weekend but don’t let that deter you. Busy in January is desolate in May and June so get out here and get your Missouri Fix while you can.

There’s a fair amount of swinging going on out there with Hot Head Kreelex, Polar Leeches, Black Buggers and some Clouser esque bugs in white getting it done. We’ve got all of these and many more if streamers are your game.

Nymphing will be your best bet with full-on winter fare. Pink Weight Flies, Pink Lightning Bugs, Bubble Yum Scuds, Firebead anything, Soft Hackle Sows in pink or gray, Casne’s Pinkalicious, Caviar Scuds, Pink Amex, Firebead Rays….etc. Bug selection is less critical this time of year. If they’re eating and you’re putting it where they are you should do just fine with any and all of the above.

Lodging just filled for Friday night but we’ve still got room on Saturday and things open up Sunday for most of next week. Whether you’re planning to hit the river or try your luck on the lake we are your Missouri River and Holter Lake winter lodging destination.

Get out and enjoy the weather while it lasts.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-01-19T21:41:24-07:00January 19th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|1 Comment

Chewy’s Winter Welfare Check & Fishing Report 1.17.17

If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been largely absent for some time now. Considering its been colder than Shackleton’s ass on the sunniest of days for the past several weeks, not much has been going on at the shop, on the river or in general for that matter. Cold, abject misery has been the status quo in the canyon. With winter storm after winter storm rolling through, the unrelenting wind, my motivation to drop the thread bobbin and wader up has been practically non existent. Has being the imperative statement. Up until yesterday morning, my days consisted of sleeping in as long as humanly possible, strong coffee, hot soup and tying as many flies as my yeti-esque hands allow.

Weather improved enough to actually do more than drive the frontage road, dreaming of spring. How was the fishing? Awesome. Typical winter fare in the nymph department, pinks, hot heads, Zebras & San Juans. Bobber-lobbing definitely the most productive means at this point. Don”t
underestimate the streamer bite though. Swinging brought a few to the net today before a 5 man crew crowded me out of an otherwise, wide open river. White was the color of choice by a long shot. Slow swings over deeper water with a sink tip to get it down, the only way to go. We’ve got all the standards in stock along with some WCA exclusives tied up by yours truly.

If you plan on floating in the next few days be advised: RAMPS ARE SKETCHY! Even at the Dam today a truck struggled but succeeded to get off. Be smart choosing your float, Wolf Creek Bridge is a definitely a no go, along with Mtn. Palace, Stickney Creek & the Dearborn. Few buddies floated Craig to Spite today and did fine. Just be sure to check conditions before you commit and come prepared, even if its just to lend a hand to your fellow floater!

From the looks of it, we’ve got another few days of warmer weather before things get cold again. We’ll be at the shop for the rest of the week with anything and everything you need to stay dry, warm, caffeinated and fishy on your way to winter trout nirvana. The best outerwear and warmest layers from SIMMS, kick ass water resistant gloves from Kast Extreme Fishing Gear, the largest selection of flies in all of Wolf Creek and of course, the best free coffee in the canyon. What else do ya’ need?

Oh, lodging? Got that too. Booked solid for the night but the rest of the week is wide open. Clean rooms for $99 just minutes from the MO.

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2017-01-17T23:55:31-07:00January 17th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

January Thaw Underway

Enjoying a brief January Thaw on the Missouri – Photo by Wolf Creek Angler

A warm-up is underway and we will finally make it above freezing this week, possibly even breaking 40 on Wednesday. Per usual you can expect breezy conditions with the warmer air but nothing too crazy. We’ll see south-southwest winds in the 15-20 mph with higher gusts but definitely manageable.

The river will definitely see some traffic as we seize this opportunity for relief from the arctic air. The water temps remain just shy of 35 degrees so it may not be lights out fishing but that’s secondary at this point. Come out and enjoy the warm up and the sunshine. It looks like we drop back down into the 20’s this weekend and into early next week so now is the time!

We are full tonight and tomorrow but have lodging available for the rest of the week. I would definitely recommend booking sooner rather than later though as the ice guys are keeping us busy with lodging with the perch fishing still lights out on Holter.

This week might just be the perfect time for a mid-winter getaway to the MO’. Don’t forget our winter guide trip/lodging special…$500 for two nights lodging and a full day on the river. There are other deals out there…nobody can touch this one!

Don’t need lodging? Full day guide trips just $350 all winter long! That’s all the gear and all the bugs and a full day on the water with one of our expert guides.

Stop by the shop on your way to the river for shuttles, cold weather gear and more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-01-16T16:41:11-07:00January 16th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

With the warm up on the way it’s time to book that winter guide trip

The Cure for your Cabin Fever – $500 for two nights lodging and a full day of guided fishing on the MO’. There are other deals out there…NOBODY can touch this one. Call Now (406)235-4350

While it might not be quite enough of a warm up to call it a January Thaw we’re looking at temps in the 30’s and 40’s next week which is certain to bring out the throngs, at least by January standards.

We’ve been cooped up for weeks watching the mercury and the snow fall. Day after day of single digit temps, deadly wind chill factors and treacherous travel conditions have a lot of folks feeling the full effects of cabin fever so we are expecting quite an onslaught early next week when there will once again be drift boats on the water and likely an abundance of wade anglers out there as well.

Fishing has been an ice only game for a couple of weeks now with plenty of action on Holter but if all goes according to plan we will once again be catching trout in moving water.

We’ll be open all week (probably just in the morning on Monday and Tuesday, so we can fish too) so be sure to stop by to load up on winter bugs before you hit the water. We’re also fully loaded up on cold weather gear from Simms and KAST and our streamer bins are overflowing with some awesome exclusives from Chewy if you’re planning to swing.

Hot (free) coffee as well and even a few Christmas Cookies left…come by and help us finish them off.

If you plan to come out please be careful as the launches are snow covered and slippery and shelf ice is definitely a factor in most places. We’re excited about the warm-up but it is still very much winter here so keep that in mind if you are heading out.

Now would be a great time to book that winter guide trip as well. $350 for the day or take advantage of our ridiculous lodging and guide trip special….$500 for two nights lodging and a full day on the water. This is the time! Remember there are NO CANCELLATION FEES for these winter trips so if the weather turns or if you simply change your mind you are off the hook! No questions asked.

Guides are itching to get on the water and get you into fish which haven’t seen a fly in weeks. The current water temperature is just shy of 35 degrees which means that those fish are lethargic at best but a couple of ticks up could really turn things on.

Call now and get the cure for your cabin fever…..a day of winter fishing on the MO’.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-01-12T21:13:42-07:00January 12th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Cabin Fever, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Where is this winter taking us?

It seems like winter just keeps dishing it out this year with the arctic temps and the frequent snowfall.

We’ve already been fielding some calls about the potential for high water this spring and while there is no arguing that we’ve seen well below average temperatures for much of the winter we really haven’t seen all that much precipitation.

This isn’t to say we couldn’t end up with above average precipitation this winter and above average flows this spring but at this point it’s not really looking like it as evidenced by this latest SNOTEL map which shows things at or below the 30 year average for the most part.

The amount of precipitation we see in the spring will, as always, be the key factor determining what we see for flows. Current projections look much like 2016 with most probable flows holding in the 4000 cfs range for most of the season.

Canyon Ferry is currently at 76% capacity which is 94% of average for this date. The anticipated inflow for the April through July runoff period is forecasted to be 1,493.6 kaf, or 89 percent of the 30 year average according to the latest report from the Bureau of Reclamation.

So what does this mean for your 2017 trip to the MO’. At this point not much. We’ll leave the projections/predictions to the experts and concentrate our efforts on providing you with up to date information as we get it while continuing to assist you in making your plans.

Speaking of making plans, the phones have been ringing off the hook this week with folks booking spring and summer dates and we’re looking forward to another busy season at WCA.

If you’re contemplating a trip to the Missouri this year we encourage you to book sooner rather than later to get those prime lodging and guide dates in June and July but we’re also encouraging folks to think about late summer/early fall dates.

Operators are standing by waiting for your call!

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-01-11T20:50:38-07:00January 11th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Wolf Creek is your Holter Lake Winter Destination

It may be too cold to fish the river right now but lodging at Wolf Creek Angler has become a hot commodity these past two weeks as the perch fishing on Holter Lake continues to heat up.

The word is out and the hard water anglers have discovered the hidden gem of winter lodging at Wolf Creek Angler.

The town of Wolf Creek is your base camp for ice fishing on Holter Lake as well as winter fly fishing on the MO’ if it ever warms up enough for us to get back to it and while we’re used to living in the shadow of Craig during the season winter is when the town of Wolf Creek really shines.

Whether its ice fishing or fly fishing that brings you here, Wolf Creek is where you want to be. We’ve got the only open restaurant and the only gas station /convenience store between Helena and Cascade. As a matter of fact we also have the only US Post Office between Helena and Cascade which may not seem like much but it’s interesting to note that all that mail addressed to the self-proclaimed “center of the fly fishing universe” in Craig MT actually ends up right here in Wolf Creek MT.

As if that weren’t enough we’re excited to announce that come April we’ll once again be able to boast of having 2 bar/restaurants in Wolf Creek MT with Shotgun Annie’s Eatery and Tavern (formerly The Frenchman and Me) joining Uncle Joe’s Oasis to offer you more dining and night life options.

Throw in an up and coming Missouri River Fly Shop with cozy, clean and affordable lodging just minutes from Holter Lake , Holter Dam and the Wolf Creek Bridge river access sites and it’s easy to see why Wolf Creek has become THE destination for winter fishing on Holter Lake and the Missouri. Once you discover all that Wolf Creek has to offer you may just make us your year-round Missouri River fly fishing destination. Many have.

Give us a call today to book your winter lodging. $99 (plus tax) gets you a cozy bungalow complete with a full kitchen and private bath. The bungalows sleep three comfortably with two twin beds and a pull out couch. Our shop hours have been a little less than consistent this winter with the dangerously cold weather but rest assured, we are OPEN EVERY DAY, 365 days a year, for lodging (and guide trips).

Make that call today and discover the secret!