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Looking for stocking stuffers?

We’ve got all kinds of goodies and gadgets that will fit the bill.

Here are just a few ideas…..

Flasks from Stanley and Simms and Montana Fly Co.
$27.99-$29.99

Flasks make great gifts and they are the perfect size to fit into stockings. We’ve got several sizes and styles to choose from including the 5 Oz Stanley Adventure Flask engraved with the WCA logo.

Super Size Loon Aquel or Top Ride
$39.95

Surprise the guide in your life with a supersize container of Loon Aquel Gel Floatant or Top Ride Powder Floatant. The Aquel is 4 Oz and the Top Ride is 10 Oz. We’ve got the normal sized ones as well if that is a better fit.

Fly Boxes

$29.99-$149.99

We’ve got all kinds of fly boxes, one to fit every budget. We’ve got nymph boxes, dry fly boxes, streamer boxes….wood boxes, plastic boxes…unlimited options. The boxes pictured above are handmade my Al Swanson in Helena MT and range from $129.00-$149.99. Maybe not the box you would choose for everyday use but definitely an awesome gift and one that will likely be passed down from generation to generation. How about a box filled with flies? Give us a call and let us know what you have in mind or if you don’t have anything in mind but think it sounds like a great gift idea let us figure it out for you.

Hats, Gloves and Socks from SIMMS

Good hats and gloves and socks are a must this time of year and you won’t find any better than those made by Simms. We’ve got plenty of options to choose from.

Leaders, Tippet, Tools and Accessories

Wolf Creek Angler is your full service Missouri River Fly Shop – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Terminal Tackle is our bread and butter, meaning everybody needs it all of the time. Maybe a pack of leaders or a tippet spool aren’t as glamourous as a Yeti Cooler or Simms Guide Jacket (both of which we can set you up with as well) but I don’t know of anyone who wouldn’t be absolutely thrilled with a bunch of leaders and a couple of tippet spools….again these are things we always need. If you’re not sure what they need we can probably figure it out for you fairly easily with just a few quick questions. Our walls are filled with tools and accessories as well and while these items start to lean towards the personal preference category we’re confident we can get you set up with stuff they’ll love!

WCA Gift Cards – The Ultimate Stocking Stuffer

Whether you’re not sure what to get them or you want to treat them to the Ultimate Missouri River Fly Fishing Vacation a WCA Gift Card is the right call. You can purchase them in ANY amount and they are good for absolutely anything we sell. A dozen flies? A Season’s worth of vehicle shuttles? A new pair of waders or boots or both? A weekend getaway with lodging and a day of guided fishing? A week retreat with lodging and guided fishing on the Missouri and the Blackfoot? The possibilities are endless and can all be covered with a WCA Gift Card.

Give us a call and let us know what you have in mind. We’ll be happy to send gift cards (and anything else for that matter) anywhere you would like.

We are your one stop Christmas shop for the fly fishers on your list.

Need We Say More?

With all this talk about the coldest weather of the season arriving on Sunday night this weekend could very well be your last chance to get in on what many have considered to be the best fall fishing in several years.

Not that it won’t fish after the cold snap but the water is going to get cold and things are going to change dramatically next week.

Winter is on the way

Traffic remains extremely light so why not take advantage of these last few days of unseasonably warm weather and treat yourself to an early Christmas present….a December getaway to the MO’. We’ve got a couple of rooms left and guides available if you are interested in our INSANELY AFFORDABLE winter lodging and guide trip package. $500 for two nights lodging and a full day of guided fishing on the Missouri for one or two anglers with NO CANCELLATION FEES!

There are other specials out there but nobody can touch this deal!

Prefer to do it yourself? We’ve got a deal for you as well. $99/night (plus tax) for cozy lodging in one of our cabins or bungalows. Each room is furnished with a full kitchen and all of the cookware/dishes/silverware etc. you’ll need. If you’d prefer to dine out The Oasis is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (8AM – 8 PM) Thursday – Monday.

If you’re going to come out this weekend we suggest you load up on Tailwater sows and Rainbow Czechs and keep doing what you’ve been doing for the past six weeks. And speaking of Tailwater Sows, we were out of #14’s and perilously low on #16’s  for a couple of days last week but we have no shortage of either now so no need to look elsewhere, we’ve got all the bugs you need at Wolf Creek Angler.

Once again, for effective nymphing,  a #10 or #12 Tungsten Czech (we like Rainbow or Tan UV) paired with a #16 Tailwater Sow or some variation thereof fished on a medium length rig (4 – 5ish feet from indicator to bb or point fly) in medium fast , mid depth water should do the trick. Some have been fishing deeper, some have been short leashing the faster shallows….most are catching fish. That’s not to say that there haven’t been some slow days but overall when it’s on it seems you can catch fish in all zones but again, all that’s about to change as falling water temps force the fish into the slow deep winter runs.

Following next weeks arctic blast we’ll definitely be rigging up the firebeads and the pink stuff though there’s no reason to abandon the sows as they will continue to work. You’ll just need to change your approach and your presentation and start targeting that deep slow winter water. Not sure where that is? Stop in the shop and we’d be happy to point you in the right direction.

This weekend will also be a bit of a last hurrah for the streamer stripping crowd as we transition into winter swing techniques. There’s plenty of sunshine today but thankfully Saturday and Sunday look to be cloudy with snow showers….perfect streamer conditions. Try black, olive or natural and don’t forget the Hot Head Kreelex, a winter staple which has already started to produce.

We hope to see you this weekend at Wolf Creek Angler. We are your Missouri River Winter Fly Fishing Headquarters with more on-site lodging than anyone, some of the fishiest guides on the river, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, vehicle shuttles, cold-weather gear from Simms, an amazing sale rack filled with ridiculous deals and of course the almost legendary largest selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. All this and just minutes from Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge.

Sunny and cold today on the MO’. Normal November weather.

We’ll see a warm up tomorrow with daytime temps climbing back into the 50’s for the remainder of the weekend and into next week. Not normal November weather but you may as well enjoy it while it lasts.

Fishing reports from yesterday were a mixed bag and with nobody out there to speak of the sample size is on the small side but generally speaking it sounds like you had to work for them.

A few reports of decent dry fly action but most are nymphing and/or chucking streamers right now. It sounds like both the nymphing the streamer fishing were on the slow side.

Similar weather/water conditions our there today so I would expect a similar result though it could very well return to the glory of the past few weeks. You won’t know unless you go.

Water temps continue to descend slowly and are hanging right around 49 degrees currently with flows just shy of 3700. Not bad conditions by any stretch but definitely a transition phase as the fish start to make their move into the slower winter water.

They aren’t there yet but I would concentrate my efforts on the medium fast, medium depth water in close proximity spending a fair amount of time at the top and bottom of some of those traditional winter runs. They are headed that way and you will likely find them concentrating in some of those areas. And that’s not to say you shouldn’t fish the slow stuff. We’ve been picking fish up in some of that water as well, but they definitely aren’t stacked in the winter water at this point.

Stick with the sow bug/scud combo or maybe try throwing a worm in the mix. Firebeads wouldn’t be a bad call either.

If you’re going to throw streamers try to concentrate your efforts in the shadows but don’t be afraid of the sun, you’d be surprised how many fish don’t play by those bright sunny day rules.

Best bets for streamers?  JJ Sparkle Minnows, Autumn Splendor, Hot Head Kreelex, Black or Rainbow Dirty Hippy, ZK’s Club Drug in Olive, Dolly Llama in Black/Olive, Space Invaders in Black or Yellow and Circus Peanut in tan or olive.

We’ve got one room left for the weekend and things open up on Sunday. It might be the perfect weekend to take advantage of the nice weather and the winter special – $500 gets you two nights of lodging and a full day guide trip ALL WINTER LONG.

We’re moving to winter hours in the shop next week but remember we are ALWAYS OPEN for lodging and guide trips. Shop hours starting November 20th will be Sunday 8 – 12, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and open 8-4 Wednesday – Saturday.

If you’re planning on coming out on a Monday or Tuesday  please give us a call at the shop. If it’s nice we’ll more than likely be around. If we’re not, we encourage you to visit our friends down the road in Craig for shuttles and bugs and shop stuff.

Things have definitely gotten very quiet in Wolf Creek as we settle in to our winter routine.

It’s starting to feel a bit more like late fall now with temps in the low 40’s rather than the 50’s and 60’s we’ve been experiencing the last couple of weeks.

A chance of snow today through tomorrow night and lows in the 20’s are par for the course and while we will see a return to above average temps this weekend and into the early part of next week it’s a safe bet winter is starting to take hold.

The snow in the high country is a welcome sight this morning and while we don’t expect any significant accumulations here anytime soon we’d be fine with it.

Fishing remains good though you wouldn’t know it judging by the number of boats on the water. There is plenty of solitude to be found out there right now and some good fishing to boot if you don’t mind the nymphing game. Status quo yet again with sows getting the nod more often than not. Czechs, Rainbow Weight Flies, Amex etc. all serve the purpose as your lead fly but your options are wide open. You can’t go wrong with something in the #12 – #10 range, ideally with a tungsten bead. Drop a Tailwater Sow or something similar or buck that trend and go with a zebra midge or mayfly nymph. Lightning Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Juju’s, Little Green Machines, 2 Bits, Peep Shows and many more.

Streamer fishing has been on the slow side but definitely good enough to give it a go but then again, when isn’t it?

Dry fly fishing? Pretty sure that ship has sailed but you never know. If nothing else midges are just around the corner!

Looking for a late season fix? We’ve got the best deal on the river. $350 for a full day float trip on the Missouri for one or two anglers all winter long or take advantage of our winter fishing and lodging special – two nights in one of our cozy cabins or bungalows and a full day of guided fishing on the MO’ for just $500. You won’t find a better deal anywhere.

We are your year-round Missouri River fly fishing destination with more on-site lodging than any other shop, the hardest working guide crew on the river and a shop full of everything you need for your day on the water.

Our winter shop  hours will go into effect next week. We will be open Wednesday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Sunday 8:00 AM – Noon. Open for lodging and guide trips EVERY DAY. Planning a Monday or Tuesday visit and need shuttles, bugs or other shop stuff? No worries. Our friends down the road in Craig will be happy to help you!