Weekend Update

Winter taking hold on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

A fair amount of activity this morning in Wolf Creek despite temperatures in the teens. With a steady stream of traffic heading to Holter Lake I would assume the ice fishing is heating up.

Last we heard there was approximately 5 inches of ice around Log Gulch and 3 inches around the dam. Perch fishing has reportedly been very good with the 10 perch limit consistently being caught.

We get a fair amount of ice fishing related calls and have had a number of guests staying with us who are fishing the hard water and we welcome the business. Unfortunately since we don’t personally ice fish we rarely have good ice intel. We encourage everyone seeking up-to-date ice fishing reports to call Shawn at The Canyon Store here in Wolf Creek (406)235-4111. They get a lot of lake traffic and usually have a pretty good sense of what’s going on out there.

A few people fishing the river this morning between Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge but you can expect to find plenty of available water today and tomorrow if you’re planning to come out. Stop by the shop if you do and enjoy a cup of Montana Maid Coffee while you stock up on pink bugs and hand warmers!

Tuesday and Wednesday look like the days to fish with plenty of sunshine and highs approaching 40. Lodging and guide trips available. Call and book your Missouri River winter fly-fishing getaway with Wolf Creek Angler today.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 9th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Holter Lake, ice fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Cold Weekend Outlook

wvalentine

Snowy and cold this weekend on the Missouri although not nearly as cold as what they had been calling for a few days ago. We’ll see highs in the mid 20’s tomorrow and close to 30 on Sunday with partly sunny skies….maybe not ideal conditions but certainly fishable.

Night time temps in the single digits will keep things icy. Slush will be a constant irritation. Watch that shelf ice and be on the lookout for icebergs on the move when you’re wading.

We wouldn’t recommend floating the river this weekend with wind chill values as low as -10 but if you decide to do it please use extreme caution at the ramps as they can definitely be on the sketchy side in these weather conditions. Four-Wheel drive is a must.

Things are going to warm up next week with highs near 40 on Wednesday and Thursday. If you feel a couple of sick days coming on give us a call and book yourself a cozy bungalow for a night or two. $99 gets you a room for three with a full kitchen. Don’t feel like cooking? The Oasis Bar and Grill is serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Thursday – Monday from 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM.

Looking for a guide? $400 gets you a full day float trip on the MO with one of our expert professional guides, a hot lunch, plenty of solitude and the chance to discover what an awesome winter fishery the Missouri can be. Book it today – if you don’t like what you’re seeing weather wise come game time you are free to bail. We will be out there weather permitting – you may as well be out there with us.

Need shuttles, winter bugs, hats, gloves, hand warmers, cold weather gear or anything else for a cold day on the water? Wolf Creek Angler is your Missouri River Winter Fly-Fishing headquarters. Stay with us, shop with us, fish with us. With 99% of the winter fishing taking place between Holter Dam and Craig, Wolf Creek is the place to be, just minutes from the dam and Wolf Creek Bridge.

Pay us a visit and find out why Wolf Creek is rapidly becoming the nexus of winter fly-fishing on the Missouri River. People from around the state and beyond choose Wolf Creek when they are looking for a winter fly-fishing fix. With the only restaurant and the only gas station/convenience store between Helena and Cascade and a first-rate Missouri River fly shop with comfortable and affordable lodging just minutes from Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge, the choice is clear. Wolf Creek Angler, Uncle Joe’s Oasis Bar and Grill and The Canyon Store provide everything you need from flies to food to fuel to night life. Keep an eye on the weather and when you see a break come discover for yourself all that Wolf Creek has to offer.

Everything you need in Wolf Creek Montana

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 8th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, The Oasis Bar and Grill, The Wolf Creek Canyon Store, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Sun Rises on 2016

Another year in the books.

Welcome 2016. We think it will be our best year yet!

Lots of exciting things happening at Wolf Creek Angler in 2016 as we continue to grow and to establish our brand. We couldn’t be more pleased with our second season compared to the first and we’re poised and ready for continued growth as we prepare for Season Three.

We’re finding our voice and settling in as we continue to be spurred on by the overwhelming encouragement we receive from our guests and customers.

Our goal is not just to get you in the door but to keep you coming back. We’re sincerely humbled by the response we’ve gotten over these first two seasons as we’ve seen a lot of new faces but also many that have become familiar. We are honored to be your Missouri River Fly Shop and we are committed to making your experience with us the best it can be.

From keeping the shop fully stocked with the products you want to constantly making improvements to the lodging to continuing to develop our guide crew…it’s all rooted in serving you. We’ve faced plenty of challenges in each of these areas and we haven’t always been successful in implementing the changes we would like to make but we’re always working on it.

One of the more frustrating challenges has been getting the products in the shop that we know you want. It’s much easier said than done but we continue to make inroads as we seek out products and brands we’re excited to get behind. Those who shop with us know that our fly and terminal tackle selection rivals that of any other shop and we will always maintain our focus on these because these are the things you are coming here to buy but we will also continue to expand our other offerings. Expect to find more of the products you want available at Wolf Creek Angler each and every season.

The challenge with lodging is that the sky is the limit where improvements are concerned but not so with the resources. Small steps…we’ll get there. Much of what we do on the lodging side you’ll probably never notice and we’re ok with that. We are committed to providing clean, affordable accommodations and that’s what you will find when you stay with us. We don’t expect you to notice new mattresses, new bedding, new towels…etc but we know you’d likely notice if we didn’t keep up with these things.

Perhaps one season you will arrive at WCA to find a brand new lodge with all the trappings but for now rest assured you will find clean, affordable lodging and a friendly staff committed to doing everything they can to make your stay with us as comfortable and as enjoyable as possible. We have the best housekeeping staff in the canyon…hands down.

The same commitment we have to customer service in the shop and the lodging carries over to our guide staff. Each and every one of our guides is expected to treat your day on the river the same way we treat your stay with us. Our goal as guides is to tailor each day to meet your individual expectations and to make your Missouri River fly-fishing experience one you won’t soon forget. We don’t push the numbers game – we provide an overall experience which certainly includes catching fish but we don’t measure the success of our days strictly by the number of fish caught, nor should you.

The Missouri is an amazing river with incredible numbers and size of fish but there is so much more to it than that. We provide you with experienced, professional guides, each of whom understands and subscribes to our commitment to our guests to provide exceptional service and to make your trip with us one you wont soon forget.

We’re excited about 2016 and we can’t wait to see you at Wolf Creek Angler.

Our sincere thanks to all of you for making 2015 such a great year and for making us your Missouri River Fly Shop.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:41-06:00January 1st, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Late December on the MO

It looks like we’re going to close out the year with below average temperatures with highs in the 20’s and lows in the single digits. Not ideal conditions for fishing the MO but on the positive side we’ve had very little wind as of late which makes things a little more bearable. We may break that freezing mark on Saturday with sunny skies and a high of 33 but aside from that there’s no real warm-up in the immediate forecast.

I took a ride from Holter Dam down to Spite Hill this morning and it looks like shelf ice is definitely becoming an issue. A fair amount of slushy ice and the occasional iceberg moving through as well. It appears as though the ramps were all used yesterday but I definitely wouldn’t do it without four-wheel drive. If it looks sketchy it probably is so maybe dump your boat at the top of the ramp with rope attached and lower it down. Better to do it this way than get stuck on the ramp or worse!

Water temps are holding just shy of 34 with flows currently at 3180. Again, maybe not the best fishing conditions but we’re happy to have it and we’re hoping winter continues at least for a while. It’s way too early to make any kind of predictions for spring but we’re certainly liking what we see right now from a snowpack perspective. Stay tuned for updates.

As we close out the year at Wolf Creek Angler we’re busy with bookings for 2016. Give us a call today and let us help you plan your Missouri River fly fishing dream vacation. Keep in mind you needn’t wait until spring to experience one of the finest trout fisheries in the country – we fish all year-long! Keep an eye on the 10-day and plan to pay us a visit as soon as you see that warming trend which is bound to come sooner or later. $99 lodging and $400 full day Missouri River Guide trips all winter long.

Our cozy bungalows all feature full kitchens should you choose to do your own cooking. If not, The Oasis Grill is open Thursday – Monday 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM.

Just out for the day? Stop in for shuttles, cold weather gear, hot coffee, always friendly service and of course, the largest selection of Missouri River winter flies and streamers ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:41-06:00December 30th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Holter Dam, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Uncle Joe's Oasis Bar and Grill, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

A Look Back…

2015 was a busy and great year for us at Wolf Creek Angler with a lot of progress and a few growing pains but all in all a spectacular second season and a great spring-board for season number three.

www.wolfcreekangler.com

We started the year off with the excitement of the launch of our new website which received rave reviews all season long. The web site continues to grow and evolve and we anticipate some major changes in the seasons to come which will eventually allow you to shop WCA from the comfort of home through an on-line store. These things can be a fairly major undertaking so we may start small but expect to at least be able to shop WCA logo gear via the web site at some point this season.

Unseasonably warm temperatures started to prevail in late January and kick-started the 2015 season. We had plenty of guests all winter long from around the state taking advantage of a very mild winter and coming out to fish the Missouri. An abundance sunshine and blue skies and temps hovering in the 50’s for weeks at a time kept us busy in the shop and we even ended up opening additional lodging in March to accommodate the influx.

March 13th was a big day for Wolf Creek Angler as we were featured in The Drake Magazine Online “Fly Shop Friday” feature.

http://www.drakemag.com/featured-content/flyshop-friday/1378-wolf-creek-angler-fly-shop-on-the-missouri-river.html

Later in March we announced our partnership with KAST Extreme Fishing Gear as we became the Exclusive Full Line Kast dealer on the Missouri River. It’s been a great partnership so far and we’ve enjoyed introducing folks to some awesome technical fishing gear. From the extremely popular Steelhead Gloves which put Kast on the map to summer guide wear to extreme outerwear, Kast is rapidly becoming an industry favorite and we are proud to offer these awesome products.

We received another honor in mid May when we were featured in the Helena Independent Record as well as The Billings Gazette and The Missoulian.

http://helenair.com/news/local/angling-for-wolf-creek-montana-fly-shop-owners-are-living/article_d3adcf18-769e-5ac7-be1c-06676703b8a2.html

We hit a bump in the road on Labor Day Weekend when we were forced to cancel our Inaugural WCA Soiree due to spring downpours. We put a lot of work into getting the shop ready for this event which was to feature a barbecue and a band but alas Mother nature had different plans and you won’t ever hear us complaining about much-needed precipitation. Will there be another Soiree? Time will tell.

As the blur of the prime season commenced we enjoyed some great fishing all summer long while enjoying the company of our guests and continuing to work behind the scenes to improve the lodging experience and to make Wolf Creek Angler everything you expect your Missouri River fly shop to be and more. It was a tough summer for much of Montana with drought conditions and Hoot Owl Closures most everywhere but not on the MO.

Mid August brought the bears and the wild fires. The drought like conditions made for a poor Choke Cherry year which brought an abundance of black bears to Wolf Creek where the banks along Little Prickly Pear Creek offered some of the few concentrations of choke cherries to be found in the area. Dry conditions also brought wild fires, one of which struck very close to home near Holter Lake causing the evacuation of the campgrounds and the closure of Beartooth Road. We had a few days of sharing the river with the helicopters and planes scooping water to pour on the fires but a soaking rain helped get things under control and things soon returned to normal with access to The Bull Pasture restored.

The late August-early September ghost town was replaced by a very busy fall as traffic returned to the river in droves. Not coincidentally we welcomed Zach King to the WCA staff in mid-October just in time for the rush. We’re super-stoked to have Zach on board.

Wolf Creek Angler 2015 Guide Crew. Pictured Left to Right Brock Long, Matt Mortenson, Luke Koerten, Matt Hargrave, Jason Orzechowski, Russ Dobrzynski, Jim Murray, Darrel DeLeon, Eric Mondragon

We celebrated another great Wolf Creek Angler season at the end of October and spent the first half of November enjoying solitude and great fishing on the Missouri.

The last weeks of the year have been quiet as expected but looking back on the season as a whole we have definitely exceeded our expectations from a business standpoint with steady growth in lodging and retail and a huge uptick in guide trips, an area we were very focused on in 2015 and one which we will continue to grow.

We’re looking forward to an awesome 2016. We’ve had a great start with bookings and we’re excited about new products soon to arrive at WCA. We are so thankful to you, our customers for allowing us to realize this dream and we remain firmly committed to doing everything we can to earn your business and to become your Missouri River Fly Shop of choice.

We can’t wait to see you in 2016. Cheers!!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:41-06:00December 28th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Dub C A Soiree, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Christmas Eve Eve

A little Cousin Eddie for your holiday viewing pleasure…

This NEVER gets old!

The shop will be closed tomorrow and Friday. If you’re coming out to fish the MO tomorrow and are in need of shuttles or bugs or anything else our friends at Headhunters Fly Shop will be open from 8 AM – noon. If you’re coming out to fish on Christmas Day you’re on your own.

We would like to express a huge thanks to all of you who have been coming by the shop over these past couple of weeks. December can be a lonely month in the fly shop and while we appreciate every customer every day of the year – we’re especially thankful for December traffic.

See you back in Wolf Creek on Saturday. It looks like we’re in for some colder temperatures on Friday in Saturday with highs in the teens and low 20’s but things will warm up again on Sunday and into the first part of next week so make a plan now to fish the Missouri at least once more before the end of the year. $99 lodging and $400 guide trips all winter long!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:41-06:00December 23rd, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Winter Solstice Edition

The countdown to the 2016 season has begun – it will be here before you know it

Today is the first day of winter. The solstice occurred at 11:48 pm last night so technically it occurred on the 21st (yesterday) but since it happened last night, just before midnight, we’re going to go with the 22nd being the first official day of winter.

This is a big day for us here as it marks the unofficial countdown to spring. This is the shortest day of the year. Tomorrow we start to see more daylight and less darkness each day and while we’ve got a long ways to go it won’t be long before we’re soaking up the spring sunshine.

With that in mind we encourage you to take this opportunity to get your plans together for the 2016 season. Prime dates are filling quickly both for lodging and guide trips so don’t delay. June and July are already nearly full but don’t let that deter you. Give us a call today and we’ll figure something out. The longer you put it off, the less likely you will be able to get the dates you want.

We’re open today and tomorrow for last-minute Christmas shopping or if you happen to be one of the few who are actually out here fishing the MO. $99 lodging and $400 guide trips all winter long!

Happy Solstice! Bring on the Vernal Equinox, just 89 days away.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:41-06:00December 22nd, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Christmas, Missouri River, Montana, running line, winter solstice, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Countdown to Christmas has begun…

We’ve reached the home stretch. Just a few days left until Christmas. Need some last minute gift ideas? Stop by the shop this week and we’ll help you pick something perfect for all the fly fishers on your list.

We’ll be open from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday through Wednesday but will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We will resume our normal winter hours starting Saturday.

The weather looks like it could be pretty fishy this week with a chance for snow showers each day and temperatures in the low to mid 30’s today and tomorrow before dropping into the mid to high 20’s later this week.

Lodging available for $99/night and $400 guide trips all winter long. We’re loaded up with all the winter bugs you need as well as the cold weather gear and all the tools and accessories you need to make your day on the water a success.

Have questions about winter rigging or where to fish? We’d love to get you dialed in. Stop by and we’ll get you rigged up and tell you everything you need to know including our not-so-secret winter go-to spots.

Missouri River Guide Trips with Wolf Creek Angler make the perfect Christmas Gift. Book yours today!

If you have someone on your shopping list who is new to fly fishing or if you are new to the sport and want to treat yourself there is no better gift than a guide trip on the Missouri. It’s a big-ticket gift for sure, but ask anyone who spent a day with a guide when they were new to fly fishing and they will tell you it’s definitely money well spent.

Whether it’s casting instruction you need, tips on how to read water, bug life, rigging techniques, rowing techniques…whatever it is you are interested in, you will learn more in a day spent with one of our guides than you would in years of trying to figure it out on your own. Know how to fly fish but new to the Missouri? We definitely recommend fishing with a guide for a day. It’s a technical fishery and one that can be very intimidating. Again, there is no better way to get dialed in than spending a day with one of our expert guides.

If you really want to surprise someone with the ultimate gift they won’t soon forget, give them a day of guided Missouri River fly fishing.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:41-06:00December 21st, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Missouri River Weekend Report

If you’re planning to get out and fish the Missouri this weekend today is probably the day to do it. Cloudy skies, melting snow and calm winds (at the moment)….perfect December fishing conditions. The roads are clear, the coffee is on and the river awaits. You may encounter a few folks out there today but relatively speaking you’ll still basically have it to yourself.

Reports from the last couple of days have been good. Not much has changed and not much will change for the next several months. Slow winter water, pink stuff, firebeads, soft hackle sows….you know the routine. Weight and depth adjustments may be required, bug changes optional! We get a little lazy with our rigs this time of year but if it ain’t broke…

My go-to is a #10 Casne’s Pinkalicious trailed with a #18 pink soft hackle firebead sow. I may occasionally swap out the trailing fly for a pink lightning bug or Ray Charles but I simply don’t spend a lot of time changing bugs when winter fishing. Put it where the fish are and watch for the slightest movement of your indicator. The takes are more often than not, very subtle. Is a #10 too big? Maybe, but I would rather use the big bug for weight than add split shot and you’ll be surprised at how many trout will eat a #10 Pinkalicious (the whiteys love them too).

Don’t be afraid to throw a streamer if you want to get away from staring at the bobber. Unlike my nymphing rigs, I do change streamers until I find something that works. If I don’t move a fish within the first couple of dozen casts I change bugs. I do have a couple of go-to patterns that seem to consistently produce during the winter months, my favorites being the polar leech in brown, the hothead Kreelex and the Sculpin Sparkle Minnow. If I can’t get them to go on one of these I generally go back to nymphing. The retrieve is critical and more often than not what works for me is a super slow strip/swing combo.

December Brown on the Polar Leech

We’ve got a couple of St Croix Bank Robbers left at clearance prices if you want’ to treat yourself to a new streamer stick. Grab one of our demo rods and see what you think.

The shop will be open every day up until Christmas Eve. We’ll be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas and then back to normal winter hours. If you plan to come out tomorrow keep in mind we close at noon on Sundays. $99 lodging and $400 guide trips available all winter long.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:41-06:00December 19th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Casne's Pinkalicious, Christmas, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Cold and Quiet on the MO

Fresh snow and no trailer tracks at Wolf Creek Bridge

It’s been a cold and snowy week here on the Missouri but the sun is shining again today and while it’s still a little on the cold side we are now in a warming trend and it looks like it could turn out to be a downright pleasant weekend for winter fishing with highs near 40 tomorrow and Saturday. Daytime highs look like they will be above freezing into mid-week next week which means we’ll see a little traffic out there with everyone on Christmas break.

Make Wolf Creek Angler your first stop on your way to the river for everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, cold-weather gear, RO Drift Boat rentals, tons of tools and accessories and of course, the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Cozy winter lodging for $99/night (plus tax) and full day guide trips just $400 all winter long!

Missouri River Winter Fare

We haven’t heard a lot of reports this week as there simply aren’t many folks fishing but we do have some guests staying with us right now who braved the cold and snow all day yesterday and are out there again this morning and they had an ok day yesterday. Same bugs, same water we’ve been talking about for the past couple of weeks. Run something pink and something with a firebead, fish the slow froggy winter water and you should find some willing players. Watch that indicator closely and hit any pause or dip. The takes will likely be very subtle and you may not get the fight you’re expecting but the water is cold (35 degrees) and the fish are understandably a little lethargic. Still, its bent rods in December in Montana – we’ll take it.

The phones have been very busy this week with folks booking 2016. Our June/July lodging is nearing capacity and April and May are filling nicely as well. Prime guide dates are filling fast but there’s still time. Give us a call today and let us help you plan your Montana fly fishing dream vacation. Our specialty is clearly the Missouri but if you are interested in experiencing some variety during your visit we’d love to book you a day on the Blackfoot or any other waters you might be interested in fishing.

Christmas is one week from tomorrow. Have you done your shopping? Great gifts for the fly fisher abound at Wolf Creek Angler. We’ll be altering our schedule next week and will be open Monday and Tuesday but closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Today’s gift suggestion – the Hell Razor Hoodie from Kast – perfect for these cold winter months on the MO.

Hell Razor Hoodie

Incredibly lightweight & extremely warm.

Everyone has their favorite jacket. The one that never sees a closet or coat-hook. The one that, unless you’re already sleeping in it, is always close enough to grab—regardless of where you are, what you’re going to be doing, or what the weather is.

For us, the Hell Razor is that jacket: performance and comfort that’s perfect as an insulating layer or solo as outerwear when it’s not pushing single-digits. Designed to be windproof, water resistant, yet highly breathable and thermally efficient, the Hell Razor utalizes Primaloft 60g Gold insulation so you get a jacket that is incredibly lightweight and extremely warm. This jacket is definitely our go-to favorite whether we’re wrestling big fish, wheeling into town—or yes, sleeping in from time to time.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:41-06:00December 17th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Christmas, fly fishing, Kast Hell Razor Hoodie, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, RO Drift Boats, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Need a new search?

Hell Razor Hoodie

Incredibly lightweight & extremely warm.