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Bidding Farewell to October

The lure of the Yellowstone - photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The lure of the Yellowstone – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Fall Brown on the Yellowstone - photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Fall Brown on the Yellowstone – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

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Finally seeing the fall weather we’ve been hoping for these last few days as we close out October and prepare for what could be a very productive November on the Missouri .

Plenty of cloud cover, cooler temps and some precipitation in the forecast. Definitely BWO weather and the Streamer crowd is mobilized and ready for things to heat up out there.

We ventured to the Yellowstone on Thursday with high hopes of epic streamer action and while we had near perfect weather conditions it was a less-than epic day of streamer fishing. We got a fair amount of chases and did manage to boat several nice browns but nothing in the hog class. Regardless, there’s nothing quite like a fall day on the Stone and it’s always a good time hanging around Livingston for a night.

Meanwhile back on the MO it sounds like we had a couple of solid days out there. The winds have returned today and it’s likely going to be breezy all weekend with WSW winds sustained around 20 and gusting over 30. A chance of rain all weekend and perhaps some snow rolling in on Monday.

If you just can’t resist the thought of some windy, rainy days on the river we’ve got a couple of vacancies tonight and tomorrow. Off-Season rates start on Sunday and we’ve got vacancies a plenty from here on out so when the weather settles and you’re ready to hit the water and have miles of river virtually to yourself give us a call and book a room for $99/night + tax. Hordes of unemployed guides wandering around aimlessly as well so come on out and put them to work. We’re expecting a good November…possibly everything October didn’t turn out to be.  There could be some great dry-fly and streamer days ahead and the nymphing will be just fine as we settle into winter fishing mode on the Missouri.

Look no further than Wolf Creek when making your plans for late fall/winter fishing on the Missouri River.  A first-rate, full-service fly shop with great lodging accommodations, two bar/restaurants, the only gas station/convenience store between Helena and Cascade and all within minutes of Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge. There’s NOBODY closer! We hope you make Wolf Creek and WCA your off-season Missouri River Fly Fishing destination.

The shop will close at 4 today for the WCA Staff Appreciation Party.

See you bright and early at 7 AM tomorrow morning.

The Week Ahead

Missouri River Perch on the Fly. Photo by Jim Murray

Missouri River Perch on the Fly. Photo by Jim Murray

Finally feeling like fall around here with some sustained cooler weather. Highs in the 40’s and 50’s and lows in the 30’s this week and a pretty good chance we’ll see some snow showers tomorrow. Many of the leaves have already fallen and the traffic on the river has been light on most days. Many have shifted their attention to hunting for the time being and it won’t be long before the focus turns to the holidays. We’ll be right here through it all, awaiting your return to the river and enjoying a little solitude in the mean time.

Speaking of holidays – get all of your Christmas shopping done early with a visit to Wolf Creek Angler. We’ve got everything for the fly fishers on your list. Can’t decide what to get them? A Wolf Creek Angler gift card is the perfect choice. Good for anything we sell, including shuttles.
For those who choose to  fish it should be good this week as we continue the transition into late fall/winter fishing. Things have been a little inconsistent out there with a couple of really good days and a fair share of not-so-good ones. A full portion of blue skies and bright sunshine served with a side of mediocrity! There have been BWO’s around but not like what we like (and expect) to see this time of year. Tomorrow’s snow and rain and cloud cover could change that, we’ll keep you posted.

Nymphing has been decent with many opting for the short leash as of late. We’ve been selling a ton of Strike Foundry Lil’ Nuggets as well as Palsa Pinch-On Indicators and we’re also fully stocked on Air-Locks in the 1/2″, 3/4″ and 1″ sizes if you prefer. Czechs, Zebras, Lightning Bugs, LGM’s, Magic Flies, S & M’s…..the usual suspects with the relatively recent addition of your favorite sows and scuds.

Streamers? We haven’t had great weather for streamer fishing but even so, it streamers are your game then by all means, throw streamers, rain or shine. I finally got a chance to hit the water last Friday with WCA Guide Extraordinaire Jim Murray and committed all of my fishing time to throwing streamers in the bright sun. I moved a couple of fish on the sparkle minnow and then covered all colors and sizes before settling into the JJ which ended up moving a dozen or so fish. Lots of chases (15-20), a couple engagements…nothing to hand. Not a bad day of streamer fishing in my opinion, especially given the conditions. It’s always nice to hook up but the chase is more than half the fun of streamer fishing for me.

We’ve got plenty of vacancies this week with the exception of Thursday night so give us a call today to book a room and/or guide trip. Our motel units are closed for the season but we will have cabins and bungalows through the end of November and the bungalows will be open all winter long. The forecast is for another mild winter so we expect we’ll be fairly busy with winter lodging and fishing. Off-season rates go into effect November 1st. Cabins and bungalows with full kitchens for $99/night plus tax.

Come enjoy fall on the Missouri.

 

 

Winding Down

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Despite the much-anticipated arrival of the BWO’s, some consistently good fall nymphing and the continued unseasonably warm weather, these last few days feel like the winding down has begun. Not from a fishing standpoint mind you, in fact it’s about to get really good out there, but the traffic has dropped off considerably, Izaaks is closed for the season and you just get the sense that we’ve entered the quiet time on the Missouri. I’m sure it has a lot to do with the abbreviated daylight and the long shadows we start to get this time of year in the canyon – not much sunlight hitting the shop right now. All that aside, we’ve still got full lodging through next week and we’re anticipating a busy weekend with cooler weather and the chance for some rain and snow showers starting Sunday.

A lot of folks will be turning their attention to hunting with the big game general season opener happening Saturday. If you’re not a hunter though this is the time to plan a late season fishing trip to the Missouri. With the bugs just getting going and the weather turning we are likely in for some exceptional dry-fly fishing and the streamer bite should only improve from here on out.

Give us a call and book your trips today. We’ve got a few lodging openings next week and we’ve got a bunch of guides wandering around looking for work. Wait another week and start taking advantage of our off-season lodging rates beginning November 1st.

If you’re just coming out to fish for the day make Wolf Creek Angler your one stop for everything you need for your day on the river. Shuttles, RO Drift boat rentals, KAST Extreme Fishing Gear, Redington Sonic Dry base layers and waders and boots, St Croix Bank Robber Demo Rods, Complimentary Montana Maid Coffee, Cigars, Smith Sunglasses, hats and gloves from Outdoor Research and of course, the biggest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

There is soon to be a BWO Explosion and the ensuing feeding frenzy and you could have the river virtually to yourself. Don’t tell anyone – just get out here and fish the Missouri.

See you in the shop and on the water. Open daily at 7 AM for everything Missouri River Fall Fly Fishing.

 

The Weeks Ahead

Wolf Creek Bridge on the Mighty Missouri River near Wolf Creek Montana.  - photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Wolf Creek Bridge on the Mighty Missouri River near Wolf Creek Montana. – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Finally some fall-like weather as we begin to hit the home stretch of the season. It’s still been warmer than what we would like but overcast skies, chilly mornings and dwindling daylight will hopefully soon be ushering in the big bug days of fall. Not that we haven’t already had some great fall fishing days out there but we’re still waiting for the consistent fall weather patterns that bring the bugs.

It’s been a tremendous fall here at WCA with a full house for most of the month and some great retail days that have had us scrambling to re-stock for winter. We can’t thank you enough for making us your Missouri River fly fishing destination!

We had planned on closing some of our lodging down this week but have decided to keep everything open at least through the weekend to satisfy the demand which has been driven by the unseasonably warm weather.

Off-Season lodging rates will go into effect beginning November 1st. We will have cabins available likely through Thanksgiving and bungalows will be available all winter long for $99/night + tax.

With Izaaks closed for the season and things winding down in Craig it’s time to make Wolf Creek your Missouri River Off-Season fly fishing destination. With a first- rate fly shop and lodging operation, two bar/restaurants and the only gas station/convenience store between Helena and Cascade we’ve got everything you need right here in Wolf Creek and we’re just minutes from Holter Dam and the Wolf Creek Bridge FAS.

Start your day with a visit to the shop for shuttles and bugs and anything else you may need before hitting the water. Spend the day with the river to yourself (relatively speaking) and warm up with dinner and drinks at The Frenchman or The Oasis before retiring to the cozy confines of your room at Wolf Creek Angler.

It’s a quiet time of year here and you’ll love the solitude. It just so happens the fishing can be pretty damn good too! We hope to see you during the quiet time on the Missouri. With limited lodging availability we suggest you call early in the week to reserve a room. Nice weekends usually fill.

Full fishing report on the way but from everything we’ve heard it sounds like things have been decent out there with most reporting moderately good dry fly and nymph action. The streamer bite has yet to take off but if you’re willing to put the time in and commit to it you will likely be rewarded.

Stop by the shop for up to date info on the where, when, what and why of fall fishing on the Missouri. Open daily at 7 am.

By |2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00October 19th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Mid Week, Mid-October Missouri River Fishing Report

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The first half of October has been a blur with the “second season” definitely in full effect. Traffic on the river has been moderate for the most part with a couple of very busy days and a handful of days with no one around.

WCA has been abuzz with activity all month with a full house on the lodging end of things and a bunch of trips and boat rentals going out daily. We hired Zach just in time for the rush!

It’s been great catching up with our fall regulars as well as welcoming and getting to know many new guests who have fallen under the spell of the Missouri and have vowed to return. What a great time of year to be in the fly fishing business in Montana!

The weather has felt more like summer than fall thus far but we’ve been enjoying the cool nights and cold mornings and while we’ve had our share of wind and sunshine there have been a few relatively calm, cloudy days which have resulted in some awesome days on the water – the kind of days you expect in October. We’re hoping there will soon be more of those to come.

Flows have continued to drop (3030 as I write) which we’re not thrilled with here but the wade anglers are loving it. Water temps are hanging in the high 50’s but should drop over the remainder of the week and into the weekend with cooler weather on tap.

Dry fly fishing has been decent given the right conditions with fish rising in the areas you would expect. It’s definitely been a late afternoon/evening game when the wind cooperates. Primarily pseudos with some small bwo’s mixed in and a fair amount of October caddis activity as well. Hi Vis BWO’s, BWO Sprouts, Olive Pseudos, Para Ants, various BWO Cripples and emergers, October Caddis, CDC Caddis Emergers, WCA Trudes, Purple Haze, RS2’s and Parachute Adams have all been effective dry flies.

Nymphing has been good both with the short leash and the longer rigs. The cloudy days keep the fish concentrated in the shallows but there’s no reason you shouldn’t try the short leash on the sunny days or the long leash on the overcast days. You’re dealing strictly with probabilities out there, it’s not always as it should be so don’t be afraid to stray from the prescribed methods/bugs you are reading about on the blogs. We do the things that have proven to be effective under the given conditions and adjust accordingly depending on the results. Nymphs we’ve been selling a lot of this week have been Tailwater Sows (with and without the tungsten bead), LGM’s, BWO Magic Fly, black Zebras (silver bead and black bead), Hares Ears, Weight Flies, S & M’s, BWO Angle Case Emergers, Peep Shows, Pink, Purple and Pearl LB’s, 2 Bits in Red, PT’s and on and on. We say it all the time and we live by it – fish the flies you have confidence in and good things will happen.

Streamers continue to be a hot commodity though the sunny skies have not been conducive to great streamer action. That being said, why wouldn’t you throw a streamer on a sunny day? Dredge the depths just like you’re doing with the long leash rigs. You’ll likely move some fish. We can safely guarantee with 100 percent certainty that you won’t move any fish on streamers in you don’t throw them. Sparkle Minnows, Kreelex, Circus Peanuts, Polar Leeches, Olive Smolts and buggers should all be in your streamer arsenal. We’ve  got a couple of demo St Croix Bank Robbers rigged up and ready to fish – take one for a test drive!

We hope you stop by Wolf Creek Angler on your way to the river for all of your Missouri River fall fly fishing needs. We’re stocked up on cold weather gear from KAST Extreme Fishing Gear including Steelhead gloves and some super cool Hell Razor and Velocity jackets. We’ve also got plenty of hats and gloves from Outdoor Research, Sonic-Dry base layers, waders, jackets and boots from Redington; piles of WCA fleece from Simms along with deeply discounted summer logo gear; Bank Robber and High Stick Drifter rods from St Croix; 20% Off Ross CLA reels; Air-Lock Indicators; Rio lines, leaders and tippet and the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Stop in and meet the new guy and grab a complimentary cup of Montana Maid Coffee.

See you in the shop and on the water.

Missouri River Baetis Box

Missouri River Baetis Box

 

Fall Fishing Underway

The weather we've been waiting for

The weather we’ve been waiting for

Wind, snow, rain….we’ve had it all this weekend and some pretty damn good fishing to go along with it.

The forecast for 40 mph North winds on Saturday scared some people off. In fact we bought in and moved a couple of guide trips to Sunday. By most reports it really wasn’t that bad out there on Saturday. Things were calm in Wolf Creek and I think a little breezy on the water but nothing like what they had been calling for.

It sounds like those who stuck it out were rewarded with a solid afternoon both on top and below.

Streamers were effective yesterday as we anticipated they would be with Sculpin Sparkle Minnows and Polar Leeches in silver and Olive/Copper getting the most action. We’ve been selling a few folks on running the double streamer rig and it’s been working well. Try the Sparkle Minnow in tandem with a polar leech or Pine Squirrel leech. Hit the shelves and drop-offs, bomb the banks, work the buckets. Lots of water out there holding lots of fish and unfortunately holding a lot of weeds as well. It can be frustrating but if you stick with it and acclimate you may very well hook into a giant.

New to the streamer game? Come by the shop and grab a demo St Croix Bank Robber, quite possibly the best streamer stick ever made.

As per usual nymphing is where the numbers are. Weight flies,  Tung Darts or Czechs paired with your favorite baetis nymphs or a black zebra should do the trick. Stop by the shop on your way to the river and allow us to get you set up for your day on the MO. Got questions about rigging? Don’t be afraid to ask – we spend hours every day building and explaining how to build Missouri River rigs, it’s what we’re here for.

Even the DFO’s have been happy this weekend with some big time pseudo action. We’ve got plenty of pseudos and BWO’s to choose from on the dry side of the bin and we encourage you to try each and every one of them but should you choose to keep it simple a Parachute Adams trailed with a CDC Caddis emerger is hard to beat.

It looks like the sunshine will return this week with daytime highs in the 50’s and 60’s and while sunny days may not be exactly what we would like it is going to be a gorgeous autumn week on the Missouri and a busy one at that. No lodging vacancies at WCA for the week ahead but we do still have guides available daily  and we’d be happy to help you find lodging close by so give us a call and book your Missouri River fall fly fishing extravaganza today.

The shop is open daily at 7 AM with everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles; boats; bugs; indicators galore (1/2″ and 3/4″ Air Locks back in stock Monday); cold weather gear from KAST, Outdoor Research and Redington; leaders; lines; and tippet from Rio, Airflo and Trout Hunter; rods from Echo and St Croix including the Bank Robber and High Stick Drifter; great deals on reels from Nautilus and Ross and much much more.

 

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Hitting our fall stride

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The fall season is well underway as we close out September and welcome the cooler weather and hopefully the more consistent fishing of October.

Reports have been all over the boards with a few folks having some tremendous fall fishing days while most slog through sporadic bug activity and somewhat hit or miss conditions.

River traffic is still on the light side though you wouldn’t think so based on the parking lot at WCA which is, on more nights than not, choked with trucks and boats and campers etc. Definitely a July atmosphere here with folks trading lies at the end of the day over cocktails while enjoying the full moon, the starry skies and the crisp fall air. What an awesome time to be here!

Our lodging is full for the most part for the next couple of weeks though there are a few vacancies here and there and we do get the occasional cancellation so don’t give up – give us a call and inquire. Guides available daily or do it yourself with one of our RO Drift Boats.

Dry-fly fishing could explode any day now and the nymphing and streamer fishing will continue to get better from here on out.

Lodging opens up for the second half of October and there’s no reason it shouldn’t be great fishing so get your guide trips and lodging booked now for late October. This truly is our favorite time of year on the Missouri. Spend your days on the river fishing how you like to fish be it dries, nymphs or streamers and then unwind over dinner either here in Wolf Creek at The Frenchman or The Oasis or venture down to Craig for dinner at Izaaks or The Trout Shop Café which is serving some amazing dishes for breakfast and dinner Friday – Monday.  I highly recommend the grilled rib eye which I had last night and which was one of the best steaks I’ve had in Montana. Seating is very limited but it’s definitely worth the wait.

Stop by the shop for the full range of fall fly fishing fare. We’ve got you covered with everything  from base layers to fleece to waders to boots to Kast Steelhead Gloves and much more. Shuttles, Rods, Reels, lines, leaders and tippet and of course the largest selection of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. We’re proud to be your Go-To Missouri River Fly Shop and Guide Service.  If you haven’t been in lately stop by and see what the Buzz is about.

 

 

Weekend Report September 26th

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Fall in Wolf Creek Montana

Some good days, some great days, some not so good days this past week as fall fishing continues to ramp up on the Missouri.

Nymphing is still the go-to for numbers but there’s enough happening on top between Trico hold overs, Pseudos, terrestrials, the occasional caddis and the promise of baetis to keep the DFO’s interested. Sub surface options remain somewhat status quo with black Zebras leading the charge followed by Grey LGM’s, Red 2 Bits, Micromays, Psychomays, Purple Weight Flies, Hot Belly and standard PT’s, Grey WD-40’s, Purple Lightning Bugs, BWO Magic Flies and a host of other baetis-themed bugs.

Streamers? Not on fire by any means but definitely worth your time. Stop by the shop and check out our ever-expanding streamer selection which is definitely starting to get noticed. We love the streamer game and we understand the addiction. Get your fix at WCA. Demo a St Croix Bank Robber designed by streamer legend Kelly Galloup. You might just get hooked!

The leaves aren't the only colors of fall. The brown trout are colored up in spawning splendor this time of year and we've been catching some great ones this week.

The leaves aren’t the only colors of fall. The brown trout are colored up in spawning splendor this time of year and we’ve been catching some great ones this week.

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It’s nice to have the shop abuzz with activity again in the mornings as we get the trips out the door each day and get you set up with everything you need for your day on the water.

Afternoons have been spent meeting with reps and looking at new products as we put together our plans for next season and work on getting those pre-season orders written. Can it really be that time again already

We’re really excited to see all the new products being offered for next season and as always we’re working hard to bring you the products you want from the brands you love as we continue to try to earn your business and become your Missouri River fly shop and guide service of choice. Expect big things from Wolf Creek Angler and rest assured that we will always be doing everything we can to meet your expectations.

Lodging vacancies have been hard to come by for the past couple of weeks and will continue to be a challenge as we head into October. Things start to open up towards the end of October but if the fishing is half as good as we anticipate in the weeks to come we will remain fairly full right on into November. Don’t hesitate to book your mid to late October lodging and guide trips – they’re going quickly!

Speaking of late fall – remember we’re open all year so keep us in mind when you are making your late fall/winter fishing plans. Once things start to shut down in Craig later in the fall Wolf Creek becomes the place to be with lodging, dining, gas, groceries and of course the best fly shop ever to call Wolf Creek Montana home. Look no further than Wolf Creek Angler for your late season Missouri River fly fishing needs. We’ve got everything you need and we’re closer to Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge than anyone.

Autumnal Equinox Eve

Fall Fishing in Montana

Fall Fishing in Montana

The eve of fall is officially upon us and while we’re experiencing summer-like temperatures this week we will see another cold front arriving this weekend making it feel more like fall.

The river has been in great shape with flows in the 4K range continuing to be maintained and water temps dipping below 60 degrees with the cool nights.

Abundant sunshine, gusty winds and weeds have all been atop the complaint lists of the half-empty angling crew but the half full bunch are enjoying the sunshine and blue skies and the changing colors while embracing the challenges presented by the winds and weeds and catching plenty of fish.

Dry-fly opportunities continue to present themselves in the form of lingering tricos and terrestrials along with the occasional skittering caddis but nymphing has definitely been the better option as of late. Black or purple Zebra Midges paired with Tung Darts, Weight Flies, BWO Magic Flies, Red Two Bits, S & M’s, Czechs, MicroMays, Purple Hot Belly PT’s, Chocolate WD-40’s, LGM’s, Bionic Chartreuse Midges and Psycho Mays have all been producing.

The streamer bite has been hit or miss but that being said,  we’ve sold more streamers in the past week than I can remember ever selling in a week’s time. We’ve got more and better streamer patterns than we’ve ever had and we plan to continue to expand our selection. Come by the shop and let us get you set up with everything you need for streamer fishing the MO. From bugs to Airflo, Rio and SA streamer lines to St Croix Bank Robber specialty streamer sticks, we’ve got everything you need to get started. If you’re new to the streamer game or looking to upgrade your current set up grab one of our Bank Robber demo rods, you won’t be disappointed.

We encourage you to get out and enjoy fall fishing  in Montana. Whether that’s floating the MO or exploring smaller waters it’s an awesome time of year to fish in Montana. Limited lodging available for the weeks to come and expert guides available any and every day. Give us a call today to book your Missouri River fly fishing trip of a lifetime – there’s no time like the present.

Shop open daily at 6:30 AM, earlier than ALL the rest, for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs. Shuttles, bugs, boats, hot and cold weather gear from KAST, sun protection, Montana Maid Coffee, leaders and tippet from Rio and Trout Hunter, Fishpond Nomad nets and accessories and much more.

Mid September in Montana

On the hunt. September also means archery season in Montana. Photo by Wolf Creek Angler

On the hunt. September also means archery season in Montana. Photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Cooler temps and overcast skies have put us in full-on fall mode and while fall fishing is certainly on our minds, this is also the time of year we become conflicted about whether to be on the water or in the field stalking deer and elk.

Archery season is just over a week old and we’ve been out a couple of times but the warm weather has made it easy to maintain our focus on fishing. That may soon change however as it’s looking and feeling like fall out there with temps dipping into the low 40’s at night making for some great mornings to be out in the field.

Rain in the forecast through Thursday could make for some great streamer days and while nymphing was reportedly on the slow side yesterday it should be turning on with water temps hovering right around 60 degrees. Tricos remain an option as do Pseudos, Callibaetis and terrestrials depending on where you’re fishing. Whispers of baetis seem appropriate with the current weather trend – bring em’ on!

Status Quo on the nymphing front with zebra midges, two-bit hookers, Rainbow Czechs, LGM’s, PT’s, Weight Flies, Tung Darts, Olive WD 40’s, S & M’s, BWO Magic Flies etc. all getting some attention. Rig up with the bugs you like and fish them like you know they’re going to get eaten. Faith in the fly you are using almost always trumps the pattern.

Not sure what to use or where to go? Stop by the shop on your way to the river. We’d love to get you set up and headed in the right direction. Shuttles, Lodging, RO Drift Boat Rentals, Expert Guides, Cold Weather Gear from Kast and Redington, Rock Bottom sale prices on Simms WCA summer logo wear and of course, the largest selection of  flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

See you at WCA. Open 6:30 AM Daily (Earlier than ALL THE REST) for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

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