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Mid Week, Mid-October Missouri River Fishing Report

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

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00October 14th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Kast Gear, Missouri River, Redington, RIO, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Fall Fishing Underway

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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By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00October 4th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Air Lock Indicator, Bank Robber, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, indicator, Missouri River, Redington, RIO, running line, St Croix, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Hitting our fall stride

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.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 29th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, RO Drift Boats, running line, streamers, The Trout Shop Cafe, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Report September 26th

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.

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.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 26th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, Craig MT, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, nymphs, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Autumnal Equinox Eve

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.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 22nd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, Fall fishing, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid September in Montana

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.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 15th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, RO Drift Boats, running line, Streamer Fishing, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Weekend Report 9/12/15

A Trico Resurgence on the MO this week – photo by Rudy Malmquist

Feeling like summer again out there today with temperatures expected to reach the mid 80’s but a nice cooling trend on the way this week with highs in the low 60’s and some rain starting Monday night. Could be some great streamer days ahead!

The switch was flipped a couple of days ago and the traffic has returned to the Missouri. We enjoyed the break in the action but it’s nice to have some folks around again. The hustle and bustle has returned to WCA with busy lodging and a bunch of guide trips going out and the shop is alive again with anglers emptying the fly bins.

Good reports from all sections over the past few days with a major trico resurgence and pseudos, callibaetis, caddis and terrestrials all in the dry-fly mix. Double Zebras at the dam and a host of other sub-surface options working well. Streamers? Give em’ a try. Stop by and see us and we’ll do our best to get you set up with what you need.

The bugs are only part of the equation and while there are a bunch of different ways to skin that cat, there are a few ways not to skin it as well. We spend a lot of time explaining and demonstrating how to build and fish various Missouri River rigs and we never tire of it. There’s nothing like helping someone rig up and having them return to report that whatever it was we told them to do worked and got them into fish. The Missouri can be an extremely challenging and somewhat intimidating river and she’ll humble you time and again but we are happy to share our knowledge of the river with anyone who comes through the door. We welcome beginners and experts and everything in-between and there’s nothing we like better than helping to get people started in our awesome sport.

We’ve got a busy week ahead but there’s always room for more so give us a call and book your lodging and/or guide trips today.

Shop open 6:30 AM daily (Earlier than all the rest) for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. Shuttles, boats, bugs and much, much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 12th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|0 Comments

Mid Week Missouri River Fishing Report

Big Fish – Small Bug, Zebra Midge days on the MO. Photo by Rudy Malmquist

Fishing is heating up as we settle into our post-summer routine here on the Missouri.

Cooler temperatures this week and good reports from all stretches including some near-epic nymphing days from the dam down and some good dry-fly action river wide.

There are still tricos to be found in the upper stretches, depending on the day and while it’s definitely worth your time to target those fish keying on the trico spinners make sure to bring your A game. These fish have seen it all this season and they won’t tolerate any angler error.

The more forgiving option on top is definitely the terrestrial route. More-or-less and Moorish hoppers in tan or pink, chubbys in purple, tan or gold, sparkle ants, parachute ants and the occasional beetle have all been getting some attention. Try trailing a hopper with an ant or beetle and see what happens. The terrestrial rigs have been a little slow the past couple of days but we’re getting plenty of eats on nymph droppers. Some prefer to stick with the indicator rig, figuring two nymphs are better than one but we would much rather watch a hopper than a bobber even when the fish are completely ignoring the hoppers. You just never know when you might put that hopper over that 2′ brown and get the eat. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Go-to nymphs for us this week have been black zebras, Rainbow Czechs, Tung Darts, Weight Flies, Peep Shows, 2 Bit Hookers in red, Rainbow Warriors, PT’s, LGM’s, Red Headed Step Child, Claws R Cray, Snapping Cray, Chocolate or Olive WD40’s and various other mayfly nymphs.

September can also be a great month for streamers on the Missouri. Cooler days and overcast skies are the ticket…..bring on the streamer weather! Circus Peanuts, Sparkle Minnows, Polar Leeches, Pine Squirrel Leeches and various buggers should all be a part of your Missouri River streamer arsenal. Stop by the shop and stock up and while you’re at it why not take a St Croix Bank Robber out for a test drive. We’d love to get you set up with everything you need for fall streamer fishing.

Lodging is filling quickly for the next six weeks of autumn awesomeness and our guides are starting to get busy again so don’t miss out on one of our favorite times of the year on the MO.

Long nights, cool mornings, the smell of autumn in the air….Montana fall Fly Fishing at its finest!

Shop open daily at 6:30 AM (earlier than ALL THE REST) for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. Shuttles, bugs, bobbers, lines, leaders, gloves, hats, sun protection, waders, boots and much more including coffee on the house and the most laid-back and friendly atmosphere you’ll find in any shop anywhere.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 9th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, indicator, Missouri River, nymphs, Two Bit Hooker, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Labor Day 2015

The best deals of the season this weekend at WCA

You asked, we delivered. The response has been so great to our Labor Day Sale that we’ve decided to extend it one more day so include a trip to Wolf Creek in your plans today for great deals on almost everything in the shop.

Sunny skies today with highs near 60. Perfect fall fishing weather on the Missouri. A nice week ahead with plenty of sunshine and temps in the low to mid 70’s.

Things are about to get really busy again so take advantage of these last days of relative solitude and enjoy some time on the water. Give us a call and book a cabin and a guide trip and experience Missouri River fall fishing at its best.

Thanks to all of you who came out for the sale and for the Browns and Brews Craft Beer Festival. It’s been a fun weekend despite the cooler weather.

Now we bid summer a fond farewell and welcome the fall season. Make Wolf Creek Angler your one-stop on the way to the MO for everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, RO Drift Boat Rentals, Lodging, Guides and a shop full of Missouri River fly fishing necessities. Open daily at 6:30 am, earlier that ALL THE REST. Open earlier and located closer to Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge than anyone else. We are proud to be your Missouri River Fly Shop.

Farewell summer….

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 7th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, RO Drift Boats, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Labor Day Weekend Forecast

Spend your Labor Day Weekend at Wolf Creek Angler

We’ll close out summer with a wet weekend and cooler temps, just what we need right now to help get the wildfire situation under control. Expect rain this afternoon and then off and on right on through Sunday night. At this point it looks like Labor Day will be pleasant with mostly sunny skies and a high near 70.

In the meantime think nymphs, streamers, huge savings on almost everything at WCA and Montana brewed beer.

Overcast skies, rain and temps south of 70 could make for some spectacular nymphing and streamer days so change those heliocentric weekend plans and get out here.

Leave summer behind and embrace the awesomeness of fall with a weekend in Wolf Creek and Craig- we’ve got plenty of lodging available with rates starting at $69.

Why not splurge and book yourself a cabin or bungalow for under $120/night plus tax. As part of our Labor Day Blow Out SALE book Friday and Saturday night and we’ll throw in Sunday night for free (Bungalows and Cabins only).

Speaking of the Labor Day Blow Out – WCA is the place for great deals on most everything this Saturday and Sunday. Take 20 percent off of all merchandise store-wide and more on select items including 30 percent off men’s and women’s Simms WCA solarflex shirts and up to 40 percent off select clearance items. The best deals of the season this weekend at Wolf Creek Angler.

The best deals of the season this weekend at WCA

You can’t afford to miss these deals!

Make sure to include the Inaugural Browns and Brews Craft Beer Festival in your plans. The event will be held under the tent in Craig on Saturday, September 5th from 4 pm – 8 pm rain or shine and will include live music, live and silent auctions and of course amazing craft beer from Katabatic, Bozeman Brewing Co., The Mighty Mo, The Front, and Bowser Brewing. $25 entry fee gets you in and also gets you a cool Derek DeYoung glass with which to sample your brews.

Bid on all sorts of cool items including what may be the coolest item of all – a WCA Hydro Flask growler and matching Hydro Flask True Pint glasses. Who knows, you may even be able to talk one of the breweries into filling it for you!

Hydro Flask WCA growler and True Pint glasses could be yours.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 3rd, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Browns and Brews, Craig MT, Missouri River, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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