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Smoky Thursday Fishing Report 8/20/15

Smoky Blue Sky Sunflowers photo by Lasha Turner

The wildfire smoke has settled in on the Missouri making it a little tough to breathe but the fish don’t seem to mind. Traffic continues to be very light and the fishing has been fair most days and occasionally very good.

Nymphing is the way to go if you’re looking for numbers and while there are fish everywhere, the highest concentrations of fish (and anglers) are at the dam so choose your float accordingly. Black Zebra Midges, Red Two-Bit Hookers, Tung Darts, LGM’s, PT’s, Weight Flies, Dark Peep Shows, Crayfish and an array of mayfly nymphs are all getting plenty of action.

We’ve been spending a lot of our time working the terrestrial angle and while the hopper game never really seems to be “on fire” on the Missouri, a day spent throwing big dries will likely result in at least a couple of good eats. Trail an ant or a caddis pattern or go with a nymph dropper to up your odds. We’ve had some luck with #16 purple weight flies and also zebra midges and PT’s dropped off of a gold or purple chubby or a tan Moorish Hopper.

Tricos around on any given day and fish eating them if you really want a challenge. Callibaetis and Pseudos around as well so coupled with the terrestrials there are plenty of dry fly opportunities to be had.

Streamers? There has been some chatter about a good streamer bite but it’s not our favorite time of the year to throw streamers as the weeds make a clean retrieve a real challenge. Not to say you wont move some fish but for me the frustration level resulting from frequent hook ups with large clumps of vegetation outweighs the appeal of the potential of possibly hooking up with a big fish or two.

Come join us for August on the Missouri. The air is a little heavy and the fishing can be hit or miss but the weather is awesome with comfortable days and cool nights and you can have miles of water virtually to yourself if you are willing to leave the dam.

Stop by the shop for all the bugs you need and friendly advice on where to go and what to throw. We’ve also got you covered with lodging, RO Drift Boat Rentals, Expert Guides, fishing licenses, sun protection, Extreme Fishing Gear from KAST, Yeti Colsters, Simms logo wear and much, much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:47-06:00August 20th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Wildfires and Brown Trout

Things remain pretty quiet around Wolf Creek and Craig as we move into the second half of August. Traffic is light but there are definitely fish being caught out there.

If you follow this blog you might think we’ve stopped fishing though nothing could be further from the truth! We’ve posted travel blogs and bear blogs over the past few days and the wildfires are definitely the topic of conversation right now with Governor Bullock declaring a fire emergency in Montana over the weekend. There are currently over 100 active wildfires around the state burning some 47,000 acres and some of these are hitting home affecting waters we love to fish with the Sucker Creek fire affecting the Landers Fork and Copper Creek and the Scotty Brown fire which is now contained closing River Junction Road limiting Blackfoot access.

So what about the fishing?

The fishing report has been somewhat static as of late but it’s definitely worth your time to get out there and fish the Missouri. Nymphing has been decent, especially at the dam and there have been a bunch of big brown trout being caught on terrestrials primarily in the lower stretches but there’s no reason you shouldn’t try the hopper rigs wherever you happen to be fishing.

Good nymph choices have been black zebra midges, red Two-Bit Hookers, Tung Darts and Peep Shows with various Cray Fish and Leech patterns getting some attention as well. On top run your choice of hoppers and ants. We’ve been having good luck with tan Moorish hoppers, Pink or Purple More-or-Less hoppers and tan Whitecloud Hoppers trailed with black parachute ants.

These are some of the beauties our guides and clients and shop customers have been picking up over the last couple of weeks.

Stop by Wolf Creek Angler on your way to the river for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs including Fishpond Nomad hand nets and boat nets, Yeti Hoppers, Hydro Flask growlers and pint glasses, tippet and leaders from Rio and Trout Hunter, loads of cool Simms WCA logo wear, shuttles, lodging, some of the hardest working guides on the river and of course, the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana and we’re just minutes from Holter Dam, nobody is closer. Shop open daily at 6 am – Montana Maid Coffee freshly brewed every morning.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:47-06:00August 17th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, Fishpond, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

No waiting at the boat ramps for the time being. The fish are here, where are you? Photo by Wolf Creek Angler

In the midst of the August lull on the Missouri, enjoying some downtime and preparing for the next wave.

We’re still fishing and having some decent days considering, but there have certainly been plenty of tough days as well. Early morning starts seem to be the key as things tend to get quiet in the afternoons.

There have been a few bugs around but it’s nymphing for the most part in the morning followed by terrestrials later in the day. Zebra Midges, Gold Weight Flies, Tung Darts, Gold Czechs, LGM’s, Peep Shows, Psycho Mays, S & M’s , Gold LB’s, PT’s and various crayfish patterns have all been getting some attention while Moorish Hoppers in yellow, tan or pink and tan White Cloud hoppers have been our go to terrestrials. We are usually trailing our hoppers with some sort of ant pattern and while there are all kinds of ants to choose from a plain old parachute black ant seems to work just as well, if not better, than most.

We’re open daily at 6 am for all of your Missouri River fly fishing and lodging needs. Plenty of vacancies and plenty of guides ready to show you a great day on the MO regardless of the August Lull. Fishing is definitely hit or miss this time of year but that being said with virtually zero pressure out there when things turn on it can really be good and you’ll have it all to yourself.

We’re running lodging specials all month. Book a full day guide trip and one night’s lodging in one of our motel rooms and receive a second night of lodging on us. We’re also running special rates for our cabins through the end of the month. Call for rates and availability.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:47-06:00August 11th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Late Summer Skies on the Missouri

It’s been a busy week at Wolf Creek Angler despite the drop off in traffic and while it would definitely be a stretch to say the fishing is great on the Missouri right now, our expert crew of guides have been piecing together some very respectable days this week.

Nymphing has been consistently good from Holter Dam to Wolf Creek and has been decent in the stretches below as well depending on the day. Go-to nymphs at the dam have been zebra midges in red or black, split-case PMD’s, split-case BWO’s, weight flies, light peep shows, Little Green Machines, S & M’s and more.

Some are finding decent trico action, again, depending on the day but the fish are very picky when it comes to the tricos so be prepared to deliver or to be frustrated.

Our preference as of late has been the hopper/ant combo below Wolf Creek Bridge and beyond. Some days the hopper gets the eats – other days it’s the ant, some days it’s neither but it’s always a fun way to fish. Bugs of choice have been the White Cloud hopper in tan, Moorish hopper in tan or yellow, More or Less Hopper in tan or purple and any old parachute ant. Change up your hoppers often and if the ant fails to produce try dropping a small mayfly nymph or maybe even a small leech off of the hopper.

We’ve been moving some crayfish patterns this week though we have yet to hear of much going on with the crays so far. Any day now…

Lots of new arrivals in the shop including a bunch of Simms logo gear and a full restock on Fishpond Nomad hand nets and boat nets. Shop open at 6 AM daily – we are your Missouri River One Stop with everything you need for your day on the water. Guide Trips, shuttles, fishing licenses, ice, lodging, RO Drift Boat rentals and the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana just to name a few.

Things can be a little tough out there right now, why not take the guess-work out of it and book a guide for the day – you’ll be glad you did.

See you in the shop and on the water…

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:47-06:00August 7th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, RO Drift Boats, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

August Outlook

Welcome to August on the Missouri. The crowds are gone (for the time being) and the fishing is hit or miss but definitely still worth your time. The water levels are continuing to be held in the 4000 range with water temps holding in the low to mid 60’s. Water-wise we’re in good shape and the projections for the late summer and into the fall are for things to remain status quo with a slight reduction in flows starting in September. Most probable flows are predicted to be in the 3700+ range for the fall months.

There is moss and weeds to deal with on the river, there are also big brown trout lurking in and around those weed beds just waiting for a juicy hopper. Don’t let the weeds get you down – they’re part of the deal this time of year, make the best of it.

Tricos? Some days yes, others not so much but you should keep your trico rig at the ready just in case. Our program as of late has been nymphing in the early part of the day and then switching to hoppers around lunch time with the occasional trico interruption. Pseudos and Callibaetis around as well and Caddis are ever-present though not as plentiful as many would like to see.

Streamers? Yes. Streamer fishing can be ok this time of year though we typically avoid the frustration. Dry fly fishing the weedy water can be challenging, nymphing it even more so….stripping streamers through it? Nearly impossible. There are probably some big fish to be caught on streamers right now – we will leave them for you.

Much of the water around the state is not faring as well as the Missouri with Hoot Owl Restrictions continuing to be implemented. This is the up-to-date report on Restrictions and Closures from FWP. It’s your responsibility as an angler to be aware of and to adhere to these restrictions so keep an eye on the FWP web site or give us a call or stop by the shop for the latest info. Open daily at 6:00 AM for guide trips, shuttles, bugs, boats, licenses, sun protection, lodging, piles of logo gear, guide wear from Kast and much, much more. Take advantage of the relative solitude of August and enjoy a day on the river – it’s never a bad way to spend a day.

Restrictions & Closures

Belmont Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to the Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

Big Hole River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 08/04/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Hoot owl restrictions in place for the following river sections of the Big Hole River: Maiden Rock FAS to the mouth. (8/4/2015)
Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 08/04/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
River sections of the Big Hole River: Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to North Fork Big Hole River. (8/4/2015)

Bitterroot River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Bitterroot River from its origin at the confluence of the East and West Forks of the Bitterroot River to its mouth. (7/2/2015)

Blackfoot River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Blackfoot River from its headwaters to its confluence with the Clark Fork River. (7/2/2015)

Clark Fork River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Clark Fork River from its origin at the confluence of Warm Springs and Silver Bow Creeks to the confluence with the Flathead River. (7/2/2015)

Copper Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to Landers Fork. (7/29/2015)

Cottonwood Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to the Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

East Gallatin River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/10/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire East Gallatin River from its origin at the confluence of Rocky and Sourdough Creeks to its confluence with the West Gallatin River. (7/9/2015)

Flint Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
From the Highway 1 Bridge near milepost 53 to the mouth. (7/2/2015)

Gallatin River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/10/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Lower Gallatin River from Sheds Bridge (Hwy 84) near Four Corners, MT, downstream to its confluence with the Madison River at Three Forks. (7/9/2015)

Gold Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary of the Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

Jefferson River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 08/04//2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire Jefferson River. (8/4/2015)

Landers Fork Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to the Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

Madison River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/10/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Lower Madison River from Ennis Dam to the Missouri River Headwaters. (7/9/2015)

Monture Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

Morrell Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to Clearwater River. (7/29/2015)

North Fork Blackfoot River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
North Fork Falls to the confluence with the Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

Ruby River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/10/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Portions of the Ruby River from Duncan District Road to its confluence with the Beaverhead River. (7/9/2015)

Shields River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/10/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Most of the Shields River from its confluence with Smith Creek downstream to its confluence with the Yellowstone River. (7/9/2015)

Silver Bow Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
From Blacktail Creek to the mouth where it joins with Warm Springs Creek. (7/2/2015)
Reopened Waterbodies
Beaverhead River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction Lifted starting 07/30/2015
Closure Lifted
Entire Beaverhead River (7/30/2015)

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:47-06:00August 4th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Dry Fly Eat on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Well, another month in the books. Our busiest month yet and that with a late July slow-down resulting from weird weather and weird bug activity (or lack thereof) and the general sense that the fishing simply isn’t all that good right now.

August is typically pretty slow around here but oddly enough we’ve been booking a fair amount of guide trips and lodging for the next couple of weeks. As long as the weather and the fish cooperate we might just have a stronger-than expected showing this month.

While it’s certainly not prime fishing time on the Missouri we don’t mind August one bit. There will be some good days and some not so good days out there but if you want to float down a beautiful Montana river on a bright and sunny summer day this is your time. The days are getting shorter, the nights are typically cool and we’re starting to see signs of Autumn as the greens of spring and summer begin their transformation.

August fishing can be good with Hoppers and ants being our go-to bugs right now. Plenty of tricos around and plenty of opportunities if that’s your game but we love to watch the fish eat the big bugs….the takes may be few and far between but definitely worth the wait. Stop in and check out our hopper/terrestrial selection, you won’t be disappointed. Nymphing is your best bet for numbers. It’s Zebra Midge time at the dam!

We like to view August as a breather before the second season which generally starts to ramp up in mid September. It’s a great chance for us to take care of projects around the property which need attention and to assess and evaluate our season and begin pre-season orders for next year. It’s also a good time to play so don’t be surprised if you see some reports this month from other waters or maybe even some reports that have absolutely nothing to do with fishing.

Shop open early (6:00 AM) daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. We’re starting to receive our fall merchandise so expect to see some deals as we make room for the new stuff.

We’ve got a full house Monday and Tuesday but things open up after that so give us a call and book that last minute Missouri River fly fishing getaway.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:47-06:00August 1st, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Late summer on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Plenty of blue skies and sunshine out there and some fish as well.

Good nymphing and decent trico reports from the morning shift at the dam and word of decent caddis action last night between Wolf Creek and Craig.

It’s hit and miss right now to be sure but don’t believe the hype! These are awesome days to be out there. The weather is beautiful, the pressure is light to moderate and there are plenty of fish. You may need to work for them but we’re ok with that.

Plenty of doom and gloom muttering about the fishing this season going on but we choose to take the conditions for what they are, adjust our game accordingly and fish on. We encourage you to do the same.

It’s certainly been a less than stellar season for the DFO’s but that being said, there have been and there will continue to be plenty of fish caught on dry flies.

August trip bookings have really started to take off so apparently not everyone has soured on the 2015 Missouri. As is generally the case in August we’ve got a fair amount of lodging vacancies so come out and enjoy the quiet time on the Missouri.

Make Wolf Creek Angler your one-stop on the way to the MO for shuttles, bugs, sun protection, almost legendary coffee, fishing licenses, ice, river maps, tools and accessories, Fishpond Nomad boat nets and anything else you might need for your day on the water. Open daily at 6 AM.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 29th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Update

Hopper Time

The best fishing reports we’ve heard for the past couple of days have come from the canyon and below where the hopper bite has started to come on. There have been some good days with a lot of action on the hopper and some other days where the hopper bite wasn’t all that but the dropper was getting plenty of attention.

Hopper fishing is an awesome way to spend a day on the water and while you may not get the numbers you’d get nymphing at the dam, the anticipation coupled with the occasional swirl or explosive grab will keep you wanting more.

We’ve got a great selection of tried and true Missouri River foam and we’d love to get you pointed in the right direction as far as bugs to use and places to go. The hopper game is best played from a drift boat and a long stretch of river. No row-arounds required. We’ve heard of decent action from Wolf Creek to Craig and the water between Craig and Spite is one of our favorites for throwing hoppers but if you really want to commit try the canyon or below and stick with it.

New to the hopper game? Why not book a trip with us and let our guides get you dialed in. Again – it’s not a numbers game but it’s a fun way to fish and a great way to spend a day on some water you might normally overlook.

This is not to say that it’s been on fire. Inconsistent is a good way to describe things out there lately no matter what you are throwing. If the hoppers’ aren’t getting any love run a dropper, your nymph of choice. We’ve been having great luck with a natural Pine Squirrel leech and have heard of good results on PT’s, peep shows, micromays etc. Throw something you like and see what happens.

Tricos and Caddis still offering plenty of opportunities for the hardcore DFO’s but it’s certainly been a strange season where the tricos are concerned. Our advice – make preparations to be on your trico A game and then roll with your day – if it happens it happens and you will succeed. If it doesn’t then go to your nymph and/or hopper rigs and make the best of it.

Traffic was pretty heavy all week but has begun to drop off. Yesterday looked almost like August with just a few boats around (comparatively speaking). I’m sure the fish appreciated the break. Expect a little more room out there for the next few weeks as we enter into the August Lull and if you’re thinking of coming out don’t let the slow down scare you away. Fishing can be weird this time of year but it can also be really good.

Lodging and guide availability open up a bit within the next week so give us a call and book your Missouri River fly fishing adventure. Mornings are a little darker every day so the shop will be open at 6:00 AM daily starting tomorrow. Make us your one stop on the way to the MO for RO Drift Boat rentals, lodging, shuttles, guides, clothing, accessories, all kinds of cool sun protection and of course, the largest selection of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. Come by and see what the buzz is about.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 25th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, grasshoppers, Missouri River, Montana, RO Drift Boats, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Clearing the Air

It has been brought to our attention that a post on our blog was not in compliance with the rules governing publication of photos of the Healing Waters Helena Adipose Drift Boats which are available to vets, at no cost, through a program administered by Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig Montana. Photos of the boat were published in our blog post “WCA in Sexy Loops” which was essentially a link to a blog which featured a post written by a WCA guest who took pictures of the Healing Waters boat and the group involved in the trip who were lodging with Wolf Creek Angler.

This was a trip put together by Project Healing Waters of the Flathead Valley which involved guide trips from Lakestream Fly Shop in Whitefish MT, lodging for the group at Wolf Creek Angler and utilization of one of the Helena Healing Waters Adipose drift boats which are available to all veterans, free of charge, through a program administered by Headhunters Fly Shop.

We published one of the pictures of the group and the boat which was taken in front of our shop and failed to give an explanation. It was brought to our attention that this may have led some to believe that Wolf Creek Angler has an official affiliation with the Healing Waters boat. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and we would just like to clarify that while we fully support Project Healing Waters – and most importantly all of our veterans, at this time Wolf Creek Angler has no official partnership with the Healing Waters boats which are available only through the program administered through our friends at Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig Montana.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 2nd, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Headhunters Fly Shop, Lakestream Fly Shop, Project Healing Waters, running line, Sexyloops.com, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Mid June Missouri River Fishing Report

Hard to believe, but according to the calendar it’s June 15th. The season is flying by as it does and we’re about to settle into prime dry fly time on the Missouri River. PMD’s and Caddis are in abundance depending on the day and you should be able to piece together a full day of dry fly action if that’s your thing. Best bet is still going to be below Craig but you should be able to find bugs and fish eating them wherever you go. If you happen upon a PMD event try your various PMD spinner patterns or just a standard parachute Adams coupled with a cripple or an emerger. On the caddis side we’re still liking the CDC Grey/Tan Caddis Emerger or a Cornfed Caddis paired with an Outrigger or an X Caddis. And speaking of Outriggers, it’s the time of year to keep a handfull of Outrigger Sallys in your box and at the ready.

Nymphing has been good most days and while things can always get weird out there we’ve been having some downright stellar days from the dam to Craig. Tailwater sows in #16 and #18 and Firebead softhackle sows have been far and away the most effective bugs but we’ve been getting them on zebra midges and various PMD nymphs as well including the PMD Magic Fly, Hogan’s PMD Military May, Light Peep Shows, Split-Case PMD’s and Wondernymphs. Further down stream it’s weight flies, Tung Darts and Czechs in tandem with LGM’s, Micromays, S & M’s and the aforementioned PMD stuff. How about streamers you ask? Not much to report on that front. The hardcore streamer guys are throwing them and catching some fish but if you’re on the fence about how best to work the depths our recommendation would be to concentrate on the nymphing game and save your streamers for the fall.

Flows are back down to 4600 keeping the wade anglers happy and the weather looks great for the week ahead with partly sunny skies and highs near 80 daily. Our lodging is booked solid from here on out into late July though there are the occasional vacancies so give us a call if you are making last minute plans to visit the Missouri this summer. We’ve got expert guides at the ready, anxious to show you what an amazing fishery we have here on the MO. Stop by the shop for everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, Drift Boats, Sun Protection, fishing licenses, Guide Wear from Kast Extreme Fishing Gear, walls full of tools and accessories, the best coffee in Wolf Creek (according to many),the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek MT and much, much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:51-06:00June 15th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, pmd's, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

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