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Rainy Days on the MO

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We did a lot of Dearborn River shuttles last week as people took advantage of 500 ish flows with the thought that the window to float would be short-lived. As of this morning the Dearborn is pushing at 807 so we may in fact have a Dearborn season after all, especially with rain in the forecast every day this week. Please give us a call today if you are interested in doing a day on the Dearborn. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to fish one of Montana’s hidden gems!

Back to the rain….obviously we were disappointed with the Dub C A Soiree getting rained out over the weekend and the soggy weather also put a bit of a damper on the Craig Caddis Festival the weekend before, though the word is that they did extremely well bringing in their biggest haul to date despite the low turnout.

So while there have been more days on the damp/cool side than not and mowing the grass has become a full-time job, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Things are really greening up everywhere you look, the high water in the creeks is making for some excellent streamer fishing opportunities both on the creeks themselves and on the Missouri and most importantly, Canyon Ferry continues to fill (currently at 88 percent) which will hopefully mean comfortable summer flows at or near the 4000 mark.

Flows in the mid 3000’s are what continue to be the prediction for the summer season and while these flows  are not ideal for the overall health of the river a lot of the wade anglers love the fact that they can access so much more water. Consequently, the potential for conflict between wade anglers and boat anglers will be on the rise so please respect one another out there and give as wide a berth as possible to your fellow anglers whether in a boat or on foot. I personally go out of my way to give huge amounts of space to other boats and to wade anglers and I appreciate when others follow suit. There is plenty of water and plenty of room to spread out. If the majority of the traffic is concentrated in the top section why not go down low and explore new options. The fish are everywhere! We all have our comfort zones which we develop over time through our experience on the water but as the crowds roll in why not expand that comfort zone by frequenting some of the less popular stretches? Easier said than done, believe me I know, but it will make you a better angler and certainly a better guide if you get to know the whole river.

Stop by the shop or give us a call for up-to-the-minute reports and conditions. Open at 7:00 am daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs including lodging, RO drift boat rentals, fishing licenses, shuttles and of course, the widely publicized largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana as recently reported in major newspapers across the state.

 

 

 

Missouri River Fishing Report 5/21/15

Hot fishing on cold rainy days on the MO.

Hot fishing on cold rainy days on the MO.

Last weekend’s Montana Monsoon rains which lasted into the early part of the week changed things up a bit bumping Missouri flows up over 4,000 for a couple of days, greening up the countryside and coloring the water up below Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn.
The streamer guys took advantage of the situation both on the MO and the creeks and the worm ruled for a short time as the mud dumped. We had a couple of outstanding bwo events on those cold rainy days despite the persistent north northeast winds which made things a little on the unpleasant side out there. All in all however, the cold wet weather made for some great fishing all the way around.
Yesterday the sunshine and blue skies returned and the action slowed a bit as the river cleared and the flows returned to sub 4K. Reports were mixed but overall it was on the slow side yesterday from top to bottom.
Tailwater sows were our ticket on Monday and Tuesday on the upper stretch but that all changed yesterday as we worked hard to find something they would eat with some consistnecy. It was one of those days constantly changing bugs and changing depths and failing to really find a consistent rig. There were some reports of the worm continuing to work below the Dearborn but we ran a wire worm of sorts for the better part of the day in the Wolf Creek to Stickney stretch and failed to get an eat. Little Green Machines, Peep Shows and the PMD Magic Fly were our best bugs of the day in slower, moderate depth water, usually working inside out and running the drop-offs.
The streamer bite was fair yesterday despite the bright sun with Coffey’s Sculpin Sparkle Minnow and the Circus Peanut getting some attention. Dry fly activity was spotty yesterday though there were a couple of spots with substantial pod activity between Craig and Stickney and it appeared as though an evening outing would have been quite productive judging by the diminished winds and the fish we saw up as we drove along the river back to Wolf Creek.
We’ve got another blue sky day with a slight chance of rain this afternoon with more of the same for tomorrow. We’ve got limited lodging available for the weekend and guides available anytime. Give us a call at the shop for up-to-the-minute river and weather conditions and stop by on your way to the river for bugs, shuttles, boats and everything you need for your day on the water. Don’t forget the DUB C A Soiree happening all day on Saturday with 15% off everything store wide except shuttles. Free barbeque beginning at 5 pm with music from Helena’s Sleeping Giants weather permitting.
See you at Wolf Creek Angler!

Our first day of outfitting on the Blackfoot with WCA guide Ryan Stultz

Our first day of outfitting on the Blackfoot with WCA guide Ryan Stultz

The Week Ahead

Preparations underway for the Dub C A Soiree. Fred hard at work getting the grounds in shape.

Preparations underway for the Dub C A Soiree. Fred hard at work getting the grounds in shape.

It’s going to be a busy week here in Wolf Creek as we prepare for Saturday’s Dub C A Soiree. We’re prettying things up around the shop and the property and hoping for awesome weather for the weekend. The current forecast is for rain showers in the morning becoming intermittent later in the day with highs near 70.
Stop in Saturday morning for bugs and shuttles and great deals on almost everything and come back after fishing for barbeque and live music from Sleeping Giants starting at 5 pm. We’ ve got a few vacancies for the weekend which should fill by mid week so don’t hesitate. Book your lodging and guide trips today.
Busy morning on the MO with the dam and Wolf Creek Bridge launches buzzing with activity. The rainy weekend has flows at around 4400 with Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn pumping a fair amount of mud. Could be some outstanding streamer fishing to be had. Mixed bag of reports from yesterday with most reporting a tougher than average day. Heard a few good reports from those fishing the creeks but much of that water is pretty churned up right now. Should be back in shape by the middle part of the week.
The weather looks good this week with temps in the 60’s and 70’s and partly cloudy skies though that NNE wind looks like its going to hang around a while longer.
Full fishing report tomorrow.

By |2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00May 18th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Come see what’s new at Wolf Creek Angler

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As we move into the heart of the spring season we’ve got a shop full of gear and more arriving daily. Do yourself a favor and stop by and find out what the buzz is about at Wolf Creek Angler.
We’ve got a case full of new reels from Ross and Nautilus, racks full of awesome gear from KAST and Redington and all kinds of cool Simms WCA logo wear. Plenty of rods from Echo and St Croix including the High Stick Drifter and the Bank Robber – both available to demo. Give a call and reserve one today. If you fish it and you like it and you decide to purchase one we’ll knock the rental fee off of the purchase price.
Fishpond Nomad net restock underway. Smith optics, Yeti coolers, an awesome selection of fly lines from Rio and Airflo, all kinds of indicators including Strike Foundry and Air-Lock, leaders and tippet from Trout Hunter and Rio and all the tools and accessories you need for Missouri River Fly Fishing success along with the largest selection (and growing larger by the day) of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. These are high quality bugs from the likes of Montana Fly Company, Umpqua, Yellowstone Fly Goods and Solitude….the real deal, not the knock-offs.
A top notch guide crew, comfortable and affordable dog-friendly lodging, shuttle service, RO drift boat rentals and a humble and helpful staff anxious to be a part of your Montana fly fishing adventure make us a great choice. All just minutes from Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge…nobody’s closer!
Open daily at 7 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

Missouri River Weekend Report 5/2/15

Danya Ann taming the MO - photo by Matt Hargrave

Danya Ann taming the MO – photo by Matt Hargrave

Widespread reports of Full-On sick nymphing the past couple of days river wide. Sunny skies and some stiff winds have limited dry fly opportunities during the day though it sounds like those returning to the water in the evenings have been rewarded with some near-epic conditions and lots of fish willing to eat.
Green Machines have been THE bug, hands down, no matter what the section though it sounds like the Pink Amex and the Rainbow Czech have had their moments as well. We restocked LGM’s this morning and while the #18 PT’s had been the most frequently picked over the grays are reportedly working as well, if not better, in some places so don’t hesitate to try them. Firebead sows and FB Rainbow Weight Flies have seen a bit of a resurgence over the past few days and we’ve been selling a ton of Olive WD 40’s. Purple Weight flies, tailwater sows, BWO Magic Fly, S & M’s , Micro Mays, 2 Bit Hookers, wire worms….all have been catching a lot of fish and last but not least…I haven’t heard too many reports about Peep Shows but for what its’ worth this bin had probably 8-10 dozen bugs in it when I opened this morning…

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I haven’t heard any streamer reports though we’re thinking that should be on your agenda as well in the coming days.
Bottom line? The fishing is damn good right now no matter where you go. The word is that fish are more concentrated in the canyon section but that they are smaller overall than in the upper sections where there are reportedly fewer fish at the moment but much bigger average size. Pick a stretch and enjoy!
Lodging just shy of full this evening and opening up tomorrow and Monday before the next wave comes in on Tuesday. Completely booked mid-week but a few openings here and there towards next weekend. Guides at the ready. Don’t miss out on this awesome spring fishing. Book your trip on the Missouri today.

Make us your first stop on the way to the river for shuttles, bugs (other than #16 dark Peep Shows), bobbers, boats, fishing licenses, ice, Buffs and gloves for hot or cold weather, Rio and Trout Hunter leaders and tippet,  all kinds of tools and accessories, a great cup of coffee,  friendly and knowledgeable service, honest advice and much much more.

See you at WCA

 

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WCA logotransform photo signs

The One and Only Wolf Creek Angler - located at 515 Recreation Road in Wolf Creek

The One and Only Wolf Creek Angler – located at 515 Recreation Road in Wolf Creek

It’s the first of May and things are in full swing at Wolf Creek Angler and on the Missouri. We’ve had a couple of extremely busy lodging weeks and some mornings in the shop that feel like the height of the season.

Looking back at where we were  last year at this time, one month into our first season, we couldn’t be more pleased with our upward trajectory. We are so thankful to all of our customers and we’re excited to continue to improve and grow and offer you more of what you want and more of what you expect from your Full Service Missouri River fly shop and guide service.

And speaking of our guide service, this is an area of our business that we would love to grow and we’ve put together just the team to make that happen. Our guides are First Class in every respect and they are committed to making your day on the water one you won’t soon forget.  We’re not into the ego thing at Wolf Creek Angler as anyone who has shopped here or stayed with us knows and we approach guide trips in the same way with our focus first and foremost on providing our clients with a great all around experience rather than on proving what phenomenal guides we are. Book a trip with us today for an experience that goes far beyond the numbers game.

It looks like it’s going to be another great week weather wise to fish the MO with temps in the low 70’s for the weekend and back up near 80 on Monday. Things cool down mid week with cloudy skies and low 60’s and a significant chance for rain showers on Thursday which will likely be your best bet for a good dry fly or streamer day.

Another busy week of lodging ahead but we do have a few vacancies on Sunday and Monday and again on Wednesday. Call today to book your guide trips and to fill these vacancies!

See you in the shop and on the water.

By |2016-10-25T16:15:53-06:00May 1st, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

WCA Events Update

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May is going to be a busy month on the Missouri. An early spring has kick started the 2015 season. Lots of folks around already and a bunch of stuff going on in addition to great fishing on the MO. Here’s what’s happening the next few weeks in and around Wolf Creek Montana.

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Friday May 15th. Ales For Trails – Pioneer Park in Helena from 5 – 9 PM. Helena Ales for Trails is about contributing to the common good in Helena by raising funds for the Helena trail system. This year’s event will benefit Centennial Trail which is a paved non-vehicle path that will connect Spring Meadow Lake to East Helena.

This year will feature 40+ beer varieties from up to 15 different craft breweries. Participants will also have the opportunity to taste cider and wine. Live music by David Casey and Kate Plummer.

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Saturday, May 16th. 9th Annual Craig Caddis Festival. 4 pm – ??  Barbeque Contest, Parade, Kids Activities, Silent Auction, Raffle, Live Music and all-around shenanigans in Craig Montana with proceeds going to support the Craig Volunteer Fire Department. We’ve decided to pass on the barbeque contest portion of the event this year but we are donating items for the auction and we will be around enjoying the festivities.

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Saturday, May 16th. Montana 2015 General Fishing Season Opener. Get out and fish the creeks. We can’t wait!

Not the Dub C A Soiree - but cool anyways.

Not the Dub C A Soiree – but cool anyways.

Saturday, May 23rd. The Inaugural Dub C A Soiree – Wolf Creek Angler, Wolf Creek Montana.

Come join us as we usher in another great season on the Missouri River with the Inaugural WCA Soiree. Great deals in the shop all day, food and fun and live music from Helena’s Sleeping Giants starting at 5 pm. You don’t want to miss this one. Limited lodging still available. Book yours today.

In addition to these big weekend events May will be a busy time at Wolf Creek Angler with crowds descending upon the region to fish our world-famous river. It should be prime time for streamer fishing and dry fly fishing will definitely be drawing a crowd. May is definitely a favorite month amongst the fly shop contingent as we enjoy spectacular fishing coupled with relative peace and solitude – the calm before the storm of the summer season.

We hope you join us for all of these events and great fishing on the Missouri River.

 

Two Days Left…

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

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

Just two days remain to take advantage of our $300 spring special guide trips and winter lodging rates. The screaming deals come to an end on Thursday.
Good to great fishing continues depending on the day with midges and baetis aplenty and if you are lucky enough to have cloud cover you may just have the best dry fly fishing day you’ve ever had…or not.

The bugs are around on the sunny days as well but the fish eating them…not so much. Wade anglers are loving the sub 4K flows and are consistently having good days. Most of the tough day reports we’ve heard have been from the boat guys and usually the ones doing the Dam to Craig stretch. Our advice? Keep at it. Change bugs, change depths, change the water you are fishing, add weight and go deep, remove weight and go shallow. The fish are there, you just need to find them. Some are doing well with a shorter rig and no weight, others are going 10′ ish overall length with a bb or two and finding fish that way. Typically we’re thinking deep on these bright and sunny days but that isn’t always the case.

Shorten your float and work the water, that’s the best way to figure it out. I’m notoriously doing longer floats than I should, a product of my streamer chucking past, but if you aren’t throwing streamers the shorter floats make sense. You can spend time working the nymphing runs until you find the fish and you’ve got plenty of time to fish to any pods of rising fish you come across. If you try picking things apart this way on a 10 or 12 mile float you will almost always end up pushing through good water to get to the takeout at a reasonable time.

Hot flies? Olive WD-40’s, LGM’s, S & M’s, Two Bit Hookers, Dark Peep Shows, Magic Fly BWO, Hot Belly PT, MicroMays, Military Mays, Poxyback Baetis, beadless Zebras, Angel Case Emergers and miscellaneous sow bugs. Effective baetis dries are all over the map but I will say we’ve seen a run on CDC BWO’s and CDC Oliver Emergers over the past few days.

The only streamer reports I’ve heard as of late haven’t been very good but that’s no reason not to throw them. As that water continues to warm up it should result in some great streamer action. We’ve just replenished our Sparkle Minnow supply and we finally got in some more of Craven’s Dirty Hippy Rainbow. My go-to continues to be the tan Circus Peanut. Come by and check out our ever-increasing streamer selection.

It’s another busy week of lodging at WCA. We’ve got just two units left for the weekend so call soon if you need a room or a boat or a guide trip or all of the above. Open daily at 7:30 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

A Great Season in the works at WCA

Wolf Creek MT's fly fishing destination

Wolf Creek MT’s fly fishing destination

Following an encouraging first winter of business the spring season is ramping up and if these first weeks are any indication, it’s going to be an awesome second season for Wolf Creek Angler.

We kicked off the season with the tremendous honor of being featured in The Drake Magazine Online Fly Shop Friday segment. http://www.drakemag.com/featured-content/flyshop-friday/1378-wolf-creek-angler-fly-shop-on-the-missouri-river.html

Since then things have been abuzz as we’ve been busy filling the shop with a bunch of new gear and making improvements around the property all with the intent of making Wolf Creek Angler everything you would expect your Missouri River Fly Shop to be.

Lodging is way up, guide trips are way up and we have not been disappointed in the retail business we’ve been doing so far this spring.
While we have been busy making improvments we know you will appreciate there are so many other things we want to do and there is simply no way we can do them all at once. The good news is that you can expect to see big changes and big improvements every season as WCA grows into our long term vision, always working toward realizing the huge potential we know we have. We are not about status quo, we are dedicated to continuous improvement on all levels and we’re thrilled to have so many on board and along for the ride.

It’s been a fishy couple of weeks here on the MO with bugs a plenty and while we will obvioiusly be keeping a close eye on the water situation we are optimistic that we’re going to continue to see a spectacular 2015. Baetis were scarce last season both in the spring and the fall so we couldn’t be happier with the way things are shaping up for 2015. Having all of our lodging open and having no vacancies mid week in April is such a thrill and talking with a bunch of happy anglers is a great way to start any day.

See you soon at Wolf Creek Angler.

By |2016-10-25T16:15:54-06:00April 23rd, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Mid Week Fishing Report

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Warm and sunny spring days have limited the dry fly fishing opportunities for the past couple of days but it looks like we could be in for a great baetis weekend with cloud cover and a chance of rain and/or snow each day.

Nymphing has been good river-wide though the best reports we’re hearing are from Craig down. Green Machines and S & M’s have been the most popular nymphs by far leaving our bins this week but why limit yourself to two patterns? We’ve got bins and bins stuffed full of bugs that will get it done. Take some time and peruse our selection, LGM’s and S & M’s are great but there’s a bunch of other stuff that you should be trying and who knows, you may just stumble upon the next big thing.

When you find that bug you think is cool and you fish it and it happens to work it definitely builds your confidence. One of my go-to nymphs is Mason’s Peep Show. I was introduced to the Peep Show by a fishing buddy several years ago and I’ve always done well with it so I use it a lot.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had clients come into the shop to load up on them after a guide trip. Sometimes they find success with it, sometimes they dont. I think it’s a great bug – I’ve got friends who are excellent guides who hate it – it’s all personal preference.

Bottom line – we’ve got well over 100,000 flies not including a bunch of cool streamers. There are a lot of patterns besides S & M’s and Little Green Machines that will crush fish on the Missouri. Last season there was a few weeks where Two Bit Hookers were reportedly the hottest bug around. We didn’t have them. We do now. Guys would come in and ask for them and turn around and leave when we told them we didn’t have them – apparently when it’s a Two Bit Hooker you desire nothing else will do!

Stop in and check out our fly selection, we are confident you won’t be disappointed.

Lodging is full tonight and busy through the weekend. We did have one cancellation for Friday and Saturday so we do have one cabin available for the weekend. We’re busy with spring special guide trips this week but have plenty of guides around if you are interested in taking advantage of this great deal before it’s too late. It’s the last weekend for spring special rates and discounted lodging. Book your trips and rooms now!

The days are getting longer, the bugs are plentiful and the pulse is starting to return to Wolf Creek and Craig Montana.

See you in the shop and on the water.

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