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Early April Update – Goodbye Winter Edition

Spring Coming Soon…photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Could it be that this ridiculously prolonged, slow burn of a winter is FINALLY coming to an end?

We can’t say for sure. But the forecast seems to be leaning that way.

A couple of more days of high 30’s/ low 40’s with overnight lows dipping into the teens but then it happens. 50’s on Thursday, near 60 on Friday and 60’s pushing 70, yes, you read that right, pushing 70, early next week.

They’re calling for a 30 percent chance of snow tomorrow, with little or no accumulation expected. But other than that the only precip we’re seeing in the forecast is in the form of rain.

Maybe, just maybe, spring is settling in.

With any luck we’ll be bidding a fond farewell to the snow and ice which have been blanketing the property since early November.

The combination of snow and ice and mud have made the parking lot a mess for weeks and by extension, since those who have been staying with us have had to park in and walk through said parking lot to get to the rooms, housekeeping has been a challenge to say the least.

But that’s all about to come to an end as a couple of days in the 60’s with even a little bit of sun will go a LONG ways in drying us out.

We’ll look to open up the last of the lodging late this week.

Traffic has been building, ever so slowly. A few folks around the shop each day, busy lodging on the weekends and guide trips just starting to roll. Just enough activity to get acclimated as it’s about to blow up.

The river is in great shape, currently running 5400 CFS with that temp holding steady in the 36 degree range. The upcoming warming trend should get things cooking as the water warms and the fish snap out of their winter slumber.

Nymphing the usual suspects will keep a bend in the rods. Anything with a pink bead has been exceptional as of late. Dry fly fishing has been decent on the right days, absent the wind and should only improve. Keep those midge rigs at the ready.

Streamer fishing has been adequate and is about to go PRIME TIME! The hour and the day is unknown but it could happen any time so go after it. Swing, strip, do what you do knowing that it could happen anytime now. We’ve got 6 weeks of Prime streamer fishing ahead of us with dry fly nirvana to follow. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Treat yourself to a new streamer set up today. We’re stocked up with plenty of the tools you need to get the job done from Sage, Echo, Redington and Lamson and a bumper crop of streamer lines from SA, Airflo and Rio for any and all sub surface scenarios. It’s just the bugs you need? We’ve got you covered there as well with the best streamer selection on the Missouri. We are your Streamer Fishing Authority on the MO!

Shop open at 8 AM for everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, bugs, hats, gloves, waders, boots, wading jackets, rain gear, lines and leaders, tools and accessories and the best free coffee in the canyon.

We hope you make WCA your fist stop on your way to the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-04-03T17:06:56-06:00April 3rd, 2023|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Not So Fast…

We’re five days into spring and we have had a taste of spring weather but don’t put the cold weather gear away just yet. It looks like winter is about to return with snow in the forecast every day starting tomorrow and running through Thursday with a couple of inches expected on Sunday.

Temps will hover around 40 each day so not exactly an arctic blast but for those who have been waiting for those warm and sunny spring days, you’ll have to wait a little longer. Or maybe a lot longer. The long term is calling for below average temps and above average precipitation at least for this first half of spring.

Overnight lows are trending up into the 20’s rather than the teens so you may be able to get an earlier start with things warming up quicker but I’d expect those water conditions to remain static for the time being. Flows are currently holding right around 4000 CFS with that 34.5 degree water temp having a hard time going much of anywhere.

These are fairly standard early spring conditions, nothing too out of the ordinary but it’s been a LONG winter and we’re ready for warmer days. Fishing has been good with nymphing being the go to for numbers but there are plenty of folks swinging and stripping streamers as well and the low light midge fishing has definitely been productive.

Standard fare on the nymphing with pink leading the charge. Must haves include Pill Poppers, Pederson’s Sow, Bubble Yum Scud, Pink Soft Hackle Sow, Cotton Candy, Lucent Bead Pink Ray, Tailwater Sow.

Streamer fishing has been hit or miss but we’ve had a few decent days. Swing a Polar Leech, Thin Mint or Kreelex. Strip a Sparkle Minnow, Skiddish Smolt, Dirty Hippy, D and D, Gladio, MK Ultra, Wedge Head, Silk Kitty or Swim Coach. Go deep and strip slow or hit the sunny shallows to target those fish seeking warmer water.

Midges have been plentiful most days and you’ll find fish up here and there but the better dry fly action has definitely been during low light conditions which generally means evenings but the cloudy conditions expected this weekend could bode well for daytime action.

It’s definitely on the cold side for doing so but it might be getting to be time to start throwing a skwala around on select stretches of water. Not a major player on the MO but always worth a try as we transition into spring. Big bugs = big fish (sometimes). We’ve got a good variety of skwala patterns in the bins for those wanting to give it a shot.

Winter lodging rates are in effect through the end of the month so you’ve got a week left to take advantage of CHEAP rooms. You’ve also got a week left to shop TAX FREE as the resort tax in Wolf Creek goes back into effect on April 1st.

We’ve got 2/3rds of our lodging open and will have the motel units open by the middle of April. Guide trips are starting to pick up but we’ve got plenty of availability through the month of April and into the early part of May.

Shop hours are 8 AM – 4 PM Monday – Saturday. We’ll add Sunday to the mix and extend our hours just as soon as the help arrives for the season which will be soon.

Start your day with a stop at WCA for shuttles, bugs, fishing licenses, hats, gloves, fly lines, leaders, waders, boots, rods, reels and so much more. We are your FULL SERVICE MISSOURI RIVER SPRINGF FLY FISHING DESTINATION. Those in the KNOW shop WCA, far and away the very BEST FLY SHOP in Wolf Creek MT and consistently proclaimed to be the BEST FLY SHOP you never even knew was here.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-03-24T10:28:02-06:00March 24th, 2023|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: BEST FLY SHOP, Cheap, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, tax free, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Sunny Late Winter Vibes as Wolf Creek ANgler

Blue skies and sunshine this ninth day or March, exactly the kind of day we need to get into spring fishing mode. The temperature hasn’t broken the freezing mark in a couple of days but we’re headed there today with a high near 40 on tap. Calm south winds in the 6-8 mph range make today the day to be on the water.

Snow and light winds from the NORTH tomorrow with a high of 33. 1-3 inches of snow expected. I’ll just leave that there without commentary.

Power through it. Spring weather will arrive next week with highs in the low to mid 50’s starting on Monday.

The timing couldn’t be more perfect!

We’ve opened a third of our lodging in preparation for a full house next week when our friends from the Bitterroot arrive for their Annual pre-season fling on the MO.

It’s been a couple of worrisome nights hoping for the best in regards to the plumbing with temps dipping into the single digits (so far so good) and we’re not quite out of the woods just yet but things look to be trending in the right direction.

Target date for opening the remodeled bungalows is April 1st or before and motel rooms will likely be opened by early to mid-April.

The shop is in GO mode with piles of spring inventory awaiting your arrival. We’re stocked up on Simms waders and boots, Sage rods and reels and of course the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Streamer bins are full, Sow Bug bins are full, Midge bins are full….we’re ready to rock and roll at Wolf Creek Angler.

We’re also your exclusive FWP License Provider in Wolf Creek and while we encourage all of our guests to purchase licenses online which you can do here, we’re happy to provide this service to our customers. After all, what kind of fishing shop doesn’t sell fishing licenses?

Fishing has been good and it’s about to get a whole lot better as that blazing spring sun warms the winter waters letting our trout know it’s GO TIME.

For the rainbow population that means gearing up to spawn. For the browns that means it’s time to feast. Time to feast on midges, time to feast on nymphs, almost time to feast on eggs and most importantly, time to feast on baitfish. Streamer Time on the MO!

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year for those to whom enticing a hungry beast of a brown with a well-stripped streamer is the Holy Grail of fly fishing. Mind you we’re well aware that to some the Streamer game doesn’t even qualify as “fly fishing” and that’s ok.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and our opinion is that we’re all seeking the “tug” and it doesn’t really matter how we get there. We LOVE feeding dry flies to sipping fish. We LOVE chasing bobbers and you already know how we feel about streamer fishing. Find what you like and do it. It needn’t be any more complicated or controversial than that. #COEXIST

We’ll be adding Mondays back into the mix starting this week so starting on Monday the 13th, spring shop hours for now will be Monday – Saturday 9 AM – 4 PM.

Time change happens this weekend so don’t forget to Spring Ahead. Long hours of daylight on the way!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-03-09T13:01:24-07:00March 9th, 2023|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: #coexist, brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Sage, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Following a couple of days this week where we got, what this winter has been, a rare taste of sunshine, blue skies, moderate temps and calm winds that mark late winter on the MO, it’s back to grey skies and cold gusty winds on this dreary second day of March.

It doesn’t feel much like it today but spring is in fact, on the way. 18 days and counting to be exact. It’ll be a while yet before the weather conditions sync with what the calendar says but sooner or later we’ll emerge from winter’s darkness here at Wolf Creek Angler and that warm spring sun will crowd out the cold and melt this ridiculous accumulation of ice and snow we’ve been haphazardly negotiating since about the middle of November.

Looking at today and tomorrow, conditions look less than ideal for fishing the MO with persistent gusty winds but Saturday looks optimal with sunshine, a high near 40 and south winds just 8-13 mph. Temps drop on Sunday and will hang in the high 20’s for a couple of days with a decent chance for snow but it looks like a moderate warmup underway starting mid-week next week.

We’ll be closed this weekend starting tomorrow for out of town obligations but if the weather trends hold for next week I would expect to have our first lodging units of the season available by next weekend.

Progress continues on our remodels with things really starting to take shape. It’s a huge makeover ushering in a whole different level of accommodation in our ever popular bungalows. And while this is probably the most dramatic of the changes we’ve made, heading into season number 10 and taking account of all the things we’ve done, I couldn’t be more pleased with the slow but steady transformation which has occurred here.

If you hadn’t shopped or stayed here since we bought the business in 2013 I’m confident you would not recognize much of anything about the operation we’ve become. And it’s not just the lodging. Wolf Creek Angler was always meant to be first and foremost a kick ass Missouri River fly shop and while I acknowledge that my opinion is definitely biased, I state truth when I tell you that this is exactly what we have become.

From humble roots we’ve scratched and clawed our way forward, ever expanding our offerings and chasing the top brands in the industry to the point where I’m happy to announce we do indeed offer the best of everything in fly fishing topped off this season with the much sought after and fought for addition of SAGE to our rod and reel inventory.

We firmly believe in and stand behind every product line we carry but those Sage and Simms Authorized Dealer signs are the symbols of victory in a battle, the likes of which I never imagined when we opened Wolf Creek Angler. I know it’s lost on most who walk into a fly shop and expect to see those brands but it’s FAR from a given and our having these industry leading brands is an affirmation of our legitimacy not only as a shop, but as a brand here on the MO.

Obviously Montana is the Big Leagues when it comes to fly fishing in North America and the Missouri River is among the major players. And while we’ll continue to fly under the radar here in Wolf Creek in the shadow of the oft cited and promoted town of Craig, it’s a position we don’t mind at all.

Five and a half river miles upstream we’ve been quietly doing our thing here for the past 9 years, building Wolf Creek Angler into a brand that has carved out a spot here on the Big League Missouri. And while we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, we’re not done.

Onward and Upward!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-03-02T10:09:00-07:00March 2nd, 2023|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Craig MT, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, progress, running line, Sage, season number 10, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Coutning down the days to Spring

By Montana standards we’ve had a very mild winter here on the MO.

After an early November arctic blast conditions have remained relatively mild and relatively stable all winter long with daily high temps averaging somewhere in the low 30’s with lows hovering in the teens.

We’re currently in the midst of a somewhat rare cold snap with highs in the single digits today and tomorrow and lows dipping into the negative double digits. A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect through Friday with wind chills as low as -35 possible. Mild weather returns this weekend with highs back in the 40’s and the winds you would expect with the warmer temps.

So yes, a mild winter for sure and a FAR cry from a couple of years ago when our average high for the entire month of February was in the single digits. But even so, as we near the end of February and creep ever closer towards spring (26 days and counting) winter has started to feel really LONG and monotonous and I’m sure I’m among many who are over it. Spring can’t get here soon enough!

I say that, but at the same time we need all of the days between now and then to complete our winter projects and to finish preparations for a busy upcoming season. Definitely a Catch 22 as winter conditions certainly add challenges to getting things done. Our parking lot has been covered in ice for the most part since November. The snow comes and goes. The ice remains and will likely do so for at least another couple of weeks until the sun finally inches its way onto our property and starts to melt the winter away.

So yes, I’m breaking my own rules regarding complaining about the weather and every year those posts I see from seemingly everyone but me from their winter fishing trips to South America, Belize, Cuba, Louisiana, Arkansas etcetera look more and more appealing. I’ve had it with whiteouts, black ice, wind chill advisories, shoveling snow, NOT fishing….bring on the spring weather!

While we wait for spring and try to focus on the bright side there are definitely reasons for optimism. Snowpack conditions look pretty good at the moment provided things stay cold in the high country. We’ll continue to build on that snowpack through much of March so by all indications it should be a good water year on the MO.

Traffic has been very light for much of the winter, save a few nice days that saw substantial fiberglass and Gore-Tex hatches but I expect that will change very soon, likely with the next warmup which looks to be happening this weekend.

We’re a ways out on the remodel but we will be looking to get some lodging opened up in the next week or two as we’ve got a number of groups scheduled for the middle of March and judging by the calls I’ve been getting lately I don’t think we’ll have any problems filling rooms once that warming trend has been established. It sounds like people are READY TO FISH! I know I am!

Give us a call to book your spring lodging and guide trips. We’re anxious to see some lodging traffic again and to see some cash flowing IN rather than OUT which is pretty much the only direction it’s been flowing this winter. Guides are HUNGRY and the fish are as well.

Wolf Creek is ready to be your Missouri River spring fishing destination with everything you need right here. Affordable lodging, the friendliest fly shop on the MO, great food and over 20 amazing beers on tap at Lazy I Beerworks which is OPEN EVERY DAY, the ONLY spot for gas and provisions between Helena and Cascade at The Canyon Store and all within a couple of miles of Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge, as close as you can get.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-02-22T11:13:12-07:00February 22nd, 2023|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Holter Dam, Lazy I Beerworks, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, spring fishing, The Canyon Store, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, Wolf Creek Bridge|0 Comments

Winter Solitude on the MO’

Late January on the MO and things remain relatively quiet despite the extremely mild weather we’ve been experiencing all month long. The weather trend will continue through next week though it looks like we’ll see a cool down at the end of next week as we enter the final days of this first month of 2023.

Yes, January is soon to come to a close which means we’re merely weeks away from the official start of the 2023 season.

February is traditionally a cold and quiet month on the MO and it has been the heart of our winter these past several years with snow and frigid temps prevailing. Midge fishing can be good when the weather allows for it but knowing that March will provide plenty of those opportunities we’d just as soon see the snow pile up throughout the month of February as the snowpack has continued to diminish with the unseasonably warm weather.

Either way, February is our last quiet month. It’s our last chance to cross the T’s and dot the I’s of the coming season before the onslaught. And while March can sometimes deliver its own winter punch, come the middle of the month any slight warming trend will open the proverbial floodgates as folks from all around return to the hallowed waters of the Missouri.

That means we’ve got a TON of work to complete in roughly 6 weeks. We’re in the thick of our lodging remodel with things going as well as can be expected thus far but the ticking of the clock is growing increasingly louder!

We’re also in the midst of assembling our crew for the coming season while reviewing spring pre-season orders before they start to arrive while also continuing to fill the lodging and guide calendars. Prime is very close to capacity. Spring and fall still have plenty of open dates. There’s no time like the present to get those dates on the books. It’s going to be another busy year on the MO and everywhere else in Montana.

So while the deadlines of the coming season loom we couldn’t be more excited for 2023!

We’ll have fresh lodging, fresh faces around the shop and the same great quality products you’ve come to expect us to have along with the much anticipated arrival of SAGE rods and reels! That’s right, Wolf Creek Angler is your BRAND NEW SAGE DEALER on the MO. It’s been a long time coming – 9 years to be exact and we couldn’t be more excited to bring on Sage to round out a great selection of rods and reels from the best brands in the industry.

And speaking of the best brands in the industry, don’t forget WCA is your exclusive SIMMS dealer in Wolf Creek Montana with the best waders, boots, tech outer and layering gear and so much more.

From the day we opened our doors it has been my number one priority to offer our customers the very best brands in the industry and the fight to do so has been exhausting to say the least but I couldn’t be more proud of the fly shop we’ve become and we aren’t stopping now. Expect more of the same from WCA.

We are your Full Service, Missouri River Destination Fly Shop and it’s our goal to make sure our customers have no reason to go anywhere else. Great lodging that doesn’t break the bank, the most professional and personable guide crew on the river and a shop offering all the best products you deserve staffed by the friendliest crew you’ll find in any shop, anywhere.

A full parking lot and crowded mornings in the shop are just around the corner.

We can’t wait!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-01-20T13:00:33-07:00January 20th, 2023|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Sage, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter Retreats on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Our mild month continues with the January Thaw still very much in effect.

Accordingly, angling traffic has increased substantially, especially on the weekends and with the forecast being status quo for the time being I’d expect this trend to continue until winter returns.

The snow pack continues to look good with most of the region at or above 100 percent of average but weeks of spring-like weather definitely aren’t helping. Let’s hope for persistent cold and snow in the high country and moderate conditions on the MO…the best of both worlds! Current conditions on the Missouri have flows at 3560 CFS with water temps just shy of 34 degrees.

We decided to take advantage of the conditions yesterday, in particular the absence of wind in the forecast, and get out on the water. Contrary to what we’ve been seeing on the weekends we had the river to ourselves save some late season waterfowl hunters.

Per usual the focus was streamer fishing though we did run the obligatory nymph program early on just to confirm recent reports. As expected, winter water was productive with no big surprises on the fly front. The Pill Popper/Tailwater Sow pairing is about as close to go-to as you can get but a Rainbow Czech, Pink Amex or Pink Weight Fly paired with a Soft Hackle Sow, Radiation Baetis, Rainbow Warrior, Pederson’s Sow, Pink Lighting Bug or Zebra Midge will get it done as well.

Interestingly, the fish were not limited to the winter depths and in fact seemed to be more concentrated in the slightly faster, not quite as deep runs. Still the winter water, just not the EXTREME winter water. Go with the early spring program water wise and see what happens and if you aren’t finding them then shift gears, particularly as you move further down, distancing yourself from the ultra-stable conditions provided by the dam.

Scouting obligations having been met, we broke out the streamer rods for the remainder of the day and had good action from the start, consistently moving fish without changing bugs and boating several good browns and rainbows before the action tapered off late afternoon.

Yellow, Olive and white were good, but again, we used what already happened to be rigged up and never changed bugs so I would call that a good streamer day, particularly by January standards. And as with the nymphing, most of our fish came out of faster water you wouldn’t typically target in the winter.

You’ve read this here many times, but just to repeat it once more, don’t let anyone tell you stripping streamers isn’t effective in the winter. Most opt to swing through the winter months which is great, but we got em’ on various retrieves ranging from slow to medium fast but always stripping, never swinging, with plenty of pauses in between. It may have been a case of just the right time in just the right place but isn’t that what fishing is anyways?

Medium current, medium depth, sunny side of the river. Work the banks with a varied retrieve. Most of our fish came halfway between the bank and the boat and were fairly deep so leave the intermediate lines at home and get down.

There were a few midges on the water and we did see a handful of eats so as long as this weather persists get out there and fish it any way you like.

Opportunities abound!

The shop is open at 9 AM Tuesday – Saturday and while we don’t have lodging available this winter we are stocked up with winter bugs and anything you might need for your day on the water including Adipose Flow Drift Boat Rentals.

Ramps in the top section are in good shape and all should continue to improve as the warm weather persists. I did get stuck in the ice ruts at Spite Hill the other day while checking ramps so maybe avoid that one for the time being. Stickney should be in good shape by now. Dearborn is currently a no-go so if you’re intent on fishing something other than Dam to Craig maybe look at Craig to Stickney or Stickney to Mid.

Say NO to Cabin Fever and enjoy the January Thaw.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-01-12T11:02:58-07:00January 12th, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Adipose, brown trout, midge, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Welcome 2023

Welcome to 2023 and to near- perfect fishy winter weather for the next few weeks.

We’re expecting a busy (by January standards) month on the MO with winter having retreated for the time being and folks itching to get out and do something after having hunkered down during much of the last two months due to the the early onset of winter conditions and the holidays.

Gone are the negative double digits we recently experienced and the majority of the snow and ice we’ve been dealing with since mid-November replaced by open water and highs in the high 30’s and low 40’s for the foreseeable forecast. Overnight lows will drop into the high teens and 20’s so no need to get an early start and be prepared to deal with some breezy conditions as you might expect with the warmer temps but once again, by January standards you really couldn’t ask for better conditions for getting out and curing that cabin fever.

Nymphing has been good and should be your go to for numbers all winter long but that being said, it’s also swing season and midge season on the MO if you prefer. And you won’t be surprised to hear me say that I’ll be spending plenty of time stripping streamers now through May. April/May are the Prime Months for streamers on the MO but there’s no reason not to strip all winter long if conditions allow it. The biggest brown I’ve caught on the Missouri ate a ZK’s MK Ultra stripped slow and deep on an early January float. I’ll be looking for a repeat this year.

Once again, nymphing is going to be your best bet for numbers. Think Pink and go deep. Pink Amex, Caviar Scud, Bubble Yum Scud, Pill Popper, Pederson’s Sow, Rainbow Czech, Pink Weight Fly…all good options paired with a soft hackle sow, tailwater sow, pink lighting bug, zebra midge, Pink or Firebead Ray. It’s a little bit about the bug. It’s more about the location. We don’t spend a lot of time changing flies when winter nymphing. Find the slow, deep winter depths and start deep. Adjust depth accordingly until you find hungry fish.

Best bets on the swing include Polar Leeches, Kreelex, Thin Mints, MoJo Minnows, Fruit Rollups, Pine Squirrel Leeches or any old bugger.

Likewise for stripping but don’t be afraid to branch out. Sparkle Minnows, the aforementioned MK Ultra, Skiddish Smolt, Dirty Hippy, Swim Coach…there’s really nothing in your streamer box you shouldn’t be throwing. Fish the ones you like. Fish the ones that work. Slow and varied retrieve with an abundance of pauses. They generally aren’t going to move fast or far in cold water so make sure you work the water thoroughly in an effort to meet them where they are.

Floating is definitely an option again, at least in the top section from the Dam to Craig and I’d imagine Craig down to the canyon should be fine as well. The ramps are in good shape and most of the shelf ice has dissipated. Watch for those chunks of floating ice if you’re wade fishing, they can make a day go bad! Current flow is 3370 CFS with water temp just shy of 34 degres.

Shop hours will be more consistent in accordance with the weather conditions. Posted hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 9 AM – 4 PM though it’s always a good idea to give a call to make sure we’re going to be here if it’s later in the day. Also, we are a staff of 1 during the winter months so other engagements/appointments may at times result in the shop being closed on days we would normally be open. Case in point – the shop will be closed this Friday, January 6th.

We’ve had a fairly steady stream of calls for lodging this past week and unfortunately, as of this week, we will not be offering lodging for the remainder of the winter. The good news? The reason we don’t have lodging is because we’re remodeling. More on this to come.

In the meantime we will still do Adipose boat rentals, weather permitting and we’ll do our best to provide shuttle service. More importantly, we’re fully stocked with winter bugs, cold weather gear, lines and leaders, Simms Waders and Boots (Still the BEST IN THE BUSINESS) despite of what you may have heard elsewhere and much more.

We’ve got a few rods and reels left following our most successful Fall Rod and Reel Sale to date and we’ll extend that sale pricing for the next while as we clear out space for incoming spring arrivals. More on this to come as well but suffice it to say that this is the most excited we’ve ever been about incoming rods and reels.

It’s good to be back in the shop with fishy weather at hand and we’re stoked to see traffic resume.

Happy New Year! We think 2023 is going to be a great year on the MO and at WCA.

Cheers!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-01-03T13:43:07-07:00January 3rd, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter Colors!

The calendar says three weeks until winter. The weather conditions have gotten a substantial jump on that.

For all intents and purposes we’ve been experiencing winter conditions throughout the month of November and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight. There have been some swings in temps ranging from 30’s and 40’s to single digits but we haven’t seen a sustained warming trend in over a month as evidenced by the snow on the ground, most of which arrived in early November.

Mind you Wolf Creek Angler resides in the shadows all winter long so while those areas receiving exposure to sunlight are now clear of snow, it seems as though it’s here for the duration at WCA.

Whether we were ready to settle in to winter or not this trend bodes well for our state and our sport. Snowpack looks better than it has at this point in the season than I can recall in recent memory.

Angling traffic at the moment is all but non-existent. I expect sunshine and 30’s, whenever that happens, will elicit a response and bring some traffic back to the river but in the meantime the fish have been getting a well-deserved rest from the pressure as they settle in to winter mode.

Flows are currently in the 3400 CFS range with water temps hovering right around 35 degrees. We’ll see highs in the high 20’s and overnight lows in the single digits for the next week or so which should keep things relatively quiet. The upcoming weekend looks tolerable with plenty of sunshine but given the cold temps it doesn’t take much of a breeze to drop that wind chill to uncomfortable (and unsafe) levels.

If you plan on getting out count on fighting frozen guides with frozen fingers and look to dredge the slow depths with scuds and sows. Pill Poppers, Pink Amex or Rainbow Czechs paired with Tailwater or Soft Hackle sows should be all you need on the bug front. Of more importance than bug selection will be having the right cold weather gear. If you’re going to “forget the forecast” you need to dress accordingly. Layer up and pay special attention to keeping your hands warm. Good gloves are essential but nobody like fishing in gloves so just make sure you have them at the ready. Releasing a fish can be quite an ordeal in winter conditions so make sure you have hand warmers and dry confines for those freezing hands after the release.

We’re stocked up with the best in Cold weather gear from Simms including piles of hats and gloves and layering pieces. While you’re at it, pick up a ColdWeather shirt or guide flannel or hoodie to add to those layers.

Wading conditions are favorable throughout the top section with very little shelf ice to contend with at this point. Launches are clear for the time being though it looks like a chance for some accumulation today and tonight.

Shop hours have been sporadic to say the least over these past few weeks and will likely continue to be so as dictated by weather conditions. We do have limited lodging available for the time being for $99/night plus tax. Please call for availability and also make sure you call ahead to confirm we’re here if you’re planning on stopping in to gear up on your way to the river.

We’ll be closed tomorrow (Friday) with meetings to attend in Butte and should be here Saturday morning until around noon.

Our online store has been busy this past week with Christmas shopping fully underway. Gift ideas coming soon but you can’t ever go wrong with a Wolf Creek Angler Gift Card in ANY amount good for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING we sell.

Enjoy winter’s Cold Quiet as you dream of those hot summer days on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-12-01T11:07:10-07:00December 1st, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Back in the Game

Things have taken a quiet turn this first week of November as is usually the case.

Snow is falling and as of this morning the majority of our lodging is winterized and closed until spring. We’ve got three units open and available this week but those too will be unavailable starting next week.

Today would be an ok day to fish. Tomorrow looks to be better with partial sun returning and a high near 40.

Things deteriorate over the weekend with gusty winds and rain and snow likely. Winter conditions starting on Monday with snow, highs in the teens and lows in the single digits. It looks like a bit of a warming trend towards the end of next week as we climb back near 30 but it seems as though this idyllic fall season is finally about to come to a close.

This has, without a doubt, been one of the most pleasant and lengthy autumns in recent memory and as luck would have it I was able to get out and enjoy much of it with a more relaxed schedule in the shop and help when I needed it.

The wife and I did our annual trip to Whitefish and were treated to several days of amazing autumn weather. We checked out some new breweries, hiked some areas we’d never hiked before, took in a Helena vs Flathead High volleyball match and basically spent three days doing not much of anything other than enjoying fall in the Flathead.

Last week I spent Thursday and Friday on the Blackfoot with dear friends doing our annual fall streamer trip which up until this year had happened on the Yellowstone. After two amazing days on the Blackfoot, we’re planning on sticking with the current program going forward.

Having not spent a whole lot of time fun fishing this season it was so good to get out and do a trip like this, tuning everything out but fishing for two days straight. No emails, no phone calls and no tough decisions aside from which streamer to throw and whether or not it was time for another beer.

Obviously owning a fly shop and being an outfitter keeps one focused on fishing but it can also have the effect of making you feel somewhat unplugged from the energy created when you’re able to actually engage in this thing that for me evolved from a pastime to a passion. Not taking the time to reconnect can have extremely deleterious effects on one’s psyche but at the same time stepping back in after a season absent of fun fishing made this getaway all that much more enjoyable and significant to the point where I came away feeling reinvigorated and back in the game.

Note to self – take more time to fish from here on out.

On Monday I did my final guide trip of the season on the Missouri and had my best day in years with the stars aligning to deliver non-stop action. A breezy day for sure but when its 60 plus degrees on Halloween and you’re netting fish all day long it definitely makes fighting the wind more tolerable.

It’s been a great season here at WCA and while we welcome winter we’re excited for 2023 with some BIG things we’re working on that we can’t wait to share with you.

The shop will be open somewhat sporadically all winter long but while I’m reflecting on this season I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who shopped with us, fished with us, stayed with us or simply followed us on social media in 2022. Another great season about to be in the books thanks to all of you.

Tight Lines!

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-11-02T13:26:40-06:00November 2nd, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|2 Comments

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