Christmas is two weeks from today so time is running out to get that shopping done. That being said, it’s going to be a nice weekend on the Missouri (by December standards) with highs in the 40’s and manageable winds so why not kill two birds with one stone and do your Christmas shopping at Wolf Creek Angler on your way to fish the Missouri.

We’ve got lodging available for the weekend at $99/night and we’d love to have you here. Fishing has been good most days and will continue to be but you need to find the right water or you could be in for some long days.

Winter water is definitely the target. Slow, deep and lacking features – this is the water you want, the water you would never fish during the normal season. We’re happy to get you pointed in the right direction but once you get there you need to grid that water out working inside out to find where they’re at. A tungsten Rainbow Czech, Pink Amex or Pinkalicious paired with a pink LB or Firebead Sow of some sort will get the job done.

Throwing a streamer can be productive this time of year as well but nymphing will almost always be your best bet for success during the winter months. Flows bumped a bit over the past couple of days and are currently at 3420. Water temp is a chilly 37 degrees so don’t expect a real aggressive take or a big fight from these fish right now, they’re a little on the lethargic side. Focus on that indicator and hit any slight dip or pause, that’s often all you get this time of year.

Having a hard time figuring the winter fishing thing out? We encourage you to spend a day on the water with one of our guides. $400 gets you a full day on the water for the winter months. It’s a great value and will be money well spent. You’ll learn more in a couple of hours with one of our expert, professional guides than you would in a whole winter of fishing on your own trying to figure it out. We’ve been out there regularly keeping things dialed in and we’d love to show you what a great winter fishery the Missouri can be.

Whether or not you book lodging or guide trips stop by the shop and stock up on everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, bugs, cold-weather gear, hot coffee and Christmas gifts galore.

Today’s Gift suggestion feature is the perfect gift for someone who has everything. The River Series wooden fly boxes from A.L. Swanson Craftsman Studio in Helena are a gift that will be handed down for generations. They are beautiful boxes which are designed to be utilized.

Features Include:

This box has been finished with varnish and requires minimal care.

Originally published in May.

We’ve recently started selling handmade River Series wood fly boxes from A.L. Swanson. They are beautiful boxes made in Helena Montana and constructed from sustainably harvested lumber, inlaid with exotic woods, metals and shell. They feature inlaid shell and earth magnet closures, brass hinges….the whole nine yards.

The River Series features three different size boxes from three classic Montana rivers, each box with it’s own unique characteristics just like their namesakes, the Missouri, the Madison and the Smith Rivers.

Starting at $129 these boxes aren’t cheap but they are a perfect Montana keepsake for the fly anglers in your life and we think they make a perfect Father’s Day gift which could very well be passed on for generations to come…they’re THAT nice.

Swanson, the maker of the boxes, expects them to be used rather than set on display somewhere collecting dust. They are as functional as they are beautiful and while it would certainly be a drag to lose one of these boxes the normal scratches and dings you can’t avoid with wood will only add to the character of the box as it ages.

I’m not sure I would use this box on the water if I had one, I tend to lose things, but I would definitely put it on display and it would definitely hold a prominent place amongst my prized possessions. A box like this can take on a significance you could never predict or expect.

I was given a beautiful hand-made wood fly box by a friend many years ago. I never considered actually using it for the purpose for which it was intended, I knew exactly what it would be used for. It would become the permanent home for a black and white Rooster Tail spinner.

I was still just dabbling in fly fishing at the time and had not yet committed. My dad asked me if I would like to fish with him one June evening which I did. I don’t remember if we caught anything but I closed the night out with the Rooster Tail. A few weeks later he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Seven months later he was gone. It was the last time we fished together and while it may seem sacrilege to store a Rooster Tail in a handmade fly box, this was the purpose for which this particular wood fly box was destined.

Stop by the shop and check out these beautiful boxes. We’re positive your dad, grandfather, husband or anyone you know who loves Montana and loves fly fishing would LOVE to have one. Better yet, why not treat yourself to one. After all, you deserve nice things too!