caddis Archives - Page 7 of 8 - Wolf Creek Angler

This week on the MO…

After having to scrape ice off of the windshield on Monday we’re back to 70’s and 80’s for the remainder of the week before we return to more seasonal weather on Sunday.

The cold gray skies early in the week made for what was, by most reports, the best fall fishing to date this season on the Missouri river wide.

Sunshine returned mid-week making things a little more challenging for all. Later starts have been key with the fish coming up as soon as the sun gives way to late day shadows. The late afternoon/early evening is the time to be out there if dry flies are where your heart is.

Pseudos, tiny baetis and the occasional caddis are making up the current menu as we await the larger fare BWO’s which will hopefully happen as we move into the middle to latter part of the month. Play the mix and match game or go with something easy like a Parachute Adams and a CDC Caddis Emerger. Find the fish, make the cast and hope. There are plenty of fish being caught on dry flies and plenty of anglers getting frustrated as well. Don’t forget your reach cast – it’s critical! Stop by the shop for honest, no pressure advice on where to go, what to use and how to use it. Better yet, book a day with one of our expert guides and learn more in a few hours then you might ever learn doing it on your own.

Nymphing has been predictably good – better in the mornings and afternoons but good enough all day long to keep it interesting. Tungsten Tailwater Sows, Czechs, BWO Magic Flies, Juju Baetis, Psycho Mays, Micro Mays, Payczechs, Black Beauties, Black Zebras, Pink LB’s, Snack Nasty Sows and on and on. Fish what you like – like what you fish – it’s makes all the difference in the world.

Streamer sales are way up this season and we’re doing everything we can to keep those bins full of the stuff you love. Sparkle Minnows, Dirty Hippies, Circus Peanuts, Polar Leeches, Gongas, Kreelex in a myriad of colors and a bunch of bugger stuff along with a few of our own creations which have been getting some attention.

Stop by the shop on your way to the river for shuttles, flies, ice, cigars, fishing licenses, cold weather gear, deeply discounted warm weather gear, Echo rods, Nautilus reels, lines, leaders, tippet, tools, complimentary Montana Maid Coffee and much more.

Open daily at 7 am for all of your Missouri River fall fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00October 8th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, juju baetis, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid Week on the MO

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

Mid Week Missouri River Fishing Report – Dog Days?

Tricos, lots of them, depending on the day. The fish are on them but not yet like you might expect them to be. We’ll call this a transition stage.

PMD’s – very few, though the fish do still seem more interested in pmd’s than tricos.

Caddis-a-plenty. Throw them blind and see what happens.

Hoppers? Throw em’. Word is that the hopper bite has been good in the canyon and the Craig to Stickney run has been decent as well.

Nymphing has been good at the dam, aside from that…on the slow side. Weight flies in purple and gold, split case PMD’s both with and without the tungsten bead, peep shows and small mayfly nymphs (think Little Green Machine) have been the go-to’s.

Traffic has been heavy out there this week but things should start to thin out soon.

Make Wolf Creek Angler your one-stop on the way to the river for shuttles, bugs, boats and anything you may need for your day on the water. We are open at 5:30 AM daily, earlier than all the rest so no need to wait, we’ll have you out the door and on the water by 6:00 am.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 22nd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, nymphs, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid July Missouri River Report

Summertime in full swing here in Wolf Creek with some cooler temps and cloudy conditions and even a little rain on occasion. It’s been a little windy out there for the past couple of days which has made things challenging for the dry-fly guys but we’re continuing to hear some good reports from those who are putting in the time.

The Missouri is in better shape than most which has brought more traffic than usual, however the monsoon-like conditions we saw on Saturday kept many off of the water and in the fly shops waiting it out which was great for us but we are starting to hear a bit of grumbling about the weather etc. You won’t hear any grumbling from us – let it rain! Cooler temps and rain showers? We’ll take it.

Tricos in the mornings – some good days, some not so good. PMD’s still a staple of your day. Caddis? Plenty around but not like in the old days, at least that’s what we’re being told. Good nymphing most days but sometimes you’ll be working for them.

We’re loaded up with all kinds of bugs for all of the above so make us your 5:30 AM one-stop shop on the way to the river for shuttles, bugs, fishing licenses, damn fine coffee, Flyagra, Strike Foundry Strike Indicators, Kast Guide Wear and much, much more.

Need help with fly selection or rigging or wondering where to go? That’s what we’re here for. No pressure, no posing, no posturing, no intimidation. Just friendly service and a commitment to each and every one of our customers to do everything we can to make your day on the Missouri as successful and enjoyable as it can possibly be.

Following are the current Hoot Owl Restrictions around the state.

Beaverhead River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/10/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Portions of the Beaverhead River from Anderson Lane to its confluence with the Big Hole River (7/9/2015)

Big Hole River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire Big Hole River, excluding Dickey Bridge to Maiden Rock Fishing Access Site. (7/2/2015)

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)

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)

Jefferson River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire Jefferson River (7/2/2015)

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)

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)

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 13th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Strike Foundry, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Outlook

Caddis Sunset – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Busy weekend already underway on the Missouri. Breezy conditions made things a little tough this morning for the dry-fly crowd but there are plenty of fish up and plenty of bugs around…persistence is the key.

Weather forecast is calling for a chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight and more of the same tomorrow with a 50% chance of rain and a pleasant high of 73 under partly sunny skies with west winds at 8-15 mph.

Missouri River flow currently holding around 3900 with a morning water temp generally in the low 60’s – mid 60’s by afternoon. We’ll see air temps dropping into the mid to high 50’s for the next few evenings which should help to keep things cool.

Expect plenty of company out there this weekend, especially with the latest round of Hoot Owl Closures in the Southwest portion of the state. The Missouri is in good shape and should remain that way. Please be respectful of your fellow anglers out there and treat them as you would like to be treated.

As the crowds increase and the river shrinks the potential for conflict is certainly on the rise so be kind to one another and please be kind to the fish by trying to minimize the time playing them and the time they are out of the water. Perhaps forgo the grip and grins and stick to pics of fish kept in the water. We generally steer clear of any preaching here but we’ve got a long summer ahead of us and we’re likely going to see more traffic than usual so please be kind to our river!

PMD’s on the wane. Tricos gaining momentum. Caddis a plenty. Nymphing is just fine. Stop by the shop for shuttles and bugs and up-to-the-minute intel on what’s happening on the Missouri. Shop open daily at 5:30 AM for your beat-the-crowd early morning convenience.

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

Mid-Week Missouri River Fishing Report

Classic early July dry-fly fishing on the Missouri. Some good days, others not so much. Lots of bugs and no fish, no bugs and no fish, good mornings with a lot of bugs and a lot of fish shut down by afternoon winds…..and on and on it goes.

PMD’s still going fairly strong and Tricos firing up. A few fish being caught on trico spinners but not many. This should improve daily.

Caddis a plenty – depending on the evening and the location. We’re hearing mixed reports about the caddis but the consensus seems to be that the better action remains below Craig however there are plenty of caddis in the upper stretch as well though they don’t seem to get going until last light.

All kinds of options daily for the DFO’s – go early, stay late and enjoy. What’s working? Best movers on the dry fly side this week have been No Hackle PMD’s, CDC Rusty Spinners, CDC PMD Spinners, PMD Transitional Duns, Flash Cripple PMD’s, CDC PMD Emergers, Indicator Spinner Tricos, Barr’s Trico Emerger, Double Wing Tricos, Poly Spent Caddis, CDC Caddis Emerger, Cornfed Caddis and Buzzballs.

Nymphing has been good though weeds have become a constant so check your bugs often. Weight Flies in Gold and Purple, Split Case PMD’s, PMD Psycho Mays, PMD Magic Flies, Tung Darts, PT’s, Purple UV Prince Nymphs, Hot Belly PT’s, Peep Shows and Zebras have all been getting eaten along with a bunch of other stuff. The big cool down we had on Sunday really turned things on so pay attention to those significant changes in temperature and barometric pressure and see if you can’t stumble upon the weather that flips the switch.

Most of the traffic has been and will continue to be from the dam to Craig. Wolf Creek Angler is closer to Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge than anyone. Planning on getting a super-early start? Make WCA your first stop. Open at 5:30 AM daily for shuttles, bugs, ice and anything else you might need for your day on the water.

It’s Trico Time on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 8th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Week Ahead 6/22/15

Joanne with one of many beautiful browns from the past few days.

Fishing remains good to great for the DFO’s and nymphers alike. PMD’s are definitely the talk of the river with plenty of bugs everywhere. There have been a few days where the fish don’t seem to be particularly interested in them but when they are keying in we’ve had our best luck with Rusty Spinners, Flash Cripples, CDC PMD Spinners, Buzzballs and Parachute Adams. That being said, we’ve got bins full of all sorts of cool PMD patterns. Come in and check them out and you’ll find that our bug selection rivals that of any in the canyon. Caddis patterns aplenty as well. Outriggers, X-Caddis, Poly Spent Caddis and CDC Caddis Emergers have been the big movers, but again, we’ve got bins full of cool caddis stuff to choose from.

Nymphs, dries, terrestrials, streamers….we’ve got you covered on all counts with more bugs arriving almost daily.

With a full house every night and a bunch of boat rentals and guide trips going out we’ve been too busy to do much fishing ourselves as of late but everything we’re hearing from the past few days is that it’s ON. Nymphing from the dam to Craig has been consistently hot with the weight fly/split case PMD combo producing big numbers in all kinds of water. Expect traffic to remain heavy in the top section as the dreaded weeds have definitely begun to take hold – adding to the challenge of getting a good drift and frustrating many an angler.

Expect mid to high 80’s for the next few days before we start to cook over the weekend and into next week with temps forecast to exceed 100 on Monday. Not exactly what we wanted for the end of June but nobody asked us so we will take it as it comes and deal with it. Remember to stay hydrated out there on those hot and sunny days and cover up!

Missouri flow is currently at 4160 with water temps holding in the high 50’s to just over 60 degrees. The river is in good shape despite the weed situation and we’re told the flows will hold in the 4100 range for the season.

The shop is open daily at 6:30 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs including shuttles, drift boat rentals, fishing licenses, ICE, sun hats, sun gloves, sun screen, solarflex shirts and hoodies, Kast guide shorts, leaders and tippet from Rio and Trout Hunter and of course, the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. And don’t forget the free coffee…some say it’s the best in the canyon. Whether or not that’s the case it’s definitely worth the price.

See you in the shop and maybe even on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:51-06:00June 22nd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid Week Missouri River Fishing Report 5/6/15

WCA Guide Nick Kaufman with a dry fly eating Missouri River brown. This is how we spend our days off.

The spring crescendo continues on the Missouri as the daylight hours stretch and the bugs intensify and the numbers of fish feasting on the surface increase almost daily.
BWO’s, midges, March Browns and rumours of Caddis in the canyon mean the dry fly fishing is about to go insane and while you wait the nymphing has been keeping rods bend daily river wide.
We don’t have much new to report on the nymphing side of it. Green Machines are THE bug of choice. Shallow rigging has been successful depending on the day and the time of day and the deeper rigs are consistently working on the sunnier days which we’ve had no shortage of lately. Try a purple weight fly, Tungsten Tailwater Sow, Wire Worm, Hot Belly PT or a tan czech for a point fly and follow it with your LGM, S & M, Peep, Military May, Micro May, Magic Fly, Olive WD40. 2 Bit Hooker or various sow bug patterns and search the water columns until you find the fish. A BB split or two helps on the longer rigs, go weightless on the short rigs – the tungsten beads will get you where you need to be.
If you find fish up throw the kitchen sink at them. If you want to keep it simple throw an Adams and a bwo cdc emerger at them and build from there. We’ve got all kinds of cool BWO patterns at the ready. Come check them out and see if you can find something you like, chances are pretty good that if you like your bugs you will fish them with confidence and the fish will like them too.
How about streamers? We’ve been throwing them and getting some fish to move on Sparkle Minnows, Tan Circus Peanuts and brown Polar Leeches. Overcast skies on tap for tomorrow – could be a great streamer day which will give you something to do while you’re out there looking for heads.
Stop by the shop for a shuttle on your way out and stock up on all the dries, nymphs and streamers you will need as well as leaders, tippet, tools, Flyagra, Strike Foundry Lil Nugget Indicators, Buffs, Kast Extreme Fishing Gear and all kinds of cool WCA logo gear.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:53-06:00May 6th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

September fishing…

california island

Over the past week we have experienced a taste of Autumn. Temps dropped, with some days not reaching the 50 degree mark. We got our first snow of the year, and correspondingly our first frost. Some trees and willows are starting to change colors (I’m not ready for that!): bowhunting, and bird hunting are beginning to enter into the nightly conversations more than going back over the days fishing.

What the weather has done for the fishing is good. Those gray days we had last week saw Psuedo’s on the surface by the millions, the apperance of a larger, olivish mayfly that I don’t feel confident calling a baetis, and a fair amount of caddis flitting about.

Some of the rising fish are a pain, eating just subsurface. Your best bet is to throw something at them, but expect for them to ignore it. Again, find the fish that are showing the cotton white of their mouth and fish to them. They will be eager to eat your bug with a good presentation.

Folks have been succesful with caddis patterns on those fish that are up and in rhythm. A purple haze or a parachute adams is also a good choice.

Nymphing has been really good-fish are holding in seams and along rock banks. I’ve been running a shorter rig, and just about anywhere there’s a fast and soft edge I’ve been finding fish eating. There is a wide variety of nymph patterns that are productive right now. Black zebra midges (sometimes red), little green machines, red-headed step child, mat’s autocad, crayfish, the worm, czech nymphs, peep show, olive wd-40’s, etc, etc…

Streamer fishing is an option, not your most productive, but it’ll work if properly commited to.

Caddis eating brown

Things are starting to get really good here, light pressure, and great fishing, call now to reserve your room or your guide! 406-235-4350!–Matt

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:06-06:00September 14th, 2014|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: baetis, brown trout, caddis, dry fly, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, Wolf Creek|0 Comments