cheapest dam shuttles on the mo Archives

Mid June on the MO

It’s hard to believe but we’re already talking about mid-June on the MO as the 2024 campaign continues to fly by

This is PRIME TIME. These next several weeks comprise the most coveted dates of the season. These are the weeks that book out a year or more in advance. This is GO TIME in the Missouri River Fly Shop, lodging and guiding world. Buckle up!

Bugs have been semi-cooperative most days. The wind has been about the most consistent component of our young season. The two do not go hand in hand. Mid day dry fly opportunities will avail themselves more days than not but gusty winds change the equation. It’s not only heads we’re hunting but also those coveted sheltered spots that provide a respite from the often howling onslaught. We’ll always do our best to get you to those spots where sheltered waters and bugs and rising fish converge but it’s not always the case so be prepared to overcome micro-currents with that reach cast while also managing that cast in the presence of strong head or tail winds. This has always been and will always be part of the challenge of the Missouri so come prepared.

PMD’s are your mid-day go to. We highly recommend incorporating an emerger or cripple into your offering. Sprout PMD, Hatchback PMD, Dolly Wing PMD, Helen Keller, Film Critic, CDC Case PMD Emerger, Loopwing Emerger…just a few of the techy PMD patterns available now at WCA.

Caddis are present in the canyon and lower stretches. We haven’t heard much on that front just yet as far as the fishing goes but it’ll happen sooner or later.

Nymphing continues to be solid and while I was going to post the obligatory sow bug game comment I did actually hear a couple of reports just this afternoon that just maybe they are taking a break from the sow in order to focus on tasty PMD nymphs. Try a Split Case or Crack Back, PMD Magic Fly, Redemption, Psycho May, Frenchie, Glass Bullet, Military May or the like and pair it with a Purple Weight Fly or a Tung Dart or maybe even a worm with the bump that’s coming today and tomorrow.

Tomorrow looks to be another summery day with highs near 90 before things trend cooler for the weekend and into next week when there is a winter storm watch in effect for the high country with snow returning to the mountains. We won’t likely see any of that here but do prepare for highs in the 50 on Monday and Tuesday with rain in the forecast and keep those jackets and fleeces at hand as overnight lows will be dipping into the 30’s beginning on Sunday.

We’ll see what the change in weather brings. Streamer season is certainly waning at this point but with a couple of cool, rainy days on tap that might be just the ticket.

We’re in the midst of our busiest month of the season for guide trips so expect traffic in the fly shops in the morning and if you’re trying to call in a shuttle and we don’t answer try back in a bit or better yet, stop by the shop. We’re likely busy with customers so answering the phone becomes much less of a priority. We generally start running shuttles around 9:30 am so we can accommodate early outs and we generally wrap up by 3 PM so the later shuttles aren’t usually something we’re able to do. It never hurts to check though.

The shop is open at 7 AM daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. We are of course home to the CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES on the MO, Adipose drift boat rentals, ice, Sage rods and reels, Fishpond straw hats, Simms waders, boots and flip-flops, Suncloud and Smith optics and the largest selection of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-06-13T16:23:52-06:00June 13th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: Adipose, caddis, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, pmd's, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

This Weekend on the MO

June is here and with it some sustained summer-like weather and consequently PMD’s have arrived!

We’re currently sitting at 80 degrees under sunny skies…more of this on tap for the weekend with breezy conditions (not nearly as breezy as what we started the week with) and a chance for an isolated shower or thunderstorm on Sunday.

Most local schools finished this week so look for the summer weekend traffic to increase starting this weekend.

Nymphing has continued to produce with sow bugs STILL leading the charge…the trout can’t seem to get enough of them! Split Case and Crack Back PMD’s as well as Magic Flies and Frenchies all getting some attention out there now with plenty of PMD nymphs in the system and you’d do well to go with a weight fly or Tung Dart or some other such sub surface caddis pattern as part of your nymph arsenal.

A few Cray Fish getting eaten here and there. Try a Zirdle or Claws R or Snapping Cray.

Streamers….not great as of late but always worth a try if you ask me. We had a few streamer trips early this week and they didn’t have great days but sooner or later there will likely be a streamer day. Maybe not under the blue bird sunny skies forecast for the weekend but then again you never know! Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolt and Lil Kim have been getting noticed.

Dry Fly Action is underway. The aforementioned PMD’s along with Caddis in the lower stretches. Come by and peruse our bins for all the latest and greatest dry fly patterns for the MO and beyond.

Shop hours are 7 AM – 5 PM daily.

Home of the Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-06-06T17:15:40-06:00June 6th, 2024|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Wolf Creek Angler is your Missouri River Fly Fishing Headquarters

And just like that May comes to a close.

It’s been an awesome spring on the MO and the way things are looking we’re in for a spectacular summer season.

BWOs fading, caddis making a strong showing and early reports of PMD’s already in play. Dry fly opportunities a plenty with late afternoons into evening being the prime time slots.

Nymphing has been ridiculously good more days than not and while we may lean positive in our reports we have no issue telling it like it is. If fishing is slow, we’ll let you know! Someone commented to me the other day that we “always say the fishing is good” and while this is not in fact the case, it really has been amazingly consistent this spring with literally just a few days out of the last month where fishing was not good. And not good on the MO means NOT GOOD as a so-so day on the Missouri is almost always better than a good day anywhere else.

All this to say the 2024 campaign is off to a tremendous start. Will it continue? We like the odds!

Look for that caddis action to continue to build as summer approaches and expect PMD action to blow up soon, very possibly by mid-week next week when daytime highs consistently climb into the 80’s under partly cloudy skies. You couldn’t ask for better conditions!

The weekend forecast looks good with mid 70’s on Saturday and Sunday, dipping back into the high 60’s on Monday and Tuesday with a chance for some rain showers before we hit our summer weather stride mid-week.

We’ve seen below average temps throughout the spring with slightly above average precipitation which is exactly what we needed from a water standpoint. The cooler temps have preserved our precious snowpack and prevented the blow out runoff we see around the region when things heat up too quickly. That being said, it feels as though we’re headed for stabilizing flows sooner than later on our freestone rivers and the Missouri is in great shape with flows having held steady this week just shy of 6,000 cfs. It did drop today and is currently sitting at 5500 cfs with water temps in the 50 – 54 degree range. We’ll see those water temps start to climb rapidly once the summer-like weather settles in.

Our late May has been a little soft on guide trips but that’s all about to change as we plunge into our busiest weeks of the year starting next week. Expect plenty of hustle and bustle around the shop most mornings as we do our best to get everyone logged in and on their way to the water.

We’re open at 7 AM daily with everything you need for your day on the water including THE CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES ON THE MO! The Bug bins are loaded up and we’ve got you covered with piles of Simms sun shirts, buffs, Fishpond Eddy River straw hats, Smith and Suncloud sunglasses and gallons of sunscreen.

Lodging is BUSY and full most nights for the next two months but there are holes here and there so give us a call for last minute accommodations and we’ll do our best to take care of you. Same with guide trips. June is by far our busiest guide month of the year but cancellations happen on occasion so it never hurts to check with us.

Welcome to PRIME TIME on the Missouri! We can’t wait to see you!

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-05-30T12:22:51-06:00May 30th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: caddis, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

It’s been a cold and wet start to May this week on the MO with everything from high winds to winter storms but change is on the way.

We awoke to several inches of wet, heavy snow yesterday in Helena and saw snow and rain showers come and go throughout the day. Temps in the low 40’s and north winds resulted in a few cancelled trips yesterday but plenty braved the elements and were rewarded with a decent (though cold) day of fishing.

The fun continued after fishing as the power went out in Wolf Creek and Craig shutting down dinner plans and leaving a lot of chilled anglers in the dark waiting for power to be restored which it was by 8:30 PM. Just another spring day in Montana.

Temps are considerably warmer today, in the high 50’s and the morning rains have pretty well subsided and it’s only going to get better (and likely busier) as the weekend arrives.

We’ll see temps near 70 tomorrow and will see 80’s on Saturday and Sunday with plenty of sunshine right on through Monday. A chance for rain again starting on Tuesday but it looks like winter weather may be behind us. That being said, while yesterday’s weather did present some challenges all the way around we were thrilled to get some desperately needed precipitation. The snowpack map is looking much better today for the entire region and with the moisture we got yesterday and today and temps warming, things should really start to green up this weekend.

Fishing will continue to be good though you may want to start looking at early or later starts to avoid some of the traffic that is bound to be here throughout the weekend and into next week. Spring bookings are about to be at their height for both guide trips and lodging now through Memorial Day with summer’s PRIME on deck.

Larger sow bugs and worms have been productive on the rainy days and will continue to produce with flows having bumped and the tribs adding a bit of color and volume. We saw a spike to 5600 CFS this morning but that’s been dialed back to 4600 cfs as of this writing. Water temps are right around 46 degrees and will continue to climb. The water conditions are ideal for hungry and happy trout…truly a perfect time to fish the MO.

Getting back to the bugs, baetis nymphs are consistently producing with Green Machines, Crack Backs, Psycho Mays, Radiation Baetis, Mosasons and plain old Pheasant Tails getting it done. Maybe start mixing in some PMD stuff as well, Magic Flies, Split Case, Redemptions…all on deck.

Dry fly action continues to please with ample BWO and midge opportunities to be had and streamer fishing will continue to be productive, especially on the overcast days. Skiddish Smolt continues to rule the 2024 streamer season but don’t limit yourself to what everyone else is throwing. Show them something they haven’t seen.

Even with the wet weather mornings have been extremely busy in the shop so we’re expecting the weekend to be even busier and we’ll be staffed up accordingly. We hope you make Wolf Creek Angler your one stop shop on the way to the river for The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO, the biggest and best bug selection ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana, Adipose drift boat rentals, Mending Waters Drift Boats FREE FOR ALL ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND VETS, Sage rods, Simms waders and boots, SA and Rio lines and leaders, tons of WCA 10th Anniversary Logo gear and so much more.

Shop Hours are 7:30 AM – 5 PM Daily.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-05-09T15:00:35-06:00May 9th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Sage, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Cold Weather, Hot Fishing. Welcome to May on the Missouri

The snow is falling on the MO this second day of May and while we’re collectively yearning for warmer weather to arrive, you’ll not hear much in the way of complaining from anyone lucky enough to be on the water this week.

A cool, wet spring is apparently just what we needed to usher in one of the better spring seasons in recent memory. Nymphing has been insanely good more days than not and with plenty of midges, BWO’s and a handful of March Browns in the mix, spring dry fly fishing has really been living up to its billing.

You couldn’t ask for better streamer fishing conditions. You could ask for better streamer fishing! This has been the one lowlight of the 2024 spring fishing campaign but plenty of time remains.

The upper river has seemingly been the better reach for those hucking the meat while the canyon, which has traditionally been the better streamer water, has been lackluster to say the least.

Not to fear – things can only get better. Keep an eye on the weather and keep after it. Conventional wisdom holds that overcast is where it’s at and we’ll stick with that assertion but don’t let the sunny days shut down your streamer game. Some of the better days have actually been on the sunny side with flashy copper with olive and/or yellow getting some attention. The Skiddish Smolt has still been ruling most days and Sparkle Minnows in all sizes and flavors are always a good go to but don’t be afraid to switch it up early and often and throw everything in your arsenal at them.

As we’ve mentioned on more than one occasion Wolf Creek Angler is your Streamer Authority on the MO and we’ve got, hands down, THE BEST STREAMER SELECTION ON THE MISSOURI. Don’t believe me? Shop around and let us know who has a better big bug selection….go ahead…we’ll wait!

Nymphing has been equal parts Sow/Scud and Baetis nymphs – typically with the sow stuff working better during the early part of the day. Switch out in the afternoon and add a Little Green Machine, Psycho May, Redemption, Magic Fly, Mosason or the like and don’t rule out the worm, plenty of eats happening on the worm in conjunction with either a sowbug or baetis nymph.

Dry fly opportunities are happening throughout the day though the last part of the day has been money both on midges and BWO’s. Our midge rigs have consisted of a Bucky’s midge cluster or Grizzly Midge Cluster paired with a Black Sipper or a Black Midge. A GWS BWO or Olive Haze paired with a BWO Film Critic or Last Chance Cripple is a good start should you find yourself in the midst of a BWO event. March Browns? We do have a couple of decent patterns in the bins but a larger Adams or Purple Haze would probably work just fine.

With the wet, cooler weather looking like it’s going to persist for the time being you might want to up your wader game with a new pair of the World’s Best Wader the Simms G3. We also stock the Guide Classic Wader and men’s and women’s Freestone waders as well as Freestone Wading Pants. We’re fully stocked on boots from Simms and Korkers with a model to fit everyone’s needs. Try the Simms Flyweight for an extremely light hiker style boot or the Korkers River Ops BOA for a Heavy Duty boot. We’ve also got Simms Guide Classic wading jackets and Waypoints rain jackets and rain pants if rain gear suits you better.

Shop hours are 7:30 – 5 PM daily. We’re easing into our busy time when rooms are hard to come by but we’ve got a fair number of vacancies for the next week or two if a last minute trip is in your plans.

Make us your first and only stop on the way to the river for The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO, all the bugs you need for your day on the water, fishing licenses, ice, cold weather gear, sun protection, loads of WCA 10th Anniversary Logo gear and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-05-03T10:06:25-06:00May 3rd, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Spring is Here!

Spring arrived yesterday without a whole lot of fanfare following what has been a very spring-like string of days with an abundance of sunshine and temps pushing 70 degrees daily since the weekend. The river certainly looked spring-like, particularly on Saturday with a parade of drift boats populating the river, particularly in the Dam to Craig stretch. And speaking of parades, Wolf Creek celebrated St Patrick’s Day with the 10th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday afternoon. The blue skies and warm temps brought out what appeared to be the best crowd yet for the event.

So now that spring has officially arrived, as if on cue, winter weather is on the way.

We’ll trade idyllic sunny spring days and gentle breezes for snow and cold this weekend. Status quo today with temps approaching 70 yet again but transition day is tomorrow with rain and snow throughout the day. Temps will still be in the high 50’s so tomorrow might actually the better fishing day with the absence of sunshine. Streamers anyone?

Things deteriorate on Friday with snow and a high of 40 and continue that trend on Saturday with significant snow and a high of only 32. Throw in a north wind of 6-10 mph with 20 mph gusts and possible accumulation of 1-3 inches of snow and this might be one to skip….then again maybe not. Fishing could be stellar with the absence of sun and the absence of anglers. More of the same on Sunday and things start to warm early next week to more seasonable norms with daily highs in the mid to high 40s through the end of next week.

Should you decide you want to brave winter’s return lodging is now 2/3rds open with only the motel rooms remaining to be opened. That will likely happen the first week of April or thereabouts. Give us a call and book a room, a guide, a shuttle, a drift boat rental….whatever you need, we’ve got it. Winter rates on lodging will remain in effect through the end of March. All rooms are priced at $149 (plus tax) for the winter with the exception of Cabin #3 which is the only thing we’ve got open that does NOT have a kitchen. The rate on Cabin 3 through the end of March is $99. Dogs are welcome in the cabins, NOT the bungalows.

Spring stock has been arriving daily. We’re restocking fly bins today. Hot nymphs have been Pill Poppers, Caviar Scuds, Tailwater Sows, Tungsten UV Sows, Pederson’s Sow, Fire bead Czechs, Zebra Midges, Fire bead Rays and the like. We’ve been running low on a few of these, all are being restocked today. We’ve also been running low on a few midge patterns for the dry fly guys…not to worry, we’re restocking those as well.

Streamer season is definitely underway and we’re busy rearranging the bins this week making room for all kinds of new bugs. Our streamer selection has always been the best on the MO and it’s only getting better. Everyone talks a good streamer game, we live it!

New lines and new bugs currently in the house. Soft goods and rods and reels and more inbound soon. Don’t miss our extensive lineup of WCA drinkware from YETI including our limited editions 10th Anniversary ramblers in 20 and 30 OZ sizes in hot new YETI colors King Crab Orange and Agave Teal. These cups feature out original logo from 2014 coupled with our new 10th Anniversary logo. Very limited run on these AND they’ve thus far been a pretty popular item on our online store so get one before they’re gone.

Don’t forget, Wolf Creek Angler is the home of the CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES ON THE MO! We’ve been ramping up and had a busy weekend shuttling though I couldn’t help but notice a fair number of rigs at the dam we weren’t shuttling. It was surprising to me but the only conclusion I can draw from this is that people don’t mind paying more for a shuttle. For those who do mind however, and are looking to save a buck and some time by not having to drive to Craig and back up to the dam, we’ve got you covered.

Our March shop schedule is Monday – Saturday, 8 AM – 4 PM and you can bet that if traffic warrants it we’ll be open on Sundays as well. Starting April 7th we are OPEN EVERY DAY.
Welcome to Spring Time on the Missouri. We can’t wait to see you.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-03-20T12:38:51-06:00March 20th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, running line, spring, spring fishing, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, Yeti, zebra midges|0 Comments

Winter Solstice

The first day of winter has arrived though you certainly wouldn’t know it judging by the weather.

Regardless, today is the shortest day of the year and tomorrow marks the start of the slow, but steady ascent out of darkness.

Daylight will begin to stretch which means we are on our way to summer and it won’t be long before sunlight again creeps across our parking lot and eventually returns to illuminate the shop in a warm, spring glow.

Of course the coldest days still lie ahead and we’re hoping and praying for the snow to fly but in the meantime we’re enjoying 50 degree December days and wrapping up 2023 by hitting the water.

It doesn’t feel much like Christmas without a trace of snow on the ground but alas, we are four days out which means there is but 10 days left in 2023. The time seems to pass more quickly every year, a symptom of aging no doubt, but on the bright side, those warm spring and summer days will be here before you know it.

Here’s wishing you all a Happy Winter Solstice from Wolf Creek Angler. We are here today for anyone lucky enough to be spending this Solstice on the MO and we will return on Saturday. The shop will be closed tomorrow (Friday, December 22nd) for our Annual WCA/Iron Fly Christmas Float and per usual we will be closed on Sunday and Christmas Day and will be back in the shop on Tuesday.

It looks like we’ll see cooler temps and some rain and snow on Saturday with mild weather on tap throughout next week.

Nymphing and Streamer Fishing have been excellent (by December standards) and you may even find a fish or two willing to hit a dry fly if you’re in the right place at the right time. Sow bug game for the nymphers with Tailwater Sows, Pill Poppers, Pederson’s Sow and the like topping the list. The usual suspects for streamers with Olive, Tan, Yellow and White all having their moments. Swinging and Stripping have both been effective and we’re finding willing players in the slow depths as well as the fast water flats.

Good action to be had everywhere though the Holter Dam to Craig stretch seems to be attracting most of the traffic as is generally the case during the winter months. Daylight is certainly a limiting factor but there’s no reason to start early as that 11 AM – 2 PM window has been the most productive by far.

We recommend shorter floats this time of year with 5 ish miles being ideal for the amount of daylight available if you’re going to start your float in that 10 AM – 11 AM time slot.

We just restocked those sparse Tailwater Sow bins so we’ve got you covered on the Sow Bug front as well as having the best streamer selection on the river. WCA Gift Cards make excellent stocking stuffers so you can load up on those as well when you stop in for bugs and the Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-12-21T09:53:03-07:00December 21st, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, Christmas, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, winter solstice, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

WCA Circa 2014

Your Missouri River Fly Fishing Destination

This week pretty much marks the end of the season for us here at Wolf Creek Angler. I assure you we are OPEN, however for all intents and purposes things are coming to a close.

Our last guide trips on the books for the season took place on Halloween. We spent yesterday winterizing cabins and motel rooms and our shop manager Keith has hit the road in search of a warmer place in which to winter.

So yes, the sign says open but the vibe says this season is in the books.

And what a season it was. Our best one yet!

Ten years in, I couldn’t be more thrilled with our trajectory or more proud of the brand we continue to build here in Wolf Creek.

For those who are interested we do have our newly remodeled bungalows available all winter long for lodging and while most guides have disappeared from the scene for some well-deserved time off, chances are we can still get you on the water should you get the itch.

Bungalows are $249 (plus tax)/night through November 15th after which winter rates kick in. November 16th through March 31st rates will be $149/night plus tax.

Whether you’re looking to DIY or you’d like a guide to do the heavy lifting, winter lodging at Wolf Creek Angler is the perfect option. Rooms are well appointed with cook tops, fridges, coffee makers and 55” flat screen TV’s.

Darkness comes early this time of year, in fact it comes an hour earlier starting this weekend, so a cozy, comfortable room with cooking facilities and entertainment is the perfect fit for your fall and winter trips to the MO.

We do have a few guests here at the moment, taking advantage of the slow return to normalcy following last week’s winter storm but availability opens up next week.

Fishing has been on the slow side since that weather event but seems to be returning to pre-storm form. Flows have been bouncing around a bit but are currently holding around 3700 CFS and water temps have been dropping and are currently at around 48 degrees. I’d expect we’ll see these conditions hold fairly stable for the month with no major weather changes in the forecast.

It looks like highs in the low to mid 50’s and lows in the low 30’s for the most part through the middle of next week with somewhat breezy conditions most days. These warmer days should take care of most of the snow on the ramps and such though I fear that here in the fall/winter darkness of the canyon we may have seen the last of the lawn here at the shop until spring sun returns to usher in the next go around.

Sow bugs and BWO nymphs should continue to produce and Pill Poppers and Hot Bead nymphs have started to come into play as well. Rainbow Czechs are never a bad call this time of the year either. Pair a #12 Czech with a #16 Tailwater Sow and find your water.

Dry fly fishing could be good throughout the month of November, wind and weather dependent, but you’ll want to be at the ready with those BWO and midge rigs.

Obviously streamers have been in major play for the past month and will continue to be a go-to for the remainder of the fall season.

Swing season is here but there’s ample time left to strip as well. We’ve been selling a ton of Thin Mints, Balanced Leeches, Polar Leeches, Buggers, Pine Squirrel Leeches and the like but don’t feel like you have to go small. There are plenty of fish chasing down big bugs, some looking for maximum caloric intake, some operating strictly out of aggression. Either way, it’s worth your time to throw the meat.

The shop is open at 8:00 AM daily (except when we’re not) and provided we have the crew available we’ll be running The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO All Winter Long!

And speaking of the crew – as always, the team effort is what makes it go here and the team we fielded this season absolutely killed it.

A HUGE thanks to everyone on the WCA team who continued to excel at making WCA the success it has been and will continue to be.

Thanks to Keith and Phil in the shop, Missy and Marty our Rock Star Housekeeping staff; Rhonda, Nate, Brad, Jude, Sennet and Gary on our stellar shuttle crew and of course all of our guides who knocked it out of the park more days than not, putting smiles on faces and making memories that keep folks coming back year after year.

A huge thanks as well to Kelli Wilson at MO River Eats for making lunches a highlight of the guide day experience and for her dedication to her craft. Thank you for the early morning deliveries, the late night adds, the breakfast BLT’s and the constant attention to details. We feel so blessed to have Kelli taking care of us and our clients feel the same.

Finally – none of it means anything without you our clients. I am humbled every season both by the continued support of our regular customers and all of the new customers who darken our doors. 10 years in we STILL hear it on a fairly regular basis…”I never knew you guys were here” and while that proclamation certainly drives our advertising strategy it also makes me think we continue to have miles to go in growing the WCA brand. Coming off of our best year yet, that’s a huge comfort and a huge reason for optimism.

So thank you to all of you who stay with us, fish with us, shop with us, follow us on social media, wear our brand and talk us up….y’all continue to make Wolf Creek Angler THE Missouri River Fly Fishing Destination.

Here’s to 2023 and more of the same ahead.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-11-02T09:58:41-06:00November 2nd, 2023|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, fly fishing, Missouri River, Mo' River Eats, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Fall on the Mighty Missouri

We’re already a week into September and although we’ve yet to emerge from the late summer lull, the clock is steadily ticking on what’s left of the season.

Things continue to be quiet around these parts though traffic has started to increase, ever so slightly.

A few more rooms filled each week, a few more guide trips out each day and a slow but steady trickle of folks through the shop.

The fall fishing season will ramp up over the next week or two, peaking in early to mid-October but fall busy is not summer busy so don’t despair. It’s a laid back time to fish the MO with moderate traffic, often times gorgeous autumn weather and excellent fishing opportunities as the water temps drop with the abbreviated daylight hours.

Many turn their interests elsewhere this time of year, trading the fly rod for the bow or shotgun. The summer tourist migration has reversed course making fall one of THE BEST TIMES to fly fish the Missouri River and Montana in general.

September is, for the most part, a terrestrial fishery on the MO though there are Pseudos around and we’re still seeing the occasional Trico event as well as the start of October Caddis.

More or Less Hoppers, Donkey Kong Hoppers, Stealth Ants, Water Walkers, Beetles and October Caddis all great dry fly options right now.

Trail your meaty hopper with a snack size ant and see what happens or drop a zebra or Psycho May or Green Machine and ply the banks and mid-river riffles. Common knowledge says fish close to the bank as those terrestrials do in fact heavily inhabit those riparian zones and do in fact fall in the water. That’s a good method but as the season goes on those fish are seeing a billion foamy hoppers off the banks and they may in fact get a little wary and a bit more selective about what they’re going to eat which could result in some slower days if you limit your fishing to the banks.

What also happens frequently is those flying terrestrials catch a gust and get carried out and over the water. They could end up anywhere but as you’ve no doubt experienced when throwing a caddis blind, those trout love to hang out in the shallow riffles and pick off whatever happens to come their way. It’s no different with the terrestrials. They do end up out there and they do get eaten. So by all means beat the banks, but don’t overlook the mid-river stuff. The largest trout I’ve landed on the MO ate a #10 More or Less Hopper presented randomly ahead of the boat in non-descript, non fishy water essentially during casting practice. You never know!

If you want to stick strictly to nymphing the dam is the place to be with plenty of Zebra Midges on hand. We’ve been having good luck with a purple or gold weight fly, a Tung Dart or an Olive Psycho May as a lead fly but double zebras with a split will get it done as well.

Cool mornings and autumn cloud cover have many thinking fall streamers and rightly so. Our resident browns are gearing up for the autumn spawn and will soon be overtaken by aggression which is what the streamer junkies are eagerly awaiting.

Weeds are going to challenge you, increasingly so as you move down to the lower stretches, but they are not the worst they’ve ever been. Just something you need to factor in and deal with. It’s not a surprise to those who know but if you’re just getting into the streamer game you’ll want to mentally prepare for the challenges (and rewards) of fall streamer fishing.

We’re on the cusp, not there yet but there’s no time like the present. Fish live by the changes in their environments, not by a calendar. Shorter daylight hours, long nights and cooler water tell the fish what time it is. These triggers roughly coincide with dates on the calendar but don’t get hung up on dates – just start throwing and see what happens.

We’re stocked up on all the best streamer patterns big and small as well as streamer lines for any and all situations/water types, and plenty of great options if you’re in the market for a new streamer stick including my personal go to, the Sage Igniter #7. It’s the best streamer stick I’ve fished and I’ve fished a bunch of them.

We’re open daily at 7 AM for all of your Missouri River (and surrounding waters) Fall fly fishing needs. The greatest selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana, the Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO, Adipose Flow drift boat rentals, Simms waders and cold weather gear, a fresh shipment of Richardson WCA logo hats, Bad Ass Korkers River Ops wading boots, SA, Rio and Airflo lines, Fishpond Nomad nets and much more.

It’s Second Season Time on the MO!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-09-07T13:14:26-06:00September 7th, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Adipose Flow, Airflo, brown trout, caddis, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, Fishpond Nomad, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, RIO, SA, Sage Ignitor, simms, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Goodbye Summer, Autumn is upon us

As we close out August on the MO the anticipation is underway.

Sure it still feels like summer out there (and will for a while) but there’s definitely an autumn vibe in the air with chilly misty mornings, shorter daylight hours, bear poop up and down the Recreation Road, fish stacked at the grass flats below Holter and green leaves transforming to yellows and reds. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year (or one of them anyway).

We’re still in Dog Days mode and things will likely remain quiet for the next couple of weeks before the fall season really gets underway.

In the meantime we’ve got plenty of lodging and the guide calendar has a few openings for the next little while. Weekends will continue to be busy with rec traffic as long as the weather stays nice, particularly the upcoming holiday weekend – the unofficial END of SUMMER. Temps are expected to be in the 80’s with abundant sunshine so don’t expect to have it to yourself if you’d planned on fishing over the Labor Day weekend.

The weekdays will be the time to get out there over these next couple weeks if you’re looking to avoid the crowds but now is the time as it’ll be back to bumper boats before you know it.

Should the weekends be your only option we’d recommend getting an early start. If you shoot for that 10 – 11 AM window thinking you’ll roll in behind the angling traffic you’re likely correct, but you’ll also be smack dab in the middle of the rec floaters.

And while the dam to Wolf Creek has been the go to due to the number of fish currently hanging out in the grass flats and the relatively weed-free water, the lower stretches are also fishing fine and will provide a respite from the traffic. Double zebras or a Zebra and a weight fly or Frenchie has been the ticket in the dam stretch. Nymphing hasn’t been AS good below Wolf Creek Bridge but they’re there as well, you just have to work a little harder for them.

Hoppers and ants will continue to be in play for the next month and while it hasn’t exactly been one for the record books, we’ve had some pretty damn good terrestrial days river-wide. September is also the month for October Caddis so don’t be afraid to work that into the mix.

Tricos are still going fairly strong though definitely waning and caddis should still be a staple in your fly box, especially later in the day. We’ve already started to get calls asking about BWO’s. We’ll likely see them sometime in October but the weather needs to change drastically before we even start thinking about such things.

A lot of folks (myself included) think streamers when they think of fall fishing. Fall is the time for big browns on streamers and there will be plenty of them caught here on the MO but if you’re going to play that game you need to know that you’ll be dealing with weeds from now until the snow flies (and for a while after that). The weeds do not disappear with a turn of the calendar page so know before you go that you’ll be dealing with them. It’s not the end of the world, you just need to choose your spots and work through the challenges, keeping in mind that those super weedy spots you’re avoiding may in fact hold the trophy of a lifetime.

We’re open from 7 AM – 5 PM daily for all of your Montana fall fly fishing needs. The fly bins are loaded up with fall bugs including the best streamer selection on the MO and we’re also fully stocked on lines, leaders and tippet from SA and Rio and we can’t think of a better time to treat yourself to a new Sage R8 or Igniter.

New fall gear arriving daily including Cozy Simms WCA hoodies and a full restock on Simms waders and boots and hats and gloves and much more. And don’t forget, we are the home of the CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES ON THE MO!

We are your Missouri River fall fly fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-08-30T14:12:18-06:00August 30th, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, caddis, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, simms, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

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