dry fly fishing Archives - Wolf Creek Angler

Soggy Spring on the MO

It’s been a wet week here on the MO but that’s really had no effect on traffic. This time of year it’s go time – rain or shine. Spring bookings are a roll of the dice weather wise with April – June being our rainiest months of the year but those booking spring trips generally know what they’re in for.

It can be sunny and hot one day with temps plummeting the next accompanied by rain or snow. The fish don’t mind. The bugs do but sooner or later it all comes together.

Sunshine has been scarce this week making this morning’s break from the constant cloud cover a welcome site. Cloudy wet days are actually the preferred conditions on the water as far as fishing goes but after a few chilly rain soaked days it’s nice to see and feel the sun.

We’ll see a mixed bag this weekend with rain in the forecast for later today and on Sunday. A drier start to the week next week but still cooler with highs in the 60’s edging upwards late next week into the 70’s.

The cool, cloudy wet days have been perfect for BWO’s but not so much for Caddis. Look for BWO’s to continue to dwindle as we head into the second half of May. Caddis will pop with a little heat. March Browns will continue to tease. PMD’s are on the horizon and midges will persist.

Many are here seeking the dry fly bite and while we’ve had bugs and ample opportunities on the right days those opportunities can often seem to be somewhat elusive. Keep after it and don’t be afraid to fish blind with a caddis or Parachute Adams or Purple Haze. Pods should obviously be targeted by matching the hatch but in the absence of pods and/or bugs you could do worse than running the aforementioned Caddis or Adams tight to the bank and seeing what happens.

As always, nymphing is your go to. They’re still eating the sow but baetis nymphs like the Little Green Machine, PsychoMay and Magic Fly have been the better bugs as of late. Keep fishing those and start to work in some PMD nymphs like the Split Case, Crackback, Magic Fly or Redemption.

Flows have been jumping around a bit, currently 4920 CFS with water temps at 51 degrees. Changes in flows can sometimes have a negative effect on feeding patterns, as can changes in weather patterns. I guess what I’m trying to say is that despite what you may have read or heard elsewhere, it hasn’t exactly been lights out every day. There have certainly been some hot windows but a fair number of lulls in the action as well…and not just for the DIY anglers.

The MO may be as close to a guarantee as you can get when it comes to numbers and quality of fish but…NEWSFLASH…we do have slow days on the MO as well so keep those expectations in check and don’t let a tough day get you down. After all, no matter how many fish you catch or don’t catch you are blessed to be on these fabled waters, drifting through these magical landscapes seeking encounters with these amazing creatures. At least that’s how I see it.

We’ve been busy in the shop and on the shuttle circuit and lodging has been full for the most part more nights than not…it’s a fun time of year to be in the business! We’re open daily from 7 AM – 5 PM and we’re here for anything and everything you need for your day on the water. From The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO to the largest selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana to rain and wading gear from Simms and Korkers to fishing licenses to ice to sunscreen to Sage rods and Lamson reels and so much more. We hope you make us your first stop on your way to the MO.

Save Gas. Save Time. Shop at Wolf Creek Angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-05-16T09:47:22-06:00May 16th, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Settling In

Spring presents a grind, a minor league grind by comparison to what’s to come but a good warm up nonetheless and a chance to Settle In To Spring.

There have been a handful of genuinely busy days but as per usual, spring traffic is moderate, it just feels really busy sometimes after a winter of achieving customer counts in the single digits more days than not.

Fishing has been solid though the default conditions of sunshine and cloudless skies with varying degrees of breeziness can sometimes make for challenging days, especially for those in dry fly mode.

Not to say it isn’t happening. It is. You just need to be in the right place at the right time and the right time is typically the later part of the day when the sun is low and mid-day breezes have dissipated. Evening midge fishing has been consistently good for a couple of months now and should provide ample entertainment for those who despise the bobber but if you’re looking for BWO’s it’s far from clockwork.

In other words, take advantage of the overcast, not so nice days. Those are the BWO days. Sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn’t. We’ve seen a couple of good bug days with some good pods and some very respectable fish willing to eat a well-presented fly. As you’ve no doubt heard, it ain’t like it used to be but it is like it is and you can still catch a behemoth on a dry fly on any given day during spring fishing on the Missouri.

March Browns are not something you’ll typically find in abundance but they’re around and the fish LOVE them. We recommend you keep a few in reach for quick rigging should the opportunity present itself. Mother’s Day this Sunday…the Mother’s Day Caddis have been alerted and have begun to show themselves.

So back to the default weather conditions…nymphing has, and will almost always be, the go to method for those looking to bend the rod with relative frequency. Sunny days still aren’t the best but if you’re fishing deep it shouldn’t matter much. That being said, we’ve certainly had some tougher days as of late where they just didn’t seem to be eating but other days have been what you’ve come to expect on the MO, constant action with a good number of fish to hand.

It’s still a Sow Bug game as it seemingly always is, but baetis nymphs have been the better option as of late with Grey Little Green Machines, Olive Psycho Mays, BWO Redemption, BWO Magic Fly, Split Case BWO’s and plain old Pheasant Tails leading the charge.

Streamer fishing has been somewhat sub-par due I think mostly to the aforementioned weather conditions but low light periods have been good so if you’re going to do it maybe look to that extra early start or those same BWO type grey/rainy/snowy days.

Some days it feels like we’ve hit our season stride in the shop and lodging world with boats and rigs packed in the parking lot, all rooms occupied and multitudes awaiting their turn at the register for bugs and shuttles. Other days it feels like winter again with sparse occupancy and maybe just a few folks poking around the shop. Such is springtime on the MO but it only get’s busier from here so we’re thankful for the gradual start.

Our WCA team has been assembled and I honestly think it’s our best one yet. You’ll mostly see Phil and yours truly in the shop but we’ve also welcomed back Shalon who has been here on and off over the years and Bryan who joined us last year and helps part time with the shop and shuttles. We’re also excited to have Shaniah on board helping with the shop and shuttles and Carson will return in June for a second year of doing anything and everything that needs to be done. Rhonda and Gary have returned to round out the shuttle staff and Missy is back for year number 5 as Head of Housekeeping.

We hope you stop in and meet all of our awesome crew members.

We’re open earlier than most at 7 AM daily and will be extending our hours beginning on Monday, May 12th when we’ll be open from 7 AM – 5 PM Daily.

Stop in for The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO (unless you want to pay more elsewhere) and restock your bug boxes while you’re here. We’ve got more bugs than we’ve ever had and that’s saying something as we’ve always been proud co possess the biggest selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Fishing licenses, Ice, Trxstle Rod Racks, Sage R8 Classics, Ross Coors reels and SO MUCH MORE.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-05-08T16:01:58-06:00May 8th, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

ARRIVAL

The spring season is in full swing as we approach April’s close and prepare for a busy month of May.

River Life has returned. Winter’s monochromatic grey has been supplanted by all hues of green as buds are bursting forth and grass is greening by the second. The landscape transforms before our eyes as the season takes hold. Some days it seems you are literally able to watch it happen.

Pelicans have arrived. Goslings are starting to appear under the careful watch of their high-strung and loud parents. Bug life is unfolding at a rapid pace and busy mornings in the fly shop have also returned as spring traffic has also arrived.

We are experiencing a true Montana spring with plenty of cold mornings and the occasional snow shower mixed in with moderate daytime temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Awesome days to be on the water watching it all unfold from the seat of a drift boat. It doesn’t get much better than this!

Nymphing remains the go-to with most traffic, most days camped in the Holter to Craig stretch though with the increased bug activity there has been a fair amount of folks opting for the canyon stretch and below.

It’s still a sow bug game but baetis nymphs like Little Green Machines and Psycho Mays and Magic Flies (among many others) are getting eaten with regularity. No need to make any radical changes to your setup just yet but start to key in on the faster, medium depth water. Leave the slow winter stuff behind, it’s time to move on.

The streamer bite has been decent during low light periods early or late and throughout the day when we get the cloud cover. Again, medium depth and shallow fast water have been productive and there have been plenty of big browns hanging in those soft spots against the bank looking for the ambush. Cast right to the bank and drag your bug off the bank into the shallows. It’s not a high percentage play but you might be surprised how many of those big browns sit in next to no water waiting for a meal to happen by. We’ve got another month of this – PRIME STREAMER TIME on the MO!

As mentioned, there are plenty of bugs around and plenty of dry fly opportunities for those looking to put in the work. You can hunt for risers or just fish blind. Midges are the mainstay but there are baetis around and on the move upstream and we’ve seen a few March Browns around as well. You could even fish a Skwala blind and maybe get an eat or two but for my money it’s hard to beat plying the waters with a #12 Purple Haze or Parachute Adams, especially when you’re seeing sporadic rises.

Published shop hours are still 8:00 – 4:00 daily but we’re generally open for business by 7:30 and here until traffic subsides.

It’s getting to be that time of year where lodging is at a premium, much of it booked last minute. We’re full for the weekend but things open up a bit on Sunday and we have at least a room or two open most nights during next week.

Guide trips are ramping up and we’re starting to get into a rhythm but we’re still a few weeks out from our busy season so we do generally have guides available with a day or two notice if a last minute trip to the MO is in the works for you.

Either way, we invite you to start your day at Wolf Creek Angler for EVERYTHING you need for your day on the water including The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-04-24T12:51:59-06:00April 24th, 2025|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Spring is beginning to show itself on the MO. Photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Just back this week from some R and R on the Oregon coast and ready to take on the spring season.

The weather is gorgeous (for the moment), the grass is greening, the trees are budding and fishing is on the verge of greatness.

Sure, it’s been a mixed bag out there this week but that’s the nature of spring fishing. The water temps are creeping up into the low 40’s and a couple of more ticks upwards will do wonders to trigger more consistency in the bite as well as ushering in some increased bug activity…aka BWO’s!

For those in search of dry fly action the midge fishing has been good and should continue to deliver. The aforementioned BWO’s hopefully soon and a few eats on the Skwala on any given day. Mother’s Day Caddis just around the corner.

Most are nymphing and having moderate success but you need to know there have been some slow days as well so don’t expect every day to be off the charts. That’s just not how it works, even on the amazingly prolific Missouri.

Broken Record on the bugs. Tailwater Sows, Soft Hackle Sows, Pederson’s Sow, Poxyback Sows, Pill Poppers, Pink Sock Sow, Scud Bombs…notice a pattern? Pink Lucent Bead Ray Charles, Caviar Scuds, Firebead Rays, Bubble Yum Scuds and Amex good calls as well and your go to baetis nymphs are coming into play. Little Green Machines, Radiation Baetis, Magic Fly BWO, Mosason, Olive Psycho May, Olive Redemption, Two Hot Baetis, Olive 2 Bit Hooker, Olive Spanish Bullet and many more! Fish the flies you believe in – it makes all the difference.

The Streamer bite has been fair and will continue to improve as the water warms. It’s definitely better on the overcast days but don’t for a minute think you can’t fish streamers in the sun.

If you haven’t been by the shop for a while we invite you to give us a look. Our fly bins are packed full of Missouri River standards as well as a bunch of new patterns for 2025 including piles of perdigons.

The fly selection at WCA is unrivaled. We have what they have and more and we are, without question, your Missouri River Streamer Authority with the absolute best streamer selection on the MO!

All lodging is now open and available and guide trips are just now starting to roll. Plenty of both available now.

Shop is open at 8 AM daily for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs including THE CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES ON THE MO, Adipose drift boat rentals, Mending Waters drift boat rentals FREE for all vets and active duty military (reserve your boat here), fishing licenses, ice, the best coffee in the canyon and so much more.

Welcome to spring on the Missouri!

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-04-10T14:03:05-06:00April 10th, 2025|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Welcome Spring!

Finally, the long and frigid winter has relented, and spring is in the air.

Actually, winter wasn’t all that long or all that frigid and we’re really hoping for a few more snow events before all is said and done. The weather has been mild by March standards for the last couple of weeks but the calendar is proclaiming the official first day of spring today so let us celebrate spring’s arrival, knowing that we’ll likely be weathering a bit of a slog these next weeks through ever-changing weather conditions but the countdown is underway.

Soon the brown landscapes will begin to transform into vibrant hues of green as moisture and sunlight bring forth new life. Trees and flowers will begin to bloom as the smell of spring fills the air. Waters will soon begin to warm, waking our trout from their winter slumber and bug life will return.

I still lean slightly towards autumn as my favorite season but spring, especially in the later stages, is truly amongst the most wonderful times of the year. And if we’re strictly talking fishing, I’ll take spring hands down.

Nymphing is already getting good and will continue to improve as we make our way into spring. The die hard DFO’s have already found an abundance of winter fish willing to eat an adequately presented midge pattern. Perfect presentations are not a requirement of winter and early spring dry fly fishing but as angling traffic increases, along with the number of bugs on the menu, you will need to step up your game. If dry fly fishing is your passion, you’re just weeks away from what you’ve been dreaming about since you hung up your waders and stashed your five weights last fall.

Nymphing and dry fly fishing aside, spring is king for the streamer contingent and it’s about to get good! Free from the weeds of fall, spring is without a doubt THE BEST TIME for STREAMER FISHING on the MISSOURI. The swingers know it, they have been after these fish all winter long but now is the time. The fish are hungry coming out of winter stasis and as the water warms energy returns and winter dormancy is replaced by hunger fueled aggression, the perfect conditions for stripping meaty streamers on the MO.

We are the undisputed streamer authority on the MO. We have the best bug selection on the river, a pile of specialty lines for any and all conditions and rods and reels from Sage, Lamson, Echo and Redington. We have got something for every budget, hand selected by yours truly for overall performance and value.

We’ve opened a good portion of our lodging with only the motel rooms yet to do. Our March Madness Spring Guide Trip and Lodging Special runs through the end of the month so book your spot today. We are offering two nights of premium lodging and a full day trip for one or two anglers for just $700. That’s two nights of lodging and a guide trip for what a trip alone will cost you starting April 1st, a savings of $500 off the regular price. And the best part…there’s no penalty for cancellation for any reason.

We are now open daily from 9 AM – 4 PM and will expand hours as needed.

New gear arriving daily for spring including a bunch of new bugs, the Sage R8 Classic and the still reigning best waders in the industry from Simms Fishing Products.

We are your Missouri River one stop fly shop with everything you need for your day on the water including fishing licenses, The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO, Adipose drift boat rentals and so much more.

We hope to see you soon for Spring Fishing on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-03-20T11:57:36-06:00March 20th, 2025|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Adipose, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, Echo, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

More Early Spring this Weekend on the MO

It seems as though winter may have loosed its grip on us for good as we’ll see another spring-like weekend ahead with temperatures back in the 50’s, possibly hitting 60 on Sunday.

Winds looks manageable for the weekend out of the south/southwest at 9 -16 mph with some higher gusts to 25 mph. You’ve fished in much worse!

The trend continues through the first part of next week before temperatures normalize with high 30’s and low 40’s starting on Thursday.

Reports from this past weekend were a bit of a mixed bag but overall the consensus seemed to be that fishing was on the slow side but slow or not, you could do much worse than spending an early March day soaking up the sun while floating down the Missouri River.

It’s been quiet this week despite consistently mild weather and as is generally the case in the early season we’re not sure what to expect heading into the weekend, but we’ll be here regardless. Shop hours this weekend are 9 AM -2 PM, Sunday included, and we’re running shuttles daily.

We’ve got lodging available at winter rates of $149/night (plus tax) and our Adipose drift boat rentals are a great deal at $150/day (you haul the boat). We haven’t had much call for it yet but if you’re looking for a guided day on the river we can accommodate.

During the month of March we’re offering a full day trip, lunch included, at a half-day rate of $550 for one or two anglers. We’re also offering a lodging/guide trip special for $700 (plus tax) for two nights of premium lodging and a day of guided fishing. As is usual with March trips the weather can always be a factor so there’s no penalty for cancellation should winter return. This offer is for the month of March only, normal prices resume on April 1st. Book your trip today and leave the rowing to us.

If you’re sticking to the DIY program it’s status quo this time of year with sow bugs leading the charge. Tailwater Sows, Soft Hackle Sows, Pederson’s Sow, Carpet Bugs, Poxyback Sows, Pill Poppers, Firebead or Pink Lucent Bead Ray Charles, Bubble Yum Scuds, Rainbow Czechs, Amex and Zebra Midges are all go-to bugs for early spring.

Dry fly fishing is an option with plenty of midges in the mix and streamer fishing (swinging or stripping) should be just on the verge of really heating up.

The most commonly asked question we get is when is the best time to fish the Missouri and my stock answer is whenever you’re able to be here because the consistency on the MO is unmatched but if you really want to know you’d be hard pressed to find a better time and place to fish than springtime on the Missouri.

We invite you start your day on the MO with us, especially if you’re coming from the south. We’ll get you set up with FISHING LICENSES, shuttles, all the best bugs from all the best vendors, and anything else you might need for your day on the water. Simms waders and boots, Sage and Lamson rods and reels, fresh new fly lines from SA, Rio and Airflo and piles of tools and accessories from the best brands in the business. And it’s all right on your way. No need to drive another 10 minutes down the road to get the same stuff and then turn around and drive right back up to the dam or Wolf Creek Bridge! We are closer to the Holter Dam to Craig section launches than ANY OTHER SHOP.

See you soon for spring fishing on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-03-06T10:18:58-07:00March 6th, 2025|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Lamson, midge, Missouri River, pill popper, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Idyllic February Float on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

It’s been less than a week since we were in the icy grip of winter with sub-zero temperatures and a thick blanket of snow covering the landscape.

When I did a boat ramp tour last Friday all ramps and parking lots from Holter Dam to Stickney were buried but after several days of temps nearing 50 degrees nearly all of the snow has vanished, and the ramps and parking lots are clear.

The phones have been ringing non-stop since Monday with folks eyeing up a gorgeous weekend ahead and just like that our winter lodging is full for the weekend, which is something we haven’t seen in months.

I wouldn’t say we’re BUSY but there has certainly been an uptick in traffic in the shop and on the river this week and I’d expect it will feel busy this weekend with a lot of folks from all around the state headed to the MO for a late-winter fix.

As expected with the warmer weather it’s been breezy this week and will be again tomorrow with gusts up to 30 mph expected but Friday we settle into sunshine, temps near 60 and light winds out of the south at 5-10 mph. It doesn’t get much better than that…not this time of year.

Monday will see a return to the 40’s with a chance of rain and snow but above average temps still expected through next week.

The spring-like weather is nice, especially after a couple of weeks of arctic air but we are hoping this is just a brief respite and that we’ve got plenty of more winter on the way.

For now though, we’re here and we’re ready for business. Our lodging may be full but we’re ready to go with shuttles, Adipose rental boats, cold weather gear, sunscreen, bugs a plenty and don’t forget your 2025 Fishing License starting on Saturday, March 1st.

Looking to buy online? You may do so here but if not we’re happy to sell you a fishing license.

Pill Poppers, Pink Soft Hackle Sows, Pederson’s Sow, Tailwater Sow in Rainbow or Pink, Firebead Rays, Rainbow Czechs, Bubble Yum Scuds…you get the picture. Think Pink and don’t forget the Zebra Midges. All available now at WCA.

Winter Fare at Wolf Creek Angler

Conditions might just be right for some stellar dry fly action this weekend as well as March Midge Madness commences. Keep those Griffiths Gnats and other midge cluster patterns at the ready. We’ve got a plethora to choose from.

Swingers are out and having good luck with Polar leeches, Thin Mints, Kreelex, Fruit Rollups and other leechy offerings.

It might feel crowded out there this weekend after months of desolation so please dust off that river etiquette if you’re hitting the water giving a WIDE BERTH to those wade anglers and paying mind to the rhythm of the row arounds, doing your best to maintain the beat.

Official shop hours are still 9 – 4 Tuesday – Saturday at least for another couple of weeks but we’ll likely be here by 8 most days for those getting an early start.

Spring has sprung for the moment…enjoy it while it lasts.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-02-26T14:01:30-07:00February 26th, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, midge, Missouri River, pill popper, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|1 Comment

Missouri River Freeze Out

We’re just over a week into our first Arctic Blast of 2025 and as you would expect All is Quiet on the MO.

With current temps hanging around 20 below we’re seeing the worst of it right now. A high near 7 expected today before we plunge back into the negatives tonight but the heat arrives on Wednesday with a high of 8 and overnight lows of 1. Snow showers expected on Friday but the weekend will see a return to tolerable with temperatures back in the 30’s heading into next week.

Prior to the Deep Freeze fishing was good, especially on the nymphing side, with Pill Poppers, Tailwater Sows and Pederson’s Sow doing most of the damage. Those committed to the dry fly were also reporting varying levels of success on the calmer days and evenings and while I assume the swingers were hooking up at moderate rates as they do, our last streamer outing prior to the arctic blast, though extremely short-lived, was unsuccessful.

I’d expect to see a brave angler or two around next week as cabin fever has started to set in for many, but with iced up guides still a constant, I’ll personally be holding out for warmer days.

It’s hard to think about it when worrying about frozen plumbing and the like but the season is rapidly approaching. Spring is just over a month away and while it may feel like we’re firmly in winter’s grip at the moment, we’re literally weeks away from the start of the season.

Hopefully between now and then we see a bunch of snow and avoid any major thaws as we’re still in major need of the moisture but it’s looking better now than it had been for most of the winter. Keep it coming.

It’s always fun to complain about the cold but honestly, I’m ok with it and I hope it hangs around. I don’t necessarily need to see a bunch more of 20 below, but I’d be fine with winter hanging on until mid to late March. Bring it!

We’re putting the final touches on rounding out our crew for the season and getting a plan in the works for when to start opening up the lodging. Soon the shop will be full of boxes of new gear to unpack and check in and we’ll have to begin to re-acclimate to what’s it’s like to actually have customers coming through the door on a regular basis.

For now it’ll continue to be hit and miss with shop hours as there’s simply not much reason to be here on days like today save checking the status of the aforementioned plumbing but as soon as the weather dictates we will be back with normal hours and daily shuttle service. We’ll let you know when that’s going to be just as soon as we know.

In the meantime we hope you’re staying warm and we urge to you use extreme caution if you do venture out to the river anytime soon as shelf ice has definitely taken hold out there.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-02-11T10:17:32-07:00February 11th, 2025|Categories: Montana Fly Fishing, Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, spring fishing, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

The Window is Open

For those looking to thwart that cabin fever, this is a good time to fish the MO but the window is about to close as winter regroups and returns this weekend.

We’ll see highs near 40 tomorrow through Saturday before the bottom drops out Saturday night and we plunge back into single digits and snow next week.

Expect breezy conditions each day with winds SSW at 10 – 20 mph…could be worse!

Nymphing has been solid with sow bugs leading the charge and pink definitely in play. Pill Poppers, Tailwater Sows, Amex, Rainbow Czech, Soft Hackle Sows, Pink Lightning Bugs, Cotton Candy, Pink Rays, Pederson’s Sow, Bubble Yum Scud….all fine choices. You might also try a black zebra as there has been no shortage of midges around.

Slow winter depths are your target water but don’t be afraid to shorten up and give the faster shallows and flats a try, especially on the sunny days when the sun hits the water and the temps tick up. It doesn’t take much of a bump to draw the fish into the warmer shallows.

Calm, cloudy days, though few and far between, have provided plenty of dry fly action, especially late afternoon when the sun drops below the horizon. Midge clusters and Griffiths Gnats have been money when conditions are right.

Swingers are finding some willing players in the go-to spots depending on the day with Kreelex and Polar Leeches and Thin Mints all producing. Haven’t heard much from the strippers lately but there’s no reason a Sparkle Minnow or Skittish Smolt stripped deep and SLOW won’t produce. On the MO, stripping is best done from a boat no matter the time of year. Leave the standing in cold water to the swingers!

I’m almost always using a heavy sinking line, working rapidly through the shallows so as not to hang up on the bottom and then free falling off the drops and ledges with a twitch or two before a SLOW ascent.

It’s definitely not a numbers game so patience is everything. Fish a bug you believe in and switch up the retrieve until you find what works, incorporating plenty of pauses and keeping in mind that the pauses are for the fish, not for you. Be ready for the grab on the pause. It happens all the time and missing those grabs is a more common occurrence than it should be.

My mantra for streamer fishing is generally to go big with your float and cover as many miles as you can but that’s not the best plan during the winter months as it tends to get cold no matter how many layers you’re wearing. No matter if you’re hunting heads, nymphing or streamer fishing it’s best to keep your floats short during the winter if you’re fishing from the boat.

Best nymphing runs – Holter Dam to Wolf or Wolf to Craig. Best Dry Fly fishing – Holter Dam to Wolf. Best Streamers Craig to Stick. That being said, you’ll find every stretch has its great spots for whatever you are doing and the fish are EVERYWHERE so don’t think you’re limited to any particular stretch for whichever discipline you happen to be employing for the day.

Shuttles at WCA are hit and miss while we await a steady stream of traffic. Please call ahead if you’re counting on us being able to move you. We will be here tomorrow (Wednesday) and likely able to help you. We’re fishing Thursday but will be back in on Friday and Saturday. I wouldn’t expect we’ll be around much next week. Weather will be the determining factor but it looks like the window is about to close.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-01-28T10:50:41-07:00January 28th, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Amex, Bubble Yum Scud, cotton candy, dry fly fishing, Holter Dam, Kreelex, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Pederson's Sow, pill popper, Pink Lightning Bug, Rainbow Czech, running line, skittish smolt, Soft Hackle Sow, sparkle minnow, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, Thin Mint, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

January Blues

The heart of winter is here.

It’s cold and gray and windy on the MO this day- seems to be the case more days than not in the Heart of Winter.

The holidays are long past.

Football had been my focus and obsession as my Lions wrapped up an unprecedented season, seemingly on their march to a first-ever Super Bowl, claiming the first seed in the NFC and then unceremoniously exiting the playoffs in a disastrous divisional round. Now the wait for September and the eternal hope for next season. It is familiar territory in the Heart of Winter.

Tax season is looming in the Heart of Winter.

We’re counting the days until spring and it can’t come soon enough!

It’s not all doom and gloom though. Snowpack is building, days are getting longer and with time doing its thing, spring fishing will be here before you know it.

Are you ready?

We’re in a bit of a holding pattern at the moment in the heart of winter but a few weeks from now the boxes of spring gear will start to arrive, angler traffic will start to bump and the faint pulse will quicken on the MO as life returns.

The Hard Core Winter anglers exist outside of these rhythms and have been here all along – into the heart of winter. They’ve been enjoying an abundance of solitude and reportedly some solid action as of late and will continue to have it to themselves for a few more weeks.

Prime Time is full for the most part. Spring and fall are wide open.

It’s time to think about those spring bookings. March and April can certainly be a crap shoot weather wise, but you can’t really go wrong with May fishing on the MO. Spring action is unrivaled with ridiculously good nymphing, consistent dry fly action on midges and later BWO’s, and of course, spring is king if streamers are your game.

Book a DIY adventure or leave all of the work to us and book a guided day or several. In the heart of winter our guides have grown weary of tying flies and are ready to get back on the water. Please put them to work!

Snow on the way tonight and tomorrow with another cold snap to go along with it but things look pretty good as we hit the middle of next week with the return of highs near 40 and plenty of sunshine.

We’re open Tuesday – Saturday from 9 AM – 4 PM, weather dependent. We won’t likely be around much this weekend with the weather on the way but we hope you make us your first stop on the way to the river next week whether its shuttles, bugs, beds, boats or anything else you might need.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-01-23T12:16:00-07:00January 23rd, 2025|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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