dry fly fishing Archives - Wolf Creek Angler

Early June Update

We were treated to some unseasonably cool weather and plenty of rain to close out May and kick off our busiest month of the year.

Four days into June and so far it’s been below average temperatures with scattered rain showers each day and with the exception of tomorrow which looks to be on the warmer side with a high near 80, the trend will continue at least for the next week with highs in the 50’s and 60’s much of next week and a good chance for more precipitation towards the end of next week.

What looked like low flows and an early arrival for summer has given way to more spring-like conditions with many of our local waters bumping considerably with the rain, so much so that even the Dearborn River which we were almost certain would be a no-go again this year bumped to over 500 CFS and has folks scrambling to get a float in before the water disappears. It’s down to 488 CFS as of this writing and will continue to drop so don’t put it off for too long. Yes we are doing Dearborn shuttles but call ahead as we are trying to schedule just one or two runs a day and we will only do them if we have two or more.

The steady MO bumped over 3500 and is now on the drop, currently at 3400 CFS with the tribs adding some volume as you move downstream. Little Prickly Pear didn’t see much of a bump but the Dearborn set up a good mud line a couple of days ago and the worm bite has been good.

The bump in flows around the region has brought some traffic back this way but that will likely dissipate as we head into next week with most everything starting to come back into shape.

And it’s a good thing because June is the start of our Prime Time. Not the everyone go to the MO because everything else is blown transient Prime but the, annual pilgrimage to the Missouri Dry Fly Mecca Prime. Folks arriving this week will be surprised to find out that the PMD hatch is well -underway, a few weeks ahead of schedule, but don’t despair. The return of cooler, wetter weather has us optimistic that the early start may not mean an early end, just bonus time on the front side.

Caddis are back on the menu and early terrestrial fishing has been effective on the right day.

We’ve been a little skinny on our PMD patterns as we asked for normal PMD time delivery but we’ve now got the bins fully stocked and ready.

Hi Vis Spinners, Hatchbacks, CDC Emergers, Flash Cripples, Film Critics, Last Chance Cripples, Sprouts and many more along with a great selection of Rusty Spinners and Buzzballs to satisfy your PMD needs and piles of Cornfed Caddis, Double Duck Caddis, Stockingfoot Caddis and your favorite Elkhair classics. It’s been busy on the Dry Fly Side of the bins this week and will remain so from here on out.

Those still chasing bobbers and plying the depths are finding plenty of fish still happy to oblige. Worms, Sows, Split Case PMD’s, Two Hot PMD, PMD Magic Fly, Redemption, Gold Lighting Bug, Little Green Machine, Doc’s Summer Bug, Purple Weight Fly, Tung Darts, UV Czech Caddis, Blow Torch, Pheasant Tails and on and on.

Often overlooked, WCA has a fly selection equal to or more expansive than any of the other shops on the MO. Give us a look, we know you’ll be back once you do. After all, we do have the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Our spring wader sale has come and gone, thank you to all who purchased new boots and waders from us. The sale might be over but wader season appears to be extended this year so keep us in mind if you’re looking for a new pair of Simms Waders or boots.

The shop is open from 7 AM to 5 PM daily for shuttles, bugs, ice, micro swivels, lines, leaders, Smith and Suncloud sunglasses, tools and accessories from Fishpond and Dr Slick, Buff and Simms sun protection, Sage rods and reels, Trxstle rod racks and so much more.

We are your Missouri River one stop fly fishing headquarters, closer to Holter Dam and the Wolf Creek Bridge than any other shop.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-06-04T14:18:06-06:00June 4th, 2026|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid-May on the MO

Halfway through May and the BLUR is on!

With rivers on the west side blown it’s been a busy week on the MO with a variety of weather conditions and what can only be called a mixed bag on the fishing and bug front.

We saw quite a Mother’s Day Caddis Event last week but that’s come and gone for the most part as has the BWO fishing. Midges continue to be a consistent option and the rumors are true…PMD’s have begun, weeks ahead of schedule.

Summer-like weather has had the river feeling more like July than mid-May but yesterday’s highs in the 80’s have been replaced by much more seasonal 50’s and 60’s and it looks like we’ll hold where we’re at for a while and even see some 30’s and 40’s on Sunday and Monday with a few snow showers possible before we climb back into the 60’s and 70’s next week.

The shuttle business has been booming with this week being our busiest of the season by far. We’ve seen a bit of a lull in lodging this week but that changes this weekend as we fill up and vacancies become scarce from here on out. We have had some cancellations here and there so please give us a call if you need lodging anytime over the next couple of weeks. We might just be able to help you out.

Nymphing has continued to produce with Tailwater sows and baetis nymphs still the go to’s but it’s definitely time to work some PMD nymphs into your offerings. Frenchies, PT Green Machines, Redemptions, Magic Flies, Gold Lighting Bugs, PMD Psycho Mays, PMD Perdigons and more. You might also swap out that Pill Popper lead fly for a Blow Torch, Tung Dart, Weight Fly or other Caddis offering.

Low light streamer fishing has continued to be a viable option with plenty of big-shouldered browns still on the hunt. Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolt , Micro Dungeons and Space Invaders all good options.

Creek opener this Saturday….NOW you can fish the Little Prickly Pear! Unfortunately it’s been getting fished plenty this spring so it’s not exactly untouched water but it’s always nice to be back on the small water.

Shop Hours are 7 AM – 5 PM Daily and you’ve still got a week left to take advantage of our Spring Wader and Boot Sale. 20% off all waders and boots.

Make us your first and only stop on your way to the MO for the Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO and the largest selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. We’re confident that once you give WCA a try you’ll see no reason to go anywhere else.

We are proud to be your one stop Missouri River Fly Fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-05-14T13:21:10-06:00May 14th, 2026|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Mother’s Day

Just over a week into the month of May and things are busy as ever on the MO.

Some mornings it’s already been feeling like June with a steady stream of traffic in and out of the shop from doors open to around 11 AM.

Lodging is off and on with a full house some nights and a ghost town on others but usually somewhere in between.

Shuttles have been hard to plan for with a handful one day and hitting max capacity the next and while spring usually means a bunch of shuttles at the dam, traffic has been moving around a lot.

One day it feels like we’ve already entered the grind phase of the season, the next might be crickets or close to it.

Such is springtime on the MO.

As indicated by the movement of guide trip traffic, fishing has been solid river-wide with good nymphing most anywhere you go and localized dry fly opportunities ranging from waning BWO events to the old standby midge fishing and most recently loads of Caddis, particularly in the canyon stretch and a few March Browns in the mix making things interesting. More of this please!

Streamer fishing continues to be worth your time though I wouldn’t say this has ranked as one of our better spring streamer seasons. There have been some great browns chasing the streamer and some nice fish landed, but overall, I’d rate the streamer fishing a solid Meh…and that’s coming from someone who lives for this time of year as it relates to said streamers, so it pains me to say it.

You’ve heard it already and you will hear it again but for all sorts of reasons we need some water on the MO (and most every other river in the state of Montana). It doesn’t look like it’s going to happen this year, and we’ll be fine, but as we look beyond the current season, I for one have already added a daily appeal to the higher power for a real winter and an abundance of water in 2027 so if we see high water next year you’ll know why!

Just a few days left for our Mother’s Day Wader and Boot Sale which ends on Sunday. Forty percent OFF ALL WOMEN’S WADERS AND WADING BOOTS! This is in conjunction with our Spring Wader and Boot Sale running through Memorial Day with all waders and boots 20 percent off.

If you’re spending Mother’s Day on the MO stop by the shop for bugs and shuttles and pick up some new waders and boots for mom at the best prices you’ll see in 2026.

Springtime is in Full Bloom, and it looks like a gorgeous weekend ahead with sunny skies and temps in the 70’s tomorrow and Saturday. We will hit 80 on Mother’s Day with more of the same on tap for next week. Highs in the 70’s, overnight lows in the 40 and plenty of sunshine. It doesn’t get much better!

New Shop Hours starting Monday, May 11th. 7 AM – 5 PM Daily.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-05-07T12:08:55-06:00May 7th, 2026|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, March Browns, Missouri River, Montana, Mother's Day, running line, spring fishing, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Spring Fishing at its Finest – photo by Luke Koerten

Early last week it seemed as though summer-like weather was settling in. Bluebird days with temperatures in the 80’s and landscapes of green all around had things feeling much more like early June than the end of April.

But right on cue, Mother Nature did her thing and just like that winter returned. Starting last Thursday those highs in the 80’s we saw earlier in the week were replaced by temps struggling to reach 40 and plunging into the 20’s overnight. Snow has been falling off and on all weekend and while the conditions were a disappointment to some who happened to have guide trips booked for this time, this weather pattern is exactly what we need, pumping the brakes on spring.

Warmer weather on tap for the coming week with highs back in the 50’s and 60’s and overnight lows in the 30’s and 40’s. These are much more seasonable conditions which will prolong spring fishing for the time being.

Prior to the change in the weather, fishing had been heating up with some good BWO action in the canyon and good nymphing all around. The streamer bite had been on the slow side, more miss than hit, but with enough action to keep things interesting.

The arrival of the cold front seemed to have much more of an affect on the anglers than on the fishing per se with DIY action dropping off dramatically and many of those guide trips getting cut short but we expect a return to normalcy this week with a warm up underway.

Sow bugs and Zebra Midges are still the staple for your nymph rigs but baetis nymphs like the Little Green Machine, Mosason, Two Hot Baetis, BWO Magic Fly, Olive Psycho May and Olive Crack Back Bullets have definitely been getting some attention.

We should see plenty of dry fly opportunities as well as normal spring conditions resume. Late morning/early afternoon BWO’s and midges throughout the day and into the evening hours. Sprout Baetis, 401 K Baetis, Flash Cripples, Last Chance Cripples, BWO Hatchback, BWO Guide Winna Spinna and Olive Haze are all good baetis options while Grizzly Midge Clusters, Griffiths Gnats, Black Midges and Adams Midge Clusters have been the go-to midge options.

Streamer options are wide open – dealer’s choice, but for my money, if I could only have one streamer it would be the Sculpin Sparkle Minnow…hands down the most productive streamer in my box.

Spring shop hours are 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM daily with most guide trips getting started in the 8:30 – 9 Am window. Don’t miss our Spring Wader Sale with 20% ALL WADERS and WADING BOOTS through Memorial Day.

We hope you make WCA your first stop of the day on your way to the MO for shuttles, bugs and so much more. As of today, it appears as though the Craig Bridge is still closed. Hopefully that work will be completed soon but until that time WCA is, without a doubt, your best shuttle option on the Missouri.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-04-26T12:43:55-06:00April 26th, 2026|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Go Time

While we’ve been anxiously awaiting a shot of spring snow and cold to slow things down and keep us in that early-season window, it doesn’t seem like Mother Nature got the memo. Buds are popping, grass is greening, and more days than not we’re seeing sunshine and temps that feel a lot more like mid-May than early April.

What’s also popping? Bugs.

Midges are everywhere, and we’ve been hearing reports of BWO’s showing up in fishable numbers in the canyon over the past week. Dry fly opportunities are on the table most days now, and only getting better. Midges are the Spring Training of the dry fly game—reliable, consistent, and a great way to knock the rust off—but the regular season is just getting underway. Look for BWO’s and midges to carry the load over the next 4–6 weeks, with March Browns and caddis not far behind.

Best Bets for midges…Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Black Midge, Griffith’s Gnat, Hi-Vis Midge, Grizzly Midge Cluster, Adams Midge Cluster. GO To BWO’s – Guide Winna Spinna BWO, Olive Haze, Hi Vis BWO, Pederson’s 401K Baetis, Sprout Baetis, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, Last Chance Cripple, Flash Cripple, Jake’s Hatchback Baetis…and so many more.

Spawning is still in full swing on the MO, so please be mindful of where you’re wading. Give those fish some space and let them do their thing—the future of this fishery depends on it.

If you’re looking for numbers, nymphing remains the go-to. Double sows are still punching the ticket more often than not. Zebra Midges, Ruby Midges, Little Green Machines, Magic Flies, Caviar Scuds, Pill Poppers, Amex, Pederson’s Sow, Bubble Yums, worms, and soft hackle sows are all getting it done.

The streamer bite has been solid—even under bluebird skies—but as always, low light is your best friend. Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolts, Swim Coaches, MoJo Minnows, Micro Dungeons, Baby Gongas, Polar Leeches, Dirty Hippies, Lil’ Kims…you know the drill. Fish what you believe in. Water temps are still hanging in the low 40’s, so no need to get wild with the strip, but fish are definitely getting more aggressive and will chase on the right days. Mix up your retrieve, build in pauses, and don’t be afraid to fish everything from the depths to the shallows and tailouts—it’s all in play right now.

There’s truly no better time of year to fish streamers on the Missouri, and with some rain, snow, and cloud cover in the forecast for Sunday and Monday, things could get downright epic.

We’re open daily at 8 AM with everything you need for your day on the water—Cheapest DAM shuttles on the MO, the biggest selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana, and all the latest gear from the best brands in the business. New rods, reels, waders, boots, lines, leaders—you name it—arriving almost daily. ’Tis the season.

Lodging is fully open and guides are standing by. Give us a call or book your trip online—we’ll see you out there.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-04-09T10:41:38-06:00April 9th, 2026|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, midge, Missouri River, Montana, pill popper, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Batten Down the Hatches – Spring is Right Around the Corner

We’ve got some wild weather on the way with a High Wind Warning going into effect at midnight tonight and running through 6 PM tomorrow. West winds of 35–45 mph with gusts between 65 and 80 mph are expected across much of the region, with peak winds likely between 6 AM and 11 AM on Thursday.

Fishing the MO tomorrow is likely a no-go, and the weekend is shaping up to be a wintery one with the possibility of a storm moving through the area.

Expect occasional rain and snow showers on Friday, turning to all snow Friday evening with a low of 31 and 1–3 inches of accumulation possible. More of the same is expected Saturday into Sunday.

The good news? Big changes are on the way.

This appears to be winter’s last gasp before we trade it in for the warmest air of the season, with temperatures climbing into the low 70’s starting Tuesday and continuing through the end of next week. Breezy conditions are expected through the week, but at 70 degrees those winds feel a whole lot more tolerable.

Once conditions settle down, expect the Sowbug feast to continue. And if by chance the winds lay down, March Midge Madness is in full effect, so keep those dry fly rigs ready to go.

It’s also no secret that spring is STREAMER time on the Missouri, so grab those sinking lines and get to stripping.

Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolts, MoJo Minnows, Polar Leeches, Kreelex, Swim Coaches, Lil’ Kims, Colonel Kurtz… and so many more are on the menu now and will be for weeks to come.

Lodging & Guide Trip Specials

We’ll be busy next week opening additional lodging as we prepare for the influx of spring traffic.

Right now we still have bungalows available at the winter rate of $149/night through the end of March, and by the end of next week our cabins should be ready to go as well.

Guide Trip & Lodging Special (through March):

• Two nights premium lodging + full day guided trip for one or two anglers – $750

Don’t need lodging?

• Full day guide trips – $550 through the end of March

New Gear Arriving Daily

The shop continues to fill up with fresh gear including:

Simms waders and boots
Korkers boots
Sage Power R8, R8 and R8 Classic rods
Ross Coors & Coors Light Cimarron reels
Fly lines for every method and condition from RIO and Scientific Anglers

…and of course, the (almost) legendary largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek, Montana.

Shop Hours

Expect hit-and-miss hours over the next couple of days with the hurricane-force winds and wintery weekend.

Starting next week we’ll be open daily at 8 AM, hopefully with adequate staffing to provide the Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO.

On the Road

If you happen to be in Minneapolis–St. Paul this weekend, Phil Peacy will be representing WCA at the Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo, happening March 13–15 at Hamline University. Stop by and say hello.

And don’t forget the annual Wolf Creek St. Patrick’s Day Parade happening Tuesday.

For now…

Batten down the hatches tonight, hunker down through the weekend, and we’ll see you next week as the spring season unofficially gets underway on the Missouri.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-03-11T14:16:49-06:00March 11th, 2026|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter Holding On

Finally a week of winter weather in Wolf Creek. A week of snow and cold. A week of icy roads in the canyon and the results you might expect.

A week of quick morning visits to the shop to check voicemails and plumbing prior to afternoons spent back home on the couch watching Olympic hockey and not feeling guilty about being closed because there isn’t a soul on the river this week.

It’s a welcome taste of winter at the perfect time. I’m enjoying the respite as I’m sure the fish are as well.

I’m sure we built a bit of snowpack which is good for all of us who rely on water to live or make a living and I wish I could say we were just getting started but alas, it looks as though the mild weather will return next week with high temps back in the 40’s and 50’s and overnight lows in the 20’s and 30’s.

Expect a bump in traffic next week as we move towards the normal beginnings of the spring campaign.

Fishing should be good with the return to warmer weather so we’ll be back in the shop with more normal hours starting this Sunday. We’ll be open 8-12 on Sunday and 8 – 4 on Monday – Saturday as dictated by the weather. Remember, here at Wolf Creek Angler, in the winter darkness of the canyon we’re still at least a month out from seeing any sunlight so it does make it difficult to hang around for eight hours in the cold darkness knowing that just down the road the river is currently bathed in warm sunshine.

We’ll be providing shuttle service whenever we can which should be much more frequent from here on out. Again, depending on the weather!

Winter lodging rates remain in effect through the end of March, just $149/night for a bungalow with a kitchenette, a $100 savings off of normal season rates.

We are running a guide trip and lodging special through the end of March with two nights of premium lodging and a full day guided trip for one or two anglers for just $850.

We’re loaded up on Pill Poppers and Sowbugs which are all you really need at this point but should you look to switch it up from what every other angler out there is using we’ve got bins full of bugs that will get the job done whether nymphing, swinging or targeting fish on dries.

Spring shipments are starting to trickle in so while I’ve never been a fan haggling on prices, if there is ever a time to do it that time is now when we’re looking to move the old to make room for the new.

Sit back and enjoy the remainder of the Winter Olympics this weekend and we’ll see you back on the MO next week.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-02-20T12:39:02-07:00February 20th, 2026|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, winter olympics, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Finally Freezing

It has been a long time coming but we’re finally seeing some normal winter weather with single digit lows and highs in the teens and twenties for the weekend. Just what you would expect in late January.

Unfortunately, it’s just an anomaly in our FOREVER NOVEMBER as we will be back in the 40’s next week and 50’s next weekend!

This is great news if you’re getting the itch and need some time on the water to scratch it but with January nearly in the rearview and just two months remaining before the season begins to get underway, we could certainly use a bunch more winter.

The Snotel map still shows much of the region at or just slightly below 100 percent of average but a substantial portion of that green is starting to turn to yellow (70 – 89% of average) and if we don’t start to add to that snowpack soon it could mean another challenging summer in Montana. Let us hope for a snowy and cold February and March!

Things will be quiet for the weekend with the frigid temps but I would expect we will see some traffic next week.

Nymphing will be your best bet for numbers next week with sow bug variations being the go-to all winter long. Pill Poppers, Tailwater Sows, Pederson’s Sow, Soft Hackle Sow, Poxyback Sow…you get the idea. Rainbow Czechs, Amex and Bubble Yums also in the mix right now along with Rainbow Warriors, Caviar Scuds and Zebras.

The warmer days will likely be accompanied by breezy conditions but if you can find those quiet spots, sheltered from the wind, midge fishing is only going to get better from here on out if winter dry fly fishing is your jam. We are fully stocked on all kinds of midge and midge cluster patterns so stop by and stock those midge boxes on your way to the river.

Streamer fishing has been meh with the swingers having more luck than the strippers on most days. Water temps, while not exceedingly cold, are cold enough that the fish are hunkered down in the slow winter depths and not overly eager to give chase. Try swinging a Kreelex, a Polar Leech, a Thin Mint or other leechy offering or even just a soft hackle if you are so inclined.

For those who just cannot quit the strip (me included), Sparkle Minnows and Skiddish Smolt have been moving the occasional fish but it has definitely been slow going. Regardless, keep at it. You never know what might happen when you dredge the depths with a SLOW strip and a bunch of pauses. Those behemoth browns are down there; you just need to work until you find one willing to move just enough to grab that high calorie offering. A lot of rowing, a ton of casting and stripping and a little luck…the recipe for winter streamer success on the MO.

We are open at 8:30 AM Tuesday – Saturday and as the weather dictates we’re doing what we can to have shuttle service available though that will continue to be hit or miss for another month or so. A call ahead, especially a day ahead, helps tremendously so give us a heads up if you can and we will do our best to take care of your shuttles.

We are stocked up on winter flies and while the Annual Rod and Reel Sale has come to a close we’ve certainly been known to wheel and deal as we clear space for newly arriving inventory. There is no time like the present to upgrade that rod or those waders and boots or whatever it is you need.

We are your Missouri River One Stop shop covering everything you need for your trip to the Missouri. All the gear, all the flies, the best guide crew on the river and a place to lay your head. It’s all here at Wolf Creek Angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-01-23T11:26:27-07:00January 23rd, 2026|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, pill popper, running line, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

January Thaw?

Back in the day we would call this a January Thaw. This winter we’ll just call it more of the same.

Seemingly since November the forecast, with very few exceptions, has called for partly cloudy skies and highs somewhere in the 40 – 50-degree range, often with winds of 10 – 20 mph.
We did have a fair amount of precipitation in December with a couple of dustings of snow, but most was in the form of rain. The data proclaims good snowpack in the high country but from where we sit, far from those high-country peaks, the landscape is completely void of snow.

According to NRCS data, all river basins in the state received between 170% and 300% of the 20-year median precipitation for December. In the lower elevations that came in the form of rain which melted any existing snow, but the hope going forward is that mountain snowpack will continue to build and hopefully at some point we will get some winter weather and see snow at mid and lower elevations.

Snowpack in most areas tends to peak in mid to late April.

For the time being its Forever November here in Mid-January on the Missouri.

What does it all mean?

Again, the data indicates that we are in good shape with much of the region sitting at well over 100 percent of average snowpack so we’re holding out hope that our drought-stricken state will see some relief in 2026. Fingers crossed, praying for snow.

In the meantime, it’s not all doom and gloom. Why not take advantage of the situation and get out and fish?

Temps near 60 tomorrow, closer to 50 through the weekend. The wind forecast even looks good with breezy conditions tomorrow but things settling down for Thursday and Friday into the weekend. 50 degrees and calm in the middle of January is almost unheard of.

Rooms have started to book up for the weekend, but we do still have a couple of vacancies and don’t forget our Winter Guide Trip and Lodging Special….2 nights of premium lodging and a full day guide trip for one or two anglers for just $850.

Winter nymph and streamer bins are fully stocked, and I suspect there may even be some decent dry fly opportunities if you want to stock up on midges.

Shop Hours Tuesday – Saturday 8 AM – 4 PM. Closed Sunday and Monday but always open for lodging and guide trips.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-01-13T13:04:58-07:00January 13th, 2026|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, nymphs, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Welcome 2026

Happy New Year from all of us at Wolf Creek Angler and welcome to 2026 on the legendary Missouri.

Here is the latest.

It feels much more like early November than the first of January. There is zero snow on the ground here in Wolf Creek and the short-term forecast is anything but wintery with daily highs near 50 through the weekend. Temperatures will trend downward starting early next week with daily highs in 30’s. No snow on the horizon. As you would expect with the unseasonably warm weather, conditions will be breezy with SSW winds at 10 – 20 mph for the next several days but that aside, if you’re looking to get out on the river anytime soon conditions are ideal by January standards.

We are checking the forecast regularly and hoping for that plunge into winter but not seeing anything just yet. Fingers crossed and hoping for that much needed snow to arrive starting sometime soon. Admittedly the outlook seems a little dire from where we sit with a snowless landscape but there is snow in the high country and we are still early in the snow cycle.

Water conditions are typical for this time of year with flows holding around 3100 CFS and water temperatures lingering in the high 30’s. There is no shelf ice, and the ramps are in great shape.

Despite the mild weather and favorable water conditions things remain quiet with extraordinarily little boat traffic and only a handful of wade anglers to be found on any given day.

Those who are out there have primarily been nymphing or swinging but on the right days you can punch your dry fly ticket as well.

Winter fare is in play with Tailwater sowbugs (pink or rainbow), Pill Poppers, Pederson’s Sow, Cotton Candy, Pink Ray, Pink Amex, Rainbow Warriors, Rainbow Czechs, Scud Bombs, Bubble Yums all good options.

Slow and deep winter water is your target with double nymphs and a split 5ish feet under a bobber. The fish are in that water. Adjust depth accordingly until you find them.

Swingers are targeting that same water but also still finding success in some of the transitional (faster) runs and tailouts. Kreelex, Polar Leeches, Thin Mints and soft hackles are producing on the swing and those stripping are moving fish on Sparkle Minnows, Mojo Minnows, Skiddish Smolt and the like.

Most of the wade traffic has been concentrated in the Holter Dam to Wolf Creek Bridge stretch, primarily in the Bull Pasture zone.

Our favorite float this time of year is Wolf Creek Bridge to Craig. It is just the right length and there’s a plethora of good winter water in that run which means that if you happen upon a spot occupied by wade anglers or another boat you don’t need to go far to find the next good spot.

Craig to Stickney is also a good option this time of year, especially for the streamer set.

Now that the holidays have passed and we are inching towards longer days we expect things will start to pick up (at least until winter weather arrives) and we will adjust our hours accordingly.

We are here Tuesday – Saturday at 8 AM with winter lodging available anytime. Winter rates are $149/night (plus tax) for one of our cozy bungalows which sleep three and feature kitchens and private baths. Unfortunately, we do not allow pets in these rooms. We apologize for the inconvenience.

We have been getting a few calls about guided trips lately, wondering if we offer a winter special. We do not offer discounted trips, but we do offer a winter lodging and guide trip special for $850 (plus tax) which gets you a full day guided trip for one or two anglers and two nights of premium lodging. This offer runs through the end of March.

Guides are in somewhat short supply during the winter months, so we encourage you to call well in advance if you are interested in doing a winter trip on the MO. Winter conditions can obviously be a challenge so there are no penalties for cancellation of winter trips. Cancel anytime for any reason.

WCA is your Missouri River winter fly fishing destination, and we hope to see you soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-01-02T13:44:39-07:00January 2nd, 2026|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, pill popper, running line, Tailwater Sow, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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