dry fly fishing Archives - Page 16 of 28

Autumn has Finally Arrived

Fall has arrived

Here we are in the final days of September and while autumn just officially arrived last Saturday, in some ways summer seems like a very distant memory.

Most mornings have been dark and chilly and while we’ve continued to have some days with temps in the 70’s the chill returns early each evening.

Traffic has been steadily increasing since about the second week of September and while we’ll be winterizing rooms before we know it, we’re currently enjoying a full house more nights than not. I always enjoy the company during the fall knowing that in just six weeks or so the lonely days of the winter season will be upon us.

Soon the dark winter days of the canyon will commence and the shop will be starved of sunlight until spring. In the meantime we’re loving each and every sunny day.

The fishing has been good overall, though with the increase in traffic comes the increase in sub-par fishing reports. Guide reports have been good most days, DIY reports are always a mixed bag.

The river is in great shape right now, holding in that 4500 CFS range with water temps in the 60 degree range and dropping. We’re getting a fair amount of folks inquiring about the flows, feeling like they are higher than normal. This isn’t really the case as indicated by this chart which shows that we are currently just a few hundred CFS over the historical average.

We get a fair amount of wading anglers who prefer flows to be in the 3500 – 4000 cfs range which is great for accessing more spots but that being said, the river is VERY wadeable right now. You should always use extreme caution when wading any river but these flows are not considered dangerous.

Weeds are an ever-present challenge right now, but no worse than normal. Expect to encounter them and be vigilant about keeping your rigs clean. Weeds are part of the deal this time of year on the Missouri. Don’t let them get you down and don’t expect them to disappear anytime soon. They’ll be here throughout the fall fishing season but there’s no reason to let them ruin your day.

Dry fly fishing is a real possibility each day though we are in transition so expect this to improve from here on out. There have been multiple reports of BWO’s and you can expect to encounter pseudos, callibaetis and caddis as well. Terrestrials are definitely a possibility throughout the fall but we’ve all but closed the book on sub-par hopper season. Ants and beetles are still in the mix but keep your expectations low. We’re moving BWO’s front and center in the dry fly bins as we speak.

Nymphing will continue to produce. No big changes on the bug menu though we’ve definitely seen a shift towards rainbow Czechs as the point fly of choice. Purple weight flies are a close second and I wouldn’t hesitate to throw a pink Amex into the mix. Trail with a black zebra or your baetis nymph of choice. If those don’t work try a soft hackle sow or a tailwater sow. More often than not it’s more of a depth issue than a bug issue but sometimes you have to throw the kitchen sink at them.

It pretty much goes without saying that fall is streamer season so if that’s your thing then you should be here now! Yes, weeds complicate things but work through those issues and you’ll be rewarded. Who knows, that next cast might just miss every weed in its path and entice that 24” angry fall brown to strike. You won’t know if you don’t throw.

Streamer bins are full and we’re also fully stocked with cold weather gear from base layers to hats and gloves to jackets, waders, boots and more.

It’s been a busy month for guide trips and we expect October will be the same. We’ve got plenty of dates available for both the Missouri and the Blackfoot.

Don’t wait any longer, autumn is here…make your fall fishing plans today.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-09-25T19:31:01-06:00September 25th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid September Fishing Report

We bid a final farewell to summer this week with the official start of fall arriving Saturday.

The Autumn chill has been in the air for a while now, especially in the mornings. You’ll want to layer up for sure.

The late summer fishing has been outstanding these past weeks and should remain strong from here on out.

On the dry fly side, Tricos are still in the mix but it’s feeling like that ship has all but sailed. Still a daily event but sporadic at best.

The terrestrial game has been hit or miss this year with ants outperforming hoppers by a long shot. If you stick with the hoppers you’re bound to get an eat or two but trailing an ant has been the right call more often than not.

Hopper wise we’ve had decent action on Moorish and More or Less hoppers in peach, yellow, pink and tan with none of the above consistently out-producing any of the others. You can’t go wrong with purple chubbies. They seem to out-fish the hoppers every time.

Black parachute ants, sparkle ants and Blooms Stealth Ant in purple have all been effective ant options.

There have been enough caddis around daily that a #16 outrigger or plain old elk hair caddis paired with your ant of choice might just make you forget all about the hopper fishing. Hoppers are definitely fun to fish and the takes are awesome but lately your hook up odds have been better with a caddis or even a plain old, tried and true parachute Adams. If you insist on fishing the bigger dries an October caddis wouldn’t be a bad call. I haven’t personally seen any bugs just yet but it’s time!

Nymphing wise the Zirdle craze may finally be reaching an end. I’m not quite ready to proclaim the death of the Zirdle, I tried that once a few weeks back and was proven grossly mistaken. It has definitely slowed though and I’ve actually had a few days where we ditched it altogether. That being said, they’re still selling well and I’m fairly confident that WCA may have the most comprehensive Zirdle selection in the canyon.

We’ve seen a shift towards rainbow Czechs and a return to Tailwater Sows and have also had a run on black zebra midges. Weight Flies in gold and purple have been consistently producing and Psycho Mays and LGM’s and Peep Shows are still go to options. Outliers have been October Caddis nymphs and Soft Hackle Hares Ear and PT jigs. Look for BWO Magic Flies and Split Case BWO’s to come into play sooner rather than later.

Streamers Anyone?

The streamer brigade has been at it consistently during the low light hours and overcast days and if these past two weeks are any indication we could be in for a fantastic fall streamer season on the MO this year.

Weeds have been a problem, especially in the canyon and will continue to present a real challenge throughout the fall but as we’ve said before if you know that going in and you don’t let the frustration get the best of you it goes a long way towards making your time on the water more enjoyable.

It can be tedious work but it’s imperative that you keep your bugs clean (applies to dries and nymphs as well). Trout don’t like salad on their bugs. If you’re dragging weeds around you are pretty much guaranteed not to catch anything and what a shame it would be to have your perfect placement and/or perfect drift negated by weeds on your bugs.

I haven’t observed a lot of streamer fishing going on out there (aside from that occurring in my boat) but judging by the abundance of empty spaces in the streamer bin it’s game on. Reinforcements are on the way and the bins will be full by the time you get here. ZK’s MK Ultra, Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow (JJ or Sculpin), Dirty Hippy in brown, ZK’s Inflated Ego, Autumn Splendor, Skiddish Smolt, Lil Kim, Circus Peanuts and D & D’s are all topping the weekly sales report for what it’s worth.

Traffic is moderate and will continue to increase as we settle into our fall season. Lodging is busy through the end of October but not so busy that we can’t fit you in. Ditto for guide trips. I’d make that call sooner than later though so you don’t miss out on what could very well be the best fall fishing we’ve seen in years.

Don’t miss the fall wader sale going on now at Wolf Creek Angler. 25% off all men’s and women’s waders and boots from Redington and Korkers.

We’re also fully stocked with new cold weather gear from Simms and still have some great deals going on summer gear.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-09-18T17:22:57-06:00September 18th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Korkers, Missouri River, Redington, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Fall Colors on the MO’

September has arrived.

Labor Day has come and gone. Summer Vacation is OVER. School is back in session. High School and college football are underway and NFL football returns this Sunday. Could this be the Lions’ year?

Technically we’ve still got almost three weeks of summer to go but for all intents and purposes autumn has arrived.

It even feels like fall today with a chilly 42 degrees this morning and a high only in the 60’s. We’ll see a return to the 80’s this week before things trend cooler again starting Saturday.

As you might imagine the Tuesday after Labor Day tends to be a quiet day in the shop and on the river but it won’t be long before things fire up again as we enter what we’ve come to refer to as our “second season”.

Rivaling our peak months of June and July, mid -September through mid- November offer some of the best fishing of the season. Having lost a good part of the prime time this season to high flows we’re hoping for an especially strong fall and by the looks of things we’re going to get it.

Guide dates and lodging are filling quickly for late September and the first half of October. The weather will dictate what happens after that but late October and early November have been money for as long as I’ve been here.

We’ll keep as much lodging open for as long as we can but as the cold begins to take hold we’ll be forced to start shutting things down, likely mid to late October. The motel units are the first to be closed and we generally keep the cabins open through Thanksgiving. Our bungalows and the shop are open year round and guides are available any and every day of the year.

Epic dry fly fishing and phenomenal streamer fishing along with great nymphing opportunities define late fall on the Missouri. Crisp autumn air, BWO’s and predatory browns on the prowl make fall my favorite time to fish the MO’ and in fact my favorite time to fish period.

Crowds will soon return, though not like what we see during the prime time so there is some solitude to be had out there as many turn their attention to hunting from here on out.

Expect tricos to continue for the next week or two and stay focused on your pseudo as well as your hopper/terrestrial game. Caddis have been resurgent as of late and will continue to offer opportunities as we await the autumn BWO’s.

Nymphers are finding success with gold or purple weight flies, Psycho Mays, LGM’s, Purple Lightning Bugs, PT’s, Peep Shows, Redemptions, Zebras, 2 Bits and the like. Claws R Cray, Snapping Crays and Zirdles continue to drive the numbers.

Streamer fishing is heating up and will only get better from here on out. Low light conditions and overcast days are key but don’t feel like you can’t fish streamers in the sun. Sunny clear days may not be optimal but you never know unless you throw. There are plenty of big fish caught on streamers on sunny days. Don’t wait for perfect conditions, work with what you’ve got.

Speaking of conditions, prepare yourself mentally to contend with the weeds no matter how you’re fishing. They can frustrate the best anglers out there but if you choose your water wisely and expect the inevitable it’ll go a long way in helping you maintain your sanity.

Olive has been working well as have natural and tan. JJ Sparkle Minnow shines this time of year but don’t give up on the Sculpin version which seems to get it done in just about any conditions. ZK’s MK Ultra in grey or brown and yellow, Dirty Hippies, ZK’s Inflated Ego, Montana Mouthwash, Galloups Peanut Envy, Skiddish Smolt, buggers and polar leeches all good choices right now.

You’ve heard it here plenty and we’ll continue to preach it…fish what you like and fish it well. Confidence in your bugs makes all the difference in the world no matter what discipline but it’s critical in the streamer game.

Most are stripping, some are swinging. Cover a lot of water and bomb the banks but don’t overlook the riffles, drop offs and buckets. The fish are everywhere. Stripping off of the bank will get you your best ROI but you could definitely hit pay dirt hitting the water overlooked by most.

Fish the next two weeks if you want solitude. Busy days are coming.

Holter Dam to Craig is still your best bet for mixing it up with nymphs and dries (emphasis on nymphs). I’d stay below Craig if it’s streamer or terrestrial action you seek.

Welcome to fall on the Missouri. Be sure and pay us a visit for obscene deals on summer gear. We’re in the process of shifting to colder weather gear and will see an influx of new arrivals coming soon.

From the top guides on the river to affordable lodging to shuttles and accessories, rods and reels, lines and leaders, boots and waders and the best bug selection in the canyon we are your Missouri River one stop shop for everything autumn fly fishing.

Don’t miss our Fall Wader Sale happening now. Fall is the time to drag the waders and boots back out. Why not treat yourself to an upgrade. 25% off all wading gear while it lasts. We proudly feature Redington waders and boots as well as Korkers boots which continue to dominate with interchangeable felt and rubber soles.

There are always great deals to be had at Wolf Creek Angler, the best shop you never know was here.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-09-04T19:17:49-06:00September 4th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, Redington, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

August 21st Update

Just a quick river update this morning.

We got a good amount of rain yesterday along with cooler temps which has helped tremendously with the fires. I’m actually looking at some patches of blue sky this morning.

It’s feeling like fall out there with a current temp of 50 degrees. The high will be just shy of 70 today.

Patchy smoke, partly sunny skies and light winds combined with cool temps and no traffic could spell NEAR PERFECT CONDITIONS out there today.

We recommend putting in at Holter Dam if nymphing is your game plan. The Dam to Craig float has been very productive as of late with the run to Wolf Creek Bridge definitely producing the best results. Crowding is NOT an issue right now but if you don’t like being around other boats then skip the row arounds and just hot spot your way down. If you leave the dam crowd early you’ll have plenty of good water to yourself if you want to do row arounds.

Wolf Creek to Stickney has been my go to lately for a great mix of dry fly action and nymphing and the canyon has been great for solitude and is probably your best bet for terrestrial action.

Status quo on the bugs. Peep Shows, black zebras and Frenchies have led the charge in my boat but LGM’s, S & M’s, Weight Flies, Redemptions, Psycho Mays, Tung Darts, Tan UV Czechs and 2 Bits have all been producing as have zirdles and snapping crays.

Best selling Trico….BY FAR has been the Indicator Spinner followed by double wing, hi vis spinners, drowned tricos and buzzballs. No need to limit yourself to those though. We’ve got endless options if you want to show them something different. We would concur with what you’ve read elsewhere however that if you aren’t getting them the bug is generally not the problem. It’s all in the presentation so bring your A game. Practice in the offseason….not during the game!

There are a lot of folks missing out on the best dry fly fishing of the season and depending on the day the nymphing could blow your mind. Our loss is your gain…Get out there and enjoy it before the return of the crowds. They are coming.

You’ve got 10 days left to take advantage of our Dog Days Guide Trip and Lodging Special. Book a full day guide trip and one night of lodging and the second night of lodging is on us through the end of August.

Give us a call at the shop or swing by for up to the minute reports and conditions, the best bugs and the friendliest service you’ll find anywhere.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-21T15:01:13-06:00August 21st, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Your Mid August Missouri River Report

We’re half way through the month of August and continuing to enjoy one of the finest Trico seasons in recent memory.

Light traffic, and clockwork hatches with plenty of hungry targets…does it get much better?

Why yes, yes it does.

Couple these epic conditions with FREE lodging and that’s about as good as it gets.

Our Dog Days of Summer Guide Trip and Lodging Special will only be around through the end of the month. Book a full day guide trip and one night of premium lodging and the second night is on us! You simply can’t afford to pass this up!

How long will it last? It’s hard to say but you’d be wise to get here sooner rather than later if you want to get in on this action.

Go to dry fly selections include Indicator Spinners, Hi Vis Tricos, Double Wing Tricos, Buzzballs, Hi Vis Sprouts, Drowned Tricos and Caddis favorites like Outriggers, Bloom’s Parachute, Cornfed, CDC Caddis Emergers and Front End Loaders.

Nymphing has been solid as well, though much better on some days than others. Nymphing traffic has been primarily in the Holter Dam to Craig stretch with the highest concentration of boats in the grass flats…tis the season!

Even so, it’s far from overcrowded and if you’re willing to work some of the sneakier runs you can have it all to yourself (and still catch a bunch of fish). We’ve been doing well with the Peep Show/Black Zebra combo near the dam and also getting them pretty consistently on Frenchies and Little Green Machines. Red Headed Step Child, Military May, Tailwater Sows, Psycho Mays, Purple Lighting Bugs and PT’s are all good options as are Zirdles and Snapping Crays, especially in the Wolf Creek to Craig run. All of these and many more available now in the well-stocked bins at Wolf Creek Angler.

Hoppers and ants should be a part of your August dry fly arsenal as well. I’ve yet to have a stellar day with the big bugs this season but if you stick with it you should be able to at least move a few fish…especially from Craig down. Work them tight to the banks and don’t overlook the mid-river riffles. I’ve caught some of my best hopper fish in mid-river randomness. Throw anywhere and everywhere. The fish don’t live by our rules of where they should or should not be.

Streamer fishing has likely reached the point of diminishing returns for most anglers with the amount of aquatic vegetation currently in the system but that being said, I would never shy away from it, particularly on the rare overcast days.

Book your fall dates now while there’s still time and stop in for great deals store wide on summer sportswear and more.

Come out and experience the best dry fly fishing of the season and while you’re at it take advantage of the best deals of the season on great gear from the best brands in the industry.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-16T18:37:38-06:00August 16th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Trico Eat on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The clock is ticking on Summer 2018.

The streets of Wolf Creek and Craig are relatively quiet. The parking lots at the boat launches are relatively empty.

Rooms are readily available and immediate seating is the rule, not the exception.

Meanwhile, within the churning currents, eddies, seams and slack waters of the Missouri things are not so quiet.

It is here that the cycle of life is being played out daily as trico spinners swarm over the water in a mating frenzy at first light before dying and falling to the surface film where they become like candy to the ravenous pods of trout gorging themselves on clusters of the tiny bugs.

It’s the real deal…a feeding frenzy, and you can find it happening here daily.

Don’t like fishing tiny dries? No problem. Terrestrials are on the menu as well. We’ve been spending a fair amount of time throwing hoppers and have yet to find the magic but they are eating chubbies and ants. Hoppers were plentiful through several sections of the canyon yesterday so keep at it…sooner or later they’re going to eat them.

Overall the fishing has been pretty good with plenty of dry fly opportunities and good nymphing in most of the go to spots. That being said, it is fishing and you’re bound to have an off day here and there so keep those expectations in check and maybe hire a guide to get you dialed in. We can help you with that!

HOT weather is on the way. We’ll see highs near or possibly exceeding 100 degrees on Thursday and Friday but it appears as though more seasonable temps will return over the weekend.

Don’t miss out on the Dog Days of Summer Special all this month at WCA. We’re offering a FREE second night of premium lodging when you book a full day guide trip and a night of premium lodging along with great deals on sportswear, wading gear and rods and reels.

Give us a call at the shop for up to the minute reports and conditions and make us your first stop on your way to the MO’. We are your Missouri River One Stop Shop with everything you need for your time on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-07T19:44:49-06:00August 7th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Caddis Sunset – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

I overheard some folks at dinner the other night proclaiming that the season is back after apparently having had a particularly good dry fly day, and while I’m not sure it ever really started to begin with it does seem as though things are coming into shape….just in time for the late summer lull.

There are bugs (tricos a plenty, lingering PMD’s and caddis in the evening). The water is perfect for wading (right around 5K and holding) and most importantly, there are pods of rising fish.

It’s happening much later than what it usually does but better late than never!

As luck would have it the summer traffic cycle has been normal. Prime Time traffic is over but Prime Dry Fly Fishing has just begun.

The boat ramps are quiet (relatively speaking), there’s an abundance of lodging and guide availability and the river is calling.

As if that weren’t enough, starting tomorrow we’re running our Dog Days of Summer Lodging and Guide Trip special. For the entire month of August when you book a full day guide trip and a night of premium lodging we’ll throw in a second night of lodging for FREE.

Does it get any better?

Keep in mind prime time usually books out a year in advance. Now you’ve got a golden opportunity to fish prime conditions on the Missouri at a huge cost savings with a last minute call.

We can’t make any promises about the fishing. It’s been good these past several days and hopefully will continue to be but there are no guarantees. The conventional wisdom is that tricos will continue through the month of August. PMD’s are all but done but terrestrials are about to become a major player. Caddis activity has been somewhat sporadic but is always a possibility.

Will we see epic dry fly days throughout the month of August? Time will tell. I expect we will see some good days and some not so good days, as always.

Give us a call today to book your Dog Days Special. You’ll have the potential for some awesome Trico fishing and there is no better month to fish hoppers on the Missouri. Some of our biggest browns of the season are always caught on hoppers. I haven’t even mentioned the nymphing since most of the focus seems to be on top right now but should you want to fish the bobber you’ll likely do just fine.

Best bets for nymphing right now include Little Green Machines, Weight Flies (gold or purple), Tung Darts, Psycho Mays, PMD and/or Rusty Magic Fly, Black Zebra Midge, PMD Redemption, Purple Lightning Bug, WD 40’s, Soft Hackle PT jigs, Red Headed Step Child, Dark Peep Show, Doc’s Summer Bug, Nitro Caddis Pupa, Pulsating Caddis Pupa, 2 Bits and various crayfish patterns (Claws R, Snapping Cray, Zirdle etc.)

Best Dries- Indicator Spinner Trico, Hi Vis Trico Spinner, RS2 Trico, Drowned Trico, Barr’s Trico Emerger, Trinas Hi Vis Sprout Black, Bloom’s Parachute Caddis, Outrigger Caddis, CDC Caddis Emerger, X Caddis, Front End Loader and your grass hopper or ant of choice. We like More or Less, Moorish and White Cloud hoppers just to name a few.

It’s also time to take advantage of the best deals of the season on Simms sportswear during our Annual Summer Sale. 25% – 30% off men’s and women’s sportswear from Simms, Ouray and more.

This could be the best August we’ve seen in years. Will you be here for it?

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-08-01T21:19:57-06:00July 31st, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Dog Days on the Way

As we look towards wrapping up this last week of PRIME TIME on the Missouri it’s time to plug our annual Dog Days of Summer Guide Trip and Lodging Special happening all throughout the month of August.

Beginning August 1st, one week from tomorrow, book a full day guide trip and a night of lodging and your second night of lodging is on us.

It’s no secret that August is traditionally a very slow time on the Missouri as far as angling traffic is concerned. The Prime bug events have come and gone and people are starting to look towards autumn outings despite the fact that tricos tend to last through most of the month and August is prime time for hopper/terrestrial fishing.

This being the case it has made sense for us to offer an extra incentive during the late summer to try to draw in more business. What’s different this year though is that since everything got off to a later start with the high water we’re still holding out hope that the best dry fly fishing of 2018 is yet to come.

It’s the perfect culmination of thinning crowds and ever improving fishing conditions. Throw in free lodging and you’d be absolutely crazy not to make a late summer trip to one of the best dry fly rivers in the nation.

We’re still doing early starts to beat the heat so why not arrive the night before your trip and relax. Get a great night’s sleep and save yourself the morning drive. Your guide awaits…just a few steps from your door.

Spend a gorgeous summer day on the water with your guide and then return for another night of relaxation at Wolf Creek Angler. The sun and the heat (and all that fighting fish) will take it out of you and you probably won’t feel like doing much of anything after your trip. You definitely won’t feel like driving home so kick back on the deck and relax after a great meal at Shotgun Annies, The Oasis, Izaaks or The Trout Shop Cafe. Share your stories from the day over a cocktail or two with the other guests or venture out on your own for an evening of hunting heads.

It’s an awesome time of year to avoid the crowds of primetime and there’s no reason you couldn’t stumble into a spectacular fishing day. You just never know.

Prepare for the challenges of the season, embrace those challenges and you’ll have a great day

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-07-24T21:01:59-06:00July 24th, 2018|Categories: Montana Fly Fishing, Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Dog Days of Summer Special, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Summertime on the MO’

Can it really be that there are just four days remaining in the month of June?

Like it or not, the season is rapidly passing us by and we’re still waiting for the water to come down which sooner or later it will. And while sooner and later are relative terms we’re confident that two weeks from now we’ll be looking at more wade-friendly flows and perhaps the best dry fly fishing of the year.

Traffic has been on the rise this past week with the Missouri still being one of the few and likely the best option in the state right now. Last week’s heavy precipitation delivered the punch we’d been hoping to avoid. The swollen waters caused widespread flooding and road closures in our region and muddied up the MO below Little Prickly Pear and Dearborn which has made the Dam a VERY BUSY PLACE.

The good news is that things are on the drop and the weather forecast looks favorable to maintain this trend. The bad news is that flows on the MO had to be held steady while the tribs blew up but now that things are on the drop it’s time to dump the excess, hence the bumps in flows on the MO this week.

It’s not all doom and gloom though….here’s the brighter side of things.

Yes, high water consumed the month of June and ruined the plans of many a wade angler but the Missouri is so much better for it and if the past is any indication 2019 could be obscenely good following these flushing flows. Stay tuned

The creeks have been off limits for much of the time they’ve been open this year due to the high flows but things are about to come into shape and we should be in for a great summer of creek fishing. Many a season we’ve already been under Hoot Owl closures by this time on some of our favorite small water haunts so we’re stoked to have things just coming into shape as we approach the first of July.

Fishing on the Missouri has been excellent despite the high water and it’s about to get even better. As you’ve no doubt been reading the nymphing on the Missouri has been nothing short of awesome more often than not this season. Sow bugs have remained the steady diet of our trout for months and while I’m not saying there haven’t been a few tougher days out there, more often than not the fishing has been good. The right water, the correct depth, the right amount of weight and a sow bug or two has been the key day after day, no matter the flows. The baetis have come and gone and the PMD’s are soon to be in the rearview but not to worry. We’ve got at least a couple of weeks left of PMD activity and Tricos are on the horizon. Dry fly fishing has been a challenge to say the least but a few days of dropping flows (which we should see very soon) could totally change the game. If you’re headed our way sometime soon you might just be in for some phenomenal dry fishing.

You’re just in time for HALF PRICE FLIES! As always, the Fourth of July is the day for the annual WCA Make American Fly Again Half Price Fly Sale. It doesn’t get much better than half price flies!

Traffic is spreading out on the MO’. You can plan on seeing plenty of activity at the dam and Wolf Creek from here on out but maybe not quite so crazy as it’s been this past week. The water is rapidly clearing and people have already started to wander into the lower stretches. It makes all the difference in the world to have 30 miles of water to work with rather than eight.

These are just a few of the reasons the future is looking bright on the Missouri. We’ve all been biding our time, waiting patiently for things to start to feel a little more like Prime Time on the Missouri. I suspect it won’t be long…

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-06-27T00:09:46-06:00June 27th, 2018|Categories: Montana Fly Fishing, Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Half Price Flies, Holter Dam, Make America Fly Again, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

PMD’s are what’s on the menu. Stop by Wolf Creek Angler for the widest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

The folks at the Bureau of Reclamation have made good on their promise to decrease flows, so much so that we’re currently sitting at 12,000 CFS. Remember it was just one week ago that we were bumping up against 20,000 CFS. A significant drop to say the least and one which has brought us the return of drift boat rentals (including the Project Healing Waters boat as of now) and a renewed optimism following a tough month of big flows and a lot of phone and email conversations having to do with high water.

The fish have begun to expand their diets to include the abundant PMD nymphs now mixed in with the sowbug smorgasbord which defined spring fishing in 2018.

PMD’s are hatching and dry fly fishing, while still a long way from prime, is becoming a real possibility with each drop in the flows and each passing day.

We’re just over a week out from the Summer Solstice….the longest day of the year which, consequently, means that, depressing as it may be, the countdown to winter will soon be underway. The clock is ticking on your 2018 season.

Traditionally we are in the thick of the grind by this point in the season but it seems the grind will be delayed this year. Don’t get me wrong, things are abuzz at WCA. Our lodging is running near capacity as you would expect in June and we’ve been busy in the shop most mornings and have been nearly overrun on more than a couple of occasions.

All that being said, things seem a little quiet on the MO’.

There are definitely folks around but there hasn’t been much waiting at the boat ramps and you can usually find a table or at least a seat at the bar on any given night at all of our local watering holes and restaurants. This isn’t typically the case in June.

It’s true that other waters around the state are coming into shape so that could account for some of it but for whatever reason traffic is down so you couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to come out and enjoy a bit of relative solitude on what is arguably one of the best fisheries in the country, if not the world.

The forecast looks good for dry fly fishing to improve daily. There are bugs hatching and the fish are starting to key on them. PMD’s and Caddis are the game and the long- dormant dry fly bin has finally started to get some attention.

Some suggestions for your dry fly arsenal….

PMD’s – Snowshoe Emerger, Greg’s Para Emerger, Nyman’s DOA Cripple PMD, Helen Keller PMD, PMD Flash Cripple, Brooks’s Sprout PMD, Hi Vis PMD, Rusty Spinner.

Caddis – Blooms Para Caddis, Outrigger Caddis, CDC Caddis Emerger, Jake’s Hi Vis Caddis, Cornfed Caddis, Front End Loader.

Essentials – Parachute Adams, WCA Trude, Purple Haze, Rocky Mountain Mint, Blooms Stealth Ant, Cinnamon Flying Ants, Buzzball.

Still chasing bobbers? Try tailwater sows, Split Case PMD’s, PMD and Rusty Magic Fly, PMD Redemption, Psycho May, S & M, Wondernymph, Weight Fly (purple or gold), UV Czech Caddis, Nitro Caddis Pupa, Tung Dart, Peep Show, PT’s , Lightning Bug (purple), Zirdle.

Streamer fishing seems to have fallen off a bit but with the water on the drop there’s an abundance of water back in play which had been negated by the higher flows. Many have moved on from streamers considering dry fly fishing is a real option so it’s an excellent opportunity to hit those spots you’ve been waiting all spring for. Sparkle Minnows, MK Ultras, Dirty Hippies, Circus Peanuts, D & D’s, Gongas, Dungeons….throw the ones you like, the fish like them too.

The water is expected to continue to drop barring any extended precipitation events and if the most probable outlook shown below comes to fruition we’re in for an awesome season with near perfect water conditions.

Near Perfect Water Conditions

The water is dropping, the sun is shining, the bugs are hatching, the fish are eating…life is good on the Missouri.

We hope you’ll join us for Prime Time on the Missouri River.

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-06-12T19:22:38-06:00June 12th, 2018|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, pmd's, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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