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Your Smoky Missouri River Fishing Report

The Lookout Fire west of Wolf Creek MT Photo by Rocky Infanger

High water fears have given way to earthquakes and wildfires. It’s been an interesting couple of weeks here with Montana’s largest earthquake in decades taking place a couple of weeks back and now the Lookout Fire burning just a few miles west of Wolf Creek. Thankfully evacuation orders issued on Saturday have been lifted as crews have launched an aggressive approach to contain the 390 acre fire which they hope to have a line around by Thursday.

It wasn’t but a few weeks ago we were still getting calls about high water. That’s all changed and the wade anglers are loving it. 4100 cfs from here on out is what they’re saying. We were hoping for a little more water but we’ll take it. Things could be much worse.

From FWP –

Waterbody Restrictions, Closures & Reopenings – Region 3

Tue Jul 18 09:37:17 MDT 2017

(BOZEMAN, Mont.)—High water temperatures and low stream flows have prompted Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to implement “hoot owl” restrictions on several rivers in Southwest Montana starting Wednesday.

The following sections of rivers will be closed to fishing daily from 2 p.m. to midnight until conditions improve effective Wednesday:

Big Hole River from Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to the Mouth of the North Fork Big Hole River;
Big Hole River from Notch Bottom Fishing Access Site to the confluence with the Beaverhead River;
Lower Beaverhead River from Anderson Lane to confluence with Big Hole River;
Lower Madison River from Ennis Dam to the mouth;
Lower Gallatin River from the confluence with the Madison River at Three Forks to Sheds Bridge (Hwy 84) near Four Corners;
East Gallatin River from Spring Hill Road Bridge (Hwy 411) to the confluence with the Gallatin River;
The entire Jefferson River

These restrictions come two weeks later in the year than the first restrictions seen in 2015 and 2016.

Regional Fisheries Manager Travis Horton said, “We’ve been fairly fortunate so far this year with flows in general, but temperatures are high and could stay that way for a while.”

Additional restrictions are possible on other stretches of these or other southwest Montana rivers in the coming weeks.

For up-to-date information on restrictions related to drought, visit http://fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions/.

Dry Fly fishing continues to be off the charts and with the decrease we’ve seen in traffic as of late if you aren’t here fishing the MO’ right now you’re missing out on some of the best fishing we’ve seen in recent memory and you can have it virtually all to yourself (at least by July standards).

PMD’s are all but over leaving Tricos as the current focus though it might be hard to tell whether it’s trico columns or smoke you are seeing because there’s no shortage of either right now. Caddis are present throughout the day and more so in the evenings. It’s hopper time as well. I haven’t heard of any great hopper reports just yet but I’ve seen plenty of hoppers around and while this is not the best hopper river in the west there’s no reason you shouldn’t dedicate some time to throwing the big bugs. Like anything if you put your time in you will eventually be rewarded. My biggest fish on the Missouri to date was a completely random eat on a pink More or Less hopper last summer.

We like the Moorish and More or Less Hoppers in pink, purple, yellow or tan and also the Carnage and Panty Dropper Hoppers. Plenty of these and many more in the giant drawer of FOAM at Wolf Creek Angler!

Best bets for tricos include Indicator Spinners, Double Wing Tricos, Quigley’s Trico Hackle Stackers and Griffiths gnats and buzzballs. Our go-to Caddis rig is the Outrigger Caddis paired with a Grey CDC Caddis emerger. There are all sorts of other options but it’s been my experience that this rig rarely disappoints.

Hot nymphs this week include tungsten bead black zebra midges, Peep Shows, Brown 2 Bits, PT LGM’s, gold weight flies, tung darts, tan UV Czechs, Nitro Caddis, Doc’s Summer Bug, Rusty Magic Flies and Psycho Mays.

Lodging and guide availability are opening up, slowly but surely. Don’t let the hot weather and the smoke get you down. We’re continuing to do early starts to get you off of the water before the real heat sets in and the fishing goes south.

We’d love to have you as our guest but whether you’re staying with us or not stop by on your way to the river for bugs, shuttles, sun protection and anything else you need including what some consider to be “the best coffee in the canyon”. We are your Missouri River fly fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T16:49:02-07:00July 18th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Lookout Fire, Missouri River, Montana, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|1 Comment

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

We’ve been enjoying this brief respite from the scorching heat these last two days with daytime temps only in the 80’s but it’s about to heat up again and we’ll be pushing 100 beginning on Thursday and running right on through the weekend.

Early starts are a good idea, something in the 6:00 – 6:30 AM range. Be off the water by early afternoon and refresh and refocus for the evening hatch. The hours spent in the hot sun can be exhausting but nothing a good old fashioned afternoon nap can’t fix.

It’s prime time for dry fly fishing right now with PMD’s, Tricos and Caddis all in play. PMD’s wont last much longer but not to worry. Tricos and caddis are going strong and terrestrials are about to become a major part of the mix. Bring your A game and come experience some of the best dry fly fishing in the country, if not the world.

Like you, we’ve got our favorite dry fly patterns. Unlike you, we’re happy to share them. Best sellers from the dry fly bins this season include Rusty Spinners, PMD snowshoe emergers, PMD smoke jumpers, Hi-Vis PMD Spinners, Nyman’s DOA Cripple PMD, Brooks Sprout PMD, Blooms Parachute Caddis, Cornfed Caddis, CDC Caddis Emergers, Outrigger Caddis, Extended Body Caddis, Trico Indicator Spinners, Barrs Trico Emergers, Double Wing Tricos, Quigley’s Trico Hackle Stacker, Eric’s Trico Spinner, Bloom’s Stealth Ant, Micro Chubby, Purple Haze, Parachute Adams and WCA Trudes. These are all great patterns to be sure but don’t get hung up on what’s HOT. Take some time to explore the countless other patterns we stock for every hatch. Show them something different.

The focus this time of year is obviously on dry fly fishing but there’s no shame whatsoever in nymphing so have at it. Zebra midges at the grass flats below the dam have been money. Pair them with a gold or purple weight fly or a Tan UV Czech Nymph. Other hot nymphs have been Little Green Machines, S & M’s, Magic Flies, Psycho Mays, Peep Shows, Nitro Caddis, Doc’s Summer Bug, Purple Lighting Bugs along with a host of other offerings. Once again, don’t get hung up on what’s HOT. Get creative and show them something they haven’t seen. You could also go the other direction and show them something they’ve seen since the start. Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears, Copper Johns…..there’s a reason they’ve been around forever. Never overlook the classics.

Streamer fishing has been getting tougher as the weed mass continues to build but it’s definitely still worth your time.

Stop by the shop and stock up on leaders, tippet, bugs floatant and anything else you might need. We’re still officially open at 7 AM daily but more often than not coffee is on and we’re milling about the shop by 6 or 6:30. Stop by if you’re getting an early start.

Traffic is down considerably this week, particularly of the drift boat variety. Plenty of wading anglers out there but overall expect fewer anglers then we saw throughout last month.

Missouri and Blackfoot Guide trips are available and while it is getting easier to find guides on short notice we still recommend you book as far in advance as possible. We’ve got limited lodging available for the next couple of weeks and then things open right up for late July and the entire month of August.

Fall is a different story. If you haven’t booked your fall dates yet we suggest you do it now.

Stay cool and stay fishy my friends.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:22:33-07:00July 11th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Like the view? Call Wolf Creek Angler and book your Missouri River Fly Fishing Guide Trip today.

It’s hard to believe we’re already into June but that is the case so welcome to PRIME TIME on the Missouri.

The river continues to drop (8310 cfs as of now) and we’re likely just on the cusp of potential dry fly Nirvana depending on what happens with the water. More on this soon!

This last week of May into the first of June has proven to be a bit of a lull in the action as folks wrap up their pre-summer activities but it’s about to get real as people from all around the country and in fact all around the world descend on the MO’ for a healthy dose of legendary Montana trout fishing.

Much of the water around the state is on the rise leaving the amazing MO’ one of the only options available for the time being and what an option it is.

Expect nymphing to continue to be the go-to for now but the dry fly game will soon come into play. We’re shifting those BWO patterns out of the bins to make room for the PMD’s which have already started to make an occasional appearance. The dry fly side of the bin has been a lonely place thus far this season with the higher water so as you can imagine we are anxious to see those bugs begin to move.

The nymphs of choice continue to be Tailwater sows, Fish Finder Worms, Wire Worms, Zebra Midges, Rainbow Czechs and the like but we’re starting to see a shift to PMD nymphs including split case PMD’s, Light Peep Shows, PMD S & M’s , Rusty and PMD Magic Fly and PMD Military Mays. Caddis pupae are also in play. Think Tung Darts, Weight Flies and Tan or Caddis UV Czech Nymphs.

It’s also time to get your dry fly boxes in order. Midges are still on the menu along with the occasional BWO but it’s soon to be a PMD and Caddis game.

Streamers are still an effective option on the right day. Cloudy days? Yes. Sunny days? Yes. Early in the morning ? Yes Mid day? Not so much but you never know….

We’ve got a few holes in the lodging and guide book for the next week or so and then it’s slim pickings until mid July but we do get the occasional cancellation and there are a few vacancies sprinkled in here and there so if you haven’t yet made plans and a trip to the MO’ sounds like something you’d like to do then by all means give us a call and we’ll do our best to make it happen.

We know you’ve got a lot of options when it comes to fly shops and outfitters and we are sincerely thankful for each and every customer. We will never take your business for granted. We hope to see you soon at Wolf Creek Angler, your Full Service Missouri River Fly Fishing Destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:35:17-07:00June 1st, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

The Big Muddy. Blackfoot River from Scotty Brown Bridge on May 6th. Photo by Blackfoot Angler Fly Shop

The BIG PUSH has begun. Runoff has started and with it the migration of guides from around the state to the Missouri seeking fishable water for their clients.

The MO’ is definitely where you need to be if you plan on fishing western Montana in the immediate future and while we are largely immune to the blow out conditions found on the freestones during runoff we do have some big pushes of water coming from Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn adding cold water and color which present challenges but also opportunities. LPP is currently running at a muddy 274 CFS while the Dearborn is cranking at 800 making flows on the MO below Dearborn somewhere in the neighborhood of 8500 CFS. Above Prickly Pear the Missouri is currently flowing at 7440 CFS with a water temp of 47 degrees.

Reports from Sunday were mixed but it sounds like the rain and cooler air temps so sought after by the dry fly and streamer guys were negated by the influx of cold, muddy water from the tribs. Solid nymphing reports from the Dam, not so much from Wolf Creek on down.

Conditions will remain somewhat status quo this week as temps in the 70’s and 80’s continue to contribute to runoff. Plenty of sunshine this week as well which may not be what you want if you can’t wait to throw a dry fly but don’t rule it out, we could have some great evening activity this week. Again, blue skies and sunshine are not exactly optimal for streamer fishing either but you might be surprised. Sunshine or clouds, I know what I’ll be throwing this week and it ain’t nymphs or dry flies.

Speaking of nymphs though, we would definitely recommend including a worm in your offering, especially if you’re fishing low. Sow bugs are still getting the biggest nod but it’s time to start throwing the kitchen sink at them. Purple Lighting Bugs, LGM’s, Hot Belly Pheasant Tails, Hi Def, Radiation and Juju Baetis, Split Case BWO’s, Dark Peep Shows, Rainbow Warriors, 2 Bits, S & M’s…..you get the idea.

We’re pretty well booked up for lodging through mid-week but we do have openings for later in the week and through the weekend and we’ve got guides at the ready each and every day.

The shop is full of all kinds of new gear from Simms, Korkers, Fishpond, Redington and more and the fly bins are overflowing with every bug you need for the MO’ and beyond.

Stop in for shuttles, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, Realtime Missouri River updates and intel and what has frequently been referred to as the best coffee in the canyon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:43:22-07:00May 8th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Dearborn, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, Little Prickly Pear, Missouri River, Montana, Redington, RO Drift Boats, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Are there any bugs you ask? Ummm….just a few! photo by Luke Koerten

As we close out the month of April and head into the heart of the spring season things are shaping up nicely on the Missouri with plenty of water (but not too much), plenty of bugs and plenty of hungry trout.

The fishing has been tough on some days, pretty damn good on others. Overall I would still call it “spotty” but there are stretches which are consistently fishing pretty good and some go to areas within said stretches which are holding good concentrations of fish as you would expect them to in mid to late spring.

We’ve still seen better numbers of fish being caught in the canyon but we’ve also had some fair days in the dam to Craig stretch which seems to be improving by the day.

Flows have stabilized in the 7000 cfs range but we are still seeing drops and bumps of a couple of hundred cfs on a fairly regular basis which may be contributing to the spottiness. Water temps are on the rise and are currently holding in the 45 degree range which has the trout on the move.

Streamer fishing has been inconsistent but if you hit it right you can expect plenty of chases and some aggressive takes. The same could be said for the dry fly action. There has been no shortage of bugs with gobs of midges and plenty of BWO’s in the mix but finding feeding fish has been a challenge on most days. Again, if you hit it right you could be in for some epic dry fly fishing….the best of this young season. Obviously “hitting it right” is the key and therein lies the challenge. Our advice….fish early and fish often. You may or may not hit it right but we can say with 100 percent certainty that if you aren’t on the water you aren’t going to catch fish. It’s as simple as that.

Nymphing has been less of a roll of the dice and will continue to be the best bet for numbers. With the increase in flows some of the slots you may be used to holding fish may have moved so if you come up empty fishing your usual line go back and do it again, changing your path rather than the depth of your rig, generally moving towards the bank a foot or two to find your desired water column.

We’ve found most of the fish in the top section are still concentrated in slower, deeper, winterish water which has been producing good results river-wide however we have definitely begun to see a transition to shallow, faster water in the canyon stretch. Fish the slow stuff down there and if you can’t find them then try shortening up your rig and fishing the faster shallow summer water.

Sow bugs have been our go-to as of late with the Tailwater sow leading everything else in my box. We’ve also had good luck with soft hackle sows, yum yums and Firebead sows. Caviar Scuds, Bubble Yums, Rainbow Czechs, LGM’s, Rainbow Warriors, black zebras, Pink Amex, Radiation Baetis, S & M’s , Juju’s, pink or purple Lightning Bugs and hot bead wire worms have all been good options depending on the day.

Keep your midge clusters and BWO’s at the ready as well just in case you happen upon some heads. A hi vis parachute Adams or a Purple Haze paired with a Griffiths Gnat or midge cluster is hard to beat but we’ve also had BWO rigs at the ready. Sprout Baetis, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, BWO Film Critic, Wilcox’s Micromay BWO’s , No Hackle BWO’s, Flash Cripples and Hackle Stackers are all good dry fly options you have at your disposal.

On the streamer side we haven’t seen any one bug leading the charge. It’s kind of been all over the place but greys, whites and olives have been producing in various sizes. I’ve had good luck lately with ZK’s Bunny Wailer in olive and in white and we’ve also been moving fish with brown Dirty Hippies, Sculpin and JJ Sparkle Minnows, Godzilla Sculpins, Baby Gongas in rust, tan and olive Circus Peanuts and black and olive Dolly Llamas. I say it all the time…fish what you like because you’ll fish it with confidence and if you are fishing with confidence you’ll up your odds. Give it a solid hour or more. Change colors, change patterns, vary your retrieve. Streamer fishing requires a commitment which often times leaves you blanked but when you see that chase or feel that slam you’ll definitely want more.

Come on by the shop and check out our much talked about amazing fly selection. We’ve got bugs you won’t find anywhere else as well as plenty you’ll find everywhere else. We pride ourselves on our extremely well-stocked fly bins and we’re confident that if you’ve never shopped our bins you’ll likely be shocked and awed by our selection and if not shocked and awed than at least pleasantly surprised. Buy your Missouri River flies where many of the best guides on the river do…Wolf Creek Angler!

We’re open daily at 7:30 am for all of you Missouri River fly fishing needs. Shuttles, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, LOOP rods and reels, Redington wading gear, Simms outerwear and accessories, clean and affordable lodging, the best guides on the water, the aforementioned biggest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek MT and much more.

We’ll be looking at cloudy skies and a chance of precipitation (rain and snow) most of this week. BWO and Streamer weather to be sure. We did have a couple of cancellations for the weekend which has been booked solid for some time. If a last-minute trip to the MO sounds like something you’d be interested in give us a call and book today. It’s the final weekend to take advantage of our spring lodging and guide trip special….2 nights and a full day on the water for the ridiculous price of $500. You heard right. Don’t let this opportunity slip away. Starting Monday this same trip will cost you over $750.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:45:28-07:00April 26th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Springtime on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The long, cold winter has finally come to an end.

Spring arrived yesterday in a seasonably average fashion with temps in the 40’s and a mix of sun and clouds.

Traffic on the river was virtually non-existent following what was definitely the busiest weekend we’ve seen in 2017. It remains on the quiet side today though there are a few west-siders around seeking respite from their own raging waters.

It looks like it’s going to be a nice week to fish the Missouri with temps in the 50’s and 60’s throughout the week with plenty of sunshine and the ever-present, though minimal chance for rain and snow most every day.

Spring is an awesome time to fish the MO’ as the water temps rise and the fish get active and go to work stockpiling calories in preparation for the rigors of spawning happening now and in the immediate future. More on this to come but PLEASE mind your steps when wading out there taking care not to trample the redds.

So how’s the fishing? It’s definitely been a mixed bag of reports over these past few days but overall I would say it’s leaning towards being on the slow end of things. That being said, what could you possibly rather be doing than shaking off the winter with a trip to the MO’, regardless of the fishing conditions?

Firebeads, pink scuds and sows, Rainbow Warriors, Rainbow Czechs, Pink Amex, Casne’s Pinkalicious, LGM’s, Lightning Bugs, Tailwater sows, Bubble Yums, soft hackle sows, zebra midges….they’re all worth a try. How about a San Juan Worm fished in the dirty water? The currently gauge-less Little Prickly Pear is pumping some mud as is the Dearborn so don’t overlook the worms and definitely don’t shy away from throwing streamers. The water remains on the cold side, still in that 37 – 38 degree range but it’s world’s away from the sub 35 degree temps of the past few months and it’s only going to get warmer so expect things to improve dramatically very soon.

And as if the possibility of good to great nymphing and streamer action weren’t enough we have had some solid dry fly action as well depending on the day with good midge hatches and hungry fish eager to rise to a well-presented midge cluster. We’re stocked up on midge patterns with plenty to choose from but having your dry fly rod rigged up and ready with a Hi-Vis Parachute Adams and a Griffiths gnat or Bucky’s Midge Cluster is about as close to a sure-thing as you’re going to find should you be lucky enough to encounter those sipping trout.

Wolf Creek and Craig are still in winter mode where services are concerned but that’s all about to change as Izaak’s returns this Friday evening. The bar opens at 4 pm and they will be serving dinner from 5 pm – 9 pm six night’s a week. They will be closed on Mondays. It sounds like John and his crew have been hard at work this winter making improvements to their already awesome space. We can’t wait to see (and taste) what’s new.

Should you find yourself here on Monday in need of dinner make your way to The Oasis in Wolf Creek. Breakfast, lunch and dinner served Thursday – Monday. We’ll have yet another dining/drinking option here in Wolf Creek this season with Shotgun Annie’s, formerly The Frenchman and Me. They were hoping for an April 1st opening day but that has been pushed out to June 1st. We can’t wait!

The shop is open daily from here on out with hours changing as the season progresses but for the time being you’ll find us here at 8 AM every day anxious to help you out in whatever we can on the Missouri and beyond.

Piles of new gear arriving daily. A full reel case, a full rod rack, more clothing items than we know what to do with, waders and boots piled high and bins overflowing with all the bugs you need, no matter where you’re fishing.

Lodging options are about to double as we open the remaining cabins today and tomorrow and we’re aiming to have EVERYTHING open by the first week of April, including the completely renovated and soon to be much coveted room #8.

Don’t forget our Spring Lodging and Guide Trip special running through the end of April. $500 for two night’s lodging and a full day on the water with one of our expert guides. You won’t find a better deal ANYWHERE! There are other deals out there….NOBODY can touch this one.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:02:09-06:00March 21st, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Local Buzz|Tags: Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, running line, spring fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Late December Missouri River Fishing Report

It almost feels spring-like out there this morning.

The gale force winds of the last couple of days have diminished (for the time being) and while it’s by no means warm we’re currently looking at a comfortable 20 degrees going up to near 30 this afternoon.

If you’re looking to close out 2016 with one more trip to the river today looks like your best bet. Temps remain fairly steady through the weekend but it looks like the winds will return tomorrow.

The new year will be ushered in with another arctic blast. We’ll be in the single digits for most of next week.

We’ve definitely reached winter water conditions with current water temps at just over 35 degrees and flows holding in the 3600 cfs range. Next week’s cold snap will likely drop the water temp even closer to that freezing mark so you may have to put your Missouri River winter fly fishing plans on hold for a while as we wait for a warm-up.

As the water temps drop the fish become extremely lethargic as their metabolism slows. Once the water temp drops below 35 degrees fishing becomes almost futile as the fish simply aren’t interested in eating or doing much of anything. The good news however is that a tick up a degree or two in these conditions can really turn things on as the fish emerge from their cold-induced lethargy to feed once again. They still won’t be overly active or aggressive but they are hungry so if you know where they’re at and you deliver the goods right to them you can have some pretty damn good days in the dead of winter.

The other nice thing about winter fishing is that you can pretty much run the same rig all winter long. If the fish are feeding they typically aren’t overly choosy. I’m currently running a #12 Pink Weight Fly with a #18 Pink Firebead Sow Bug and while I may play around with that trailing fly I’ll likely go with what I’ve got until I lose everything and then I’ll either replace it with the exact same rig or some variation thereof.

Some of our favorite winter bugs are Casne’s Pinkalicious, the aforementioned Pink Weight Fly, Ninch’s Bubble Yum Scud, Pink Amex, Rainbow Czech, Rainbow Weight Fly, Firebead Soft Hackle Sows, Pink Lightning Bugs, Firebead Rays, Caviar Scuds, Ninch’s Thunderbug….etc. Go Pink and Go Firebead and you can’t go wrong.

Swinging is also a popular option on the MO’ during the winter months but per the above, you’ll likely have more success with water temps above 35 degrees. Swinging versus stripping is key as those fish simply aren’t going to chase anything down with the water being as cold as it is. That being said, I’ve had some tremendous streamer days in 37 – 39 degree water with a SLOW strip. You can’t go wrong with Smallish Sparkle Minnows, Clousers, Kreelex, Polar Leeches and various buggers.

Dry Flies? Not so much at this point but as we roll into the heart of winter we’ll start to see some midge action so if winter dry fly fishing is your thing rig up a Hi-vis Parachute Adams trailed with a Griffiths Gnat, a midge cluster or a buzzball and have it at the ready.

If solitude is what you seek there’s plenty of it to be found out there right now. Keep an eye on the forecast and plan accordingly. We don’t anticipate much activity next week with holiday vacations winding down and sub freezing weather returning but the hard water fishing is starting to heat up on Holter so keep us in mind for lodging if you’re coming out to clean up on perch.

Once again we may not be around much in the shop next week if it’s as cold as what they are calling for but we are open EVERY DAY for lodging.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-12-29T17:53:56-07:00December 29th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weather (and Winter Rate Guide Trips) On The Way

Winter pic

Enjoy the sunshine and warm weather this weekend. It sounds like we’re finally going to see some more seasonable conditions by the middle of next week with clouds and rain and snow and highs in the 30’s and 40’s and lows in the 20’s. This is what we’ve been waiting for!

Get your cold weather gear together, get your streamer rigs ready and keep that dry fly rod rigged. With any luck you may just get your fall BWO fix after all though many of us have moved past that possibility and are concentrating our efforts on winter nymphing and Streamers!

Some are stripping, some are swinging. Both methods are producing and are a great way to spend a day on the water. Our streamer bins are fully stocked with the best bugs in the canyon including many ZK Exclusives you won’t find in any other shop.

Need a new streamer rig? We’ve got great options from Loop, Echo and Redington and a full range of streamer specialty lines from Rio and Airflo. Stay tuned for our Winter Rod Sale happening soon.

If nymphing is your game stick with the sow bugs and scuds and it may be time to start working in some pink and some firebeads as well. Pink Weight flies, Casne’s Pinkalicious, Ninch’s Thunderbug, Pink Lightning bugs, Pink AmEx…..they’re all winter staples and while we aren’t there quite yet it won’t be long.

Water temps are dropping and the fish are on the move making the transition away from the fast (ish) shallows to the slower, deeper winter water.

If you’re going to play the streamer game then I would suggest you still spend plenty of time bombing the banks but don’t overlook the slower, deeper runs where you’ll want to slow that retrieve way down or just let it swing.

Look for a slight increase in traffic out there on the weekends but expect to have it pretty much to yourself during the week, especially when that colder weather rolls in.

Daylight is becoming scarce so you’ll want to keep your floats on the short side from here on out. Wolf Creek to Craig (or something in that 5-6 mile range) is perfect. Late starts and short floats are the winter program so a couple of nights at Wolf Creek Angler make perfect sense. We’ve got plenty of rooms available and at just $99/night plus tax you’ll have more than enough left over for Christmas shopping which, depending on who is on your list, you may be able to take care of while you’re here.

Looking for a great deal on a guided trip? Beginning November 15th and running through March 15th we’re offering full day Missouri River float trips for one or two anglers at the obscenely reasonable rate of $350. Sound too good to be true? Wait, there’s more! We assume you’ll need lodging as long as you’re coming over to fish so we’re offering a guided fishing/lodging package. Two nights lodging and a full day of guided fishing for one or two anglers for $500 + tax! You won’t find a better deal ANYWHERE!

We are well aware that winter can be a sketchy time to book a float trip due to changing weather conditions so for that reason we’re charging NO CANCELLATION FEES for winter lodging and guide trips.

We hope to see you soon at Wolf Creek Angler, your Missouri River late season fly fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-11-12T18:58:37-07:00November 12th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: $350 Missouri River Guide Trips, Christmas, Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, RIO, running line, Streamer Fishing, streamers, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Happy Anglers and Perfect Fall Fishing Conditions right now on the MO’.

We’re enjoying the mild late October weather here on the Missouri River and with it some of the best fishing we’ve seen this season.

Nymphing continues to produce consistently in most if not all sections of the river and is as accessible now as you’re going to see it.

It’s no secret that nymphing is almost always your best bet for numbers but there are many times when it’s difficult to figure out the program. Now is not one of those times.

Short leashing is working, dredging is working and those running somewhere in the middle are finding plenty of success as well.

We’ve continued to have great luck with sow bugs but there are others who have been running the Rainbow Czech/mayfly nymph combo for weeks now, finding no reason to run anything different.

Shallow fast water? Yes. Deep fast water? Yes. Medium depth/medium fast? Yes. Slow deep water? Not yet, but soon enough. That means you’ve essentially got limitless options right now so if someone is in your favorite spot/run so what? Move on. The fish are everywhere!

Your best bets for bugs right now include tailwater sows, soft hackle sows, firebead sows, Rainbow Czechs, Tan UV Czechs, LGM’s, PT’s, BWO Magic Flies, Rainbow Warriors, Purple Lightning Bugs, Rainbow Weight Flies, Jujus, Juan’s Hi Def Baetis and many more including local favorite Ninch’s Bubble Yum Scud which is a great point fly and which got plenty of eats the last couple outings.

Once again, some are running shallow weightless rigs, some are dredging with tungsten bugs AND weight and most are running medium depth rigs (4′-5′ indicator to first fly) with tungsten bugs but without weight. There are a lot of flies that are working. We recommend you try something from the above list or whatever you like, rig it up the way you like to fish and then find the water where it works. Don’t over think it.

The dry fly scene is still a waiting game. We’re seeing a few bigger bugs around daily but it isn’t happening just yet. It could be any day now. Water temps are right where they need to be in the low 50’s and we’ve had plenty of overcast skies. I’ve had my big BWO rig at the ready but it’s remained untouched as it’s still primarily tiny pseudos providing the surface action. This is a game I don’t enjoy all that much but for the die hard dfo’s there are plenty of opportunities to be had.

Streamer fishing has been so so. The strippers have been getting enough action to keep it interesting and we’re starting to see the swingers out there as well, doing their Trout Spey thing with varying degrees of success. If streamer fishing is your thing this is your time on the MO’.

Fishing traffic has been on the decline so if you want to have the thing to yourself (comparatively speaking of course) then now is the time. Give us a call to book lodging or guides or drift boat rentals or stop in for shuttles and bugs and anything else you may need on your way to the river. Wolf Creek Angler is your year-round Missouri River fly fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-27T15:39:04-06:00October 27th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, juju baetis, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The fall fishing continues to please and if things remain consistent with the weather (and the bugs and the fish) fall 2016 will go down as one of the best fall seasons we’ve seen on the Missouri in recent years. Not that I have decades of seasons to compare it to but it’s the best I’ve seen in my time here and for the most part 2016 has been getting rave reviews from most everyone.

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We had a great little taste of winter this week but things are back to normal (actually a bit above normal) today with cloudy skies and 60 degrees…perfect fall fishing weather. Rain is in the forecast as we head into the weekend. Temps will hold in the 50’s throughout the weekend and into next week. 50 -60 degrees on a dry day is nice. 50-60 degrees with rain and wind can border on miserable and calls for lots of layers and a very fishy constitution but most who venture out to fish the Missouri during the fall know the game and appreciate the challenges. The payoff is the potential for great fishing which is exactly what we’ve seen these past couple of weeks and which we will hopefully continue to see for the rest of the fall.

The nymphers and streamer guys (and gals) are all smiles right now and we definitely recommend these courses of action, the former in particular if you are numbers driven but that being said there are dry fly opportunities a plenty pretty much daily and while we’re primarily still dealing with itty bitty baetis that could all change very soon with cool temps and overcast skies and a chance of precipitation each day for at least the next 5 – 7 days.

I’ve heard the words “epic” and “biblical” bandied about this week in reference to the dry fly fishing in a couple of areas in particular and while I wouldn’t go so far as to attach these terms to what I’ve observed there is definitely some good dry fly fishing to be had and it should only improve as we head into the second half of October and close it out in November after which time we’ll stash the dry fly rods at least for a couple of months and concentrate on winter nymphing or swinging.

Best bets in your dry fly box right now? Parachute Adams, WCA Trudes, Sprout Baetis, Flash Cripples, Drown Spinners, Wilcox’s Micromay BWO, CDC Caddis Emerger and October Caddis if you’re clinging to the Dry-Dropper.

Nymphing has been a sow bug game as of late with tailwater sows, soft hackle sows and Granato’s Snack Nasty Sows all getting plenty of action. If you’ve got a favorite sowbug use it, it will get eaten. Czechs, Firebead Rainbow Weight Flies and San Juan worms are all a great option for a lead fly and zebras, Rainbow Warriors, Pearl Lightning Bugs, Gray WD40’s and Little Green Machines are all being eaten with regularity along with a host of others. There have been plenty of days lately with no adjustments to bugs or rigging necessary. We like those days…..especially when it’s cold and rainy and your fingers don’t seem to work very well.

Streamer fishing is good right now, not great, but definitely worth your while. Stick to the overcast days for your best chance at an epic streamer experience or throw them regardless of weather conditions if that’s your thing. We do. I’m liking Circus Peanuts in a host of flavors, Black/Olive Dolly Llama, Sparkle Minnows and Brown Dirty Hippies which we were completely sold out of a couple of days ago but as you would expect we are fully stocked with Black, Rainbow and Brown Dirty Hippies – get em’ while you can! I hear black Wooly Buggers are getting it done as well….we’ve got those too.

Rooms have been hard to come by and will continue to be for the next two weeks but we do get the occasional cancellation so make sure to try us. Guides are at the ready and the shop is fully stocked for fall with cold weather gear, waders, boots, bugs and much more. We are your Missouri River Fall Fly Fishing One Stop Shop with everything you need for your day on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:31-06:00October 13th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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