dry fly fishing Archives - Page 20 of 28

July on the Missouri

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

The season continues to fly by as we close the books on June. We’re swapping out our PMD boxes for Trico fare and savoring the long days of summer. The recent hot weather and lack of precipitation have ushered in Hoot Owl closures in the SW portion of the state which will likely mean more traffic on the Missouri but fear not, she’s a big river. Plenty of fish and plenty of water for everyone. That being said, courtesy goes a long way in preserving peace on the river so please be courteous to your fellow anglers out there. If you are floating – give the wade anglers as wide a berth as you can. If you are wading please keep in mind that while boats are required to give you your space they have to go somewhere. If you are wading mid-river and there are wade anglers on the both banks you may have boats running closer to you than you would like but the vast majority of us who are guiding this river will always give you as much space as possible. Bottom line….be courteous to everyone. We’re all out there doing the same thing…enjoying this amazing fishery.

A huge thanks to all who came out for our Inaugural Fourth of July Fly Sale and for those who missed it, mark your calendars for next year. You missed outrageous deals, the best deals, on the best selection of the most beautiful bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.
It wasn’t the busiest 4th of July we’ve seen, at least not in terms of fishing traffic but by the looks of the parking lot at the Wolf Creek Bridge there was no shortage of folks enjoying a leisurely float down the MO’.
As has become our annual tradition here at WCA we celebrated the 4th with a barbecue for all of our guests and guides and it was a great time as always. Many of these guests have become great friends, having been here from the start.

Those who fished Monday night battled some of the gustiest winds we’ve experienced in a while but there was reportedly some magic in the air as the wind subsided just long enough for some downright spectacular caddis action.
It’s a bit of a transition time right now as the PMDs are on the way out and the Tricos on the way in all against the backdrop of what is shaping up to be a pretty decent caddis season.
The word up high is that while there has been no shortage of tricos in the morning the fish haven’t quite keyed into them yet. That being said, Trico Time is early morning start time. Those who go early will be rewarded.

Make us your early morning Missouri River One Stop. We are open daily at 6:30 AM, before any of the others and lately we’ve had a crowd before we even open the doors so we may very well look at moving that to 6 AM very soon. Stop in for shuttles, bugs, RO and Adipose Drift Boat Rentals, LOOP rods and reels, ARC Fly Lines, KAST guide wear and anything else you may need for your day on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00July 6th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, RO Drift Boats, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Summer Days on the Missouri

It’s hard to believe but we’re just days away from JULY!

As always, the season is absolutely flying past and while it doesn’t seem all that long ago we were anxiously awaiting spring we are now smack dab in the middle of prime time. Dawn comes early and dusk comes late which means LONG days of fishing (and long days of working) and late nights recapping the events of the day in anticipation of tomorrow.

I’ve heard many reports over the past few days….this is some of what I’ve heard.

“The water is really low. This is the lowest I’ve ever seen it.”

“The water is really cranking.”

“Best PMD hatch I’ve seen in years”

“No bugs!”

“Tons of Caddis”

“Where are the caddis?”

“These fish are very picky”

“The fish are still really dumb”

“They’re not eating the duns”

“They’re only eating duns”

“As many boats as I’ve ever seen on this river”

“….pretty quiet out there. Where is everyone?”

As per usual, everyone seems to have a different perspective on things and while we get it that perception is reality this is our take on the current conditions.

We’ve got bugs…..plenty of them. PMD’s, Caddis, Brown Drakes, Yellow Sallies, midges…lots of bugs. PMD’s are plentiful and have been fairly consistent and reliable. Caddis are here. Reportedly not the big caddis we used to have, nor the numbers we used to have back in the day but there are caddis to be found daily and there are fish eating them and often willing to eat your imitation of them whether there are real bugs around or not. Big Brown Drakes in the secret spots only you know about and Yellow Sallies here and there.

The water is in good shape. We didn’t get the push we had hoped for, (We did reach 7,000 but only for a short time) but Canyon Ferry is full and it looks as though we’ll see flows at or near 4100 for the entire season. We’re currently sitting at 4480 with water temps eclipsing the 60 degree mark daily. Look for those water temps to increase substantially this week with highs in the 90’s. Moss is starting to gain a foothold though it is almost July so we’re pretty stoked there isn’t much more of it already.

It’s been a good dry-fly season so far….dry-fly Nirvana on the Missouri. There are plenty of fish eating though it often takes a substantial amount of time and water to find them. When you do they are often times spooky and generally on the picky side but that is why we all love dry fly fishing on the Missouri…..we love the challenge.

Nymphing has been solid, still seemingly better in the canyon stretch though we are starting to see the migration to the dam. A host of bugs getting it done out there including Split Case PMD’s, Weight Flies in purple or gold, black zebras, S & M’s, Military Mays, 2 Bit Hookers, Tung Darts and whatever else you like.

You’ll hear it here often…fish what you like. If you’re confident in your flies you will fish them better and will likely catch more fish. If you don’t like the bug but choose to fish it because it’s the current rage you will likely be left wondering what it is you are doing wrong. We all do it. We all chase the “hot list” of flies which is great for fly sales but next time you are in the fly shop we encourage you to take your time and really take a look at the selection. Sure there are a half-dozen bugs that everyone is buying, that the shops can’t seem to keep in stock and those bugs are selling for a reason but with hundreds of other patterns to choose from we guarantee there are other flies that will catch just as many fish. Maybe start with that “hot fly” and look for something similar, look for something different. Different can be good. The fish like different.

It happens all of the time. Someone comes in the shop asking for a such and such which we are either out of or never had to begin with. We do our best to direct that customer to another selection that would likely work just as well but they’ll have none of it. Tens of thousands of flies and NOT ONE of them will do. We get a kick out of this but we also understand and appreciate the necessity of having the flies you think you need so we work extremely hard at keeping the bins stocked with everything from LGM’s to 2 Bits to Psycho Mays to Peep Shows to Split Case PMD’s to you name it.

Stop by for our inaugural Fourth of July Fly Sale happening all day Monday, July 4th at Wolf Creek Angler. 25% off all flies – a ridiculously good deal and a great opportunity to try some flies you normally wouldn’t. We’ll also have the dollar fly bin loaded up and will have some great gear on the clothing sale rack from KAST, Simms and Redington.

Prime 2017 dates are filling as our happy guests secure next year’s reservations on their way out and fall is really starting to fill in so we encourage you to make those fall fishing plans today. It will be here before you know it!

In the meantime, enjoy summertime on the Missouri.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 28th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Redington, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Caddis Sunset – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Beautiful (though somewhat windy) summer weather following Monday’s Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. We love all seasons on the MO’ but summer holds a special place in our hearts with the long hot days, gentle summer breezes and bugs a plenty. It’s dry fly Nirvana on one of the best trout rivers on the planet!

It’s the time of year when our long-time regulars return and friendships are rekindled over post-fishing cocktails around the trout camp at WCA. Come by most any evening and you’ll find folks relaxing on our porches taking in the canyon views and swapping lies from the day.

Come by most any morning and you’ll find a shop abuzz with activity as our guests and customers get ready for their day on the water. What bugs to use, what section to float, what time the bugs come off, how long it takes to float from the dam to Craig…..these questions and many more are asked and answered daily as we get you set up with premium flies from our ever expanding selection which is rapidly becoming the talk of the canyon.

The OPEN sign goes on at 6:30 AM but the coffee is usually on and the door open by 6:15 making us by far your earliest fly shop option around. We tried this last season and generally found that first half hour to be a quiet time with an occasional customer but the word has apparently gotten out because now we’re more often than not seeing a steady flow of customers from before the sign is even turned on.

Fishing conditions are optimal right now though a few clouds would likely help increase dry fly opportunities. Flows are holding in the 4500 range, currently at 4320 and water temps are in the 60 degree range. PMD’s are abundant, caddis are present and rising fish are plentiful. The wading is easy and the fish, though wising up quickly, are eager to take a well presented fly. Our guests, with few exceptions, have been all smiles the past few days save for some frustration with the wind yesterday which was way more than a gentle breeze but the fishing has been good and the anglers have been happy.

Nymphing remains challenging in the top sections though with a little work you should be able to find some fish willing to eat. The Split Case PMD has been the bug of choice but we’re continuing to pick them up on San Juan worms, Caddis Pupae and a host of mayfly nymphs as well. Lightning bugs, S & M’s, Military Mays, Magic Fly, Psycho May….there are a lot of things working though not much of it working all of the time so plan on changing those bugs and those rigs until you get into them.

We are certainly in our Prime Time right now so we suggest you call well ahead of time if you are seeking lodging, guide trips or boat rentals. The rest of the week looks like it’s going to be nice with sunshine and 70’s. We’re looking at cooler temps and a good chance for some thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday returning to sunshine and 70’s early next week.

We’ll see you bright and early each and every day at Wolf Creek Angler.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 22nd, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Early June on the MO’

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It feels like summer. Sunshine and 90’s and plenty of bugs.

With this weather it won’t be long until our lush green landscapes become much less so as the hills are scorched by the summer sun but we’re holding out hope for some more precipitation and maybe even another bump in the flows which are currently at 5370 cfs. Water predictions are on the shelf for now as we simply don’t know. It feels like we could see another low water year but as I write the sky is darkening with storm clouds. A few big rains could change the whole story. Canyon Ferry is currently sitting at close to 96% full so while runoff may be over or close to it, a few days of rain could very well bring us the water we’re looking for. We’ll see 80’s and 90’s and a chance of showers and thunderstorms all week long before a cool down this weekend returns us to more seasonable temps in the 60’s and 70’s.

Angling traffic has picked up on the river this week after a busy weekend of rec floaters and little angling pressure. It’s a different story today with no shortage of drift boats on the water river wide. We’re heading into Prime Time on the Missouri if you are a dry fly angler….The Big Show! PMD’s and Caddis are on the menu right now and finding rising fish is becoming more and more consistent with every passing day. The majority of the dry fly action is still concentrated in the stretches below Craig and consequently this is where we continue to see the most angling pressure but there is plenty of good fishing to be had in the upper stretches as well.

We’ve had some good days out there powering through what at times has been some very challenging nymphing while on the hunt for rising fish. The fish we’ve found on top have been more than willing to eat for the most part provided you feed them what they want. We’ve had good luck with a gray CDC Caddis Emerger or Cornfed Caddis trailed behind a Sloans Outrigger Caddis or a Parachute Adams, particularly the sparkle variety. Consistently good PMD patterns include the Helen Keller PMD, Almost Dun PMD, Flash Cripple PMD and various PMD and Rusty Spinners. Throw an emerger on with one of these or try the amazingly effective Buzzball.

We’re loaded up with all kinds of cool Caddis and PMD patterns both nymphs and dries. We’ve got more than 50 PMD patterns and at least as many Caddis varieties. Best Bets on the nymphing side right now include Split Case PMD’s, Doc’s PMD, Doc’s Summer Bug, Hares Ear Tung Dart, Light Peep Show, S & M PMD, Brown 2 Bit Hooker, Military May PMD, UV Yum Yum, Purple, Pearl or Olive Lightning Bugs, PT’s, UV Czechs and on and on. It’s a virtual smorgasbord this time of year. Fish what you like and fish it well.

As we mentioned, nymphing has had its challenging moments over the past few days. Maybe it’s the fluctuations in flows, maybe it’s the abundance of sunshine, maybe it’s just fishing….who knows. Work the water you like, change bugs, change depths, move to the water you may not like as much and repeat. If you put the time in you will likely find some level of success, if not, there’s always tomorrow.

Streamer fishing remains an option, especially under cloud cover. Try Space Invaders, Sparkle Minnows, Baby Gongas, Lil’ Kims, ZK’s S.O.B., Circus Peanuts, ZK’s Club Drug, Dirty Hippies and Montana Mouthwash just to name a few. We’ve had good luck with Olives, Naturals and white. Once again, fish what you like and fish it well. With water temps in that mid 50’s range you’ll want to keep those bugs on the move. Make them chase!

We’re open every day at 7 am for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. Lodging, shuttles, sun protection, the best guides on the Missouri River and an ever-expanding fly selection that’s already come to be known as one of, if not the best, in the area. We are your exclusive dealer of LOOP rods and reels and ARC fly lines on the Missouri River. Outfitter Owned and Operated and having as much fun being your fly shop as you are fly fishing one of the best trout rivers on the planet.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 7th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Outlook

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We heard a bunch of good dry fly reports from yesterday, most having found success in the canyon and below. Along with midges and the waning BWO’s PMD’s and Caddis are on the menu, not a ton of either but enough to keep you fairly occupied. Reports yesterday were that Parachute Adams, Trudes and CDC Caddis Emergers all drew some attention.

We just received a big part of our summer bug shipment so our bins are fully loaded with all kinds of cool PMD and Caddis patterns, both dry flies and nymphs. We’re also re-stocked on Green Machines and S & M’s amongst others. You can expect to find all the hot bugs you are looking for at Wolf Creek Angler along with a bunch of other patterns you won’t believe you’ve been missing out on. We’re fully stocked for the MO’ and beyond with plenty of freestone stuff as well and more foam then you’ll find anywhere!

We’re fighting some gusty winds today. Tomorrow will be better and the weekend looks like it could be perfect with temps in the mid to high 80’s and light and variable winds in the forecast. It might be a great weekend to come out and do the dry fly thing on the Missouri before things really get busy out there which looks like next week. We’ve got our busiest couple of weeks on the water thus far starting next week and I can only assume the story is the same with the other shops and outfitters so come out and enjoy the relative solitude on the MO’ now and expect a lot of traffic (and plenty of fish) in the weeks to come.

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.

There haven’t been many PMD’s around as of yet so we haven’t really started fishing these patterns but it’s definitely time to dig out your PMD box and organize, inventory, re-stock and expand your selection. Some of our favorites are Nyman’s DOA Cripple, Flash Cripple, Powell’s Helen Keller PMD, Almost Dun, Knock Down Dun, No Hackle PMD, Captive Dun, PMD Drowned Spinner, Eric’s Rusty Spinner, CDC Rusty Spinner and various Hi Vis PMD and Rusty Spinners. My go-to PMD nymphs are the PMD Magic Fly, Split Case PMD, S & M PMD, Light Peep Show, Doc’s PMD, Doc’s Summer Bug, Psycho May PMD, Trina’s PMD Angel Case Emerger and the good old Gold LB.

On the caddis side we like Sloan’s Outrigger trailed with a cdc emerger or Cornfed Caddis. Try a purple or gold Weight Fly or a Tung Dart if you’re in search of a good caddis pupae nymph and don’t forget the buzzballs as they represent pieces and parts of pretty much any hatch you might be fishing.

It seems as though we’ve had our peak flows, at least for the time being. Expect flows to continue to drop as the runoff flows into Canyon Ferry dwindle. We’re stoked to have a hot sunny weekend on tap but we’re holding out hope for cooler temps and plenty of precip throughout June. Fingers crossed! LPP and the Dearborn are on the drop and are in great shape right now if small water happens to be your game.

We’ve got the calm before the storm happening now with a quiet weekend before guide trips and lodging kick into high gear on Monday. Plenty of availability for both for the next three days if a spur-of-the moment trip to the MO’ is in the cards for you. Book a room and a guide trip or grab one of our RO or Adipose Drift Boats and explore the river on your own. Just coming for the day? Stop by the shop for everything you need. Shuttles, sun protection, Smith Optics, LOOP rods and reels, Obscene Clearance Prices on winter gear from KAST and Outdoor Research and the best bug selection around.

See you this weekend at Wolf Creek Angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 2nd, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid Week Missouri River Report

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The sun is shining today…intermittently, but enough to brighten our day. Much needed and much appreciated precipitation continues.

Your 10 day forecast? Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms and highs ranging somewhere in the high 50’s/low 60’s daily.

Flows are up – currently 6360 cfs. We will continue to see increases as the folks in the know make room in Canyon Ferry for runoff. How high will it go? Only time and precipitation amounts will tell but at this point we’re happy with the water forecast and we’re optimistic about the season.

We get a lot of questions about whether or not fluctuations in the water flow have a negative effect on the fishing and I think some days it does but the running joke amongst guides is that it depends what kind of day you have. If you end up getting it handed to you then you have your excuse for the day. A couple of hundred CFS is definitely substantial and if nothing else it does move the fish around and I’ve seen it happen enough where it’s been good in the morning and then they bump the flows (or drop them) and things shut down so I would say that more often than not it does affect the fish.

So should you plan to come fish the MO’ this week? Absolutely you should. We love 6 – 7,000, you will too. Nymphing continues to be strong and we’ve had some very good streamer days as well as some ok dry fly days. Same story on the nymphs – tailwater sows, wire worms, LGM’s, Tung Darts, Purple Weight Flies etc. My go-to streamer is still Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin but we’ve got bins full of bugs that are getting eaten with some regularity so come check out our selection and pick up a few you won’t find at any other shop.

The weather will be perfect for all of the above for the next little while so make it a point to beat the crowds and get out here ASAP. We do have lodging available for the end of May and the first few days of June before things go crazy so give us a call and book yourself a few nights at WCA and a few days on the legendary Missouri with some of the best guides on the river.

Shop open daily at 7 AM for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:35-06:00May 24th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

John and daughter Ellie were all smiles for a couple of wet days on the MO’.

So far May has not disappointed.

The fishing has been good for most and Mother Nature continues to please with plenty of precipitation and cool temps keeping us optimistic about what we’ll see for water on the MO’ this season.

On the flip side we have heard a few complaints about the weather (and maybe even complained about it ourselves from time to time) with a lot of folks ready for some warm, dry days on the water. We’re selling plenty of Kast Steelhead Gloves and we’ve yet to put away the Hand Warmers and it’s been a good spring for wader and rain gear sales so we’ll take it but it’s sure nice to see the sun shine every now and again! Don’t get me wrong – we’re thrilled to be getting the precipitation and the fishing in the rain is just fine but a bit of sunshine is good for the soul.

We fished through a rainy weekend and transitioned from rain and cold yesterday morning to a gorgeous afternoon/evening and a couple of warm sunny days today and tomorrow before rain returns for the weekend. Expect plenty of traffic this weekend, rain or shine, with the 10th Annual Craig Caddis Festival and BBQ Cook Off happening on Saturday. Come out and enjoy some great food along with awesome silent auction items including fishing trips, original art and gear from your favorite local fly shops. The festivities get underway at 4:00 PM.

Good nymphing out there the past couple of days with the stronger reports coming from the middle and lower stretches. The canyon has been fishing particularly well but there are plenty of fish and plenty of opportunities river-wide. Wire worms and sow bugs have been a good go-to combo but we’re starting to get some solid action on various caddis pupa as well. Weight flies in purple or gold are a great choice for a point fly right now, trailed with your favorite sow bug, mayfly or midge imitation. LGM’s, S & M’s in brown, Yum Yums, Tailwater Sows, Granato’s Snack Nasty Sows, Psycho Mays, Dark Peep Shows, black zebra midges, split case bwo’s, Hot Belly PT’s, Pearl Lightning Bugs and on and on.

Fish the bugs you have confidence in and think depth before you think bug changes. There are certainly some bugs that are consistently working out there but it’s funny how we all get caught up in fishing the “Hot Flies”. We are happy to sell you the HOT FLIES but it’s not uncommon to have people return to the shop after fishing these HOT FLIES having not had any luck with them. Fish what you like. If you thinks it’s going to catch fish you tend to fish it well and often times this is the difference between success and failure.

Dry-fly fishing has been hit and miss at best with BWO’s on the wane and caddis few and far between in the stretches below Craig. It’s been a great BWO spring as far as bugs go but more often than not we’re hearing reports of very few fish up on them. Not to worry though, there is plenty of dry-fly fishing ahead. Keep that dry fly rig at the ready.

Streamers have continued to produce for us to the point where I will say it’s been a pretty damn good couple of weeks. Not exactly HOT but definitely worth committing to for a day, or at least for a couple of hours. Zach and I share a passion for streamer fishing and it shows in our bug selection. Stop by and see what’s new. We’ve got a bunch of new bugs including some WCA/Chewy Exclusives you won’t find in any other shop. We’re happy to set you up with everything you need for streamer fishing on the MO’ and beyond. We’ve got a wide selection of specialty lines from RIO , SA and Airflo and we’ve got some great streamer sticks from LOOP, Echo and St Croix. We’ve been referred to by some as having the best streamer selection in the canyon. Whether or not this is the case we definitely take great pride in our selection and we hope you make WCA your Missouri River Streamer Fishing Headquarters.

We do have a few vacancies in the motel this week and we’ve always got top notch guides at the ready. Give us a call today and book a Missouri River Fly Fishing getaway you won’t soon forget. We’ve also got Adipose and RO drift boat rentals, shuttle service and a shop full of everything you need for fly fishing the Missouri River and beyond. We are your full service Missouri River Fly Fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:35-06:00May 17th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, RO Drift Boats, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Streamer Time! Photo by Dax Hoovestal

It’s been an interesting weather week on the Missouri going from sunshine and 80 degrees on Sunday to rain and snow and cold on Monday and Tuesday. We started cold today with temps just shy of 30 degrees but it’s warmed up nicely and the sun is shining again which may have a negative effect on the fishing but it sure feels good!

Those who braved the elements on Monday and Tuesday were rewarded with some great fishing including good dry-fly opportunities as well as a good streamer bite which has really been heating up the past week or so. Nymphing is of course very good right now and will continue to be your best bet for numbers.

We’re in the midst of our busiest week of guide trips so far this season so the shop has really been abuzz with activity in the mornings and with most of our lodging full every night it’s starting to feel a lot like prime-time. One of my favorite things about WCA is the community that happens around here during the busy season.

It’s been cold and rainy so there hasn’t been a lot of hanging out going on but on the warmer evenings when everyone returns from their day of fishing the porches and the bar at WCA are the place to be. You will usually find folks having a cocktail or two while trading stories from the day with friends both old and new. It’s what has kept many of you coming back to stay with us year after year and it’s one of the things I absolutely love about this business.

Back to the fishing report. As I said, we’ve had a couple of pretty darn good days out there. We’ll see what happens with the return of the sun and a substantial bump in the flows today. I haven’t heard any reports as of yet but I would bet things might be a little different out there today.

Best sellers from the nymph bins this week have been Tan UV Czechs, Purple Weight Flies, Gray LGM’s, Brown 2 Bits, Psycho Mays, Angel Case Emergers, Bubble Back Emergers, Dark Peeps, Juju’s, PT’s, S& M’s and Lightning bugs in Pearl and Purple.

On the dry side we’re still liking the Olive Adams, BWO Drown Spinners, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, Purple Haze, Rocky Mountain Mints, Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Buzzballs, Grey CDC Caddis Emergers, Outrigger Caddis, BWO Flash Cripples and other assorted BWO, midge, caddis and March Brown patterns. When in doubt go with the Parachute Adams which likely catches more fish on the MO’ than any other dry fly.

Chewy and I have both been thinking Streamers lately and it shows. Our new streamer bin is full of all kinds of new bugs neither you nor the fish will be able to resist. Hot ones as of late have been Home Invaders in Grizzly/Olive, Lil’ Kim in Copper, Sculpin Sparkle Minnow, Skiddish Smolt in Olive or White and Circus Peanuts in tan or olive. Some cool new additions we haven’t even had a chance to fish yet are Craven’s Dirty Hippy in Black, Rainbow Snot Rocket and Sundell’s Moss Fire. Come check out the ever-expanding bug selection at Wolf Creek Angler – we’re confident you might just be blown away! FullSizeRender (10)

We’ve got a full house for the rest of the week but we hope you still make us your one-stop on the way to the river for shuttles, bugs, RO and Adipose Drift Boat Rentals, Redington wading gear, Fishpond packs and accessories and a bunch of cool logo products including Stanley beer growlers and pocket flasks and piles of Simms logo gear.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:35-06:00May 11th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Craven's Dirty Hippy, dry fly fishing, Missouri River, Redington, RO Drift Boats, running line, Streamer Fishing, Sundell's Moss Fire, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Outlook and Water Update

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Today looks to be the best day of the weekend to fish with sunny skies returning tomorrow. It looks like it’s going to be a pleasant, though not so fishy weekend before the next weather system moves in on Sunday night brining a wet start to the week. We love it. Keep that precipitation coming!

At this point the conversation has definitely shifted from snow pack to rainfall amounts. There is still a fair amount of snow in the high country but it’s rapidly disappearing , especially with the 80+ degree temps we saw over the past few days. Daytime temps in the more seasonable 50’s and 60’s next week along with cool nights will help maintain the moisture levels though rainfall will be the wild card where flows are concerned. Canyon Ferry is currently sitting at 83% of average which is 110% of the 30-year average which has us feeling optimistic.

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The Bureau of Reclamation has adjusted their water supply outlook ever so slightly downward in the latest report but we’re still looking good with the most probable flows holding at just over 4,000 cfs through the month of May before peaking just shy of 6,000 next month and then holding in the 4000 range for the remainder of the water year. Max probable would give us 7500 this month and a peak of around 10K before holding around 5,000 for the remainder of the water year. Minimum probable would look very similar to last year with no real push of water and flows maintained somewhere in the 3000 range. We would LOVE to see that max probable scenario take place but as always, we’ll take what we get and make the best of it. There’s not much else we can do. A wet spring will move us ever closer towards those desired flows so while there’s nothing like floating the MO’ on a warm sunny spring day we’ll take the rainy days while we can get them.

Things are ramping up again at WCA. We had a couple of slow-ish days earlier this week but now we’re heading in to full tilt mode with our busiest week of guide trips so far this season happening next week. We’ve got a few lodging vacancies tonight and tomorrow but starting on Sunday things are pretty well full for the week. Regardless, we encourage you to give us a call if you are in need of lodging. We do have a few vacancies scattered intermittently and we do get the occasional cancellation. If we’re full we’re always happy to help you find lodging in the area.

Our guides are busy but our bench is deep so if a day of guided fly fishing on the Missouri is on your list don’t hesitate to give us a call. Each and every one of our guides is committed to making your day on the water one you won’t soon forget. You are our number one priority whether in the shop or on the water. Call and book a trip with us today and find out for yourself what a trip with Wolf Creek Angler is all about, you’ll be glad you did and we’re confident you will return to fish with us again.

Thanks to all who came out for the Inaugural Bugs & Suds Fly Tying night at WCA. It was a great night and we hope to do it again soon.

Inaugural Bugs & Suds Fly Tying Night at WCA with Vince Wilcox – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:35-06:00May 6th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Book your Missouri River trip of a lifetime today.

May is off to a somewhat quiet start after the busiest April we’ve seen at Wolf Creek Angler.

We’ve traded in the clouds and cold and snow and rain of last week for blue skies, sunshine and temps in the 80’s through the later part of the week. Things will return to more seasonable conditions on Friday with cooler temps and a chance for some rain over the weekend. If dry-fly fishing is what you long for then maybe wait until the weekend. In the meantime we’ll be taking advantage of the pause this week to recalibrate our nymphing rigs while holding out hope for some decent streamer action and perhaps a head or two during the low-light hours of the day.

If you’re just looking to get out and enjoy the sunshine and maybe work on that tan the next couple days will be ideal. If you’re planning on making a serious effort to catch some fish look to mayfly nymphs and deepish rigs. We’ve been having our best luck on Split Case BWO’s, Olive Psycho Mays, PT’s, Grey LGM’s, Tungsten Juju’s, Soft Hackle Sows, Yum Yums, Rainbow Czechs, Angel Case Emergers, Bubble Yums, Purple Lightning Bugs, S & M’s, Military Mays and various other standard and not-so standard Missouri Spring Go-To’s.

Fish are where they should be, adjust until you find them. Think medium fast, medium depth and don’t forget the swirlies!

Again, not the best conditions this week for dry-fly fishing though there certainly have been plenty of BWO’s and midges around as well as March Browns and rumors of caddis clouds in a few locations. Stop by the shop for the rest of the story! Olive Adams, Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Flash Cripples, Quigley’s Film Critic BWO, Wilcox’s Micro Mayfly BWO, Buzzballs, Keller’s Rocky Mountain Mint, CDC BWO Emergers, BWO Drown Spinner and BWO Hackle Stackers all getting some attention out there on the right day. We’ve also got you covered on March Browns and Mother’s Day Caddis Patterns.

If it’s streamers you’re after we’ve got you covered there as well with all of your Missouri River favorites and a bunch of WCA Exclusives you’ll only find in one shop! Looking for foam? We’ve got more foam than we’ve ever had. Come check out the ever-expanding largest selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Plenty of lodging available this week, not so much in the weeks to come. Call today and book your Missouri River fly fishing trip of a lifetime. We are your go-to Missouri River fly fishing destination with on-site lodging, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, a fully stocked first-rate fly shop featuring anything and everything you need for fishing the MO’ and beyond and a guide crew and shop staff unmatched in their commitment to professionalism and exceptional customer service. WCA is the best fly shop you never knew existed! We hear it all of the time….”I never knew you guys were here.”

Stop by soon and see for yourself what the buzz is about.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:35-06:00May 3rd, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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