Echo Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Wolf Creek Angler

Thinking Spring

The snow continues to pile up but we’re thinking spring at Wolf Creek Angler

It’s two degrees in Wolf Creek today but as we close in on just under six weeks until the first day of spring we cant help but begin to get excited about the rapidly approaching season.

Winter continues to make its presence felt with frigid temps and plenty of snow over the past couple of days. We’ve got more snow piled up around the shop right now than I’ve seen in my years here and we didn’t get a fraction of what our friends in NW Montana got over the last couple of days with some areas receiving up to 50″ of new snow.

The Montana SNOTEL Snow Water Equivalent map is beginning to transform into what we like to see and while much of the region is still below 90 percent of average we’re seeing more and more green (and some blue) daily which we’re hopeful will mean a good water year again on the MO’ and hopefully around the region. With plenty of winter ahead we are optimistic conditions will be ideal.

The SNOTEL Water Year map for total precipitation (% of average) looks even better but keep in mind this is total precipitation, not snow pack.

So what’s it all mean?

Once again, it’s still early to tell but we like what we’re seeing. We will hopefully continue to accumulate snow pack in the high country but as always, the unknown is the amount of precipitation we will see in the spring which will ultimately determine what we see for water this year.

The latest predictions from the Bureau of Reclamation are calling for most probable average flows on the Missouri below Holter in the 4ooo cfs range based on current conditions at Canyon Ferry Reservoir which at this point is 75% full which is 95% of the 30 year average for this date. Translation….good most probable flows but the Max Probable would be even better with a nice 10K flush in June.

It looks like we will see a hint of spring at the end of this week with temps in the high 30’s and low 40’s beginning on Thursday. The 10 day is calling for plenty of sunshine and sustained moderate temps through the end of next week so we may be on our way.

As we move towards the more mild temps of mid to late winter keep in mind Wolf Creek Angler has the undisputed best deal on the water this winter with two nights lodging and a full day of guided fishing with the best guides on the river for just $500 plus tax and NO CANCELLATION FEES!

Whether you’re fishing with our guides or doing things on your own, make us your first stop on the way to the MO’.

We are your Missouri River fly fishing one stop shop with clean and affordable accommodations, great guides and THE up and coming Missouri River fly shop fully stocked with anything you need for your day on the water.

Shuttles; Adipose and RO drift boat rentals; cold-weather gear from Simms and Kast; wading gear from Redington; rods from Loop, Echo and Redington; reels from Ross, Nautilus, Loop and Echo; Nomad nets and accessories a plenty from Fishpond; all kinds of great WCA logo gear and of course the biggest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-02-07T19:32:02-07:00February 7th, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Echo, Fishpond, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Kast Gear, Loop, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, Redington, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Memorial Day Weekend

WCA-mountains-fish-bridge-location-navy

It’s hard to believe but Memorial Day is already here – the unofficial start of the summer season. In some respects it feels like it’s been a long time coming but mostly it feels like another season is absolutely flying by.

The early start we had with an extremely busy April means we’ve already been somewhere close to, or at Full Tilt for almost two months already and while we’ve had a few slower times during these last few weeks for the most part we’ve been busy settling in to our prime-season routines.

Things have been so busy that I let April 1st get by without talking about WCA celebrating birthday #2. As we head into this third season we’re thrilled with the growth we’ve already seen and we’re excited about things to come.

Part of growing a business is building a team to meet the increased demands that come with a busier shop and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing. If you’ve been in the shop recently you’ve likely noticed a bit more variety behind the counter with Zach and I sharing these duties. We’ve recently added another shop guy Tyler, whom you’ll be hearing more about soon. Behind the scenes on the housekeeping side Cindy has things dialed in as always with help from Jeanette who has returned to help us out this season. These two are definitely the unsung heroes of the operation!

My intent is to spend a bit more time on the water guiding this season so I may not be in the shop quite as much but more often than not I will be here. When I’m not, you’re in good hands with Chewy!

New faces, new logo, new products…..same old commitment to customer service. You will always be our number one priority, whether in the shop or on the water. You’ve got plenty of choices when it comes to fly shops and guides…not as much when it comes to lodging but we’re definitely not the only game in town. We get it! This is why your satisfaction is our number one priority whether you are shopping with us, lodging with us, fishing with us or all of the above and this is why you can expect exceptional service every time you set foot in our shop.

If you haven’t been by the shop in a while you should definitely stop in and see what’s new. Product highlights for this season include the addition of LOOP rods and reels, more great gear from industry leaders like KAST, Rio, Nautilus, Redington, Smith and more; awesome WCA logo gear from Simms, Hydro Flask and Stanley; and an ever-expanding fly selection the likes of which has never seen in Wolf Creek Montana. It won’t take long for you to see why so many Missouri River guides frequent our shop. It might be the free coffee, it might be our smiling faces but my bet is it’s the bugs!

Looking for a guide? We’ve got the hardest working guide crew on the river and as the “new shop” we can’t wait to show you how that same commitment to customer satisfaction you find in our shop also applies on the water. There’s no shortage of guides on the Missouri River so you’ve got plenty of choices. We hope you choose us.

As one of the only Outfitter Owned and Operated shops in the area we have the edge when it comes to getting you on the water with an exceptional professional guide even with very little notice. We offer the complete package. Clean, affordable lodging; an up and coming fly shop with everything you need for your day on the Missouri and the hardest working guides you’ll find anywhere. We are full-time Missouri River guides. 24/7/365. This is our home water and we fish it year round. We don’t winter in the tropics. We winter on the MO’.

We hope to see you this Memorial Day weekend at Wolf Creek Angler. Start your summer off right with a weekend on the Missouri. Lodging and guides available – book today.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:35-06:00May 26th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter is rapidly losing its grip.

Our early spring continues here on the Missouri as we enter March with temps flirting with 60 degrees for the rest of this week.

What’s it mean for the coming season? It’s still too early to tell but the Snow Water Equivalent is still looking decent at 91% of average. We’re hoping winter persists in the high country, at least for a while but we’ve started to come to terms with the fact that we may very well have seen the last of winter weather here on the river.

Screenshot (49)

Those in the know are not predicting any kind of high water event, in fact what’s being predicted is a water year very similar to 2015 with average spring flows holding around 4,000. We shall see. Spring rainfall is the big factor in the water equation so all we can do is wait and see what happens. In the meantime we are enjoying the mild weather, especially on the days the wind doesn’t blow (which are few and far between).

Traffic seems to come in spurts. We were busy in the shop and were full most of last week and even did a few guide trips but things have been pretty quiet this week with just a few guests around. If you’re planning to come out and fish this weekend we’ve got one cabin left for Friday night and two on Saturday. Looking at the forecast it’s likely we will be full so don’t miss out.

Come by the shop and see what’s new. We’ve been receiving a bunch of our spring orders and have some cool new gear from Loop, Redington, Echo, Rio and more. We’ve also got some great deals on winter gear as we make room for the new arrivals including 40% Kast Hell Razor jackets. These are awesome jackets at an unbelievable savings.

Fishing reports have been mixed this week. Some good days, some ok days and some downright slow days depending on who you ask. We’re continuing to target winterish water with winterish bugs for the most part but transition is definitely underway as the water continues to warm up.

Swingers are out in force having varying degrees of success with the two-handed rods while the single hand streamer crowd is also finding some willing players. Keep that retrieve slow for them time being but don’t limit yourself to slow water as the fish have been found in all different depths and speeds of water over the last week or two.

Dry fly fishing is a go, depending on the day. There are midges around and fish on them. Sun and wind conditions will define your day. Stay late as some of the best action has reportedly been just before dark.

We hope to see you soon, in the shop and on the water. We’re open REGULARLY at 8:00 AM Wednesday – Sunday and we’re usually around on Mondays and Tuesdays as well depending on the weather. Look for the seven-day a week shop schedule to start soon and remember we are always OPEN every day for lodging and guide trips. We will likely open more lodging up next week as we’ve had to turn people away on a fairly regular basis. We won’t open the motel units until April but we should have a couple more cabins ready to go very soon.

Stay tuned for updates!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:38-06:00March 2nd, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, Redington, RIO, RO Drift Boats, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter Fare at Wolf Creek Angler

We’ve got a nice weekend on tap here on the Missouri River, especially by mid-January standards with temperatures in the high 20’s and to low 30’s, relatively calm winds and a chance for snow showers each day. We are under a winter weather advisory beginning this afternoon at 2 pm and ending tomorrow morning at 11:00 AM. We could see 2-4 inches of new snow tonight.

The fishing could potentially be pretty good on the river and there was a fair amount of traffic headed up the lake again this morning. We’ve got a full house tonight but things open up on Sunday. If you’ve got Monday off for MLK day it wouldn’t be a bad call to book yourself a bungalow for Sunday night and a $400 full day guide trip on Monday. We’re supposed to see temperatures in the 40’s Monday.

Good reports from the past couple of days both from the nymphing set and the streamer guys. The go-to flies have been Pink Sows, Pink Scuds, Pink Lightning Bugs, Pink Amex…..notice a pattern? We’ve also done well with a few firebead patterns. Rainbow Weight Flies, Firebead Sows, Firebead Rays….. there are plenty of bugs that are working well these days, you just have to put them in the right place. With water temperatures in the 33-34 range those fish simply aren’t going to move much so you need to make sure you are putting it right in front of them. Generally you’ll find that where you pick one up you will pick more up as they are congregating in those spots right now.

Hot Head Kreelex, Hot Head Buggers, Polar Leeches in Brown and also Olive/Copper, Sparkle Minnows and Skiddish Smolts are all getting some action on the streamer side. We’ve got all of these and many more including a bunch of new patterns just begging to be fished. Stop by and check out the undisputed best streamer selection in Wolf Creek Montana.

There will definitely be some traffic out there this weekend with the weather being what it is. It’s a great weekend to fish! It’s also a pretty good weekend to watch playoff football with the Chiefs and Pats playing this afternoon and the Packers and Cardinals tonight. Seahawks and Panthers tomorrow morning followed by Steelers and Broncos tomorrow afternoon. They should all be great games.

Be sure and stop at Wolf Creek Angler if you are coming out to fish. We’re your one stop for everything you need for winter fly fishing on the Missouri. Shuttles, cozy lodging, cold weather gear, closeout deals on St Croix and Echo fly rods, RO Drift Boat Rentals, all the best winter bugs, Kast Steelhead Gloves, great coffee and much more.

The Oasis is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Thursday-Monday so you’ll definitely have a place to eat as well as have a cocktail or two while you watch the football games this weekend.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 16th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, RO Drift Boats, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, streamers, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Gorgeous Missouri River Winter Bow – photo Eric Mondragon

Last week’s snow has all but disappeared with temps close to 50 yesterday and more of the same for this weekend and the week ahead. We may see 60 by mid-week. Given a choice we would prefer snow and cold but we’ll take it either way.

The traffic has been very light even with the warm temps. The winds are keeping some away but those who have been out there have been enjoying some good to great days both nymphing and swinging/stripping. Water temps have been hanging right around 38 for the past couple of days with flows stable at around 3030 cfs. The colder temps have caused the fish to move to the slow, deep winter water which can make things easy if you know where they are. A #12 Casne’s Pinkalicious or Pink Amex trailed with a firebead softhackle sow or a tailwater sow or a pink lightning bug or something of the sort will get you into the action and keep you there. We’ll often run the same rigs for days, even weeks at a time during the winter months with or without split shot. I prefer no split shot opting instead to use a heavy tungsten bug as my weight but it’s all a matter of preference. We typically aren’t doing much with depth adjustment either as the fish are generally concentrated at the same depth in each of these winter runs.

While nymphing is our go-to this time of year it’s also never a bad call to swing or slowly strip a streamer. Our bins are overflowing with all kinds of new streamer patterns. The Hot Head Kreelex, Skiddish Smolt, Sparkle Minnow and various Polar Leeches have all been getting some attention. Stop in and check out our selection, you won’t be disappointed.

Lodging has filled for this weekend and there will be a little more traffic out there than there has been but you will still have plenty of options for solitude on the water. Stop by the shop on your way to the river for shuttles, winter bugs and everything you might need for your day on the water and then some. While you’re here take the opportunity to get your Christmas Shopping done. We’ve got something for all the fly fishers on your list and if you can’t decide what to get them we’ve got WCA gift cards good for everything we sell.

Today we’re highlighting rods and reels. We’ve got some great deals going on Echo and St Croix rods and select Nautilus and Ross reels as we clear the way for some redesigned Echo rods and the launch of a soon-to-be announced new product line in the rod/reel department that we’re super excited about .

St Croix Bank Robber – The Ultimate Streamer Stick

If Anyone Starts Talking About Getting Sensitive Around Here,
They Better Just Be Talking About Light Tippets.

There’s stepping up to the plate, and then there’s stepping up to the fly rod and casting like a big boy. If you want to know more about it, just spend a day with Kelly Galloup. If you plan on chasing trophies with huge streamers, here’s a little tip – bring a big boy rod. Something like the Bank Robber.™ Simply put, they are the ultimate streamer rods. Forged from high-modulus / high-strain SC^V graphite blanks with SC^VI graphite in the lower sections for added power with reduced weight and St. Croix’s proprietary ART^™ and IPC^® technology, it’s something Kelly would approve of. Especially since he helped design them.

Can a fly rod really change your life?
Depends on how much of a life you have outside of fishing.

When it comes to understanding the latest sub-surface fishing techniques, few people know more than Kelly Galloup – which is why we asked him to help us develop the High Stick Drifter. Designed specifically for today’s advanced nymph fishing methods, they feature a unique lightweight tip that reduces angler fatigue when the rod is held high for long periods of time, while emphasizing sensitivity for better strike detection. High Stick Drifter rods also feature SC^VI graphite in lower sections for added power with reduced weight and St. Croix’s proprietary ART^™ and IPC^® technology. And the balance? Incredible. Can these rods change your life? Yea. We think so.

Pick up a Bank Robber or High Stick Drifter today for 20% off the regular price. We’ll also match either one up with the appropriate reel and line for additional cost savings.

Echo Carbon Rods

When Tim Rajeff set out to create the next generation of affordable trout rods he had no idea they were going to turn out so darn good-looking. Getting the action and power correct was his main goal. Tim dedicated a full year of product development to make sure every model in the ECHO Carbon family has a smooth action and is easy to cast. All but a few of these rods have smooth Medium Fast actions and possess power that would be considered close to “average or normal” for each line rating. So you get no surprises when choosing an ECHO CARBON rod. “Not too stiff, not too soft, juuuuuuuust right!!!” With a matte brown finish and a custom Rajeff Sports / ECHO man reel seat the ECHO CARBON rods stand out as the best looking rod under $200 that has ever been made.

Echo has redesigned the Carbon for next season so we’re clearing this year’s models out at 30 % off the regular price. Let us match your new Carbon with the appropriate reel and line for an additional cost savings.

Nautilus Feather Weight Xtreme

The Nautilus FWX (Feather Weight Xtreme) series is the most technologically advanced and the lightest machined aluminum disc drag trout fly reel on the market.

The award-winning FWX reels feature our Sealed Carbon Fiber (SCFTM) drag system with the proprietary TORQ-XTM clutch drive and TPX bushings. This completely sealed, maintenance-free draw bar type carbon fiber disc brake delivers the smoothest drag on the market in a light fly reel. No sand, gravel, water or snow will affect the flawless performance of this amazing disc drag.

Come check out these rods and reels and many more today. We’ve also got some great starter kits from Redington which include everything you need to get started fly fishing. Rod, reel and line and a lifetime warranty on the rod for under $200.

A moderate-fast action rod great for beginner casters or those who have a more relaxed casting stroke. 2-piece and 4-piece models offer flexibility for the traveling angler.

All water, moderate-fast action rod
Durable anodized aluminum reel seat, ideal for all fresh and saltwater applications
Alignment dots for easy rod setup
Rods come with black cloth rod tube
Combo includes: Path rod, Path reel pre-spooled with RIO Mainstream® WF fly line, and zippered carrying case
8 and 9 weight, saltwater application, available with RIO Saltwater® Floating Line
Lifetime warranty *Rod only

Not sure what kind of rod to get them? We’ll walk you through all of your options and explain the differences and get you set up with exactly what you need.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 5th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report, Product Review|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, St Croix, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

First Snow

We got a couple of inches of snow overnight though it’s rapidly disappearing with temps in the high 30’s today. As predicted yesterday’s grey skies and intermittent snow/rain/sleet made for a great day on the water with plenty of bugs and plenty of fish willing to eat. Similar conditions this morning though the clouds are rapidly dissipating. They’re calling for mostly sunny skies by this afternoon so now is the time!

Things are quiet on the river which is great for those who are around. Plenty of real estate to work with if you’re hunting heads and if you’re floating and throwing streamers or nymphing as you look for rising fish you’ve got miles of prime water virtually to yourself.

There have been a few folks around taking advantage of our winter lodging rates and while it certainly hasn’t been what we would consider busy we’ve had enough going on here to keep us occupied throughout the day. It’s that time of year when things slow down enough that part of the daily duties in the shop include laundry and housekeeping (and shoveling snow)!

We’ve got two rooms left for the weekend which looks like it’s going to be nice. Give us a call today and book one for yourself and while you’re at it why not book a guide trip? $99 gets you a cozy cabin or bungalow with private bath and a full kitchen.

Plenty of deals to be had in the shop as we clear out the items slated for obsolescence. Great deals on Ross and Nautilus Reels and Echo and St Croix rods. 30 % off summer logo wear from Simms and select Guide Wear from Kast and much more. Don’t forget we’ve got WCA Gift Cards good for everything we sell. They make the perfect gift for the fly anglers on your list.

The coffee is on and the shop is open at 7 AM daily, earlier than all the rest, for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. Bugs, shuttles, Hand Warmers, hats, gloves, RO Drift Boat Rentals, Cold Weather gear from Kast and Redington and plenty of honest advice on the where, when and how. Stop in and say hi next time you’re in Wolf Creek, we’d love to visit with you and Jake would love for you to pet him and rub his belly. He’s suffering from neglect and attention deprivation since the arrival of the quiet time!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00November 4th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, Nautilus Reels, Redington, RO Drift Boats, Ross, running line, St Croix, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Come see what’s new at Wolf Creek Angler

As we move into the heart of the spring season we’ve got a shop full of gear and more arriving daily. Do yourself a favor and stop by and find out what the buzz is about at Wolf Creek Angler.
We’ve got a case full of new reels from Ross and Nautilus, racks full of awesome gear from KAST and Redington and all kinds of cool Simms WCA logo wear. Plenty of rods from Echo and St Croix including the High Stick Drifter and the Bank Robber – both available to demo. Give a call and reserve one today. If you fish it and you like it and you decide to purchase one we’ll knock the rental fee off of the purchase price.
Fishpond Nomad net restock underway. Smith optics, Yeti coolers, an awesome selection of fly lines from Rio and Airflo, all kinds of indicators including Strike Foundry and Air-Lock, leaders and tippet from Trout Hunter and Rio and all the tools and accessories you need for Missouri River Fly Fishing success along with the largest selection (and growing larger by the day) of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. These are high quality bugs from the likes of Montana Fly Company, Umpqua, Yellowstone Fly Goods and Solitude….the real deal, not the knock-offs.
A top notch guide crew, comfortable and affordable dog-friendly lodging, shuttle service, RO drift boat rentals and a humble and helpful staff anxious to be a part of your Montana fly fishing adventure make us a great choice. All just minutes from Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge…nobody’s closer!
Open daily at 7 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:53-06:00May 12th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Echo, Missouri River, Montana, Montana Fly Company, RO Drift Boats, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Fly Rod Edition

Rods have proven to be a challenge for us from the start. We don’t get a huge call for rods and reels but we feel like having a decent selection of both is a must for most any fly shop and Wolf Creek Angler is no exception.
When we opened our doors last season we chose to go with Echo, St. Croix and Redington as our rod offerings and Echo and Ross for our reels. First season rod and reel sales exceeded our expectations, but honestly our expectations were pretty low.
We are continuing with these brands this season and have expanded our selection of Ross Reels as well as adding Nautilus Reels to the mix. It’s a great blue-collar line up of proven work horse gear and we would love to increase our sales in this department.
Our most popular St Croix rod has been the Avid series which was my first fly rod back in the day and which remains a staple in the industry as a great series of affordable trout rods at $300.
We also stock the Kelly Galloup designed Bank Robber and High Stick Drifters. At $460 these Fast action rods are a little more of an investment but we think they are well worth the money. The Bank Robber is the ultimate streamer stick and the High Stick Drifter was built for nymphing the MO.
New to Wolf Creek Angler this season, we’ve decided to line up a couple of these rods as demos. Come fish a Bank Robber or High Stick Drifter for the day and see what you think. Demo the rod and reel for $25/day – if you decide to purchase one we’ll credit you back the rental fee.
The most popular Echo rods for us have without a doubt been the Carbon series. Many of our guides, myself included, use Carbons for Client Rigs and coupled with Echo Ion Reels they are a great choice and a great value. Clients new to the sport find these Medium-Fast rods easy to cast and at just shy of $250 for the rod and reel combo you can’t beat the price. The Carbon is a great choice for an affordable entry level rod.
Other workhorse offerings from Echo include the Ion and the Solo. While our Echo inventory consists primarily of Carbons and Solos we’re happy to order anything they offer including the highly touted Echo Glass Two Hand and Switch rods.
If you’re looking for a rod for your little ones look no further than the 7’9″ 4/5 weight Echo Gecko, the industry’s only high-performance rod built specifically for kids.

We also carry rods from Redington including the Fiberglass Butterstick and the ready-to-fish Path combo (rod, reel pre-spooled with Rio Mainstream WF fly line, backing, leader and case) with lifetime warranty for under $200. This entry level moderate-fast action rod has been our most popular offering by far and is a great choice for beginners.
Look for upcoming blogs detailing the particulars of many of these rods.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:58-06:00March 28th, 2015|Categories: Product Review|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Kelly Galloup, Nautilus, Redington, Ross, running line, St Croix, St Croix Bank Robber, St Croix High Stick Drifter, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Any day now…

Winter returned on Saturday with snow showers and wind and fairly unpleasant fishing conditions overall, at least for this time of year. Consequently we had a lot of traffic in the shop, some curious about the new kid in town, many seeking a respite from the weather which we are always more than happy to provide. The response to the shop has been overwhelmingly positive and we love seeing all of the familiar faces as well as a lot of new ones. Run off is bringing a lot of folks from around the state to our door and we are thrilled to have you here. Lodging has been pretty well booked all week and while it’s a quiet Sunday in Wolf Creek MT we anticipate filling up again this week as we return to more normal spring temperatures and conditions. Our spring special rates on lodging and guided trips will remain in effect through the end of April with lodging starting at $59/night + tax and full day Missouri River guide trips for only $300.

We’ve been getting a lot of calls concerning the river flows and though we are in no position to predict what will be happening with flows come May and June, it seems that those in the know are satisfied with the water management at Canyon Ferry and the general consensus is that it’s going to be a great water year with things running much closer to normal. Last season’s low flows made for some great wade fishing opportunities but also led to some stressed fish, some weedy conditions and some lackluster bug activity. We are excited to see water in the side channels again and the higher flows should mean better bugs, happier and healthier fish and hopefully some delay in the weed development.

Our guides all reported good to great fishing throughout the week. Nymphing has been solid everywhere and the streamer action has been decent in the canyon and below. Dry fly action is fairly limited right now with a few fish being picked up on Skwalas down low. Tons of midges on the water with most of the feeding coming during the last light of the day. This could be the week for BWO’s – stay tuned and if you’re going out have a dry fly rig at the ready. Firebeads and pink stuff remain the go-to where the nymphing is concerned but the transition is certainly underway and we are seeing a lot more baetis nymphs leave the bins over the past few days. Juju Baetis, Juan’s Flux Capacitors, Little Green Machines and purple and pink lightning bugs have all been in high demand and we are happy to report that we’ve got you covered with these patterns and many more. Skiddish Smolts, Sparkle Minnows and Pollar Minnows have all had their days as of late for those willing to commit to the streamer. Keep your nymphing rig on the long side, 7-8 feet from the indicator to the first fly and make sure you are getting the bugs down to the fish with a couple of bb’s. The softer water continues to produce well but don’t be afraid to fish the moderately fast stuff as well as the water temps bump upwards.

New product continues to arrive at the shop daily. We’ve got a bunch of new bugs from MFC and Umpqua, plenty of rods from St Croix and Echo including The Bank Robber and the High Stick Drifter, all the wading and cold-weather gear you could want from Redington, bunches of Wolf Creek Angler logo gear, Hydro Flasks, Ross Reels, everything RIO and much much more. We’ve also got you covered with shuttles and RO drift boat rentals and plenty of gear and gadgets we hope you can’t live without.

It’s going to be a great season at Wolf Creek Angler!

See you in the shop and on the water…. ~Jason O.

Baetis Nymphs are starting to leave the bins

New bugs at Wolf Creek Angler

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:08-06:00April 13th, 2014|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing|Tags: $300 Missouri River Guide Trips, Echo, fly fishing, green machine, Hydro Flask, Missouri River, Montana, Montana Fly Company, Redington, RIO, RO Drift Boats, St Croix, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

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If Anyone Starts Talking About Getting Sensitive Around Here, They Better Just Be Talking About Light Tippets.

Can a fly rod really change your life? Depends on how much of a life you have outside of fishing.

If Anyone Starts Talking About Getting Sensitive Around Here,
They Better Just Be Talking About Light Tippets.

Can a fly rod really change your life?
Depends on how much of a life you have outside of fishing.