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September Stride

Halfway through September and about a week away from the official first day of fall and we’ve hit our September Stride.

The late summer lull is over and we’re back to bustling mornings at the shop getting trips out the door and making certain all of our guests and clients have everything they need for their day on the water.

The morning and evening chill has arrived and with cooler daytime temps settling in it’s probably about time to put away those shorts and flip flops. Not quite wader weather just yet but it’s coming soon, possibly as soon as this weekend. Hot temps and high winds on Saturday followed by cooler weather and rain on Sunday and Monday with highs in the 60’s and 50’s respectively. Classic autumn days on tap after that with blue skies and sunshine and highs in the 60’s with overnight lows in the high 30’s/low 40’s.

The colors are rapidly changing, the weather is cooling, the fishing is heating up…you really can’t beat autumn fishing on the Missouri.

Nymphing is the go to river wide with most traffic occupying the upper reaches from the dam to Craig. Zebra Midges are the ticket, #18 or #20 in black, olive or purple. Pair it with a weight fly, a Tungsten Tailwater Sow, a Peep Show, any old tungsten bead Pheasant Tail or go with the Double Deadly Double Zebra rig.

Most are running short, some with weight some without. All are keying on the fast moving, choppy water in the 1’ – 3’ range. Crayfish have dropped off but still worth a trial run. If it doesn’t produce relatively quickly, ditch it. It ain’t happening.

Hoppers are hanging on. Maybe the fish have had their fill. It might be worth a try with a Zebra or Green Machine dropper but like the crayfish trial, probably best to not spend a whole lot of time on it if you don’t see something happen in relatively short order. The better bet for your dry selection might be an October Caddis.

Streamers are En Vogue and are worth your time. Weeds will test your patience but the risk/reward ratio favors persistence. And while I’ve advised abandoning crayfish and hoppers if they don’t produce in short order the same does not hold true where streamers are concerned. Stick with it…you’ll be glad you did. Buggers, Clousers, Sparkle Minnows, Circus Peanuts, Dungeons, Dirty Hippies, Swim Coach, Peanut Envy, Autumn Splendor, Lil’ Kims, Inflated Egos and anything and everything else you might want to throw at them. Black, Olive, Brown, Natural, White all fine choices. JJ or Brownie Sparkle Minnows can be $$ on any given day.

River flows are flat-lined at 3100 and change with temps holding in the low 60’s with no big changes on the horizon.

See us at 7 AM daily for shuttles, Adipose boat rentals, the best bug selection on the Missouri, hats, gloves, socks, sun protection, waders and boots, outerwear, layering….and much more. And speaking of waders – get your Simms G3 Waders for 30% off in-store and online, while they last.

Lodging available most nights, guides as busy as they can be with September as close to completely booked as we’ve ever seen. Always worth a call but probably best to look to October if you want to get a day booked this fall.

See you soon for autumn fishing on the MO.

By |2021-09-16T20:14:23-06:00September 16th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Thinking Autumn while feeling Summer’s Return

Fall is in Bloom on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The mental shift to fall is underway, even as summer returns this week with daytime temps climbing back into the 80’s and 90’s. Not to worry, there’s plenty of cool (followed by COLD and likely even frigid) weather in store for the not too distant future.

Last weekend’s unofficial end of the summer season was a great mix of warm sunny summer days on the water combined with the embrace of the signs of the upcoming season. There was plenty of traffic on the river this weekend, both angling and recreational floating with beautiful weather for both. And while it may still be tubing weather, change is underway.

Fall colors are emerging as the green leaves of summer transform into brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. Choke Cherries are thick this year and the bears have been feasting on them up and down the banks of Little Prickly Pear.

The evening chill in the air is immediate and unmistakable once the sun fades and there’s nothing quite like the feel of that fall morning sun as it climbs over the horizon, warming everything upon which it falls and chasing the chill away.

High school and college football are underway (Go Griz!) and couch-bound NFL Sundays commence this weekend. It’s time to trade in our T shirts, shorts, sun shirts and flip flops for hoodies, long pants and socks and shoes. It’s time for Oktoberfest brews and elk tenderloin on the grill.

But elk aren’t the only big game we’re pursuing. For many, fall is time to put away the fly rod and pick up the bow or rifle. For others, fall IS fishing season and colored up browns are the quarry.

It’s streamer season in Montana now through the end of autumn and we couldn’t be more excited. It’s just getting started mind you so by all means, the best is yet to come.

We’re still on the early side but if yesterday was any indication we could be in for an epic fall streamer season. There’s already a fair amount of aggression out there amongst the brown trout population with plenty of fish of all sizes willing to chase the streamer, if for no other reason than to defend their territory and chase off intruders. Hook ups were hard to come by but if you’re like me and measure streamer fishing success by the number of fish moved rather than just those hooked and landed then you would not have been disappointed with yesterday’s action.

Stop in for everything Missouri River Streamer Fishing. Streamer X rods, a streamer line for every occasion, stripping guards, the best streamer selection on the Missouri and most importantly, all the advice and practical information you could ever want from a staff well-versed in the game and more than ready and willing to talk about it. We live for this.

For those outside of the streamer set the nymphing has been solid with black Zebras and Zirdles still ruling the day. Small mayfly nymphs and sow bugs should also be a staple of your fall nymph arsenal.

Hopper fishing should continue to be solid for the next couple of weeks. Tan and peach hoppers have been working well in sizes ranging from #10 – #14. Trailing an ant is never a bad idea though we have not had a ton of action on the ants as of late. Fish the banks. Fish the mid-river riffles. Fish the non-descript random water whether you think it looks fishy or not. The trout are everywhere. They’re opportunists on the hunt for calories and they may just surprise you when you’re least expecting it so don’t take your eye off of the ball.

We are adjusting our shop hours for fall this week in accordance with the morning darkness and will now be open at 7 AM daily.

Lodging is moderately busy but we do have a fair amount of availability. The guide book is getting busier by the day but we do have some openings here and there and things do open up again around the second week of October. We’re happy to fish any way you like but we absolutely love to guide streamer trips. Book yours today! 

Stop in for clean and affordable lodging, Adipose Drift Boat Rentals, vehicle shuttles, summer clearance items like Smith Sunglasses and Simms sportswear and amazing fall deals on select waders, boots and more.

Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale coming very soon. Stay Tuned

By |2021-09-07T14:33:20-06:00September 7th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Bidding a Fond Farewell to Summer 21

Fall on the Mighty Missouri


Summer is soon to be but a memory as we close out August and welcome September and the arrival of autumn fishing on the MO.

Looking back, it was really a great spring and summer. Sure the high temps and low flows were not ideal and having Hoot Owl Restrictions placed on the Missouri was something we’d not seen since we’ve been in business and it definitely took a toll but aside from this the 2021 season started strong and was exactly the return to normalcy we’d all been craving since Covid hit.

We had a record spring, our strongest start ever and in spite of the challenges of the late summer season we’re still on track for one of our best seasons to date.

These last couple of weeks have been very quiet but as always happens in conjunction with September’s shift to cooler weather, shorter days and the return to the Grind for most everyone, an uptick in traffic is underway.

Fishing is what we’ve come to expect during the summer to fall transition. We’ve had some off-the-charts days and some really tough days. Hit and miss to be sure.

Conditions have improved drastically, as least as far as water temps go. We’re currently holding in the low 60’s and will continue to do so thanks to those cool nighttime lows in the 40’s and fewer hours of sun heating the water.

Trout are responding accordingly trading warm water lethargy for cool water energy so you need to be on your game with those fish fighting skills if you hope to land even a portion of them.

Dry fly opportunities are somewhat limited right now with hoppers, ants and beetles being our go to. Pseudos and callibaetis in the mix as well as the occasional trico opportunity but those days are definitely waning.

Best bets for dry flies – More or Less Hopper, Donkey Kong Hoper, Panty Dropper Hopper, Stealth Ant, Cinnamon Parachute Ant, Sparkling Ant, Foam Beetles, October Caddis, Parachute Adams, Buzzball, Trico Indicator Spinner, Drowned Trico Spinner, Olive Pseudo.

As always, nymphing will be your best bet for numbers with the fish still concentrated in the faster, mid-depth runs. The Black Zebra Midge is king during the fall, especially in the grass flats below the dam. Run in tandem with your choice of BWO nymph or Sowbug or roll the dice and run a cray fish with your zebra. It’s not always the ticket but when it’s on it can be absolutely ridiculous. We like a tan or olive zirdle or a throwback like the Snapping Cray or Claws R Cray. And if you’re one of those who likes to mend CONSTANTLY – this is your rig. The erratic fly movements caused by incessant mending mimic exactly the natural movements of actual crayfish so mend away!

Not so with any other nymphs. Keep them on a dead drift with the current as indicated by your INDICATOR. They call them strike indicators, we also refer to them as drift indicators. Skating and dragging are not desired, a dead drift is what you’re looking for and the occasional mend up or downstream (depending on the situation) can accomplish your goal. When that goal is accomplished LET IT RIDE. No mending necessary. LESS MENDING = MORE FISH

Best bets for fall nymphs….Black or Olive Zebra Midge, Tailwater Sow, Tungsten Tailwater Sow, Little Green Machine, BWO Magic Fly, Split Case BWO, Psycho May Olive, Jig Crack Back Bullet Olive, Spanish Bullet Black, Redemption BWO, PT’s, Pearl or Olive Lighting Bug, Thurman’s Zaddis October, Soft Hackle Sow, Micro May, Tan Czech, and more.

We’ve seen some traffic around the streamer bins as of late and while it is perhaps a little early, from what we’re hearing it sounds like it may in fact be time…..streamer time… which is, in this author’s humble opinion, the most wonderful time of the year.

I will confess that spring is my favorite time for streamers due to the lack of aquatic vegetation at that time of year but I throw them every month of the year and despite the challenges of fishing through salad, I will say that you really can’t beat fall if you’re looking for aggression.

The Big Browns are on the move, they’re coming into spawning colors and they’re pissed off and hook-jawed and ready to do battle. These are the fish every streamer junkie dreams of.

Again, we’re on the early side of it but there’s no time like the present. Let the games begin!

Sparkle Minnows in all flavors will of course be a staple from here on out. Autumn Splendors, JJ Specials, Peanut Envy, Dungeons, Circus Peanuts, Swim Coach, ZK’s Inflated Ego, Dirty Hippies, Wedge Heads and smaller buggers and minnows all worth a try.

Convention dictates smaller streamers on the MO and if you decide to go that route you’ll likely move plenty of fish. We at WCA however prefer the unconventional where streamer fishing is concerned and for that reason you’ll find our streamer bins full of bugs you’ll likely not find anywhere else on the MO. We prefer the bigger and flashier bugs and while it’s true that articulation and stinger hooks make fishing the salad exponentially more difficult it’s all part of the game. We’re driven by dreams of 30” browns hunting down and smashing our offerings, a life-long pursuit residing in our DNA.

So sure, we’ll sell you buggers but in our world, life is way too short to waste your time playing with wooly buggers. That being said, we’re well aware that people fish what is effective so we won’t be surprised (or deterred) if you happen to land a River Monster on a Wooly Bugger.

We sincerely hope you make us your one stop shop for fall fishing on the MO. We’ve got it all from affordable lodging to drift boat and equipment rentals to a shop full of essential gear to the hardest working guide crew on the river. Wolf Creek Angler is truly your one stop Missouri River Fly Shop.

Open daily at 6:30 AM, earlier than ALL the rest.

By |2021-08-31T11:04:01-06:00August 31st, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |2 Comments
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Dog Days 2021

Dog Days photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Sunday’s rain accompanied by a much-needed cool down has us thinking fall as we power through the Dog Days of what has become one of the doggier late summer seasons in recent memory.

Between the hot weather, the low flows and the resulting Hoot Owl restrictions the MO has become a rather quiet place as of late.

A few weeks from now these Dog Days will be but a memory as we ramp up for the fall fishing season. In the meantime our rooms are getting some extra attention during the lull, the grass is looking better than it has all summer and the shop has undergone de-cluttering and deep cleaning and we’re in the process of re-stocking with everything you need for fall fishing on the Missouri and anywhere else your travels might take you.

Those who have stuck around these past couple of weeks and those who have maintained their August arrival plans have been rewarded with some pretty good fishing as well as an abundance of solitude on the MO.

With Hoot Owl in effect it’s early on and early off though the march of the season continues to shorten our days and those first light 6 AM starts are slowly returning to 6:30 or 7 AM. Regardless, we’re here early at 6 AM for those looking to hit the pre-dawn bite.

Trico action has been spotty by most accounts but those who are working hard at it are finding ample opportunities on any given day provided the conditions are favorable. Many have shifted their focus to terrestrial fishing, giving the hoppers and ants a go with varying degrees of success. It’s always important to keep your expectations in check and that’s especially true this time of year when things tend to get a little weird out there.

Must Have Dries – Trico Indicator Spinner, Double Wing Trico, Hi Vis Trico Spinner, Stockingfoot Caddis, Buzzball, Outrigger Caddis, Missouri River CDC Caddis, Cornfed Caddis, More or Less Hopper, Donkey Kong Hopper, Blooms Stealth Ant, Cinnamon Parachute Ant, Moorish Mouse 2.0, Midnight Express Mouse, Mouse Pouch, Mr. Hankey Hickman Mouse.

Blind fishing a hopper/ant or a dry/dropper rig generally isn’t going to rack up the numbers but if you take it for what it is which is essentially prospecting, it’s really not a bad way to spend your day and you might even get a few big eats and you simply can’t beat hopper eats!

The best shot at numbers is going to be nymphing which has been decent and which will continue to carry the day from here on out. Zirdles and Crays are a go-to this time of year, and like those hopper eats, you’d be hard pressed to find a better sub-surface hit than that of a hungry trout annihilating a cray! Pair that Zirdle or Cray with a Black Zebra or tailwater sow and fish it hard.

Other productive options have been Frenchies, Little Green Machines, Peep Shows, PT’s, Weight Flies, Tung Darts, Nitro Caddis and Soft Hackle Sows.

The swingers and strippers have been quiet for the most part though all of this unoccupied water has been an open invitation to the swing set who have begun to show up in various haunts up and down the river. Light traffic equals perfect swing conditions. And what about stripping you ask? As you know, it’s ALWAYS streamer season at Wolf Creek Angler so while I’m not going to say conditions are optimal I will say that the low-light early starts are the perfect time to target those Missouri River giants with an intermediate or sinking line and your go-to big bug selections. Hit the banks with a quick retrieve or do a slow sink off the drops with a varied retrieve and prepare for that unexpected grab. Weeds will be a hindrance though definitely not enough to shut you down. Like the terrestrial fishing, streamer fishing is basically prospecting which involves a lot of blind casting, a lot of stripping and hopefully a good grab every now and then to keep things interesting.

And while hot summer nights have traditionally been the time to skate a rodent Hoot Owl has eliminated that option so why not smack that mouse down and skate it in the pre-dawn darkness just to see what happens. The mice don’t care how hot it is and they don’t care if it’s late night or early morning darkness and those carnivorous browns are opportunists and will eat when fed so have at it.

Shop hours are 6 AM – 5 PM daily. A glut of lodging currently available as well as Adipose rental boats and a shop full of everything you need for your short day on the water. We’re sticking with no new August guide trips for the time being but we’re booking trips for fall and also filling in the blanks for Prime Time 2022.

By |2021-08-10T13:16:06-06:00August 10th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Exodus and Opportunity

The traffic has cleared out with the early arrival of The Dog Days of Summer and the implementation of Hoot Owl Restrictions on the Missouri which has thrown the proverbial wrench into the plans of many to whom evening fishing on the MO is nothing short of sacramental.

The late summer lull is nothing new though it has arrived a couple of weeks early this season under smoky skies, low flows and a continued heat wave that has us praying for rain and hoping for early snows.

So with the doom and gloom stage set let’s talk about silver linings embodied by the opportunities being presented by challenging conditions and a steady exodus of anglers.

On the brighter side, dry fly fishing, though far from exceptional, has continued to provide ample measures of opportunities, challenges and just enough success to keep the DFO’s engaged.
First light caddis followed by somewhat inconsistent Trico Spinners and late morning/early afternoon terrestrials. Again, maybe nothing to write home about but certainly enough action to keep things interesting.

Per usual nymphing gets the numbers with Zebra Midges, sow bugs and Caddis Pupae producing at the dam. Split Case PMD’s still getting eaten as are Little Green Machines and Frenchies. Drop any of the above off of a hopper or double your dry fly odds by trailing an ant instead of a nymph. Zirdles, Snapping Crays and the like have been effective on the right day in the fast water chutes.

Work your hoppers off the banks but don’t overlook the mid-river riffles keeping in mind that the low water has transformed our river, eliminating some go-to spots while at the same time creating new potential where before there was nothing.

Fewer folks around creates opportunities and while it’s tempting to get bogged down in the gloom, it’s not all bad. There’s smoke in the air for sure and the Harris Mountain Fire near Cascade is no joke and worthy of your attention but we’ve dealt with smoke before, this isn’t the worst we’ve seen. The water is low but the powers that be have done a good job keeping water temps in check despite air temps nearing 100 degrees daily.

Holter Dam to Craig is your go-to with the coolest water on the river but we would encourage you to explore downstream options as well, starting at first light, frequently checking temps and hanging it up when the water hits 68 degrees or 2 pm, whichever comes first.

We’ve got plenty of vacancies, plenty of flies and plenty of anything and everything you need for a great day on the water. And while we’re committed to not booking any new guide trips for the remainder of July and August and we fully support the Hoot Owl Restrictions we certainly don’t want to discourage folks from fishing during the prescribed hours here on the Missouri and elsewhere.

The resource is fragile and demands our utmost respect and stewardship but it’s also resilient and we have faith in those who have been taxed in an official capacity with managing and regulating use. It’s a smoky hot summer in Montana and we’re indeed struggling through drought but the sky is not falling and the fish are still are still eating so get out there early and enjoy your Montana summer.

Open daily at 6 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By |2021-07-28T15:36:46-06:00July 28th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |1 Comment
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Hoot Owl Comes to the MO


As drought conditions persist in the region, FWP announced additional waterbody closures and restrictions yesterday including Hoot Owl Restrictions on the Missouri from Holter Dam to Cascade.

Almost immediately following the announcement the pushback began from some citing that the criteria had not yet been met for Hoot Owl Restrictions referring to FWP’s water temperature threshold which states that max water temp of 73 degrees for three consecutive days trigger implementation of Hoot Owl Restrictions. Water temps however are not the only criteria triggering restrictions.

From FWP…

Flow below Holter Dam is near the 10th percentile for the daily average on record and the temperatures recorded throughout the section have exceeded 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Although flow and temperature are not exceeding established criteria for restrictions, continued forecast high temperatures coupled with high angling pressure could lead to excessive fish mortality, leading FWP to implement the restrictions.

Having made the decision to suspend new trip bookings for the remainder of the summer a couple of weeks ago and having voluntarily implemented Hoot Owl fishing hours on our existing guide trips, we are in full support of FWP for implementing restrictions on the MO and elsewhere.

We definitely understand the inconvenience of these restrictions and we sympathize with all of those who have traveled to Montana to fish this summer but we’re trying our best to focus on the big picture rather than the immediate impact of lost fishing opportunities for our guests and what has already amounted to thousands of dollars in lost revenue for our business.

This is about the preservation of the future of the fishery here on the Missouri and throughout the state of Montana. And while the effectiveness of these restrictions in limiting angler-induced fish mortality can be debated, our position is that doing something is better than doing nothing and if limiting our hours on the water helps even a little bit then it’s not that big of a sacrifice when you consider what’s at stake.

We hope for cooler conditions and we’d love to see restrictions lifted prior to September but in the meantime we’d like to share these tips for HOT WEATHER FISHING.

This past June for SW Montana ranked in the top 5 driest and hottest for SW Montana. Correspondingly, water temperatures are also greater than normal. Angling for trout under these warmer-than-usual conditions, fish become more impacted by catch-and-release, which increases the amount of time it takes them to recover and the chance that they will not survive.

Warmer water contains less oxygen than colder water. As temperature rises and dissolved oxygen decreases, fish begin to experience stress. These stresses occur well before the water temperature reaches lethal limits. For example, rainbow trout can survive in temperatures up to and exceeding 77°F (24°C), but stop growing at 73°F (23° C). Therefore, a fish, one which is already oxygen stressed while positioned carefully in current that minimizes its energy use, will be dramatically more stressed after being hooked and played to the net. In fact, in many cases, a fish otherwise properly handled and released under thermally-stressful conditions may be likely to not survive.

The following are best practices for angling during warmer weather:

• Carry a thermometer and stop fishing as water temperatures approach 68 degrees F.

• Use larger tippet sizes to decrease the amount of time playing a fish.

• Use a net.

• Get the fish as quickly as possible to the net.

• Use a dehooking tool to quickly remove the hook.

• Keep the fish in the water.

• Forego the grip-and-grin photo opportunities.


We don’t want to come off preachy, we’re just trying to do right by the resource. We’re not saying you shouldn’t fish, we just ask that you abide by thw restrictions the state has implemented in an effort to protect a fragile resource.

We’re open at 6 AM daily so you can get your day off to an early start and we’re happy to get you set up with what’s working and send you off to the spots where you are likely to have the most success.

Thank you for doing your part to take care of our precious resource.

By |2021-07-21T12:45:24-06:00July 21st, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Hot Summer Update

It’s been an eventful week since our last post with the main story being the Rock Creek Fire which occurred Saturday afternoon on the Dearborn Ranch and which posed a significant threat to our Missouri River Community. Thankfully fire personnel launched a full on assault to fight this thing on Saturday night and by Sunday morning the threat had been neutralized and at this point the fire is all but a memory at 95 % containment.

A huge thanks to all of our friends and clients who have called and emailed to check on us over these past couple of days. It means a lot.

Fortunately all is well in Wolf Creek and Craig for the moment, at least as far as wild land fires are concerned. We did get a nice rain shower yesterday morning but aside from that it’s been extremely hot and dry which unfortunately are the perfect conditions for extreme fire danger. All it takes is a spark and the next thing you know thousands of acres are burning so please be extra careful with trailer chains, cigarettes and anything else that might spark a wildfire.

That’s the big news of the week but you’re probably wondering how the fishing is.

First….River Conditions. Flows bumped slightly and are currently at around 3400 CFS. Water temps started around 63 this morning. We’re currently looking at 66.5 degrees at the dam….not great.

Daytime highs will continue to cook in the mid to high 90’s through the first part of next week and likely beyond. We’re dipping into the high 50’s overnight which is keeping water temps tolerable, but without a substantial bump in flows which I have no reason to believe we’ll see, the fear is that Hoot Owl restrictions could very well come to the MO. We’re not here to spread rumors, just data-based observations.

So while the fishing has been pretty damn good as of late we urge you to keep water conditions in mind regardless of whether there are restrictions in place or not, and respond accordingly. Get a stream thermometer if you don’t already have one and check those water temps often. If you see temps climbing into that 68 degree range call it a day. Once again, the hoot owl threshold is 73 degrees for three consecutive days. That being said, trout are not loving life once water temps exceed 68 degrees.

We’re doing 6 AM starts and will likely continue to do so for the remainder of the summer season. Early on, early off.

Tricos, Caddis and PMD’s, though waning, are all in the mix right now for the many DFO’s wandering the river corridor. The story this morning was Tricos covering the water and fish ignoring them. They seem to be willing to eat a well-placed Stockingfoot, Outrigger or Cornfed Caddis or even a Buzzball. Tricos… not so much. That being said, every day is different so don’t let yesterday’s report dictate today’s tactics.

And for those not into trying to find their #20 dry fly amidst of sea of naturals, Terrestrial Season is upon us. Hoppers, ants, beetles and Spruce Moths could all make it happen from here on out. Try a hopper with an ant trailer or drop a green machine off your hopper and see what happens.

Nymphing has continued to be the best bet for numbers. Status quo on the bugs with Weight Flies in gold or purple paired with a split case PMD, LGM, Black Zebra, PT’s etc.

The shop is open 6 AM – 6 PM daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By |2021-07-14T15:48:41-06:00July 14th, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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And Suddenly it was JULY

It’s hard to believe but June is officially in the books. Summer is in full swing and flying by. The BLUR has commenced!

We’re in the midst of our busiest three weeks of the year with all of our rental boats out daily and scores of guide trips starting earlier and earlier to beat this scorching summer heat.

Our day starts on the early side of 4 AM in order to get all of the boats where they need to be prior to opening the shop and it’s not uncommon to end our day in the dark hauling boats and getting them cleaned up for the next day’s launch.

We’re currently under a Heat Advisory through 9 PM on Friday. Temps are bumping up against 100 degrees daily with minimal chance of precipitation. Night time temps are comfortable in the 60’s but even so, with the flows being what they are, water temps are on the rise. We’re currently looking at flows of 3280 CFS and water temps holding right around 62 degrees. Keep in mind these readings come from just below the dam. The lower stretches are likely considerably warmer, something to keep in mind when choosing where to fish.

Low flows and high temps have already resulted in Hoot Owl Closures on several rivers in the region and with no cool down in sight we are likely in for more. The Missouri River water temps in the upper section are still in good shape, nowhere near the 73 degree threshold which prompts those closures after three consecutive days however the lower river, as already stated, is considerably warmer and may very well be subject to Hoot Owl Closures at some point in the not so distant future.

With the heat persisting we are responding by trying to get our trips out as early as possible and also giving our clients the option of doing half days if preferred. If you’re on your own please consider an early start and early off as the fishing tends to slow considerably during the afternoon hours. Should Hoot Owl Restrictions be placed on the Missouri we will shift all full day trip start times to 6 AM or earlier.

PMD’s and Caddis are your dry fly staples with Tricos knocking on the door. PMD’s in the mornings, Caddis in the evenings and the nymph forms of both effective anytime. Dry fly fishing has been good enough to keep the DFO’s busy and there are plenty of big fish looking up, willing to take a well-presented offering. We’re seeing plenty of fish up daily, perhaps not the mega pods of old but definitely enough to make a day of it.

Nymphing has been solid everywhere with the best action coming from the shallow, faster water. Split Case PMD’s and Crack Back PMD’s have been the go-to nymphs but there are all kinds of PMD and Caddis patterns they’ll eat right now. Stop in on your way to the water and we’ll get you set up with the right bugs for the right times. That way if you end up having a tough time out there you’ll at least be able to rest assured it’s not your bug selection.

The shop is officially open at 7 AM daily but we’re usually underway by 6:30 AM if not before, especially as we move those trip start times up.

Make us your first stop on the way to the MO for fishing licenses, ice, vehicle shuttles, sunscreen, Simms SolarFlex sun shirts, Fishpond Eddy River and Low Country Sun Hats, Smith and Suncloud sunglasses, our signature NO PRESSURE NO ATTITUDE FRIENDLY SERVICE and advice rooted in DECADES of Fly Fishing and Customer Service Experience and the biggest and best selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We’ve established a great following over these past 7 seasons but we still hear it enough from those who darken our door to continue to proclaim that we are the best Missouri River Fly Shop you never knew was here.

By |2021-07-01T13:48:40-06:00July 1st, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Settling In To Summer on the MO

It’s here! The days we dream about all winter long have arrived. A landscape of green against cloudless blue skies, the backdrop as you drift down the MO in search of rising trout. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

School is out and the summer migration has commenced, swelling our tiny populations of Wolf Creek and Craig. The boat ramps are abuzz with activity each morning as the guides prep and the clients take it all in, anxiously awaiting their turn to climb aboard the drift boat and make that first cast.

It’s going to be a very busy season. The traffic is high and the water is low which means we’ll all have to do our part not just to get along with our fellow anglers but also to care for the resource. Low flows and heavy traffic are stressors for our fish populations and while we are 100 percent in support of catch and release fishing we urge everyone to do whatever you can to reduce stress to the fish including keeping them in the water to the furthest extent possible, not overplaying them with undersized tackle and crushing barbs to facilitate quick and easy hook removal. You may lose an extra fish or two but at least they’ll live to fight another day.

Catch and Release is great but if fish are mishandled or overstressed they often times won’t survive much beyond that release. Water temps are still cool at this point so that definitely works in the favor of the fish but as things heat up and the water temps rise it becomes even more critical that you do what you can to keep them in the water as much as possible. If you absolutely must have a picture of that fish get everything ready to go, wet your hands and then lift the fish out of the water for a quick pic. Ten seconds max!

And speaking of rising temps, the cool weather comes to an end this weekend. Things start to heat up on Sunday as we see highs in the high 80’s and at this point it appears as though we could see temperatures nearing 100 on Tuesday. Don’t forget the sunscreen and your wide brim hat…or better yet, do forget them and come see us at WCA for all of your sun protection needs.

Per the Bureau of Reclamation flows will remain low but steady for the remainder of the season and likely right on through to next spring. Stay tuned. We’ll keep you posted.
The fishing report is relatively speaking, status quo.

PMD’s and Caddis are in the mix however it has not been a DFO’s dream thus far. Those willing to put the time in and go on the hunt are finding limited opportunities daily but it has not been a target rich environment. Indications are that this may be about to change. There has been an abundance of bugs on the lower stretches and not quite as much activity up here however regardless of the presence or absence of bugs rising fish have been a rarity. We’ve finally started to hear some reports however of decent sized pods of smaller fish keying on the surface. Our fingers are crossed, hoping that the bigger fish will soon join the approaching gravy train.

In the meantime sowbugs, caddis pupae and PMD nymphs will get em’ sub surface.

Phones are ringing off the hook this week as folks look for some input regarding their upcoming trips to the MO.

Some of these questions I’ve tried to answer above with my discussion of flows and current fish activity. Here are a few more FAQ’s and our best answers.

Q. Have they started dumping water yet?
A. They’ve dumped what they’re going to dump by all indications. Hoping for flushing flows in spring 2022.

Q. Is everything opened up?
A. Yes and No. Masks are a memory and everyone is open for business HOWEVER due to labor shortages many businesses are unable to operate at full capacity.

Q. Are there restaurants nearby?
A. Izaak’s in Craig is open Wednesday – Sunday 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Shotgun Annie’s in Wolf Creek is open Friday – Sunday 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM and Mondays and Tuesdays 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

Q. Do you have any lodging available for June and July?
A. Slim Pickings. We’ve got a few single nights here and there but we’re not really able to string multiple nights together. Things open up in August. Fall is starting to fill up. Don’t wait until the last minute to book. If you are looking for just one night give us a call and we’ll see what we can do.

Q. Do you have guides available?
A. See lodging response above. It’s very similar with guide availability. A few random openings here and there but as busy a guide schedule as we’ve ever had. Book those fall dates NOW!

Q. Do you allow dogs?
A. We do allow dogs for a $25/night fee however we ask that you let us know ahead of time if you’re bringing your pooch and we would ask that dogs not be left unattended in the rooms while you’re on the water unless they are in a kennel.

Q. How close are you guys to Craig?
A. Craig who?

Shop hours are 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily. We hope you make us your first stop on the way to the river for shuttles, bugs, boat rentals, ice, sunscreen, fishing licenses, Simms waders and sportswear, Tornado Anchors, Lamson rods and reels and so much more.

By |2021-06-09T17:22:04-06:00June 9th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Rainy Days…Summer in Sight

The Missouri River is a very busy place this week despite the less than ideal fishing conditions. We started the week with more snow on Sunday. Most of that disappeared by Monday as temperatures warmed but with those warmer temps came gusty winds and the makings of a pretty substantial soaker starting last night and continuing through today.

It looks like the sunshine will return tomorrow with things becoming more and more summer-like through the holiday weekend and into the first part of next week when we’ll see sunshine and temps near 80.

Expect a BUSY MO this weekend as warm sunny weather for the unofficial start of summer brings with it a parade of recreational traffic added to the steady flow of anglers who have converged here in search of fishable water as flows bump most everywhere else in the region.

And speaking of flows, the Dearborn bumped this week and jumped up over 1000 CFS last night and continues to rise (currently 1400 cfs). Similarly, Little Prickly Pear doubled in size overnight and is currently running at 425 cfs. Suffice it to say, things are getting a little muddy on the MO so expect HEAVY traffic at the dam for the time being and if you’ve been wondering when the best time would be to break out those San Juan and Squirmy Worms….that time would be NOW.

I’d expect some traffic on the Dearborn this weekend so please call ahead if you’d like to set up a shuttle as demand will likely be high.

With the rain subsiding this afternoon and temps remaining moderately cool for the next few days I’d expect things to come back into shape fairly quickly on the MO though the hot weather early next week will likely continue to feed the runoff elsewhere ensuring a busy start to June on the Missouri.

We do have a couple of rooms left for the weekend if you’re looking and I expect those will book by tomorrow. Guides may be tough to come by but we do have a few remaining openings if you want to give it a try.

We’re feeling blessed by the precipitation but I for one am ready for some hot sunny days and I think the anticipated traffic this weekend will likely reflect this sentiment amongst a good portion of the local population.

Best flies through the weekend….Tailwater Sow, Pill Popper, UV Yum Yum, Rainbow Czech, Fish Finder and Depth Charge Worms, Little Green Machines, Split Case BWO’s (And soon PMD’s) Psycho Mays, Magic Flies, Tung Darts, Weight Flies, Two Bit Hookers, Jig Duracell, Jig Crack Backs, Rainbow Warriors, Peep Shows, Olive or Purple Lightning Bugs and many more.

The high and muddy will also bring out the streamer set. Sparkle Minnows, Baby Gongas, Swim Coach, ZK’s Gladio, Mini Dungeons, Mojo Minnows, Peanut Envy, Wedge Head, Silk Kitten and more. If you like to throw the big stuff NOW is the time. Streamer season is coming to a close but these next couple of days could be the peak of the action.

We hope to see you in Wolf Creek this weekend as we welcome the sun and the unofficial start of Summer Fishing on the MO. The shop is fully stocked with summer gear including a bunch of SolarFlex hoodies just received from Simms, Eddy River and Lowcountry hats from Fishpond, piles of packs and bags, waders and boots and wading sandals, reels from Ross, Redington, Echo and Lamson, Loop and Echo rods and much, much more. We’re anxiously awaiting our shipment of Lamson rods, just released for 2021. Judging by the calls we’ve been getting on them they aren’t going to last long.

Stop in and see us for shuttles, bugs, sun protection, fishing licenses, logo wear, ice, Fishpond and Rising nets, lines and leaders from Rio and Airflo or the latest intel on the where and when and how.

We are your Missouri River Summer fly fishing destination, your one stop shop for everything you need from guides to rental boats to gear to a place to lay your head…it’s all here at WCA.

By |2021-05-26T12:27:51-06:00May 26th, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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