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Fishing Report 2.22.16

It’s just about 4:30 .p.m here in Wolf Creek and I just got off the water after a stellar morning/afternoon session on the MO. All disciplines covered, all successful. With a week of February left and weather looking relatively similar for the next few days ahead, things should stay pretty consistent. Here’s the breakdown from top, to bottom. Surface bite was decent all over when the wind laid off. Midges all over from the Bull Pasture to Lone Tree and fish noticing. Hi-Vis Midges, Griffiths Gnats, Peacock Clusters & WCA Trudes in an #18-#20 got it done in several runs later in the morning into the afternoon. Nymphing game was strong today, usual for the winter but none-the less exciting. Still the typical winter fare for now, Rainbow Czechs, Tailwater Sowbugs, Pinkalicious & Zebras’ still bringing fish to nets. Swinging produced a few fish this morning too. Still going through the slower, deep, sort of cellulite water. Polar Leeches, ZK’s Ragnar, Micro-Suckers & Squirrels all in black or olive got it done in the morning.

After thinking about this for a little while; I also feel the need to clarify something for everybody. It’s simple and involves every one of us in the fishing and hunting community. That simple fact is this; ignorantia legis neminem excusat, meaning ignorance of the law excuses not. Most of you by now have read the recent news release from Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks regarding the 38 state and 11 federal citations issued to three Missoula filmmakers. I’m not going to get into the specifics of the allegations against them, my personal opinions regarding their behavior and punishment (or lack thereof), will not be addressed. However if you’re not familiar with the story you can read at the FWP News page, or just click that link. Montana-Wild, the group at the center of the controversy has issued a statement as well, you can read that HERE and come to your own conclusions.

Now that you’re caught up, back to my point of clarification. The easy truth is that ignorance of the law is not an excuse to break it. Any decent lawyer will tell you that, unless you pay them enough not to. As anglers and hunters we are responsible for knowing and abiding by the laws put in place by FWP in their best efforts to preserve the incredible resources we as Montanans are blessed with. If you’re unsure about regulations concerning a specific waterway feel free to contact us at the shop and we’ll do our best to provide you with an accurate answer and if you’re still unsure you are encouraged to contact FWP at any regional office. Seven offices are spread throughout the state and you can find their contact info on page 1 of the 2016 regulations. Make sure you know before you go. I’m not saying don’t trust you’re local fly shop guys, just make sure you’re both certain. Personal accountability for when and where you’re fishing lies with the person who has the rod in their hands, no one else.

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:38-06:00February 22nd, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Montana Wild, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Valentine Sky at Holter Dam – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

We’re looking at continued unseasonably warm temperatures, likely for the remainder of the month. Let’s hope for at least one more winter blast in March. In the meantime why not brave the winds and come out and do some February fishing on the Missouri.

We’ve opened additional lodging to accommodate the increase in traffic and we would love to have you as our guest. $99 (plus tax) gets you a cozy cabin or bungalow complete with full kitchen facilities. Stock up on groceries and set up camp in Wolf Creek.

The Oasis Bar is open every day if it’s a taste of Wolf Creek night life you seek but if you’re hoping for dining out options be sure to book your trip Thursday – Monday as these are the days they are serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Oasis from 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Once again, with lodging equipped with full kitchens and barbecue grills you don’t need to worry about dining out during your stay with us.

Need a boat? No problem. Wolf Creek Angler features RO Drift Boats for rent including the Tailwater Skiff and Deville. Better yet, leave the rowing to us and book a winter guide trip for just $400.

We’ve had a few trips out and a bunch of people staying with us the past couple of weeks making it feel like the 2016 season is getting underway. Sure there are still some quiet days in the shop but we’ve had plenty of busy mornings and we keep busy throughout the day running shuttles, cleaning rooms, adding inventory for spring and booking guide trips and lodging.

We invite you to swing by and check out our new selection of rods and reels from LOOP Tackle as well as a bunch of great gear from KAST Extreme Fishing. Why not treat yourself to a pair of Kast Steelhead gloves and a Kast Hell Razor jacket? It’s awesome gear and definitely stands out from the rest. Deals to be had at Wolf Creek Angler as we make the transition to spring gear.

The shop is open REGULARLY Wednesday – Sunday at 8:00 AM and we’re usually around on Mondays and Tuesdays as well if the weather is fishy. Call ahead if you have any doubts but you’ll see the OPEN sign ON from the northbound Interstate as you approach the Wolf Creek Exit. If you don’t see the sign on we encourage you to continue to Craig and visit our friends at The Trout Shop or Headhunters. It all depends on the weather but we will likely go to a 7 day schedule starting sometime in March.

Keep in mind we are open EVERY DAY for lodging and guide trips, it’s only the shop that is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

We hope to see you in the shop this week. We’ve got you covered with shuttles, bugs, cold weather gear, the biggest and best streamer selection ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana and much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:39-06:00February 16th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, LOOP USA, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, RO Drift Boats, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Valentine’s Weekend Outlook

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The spring weather continues and the migration to the Missouri will be in full effect this weekend as people from all around the state take advantage of the opportunity to leave winter behind and get an early start on spring fishing. The Missouri River is without a doubt the hottest fishing destination in Montana right now.

It’s been our busiest lodging week of the season so far and the shop has been abuzz daily with folks getting shuttles and stocking up on flies and other Missouri River essentials.

We’ve got one cabin left for the weekend and we expect it will be gone by lunchtime. It’s not exactly the Honeymoon Suite but it would still make a great place to spend your Valentines Day weekend with your significant other. Throw in a $400 Missouri River Guide Trip or do it yourself with a RO Drift Boat rental and watch the romance bloom!

Wolf Creek Angler Lodging Options

Nothing says Love like a new fly rod, particularly a new LOOP Cross S1 or Opti Stream fly rod and reel to match. If you are in the market for a new rod be sure to stop in and check out our new expanded selection from LOOP, ECHO, ST CROIX and REDINGTON along with reels from ROSS, LOOP, NAUTILUS and more including the acclaimed BEHEMOTH reel from Redington, an awesome value at $110.

Valentine Deals to be had store-wide.

Wolf Creek is the nexus of Missouri River winter fly fishing with the only OPEN restaurant and the only gas station/convenience store between Helena and Cascade. Pair that with an up and coming Missouri River fly shop and guide service offering clean and comfortable rooms complete with full kitchens all minutes from Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge and you’ve got yourself a Montana winter fly fishing destination like no other.

Expect a fair amount of traffic at the dam this weekend and don’t be afraid to spread out as we’ve been hearing decent reports from the dam down to Mid. I wouldn’t hesitate to go even lower, the fishing should be fine, we just haven’t heard much from the lower stretches as of yet.

Stop in for up-to-date info on the what to use when and where.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:39-06:00February 12th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Holter Dam, Loop, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, Redington Behemoth Reel, RO Drift Boats, running line, St Croix, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Hungry Browns are on the move. photo by Wolf Creek Angler

It’s not just the weather that’s been heating up this week. With temps in the 60’s and the water temp on the move upwards of 36 degrees the fishing, specifically streamer fishing, has really started to come on.

Nymphing has been good with fish starting to move into the more transitional water which is just a little bit faster and perhaps a little bit shallower than what we’ve been concentrating on for the past couple of months. Pink continues to rule, typically paired with some kind of firebead but tailwater sows and soft hackle sows are definitely coming into their own with zebra midges also getting some love.

Don’t switch things up too much – it’s still basically winter water you want to target using winter nymphs but it’s also time to start throwing some different bugs into the mix. Mayfly nymphs and the aforementioned sow bugs and zebra midges should definitely be part of your arsenal as the water warms up a touch and the fish start to move.

The streamer fishing has definitely been getting better and while we haven’t had any days where it was absolutely lights out, we’re definitely getting enough action to continue to devote some time to the swing/strip. I spent a couple of hours on Monday throwing the Olive/Copper Polar Leech and boated a nice brown just a few casts in followed by a few tugs and a few chases over the next couple of miles. Again, certainly not lights out – but definitely enough action to keep me interested.

Polar Leech in Brown or Olive/Copper, Kreelex in various flavors, assorted Clouser style bugs and black leech patterns have all been getting noticed. Don’t be afraid to experiment, maybe even try two bugs at a time. A slow but steady strip was getting it done for me but many have been getting them on the swing as well.

We’ve been targeting that same transitional water with the streamers but also working the super slow stuff and moving some fish. I’ve also heard of a few people picking them up in some faster water but you still want to work those bugs slowly. River flows are holding right around 3700 and the water temp will hit 36 today and may gain another degree or two this week with highs near 60 and lows in the 40’s for the next several days.

The word is definitely out and there has been an increase in traffic this week though there is still plenty of solitude to be had. We opened some additional lodging today to keep up with the demand so if you’re thinking of coming out we should be able to accommodate you. $99 gets you a comfy room with a full kitchen which is critical if you happen to be here on Tuesday or Wednesday when the kitchen at The Oasis is closed. They are serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Thursday – Monday but the other two days you’re on your own. Bring food and put that kitchen to good use and feel free to use our barbecue grills as well if you so desire.

How about a $400 Missouri River Guide Trip? There are a bunch of unemployed guides wandering around right now who would like nothing better than to spend the day showing you what an awesome winter fishery the Missouri River can be. Whether you want to fish dries or streamers or nymphs, there’s a little something for everyone right now.

Make Wolf Creek Angler your first stop on your way to the river for bugs, boats, shuttles and much more. We are your Missouri River Winter Fly Fishing Headquarters.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:39-06:00February 10th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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

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

The last couple of weeks have been extremely busy reservation weeks with folks booking lodging and guide trips for the coming season.

There’s still time to make your plans but the prime dates are rapidly disappearing both for lodging and guide trips. Not to despair! We’ve got a deep roster of guides who work for us so you should be able to get the dates you want but the opportunity to pick who you want on the days you want is definitely coming to an end. Where lodging is concerned, we still have openings but things have filled rapidly these last few weeks and it feels like it’s definitely going to be a busy season at WCA.

We have made a few changes to our guide roster, adding a few and losing a few but what we haven’t changed is our commitment to providing you with top-notch, professional guides who share our passion for the sport, for the fishery and most importantly for providing you with an unforgettable experience.

The Missouri River below Holter Dam will always be our specialty and we pride ourselves on having guides who know the entire river and who can show you what a diverse fishery we have between the dam and Cascade but we also offer trips on the nearby Dearborn and Blackfoot Rivers as well as the Missouri River below Hauser Dam, known as the Land of the Giants. We have extensive contacts throughout Montana and the rest of the Mountain West and we would be happy to help you with your Montana fishing plans, wherever they may take you.

Give us a call today and book your Missouri River Fly Fishing trip of a lifetime.

Don and Leda doubled up on the MO – photo by Jim Murray

Eloise

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:39-06:00January 31st, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Wolf Creek Angler welcomes LOOP to the Missouri

looparmy

We are super stoked to announce that we have become the Exclusive Dealer of Loop Tackle on the Missouri River.

Probably best know for the creation of the large arbor reel in 1984, Loop has developed a cult following of hardcore anglers worldwide who come from all walks of life and comprise what has come to be known as the LOOP ARMY. We are thrilled to be affiliated with LOOP USA and we’re excited to help build the brand of one of the elite companies in the fly fishing industry here on one of the best trout rivers in the world.

Loop was founded in Sweden in 1979 by Christer Sjöberg and Tony Karpestam – two young enthusiastic fly fishers with one goal in mind; to make a living doing what they loved. They wanted to be involved in the developing world of fly fishing and to explore and fly fish in areas previously impossible to reach.

We have been on the hunt since we opened our doors two years ago for great products which we can get behind and which are not available at every other shop in the area. Along with KAST GEAR which we brought in last year, LOOP certainly falls into this category.

Loop is a complete fly-fishing company. Today Loop designs, develops and manages every manufacturing process of their gear themselves. All of their products are designed and built to last and function in the world’s toughest conditions and to last for season after season. Experience, enthusiasm and an unbreakable will has led them to only put the Loop brand on the best products. Loop started out as a dream and for over twenty years Loop has been a leader in the fly fishing industry. Today that dream has evolved into an international company focused on delivering dreams to their customers.

Along with an impressive lineup of rods and reels Loop also offers an extensive assortment of fly lines and some limited apparel. We are currently featuring rods and reels and will add to our inventory offerings as we build the brand but for those already in the LOOP ARMY, we are your authorized LOOP dealer on the Missouri and we are happy to special order anything you need.

These are great rods and reels, on par with any of the big names in the industry. I just started fishing the S1 and have found my new favorite rod! We invite you to come by and cast the flagship Cross S1 and see for yourself.

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The new LOOP Cross S1 fly rod series is the single most important revolution to occur in fly fishing since we introduced the large arbor reel over 20 years ago. It’s that big.

If the large arbor provided revolutionary function that made the fly reel exponentially better, you won’t believe the difference Cross S1 construction makes with fly rods. We could write an entire book on the adventure that has led to the Cross S1 series of fly rods. We could look up and write down all the available superlatives that are yet unused by other manufacturers (not many left nowadays), but the only way to truly describe what we mean is to hand one to you and let you test it for yourself. If there has ever been a time in our history of development of high-performance fly fishing gear where Loop merited a “look” and a test from the fly fishing world, it is now. Over a period of two years we have developed these fly rods where we used the new 3M™ Powerlux™ Composites. The result is amazing, the strength associated with the 3M™ Powerlux™ Composites generates a lightness and controllable elasticity that simply must be experienced.

We have carefully restricted the inherent elasticity of the Loop Cross S1 so that the rod is working evenly over a much wider range than other fly rods. We have managed to make super-strong featherweight fly rods, with an emphasis on fishing where the rod is working with minimum vibration through an entire load range – from close-in and out to even extreme distances. The design requires minimal input power where the rod does the job. It has never been so easy and taken so little effort to deliver precision loops at 10-meters or 30-meters while easily controlling the line or changing the pace of the cast.

3M and Powerlux are trademarks of 3M Company.

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We’re currently stocking the Cross S1 and Opti Stream rods and both the Classic and Opti Reels and we will be adding more products as we move towards the spring season. We invite you to check out http://www.loopflyusa.com/ to learn all about LOOP and the great products they offer.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 29th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Cross S1, fly fishing, Loop Classic 46, LOOP USA, Missouri River, Montana, Opti Stream, running line, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Chewy with a fine Missouri River winter specimen

The river has been quiet this week despite spring-like temps in the high 40’s and low 50’s . There’s been a bit of wind to contend with but overall the weather has been very conducive to winter fishing.

Those who have been out have been reporting varying degrees of success on nymphs, streamers and even a bit of dry-fly action with the midges starting to get going. If winter dry-fly fishing is your game you can expect those opportunities to present themselves with more frequency and more consistency from here on out.

The flows are up to almost 3800 today which we’re definitely happy to see and with the water temperature having bumped to just shy of 35 degrees you might expect an uptick in the action as sometimes all it takes is a degree or two to flip the switch and get those fish eating.

If you follow the various Missouri River blogs year-round you know that there is a fair amount of space devoted to fluctuations in flows and water temps as well as current weather and what’s in the forecast during the winter months. With the exception of midge activity there’s not much to say about bug life and while the nymph report may seem like a cut and paste job it really is a status quo fishery during the winter months so that list of effective flies simply doesn’t change a whole lot.

The streamer report can provide some variation but even the streamer guys tend to stick to a pattern for a long while once they find something that is working. I fished a brown polar leech for a month straight last winter and it worked most days. The winter fishing reports may be lacking in excitement but the winter fishing is not!

We love fishing this time of year, partly because of the solitude it affords, partly because it’s status quo nymphing but mostly because it can be really good on any given day. That being said, it can also be really slow but when it’s 45 degrees and sunny in January what else would you possibly want to be doing? You don’t have to spend a lot of time trying to figure out what it is they are eating, you just need to figure out where they’re at and hope they are hungry. Once you find fish willing to eat you can often times do very well working that same run over and over again. Mind you, I’m not talking about 40 fish days. I’m sure people have them but we’re generally happy with a couple of hookups and if we boat a dozen or better it’s been an awesome day.

So…with that long-winded defense of regurgitative winter blogging the winter nymphs you should STILL be using are Pink Amex, Rainbow Czechs, Casne’s Pinkalicious, Pink Lightning Bugs, any kind of firebeads (particularly of the soft hackle sow variety) and if you’re feeling adventurous a tailwater sow, a rainbow warrior or the good old black zebra midge will all catch fish right now. With all that pink you can expect to catch your share of whitefish but there’s no shame in that. Full Disclosure – I do include whiteys in my fish counts, why wouldn’t you? I happened to put on a whitey clinic on Monday. It’s winter fishing on the Missouri!

The water you should STILL be fishing is the slow to semi-slow medium depth winter water. The last few times out the fish have been in a little bit faster water than what they had been but this changes from day to day. They are somewhere in those winter runs, work them until you find them.

Hot streamers have been the gold and silver Kreelex, Olive and Copper or Brown Polar leeches, and all kinds of Clouser variations. Fish the slender bugs SLOW and you should find some willing players. Don’t be afraid to try other streamers either. The ones we list are the ones we’ve been selling a bunch of and that we’ve heard have been effective but there are all kinds of streamers that will work. Fish the bugs you like, fish them with confidence and sooner or later you will be rewarded.

Buzzballs, Griffiths Gnats and Quigley’s Peacock Clusters are all good midge imitations. I like to rig any of them in tandem with a parachute Adams and have that rig at the ready just in case.

We’re going to close out the week with another 50+ degree day today, 40’s tomorrow and into the weekend and a return to somewhat more seasonable temps early next week in the low 30’s.

We’ve still got lodging available for the weekend but it will more than likely fill by tomorrow. Give us a call today and book your $99 room and $400 guide trip.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 28th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Coming Soon…..midge fishing on the MO

Saturday was the busiest day we’ve seen on the MO this year….by far. Mild temps and reports of fair fishing are beckoning and there are plenty of people heeding the call.

We saw a bunch of our regulars from Helena and Great Falls in the shop this weekend but the Bozeman, Flathead and Missoula folks were also out in force, a trend we will continue to see as long as things stay mild. Cabin Fever has taken hold in many parts of the state and there’s no cure like a day on the Missouri.

Solid reports from Friday from both the nymphing and the streamer set, not quite as spectacular on Saturday but still worth the while. Less traffic yesterday but still busy for January.

The traffic was definitely concentrated between the dam and Craig on Saturday. The parking lot at the Craig ramp was as full as it’s been since fall. We spent a good part of our day running shuttles and at one point counted 17 rigs in the Craig parking lot. Lots of drift boats and many a wade angler out there….you could almost call it crowded, at least by winter standards.

It was nice to see so many people around and it’s a great shot in the arm for us during these LEAN days of winter. The forecast is calling for continued mild temps and little or no precipitation this week so we expect there will be some folks around. We’ve got lodging available for $99/night and $400 guide trips all winter long and we’d love to see you out here. We’re definitely hoping for another shot or two of winter but you may as well come take advantage of our January spring while it lasts.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 25th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Outlook

The mild weather continues this weekend with highs near 50 expected today and temps in the 40’s on Saturday and Sunday with a favorable wind forecast and a chance of rain and or snow each day.

The fishing has been good throughout the week by winter standards and there’s no reason it shouldn’t continue to be. Nymphing has been the best bet but we’re hearing some solid streamer reports as well, particularly in the Wolf Creek Bridge to Craig stretch.

A super slow retrieve is often the key this time of year as the fish are on the lethargic side with those water temps hanging in the low 30’s. For the most part they aren’t going to give chase but if you present them with the opportunity for a high calorie target moving slowly enough they will eat it. A slow strip or a swing is always the best bet under these conditions which is going to mean you’re going to want to use an intermediate line or a slow sinking VersiLeader from Rio. I always tend toward the heavier/faster sinking streamer lines just out of personal preference but a fast-sinking line presents challenges when you are looking for a slow retrieve. Not that you can’t effectively fish these lines but there’s definitely a skill set involved in figuring out how to fish them in cold water.

The best action has been on the slender side with the Kreelex, various clouser-type bugs, polar leeches and ZK’s Iced Out Grill all getting some attention. The streamer bins are loaded up at Wolf Creek Angler and Chewy has been feverishly tying to keep up with demand. Check out the go-to patterns in all sorts of flavors as well as a bunch of custom creations you won’t find in any other shop. We love the streamer game and we appreciate and understand your addiction. The Missouri is not a streamer river in the classic sense, with a bunch of structure to throw to but it can be nothing short of phenomenal on the right day. It’s a little different game than what you may be used to but always worth your time. Interested in streamer fishing the MO? Make Wolf Creek Angler your first stop.

We’ll get you rigged with the right line and the right bugs and we’ll talk you through technique and tell you where to go to optimize your experience. If you’re thinking you need a new streamer stick we’ve got awesome deals happening right now on the St Croix Bank Robber designed by Kelly Galloup and we’d love to get you rigged with everything you need.

If you’re sticking to the nymphing game it’s status quo. Pink Amex, Rainbow Czech or Casne’s Pinkalicious trailed with firebead softhackle sows, pink lightning bugs, firebead rays, black zebra midges, etc. Slow and deep to medium deep water, adjusting depth and weight as necessary.

If you’re waiting for dry-fly action it’s getting to be that time where you should have your midge rig at the ready. We’ve seen a few bugs around each day and a few sporadic rises but I wouldn’t plan to make a day out of it just yet.

We’ve seen more traffic out there today than we’ve seen in a while. Expect company and be on your best behavior. It’s been a while since we’ve had to do much sharing of the water and this is definitely sharing by winter standards. Still plenty of solitude to be had.

We’ve got a full house this weekend but it looks like the mild weather will continue into next week. $99 Lodging available starting Sunday night and $400 guide trips available all winter long.

See you in the shop and on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 22nd, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, RIO, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Back At It…

Guest Blog from WCA Guide Jim Murray

It looks like we may be in for another mild winter which will mean an early start to the 2016 guide season.

Our commitment to provide the very best Missouri River Fly Fishing experience for our clients year-round requires us to be out there whenever possible so that we’re prepared whenever you call for that guide trip. It’s grueling work, but it’s the sacrifice we at Wolf Creek Angler are willing to make for you.

Jason and I had been trying to get out on the river the past couple of weeks, and this week we were finally able to get out there for a couple of days of fishing. Reports had been all across the board, which is not unusual with winter fishing. We spoke to a couple of other guides and hard-core local anglers who had been out recently, and they had been less than enthusiastic about the fishing. We were itching to get out there see for ourselves.
We were glad we did, and while we had our ups and downs over the course of two days, we put a fair number of fish in the boat, and had a great time doing it. Fish didn’t always seem to be where we expected to find them, but we found out that if we poked around a little bit, changed our flies/depth/location etc, we would find a few willing fish to eat our bugs.

The fish were in slow/moderate-slow water and we seemed to have the most success in moderate depth runs rather than the deeper, more typical winter water. Flies seemed to be the least important variable, but we had the most success on fire bead sows and zebra midges. We threw streamers for a short while, but that game definitely seemed to be off. With the temps warming the next few days it might be a great time to shake away those winter blues with a bent rod!

Here are some winter tips to keep in mind when you do:

• If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. If you fish a run that you think should hold fish, go back through again, but change it up. Add weight. Remove weight. Change your depth. Move the boat to a little deeper water. A little shallower water. Change flies. The fish are there. Find ‘em and feed ‘em.

• Hit EVERYTHING. Winter eats are often subtle. If the bobber winks at you, set. You will often be happy with the result.

• Pink/Sows/Zebras – pick your favorite big pink/fire bead Czech/scud/sow, followed by a smaller more “techy” nymph, like a beadless tailwater sow or a zebra midge. That seemed to be the recipe for our success.

• Presentation is key. This should go without saying, but as always, work on getting that perfect drag free drift.

• Stay warm! Dress in layers to ensure you stay warm out there. Nothing ruins a day on the river faster than being cold!
We are very fortunate to live near this great year-round fishery, and Winter on the Mo can be a blast. It’s time to put away that shotgun and get the fly rod out! Cure your cabin fever with a day on the Missouri!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 20th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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