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Spring Fishing Heating Up This Week on the MO

Go Time

Following last week’s winter blast it looks like we’ll be settling into a much more seasonable weather pattern this week. We’ll see daily highs in the 50’s with overnight lows in the 30’s and a chance for some rain/snow throughout the week. Sounds like Blue Wing weather to me.

It looks to be on the breezy side tomorrow with a west southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon with gusts up to 37 mph possible but aside from that it really does appear to be quintessential spring fishing conditions this week. No wild swings up or down with the temps, just a good steady run for the foreseeable forecast.

We had confirmed BWO sightings over the weekend so expect good things to start happening this week on the dry fly front, especially towards the end of the week with cloudy skies and a chance of rain and snow in the mix.

Best bets for Blue Wings – Olive Haze, Sprout Baetis, BWO Guide Winna Spinna, Wilcox’s Micro May BWO, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, BWO Film Critic, Flash Cripple, Para BWO, CDC Winged Emerger. We usually have good success running a double rig with a cripple or an emerger in the mix. I like a Sprout Baetis trailed with a DOA Cripple. Keep that BWO dry fly rod rigged and ready. You never know when it might happen so better to be at the ready than to have to spend time rigging when that opportunity is calling for fishing not rigging.

Nymphing will continue to be your numbers game with Sowbugs still leading the charge but it’s time to throw some baetis nymphs in the mix with the sows and scuds and pink stuff. Little Green Machines, Psycho Mays, Split Case BWO’s, BWO Magic Fly, BWO Redemption, Olive Lighting Bug, Radiation Baetis, JuJu Baetis…etc should all be making their way into the mix right now. Don’t abandon the sows and scuds, just expand your offerings.

Flows are steady at right around 3,000 cfs and will likely hold there from here on out. Water temps are bumping up over 40 and should also hold fairly steady for the next while. Fish are on the move. Rainbows are spawning and browns are feasting on caviar. Target the medium fast water in the 2’ – 5’ depth range and please leave the spawners alone. Watch where you step and if you somehow find yourself surrounded by redds and spawning fish resist the temptation to harass those fish.

Conditions are critical for these fish right now with the low water. With the absence of side channels resulting from the low flows they’re right out there in the open for everyone to see and unfortunately some folks just can’t resist the temptation. We urge you to remember that our rivers are not stocked. These are wild fish and this is how they come to be so for the sake of the future please leave the spawning fish alone and let them do their thing. Read all about it here!

Streamer fishing heating up. Smaller patterns are moving more fish but as the water temps come up it changes the game and while smaller sizes may move more fish I still feel like bigger patterns catch fewer but bigger fish and there’s nothing I won’t throw this time of year. Go small, go big…go with both. Fish what you like and commit. Prime Time Streamer fishing for the next 4 weeks!

Traffic will bump this week with the nicer weather and will steadily increase from here on out. We’ve got plenty of lodging and guide trips available for the next few weeks before things start to really go crazy so book now.

We’re open at 8 AM daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-04-18T14:48:20-06:00April 18th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: BWO's, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, juju baetis, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Doubled Up Streamer Eating Beasts on the MO

The spring season is now in full swing but you might not know it based on the weather conditions this morning. A taste of winter has returned with a dusting of snow and temps hovering in the mid 30’s. We saw downright summer-like weather over the weekend and yesterday with plenty of sunshine and temps breaking the 70 degree mark. Dramatic changes in the weather are a spring staple in the Rockies so no surprise there. In fact we’re stoked for the precipitation in any form and looking forward to the greening we should see soon as conditions return to seasonal norms later today and through the remainder of this week. Expect daytime highs in the 50’s with overnight lows in the 30’s, a chance of rain here and there and plenty of sunshine….quintessential early spring weather on the MO.

As expected, the weekend brought the traffic with Saturday having been our busiest day of 2022 thus far. A lot of boats on the water that day, primarily in the Holter Dam to Craig stretch which will likely be the case for the next month or so despite the fact that there are plenty of fish to be found river wide.

Knowing there was an approaching weather system we took advantage of the Monday lull closing the shop, grabbing the streamer sticks and hitting the water to see if we couldn’t find a willing player or two.

WCA Super Guides Luke Koerten and Brad Turner joined me for a fun day of pre-season fishing before things start getting crazy for all involved. Once the guide season gets rolling we don’t get a chance to fish together so it’s always good to get out and enjoy what brought us all here.

Not exactly lights out, but enough action to keep things interesting throughout the day and a perfect storm of the right water, the right time of day, the leading edge of the weather system, the right bugs and maybe even something to do with the ones throwing them all culminating in an epic 10 minutes of fishing with three 20 plus fish landed, two of which came on an extremely rare big brown double. Doubles happen fairly regularly when nymphing and you get the occasional streamer double but hooking two fish over 20 inches, one from each side of the boat, and landing them both….that’s a day maker for anyone.

As I said, it wasn’t exactly lights out but it won’t be long. The water temps are still cold, in that 36 – 38 degree range but these next few weeks should bring about the prime time spring streamer fishing. If you’d like to fish prime streamer time on the MO and get a shot at that fish of a lifetime make those plans NOW! It’s a lot of work and it’s definitely NOT a numbers game but if you get the streamer game then you already know that. There’s a few of us who are Streamer Obsessed and who would like nothing better than to take you on a hunt for that Missouri River fish of a lifetime.

If nymphing or dry fly fishing is your preference I’d suggest staying up high, at least based on what we saw yesterday. Very few midges in the canyon and the little bit of dry/dropper fishing we tried failed to produce.

The word from the Dam section is abundant dry fly opportunities and solid nymphing on Pill Poppers, Tailwater Sows, Caviar Scuds, Pink Rays, Pederson’s Sow, Zebras, Cotton Candy, Bubble Yums, Amex, Yum Yums etcetera along with mayfly nymphs like BWO Magic Flies, Little Green Machines, Psycho Mays and Split Case BWO’s all getting some attention.

Our advice on dry fly fishing is keep it simple with a Griffiths gnat and a Parachute Adams. They’ll also eat various midge clusters, Black Midges, Black Sippers and the like but why not just keep it simple while you can?

Soon enough they’ll have smartened up and won’t be so eager to eat just any old bug you throw at them. A sloppy cast with a skating fly that doesn’t match the hatch in both size and profile is not, generally speaking, an effective strategy on any water but particularly on the Missouri where the trout are famously picky and educated and sophisticated and do not suffer amateurish casting or fly selection.

The shop is loaded up with new spring gear. New flies, rods, reels, waders, boots, lines, leaders, nets, tools, accessories, drinkware, headwear, eye wear… and on and on. We’re bursting at the seams.

Open daily at 8 AM for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-03-29T11:57:01-06:00March 29th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, midge, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Fallback Strategies

Daylight Saving Time ended this past Sunday, ushering in the coming days of winter darkness.

Not having given it much thought yesterday when we launched, I found myself rowing to beat the fading light after getting stuck on a mid-float dry fly flat, unable to resist the siren call of rise forms amidst an abundance of opportunity on water devoid of any sign of angling traffic.

We LOVE November on the Missouri!

That being said, chilly mornings and short days mean it’s time to shift gears. Shorter floats are definitely in order with only 6-7 hours of float time available considering you likely won’t be on the water much before 10 AM.

Holter Dam to Craig is doable as is Craig to Mid but for me Wolf Creek to Craig is the perfect late season float, not too long, not too short. Tacking on the additional 4 miles to Stickney will likely have you pushing to beat the darkness, especially if you get stuck on a dry fly flat half-way through and can’t bring yourself to leave.

From what I could tell by looking around the parking lots yesterday we were sharing 9 miles of river with three boats, two of which were exiting at Craig and only one of which we encountered at the very start of the day.

Have I mentioned we LOVE November on the MO?

The bobber fishing has been outstanding these last couple of weeks, a little slower yesterday but still good enough to qualify as near-exceptional, depending on your perspective of course.

The aforementioned dry fly fishing in the afternoons is good enough to keep you from getting to your takeout before dark and streamer fishing, while not exactly great on the brighter, sunnier days, always promises the potential for the fish of a lifetime.

Bottom line…it’s all good right now and there’s NOBODY out there (relatively speaking).

What are the drawbacks of November fishing? So far there really aren’t any. Weather wise we’ve had an absolutely amazing autumn with moderate temps and very little precipitation. A bit of wind more often than not but that’s a given anytime on the MO. Some cold mornings for sure but generally tolerable by 10 AM. Hopefully we’ll see some precipitation in the form of snow soon but in the meantime conditions are ideal for fall fishing. We’ve seen highs in the 40’s and low 50’s most days with overnight lows in the 20’s and 30’s, occasionally dipping into the teens. Most days see a mix of clouds and sun, with plenty of those gloomy light fall days that spell success.

Flows remain LOW, currently holding relatively steady at 2890 CFS with water temps on a slow drop, currently just shy of 49. Expect more of the same both on the weather and the water front for the time being with no substantial weather events on the horizon.

Our go-to dry fly rig – #18 Olive Haze trailed with a #18 Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis. We’ve got plenty of other options to choose from but I’ve been sticking with this rig for weeks now. I’ve found it to be a bit like novocaine…sooner or later it works!

Go To Nymph – Tailwater Sowbug. Pair it with a Rainbow Czech, an Amex, a Rainbow Weight Fly, a Tungsten Tailwater Sow, a Bubble Yum Scud or whatever you prefer. Other good options include soft hackle sows, Little Green Machine, Olive 2 Bit, Split Case BWO, Olive S & M or any other Baetis nymph but judging by these last couple of weeks I would suggest starting with the Tailwater Sow and moving on from there if need be.

Medium fast, 2-4’ water continues to be the go-to, don’t waste your time on the slow stuff just yet. It’ll happen soon enough.

We’re open daily at 8 AM for all of your Missouri River fall fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-11-09T10:23:11-07:00November 9th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Heart of autumn

Three weeks into October and rapidly approaching the season’s end, we’re enjoying the slow and steady seasonal transition. The weather has been amazing this fall with moderate temps and very little precipitation. We’re hopeful that trend takes a turn very soon as we are in desperate need of water for next season, but for now we’ll continue to enjoy these classic fall days. The leaves remain on many of the trees with plenty of color providing an extended autumn backdrop to some great days on the water.

Most years we’ll have seen enough cold temps and wind by this point in October to strip the trees bare so we’re really enjoying the extended show.

Fishing has been good enough most days though I dare not oversell it as you’ll always have some days that are going to be a struggle for some. Overall though, the action has been consistently good and most are reporting good days nymphing and throwing streamers.

Dry fly fishing has had its moments with verified reports of actual BWO’s on several occasions but as is always the case with fall dry fly fishing on the Missouri, those days you would call epic are generally very few and far between. There will be bugs here and there, and fish rising here and there on a daily basis but this is not what you’ve heard about when people refer to epic fall dry fly fishing on the Missouri. It’s a whole different level of emergence and feeding activity, the likes of which the average novice angler if they’re lucky, may only experience a handful of times in a lifetime of fishing. Believe me, if you happen to hit it right and you are on the water for one of these days there will be no mistaking it. If you have to ask then it was likely not an epic dry fly day by Missouri River standards.

All that being said, approach every day with the hope that it might happen but with the realistic expectation that you will likely see a few bugs and a few heads and you may get a shot or two at a feeding trout…make it count!

My go-to BWO setup is a #18 Brook’s Sprout Baetis paired with a #18 Film Critic. Other good options include Olive Haze, Olive Parachute Adams, Parachute BWO, BWO Hackle Stacker, BWO Flash Cripple, Last Chance Cripple, Nyman’s BWO DOA , BWO CDC wing emerger, Wilcox’s BWO Micromay. All these and many more available at WCA.

Nymphing has been status quo with Zebra Midges, Tailwater Sows, Tungsten Tailwater Sows, Soft Hackle Sows, Scuds, Green Machines, Psycho Mays, Rainbow Czechs, Bubble Yums, Pill Poppers, Olive Lightning Bugs, Olive 2 Bits, BWO Magic Fly, Split Case BWO, Peep Show and various PT variations all proving to be effective offerings. Best setup has been short (3ish’ to first bug, no weight). I like to lead with a tungsten bead bug though I wouldn’t say that has been critical. Target the shallow fast water and leave the 5X at home. Your best bet is a 7.5’ 3X leader to 4X tippet. These fall fish are hot.

Streamer fishing is still my go to and will be from here on out. The word on the street is buggers and we’ve been selling plenty of them but don’t let anyone tell you that you have to go small. Buggers are fine and catch plenty of fish but there’s absolutely no reason you shouldn’t be throwing heavy lines and big bugs. Big lines and big bugs require a fair amount of work but often that work results in big payoffs.

Yes, working a heavy line in shallow water situations requires effort but in my opinion it’s better to utilize the option that can work in all situations. An intermediate line works great in the shallows and doesn’t require any extra effort but you’re not going to dredge the depths of those drop offs with an intermediate line. A 240 or 280 grain Streamer Max short can be stripped rapidly through the shallows and will also give you the option of getting that big bug down in the depths where big fish often lurk. So sure, you can rig up a couple of rods, one with an intermediate and one with a heavy sink but why would you? Often you’re working across the shallow flat and down into the depths of the drop off or bucket. You can work the shallows and the mid water column effectively with your intermediate line or you can give yourself the option of dredging the depths if you aren’t finding them in the mid water columns.

It’s all personal preference. Many “traditionalists” will fish the same floating line they’re using for nymphing or dry fly fishing. They’ll tie on a bugger and add a split shot and call it good and they’ll likely catch plenty of fish, especially letting that bugger swing in the tailouts. It’s an effective way to fish and it’s what used to be considered “streamer fishing”.

Not anymore. There’s a world of specialty lines designed for any and all situations and there are all sorts of bugs we call streamers ranging in size and weight and design. Some are designed to push water, some are designed to swim, and some are designed to dive to the depths and can be fished either by stripping or jigging. It’s a world of fly fishing unto its self. Some Love it. Some hate it. Few are indifferent. It’s a passion of ours and it’s one we’re more than happy to share with anyone who asks.

It’s all right here, right now. Dry Fly Fishing, Bobber Fishing, Streamer Fishing, Swinging….Fall is FLY FISHING on the MO and beyond.

The shop is open daily at 7 AM with lodging and guides available most days. Traffic has slowed for the most part though it still seems to come in waves. The nice weather will continue to generate some activity though many have shifted their focus to hunting so crowds won’t be an issue until spring.

Get out and enjoy this awesome autumn on the Missouri.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-10-19T12:44:47-06:00October 19th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Autumn is a magical time on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

79 degrees and sunny on this first day of fall 2021 with blue skies and a respite from the howling winds of the past few days. Perfect autumn weather and good fishing to boot.

Status quo through the weekend with plenty of sunshine and high temps in the 70’s and 80’s. Chilly in the mornings and cooling down as soon as that sun dips down in the evening. You really can’t beat fall weather and there’s no better place to be than on the water.

It’s our busiest guide week of the fall with the crew from Schultz Outfitters here doing their annual rendezvous. What a great week to spend with these guys kicking around the MO and Blackfoot. It’s always a highlight of the year having this crew around from the Michigan motherland.

The nymphing bite has continued to improve and it’s been good more days than not. Zebra Midges continue to produce better than most with Little Green Machines, BWO Magic Flies, Split Case BWO’s, Psycho Mays, Micro Mays, Tailwater Sows, Purple Weight flies and Rainbow Czechs all proving to be effective on any given day.

The traffic continues to be pretty concentrated at the dam but the river is fishing good all the way down to Cascade so don’t be afraid to spread out.

Dry fly fishing is a possibility on the less windy days. Pseudos and Callibaetis mostly but keep those hoppers in play, especially lower down river, and try an October Caddis for the Big Gulp. It’s definitely not PRIME TIME for dries but looking at the long term it could shape up to be an excellent fall and we’re hoping for at least a handful of epic BWO days in the not too distant future.

Fingers Crossed.

In the meantime, if you really want to see what fall fishing is about, get your mind off of floating flies and dead drifts and start dredging. It’s Big Game Hunting season on the MO and anywhere else giant browns are on the prowl. Big flies, heavy lines and the hope that every cast could be THE ONE that entices that behemoth brown and elicits that violent strike with an epic battle to ensue.

Get after it!

Got questions? We’ve got answers. We are your go-to source…your Streamer Headquarters on the MO and beyond.

We are your Full Service Missouri River One Stop Shop for fall fly fishing with clean and affordable lodging, the hardest working guides on the river, a fully stocked shop, shuttles, bugs, Adipose Drift Boat Rentals and so much more.

Open daily at 7 AM for EVERYTHING Missouri River Fly Fishing.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-22T14:51:44-06:00September 22nd, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Adipose, brown trout, dry fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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 Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-16T20:14:23-06:00September 16th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Craig MT, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, nymphs, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

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 Jason Orzechowski|2021-08-31T11:04:01-06:00August 31st, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|2 Comments

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 Jason Orzechowski|2021-07-28T15:36:46-06:00July 28th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

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 Jason Orzechowski|2021-07-14T15:48:41-06:00July 14th, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, DRY, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, HOT, Missouri River, Montana, Rock Creek Fire, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

On the Dirty Water Prowl

And just like that summer arrived.

Memorial Day Weekend ushered in the nicest weather we’ve seen all season and with temps in the 90’s on tap for the next several days it seems summer has arrived. And to think 10 days ago we were getting in the midst of a spring snow storm which dumped over a foot of snow.

It was a busy holiday weekend on the MO with the vast majority of the angling traffic in the Dam to Craig section due to a steady flow of dirty water coming in from the Dearborn and Little Prickly Pear. Both continue to run dirty but are dropping fast with current flows of 834 CFS and 264 CFS respectively. Meanwhile the Missouri holds low and steady at 3730 CFS.

Traffic should start to spread out soon though 90 degree temps will likely continue to feed the runoff throughout this week. That being said, conditions in the canyon are PRIME right now for streamer fishing with the perfect amount of color and around a foot and a half of visibility below the Dearborn as of yesterday afternoon. Nymphing was adequate down there as well but if that’s your primary focus I would continue to stay higher up until the water clears a bit more. Best nymphing zone at the moment Holter Dam to Stickney.

The worm was on for the weekend but it seems that window has closed. Tung Darts and Weight Flies are rapidly becoming a go to on point with larger sow bugs, Split Case PMD’s, Frenchies, Psycho Mays, LGM’s and Magic Flies all fine trailing fly choices.

If you’ve been waiting for near-perfect streamer conditions on the MO the wait is over but the time is short. Get out there this week before things clear and see if you can’t coax a couple out of the dirty water. They’re definitely lurking in the shallows so you’ll want to beat the banks but strip all the way to the boat with plenty of pauses in between. We got a fair amount of action yesterday 2/3rds of the way back to the boat on the pause and while I assume those were all follows from the bank you never know where you’re going to find them.
Olive, natural, tan and grey all getting some looks and while the water is dirty I’d recommend you go big to help them hit their target.

Updated hours for the shop 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily.

We hope you make us your first stop on the way to the MO for shuttles, bugs, Simms sportswear and wading gear, Adipose boat rentals, ice, sun protection and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-06-01T13:23:32-06:00June 1st, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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