Helena Archives - Wolf Creek Angler

Late January Update

The January Thaw continues this week.

If you’re looking for a Missouri River Winter Trout Fix this is your time!

Weekends have been busy by January standards and with temps expected to break 60 degrees on Saturday, I’d expect some company out there. That being said, as you might expect with that warm air usually comes wind and it sounds like that will indeed be the case on Saturday with a predicted southwest wind 18-22 mph, gusting to 47 mph.

Could make for tough fishing conditions but we won’t likely feel 60 degrees again for quite some time, at least let’s hope that’s the case. Snow pack is still good, it could be better. Let’s hope for some winter following this warm up.

Despite the warm air, it’s 100 percent Winter Fishing on the MO right now with water temps still hovering around 34.5 degrees and flows holding steady at around 4600 cfs. The fish are holding in the slow, deep winter runs, though some of these are producing much better than others. Go pink, go deep and make sure you’re covering the whole run. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, the fish are widely distributed in the run and are relatively easy to locate. Other times they may be in the narrowest of slots and can often times prove almost impossible to find. That or they simply aren’t eating but generally speaking, if you spend enough time picking these spots apart you should be able to get a few to eat.

We’ve gotten a lot of calls about streamer fishing this week and if you know me you know I’m going to tell you it’s ALWAYS worth trying but stick to the nymph rigs if you’re looking for numbers. Swinging the tailouts has been moderately effective as has a painfully SLOW strip with ample pauses through the slowest of the slow, lakey spots. Clouser type minnows, kreelex, buggers and polar leeches have all been effective. Not so much on the larger, flashier patterns but as always, fish the patterns you believe in. They’ll out fish any HOT fly any day. It’s amazing what a difference a little faith in your fly makes in the way you fish it. The fish notice and respond accordingly. Other times they don’t.

Midges daily accompanied by sporadic rises but the seemingly ever-present Missouri River winds are shutting this game down more often than not. Keep the dry fly rig handy just in case.

What you need to know as you plan your rapidly approaching Super Bowl weekend…

Wolf Creek Angler is your winter one-stop shop on the Missouri…no need to go anywhere else. We’ve got you covered with the best winter lodging and guide trip deals on the river and a shop FILLED with stuff you need and deals you can’t afford to pass up.

Lodging – $99 (plus tax) for a spacious bungalow with full kitchen facilities (pots/pans/dishes/utensils all included) and private bath. Two twin beds and a pull-out full size sleeper sofa sleep 3 extremely comfortably. A rollaway will accommodate a fourth but four gets a little tight.

Winter Guide Trips – Just $400 for a full day for one or two anglers. Book two days and we’ll throw in a second night of lodging for FREE! Try to find a better deal than this….you won’t!

Mid-Winter Sale

We’re in the midst of our mid-winter sale in the shop. 25% off ALL RODS AND REELS and a FREE ARC fly line with purchase of any rod and reel combo.

30% off all winter sportswear including Simms Coldweather shirts and guide flannels.

50 % Off ALL REMAINING 2019 warm weather clothing. Guide pants, guide shorts, select sun hoodies and more.

It’s late January in the fly shop and there are deals to be had!

Shop hours 8:00 am – 3:00 pm Wednesday – Saturday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Sundays. Those are the published hours but with this nice weather we’ve been in the shop every day. Full disclosure, we’ve not been able to run shuttles since Chewy broke his leg in December but we will ALWAYS make the call for you to book your shuttle with another shop so you don’t have to make another stop prior to hitting the water.

As always, we’re open for guide trips and lodging EVERY DAY.

PBTU Ice Bowl

If you’re in Helena and are looking for something to do on Saturday evening we invite you to join us for the Pat Barnes Missouri River Trout Unlimited Ice Bowl TU Membership Drive and Winter Social at 5 PM at Sleeping Giant Lanes. Pat Barnes TU will be providing the lanes and snacks for all in attendance.

Super Bowl Sunday

The shop will be open in the morning but we will likely be closing early as the festivities commence. Another NFL season soon to be in the books. Yet another struggle for my Detroit Lions. Maybe next year…in the meantime

Go Chiefs!

By Jason Orzechowski|2020-01-29T18:44:37-07:00January 29th, 2020|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Helena, Ice Bowl, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Pat Barnes Missouri River Trout Unlimited, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Last Chance Fly Gals

I had the honor of attending the inaugural meeting of Last Chance Fly Gals this past Monday at Lewis and Clark Brewing Company in Helena. I was blown away by the interest in this group as evidenced by the packed house.

LCFG estimates the number of attendees to have been right around 140. Who knew there was such an interest in fly fishing amongst women in the Helena area.

Shalon Hastings, that’s who.

Hastings, a local entrepreneur who owns The Hub and Taco del Sol restaurants in Helena, along with local fly fishing devotees Amy Glasscock, Anna Lindstrand, Kelly Lynch, Kim Ryan Agee, Liz Moore, Maija Schellhardt, Marty Steenberg and Megan Rotz, have spearheaded this group and judging by Monday’s turnout they are off to a phenomenal start.

When asked about the impetus for forming the group Hastings replied;

“I would run into women that would see photos of me fishing on FB and they would ask to get out on the water with me or ask for advice on how to get started. In the few times I would get on the water with lady friends I really enjoyed the different experience than when I get out with the guys (I still love getting out with the guys). As a result, I threw out a FB post to my immediate network to see if there was interest in participating in a local women’s fly fishing group and the response was overwhelming. I then gathered a couple ladies out of this response to help organize the group and we were completely overwhelmed with the positive response from both the fly shops & outfitters as well as the attendance of ladies to our first meeting. We estimate that 140 women showed up!”

The first meeting was essentially a meet and greet as well as an introduction to the group and a request for input from attendees on the direction in which Last Chance Fly Gals will proceed.

While the group is a work in progress their mission is as follows;

Our Mission is to:

Connect. Provide a means for women of all ability levels interested in fly fishing to connect with each other, build friendships and fish together.

Educate. Provide education for women (and girls) interested in learning how to fly fish, or to increase their knowledge of or improve their skills through mentoring and educational events.

Organize. Provide a venue for organizing fly fishing outings and events.

Inﬂuence. Influence the research and development of fly fishing equipment, clothing and accessories specifically designed for women.

Advocate. Participate in, promote and raise awareness of conservation issues that affect the fish and fisheries in our area.

Give back.

Wolf Creek Angler is proud to be on board with such a great organization and we are committed to doing everything we can to facilitate the growth of the sport among women. Our hats are off to the organizers of Last Chance Fly Gals.

Well Done Ladies. Keep up the good work!

By Jason Orzechowski|2018-03-08T19:13:14-07:00March 8th, 2018|Categories: Local Buzz|Tags: Amy Glasscock, Anna Lindstrand, Helena, Kelly Lynch, Kim Ryan Agee, Last Chance Fly Gals, Liz Moore, Maija Schellhardt, Marty Steenberg, Megan Rotz, Shalon Hastings|3 Comments

Join us this Friday for F3T in Helena

F3T

Here’s a little something to get you primed for the Fly Fishing Film Tour, coming to Helena this Friday, February 5th at the Grandstreet Theater. We are a headline sponsor of the event and we would love it if you joined us. It’s always a great time to get together with fellow fishing fanatics and enjoy some awesome fly fishing films. If drinking beer and watching fly-fishing films sounds like a perfect Friday night to you stop by the shop and pick up your tickets for just $15.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:39-06:00February 1st, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: F3T, Grandstreet Theater, Helena, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Fancy yet Functional River Series Fly Boxes at Wolf Creek Angler

River Series handmade wood fly boxes from A.L. Swanson Craftsman Studio in Helena Montana. Available now at Wolf Creek Angler.

River Series handmade wood fly boxes from A.L. Swanson Craftsman Studios in Helena Montana. Available now at Wolf Creek Angler.

We’ve recently started selling handmade River Series wood fly boxes from A.L. Swanson. They are beautiful boxes made in Helena Montana and constructed from sustainably harvested lumber, inlaid with exotic woods, metals and shell. They feature inlaid shell and earth magnet closures, brass hinges….the whole nine yards.

The River Series features three different size boxes from three classic Montana rivers, each box with it’s own unique characteristics just like their namesakes, the Missouri, the Madison and the Smith Rivers.

Starting at $129 these boxes aren’t cheap but they are a perfect Montana keepsake for the fly anglers in your life and we think they make a perfect Father’s Day gift which could very well be passed on for generations to come…they’re THAT nice.

Swanson, the maker of the boxes, expects them to be used rather than set on display somewhere collecting dust. They are as functional as they are beautiful and while it would certainly be a drag to lose one of these boxes the normal scratches and dings you can’t avoid with wood will only add to the character of the box as it ages.

I’m not sure I would use this box on the water if I had one, I tend to lose things, but I would definitely put it on display and it would definitely hold a prominent place amongst my prized possessions. A box like this can take on a significance you could never predict or expect.

I was given a beautiful hand made wood fly box by a friend many years ago. I never considered actually using it for the purpose for which it was intended, I knew exactly what it would be used for. It would become the permanant home for a black and white Rooster Tail spinner.

I was still just dabbling in fly fishing at the time and had not yet committed. My dad asked me if I would like to fish with him one June evening which I did. I don’t remember if we caught anything but I closed the night out with the Rooster Tail. A few weeks later he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Seven months later he was gone. It was the last time we fished together and while it may seem sacrilege to store a Rooster Tail in a handmade fly box, this was the purpose for which this particular wood fly box was destined.

Stop by the shop and check out these beautiful boxes. We’re positive your dad, grandfather, husband or anyone you know who loves Montana and loves fly fishing would LOVE to have one. Better yet, why not treat yourself to one. After all, you deserver nice things too!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:53-06:00May 14th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: A.L. Swanson Craftsman Studios, fly fishing, Helena, Madison River, Missouri River, running line, Smith River, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Win this 14′ NRS Otter Raft Package this Saturday night in Helena

Enter to win this sweet 14′ NRS Otter Raft Package. Raffle Tickets available at Wolf Creek Angler.

We hope you join us for the 34th Annual Pat Barnes Missouri River Chapter Banquet and Auction this Saturday, April 25th at The Gateway Center in Helena.
It’s a great chance to come out and enjoy a night with a bunch of people who are focused on conserving and protecting the amazing resource we have in the Missouri River.

Enjoy live and silent auctions and raffles including the chance to win a 14′ NRS Otter Raft Package valued at $6400.00. Raffle tickets for the raft package are $25 and are available at Wolf Creek Angler along with dinner tickets which are $40 for a single and $75 for a couple.

Auction items will include a St. Croix Bank Robber Streamer package consisting of a 9′ 7 weight rod, Ross CLA 3 Reel, Rio Streamer Tip Line and backing, and WCA Streamer box with Missouri River spring streamer selection.

Come on out and support your river and a great organization dedicated to caring for it.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:54-06:00April 21st, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Gateway Center, Helena, Missouri River, NRS Otter, Pat Barnes Missouri River Trout Unlimited, RIO, Ross CLA, running line, St Croix Bank Robber, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Welcome Spring!

Springtime on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Happy Vernal Equinox – the first day of spring and the first day of WCA’s $300 Spring Special Missouri River Guide Trips. Now through April 30th $300 gets you a full day of guided fishing on the world-famous Missouri River for up to two anglers with one of our expert guides. Trip includes lunch, snacks, refreshments, transportation to and from the river and all of the flies and any equipment you may need. Don’t miss this opportunity to fish the Missouri at a fraction of the cost of regular season rates.
As if this weren’t reason enough to get you here…our winter lodging rates run through the end of April so along with your $300 full day guide trip you can book a cabin or bungalow for $99/night + tax. All of our bungalows and Cabins #1 and #2 sleep three very comfortably and are equipped with full kitchens and full baths. Cabin #3 has a double and a single bed, private bath, mini fridge, coffee pot and microwave and can be yours for the winter rate of $69/night + tax.
April dates are filling quickly but there’s plenty of good fishing to be had right now and the weather has been great so don’t hesitate to join us ASAP.
Don’t forget tonight is Hank Patterson’s Reel Montana Adventure at 7 PM at the Grandstreet Theatre in Helena hosted by Hank himself.
Join Wolf Creek Angler, CrossCurrents Fly Shop and Pat Barnes Missouri River Trout Unlimited for a Pre-screening Party featuring Hank Patterson (in Person!). Food and drink will be available for sale with all proceeds to benefit Pat Barnes TU.

Raffle tickets to Win Breakfast for 2 with Hank Patterson at Steve’s Cafe on 3/21 and an Orvis Encounter Rod package will be available for sale. The 2015 Pat Barnes TU Raft Package will be on display.
See you there!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Db6moaCuk8

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:58-06:00March 20th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: $300 Missouri River Guide Trips, Hank Patterson, Helena, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

F3T Tonight in Helena

The Fly Fishing Film Tour returns to Helena tonight at 6 pm at the Grandstreet Theater with an Independent showing compliments of Pat Barnes Missouri River Trout Unlimited. Come on out and join the Helena fly fishing community for this event. It’s a great opportunity to support our TU chapter while watching some great films and it’s also a chance for you to walk away with F3T and local fly shop swag including highly coveted Wolf Creek Angler truckers, T’s and stickers. We’ll see you there!