Igniter Archives - Wolf Creek Angler

The State of the Missouri (Spring 2024)

Summer weather on tap for this weekend with highs in the mid 70’s tomorrow and Saturday and pushing 80 on Sunday before we return to rain and more seasonable 60’s on Monday and back to winter starting Tuesday with snow and highs only in the 40’s. Welcome to springtime in the Rockies!

We’re expecting a busy weekend on the river with the weather being what it is and we’re ready for you with piles of new inventory on hand and a good number of open rooms if you’re looking to spend the weekend on the MO. We could probably even get you on the river with one of our exceptional guides if you call us today.

Fishing has been solid all week, especially the nymphing which is producing big numbers daily, but late afternoon/early evening dry fly fishing has also been good with plenty of midges on hand and the streamer crowd is also loving life on the Missouri at the moment. It’s all happening NOW and the best is yet to come.

The glum snowpack/water forecast has really turned around over these past few weeks to the point where what was looking like a substantially low water year is now predicted to be in the normal range, at least what we’ve come to know as normal in recent times. Canyon Ferry is currently sitting at 83.5% full and is expected to fill completely which is great news for the MO.

Flow predictions have improved substantially and while we could still definitely use more precipitation current most probable forecast has us at around 4,000 CFS right on through the season with a peak of around 4500 CFS in May. Minimum probable modeling shows flows kind of where we’ve been seeing them at for the winter months at just shy of 3,000 CFS and Max Probable would have us at around 5,000 CFS for the season with a peak of 9K in May.

As is always the case, Mother Nature will have the final say but confidence is high that flows will be in good shape on the Missouri in 2024. Obviously we’re lacking the flushing flows of 15K + that seem to have such a positive effect on the fishery but compared to what we were looking at 6 weeks ago we feel like we’re in great shape.

Currently flows are 3660 CFS with afternoon water temps pushing 42 degrees. Look for that temp to continue to tick upwards with these warm sunny days making for hot spring fish.

And speaking of spring fish….rainbows are spawning both up the tribs and on the river so if you’re wade fishing the MO PLEASE be mindful of where you are walking taking care not to trample those redds.

You’ll also be happy to hear that fish counts in the Craig stretch are as healthy as ever with over 8,000 fish over 10” per mile. With a ton of both browns and bows in the 15” – 17” range we should see a bunch of big fish this season.

All that being said, we are in draught stage and while things have improved considerably over the past few weeks, the overall picture for Montana waters is less than ideal. Without substantial precipitation this spring low flows and high water temps and high fire risk are all legitimate concerns so keep praying for that precip.

We are now open every day at 8 AM with the Cheapest Shuttles on the MO, the best lodging on the MO, legendary guides and a shop packed FULL of EVERYTHING you need for your day on the water and likely some things you don’t.

We are your EXCLUSIVE Simms dealer in Wolf Creek and the oldest dealer on the MO with plenty of waders and boots for men and women as well as sportswear and accessories. We are also your exclusive Sage dealer in Wolf Creek and we’re loaded up with all the best rods money can buy. Swing in for that new R8, Sonic or Igniter and a Spectrum series reel to match. We also feature rods and reels from Lamson, Echo, Redington and Loop.

If it’s flies you’re looking for then look no further. Our selection rivals that of any shop on the MO and with the new shipments continuing to come in we’ve got so many bugs we’re running out of bins in which to put them. We’ve got all of your Missouri River standards and much more.

WCA is also your Streamer Authority on the MO and while we’ve always had the biggest and best streamer selection around we’ve outdone ourselves this spring with an expanded selection of all of your favorites and likely some you haven’t seen before.

We’re also loaded up on Streamer lines from SA, Rio and Airflo…something for everyone.

It’s Go Time on the MO.

See you soon at Wolf Creek Angler

Missouri River Ghost Town

Sun Setting on Summer 2023

These are lonely days in the fly shop and quiet days on the river as summer continues to slip away.

We saw a small bump in river traffic over the weekend with Caddis Fest happening in Craig but for all intents and purposes, it’s a Missouri River Ghost Town.

And while it’s not great for us, it is great for you if you’re planning on coming out to fish the MO anytime soon.

What little angling traffic we’ve seen has been concentrated at the dam where a double zebra rig has been lethal more days than not. Tung Darts and Weight flies and Frenchies make a good point fly if you want to give them some variety but make sure to run at least one black zebra on those rigs…trust me.

For those more interested in hopper eats, it’s been on the slow side but it’s not due to angling pressure so keep at it. You can have seemingly MILES of river all to yourself most days which will likely be the case for the next couple of weeks as people shift gears and return to fall routines.

I prefer a single hopper, keeping things simple and tangle free but you can certainly drop a nymph or trail with an ant to boost your odds.

Donkey Kong and More or Less Hoppers in peach, tan, pink and grey have all been getting some looks and while I wouldn’t NOT fish a larger hopper (#8 or bigger) #12’s and #14’s seem to be more effective overall this year.

You might also try a chubby or Water Walker or the micro version of either to show them something different.

The canyon offers some Classic Hopper water as does the lower river but terrestrials are everywhere and can be effective anywhere and everywhere from Holter Dam to Cascade.

Some days they’re on it, some days not so much but it’s a bit like streamer fishing in that the hookups can be few and far between but when that monster brown finally smashes that hopper or simply inhales it, barely disturbing the water’s surface, it makes it all worthwhile. If you want numbers go do the double zebras at the dam. If you want the thrill of the hunt commit to the big bugs and cover some water.

And that’s not to say there isn’t classic dry fly fishing to be had if that’s your preference. Tricos are definitely dwindling but they’re around and you can find fish eating them. The same with caddis. You’ll see a few around throughout the day and more around in the evening and if you put your time in you should be able to find a fish willing to eat your well-presented dry fly offering.

A few weeks from now the traffic will start to bump as we head into the fall “second season” so this is your chance to enjoy some Missouri River solitude while also enjoying late summer weather in Montana.

We’re open daily from 7 AM – 5 PM with everything you need for your day on the water. We’ve got plenty of rooms, plenty of rental boats and a shop full of Missouri River essentials including clearance pricing on all summer sportswear. The only thing we don’t have plenty of are guides though we encourage you to give us a try if you’re thinking a guide trip is the way to go.

We’ve lost a portion of our guides, the educator class, who are back to their real jobs as school gets underway and it’s also fairly common for those who’ve been grinding for months straight to take some time to themselves during the lull, recharging for a busy fall ahead. That being said, we’re always more than happy to do anything we can to get you on the water.

Stop in for ice, bugs, sunscreen, the CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES on the MO and so much more. How about a new pair of Simms G3 Waders or a Sage R8 or Igniter for the upcoming fall season? Look no further than Wolf Creek Angler, your Missouri River Fly Fishing Emporium.