Kast Gear Archives - Page 2 of 4

July on the Missouri

It’s Trico Time on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The season continues to fly by as we close the books on June. We’re swapping out our PMD boxes for Trico fare and savoring the long days of summer. The recent hot weather and lack of precipitation have ushered in Hoot Owl closures in the SW portion of the state which will likely mean more traffic on the Missouri but fear not, she’s a big river. Plenty of fish and plenty of water for everyone. That being said, courtesy goes a long way in preserving peace on the river so please be courteous to your fellow anglers out there. If you are floating – give the wade anglers as wide a berth as you can. If you are wading please keep in mind that while boats are required to give you your space they have to go somewhere. If you are wading mid-river and there are wade anglers on the both banks you may have boats running closer to you than you would like but the vast majority of us who are guiding this river will always give you as much space as possible. Bottom line….be courteous to everyone. We’re all out there doing the same thing…enjoying this amazing fishery.

A huge thanks to all who came out for our Inaugural Fourth of July Fly Sale and for those who missed it, mark your calendars for next year. You missed outrageous deals, the best deals, on the best selection of the most beautiful bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.
It wasn’t the busiest 4th of July we’ve seen, at least not in terms of fishing traffic but by the looks of the parking lot at the Wolf Creek Bridge there was no shortage of folks enjoying a leisurely float down the MO’.
As has become our annual tradition here at WCA we celebrated the 4th with a barbecue for all of our guests and guides and it was a great time as always. Many of these guests have become great friends, having been here from the start.

Those who fished Monday night battled some of the gustiest winds we’ve experienced in a while but there was reportedly some magic in the air as the wind subsided just long enough for some downright spectacular caddis action.
It’s a bit of a transition time right now as the PMDs are on the way out and the Tricos on the way in all against the backdrop of what is shaping up to be a pretty decent caddis season.
The word up high is that while there has been no shortage of tricos in the morning the fish haven’t quite keyed into them yet. That being said, Trico Time is early morning start time. Those who go early will be rewarded.

Make us your early morning Missouri River One Stop. We are open daily at 6:30 AM, before any of the others and lately we’ve had a crowd before we even open the doors so we may very well look at moving that to 6 AM very soon. Stop in for shuttles, bugs, RO and Adipose Drift Boat Rentals, LOOP rods and reels, ARC Fly Lines, KAST guide wear and anything else you may need for your day on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00July 6th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, RO Drift Boats, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Summer Days on the Missouri

It’s hard to believe but we’re just days away from JULY!

As always, the season is absolutely flying past and while it doesn’t seem all that long ago we were anxiously awaiting spring we are now smack dab in the middle of prime time. Dawn comes early and dusk comes late which means LONG days of fishing (and long days of working) and late nights recapping the events of the day in anticipation of tomorrow.

I’ve heard many reports over the past few days….this is some of what I’ve heard.

“The water is really low. This is the lowest I’ve ever seen it.”

“The water is really cranking.”

“Best PMD hatch I’ve seen in years”

“No bugs!”

“Tons of Caddis”

“Where are the caddis?”

“These fish are very picky”

“The fish are still really dumb”

“They’re not eating the duns”

“They’re only eating duns”

“As many boats as I’ve ever seen on this river”

“….pretty quiet out there. Where is everyone?”

As per usual, everyone seems to have a different perspective on things and while we get it that perception is reality this is our take on the current conditions.

We’ve got bugs…..plenty of them. PMD’s, Caddis, Brown Drakes, Yellow Sallies, midges…lots of bugs. PMD’s are plentiful and have been fairly consistent and reliable. Caddis are here. Reportedly not the big caddis we used to have, nor the numbers we used to have back in the day but there are caddis to be found daily and there are fish eating them and often willing to eat your imitation of them whether there are real bugs around or not. Big Brown Drakes in the secret spots only you know about and Yellow Sallies here and there.

The water is in good shape. We didn’t get the push we had hoped for, (We did reach 7,000 but only for a short time) but Canyon Ferry is full and it looks as though we’ll see flows at or near 4100 for the entire season. We’re currently sitting at 4480 with water temps eclipsing the 60 degree mark daily. Look for those water temps to increase substantially this week with highs in the 90’s. Moss is starting to gain a foothold though it is almost July so we’re pretty stoked there isn’t much more of it already.

It’s been a good dry-fly season so far….dry-fly Nirvana on the Missouri. There are plenty of fish eating though it often takes a substantial amount of time and water to find them. When you do they are often times spooky and generally on the picky side but that is why we all love dry fly fishing on the Missouri…..we love the challenge.

Nymphing has been solid, still seemingly better in the canyon stretch though we are starting to see the migration to the dam. A host of bugs getting it done out there including Split Case PMD’s, Weight Flies in purple or gold, black zebras, S & M’s, Military Mays, 2 Bit Hookers, Tung Darts and whatever else you like.

You’ll hear it here often…fish what you like. If you’re confident in your flies you will fish them better and will likely catch more fish. If you don’t like the bug but choose to fish it because it’s the current rage you will likely be left wondering what it is you are doing wrong. We all do it. We all chase the “hot list” of flies which is great for fly sales but next time you are in the fly shop we encourage you to take your time and really take a look at the selection. Sure there are a half-dozen bugs that everyone is buying, that the shops can’t seem to keep in stock and those bugs are selling for a reason but with hundreds of other patterns to choose from we guarantee there are other flies that will catch just as many fish. Maybe start with that “hot fly” and look for something similar, look for something different. Different can be good. The fish like different.

It happens all of the time. Someone comes in the shop asking for a such and such which we are either out of or never had to begin with. We do our best to direct that customer to another selection that would likely work just as well but they’ll have none of it. Tens of thousands of flies and NOT ONE of them will do. We get a kick out of this but we also understand and appreciate the necessity of having the flies you think you need so we work extremely hard at keeping the bins stocked with everything from LGM’s to 2 Bits to Psycho Mays to Peep Shows to Split Case PMD’s to you name it.

Stop by for our inaugural Fourth of July Fly Sale happening all day Monday, July 4th at Wolf Creek Angler. 25% off all flies – a ridiculously good deal and a great opportunity to try some flies you normally wouldn’t. We’ll also have the dollar fly bin loaded up and will have some great gear on the clothing sale rack from KAST, Simms and Redington.

Prime 2017 dates are filling as our happy guests secure next year’s reservations on their way out and fall is really starting to fill in so we encourage you to make those fall fishing plans today. It will be here before you know it!

In the meantime, enjoy summertime on the Missouri.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 28th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Redington, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid June Missouri River Report

Mid to late June brings the PMD's

We’re already looking back at the first half of June as we find ourselves fully immersed in PRIME TIME on the Missouri. It’s hard to believe the summer solstice is but a couple of days away. Time marches on!

Snow and cold and frozen fingers and frozen guides don’t seem that long ago but believe it or not we have somehow reached the meat of the season. Dry Fly Nirvana on the MO’.

I’m still getting plenty of calls inquiring about whether the PMD’s have started yet. Yes…yes they have. Bugs a plenty here and plenty of dry fly opportunities. PMD’s are the main course with a smattering of caddis served up daily and it’s not too early to think about terrestrials.

Our bins are fully stocked with all kinds of new PMD and Caddis patterns, both dries and nymphs. We’ve got so many new bugs we’ve had to clear out some of the old to make way for the new so don’t miss our $1 fly bin – great bugs at a ridiculous price. Don’t forget those hard-to-find Purple Buggers….just $1 at Wolf Creek Angler. Get em’ before they’re gone!

Our Go-To PMD’s have been Eric’s Rusty Spinner, CDC Winged PMD Emergers, Quigley’s Film Critic, Wilcox’s Micromay , Knock Down Duns and PMD Flash Cripples among many many more. Caddis staples include Outrigger Caddis, CDC Caddis Emerger, Cornfed Caddis and X Caddis. If you’re still plying sub-surface the worm continues to produce, especially paired with a tailwater sow. We’ve also done well with purple or gold weight flies or Tung Darts paired with LGM’s, S& M’s, Military Mays, 2 Bit Hookers, Summer Bugs and on and on.

Looking for more great deals? Don’t miss our inaugural fourth of July fly sale coming soon and our sale racks are always worth a look for screaming deals on great gear from the likes of Simms, Redington and Kast. Nothing wrong with any of it….just need to move it out. Hopefully you won’t need any cold weather gear for the next little while but come that next chilly day on the water you’ll have the layers you need to stay warm and you’ll feel great about having gotten a killer deal.

Speaking of the weather it looks like we’ll see a return to 80’s on Tuesday, right on cue for the official start of summer. Sunshine and 80’s expected most of the week. Perfect weather for a just arrived Simms Solarflex featuring our new and improved logo.

Lodging is slammed but we have had a few cancellations here and there, give us a call and we’ll see if we can find you some room at the inn. Guides are slammed as well, making hay as they do, but if a June or July Missouri River guide trip is on your bucket list don’t hesitate to call…we’ll make it happen. As one of the only Outfitter Owned and Operated Fly Shops on the Missouri we’ve got the edge when it comes to putting you on the water with some of the best guides on the river.

We are open daily at 6:30 AM – earlier than anyone else so make us your early morning Missouri River fly fishing one stop. Shuttles, bugs, strong coffee, sun protection and a wealth of friendly advice and up-to-the minute info on what’s happening on the MO’. You are our number one priority….every day of the year.

See you bright and early at WCA.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 17th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Memorial Day Weekend

WCA-mountains-fish-bridge-location-navy

It’s hard to believe but Memorial Day is already here – the unofficial start of the summer season. In some respects it feels like it’s been a long time coming but mostly it feels like another season is absolutely flying by.

The early start we had with an extremely busy April means we’ve already been somewhere close to, or at Full Tilt for almost two months already and while we’ve had a few slower times during these last few weeks for the most part we’ve been busy settling in to our prime-season routines.

Things have been so busy that I let April 1st get by without talking about WCA celebrating birthday #2. As we head into this third season we’re thrilled with the growth we’ve already seen and we’re excited about things to come.

Part of growing a business is building a team to meet the increased demands that come with a busier shop and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing. If you’ve been in the shop recently you’ve likely noticed a bit more variety behind the counter with Zach and I sharing these duties. We’ve recently added another shop guy Tyler, whom you’ll be hearing more about soon. Behind the scenes on the housekeeping side Cindy has things dialed in as always with help from Jeanette who has returned to help us out this season. These two are definitely the unsung heroes of the operation!

My intent is to spend a bit more time on the water guiding this season so I may not be in the shop quite as much but more often than not I will be here. When I’m not, you’re in good hands with Chewy!

New faces, new logo, new products…..same old commitment to customer service. You will always be our number one priority, whether in the shop or on the water. You’ve got plenty of choices when it comes to fly shops and guides…not as much when it comes to lodging but we’re definitely not the only game in town. We get it! This is why your satisfaction is our number one priority whether you are shopping with us, lodging with us, fishing with us or all of the above and this is why you can expect exceptional service every time you set foot in our shop.

If you haven’t been by the shop in a while you should definitely stop in and see what’s new. Product highlights for this season include the addition of LOOP rods and reels, more great gear from industry leaders like KAST, Rio, Nautilus, Redington, Smith and more; awesome WCA logo gear from Simms, Hydro Flask and Stanley; and an ever-expanding fly selection the likes of which has never seen in Wolf Creek Montana. It won’t take long for you to see why so many Missouri River guides frequent our shop. It might be the free coffee, it might be our smiling faces but my bet is it’s the bugs!

Looking for a guide? We’ve got the hardest working guide crew on the river and as the “new shop” we can’t wait to show you how that same commitment to customer satisfaction you find in our shop also applies on the water. There’s no shortage of guides on the Missouri River so you’ve got plenty of choices. We hope you choose us.

As one of the only Outfitter Owned and Operated shops in the area we have the edge when it comes to getting you on the water with an exceptional professional guide even with very little notice. We offer the complete package. Clean, affordable lodging; an up and coming fly shop with everything you need for your day on the Missouri and the hardest working guides you’ll find anywhere. We are full-time Missouri River guides. 24/7/365. This is our home water and we fish it year round. We don’t winter in the tropics. We winter on the MO’.

We hope to see you this Memorial Day weekend at Wolf Creek Angler. Start your summer off right with a weekend on the Missouri. Lodging and guides available – book today.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:35-06:00May 26th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Socked In

True to the forecast from a few days back we’ve been stuck in the clouds/rain/snow for most of the week and while we’re happy to have the precipitation I for one am anxious to see and feel the sun shine again.

Per our predictions there has been some decent dry-fly action out there but still primarily towards the end of the day. A little perplexing but the challenge is what keeps us coming back. I haven’t been out this week but I’ve heard plenty of reports of MASSIVE BWO hatches with no fish up during the day. Those putting in the time and the miles are finding willing fish but you should definitely plan on working for them. Go to dries this week have been Wieses Purple Phase Loop Wing, BWO Drown Spinners, Olive Parachute Adams, Rocky Mountain Mints, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, CDC Baetis Emergers and BWO Hackle Stackers on the baetis side while Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Griffiths Gnats and Buzzballs are good bets for midge imitations.

A bit of a mixed bag as far as nymphing reports go but overall it seems to be getting good out there.

We’ve heard a few lackluster reports but the word from the last couple of days has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s been wet and chilly but we’re seeing plenty of smiling faces regardless. It’s amazing what a couple of tugs can do to make you forget about being cold and miserable. Rainbow Czechs, BWO Angel Case Emergers, Split Case BWO’s, LGM’s, Psycho Mays, Micro Mays, PT’s, Bubble Yum Scuds, S & M’s, Dark Peep Shows, Juans Hi Def Baetis in purple, Black Zebras, Pink or Purple Lightning Bugs, tailwater sows, soft hackle sows……and on and on. A lot of stuff is working but its changing from day-to-day and even by the hour. Giver yourself plenty of options and don’t be afraid to stray from the standards.

And speaking of standards, don’t forget to stop by the shop next Thursday from 6 pm – 9 pm and visit with Vince Wilcox creator of THE quintessential Missouri standard the Little Green Machine. We’ll be hanging out with Vince doing some lying, some tying, some grilling and just kicking back and enjoying springtime on the MO’.

Streamers? Still nothing stellar to report but once again, definitely worth your time. My intention is to spend my next day on the water devoting most if not all of the day to throwing them. We’re loaded up on the big bugs right now with all of your Missouri River standards as well as a bunch of stuff from the mind of Chewy you aren’t going to find anywhere but at WCA. Wolf Creek has never seen the likes of the bug selection you’ll find in our bins and we’re adding to it almost daily!

It looks like we’re going to transition back to sunshine and warmer weather starting Sunday. Take advantage of the cloud cover while you can – it should be a great weekend for fishing as long as you’re dressed for it. Need some cold weather gear or rain gear? We’ve got ridiculous deals on outerwear from KAST, hats and gloves from Outdoor Research and wading gear and layering from Redington and a bunch of new inventory you haven’t seen yet. Make us your first stop on your way out to the river.

Lodging is full tonight and tomorrow but really opens up Sunday and into the first part of next week. Sunshine and mid 70’s expected by the middle of the week. It’s a great time to book yourself a guide trip and a night or two with us. Traffic is still relatively light and the fishing should only get better from here on out.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:35-06:00April 29th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, green machine, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Redington, running line, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Spring is beginning to show itself on the MO. Photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Spring officially arrived yesterday with sunshine and 60’s, a nearly perfect day. We were happy to soak it in yesterday, but we’re looking at another week of winter-like weather ahead and we’re happy to have it.

We’re very pleased to report that the snow pack is continuing to build and should be maintained with slightly below average daytime highs and cold nights in the high country.

Here on the Missouri we’re looking at a chance of snow showers every day this week starting tomorrow with temps in the high 30’s and low 40’s. Consequently, we’re going to hold off on opening up more lodging for the time being but we expect to have all the cabins open and available the first week of April and will likely have the motel units up and running by mid to late April, depending on the weather.

Spring lodging and guide dates are filling rapidly so don’t put it off any longer. Book your spring dates with us now. It’s an awesome time to fish the Missouri River with light to moderate traffic and great opportunities no matter what your fly fishing game. Nymphing has already started to really heat up, dry-fly opportunities are becoming more consistent and with the water temp flirting with 40 degrees, the streamer game is also starting to turn on and will only get better from here on out.

Come spend a few days with us and see why we consider spring to be one of the best times to fish the Missouri. Spend a day or two on the water with one of our expert professional guides and then spend a few more on your own either taking advantage of the abundant walk in access or perhaps renting a RO or Adipose Drift Boat to explore the 30 plus miles from Holter Dam to Cascade. Ask about our spring special. We’re offering great prices on lodging, guide trips and boat rentals through the end of April. You can’t afford to pass these deals up!

$99 gets you cozy and quiet accommodations in Wolf Creek with a full kitchen, private bath, access to barbecue grills and to THE UP and COMING Missouri River fly shop fully stocked with everything you need for your day on the water.

New gear arriving daily including LOOP, Echo, St Croix and Redington rods and reels, a bunch of cool new Simms WCA logo gear, tons of bugs added to an already impressive and expansive selection and the most laid-back, ego-free, customer service committed atmosphere you’ll find anywhere.

The Hell Razor Jacket from Kast available at Wolf Creek Angler

Don’t miss Extreme deals on Extreme Fishing Gear from KAST. The calendar may say spring but the weather will continue to say winter for a while ( we hope). Pick up a Hell Razor prima-loft jacket at 40% off and you’ll be laughing at the cold as you experience the hottest fishing of the season.

Your dining options will greatly increase this week as the legendary Izaaks in Craig opens for the season this Thursday, the 24th. We can’t wait! Izaaks will be open Tuesday-Sunday at 4 PM through April and will be open daily come May.

The Oasis in Wolf Creek will continue to be open Thursday – Monday from 8:00 – 7:00 PM serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Please support our local businesses.

The shop will be open seven days a week beginning April 4th, from 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM.

Yes the season is upon us! We hope to see you soon at Wolf Creek Angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:38-06:00March 21st, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Izaaks, Kast Gear, Loop, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, RO Drift Boats, running line, St Croix, The Oasis, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Road Ahead

Next month will mark the official beginning of our third year in business. We couldn’t be more excited!

We’ve undergone some changes and have had our share of growing pains but our trajectory remains upward and focused and we can’t wait for the season to really get rolling. That being said, part of what we’re so excited about is the amount of business we’ve done this winter both in the shop and with lodging. We would have preferred a bit more of a winter but the mild weather has certainly benefitted us. With the exception of December which is always slow it’s been a consistently busy winter. We’ve been doing the 5 day/week schedule closing on Mondays and Tuesdays which has worked out for the most part but we will definitely be looking at expanding that schedule to 7 days if we see another winter like this next year.

We’ve got a busy season on the books for lodging and guide trips and we’re excited to show off our shop to a bunch of new clients. Our regulars will also find plenty of changes which we hope will keep them coming back. We’re always looking to expand our inventory to give you the products you want as well as to offer you some items you can’t find at every other shop.

To this end we’re super stoked to be the brand new exclusive dealer of LOOP rods and reels on the Missouri. The response has been great so far as the LOOP ARMY hones in on a local source and those who aren’t familiar with the brand get exposed to this great product line. We are steadily building up our LOOP inventory but if there is something you need that we aren’t currently carrying we can get it for you right away, generally in a day or two. Come by and cast a few of these rods. You may just find yourself joining the LOOP Army. We’re super excited to help build the brand here on the Missouri.

We’re also very excited to announce that we’ve significantly expanded our already impressive fly selection. More nymphs, more dries, some serious growth in our streamer selection and a bunch of new foam. We’ve also begun to build a selection of non-Missouri specific flies for those interested in exploring the wealth of other waters nearby and while the majority of our rods and reels are geared to the Missouri you will now find some great #3 and #4 weights as well as a smattering of two-handed selections.

We continue to be your exclusive full-line KAST dealer and we’ve expanded our selection of packs and accessories from Fishpond and Umpqua and expanded our fly line inventory to include a much broader selection of specialty lines from Rio and Airflo. We’re fully stocked on waders and boots for the whole family from Redington including the new Palix River wading pants, a great alternative to chest waders during the warmer months and on smaller streams. These are an exceptional value at under $140.00. Check back often for new additions to our inventory as we continue to make inroads with the brands and products you want to see in your Missouri River fly shop.

We’re also pleased to announce that we’ve partnered with Adipose Boatworks to add the wildly popular Adipose Flow to our rental fleet. Now you can rent a RO or an Adipose. We love them both and we’re excited to be able to offer you a choice.

We’ve continued to make improvements to our lodging which you may or may not notice. New paint, new couches, new chairs…these are some of the bigger ones but it’s our intention to continuously improve at all levels which might mean new sheets, new towels , new dish racks etc. You won’t notice many of these changes but you might notice if we didn’t make them. It’s our hope that your stay with us will always be enjoyable and while we aren’t the Hilton we are committed to providing clean, comfortable, affordable lodging coupled with exceptional service from our entire staff.

And speaking of our staff, you will definitely see a few new faces around the shop this season. Zach King (AKA Chewy) started with us last fall and will be assuming the role of shop manager for the coming season. Chewy has spent the winter here at Wolf Creek Angler keeping an eye on things for us, covering the shop on Sundays and obsessively scouting and fishing the Missouri almost daily. He is a great addition to our team and we’re excited to have him on board. We will likely add one or two more to the staff as things ramp up.

Another staff change you will notice this year is in our guide crew. We’ve added a couple of new guides and parted ways with a few others so while some of the faces may be new what hasn’t changed is our commitment as a guide staff to providing you with an exceptional experience both on and off the water. For us your guide day starts long before we meet you at the shop. We’re busy prepping our boats, getting your lunches together and contemplating where to float in order to give you the best day possible. We like to spend a few minutes talking with you once we’ve met to figure out what your expectations are and how we can best meet those expectations. We’ll figure out where to go and what to do based on what you want out of your guide trip, not on what’s most convenient or easy for us as your guide.

We are your outfitter owned and operated Missouri River fly shop and guide service. For us guide trips are not just another service we offer, they are the foundation upon which Wolf Creek Angler was built. We don’t just book the trip, we also row the boat. Fishing the waters of Montana is what brought us here. This is our passion and we would love to share it with you.

This is the road ahead. Change is constant. Continuous improvement is our mantra and whether your staying with us, fishing with us, shopping with us or any or all of the above you are why we are here and we feel truly blessed to be able to do what we do and to serve you.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:38-06:00March 5th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, Fishpond, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Loop, Missouri River, Montana, Redington, RIO, RO Drift Boats, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Weekend Outlook

riverjake

Looks like a nice weekend ahead if you’re planning on coming out to fish the Missouri and if you’re not planning on it you should change your plans. Sunny skies and low 60’s tomorrow and Saturday. Mid 50’s and cloudy with light showers on Sunday, make this your streamer day.

We’ve got plenty of lodging available tonight and Saturday night, just one room left for Friday night though so if you want to make a weekend out of it you should make that call this morning and grab that last cabin.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served Thursday – Monday at The Oasis from 8:00 am – 7:00 pm and each of our units are equipped with full kitchen facilities and barbecue grills if you would prefer to do it yourself. Be sure and visit the Canyon Store while you are in Wolf Creek for last minute grocery items and an impressive selection of Montana Micro Brews.

How about a Missouri River Guide trip this weekend? Through the end of March $400 gets you a full day on the water for one or two anglers with one of our expert professional guides. The price includes all the gear you need, lunch and refreshments and transportation to and from the river. We’re happy to tailor your trip to fit your needs. Whether you want to work on improving your skills in a certain area or you want to do something a little different like throw streamers or maybe you want to see a section of the river you’ve never floated before or maybe you just want to nymph up as many fish as possible…it’s your trip and we’re ready to do everything we can to make it a great day. We’ve got some of the hardest working most professional guides on the river and we can’t wait to share our amazing resource with you. Call and book a trip today.

If you’re just coming out to fish for the day don’t forget to stop by Wolf Creek Angler for everything Missouri River fly fishing. Shuttles, Adipose and RO Drift Boat rentals; great deals on outerwear from KAST and Redington; tools and accessories from MFC, Fishpond, Dr Slick, Umpqua and Loon; leaders and tippet from Rio and Trout Hunter and a bug selection that rivals that of any shop in the canyon. We’re fully stocked on waders and boots from Redington and we are the exclusive dealer of LOOP rods and reels on the Missouri. Stop in soon and see what the buzz is about.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:38-06:00March 3rd, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, Redington, RIO, RO Drift Boats, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter Fare at Wolf Creek Angler

We’ve got a nice weekend on tap here on the Missouri River, especially by mid-January standards with temperatures in the high 20’s and to low 30’s, relatively calm winds and a chance for snow showers each day. We are under a winter weather advisory beginning this afternoon at 2 pm and ending tomorrow morning at 11:00 AM. We could see 2-4 inches of new snow tonight.

The fishing could potentially be pretty good on the river and there was a fair amount of traffic headed up the lake again this morning. We’ve got a full house tonight but things open up on Sunday. If you’ve got Monday off for MLK day it wouldn’t be a bad call to book yourself a bungalow for Sunday night and a $400 full day guide trip on Monday. We’re supposed to see temperatures in the 40’s Monday.

Good reports from the past couple of days both from the nymphing set and the streamer guys. The go-to flies have been Pink Sows, Pink Scuds, Pink Lightning Bugs, Pink Amex…..notice a pattern? We’ve also done well with a few firebead patterns. Rainbow Weight Flies, Firebead Sows, Firebead Rays….. there are plenty of bugs that are working well these days, you just have to put them in the right place. With water temperatures in the 33-34 range those fish simply aren’t going to move much so you need to make sure you are putting it right in front of them. Generally you’ll find that where you pick one up you will pick more up as they are congregating in those spots right now.

Hot Head Kreelex, Hot Head Buggers, Polar Leeches in Brown and also Olive/Copper, Sparkle Minnows and Skiddish Smolts are all getting some action on the streamer side. We’ve got all of these and many more including a bunch of new patterns just begging to be fished. Stop by and check out the undisputed best streamer selection in Wolf Creek Montana.

There will definitely be some traffic out there this weekend with the weather being what it is. It’s a great weekend to fish! It’s also a pretty good weekend to watch playoff football with the Chiefs and Pats playing this afternoon and the Packers and Cardinals tonight. Seahawks and Panthers tomorrow morning followed by Steelers and Broncos tomorrow afternoon. They should all be great games.

Be sure and stop at Wolf Creek Angler if you are coming out to fish. We’re your one stop for everything you need for winter fly fishing on the Missouri. Shuttles, cozy lodging, cold weather gear, closeout deals on St Croix and Echo fly rods, RO Drift Boat Rentals, all the best winter bugs, Kast Steelhead Gloves, great coffee and much more.

The Oasis is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Thursday-Monday so you’ll definitely have a place to eat as well as have a cocktail or two while you watch the football games this weekend.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 16th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, RO Drift Boats, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, streamers, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

A Look Back…

2015 was a busy and great year for us at Wolf Creek Angler with a lot of progress and a few growing pains but all in all a spectacular second season and a great spring-board for season number three.

www.wolfcreekangler.com

We started the year off with the excitement of the launch of our new website which received rave reviews all season long. The web site continues to grow and evolve and we anticipate some major changes in the seasons to come which will eventually allow you to shop WCA from the comfort of home through an on-line store. These things can be a fairly major undertaking so we may start small but expect to at least be able to shop WCA logo gear via the web site at some point this season.

Unseasonably warm temperatures started to prevail in late January and kick-started the 2015 season. We had plenty of guests all winter long from around the state taking advantage of a very mild winter and coming out to fish the Missouri. An abundance sunshine and blue skies and temps hovering in the 50’s for weeks at a time kept us busy in the shop and we even ended up opening additional lodging in March to accommodate the influx.

March 13th was a big day for Wolf Creek Angler as we were featured in The Drake Magazine Online “Fly Shop Friday” feature.

http://www.drakemag.com/featured-content/flyshop-friday/1378-wolf-creek-angler-fly-shop-on-the-missouri-river.html

Later in March we announced our partnership with KAST Extreme Fishing Gear as we became the Exclusive Full Line Kast dealer on the Missouri River. It’s been a great partnership so far and we’ve enjoyed introducing folks to some awesome technical fishing gear. From the extremely popular Steelhead Gloves which put Kast on the map to summer guide wear to extreme outerwear, Kast is rapidly becoming an industry favorite and we are proud to offer these awesome products.

We received another honor in mid May when we were featured in the Helena Independent Record as well as The Billings Gazette and The Missoulian.

http://helenair.com/news/local/angling-for-wolf-creek-montana-fly-shop-owners-are-living/article_d3adcf18-769e-5ac7-be1c-06676703b8a2.html

We hit a bump in the road on Labor Day Weekend when we were forced to cancel our Inaugural WCA Soiree due to spring downpours. We put a lot of work into getting the shop ready for this event which was to feature a barbecue and a band but alas Mother nature had different plans and you won’t ever hear us complaining about much-needed precipitation. Will there be another Soiree? Time will tell.

As the blur of the prime season commenced we enjoyed some great fishing all summer long while enjoying the company of our guests and continuing to work behind the scenes to improve the lodging experience and to make Wolf Creek Angler everything you expect your Missouri River fly shop to be and more. It was a tough summer for much of Montana with drought conditions and Hoot Owl Closures most everywhere but not on the MO.

Mid August brought the bears and the wild fires. The drought like conditions made for a poor Choke Cherry year which brought an abundance of black bears to Wolf Creek where the banks along Little Prickly Pear Creek offered some of the few concentrations of choke cherries to be found in the area. Dry conditions also brought wild fires, one of which struck very close to home near Holter Lake causing the evacuation of the campgrounds and the closure of Beartooth Road. We had a few days of sharing the river with the helicopters and planes scooping water to pour on the fires but a soaking rain helped get things under control and things soon returned to normal with access to The Bull Pasture restored.

The late August-early September ghost town was replaced by a very busy fall as traffic returned to the river in droves. Not coincidentally we welcomed Zach King to the WCA staff in mid-October just in time for the rush. We’re super-stoked to have Zach on board.

Wolf Creek Angler 2015 Guide Crew. Pictured Left to Right Brock Long, Matt Mortenson, Luke Koerten, Matt Hargrave, Jason Orzechowski, Russ Dobrzynski, Jim Murray, Darrel DeLeon, Eric Mondragon

We celebrated another great Wolf Creek Angler season at the end of October and spent the first half of November enjoying solitude and great fishing on the Missouri.

The last weeks of the year have been quiet as expected but looking back on the season as a whole we have definitely exceeded our expectations from a business standpoint with steady growth in lodging and retail and a huge uptick in guide trips, an area we were very focused on in 2015 and one which we will continue to grow.

We’re looking forward to an awesome 2016. We’ve had a great start with bookings and we’re excited about new products soon to arrive at WCA. We are so thankful to you, our customers for allowing us to realize this dream and we remain firmly committed to doing everything we can to earn your business and to become your Missouri River Fly Shop of choice.

We can’t wait to see you in 2016. Cheers!!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:41-06:00December 28th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Dub C A Soiree, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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