midge Archives - Wolf Creek Angler

THE MONTANA SPRING WE NEED

Spring Fishing at its Finest – photo by Luke Koerten

Early last week it seemed as though summer-like weather was settling in. Bluebird days with temperatures in the 80’s and landscapes of green all around had things feeling much more like early June than the end of April.

But right on cue, Mother Nature did her thing and just like that winter returned. Starting last Thursday those highs in the 80’s we saw earlier in the week were replaced by temps struggling to reach 40 and plunging into the 20’s overnight. Snow has been falling off and on all weekend and while the conditions were a disappointment to some who happened to have guide trips booked for this time, this weather pattern is exactly what we need, pumping the brakes on spring.

Warmer weather on tap for the coming week with highs back in the 50’s and 60’s and overnight lows in the 30’s and 40’s. These are much more seasonable conditions which will prolong spring fishing for the time being.

Prior to the change in the weather, fishing had been heating up with some good BWO action in the canyon and good nymphing all around. The streamer bite had been on the slow side, more miss than hit, but with enough action to keep things interesting.

The arrival of the cold front seemed to have much more of an affect on the anglers than on the fishing per se with DIY action dropping off dramatically and many of those guide trips getting cut short but we expect a return to normalcy this week with a warm up underway.

Sow bugs and Zebra Midges are still the staple for your nymph rigs but baetis nymphs like the Little Green Machine, Mosason, Two Hot Baetis, BWO Magic Fly, Olive Psycho May and Olive Crack Back Bullets have definitely been getting some attention.

We should see plenty of dry fly opportunities as well as normal spring conditions resume. Late morning/early afternoon BWO’s and midges throughout the day and into the evening hours. Sprout Baetis, 401 K Baetis, Flash Cripples, Last Chance Cripples, BWO Hatchback, BWO Guide Winna Spinna and Olive Haze are all good baetis options while Grizzly Midge Clusters, Griffiths Gnats, Black Midges and Adams Midge Clusters have been the go-to midge options.

Streamer options are wide open – dealer’s choice, but for my money, if I could only have one streamer it would be the Sculpin Sparkle Minnow…hands down the most productive streamer in my box.

Spring shop hours are 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM daily with most guide trips getting started in the 8:30 – 9 Am window. Don’t miss our Spring Wader Sale with 20% ALL WADERS and WADING BOOTS through Memorial Day.

We hope you make WCA your first stop of the day on your way to the MO for shuttles, bugs and so much more. As of today, it appears as though the Craig Bridge is still closed. Hopefully that work will be completed soon but until that time WCA is, without a doubt, your best shuttle option on the Missouri.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-04-26T12:43:55-06:00April 26th, 2026|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Go Time

While we’ve been anxiously awaiting a shot of spring snow and cold to slow things down and keep us in that early-season window, it doesn’t seem like Mother Nature got the memo. Buds are popping, grass is greening, and more days than not we’re seeing sunshine and temps that feel a lot more like mid-May than early April.

What’s also popping? Bugs.

Midges are everywhere, and we’ve been hearing reports of BWO’s showing up in fishable numbers in the canyon over the past week. Dry fly opportunities are on the table most days now, and only getting better. Midges are the Spring Training of the dry fly game—reliable, consistent, and a great way to knock the rust off—but the regular season is just getting underway. Look for BWO’s and midges to carry the load over the next 4–6 weeks, with March Browns and caddis not far behind.

Best Bets for midges…Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Black Midge, Griffith’s Gnat, Hi-Vis Midge, Grizzly Midge Cluster, Adams Midge Cluster. GO To BWO’s – Guide Winna Spinna BWO, Olive Haze, Hi Vis BWO, Pederson’s 401K Baetis, Sprout Baetis, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, Last Chance Cripple, Flash Cripple, Jake’s Hatchback Baetis…and so many more.

Spawning is still in full swing on the MO, so please be mindful of where you’re wading. Give those fish some space and let them do their thing—the future of this fishery depends on it.

If you’re looking for numbers, nymphing remains the go-to. Double sows are still punching the ticket more often than not. Zebra Midges, Ruby Midges, Little Green Machines, Magic Flies, Caviar Scuds, Pill Poppers, Amex, Pederson’s Sow, Bubble Yums, worms, and soft hackle sows are all getting it done.

The streamer bite has been solid—even under bluebird skies—but as always, low light is your best friend. Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolts, Swim Coaches, MoJo Minnows, Micro Dungeons, Baby Gongas, Polar Leeches, Dirty Hippies, Lil’ Kims…you know the drill. Fish what you believe in. Water temps are still hanging in the low 40’s, so no need to get wild with the strip, but fish are definitely getting more aggressive and will chase on the right days. Mix up your retrieve, build in pauses, and don’t be afraid to fish everything from the depths to the shallows and tailouts—it’s all in play right now.

There’s truly no better time of year to fish streamers on the Missouri, and with some rain, snow, and cloud cover in the forecast for Sunday and Monday, things could get downright epic.

We’re open daily at 8 AM with everything you need for your day on the water—Cheapest DAM shuttles on the MO, the biggest selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana, and all the latest gear from the best brands in the business. New rods, reels, waders, boots, lines, leaders—you name it—arriving almost daily. ’Tis the season.

Lodging is fully open and guides are standing by. Give us a call or book your trip online—we’ll see you out there.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-04-09T10:41:38-06:00April 9th, 2026|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, midge, Missouri River, Montana, pill popper, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Batten Down the Hatches – Spring is Right Around the Corner

We’ve got some wild weather on the way with a High Wind Warning going into effect at midnight tonight and running through 6 PM tomorrow. West winds of 35–45 mph with gusts between 65 and 80 mph are expected across much of the region, with peak winds likely between 6 AM and 11 AM on Thursday.

Fishing the MO tomorrow is likely a no-go, and the weekend is shaping up to be a wintery one with the possibility of a storm moving through the area.

Expect occasional rain and snow showers on Friday, turning to all snow Friday evening with a low of 31 and 1–3 inches of accumulation possible. More of the same is expected Saturday into Sunday.

The good news? Big changes are on the way.

This appears to be winter’s last gasp before we trade it in for the warmest air of the season, with temperatures climbing into the low 70’s starting Tuesday and continuing through the end of next week. Breezy conditions are expected through the week, but at 70 degrees those winds feel a whole lot more tolerable.

Once conditions settle down, expect the Sowbug feast to continue. And if by chance the winds lay down, March Midge Madness is in full effect, so keep those dry fly rigs ready to go.

It’s also no secret that spring is STREAMER time on the Missouri, so grab those sinking lines and get to stripping.

Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolts, MoJo Minnows, Polar Leeches, Kreelex, Swim Coaches, Lil’ Kims, Colonel Kurtz… and so many more are on the menu now and will be for weeks to come.

Lodging & Guide Trip Specials

We’ll be busy next week opening additional lodging as we prepare for the influx of spring traffic.

Right now we still have bungalows available at the winter rate of $149/night through the end of March, and by the end of next week our cabins should be ready to go as well.

Guide Trip & Lodging Special (through March):

• Two nights premium lodging + full day guided trip for one or two anglers – $750

Don’t need lodging?

• Full day guide trips – $550 through the end of March

New Gear Arriving Daily

The shop continues to fill up with fresh gear including:

Simms waders and boots
Korkers boots
Sage Power R8, R8 and R8 Classic rods
Ross Coors & Coors Light Cimarron reels
Fly lines for every method and condition from RIO and Scientific Anglers

…and of course, the (almost) legendary largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek, Montana.

Shop Hours

Expect hit-and-miss hours over the next couple of days with the hurricane-force winds and wintery weekend.

Starting next week we’ll be open daily at 8 AM, hopefully with adequate staffing to provide the Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO.

On the Road

If you happen to be in Minneapolis–St. Paul this weekend, Phil Peacy will be representing WCA at the Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo, happening March 13–15 at Hamline University. Stop by and say hello.

And don’t forget the annual Wolf Creek St. Patrick’s Day Parade happening Tuesday.

For now…

Batten down the hatches tonight, hunker down through the weekend, and we’ll see you next week as the spring season unofficially gets underway on the Missouri.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-03-11T14:16:49-06:00March 11th, 2026|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

This Weekend on the MO

If you’re thinking about hitting the river today (Thursday), we’d strongly suggest sitting this one out. A High Wind Warning is in effect through 11 a.m. tomorrow, with sustained west winds of 35–45 mph and gusts pushing 65 mph. Simply put—not ideal fishing conditions.

Things improve a bit tomorrow afternoon, but it will remain breezy with south winds at 14–22 mph and gusts up to 30. Fishable? Maybe. Enjoyable? Debatable. It might be worth giving Friday a pass as well.

The weekend, however, looks nearly perfect.

Saturday brings mostly sunny skies, calm winds, and a high near 46, with just a slight chance of snow in the morning. Sunday looks even better—partly sunny, calm winds, and a high around 55. That pattern carries into next week with continued mild, stable weather.

That’s great news for those itching to fish right now. From a longer-term perspective, we’re still keeping an eye on conditions. We’re about to put another winter month behind us with below-average snowfall and above-average temperatures. With spring just a few weeks away, all we can do is hope March delivers some late winter moisture and that spring trends wetter. While concern is warranted, pessimism isn’t productive—and regardless of conditions, we’ll fish on.

Current Situation in Montana

If you’re planning to be out this weekend, we hope you start your day with a stop at Wolf Creek Angler. We’ll be fully staffed for shuttles, and as of this writing, lodging is still available.

Winter lodging rates are $149/night, and all currently available rooms include kitchen facilities. These rooms are not pet-friendly, but pet-friendly units will begin opening up over the next couple of weeks.

Our guides are ready to get back on the water and have availability. While we don’t play the discount game, we are offering a lodging and guide trip special through the end of March:
$850 for two nights of premium lodging and a full-day guided trip for one or two anglers—essentially standard trip pricing with BOGO lodging.

We’re also excited to roll out updates to our website that now allow you to request a guided trip online—no phone call required. Look for the BOOK NOW buttons throughout the site.

Spring shipments are arriving daily, and the shop is well stocked for current conditions. We’re loaded up on Pill Poppers and Tailwater Sows (arguably all you really need right now), along with plenty of other effective options for nymphing, streamer fishing, and swinging flies. Expect some solid midge activity top water this weekend as well.

We also have Adipose drift boat rentals, Trxstle rod carriers, rods and reels from Sage, Lamson, Echo, and Redington. Simms wading gear, Korkers boots, eyewear from Smith and Suncloud, and a full lineup of WCA logo gear, with new items arriving weekly.

The shop will open at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with shuttle service available both days. We’ll do our best to offer shuttles throughout the week as well.

And finally—feel free to pray for snow. You might as well do it while floating the Missouri and enjoying this stretch of spring-like weather.

Reminder: Your 2025 fishing license expires Saturday, February 28. FWP has eliminated retail license sales and moved to a “License Ambassador Program,” which we have opted out of. As a result, WE CAN NO LONGER SELL YOU A FISHING LICENSE. Licenses must now be purchased online.

See you on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-02-26T09:15:23-07:00February 26th, 2026|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Adipose, Echo, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Montana, pill popper, Redington, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Finally Freezing

It has been a long time coming but we’re finally seeing some normal winter weather with single digit lows and highs in the teens and twenties for the weekend. Just what you would expect in late January.

Unfortunately, it’s just an anomaly in our FOREVER NOVEMBER as we will be back in the 40’s next week and 50’s next weekend!

This is great news if you’re getting the itch and need some time on the water to scratch it but with January nearly in the rearview and just two months remaining before the season begins to get underway, we could certainly use a bunch more winter.

The Snotel map still shows much of the region at or just slightly below 100 percent of average but a substantial portion of that green is starting to turn to yellow (70 – 89% of average) and if we don’t start to add to that snowpack soon it could mean another challenging summer in Montana. Let us hope for a snowy and cold February and March!

Things will be quiet for the weekend with the frigid temps but I would expect we will see some traffic next week.

Nymphing will be your best bet for numbers next week with sow bug variations being the go-to all winter long. Pill Poppers, Tailwater Sows, Pederson’s Sow, Soft Hackle Sow, Poxyback Sow…you get the idea. Rainbow Czechs, Amex and Bubble Yums also in the mix right now along with Rainbow Warriors, Caviar Scuds and Zebras.

The warmer days will likely be accompanied by breezy conditions but if you can find those quiet spots, sheltered from the wind, midge fishing is only going to get better from here on out if winter dry fly fishing is your jam. We are fully stocked on all kinds of midge and midge cluster patterns so stop by and stock those midge boxes on your way to the river.

Streamer fishing has been meh with the swingers having more luck than the strippers on most days. Water temps, while not exceedingly cold, are cold enough that the fish are hunkered down in the slow winter depths and not overly eager to give chase. Try swinging a Kreelex, a Polar Leech, a Thin Mint or other leechy offering or even just a soft hackle if you are so inclined.

For those who just cannot quit the strip (me included), Sparkle Minnows and Skiddish Smolt have been moving the occasional fish but it has definitely been slow going. Regardless, keep at it. You never know what might happen when you dredge the depths with a SLOW strip and a bunch of pauses. Those behemoth browns are down there; you just need to work until you find one willing to move just enough to grab that high calorie offering. A lot of rowing, a ton of casting and stripping and a little luck…the recipe for winter streamer success on the MO.

We are open at 8:30 AM Tuesday – Saturday and as the weather dictates we’re doing what we can to have shuttle service available though that will continue to be hit or miss for another month or so. A call ahead, especially a day ahead, helps tremendously so give us a heads up if you can and we will do our best to take care of your shuttles.

We are stocked up on winter flies and while the Annual Rod and Reel Sale has come to a close we’ve certainly been known to wheel and deal as we clear space for newly arriving inventory. There is no time like the present to upgrade that rod or those waders and boots or whatever it is you need.

We are your Missouri River One Stop shop covering everything you need for your trip to the Missouri. All the gear, all the flies, the best guide crew on the river and a place to lay your head. It’s all here at Wolf Creek Angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-01-23T11:26:27-07:00January 23rd, 2026|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, pill popper, running line, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

January Thaw?

Back in the day we would call this a January Thaw. This winter we’ll just call it more of the same.

Seemingly since November the forecast, with very few exceptions, has called for partly cloudy skies and highs somewhere in the 40 – 50-degree range, often with winds of 10 – 20 mph.
We did have a fair amount of precipitation in December with a couple of dustings of snow, but most was in the form of rain. The data proclaims good snowpack in the high country but from where we sit, far from those high-country peaks, the landscape is completely void of snow.

According to NRCS data, all river basins in the state received between 170% and 300% of the 20-year median precipitation for December. In the lower elevations that came in the form of rain which melted any existing snow, but the hope going forward is that mountain snowpack will continue to build and hopefully at some point we will get some winter weather and see snow at mid and lower elevations.

Snowpack in most areas tends to peak in mid to late April.

For the time being its Forever November here in Mid-January on the Missouri.

What does it all mean?

Again, the data indicates that we are in good shape with much of the region sitting at well over 100 percent of average snowpack so we’re holding out hope that our drought-stricken state will see some relief in 2026. Fingers crossed, praying for snow.

In the meantime, it’s not all doom and gloom. Why not take advantage of the situation and get out and fish?

Temps near 60 tomorrow, closer to 50 through the weekend. The wind forecast even looks good with breezy conditions tomorrow but things settling down for Thursday and Friday into the weekend. 50 degrees and calm in the middle of January is almost unheard of.

Rooms have started to book up for the weekend, but we do still have a couple of vacancies and don’t forget our Winter Guide Trip and Lodging Special….2 nights of premium lodging and a full day guide trip for one or two anglers for just $850.

Winter nymph and streamer bins are fully stocked, and I suspect there may even be some decent dry fly opportunities if you want to stock up on midges.

Shop Hours Tuesday – Saturday 8 AM – 4 PM. Closed Sunday and Monday but always open for lodging and guide trips.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-01-13T13:04:58-07:00January 13th, 2026|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, nymphs, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Settling In

Spring presents a grind, a minor league grind by comparison to what’s to come but a good warm up nonetheless and a chance to Settle In To Spring.

There have been a handful of genuinely busy days but as per usual, spring traffic is moderate, it just feels really busy sometimes after a winter of achieving customer counts in the single digits more days than not.

Fishing has been solid though the default conditions of sunshine and cloudless skies with varying degrees of breeziness can sometimes make for challenging days, especially for those in dry fly mode.

Not to say it isn’t happening. It is. You just need to be in the right place at the right time and the right time is typically the later part of the day when the sun is low and mid-day breezes have dissipated. Evening midge fishing has been consistently good for a couple of months now and should provide ample entertainment for those who despise the bobber but if you’re looking for BWO’s it’s far from clockwork.

In other words, take advantage of the overcast, not so nice days. Those are the BWO days. Sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn’t. We’ve seen a couple of good bug days with some good pods and some very respectable fish willing to eat a well-presented fly. As you’ve no doubt heard, it ain’t like it used to be but it is like it is and you can still catch a behemoth on a dry fly on any given day during spring fishing on the Missouri.

March Browns are not something you’ll typically find in abundance but they’re around and the fish LOVE them. We recommend you keep a few in reach for quick rigging should the opportunity present itself. Mother’s Day this Sunday…the Mother’s Day Caddis have been alerted and have begun to show themselves.

So back to the default weather conditions…nymphing has, and will almost always be, the go to method for those looking to bend the rod with relative frequency. Sunny days still aren’t the best but if you’re fishing deep it shouldn’t matter much. That being said, we’ve certainly had some tougher days as of late where they just didn’t seem to be eating but other days have been what you’ve come to expect on the MO, constant action with a good number of fish to hand.

It’s still a Sow Bug game as it seemingly always is, but baetis nymphs have been the better option as of late with Grey Little Green Machines, Olive Psycho Mays, BWO Redemption, BWO Magic Fly, Split Case BWO’s and plain old Pheasant Tails leading the charge.

Streamer fishing has been somewhat sub-par due I think mostly to the aforementioned weather conditions but low light periods have been good so if you’re going to do it maybe look to that extra early start or those same BWO type grey/rainy/snowy days.

Some days it feels like we’ve hit our season stride in the shop and lodging world with boats and rigs packed in the parking lot, all rooms occupied and multitudes awaiting their turn at the register for bugs and shuttles. Other days it feels like winter again with sparse occupancy and maybe just a few folks poking around the shop. Such is springtime on the MO but it only get’s busier from here so we’re thankful for the gradual start.

Our WCA team has been assembled and I honestly think it’s our best one yet. You’ll mostly see Phil and yours truly in the shop but we’ve also welcomed back Shalon who has been here on and off over the years and Bryan who joined us last year and helps part time with the shop and shuttles. We’re also excited to have Shaniah on board helping with the shop and shuttles and Carson will return in June for a second year of doing anything and everything that needs to be done. Rhonda and Gary have returned to round out the shuttle staff and Missy is back for year number 5 as Head of Housekeeping.

We hope you stop in and meet all of our awesome crew members.

We’re open earlier than most at 7 AM daily and will be extending our hours beginning on Monday, May 12th when we’ll be open from 7 AM – 5 PM Daily.

Stop in for The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO (unless you want to pay more elsewhere) and restock your bug boxes while you’re here. We’ve got more bugs than we’ve ever had and that’s saying something as we’ve always been proud co possess the biggest selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Fishing licenses, Ice, Trxstle Rod Racks, Sage R8 Classics, Ross Coors reels and SO MUCH MORE.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-05-08T16:01:58-06:00May 8th, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

ARRIVAL

The spring season is in full swing as we approach April’s close and prepare for a busy month of May.

River Life has returned. Winter’s monochromatic grey has been supplanted by all hues of green as buds are bursting forth and grass is greening by the second. The landscape transforms before our eyes as the season takes hold. Some days it seems you are literally able to watch it happen.

Pelicans have arrived. Goslings are starting to appear under the careful watch of their high-strung and loud parents. Bug life is unfolding at a rapid pace and busy mornings in the fly shop have also returned as spring traffic has also arrived.

We are experiencing a true Montana spring with plenty of cold mornings and the occasional snow shower mixed in with moderate daytime temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Awesome days to be on the water watching it all unfold from the seat of a drift boat. It doesn’t get much better than this!

Nymphing remains the go-to with most traffic, most days camped in the Holter to Craig stretch though with the increased bug activity there has been a fair amount of folks opting for the canyon stretch and below.

It’s still a sow bug game but baetis nymphs like Little Green Machines and Psycho Mays and Magic Flies (among many others) are getting eaten with regularity. No need to make any radical changes to your setup just yet but start to key in on the faster, medium depth water. Leave the slow winter stuff behind, it’s time to move on.

The streamer bite has been decent during low light periods early or late and throughout the day when we get the cloud cover. Again, medium depth and shallow fast water have been productive and there have been plenty of big browns hanging in those soft spots against the bank looking for the ambush. Cast right to the bank and drag your bug off the bank into the shallows. It’s not a high percentage play but you might be surprised how many of those big browns sit in next to no water waiting for a meal to happen by. We’ve got another month of this – PRIME STREAMER TIME on the MO!

As mentioned, there are plenty of bugs around and plenty of dry fly opportunities for those looking to put in the work. You can hunt for risers or just fish blind. Midges are the mainstay but there are baetis around and on the move upstream and we’ve seen a few March Browns around as well. You could even fish a Skwala blind and maybe get an eat or two but for my money it’s hard to beat plying the waters with a #12 Purple Haze or Parachute Adams, especially when you’re seeing sporadic rises.

Published shop hours are still 8:00 – 4:00 daily but we’re generally open for business by 7:30 and here until traffic subsides.

It’s getting to be that time of year where lodging is at a premium, much of it booked last minute. We’re full for the weekend but things open up a bit on Sunday and we have at least a room or two open most nights during next week.

Guide trips are ramping up and we’re starting to get into a rhythm but we’re still a few weeks out from our busy season so we do generally have guides available with a day or two notice if a last minute trip to the MO is in the works for you.

Either way, we invite you to start your day at Wolf Creek Angler for EVERYTHING you need for your day on the water including The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-04-24T12:51:59-06:00April 24th, 2025|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

More Early Spring this Weekend on the MO

It seems as though winter may have loosed its grip on us for good as we’ll see another spring-like weekend ahead with temperatures back in the 50’s, possibly hitting 60 on Sunday.

Winds looks manageable for the weekend out of the south/southwest at 9 -16 mph with some higher gusts to 25 mph. You’ve fished in much worse!

The trend continues through the first part of next week before temperatures normalize with high 30’s and low 40’s starting on Thursday.

Reports from this past weekend were a bit of a mixed bag but overall the consensus seemed to be that fishing was on the slow side but slow or not, you could do much worse than spending an early March day soaking up the sun while floating down the Missouri River.

It’s been quiet this week despite consistently mild weather and as is generally the case in the early season we’re not sure what to expect heading into the weekend, but we’ll be here regardless. Shop hours this weekend are 9 AM -2 PM, Sunday included, and we’re running shuttles daily.

We’ve got lodging available at winter rates of $149/night (plus tax) and our Adipose drift boat rentals are a great deal at $150/day (you haul the boat). We haven’t had much call for it yet but if you’re looking for a guided day on the river we can accommodate.

During the month of March we’re offering a full day trip, lunch included, at a half-day rate of $550 for one or two anglers. We’re also offering a lodging/guide trip special for $700 (plus tax) for two nights of premium lodging and a day of guided fishing. As is usual with March trips the weather can always be a factor so there’s no penalty for cancellation should winter return. This offer is for the month of March only, normal prices resume on April 1st. Book your trip today and leave the rowing to us.

If you’re sticking to the DIY program it’s status quo this time of year with sow bugs leading the charge. Tailwater Sows, Soft Hackle Sows, Pederson’s Sow, Carpet Bugs, Poxyback Sows, Pill Poppers, Firebead or Pink Lucent Bead Ray Charles, Bubble Yum Scuds, Rainbow Czechs, Amex and Zebra Midges are all go-to bugs for early spring.

Dry fly fishing is an option with plenty of midges in the mix and streamer fishing (swinging or stripping) should be just on the verge of really heating up.

The most commonly asked question we get is when is the best time to fish the Missouri and my stock answer is whenever you’re able to be here because the consistency on the MO is unmatched but if you really want to know you’d be hard pressed to find a better time and place to fish than springtime on the Missouri.

We invite you start your day on the MO with us, especially if you’re coming from the south. We’ll get you set up with FISHING LICENSES, shuttles, all the best bugs from all the best vendors, and anything else you might need for your day on the water. Simms waders and boots, Sage and Lamson rods and reels, fresh new fly lines from SA, Rio and Airflo and piles of tools and accessories from the best brands in the business. And it’s all right on your way. No need to drive another 10 minutes down the road to get the same stuff and then turn around and drive right back up to the dam or Wolf Creek Bridge! We are closer to the Holter Dam to Craig section launches than ANY OTHER SHOP.

See you soon for spring fishing on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-03-06T10:18:58-07:00March 6th, 2025|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Lamson, midge, Missouri River, pill popper, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Idyllic February Float on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

It’s been less than a week since we were in the icy grip of winter with sub-zero temperatures and a thick blanket of snow covering the landscape.

When I did a boat ramp tour last Friday all ramps and parking lots from Holter Dam to Stickney were buried but after several days of temps nearing 50 degrees nearly all of the snow has vanished, and the ramps and parking lots are clear.

The phones have been ringing non-stop since Monday with folks eyeing up a gorgeous weekend ahead and just like that our winter lodging is full for the weekend, which is something we haven’t seen in months.

I wouldn’t say we’re BUSY but there has certainly been an uptick in traffic in the shop and on the river this week and I’d expect it will feel busy this weekend with a lot of folks from all around the state headed to the MO for a late-winter fix.

As expected with the warmer weather it’s been breezy this week and will be again tomorrow with gusts up to 30 mph expected but Friday we settle into sunshine, temps near 60 and light winds out of the south at 5-10 mph. It doesn’t get much better than that…not this time of year.

Monday will see a return to the 40’s with a chance of rain and snow but above average temps still expected through next week.

The spring-like weather is nice, especially after a couple of weeks of arctic air but we are hoping this is just a brief respite and that we’ve got plenty of more winter on the way.

For now though, we’re here and we’re ready for business. Our lodging may be full but we’re ready to go with shuttles, Adipose rental boats, cold weather gear, sunscreen, bugs a plenty and don’t forget your 2025 Fishing License starting on Saturday, March 1st.

Looking to buy online? You may do so here but if not we’re happy to sell you a fishing license.

Pill Poppers, Pink Soft Hackle Sows, Pederson’s Sow, Tailwater Sow in Rainbow or Pink, Firebead Rays, Rainbow Czechs, Bubble Yum Scuds…you get the picture. Think Pink and don’t forget the Zebra Midges. All available now at WCA.

Winter Fare at Wolf Creek Angler

Conditions might just be right for some stellar dry fly action this weekend as well as March Midge Madness commences. Keep those Griffiths Gnats and other midge cluster patterns at the ready. We’ve got a plethora to choose from.

Swingers are out and having good luck with Polar leeches, Thin Mints, Kreelex, Fruit Rollups and other leechy offerings.

It might feel crowded out there this weekend after months of desolation so please dust off that river etiquette if you’re hitting the water giving a WIDE BERTH to those wade anglers and paying mind to the rhythm of the row arounds, doing your best to maintain the beat.

Official shop hours are still 9 – 4 Tuesday – Saturday at least for another couple of weeks but we’ll likely be here by 8 most days for those getting an early start.

Spring has sprung for the moment…enjoy it while it lasts.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-02-26T14:01:30-07:00February 26th, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, midge, Missouri River, pill popper, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|1 Comment

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