Montana Archives - Wolf Creek Angler

Mid April on the MO

Springtime in the Rockies

As predicted we got our first taste of summer weather last weekend with highs in the high 70’s and as you would expect it was a busy couple of days on the MO.

Back to reality on Monday with Tax Day and a big change in the weather as a cold front moved in took us right back to winter with snow showers yesterday and highs struggling to break 40. More of the same today with overnight lows plummeting into the teens but it looks like we’re due for a return to seasonal norms this weekend with daytime highs back to the 60’s and 70’s and lows a bit more reasonable in the 30’s.

Through it all, fishing has been solid with the nymph show at the dam in full swing. Traffic is slowly building and will officially reach “busy” status next week as the guide trips start to pile up.
There have been multiple reports of BWO’s this week so be prepared for both midges and Blue Wings on the dry fly front. Low light is your friend so target those cloudier days or fish last light for consistent action.

We’ve been working on our bugs a lot this winter and have a bunch of new midge and BWO dries that should find a place in your boxes.

Best bets for midge dries….Grizzly Midge Cluster, Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Adams Midge Cluster, Hi Vis Griffiths Gnat, Black Sipper, Black Midge, Hi Vis Midge, Adams Midge. BWO’s just getting started so we haven’t sold a ton of them just yet but try a Pederson’s 401K Baetis, Jake’s Hatchback BWO, Brooks Sprout Baetis, Last Chance Cripple BWO, Nyman’s DOA Baetis Cripple, BWO Flash Cripple, Carlson’s Olive Haze, Guide Winna Spinna BWO. Cripples and Emergers though often overlooked, should play a major role in your BWO game.

Nymphing is transitioning from winter fare at the moment but you still can’t go wrong with a Pill Popper, Caviar Scud, Firebead Ray or the like trailed by a tailwater sow in rainbow or pink, a soft hackle sow or a Zebra Midge. We’ve expanded our Zebra and our Sowbug selections and are loaded up with an array of offerings in any color you need. That being said, it is time to start working those Baetis nymphs in as well and we’ve got piles of techy new patterns that are sure to produce. Go with a tried and true Little Green Machine, S & M, Redemption, Psycho May, Magic Fly or Split Case BWO or try something new like a Stocker’s Mosason Baetis, Two Hot Baetis or Radiation Baetis.

Spring is PRIME TIME for Streamer fishing on the Missouri as well and we didn’t stop with nymphs and dries when expanding our bug selection. We are currently loaded up with piles of new bugs including a bunch of new Galloup Micro Dungeons. Come in and check out our streamer bins and see why we are the Missouri River Streamer Fishing Authority. Nobody has a better bug selection.

We’re also sitting on a bunch of new streamer lines from SA, Airflo and Rio…something for any and all situations. And if you’re looking for a new Streamer stick try a Sage Igniter or Payload, an Echo Streamer X or Boost Blue, a Lamson Cobalt or a Redington Predator. All fine streamer sticks with plenty of Sage and Lamson reels to complete the combo.

The shop is bursting at the seams with new products including WCA 10 Year Anniversary gear and plenty of waders and boots for all from Simms and Korkers.

Updated spring hours start Monday, April 22nd. 7:30 AM – 5 PM Monday – Saturday and 8 AM – 2PM on Sundays. Stop in for shuttles, bugs, fishing licenses and so much more at your Missouri River one stop shop.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-04-18T13:54:05-06:00April 18th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, Echo, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-04-11T15:00:45-06:00April 11th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, Echo, fly fishing, Igniter, Loop, midge, Missouri River, Montana, R8, running line, Sage, simms, Sonic, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

A Decade in the books

Ten years ago today we opened our doors for the first time at Wolf Creek Angler.

Much has changed.

Much of what has drawn us a loyal following has and will continue to stay the same.

Ten years in we had what was by far our best season yet in 2023 and judging by our bookings for this year we should be on course for another stellar season.

I still remember vividly the night of March 31st, 2014. We were in the shop late putting the final touches on the massive overhaul we’d done in the shop. And by we, I mean mostly my business partner at the time Fred Davidson. Fred camped out in Cabin #1 for weeks chipping away at a complete makeover of the former Montana River Outfitters location while I did my best to assemble an opening day inventory that would make a statement while also making sure those who had booked in 2013 with MRO were made aware of the exciting changes underway at 515 Recreation Road.

Opening Day jitters prevented a good night’s sleep as we considered the journey on which we were about to embark. Snow fell overnight and opening day, from what I recall, was a fairly quiet Tuesday, typical of what we’ve now come to expect during the work week in early April with a fresh dusting of snow on the ground.

Beyond that opening eve and the opportunity to ease in to our first season it’s hard to remember specifics as it’s truly been a blur.

Fred did two seasons at WCA before returning to his life in Michigan. Zach King aka Chewy, arrived post-Fred and quickly became a fixture at WCA before moving up to full time guiding and most recently fatherhood. One of our first housekeepers Jeanette Beers, who came to us in the very first days of WCA inquiring about work, did an amazing job for us and has since moved on to become the postmaster of Wolf Creek. Matt Hargrave was our shop guy and guided for us in 2014 and has since been grinding away as a guide and became an outfitter in 2023. He still continues to handle a good number of our trips. Brian Scott was another MRO “legend of the MO” who was grinding then and continues to grind today, entering season number 39 this spring. Luke Koerten has been guiding for us since season one after I first met him in the Wolf Creek Bridge parking lot and gave him a flyer for the new shop in town. Brad Turner migrated from Michigan in 2018 and has established himself as the WCA Workhorse. Rob Weiker has also been with us from the start and has become an outfitting force in Montana. Other guides have joined our crew over the years but these are the long term “old timers”, a group in which I’d consider myself included.

Our staff has definitely grown with us and what was once Fred and I and just a couple of people is now myself, our Shop Manager Keith Tucker, a two-person housekeeping crew (Missy VanDort and Jude Anderson) and a shuttle crew led for the second season by Rhonda Gatch. Phil Peacy is returning for a third season this year as shop and shuttle help and has officially joined our guide staff as he continues to establish himself as a fixture on the MO. 2024 will also see a few new faces around WCA bolstering our core.

I remember in 2014 having discussions of bringing a raft into the shop to fill space. We opted not to do that, confident that we’d slowly but surely be able to fill our space with retail offerings. These past few years the walls are closing in and we’re truly at capacity with a whole lot of gear in not a whole lot of space. It’s a good place to be for us and for our customers and while we have no immediate plans for expansion you just never know what the future might hold.

A couple of feathers in our cap that I fought like hell to get were our Simms and Sage dealerships. We’ve been a Simms dealer since 2019 after years of lobbying and Sage finally came on board in 2023, giving us two of the top brands in fly fishing. We are blessed to be able to offer you the best products from the best brands in the industry.

A few changes we’ve made with our lodging over the past 10 years…complete remodel of the motel units, complete remodel of our bungalow units last winter, new mattresses in all rooms, new carpet in most of the rooms which have not yet been completely remodeled, new water heaters all around, new roofs on our cabins, Starlink internet with lightning fast Wi-Fi, complete remodel of guide/employee cabins and thousands upon thousands of dollar’s worth of new bedding, new lighting, new appliances, new plumbing, new electric, new window dressings, new bath fixtures….etc., etc. etc. Never let it be said that we aren’t committed to continuous improvement in every area of our business.

We’re ten years old. In some ways it feels like longer than that, but it also still feels new, like we’re just getting started. We couldn’t do any of it without you, our loyal customers. Thank you for making these last 10 years possible. Thank you for allowing us to truly live out a dream here in amazing Montana on the magnificent Missouri River.

We hope you join us in celebration of our first decade as we embark on the next, always looking to give you everything you expect from your Montana fly fishing destination.

Cheers!

Montana River Outfitters Exterior

Another Time, Another Place

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-04-05T13:50:12-06:00April 1st, 2024|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: 10th Anniversary, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Sage, simms, Ten Years, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|4 Comments

Farewell to The Dragon

We recently lost a beloved member of the WCA Guide family as Jeff Jennings was called home on February 28th, 2024, at the age of 51.

Jeff has guided for Wolf Creek Angler for most of the years we’ve been here and while I wouldn’t claim I knew him super well, he was, without exception, the most authentic, legit, gypsy fly fishing guide I’ve ever known. Jeff guided here on the MO for us and for other outfitters and also spent time guiding the Big Horn River in both Montana and Wyoming, the San Juan, the Olympic Peninsula and the home waters in Michigan where he, like me, got his start in fly fishing. We are still in shock over the news and we’re going to miss him terribly, as will the countless clients who shared a boat with him over the years.

I didn’t know Jeff in Michigan, though we were very close in age and grew up a couple of hours drive apart. Jeff hailed from Traverse City and I grew up to the south in Montague, both on the shores of Lake Michigan. Jeff got his fishing start on the lakes around Traverse City and was taught to fly fish and tie flies by one of his middle school teachers. He honed his skills on storied Michigan waters like the Boardman, the Manistee, the Betsie, the Platte and the Au Sable and went to work in a Traverse City fly shop right out of high school where his western wanderlust was accepted and encouraged.

Jeff got bitten by the fly fishing bug much earlier on in life than I and he was already a fixture on the waters of the west by the time I got in the game. That being said, we grew up fishing on the same waters and came from similar backgrounds which established an immediate hometown connection when we finally crossed paths in Montana.

In addition to being among the fishiest people I’ve met, what really set Jeff apart from the pack was his amazingly kind heart. He was, quite possibly, the nicest human I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and his authentically kind demeanor and positive attitude were infectious and made it impossible not to like him.

After his passing it was abundantly clear as evidenced by an explosion of social media tributes that Jeff meant the world to a legion of folks whose hearts he had touched throughout the duration of this, the earthly portion of his journey.

From a family who adored him to his fishing clients and fishing friends to the Montana guide community to the coterie of music lovers in which he was well ensconced, Jeff was loved by so many and while we mourn his loss, the mark he left on this world, the way he lived his life, warrants joyous celebration. If we could all live with half the positive energy and just a portion of his kindness, the world would be a much better place.

Again, I wouldn’t ever claim to have had a close relationship with Jeff but, being fellow Lions-obsessed Michiganders, I can say that I spent most every Lions game for the past however many years texting with Jeff, usually expressing my disgust with whatever happened to be going on in the game. Jeff would acknowledge those issues but at the same time he would always point out the good. Especially this past season when things were really going well for our Lions, I would usually find something to bitch and moan about and he would come back with something like “that wasn’t pretty, BUT we are 7-2!” As Lions fans we are conditioned to deal with disappointment on a fairly regular basis while maintaining an eternal optimism season after season. We’re all there but Jeff wore it better than most!

Unfortunately I never got around to asking Jeff about his origins story, about how he came to be a fishing guide. I expect I’ll learn much about him in the coming months as the discussions and tributes continue to populate my social media feed. What I do know is that it was very apparent that he was doing the job he was supposed to be doing. My own journey into the fishing business took me on a different course, one less to do with guiding and more to do with running my fly shop and lodging and outfitting businesses. I spend some days in the rower’s seat but that is not where my gifts lie. Those who spend days and weeks and months in that rower’s seat have my utmost respect for doing what they do and Jeff was no exception. He was a professional by all measures and his kind heart and positive attitude afforded him years of great days on the water making connections with all kinds of people from all walks of life and I would venture a guess that the vast majority of those days ended with plenty of fish to hand and smiles all around.

One of my favorite Jeff stories is about a client we had who was the polar opposite of Jeff. Definitely a glass half empty kind of guy. This client had been out with one of our guides the day before and hadn’t enjoyed the day much at all. He hadn’t caught enough fish in his opinion and basically considered the day a waste of his time. The next day he was scheduled to fish with Jeff and I warned Jeff what he was in for prior to the trip. He didn’t seem concerned.

By Jeff’s telling they were barely out of the parking lot and the guy started in about what a terrible time he’d had the day before. Jeff pulled over and stopped the truck and told the client this wasn’t how this day was going to go. He told him he was going to improve his attitude and that they were going to go out and have a fun day OR they weren’t going to go at all.

By all indications the guy took it to heart and they did end up having a great day after which this client, who had been nothing but negative for years about every guide and every trip he ever took with us, let me know what a fantastic day he had had with Jeff and of course requested him for his next trip.

That was Jeff!

A life well lived my friend. Well done. Until we meet again….

Tight Lines!

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-03-16T14:16:06-06:00March 14th, 2024|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Jeff Jennings, Lions, Michigan, Montana, Mr. Funny Shoes, The Dragon|11 Comments

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

It’s not lost on us that to those who don’t live here it may appear as though some of us tend to take for granted this amazing world-class fishery that is the Missouri River…and perhaps some do. After all, people come from all around the world to fish the MO and even though it’s right here in our back yard some rarely fish it.

By “take for granted”, I don’t mean that in the defined sense that we fail to properly appreciate the river as a result of overfamiliarity but rather in the sense that with unlimited opportunity to enjoy the river some of us tend to be choosy about the conditions in which we will fish. Mind you, there is no lack of appreciation for this unbelievable resource from where I sit. She amazes me every day of every year I have been blessed to live here.

As fellow anglers, we too make plans on occasion to go fish other places and that being the case we’re very well acquainted with being at the mercy of Mother Nature. We know what it’s like to roll the dice with an idyllic picture of your destination in mind, only to have that picture obliterated by torrential rains, hurricane winds, Arctic cold fronts, scorching heat or any number of other conditions that could make your dream trip challenging at best, or a nightmare at worst. We get it. Such is the nature of vacations.

This is not that.

This is having the Missouri River as a backdrop to our respective daily grinds and establishing a healthy relationship with her. Having the option to fish the Missouri ANYTIME is a luxury not afforded to many, a luxury well recognized by the vast majority of those of us who work and live in this amazing place.

It’s different for everyone and all a very personal matter based on who and what and where we are. We’re all at different stages in life. That goes for our professional lives, our family lives, our recreational lives. We’re all fellow travelers with varying time and distance ahead of and behind us. I have nothing to say about anyone else’s journey, only my own.

When I moved to Montana some 12 years ago I fished a hell of a lot more than I do now. Familiarity with what was all brand new has definitely played a role but so has this journey of evolution happening every second of every minute of every day to each and every one of us.

Fly Fishing remains my passion. A passion that has evolved tremendously over the last 30 years and which has been tempered and refined but which still thrives in my soul and provides me with much of the spiritual sustenance I require.

Gone are the days when I would, as the Simms ad proclaims, “Forget the Forecast”. To the contrary, when we’re talking about the Missouri in particular, the forecast is of vital importance. My days of fighting the winds are behind me. My tolerance of cold has lessened considerably but in the absence of howling wind I’ll still row a boat and fish in freezing temps.

I’m still amped by overcast skies, perhaps with a rain shower or two thrown in….my conditional parameters tend to expand immensely during streamer season!

Backing out streamer season however I’m a big fan of sunshine and light variable breezes and temps somewhere between 44 and 84 degrees. The temp range allows for plenty of days on the water year round, the sunshine is vital to me during the colder months but in the summer it doesn’t play as big of a roll. The wind is my determining factor and is what keeps me off of the water more often than not.

Mind you, this is all having to do with fun fishing. We do what we have to do to make a living. Conditions notwithstanding.

All this to say that lately I’ve been feeling the itch to get back on the water. The spring-like weather has had me daydreaming about that magic, euphoric feeling of being in a drift boat, carried by the current and maybe, just maybe even getting a shot at a fish or two. You’ll likely read more from me about this sometime down the road but numbers increasingly mean less and less to me.

Looking at the forecast this week it appeared as though Wednesday was going to be the day. Sunshine, minimal winds and highs in the 50’s. Definitely not the weather we need at the moment but it really doesn’t get much better in February.

And so, once forecasted conditions were confirmed the CLOSED sign went up and I spent a much anticipated afternoon floating the MO, just the dog and me, just what I needed for a recharge.

With only a dry fly rod on board I spent the day head hunting, hoping for some February midge magic. This was not to be. I didn’t care!

Don’t get the wrong idea. I still LOVE to catch fish and had I been with someone I would have been happy to pass the time stripping a streamer as we hunted for rising fish but that’s not what I was after yesterday. What I was after I got…in spades.

I couldn’t wait to get to work today and once I got here I was happy to be busy with all the things that need to happen here before the season picks up again not long from now. On top of that we had a fairly busy morning with another nice day on tap and it was good to talk fishing again with a bunch of people who couldn’t wait to get out there and try to find what they came for.

Tight Lines!

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-02-22T16:10:21-07:00February 22nd, 2024|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Welcome February

January is now in the rearview and ended up being a wild ride weather-wise with everything from snow and 40 below to sunshine and 60 degrees all within the span of a couple of weeks. That’s a swing of 100 degrees or more!

The current spring-like conditions have ushered in a substantial increase in angling traffic with the winter regulars being joined by folks coming in from all around the state to enjoy this winter thaw.

We’ve enjoyed the bump in lodging and shop business and we’ve even picked up a couple of guide trips this week which are our first of 2024.

It looks like we’ve got a couple of more days of ridiculously mild weather today and tomorrow before a return to somewhat normal conditions this weekend. Highs near 60 today and tomorrow. A bit on the breezy side today with gusts to 30 mph but tomorrow looks idyllic with cloudy skies, a high of 60 and winds west southwest 5 – 9 mph.

Saturday brings temps in the high 30’s with rain and snow and Sunday looks wintery with snow showers, a high of 35 and north northwest winds and next week looks like normal February weather with temps in the 20’s and 30’s and a chance for snow here and there. No major precipitation events in the forecast at this point but the more seasonable temps are a good start.

We do have lodging available if you want to get out and enjoy these last couple of nice days and we could probably even find another guide or two willing to get the boat wet if you want to leave all the work up to us.

We’ve heard solid nymphing reports all week long with the Holter to Craig stretch being your best bet and there are dry fly opportunities on any given day if you can find a shelter from the wind.

We haven’t heard much from the streamer set but there’s no reason a swing or a slow strip wouldn’t be productive with the current water conditions.

Flows are holding steady in the 4400 CFS range with water temps just shy of 34 degrees. Calm days will provide an abundance of midge action on top, otherwise most are playing the bobber game with pink definitely in play. Pill Poppers, Bubble Yums, Cotton Candy, Pederson’s Sow, Rainbow Czechs, Caviar Scuds, Lucent Bead UV Sow all fine choices. Pair with a tailwater sow in rainbow or pink, a zebra midge, a pink lucent bead ray, a pink lighting bug, a soft hackle sow or similar. Add a bb and start with a 7’ – 9’ overall length with 5 ish feet from indicator to split. Water temps are trending upwards but it’s cold enough that most of the fish will be found in the slowest, deepest water you can find. Start deep and adjust accordingly, staying off the bottom but running as close to it as possible. Adjust upwards in small increments until you find where they’re at.

Keep that midge rig at the ready in hopes of dry fly opportunities and if streamers are your game swing those tailouts with a smallish leech pattern, kreelex or polar minnow or hit the depths with a sinking line and a super slow retrieve with plenty of pauses.

Start your day with a stop at WCA for shuttles, bugs and so much more. We are your quintessential, locally owned and operated mom and pop shop on the MO. FLY SHOP SMALL with Wolf Creek Angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-02-01T11:42:01-07:00February 1st, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, fly shop small, Holter Dam, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Snow Dance Please

It’s been over two months since the late October snow storm that kicked us into winter mode only to set us up for a ridiculously mild late fall and early winter. Hopefully that’s all about to change.

There’s not a lot of precipitation in the forecast just yet but it does appear that temps will start to trend towards normal by this weekend and we should see single digits and below by the middle part of next week.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not in love with the thought of single digits but it is January and it’s time for it to happen. Hopefully the cold will be accompanied by snow, at least in the high country, as we desperately need winter to start taking hold around the state. The ski hills need it desperately and our rivers DEMAND it.

Get your fishing in this afternoon and tomorrow and Saturday. The cold starts on Sunday when you should be somewhere watching the Montana Grizzlies compete for the National Championship anyway, followed by the last slate of games in the NFL regular season? Where did the time go?

Once this cold snap has come and gone you’ll likely find the fish have all settled in to the winter depths as water temps which are currently sitting at right around 35 degrees, will plummet. Classic winter nymphing techniques ahead.

It’s been an interesting early winter with fish still holding in faster, shallow water but that should soon correct itself.

Swinging will still be an option with long, deep tailouts being your prime winter targets.

Summer is booking quickly with the mid June to mid-July prime pretty well full and the early season rapidly following. Fall dates are booking up as well with September looking to be another record-setting month on the MO.

Bottom line – if you’re planning on a Missouri River fly fishing adventure anytime in 2024 you best get those dates on the books.

We’ll be here sporadically next week, weather dependent and we’d love to see you. We’d love even more to fire up the POS and sell you some bugs or a shuttle but I have a sneaking suspicion that if it’s been dead with temps in the 40’s and 50’s we’re not likely to see much traffic with temps in the single digits. Prove me wrong! (But call first and make sure I’m here!)

Welcome winter! Praying for Snow.

Go Griz!!

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-01-04T12:49:40-07:00January 4th, 2024|Categories: Local Buzz, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Go Griz, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

2023 Year In Review

2023 was a year of major improvements at Wolf Creek Angler, a product of our constant commitment to growing our business and to providing all of our customers with spectacular service and an amazing experience whether in the shop, on the water with our guides, lodging with us or all of the above.

The highlight of the year was undoubtedly our major renovation of our bungalow units which we started in January and finished in late March with a week to spare heading into the traditional April opening of our lodging season.

The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, and we feel these three units are amongst the nicest in the area at this price level.

Sure, there have been some folks disappointed to see the 1980’s ranges go away but with the installation of induction cook tops, the addition of dishwashers to each unit and a major upgrade in décor, we feel our kitchen units are on par with most contemporary units out there, offering a clean and modern look and all the amenities the vast majority of our guests require. Most are happy to trade the range for the upgrade but as a reminder, we do still offer small ranges in our kitchens in Cabins 1,2 and 4 if that is something you’re looking for.

Another major improvement to the WCA brand came at the end of 2022 when we were informed we would FINALLY be opened as a SAGE rod dealer in 2023. It has been an exceptionally long time coming and something I’d been lobbying for since we opened our doors in 2014.

We are thrilled to be on board as a dealer and to be able to offer you what we feel are the best rods in the industry. Sage rounds out an excellent selection of rod brands including Redington, Echo, Lamson and Loop. We have rods for every experience level and every budget and while we never expected to be doing major business in high end rod market, we were pleasantly surprised by selling more Sage R8’s than any other rod in 2023.

Couple this with being the exclusive Simms Fishing Products Dealer in Wolf Creek and you start to see our mission coming to fruition.

That mission being to be your one stop fly fishing destination on the MO with the friendliest service and all the best brands in the industry offered in our shop, the most humble and professional guides on the river and clean and affordable lodging all closer to Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge than any other shop.

Those in the know keep coming and many more discover every season what Wolf Creek has to offer as an alterative destination when coming to fish the magical Missouri.

2023 also saw an expansion of our staff with Keith Tucker joining our team as Shop Manager, Phil Peacy returning for a second year as shop staff while also ramping up his guiding experience and Rhonda Gatch leading our shuttle crew as we broke away from previous arrangements and embarked on our very own shuttle service, independent from any other shop. Wolf Creek Angler is the home of The Cheapest DAM Shuttles on the MO!

This tenth season will go down as our most successful to date and we’re just getting started.

Most of our crew will be returning in the spring and you will likely see some new faces around as well.

Another highlight of the season for us came in the fall when Hidden Canyon Lodge was named a Finalist as Best Fly-Fishing Resort in Montana for the second consecutive year by Distinctly Montana Magazine. What does this have to do with Wolf Creek Angler you ask?

As some of you may know, our outfitting /guide business at Wolf Creek Angler is run under a separate company called Iron Fly Outfitting. I started Iron Fly six or seven years ago because it made sense from a business standpoint for Wolf Creek Angler but also because I began working with Hidden Canyon Lodge as their In-House Outfitter. Everyone at Hidden Canyon is amazing to work with and they run a first-class operation so it’s no surprise to me that they would be named a finalist two years running but hopefully the fishing component has at least something to do with this honor which is a big deal for all involved. Congratulations to everyone at Hidden Canyon Lodge.

We closed the year out with a strong fall/early winter with mild weather providing for a great extended season. We did see a winter storm in late October which brought a fair amount of snow and sub zero temps and did lead to some issues with heating/plumbing in some of our units which are usually closed for winter well in advance of sub zero temps but alas, this is Montana and Montana weather does what it does regardless of whether we’re ready or not.

As quickly as it came the wintry weather retreated and has not really returned since. It has been a fine December for fishing the MO but it’s time to start building some snowpack to fuel our 2024 water year!

As we close this year out, we would like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you once again, to all of those who fished with us, shopped with us or stayed with us at Wolf Creek Angler. We are so blessed to have so many amazing clients and, as always, we are honored and humbled to be able to provide our services to you.

Happy New Year from all of us at Wolf Creek Angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-12-31T16:40:48-07:00December 31st, 2023|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: 2023, 2024, fly fishing, Happy New Year, Hidden Canyon Lodge, iron fly outfitting, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter Solstice

The first day of winter has arrived though you certainly wouldn’t know it judging by the weather.

Regardless, today is the shortest day of the year and tomorrow marks the start of the slow, but steady ascent out of darkness.

Daylight will begin to stretch which means we are on our way to summer and it won’t be long before sunlight again creeps across our parking lot and eventually returns to illuminate the shop in a warm, spring glow.

Of course the coldest days still lie ahead and we’re hoping and praying for the snow to fly but in the meantime we’re enjoying 50 degree December days and wrapping up 2023 by hitting the water.

It doesn’t feel much like Christmas without a trace of snow on the ground but alas, we are four days out which means there is but 10 days left in 2023. The time seems to pass more quickly every year, a symptom of aging no doubt, but on the bright side, those warm spring and summer days will be here before you know it.

Here’s wishing you all a Happy Winter Solstice from Wolf Creek Angler. We are here today for anyone lucky enough to be spending this Solstice on the MO and we will return on Saturday. The shop will be closed tomorrow (Friday, December 22nd) for our Annual WCA/Iron Fly Christmas Float and per usual we will be closed on Sunday and Christmas Day and will be back in the shop on Tuesday.

It looks like we’ll see cooler temps and some rain and snow on Saturday with mild weather on tap throughout next week.

Nymphing and Streamer Fishing have been excellent (by December standards) and you may even find a fish or two willing to hit a dry fly if you’re in the right place at the right time. Sow bug game for the nymphers with Tailwater Sows, Pill Poppers, Pederson’s Sow and the like topping the list. The usual suspects for streamers with Olive, Tan, Yellow and White all having their moments. Swinging and Stripping have both been effective and we’re finding willing players in the slow depths as well as the fast water flats.

Good action to be had everywhere though the Holter Dam to Craig stretch seems to be attracting most of the traffic as is generally the case during the winter months. Daylight is certainly a limiting factor but there’s no reason to start early as that 11 AM – 2 PM window has been the most productive by far.

We recommend shorter floats this time of year with 5 ish miles being ideal for the amount of daylight available if you’re going to start your float in that 10 AM – 11 AM time slot.

We just restocked those sparse Tailwater Sow bins so we’ve got you covered on the Sow Bug front as well as having the best streamer selection on the river. WCA Gift Cards make excellent stocking stuffers so you can load up on those as well when you stop in for bugs and the Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-12-21T09:53:03-07:00December 21st, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, Christmas, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, winter solstice, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Frosted Darkness in Wolf Creek

These are the days of mandatory day dreaming. If it’s a skill you lack as a fly shop owner/operator you will likely struggle from about mid-November to mid-March. If it’s a skill you lack, winter will chew you up and spit you out of Wolf Creek.

Off in the distance, beyond the shadows of the canyon, the hillside is bathed in sunlight in stark contrast to the frosted darkness enveloping Wolf Creek Angler for the months ahead. A different world exists with a quick trip across the Little Prickly Pear. The daily trip to the Wolf Creek Post Office on sunny winter days is a welcomed escape to the radiance. Some days it almost feels tropical.

Meanwhile, back at WCA, the frost that took hold two nights ago is undisturbed, untouched by those rays of sunshine mocking from a distance.
Customers are few and far between these days but they’ll be back soon enough.

In the meantime, the shop is toasty and the coffee is hot and plentiful….perfect conditions to indulge in the pleasure of the day dream. Spurred on by calls from clients settling up on summer bookings, I can’t help but think about the coming season and how, in what will seem like no time at all, we’ll be back in the thick of it.

One can’t help but dream of warm, sunny days spent floating down the Missouri under big blue Montana skies. It’ll be here before you know it!

The return of busy mornings, a crowded shop, busy boat ramps, traffic on and off the water, long days, short nights, rising trout and all the things.

For now, an abundance of solitude. Time to reflect, time to plan ahead, time to read every article in depth about the Detroit Lions and Redwings, time to count flies, time to hike, time to ride the Peloton, time to FISH and time to daydream.

We’re here in body Tuesday – Saturday at 8 AM though the mind may be elsewhere.

Mild weather on tap for the 10 day – give a shout if you’d like to book an escape to the lonely MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-12-13T14:04:14-07:00December 13th, 2023|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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