Montana Archives - Page 18 of 33

Hot Weather and Hot Fishing on the MO’

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

We’ve been enjoying this brief respite from the scorching heat these last two days with daytime temps only in the 80’s but it’s about to heat up again and we’ll be pushing 100 beginning on Thursday and running right on through the weekend.

Early starts are a good idea, something in the 6:00 – 6:30 AM range. Be off the water by early afternoon and refresh and refocus for the evening hatch. The hours spent in the hot sun can be exhausting but nothing a good old fashioned afternoon nap can’t fix.

It’s prime time for dry fly fishing right now with PMD’s, Tricos and Caddis all in play. PMD’s wont last much longer but not to worry. Tricos and caddis are going strong and terrestrials are about to become a major part of the mix. Bring your A game and come experience some of the best dry fly fishing in the country, if not the world.

Like you, we’ve got our favorite dry fly patterns. Unlike you, we’re happy to share them. Best sellers from the dry fly bins this season include Rusty Spinners, PMD snowshoe emergers, PMD smoke jumpers, Hi-Vis PMD Spinners, Nyman’s DOA Cripple PMD, Brooks Sprout PMD, Blooms Parachute Caddis, Cornfed Caddis, CDC Caddis Emergers, Outrigger Caddis, Extended Body Caddis, Trico Indicator Spinners, Barrs Trico Emergers, Double Wing Tricos, Quigley’s Trico Hackle Stacker, Eric’s Trico Spinner, Bloom’s Stealth Ant, Micro Chubby, Purple Haze, Parachute Adams and WCA Trudes. These are all great patterns to be sure but don’t get hung up on what’s HOT. Take some time to explore the countless other patterns we stock for every hatch. Show them something different.

The focus this time of year is obviously on dry fly fishing but there’s no shame whatsoever in nymphing so have at it. Zebra midges at the grass flats below the dam have been money. Pair them with a gold or purple weight fly or a Tan UV Czech Nymph. Other hot nymphs have been Little Green Machines, S & M’s, Magic Flies, Psycho Mays, Peep Shows, Nitro Caddis, Doc’s Summer Bug, Purple Lighting Bugs along with a host of other offerings. Once again, don’t get hung up on what’s HOT. Get creative and show them something they haven’t seen. You could also go the other direction and show them something they’ve seen since the start. Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears, Copper Johns…..there’s a reason they’ve been around forever. Never overlook the classics.

Streamer fishing has been getting tougher as the weed mass continues to build but it’s definitely still worth your time.

Stop by the shop and stock up on leaders, tippet, bugs floatant and anything else you might need. We’re still officially open at 7 AM daily but more often than not coffee is on and we’re milling about the shop by 6 or 6:30. Stop by if you’re getting an early start.

Traffic is down considerably this week, particularly of the drift boat variety. Plenty of wading anglers out there but overall expect fewer anglers then we saw throughout last month.

Missouri and Blackfoot Guide trips are available and while it is getting easier to find guides on short notice we still recommend you book as far in advance as possible. We’ve got limited lodging available for the next couple of weeks and then things open right up for late July and the entire month of August.

Fall is a different story. If you haven’t booked your fall dates yet we suggest you do it now.

Stay cool and stay fishy my friends.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:22:33-07:00July 11th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Like the view? Call Wolf Creek Angler and book your Missouri River Fly Fishing Guide Trip today.

It’s hard to believe we’re already into June but that is the case so welcome to PRIME TIME on the Missouri.

The river continues to drop (8310 cfs as of now) and we’re likely just on the cusp of potential dry fly Nirvana depending on what happens with the water. More on this soon!

This last week of May into the first of June has proven to be a bit of a lull in the action as folks wrap up their pre-summer activities but it’s about to get real as people from all around the country and in fact all around the world descend on the MO’ for a healthy dose of legendary Montana trout fishing.

Much of the water around the state is on the rise leaving the amazing MO’ one of the only options available for the time being and what an option it is.

Expect nymphing to continue to be the go-to for now but the dry fly game will soon come into play. We’re shifting those BWO patterns out of the bins to make room for the PMD’s which have already started to make an occasional appearance. The dry fly side of the bin has been a lonely place thus far this season with the higher water so as you can imagine we are anxious to see those bugs begin to move.

The nymphs of choice continue to be Tailwater sows, Fish Finder Worms, Wire Worms, Zebra Midges, Rainbow Czechs and the like but we’re starting to see a shift to PMD nymphs including split case PMD’s, Light Peep Shows, PMD S & M’s , Rusty and PMD Magic Fly and PMD Military Mays. Caddis pupae are also in play. Think Tung Darts, Weight Flies and Tan or Caddis UV Czech Nymphs.

It’s also time to get your dry fly boxes in order. Midges are still on the menu along with the occasional BWO but it’s soon to be a PMD and Caddis game.

Streamers are still an effective option on the right day. Cloudy days? Yes. Sunny days? Yes. Early in the morning ? Yes Mid day? Not so much but you never know….

We’ve got a few holes in the lodging and guide book for the next week or so and then it’s slim pickings until mid July but we do get the occasional cancellation and there are a few vacancies sprinkled in here and there so if you haven’t yet made plans and a trip to the MO’ sounds like something you’d like to do then by all means give us a call and we’ll do our best to make it happen.

We know you’ve got a lot of options when it comes to fly shops and outfitters and we are sincerely thankful for each and every customer. We will never take your business for granted. We hope to see you soon at Wolf Creek Angler, your Full Service Missouri River Fly Fishing Destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:35:17-07:00June 1st, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

The Big Muddy. Blackfoot River from Scotty Brown Bridge on May 6th. Photo by Blackfoot Angler Fly Shop

The BIG PUSH has begun. Runoff has started and with it the migration of guides from around the state to the Missouri seeking fishable water for their clients.

The MO’ is definitely where you need to be if you plan on fishing western Montana in the immediate future and while we are largely immune to the blow out conditions found on the freestones during runoff we do have some big pushes of water coming from Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn adding cold water and color which present challenges but also opportunities. LPP is currently running at a muddy 274 CFS while the Dearborn is cranking at 800 making flows on the MO below Dearborn somewhere in the neighborhood of 8500 CFS. Above Prickly Pear the Missouri is currently flowing at 7440 CFS with a water temp of 47 degrees.

Reports from Sunday were mixed but it sounds like the rain and cooler air temps so sought after by the dry fly and streamer guys were negated by the influx of cold, muddy water from the tribs. Solid nymphing reports from the Dam, not so much from Wolf Creek on down.

Conditions will remain somewhat status quo this week as temps in the 70’s and 80’s continue to contribute to runoff. Plenty of sunshine this week as well which may not be what you want if you can’t wait to throw a dry fly but don’t rule it out, we could have some great evening activity this week. Again, blue skies and sunshine are not exactly optimal for streamer fishing either but you might be surprised. Sunshine or clouds, I know what I’ll be throwing this week and it ain’t nymphs or dry flies.

Speaking of nymphs though, we would definitely recommend including a worm in your offering, especially if you’re fishing low. Sow bugs are still getting the biggest nod but it’s time to start throwing the kitchen sink at them. Purple Lighting Bugs, LGM’s, Hot Belly Pheasant Tails, Hi Def, Radiation and Juju Baetis, Split Case BWO’s, Dark Peep Shows, Rainbow Warriors, 2 Bits, S & M’s…..you get the idea.

We’re pretty well booked up for lodging through mid-week but we do have openings for later in the week and through the weekend and we’ve got guides at the ready each and every day.

The shop is full of all kinds of new gear from Simms, Korkers, Fishpond, Redington and more and the fly bins are overflowing with every bug you need for the MO’ and beyond.

Stop in for shuttles, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, Realtime Missouri River updates and intel and what has frequently been referred to as the best coffee in the canyon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:43:22-07:00May 8th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Dearborn, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, Little Prickly Pear, Missouri River, Montana, Redington, RO Drift Boats, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Are there any bugs you ask? Ummm….just a few! photo by Luke Koerten

As we close out the month of April and head into the heart of the spring season things are shaping up nicely on the Missouri with plenty of water (but not too much), plenty of bugs and plenty of hungry trout.

The fishing has been tough on some days, pretty damn good on others. Overall I would still call it “spotty” but there are stretches which are consistently fishing pretty good and some go to areas within said stretches which are holding good concentrations of fish as you would expect them to in mid to late spring.

We’ve still seen better numbers of fish being caught in the canyon but we’ve also had some fair days in the dam to Craig stretch which seems to be improving by the day.

Flows have stabilized in the 7000 cfs range but we are still seeing drops and bumps of a couple of hundred cfs on a fairly regular basis which may be contributing to the spottiness. Water temps are on the rise and are currently holding in the 45 degree range which has the trout on the move.

Streamer fishing has been inconsistent but if you hit it right you can expect plenty of chases and some aggressive takes. The same could be said for the dry fly action. There has been no shortage of bugs with gobs of midges and plenty of BWO’s in the mix but finding feeding fish has been a challenge on most days. Again, if you hit it right you could be in for some epic dry fly fishing….the best of this young season. Obviously “hitting it right” is the key and therein lies the challenge. Our advice….fish early and fish often. You may or may not hit it right but we can say with 100 percent certainty that if you aren’t on the water you aren’t going to catch fish. It’s as simple as that.

Nymphing has been less of a roll of the dice and will continue to be the best bet for numbers. With the increase in flows some of the slots you may be used to holding fish may have moved so if you come up empty fishing your usual line go back and do it again, changing your path rather than the depth of your rig, generally moving towards the bank a foot or two to find your desired water column.

We’ve found most of the fish in the top section are still concentrated in slower, deeper, winterish water which has been producing good results river-wide however we have definitely begun to see a transition to shallow, faster water in the canyon stretch. Fish the slow stuff down there and if you can’t find them then try shortening up your rig and fishing the faster shallow summer water.

Sow bugs have been our go-to as of late with the Tailwater sow leading everything else in my box. We’ve also had good luck with soft hackle sows, yum yums and Firebead sows. Caviar Scuds, Bubble Yums, Rainbow Czechs, LGM’s, Rainbow Warriors, black zebras, Pink Amex, Radiation Baetis, S & M’s , Juju’s, pink or purple Lightning Bugs and hot bead wire worms have all been good options depending on the day.

Keep your midge clusters and BWO’s at the ready as well just in case you happen upon some heads. A hi vis parachute Adams or a Purple Haze paired with a Griffiths Gnat or midge cluster is hard to beat but we’ve also had BWO rigs at the ready. Sprout Baetis, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, BWO Film Critic, Wilcox’s Micromay BWO’s , No Hackle BWO’s, Flash Cripples and Hackle Stackers are all good dry fly options you have at your disposal.

On the streamer side we haven’t seen any one bug leading the charge. It’s kind of been all over the place but greys, whites and olives have been producing in various sizes. I’ve had good luck lately with ZK’s Bunny Wailer in olive and in white and we’ve also been moving fish with brown Dirty Hippies, Sculpin and JJ Sparkle Minnows, Godzilla Sculpins, Baby Gongas in rust, tan and olive Circus Peanuts and black and olive Dolly Llamas. I say it all the time…fish what you like because you’ll fish it with confidence and if you are fishing with confidence you’ll up your odds. Give it a solid hour or more. Change colors, change patterns, vary your retrieve. Streamer fishing requires a commitment which often times leaves you blanked but when you see that chase or feel that slam you’ll definitely want more.

Come on by the shop and check out our much talked about amazing fly selection. We’ve got bugs you won’t find anywhere else as well as plenty you’ll find everywhere else. We pride ourselves on our extremely well-stocked fly bins and we’re confident that if you’ve never shopped our bins you’ll likely be shocked and awed by our selection and if not shocked and awed than at least pleasantly surprised. Buy your Missouri River flies where many of the best guides on the river do…Wolf Creek Angler!

We’re open daily at 7:30 am for all of you Missouri River fly fishing needs. Shuttles, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, LOOP rods and reels, Redington wading gear, Simms outerwear and accessories, clean and affordable lodging, the best guides on the water, the aforementioned biggest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek MT and much more.

We’ll be looking at cloudy skies and a chance of precipitation (rain and snow) most of this week. BWO and Streamer weather to be sure. We did have a couple of cancellations for the weekend which has been booked solid for some time. If a last-minute trip to the MO sounds like something you’d be interested in give us a call and book today. It’s the final weekend to take advantage of our spring lodging and guide trip special….2 nights and a full day on the water for the ridiculous price of $500. You heard right. Don’t let this opportunity slip away. Starting Monday this same trip will cost you over $750.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:45:28-07:00April 26th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Paula with her first ever on a fly rod…priceless!

There’s nothing quite like landing that first fish on a fly rod and as a guide, there’s nothing quite as rewarding as making that happen and seeing the pure joy expressed in the smile on the face of a client.

Every once in a while we are reminded of just how lucky we are to be doing what we do and to be able to bring joy to our clients. And sometimes those clients just happen to be good friends.

We sometimes get bogged down in the numbers game and measure our success by the quantity or size of the fish we catch (or don’t catch) but seeing a smile like the one above puts it all back into perspective, or at lest it should. If it doesn’t then you might be in the wrong line of work.

Anytime I have family or friends come to visit I have the privilege of getting to share the awesomeness of Montana with them. Some have fallen under the spell of this place and can’t stay away (or maybe they just really like to hang out with us but I can’t imagine why that would be). A few are avid anglers. Others have never held a fly rod or likely had any desire to do so, but all have had a chance to experience floating down a river in Montana casting a fly rod and maybe even catching a trout or two and I have yet to hear any complaints.

Along with our friends Dan and Tara who visit us regularly, friends Jim and Paula from back east made their first visit last week as part of an expertly devised plan by yours truly to throw an unforgettable 50th Birthday Party for my wife Sheila. I’m not sure if Jim and Paula were all that excited about fly fishing while they were here but they were agreeable to it and we got them on the water for a day while they were being kept in hiding from my wife. I don’t know what they expected but by all indications they had an awesome day learning to fish, taking in the sights and catching some fine trout on the Missouri.

The party was a rousing success as well and we had a great time showing off our fly shop and our city and our state.

As we get into the busy season and I settle into my work routine I never take any of this for granted but it tends to feel less like a leisurely lifestyle and more like a job during these months. Watching friends or guests or guided clients experience this place, especially when it’s for the first time, brings things back into perspective and I step back and take a look around and remember how utterly blessed I am to be here in this amazing place, with the people I love more than anything doing what I love to do. Add to it, getting the opportunity to hang out with friends we left behind who mean the world to us and it doesn’t get much better!

So thank you Dan and Tara and Jim and Paula for making the long trek from Michigan and thanks to all of our friends here for helping to make this a birthday Sheila won’t soon forget. You all mean the world to us. And a huge thanks to all of you who shop with us, fish with us, stay with us and follow us. You make all of this possible and we are thrilled and humbled to be your Missouri River fly fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:03:40-06:00April 21st, 2017|Categories: Uncategorized, Wolf Creek Chatter|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|3 Comments

Springtime on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The long, cold winter has finally come to an end.

Spring arrived yesterday in a seasonably average fashion with temps in the 40’s and a mix of sun and clouds.

Traffic on the river was virtually non-existent following what was definitely the busiest weekend we’ve seen in 2017. It remains on the quiet side today though there are a few west-siders around seeking respite from their own raging waters.

It looks like it’s going to be a nice week to fish the Missouri with temps in the 50’s and 60’s throughout the week with plenty of sunshine and the ever-present, though minimal chance for rain and snow most every day.

Spring is an awesome time to fish the MO’ as the water temps rise and the fish get active and go to work stockpiling calories in preparation for the rigors of spawning happening now and in the immediate future. More on this to come but PLEASE mind your steps when wading out there taking care not to trample the redds.

So how’s the fishing? It’s definitely been a mixed bag of reports over these past few days but overall I would say it’s leaning towards being on the slow end of things. That being said, what could you possibly rather be doing than shaking off the winter with a trip to the MO’, regardless of the fishing conditions?

Firebeads, pink scuds and sows, Rainbow Warriors, Rainbow Czechs, Pink Amex, Casne’s Pinkalicious, LGM’s, Lightning Bugs, Tailwater sows, Bubble Yums, soft hackle sows, zebra midges….they’re all worth a try. How about a San Juan Worm fished in the dirty water? The currently gauge-less Little Prickly Pear is pumping some mud as is the Dearborn so don’t overlook the worms and definitely don’t shy away from throwing streamers. The water remains on the cold side, still in that 37 – 38 degree range but it’s world’s away from the sub 35 degree temps of the past few months and it’s only going to get warmer so expect things to improve dramatically very soon.

And as if the possibility of good to great nymphing and streamer action weren’t enough we have had some solid dry fly action as well depending on the day with good midge hatches and hungry fish eager to rise to a well-presented midge cluster. We’re stocked up on midge patterns with plenty to choose from but having your dry fly rod rigged up and ready with a Hi-Vis Parachute Adams and a Griffiths gnat or Bucky’s Midge Cluster is about as close to a sure-thing as you’re going to find should you be lucky enough to encounter those sipping trout.

Wolf Creek and Craig are still in winter mode where services are concerned but that’s all about to change as Izaak’s returns this Friday evening. The bar opens at 4 pm and they will be serving dinner from 5 pm – 9 pm six night’s a week. They will be closed on Mondays. It sounds like John and his crew have been hard at work this winter making improvements to their already awesome space. We can’t wait to see (and taste) what’s new.

Should you find yourself here on Monday in need of dinner make your way to The Oasis in Wolf Creek. Breakfast, lunch and dinner served Thursday – Monday. We’ll have yet another dining/drinking option here in Wolf Creek this season with Shotgun Annie’s, formerly The Frenchman and Me. They were hoping for an April 1st opening day but that has been pushed out to June 1st. We can’t wait!

The shop is open daily from here on out with hours changing as the season progresses but for the time being you’ll find us here at 8 AM every day anxious to help you out in whatever we can on the Missouri and beyond.

Piles of new gear arriving daily. A full reel case, a full rod rack, more clothing items than we know what to do with, waders and boots piled high and bins overflowing with all the bugs you need, no matter where you’re fishing.

Lodging options are about to double as we open the remaining cabins today and tomorrow and we’re aiming to have EVERYTHING open by the first week of April, including the completely renovated and soon to be much coveted room #8.

Don’t forget our Spring Lodging and Guide Trip special running through the end of April. $500 for two night’s lodging and a full day on the water with one of our expert guides. You won’t find a better deal ANYWHERE! There are other deals out there….NOBODY can touch this one.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:02:09-06:00March 21st, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Local Buzz|Tags: Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, running line, spring fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

WCA – New and Improved as Always

It’s been a busy winter behind the scenes at Wolf Creek Angler and while we haven’t had a whole lot going on in the shop day-to-day we’ve been plenty busy with all that goes on to make your WCA experience better every year.

Whether you’re lodging, fishing, shopping with us, simply visiting our website or all of the above you’ll find plenty of changes as we maintain our commitment to continuous improvement in every part of our business.

Some of these changes are obvious, some you’ll probably never notice though you would if we didn’t make them.

Let’s start with lodging.

Lodging is definitely a huge part of our business and while we would love to update and remodel everything at once we have chosen instead to plot a more gradual course.

If you’ve been a guest over our first three seasons you’ve probably noticed some of these changes. New towels, new furniture, new paint, the occasional new mattress…these are the types of changes on which we’ve focused our efforts. We’ve got an infinite list of improvements for each room and our strategy has been to address major issues and then make small improvements on the amenities side to make your stay with us as comfortable as it can be.

Visitors this season will find significant improvements in many of our rooms ranging from fresh paint, to new shower heads, to new carpet to new linens etc. and if you’re fortunate enough to be booked in #8 you’ll find a complete room renovation which is the model for renovations in the remaining motel units in the not too distant future.

What’s new in the shop?

As always, the challenge of bringing new product lines into the shop is an uphill battle to say the least. The Missouri has no shortage of fly shops and while we are removed from the self-proclaimed epicenter of Missouri River fly fishing we definitely operate in the shadow of Craig and therefore must navigate with caution as we lobby to earn the privilege of being able to offer you products from the best name brands in the business.

We’ve come a long way from where we were when we started and you can rest assured we will not give up the fight. Last fall we scored a HUGE victory in this fight with the addition of Simms sportswear, outerwear and accessories to our product offerings.

This spring you’ll find all sorts of new gear from great names like Simms, Fishpond, Redington, Smith Optics, Kast, Echo, LOOP, Ross, Nautilus, ARC, RIO, Trout Hunter, and more. We’re also excited to announce we’ve added Korkers wading boots to our product line and we’ve added a bunch of new logo gear featuring our new logo which debuted last spring.

We stand behind all of the products we sell and we wouldn’t be selling them if we didn’t believe in them. We are also well aware of what we don’t have and you can rest assured we are working on it. In the meantime, as I’ve said before, if we don’t have it or can’t do it we are happy to connect you with the folks who do or who can. There are a lot of resources between Wolf Creek and Cascade and there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to get exactly what you want when you want it. Don’t get me wrong, we want your business but more than that, we want to serve you and if that means sending you to another shop to get something we can’t offer you we’re happy to do it.

Have you checked out our website lately?

If you’re reading this then the answer is yes and we appreciate your being here.

We try hard to keep things current and to freshen up the site with new images on a fairly regular basis. Please take some time and look around. A couple of new highlights include the LUNCH section on our Services page and some changes to our guide roster.

We’re excited to partner with The Hub Coffee in Helena to offer you the best guide lunches on the Missouri and we will also be offering these same amazing lunches for our unguided lodging guests.

Look for a blog about our great guides in the near future but for the time being we’re super stoked to introduce you to Jeff Jennings and Kelly Harrison who have joined our team this season.

We hope you like the changes and we’re excited to see you soon in Wolf Creek Montana.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:04:36-06:00March 15th, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Jeff Jennings, Kelly Harrison, Missouri River, Montana, running line, The Hub Coffee, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter’s Last Gasp?

While we are currently sitting at just shy of 20 degrees and are under a winter storm warning through this evening a major warm up is on the way. Could it be that this is winter’s last gasp?

Not likely. But regardless, we are looking at mid 40’s for the weekend and it looks like we’ll hit 60 next week as the official start of spring looms, now just 10 days away.

Ideally things warm up and the snow goes away locally while winter holds tight in the high country for a while which looks like it’s going to be the case judging by the latest SNOTEL map which continues to grow increasingly blue indicating snowpack over 110 % of average for much of the region.

We’re expecting it will be busy on the river this weekend and next week, at least by late winter standards, with nice weather, warming water and hungry fish looking for a spring feast.

We’ve got plenty of lodging available and will be opening more soon to accommodate your early spring fishing plans. We’ve been doing a few trips here and there but guide trip season will get underway in earnest next week as the spring special trips start to roll. We’ve still got plenty of availability for March but April is starting to fill as word has gotten out about THE BEST SPRING FISHING DEAL ON THE MISSOURI….HANDS DOWN! $500 for two night’s lodging and a full day on the water with the hardest working guides on the river through the end of April.

You won’t find a better deal ANYWHERE!

Even if you don’t take advantage of our $500 special we’ve got great rates on guide trips without lodging as well as lodging without guide trips. $350 full day guide trips through the end of April and lodging in our cabins or bungalows for just $99/night plus tax.

It’s going to be a spectacular spring on the MO’ and the shop is fully stocked with everything you need and more with new shipments of Missouri River fly fishing essentials arriving daily. We’ve got cold weather gear from Simms and KAST; wading gear from Redington and Korkers; eyewear from Smith Optics and CLiC; Nomad nets, packs and accessories from Fishpond; lines, leaders and tippet from ARC, RIO and Trout Hunter; rods from LOOP, Echo and Redington; reels from Nautilus, LOOP, Ross, Echo and Redington and the near LEGENDARY largest selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Don’t miss our ever-expanding streamer selection including a bunch of EXCLUSIVES from ZK you won’t find ANYWHERE ELSE. Streamer Season is upon us and while we unapologetically love nymphing any time of year and love to fish dries to sipping trout on warm summer days (and cold winter days as well) it is chucking streamers that really gets us fired up. It’s all about the chase!

We’ve got a bunch of new WCA logo gear you’re going to love and you’re going to want to keep an eye on our sale rack throughout the spring as we clear out the cold weather gear and make room for warmer weather fare. That means the best deals you’re likely to find anywhere on top quality gear from the best brands in the business.

We’ve also offer RO and Adipose Drift Boat rentals and Missouri River shuttle service and if we don’t have it or can’t do it, we’re happy to connect you with the people who can. We pride ourselves on having a great relationship with every other shop in the area and while it’s no secret we are all competing for your business our business as a collective is taking care of your fly fishing needs and we will gladly send you to another shop if we aren’t able to accommodate you.

We think it’s going to be a great season on the MO’ and we hope to see you soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:04:36-06:00March 10th, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, Redington, RIO, RO Drift Boats, running line, simms, spring fishing, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Wolf Creek Angler Spring Special – The Best Deal on the MO’ Hands Down

The official start of spring is just 20 days away and while we’re still watching the snow fly and cursing the cold on a fairly regular basis it won’t be long before we’re enjoying some of the best nymphing and streamer fishing of the year as the water starts to warm up and the fish awaken from their winter slumber hungry and eager.

We’re welcoming spring and welcoming you back to the MO’ with THE BEST Spring fishing and lodging special you’ll find ANYWHERE.

$500 (plus tax) for two nights lodging and a full day on the water with one of our expert guides through the end of April .

You’ll stay in comfort in one of our cozy and clean cabins or bungalows. Each unit is furnished with a full kitchen and private bath. They sleep three comfortably with either two twin beds and a pull out couch or a full and a twin with a pull out couch. New this season we are also offering a king conversion for a $10 charge.

We consider our guides to be among the hardest working, most professional (and fishiest) in the state and after a long, cold winter they are ready to get back at it. Your trip includes approximately 8 hours of expert instruction, any tackle you need, flies, lunch, non-alcoholic refreshments and transportation to and from the river. The only thing not included in the trip price is your Montana fishing license and guide gratuity.

Our lodging/guide trip special is designed for those traveling some distance to get here. Arrive the night before your trip, relax and get a good night’s sleep with no traveling to do in the morning.

Don’t need the lodging? No problem! Spring rates are $350 for the day and are in effect NOW through the end of April.

Don’t need two nights? Regular spring rates are just $99/night (plus tax) and are also in effect NOW through the end of April.

You’ve got two months to take advantage of the HOTTEST deal on the Missouri River. There are other deals out there, NOBODY can touch this one.

Call and book your trip today. A deal like this is sure to fill the boats and the beds in short order.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:04:36-06:00March 1st, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Presidents Day on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

We had a great shot of spring-like weather over the weekend brining the people out in droves, at least by February standards, to fish the Mighty MO’.

We had, what was by far our busiest weekend of 2017 in the shop and even ended up opening some additional lodging to accommodate demand for the weekend.

It sounds like maybe things are coming to a close on Holter Lake as the ice continues to deteriorate but this may turn around as we’re looking at colder temps for the next while starting tomorrow. Fishing reports from our ice fishing guests were not very good last week but things reportedly improved over the weekend.

Similarly, reports from the river last week were less than stellar though Saturday was a better day and a busy day at that with the first full parking lot at the Craig Ramp we’ve seen this season.

Shamefully, last Thursday was the first day my boat had seen the water since November and while the fishing wasn’t all that, it was awesome to be out there again. This was the longest stretch of time I’ve gone without floating a river since I’ve owned a drift boat. I’m not one to shy away from cold weather fishing but this winter has redefined the parameters of cold weather fishing and has kept me inside and off of the water for months.

I was out again yesterday and had similar results with enough hook ups to keep it interesting but definitely on the slow side.

If you happened to be out there this weekend you probably noticed a few areas with an abundance of anglers and a lot of empty water elsewhere. The reason for this is that the fish are still concentrated in those slow, lake-like runs they call home for the winter months. The water temps are still in the 35-36 degree range and will be on the drop for the remainder of this week which is going to keep them right where they’re at for the time being.

We did hear a few reports of some decent streamer action over the weekend with some fairly aggressive takes which is not really in keeping with trout behavior in winter water but as I’ve said before sometimes all it takes is a couple of ticks upward as the sun warms the water to get those fish going. It’s definitely worth your time on the warmer, sunny days to ply the waters with a slow strip or swing. You might be surprised!

On the nymphing side it’s been status quo though finding a consistently productive pattern has been a challenge. We’re still running something heavy and pink as a point fly and trailing with various firebeads, sowbugs, lighting bugs, zebra midges…..etc. I’ve had better luck with some additional weight than without and while we have picked up a few fish in what you would consider transitional water most of the fish are still being caught in the slow deep runs. My most productive rig has been about 9′ overall length with a single bb. Try something like a #12 pink weight fly, pink Amex or Rainbow Czech trailing a lightning bug, sow, zebra midge or firebead of some sort. It’s all about the depth for the most part though bug selection has definitely been playing a role as of late.

Your best bet is to have plenty of different bugs to show them. We can definitely help you out with that.

We’re back to winter for the ten day outlook with daytime highs in the 30’s and overnight lows in the teens and a chance for some sloppy wintery mix type precipitation for the next couple of days and while we definitely enjoyed the taste of spring we’ve got a lot of winter to go and we could definitely use some more precipitation in the high country.

Give us a call for current conditions or to book the Missouri River Fly Fishing trip of your dreams!

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:01:46-06:00February 21st, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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