Montana Archives - Page 26 of 34

Weekend Report

Christmas is two weeks from today so time is running out to get that shopping done. That being said, it’s going to be a nice weekend on the Missouri (by December standards) with highs in the 40’s and manageable winds so why not kill two birds with one stone and do your Christmas shopping at Wolf Creek Angler on your way to fish the Missouri.

We’ve got lodging available for the weekend at $99/night and we’d love to have you here. Fishing has been good most days and will continue to be but you need to find the right water or you could be in for some long days.

Winter water is definitely the target. Slow, deep and lacking features – this is the water you want, the water you would never fish during the normal season. We’re happy to get you pointed in the right direction but once you get there you need to grid that water out working inside out to find where they’re at. A tungsten Rainbow Czech, Pink Amex or Pinkalicious paired with a pink LB or Firebead Sow of some sort will get the job done.

Throwing a streamer can be productive this time of year as well but nymphing will almost always be your best bet for success during the winter months. Flows bumped a bit over the past couple of days and are currently at 3420. Water temp is a chilly 37 degrees so don’t expect a real aggressive take or a big fight from these fish right now, they’re a little on the lethargic side. Focus on that indicator and hit any slight dip or pause, that’s often all you get this time of year.

Having a hard time figuring the winter fishing thing out? We encourage you to spend a day on the water with one of our guides. $400 gets you a full day on the water for the winter months. It’s a great value and will be money well spent. You’ll learn more in a couple of hours with one of our expert, professional guides than you would in a whole winter of fishing on your own trying to figure it out. We’ve been out there regularly keeping things dialed in and we’d love to show you what a great winter fishery the Missouri can be.

Whether or not you book lodging or guide trips stop by the shop and stock up on everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, bugs, cold-weather gear, hot coffee and Christmas gifts galore.

Today’s Gift suggestion feature is the perfect gift for someone who has everything. The River Series wooden fly boxes from A.L. Swanson Craftsman Studio in Helena are a gift that will be handed down for generations. They are beautiful boxes which are designed to be utilized.

Features Include:

replaceable rippled foam inserts
solid-brass internally mounted hinges that won’t snag a shirt seam
magnetic closers capped in abalone or mother of pearl that gently keep the box closed
a unique lanyard post made of solid brass
a water resistant finish that feels like butter to the touch

This box has been finished with varnish and requires minimal care.

Originally published in May.

We’ve recently started selling handmade River Series wood fly boxes from A.L. Swanson. They are beautiful boxes made in Helena Montana and constructed from sustainably harvested lumber, inlaid with exotic woods, metals and shell. They feature inlaid shell and earth magnet closures, brass hinges….the whole nine yards.

The River Series features three different size boxes from three classic Montana rivers, each box with it’s own unique characteristics just like their namesakes, the Missouri, the Madison and the Smith Rivers.

Starting at $129 these boxes aren’t cheap but they are a perfect Montana keepsake for the fly anglers in your life and we think they make a perfect Father’s Day gift which could very well be passed on for generations to come…they’re THAT nice.

Swanson, the maker of the boxes, expects them to be used rather than set on display somewhere collecting dust. They are as functional as they are beautiful and while it would certainly be a drag to lose one of these boxes the normal scratches and dings you can’t avoid with wood will only add to the character of the box as it ages.

I’m not sure I would use this box on the water if I had one, I tend to lose things, but I would definitely put it on display and it would definitely hold a prominent place amongst my prized possessions. A box like this can take on a significance you could never predict or expect.

I was given a beautiful hand-made wood fly box by a friend many years ago. I never considered actually using it for the purpose for which it was intended, I knew exactly what it would be used for. It would become the permanent home for a black and white Rooster Tail spinner.

I was still just dabbling in fly fishing at the time and had not yet committed. My dad asked me if I would like to fish with him one June evening which I did. I don’t remember if we caught anything but I closed the night out with the Rooster Tail. A few weeks later he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Seven months later he was gone. It was the last time we fished together and while it may seem sacrilege to store a Rooster Tail in a handmade fly box, this was the purpose for which this particular wood fly box was destined.

Stop by the shop and check out these beautiful boxes. We’re positive your dad, grandfather, husband or anyone you know who loves Montana and loves fly fishing would LOVE to have one. Better yet, why not treat yourself to one. After all, you deserve nice things too!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 11th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: A.L. Swanson Craftsman Studios, Christmas, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Small World on the MO

The one vehicle that was at the Craig takeout the other day had a Thule on top with a bunch of stickers on it so I did what I usually do in that situation which is to put a WCA sticker on the windshield of the vehicle. Kentucky plates, Orvis Endorsed Guide Stickers, brand new Black Dog Deluxe trailer…must’ve picked up a new Adipose in Helena and doing the maiden voyage on the MO.
Yesterday morning that vehicle pulled up in front of the shop which I thought was cool. Imagine my surprise when Frank Willetts emerged from the vehicle. Who is Frank Willetts you ask? Frank is a co-owner of the Pere Marquette River Lodge in Baldwin Michigan. http://www.pmlodge.com/

The PM Lodge was a significant part of my journey into the sport of fly fishing which has ultimately led me to Montana and to the birth of Wolf Creek Angler.

While I was still on the outside looking in, still bringing the spinning gear along in case the fly fishing didn’t work out (which was pretty much every time), I was given a full day PM guide trip for my birthday through the Pere Marquette Lodge. We ended up doing a late August late afternoon/night float from M-37 to Gleason’s Landing. We spent a lot of time working on casting and presentation and while the fishing was not good that day I did hook into a beast in the darkness which I never saw but I was instantly hooked on night fishing on the Pere Marquette.

Following that first trip with the lodge I would stop there occasionally to get my fly shop fix. I met Frank the winter following that first guide trip. He and his partners had just purchased the shop. Frank’s enthusiasm was contagious and I soon became a regular at the PM Lodge. The second trip I booked through the shop Frank paired us with Brad Turner who would turn out to be the one who would teach me much of what I know about fly fishing and who encouraged me all along to chase this dream. Brad and I are great friends to this day and we fish together whenever we can, sometimes in Montana, sometimes in Michigan.

The two fly shops in Baldwin MI (PM Lodge and Baldwin Bait and Tackle http://www.fishbaldwin.com/index.cfm ) were my shops when I lived in MI and while I drifted from one to the other over the years I consider them both great shops in a great fly fishing community and I visit them every time I’m back there, you should too.

I hadn’t seen Frank since 2012 when I left Michigan so to see him in my parking lot and visit with him in my fly shop was definitely a full circle moment for me.

It just goes to show you, you never know who you’ll run into on the Missouri River.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 10th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Baldwin Bait and Tackle, Baldwin Michigan, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, Pere Marquette River Lodge, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

December Bows on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

WCA Guide Jim Murray and I braved the high wind warning and hit the river yesterday for a little early winter R & D. Aside from a few gusty spells the wind wasn’t bad, the fishing was good and we had the Wolf Creek Bridge to Craig stretch pretty much to ourselves for the most part with just one boat behind us and a few wade anglers around.

High winds were forecast for the day but this is what we found at Wolf Creek Bridge when we launched. It didn’t stay like this for long but the winds never really materialized into what they were calling for.

We hit all the winter water with standard winter rigs and picked fish up where we expected to find them. Rainbow Czechs, Pink Firebead Soft Hackle Sows and Casne’s Pinkalicious all saw some action with the Sow leading the charge.

I spent some time throwing streamers and while it wasn’t great it was definitely worth the time. The Hot Head Kreelex and a brown Polar Leech both got some attention stripped SLOW. I was targeting primarily deeper water but we did move a few in the shallow slack water so don’t overlook anything if you’re going to play the streamer game.

As we’ve been saying the best nymphing water is definitely the winter water right now. Deep, slow, froggy, non-descript – that’s where they are. We were running around 8′ overall on the nymph rigs and fished with and without weight catching fish both ways but probably more without the weight. I prefer to keep it simple and run a #10 or #12 tungsten bug as my weight but sometimes you need the extra weight.

The unseasonably warm temps are on the way out, hopefully along with the high winds which did in fact materialize today. We’ll see a return to more seasonable temps tomorrow with highs in the high 30’s and a good chance for some rain and snow showers. The weekend looks good with mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 40’s.

Why not treat yourself to a weekend of early winter fishing on the Missouri? We’ve got rooms with full kitchens available for $99/night, call and book yours today.

While you’re here get the shopping done for all the fly fishers on your list. We’ve got a shop full of essential Missouri River fly fishing gear, great gift ideas, plenty of sale items you don’t want to miss and WCA Gift Cards which make excellent stocking stuffers.

Looking for the big-ticket item they won’t believe you bought them? How about a Titan Rod Vault?

The gift they’re dreaming of available now at Wolf Creek Angler

The Titan Rod Vault locks both function and fashion to your roof through its aluminum construction which is not only weather-proof, rust-proof and able to stand up to all of Mother Nature’s fury but it’s also quite the head-turner with its brushed finish and sleek design.

What does this mean for you? More fishing! And not just more fishing, but more fishing in more places since you can take this roof-trophy anywhere – even on your bucket list cross-country fishing extravaganza!

Sturdy aluminum construction
Weather-proof and rust-proof
Aerodynamic for quiet travel

The Titan Rod Vault allows you to easily load all of your gear including up to 3 fully rigged rods and reels, and get on your way. No more hooks in the seats (or your arms), rattling and bouncing rods or even the more embarrassing ‘rods under the windshield wipers’ gimmick.

When your rods are conveniently secured away in the Titan Rod Vault that awesome drive out the river will be that much more relaxing and enjoyable without you worrying about damaging your gear or your vehicle’s interior.

Travel with rods fully rigged and ready to go
No more hooks in the seats of your vehicle interior
More convenient than other in-vehicle rod carriers

In a hurry to put your Titan Rod Vault to use?

No problem! The Titan Rod Vault can easily be installed by one person in a matter of minutes without having to buy any extra parts.

When you’re out on the water, relax knowing your rods are safe with double lock-down security. The Titan Rod Vault securely locks to your roof rack and your rods are snuggly locked away inside the Vault. Now you can plaster your alarmingly robust collection of fish stickers everywhere without worrying about another smash-n-grab through those now awesomely decorated windows.

Easy installation / removal
TRV locks to your roof rack and vault locks rods inside
Can be installed alongside most other roof rack attachments

Stop in today and pick one up for your favorite angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 9th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Titan Rod Vault, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Winter Fare Top to Bottom – Casne’s Pinkalicious, Firebead Soft Hackle Sow, Firebead Rainbow Czech, Pink Lightning Bug

It was a relatively busy weekend at Wolf Creek Angler with the warm weather bringing out quite a few people. It was nice to get back in the groove of shuttles and bugs after the quiet of the cold snap.

We’re looking at continued above average temps for this week though we are under a high wind warning starting at noon today and running through early Wednesday morning. It may not be the best conditions for floating but wade fishing can be pretty good even on the windy days as you can generally find some relatively sheltered spots out of the wind.

Judging by the flies leaving the bins over the weekend the word is out. As we reported here last week the MO has definitely gone pink. We saw a big run on Casne’s Pinkalicious as well as Pink Amex, Pink Lightning Bugs, Pink Sow Bugs and Rainbow Czechs followed closely by anything with a firebead. We’re fully stocked on all of these and many more.

A few guys throwing streamers with varying levels of success though nymphing is definitely going to be your best bet from here on out through the winter months.

The phones have started to get busy again with folks making their plans for 2016 which promises to be a great season for us based on our current bookings. We are going to be looking at rate increases effective January 1st but if you book by the end of the year we will lock you in at 2015 pricing.

For those following our Christmas Gift suggestions today we are featuring the highly coveted Steelhead Glove from KAST Extreme Fishing. In our opinion these are the best fishing gloves on the market….hands down and you would be hard pressed to find an angler anywhere who wouldn’t be thrilled to find a pair of these under the tree this year. We are fully stocked with all sizes so stop in and pick a pair up or give us a call if you don’t plan to be in Wolf Creek anytime soon, we’re happy to ship anywhere.

There are not too many things that’ll cut a day of cold-weather fishing short quicker than losing the feeling in your digits. Keeping your hands in your pockets doesn’t lend itself to being ready for that explosive take. And gloves always seem to solve only one part of the warmth/waterproof/dexterity equation. Until now.

Our Steelhead Gloves are designed to keep your hands bone-dry, give you maximum dexterity, and provide a layer of warmth when fishing in cold environments. Patented OutDry technology makes our gloves 100% waterproof/submersible, windproof, and breathable. Plus the warm fleece lining, and durable stretch shell give you the snug fit and uncompromising feel that you need in the fingertips, and an extended cuff for valuable additional coverage at the wrist. Go ahead, chase chrome in a snow squall, or tail a trophy king in frigid water, you can trust your hands will stay warm and dry.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 7th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Christmas, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Gorgeous Missouri River Winter Bow – photo Eric Mondragon

Last week’s snow has all but disappeared with temps close to 50 yesterday and more of the same for this weekend and the week ahead. We may see 60 by mid-week. Given a choice we would prefer snow and cold but we’ll take it either way.

The traffic has been very light even with the warm temps. The winds are keeping some away but those who have been out there have been enjoying some good to great days both nymphing and swinging/stripping. Water temps have been hanging right around 38 for the past couple of days with flows stable at around 3030 cfs. The colder temps have caused the fish to move to the slow, deep winter water which can make things easy if you know where they are. A #12 Casne’s Pinkalicious or Pink Amex trailed with a firebead softhackle sow or a tailwater sow or a pink lightning bug or something of the sort will get you into the action and keep you there. We’ll often run the same rigs for days, even weeks at a time during the winter months with or without split shot. I prefer no split shot opting instead to use a heavy tungsten bug as my weight but it’s all a matter of preference. We typically aren’t doing much with depth adjustment either as the fish are generally concentrated at the same depth in each of these winter runs.

While nymphing is our go-to this time of year it’s also never a bad call to swing or slowly strip a streamer. Our bins are overflowing with all kinds of new streamer patterns. The Hot Head Kreelex, Skiddish Smolt, Sparkle Minnow and various Polar Leeches have all been getting some attention. Stop in and check out our selection, you won’t be disappointed.

Lodging has filled for this weekend and there will be a little more traffic out there than there has been but you will still have plenty of options for solitude on the water. Stop by the shop on your way to the river for shuttles, winter bugs and everything you might need for your day on the water and then some. While you’re here take the opportunity to get your Christmas Shopping done. We’ve got something for all the fly fishers on your list and if you can’t decide what to get them we’ve got WCA gift cards good for everything we sell.

Today we’re highlighting rods and reels. We’ve got some great deals going on Echo and St Croix rods and select Nautilus and Ross reels as we clear the way for some redesigned Echo rods and the launch of a soon-to-be announced new product line in the rod/reel department that we’re super excited about .

St Croix Bank Robber – The Ultimate Streamer Stick

If Anyone Starts Talking About Getting Sensitive Around Here,
They Better Just Be Talking About Light Tippets.

There’s stepping up to the plate, and then there’s stepping up to the fly rod and casting like a big boy. If you want to know more about it, just spend a day with Kelly Galloup. If you plan on chasing trophies with huge streamers, here’s a little tip – bring a big boy rod. Something like the Bank Robber.™ Simply put, they are the ultimate streamer rods. Forged from high-modulus / high-strain SC^V graphite blanks with SC^VI graphite in the lower sections for added power with reduced weight and St. Croix’s proprietary ART^™ and IPC^® technology, it’s something Kelly would approve of. Especially since he helped design them.

Can a fly rod really change your life?
Depends on how much of a life you have outside of fishing.

When it comes to understanding the latest sub-surface fishing techniques, few people know more than Kelly Galloup – which is why we asked him to help us develop the High Stick Drifter. Designed specifically for today’s advanced nymph fishing methods, they feature a unique lightweight tip that reduces angler fatigue when the rod is held high for long periods of time, while emphasizing sensitivity for better strike detection. High Stick Drifter rods also feature SC^VI graphite in lower sections for added power with reduced weight and St. Croix’s proprietary ART^™ and IPC^® technology. And the balance? Incredible. Can these rods change your life? Yea. We think so.

Pick up a Bank Robber or High Stick Drifter today for 20% off the regular price. We’ll also match either one up with the appropriate reel and line for additional cost savings.

Echo Carbon Rods

When Tim Rajeff set out to create the next generation of affordable trout rods he had no idea they were going to turn out so darn good-looking. Getting the action and power correct was his main goal. Tim dedicated a full year of product development to make sure every model in the ECHO Carbon family has a smooth action and is easy to cast. All but a few of these rods have smooth Medium Fast actions and possess power that would be considered close to “average or normal” for each line rating. So you get no surprises when choosing an ECHO CARBON rod. “Not too stiff, not too soft, juuuuuuuust right!!!” With a matte brown finish and a custom Rajeff Sports / ECHO man reel seat the ECHO CARBON rods stand out as the best looking rod under $200 that has ever been made.

Echo has redesigned the Carbon for next season so we’re clearing this year’s models out at 30 % off the regular price. Let us match your new Carbon with the appropriate reel and line for an additional cost savings.

Nautilus Feather Weight Xtreme

The Nautilus FWX (Feather Weight Xtreme) series is the most technologically advanced and the lightest machined aluminum disc drag trout fly reel on the market.

The award-winning FWX reels feature our Sealed Carbon Fiber (SCFTM) drag system with the proprietary TORQ-XTM clutch drive and TPX bushings. This completely sealed, maintenance-free draw bar type carbon fiber disc brake delivers the smoothest drag on the market in a light fly reel. No sand, gravel, water or snow will affect the flawless performance of this amazing disc drag.

Come check out these rods and reels and many more today. We’ve also got some great starter kits from Redington which include everything you need to get started fly fishing. Rod, reel and line and a lifetime warranty on the rod for under $200.

A moderate-fast action rod great for beginner casters or those who have a more relaxed casting stroke. 2-piece and 4-piece models offer flexibility for the traveling angler.

All water, moderate-fast action rod
Durable anodized aluminum reel seat, ideal for all fresh and saltwater applications
Alignment dots for easy rod setup
Rods come with black cloth rod tube
Combo includes: Path rod, Path reel pre-spooled with RIO Mainstream® WF fly line, and zippered carrying case
8 and 9 weight, saltwater application, available with RIO Saltwater® Floating Line
Lifetime warranty *Rod only

Not sure what kind of rod to get them? We’ll walk you through all of your options and explain the differences and get you set up with exactly what you need.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:42-06:00December 5th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report, Product Review|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, St Croix, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Monday Morning….All is Quiet

The long Thanksgiving weekend has come and gone. The river continues to be shrouded in freezing fog but the sun is burning through and the cold will loosen its grip over the next few days as we leave behind the frosty single digits for the time being and move back into very comfortable 40’s by mid- week. It looks like the mild weather will hang around for at least the next ten days or so.

Will the break in the weather bring some traffic back to the river? We’ll likely see a slight uptick in traffic once those temps creep back into the 40’s, however things will remain fairly quiet through the end of the year. The holidays are upon us and the next month will fly by for most with plenty of things going on to keep everyone busy.

Should you get a chance to sneak away for a day and wet a line however, we would love to see you. It’s the perfect time to take advantage of our off-season lodging and guide rates. $99 rooms and $400 Missouri River winter guide trips for the rest of the year and through the winter months.

Our winter hours are Wednesday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Sunday 8:00 AM – 12 Noon (ish). We will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for the winter months except when the weather is super fishy. We’re open for lodging and guide trips EVERY day and we’ll answer your calls whether we’re here or not. If you happen to come around on a day we aren’t at the shop please stop and see our friends at The Trout Shop or Headhunters in Craig or Trout Montana if you are Cascade bound and tell em’ we sent you!

Thanks to everyone who came out for our Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sales. We definitely appreciate your support and we always look forward to seeing you in the shop and on the water. Remember to pick up Wolf Creek Angler gift cards for all of the fly fishers on your list, available in any amount and good for anything we sell.

Reports from the river have been a bit hard to come by over the past few days but those who have been out have been enjoying some good days with very little competition. Think pink, think firebeads and think slow and deep winter water. We’ve got bins full of winter favorites and we’ll tell you exactly where to go and what to use when for your best shot at winter action on the MO.

We’ve also got the streamer bins fully stocked with a bunch of cool new patterns for your swinging and/or stripping fix.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00November 30th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter Storm Warning in Wolf Creek today and tomorrow. Stay Safe!

Getting things done in the shop this week. We don’t much like the quiet days but they are to be expected and it does give us a chance to get all of our end of season chores completed. Counting flies, completing reports, cleaning, budgeting, reflecting, cleaning some more, finishing pre-season orders, booking rooms and trips for next season, daydreaming, catching up on fishing blogs….on and on it goes. Never a dull moment. And every once in a while someone actually does stop in.

A quiet time to be sure but we are under a winter storm warning and people are getting ready for Thanksgiving so we don’t really expect to see many folks in the shop today or tomorrow.
That being said our lodging is full for Wednesday and Thursday. Who knew Wolf Creek would become such a holiday destination? We’ll take it!

Snow is falling and the wind is starting to howl. Traffic should be nearly non-existent on the water for the next couple of days though the storm will be past and we will be back in the 30’s for the weekend so we’ll be expecting you. Stop in for great deals on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. We are so thankful for all of our customers who have made Wolf Creek Angler a success and we couldn’t be happier with the way the 2015 season went. We’re working hard to bring more of what you want into the shop and we’re super excited about some things we’re working on for 2016. We trust you will share in our excitement. More on this later.

We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday and we hope to see you in the shop weather permitting. Why not take some time and make your plans for fishing the Missouri in 2016. Book your lodging and guide trips now to lock in 2015 rates. June and July lodging vacancies are rapidly disappearing and prime guide dates are filling quickly so don’t wait – give us a call today and book your Missouri River dream vacation with Wolf Creek Angler.

Can’t wait until spring? Keep your eye on the weather and book yourself a Missouri River winter getaway. Rooms for $99 and $400 guide trips. Winter fishing on the Missouri can be downright spectacular on any given day and you’ve got nothing to lose. If the weather turns, even on the morning of your scheduled trip, or if you simply change your mind about winter fishing, no worries, there are no cancellation fees. It’s winter in Montana….we get it!

Our winter hours will go into effect this Sunday, November 29th. Open Wednesday-Saturday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (or later) and Sunday 8:00 AM – noon (or later). We’re a little loose with the shop schedule in the winter but suffice it to say that if the weather is really fishy you can expect to find us here whatever the day and if it’s 20 degrees or colder and/or blizzard conditions we likely won’t be open. If the weather is questionable please call ahead. And remember we’re open EVERY DAY for lodging and guide trips.

See you in the shop and maybe even on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00November 24th, 2015|Categories: Montana Fly Fishing, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Thanks for the Hat Tip

From our friends at Missoula River Lodge

photo by Joe Cummings

http://www.montanaflyfishingguide.com/2015/11/fishing-the-end/

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00November 16th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: A Classic Journey Outfitters, Joe Cummings, Missoula River Lodge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Dan had his best day ever on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

It’s been a windy week on the Missouri with the exception of yesterday morning which turned out to be one of the better days we’ve had recently both weather wise and fishing wise. Calm winds and sunny skies made for an exceptionally nice November day on the water.

My friend Dan is in from Michigan for a few days and we had intended on fishing the Missouri every day. Wednesday’s winds forced a change in plans and we opted to go try our luck throwing streamers on the Blackfoot. I always enjoy wading the Blackfoot but the fishing was extremely slow and extremely challenging with high winds and snow. We covered many miles of water Wednesday between two rivers with only one fish landed and a couple of flashes and tugs to keep it interesting but a tough day overall.

We knew Thursday would be our window of opportunity on the Missouri with less wind in the forecast and it turned out to be even nicer that what we were expecting, at least up until mid-afternoon when the howl returned. We opted for the Dam to Craig run to keep it simple and had the whole thing pretty much to ourselves with just two other boats on the water. I had not been out on the MO recently so we started out with the rig and the water we’ve been hearing have been the go-to but the shallow water/short leash combo proved to be a bust for us. Once we found the right water and the right rig things turned on for the better part of the day up until the time the winds returned. The deeper, slower winter water was good for us running with a deeper rig but still no weight. We had success with black zebras and a pink amex but caught the majority of our fish on a #18 tailwater sow.

We had fully intended on throwing streamers but never got away from the bobber. We also had the dry-fly rig at the ready but unfortunately those opportunities didn’t materialize. That’s kind of been the story for most of the fall. There are BWO’s around but not very many and not with the consistency we would like to see. It’s been a disappointing fall for the die hard dry fly anglers but if you’re willing to chase the bobber it’s been good more often than not.

Traffic on the water is extremely light though there are a few folks around and we’re still booking trips and lodging for those who enjoy the solitude of fall fishing. We’re full for the weekend but have plenty of availability next week. It looks like this weather pattern is going to hold for the time being with breezy, but comfortable days so it certainly wouldn’t be a bad week to come out and fish with us. Colder temps expected by the end of next week.

Give the shop a call for up-to-the-minute reports on the weather and the fishing and stop by on your way to the water for shuttles, bugs, Kast cold weather gear, RO Drift Boat Rentals and great end-of-season deals on rods, reels and more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00November 13th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana|0 Comments

First Snow

We got a couple of inches of snow overnight though it’s rapidly disappearing with temps in the high 30’s today. As predicted yesterday’s grey skies and intermittent snow/rain/sleet made for a great day on the water with plenty of bugs and plenty of fish willing to eat. Similar conditions this morning though the clouds are rapidly dissipating. They’re calling for mostly sunny skies by this afternoon so now is the time!

Things are quiet on the river which is great for those who are around. Plenty of real estate to work with if you’re hunting heads and if you’re floating and throwing streamers or nymphing as you look for rising fish you’ve got miles of prime water virtually to yourself.

There have been a few folks around taking advantage of our winter lodging rates and while it certainly hasn’t been what we would consider busy we’ve had enough going on here to keep us occupied throughout the day. It’s that time of year when things slow down enough that part of the daily duties in the shop include laundry and housekeeping (and shoveling snow)!

We’ve got two rooms left for the weekend which looks like it’s going to be nice. Give us a call today and book one for yourself and while you’re at it why not book a guide trip? $99 gets you a cozy cabin or bungalow with private bath and a full kitchen.

Plenty of deals to be had in the shop as we clear out the items slated for obsolescence. Great deals on Ross and Nautilus Reels and Echo and St Croix rods. 30 % off summer logo wear from Simms and select Guide Wear from Kast and much more. Don’t forget we’ve got WCA Gift Cards good for everything we sell. They make the perfect gift for the fly anglers on your list.

The coffee is on and the shop is open at 7 AM daily, earlier than all the rest, for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. Bugs, shuttles, Hand Warmers, hats, gloves, RO Drift Boat Rentals, Cold Weather gear from Kast and Redington and plenty of honest advice on the where, when and how. Stop in and say hi next time you’re in Wolf Creek, we’d love to visit with you and Jake would love for you to pet him and rub his belly. He’s suffering from neglect and attention deprivation since the arrival of the quiet time!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00November 4th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, Nautilus Reels, Redington, RO Drift Boats, Ross, running line, St Croix, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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Features Include:

If Anyone Starts Talking About Getting Sensitive Around Here, They Better Just Be Talking About Light Tippets.

Can a fly rod really change your life? Depends on how much of a life you have outside of fishing.

If Anyone Starts Talking About Getting Sensitive Around Here,
They Better Just Be Talking About Light Tippets.

Can a fly rod really change your life?
Depends on how much of a life you have outside of fishing.