Montana Archives - Page 27 of 33

August Outlook

Welcome to August on the Missouri. The crowds are gone (for the time being) and the fishing is hit or miss but definitely still worth your time. The water levels are continuing to be held in the 4000 range with water temps holding in the low to mid 60’s. Water-wise we’re in good shape and the projections for the late summer and into the fall are for things to remain status quo with a slight reduction in flows starting in September. Most probable flows are predicted to be in the 3700+ range for the fall months.

There is moss and weeds to deal with on the river, there are also big brown trout lurking in and around those weed beds just waiting for a juicy hopper. Don’t let the weeds get you down – they’re part of the deal this time of year, make the best of it.

Tricos? Some days yes, others not so much but you should keep your trico rig at the ready just in case. Our program as of late has been nymphing in the early part of the day and then switching to hoppers around lunch time with the occasional trico interruption. Pseudos and Callibaetis around as well and Caddis are ever-present though not as plentiful as many would like to see.

Streamers? Yes. Streamer fishing can be ok this time of year though we typically avoid the frustration. Dry fly fishing the weedy water can be challenging, nymphing it even more so….stripping streamers through it? Nearly impossible. There are probably some big fish to be caught on streamers right now – we will leave them for you.

Much of the water around the state is not faring as well as the Missouri with Hoot Owl Restrictions continuing to be implemented. This is the up-to-date report on Restrictions and Closures from FWP. It’s your responsibility as an angler to be aware of and to adhere to these restrictions so keep an eye on the FWP web site or give us a call or stop by the shop for the latest info. Open daily at 6:00 AM for guide trips, shuttles, bugs, boats, licenses, sun protection, lodging, piles of logo gear, guide wear from Kast and much, much more. Take advantage of the relative solitude of August and enjoy a day on the river – it’s never a bad way to spend a day.

Restrictions & Closures

Belmont Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to the Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

Big Hole River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 08/04/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Hoot owl restrictions in place for the following river sections of the Big Hole River: Maiden Rock FAS to the mouth. (8/4/2015)
Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 08/04/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
River sections of the Big Hole River: Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to North Fork Big Hole River. (8/4/2015)

Bitterroot River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Bitterroot River from its origin at the confluence of the East and West Forks of the Bitterroot River to its mouth. (7/2/2015)

Blackfoot River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Blackfoot River from its headwaters to its confluence with the Clark Fork River. (7/2/2015)

Clark Fork River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Clark Fork River from its origin at the confluence of Warm Springs and Silver Bow Creeks to the confluence with the Flathead River. (7/2/2015)

Copper Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to Landers Fork. (7/29/2015)

Cottonwood Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to the Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

East Gallatin River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/10/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire East Gallatin River from its origin at the confluence of Rocky and Sourdough Creeks to its confluence with the West Gallatin River. (7/9/2015)

Flint Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
From the Highway 1 Bridge near milepost 53 to the mouth. (7/2/2015)

Gallatin River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/10/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Lower Gallatin River from Sheds Bridge (Hwy 84) near Four Corners, MT, downstream to its confluence with the Madison River at Three Forks. (7/9/2015)

Gold Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary of the Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

Jefferson River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 08/04//2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire Jefferson River. (8/4/2015)

Landers Fork Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to the Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

Madison River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/10/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Lower Madison River from Ennis Dam to the Missouri River Headwaters. (7/9/2015)

Monture Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

Morrell Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Tributary to Clearwater River. (7/29/2015)

North Fork Blackfoot River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
North Fork Falls to the confluence with the Blackfoot River. (7/29/2015)

Ruby River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/10/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Portions of the Ruby River from Duncan District Road to its confluence with the Beaverhead River. (7/9/2015)

Shields River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/10/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Most of the Shields River from its confluence with Smith Creek downstream to its confluence with the Yellowstone River. (7/9/2015)

Silver Bow Creek Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/03/2015
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
From Blacktail Creek to the mouth where it joins with Warm Springs Creek. (7/2/2015)
Reopened Waterbodies
Beaverhead River Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction Lifted starting 07/30/2015
Closure Lifted
Entire Beaverhead River (7/30/2015)

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:47-06:00August 4th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid Week on the MO

Late summer on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Plenty of blue skies and sunshine out there and some fish as well.

Good nymphing and decent trico reports from the morning shift at the dam and word of decent caddis action last night between Wolf Creek and Craig.

It’s hit and miss right now to be sure but don’t believe the hype! These are awesome days to be out there. The weather is beautiful, the pressure is light to moderate and there are plenty of fish. You may need to work for them but we’re ok with that.

Plenty of doom and gloom muttering about the fishing this season going on but we choose to take the conditions for what they are, adjust our game accordingly and fish on. We encourage you to do the same.

It’s certainly been a less than stellar season for the DFO’s but that being said, there have been and there will continue to be plenty of fish caught on dry flies.

August trip bookings have really started to take off so apparently not everyone has soured on the 2015 Missouri. As is generally the case in August we’ve got a fair amount of lodging vacancies so come out and enjoy the quiet time on the Missouri.

Make Wolf Creek Angler your one-stop on the way to the MO for shuttles, bugs, sun protection, almost legendary coffee, fishing licenses, ice, river maps, tools and accessories, Fishpond Nomad boat nets and anything else you might need for your day on the water. Open daily at 6 AM.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 29th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Update

Hopper Time

The best fishing reports we’ve heard for the past couple of days have come from the canyon and below where the hopper bite has started to come on. There have been some good days with a lot of action on the hopper and some other days where the hopper bite wasn’t all that but the dropper was getting plenty of attention.

Hopper fishing is an awesome way to spend a day on the water and while you may not get the numbers you’d get nymphing at the dam, the anticipation coupled with the occasional swirl or explosive grab will keep you wanting more.

We’ve got a great selection of tried and true Missouri River foam and we’d love to get you pointed in the right direction as far as bugs to use and places to go. The hopper game is best played from a drift boat and a long stretch of river. No row-arounds required. We’ve heard of decent action from Wolf Creek to Craig and the water between Craig and Spite is one of our favorites for throwing hoppers but if you really want to commit try the canyon or below and stick with it.

New to the hopper game? Why not book a trip with us and let our guides get you dialed in. Again – it’s not a numbers game but it’s a fun way to fish and a great way to spend a day on some water you might normally overlook.

This is not to say that it’s been on fire. Inconsistent is a good way to describe things out there lately no matter what you are throwing. If the hoppers’ aren’t getting any love run a dropper, your nymph of choice. We’ve been having great luck with a natural Pine Squirrel leech and have heard of good results on PT’s, peep shows, micromays etc. Throw something you like and see what happens.

Tricos and Caddis still offering plenty of opportunities for the hardcore DFO’s but it’s certainly been a strange season where the tricos are concerned. Our advice – make preparations to be on your trico A game and then roll with your day – if it happens it happens and you will succeed. If it doesn’t then go to your nymph and/or hopper rigs and make the best of it.

Traffic was pretty heavy all week but has begun to drop off. Yesterday looked almost like August with just a few boats around (comparatively speaking). I’m sure the fish appreciated the break. Expect a little more room out there for the next few weeks as we enter into the August Lull and if you’re thinking of coming out don’t let the slow down scare you away. Fishing can be weird this time of year but it can also be really good.

Lodging and guide availability open up a bit within the next week so give us a call and book your Missouri River fly fishing adventure. Mornings are a little darker every day so the shop will be open at 6:00 AM daily starting tomorrow. Make us your one stop on the way to the MO for RO Drift Boat rentals, lodging, shuttles, guides, clothing, accessories, all kinds of cool sun protection and of course, the largest selection of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. Come by and see what the buzz is about.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 25th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, grasshoppers, Missouri River, Montana, RO Drift Boats, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid Week Missouri River Fishing Report – Dog Days?

Tricos, lots of them, depending on the day. The fish are on them but not yet like you might expect them to be. We’ll call this a transition stage.

PMD’s – very few, though the fish do still seem more interested in pmd’s than tricos.

Caddis-a-plenty. Throw them blind and see what happens.

Hoppers? Throw em’. Word is that the hopper bite has been good in the canyon and the Craig to Stickney run has been decent as well.

Nymphing has been good at the dam, aside from that…on the slow side. Weight flies in purple and gold, split case PMD’s both with and without the tungsten bead, peep shows and small mayfly nymphs (think Little Green Machine) have been the go-to’s.

Traffic has been heavy out there this week but things should start to thin out soon.

Make Wolf Creek Angler your one-stop on the way to the river for shuttles, bugs, boats and anything you may need for your day on the water. We are open at 5:30 AM daily, earlier than all the rest so no need to wait, we’ll have you out the door and on the water by 6:00 am.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 22nd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, nymphs, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Great Days on the Missouri

Al Kaplan thoroughly enjoying every minute of his time here in Wolf Creek.

Getting frustrated with the fishing?

There are definitely worse things you could be doing than spending your summer vacation fishing the Missouri. Sure it can be tough out there but is it really that bad?

We’ve heard a fair amount about how tough it is out there over the past week and while we all hope for awesome fishing all of the time it simply doesn’t work that way. The flows are better than what we had expected earlier in the season, the water temps have been good, there are plenty of fish and plenty of opportunities available to those willing to work hard at it. From where we sit the glass is more than half full! It’s not all bad. Fishing can be tough but it’s day to day and it will always get better….eventually.

We’ve got an awesome guest staying with us named Al Kaplan. Al is a bus driver from New York and this is his third trip to Wolf Creek and the Missouri. Al adds a few days to his trip each year, in fact he’s here for three weeks this time around.

Each afternoon when Al returns from his morning of fishing I ask him how his day was. His response is always the same. He responds that he had a great day. If you ask him whether he caught fish or not he will tell you but that answer never has any bearing on his daily response of having had a great day. Sometimes he catches fish – sometimes he doesn’t. Catching fish is not what makes or breaks a day for Al Kaplan and we can all learn something from him.

It is not lost on us that people spend a bunch of money and time to come here and fish the Missouri and when the fishing is tough it can be frustrating but we ought not let ourselves get bogged down in that frustration.

Al gets it! He gets the big picture and he loves Montana and the Missouri and the entire experience regardless of how many fish he does or doesn’t catch, of how many caddis there are, of how windy it is, of how many people are on the river etc, etc, etc.

So while we appreciate and sympathize with the frustration that goes along with tough fishing we should all strive to take it in stride and appreciate the experience for all that it affords us. And who knows, tomorrow is another day and fishing might just be spectacular but whether it is or isn’t , a day spent under the Big Sky on the waters of the Mighty MO is a Great day in our opinion regardless of the fish counts.

Stay Strong!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 18th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Mid Week Blues

Frustration.

Many of our guests are feeling it right now. Most roll with it knowing it’s part of the game no matter where you fish.

Bugs have been a little unpredictable which of course has limited the dry-fly opportunities but as we’ve been saying those who are putting their time in are finding plenty of opportunities and are enjoying plenty of success especially as measured by finding oneself in the state of wading in the Missouri River, fly rod in hand, casting tiny bugs to rising fish miles away from reality. How much better could it be? Catching a bunch of fish certainly might add something to the experience but those who have figured it out return to the porch at WCA each night satisfied and happy regardless of the number of bugs on the water or the number of fish up.

Of course some leave disappointed. Some are wired to measure the enjoyment and success of their experience by the amount of fish they catch, the size of the fish they catch, the amount of bugs on the water…etc. That’s ok too, we get it but we encourage all to take the time to take in your surroundings. Enjoy the sights and sounds and the company of your friends as you experience this magical place.

It’s interesting talking with our guests each morning and hearing about how they did. We hear a lot about a lack of bugs or things being tough out there but we also hear a lot about what an amazing place this is and how lucky we are to call this home. We don’t disagree.

How’s it fishing? It’s fishing ok and the better you are the more success you will have. If you’re having a tough go of it we encourage you to book a trip with us and let one of our expert guides get your game dialed in.

Tricos are still getting going and offering good opportunities depending on the day. PMD’s and PED’s are still around but definitely fading fast. Caddis are here and could very well be your best bet for the time being. Too early for hoppers? Definitely not. Try throwing a hopper or a Chubby, you might be surprised!

Nymphing? We haven’t heard a lot of nymphing reports as it’s definitely prime time for the DFO’s but those who are doing it continue to do well with Split Case PMD’s, Purple Weight Flies, Tung Darts, PT’s, Psycho Mays, Zebra Midges etc.

Stop by Wolf Creek Angler, your 5:30 AM one stop on the way to the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 15th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Full Tilt Tuesday

Alessandro’s first trip to the MO – all the way from Italy. See you next summer Alessandro!

Busy days here at WCA as we continue in Full Tilt mode.

We’ve got our entire RO Drift Boat rental fleet out all week with launches at dawn and take-outs after dark. Hard core anglers taking advantage of every minute of their stay on the MO and being rewarded with some awesome action while persevering through some quiet spells as well.

We’ve got a full house most nights with all of our seasonal regulars cycling through. This is the time of year Wolf Creek Angler takes on a real sense of community as we are reunited with old friends and introduced to new friends from all around the country and all around the world. This sense of community is one of the things we love most about our job.

Busy mornings around the shop with bunches of guide trips going out and the DIY crew crowding around the bins, stocking up on bugs and floatant and leaders and tippet and other essentials for the day. The full house is nothing new, the increase in traffic in the shop and in the number of guide trips is what we’re here to do and we are absolutely thrilled with where things are at and where they are going. A huge thanks to all who have supported us from the start and continue to support us as we continue to work towards making Wolf Creek Angler everything you expect your Missouri River fly shop to be.

If you haven’t been by the shop in a while come check us out, we are confident you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find. We’ve got a Missouri River bug selection that rivals that of any in the canyon with new flies arriving all of the time. We continue to work towards building our inventory and expanding our offerings with great gear from first rate fly fishing companies like Kast Extreme Fishing Gear, Fishpond, Umpqua, Redington, Rio, Yeti, ST Croix, Echo, Ross, Nautilus and Smith just to name a few.

Open daily at 5:45 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. Great bugs, great coffee, great gear and a commitment customer service are what you will find every day at Wolf Creek Angler.

See you in the shop and on the water bright and early…

Andrew’s first trip to the MO was one he won’t soon forget. See you in Wolf Creek in 2016!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:48-06:00July 7th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Farewell to June/ Summertime on the MO

In Training this summer at Wolf Creek Angler

Hard to believe but we’re closing the books on June already. What is statistically our wettest month turned out to be a dry one with record high temps over the past week.
We did get a nice soaking thunderstorm last night so our almost-14 year old part time groundskeeper/boat washer/driveway sweeper and whatever else needs to be done go to guy is enjoying a day off from moving sprinklers. He may not realize it just yet but I think this whole Wolf Creek Montana, Missouri River fly fishing thing is going to start to take hold soon. Spend enough time around this culture and you can’t help but get sucked in. In the meantime if you happen to see my kid around the shop perhaps you could let him know how bad you feel for him that he has to spend his summer working around a fly shop, floating the MO with his super un-cool old man and hanging around fishing guides and fishy people in general.
It’s definitely feeling like summertime at WCA. The regulars are here for extended stays and it’s great to see all of these folks again. Early mornings, late nights, hot coffee and cold beers and the sense of eternal Saturday we enjoy from around mid June through the end of the season where we likely have no idea what day of the week it actually is but they all feel like Saturday.
People come from all around the world to fish the Missouri and we’re thrilled to be a part of their Montana experience.
Plenty of traffic out there but plenty of room to find a piece of water to call your own and spend as much time as you want perfecting that perfect delivery and perfect presentation. Sometimes it all comes together… sometimes it doesn’t. It’s all part of the appeal of dry fly fishing on the MO.
See you in the shop bright and early for everything you need for your day on the water.
Open daily at 5:45 AM – earlier than anyone. So make Wolf Creek Angler your first stop on your way to the river. We’ve got you covered with shuttles, RO Drift Boat Rentals, all kinds of sun protection, Kast Gear (including Tailspin Guide Shorts), all the lines, leaders and tippet you need from Rio and Trout Hunter and of course, the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. Come check us out – we’re confident you will find our bug selection rivals that of any other in the canyon.

See you in Wolf Creek.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:51-06:00June 30th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, RO Drift Boats, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The week ahead

All kinds of cool logo gear available now at WCA

A cool down is underway and we should see highs decline daily, down to 90 by Thursday. Hot again on Friday but it looks like it’s going to be a beautiful fourth of July weekend.

Flows are holding steady in the 4100 range with water temps in the low 60’s.

Dry fly fishing has been very good despite the heat with plenty of PMD’s and Caddis river-wide and the nymphing, by most accounts, has been exceptional.

Expect PMD’s mid-morning and throughout the day. Best PMD patterns have been CDC Rusty Spinners, Hi-Vis Rusty Spinners, No Hackle PMD’s, Flash Cripples and Parachute Adams. Big movers from the caddis bins have been the Outriggers, X-Caddis and of course the CDC Grey/Tan Caddis emergers.

Beadless Split Back PMD’s continue to be the biggest mover from the nymph bins but there’s all kinds of bugs working including, but not limited to, olive WD 40’s, PMD Psycho Mays, MicroMays, Tung Darts, Purple Zebras, Peep Shows and PT’s.

Come check out our Fourth of July sale starting Friday and running through the weekend. 15% of most everything including Smith Chromapop sunglasses, Yeti Coolers, Fishpond Nomad Boat Nets, Simms logo wear, Kast Extreme Fishing Gear and of course, the largest selection of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.