#12 Purple Haze and a 3 Weight

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Snuck out of Wolf Creek for a few hours after work yesterday and headed west in search of solitude and hungry cutthroats, I found plenty of both.

I’ve said it before and will likely say it again. Wading small streams surrounded by wilderness armed with a 3 weight, a few big dry flies and a can of bear spray is about as good as it gets. It’s quintessential Montana summertime fly fishing.

Not to take anything away from the Missouri because it goes without saying that casting tiny dry flies to big fish on the MO certainly holds an appeal all its own, an appeal that allows us to make a living doing what we love in this amazing place. We can never get enough of the Missouri but sometimes it’s nice to get away.

Do yourself a favor and take the time to hit a stream or two this summer – you’ll be glad you did. It’s the ultimate way to relax and recharge. Where should I go you ask? There are miles of streams to explore and part of the fun is driving around the lesser-traveled back roads of Montana seeking out new water. Grab your Gazateer and your fishing regs and hit the road. We can point you in the right direction but the fun is finding a piece of water to call your own.

The Week Ahead 6/22/15

Joanne with one of many beautiful browns from the past few days.

Joanne with one of many beautiful browns from the past few days.

Fishing remains good to great for the DFO’s and nymphers alike. PMD’s are definitely the talk of the river with plenty of bugs everywhere. There have been a few days where the fish don’t seem to be particularly interested in them but when they are keying in we’ve had our best luck with Rusty Spinners, Flash Cripples, CDC PMD Spinners, Buzzballs and Parachute Adams. That being said, we’ve got bins full of all sorts of cool PMD patterns. Come in and check them out and you’ll find that our bug selection rivals that of any in the canyon. Caddis patterns aplenty as well. Outriggers, X-Caddis, Poly Spent Caddis and CDC Caddis Emergers have been the big movers, but again, we’ve got bins full of cool caddis stuff to choose from.

Nymphs, dries, terrestrials, streamers….we’ve got you covered on all counts with more bugs arriving almost daily.

With a full house every night and a bunch of boat rentals and guide trips going out we’ve been too busy to do much fishing ourselves as of late but everything we’re hearing from the past few days is that it’s ON. Nymphing from the dam to Craig has been consistently hot with the weight fly/split case PMD combo producing big numbers in all kinds of water. Expect traffic to remain heavy in the top section as the dreaded weeds have definitely begun to take hold – adding to the challenge of getting a good drift and frustrating many an angler.

Expect mid to high 80’s for the next few days before we start to cook over the weekend and into next week with temps forecast to exceed 100 on Monday. Not exactly what we wanted for the end of June but nobody asked us so we will take it as it comes and deal with it. Remember to stay hydrated out there on those hot and sunny days and cover up!

Missouri flow is currently at 4160 with water temps holding in the high 50’s to just over 60 degrees. The river is in good shape despite the weed situation and we’re told the flows will hold in the 4100 range for the season.

The shop is open daily at 6:30 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs including shuttles, drift boat rentals, fishing licenses, ICE, sun hats, sun gloves, sun screen, solarflex shirts and hoodies, Kast guide shorts, leaders and tippet from Rio and Trout Hunter and of course, the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. And don’t forget the free coffee…some say it’s the best in the canyon. Whether or not that’s the case it’s definitely worth the price.

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

Mid June Missouri River Fishing Report

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Hard to believe, but according to the calendar it’s June 15th. The season is flying by as it does and we’re about to settle into prime dry fly time on the Missouri River. PMD’s and Caddis are in abundance depending on the day and you should be able to piece together a full day of dry fly action if that’s your thing. Best bet is still going to be below Craig but you should be able to find bugs and fish eating them wherever you go. If you happen upon a PMD event try your various PMD spinner patterns or just a standard parachute Adams coupled with a cripple or an emerger. On the caddis side we’re still liking the CDC Grey/Tan Caddis Emerger or a Cornfed Caddis paired with an Outrigger or an X Caddis. And speaking of Outriggers, it’s the time of year to keep a handfull of Outrigger Sallys in your box and at the ready.

Nymphing has been good most days and while things can always get weird out there we’ve been having some downright stellar days from the dam to Craig. Tailwater sows in #16 and #18 and Firebead softhackle sows have been far and away the most effective bugs but we’ve been getting them on zebra midges and various PMD nymphs as well including the PMD Magic Fly, Hogan’s PMD Military May, Light Peep Shows, Split-Case PMD’s and Wondernymphs. Further down stream it’s weight flies, Tung Darts and Czechs in tandem with LGM’s, Micromays, S & M’s and the aforementioned PMD stuff. How about streamers you ask? Not much to report on that front. The hardcore streamer guys are throwing them and catching some fish but if you’re on the fence about how best to work the depths our recommendation would be to concentrate on the nymphing game and save your streamers for the fall.

Flows are back down to 4600 keeping the wade anglers happy and the weather looks great for the week ahead with partly sunny skies and highs near 80 daily. Our lodging is booked solid from here on out into late July though there are the occasional vacancies so give us a call if you are making last minute plans to visit the Missouri this summer. We’ve got expert guides at the ready, anxious to show you what an amazing fishery we have here on the MO. Stop by the shop for everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, Drift Boats, Sun Protection, fishing licenses, Guide Wear from Kast Extreme Fishing Gear, walls full of tools and accessories, the best coffee in Wolf Creek (according to many),the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek MT and much, much more.

Weekend Update

Blue Skies, plenty of sunshine and lots of yellow flowers along Little Prickly Pear make everything ok. photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Blue Skies, plenty of sunshine and lots of yellow flowers along Little Prickly Pear make everything ok. photo by Wolf Creek Angler

We had a break from the gloomy wet weather yesterday with a bright and sunny day that lifted everyone’s spirits. We’re loving all of the precipitation for sure but it’s amazing what a little sunshine can do to change your state of mind.
Back to the gloomy weather today but looking on the bright side, it’s perfect streamer weather and it sounds like nymphing has been just fine as well save a few tough reports I heard from yesterday. What about dries you ask? On the spotty side right now as we await the arrival of the PMDs but that’s not to say there are no opportunities. Those who know where to go are finding plenty of action on top.

The weather pattern looks to be holding for the coming week with a chance for showers and thunderstorms most days. Highs in the 80’s tomorrow and Monday – more normal temps in the low 70’s for the remainder of the week.
We’ve got several vacancies for the early part of the week before we kick into full-on summer season mode late in the week. Book a night or two for yourself today and while you’re at it why not book yourself a guide trip and let our guides do all the work while you just catch fish?

Just back from Missoula this morning where the rivers are running muddy so if you are from that neck of the woods and you want to fish this week – make it the Missouri. We are here to help you out with anything you may need for your day on the water. Lodging, shuttles, , RO drift boats (including the brand new, much anticipated and much talked about Tailwater Skiff), friendly service and advice, all kinds of packs and accessories and wading gear and clothing from the likes of Fishpond, Kast, Redington, Umpqua and Simms and of course, the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. Stop in and see us today and see what the buzz is about. Open daily at 7 am.

Rainy Days on the MO

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We did a lot of Dearborn River shuttles last week as people took advantage of 500 ish flows with the thought that the window to float would be short-lived. As of this morning the Dearborn is pushing at 807 so we may in fact have a Dearborn season after all, especially with rain in the forecast every day this week. Please give us a call today if you are interested in doing a day on the Dearborn. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to fish one of Montana’s hidden gems!

Back to the rain….obviously we were disappointed with the Dub C A Soiree getting rained out over the weekend and the soggy weather also put a bit of a damper on the Craig Caddis Festival the weekend before, though the word is that they did extremely well bringing in their biggest haul to date despite the low turnout.

So while there have been more days on the damp/cool side than not and mowing the grass has become a full-time job, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Things are really greening up everywhere you look, the high water in the creeks is making for some excellent streamer fishing opportunities both on the creeks themselves and on the Missouri and most importantly, Canyon Ferry continues to fill (currently at 88 percent) which will hopefully mean comfortable summer flows at or near the 4000 mark.

Flows in the mid 3000’s are what continue to be the prediction for the summer season and while these flows  are not ideal for the overall health of the river a lot of the wade anglers love the fact that they can access so much more water. Consequently, the potential for conflict between wade anglers and boat anglers will be on the rise so please respect one another out there and give as wide a berth as possible to your fellow anglers whether in a boat or on foot. I personally go out of my way to give huge amounts of space to other boats and to wade anglers and I appreciate when others follow suit. There is plenty of water and plenty of room to spread out. If the majority of the traffic is concentrated in the top section why not go down low and explore new options. The fish are everywhere! We all have our comfort zones which we develop over time through our experience on the water but as the crowds roll in why not expand that comfort zone by frequenting some of the less popular stretches? Easier said than done, believe me I know, but it will make you a better angler and certainly a better guide if you get to know the whole river.

Stop by the shop or give us a call for up-to-the-minute reports and conditions. Open at 7:00 am daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs including lodging, RO drift boat rentals, fishing licenses, shuttles and of course, the widely publicized largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana as recently reported in major newspapers across the state.

 

 

 

Missouri River Memorial Day Fishing Report

Guest Blog from WCA Guide Jim Murray

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The big boys are out in full force on the Missouri as May turns to June. Reports of large fish being caught from the Dam to Cascade are becoming the norm. The fish are big, fat and happy. The much needed precipitation we’ve gotten over the last week has caused some fluctuation with the flows and a water temp, which has led to some inconsistent fishing depending on the days, but overall reports have been good to great. Pressure on the river is definitely increasing as well, as the season is kicking into high gear, which means you may have to kick your game up a notch or two to continue to get it done out there. Paying close attention to your presentation, whether nymphing or throwing dries, is becoming even more crucial, as fish are starting to see A LOT of flies. Anglers that continue to get good drifts, in the right zone, continue to have success.

The canyon continues to fish well, and I have been spending a lot of time down there, while many of my guide buddies continue to put great days together while fishing between Wolf Creek and Spite Hill. With these water fluctuations and wet weather, the worm has been a consistent producer, along with your mayfly nymph of choice. On Saturday, bugs were EVERYWHERE on the water, and the fish responded. I’ve noticed that I’ve had more success with “bigger” mayfly nymphs (size 16 vs. 18 or 20), as the fish are starting to see PMD nymphs. I’ve had mixed success fishing caddis nymphs, some days the fish seem to really key in on them, others, not so much. It’s only a matter of time (days?) until the caddis becomes a consistent producer out here.

The dry fly bite has been great, with reports of blind casting dries such as an Adams or Caddis producing fish. Finding pods of rising fish is becoming easier and easier, and the fish, while not as gullible as they were maybe a month ago, are still willing to eat a properly presented dry fly. Again, a good presentation is absolutely crucial. Those that practice this catch fish, those that don’t, well, don’t.

All in all, the Missouri is fishing great right now, and the fish are big and fat! The season is kicking into high gear, and we can’t wait. It’s going to be a great summer on the Mo!

Soiree Time at WCA

We are ready for the Inaugural Dub C A Soiree

We are ready for the Inaugural Dub C A Soiree

All kinds of cool logo gear available now at WCA

All kinds of cool logo gear available now at WCA

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We’re one day away from the Inaugural Wolf Creek Angler Missouri River Soiree happening tomorrow, May 23rd.

It’s the Grand Opening we never had last season and what we hope will become an annual event held on Memorial Day weekend at WCA  to kick off the summer season on the Missouri. If you haven’t been to our shop yet we hope you come by and check it out.

15% off of all merchandise all day in the shop tomorrow. Flies from MFC and Umpqua; Rods from St Croix and Echo; Ross, Echo and Nautilus reels; extreme fishing gear from Kast; wading gear from Redington; logo wear from Simms; Smith sunglasses; Yeti coolers and tumblers;packs from Fishpond and Umpqua; Rio and Airflo fly lines and all kinds of cool gadgets and accessories and much much more.

We’re stocked up on Hydro Flask coffee flasks, water bottles and beer growlers as well and we’re proud to announce that we’re partnering with Blackfoot River Brewing Company in Helena to bring you your first growler fill on us. Purchase a growler and we’ll give you three Blackfoot tokens good for a growler fill at the tap room. 15% off the cost of the growler with a free fill – you can’t afford to pass this deal up.

Looking for a great gift idea? How about a River Series handcrafted wood fly box from A.L. Swanson Craftsman Studios in Helena or choose from a great selection of Montana fly fishing books. We’ve also got gift cards available good for anything we sell.

It’s going to be a great day as we celebrate the unofficial start of the summer season. We invite you to stop in on your way to the river to take advantage of  the great deals and return after your day on the water for a free barbecue and music from Helena’s Sleeping Giants starting at 5 pm in our front parking lot. Bring a friend or three and help us kick off the season. We’ve got a couple of rooms left for tomorrow night – make one of them yours today.

See you at the Soiree!

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Missouri River Fishing Report 5/21/15

Hot fishing on cold rainy days on the MO.

Hot fishing on cold rainy days on the MO.

Last weekend’s Montana Monsoon rains which lasted into the early part of the week changed things up a bit bumping Missouri flows up over 4,000 for a couple of days, greening up the countryside and coloring the water up below Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn.
The streamer guys took advantage of the situation both on the MO and the creeks and the worm ruled for a short time as the mud dumped. We had a couple of outstanding bwo events on those cold rainy days despite the persistent north northeast winds which made things a little on the unpleasant side out there. All in all however, the cold wet weather made for some great fishing all the way around.
Yesterday the sunshine and blue skies returned and the action slowed a bit as the river cleared and the flows returned to sub 4K. Reports were mixed but overall it was on the slow side yesterday from top to bottom.
Tailwater sows were our ticket on Monday and Tuesday on the upper stretch but that all changed yesterday as we worked hard to find something they would eat with some consistnecy. It was one of those days constantly changing bugs and changing depths and failing to really find a consistent rig. There were some reports of the worm continuing to work below the Dearborn but we ran a wire worm of sorts for the better part of the day in the Wolf Creek to Stickney stretch and failed to get an eat. Little Green Machines, Peep Shows and the PMD Magic Fly were our best bugs of the day in slower, moderate depth water, usually working inside out and running the drop-offs.
The streamer bite was fair yesterday despite the bright sun with Coffey’s Sculpin Sparkle Minnow and the Circus Peanut getting some attention. Dry fly activity was spotty yesterday though there were a couple of spots with substantial pod activity between Craig and Stickney and it appeared as though an evening outing would have been quite productive judging by the diminished winds and the fish we saw up as we drove along the river back to Wolf Creek.
We’ve got another blue sky day with a slight chance of rain this afternoon with more of the same for tomorrow. We’ve got limited lodging available for the weekend and guides available anytime. Give us a call at the shop for up-to-the-minute river and weather conditions and stop by on your way to the river for bugs, shuttles, boats and everything you need for your day on the water. Don’t forget the DUB C A Soiree happening all day on Saturday with 15% off everything store wide except shuttles. Free barbeque beginning at 5 pm with music from Helena’s Sleeping Giants weather permitting.
See you at Wolf Creek Angler!

Our first day of outfitting on the Blackfoot with WCA guide Ryan Stultz

Our first day of outfitting on the Blackfoot with WCA guide Ryan Stultz

Opening Day

Small Water Fishing in Montana

Small Water Fishing in Montana

Today is the general fishing opener for Montana creeks and streams and while the much needed precipitation we’re getting this weekend may have put a damper on fishing plans for many, the general opener is not unlike Christmas morning for those of us who love to tromp around the wilds of Montana on warm spring and summer days in search secret waters.
This is the time of year we love to grab the gazateer and the bear spray and set off for small water, sometimes to familiar haunts, other times to places we’ve never been.
We love our Missouri and we wouldn’t trade it for the world but there is just something about the solitude and the intimacy of small stream fishing that you can’t get on the big water. The interaction with the environment, the wildlife encounters and of course watching cutthroats inhale big dry flies on tiny streams is an intoxicating change of pace from the summer crowds and the row-arounds on the Missouri.
Do yourself a favor and go fish the creeks a time or two this season, it’s good for the soul and you’ll be glad you did.

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Small water does not necessarily mean small streamers or small fish!

Small water does not necessarily mean small streamers or small fish!

By |2016-10-25T16:15:53-06:00May 16th, 2015|Categories: Montana Fly Fishing, Uncategorized|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Come see what’s new at Wolf Creek Angler

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As we move into the heart of the spring season we’ve got a shop full of gear and more arriving daily. Do yourself a favor and stop by and find out what the buzz is about at Wolf Creek Angler.
We’ve got a case full of new reels from Ross and Nautilus, racks full of awesome gear from KAST and Redington and all kinds of cool Simms WCA logo wear. Plenty of rods from Echo and St Croix including the High Stick Drifter and the Bank Robber – both available to demo. Give a call and reserve one today. If you fish it and you like it and you decide to purchase one we’ll knock the rental fee off of the purchase price.
Fishpond Nomad net restock underway. Smith optics, Yeti coolers, an awesome selection of fly lines from Rio and Airflo, all kinds of indicators including Strike Foundry and Air-Lock, leaders and tippet from Trout Hunter and Rio and all the tools and accessories you need for Missouri River Fly Fishing success along with the largest selection (and growing larger by the day) of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. These are high quality bugs from the likes of Montana Fly Company, Umpqua, Yellowstone Fly Goods and Solitude….the real deal, not the knock-offs.
A top notch guide crew, comfortable and affordable dog-friendly lodging, shuttle service, RO drift boat rentals and a humble and helpful staff anxious to be a part of your Montana fly fishing adventure make us a great choice. All just minutes from Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge…nobody’s closer!
Open daily at 7 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

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