nymphs Archives - Wolf Creek Angler

It’s Time to Bring Order to the Chaos

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We’re not sure what to make of this “winter” but regardless of what weather we get or don’t get over the next two months, one thing is for sure, the spring fishing season is rapidly approaching, and this is the time to start sorting your gear as you prepare of the 2026 campaign.

For me, the usual routine involves being inside where it’s warm, watching the snow fly outside where it’s frigid, while emptying out my gear bags and fly pucks and trying to restore some order to the chaos generated over months of chasing trout in Montana. This routine often involves sipping a tasty beverage or two while contemplating the season ahead.

It’s a little different this year. I’ve spent plenty of time being inside where it’s warm but rare have been the days of flying snow or frigid cold outside my cozy confines and while there have been plenty of tasty beverages consumed, I just can’t seem to get motivated to tackle the task at hand. I’ve been waiting for that stretch of snowy days where there is nowhere to go and nothing to do but start sorting flies and gear. Now February is knocking and as has been the case all winter long, the weather says go fishing. There’s no reason not to, other than the fact that the chaos in the gear bags and in the back of the rig hasn’t been addressed since fall and is in desperate need of attention.

In my defense, my fishing rig (and everything in it) has been out of my possession since Thanksgiving, thanks to an unfortunate run in with a deer, so I really couldn’t get going on this project even if I wanted to, but supposedly I’ll have my rig back sometime this week and then I’ll have no excuses! Snow or no snow – it’s time to do the work!

For me, the brunt of “the work” is fly inventory and organization. Every season I swear off the fly puck system (which is chaos defined) and tell myself I’m going to keep my flies in my fly boxes where they will be organized and easy to access. No more will I dig through puck after puck in my boat storage box, looking for that puck of flies I just grabbed from the shop prior to the outing. No more will I sift through spool after spool of tippet looking for that fresh guide spool of 4X I just bought.

A place for everything and everything in its place! It would make things so much easier and would substantially cut down on fly purchases because I would always know exactly what I have and exactly what I need.

It all begins to come into focus as each puck is emptied and the flies are placed in the proper slot in the proper box with the boxes stowed in the proper bags, arranged in seasonal order and further organized according to hatches.

Boxes upon boxes of nymphs, dry flies and streamers…. each exactly where they belong. Old tippet spools tossed, fresh spools organized and accessible, empty leader packages in the garbage where they belong and all those fat used leaders coiled and stashed for future use (I’ll save this for hopper season) GONE.

A well-organized boat bag full of well-organized boxes in the well-organized storage area of a clean and orderly rig. Boat storage absent of clutter and ready for the season ahead.

Order emerges from the chaos, and the experience of that order is nothing short of bliss but alas, chaos will not be denied but will in fact return with a vengeance, soon overtaking your next season on the water.

It’s a battle we all fight and the struggle is real and I’m here to tell you (and to convince myself) that restoration of order must commence. The time is now!

Just a heads up, we are well stocked with boat bags and fly boxes and everything you need to bring order to your chaos to start the 2026 season out right and if you’re emptying pucks we’re happy to put them back into circulation, regardless of what shop logo is on them.

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By Jason Orzechowski|2026-01-28T16:56:04-07:00January 28th, 2026|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: chaos, leaders, Montana, nymphs, order, running line, streamers, tippet spools, winter, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

January Thaw?

Back in the day we would call this a January Thaw. This winter we’ll just call it more of the same.

Seemingly since November the forecast, with very few exceptions, has called for partly cloudy skies and highs somewhere in the 40 – 50-degree range, often with winds of 10 – 20 mph.
We did have a fair amount of precipitation in December with a couple of dustings of snow, but most was in the form of rain. The data proclaims good snowpack in the high country but from where we sit, far from those high-country peaks, the landscape is completely void of snow.

According to NRCS data, all river basins in the state received between 170% and 300% of the 20-year median precipitation for December. In the lower elevations that came in the form of rain which melted any existing snow, but the hope going forward is that mountain snowpack will continue to build and hopefully at some point we will get some winter weather and see snow at mid and lower elevations.

Snowpack in most areas tends to peak in mid to late April.

For the time being its Forever November here in Mid-January on the Missouri.

What does it all mean?

Again, the data indicates that we are in good shape with much of the region sitting at well over 100 percent of average snowpack so we’re holding out hope that our drought-stricken state will see some relief in 2026. Fingers crossed, praying for snow.

In the meantime, it’s not all doom and gloom. Why not take advantage of the situation and get out and fish?

Temps near 60 tomorrow, closer to 50 through the weekend. The wind forecast even looks good with breezy conditions tomorrow but things settling down for Thursday and Friday into the weekend. 50 degrees and calm in the middle of January is almost unheard of.

Rooms have started to book up for the weekend, but we do still have a couple of vacancies and don’t forget our Winter Guide Trip and Lodging Special….2 nights of premium lodging and a full day guide trip for one or two anglers for just $850.

Winter nymph and streamer bins are fully stocked, and I suspect there may even be some decent dry fly opportunities if you want to stock up on midges.

Shop Hours Tuesday – Saturday 8 AM – 4 PM. Closed Sunday and Monday but always open for lodging and guide trips.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-01-13T13:04:58-07:00January 13th, 2026|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, nymphs, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

February Delivers Winter to the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

February continues to deliver some much needed winter weather.

The snow is piling up in the high country but we’ve still got a long ways to go. Snowpack is improving slowly but surely and while I’m tempted to curse the weather while I’m digging out my driveway in the pre-dawn hours, so far I’ve resisted that urge and powered through it, thankful we are getting exactly what we need.

This latest round of precipitation is being accompanied by a blast of cold arctic air which has us in the teens today with single digits on tap overnight. Friday will see an end to the snow but continued cold with a high of 20 and overnight low near 5 degrees. Things start to warm up on Saturday with a high near 37 and Sunday we’re back up near 40’s and bumping up against 50 again on Monday.

Friday fishing will be on the chilly side but the holiday weekend and into next week could be exceptional with those daytime temps in the low 40’s and an abundance of sunshine making for some ideal February conditions on the MO.

Expect plenty of top water action with winter midge madness underway. Pair a #18 Bucky’s Midge Cluster with a #18 or #20 Black Midge and feed those steady risers.

The nymphing action should be good as well with no real changes on the bug front. Pill Poppers, Bubble Yums, Rainbow Czechs, Amex, Weight Flies paired with Tailwater Sows, Soft hackle sows, Zebra midges, Pederson’s Sow, Radiation Baetis, Pink Lighting bugs or really any other of your go to winter offerings.

Target the slow, deep winter water and run as close to the bottom as practical but don’t get stuck on that. Especially on the sunny days when the sun is warming the water up a tick or two, don’t be afraid to target the moderately faster runs. Shorten up your rig accordingly and see what happens. You might be surprised.

Streamer action should be good as well, primarily working the slower tail outs and deep, slow buckets with a combination swing and super slow and long strip. But again, don’t get stuck on that. Bomb the banks, switch up your bugs, switch up your retrieve. You might find an aggressive retrieve off the bank to be effective, it all depends on the day.

The established winter techniques are a great starting point but the fish don’t always follow the script. Break those winter rules and see what happens.

The shop will be closed for the weekend as we make the trek up to Calgary for a long overdue return to a Wings/Flames game on Saturday but we do have lodging available for the holiday weekend and beyond.

We’ll be back in the shop on Monday for the big President’s Day rush which could well end up with getting out on the water ourselves for an afternoon outing.

Let’s hope the snow continues to pile up throughout the second half of February. Spring is just 33 days away and will be here before we know it.

By Jason Orzechowski|2024-02-15T12:43:25-07:00February 15th, 2024|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, nymphs, pill popper, running line, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Winter Solitude on the MO’

It’s been one of the windiest Decembers I can recall, so much so that I arrived this morning to once again find our rental boats blown from their parking spots into the yard, a good 20 – 30 feet away. This is the third time this has happened in the last few weeks. It certainly didn’t happen at all during the season and I don’t recall it happening at all last fall/winter. Suffice it to say it’s been windy.

Howling winds have kept river traffic to a minimum though there’s usually at least one or two hard core anglers out there regardless.

Conditions seem ideal this morning with cloudy skies, 38 degrees, no wind and an occasional light snow falling. It’s perhaps the fishiest day we’ve seen this month but thus far I’ve not seen a race to get to the river.

If you’ve had the itch to get out there but have been kept away by the winds, today might be the day. In fact, the week ahead looks favorable with similar conditions tomorrow followed by colder air arriving later in the week. A few snow showers predicted today, tomorrow and again on Thursday and temps dipping down into single digits Thursday night before things return to somewhat average seasonal conditions for the weekend…the last weekend before Christmas if you’re counting.

Water temps have been steadily dropping and are currently holding at around 40 degrees while flows remain low, currently at 2840 CFS. Snow pack is starting to accumulate, slowly but surely.

Hopefully we’ll soon start to see some substantial precipitation in the high country, our 2022 season depends on it!

With the aforementioned wind seemingly always present along with now having an 8 week old puppy to tend to, I haven’t been on the water for a while though plans are in place for our Annual Staff Christmas Float next week, hopefully the weather will cooperate. In the meantime however, while I don’t have an up to the minute fishing report, I can tell you that current conditions point towards classic winter nymphing techniques coming into play.

Colder water temps have undoubtedly spurred migration into the deep, slow winter waters. Go deep (5’ – 6’ from indicator to weight and adjust accordingly). It’s time to break out the winter nymph box – think pink! Pill Poppers, Pink Amex, Rainbow Czech, Pink Weight Fly, Bubble Yum Scud, Caviar Scud, Pederson’s Sow etc in the lead followed by Tailwater Sows, Pink Lightning Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Soft Hackle Sows, UV Yum Yums, Lucent Bead Pink Ray Charles, Radiation Baetis in Pink and don’t overlook a standard Black Zebra Midge. The bugs are generally not the challenging part of the equation. It’s finding where in the water column they’re at (aim deep) and putting your flies directly in front of them. Cold water means conserving energy is critical so they aren’t going to move far for a meal.

All that being said, the 2 Handers will continue to ply the faster tail outs all winter long and will entice fish to move on a well swung leech (buggers, fruit rollups, polar leeches, balanced leeches etc)

Likewise, cold water be damned, the strippers will persist in targeting subsurface structure as well as seeking those occasional rogue fish hanging in the shallows, near the drop offs close to the bank. It’s time to load up that heavy sink streamer tip and get down. Don’t ignore the sexy water off the banks, there may be fish there, but you’ll also want to get down deep with a SLOOOW a retrieve and plenty of pauses. The slow retrieve is critical…the bugs not so much. Winter may not be prime streamer time but we’ve dredged up plenty of BIG FISH on days the water temps were in the mid to high 30’s with the air temps bordering on too cold to be out there.

The online store has been busy these past couple of weeks with folks loading up on gift cards and WCA apparel for Christmas giving. Our fall rod/reel sale will run through the end of the year and we’ve got clearance pricing on select items from Simms including G3 waders and boots.

Lodging and guide trips available ALL WINTER LONG.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-12-13T11:38:03-07:00December 13th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Christmas, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, nymphs, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

September Stride

Halfway through September and about a week away from the official first day of fall and we’ve hit our September Stride.

The late summer lull is over and we’re back to bustling mornings at the shop getting trips out the door and making certain all of our guests and clients have everything they need for their day on the water.

The morning and evening chill has arrived and with cooler daytime temps settling in it’s probably about time to put away those shorts and flip flops. Not quite wader weather just yet but it’s coming soon, possibly as soon as this weekend. Hot temps and high winds on Saturday followed by cooler weather and rain on Sunday and Monday with highs in the 60’s and 50’s respectively. Classic autumn days on tap after that with blue skies and sunshine and highs in the 60’s with overnight lows in the high 30’s/low 40’s.

The colors are rapidly changing, the weather is cooling, the fishing is heating up…you really can’t beat autumn fishing on the Missouri.

Nymphing is the go to river wide with most traffic occupying the upper reaches from the dam to Craig. Zebra Midges are the ticket, #18 or #20 in black, olive or purple. Pair it with a weight fly, a Tungsten Tailwater Sow, a Peep Show, any old tungsten bead Pheasant Tail or go with the Double Deadly Double Zebra rig.

Most are running short, some with weight some without. All are keying on the fast moving, choppy water in the 1’ – 3’ range. Crayfish have dropped off but still worth a trial run. If it doesn’t produce relatively quickly, ditch it. It ain’t happening.

Hoppers are hanging on. Maybe the fish have had their fill. It might be worth a try with a Zebra or Green Machine dropper but like the crayfish trial, probably best to not spend a whole lot of time on it if you don’t see something happen in relatively short order. The better bet for your dry selection might be an October Caddis.

Streamers are En Vogue and are worth your time. Weeds will test your patience but the risk/reward ratio favors persistence. And while I’ve advised abandoning crayfish and hoppers if they don’t produce in short order the same does not hold true where streamers are concerned. Stick with it…you’ll be glad you did. Buggers, Clousers, Sparkle Minnows, Circus Peanuts, Dungeons, Dirty Hippies, Swim Coach, Peanut Envy, Autumn Splendor, Lil’ Kims, Inflated Egos and anything and everything else you might want to throw at them. Black, Olive, Brown, Natural, White all fine choices. JJ or Brownie Sparkle Minnows can be $$ on any given day.

River flows are flat-lined at 3100 and change with temps holding in the low 60’s with no big changes on the horizon.

See us at 7 AM daily for shuttles, Adipose boat rentals, the best bug selection on the Missouri, hats, gloves, socks, sun protection, waders and boots, outerwear, layering….and much more. And speaking of waders – get your Simms G3 Waders for 30% off in-store and online, while they last.

Lodging available most nights, guides as busy as they can be with September as close to completely booked as we’ve ever seen. Always worth a call but probably best to look to October if you want to get a day booked this fall.

See you soon for autumn fishing on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-16T20:14:23-06:00September 16th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Craig MT, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, nymphs, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

March means midge madness on the MO photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The weather is on the chilly side this weekend with a chance for some snow tonight and into tomorrow and Monday but the river is in good shape with flows holding just shy of 3500 cfs with water temps in that 35-36 degree range.

We’ll see that west wind pick up throughout the day today but we’re definitely looking at fishable conditions with highs near 30 today and tomorrow.

We saw some decent midge action earlier this week so keep an eye out for that. Look for the calm water in areas protected from the wind and have your midge rig at the ready. Some of our go-to midge patterns are Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Black Sipper midges, Adams Midge, Grizzly Midge Clusters and the tried and true Griffiths Gnat. I like a Hi Vis Parachute Adams paired with a Bucky’s Midge Cluster.

We are well-stocked with all of these patterns and many more. We are your source for midges on the MO’!

Nymphing remains your best shot at putting a bend in the rod with bug selection remaining status quo though I would definitely think about adding a black or red zebra midge into the mix. A #12 Tungsten Rainbow Czech with a gold bead trailed with a #18 black zebra could be the ticket but don’t turn your back on the pink stuff or the firebeads, it’s just been a little hit and miss as of late.

We recommend continuing to concentrate your efforts on the slow winter water but there are definitely fish being picked up in more transitional water (slightly faster, 4′ range) so don’t overlook those runs. The winter runs will produce but it’s time to start thinking outside of that box on occasion just to see.

It won’t be long before we’ll be trading in the nymph rigs for streamer rigs. Many have been sticking to swinging all winter long and while the swing is still the way to go, hitting the banks with a slow retrieve has been somewhat effective as well and will continue to improve as those water temps start to increase, hopefully soon. It is true that with the water being as cold as it is the fish will continue to be on the lethargic side but a well-placed streamer can change all that as instinct (and hunger) kick in and lethargy turns to aggression. Stick to the smaller patterns (buggers, clousers, leeches) for now and experiment with your retrieve. We like to combine the swing with a slow strip and plenty of pauses.

You’ll likely have more action with your nymph rig but you can’t beat that streamer tug.

Stop by the shop and check out what some consider to be the best streamer selection in the canyon.

We’ve got plenty of lodging available for the weekend and next week is wide open. I’m still seeing a good number of rigs headed to the lake but it seems we’re definitely on the waning side of Holter Lake ice action which means we’re anxious for the next warming trend and the business it will bring. By the looks of things it appears as though we’ll see those 40 degree temps return mid to late week next week.

Remember we’re offering the best deal on the river this winter with two nights of lodging and a full day guide trip for just $500 and NO CANCELLATION FEES. Don’t miss out. Book your trip with us today.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-09-21T19:01:45-06:00February 25th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, nymphs, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

End of the Week Fishing Report: Better Redd than Dead Edition.

Just to clarify for all the baby boomers out there, no this post will not be addressing the merits of Communism. A Commi is a Red and a trout spawning is a Redd, got it? With the official first day of spring just around the corner it’s the time of year our resident trout make their way from the slower, deeper water into shallower, quicker water, side channels and tributaries to procreate. I won’t bore you with the full biological breakdown of the process, instead just a few basics of what to look out for so you can try and avoid the egg piles.

Photo courtesy of MT FWP

Like I said, when trout are spawning they like shallow, gravel bottomed areas with a decent current moving over them. Before the females lay their eggs they’ll use their bellies to create somewhat of a shallow bowl in the gravel, clear of aquatic vegetation and silt. This nest is what makes the egg piles visible to us and where the eggs will lay for a period of a few months before they hatch. Eggs aren’t usually visible on the gravel because after they’re fertilized the Hen (female) will move upstream of the pile and toss gravel into the current to cover them, protecting the eggs from predators. At this point fish are particularly vulnerable to other creatures higher on the food chain, including us.

At this point I could hop on my soapbox and tell you all how, unethical, unsportsmanlike and down right disrespectful fishing these egg piles is; but I won’t. Suffice it to say that if you are intentionally fishing redds, your actions are having a huge negative impact on everybody’s fishery. On to the fishing report….

Fishing on the MO has been pretty killer lately. Lots of good reports from all disciplines on the fly. The surface game has been hit or miss depending on wind and time of day. Midges are still the name of the game for a few more weeks until B.W.Os start making their ever so welcome appearance. Nymping has still been the most productive means to get fish to the net. Typical winter/spring fare still at the top of the menu for the time being. Along with the spawn comes the hot-bead hatch; smaller sizes like a 16-14 have been doing well in a variety of flavors. Matched with a larger lead fly like a 10-12 in a czech, sow-bug imitation has been a solid double set up for the past few days. As water temps have been increasing the streamer bite has picked up quite a bit as well. With fish more willing to chase down some bigger morsels after their cold water inebriation I’ve focused a lot of my time attention here for a few reasons. 1) I usually equate bigger flies with bigger fish, 2) The eats are usually explosive and 3) It’s a nice change of pace from following a bobber all winter. Been getting most of my hookups either right off the bank on the strip or dredging it through drop offs and seams. Whatever way you decide to get fishy this weekend make sure to swing by and check out the greatest fly selection in Wolf Creek, here are my humble fly suggestions to get you going for the start of spring…

Dries: Q’s Peacock Cluster, Griffiths Gnat, Hi-Vis Midge, Hanging Midge & Midge Emerger.

Nymphs: Pinkalicious, Amex, Rainbow Czech, Hot-Head Sow, Tailwaters Sow, Granatos Snack-Nasty-Sow & Zebras

Streamers: Polar Leeches, Hot-Head Buggers, Skiddish Smolt, Micro-Suckers, ZK’s Ragnar & Boufaces’

~Cheers, Chewy.

By Zach King|2016-10-25T16:15:38-06:00March 18th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing|Tags: fly fishing, midges, Montana, nymphs, spring fishing, streamers, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Enjoying a brief January Thaw on the Missouri – Photo by Wolf Creek Angler

It’s been a nice couple of days here on the Missouri by January standards and the river has been predictably busier with people taking advantage of warmer temps, calm winds and sunshine.

Cold and snow return tomorrow. Highs in the teens and night-time lows in the single or negative digits through the weekend with an 80% chance of snow tomorrow and a good chance of snow each day through Saturday. Sunday looks to be mostly sunny and cold and it looks like things warm up heading into next week.

I couldn’t resist the pull yesterday. Having not been out for quite a while it was a great day to do the Wolf Creek to Craig float and hit all the reliable winter runs.

No big changes to report. Slow water, anything pink and firebeads! Pink Amex, firebead pink soft hackle sow and pink lightning bugs all drew a favorable response.

There were quite a few midges on the water yesterday though I only saw a couple of sporadic rises but it won’t be long before there are swarms of midges and fish keying on them so it’s never a bad idea to have your dry-fly rig at the ready.

Only one other boat out there yesterday but plenty of wade anglers around. I like to float if I have time just so I can quickly get from spot to spot. If there is someone fishing the spot I want to fish I just float on past to the next one. The drawback of course is that you are committed and even on the nicer days like we’ve been having, once that sun goes away it gets cold quickly. Even so – if I have the time I would almost always rather float than do the walk/wade thing on the Missouri. The right cold weather clothing, a thermos of coffee, a thermos of hot soup and in extreme cases a propane heater or two go a long way in making your winter float an enjoyable experience.

If you haven’t experienced winter fishing on the MO you really should. We’ve got all the cold weather gear and all the winter nymphs and streamers you need and we’re more than happy to tell you exactly where to go to find the fish.

Keep your eye on the weather and do it yourself or book a $400 full day float trip some time this winter. Dress appropriately and leave the hot soup, hot coffee and heaters to us. Better yet, book a cozy bungalow for $99 and do a day with a guide and a day or two on your own.

Our bungalows are fully equipped with kitchens so you can cook your own meals. If you prefer to eat out, The Oasis is currently serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Thursday – Monday from 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM.

Don’t miss a great opportunity to experience winter solitude on the Missouri.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:41-06:00January 6th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, nymphs, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Fall in Wolf Creek Montana

Some good days, some great days, some not so good days this past week as fall fishing continues to ramp up on the Missouri.

Nymphing is still the go-to for numbers but there’s enough happening on top between Trico hold overs, Pseudos, terrestrials, the occasional caddis and the promise of baetis to keep the DFO’s interested. Sub surface options remain somewhat status quo with black Zebras leading the charge followed by Grey LGM’s, Red 2 Bits, Micromays, Psychomays, Purple Weight Flies, Hot Belly and standard PT’s, Grey WD-40’s, Purple Lightning Bugs, BWO Magic Flies and a host of other baetis-themed bugs.

Streamers? Not on fire by any means but definitely worth your time. Stop by the shop and check out our ever-expanding streamer selection which is definitely starting to get noticed. We love the streamer game and we understand the addiction. Get your fix at WCA. Demo a St Croix Bank Robber designed by streamer legend Kelly Galloup. You might just get hooked!

The leaves aren’t the only colors of fall. The brown trout are colored up in spawning splendor this time of year and we’ve been catching some great ones this week.

It’s nice to have the shop abuzz with activity again in the mornings as we get the trips out the door each day and get you set up with everything you need for your day on the water.

Afternoons have been spent meeting with reps and looking at new products as we put together our plans for next season and work on getting those pre-season orders written. Can it really be that time again already

We’re really excited to see all the new products being offered for next season and as always we’re working hard to bring you the products you want from the brands you love as we continue to try to earn your business and become your Missouri River fly shop and guide service of choice. Expect big things from Wolf Creek Angler and rest assured that we will always be doing everything we can to meet your expectations.

Lodging vacancies have been hard to come by for the past couple of weeks and will continue to be a challenge as we head into October. Things start to open up towards the end of October but if the fishing is half as good as we anticipate in the weeks to come we will remain fairly full right on into November. Don’t hesitate to book your mid to late October lodging and guide trips – they’re going quickly!

Speaking of late fall – remember we’re open all year so keep us in mind when you are making your late fall/winter fishing plans. Once things start to shut down in Craig later in the fall Wolf Creek becomes the place to be with lodging, dining, gas, groceries and of course the best fly shop ever to call Wolf Creek Montana home. Look no further than Wolf Creek Angler for your late season Missouri River fly fishing needs. We’ve got everything you need and we’re closer to Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge than anyone.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 26th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, Craig MT, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, nymphs, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Big Fish – Small Bug, Zebra Midge days on the MO. Photo by Rudy Malmquist

Fishing is heating up as we settle into our post-summer routine here on the Missouri.

Cooler temperatures this week and good reports from all stretches including some near-epic nymphing days from the dam down and some good dry-fly action river wide.

There are still tricos to be found in the upper stretches, depending on the day and while it’s definitely worth your time to target those fish keying on the trico spinners make sure to bring your A game. These fish have seen it all this season and they won’t tolerate any angler error.

The more forgiving option on top is definitely the terrestrial route. More-or-less and Moorish hoppers in tan or pink, chubbys in purple, tan or gold, sparkle ants, parachute ants and the occasional beetle have all been getting some attention. Try trailing a hopper with an ant or beetle and see what happens. The terrestrial rigs have been a little slow the past couple of days but we’re getting plenty of eats on nymph droppers. Some prefer to stick with the indicator rig, figuring two nymphs are better than one but we would much rather watch a hopper than a bobber even when the fish are completely ignoring the hoppers. You just never know when you might put that hopper over that 2′ brown and get the eat. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Go-to nymphs for us this week have been black zebras, Rainbow Czechs, Tung Darts, Weight Flies, Peep Shows, 2 Bit Hookers in red, Rainbow Warriors, PT’s, LGM’s, Red Headed Step Child, Claws R Cray, Snapping Cray, Chocolate or Olive WD40’s and various other mayfly nymphs.

September can also be a great month for streamers on the Missouri. Cooler days and overcast skies are the ticket…..bring on the streamer weather! Circus Peanuts, Sparkle Minnows, Polar Leeches, Pine Squirrel Leeches and various buggers should all be a part of your Missouri River streamer arsenal. Stop by the shop and stock up and while you’re at it why not take a St Croix Bank Robber out for a test drive. We’d love to get you set up with everything you need for fall streamer fishing.

Lodging is filling quickly for the next six weeks of autumn awesomeness and our guides are starting to get busy again so don’t miss out on one of our favorite times of the year on the MO.

Long nights, cool mornings, the smell of autumn in the air….Montana fall Fly Fishing at its finest!

Shop open daily at 6:30 AM (earlier than ALL THE REST) for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. Shuttles, bugs, bobbers, lines, leaders, gloves, hats, sun protection, waders, boots and much more including coffee on the house and the most laid-back and friendly atmosphere you’ll find in any shop anywhere.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:46-06:00September 9th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, indicator, Missouri River, nymphs, Two Bit Hooker, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

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