nymphs

Weekend Report

Stormy weather on tap for this weekend. Streamer fishing anyone?

Showers and thunderstorms on tap for this weekend. Missouri River flow currently at 11,100 cfs. Anglers from around the state have descended upon Wolf Creek and Craig in search of fishable water and we’re happy to report that we have plenty of it. Fishing has been good all week but has slowed a bit with the bump in flows yesterday and today. Nymphing is still the way to go with Hotbead Wire Worms and Sow Bugs leading the charge – especially with the bigger flows. A couple of bb’s and a 6′ – 8′ leash from indy to lead should get you started. Fish the spots you know and adjust accordingly. Other bugs of choice this week have been Green Machines (Back in Stock at Wolf Creek Angler), Bubbleback emergers, dark Peep Shows, Rainbow Czechs, soft hackle sows, Tungsten tailwater sows, Tung Darts, Weight Flies in Gold and Purple and the Blue Faerie Circus in #18. It could be a worm game for a while with the higher flows. We’ve got plenty of worms in the bins though we’ve all but sold out of the hotbead wireworms. More on the way. Streamer fishing could be the way to go this weekend with cloudy skies and rain. We haven’t heard an abundance of reports on this front but we did manage to steal away for a few hours yesterday afternoon to give it a go in the canyon and it was surprisingly productive considering the blue skies and bright sun we had all day. Nothing much to report as far as dry fly action as of yet. Evenings have offered the best opportunities but for the time being it’s still primarily a sub-surface game.

A few vacancies for tonight and Sunday but for the most part the Inn is Full! Monday things open up but we’re rapidly filling up starting Tuesday and running through the remainder of the week. If you’re thinking of coming to Wolf Creek this week and you’re planning on having a place to stay we suggest you call sooner rather than later. Stop by the shop for bugs and shuttles and anything else you might need for your day on the water. RO Drift boats available for rent for $150. At 11,000 cfs we suggest you fish from a boat and we’d love to help you out with that. As long as you’re going to fish from a boat you may as well hire us to take you fishing. Expert guides standing by – ready to work.

Have a great Missouri River weekend. See you in the shop and on the water. ~ Jason O.

Missouri River Rainbow
photo courtesy of Ryan Casne

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:08-06:00May 30th, 2014|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing|Tags: Craig MT, fly fishing, green machine, Montana, nymphs, RO Drift Boats, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

Wolf Creek Sunrise

We opened the doors a month ago and the response has been overwhelmingly positive as the sun rises on our inaugural season. We couldn’t be more pleased with the way things have gone thus far and we are anticipating a busy season ahead at Wolf Creek Angler.

We are fully operational now with all of our lodging units open, a fleet of RO drift boats for rent and a fully stocked shop with everything you need for fly fishing success on the Missouri. With the secret out about our great guide lodging rates we’ve had plenty of guide traffic as the Missoula, Bozeman and Kalispell crews seek fishable water. We are anticipating much more of this as the weather warms and waters around the state continue to rise. Give us a call to book rooms for your clients and your guides. We are truly one-stop shopping with affordable on-site lodging, a great selection of bugs and gear, shuttle service and much more. With the Oasis, the Frenchman and the Canyon Store just down the road you’ve got everything you need right here in Wolf Creek Montana where you are just minutes from the dam and Wolf Creek Bridge launches.

A moderately busy April has given us a chance to ease into this business of running a fly shop, guide service and lodging operation. Now it’s game time. The crowds will soon descend upon the Missouri in search of insane fishing opportunities and we will be here to do whatever we can to make your trip a success and an experience you won’t soon forget.

The hot topic has of course been the water level and at what flow and for how long it will peak. Flows were increased a couple of weeks ago to around 8500 and have held relatively stable since then with minor fluctuations daily. There have been a couple of tough days out there during this time but there have been more than a couple of off-the-charts days as well so we will take it.

The question remains – where will the flows peak and the answer remains we simply don’t know. There have been plenty of reports out there discussing the topic in detail and these reports are very informative but the bottom line is that we just can’t say. There are simply too many variables, the main one being rainfall amounts. The official word though is that things will max out somewhere between 8500 and 12500. We shall see. From our perspective the river is best fished from a boat right now but that being said, we’ve had plenty of walk/wade traffic as well and it seems that people are getting it figured out. Either way, we’ve got you covered with rental boats, wading gear, shuttles, bugs and anything you might need for your day on the Missouri.

Holter Dam – March 1918

2014 – 8500 CFS. So Far So Good

What we do know is that the Dearborn and the Little Prickly Pear jumped to 875 and 344 respectively overnight following a couple of warm sunny days bringing the Missouri up to the 10000 cfs vicinity down low. What we also know is that it’s fishing just fine, at least from the reports we heard this morning from the pack of guides and guests currently calling Wolf Creek Angler and the Missouri River home.

The dreary skies today had some thinking streamers. Sparkle Minnows, Circus Peanuts, Hibernators and Autumn Offenders all left the bins today destined for big eats from big browns. And speaking of big browns, we heard talk earlier this week from a very credible source about some good numbers of above average size (some Extremely above average)browns in some water you LOVE to fish. Stop by the shop if you are interested in hearing more.

The nymph game has continued to revolve around firebeads and pink stuff for us but we’ve also had varying degrees of success with worms and baetis emergers, specifically Trina’s Bubbleback and Angelcase emergers in #18. Poxyback Baetis, Tungsten Warriors, purple Flux Capacitors, Green Machines, Red Zebras and both Rainbow and Olive Payczechs have also brought respectable numbers to the net over the past week. We’ve still been fishing longer rigs with a couple of bb’s in the deeper water but as the water warms look to the moderately fast water for success. The surface action remains sub-par. There are plenty of midges and BWO’s around but rises are sporadic at best. Stay late for success as most of the consistent activity we’ve seen has been post 8.

We are a month in and fully engaged and ready for a great season. The support we’ve received not only from our customers but from the community in general has been tremendous and we are thrilled to be a part of this Missouri River Thing. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and would like to give a special thanks to The Trout Shop, Headhunters, Crosscurrents and Trout Montana, all of whom have been nothing but helpful to and supportive of Wolf Creek Angler. We look forward to working with all of you.

See you in the shop and on the water….

~Jason O.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:08-06:00May 3rd, 2014|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing|Tags: Crosscurrents, Flux Capacitor, fly fishing, green machine, Headhunters, Holter Dam, Keeney's Hibernator, Missouri River, nymphs, RO Drift Boats, streamers, The Trout Shop, Trout Montana, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

Spring is in the air. A gorgeous Missouri River Rainbow

The clouds retreat over the Missouri River at Holter Dam.

Spring-like weather arrived in Wolf Creek this week and with it some much needed time on the water and some damn good fishing.

I made my weekly run to the post office in Wolf Creek on Tuesday and threw the rod in the rig just in case. Driving out of Helena I ran into wintry weather all the way to Wolf Creek but about the time I got there the snow stopped and the clouds began to move out. intrigued by the moody skies hanging over the mountains I decided to take a drive to the dam to see if I could get some good pictures. When I got to the dam the clouds were in full retreat, the sun was shining and the 40 degree temps felt like 70’s after more than a week of sub-zero temps and wind chills.

I snapped a few pictures and geared up and talked myself into two hours max as there is no shortage of Wolf Creek Angler business to attend to. That being said, fishing is the business of Wolf Creek Angler and this is why I came here in the first place so office work be damned (at least for a couple of hours). I took a stroll into a frog water winter haunt and hooked whitey on the second cast…not what I had hoped for but better than many other things I could be doing. I spent the next little while searching for the sweet spot and once I found it it was lights out. Half a dozen fish in 30 minutes – I’ll take that ANY day. Firebeads and pink and no reason to try anything else on this particular outing. Crazy midge activity but very few fish keyed into them at this point. I saw one or two rises but would personally rather rope them in on nymphs all day than play that game.

Midges aplenty on the Missouri River

What a great way to spend a couple of hours on a warm February day. I pretty much had the water to myself save for a boat full of comrades from downstream out enjoying the thaw and I did run into Wolf Creek Angler guide and shop veteran Matt Hargrave who was out doing R & D with some sexy new bugs he has created.

I followed that up with a visit to Hauser on Wednesday which resulted in various minor contusions and my typical fishing luck on that water which is not very good. FYI – though the thaw is certainly underway much of the ground is still frozen solid and very slippery. Not a good combination on a steep slope when one is hiking in wading boots. Ouch!

Spring Like conditions on the Missouri River at Hauser Dam

Back to work today. Lots of product ordered and starting to come in as we prepare for our April 1st opening. We will have all kinds of Wolf Creek Angler logo wear available when we open the doors as well as a HUGE selection of flies and plenty of surprises to keep you coming back.

Expect a fair amount of traffic on the water this weekend as the weather looks like it’s going to be awesome with temps in the mid to high 40’s and plenty of sunshine before things cool down again the middle part of next week.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:09-06:00February 13th, 2014|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing|Tags: fly fishing, Hauser Dam, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, montana fly shops, nymphs, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

Winter Returns

We are currently sitting at 3 degrees and will warm up into the 20’s today. More of the same for tomorrow with snow on the way mid-week. That being said, with highs predicted to be near 40 on a snowy Wednesday, it might just be a great day to fish. We’ve been getting kind of used to the 40-50 degree days but it is late January in Montana and I suppose we should expect to have at least a taste of winter. Our thoughts are with those in the midwest who are really getting hammered by winter this year. As I look at the pictures of the snow drifts and the vehicle pileups etc that my friends and family back in Michigan are posting on Facebook, I’m very glad to be enduring such a mild winter here in Montana.

The river is in great shape and is holding steady with flows in the 3100 range and water temp at around 33 – 35 degrees. Perfect conditions for winter fishing. There are a lot of great technique reports out there and you should read them but the bottom line is you need to get out there and find the water and the bugs and the techniques that bring you success. I have to admit that I spend very little time changing bugs this time of year. I have a set up I like and a couple of flies I believe in and for the most part I concentrate my efforts on finding the right water and the right depth as the rig seems to get it done more often than not. Pink anything and an assortment of firebeads are usually what you’ll find me using though I have been doing well with rainbow czechs and zebras and weight flies also.

I have not thrown a streamer for a while but after reading an article in the winter issue of Fly Fusion titled “Winter’s Gold” and harkening back to spending countless winter days on the Pere Marquette River back in Michigan chucking streamers with a fair amount of success, I think I will get back at it next time out. The gist of the article being that the reason people aren’t catching big trout by ripping streamers in 33 degree water is because people aren’t doing it. I’ve found the Missouri River to be a completely different animal than what I was used to back in Michigan, especially when it comes to streamer fishing but that being said, if you put the right pattern in the right place with the right retrieve – he’s going to EAT IT! Stay tuned for streamer updates!

If you’ve driven past the shop lately you may have noticed that we have our new sign up. We are anxious to start our remodel inside and we are continuing to work on developing the web site. We’ve been busy on the phone taking reservations for lodging and booking guide trips and we’ve also been meeting with reps seeking out the perfect product mix for the coming season. Give a call anytime with suggestions as to products you would like to see in our shop, services you would like to see us offer, etc. We can’t wait for April!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:09-06:00January 28th, 2014|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, montana fly shops, nymphs, running line, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

Weekend Report

riverjake

Fished yesterday with limited success where hook-ups are concerned but it was January 17th and 50 degrees and sunny with very little wind and I was floating down the Missouri – just me and the dog – soaking up the sun and stopping every once in a while to wet a line. I don’t know how much more successful the day could have been , though perhaps a few more trout and a few less whiteys would have been nice. There were plenty of midges on the water and a few fish eating but I rarely partake in that game this time of year. I stopped to nymph a few spots and did ok but yesterday was more about unwinding on the river than anything else.

January on the MO?

Though I essentially had the water to myself (relatively speaking) I did talk to a few anglers and got mixed reports. I ran into seasonal fixture Hal Hawkins at one of his “secret” spots and he was tearing them up. The guys I talked to at the take out had had a tough day, only landing a couple but we all agreed that the weather more than made up for the lackluster bite.

No big changes as far as what’s working. The usual suspects – firebeads, pink anything, rainbow Czechs, zebras, etc. Work the slow water and the deeper troughs– they are there, it’s just a matter of whether or not they want to eat. It looks like it’s going to be great fishing weather all week with highs in the high 40’s, light winds and an abundance of sunshine. We are hoping for snow at some point but be that as it may…we are loving winter in Wolf Creek Montana.

Here’s what else is happening – the weather is beautiful and we’ve had a lot of inquiries about lodging. It’s a little early for spring fever but with temps holding steady in the high 40’s and the sun shining why wouldn’t you come fish the Missouri? We aren’t going to be able to do it this winter but we are seriously contemplating keeping several of our cabins and the shop open year-round starting this season. Please share your thoughts on this.

The Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance met last Sunday in Wolf Creek and things are starting to take shape. We are awaiting 501c3 Status and are starting to put together a plan for the future. It looks like you will be able to join for a membership fee of $25 and you will be able to do this at any of the fly shops in the area. If you have questions about the the group or would like to join please check out the Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance on Facebook.

The 2014 Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) will kick off in Helena MT on Tuesday, January 21st at 6:30 pm with an independent event at the Grandstreet Theatre hosted by the Pat Barnes Missouri River Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Please come out and support the chapter while enjoying some great films and great beer. As if that weren’t enough to get you there – we will be there handing out our highly coveted Wolf Creek Angler stickers which look great on ANY vehicle.

We are busy ordering merchandise, building fly bins, taking reservations for lodging and fishing, working on the web site and getting ready to start doing some work in the shop. April is coming soon and we can’t wait to see all of you at Wolf Creek Angler. We think you will be pleased with what you find come April.

Before

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:09-06:00January 19th, 2014|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T), Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, montana fly shops, nymphs, running line, Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

Frigid on the MO

Well the holidays are FINALLY over. The weekend is coming to a close and tomorrow things begin to get back to normal. Back to school, back to work and back to the business of everything Wolf Creek Angler! I for one am happy to get back to the grind.

The cold weather has put the fishing on hold for most at least for the time being but there is no shortage of things to do. It looks like things are going to start to warm up as soon as tomorrow but in the meantime here are some things I’ve been at least thinking about doing.

1. Organize, Organize, Organize…

When you call a great river like the Missouri home there is very little downtime, especially with the mild weather we’ve been having this winter. This being the case, we tend to just keep throwing our gear wherever it’s convenient rather than taking the time to keep things organized…at least that’s my story. Come January the endless season finds me with fly cups scattered throughout my vehicle/boat/boat bag and in those fly cups are an interesting mix of dry flies, terrestrials and nymphs and maybe even a streamer mixed in here and there. I’ve got baetis mixed with caddis mixed with pmd’s mixed with PT’s and Zebras. It’s utter chaos! A couple of actual winter-like days such as we’ve had are the perfect time to get fly boxes organized and get that pile of gear out of the back of your vehicle and put those things where they belong. Not saying I did this, but I thought about it enough to encourage others to do it and hopefully I will get to at least some of it before I hit the water again.

As long as you are taking the time to sift though flies and gear it’s a good time to clean your fly lines as well. I know many anglers who strip all of their lines off of their reels during the off-season and wrap them around a coffee can or similar item to prevent coiling but since there really is no off-season for many of us a simple cleaning will do wonders.

Just like that the cold snap will come to an end as we reach into the high thirties tomorrow afternoon and on into the 40’s by mid week. Fishing should be fine, especially now that your flies and gear are organized and your line is clean.

Just a reminder – we are doing some work on the shop and lodging and will not be open until April 1st, but we are open for business as far as guide trips go and we’d love for you to put us to work. Give us a call today at 800-800-4350 or email info@wolfcreekangler.com to book a trip at special winter rates.

See you on the water!

Jason O.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:09-06:00January 6th, 2014|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing|Tags: Missouri River, montana fly shops, nymphs, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

Fishing Report

Latest fishing report from Wolf Creek Angler Guide Extraordinaire Eric Mondragon.

Gorgeous Missouri River Winter Bow – photo Eric Mondragon

Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even my spouse. The day promised forty degree weather that I couldn’t resist. I grabbed my chest pack and fly rod of choice and headed toward Wolf Creek to rejoice by catching trout.

The last few weeks have been quite cold. Cold enough that even I didn’t care to fish. I tied up a few bead headed midge and some hot bead flies and hit a few runs that I prefer in Winter. I suggest slow inside bends and drop offs that are anywhere from 3 ½ to 6’ deep. During the cold months, fish move out of the fast and moderate speed currents and move into slower, deeper, warmer water. I seek out the slow current and fish the indicator with nymphs. Orange and pink flies on top. Then I drop various midge patterns off of that.

The key to frequent hook-ups is to study the speed of the indicator. Keep in mind that you are fishing slow, moderately deep water. If the indicator even remotely slows down, set the hook. In Winter, trout will generally take flies very softly. Sometimes they eat and reject your flies and the indicator doesn’t even move. Diehard anglers say “Those who strike most, win.”

If you were lucky this Christmas, go out there and try out that new rod. While you fish it up, remember to watch that shelf ice. I like to wear ice cleats when I wade in the Winter. It is icy along the banks, even when the water is flowing. Big R Supply and Big Bear Sports sell numerous styles of ice cleats. Winter fishing can be fun if you are prepared for it. You don’t have to fish all day. Start late (after 10:00 a.m.) and fish until 2:00 p.m. On nicer days, fish until 4 p.m.

Coming soon. . . layering clothes and tackle suggestions as Winter winds on. I plan to start the new year by fishing. See you on the water.

Winter Bugs. What’s in your fly box? Photo by Eric Mondragon

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:09-06:00December 31st, 2013|Categories: Fishing Report, Montana Fly Fishing|Tags: Christmas, Fish, fly fishing, indicator, midge, Missouri River, nymphs, Outdoors, Recreation, Trout, winter, Wolf Creek Angler|Comments Off

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