running line Archives - Page 15 of 65

Hoot Owl Comes to the MO

As drought conditions persist in the region, FWP announced additional waterbody closures and restrictions yesterday including Hoot Owl Restrictions on the Missouri from Holter Dam to Cascade.

Almost immediately following the announcement the pushback began from some citing that the criteria had not yet been met for Hoot Owl Restrictions referring to FWP’s water temperature threshold which states that max water temp of 73 degrees for three consecutive days trigger implementation of Hoot Owl Restrictions. Water temps however are not the only criteria triggering restrictions.

From FWP…

Flow below Holter Dam is near the 10th percentile for the daily average on record and the temperatures recorded throughout the section have exceeded 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Although flow and temperature are not exceeding established criteria for restrictions, continued forecast high temperatures coupled with high angling pressure could lead to excessive fish mortality, leading FWP to implement the restrictions.

Having made the decision to suspend new trip bookings for the remainder of the summer a couple of weeks ago and having voluntarily implemented Hoot Owl fishing hours on our existing guide trips, we are in full support of FWP for implementing restrictions on the MO and elsewhere.

We definitely understand the inconvenience of these restrictions and we sympathize with all of those who have traveled to Montana to fish this summer but we’re trying our best to focus on the big picture rather than the immediate impact of lost fishing opportunities for our guests and what has already amounted to thousands of dollars in lost revenue for our business.

This is about the preservation of the future of the fishery here on the Missouri and throughout the state of Montana. And while the effectiveness of these restrictions in limiting angler-induced fish mortality can be debated, our position is that doing something is better than doing nothing and if limiting our hours on the water helps even a little bit then it’s not that big of a sacrifice when you consider what’s at stake.

We hope for cooler conditions and we’d love to see restrictions lifted prior to September but in the meantime we’d like to share these tips for HOT WEATHER FISHING.

This past June for SW Montana ranked in the top 5 driest and hottest for SW Montana. Correspondingly, water temperatures are also greater than normal. Angling for trout under these warmer-than-usual conditions, fish become more impacted by catch-and-release, which increases the amount of time it takes them to recover and the chance that they will not survive.

Warmer water contains less oxygen than colder water. As temperature rises and dissolved oxygen decreases, fish begin to experience stress. These stresses occur well before the water temperature reaches lethal limits. For example, rainbow trout can survive in temperatures up to and exceeding 77°F (24°C), but stop growing at 73°F (23° C). Therefore, a fish, one which is already oxygen stressed while positioned carefully in current that minimizes its energy use, will be dramatically more stressed after being hooked and played to the net. In fact, in many cases, a fish otherwise properly handled and released under thermally-stressful conditions may be likely to not survive.

The following are best practices for angling during warmer weather:

• Carry a thermometer and stop fishing as water temperatures approach 68 degrees F.

• Use larger tippet sizes to decrease the amount of time playing a fish.

• Use a net.

• Get the fish as quickly as possible to the net.

• Use a dehooking tool to quickly remove the hook.

• Keep the fish in the water.

• Forego the grip-and-grin photo opportunities.

We don’t want to come off preachy, we’re just trying to do right by the resource. We’re not saying you shouldn’t fish, we just ask that you abide by thw restrictions the state has implemented in an effort to protect a fragile resource.

We’re open at 6 AM daily so you can get your day off to an early start and we’re happy to get you set up with what’s working and send you off to the spots where you are likely to have the most success.

Thank you for doing your part to take care of our precious resource.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-07-21T12:45:24-06:00July 21st, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Hoot Owl Closures, Hot Weather Fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Hot Summer Update

It’s been an eventful week since our last post with the main story being the Rock Creek Fire which occurred Saturday afternoon on the Dearborn Ranch and which posed a significant threat to our Missouri River Community. Thankfully fire personnel launched a full on assault to fight this thing on Saturday night and by Sunday morning the threat had been neutralized and at this point the fire is all but a memory at 95 % containment.

A huge thanks to all of our friends and clients who have called and emailed to check on us over these past couple of days. It means a lot.

Fortunately all is well in Wolf Creek and Craig for the moment, at least as far as wild land fires are concerned. We did get a nice rain shower yesterday morning but aside from that it’s been extremely hot and dry which unfortunately are the perfect conditions for extreme fire danger. All it takes is a spark and the next thing you know thousands of acres are burning so please be extra careful with trailer chains, cigarettes and anything else that might spark a wildfire.

That’s the big news of the week but you’re probably wondering how the fishing is.

First….River Conditions. Flows bumped slightly and are currently at around 3400 CFS. Water temps started around 63 this morning. We’re currently looking at 66.5 degrees at the dam….not great.

Daytime highs will continue to cook in the mid to high 90’s through the first part of next week and likely beyond. We’re dipping into the high 50’s overnight which is keeping water temps tolerable, but without a substantial bump in flows which I have no reason to believe we’ll see, the fear is that Hoot Owl restrictions could very well come to the MO. We’re not here to spread rumors, just data-based observations.

So while the fishing has been pretty damn good as of late we urge you to keep water conditions in mind regardless of whether there are restrictions in place or not, and respond accordingly. Get a stream thermometer if you don’t already have one and check those water temps often. If you see temps climbing into that 68 degree range call it a day. Once again, the hoot owl threshold is 73 degrees for three consecutive days. That being said, trout are not loving life once water temps exceed 68 degrees.

We’re doing 6 AM starts and will likely continue to do so for the remainder of the summer season. Early on, early off.

Tricos, Caddis and PMD’s, though waning, are all in the mix right now for the many DFO’s wandering the river corridor. The story this morning was Tricos covering the water and fish ignoring them. They seem to be willing to eat a well-placed Stockingfoot, Outrigger or Cornfed Caddis or even a Buzzball. Tricos… not so much. That being said, every day is different so don’t let yesterday’s report dictate today’s tactics.

And for those not into trying to find their #20 dry fly amidst of sea of naturals, Terrestrial Season is upon us. Hoppers, ants, beetles and Spruce Moths could all make it happen from here on out. Try a hopper with an ant trailer or drop a green machine off your hopper and see what happens.

Nymphing has continued to be the best bet for numbers. Status quo on the bugs with Weight Flies in gold or purple paired with a split case PMD, LGM, Black Zebra, PT’s etc.

The shop is open 6 AM – 6 PM daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-07-14T15:48:41-06:00July 14th, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, DRY, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, HOT, Missouri River, Montana, Rock Creek Fire, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Our Hot Weather, Low Flow Summertime Strategy

2021 has, without a doubt, been our busiest season to date. Retail is up, lodging is up and as I’m sure you’ve noticed if you’ve been anywhere near the MO this past month, guide trips are also WAY up for everyone. And while we’re thrilled about the recovery after last year’s Pandemic debacle, the low flows coupled with the high temps and the heavy traffic have us re-thinking our game plan for the remainder of the summer season.

We have no knowledge of restrictions or closures coming to the MO but current flow and temperature conditions are definitely trending towards the thresholds which would dictate some sort of restrictions, especially on the lower river.

In light of this we have decided to do what we can to reduce the stress on the fishery by implementing a couple of self-imposed restrictions for the remainder of the summer season.

First – we are asking all of our clients to do a 6:00 AM start which puts our trips on the water from 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM which is essentially what we would be doing if Hoot Owl restrictions went into effect on the Missouri. At this point it’s more of a suggestion than a mandate but we are doing our best to make sure everyone is on the water at least by 7:00 AM at the latest.

Second- we are capping our guide trips for the remainder of the summer season and will be taking no more bookings for guide trips for July and August. We hope to resume bookings in September at which time we will re-evaluate and proceed accordingly. Hopefully things will improve as fall approaches. We recognize that this is an inconvenience for those making last minute plans for a guided day on the Missouri and we apologize for not being able to accommodate those plans but we feel it’s in the best interest of the river, the fish and all of our clients to do what we can to reduce our impact for the remainder of the summer season.

Daytime temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s will persist for the foreseeable future with Sunday looking like a scorcher with temps approaching 100 degrees.

Current river conditions – 2980 CFS with water temp 65 degrees at the dam. Please keep any eye on those water temps further down-stream and take appropriate measures to protect the fish. FWP policy is to implement Hoot Owl restrictions when max water temps reach 73 degrees for three consecutive days however anything over 67 degrees is stressful to the fish so Hoot Owl restrictions or not, it’s a good idea to stop fishing and seek cooler waters or other activities once water temps reach that point.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ drought policy provides for angling closures when flows drop below critical levels for fish, when water quality is diminished, or when maximum daily water temperatures reach at least 73 degrees for three consecutive days. These restrictions and closures are designed to protect fish, such as trout, that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when drought and warm water conditions combine with additional stressors, including catch-and-release fishing.

All stress to fish at this time of year is cumulative, and anglers should consider fishing in cooler waters during times of low flows and high water temperatures in rivers. Anglers can help reduce stress for fish by following these practices when catching and releasing fish, though fish mortality may still occur:

• Fish during the coolest times of day, where permitted.
• Land the fish quickly.
• Keep the fish in water as much as possible.
• Remove the hook gently. Using artificial lures with single and barbless hooks can make hook removal faster and easier.
• Let the fish recover before releasing it.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-07-08T12:08:11-06:00July 8th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: hoot owl restrictions, Missouri River, Montana, running line|2 Comments

And Suddenly it was JULY

It’s hard to believe but June is officially in the books. Summer is in full swing and flying by. The BLUR has commenced!

We’re in the midst of our busiest three weeks of the year with all of our rental boats out daily and scores of guide trips starting earlier and earlier to beat this scorching summer heat.

Our day starts on the early side of 4 AM in order to get all of the boats where they need to be prior to opening the shop and it’s not uncommon to end our day in the dark hauling boats and getting them cleaned up for the next day’s launch.

We’re currently under a Heat Advisory through 9 PM on Friday. Temps are bumping up against 100 degrees daily with minimal chance of precipitation. Night time temps are comfortable in the 60’s but even so, with the flows being what they are, water temps are on the rise. We’re currently looking at flows of 3280 CFS and water temps holding right around 62 degrees. Keep in mind these readings come from just below the dam. The lower stretches are likely considerably warmer, something to keep in mind when choosing where to fish.

Low flows and high temps have already resulted in Hoot Owl Closures on several rivers in the region and with no cool down in sight we are likely in for more. The Missouri River water temps in the upper section are still in good shape, nowhere near the 73 degree threshold which prompts those closures after three consecutive days however the lower river, as already stated, is considerably warmer and may very well be subject to Hoot Owl Closures at some point in the not so distant future.

With the heat persisting we are responding by trying to get our trips out as early as possible and also giving our clients the option of doing half days if preferred. If you’re on your own please consider an early start and early off as the fishing tends to slow considerably during the afternoon hours. Should Hoot Owl Restrictions be placed on the Missouri we will shift all full day trip start times to 6 AM or earlier.

PMD’s and Caddis are your dry fly staples with Tricos knocking on the door. PMD’s in the mornings, Caddis in the evenings and the nymph forms of both effective anytime. Dry fly fishing has been good enough to keep the DFO’s busy and there are plenty of big fish looking up, willing to take a well-presented offering. We’re seeing plenty of fish up daily, perhaps not the mega pods of old but definitely enough to make a day of it.

Nymphing has been solid everywhere with the best action coming from the shallow, faster water. Split Case PMD’s and Crack Back PMD’s have been the go-to nymphs but there are all kinds of PMD and Caddis patterns they’ll eat right now. Stop in on your way to the water and we’ll get you set up with the right bugs for the right times. That way if you end up having a tough time out there you’ll at least be able to rest assured it’s not your bug selection.

The shop is officially open at 7 AM daily but we’re usually underway by 6:30 AM if not before, especially as we move those trip start times up.

Make us your first stop on the way to the MO for fishing licenses, ice, vehicle shuttles, sunscreen, Simms SolarFlex sun shirts, Fishpond Eddy River and Low Country Sun Hats, Smith and Suncloud sunglasses, our signature NO PRESSURE NO ATTITUDE FRIENDLY SERVICE and advice rooted in DECADES of Fly Fishing and Customer Service Experience and the biggest and best selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We’ve established a great following over these past 7 seasons but we still hear it enough from those who darken our door to continue to proclaim that we are the best Missouri River Fly Shop you never knew was here.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-07-01T13:48:40-06:00July 1st, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, Fishpond Eddy River, Fishpond Low Country, fly fishing, Hoot Owl Closures, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Settling In To Summer on the MO

It’s here! The days we dream about all winter long have arrived. A landscape of green against cloudless blue skies, the backdrop as you drift down the MO in search of rising trout. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

School is out and the summer migration has commenced, swelling our tiny populations of Wolf Creek and Craig. The boat ramps are abuzz with activity each morning as the guides prep and the clients take it all in, anxiously awaiting their turn to climb aboard the drift boat and make that first cast.

It’s going to be a very busy season. The traffic is high and the water is low which means we’ll all have to do our part not just to get along with our fellow anglers but also to care for the resource. Low flows and heavy traffic are stressors for our fish populations and while we are 100 percent in support of catch and release fishing we urge everyone to do whatever you can to reduce stress to the fish including keeping them in the water to the furthest extent possible, not overplaying them with undersized tackle and crushing barbs to facilitate quick and easy hook removal. You may lose an extra fish or two but at least they’ll live to fight another day.

Catch and Release is great but if fish are mishandled or overstressed they often times won’t survive much beyond that release. Water temps are still cool at this point so that definitely works in the favor of the fish but as things heat up and the water temps rise it becomes even more critical that you do what you can to keep them in the water as much as possible. If you absolutely must have a picture of that fish get everything ready to go, wet your hands and then lift the fish out of the water for a quick pic. Ten seconds max!

And speaking of rising temps, the cool weather comes to an end this weekend. Things start to heat up on Sunday as we see highs in the high 80’s and at this point it appears as though we could see temperatures nearing 100 on Tuesday. Don’t forget the sunscreen and your wide brim hat…or better yet, do forget them and come see us at WCA for all of your sun protection needs.

Per the Bureau of Reclamation flows will remain low but steady for the remainder of the season and likely right on through to next spring. Stay tuned. We’ll keep you posted.
The fishing report is relatively speaking, status quo.

PMD’s and Caddis are in the mix however it has not been a DFO’s dream thus far. Those willing to put the time in and go on the hunt are finding limited opportunities daily but it has not been a target rich environment. Indications are that this may be about to change. There has been an abundance of bugs on the lower stretches and not quite as much activity up here however regardless of the presence or absence of bugs rising fish have been a rarity. We’ve finally started to hear some reports however of decent sized pods of smaller fish keying on the surface. Our fingers are crossed, hoping that the bigger fish will soon join the approaching gravy train.

In the meantime sowbugs, caddis pupae and PMD nymphs will get em’ sub surface.

Phones are ringing off the hook this week as folks look for some input regarding their upcoming trips to the MO.

Some of these questions I’ve tried to answer above with my discussion of flows and current fish activity. Here are a few more FAQ’s and our best answers.

Q. Have they started dumping water yet?
A. They’ve dumped what they’re going to dump by all indications. Hoping for flushing flows in spring 2022.

Q. Is everything opened up?
A. Yes and No. Masks are a memory and everyone is open for business HOWEVER due to labor shortages many businesses are unable to operate at full capacity.

Q. Are there restaurants nearby?
A. Izaak’s in Craig is open Wednesday – Sunday 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Shotgun Annie’s in Wolf Creek is open Friday – Sunday 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM and Mondays and Tuesdays 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

Q. Do you have any lodging available for June and July?
A. Slim Pickings. We’ve got a few single nights here and there but we’re not really able to string multiple nights together. Things open up in August. Fall is starting to fill up. Don’t wait until the last minute to book. If you are looking for just one night give us a call and we’ll see what we can do.

Q. Do you have guides available?
A. See lodging response above. It’s very similar with guide availability. A few random openings here and there but as busy a guide schedule as we’ve ever had. Book those fall dates NOW!

Q. Do you allow dogs?
A. We do allow dogs for a $25/night fee however we ask that you let us know ahead of time if you’re bringing your pooch and we would ask that dogs not be left unattended in the rooms while you’re on the water unless they are in a kennel.

Q. How close are you guys to Craig?
A. Craig who?

Shop hours are 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily. We hope you make us your first stop on the way to the river for shuttles, bugs, boat rentals, ice, sunscreen, fishing licenses, Simms waders and sportswear, Tornado Anchors, Lamson rods and reels and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-06-09T17:22:04-06:00June 9th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Izaaks, Missouri River, running line, Shotgun Annie's, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

On the Dirty Water Prowl

And just like that summer arrived.

Memorial Day Weekend ushered in the nicest weather we’ve seen all season and with temps in the 90’s on tap for the next several days it seems summer has arrived. And to think 10 days ago we were getting in the midst of a spring snow storm which dumped over a foot of snow.

It was a busy holiday weekend on the MO with the vast majority of the angling traffic in the Dam to Craig section due to a steady flow of dirty water coming in from the Dearborn and Little Prickly Pear. Both continue to run dirty but are dropping fast with current flows of 834 CFS and 264 CFS respectively. Meanwhile the Missouri holds low and steady at 3730 CFS.

Traffic should start to spread out soon though 90 degree temps will likely continue to feed the runoff throughout this week. That being said, conditions in the canyon are PRIME right now for streamer fishing with the perfect amount of color and around a foot and a half of visibility below the Dearborn as of yesterday afternoon. Nymphing was adequate down there as well but if that’s your primary focus I would continue to stay higher up until the water clears a bit more. Best nymphing zone at the moment Holter Dam to Stickney.

The worm was on for the weekend but it seems that window has closed. Tung Darts and Weight Flies are rapidly becoming a go to on point with larger sow bugs, Split Case PMD’s, Frenchies, Psycho Mays, LGM’s and Magic Flies all fine trailing fly choices.

If you’ve been waiting for near-perfect streamer conditions on the MO the wait is over but the time is short. Get out there this week before things clear and see if you can’t coax a couple out of the dirty water. They’re definitely lurking in the shallows so you’ll want to beat the banks but strip all the way to the boat with plenty of pauses in between. We got a fair amount of action yesterday 2/3rds of the way back to the boat on the pause and while I assume those were all follows from the bank you never know where you’re going to find them.
Olive, natural, tan and grey all getting some looks and while the water is dirty I’d recommend you go big to help them hit their target.

Updated hours for the shop 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily.

We hope you make us your first stop on the way to the MO for shuttles, bugs, Simms sportswear and wading gear, Adipose boat rentals, ice, sun protection and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-06-01T13:23:32-06:00June 1st, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Rainy Days…Summer in Sight

The Missouri River is a very busy place this week despite the less than ideal fishing conditions. We started the week with more snow on Sunday. Most of that disappeared by Monday as temperatures warmed but with those warmer temps came gusty winds and the makings of a pretty substantial soaker starting last night and continuing through today.

It looks like the sunshine will return tomorrow with things becoming more and more summer-like through the holiday weekend and into the first part of next week when we’ll see sunshine and temps near 80.

Expect a BUSY MO this weekend as warm sunny weather for the unofficial start of summer brings with it a parade of recreational traffic added to the steady flow of anglers who have converged here in search of fishable water as flows bump most everywhere else in the region.

And speaking of flows, the Dearborn bumped this week and jumped up over 1000 CFS last night and continues to rise (currently 1400 cfs). Similarly, Little Prickly Pear doubled in size overnight and is currently running at 425 cfs. Suffice it to say, things are getting a little muddy on the MO so expect HEAVY traffic at the dam for the time being and if you’ve been wondering when the best time would be to break out those San Juan and Squirmy Worms….that time would be NOW.

I’d expect some traffic on the Dearborn this weekend so please call ahead if you’d like to set up a shuttle as demand will likely be high.

With the rain subsiding this afternoon and temps remaining moderately cool for the next few days I’d expect things to come back into shape fairly quickly on the MO though the hot weather early next week will likely continue to feed the runoff elsewhere ensuring a busy start to June on the Missouri.

We do have a couple of rooms left for the weekend if you’re looking and I expect those will book by tomorrow. Guides may be tough to come by but we do have a few remaining openings if you want to give it a try.

We’re feeling blessed by the precipitation but I for one am ready for some hot sunny days and I think the anticipated traffic this weekend will likely reflect this sentiment amongst a good portion of the local population.

Best flies through the weekend….Tailwater Sow, Pill Popper, UV Yum Yum, Rainbow Czech, Fish Finder and Depth Charge Worms, Little Green Machines, Split Case BWO’s (And soon PMD’s) Psycho Mays, Magic Flies, Tung Darts, Weight Flies, Two Bit Hookers, Jig Duracell, Jig Crack Backs, Rainbow Warriors, Peep Shows, Olive or Purple Lightning Bugs and many more.

The high and muddy will also bring out the streamer set. Sparkle Minnows, Baby Gongas, Swim Coach, ZK’s Gladio, Mini Dungeons, Mojo Minnows, Peanut Envy, Wedge Head, Silk Kitten and more. If you like to throw the big stuff NOW is the time. Streamer season is coming to a close but these next couple of days could be the peak of the action.

We hope to see you in Wolf Creek this weekend as we welcome the sun and the unofficial start of Summer Fishing on the MO. The shop is fully stocked with summer gear including a bunch of SolarFlex hoodies just received from Simms, Eddy River and Lowcountry hats from Fishpond, piles of packs and bags, waders and boots and wading sandals, reels from Ross, Redington, Echo and Lamson, Loop and Echo rods and much, much more. We’re anxiously awaiting our shipment of Lamson rods, just released for 2021. Judging by the calls we’ve been getting on them they aren’t going to last long.

Stop in and see us for shuttles, bugs, sun protection, fishing licenses, logo wear, ice, Fishpond and Rising nets, lines and leaders from Rio and Airflo or the latest intel on the where and when and how.

We are your Missouri River Summer fly fishing destination, your one stop shop for everything you need from guides to rental boats to gear to a place to lay your head…it’s all here at WCA.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-05-26T12:27:51-06:00May 26th, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Baby Gonga, Dearborn River, Depth Charge Worm, Duracell, Echo, Fish Finder Worm, Fishpond, fly fishing, Gladio, Lamson, Little Green Machine, Little Prickly Pear, Magic Fly, Missouri River, Mojo Minnow, Peep Show, pill popper, Psycho May, Rainbow Czech, Redington, RIO, running line, simms, streamers, Swim Coach, Tailwater Sow, Tung Dart, UV Yum Yum, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Springtime in the Rockies 2021

Monday we were guiding in shorts and flip flops, searing pale winter skin and feeling like summer with temps just shy of 90 all the while knowing a return to winter was looming later in the week.

A Winter Storm Watch became a Winter Weather Advisory which then became a Winter Storm Warning last night as a few flakes began to fall. This morning we awoke to a steady snow, heavy and wet and temps hovering just above freezing.

That winter storm warning remains in effect through tomorrow morning. We’ll continue to see a mix of rain and snow with temps holding near 40 and a brisk north wind thrown in just for good measure. We’ll dip down to 29 tonight before things start to turn towards more seasonable conditions late this weekend. We’re not expecting much for accumulation down here though Rodgers Pass is getting hammered and could see up to a foot of new snow by the time it’s all said and done.

By far not the worst winter can dish out but quite a contrast from a few days ago. And while 89 degrees felt great we are definitely in need of the precipitation so we’ll try to keep the complaints to a minimum and just be thankful for what we’re getting.

Traffic is light today as you can imagine but there are a few boats out and really, if it wasn’t for the north wind, it wouldn’t be a bad day to be out there. That being said, I’m happy to be in the shop today.

Fishing has been solid this week, status quo for the most part with good nymphing and the occasional dry fly opportunities with plenty of BWO’s around, a few March Browns and sporadic rising fish fairly willing to engage if you’re lucky enough to find them.

There haven’t really been any drastic changes as far as fly selection is concerned though we’ve definitely begun to move away from the pink stuff towards late spring staples like baetis nymphs and caddis pupae. A beaded tailwater sow in size #14 paired with a Little Green Machine is still tough to beat but it could be worth your while to swap that sow for a Tung Dart, a Weight Fly or the like trailing with the LGM, psycho may, nitro caddis, Radiation Baetis, Magic Fly, Split Case BWO etc.

We left the streamer rods home earlier in the week with the cloudless skies and the sun beating down on the water but streamer fishing could be the ticket in the midst of this storm system for the next day or two. And speaking of streamer rods, we’ve got Galloup’s Streamer X Rods from Echo in #7 and #8 back in stock. Get yours before their gone!

Supply chain challenges continue and we do have some holes in our inventory but all things considered we are in pretty good shape right now with newly arrived Echo rods, plenty of bugs, a bunch of new Ross and Lamson reels, a good selection of Simms G3 waders and various wading boots and spring/summer clothing arriving in fits and starts seemingly daily.

We’ve got lodging and guides available this weekend. Things fill up early next week. Call for availability if you’re interested in a last minute trip to the MO and we’ll see what we can do for you.

Official Spring shop hours are 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM daily. Stop in for shuttles, bugs, leaders, hand warmers and blow out pricing on all remaining cold weather gear from Simms.

We hope to see you soon at WCA, your Missouri River spring fly fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-05-20T10:48:12-06:00May 20th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Shape of Water, Spring 21 Edition

As we close in on mid May it’s time to take a look at the water conditions both at present and for the season ahead.

We’ve been alluding to this for a few weeks now and the story really hasn’t changed. Flows are low on the Missouri right now at 3760 CFS which is a few thousand CFS short of where we’d expect them to be during an average year when May flows would typically be in the 6K range.

Precipitation has been considerably below average this spring which is not great for the water situation but what has helped us thus far has been the cooler temperatures we’ve been experiencing this spring which have kept the snowpack largely intact.

Current Snow Water equivalent around the region is basically between 80 to 100 percent of average and a little less in the southwest corner of the state where we’re looking at around 65 percent of average. Things could be better, things could be much worse as far as snowpack goes.

Canyon Ferry Reservoir is currently 77 percent full which means that if below average precipitation persists throughout the spring then we won’t be seeing much of an increase in flows as indicated by the chart below. Again, we’d definitely like to see a little more water but things could definitely be much worse. Here’s hoping for a wet second half of spring.

With the creek opener coming up Saturday there will be many miles of additional fishable water available although much of that is running high at the moment. We’ve gotten a lot of calls about the Dearborn this week and we will be running a limited number of Dearborn shuttles this weekend. It’s looking like borderline flows (currently at 256 CFS and dropping) but with warmer temps and the potential for some precipitation heading into the weekend we’re thinking it may be an option. We’ll keep you posted.

We posted on social media about this but in case you didn’t see our post, due to staffing limitations we’re limiting Dearborn shuttles to three each on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. We will not be able to offer these shuttles during the week but will have 5 spots available on Saturday and Sunday the 22nd and 23rd. Shuttles will be sold on a first come first served basis but we will take reservations if you have things figured out ahead of time and want to make sure you’re covered.

It looks like a nice weekend ahead and warm sunny days to kick things off next week.

The hills are rapidly greening. The Arrowleaf balsamroot flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, the bugs are popping and it’s about to be lawn mowing, creek fishing, flip flop wearing, sun soaking time in Montana.

See you soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-05-12T14:02:38-06:00May 12th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Dearborn River, Dearborn River shuttles, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Pre-Grind Report

With water on the rise around the state, the MO has become a busy place this week with steady low flows providing one of the better fishing options in the region. Traffic remains moderate for the most part as The Grind approaches.

Spring is settling in with some nicer days as of late but cool temps and rain are on tap for this weekend which will likely make for some good baetis opportunities as well as optimal streamer fishing conditions.

Nymphing has been strong, rain or shine, with the baetis nymphs maybe starting to edge out the sowbug/scud selections ever so slightly. There’s still been a run on Pill Poppers, Tailwater Sows and Caviar Scuds but we’re also moving a bunch of Little Green Machines, Olive Psycho Mays, BWO Magic Flies and the like as we move into mayfly season.

For my money I’m still starting out with a Pill Popper and no bead sow and not messing with a good thing but if that rig goes quiet you’d be well advised to show them a green machine or the like.

Sunshine has rendered the streamer game less than stellar but we’re moving fish and getting some good grabs even on the cloudless days. It’s all about persistence!

Bugs have been plentiful and the fish are starting to look up but the majority of the pods I’ve observed lately have been smaller fish. Expect some good top water action this weekend with the weather and study those rise forms to locate the bigger fish. They’re out there. You just need to work for them.

We’re still in the prime of spring fishing where you can realistically expect to have great action with whatever method you choose. I’ll throw streamers all day, any day but I’ve always got the dry fly rig at the ready this time of year as well as a bobber rig for those times we just need to catch a fish.

Mornings in the shop have been increasingly busy with the bump in traffic this week and we continue to be encouraged by bookings for the season ahead. Most of Prime Time is booked solid and fall is just starting to take shape.

Lodging has been busy but it seems to come in waves. We’ll go a day or two with just a couple of rooms occupied and then things blow up and we’re booked solid. At this point the weekend looks to be a little slow but again, that can all change with a couple of phone calls. If you’re looking to come out and enjoy some spring fishing on the Missouri over these next couple of weeks we’ve got you covered with plenty of lodging options and access to some of the best guides on the river. It’s always a challenge to line up a guide for the next day but if you can give us a couple of days to work on it we can generally get you on the water with a great guide.

Bugs are moving from the bins at a fevered pace and so far we’ve been able to keep most of those bins stocked with all of the Missouri River essentials. Other product has been more of a challenge but we have no shortage of gear in stock with more arriving daily and we’d like nothing better than to keep all of these items moving through.

Waders will continue to be a challenge but we’ve got plenty of Simms G3’s in stock as well as Simms Flyweight, Freestone and G3 boots and Korkers a plenty including the new River Ops boot which has been receiving rave reviews.

Fishpond Eddy River and Lowcountry hats are back in stock and we’ll have a large shipment of WCA logo gear arriving soon, including sun hoodies, just in time for the warm weather which should arrive soon.

We’re open from 7:30 – 5 PM daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-05-05T14:20:04-06:00May 5th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, simms, spring fishing, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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