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Mid Week on the MO’ – 11/2

November on the Missouri

The fishing has remained good this week and aside from some gusty winds on Monday we’re looking at some unseasonably nice weather with temps nearing 60 each day and abundant sunshine. Not exactly the nasty BWO weather we’ve been anxiously awaiting but being that it is November in Montana we’re enjoying it while it lasts.

Continue to concentrate your efforts on nymphing this week if it’s numbers you’re looking for. Dry fly fishing opportunities could be on the skinny side with blue skies and sunshine on tap through the end of the week but that’s not to say you won’t find some willing players so keep that dry fly rig at the ready. A good go-to rig would be a parachute Adams and a BWO cripple of some sort. You can make adjustments as needed but I find the Adams/Cripple combo to be a great at the ready rig to have in your quiver.

If you do find fish up during the height of the sun they will likely be spooky so it’s best to have something at the ready rather than stop and rig up when you find fish. More often than not when you do this the fish tend to stop rising around the time you are ready to make that first cast.

Sow bugs are still at the top of the Hot List for nymphs with the Tailwater Sow leading the charge. A tungsten Rainbow Czech with a bead-less tailwater is hard to beat but there are plenty of other bugs getting eaten as well. Ninch’s Bubble Yum Scuds, Tan UV Czechs, Little Green Machines, Psycho Mays, Rainbow Warriors, black Zebra Midges, Dark Peep Shows, Soft Hackle Sows, Rainbow Weight Flies, purple, pink or pearl Lightning Bugs, Firebead Rays, Wire Worms, Juju Baetis and on and on. All of these and many more available each and every day at Wolf Creek Angler.

The sun will definitely impede Streamer fishing as well but you ought not let that deter you. Chewy has been feverishly cranking out streamers including the much sought after Hothead Kreelex so if streamers are your game you owe it to yourself to pay us a visit. Wolf Creek Angler is your source for the best streamers on the Missouri.

The cold and snow will be here before you know it so this would be a great opportunity to come enjoy mild fall weather and some of the hottest fishing of the season on the Missouri River.

We are your Missouri River fall fly fishing destination with more on-site lodging than any other shop, the hardest working guides on the river and a first rate full service fly shop featuring everything you need for your day on the water.

Don’t forget – winter lodging rates are in effect. $99 plus tax/night for our very best!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-11-02T14:04:26-06:00November 2nd, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Kreelex, Missouri River, Montana, Ninch's Bubble Yum Scud, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Wolf Creek Bridge on the Mighty Missouri River near Wolf Creek Montana. – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Closing out October this weekend with awesome autumn weather and great fishing on the MO’, a perfect combination and a great way to spend your weekend.

Plenty of fish, not a lot of traffic on the river and tonight is your last night to enjoy dinner at Izaaks in 2016.

We’ve got a full house tonight but things open up tomorrow and looking at the forecast it looks like it’s going to be another mild week, the perfect opportunity for a fall getaway on the Missouri.

We’ll be closing our motel units next week but will have cabins and bungalows available all year-long.

We are your exclusive year-round lodging option in Wolf Creek Montana. Whether you’re here to fish or to hunt or you’re just passing through, we offer a great place to stay at an affordable price. And speaking of affordable prices, winter lodging rates kick in November 1st!

Just one more reason to book your Missouri River fall fly fishing getaway today.

If you’re planning to hit the river today bring plenty of sowbugs. There’s been no reason to fish anything else though we’ve also done well with Rainbow Czechs and Bubble Yums this week.

Not much to report on the dry-fly front though I did see some bigger bugs the last couple times out so once the weather conditions start to cooperate it could definitely be game on. Expect plenty of sunshine this week and enjoy it. Cloudy, cold, rainy/snowy, nasty weather is what we’re waiting for to get the BWO action going but in the meantime enjoy it while it lasts. The snow will fly soon enough.

Streamer fishing would likely improve with an increase in cloud cover as well though I will say I fished streamers for roughly 15 minutes in the sun yesterday and moved two and hooked one so there really is no reason to not fish streamers. Zach is doing a great job keeping the streamer bins full so be sure and stop by WCA for what some have called the best streamer selection on the Missouri.

We are your Missouri River fall fly fishing headquarters with everything you need for your day on the water. Vehicle shuttles; Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals; the best bugs in the canyon; outerwear and sportswear from Simms and Kast; Lines, leaders and tippet from ARC, Rio and Trout Hunter; LOOP rods and reels and much, much more.

Open daily at 7 AM. Nobody is open earlier!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-29T14:19:52-06:00October 29th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Happy Anglers and Perfect Fall Fishing Conditions right now on the MO’.

We’re enjoying the mild late October weather here on the Missouri River and with it some of the best fishing we’ve seen this season.

Nymphing continues to produce consistently in most if not all sections of the river and is as accessible now as you’re going to see it.

It’s no secret that nymphing is almost always your best bet for numbers but there are many times when it’s difficult to figure out the program. Now is not one of those times.

Short leashing is working, dredging is working and those running somewhere in the middle are finding plenty of success as well.

We’ve continued to have great luck with sow bugs but there are others who have been running the Rainbow Czech/mayfly nymph combo for weeks now, finding no reason to run anything different.

Shallow fast water? Yes. Deep fast water? Yes. Medium depth/medium fast? Yes. Slow deep water? Not yet, but soon enough. That means you’ve essentially got limitless options right now so if someone is in your favorite spot/run so what? Move on. The fish are everywhere!

Your best bets for bugs right now include tailwater sows, soft hackle sows, firebead sows, Rainbow Czechs, Tan UV Czechs, LGM’s, PT’s, BWO Magic Flies, Rainbow Warriors, Purple Lightning Bugs, Rainbow Weight Flies, Jujus, Juan’s Hi Def Baetis and many more including local favorite Ninch’s Bubble Yum Scud which is a great point fly and which got plenty of eats the last couple outings.

Once again, some are running shallow weightless rigs, some are dredging with tungsten bugs AND weight and most are running medium depth rigs (4′-5′ indicator to first fly) with tungsten bugs but without weight. There are a lot of flies that are working. We recommend you try something from the above list or whatever you like, rig it up the way you like to fish and then find the water where it works. Don’t over think it.

The dry fly scene is still a waiting game. We’re seeing a few bigger bugs around daily but it isn’t happening just yet. It could be any day now. Water temps are right where they need to be in the low 50’s and we’ve had plenty of overcast skies. I’ve had my big BWO rig at the ready but it’s remained untouched as it’s still primarily tiny pseudos providing the surface action. This is a game I don’t enjoy all that much but for the die hard dfo’s there are plenty of opportunities to be had.

Streamer fishing has been so so. The strippers have been getting enough action to keep it interesting and we’re starting to see the swingers out there as well, doing their Trout Spey thing with varying degrees of success. If streamer fishing is your thing this is your time on the MO’.

Fishing traffic has been on the decline so if you want to have the thing to yourself (comparatively speaking of course) then now is the time. Give us a call to book lodging or guides or drift boat rentals or stop in for shuttles and bugs and anything else you may need on your way to the river. Wolf Creek Angler is your year-round Missouri River fly fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-27T15:39:04-06:00October 27th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, juju baetis, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The fall fishing continues to please and if things remain consistent with the weather (and the bugs and the fish) fall 2016 will go down as one of the best fall seasons we’ve seen on the Missouri in recent years. Not that I have decades of seasons to compare it to but it’s the best I’ve seen in my time here and for the most part 2016 has been getting rave reviews from most everyone.

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We had a great little taste of winter this week but things are back to normal (actually a bit above normal) today with cloudy skies and 60 degrees…perfect fall fishing weather. Rain is in the forecast as we head into the weekend. Temps will hold in the 50’s throughout the weekend and into next week. 50 -60 degrees on a dry day is nice. 50-60 degrees with rain and wind can border on miserable and calls for lots of layers and a very fishy constitution but most who venture out to fish the Missouri during the fall know the game and appreciate the challenges. The payoff is the potential for great fishing which is exactly what we’ve seen these past couple of weeks and which we will hopefully continue to see for the rest of the fall.

The nymphers and streamer guys (and gals) are all smiles right now and we definitely recommend these courses of action, the former in particular if you are numbers driven but that being said there are dry fly opportunities a plenty pretty much daily and while we’re primarily still dealing with itty bitty baetis that could all change very soon with cool temps and overcast skies and a chance of precipitation each day for at least the next 5 – 7 days.

I’ve heard the words “epic” and “biblical” bandied about this week in reference to the dry fly fishing in a couple of areas in particular and while I wouldn’t go so far as to attach these terms to what I’ve observed there is definitely some good dry fly fishing to be had and it should only improve as we head into the second half of October and close it out in November after which time we’ll stash the dry fly rods at least for a couple of months and concentrate on winter nymphing or swinging.

Best bets in your dry fly box right now? Parachute Adams, WCA Trudes, Sprout Baetis, Flash Cripples, Drown Spinners, Wilcox’s Micromay BWO, CDC Caddis Emerger and October Caddis if you’re clinging to the Dry-Dropper.

Nymphing has been a sow bug game as of late with tailwater sows, soft hackle sows and Granato’s Snack Nasty Sows all getting plenty of action. If you’ve got a favorite sowbug use it, it will get eaten. Czechs, Firebead Rainbow Weight Flies and San Juan worms are all a great option for a lead fly and zebras, Rainbow Warriors, Pearl Lightning Bugs, Gray WD40’s and Little Green Machines are all being eaten with regularity along with a host of others. There have been plenty of days lately with no adjustments to bugs or rigging necessary. We like those days…..especially when it’s cold and rainy and your fingers don’t seem to work very well.

Streamer fishing is good right now, not great, but definitely worth your while. Stick to the overcast days for your best chance at an epic streamer experience or throw them regardless of weather conditions if that’s your thing. We do. I’m liking Circus Peanuts in a host of flavors, Black/Olive Dolly Llama, Sparkle Minnows and Brown Dirty Hippies which we were completely sold out of a couple of days ago but as you would expect we are fully stocked with Black, Rainbow and Brown Dirty Hippies – get em’ while you can! I hear black Wooly Buggers are getting it done as well….we’ve got those too.

Rooms have been hard to come by and will continue to be for the next two weeks but we do get the occasional cancellation so make sure to try us. Guides are at the ready and the shop is fully stocked for fall with cold weather gear, waders, boots, bugs and much more. We are your Missouri River Fall Fly Fishing One Stop Shop with everything you need for your day on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:31-06:00October 13th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

October Skies over the MO’

As expected, this week of cool, cloudy, wet weather was just what we needed to get things going. By most accounts the fishing these past couple of days has been off the charts. Not only are we seeing the best fishing of the fall thus far, we’re seeing what has so far turned out to be the best fall fishing season we’ve had in several years.

I heard not one, but three different reports on two different days from folks who proclaimed they had experienced as good a fishing as they have ever had on the Missouri. These were all nymphing/streamer reports but it sounds like the dry-fly fishing hasn’t been too shabby either. Definitely still a Pseudo game for the most part but some bigger baetis starting to show as well.

This is the time of year you can fish any way you like and more than likely do pretty well. We’re rolling with streamer rods, nymphing rigs and dry fly rigs all at the ready.

The dam has remained a little quiet with most concentrating their efforts in the canyon or in the Wolf Creek – Spite stretches but there are fish everywhere and you should make it a point to explore some different water rather than sticking to the same two or three spots time and again. We’ve seen it a few times this past week where folks who fish the Bull Pasture etc religiously aren’t having great days and they have no idea where else to go. There are miles and miles of fish-filled water. Get out there and find your new favorite water!

Best bets for nymphing haven’t changed much. Sows, zebras, czechs, San Juan Worms, slender profile mayfly nymphs (Green Machines, Magic Flies, Juju Baetis etc) and a few starting to find some success on the firebeads and pink stuff as well.

Once again, the dry fly action is primarily a pseudo game but a #12 or #14 parachute Adams paired with an actual pseudo pattern or a smaller Adams or some variety of BWO might do the trick. I like an Olive Adams paired with a CDC Caddis Emerger, the fish do too. Have your favorite BWO emergers and cripples on deck as well, they may be seeing some playing time soon.

Streamers could be your ticket to your biggest fish of the season but keep your expectations reasonable and be prepared to work for them. Fish the bugs you believe in. Big or small, it’s up to you. Make America great again and fish one of each, they could be Stronger Together. Whatever you do make Wolf Creek Angler your first stop on your way to the MO. We are your streamer specialists with bins full of bugs you won’t find anywhere else, bugs which not only catch fish but which also transcend the stereotypes of size, style and color giving you the edge over those using the same old streamers the fish have been seeing for years. Not that those tried and true patterns don’t work, they do. Sometimes it’s just cool to break away from what you know and try something new.

It’s been a busy week in the shop with a big run on rain gear, waders, hand warmers, gloves and hats in addition to the usual bug and shuttle purchases.

We’ve got a full house right now and will for most of the remainder of the season though it does taper off the last week in October. That’s when the real hard-core fall anglers start to show. The porches have been abuzz with activity each night as our guests return from the river (or from watching the ball game) and recount the events of the day while staving off the chill in the air with a cocktail or two….it’s great to have all of these people around as we anticipate the quiet winter months ahead.

Look for one more day of clouds tomorrow before things brighten up this weekend. Sunshine returns with highs back in the 60’s for the weekend and at this point it looks like plenty of sunshine on tap for next week.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:31-06:00October 6th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Rainy days on the MO’

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Weather got you down?

It shouldn’t! This is what we think of when we think of fall fishing on the Missouri. Cold, wet, cloudy…..what’s not to like?

This is BWO weather and it’s also the kind of weather the streamer junkies dream of. With a chance for showers (both the rain and snow varieties) all week long and temps hanging south of 50 you can expect plenty of traffic out there and while we make no guarantees we think the fishing could be off the charts.

It’s a great time to fish the Missouri provided you have the right gear but there are few things more miserable as being stuck in a drift boat on a rainy 40 degree day , soaked to the core. Hypothermia tends to really detract from the experience.

We’ve all got our favorite pieces of essential gear for this type of weather but at the very least this is what we would recommend for ultimate comfort.

Redington SonicDry base layers. These pants and crew shirts are the perfect next to skin layer. SonicDry™ baselayer is powered by 37.5™ Permanent Technology and dries 2X faster than the competition, making your outdoor experience warmer, drier and more comfortable. This product is the answer for any outdoor adventure.

SIMMS Wading Socks. Use these premium Merino Wool Socks in conjunction with Simms liner socks to wick away moisture and keep your feet warm and dry all day.

Simms ColdWeather Pants. These micro-fleece lined pants are the best thing since sliced bread! If it gets really cold you can wear them over a base layer but I wear them by themselves until the temps drop into sub-zero conditions. They feature an adjustable waist and the Velcro closures on the cuffs prevent them from bunching up making them the perfect under-wader pants. You won’t believe how comfortable these pants are. It’s the best $100 you’ll spend this fall! coldweather

Simms ColdWeather Shirt. Equally as cozy and comfortable, these brushed flannel shirts feature waffle fleece lining and are the perfect insulating layer over your base. We love them for fishing of course but we wear them on and off the water. Quite possibly THE perfect fall and winter shirt. 20314-furyorangeplaid-l

Redington Sonic Pro Waders. At just under $300 you won’t find a more economical choice. These ultra-durable 4-layer waders feature Ultra-Sonic welded construction, articulated seams for ease of mobility and a reinforced lower leg for increased durability. You can spend a lot of money on waders and you generally get what you pay for but we sell a pile of Sonic Pros because they have many of the same features as some of the higher end waders at a fraction of the cost. sonic

Simms Guide Jacket – The Guide™ Jacket is a proven work horse that is built-to-fish with Gore-Tex® Shell fabric that’s waterproof, breathable, lightweight, and tenacious against tears.

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Kast Steelhead Gloves. We talk about these gloves a lot and we sell a bunch of them. There are all kinds of gloves to choose from out there but we know of none other quite like these. Patented OutDry technology makes them 100% waterproof/submersible, windproof, and breathable. Plus the warm fleece lining, and durable stretch shell give you the snug fit and uncompromising feel that you need in the fingertips, and an extended cuff for valuable additional coverage at the wrist.

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Block out the wind and the rain and you’re good. You’ll be surprised just how nasty of weather you can tolerate as long as you are dry. We’ve got all of the listed items above (and many more) in stock now at Wolf Creek Angler, your Missouri River fall fly fishing one stop.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:31-06:00October 3rd, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Redington, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Late September on the MO’

We’re closing out September with another dose of summer with sunshine and highs approaching 80 for the next couple of days. Fall returns Sunday as we return to more seasonable weather with highs in the 50’s and a chance of rain each day through the middle of next week.

We’re enjoying the sunshine and the fishing has been good but we’re excited for the return of fall weather this weekend. Sunny blue sky days make the fall colors pop….it’s beautiful out there right now. The bad news is the fish don’t like cloudless sunny days so if it’s rising fish and dry flies you prefer next week is looking good. Like dry-fly fishing, streamer fishing gets better with cloud cover so if you like either you should plan to be here next week. If you have no preference and just want to catch fish then you should be here now. Nymphing will get it done, rain or shine and this isn’t to say that you can’t fish dries or streamers on bright sunny days. You can and you should and you will likely encounter some success no matter what your method if you work hard enough at it.

Having trouble getting it figured out? Stop by the shop and pick our brains. We like nothing better than helping folks get dialed in on the MO’.

Best bets for this week –

Nymphs. Tailwater Sows, Tan UV Czechs, Little Green Machines, Weight Flies in gold or purple, Juju’s, Olive Psychomays, Superflash PTs, Trina’s BWO Angelcase Emergers, Rainbow Warriors, Military Mays, San Juan Worms, Peep Shows and October Caddis nymphs.

Fish tandem nymphs with a split shot medium to long on depth shortening up and ditching the weight late in the day.

Dries – Sprout Baetis, WCA Trudes, Wilcox’s Micromay BWO, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, Flash Cripples, Olive Para Adams, Ants, October Caddis, CDC Baetis Emerger, Cripple Callibaetis, Pseudos.

Streamers – Sparkle Minnow, JJ, Late Night Wanda, Dolly Llama, Sundell’s Moss Fire, ZK’s Mercenary, Baby Gonga, Autumn Splendor, Circus Peanut, Skiddish Smolt.

Olives and naturals have been good but don’t be afraid to throw something different at them.Stop by WCA for information overload on effective streamer strategies. We are your streamer specialists on the MO’ and beyond.

Make Wolf Creek Angler your Missouri River Fall Fly Fishing Destination. More on-site lodging than anyone, a hard-working guide crew the number one priority of which is making your time on the water a success as defined by you and an up and coming Missouri River Fly Shop fully stocked with everything you need including SIMMS sportswear and accessories and the largest selection of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We’re the best fly shop you never even knew was here. Open daily at 7 AM. Nobody is open earlier!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:32-06:00September 28th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Fall on the Blackfoot

One of the drawbacks (if you can call it that) of owning and running a shop on one of the best trout rivers in the world is that you tend to miss out on a lot of other fly fishing opportunities on other waters. Let’s face it, there is no place like the MO so why would anyone want to go anywhere else?

Well the short answer is that there is a lifetime and beyond of amazing trout water here in Montana and while our first love is definitely the Missouri we make no apologies for spending time exploring other rivers.

One of these other rivers is just a short drive over the divide and offers a completely different experience than what we have here. The Blackfoot River begins at the Continental Divide about 10 miles northeast of Lincoln and flows west 75 miles to where it enters the Clark Fork River just east of Missoula.

Made famous by Norman Maclean’s 1976 novella “A River Runs Through It” and even more so by the 1992 movie of the same name, The Blackfoot is home to numerous species of fish including brown and rainbow trout as well as West Slope cutthroats, char and mountain whitefish.

It is a classic freestone stream in every sense and while it’s just a short drive from the Missouri River it is a completely different world marked by mountains and wilderness and everything you might picture when you think of the classic Montana wilderness fly fishing experience.

Don’t tell the MO’ but I have been in love with the Blackfoot since the first time I saw her and I am over there any chance I get.

I’ve spent countless hours on the Blackfoot but up until last Thursday I had never floated this amazing river. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do since I moved to Montana but things being what they are, I just never made it over there with a boat and a full day to float the river. It took a visit from friends from Michigan to make it happen and now I am all that much more smitten.

It is so worth your time to go experience a day on this water and while you won’t likely catch the quantity or size of fish you catch regularly on the Missouri, it’s an outing you won’t soon forget. Crystal clear water, deep blue pools, chutes runs and riffles, high canyon walls…the Blackfoot has all of this and cutthroats too!

If you’re coming for a few days we highly recommend a day on the Blackfoot to go along with your days on the MO’. We’ve got expert guides for both and we would love to share this treasure with you. Ask about it when you call us to book your Montana fly fishing adventure.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:32-06:00September 26th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Blackfoot River, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

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

A very fall-like day today in Wolf Creek with mid 40’s and rain showers. We’ll see a low of 31 tonight so it’s likely going to be a chilly start to the day tomorrow but blue skies will return and it should be very pleasant with plenty of sunshine and a high near 60.

We will see a warming trend beginning on Wednesday and should see temps near 80 for the weekend with plenty of sunshine. Expect a busy recreational weekend if the forecast holds as it could be the last of the summertime splash and giggle days.

The busy fall fishing season has begun and we expect to see plenty of traffic around from here on out. Not June/July traffic mind you but enough traffic that you should expect plenty of company out there. We’ve got more guide trips going out this week then we’ve had any week since July and we’re close to capacity on lodging for the early part of this week but don’t worry, things open up by the end of the week so give a call today and book that fall fly fishing adventure on the Missouri. Plenty of guides and plenty of lodging available for the time being before it gets crazy again the first part of October. That could all change with a phone call or two which is generally how it goes in the fall but at this time we’ve got a spot for you at Wolf Creek Angler for mid to late September fishing on the MO’.

The word is out and more and more folks are coming to find that WCA is a great option for Missouri River fly fishing any time of the year. With more on-site lodging than any other shop, the hardest working, most professional guide and shop staff you’ll find anywhere and a fully provisioned Missouri River Fly Shop with everything you need for your days on the water, you needn’t go anywhere else. We are the only Outfitter Owned and Operated Full Service Fly Shop in Wolf Creek Montana and we would like nothing better than to be your Missouri River fly fishing destination.

Keep thinking nymphing this week but expect dry fly action as well with plenty of pseudos around and reportedly some caddis activity in the evenings. The terrestrial bite is definitely waning but don’t rule it out completely just yet, especially as we creep back up into the mid to high 70’s later this week and into the early part of next week. Your favorite hopper/ant or hopper/small mayfly nymph combo may still net surprising results. You won’t know unless you try it. Moorish hoppers, Chubbys and ants in various flavors and increasingly the October Caddis are all getting eats river-wide.

Zebras, zebras and more zebras where nymphing is concerned, especially at the dam. Green Machines, PsychoMays, S & M’s, 2 Bits, San Juan Worms, various Cray Fish patterns, sows, scuds, magic flies, split case bwo’s, Juju’s, Czechs…….and on and on. No super hot single bug right now save the aforementioned Zebra Midge but plenty of fish being caught on plenty of different flies. Fish what you like and what you have confidence in. You’ll be surprised what a difference your attitude can make. In fact your attitude can often times have way more of a bearing on your level of success (or lack thereof) than any fly ever could.

Those playing the streamer game continue to report moderate to good action, depending on the day. Good options as of late have been Dirty Hippies, Moss Fires, Late Night Wandas, Sparkle Minnows, Space Invaders, Autumn Splendors, and a couple of Zach’s exclusives we just can’t seem to keep in stock.

Stop by the shop on your way to the river for up to the minute intel, what some have called the best coffee in the canyon, shuttles, cold weather gear, sun protection, ARC lines, LOOP rods and reels and much more. Open daily at 7 AM. Nobody is open earlier!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:32-06:00September 12th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, RO Drift Boats, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Autumn is a magical time on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

It feels like the real deal this week as we make the transition from summer into early fall. Cool days and downright chilly nights have been the norm and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change anytime soon save for a brief return to summer weather on Saturday when we’ll see temps approaching 80. Back to 50’s and 60’s next week.

Fishing has been steadily improving with the change in the weather to the point where we can tell you with minimal disclaimers that it’s been consistently good. Of course there’s always the chance that you could hit it on an off day but for the most part we’ve hearing good to great reports from our customers and guests and there have been plenty of smiling faces around.

The dam is hot right now and not coincidentally is also the busiest piece of water. Guide trips and do-it-yourselfers alike have been cleaning up on the double zebra rigs as well as various cray fish patterns paired with a zebra. Mayfly nymphs and Czech nymphs have also been effective, generally when paired with….you guessed it…a zebra midge. Notice a trend here?

Black Zebras, Tan or Rainbow Czechs, Little Green Machines, Split Case BWO’s, BWO Magic Flies, Rainbow Warriors, Lightning Bugs in various flavors, Tailwater Sows, 2 Bits, Peep Shows, Military Mays, Claws R’ Cray, Snapping Crays. Juan’s Hi Def Baetis, Juju’s…..and on and on. Our advice? Double nymph rig fished mid-column in medium fast, medium depth water. We recommend you go with at least one black zebra midge and fish whatever you like for the second bug. Adjust your depth accordingly and stick with it once you find the right bug/depth/weight combo. More often than not once you are dialed in to where the fish are you will likely find them in that same type of water as you work your way up or downstream. Other times you cross that invisible line and everything changes. Lately that invisible line has been marked by a very visible Wolf Creek Bridge. Some tough runs from the bridge to Craig, especially in the afternoon but even those starting there in the morning are finding it to be on the slow side right now.

Even the dry fly anglers have been smiling this week with an abundance of Pseudos around and also some reports of good caddis action in the evenings. Hoppers and ants should definitely remain a major part of your dry fly game right on into early October and it’s also time to throw the fabled October Caddis into the mix. Best Sellers from the dry fly bins this week have been Olive Para Pseudos , WCA Trudes, Blooms Stealth Ants, Black Para Ants, Dandelion RS2’s, Rocky Mountain Mints, Double Wing Tricos, Hi Viz Griffiths Gnat, Corn Fed Caddis and Olive Para Adams. On the foam side pink or purple Moorish Hoppers and Purple Chubbys are definitely on the move but we’ve got plenty of other flavors as well if you want to show them something different which is never a bad call.

Streamers? Absolutely! We tend to push the streamer game at WCA being that Zach and I are both streamer fanatics and will throw them in ANY and ALL conditions, but that being said it’s been a good week for streamer fishing on the MO’ (and elsewhere) and it’s only going to get better as we move into the heart of fall. Stop by Wolf Creek Angler and check out our ever-expanding selection of streamers including a bunch of custom patterns you aren’t going to find in any other shop. We’ve also just gotten a bunch of new stuff in for fall including a fresh batch of Dirty Hippies!

The switch has been flipped and we’re back in the full swing of things with rooms filled, trips out, rental boats out and plenty of activity each morning around the shop. We hope you make WCA your first stop on the way to the MO’. We are your Missouri River Fly Fishing One Stop with On-Site lodging, the best guides on the river, vehicle shuttle service, drift boat and equipment rentals and a shop full of everything you need for your day on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:32-06:00September 8th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

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