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Summertime Blues

No wait at the boat ramps for the time being. The fish are here – where are you? photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Things are pretty quiet around here this week. The bright sun and high temps are keeping things challenging on the river and while it’s still hard to beat a day floating the MO’, no matter what time of year, the current conditions have many anglers singing the summertime blues.

Trico action has been hit or miss. The bugs have been consistent but it seems more often than not the fish just don’t seem that interested. Our walk/wade DFO guests have had a particularly frustrating time of it. Between the finicky fish, the heat, the seemingly ever-present wind and the lack of any consistent evening activity it’s been challenging to say the least. We’ve spent plenty of time talking folks off of the ledge over these past couple weeks and will likely continue to have to do so. The bottom line is that August fishing can be tough. But then again, it can be tough any time of year and there are plenty of August days that the fishing is phenomenal.

One thing that helps is to adjust your expectations. Keep in mind that the fish have been extremely pressured for the last several months. Pair that with bright, sunny, hot days and you have the potential for some tough fishing but with that being said you could also have spectacular fishing and could have it virtually all to yourself.

We love to throw the hopper this time of year so what we recommend is a long float where you’ll have plenty of opportunities to nymph or throw hoppers and since you’re covering a lot of water you’ll likely find fish up here and there in areas that don’t see as much pressure so you’ll be able to satisfy your dry fly cravings as well.

Streamers are an option as well. It isn’t our favorite time of year to fish streamers due to the amount of sunshine and aquatic vegetation but if you choose your spots and deliver your cast with pinpoint accuracy you are likely to move a fish or two. I’ve spent a little time throwing streamers in select spots the last few times out and have moved a few each time, including one beast of a brown hooked and lost at the boat which was definitely pushing the two foot mark. Those who fish with me might accuse me of being a little hung up on Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin and I get it but all I will say is that I haven’t changed bugs in three weeks! Bright sunny days may not be ideal but I’m a firm believer that if you put the fly in front of them they’re going to go after it regardless of weather conditions.

Think quality, not quantity when it comes to August fishing. Big fish (and small ones too) eat hoppers and streamers and while you aren’t likely to rack up double digits you are apt to get a few to go if you cover enough water. I’ll take a hopper eat or a streamer chase over a bobber drop any day of the week, even if it means substantially fewer fish. Success is directly tied to your expectations and your perception. That is why I encourage you to perhaps lower your expectations and just enjoy the experience rather than focusing on the numbers.

We talk to plenty of anglers who are having a legitimately tough time hooking up and we will always do whatever we can to help but we also talk to a lot of anglers who are disappointed because they only got 6 or 8 and only one of those was over 20″. To me this is a great day, especially for this time of year, but for some these numbers equate to failure. It’s all in how you perceive things.

The list of Hoot Owl and Mandatory Drought Closures is growing daily so you may find yourself on the MO’ very soon if fly fishing in Montana is in your plans. If you do we invite you to stop by WCA for the latest river info and a bug selection that rivals that of any other shop. Find the complete list of restrictions and closures here http://fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions/waterClosure.html

And don’t forget our Dog Days of Summer Special. For the month of August book a guide trip and two nights lodging and get a third night of lodging for free. Get dialed in with a guide on day one and then get more dialed in with a second day of guided fishing or rent a boat and try it on your own.

Light traffic, plenty of sunshine and the potential for some pretty good fishing or not, but again, there are much worse things you could be doing than spending a day floating the MO’ on a sunny Montana summer day.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00August 2nd, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Drivers Training

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I’ve had the pleasure this summer of teaching my 15-year-old son how to row a drift boat, more specifically, how to row a drift boat effectively for fly fishing the Missouri River.

After years of being somewhere between indifferent and Lukewarm towards fly fishing, he has started to take an interest this season. An interest sparked by spending time hanging around the shop with super-cool fishing guides and his ultra uncool dad. He still isn’t all that enamored with fly fishing but he’s definitely a fan of the guide life (whatever that is) and the idea of making money rowing a boat definitely has some appeal. That and I think he figures having mad rowing skills might impress the ladies.

And so in between washing boats, mowing grass, cleaning rooms and working in the shop he’s committed to a day a week with me on the water and while my motives are pure I’d be lying if I didn’t acknowledge the fact that I’m pretty stoked to have someone rowing the boat so I can fish. He’s really come a long way over the past few weeks and is definitely to the point where he can get the boat down the river without a problem. He’s starting to understand and control speed and distance in relation to the location of the indicator and he’s even gotten pretty good at maintaining the proper speed and distance for streamer fishing. We’ve just started to tackle moving the boat laterally which will be what we concentrate on for the next couple of weeks.

The last couple of times out we’ve had big winds to contend with and he has rapidly discovered why wind is the bane of the Missouri River Fly Fishing Guide’s Existence. Is it really that bad? I think my son would tell you it is, judging by the couple of “I’m not doing it”, “I can’t do it”, “I hate rowing” meltdowns he’s had. I’ve had plenty of them myself so I’m not too worried about it but it sure detracts from my fishing when my guide decides he’s throwing in the towel!

We’ll keep at it and see if we can’t make him into a Montana fly fishing guide after all.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:33-06:00July 30th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

A Taste of Autumn

Feeling like October this 11th of July as we sit in the middle of a cold front that has brought unseasonably cool temps and some much-needed precipitation in the form of rain and possibly a few snow flakes in the higher elevations. Summer will return tomorrow with sunshine and temps moving back towards the norm with high 70’s and low 80’s for the remainder of the week.

Rainy and cold and windy today which may not be the ideal conditions for dry fly fishing on the Missouri but we’re happy to have the relief as waters around the state have been dropping and warming already forcing Hoot Owl closures in some places. Long-term forecasts predict higher than average temps and lower than average precipitation for the rest of the summer so if nothing else we’re grateful for the temporary arrest of the trends that will undoubtedly result in more Hoot Owl closures in the future.

Here on the Missouri we are in great shape with current flows at 4440 and temps in the low 60’s. Canyon Ferry is full and it looks as though flows will be maintained in the 4000 cfs range for the summer months. Expect a busy river for the rest of the summer as anglers migrate to the MO seeking cooler waters.

Tricos and Caddis will be the game for the next while with PMD’s still holding on and the fish reportedly opting for those PMD’s when given a choice. Add your favorite PMD to the smorgasbord of tricos on the water and hold on. Best selling trico patterns have been Indicator Spinners, Double Wings, Eric’s Trico Spinner, Quigley’s Trico Hackle Stacker and Drowned Tricos in #20. Helen Keller and Almost Dun PMD’s paired with a rusty spinner have been the go-to on the PMD front and the good old #16 CDC Caddis Emerger paired with an Outrigger Caddis or X Caddis have been effective caddis patterns. All of these and many more available now at Wolf Creek Angler.

Nymphing has continued to produce good numbers, especially at the dam, with Purple or Gold Weight flies paired with a PMD S & M or Split Case PMD. Other good options have been Military Mays, black Zebra midges, brown 2 Bit Hookers, Peep Shows, Tan UV Czechs, Gold or Purple Lightning bugs, LGM’s, PT’s, and on and on.

It’s not exactly streamer season on the Missouri but given the conditions today I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to throw them. Sparkle Minnows, Rainbow Baby Gongas, Space Invaders, JJ’s, Polar Leeches, Buggers and all kinds of creations from the mind of Chewy available exclusively at WCA. The ever-increasing vegetation may present some challenges when you’re stripping streamers but it’s definitely worth your efforts to power through. Choose your water carefully and change your bugs and your retrieve frequently and you may just be rewarded with a Missouri River Giant.

DFO’s may sit this day out so it would be a great day to take advantage of the conditions and have the river to yourself, relatively speaking of course.

We’ve got a few lodging openings this week due to cancellations and we’ve got guides available each and every day so if you’re considering a spur of the moment trip to fly fish the legendary Missouri this week give us a call. Things open up next week as we start to enter the late summer lull which is a lull only as measured by the amount of traffic. If you want to experience great Trico and terrestrial fishing without the crowds, August is the perfect month to fish the MO’. We’ve got plenty of openings for lodging and guides so don’t hesitate to book a trip today. If you’re looking to book fall fishing don’t wait another day….October and early November are filling quickly.

Make us your first stop on your way to the river for shuttles, RO and Adipose Drift Boat Rentals, sun protection, rain and wading gear, LOOP rods and reels, ARC and Rio lines, leaders and tippet and the largest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00July 11th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, RIO, RO Drift Boats, running line, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

It’s Trico Time on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The season continues to fly by as we close the books on June. We’re swapping out our PMD boxes for Trico fare and savoring the long days of summer. The recent hot weather and lack of precipitation have ushered in Hoot Owl closures in the SW portion of the state which will likely mean more traffic on the Missouri but fear not, she’s a big river. Plenty of fish and plenty of water for everyone. That being said, courtesy goes a long way in preserving peace on the river so please be courteous to your fellow anglers out there. If you are floating – give the wade anglers as wide a berth as you can. If you are wading please keep in mind that while boats are required to give you your space they have to go somewhere. If you are wading mid-river and there are wade anglers on the both banks you may have boats running closer to you than you would like but the vast majority of us who are guiding this river will always give you as much space as possible. Bottom line….be courteous to everyone. We’re all out there doing the same thing…enjoying this amazing fishery.

A huge thanks to all who came out for our Inaugural Fourth of July Fly Sale and for those who missed it, mark your calendars for next year. You missed outrageous deals, the best deals, on the best selection of the most beautiful bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.
It wasn’t the busiest 4th of July we’ve seen, at least not in terms of fishing traffic but by the looks of the parking lot at the Wolf Creek Bridge there was no shortage of folks enjoying a leisurely float down the MO’.
As has become our annual tradition here at WCA we celebrated the 4th with a barbecue for all of our guests and guides and it was a great time as always. Many of these guests have become great friends, having been here from the start.

Those who fished Monday night battled some of the gustiest winds we’ve experienced in a while but there was reportedly some magic in the air as the wind subsided just long enough for some downright spectacular caddis action.
It’s a bit of a transition time right now as the PMDs are on the way out and the Tricos on the way in all against the backdrop of what is shaping up to be a pretty decent caddis season.
The word up high is that while there has been no shortage of tricos in the morning the fish haven’t quite keyed into them yet. That being said, Trico Time is early morning start time. Those who go early will be rewarded.

Make us your early morning Missouri River One Stop. We are open daily at 6:30 AM, before any of the others and lately we’ve had a crowd before we even open the doors so we may very well look at moving that to 6 AM very soon. Stop in for shuttles, bugs, RO and Adipose Drift Boat Rentals, LOOP rods and reels, ARC Fly Lines, KAST guide wear and anything else you may need for your day on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00July 6th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, RO Drift Boats, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Caddis Sunset – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Beautiful (though somewhat windy) summer weather following Monday’s Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. We love all seasons on the MO’ but summer holds a special place in our hearts with the long hot days, gentle summer breezes and bugs a plenty. It’s dry fly Nirvana on one of the best trout rivers on the planet!

It’s the time of year when our long-time regulars return and friendships are rekindled over post-fishing cocktails around the trout camp at WCA. Come by most any evening and you’ll find folks relaxing on our porches taking in the canyon views and swapping lies from the day.

Come by most any morning and you’ll find a shop abuzz with activity as our guests and customers get ready for their day on the water. What bugs to use, what section to float, what time the bugs come off, how long it takes to float from the dam to Craig…..these questions and many more are asked and answered daily as we get you set up with premium flies from our ever expanding selection which is rapidly becoming the talk of the canyon.

The OPEN sign goes on at 6:30 AM but the coffee is usually on and the door open by 6:15 making us by far your earliest fly shop option around. We tried this last season and generally found that first half hour to be a quiet time with an occasional customer but the word has apparently gotten out because now we’re more often than not seeing a steady flow of customers from before the sign is even turned on.

Fishing conditions are optimal right now though a few clouds would likely help increase dry fly opportunities. Flows are holding in the 4500 range, currently at 4320 and water temps are in the 60 degree range. PMD’s are abundant, caddis are present and rising fish are plentiful. The wading is easy and the fish, though wising up quickly, are eager to take a well presented fly. Our guests, with few exceptions, have been all smiles the past few days save for some frustration with the wind yesterday which was way more than a gentle breeze but the fishing has been good and the anglers have been happy.

Nymphing remains challenging in the top sections though with a little work you should be able to find some fish willing to eat. The Split Case PMD has been the bug of choice but we’re continuing to pick them up on San Juan worms, Caddis Pupae and a host of mayfly nymphs as well. Lightning bugs, S & M’s, Military Mays, Magic Fly, Psycho May….there are a lot of things working though not much of it working all of the time so plan on changing those bugs and those rigs until you get into them.

We are certainly in our Prime Time right now so we suggest you call well ahead of time if you are seeking lodging, guide trips or boat rentals. The rest of the week looks like it’s going to be nice with sunshine and 70’s. We’re looking at cooler temps and a good chance for some thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday returning to sunshine and 70’s early next week.

We’ll see you bright and early each and every day at Wolf Creek Angler.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 22nd, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid June Missouri River Report

Mid to late June brings the PMD's

We’re already looking back at the first half of June as we find ourselves fully immersed in PRIME TIME on the Missouri. It’s hard to believe the summer solstice is but a couple of days away. Time marches on!

Snow and cold and frozen fingers and frozen guides don’t seem that long ago but believe it or not we have somehow reached the meat of the season. Dry Fly Nirvana on the MO’.

I’m still getting plenty of calls inquiring about whether the PMD’s have started yet. Yes…yes they have. Bugs a plenty here and plenty of dry fly opportunities. PMD’s are the main course with a smattering of caddis served up daily and it’s not too early to think about terrestrials.

Our bins are fully stocked with all kinds of new PMD and Caddis patterns, both dries and nymphs. We’ve got so many new bugs we’ve had to clear out some of the old to make way for the new so don’t miss our $1 fly bin – great bugs at a ridiculous price. Don’t forget those hard-to-find Purple Buggers….just $1 at Wolf Creek Angler. Get em’ before they’re gone!

Our Go-To PMD’s have been Eric’s Rusty Spinner, CDC Winged PMD Emergers, Quigley’s Film Critic, Wilcox’s Micromay , Knock Down Duns and PMD Flash Cripples among many many more. Caddis staples include Outrigger Caddis, CDC Caddis Emerger, Cornfed Caddis and X Caddis. If you’re still plying sub-surface the worm continues to produce, especially paired with a tailwater sow. We’ve also done well with purple or gold weight flies or Tung Darts paired with LGM’s, S& M’s, Military Mays, 2 Bit Hookers, Summer Bugs and on and on.

Looking for more great deals? Don’t miss our inaugural fourth of July fly sale coming soon and our sale racks are always worth a look for screaming deals on great gear from the likes of Simms, Redington and Kast. Nothing wrong with any of it….just need to move it out. Hopefully you won’t need any cold weather gear for the next little while but come that next chilly day on the water you’ll have the layers you need to stay warm and you’ll feel great about having gotten a killer deal.

Speaking of the weather it looks like we’ll see a return to 80’s on Tuesday, right on cue for the official start of summer. Sunshine and 80’s expected most of the week. Perfect weather for a just arrived Simms Solarflex featuring our new and improved logo.

Lodging is slammed but we have had a few cancellations here and there, give us a call and we’ll see if we can find you some room at the inn. Guides are slammed as well, making hay as they do, but if a June or July Missouri River guide trip is on your bucket list don’t hesitate to call…we’ll make it happen. As one of the only Outfitter Owned and Operated Fly Shops on the Missouri we’ve got the edge when it comes to putting you on the water with some of the best guides on the river.

We are open daily at 6:30 AM – earlier than anyone else so make us your early morning Missouri River fly fishing one stop. Shuttles, bugs, strong coffee, sun protection and a wealth of friendly advice and up-to-the minute info on what’s happening on the MO’. You are our number one priority….every day of the year.

See you bright and early at WCA.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 17th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

WCA welcome ARC to the Missouri

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We are excited to announce that Wolf Creek Angler is now your exclusive dealer of ARC Fishing fly lines, leaders and tippet on the Missouri River. We’ve been fishing their lines this spring and we’re absolutely loving them. We’re super stoked to get behind a newcomer to the industry intent on earning your business by offering products which they claim have a clear advantage over the competition and while there are plenty of great fly lines out there, many of which we carry, we simply can’t say enough about the ARC 99 and 99+ lines. To put it simply….these lines float….higher and longer and better than most. We don’t sell any products we wouldn’t personally use and we stand behind everything we sell but we feel ARC definitely deserves to occupy the space we’ve devoted to them on the wall reserved for PREMIUM lines.

The lines feature the latest advancements in line design, including transition Zones, a super high floating permanent Nano PTFE coating and a low-friction, grooved line profile which makes them among the longest casting, highest floating and easiest mending fly lines on the market today.

We also love their design philosophy and their commitment to simplicity. They call their lines 99 because according to them these lines are good for 99% of the fishing situations you could possibly encounter.

Read the ARC story below, check out their web site www.arcfishing.com and then come out to WCA and take these lines for a test drive. You won’t find them anywhere else on the MO’.

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Wolf Creek Angler is your Exclusive ARC dealer on the Missouri River

Our Story

We launched ARC Fishing with an ambitious goal: to demonstrate there’s still plenty of opportunity for innovation in the tippet, fly line and leader markets.

Along the way, we’ve partnered with world-class manufacturers who share our passion for fly fishing, combining materials knowledge and manufacturing expertise to create the most technically advanced and versatile tippet, leaders, and fly lines on the market today. All designed with a single purpose: to help you land more fish.

Our design philosophy emphasizes simplicity, but not at the expense of performance. ARC products are packed with the latest features and technologies, including some market firsts. And, all designed to deliver unmatched performance under the most demanding fishing conditions.

As one of the industry’s newest companies, we’re committed to earning your business. We know the only way to do that is to offer products with a clear advantage over the competition.

But don’t take our word for it. Take our products to a river, lake or the flats to see what they can do. We’re confident you won’t be disappointed.

We look forward to talking to you about the full line of ARC Fishing products and seeing you on the water!

The Story Behind 99

Legendary fly angler Lefty Kreh once said, “There’s more B.S. in fly fishing than in a Kansas feedlot.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Take fly lines for example. Some companies have so many specialized lines they would have you think you need an app to pick one. We think that’s a bit over the top.

So here at ARC Fishing, we obsess about line design and technology, so you don’t have to.

And that’s the significance of the 99 designation on selected ARC fly lines. These lines are good for 99% of the fishing situations you could possibly encounter.

All ARC 99 branded fly lines feature time-tested tapers and materials that won’t let you down under the most demanding fresh and saltwater fishing conditions. You can trust them to get the job done no matter where your fishing adventures take you.

There may be a few times – say when you are tossing dry flies to wary trout or powering through stiff winds stalking bones on the flats — where you might need a customized taper design. We’ve got you covered there, too, with lines like the ARC Dry Fly, the ARC Bonefish/Redfish and the ARC Tarpon.

So forget the fly line selection app and make your next purchase an ARC 99 or ARC specialized fly line … with the confidence that you have chosen a line that’s easy to understand and even easier to use.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 14th, 2016|Categories: Product Review|Tags: 99, ARC Fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Go Time

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It’s GO Time at Wolf Creek Angler as we hit our summer stride.

Last week’s pause in the action is but a memory now with a few relatively quiet days being replaced with busy mornings in the shop getting guide trips out the door and getting all of our customers everything they need for fishing the MO’.

Since I’m being followed by early-rising customers and guests into the shop most mornings when I get here to open I think it’s time we start opening earlier.

Starting tomorrow (Friday) we will be open daily at 6:30 AM, earlier than all the rest so if you’re planning on hitting the water early make us your first stop. We’re your early morning Missouri River One Stop Shop for shuttles, bugs, ice, lines, leaders, tippet, Fishpond Nomad Nets and anything else you might need.

Dry Fly fishing is heating up and our guests are loving it. Plenty of PMD’s and Caddis out there and plenty of opportunities to target rising fish. Absent those much sought after pods of rising fish, blind fishing can be very effective as well if you’d rather stare at a fly than a bobber. Try a Sloans Outrigger Caddis (or perhaps the Outrigger Sally) trailed with a Grey CDC Caddis emerger. The fish are hungry and they’re on the hunt for juicy dead-drifting bugs. Spend some time getting that reach cast dialed in and get out there and give them a shot. Need some help with your cast? We can do that! We’ve got the best guides on the river and they are great teachers. We’ll have you perfectly presenting dry flies in no time!

Nymphing remains somewhat inconsistent these last few days with flows continuing to fluctuate but it looks like we’ll be settling in to consistent summer flows soon. Barring any major precipitation events we should see flows stabilizing in the 5000 cfs range for the remainder of June before dropping to predicted summer flows in the low 4000 range. We like it! We’d prefer a little more water but as I’ve stated repeatedly we’ll take whatever we get and make the best of it….not much else we can do. Expect the MO’ to be your go-to trout water in Montana once again this summer and expect WCA to be your go-to Missouri River fly fishing destination. Screenshot (69)

Best bets for nymphing right now would be something along the lines of a Rainbow or Tan UV Czech or Purple or Gold Weight Fly trailed with a Split Case PMD, PMD Magic Fly, S & M, Light Peep Show or some other PMDish offering. We’ve been sticking with the deep (8′ overall) rigs and picking up a few here and there in the deep water but the fast shallows are LOADED with fish right now and should be targeted. Short leashing is definitely something you want to consider from here on out.

Go early, stay late or Go Late and stay later. Plenty of daylight on both sides of the clock.

See you out there.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 9th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Fishpond, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Early June on the MO’

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It feels like summer. Sunshine and 90’s and plenty of bugs.

With this weather it won’t be long until our lush green landscapes become much less so as the hills are scorched by the summer sun but we’re holding out hope for some more precipitation and maybe even another bump in the flows which are currently at 5370 cfs. Water predictions are on the shelf for now as we simply don’t know. It feels like we could see another low water year but as I write the sky is darkening with storm clouds. A few big rains could change the whole story. Canyon Ferry is currently sitting at close to 96% full so while runoff may be over or close to it, a few days of rain could very well bring us the water we’re looking for. We’ll see 80’s and 90’s and a chance of showers and thunderstorms all week long before a cool down this weekend returns us to more seasonable temps in the 60’s and 70’s.

Angling traffic has picked up on the river this week after a busy weekend of rec floaters and little angling pressure. It’s a different story today with no shortage of drift boats on the water river wide. We’re heading into Prime Time on the Missouri if you are a dry fly angler….The Big Show! PMD’s and Caddis are on the menu right now and finding rising fish is becoming more and more consistent with every passing day. The majority of the dry fly action is still concentrated in the stretches below Craig and consequently this is where we continue to see the most angling pressure but there is plenty of good fishing to be had in the upper stretches as well.

We’ve had some good days out there powering through what at times has been some very challenging nymphing while on the hunt for rising fish. The fish we’ve found on top have been more than willing to eat for the most part provided you feed them what they want. We’ve had good luck with a gray CDC Caddis Emerger or Cornfed Caddis trailed behind a Sloans Outrigger Caddis or a Parachute Adams, particularly the sparkle variety. Consistently good PMD patterns include the Helen Keller PMD, Almost Dun PMD, Flash Cripple PMD and various PMD and Rusty Spinners. Throw an emerger on with one of these or try the amazingly effective Buzzball.

We’re loaded up with all kinds of cool Caddis and PMD patterns both nymphs and dries. We’ve got more than 50 PMD patterns and at least as many Caddis varieties. Best Bets on the nymphing side right now include Split Case PMD’s, Doc’s PMD, Doc’s Summer Bug, Hares Ear Tung Dart, Light Peep Show, S & M PMD, Brown 2 Bit Hooker, Military May PMD, UV Yum Yum, Purple, Pearl or Olive Lightning Bugs, PT’s, UV Czechs and on and on. It’s a virtual smorgasbord this time of year. Fish what you like and fish it well.

As we mentioned, nymphing has had its challenging moments over the past few days. Maybe it’s the fluctuations in flows, maybe it’s the abundance of sunshine, maybe it’s just fishing….who knows. Work the water you like, change bugs, change depths, move to the water you may not like as much and repeat. If you put the time in you will likely find some level of success, if not, there’s always tomorrow.

Streamer fishing remains an option, especially under cloud cover. Try Space Invaders, Sparkle Minnows, Baby Gongas, Lil’ Kims, ZK’s S.O.B., Circus Peanuts, ZK’s Club Drug, Dirty Hippies and Montana Mouthwash just to name a few. We’ve had good luck with Olives, Naturals and white. Once again, fish what you like and fish it well. With water temps in that mid 50’s range you’ll want to keep those bugs on the move. Make them chase!

We’re open every day at 7 am for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. Lodging, shuttles, sun protection, the best guides on the Missouri River and an ever-expanding fly selection that’s already come to be known as one of, if not the best, in the area. We are your exclusive dealer of LOOP rods and reels and ARC fly lines on the Missouri River. Outfitter Owned and Operated and having as much fun being your fly shop as you are fly fishing one of the best trout rivers on the planet.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 7th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Outlook

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We heard a bunch of good dry fly reports from yesterday, most having found success in the canyon and below. Along with midges and the waning BWO’s PMD’s and Caddis are on the menu, not a ton of either but enough to keep you fairly occupied. Reports yesterday were that Parachute Adams, Trudes and CDC Caddis Emergers all drew some attention.

We just received a big part of our summer bug shipment so our bins are fully loaded with all kinds of cool PMD and Caddis patterns, both dry flies and nymphs. We’re also re-stocked on Green Machines and S & M’s amongst others. You can expect to find all the hot bugs you are looking for at Wolf Creek Angler along with a bunch of other patterns you won’t believe you’ve been missing out on. We’re fully stocked for the MO’ and beyond with plenty of freestone stuff as well and more foam then you’ll find anywhere!

We’re fighting some gusty winds today. Tomorrow will be better and the weekend looks like it could be perfect with temps in the mid to high 80’s and light and variable winds in the forecast. It might be a great weekend to come out and do the dry fly thing on the Missouri before things really get busy out there which looks like next week. We’ve got our busiest couple of weeks on the water thus far starting next week and I can only assume the story is the same with the other shops and outfitters so come out and enjoy the relative solitude on the MO’ now and expect a lot of traffic (and plenty of fish) in the weeks to come.

PMD’s are what’s on the menu. Stop by Wolf Creek Angler for the widest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

There haven’t been many PMD’s around as of yet so we haven’t really started fishing these patterns but it’s definitely time to dig out your PMD box and organize, inventory, re-stock and expand your selection. Some of our favorites are Nyman’s DOA Cripple, Flash Cripple, Powell’s Helen Keller PMD, Almost Dun, Knock Down Dun, No Hackle PMD, Captive Dun, PMD Drowned Spinner, Eric’s Rusty Spinner, CDC Rusty Spinner and various Hi Vis PMD and Rusty Spinners. My go-to PMD nymphs are the PMD Magic Fly, Split Case PMD, S & M PMD, Light Peep Show, Doc’s PMD, Doc’s Summer Bug, Psycho May PMD, Trina’s PMD Angel Case Emerger and the good old Gold LB.

On the caddis side we like Sloan’s Outrigger trailed with a cdc emerger or Cornfed Caddis. Try a purple or gold Weight Fly or a Tung Dart if you’re in search of a good caddis pupae nymph and don’t forget the buzzballs as they represent pieces and parts of pretty much any hatch you might be fishing.

It seems as though we’ve had our peak flows, at least for the time being. Expect flows to continue to drop as the runoff flows into Canyon Ferry dwindle. We’re stoked to have a hot sunny weekend on tap but we’re holding out hope for cooler temps and plenty of precip throughout June. Fingers crossed! LPP and the Dearborn are on the drop and are in great shape right now if small water happens to be your game.

We’ve got the calm before the storm happening now with a quiet weekend before guide trips and lodging kick into high gear on Monday. Plenty of availability for both for the next three days if a spur-of-the moment trip to the MO’ is in the cards for you. Book a room and a guide trip or grab one of our RO or Adipose Drift Boats and explore the river on your own. Just coming for the day? Stop by the shop for everything you need. Shuttles, sun protection, Smith Optics, LOOP rods and reels, Obscene Clearance Prices on winter gear from KAST and Outdoor Research and the best bug selection around.

See you this weekend at Wolf Creek Angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:34-06:00June 2nd, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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