running line Archives - Page 51 of 64

Change It Up – 6/3/2015

Guest Blog from WCA Guide Jim Murray

Patti enjoying a great day on the Missouri. Photo by Jim Murray

Fishing reports have been all across the boards lately, some people seem to be getting into fish fairly consistently, others are doing “ok”, and others seem to be having some tough days out there. There is definitely some change in the air, and multiple theories abound. “Fish are full” “bugs aren’t consistent” “weather changed” “fish are weird”, etc.

Things definitely have cooled a bit, but with all the different theories, there is one constant theme: CHANGE. Anglers that are changing it up seem to be having success, while anglers that continue to do what worked last month/week/day/hour seem to be struggling a bit more often. Don’t be afraid to try something new and different. The fish aren’t as grabby as they have been, but they still need to eat. The challenge is figuring it out. What’s working? The talk around the shop is: “going old school” “Firebeads” “Big Dries” “9 ft to bottom fly” “2 ft to bottom fly” “weight” “no weight” “mayfly nymphs” “Caddis nymphs”. See a pattern? Not really, other than: change. The anglers that are trying new and different techniques are finding fish. So if you are not finding your flies in the mouths of trout as often as you like, switch it up. Throw different bugs. Shorten your nymph rig. Lengthen it. Throw dries. And as always, focus on the right water and a good drift. The fish are there. They like to eat. They want to eat. They need to eat. So make ‘em happy. Give them what they want!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00June 3rd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Update

Blue Skies, plenty of sunshine and lots of yellow flowers along Little Prickly Pear make everything ok. photo by Wolf Creek Angler

We had a break from the gloomy wet weather yesterday with a bright and sunny day that lifted everyone’s spirits. We’re loving all of the precipitation for sure but it’s amazing what a little sunshine can do to change your state of mind.
Back to the gloomy weather today but looking on the bright side, it’s perfect streamer weather and it sounds like nymphing has been just fine as well save a few tough reports I heard from yesterday. What about dries you ask? On the spotty side right now as we await the arrival of the PMDs but that’s not to say there are no opportunities. Those who know where to go are finding plenty of action on top.

The weather pattern looks to be holding for the coming week with a chance for showers and thunderstorms most days. Highs in the 80’s tomorrow and Monday – more normal temps in the low 70’s for the remainder of the week.
We’ve got several vacancies for the early part of the week before we kick into full-on summer season mode late in the week. Book a night or two for yourself today and while you’re at it why not book yourself a guide trip and let our guides do all the work while you just catch fish?

Just back from Missoula this morning where the rivers are running muddy so if you are from that neck of the woods and you want to fish this week – make it the Missouri. We are here to help you out with anything you may need for your day on the water. Lodging, shuttles, , RO drift boats (including the brand new, much anticipated and much talked about Tailwater Skiff), friendly service and advice, all kinds of packs and accessories and wading gear and clothing from the likes of Fishpond, Kast, Redington, Umpqua and Simms and of course, the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. Stop in and see us today and see what the buzz is about. Open daily at 7 am.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00May 30th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, Fishpond, Kast Gear, Little Prickly Pear, Missouri River, Montana, RO Drift Boats, RO Tailwater Skiff, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Weekend Outlook

It’s going to be a great weekend to get out and fish the Missouri with overcast to partly sunny skies and a chance for showers and thunderstorms each day. Friday looks great with a mix of sun and clouds and a high of 71. Things heat up on Saturday and Sunday with highs near 80.

The potential remains for some great streamer fishing, especially below the Dearborn which continues to churn. The same goes for the worm which should definitely be a component of your nymphing plan for the next while. Tailwater sows and various mayfly nymphs have been effective as of late including LGM’s, PMD Magic Fly, Rainbow Warriors, Autocads, Military May, Peeps Shows, 2 Bit Hookers, Black PT’s, Hot Belly PT in purple, Olive WD40’s and Pearl lightning bugs. We’ve also seen a resurgence in Zebra sales in both black and purple with silver tungsten beads and various caddis patterns like the weight fly in purple or gold have certainly had their moments.

Dry Fly potential is ever-present with baetis and midges and the occasional caddis around but we seem to have officially reached the in-between hatches stage as we await the PMD’s.

Sparkle Minnows and Kreelex have definitely led the charge in streamers for the past week. We just got in a brown and yellow Kreelex that I can’t wait to try and of course we are well stocked on my favorite the Circus Peanut in tan, olive, black or white. We’ve got everything you need for streamer fishing on the MO and beyond with a wide selection of Streamer Tip and Outbound Short lines from Rio and Streamer Max from Airflo which has been my go to line this season. Looking for a streamer rod? We’ve got St Croix Bank Robber rods available for demo. Designed by Kelly Galloup these 9′ 7 weight rods are exceptional streamer sticks with plenty of backbone for casting big weighted flies effortlessly and with exact precision. Try one today and if you like it so much you decide you want to purchase one we’ll knock the rental price off of your purchase.

We’re also offering Galloups’s High Stick Drifter for demo. This 10′ 5 weight with a special light-weight tip offers superb sensitivity and control without the fatigue associated with holding the rod high for long periods of time. Call ahead and reserve your Bank Robber or High Stick Drifter demo rod today.

We’ve got a couple of vacancies for the weekend and a bit of a lull through the middle of next week before things kick into gear again with full lodging and lots of trips going out beginning late next week and running through the summer season. We’re taking a breath now while we can as we prepare for the summer rush. It would be a great time to book a room and a trip for yourself – guides are standing by. It’s the calm before the storm.

See you soon at Wolf Creek Angler, your full service Missouri River fly shop and guide service located just minutes from Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge – nobody’s closer!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00May 28th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, nymphs, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Rainy Days on the MO

We did a lot of Dearborn River shuttles last week as people took advantage of 500 ish flows with the thought that the window to float would be short-lived. As of this morning the Dearborn is pushing at 807 so we may in fact have a Dearborn season after all, especially with rain in the forecast every day this week. Please give us a call today if you are interested in doing a day on the Dearborn. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to fish one of Montana’s hidden gems!

Back to the rain….obviously we were disappointed with the Dub C A Soiree getting rained out over the weekend and the soggy weather also put a bit of a damper on the Craig Caddis Festival the weekend before, though the word is that they did extremely well bringing in their biggest haul to date despite the low turnout.

So while there have been more days on the damp/cool side than not and mowing the grass has become a full-time job, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Things are really greening up everywhere you look, the high water in the creeks is making for some excellent streamer fishing opportunities both on the creeks themselves and on the Missouri and most importantly, Canyon Ferry continues to fill (currently at 88 percent) which will hopefully mean comfortable summer flows at or near the 4000 mark.

Flows in the mid 3000’s are what continue to be the prediction for the summer season and while these flows are not ideal for the overall health of the river a lot of the wade anglers love the fact that they can access so much more water. Consequently, the potential for conflict between wade anglers and boat anglers will be on the rise so please respect one another out there and give as wide a berth as possible to your fellow anglers whether in a boat or on foot. I personally go out of my way to give huge amounts of space to other boats and to wade anglers and I appreciate when others follow suit. There is plenty of water and plenty of room to spread out. If the majority of the traffic is concentrated in the top section why not go down low and explore new options. The fish are everywhere! We all have our comfort zones which we develop over time through our experience on the water but as the crowds roll in why not expand that comfort zone by frequenting some of the less popular stretches? Easier said than done, believe me I know, but it will make you a better angler and certainly a better guide if you get to know the whole river.

Stop by the shop or give us a call for up-to-the-minute reports and conditions. Open at 7:00 am daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs including lodging, RO drift boat rentals, fishing licenses, shuttles and of course, the widely publicized largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana as recently reported in major newspapers across the state.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00May 26th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, RO Drift Boats, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Memorial Day Fishing Report

Guest Blog from WCA Guide Jim Murray

The big boys are out in full force on the Missouri as May turns to June. Reports of large fish being caught from the Dam to Cascade are becoming the norm. The fish are big, fat and happy. The much needed precipitation we’ve gotten over the last week has caused some fluctuation with the flows and a water temp, which has led to some inconsistent fishing depending on the days, but overall reports have been good to great. Pressure on the river is definitely increasing as well, as the season is kicking into high gear, which means you may have to kick your game up a notch or two to continue to get it done out there. Paying close attention to your presentation, whether nymphing or throwing dries, is becoming even more crucial, as fish are starting to see A LOT of flies. Anglers that continue to get good drifts, in the right zone, continue to have success.

The canyon continues to fish well, and I have been spending a lot of time down there, while many of my guide buddies continue to put great days together while fishing between Wolf Creek and Spite Hill. With these water fluctuations and wet weather, the worm has been a consistent producer, along with your mayfly nymph of choice. On Saturday, bugs were EVERYWHERE on the water, and the fish responded. I’ve noticed that I’ve had more success with “bigger” mayfly nymphs (size 16 vs. 18 or 20), as the fish are starting to see PMD nymphs. I’ve had mixed success fishing caddis nymphs, some days the fish seem to really key in on them, others, not so much. It’s only a matter of time (days?) until the caddis becomes a consistent producer out here.

The dry fly bite has been great, with reports of blind casting dries such as an Adams or Caddis producing fish. Finding pods of rising fish is becoming easier and easier, and the fish, while not as gullible as they were maybe a month ago, are still willing to eat a properly presented dry fly. Again, a good presentation is absolutely crucial. Those that practice this catch fish, those that don’t, well, don’t.

All in all, the Missouri is fishing great right now, and the fish are big and fat! The season is kicking into high gear, and we can’t wait. It’s going to be a great summer on the Mo!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00May 25th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Soiree that was not to be…

Following weeks of preparation and anticipation the Inaugural Wolf Creek Angler Missouri River Soiree had to be cancelled last night due to a downpour of much needed rain and the soggy aftermath.
We held out hope throughout the day as we watched the clouds and the spitting mist come and go and as we monitored the hourly forecast which seemed to change by the minute but which for the most part indicated a clearing in the weather in time for the party.
Shortly before 4 pm we had the scene set with flags and tents and it looked like it was going to happen. Around 4:30 the band arrived along with the pouring rain and wind and we began the discussion of whether or not the Soiree was going to happen.
We continued to check the hourly forecast which still indicated a hopeful scenario for the evening hours but the actuality was a soggy and cold mess which didn’t seem to be changing. Once it was determined that the band would not play we made the collective decision to cancel the event knowing that the turn-out would likely be minimal and that whatever we were able to salvage as far as a party was concerned would probably be miserable given the conditions.
It was a disappointing and depressing decision to have to make. We apologize to any who came out anticipating dinner and fun at WCA and found instead an empty parking lot and a darkened storefront. We will try again! We have yet to come up with any dates but there will definitely be a party some time this summer at Wolf Creek Angler. We will leave the idea of the Soiree behind for now and just plan to do a low key barbecue and band event.
Thanks again to all who came out yesterday throughout the day and a huge thanks to all of our customers and guests and to all of those who follow the blog and follow us on social media. The Soiree was supposed to be our way of saying thank you for making WCA what it is and we will definitely give it another try.
Stay tuned!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00May 24th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Missouri River Week in Review

Jan and Lynn doubling up with the legendary Dave McKee

It’s been a great week of fishing on the Missouri and it just seems to keep getting better. Get out there!

Ellie from Colorado mastering the nymphing game on the MO

Lynn with a beautiful Missouri River Brown

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00May 23rd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Soiree Time at WCA

We are ready for the Inaugural Dub C A Soiree

All kinds of cool logo gear available now at WCA

We’re one day away from the Inaugural Wolf Creek Angler Missouri River Soiree happening tomorrow, May 23rd.

It’s the Grand Opening we never had last season and what we hope will become an annual event held on Memorial Day weekend at WCA to kick off the summer season on the Missouri. If you haven’t been to our shop yet we hope you come by and check it out.

15% off of all merchandise all day in the shop tomorrow. Flies from MFC and Umpqua; Rods from St Croix and Echo; Ross, Echo and Nautilus reels; extreme fishing gear from Kast; wading gear from Redington; logo wear from Simms; Smith sunglasses; Yeti coolers and tumblers;packs from Fishpond and Umpqua; Rio and Airflo fly lines and all kinds of cool gadgets and accessories and much much more.

We’re stocked up on Hydro Flask coffee flasks, water bottles and beer growlers as well and we’re proud to announce that we’re partnering with Blackfoot River Brewing Company in Helena to bring you your first growler fill on us. Purchase a growler and we’ll give you three Blackfoot tokens good for a growler fill at the tap room. 15% off the cost of the growler with a free fill – you can’t afford to pass this deal up.

Looking for a great gift idea? How about a River Series handcrafted wood fly box from A.L. Swanson Craftsman Studios in Helena or choose from a great selection of Montana fly fishing books. We’ve also got gift cards available good for anything we sell.

It’s going to be a great day as we celebrate the unofficial start of the summer season. We invite you to stop in on your way to the river to take advantage of the great deals and return after your day on the water for a free barbecue and music from Helena’s Sleeping Giants starting at 5 pm in our front parking lot. Bring a friend or three and help us kick off the season. We’ve got a couple of rooms left for tomorrow night – make one of them yours today.

See you at the Soiree!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00May 22nd, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Blackfoot River Breweing Company, Dub C A Soiree, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Fishing Report 5/21/15

Hot fishing on cold rainy days on the MO.

Last weekend’s Montana Monsoon rains which lasted into the early part of the week changed things up a bit bumping Missouri flows up over 4,000 for a couple of days, greening up the countryside and coloring the water up below Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn.
The streamer guys took advantage of the situation both on the MO and the creeks and the worm ruled for a short time as the mud dumped. We had a couple of outstanding bwo events on those cold rainy days despite the persistent north northeast winds which made things a little on the unpleasant side out there. All in all however, the cold wet weather made for some great fishing all the way around.
Yesterday the sunshine and blue skies returned and the action slowed a bit as the river cleared and the flows returned to sub 4K. Reports were mixed but overall it was on the slow side yesterday from top to bottom.
Tailwater sows were our ticket on Monday and Tuesday on the upper stretch but that all changed yesterday as we worked hard to find something they would eat with some consistnecy. It was one of those days constantly changing bugs and changing depths and failing to really find a consistent rig. There were some reports of the worm continuing to work below the Dearborn but we ran a wire worm of sorts for the better part of the day in the Wolf Creek to Stickney stretch and failed to get an eat. Little Green Machines, Peep Shows and the PMD Magic Fly were our best bugs of the day in slower, moderate depth water, usually working inside out and running the drop-offs.
The streamer bite was fair yesterday despite the bright sun with Coffey’s Sculpin Sparkle Minnow and the Circus Peanut getting some attention. Dry fly activity was spotty yesterday though there were a couple of spots with substantial pod activity between Craig and Stickney and it appeared as though an evening outing would have been quite productive judging by the diminished winds and the fish we saw up as we drove along the river back to Wolf Creek.
We’ve got another blue sky day with a slight chance of rain this afternoon with more of the same for tomorrow. We’ve got limited lodging available for the weekend and guides available anytime. Give us a call at the shop for up-to-the-minute river and weather conditions and stop by on your way to the river for bugs, shuttles, boats and everything you need for your day on the water. Don’t forget the DUB C A Soiree happening all day on Saturday with 15% off everything store wide except shuttles. Free barbeque beginning at 5 pm with music from Helena’s Sleeping Giants weather permitting.
See you at Wolf Creek Angler!

Our first day of outfitting on the Blackfoot with WCA guide Ryan Stultz

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00May 21st, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Week Ahead

Preparations underway for the Dub C A Soiree. Fred hard at work getting the grounds in shape.

It’s going to be a busy week here in Wolf Creek as we prepare for Saturday’s Dub C A Soiree. We’re prettying things up around the shop and the property and hoping for awesome weather for the weekend. The current forecast is for rain showers in the morning becoming intermittent later in the day with highs near 70.
Stop in Saturday morning for bugs and shuttles and great deals on almost everything and come back after fishing for barbeque and live music from Sleeping Giants starting at 5 pm. We’ ve got a few vacancies for the weekend which should fill by mid week so don’t hesitate. Book your lodging and guide trips today.
Busy morning on the MO with the dam and Wolf Creek Bridge launches buzzing with activity. The rainy weekend has flows at around 4400 with Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn pumping a fair amount of mud. Could be some outstanding streamer fishing to be had. Mixed bag of reports from yesterday with most reporting a tougher than average day. Heard a few good reports from those fishing the creeks but much of that water is pretty churned up right now. Should be back in shape by the middle part of the week.
The weather looks good this week with temps in the 60’s and 70’s and partly cloudy skies though that NNE wind looks like its going to hang around a while longer.
Full fishing report tomorrow.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:52-06:00May 18th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: running line, WCA Soiree, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments