Streamer Fishing Archives - Wolf Creek Angler

This Weekend on the MO

If you’re thinking about hitting the river today (Thursday), we’d strongly suggest sitting this one out. A High Wind Warning is in effect through 11 a.m. tomorrow, with sustained west winds of 35–45 mph and gusts pushing 65 mph. Simply put—not ideal fishing conditions.

Things improve a bit tomorrow afternoon, but it will remain breezy with south winds at 14–22 mph and gusts up to 30. Fishable? Maybe. Enjoyable? Debatable. It might be worth giving Friday a pass as well.

The weekend, however, looks nearly perfect.

Saturday brings mostly sunny skies, calm winds, and a high near 46, with just a slight chance of snow in the morning. Sunday looks even better—partly sunny, calm winds, and a high around 55. That pattern carries into next week with continued mild, stable weather.

That’s great news for those itching to fish right now. From a longer-term perspective, we’re still keeping an eye on conditions. We’re about to put another winter month behind us with below-average snowfall and above-average temperatures. With spring just a few weeks away, all we can do is hope March delivers some late winter moisture and that spring trends wetter. While concern is warranted, pessimism isn’t productive—and regardless of conditions, we’ll fish on.

Current Situation in Montana

If you’re planning to be out this weekend, we hope you start your day with a stop at Wolf Creek Angler. We’ll be fully staffed for shuttles, and as of this writing, lodging is still available.

Winter lodging rates are $149/night, and all currently available rooms include kitchen facilities. These rooms are not pet-friendly, but pet-friendly units will begin opening up over the next couple of weeks.

Our guides are ready to get back on the water and have availability. While we don’t play the discount game, we are offering a lodging and guide trip special through the end of March:
$850 for two nights of premium lodging and a full-day guided trip for one or two anglers—essentially standard trip pricing with BOGO lodging.

We’re also excited to roll out updates to our website that now allow you to request a guided trip online—no phone call required. Look for the BOOK NOW buttons throughout the site.

Spring shipments are arriving daily, and the shop is well stocked for current conditions. We’re loaded up on Pill Poppers and Tailwater Sows (arguably all you really need right now), along with plenty of other effective options for nymphing, streamer fishing, and swinging flies. Expect some solid midge activity top water this weekend as well.

We also have Adipose drift boat rentals, Trxstle rod carriers, rods and reels from Sage, Lamson, Echo, and Redington. Simms wading gear, Korkers boots, eyewear from Smith and Suncloud, and a full lineup of WCA logo gear, with new items arriving weekly.

The shop will open at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with shuttle service available both days. We’ll do our best to offer shuttles throughout the week as well.

And finally—feel free to pray for snow. You might as well do it while floating the Missouri and enjoying this stretch of spring-like weather.

Reminder: Your 2025 fishing license expires Saturday, February 28. FWP has eliminated retail license sales and moved to a “License Ambassador Program,” which we have opted out of. As a result, WE CAN NO LONGER SELL YOU A FISHING LICENSE. Licenses must now be purchased online.

See you on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-02-26T09:15:23-07:00February 26th, 2026|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Adipose, Echo, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Montana, pill popper, Redington, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Finally Freezing

It has been a long time coming but we’re finally seeing some normal winter weather with single digit lows and highs in the teens and twenties for the weekend. Just what you would expect in late January.

Unfortunately, it’s just an anomaly in our FOREVER NOVEMBER as we will be back in the 40’s next week and 50’s next weekend!

This is great news if you’re getting the itch and need some time on the water to scratch it but with January nearly in the rearview and just two months remaining before the season begins to get underway, we could certainly use a bunch more winter.

The Snotel map still shows much of the region at or just slightly below 100 percent of average but a substantial portion of that green is starting to turn to yellow (70 – 89% of average) and if we don’t start to add to that snowpack soon it could mean another challenging summer in Montana. Let us hope for a snowy and cold February and March!

Things will be quiet for the weekend with the frigid temps but I would expect we will see some traffic next week.

Nymphing will be your best bet for numbers next week with sow bug variations being the go-to all winter long. Pill Poppers, Tailwater Sows, Pederson’s Sow, Soft Hackle Sow, Poxyback Sow…you get the idea. Rainbow Czechs, Amex and Bubble Yums also in the mix right now along with Rainbow Warriors, Caviar Scuds and Zebras.

The warmer days will likely be accompanied by breezy conditions but if you can find those quiet spots, sheltered from the wind, midge fishing is only going to get better from here on out if winter dry fly fishing is your jam. We are fully stocked on all kinds of midge and midge cluster patterns so stop by and stock those midge boxes on your way to the river.

Streamer fishing has been meh with the swingers having more luck than the strippers on most days. Water temps, while not exceedingly cold, are cold enough that the fish are hunkered down in the slow winter depths and not overly eager to give chase. Try swinging a Kreelex, a Polar Leech, a Thin Mint or other leechy offering or even just a soft hackle if you are so inclined.

For those who just cannot quit the strip (me included), Sparkle Minnows and Skiddish Smolt have been moving the occasional fish but it has definitely been slow going. Regardless, keep at it. You never know what might happen when you dredge the depths with a SLOW strip and a bunch of pauses. Those behemoth browns are down there; you just need to work until you find one willing to move just enough to grab that high calorie offering. A lot of rowing, a ton of casting and stripping and a little luck…the recipe for winter streamer success on the MO.

We are open at 8:30 AM Tuesday – Saturday and as the weather dictates we’re doing what we can to have shuttle service available though that will continue to be hit or miss for another month or so. A call ahead, especially a day ahead, helps tremendously so give us a heads up if you can and we will do our best to take care of your shuttles.

We are stocked up on winter flies and while the Annual Rod and Reel Sale has come to a close we’ve certainly been known to wheel and deal as we clear space for newly arriving inventory. There is no time like the present to upgrade that rod or those waders and boots or whatever it is you need.

We are your Missouri River One Stop shop covering everything you need for your trip to the Missouri. All the gear, all the flies, the best guide crew on the river and a place to lay your head. It’s all here at Wolf Creek Angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2026-01-23T11:26:27-07:00January 23rd, 2026|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, pill popper, running line, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Quiet on the MO’ photo by Wolf Creek Angler

As we approach Thanksgiving it appears as though we’re FINALLY in for at least a taste of winter weather later this week with temperatures plunging and a chance for some snow on Thursday and Friday.

Tomorrow looks good for travel and good for fishing with partly cloudy skies and a high near 40 with SW winds at 10 – 15 mph. Thanksgiving Day we’ll see snow showers and a high of 36 before the cold blast arrives on Friday with a high of 23 and lows in the single digits along with the possibility of another couple inches of snow.

The weekend will be cold with highs near twenty on Saturday and Sunday and lows near zero on Saturday night but moderating Sunday. Temperatures will stabilize next week with highs in the 30’s and low 40’s and lows in the 20’s, much more what we expect in late November!

River flows remain low, currently at 2950 CFS with water temperatures holding in the mid 40’s but look for those temperatures to drop as we head into the holiday weekend.
Traffic this week has been non-existent and while there may be a few folks taking advantage of the holiday to hit the water over the next couple of days, I’d expect the winter weather will likely keep traffic to a minimum.

If you are planning to hit the MO this Thanksgiving week you might opt for wade fishing rather than committing to a float just so you can bail at will. If you are going to float, I’d recommend staying in the Holter Dam to Craig zone, keeping it super short with a Dam to Wolf Creek Bridge run or stretching the day with a Wolf to Craig campaign.

Nymphing will produce with Sowbugs being your go-to and you may find a fish or two rising for a surface meal but for my money streamers are the ticket, either swung or stripped. Leeches and soft hackles on the swing, Sparkle Minnows and Smolts on the strip. Swing the tailouts and drop offs, hit the banks and shallows with a moderately fast strip and plenty of pauses.

We are taking advantage of the downtime to get some maintenance items knocked off the list and also to enjoy some time with loved ones. Shop hours are on the hit and miss side this time of year, but we can say for certain that we will be CLOSED for the Thanksgiving holiday starting on Thursday and won’t be back in the shop until Monday, December 1st.

We do have lodging available so give us a shout if you need accommodations, but the shop will be closed. If you need shuttles over the weekend, please give our friends in Craig a call.

We have got our best deals of the season on rods and reels and waders and boots right now or you can get your Christmas shopping done with a quick phone call. WCA Gift Cards make a great gift for the fly fishers on your list and can be purchased in any amount and are good for anything and everything we sell from shuttles to lodging to guide trips to merchandise.

As we reflect on this season that has now come to a close, we couldn’t be more thankful to all of you for making us a part of your Missouri River fly fishing experience. Whether you stayed with us, fished with us, shopped with us or all the above, we extend a heart-felt thank you for your business and for giving us the opportunity to take care of you.

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving from all of us at Wolf Creek Angler!

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-11-25T12:01:27-07:00November 25th, 2025|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Farewell October

The fall fishing season has nearly passed us by with weeks of great weather and decent fishing and more of the same on tap for the foreseeable future as we bid farewell to October.

River flows continue to limp along in the 2500 CFS range with water temps still holding in the 50’s. These are not exactly prime conditions for fall fishing, especially considering the abundance of bright sunny days but things could certainly be worse. With a few modifications to your approach there’s good fishing to be had even in the low and clear.

Save a few rainy/snowy overcast days earlier in the month dry fly fishing has been marginal but not to worry, November often delivers those coveted BWO events on the MO. The same could be said for the streamer game though there have been a handful of really good days especially considering the blue sky October we’ve had.

Nymphing has been the ticket and while action from the dam down is always a safe bet, the middle and lower stretches are worth your time. Sow bugs, Zebras, Worms and your favorite baetis patterns (Little Green Machines, BWO Magic Fly, Radiation Baetis etc) are all good bets. The water is still relatively warm so there is no need to switch to winter water/winter tactics but cold weather favorites like the Pill Popper and Pederson’s Sow have been effective as of late.

It looks like a nice weekend ahead with mostly sunny skies and temps in the low 50’s tomorrow. Saturday looks more like September than the first day of November with highs near 70 but we will return to more normal conditions on Sunday. Monday looks like the best conditions for the next while with cloudy skies, a high of 46 and winds SW at 5-10 mph. Expect mad streamer action and a good chance for dry fly activity….or not. The mornings have been cold with temps in the 30’s so no need to rush out though with the time change happening this weekend a later start is going to make for a short day on the water.

We’ve switched to late fall hours, opening at 8 AM daily and will continue to adjust as traffic dictates. We’ve closed the motel rooms for the winter with the cabins soon to follow but as always, we will have our bungalows open all winter long.

Check out our Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale next time you’re through – the best deals of the year as we close out the season.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-10-30T15:06:24-06:00October 30th, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Welcome October

Finally we have fall weather in the forecast.

Following a September that felt much more like summer than fall, we’re happy to have some seasonable weather ahead with highs in the 40’s and 50s for the weekend and overnight lows dipping into the high 20’s and 30’s.

Off and on rain showers throughout the weekend maybe even mixed in with some snow flurries with a good shot at some accumulation at the higher elevations. Bring it on!

Fishing on the MO has been hit or miss this past week but we’re hopeful that the change in the weather will usher in some more consistent action.

Water temps are still warm, currently holding in the 60 – 62 degree range. The change in the weather will get this moving in the right direction, cooling things down and getting us closer to that 50 degree range we need for BWO’s.

Status quo on the nymphing action with Frenchies, Zebras and Sows leading the charge. The crayfish bite seems to have come to a close but streamer action is heating up and will continue to improve.

Holter Dam to Craig has continued to be the most popular run by far but a little more traffic in the middle and lower sections this week as well. Don’t be afraid to leave the dam for the crowds and venture elsewhere. The fish are everywhere!

The September rush has subsided, and things will be generally quiet from here on out. We’ve got lodging and guides available through the end of the season and can usually accommodate somewhat last minute requests.

The shop is open daily at 7:30 AM for all of your Missouri River fall fly fishing needs.

See you soon for fall fly fishing on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-10-01T13:14:07-06:00October 1st, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Autumn Magic on the Missouri

Fall fishing has commenced.

Traffic has resumed.

Fish are stacked in the grass flats below Holter Dam. So too are drift boats.

Frenchies, Zebras, Sows and Zirdles are probably all you need.

Dry fly fishing is not the best right now but an ant or October Caddis could hunt.

And speaking of the hunt…Streamer Season is upon us. Weeds will frustrate your efforts but your efforts could very well pay off.
Balanced Leeches, Thin Mints and Buggers are fine but don’t be afraid to size up.

The river is fishing decent in most stretches though some days are certainly better than others. Obviously the dam is as close to a sure thing as you’re going to get but if you’re asking me where I’d go it wouldn’t be there.

I’ll always opt for fewer boats even if it means fewer fish but that’s just me.

We’re just wrapping up our busiest guide week of the fall and should have good availability from here on out. Lodging is moderately busy but we do have availability most nights.

We’re open from 7:30 AM – 5 PM Daily for all of your Missouri River Fall Fly Fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-09-19T16:09:26-06:00September 19th, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Autumn in the Air

Summer has continued to hang around this week but autumn vibes are emerging, especially on these chilly Missouri River mornings.

Cooler, wet weather is on the way for the remainder of the week and into the early part of next week with a chance for showers each day, daytime highs in the 70’s and overnight lows dipping into the 40’s. The same system will deliver our first mountain snows of the season at elevations over 10,000 feet. We’ll see none of that but we’re excited to see fall weather shaping up as it should with fall technically still two weeks away. Bring it on!

Fall fishing is about to heat up as water temps cool. The Holter Dam to Craig run continues to see the most activity with double zebras getting it done in the grass flats. Your best bet for numbers for the next while will be nymphing that stretch but it’s obviously also where the traffic will be so if you’d prefer fewer boats and less competition don’t be afraid to work the middle and lower sections where you’ll likely end up with fewer fish but it’s a worthy trade for a bit more solitude on the water.

Best bets for nymphs right now would be your aforementioned Zebra Midges along with Frenchies, Little Green Machines, PT’s, October Caddis Nymphs, Sowbugs, Olive 2 Bits, Olive Psycho Mays and a host of other baetis nymphs.

Those looking for dry fly action have been hoping for better days with a lack of opportunities presenting themselves as of late. The waning tricos have all but wrapped up and terrestrials, while always a good fall option, haven’t been overly productive. Hoppers were hit and miss this season but will continue to play throughout September. Ants have historically been the preferred terrestrial but like the hoppers, just haven’t been overly productive this year. Keep at it with those terrestrials and start adding the October Caddis to your repertoire. September is the best month for the October Caddis on the MO…go figure.

If you’re into the tiny dry fly game you’re trico days are likely done for this season but you’ll be pleased to know that the oft despised Pseudocleoens have arrived. If fishing #22 dry flies makes you happy this is your time.

Personally, I could take or leave the Pseudos. Fall is STREAMER TIME as far as I’m concerned and weeds be damned; we’ll be ripping streamers from here on out. Our streamer bins have just been restocked with something for everyone. Whether buggers or balanced leeches or Sparkle Minnows or D & D’s or Wedge Heads and so much more, we’ve got you covered. Stop in and see why we’re known as THE BEST STREAMER SHOP ON THE MO hands down.

Need a new streamer line or maybe even a new rod and reel? We’ve got what you need with all the best sinking and intermediate options from SA, Rio and Airflo and rods and reels for every budget from Redington, Echo, Lamson and SAGE. Look for our Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale COMING SOON!

We’re closing out a moderately busy guide week getting back into the swing of things while preparing for chaos next week with our busiest week of the fall by far. No guides available next week but if you’re looking to book that last minute trip things open up the following week through the end of the season.

Lodging is somewhat busy but we generally have at least a few vacancies nightly.

Our Autumn hours are now in effect, 7:30 AM – 5 PM daily. We hope you make us your first stop on your way to the river for shuttles, bugs and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-09-10T10:28:30-06:00September 10th, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, October Caddis, running line, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Autumn Magic on the Missouri

Lonely days on the MO persist as the summer season slips away somewhat unceremoniously.

As much as we all covet summertime in Montana and summer fishing in particular, Autumn always seems to come at just the right time, ushering in our second season in conjunction with all the things that make fall so special.

Daylight has already begun to dwindle, and soon enough cooler temps will prevail. The transition from summer greens to autumn color is already well underway and it’s starting to smell like fall.

College football gets underway this weekend with the NFL season kicking off a week from yesterday. Baseball’s pennant race is taking shape and hockey and basketball aren’t far off. For those of us who take comfort in the rhythms of the various competitive sports seasons, order is about to be restored to the world.

More importantly, at least for this audience, changes are underway on the waters surrounding us as the cycles of the season trigger a transition in trout behavior from a focus on aquatic bug life and consumption of the same to a focus on spawning for brown trout and on an increase in caloric intake and a decrease in energy expenditure for rainbow populations preparing for the winter ahead.

What does this mean in terms of fall fishing? It means predatory behavior amongst the brown trout populations and a focus on larger meals for rainbows. Terrestrials and crayfish are on the menu for rainbows but they’ll still eat a #20 Zebra Midge or a sow bug and will not turn down a well-presented dry fly. The appeal is in the options!

For the streamer junkie, things are about to get real where the aforementioned predatory behavior is concerned. Streamer season is rapidly approaching and while the MO is still choked with aquatic vegetation, and will be throughout the fall, those in the know will work around that challenge with the knowledge that aggression is about to overtake the brains of pre-spawn browns and the chances of enticing a predatory strike from a mammoth brown trout don’t get any better.

That’s what’s coming. But we’re not there yet. In fact, fishing has been on the slow side with many reporting significant challenges over these past two weeks. Unsurprisingly, Holter Dam to Wolf Creek Bridge has been the productive water with Zirdles and double zebras consistently producing. Beyond the grass flats things have been challenging for more days than not.

Even so, the river has been void of anglers which isn’t a horrible trade. Slow fishing and solitude….could be much worse!

August hours are in effect through Labor Day, 7 AM – 4 PM daily. Fall hours will go into effect on Tuesday, September 2nd. We will be open from 7:30 AM – 5 PM daily.

We’ve got another two weeks of quiet time with plenty of rooms available and we’ve generally been able to come up with guides with at least a couple of day notice but once we hit the middle of September that will change. Mid-September through mid-October are going to be very busy with guide trips and lodging as well though we do have availability where lodging is concerned.

Enjoy the end of the summer season this long weekend and we’ll see you soon for fall fishing on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-08-29T10:20:01-06:00August 29th, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Settling In

Spring presents a grind, a minor league grind by comparison to what’s to come but a good warm up nonetheless and a chance to Settle In To Spring.

There have been a handful of genuinely busy days but as per usual, spring traffic is moderate, it just feels really busy sometimes after a winter of achieving customer counts in the single digits more days than not.

Fishing has been solid though the default conditions of sunshine and cloudless skies with varying degrees of breeziness can sometimes make for challenging days, especially for those in dry fly mode.

Not to say it isn’t happening. It is. You just need to be in the right place at the right time and the right time is typically the later part of the day when the sun is low and mid-day breezes have dissipated. Evening midge fishing has been consistently good for a couple of months now and should provide ample entertainment for those who despise the bobber but if you’re looking for BWO’s it’s far from clockwork.

In other words, take advantage of the overcast, not so nice days. Those are the BWO days. Sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn’t. We’ve seen a couple of good bug days with some good pods and some very respectable fish willing to eat a well-presented fly. As you’ve no doubt heard, it ain’t like it used to be but it is like it is and you can still catch a behemoth on a dry fly on any given day during spring fishing on the Missouri.

March Browns are not something you’ll typically find in abundance but they’re around and the fish LOVE them. We recommend you keep a few in reach for quick rigging should the opportunity present itself. Mother’s Day this Sunday…the Mother’s Day Caddis have been alerted and have begun to show themselves.

So back to the default weather conditions…nymphing has, and will almost always be, the go to method for those looking to bend the rod with relative frequency. Sunny days still aren’t the best but if you’re fishing deep it shouldn’t matter much. That being said, we’ve certainly had some tougher days as of late where they just didn’t seem to be eating but other days have been what you’ve come to expect on the MO, constant action with a good number of fish to hand.

It’s still a Sow Bug game as it seemingly always is, but baetis nymphs have been the better option as of late with Grey Little Green Machines, Olive Psycho Mays, BWO Redemption, BWO Magic Fly, Split Case BWO’s and plain old Pheasant Tails leading the charge.

Streamer fishing has been somewhat sub-par due I think mostly to the aforementioned weather conditions but low light periods have been good so if you’re going to do it maybe look to that extra early start or those same BWO type grey/rainy/snowy days.

Some days it feels like we’ve hit our season stride in the shop and lodging world with boats and rigs packed in the parking lot, all rooms occupied and multitudes awaiting their turn at the register for bugs and shuttles. Other days it feels like winter again with sparse occupancy and maybe just a few folks poking around the shop. Such is springtime on the MO but it only get’s busier from here so we’re thankful for the gradual start.

Our WCA team has been assembled and I honestly think it’s our best one yet. You’ll mostly see Phil and yours truly in the shop but we’ve also welcomed back Shalon who has been here on and off over the years and Bryan who joined us last year and helps part time with the shop and shuttles. We’re also excited to have Shaniah on board helping with the shop and shuttles and Carson will return in June for a second year of doing anything and everything that needs to be done. Rhonda and Gary have returned to round out the shuttle staff and Missy is back for year number 5 as Head of Housekeeping.

We hope you stop in and meet all of our awesome crew members.

We’re open earlier than most at 7 AM daily and will be extending our hours beginning on Monday, May 12th when we’ll be open from 7 AM – 5 PM Daily.

Stop in for The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO (unless you want to pay more elsewhere) and restock your bug boxes while you’re here. We’ve got more bugs than we’ve ever had and that’s saying something as we’ve always been proud co possess the biggest selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Fishing licenses, Ice, Trxstle Rod Racks, Sage R8 Classics, Ross Coors reels and SO MUCH MORE.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-05-08T16:01:58-06:00May 8th, 2025|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

ARRIVAL

The spring season is in full swing as we approach April’s close and prepare for a busy month of May.

River Life has returned. Winter’s monochromatic grey has been supplanted by all hues of green as buds are bursting forth and grass is greening by the second. The landscape transforms before our eyes as the season takes hold. Some days it seems you are literally able to watch it happen.

Pelicans have arrived. Goslings are starting to appear under the careful watch of their high-strung and loud parents. Bug life is unfolding at a rapid pace and busy mornings in the fly shop have also returned as spring traffic has also arrived.

We are experiencing a true Montana spring with plenty of cold mornings and the occasional snow shower mixed in with moderate daytime temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Awesome days to be on the water watching it all unfold from the seat of a drift boat. It doesn’t get much better than this!

Nymphing remains the go-to with most traffic, most days camped in the Holter to Craig stretch though with the increased bug activity there has been a fair amount of folks opting for the canyon stretch and below.

It’s still a sow bug game but baetis nymphs like Little Green Machines and Psycho Mays and Magic Flies (among many others) are getting eaten with regularity. No need to make any radical changes to your setup just yet but start to key in on the faster, medium depth water. Leave the slow winter stuff behind, it’s time to move on.

The streamer bite has been decent during low light periods early or late and throughout the day when we get the cloud cover. Again, medium depth and shallow fast water have been productive and there have been plenty of big browns hanging in those soft spots against the bank looking for the ambush. Cast right to the bank and drag your bug off the bank into the shallows. It’s not a high percentage play but you might be surprised how many of those big browns sit in next to no water waiting for a meal to happen by. We’ve got another month of this – PRIME STREAMER TIME on the MO!

As mentioned, there are plenty of bugs around and plenty of dry fly opportunities for those looking to put in the work. You can hunt for risers or just fish blind. Midges are the mainstay but there are baetis around and on the move upstream and we’ve seen a few March Browns around as well. You could even fish a Skwala blind and maybe get an eat or two but for my money it’s hard to beat plying the waters with a #12 Purple Haze or Parachute Adams, especially when you’re seeing sporadic rises.

Published shop hours are still 8:00 – 4:00 daily but we’re generally open for business by 7:30 and here until traffic subsides.

It’s getting to be that time of year where lodging is at a premium, much of it booked last minute. We’re full for the weekend but things open up a bit on Sunday and we have at least a room or two open most nights during next week.

Guide trips are ramping up and we’re starting to get into a rhythm but we’re still a few weeks out from our busy season so we do generally have guides available with a day or two notice if a last minute trip to the MO is in the works for you.

Either way, we invite you to start your day at Wolf Creek Angler for EVERYTHING you need for your day on the water including The Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2025-04-24T12:51:59-06:00April 24th, 2025|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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