Streamer Fishing Archives - Page 15 of 19

Weekend Outlook

Photo by Jim Murray

We’ve definitely got a fishable weekend ahead with temps in the 40’s and mostly sunny skies. The wind will be an issue (as it seems to be more often than not) out of the SW at around 20 mph tomorrow and around 30 on Saturday with gusts approaching 40 mph.

This morning looks like the best day of the bunch with cloudy skies and relatively calm winds, it could turn out to be a perfect streamer day.

Next week looks like the time to be here with highs in the 50’s on Monday. We may see 60 on Tuesday. I have a feeling our lodging will be full so if you’re having any thoughts about coming out for a couple of days next week I suggest you book it now.

F3T

It’s going to be a busy weekend off the water for us with the Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Grandstreet in Helena tomorrow night and the Super Bowl on Sunday but we’ll be around the shop all weekend for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs.

We’ve got half a dozen tickets left for the F3T – they will be gone by the end of the day. The show always sells out and is always a great way to spend a winter evening. It’s hard to go wrong with beer and fly fishing films and the chance to win F3T gear and swag from your favorite fly shops, including your 2016 Headline Sponsor – Wolf Creek Angler. We hope to see you there.

Most of the recent fishing traffic has been on Holter Lake

How’s the fishing you ask. We haven’t been out this week and really haven’t seen much traffic aside from the steady stream of traffic headed to Holter Lake. There are literally buckets of perch being caught and the ice is still in decent shape from what we’ve heard but that could definitely change over the next several days with the warming trend so please use caution if you’re heading out there. There is currently around 6″ of ice on the lake.

The few river reports we’ve heard have been less than stellar but it’s always worth your time. You never know when it’s going to turn on. Flows are currently holding right around 3800 and the water temp has bumped up to 35 degrees. Still on the cold side for sure but sometimes all it takes is a warm up of a degree or two to get those fish feeding. You won’t know if you don’t go.

We’ve got Streamers on the brain and we think it’s definitely worth your time to dedicate a couple of hours to throwing them but nypmhing is still going to be your best bet for catching fish. No real changes on that front. Pink stuff, Firebeads, soft hackle sows, Tailwater Sows, Zebra Midges….you know the routine. We would also suggest running some mayfly nymphs. Try a Little Green Machine, a Peep Show or an S & M and see what happens. Continue to focus on the slower, deeper water but don’t overlook the transitional water (a little faster, not quite as deep). The uptick in water temp will often times get the fish moving.

Expect an increase in dry-fly opportunities from here on out as the midges fire up. Check those side channels for rising fish and have your midge cluster of choice rigged and ready.

If you’re going to throw streamers we would suggest smaller/slender patterns. Kreelex, Clousers, Polar Leeches etc. but it never hurts to think outside the box and show them something they haven’t seen.

The shop is open at 8:00 am for all of your Missouri River winter Fly Fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:39-06:00February 4th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T), Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Chewy with a fine Missouri River winter specimen

The river has been quiet this week despite spring-like temps in the high 40’s and low 50’s . There’s been a bit of wind to contend with but overall the weather has been very conducive to winter fishing.

Those who have been out have been reporting varying degrees of success on nymphs, streamers and even a bit of dry-fly action with the midges starting to get going. If winter dry-fly fishing is your game you can expect those opportunities to present themselves with more frequency and more consistency from here on out.

The flows are up to almost 3800 today which we’re definitely happy to see and with the water temperature having bumped to just shy of 35 degrees you might expect an uptick in the action as sometimes all it takes is a degree or two to flip the switch and get those fish eating.

If you follow the various Missouri River blogs year-round you know that there is a fair amount of space devoted to fluctuations in flows and water temps as well as current weather and what’s in the forecast during the winter months. With the exception of midge activity there’s not much to say about bug life and while the nymph report may seem like a cut and paste job it really is a status quo fishery during the winter months so that list of effective flies simply doesn’t change a whole lot.

The streamer report can provide some variation but even the streamer guys tend to stick to a pattern for a long while once they find something that is working. I fished a brown polar leech for a month straight last winter and it worked most days. The winter fishing reports may be lacking in excitement but the winter fishing is not!

We love fishing this time of year, partly because of the solitude it affords, partly because it’s status quo nymphing but mostly because it can be really good on any given day. That being said, it can also be really slow but when it’s 45 degrees and sunny in January what else would you possibly want to be doing? You don’t have to spend a lot of time trying to figure out what it is they are eating, you just need to figure out where they’re at and hope they are hungry. Once you find fish willing to eat you can often times do very well working that same run over and over again. Mind you, I’m not talking about 40 fish days. I’m sure people have them but we’re generally happy with a couple of hookups and if we boat a dozen or better it’s been an awesome day.

So…with that long-winded defense of regurgitative winter blogging the winter nymphs you should STILL be using are Pink Amex, Rainbow Czechs, Casne’s Pinkalicious, Pink Lightning Bugs, any kind of firebeads (particularly of the soft hackle sow variety) and if you’re feeling adventurous a tailwater sow, a rainbow warrior or the good old black zebra midge will all catch fish right now. With all that pink you can expect to catch your share of whitefish but there’s no shame in that. Full Disclosure – I do include whiteys in my fish counts, why wouldn’t you? I happened to put on a whitey clinic on Monday. It’s winter fishing on the Missouri!

The water you should STILL be fishing is the slow to semi-slow medium depth winter water. The last few times out the fish have been in a little bit faster water than what they had been but this changes from day to day. They are somewhere in those winter runs, work them until you find them.

Hot streamers have been the gold and silver Kreelex, Olive and Copper or Brown Polar leeches, and all kinds of Clouser variations. Fish the slender bugs SLOW and you should find some willing players. Don’t be afraid to try other streamers either. The ones we list are the ones we’ve been selling a bunch of and that we’ve heard have been effective but there are all kinds of streamers that will work. Fish the bugs you like, fish them with confidence and sooner or later you will be rewarded.

Buzzballs, Griffiths Gnats and Quigley’s Peacock Clusters are all good midge imitations. I like to rig any of them in tandem with a parachute Adams and have that rig at the ready just in case.

We’re going to close out the week with another 50+ degree day today, 40’s tomorrow and into the weekend and a return to somewhat more seasonable temps early next week in the low 30’s.

We’ve still got lodging available for the weekend but it will more than likely fill by tomorrow. Give us a call today and book your $99 room and $400 guide trip.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 28th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Weekend Outlook

The mild weather continues this weekend with highs near 50 expected today and temps in the 40’s on Saturday and Sunday with a favorable wind forecast and a chance of rain and or snow each day.

The fishing has been good throughout the week by winter standards and there’s no reason it shouldn’t continue to be. Nymphing has been the best bet but we’re hearing some solid streamer reports as well, particularly in the Wolf Creek Bridge to Craig stretch.

A super slow retrieve is often the key this time of year as the fish are on the lethargic side with those water temps hanging in the low 30’s. For the most part they aren’t going to give chase but if you present them with the opportunity for a high calorie target moving slowly enough they will eat it. A slow strip or a swing is always the best bet under these conditions which is going to mean you’re going to want to use an intermediate line or a slow sinking VersiLeader from Rio. I always tend toward the heavier/faster sinking streamer lines just out of personal preference but a fast-sinking line presents challenges when you are looking for a slow retrieve. Not that you can’t effectively fish these lines but there’s definitely a skill set involved in figuring out how to fish them in cold water.

The best action has been on the slender side with the Kreelex, various clouser-type bugs, polar leeches and ZK’s Iced Out Grill all getting some attention. The streamer bins are loaded up at Wolf Creek Angler and Chewy has been feverishly tying to keep up with demand. Check out the go-to patterns in all sorts of flavors as well as a bunch of custom creations you won’t find in any other shop. We love the streamer game and we appreciate and understand your addiction. The Missouri is not a streamer river in the classic sense, with a bunch of structure to throw to but it can be nothing short of phenomenal on the right day. It’s a little different game than what you may be used to but always worth your time. Interested in streamer fishing the MO? Make Wolf Creek Angler your first stop.

We’ll get you rigged with the right line and the right bugs and we’ll talk you through technique and tell you where to go to optimize your experience. If you’re thinking you need a new streamer stick we’ve got awesome deals happening right now on the St Croix Bank Robber designed by Kelly Galloup and we’d love to get you rigged with everything you need.

If you’re sticking to the nymphing game it’s status quo. Pink Amex, Rainbow Czech or Casne’s Pinkalicious trailed with firebead softhackle sows, pink lightning bugs, firebead rays, black zebra midges, etc. Slow and deep to medium deep water, adjusting depth and weight as necessary.

If you’re waiting for dry-fly action it’s getting to be that time where you should have your midge rig at the ready. We’ve seen a few bugs around each day and a few sporadic rises but I wouldn’t plan to make a day out of it just yet.

We’ve seen more traffic out there today than we’ve seen in a while. Expect company and be on your best behavior. It’s been a while since we’ve had to do much sharing of the water and this is definitely sharing by winter standards. Still plenty of solitude to be had.

We’ve got a full house this weekend but it looks like the mild weather will continue into next week. $99 Lodging available starting Sunday night and $400 guide trips available all winter long.

See you in the shop and on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 22nd, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, RIO, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter Fare at Wolf Creek Angler

We’ve got a nice weekend on tap here on the Missouri River, especially by mid-January standards with temperatures in the high 20’s and to low 30’s, relatively calm winds and a chance for snow showers each day. We are under a winter weather advisory beginning this afternoon at 2 pm and ending tomorrow morning at 11:00 AM. We could see 2-4 inches of new snow tonight.

The fishing could potentially be pretty good on the river and there was a fair amount of traffic headed up the lake again this morning. We’ve got a full house tonight but things open up on Sunday. If you’ve got Monday off for MLK day it wouldn’t be a bad call to book yourself a bungalow for Sunday night and a $400 full day guide trip on Monday. We’re supposed to see temperatures in the 40’s Monday.

Good reports from the past couple of days both from the nymphing set and the streamer guys. The go-to flies have been Pink Sows, Pink Scuds, Pink Lightning Bugs, Pink Amex…..notice a pattern? We’ve also done well with a few firebead patterns. Rainbow Weight Flies, Firebead Sows, Firebead Rays….. there are plenty of bugs that are working well these days, you just have to put them in the right place. With water temperatures in the 33-34 range those fish simply aren’t going to move much so you need to make sure you are putting it right in front of them. Generally you’ll find that where you pick one up you will pick more up as they are congregating in those spots right now.

Hot Head Kreelex, Hot Head Buggers, Polar Leeches in Brown and also Olive/Copper, Sparkle Minnows and Skiddish Smolts are all getting some action on the streamer side. We’ve got all of these and many more including a bunch of new patterns just begging to be fished. Stop by and check out the undisputed best streamer selection in Wolf Creek Montana.

There will definitely be some traffic out there this weekend with the weather being what it is. It’s a great weekend to fish! It’s also a pretty good weekend to watch playoff football with the Chiefs and Pats playing this afternoon and the Packers and Cardinals tonight. Seahawks and Panthers tomorrow morning followed by Steelers and Broncos tomorrow afternoon. They should all be great games.

Be sure and stop at Wolf Creek Angler if you are coming out to fish. We’re your one stop for everything you need for winter fly fishing on the Missouri. Shuttles, cozy lodging, cold weather gear, closeout deals on St Croix and Echo fly rods, RO Drift Boat Rentals, all the best winter bugs, Kast Steelhead Gloves, great coffee and much more.

The Oasis is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Thursday-Monday so you’ll definitely have a place to eat as well as have a cocktail or two while you watch the football games this weekend.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 16th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, RO Drift Boats, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, streamers, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Bins Overflowing with new bugs at Wolf Creek Angler

Busiest day of the year by far this mid-January Wednesday at Wolf Creek Angler. Full house on the lodging side last night and more bugs out the door today than we’ve seen since November.

There’s plenty more where those came from so make sure you swing by on your way to the river and check out the largest selection of winter-specific Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We’ve also done more shuttles in the past two days than we’ve done in the past three weeks combined. It’s not too surprising though considering we’re pushing the 50 degree mark today with partly cloudy skies and some isolated rain showers in the mix. Ridiculously nice weather for winter fishing on the Missouri.

Most are opting for nymphing these days though there are plenty throwing streamers as well. Speaking of streamers, our streamer bin is overflowing with tons of new patterns, some of which have been consistently producing both on the swing and the strip. Stop by on your next trip through and check out our ever-expanding streamer selection.

New to the streamer game? Grab one of our St Croix Bank Robber demo rods and a handful of streamers and give it a go. If you find you like it we can get you set up with a complete package (rod/reel/line) tailored to suit your needs for a great transition season rate. We’re clearing our St Croix inventory to make room for something new and exciting…more on this soon.

I did make it out for a couple of hours yesterday and have a full report as promised.

#10 Casne’s Pinkalicious trailed with a #18 firebead pink soft hackle sow. 6′ give or take from point fly and occasionally from single bb. Slow deep winter water. A couple whiteys and a couple trout. The whiteys love the Pinkalicious. Same old story but a solid couple of hours for sure. Some spots which produced very well last season for me have yet to turn on while others which I overlooked in the past seem to be holding plenty of fish. The warm air feels good. The wind keeps things on the chilly side so dress appropriately. The water is cold (33-34) so layer up and have at it. Leaky waders may cut your outing short – they did mine!

Things are melting rapidly but there is plenty of shelf ice around yet so please use caution out there. Boat traffic is increasing so the ramps are definitely getting used but some pre-drift recon or a quick call to the shop to check ramp conditions is always advisable and if you don’t have four-wheel drive maybe leave the boat home for another time.

Continued above average temps tomorrow with a high near 40 and a 50% chance of snow showers. Sounds like a streamer day to me. Colder as we head into the weekend with temps closer to average in the high 20’s and low 30’s. Monday looks nice with temps back near 40. Three-day weekend for some with MLK Day on Monday. Why not spend it fishing the Missouri. $99 lodging and $400 guide trips all winter long. Give us a call and book yours today.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:40-06:00January 13th, 2016|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Weekend Report

If you’re planning to get out and fish the Missouri this weekend today is probably the day to do it. Cloudy skies, melting snow and calm winds (at the moment)….perfect December fishing conditions. The roads are clear, the coffee is on and the river awaits. You may encounter a few folks out there today but relatively speaking you’ll still basically have it to yourself.

Reports from the last couple of days have been good. Not much has changed and not much will change for the next several months. Slow winter water, pink stuff, firebeads, soft hackle sows….you know the routine. Weight and depth adjustments may be required, bug changes optional! We get a little lazy with our rigs this time of year but if it ain’t broke…

My go-to is a #10 Casne’s Pinkalicious trailed with a #18 pink soft hackle firebead sow. I may occasionally swap out the trailing fly for a pink lightning bug or Ray Charles but I simply don’t spend a lot of time changing bugs when winter fishing. Put it where the fish are and watch for the slightest movement of your indicator. The takes are more often than not, very subtle. Is a #10 too big? Maybe, but I would rather use the big bug for weight than add split shot and you’ll be surprised at how many trout will eat a #10 Pinkalicious (the whiteys love them too).

Don’t be afraid to throw a streamer if you want to get away from staring at the bobber. Unlike my nymphing rigs, I do change streamers until I find something that works. If I don’t move a fish within the first couple of dozen casts I change bugs. I do have a couple of go-to patterns that seem to consistently produce during the winter months, my favorites being the polar leech in brown, the hothead Kreelex and the Sculpin Sparkle Minnow. If I can’t get them to go on one of these I generally go back to nymphing. The retrieve is critical and more often than not what works for me is a super slow strip/swing combo.

December Brown on the Polar Leech

We’ve got a couple of St Croix Bank Robbers left at clearance prices if you want’ to treat yourself to a new streamer stick. Grab one of our demo rods and see what you think.

The shop will be open every day up until Christmas Eve. We’ll be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas and then back to normal winter hours. If you plan to come out tomorrow keep in mind we close at noon on Sundays. $99 lodging and $400 guide trips available all winter long.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:41-06:00December 19th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Casne's Pinkalicious, Christmas, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Missouri River is a year-round fishery – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

It’s a beautiful morning in Wolf Creek with light snow falling and calm winds. Could be a nice day to fish the Missouri though it is a bit on the chilly side at 21 degrees and it’s not supposed to get much warmer today.

The weekend looks good with plenty of sunshine and temps near 40 on Saturday and near 50 on Sunday and Monday. Expect possibly a bit more traffic out there this weekend as it looks like we’re going to get our first deep freeze starting on Wednesday when we will see highs in the teens and lows in the single digits through the latter part of the week.

We’re hearing very good nymphing reports this week with folks still doing well with the short leash rigs in the shallows as well as with the deeper rigs in the more winterish slow deep runs.

Sows bugs are it for the time being and have been for the last while. Tailwater sows, Firebead Sows, Soft Hackle Sows, Snack Nasty Sows, Soft Hackle Rays….etc are all working well. We’ve been running the sows in tandem with a Tungsten Rainbow Czech or Pink Amex and getting the occasional eats on those as well. Don’t abandon the black zebra midge yet either. A Tungsten Tailwater sow in tandem with a black zebra can be very effective. Most are running with no weight right now, opting instead to run something large and tungsten.

The transition to winter fare is upon us so think pink and think firebeads! The aforementioned Rainbow Czechs and Pink Amexes are a good call and you could also go with something like a Firebead Rainbow Weight Fly or my favorite, a #10 Casne’s Pinkalicious.

We haven’t quite gotten there yet but as the water temps continue to drop and those fish move into the depths of their winter homes the nymphing routine becomes much easier. Not that the fishing is always good, it’s not, but if there is any time of year you can run one rig with confidence and not be constantly second guessing your depth and bug selection, this is it.

Some would disagree I’m sure and they probably catch way more fish than I do but I’ve found that once the fish hit the winter water they’re either hungry or they’re not. If they are they will probably eat that pink/firebead/sow etc. offering at that same depth you had them eating it at the day before. It’s not that I never change things up in the winter, I do, but it’s generally a matter of changing the trailing fly and leaving the bobber and the Pinkalicious untouched for weeks at a time.
Winter fishing certainly has it’s own set of challenges, namely keeping warm. The last thing you want to do is spend your day changing flies and getting cold hands. Keep it simple!

There are fish rising daily. A few BWO’s and pseudos around but we’ve pretty much written the fall of 2015 off as far as BWO’s are concerned. Try a Parachute Adams, Purple Haze or Quiqley’s Peacock Cluster trailed with a the CDC Emerger of your choice. Speaking of CDC, while the snow and cold may not make for great fishing the duck hunting should be off the charts next week! The rising fish have not been easy but if you’re fishing dry flies in snow and sub-freezing temps you probably aren’t looking for easy anyway so have at it.

Streamers? Absolutely. Throw them all day long. Unlike the nymph game however I’m a firm believer in changing streamers until you find what they are after. Usually once you find it you’ll be set for the day but you could easily spend the entire day changing bugs and never find one that works. Such is the streamer game. Patience is key. Strip fast, strip slow, swing, speed up the retrieve, slow down the retrieve, upstream, downstream…and on and on. Often the retrieve can be as critical, if not more so, than the bug.

The fish we’ve moved recently on streamers have come on Coffey’s Sparkle Minnows, Polar Leeches, JJ’s, Pop’s Buggers, Olive Smolts and Black or Olive Buggers (among others) and have been on a moderately fast retrieve, most time hitting on the pause. Cloudy days have been better for sure but we’re not afraid to throw streamers on a sunny day, you shouldn’t be either. If you’re contemplating a new streamer rod stop in and pick up one of our St Croix Bank Robber demo rods for the day. We’ve been fishing them all fall and loving them.

Best section right now? We’ve heard good things from most sections but we tend to stay up high from now until spring. The fish are big (and plentiful), the crowds are not an issue and the dam and Wolf Creek Bridge are 5 minutes from the shop. We tend to start a little later this time of year and with it getting dark by 5:30 it works out perfect to limit road time and just float to Craig.

The shop is open at 7:30 AM daily so swing in for bugs, shuttles, free coffee and honest, open and always friendly advice on the where and when and how. Plenty of lodging available for the weekend and guides ready to show you how good winter fishing on the Missouri can be.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:44-06:00November 20th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Frozen Boots Coming Soon – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Things are about to get wintry around here which could make for some great days on the water in the days and weeks to come. We’ll see temps close to 50 today but the rest of the week will be much colder with daytime temps struggling to reach 40 and overnight lows in the low 20’s. It also looks like we will be getting what looks like it will be our first significant snowfall of the season beginning tonight and lasting through Wednesday. If you’re fishing this week remember to bring those waders and boots inside at night! Cold waders and frozen boots are no way to start your day.
Will the change in the weather mean BWO’s? We’re hoping so. There have been bugs around but not in the numbers or with the consistency we would like to see. Let’s hope the changes in the weather this week brings the bugs. If not the nymphing should be just fine. Good action on sows and scuds as of late with the Tailwater Sow really coming on. Try a sow with a Tungsten Rainbow Czech or Pink Amex as a point fly. LGM’s, S & M’s, Zebra Midges, lightning bugs, WD40’s, Magic Flies, Dark Peeps, Red Headed Step Child, various Pheasant Tails and Grey and Pink scuds all getting some attention.

Counting flies all week at WCA. Care to guess how many we have? We’ll let you know but I can tell you this for certain – we’ve got more flies now than have ever been assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We’ve booked some lodging and a few trips for the week with those in the know taking advantage of the upcoming conditions and hopefully cashing in. Why not join them? We’ve got plenty of vacancies and we’d love to have you here.

Shop open daily at 7 AM for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs. Complimentary Hot Coffee, Cold Weather Gear from KAST, Redington, Outdoor Research and more. Hand Warmers, piles of warm hats and gloves and all the gear you need for your time on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00November 2nd, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, Redington, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The lure of the Yellowstone – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Fall Brown on the Yellowstone – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Finally seeing the fall weather we’ve been hoping for these last few days as we close out October and prepare for what could be a very productive November on the Missouri .

Plenty of cloud cover, cooler temps and some precipitation in the forecast. Definitely BWO weather and the Streamer crowd is mobilized and ready for things to heat up out there.

We ventured to the Yellowstone on Thursday with high hopes of epic streamer action and while we had near perfect weather conditions it was a less-than epic day of streamer fishing. We got a fair amount of chases and did manage to boat several nice browns but nothing in the hog class. Regardless, there’s nothing quite like a fall day on the Stone and it’s always a good time hanging around Livingston for a night.

Meanwhile back on the MO it sounds like we had a couple of solid days out there. The winds have returned today and it’s likely going to be breezy all weekend with WSW winds sustained around 20 and gusting over 30. A chance of rain all weekend and perhaps some snow rolling in on Monday.

If you just can’t resist the thought of some windy, rainy days on the river we’ve got a couple of vacancies tonight and tomorrow. Off-Season rates start on Sunday and we’ve got vacancies a plenty from here on out so when the weather settles and you’re ready to hit the water and have miles of river virtually to yourself give us a call and book a room for $99/night + tax. Hordes of unemployed guides wandering around aimlessly as well so come on out and put them to work. We’re expecting a good November…possibly everything October didn’t turn out to be. There could be some great dry-fly and streamer days ahead and the nymphing will be just fine as we settle into winter fishing mode on the Missouri.

Look no further than Wolf Creek when making your plans for late fall/winter fishing on the Missouri River. A first-rate, full-service fly shop with great lodging accommodations, two bar/restaurants, the only gas station/convenience store between Helena and Cascade and all within minutes of Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge. There’s NOBODY closer! We hope you make Wolf Creek and WCA your off-season Missouri River Fly Fishing destination.

The shop will close at 4 today for the WCA Staff Appreciation Party.

See you bright and early at 7 AM tomorrow morning.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00October 30th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, Yellowstone River|0 Comments

Winding Down

Despite the much-anticipated arrival of the BWO’s, some consistently good fall nymphing and the continued unseasonably warm weather, these last few days feel like the winding down has begun. Not from a fishing standpoint mind you, in fact it’s about to get really good out there, but the traffic has dropped off considerably, Izaaks is closed for the season and you just get the sense that we’ve entered the quiet time on the Missouri. I’m sure it has a lot to do with the abbreviated daylight and the long shadows we start to get this time of year in the canyon – not much sunlight hitting the shop right now. All that aside, we’ve still got full lodging through next week and we’re anticipating a busy weekend with cooler weather and the chance for some rain and snow showers starting Sunday.

A lot of folks will be turning their attention to hunting with the big game general season opener happening Saturday. If you’re not a hunter though this is the time to plan a late season fishing trip to the Missouri. With the bugs just getting going and the weather turning we are likely in for some exceptional dry-fly fishing and the streamer bite should only improve from here on out.

Give us a call and book your trips today. We’ve got a few lodging openings next week and we’ve got a bunch of guides wandering around looking for work. Wait another week and start taking advantage of our off-season lodging rates beginning November 1st.

If you’re just coming out to fish for the day make Wolf Creek Angler your one stop for everything you need for your day on the river. Shuttles, RO Drift boat rentals, KAST Extreme Fishing Gear, Redington Sonic Dry base layers and waders and boots, St Croix Bank Robber Demo Rods, Complimentary Montana Maid Coffee, Cigars, Smith Sunglasses, hats and gloves from Outdoor Research and of course, the biggest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

There is soon to be a BWO Explosion and the ensuing feeding frenzy and you could have the river virtually to yourself. Don’t tell anyone – just get out here and fish the Missouri.

See you in the shop and on the water. Open daily at 7 AM for everything Missouri River Fall Fly Fishing.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:45-06:00October 22nd, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Kast Gear, Missouri River, Montana, Redington, RO Drift Boats, St Croix, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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