Streamer Fishing Archives - Page 17 of 19

Canyon Report 4/14/2015

Guest Report from WCA Guide Jim Murray

Fellow WCA Guide, Matt Hargrave and I decided to get out on a last minute recon trip this past weekend to see if we could find a few fish in the Canyon. While the wind made the fishing and rowing challenging at times, we definitely put our fair share of fish in the net. The water levels have dropped, while the water temps have risen, and the fish seem to be doing exactly what you would expect in these situations. Moving out of the slow, deep runs, and into shallower, faster runs. We caught a number of fish right on the hard banks in fairly fast water. Shelf lines and current seams, as always, were productive as well.
At times the river was blanketed with both midges and baetis, but not many fish were looking up. That said, for those anglers wishing to target heads, there are pods of fishing working in the right areas, willing to eat a properly presented midge cluster or BWO parachute. The dry fly bite is definitely happening on the Missouri right now, and only figures to get better and better as April turns to May.
Hot nymphs for the day included a Rainbow Czech and a small Hogan S&M. That’s it. We never had the need to try other patterns. We set our rig in the morning and fished it all day, as fish happily ate both flies.
Although we didn’t throw any streamers, we have been hearing mixed reports on those that do. The streamer junkies love to the throw the meat and are having some success, but it seems to be hit or miss. A lot of changing flies, patterns, colors, etc., hoping to find the magic combo that will get the fish into an aggressive mood.
All in all a great day on the water with a great buddy, topped off with a couple of Blackfoot River IPA’s at the end of the day at Izaak’s in Craig. The season is upon us. We’re ready!
One other note: We had the chance to fish the Strike Foundry Stealth Indicator on Sunday, and really liked it. It worked as advertised, and proved very sensitive to help detect subtle strikes. We used the “In Line” rigging method and found that it performed flawlessly. For all you nymph junkies out there (count me in), you might want to give this indicator a try. I know I’ll have a few in my boat this year. Check them out at WCA!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:55-06:00April 14th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Hogan's S & M, Missouri River, nymphs, running line, Streamer Fishing, Strike Foundry, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Fly Rod Edition

Rods have proven to be a challenge for us from the start. We don’t get a huge call for rods and reels but we feel like having a decent selection of both is a must for most any fly shop and Wolf Creek Angler is no exception.
When we opened our doors last season we chose to go with Echo, St. Croix and Redington as our rod offerings and Echo and Ross for our reels. First season rod and reel sales exceeded our expectations, but honestly our expectations were pretty low.
We are continuing with these brands this season and have expanded our selection of Ross Reels as well as adding Nautilus Reels to the mix. It’s a great blue-collar line up of proven work horse gear and we would love to increase our sales in this department.
Our most popular St Croix rod has been the Avid series which was my first fly rod back in the day and which remains a staple in the industry as a great series of affordable trout rods at $300.
We also stock the Kelly Galloup designed Bank Robber and High Stick Drifters. At $460 these Fast action rods are a little more of an investment but we think they are well worth the money. The Bank Robber is the ultimate streamer stick and the High Stick Drifter was built for nymphing the MO.
New to Wolf Creek Angler this season, we’ve decided to line up a couple of these rods as demos. Come fish a Bank Robber or High Stick Drifter for the day and see what you think. Demo the rod and reel for $25/day – if you decide to purchase one we’ll credit you back the rental fee.
The most popular Echo rods for us have without a doubt been the Carbon series. Many of our guides, myself included, use Carbons for Client Rigs and coupled with Echo Ion Reels they are a great choice and a great value. Clients new to the sport find these Medium-Fast rods easy to cast and at just shy of $250 for the rod and reel combo you can’t beat the price. The Carbon is a great choice for an affordable entry level rod.
Other workhorse offerings from Echo include the Ion and the Solo. While our Echo inventory consists primarily of Carbons and Solos we’re happy to order anything they offer including the highly touted Echo Glass Two Hand and Switch rods.
If you’re looking for a rod for your little ones look no further than the 7’9″ 4/5 weight Echo Gecko, the industry’s only high-performance rod built specifically for kids.

We also carry rods from Redington including the Fiberglass Butterstick and the ready-to-fish Path combo (rod, reel pre-spooled with Rio Mainstream WF fly line, backing, leader and case) with lifetime warranty for under $200. This entry level moderate-fast action rod has been our most popular offering by far and is a great choice for beginners.
Look for upcoming blogs detailing the particulars of many of these rods.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:58-06:00March 28th, 2015|Categories: Product Review|Tags: Echo, fly fishing, Kelly Galloup, Nautilus, Redington, Ross, running line, St Croix, St Croix Bank Robber, St Croix High Stick Drifter, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Let the spring games begin….what to use?

A bit of semi-seasonable weather back yesterday and today with scattered precipitation and temps hanging in the 40’s but back to spring tomorrow with temperatures climbing into the 60’s and 70’s by Friday.
As has been the case for the last several weeks it’s been a mixed bag of reports out there but it sounds like Sunday was a pretty good day all the way around with periods of good dry fly action and some good streamer reports from the canyon stretch. Black buggers, Polar leeches, olive smolts and sparkle minnows have all been producing fish. Most of the reports we heard from Monday and Tuesday sounded like things were on the slow side but we’re hoping for the rebound today.
Nymphing will continue to be your best bet though it seems the transition from winter fare to spring bugs has certainly gotten underway. Not that the pink stuff won’t work but we’ve heard of a lot of people having more success with tailwater sows and zebra midges and the like. It’s the time of year to start experimenting with your flies which makes for a bit more of a challenge than running a #12 Pinkalicious trailed with a firebead soft hackle sow for days on end but it’s all part of the fun. Green Machines, Micromays, Juju’s, Wondernymphs,Rainbow Warriors ,Peep Shows, AmX, the aforementioned Tailwater Sows and Zebra Midges…..and on and on. What will they be eating today? Start with a black zebra and something that feels right and go with it and change until you find what’s working.
The one part of the game that has remained fairly constant is the water the fish are holding in. Slow, deep winter runs will continue to be your target for the time being but as we creep towards 40 and beyond that will change as well. It’s a great time of year to fish the Missouri. Change is underway and soon the crowds will return. Take advantage of the relative solitude while you can. It’s the perfect time to treat yourself to a $300 Spring Special Guide Trip with one of our expert guides.
Stop by the shop on your way to the river for shuttles, bugs, bobbers, boats and all kinds of cool new gear arriving daily. We are your one-stop full service Missouri River fly shop and THE place to stay in Wolf Creek. We are Outfitter owned and operated and anxious to share our knowledge of and passion for Montana fly fishing with you soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:58-06:00March 25th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: $300 Missouri River Guide Trips, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, juju baetis, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Fishing Report and weekend forecast 3/19/15

Reports are that things are still hit or miss out there this week but there are plenty of fish being caught and with that water temp creeping ever upwards it’s just a matter of time before things really turn on. We’ve heard more consistent reports from the water below Craig but you should be able to find fish everywhere with some work. It sounds like streamer fishing has been decent but still a painfully SLOW retrieve. We can’t wait to start stripping and twitching again and it won’t be long now. Stop in and let us get you set up for streamer fishing on the Missouri. Whether it’s advice on streamers or sinking lines or techniques you need or perhaps a complete rig we’re happy to help.

We’ve got a bin full of proven patterns and we will tell you everything you need to know to make them work for you. We are streamer addicts from WAY back and while we don’t spend as much time throwing streamers on the MO we’ve spent countless days and rowed hundreds of miles of water in our past lives throwing and stripping and swinging the Big Ugly Bugs. While our methods may be a little different than what is typically done here on the Missouri they have proven to be just as effective here as on the Pere Marquette, the Manistee, the Ausable, the Snake, the Yellowstone, the Limay, the Manso and many more.

Nymphing continues to be decent with fish still holding in the predictable spots and eating the predictable bugs. Winter fare is still on the menu ( pink stuff, firebeads, soft hackle sows etc) but don’t be afraid to experiment with some of the springtime stuff. Again – it could blow up any day now with the warming water.

The browns are definitely making their presence known with the rainbows beginning to move out as they heed nature’s call. Please be mindful of the redds and watch where you wade out there.

An abundance of midges on the water daily and fish up on them when the conditions are right. Cloud cover is definitely the ticket for top water success.

Blue skies and sunshine today will give way to considerable clouds early tomorrow and a high near 70 with SW wind at 5-10. Mostly cloudy Saturday with a high of 64 and SSW winds at 10-20 mph. It’s a great weekend to fish the Missouri. We’ve got limited lodging available for the weekend and it looks like it’s going to fill up so don’t wait too long to book those rooms. Make Wolf Creek Angler your one stop on the way to the Missouri for shuttles, bugs, boats, lodging, guide trips, cold weather gear, warm weather gear and much, much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:58-06:00March 19th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, fly fishing, Missouri River, nymphs, running line, Streamer Fishing, streamers, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Mid Week Missouri River Fishing Report 3/12/15

Traffic on the river this week has been surprisingly light considering the amazing spring weather we’ve been having but it’s a safe bet the crowds will return this weekend with temperatures predicted to be near 70 on Saturday.
We’ve heard mixed reports over the past few days but the consensus has been that the fishing could definitely be better.
There have been a few going down low to try the streamer game with predictable early March results…hit or miss. Streamer fishing on the Missour is never a numbers game but it can be pretty spotty this time of year and can make for a very long day. That being said, those who know and love this game can typically endure long stretches of time and water with little to no action knowing that the next cast could be the one that entices that behemoth brown of a lifetime.
We’ve been anxious to devote a day to the streamer rod but we will wait until the water warms a tick or two – hopefully soon.
Nymphing? Still the best bet but less than spectacular on those bright and sunny days. Our last outing was definitely a case of quality over quantity with a couple of well-above average rainbows and a handful of cookie cutter fish. We caught fish on firebead soft hackle sows, Pinkalicious and black zebra midges and tried a little bit of everything before returning to the winter staples having concluded that despite the air temps feeling like June the water temps are still very March-Like hovering in the mid 30’s and the fish are behaving accordingly.
Lots of midges on the water – didn’t see much for rising fish but didn’t look that hard for them. I’m sure they were there.
What’s in store for the weekend? Some beautiful weather for sure with abundant sunshine which may not make for the best fishing but will definitely bring the crowds out to enjoy our early spring on the Missouri. Daytime temps in the 60’s and nightime temps only dropping into the high 30’s and low 40’s should keep that water temp inching upward.
Plenty of lodging available and lots of new stuff arriving at the shop daily. Why not make the Missouri River and Wolf Creek Angler your fly fishing destination this weekend.

Best of the Day – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:59-06:00March 12th, 2015|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Missouri River Necessities always available at Wolf Creek Angler

As you would expect it’s a busy weekend on the Missouri, at least by early March standards. Our lodging is full and we had all of our rental boats on the water yesterday. A lot of guys in from Bozeman and Missoula and Kalispell gearing up on their way through. We sold more flies yesterday than we have in a while with winter nymphs still leading the charge. The cloudy conditions had a lot of people thinking streamers as well and we moved a fair amount of Polar Leeches, Kreelex and Sparkle Minnows. That’s an itch I’ve been needing to scratch lately and it looks like I’ll be able to get a fix on Tuesday – full report to come.
The reports I heard from the last few days were a bit of a mixed bag but it sounds like continued success on Pink and firebead stuff and some strong midge action depending on the day. What I’ve heard on the streamer side is that it’s been a little slow but we wouldn’t really expect much with the water being as cold as it is. We should start to see that water warm up a bit with the change in the weather and sometimes it doesn’t take much to flip the switch on the streamer bite so keep at it! I’m psycyhed to get out and give it a try.
The weather looks incredible for the coming week – into the 60’s every day. We are anticipating a busy week at the shop and I expect the lodging will fill quickly for next weekend so don’t wait too long to make your plans…we had to turn away severl people this weekend. We will look to open more lodging this week so hopefully we will have a few more units available by the weekend.
The shop is open daily for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs. Shuttles, bugs, boats, bobbers, lodging, licenses, WCA logo gear and much, much more. Make Wolf Creek Angler your one stop on your way to the MO.

Crazy Spring Weather on the way

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:59-06:00March 8th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: $300 Missouri River Guide Trips, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, nymphs, RIO, running line, Streamer Fishing, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Missouri River Fishing Forecast for 2015

March seems to be the time of year when people start getting serious about the coming fishing season. We did see plenty of anglers around during late January and early February but it is early March, as winter’s grasp begins to loosen everywhere, that those who have already planned their trip to the Missouri or are in the process of doing so really begin to go to work. It’s the time of year to assemble and evaluate gear and to purchase new gear if need be….we can help you out with that. It’s also the time to inventory your fly boxes and replenish your supply. We can definitely help you out with this as well. This is the time of year when we start to get a lot of calls about what will be hatching when and while we can’t give you specific dates and we can’t guarantee anything – the following will give you some idea of what’s happening when.

Have you booked your guided fishing trip on the Missouri yet? Wolf Creek Angler is Outfitter Owned and Operated and ready to book you and guide you on the trip of a lifetime.

March means midge madness on the MO photo by Wolf Creek Angler

March – It’s the month for midges if you are seeking a late winter dry-fly experience. The past couple of weeks have provided some awesome midge days out there and while it’s sometimes tough to find the fish eating them with any regularity if you know where to look and you are patient you will find that opportunities will present themselves. Griffiths Gnats, Buzzballs and various midge clusters are a good call and if you’re having a tough time seeing the fly try a Hi-vis parachute Adams as your point fly and trail your midge pattern off of it. Nymphing is good and will continue to get better. We’re still sticking with the pink stuff and the FB’s but we’ve heard of success on some small baetis nymphs. Black zebra midges both with and without beads have been effective as well, especially around the dam. March 20th marks the start of our $300 Spring Special Full Day Missouri River Guide Trips which runs through the end of April. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity for a guided day on the Missouri at a fraction of the regular season price.

April – The dry-fly game in April continues to be about midges but BWO’s typically also enter the equation at this time. Nymphing heats up with mayfly nymphs replacing the colorful winter fare. A double zebra rig can also be very effective in the spring. Streamer action also starts to heat up in April. With many of the rainbows in the tribs spawning, the browns are on the move gorging on nymphs and dries and chasing down streamers.

May is BWO time on the MO

May – BWO’s are the May staple with midges still on the menu and larger March Browns (up to #14) and, depending on the location, Caddis also making an appearance. May also tends to be the most popular month for streamer fishing and the nymphing is always strong. It’s an awesome time to fish the Missouri with things greening up and the ability to do it all in one day. Longer days mean longer floats ripping streamers or nymphing – while always on the lookout for bugs on the water and pods of fish eating them.

Mid to late June brings the PMD’s

June – Caddis gaining strength, nymphing strong and by late June PMD’s! Streamer fishing still an option but coming into the true dry-fly season on the Missouri.

July – By far the most popular (and crowded) month on the Missouri. It’s a dry-fly Nirvana with PMD’s, Caddis and Tricos as well as terrestrials like hoppers and ants and beetles all coming into the mix.

August – More of the same but less crowded, a fair amount of weeds to deal with and more emphasis on the hopper fishing. Last season we saw little in the way of crowds in August and had spectacular days of Trico fishing throughout the month with the river to ourselves.

Are you ready for the 2015 season on the Missouri? Much of June and July are already booked solid as you might expect with rooms and guides very difficult to come by. That being said, part of the advantage to being an Outfitter Owned and Operated Shop is that we have a deep guide roster which includes your humble owners. Fred and I try to keep our summer schedules somewhat open to accommodate last-minute requests so if you haven’t yet booked your prime dates and you think it’s too late – give us a call – we may just be able to help you out. (406)235-4350 or Toll-Free 1-800-800-4350.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:15:59-06:00March 4th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: $300 Missouri River Guide Trips, brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, nymphs, rainbow trout, running line, Streamer Fishing, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Solitude on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

All is quiet on the Missouri today, we’re not sure why. It’s currently 43 degrees with some rain/snow looming and little to no wind. One boat in at Wolf Creek and a couple more at the dam means a lot of available water and a lot of available fish. From where I sit typing away and doing other shop stuff I can only imagine that the water is blanketed with midges and that there are pods everywhere, casually sipping away – unmolested by anglers.
Good reports from those fishing downstream in the canyon yesterday with a decent streamer bite and good nymphing action and a few fish up. I walked in below WC Bridge last night and picked up a few though it was definitely slower for me than it’s been the past few times out. My go-to firebead soft hackle sow was all but ignored with the few cooperative fish opting to eat the #10 Pinkalicious instead.
We’ve got a little dose of winter on the way for the weekend with snow showers and highs in the 20’s tomorrow along with the dreaded NNE wind gusting to 24. Calm, sunny and cold on Sunday with a high of 25 and back to 30’s and 40’s next week.
Just eight days left to take advantage of our February special – book a full day guide trip for $395 and get a night’s lodging in one of our bungalows for $59. Not really expecting a barrage of calls for trips this weekend but weather permitting we expect trips out and rooms full throughout next week.
Spring will be here before you know it and with it ever improving fishing opportunities. Book a trip with us today and find out what a magical place the Missouri can be any time of year.

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:00-06:00February 20th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Another gorgeous daybreak on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

River traffic remains very light this week though lodging has filled for the next couple of nights so expect to see at least a few folks out there today and tomorrow. It’s going to be another bright and sunny day with a high near 50 and it sounds like it may get a little breezy with SW wind 8-14 mph. More of the same tomorrow but with a WSW wind 18-22 gusting to 31.
Snow in the forecast for the weekend with temps in the 30’s and back to sunny skies and 40’s next week. We do have lodging available for the weekend. $99 + tax gets you a bungalow with a full kitchen and bath which sleeps three very comfortably.
Fishing wise I would continue to stick with the winter fare (pink stuff, soft hackle sows, firebeads) and I would still recommend Wolf Creek to Craig as being your best bet. Bring along a dry -fly rod rigged with a midge cluster or griffiths gnat and search the side channels for rising fish. Streamer fishing is always an option as well. We continue to have pretty good action depending on the day on the olive/copper polar leeches as well as the Kreelex and clousers.
The shop will be open from 7:30 am – 5:00 pm at least Wednesday – Sunday and we’ll be here on Monday and Tuesday as well if the weather calls for it. Please call ahead on Mondays and Tuesdays for the time being just to make sure. We are open EVERY day for lodging and guide trips and soon the shop will be open EVERY day as Fred will be returning sometime in early to mid March. We will likely open up more lodging in March so count on staying with us throughout the late winter/early spring.
We’ve got some great deals going on select items in the shop as we clear space for new merchandise arriving daily. We’ve got some awesome new product lines coming for spring which we are extremely excited about as we continue with our commitment to offer you the products you expect from your Missouri River fly shop.
See you in the shop and on the water!

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:00-06:00February 18th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek|0 Comments

February fishing on the Missouri River

Spring-like weather continues here in Wolf Creek and with it some very good days on the water. We haven’t heard any reports this week of off-the-charts numbers but there is plenty of action to be had, certainly by early February standards.
Reports we’ve heard from the dam to Wolf Creek have not been great and many are opting for the Wolf Creek to Craig stretch and below. I spent a couple of hours wading the Bull Pasture to dam section on Monday and picked up a few fish in the dead slow frog water but it was on the slow side. The usual spots between Wolf Creek and Craig are holding plenty of fish and from what we’ve experienced things seem to improve in the late afternoon/early evening.
The water temp ticked up a couple of degrees over the last two days and is holding close to 36 with flows holding right around 4900. The warmer water coupled with partly cloudy skies and a chance of rain today has us thinking Streamers but the nymphing should be strong as well.
Go to’s have been the pink lightning bugs and firebead soft hackle sows with the lightning bugs seeming to work better earlier in the day. Pair either with a Casne’s Pinkalicious, fish 5 or 6 feet from your indicator to your split and work those spots you know the fish are holding in. Grid your water out starting in close and working your way out until you’ve covered what you can reach – adjust your rig accordingly and do it again. Wondering where those usual spots are? A drive from Wolf Creek Bridge to Craig will usually give you a pretty good indication based on traffic but if there is no traffic and you haven’t spent much time on the Missouri we highly recommend hiring us to guide you. It’s a terrific investment if you plan on making fishing the Missouri a habit, especially at our $395/full day winter rate. If you are new to the area, just getting into fly fishing or just haven’t spent much time on the Missouri a day on the water with one of our expert guides is a great way to get dialed in. It could take weeks, months or even years of fishing on your own to gain the experience and knowledge you’ll get from a day on the water with one of our guides. Interested? Call 800-800-4350 and book your trip today.

50’s through the weekend, 40’s next week with a chance of rain most days. Tomorrow looks great with highs in the mid 50’s and plenty of sunshine. The winds will blow most days but at this point it looks tolerable with teens and low 20’s and some stronger gusts. Lodging is filling quickly for the next two weeks but we do have a few vacancies remaining.

Hot February Nymphs
Top to bottom; Pinkalicious, Firebead Soft Hackle Sow Bug Grey, Firebead Tungsten Sow Pink, Pink Lightning Bug. All available at Wolf Creek Angler. photo by Wolf Creek Angler

By Jason Orzechowski|2016-10-25T16:16:01-06:00February 5th, 2015|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Casne's Pinkalicious, fly fishing, Holter Dam, indicator, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, nymphs, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

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