Streamer Fishing Archives - Page 4 of 19

And just like that….the season is upon us

Sunny Late Winter Vibes as Wolf Creek ANgler

Blue skies and sunshine this ninth day or March, exactly the kind of day we need to get into spring fishing mode. The temperature hasn’t broken the freezing mark in a couple of days but we’re headed there today with a high near 40 on tap. Calm south winds in the 6-8 mph range make today the day to be on the water.

Snow and light winds from the NORTH tomorrow with a high of 33. 1-3 inches of snow expected. I’ll just leave that there without commentary.

Power through it. Spring weather will arrive next week with highs in the low to mid 50’s starting on Monday.

The timing couldn’t be more perfect!

We’ve opened a third of our lodging in preparation for a full house next week when our friends from the Bitterroot arrive for their Annual pre-season fling on the MO.

It’s been a couple of worrisome nights hoping for the best in regards to the plumbing with temps dipping into the single digits (so far so good) and we’re not quite out of the woods just yet but things look to be trending in the right direction.

Target date for opening the remodeled bungalows is April 1st or before and motel rooms will likely be opened by early to mid-April.

The shop is in GO mode with piles of spring inventory awaiting your arrival. We’re stocked up on Simms waders and boots, Sage rods and reels and of course the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Streamer bins are full, Sow Bug bins are full, Midge bins are full….we’re ready to rock and roll at Wolf Creek Angler.

We’re also your exclusive FWP License Provider in Wolf Creek and while we encourage all of our guests to purchase licenses online which you can do here, we’re happy to provide this service to our customers. After all, what kind of fishing shop doesn’t sell fishing licenses?

Fishing has been good and it’s about to get a whole lot better as that blazing spring sun warms the winter waters letting our trout know it’s GO TIME.

For the rainbow population that means gearing up to spawn. For the browns that means it’s time to feast. Time to feast on midges, time to feast on nymphs, almost time to feast on eggs and most importantly, time to feast on baitfish. Streamer Time on the MO!

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year for those to whom enticing a hungry beast of a brown with a well-stripped streamer is the Holy Grail of fly fishing. Mind you we’re well aware that to some the Streamer game doesn’t even qualify as “fly fishing” and that’s ok.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and our opinion is that we’re all seeking the “tug” and it doesn’t really matter how we get there. We LOVE feeding dry flies to sipping fish. We LOVE chasing bobbers and you already know how we feel about streamer fishing. Find what you like and do it. It needn’t be any more complicated or controversial than that. #COEXIST

We’ll be adding Mondays back into the mix starting this week so starting on Monday the 13th, spring shop hours for now will be Monday – Saturday 9 AM – 4 PM.

Time change happens this weekend so don’t forget to Spring Ahead. Long hours of daylight on the way!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-03-09T13:01:24-07:00March 9th, 2023|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: #coexist, brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Sage, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Happy President’s Day!

How will you be spending your 3 Day Weekend?

It looks to be a breezy and somewhat snowy weekend on the Missouri but I would expect at least a bit of traffic from those looking for a winter trout fix as temperatures will plummet early next week taking fishing the MO off the table at least for a couple of days.

The weekend forecast is calling for highs in the 40’s with breezy west southwest winds and a chance for snow showers each day. Not ideal, but not terrible. I wouldn’t expect much in the way of dry fly fishing with those winds but nymphing the slow depths should be just fine and swinging and/or stripping is NEVER a bad call.

We’ll see highs in the single digits starting Wednesday before things start to trend upward again next weekend. Likely a better week for ice fishing than river fishing but not to worry, it’ll be here before you know it.

And speaking of that, the clock continues to tick on our remodeling projects as we work feverishly to wrap things up by the end of March. The good news is it’s looking like we’ll get there. We can’t wait for you to see what we’ve been up to.

Spring gear has started to trickle in and though the focus remains on our building projects we’re starting to move towards retail mode. Our hiring is (mostly) done and with any luck our crew will begin to take shape in early April.

Spring Cleaning will soon be the task at hand as we prepare the shop for season number 10! How did that happen? It doesn’t seem too long ago the clock was ticking on our original shop remodel and opening day at Wolf Creek Angler.

It’s going to be a great year at WCA!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-02-17T09:26:19-07:00February 17th, 2023|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, President's Day, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter Retreats on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Our mild month continues with the January Thaw still very much in effect.

Accordingly, angling traffic has increased substantially, especially on the weekends and with the forecast being status quo for the time being I’d expect this trend to continue until winter returns.

The snow pack continues to look good with most of the region at or above 100 percent of average but weeks of spring-like weather definitely aren’t helping. Let’s hope for persistent cold and snow in the high country and moderate conditions on the MO…the best of both worlds! Current conditions on the Missouri have flows at 3560 CFS with water temps just shy of 34 degrees.

We decided to take advantage of the conditions yesterday, in particular the absence of wind in the forecast, and get out on the water. Contrary to what we’ve been seeing on the weekends we had the river to ourselves save some late season waterfowl hunters.

Per usual the focus was streamer fishing though we did run the obligatory nymph program early on just to confirm recent reports. As expected, winter water was productive with no big surprises on the fly front. The Pill Popper/Tailwater Sow pairing is about as close to go-to as you can get but a Rainbow Czech, Pink Amex or Pink Weight Fly paired with a Soft Hackle Sow, Radiation Baetis, Rainbow Warrior, Pederson’s Sow, Pink Lighting Bug or Zebra Midge will get it done as well.

Interestingly, the fish were not limited to the winter depths and in fact seemed to be more concentrated in the slightly faster, not quite as deep runs. Still the winter water, just not the EXTREME winter water. Go with the early spring program water wise and see what happens and if you aren’t finding them then shift gears, particularly as you move further down, distancing yourself from the ultra-stable conditions provided by the dam.

Scouting obligations having been met, we broke out the streamer rods for the remainder of the day and had good action from the start, consistently moving fish without changing bugs and boating several good browns and rainbows before the action tapered off late afternoon.

Yellow, Olive and white were good, but again, we used what already happened to be rigged up and never changed bugs so I would call that a good streamer day, particularly by January standards. And as with the nymphing, most of our fish came out of faster water you wouldn’t typically target in the winter.

You’ve read this here many times, but just to repeat it once more, don’t let anyone tell you stripping streamers isn’t effective in the winter. Most opt to swing through the winter months which is great, but we got em’ on various retrieves ranging from slow to medium fast but always stripping, never swinging, with plenty of pauses in between. It may have been a case of just the right time in just the right place but isn’t that what fishing is anyways?

Medium current, medium depth, sunny side of the river. Work the banks with a varied retrieve. Most of our fish came halfway between the bank and the boat and were fairly deep so leave the intermediate lines at home and get down.

There were a few midges on the water and we did see a handful of eats so as long as this weather persists get out there and fish it any way you like.

Opportunities abound!

The shop is open at 9 AM Tuesday – Saturday and while we don’t have lodging available this winter we are stocked up with winter bugs and anything you might need for your day on the water including Adipose Flow Drift Boat Rentals.

Ramps in the top section are in good shape and all should continue to improve as the warm weather persists. I did get stuck in the ice ruts at Spite Hill the other day while checking ramps so maybe avoid that one for the time being. Stickney should be in good shape by now. Dearborn is currently a no-go so if you’re intent on fishing something other than Dam to Craig maybe look at Craig to Stickney or Stickney to Mid.

Say NO to Cabin Fever and enjoy the January Thaw.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-01-12T11:02:58-07:00January 12th, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Adipose, brown trout, midge, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Welcome 2023

Welcome to 2023 and to near- perfect fishy winter weather for the next few weeks.

We’re expecting a busy (by January standards) month on the MO with winter having retreated for the time being and folks itching to get out and do something after having hunkered down during much of the last two months due to the the early onset of winter conditions and the holidays.

Gone are the negative double digits we recently experienced and the majority of the snow and ice we’ve been dealing with since mid-November replaced by open water and highs in the high 30’s and low 40’s for the foreseeable forecast. Overnight lows will drop into the high teens and 20’s so no need to get an early start and be prepared to deal with some breezy conditions as you might expect with the warmer temps but once again, by January standards you really couldn’t ask for better conditions for getting out and curing that cabin fever.

Nymphing has been good and should be your go to for numbers all winter long but that being said, it’s also swing season and midge season on the MO if you prefer. And you won’t be surprised to hear me say that I’ll be spending plenty of time stripping streamers now through May. April/May are the Prime Months for streamers on the MO but there’s no reason not to strip all winter long if conditions allow it. The biggest brown I’ve caught on the Missouri ate a ZK’s MK Ultra stripped slow and deep on an early January float. I’ll be looking for a repeat this year.

Once again, nymphing is going to be your best bet for numbers. Think Pink and go deep. Pink Amex, Caviar Scud, Bubble Yum Scud, Pill Popper, Pederson’s Sow, Rainbow Czech, Pink Weight Fly…all good options paired with a soft hackle sow, tailwater sow, pink lighting bug, zebra midge, Pink or Firebead Ray. It’s a little bit about the bug. It’s more about the location. We don’t spend a lot of time changing flies when winter nymphing. Find the slow, deep winter depths and start deep. Adjust depth accordingly until you find hungry fish.

Best bets on the swing include Polar Leeches, Kreelex, Thin Mints, MoJo Minnows, Fruit Rollups, Pine Squirrel Leeches or any old bugger.

Likewise for stripping but don’t be afraid to branch out. Sparkle Minnows, the aforementioned MK Ultra, Skiddish Smolt, Dirty Hippy, Swim Coach…there’s really nothing in your streamer box you shouldn’t be throwing. Fish the ones you like. Fish the ones that work. Slow and varied retrieve with an abundance of pauses. They generally aren’t going to move fast or far in cold water so make sure you work the water thoroughly in an effort to meet them where they are.

Floating is definitely an option again, at least in the top section from the Dam to Craig and I’d imagine Craig down to the canyon should be fine as well. The ramps are in good shape and most of the shelf ice has dissipated. Watch for those chunks of floating ice if you’re wade fishing, they can make a day go bad! Current flow is 3370 CFS with water temp just shy of 34 degres.

Shop hours will be more consistent in accordance with the weather conditions. Posted hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 9 AM – 4 PM though it’s always a good idea to give a call to make sure we’re going to be here if it’s later in the day. Also, we are a staff of 1 during the winter months so other engagements/appointments may at times result in the shop being closed on days we would normally be open. Case in point – the shop will be closed this Friday, January 6th.

We’ve had a fairly steady stream of calls for lodging this past week and unfortunately, as of this week, we will not be offering lodging for the remainder of the winter. The good news? The reason we don’t have lodging is because we’re remodeling. More on this to come.

In the meantime we will still do Adipose boat rentals, weather permitting and we’ll do our best to provide shuttle service. More importantly, we’re fully stocked with winter bugs, cold weather gear, lines and leaders, Simms Waders and Boots (Still the BEST IN THE BUSINESS) despite of what you may have heard elsewhere and much more.

We’ve got a few rods and reels left following our most successful Fall Rod and Reel Sale to date and we’ll extend that sale pricing for the next while as we clear out space for incoming spring arrivals. More on this to come as well but suffice it to say that this is the most excited we’ve ever been about incoming rods and reels.

It’s good to be back in the shop with fishy weather at hand and we’re stoked to see traffic resume.

Happy New Year! We think 2023 is going to be a great year on the MO and at WCA.

Cheers!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-01-03T13:43:07-07:00January 3rd, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Seasons Collide – late October on the MO. Photo courtesy of Bob Hoyt

We got a taste of winter last weekend with several inches of snow falling on Saturday night and Sunday just in time for the general hunting season opener. Judging by FWP reports it sounds as though opening weekend was a success for many hunters.

The migration of traffic from the water to the woods has left us with the quiet solitude of late fall. From here on out through these next several months crowding will not be an issue on the MO.

You’ll find a few of the Swing Brigade out there on any given day along with the hard core DFO’s awaiting EPIC BWOs and the fall streamer junkies looking for a fix.

More hunters than anglers in the house at WCA right now with a big push of lodging business ahead of next week’s scheduled shut down of the majority of our lodging for winter. We’ll be closing down our Cabins and motel rooms on November 1st, leaving the bungalows open for the time being as we head into the winter months.

We’ll be on normal hours through the first week of November and then weekends only starting the week of the 7th as we close up shop to tend to off-season business though the end of November. Weekends will be weather dependent as our new shop hand Jack has a bit of a haul to get here.

Unfortunately shuttles will be on hiatus until spring unless you happen to show up when there are a couple of us in the shop. We run a minimal crew during the winter months and I haven’t yet figured out how to run shuttles with just one person so in the meantime please check with Headhunters or The Trout Shop for shuttle availability.

Shuttles aside we’ve got everything else you’ll need for late fall and winter fishing on the MO including some awesome Cold Weather and wading gear from Simms and we’re also awaiting the arrival of our Brawl of the Wild Series Griz and Cat themed WCA hoodies. We’ll get them on the online store just as soon as they’re out of the box. Quite a few have already been spoken for so maybe give us a shout and have us hold one for you if you’re interested.

Fishing has been fair with water conditions holding steady. Flows currently holding in the 3200 CFS range with water temps in the low 50s and on the drop. Weeds continue to be a factor but will improve as we head into the winter months. Even so, there’s plenty of clean water out there. You just need to choose your spots.

Status quo on the nymphing scene with sowbugs and small mayfly nymphs getting it done. We haven’t really seen a huge shift to Pink or Firebeads yet but it’s coming. Pill Poppers have been good depending on the day so there’s no reason not to start working those winter offerings into the mix. We’re still fishing the faster water, medium depth but as those water temps drop look to shift your focus to the winter water.

We ran a couple of swing trips this week and had moderate success. Stripping has been hit or miss but definitely worth your time. I trust that if you’re fishing from now through the winter months you don’t need to be talked into anything. If you’re here you know.

Guide trips are coming to a close, just one more on the books at this point. Many of our guides have disappeared but give us a call if you’re looking for a late fall trip. There are a few left here who’d love to take you.

Come enjoy the late fall solitude on the Missouri.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-10-26T11:40:12-06:00October 26th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Brawl of the Wild, dry fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Nothing like October Browns on the MO

Day after day of blue skies and sunshine and temps in the 70’s make it feel more like September out there than mid October but things are about to change. A couple of more days of this and then something more like what you’d expect with November looming.

Those unseasonably warm daytime highs will start to head towards normal starting on Friday as the clouds roll in and we drop into the 40’s for the weekend with overnight lows dropping into the high 20’s and low 30’s. There’s a good chance we’ll see a rain and snow mix on Saturday and Sunday and while sunshine will return starting on Monday, highs in the 40’s will confirm we’re a third of the way into fall.

Could Saturday and Sunday bring the BWO’s you’ve all been asking about for the past 4 weeks? There’s only one way to find out. And while I expect there will be a few folks around this weekend, Saturday’s General Hunting Opener and the weather to go with it will likely keep the river fairly quiet.

If you’re skipping the hunt then grab those BWO and streamer boxes and spend your weekend on the Missouri. I feel like there’s a good chance one or both of those weekend days could be epic dry fly events but even if they aren’t, I’d bet on awesome streamer action. It’s been moderately good even on these bright and sunny days with plenty of fall shadows in which to find the fish hiding but if we get the conditions they’re calling for this weekend it could very well be the best streamer fishing we’ve seen since spring.

We’re still selling a ton of Balanced Leeches and Kreelex and Thin Mints and the like but the big stuff is moving now as well so you know the hard core streamer junkies have arrived. We’ve got a couple of new must haves like a Brown and Yellow Wedge Head and Swim Coaches in all flavors as well as piles of Sparkle Minnows in the full spectrum of colors. Dirty Hippies and Circus Peanuts are never a bad call in the fall and ZK’s Colonel Kurtz and MK Ultras have been hot sellers these past weeks.

We are your streamer shop on the MO with bins full of bugs and a full range of Streamer Lines for any and all situations. Rio Predator and Streamer Tip, Airflo Streamer Max, SA Sonar…we’ve got em’ all. Our fall rod/reel sale has gone so well we’re a bit thin on inventory at this point….right where we want to be heading into the winter, but we do have some awesome streamer sticks still available at 25% off. Redington Predator, Echo Streamer X and Boost Blue, Lamson Cobalt fine rods all and at a price that can’t be beat. Pair it with a Redington or Lamson reel and a line and take 30% off the entire package. And just to help you feed your addiction we’ll knock 30% off any streamers you purchase with a rod/reel/line package now through the end of October.

Nymphing is still going strong though we have seen a bit of a lull in the action these past couple of days. It’s still a sowbug game with Tailwater Sows, Pill Poppers, Poxyback Sows, Soft Hackle Sows, Yum Yums, UV Sows and Cotton Candies all getting it done. You can’t go wrong with a double sow rig but you’d also be right to mix in some baetis nymphs. Little Green Machines, Olive Psycho Mays, Olive S & M’s, BWO Magic Flies, Split Case BWO’s, Pheasant Tails…all good options. Firebeads? Worms? Sure – they’ll eat all of it. Show them something a little different and reap the rewards.

Dry fly action is spotty though there seem to be ample opportunities more days than not for those on the hunt. A few caddis bouncing around including the occasional October variety. Tiny BWO’s as well. Fish blind with a Foamy October Caddis or Purple Haze or Parachute Adams or come over to the Dark Side and get your streamer fix while you wait for rain and snow and BWO’s, keeping in mind that those same conditions you’re praying for if you’re a DFO are exactly the conditions we streamer junkies have been awaiting as well. If the weather comes but the bugs don’t, rest assured the possibility of epic streamer fishing is at hand.

We’re open at 7:30 AM Monday – Saturday and 8:00 AM on Sunday. Mornings are cold and dark so there’s certainly no shame in waiting until after 8 to get your start. We’ve been starting our guide trips closer to 9 and doing just fine.

Guides are wrapping up for the season and trips are coming to a close. Lodging is available with everything open until the end of October.

Stop in tomorrow for sun screen and ice and on Saturday for hand warmers, flannel shirts, winter hats and gloves!

We are your four season Missouri River full service fly shop.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-10-18T15:58:03-06:00October 18th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, caddis, dry fly fishing, green machine, Lamson, Missouri River, Redington, running line, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Autumn Fade

As we approach the middle of October the season’s end is looming.

You wouldn’t know it, based on the weather which has been consistently pleasant. Daytime highs have been in the 60’s and low 70’s with blue skies and sunshine more often than not. Overnight lows are chilly, dipping into the high 30’s and 40’s but you really couldn’t ask for nicer weather.

Even so, every good thing must come to an end and while it may feel like September, time is marching on. Soon the 2022 campaign will be in the rearview and we’ll all be sitting back and reflecting on what went well and what could’ve gone better as we look toward the next.

Fall traffic has been fairly heavy, especially these last two weeks but this week feels like things are coming to a close. Just a handful of trips out this week and while our lodging is still fully open there aren’t quite as many folks around.

Many guides have either completed or are counting down to their last trips of the season and as is always the case, while we hate to see it come to an end, everyone is ready for a much-anticipated break in the action.

The fishing remains good with nymphing and streamer fishing continuing to make up for the majority of our trips. BWO’s have yet to make a showing but dry fly fishing is still an option if that’s where your heart lies. Terrestrials and October Caddis could still get a look and you might find success prospecting with a Purple Haze or Parachute Adams. Try trailing a CDC Caddis Emerger behind whatever it is you choose to lead with. They seem to eat it more often than what you might expect.

Stick with the sowbug program if you’re nymphing. A #14 Tungsten Tailwater Sow trailed by a #16 unbeaded Tailwater Sow has been a good go to but BWO nymphs like the Little Green Machine, Split Case BWO, BWO Magic Fly, BWO Redemption, BWO Psycho May and a plain old Pheasant Tail have all been getting noticed as well. Medium fast current, medium depth water should still be your target. The swirlies have been full of food and full of fish so maybe go deep there but otherwise 4 ish feet from bobber to first bug should suffice, with our without a spit shot.

Streamer fishing has been good, better during the low light or under cloud cover but definitely worth your time regardless of conditions. Small black buggers and Thin Mints have been consistently good but the larger, flashier offerings are finding plenty of willing players as well. Weeds are a hindrance but there’s plenty of clean water to throw to. Choose a good long stretch and push through the weedy stuff.

Flows are on the low side (currently around 3300 cfs) with temps holding in the 58 – 60 range. Traffic has finally spread out from the dam stretch with the entire river fishing well. A little more water would be nice but all in all the water and the fish are in great shape and it’s really been an idyllic fall fishing season thus far. The weather looks to hold steady for the foreseeable forecast with no sign of a winter shift on the horizon but it’s coming sooner or later so get out there and enjoy this amazing fall weather and this amazing fall fishery while you can.

We’re open at 7:30 AM Monday – Saturday and 8 AM on Sundays for all of your Missouri River fall fly fishing needs. Shuttles, bugs and so much more including awesome Simms fall flannels and hoodies and plenty of waders, boots now that wader season has returned.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-10-11T14:27:45-06:00October 11th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Little Green Machine, Missouri River, October Caddis, Pheasant Tail, Psycho May, Redemption, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, terrestrials, thin mints, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Late September on the MO

Summer heat has returned this week with temps back in the 80’s and near 90 tomorrow. Overnight lows in the 40’s and low 50’s have made for cool mornings so despite the daytime highs being a little warmer than what we’d like right now it still definitely feels like fall. More seasonable conditions will resume on Thursday with temps dropping back into the 60’s and 70’s with cloudy skies and a daily chance for some precipitation through the weekend.

Traffic has dropped off for us a bit this week after last week’s guide trip marathon but there are a fair number of folks getting out and enjoying these summer-like afternoons and the upcoming change in conditions will likely bring out the streamer set as well as those in search of fall dry fly action. We’re not expecting much on that front just yet but it won’t be long. While you wait for the fall BWOs you can bide your time with terrestrials, October Caddis and those dreaded pseudos.

Nymphing continues to be your best bet for numbers with sows, scuds and zebras getting it done and crayfish patterns still providing some solid action on the right days.

Conventional wisdom dictates small leechy patterns on intermediate lines if you want to try your hand at the streamer game and we’ve undoubtedly been selling plenty of Buggers, Thin Mints, Balanced Leeches, Pine Squirrel Leeches, Polar Leeches etc and getting some glowing reports. However, it’s not conventional wisdom that made us THE Streamer shop on the MO so you won’t be surprised to hear that we’ve been defying convention by running big bugs and heavy lines, searching out the water that allows it and finding plenty of success (and plenty of weeds)ourselves.

We keep the streamer bins as full as the supply chain allows so be sure to make us your first stop of the day for the best streamer selection on the MO and a variety of specialty lines and leaders to fit your preferred technique.

We’re down to the last of the summer gear but we’re fully stocked with cool weather essentials like Simms WCA Challenger hoodies and guide flannels as well as a full selection of hats, gloves and layering and of course waders and boots from Simms, Redington and Korkers. We stock Simms G3 and Freestone waders as well as Redington Sonic Pro waders and Escape wading pants.

Our fall rod and reel sale has been a huge success and is still going strong.

Our lodging is busy but not SOLD OUT on most nights. Give us a call for last minute reservations. Our guide calendar has peaked as we start to close out the 2022 campaign. We have openings throughout October and despite having had our busiest guide week of the fall last week we feel like the best fishing of the fall is still ahead of us.

It’s definitely the home stretch with the winter’s quiet looming but that being said it’s currently 80 degrees and sunny with clear blue skies above and a symphony of fall color….it’s the best of fall fly fishing in Montana. Get out there!

We’re open at 7 AM daily for all of your Missouri River fall fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-09-27T14:53:03-06:00September 27th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: balanced leeches, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, pine squirrel leeches, polar leeches, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, thin mints, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Back At It

What a difference a week makes!

A week ago we were looking for ways to pass the time with the late summer lull in full effect. The days in the shop tend to drag during the lull, especially after 9 am when you often don’t see much in the way of customers for the rest of the day. A few folks stopping in out of curiosity or maybe asking for change for the pop machine or directions to the river. Suffice it to say, we haven’t been setting any retail records over these past few weeks but the switch flipped this week and we’re back in the thick of it.

A full house and a pile of guide trips going out most days these next couple of weeks. It’s taken a minute to get back into the swing of things but we’re there now and ready to finish this season strong.

Not much has changed on the river since last week. It’s still primarily a nymphing game but there are some surface opportunities as well with terrestrials and the occasional callibaetis and October Caddis which may be few and far between but our trout LOVE them so don’t be afraid to invest some time in an October Caddis dry/dropper rig.

Weeds are definitely creating challenges for the sub-surface set but you’ve likely dealt with much worse. Check those rigs often and keep em’ clean. Trout prefer NO SALAD with their meal!

Weeds aside, the water is in great shape with flows holding steady in the 4200 CFS range and temps on the drop (currently 63 degrees).

Smoke from wild fires in the region has been pretty thick this past week for the first time this season but seems to have started to dissipate today. Cooler weather trends ahead with a chance for precipitation most days should continue to cool the water temps while the fishing heats up.

There’s nothing like fall fishing on the MO. Chilly mornings and evenings, fall colors popping and big browns on the prowl. Get out there!

We’re open at 7 AM daily with everything you need for your day on the water. Hats, Gloves, Sun protection, the best streamer selection on the MO and the sale of the season happening NOW on all rods and reels.

Lodging is busy but plenty of last minute options available most nights. We can’t really say the same thing where guide trips are concerned. It’s a busy month on the MO with many of our summer guides who moonlight as educators during the off season back to work, shrinking our guide pool substantially. It never hurts to call and ask but September is pretty well full. We do have plenty of openings in October though which in my opinion is the better month to fish but that’s neither here nor there. Give us a shout if you’d like to set something up for October or early November.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-09-14T13:00:17-06:00September 14th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Another Summer Season in the Books

The calendar still says summer. The weather at the moment definitely concurs but Labor Day has come and gone and with it Summer Season Number Nine at Wolf Creek Angler.

Summer angling crowds have been absent for weeks now and the river has been busy with rec floaters enjoying one last summer fling before it’s back to the fall grind.

Things have been on the lonely side these past few weeks for those of us in the fly shops but that’s about to change as we close the books on the summer season and make the shift to fall. It appears as though it will continue to feel like summer for the time being with a taste of what’s on the horizon coming Friday with expected daytime highs in the 50’s. The heat returns for the weekend but we’re definitely in the transition from sweltering heat to cooler days and nights. The leaves are turning, ever so slowly and the vibe has turned from Endless Summer to everything fall.

Fall sports are either already or very soon to be underway and many have already put away the fishing gear for the season, making the switch from hunting heads to hunting horns. Big Game Season is here which means the pursuit of deer and elk for many but for others Big Game Season means the pursuit of monster browns on the prowl as the fall spawning season gets underway.

I spent Saturday afternoon in Missoula sweating through a convincing Griz win for their season opener. Sweating aside – it felt GREAT to be back in the stands watching football again. It’s the time of year when hopes are high for all of our favorite teams with a clean slate from which to start. It’s hard to be anything other than optimistic prior to that first snap, even if you’re a Detroit Lions fan. This could be our year!!

September and October are among my favorite months of the year. I love everything about the fall and find myself savoring these autumn months more and more as the years pass by. Many of you share this love for autumn as evidenced by our bookings for September. It’s going to be a busy month on the MO but at this point availability for lodging and guides in October looks good.

You simply can’t beat autumn days on the MO. As those cooler temps begin to take hold and our water temps start to drop you can expect fishing to improve dramatically. Terrestrials will continue to be your go to for surface action while the nymphing and streamer fishing start to heat up. Folks have already started asking about BWO’s…it typically doesn’t happen until mid-October or later depending on the weather but we’ll certainly keep you posted. A few Callibaetis here and there for the hard core DFO and a great time to throw an October Caddis.

It was a fun summer and a hot one at that. And so we bid farewell to Summer 22. We’ll miss those green hills and long days and warm nights but we shall not mourn summer’s passing. Instead we embrace the change and welcome this season of the harvest.

We hope to see you on the MO this fall.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-09-05T14:25:35-06:00September 5th, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, fly fishing, Griz, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, summer, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

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