Mid December on the MO’

All remains quiet on the Missouri as we close out these last two weeks of 2020 and look with eager anticipation towards the promise and potential of a new year.

Conditions remain favorable by December standards with more of the same on tap as far as weather is concerned and water conditions holding steady with flows at a low but constant 3690 CFS and water temps hanging right around 37 degrees, give or take.

We’ll see partly sunny skies with temps in the low to mid 40’s all week long though it looks to be breezy this weekend with a high wind watch in effect for Friday night.

Nymphing will be the method of choice over these next couple of months as the fish are settling in to their winter habitat though swinging or stripping streamers will continue to keep many of us occupied all winter long. Dry fly fishing? Not much happening on that front at the moment though midges are a winter staple and will provide some dry fly action throughout the winter months.

Dredging nymphs under a bobber is your best bet for success right now so break out your winter boxes and pick apart that frog water. Pink is in play and will be a staple from here on out. An ideal rig would be #12 pink or rainbow weight fly, pink AmEx, Pinkalicious, Rainbow Czech, Pill Popper, Bubble Yum etc., trailed with a #16 or #18 soft hackle sow, Tailwater Sow, Caviar Scud, Zebra Midge, poxyback sow, Ray Charles, Rainbow Warrior, pink lighting bug, cotton candy etc. If it’s pink and has a pink or hot bead you can’t go wrong. You just need to find the depth and the lane and you’ll be in business. We’re fully stocked with all of the above as well as countless other options.

Keep the streamers on the small side (or not). Buggers, Pine Squirrel Leeches, Fruit Rollups, Polar Leeches, Kreelex etc. have all been effective though the bigger stuff will work as well. Whichever route you decide to go you’ll want to achieve substantial depth and keep your retrieve SLOW with plenty of pauses in between strips. Try the occasional swing or jig action as well. Winter is obviously becoming swing season on the Missouri with the two handers seemingly taking over but don’t feel like you can’t fish single handed utilizing old school streamer methods. I’m here to tell you, it still works!

And the beauty of it this time of year is that whatever methods you prefer, there is no shortage of water on which to ply your trade.

As has been the case for most of the fall, traffic is not an issue. There are always a few wader anglers around and maybe a boat or two depending on the weather and the day of the week but there is a daily abundance of solitude to be found which will likely be the case for at least the next few weeks until cabin fever starts to drive some traffic our way.

Our lodging continues to be on hold until things settle down with Covid cases which it seems might be happening now, at least by the daily state wide numbers which have been trending downwards for the last couple of weeks. If these trends continue we’ll likely make lodging available again in January, just in time for the aforementioned cabin fever traffic.

We’ve gotten a few calls inquiring about the ice on Holter….there is none! We’ll keep you posted.

As we approach Christmas which is ONE WEEK FROM FRIDAY, and as we gather to celebrate the holidays, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all again for your patronage over the years and especially during this crazy Covid year. I don’t know that we’re quite out of the woods just yet but I’m confident 2021 is going to be a year of leaps and bounds towards normalcy and I for one can’t wait.

Status Quo on the MO’

Hooked Up – December Days on the MO. Photo by Matt Hargrave

More of the same this week on the MO.

You can expect steady weather and stable flows as we descend into the darkest and shortest days of the year from now through December 21st when we turn the corner and commence the march towards spring and the 2021 season.

We’ll see a high near 55 today, trending cooler for the remainder of the week but with no significant changes and no precipitation in the forecast. With Christmas just two weeks from this Friday it looks as though a white Christmas is not likely but obviously this could all change between now and then.

In the meantime, it’s pretty tough to beat these fishing conditions for early December yet things remain surprisingly quiet. A few more boats out there on the weekends and a few wade anglers out there daily but not what you’d expect.

Nevertheless, we’re enjoying the solitude and enjoying some good streamer days and it sounds as though the nymphing is picking up and there have even been the occasional sipping trout out there willing to engage a well presented dry fly on any given day.

We’re continuing to keep our lodging closed for the time being, waiting for things to improve on the Covid front. Hopefully soon!

Shop hours are 8 AM – 2 PM Tuesday – Saturday with social distancing and masking in full effect (for whatever it’s worth). If you know what you need and would rather not take your chances indoors give us a call on your way out and we’ll be happy to deliver your items curbside.

Our shuttle service remains on hiatus until spring but we are fully stocked on all of the essential winter bugs as well as a wide array of Simms gear from hats, gloves and socks to layering to waders, boots and outerwear.

And don’t forget our web store is now live so you can shop from the comfort of your home or office. We’re continuing to add new items daily so as you think about that countdown to Christmas and if you haven’t yet gotten your shopping done www.wolfcreekangler.com should perhaps be your next stop.

We hope you get out and take advantage of this amazing weather this week on the MO and hope to see you in the shop when you do.

Thanksgiving Week on the MO

Late Fall Colors on the Missouri River – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

You could do worse this Thanksgiving week than spending some time on the MO’. The weather is certainly tolerable, especially by late November standards, with daily highs in the 40’s and nearing 50 this weekend. It’s been breezy and will continue to be so but that’s to be expected. Sustained South Southwest winds in the 14-16 mph range with higher gusts up to 28 mph, not ideal but definitely fishable.

Flows continue to be low, currently right around 3500 CFS with water temps holding above average for late November but continuing to slowly drop. We’re currently sitting at 41.5 degrees so you’ll definitely want to add some layers if you plan on spending any extended time wading.

Traffic has been very light. A few wade anglers around most days doing the swing thing and generally a couple of boats in the mix with the nymphing set working the dam stretch leaving most of the rest of the river unmolested.

Conditions are ideal for those late fall streamer trips on the MO and while the Trout Spey swingers are growing in numbers staking out their claims daily, the old-school single-handers are covering the miles and enjoying the lack of competition and some decent fall streamer fishing (depending on the day).

Many of the brown trout are post-spawn and looking for high calorie targets as they prepare for winter’s cold. The perfect storm of events and conditions for the fall streamer angler. That being said, there are plenty of active redds out there so please leave those fish alone and watch where you step when wade fishing. 

A slow retrieve with plenty of pauses has been effective generally working the banks and drop-offs. We’ve been moving a few off of the banks but most of the action seems to be mid way between the bank and the boat in medium fast, moderate depth water. Much more so than the slow deep stuff at this point. Don’t overlook the swing either. Sometimes a swing/strip hybrid retrieve can be deadly.

Best colors vary depending on the day. Black, natural, grey, yellow, olive and white have all had their moments. Conventional wisdom says dark colors and dark days but don’t be afraid to buck convention. Mini Dungeons, MK Ultralights, Kreelex, Sparkle Minnows, Swim Coach, Dirty Hippies, Peanut Envies and Circus Peanuts have all been getting noticed as have smaller buggers and polar leeches. Switch patterns and colors often until you find something that works.

Wolf Creek Angler is your Missouri River Streamer Fishing Headquarters with an unrivaled selection of the big bugs, a streamer line for any and all situations and a deep passion for and knowledge of the sport which we absolutely love to talk about. Stop in for tips and techniques, your favorite bugs or anything and everything Missouri River Streamer Fishing.

Don’t care for streamer fishing? That’s ok too. Nymphing is providing plenty of action right now as the fish make the transition to winter conditions. As it’s been with the streamer bite, we’re still picking up fish on nymphs in medium fast water but they are starting to stack up in the traditional cold weather spots, deep and slow.

Target both starting with the faster water and then getting down into the slow depths if need be. Tailwater sows, black Zebras, Soft Hackle Sows and Rainbow Czechs are all standard fare for late fall and it wouldn’t hurt to start working some of the winter fare into the mix. Pill Poppers, Bubble Yums, Cotton Candy, Pink Rays, UV Crush, Caviar Scuds, Hot Bead anything….you know the routine. All available now at WCA.

And speaking of WCA, we’re changing things up again with our hours. We apologize for the frequent changes but Covid continues to dictate our operational status. Effective immediately our hours are Tuesday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM, CLOSED Sunday and Monday. Lodging will continue to be closed for the time being but don’t let that prevent you from calling to book your 2021 dates. It was brought to my attention last week when I announced we would not be taking any new lodging reservations that readers might construe that as us not taking reservations for next season which is absolutely not the case. We’ve just decided to close lodging for the time being while Covid continues to rage. We fully intend on being 100 percent open for business for the 2021 season so by all means, call now and book those dates.

We have suspended our shuttle service for the winter but will resume with vehicle shuttles in the spring.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to do our best to navigate through these strange times.

The Quiet

Quiet on the MO’ photo by Wolf Creek Angler

We’ve definitely reached that time of year when angling traffic all but ceases on the MO’. The cold and snow have ushered in The Quiet and while you may find the occasional trout-obsessed, hard core angler out there swinging the tail outs or driving up and down the Recreation Road praying for BWO’s as they comb the side channels in search of rising trout, there is no shortage of solitude to be found on the river these days.

The same can unfortunately be said for the confines of the shop where we’ve been engaged in such year-end pleasantries as counting flies and FINALLY completing those pre-season orders. The season is now over for shop staff which means it’s just yours truly and usually the dog here as well to keep me company.

So while it is indeed The Quiet Time, it’s also that time of year when my job description is expanded to include ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that needs to be done. Housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, snow removal, security, phone calls, emails, dog walks, website work and more. And on the rare occasion a customer darkens the door, I may even get the chance to sell stuff.

Mid-November through the end of the year are by far the quietest weeks of the season. Hunters are afield and the holidays are approaching which means we simply don’t see much in the way of traffic. It’s a perfect opportunity to take stock of the season and think about how we can do things better next year and it’s also the perfect opportunity to get out and enjoy the solitude of the season.

All that being said, I do expect there may be a slight uptick in traffic next week as we see things warm up early in the week with temps in the high 40’s though mid-week. The rest of this week doesn’t look terrible though temps remain in the 30’s and winds are forecast to increase with the least desirable day looking to be Saturday with sustained west winds 22-28 mph, gusting to 44 mph.

River flows are currently 3560 CFS with water temps hovering around 43.5 degrees. Water conditions are favorable for BWO emergence, weather conditions maybe not so much though Monday looks like it could shape up to be one of those quintessential fall BWO days with overcast skies and rain and snow in the mix. If the wind allows for it perhaps Monday will be the day you DFO’s have been waiting for.

If you’re swinging or stripping, weather and water conditions aren’t nearly as critical though overcast skies are certainly your friend as well. And those looking to chase the bobber will also welcome the cloud cover. Again, it won’t be busy even if we do see a few more folks around so if you haven’t had your fill of fall fishing next week looks like a good time to be here.

I’ve not heard of much happening on the dry fly front so I won’t waste your time with a report about how nothing is happening. If you’re a fall BWO angler you know the game, you’re not looking to us to tell you HOW to get it done, just maybe WHEN. We’ll keep you posted though if you find yourself reading about how great of a BWO day we had yesterday then it’s likely too late!

Nymphing reports have been on the sub-par side overall these past couple of weeks but any day could turn out to be the best day of your season. You won’t know if you don’t go! Your go-to bugs should be Rainbow Czechs, Tailwater Sowbugs, Zebra midges, Soft Hackle sows, Pill Poppers etc. and you might keep some baetis nymhs (Green Machine, split case BWO, BWO Magic Fly) in the mix though we are definitely entering winter nymphing conditions. Bring on the Pinks and Firebeads!

Streamer fishing has been decent depending on the day and should continue to produce. Swingers are getting them on Polar Leeches, Kreelex, Fruit Rollups and the like and while those work on the strip as well we’ve been getting plenty of action on Sparkle Minnows, Swim Coaches, Mini Dungeons, JJ’s and MK Ultralights.

Swing the tail outs and strip off the bank or through the flats and tail outs. Don’t overdo it with your stripping action. The water is getting cold so keep it on the slow side with plenty of pauses.

Just to remind you, our winter shop hours go into effect next week. Wednesday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, CLOSED Sunday – Tuesday. The days we are open and our hours will fluctuate with the weather conditions. Please call ahead to make sure we’re here when you need us but expect that if the weather dictates it we will be here, at least in the mornings.
And once again, we have discontinued our shuttle service for the season and will resume shuttles in the spring. Please contact Headhunters Fly Shop for winter shuttles.

Steer Clear of the Covid, enjoy The Quiet and find the good in each and every day.

Fall Returns

 

 

Winter Recedes and fall returns this week on the Missouri

Following a weekend that felt more like late January than late October it looks like fall returns starting today as temps climb back into the 40’s today and 50’s tomorrow through the weekend. It looks like we could even be bumping up against 60 degrees early next week so hopefully you hadn’t given up on 2020 fall fishing just yet.

Friday’s winter storm dumped over 20 inches at my house in Helena. Wolf Creek didn’t see quite that much snow but slippery roads, single digit temps and dangerous wind chills kept all but the most hard core anglers off the water this weekend.

Every fall there seems to be a day where it’s just abundantly clear that fall fishing is over. And while it’s generally considerably later in the fall than this I have to say that after fishing the front end of that system on Friday, battling sketchy roads driving home as the storm settled in, spending the better part of Saturday morning digging out, spending most of the weekend on the couch watching the snow fly and white knuckling it to Wolf Creek on Sunday to make sure the plumbing hadn’t frozen, I had a difficult time not proclaiming the season over.

Even with the warm up in the forecast I was having a hard time getting past the fact that my vehicles were buried under literally feet of snow and it’s only October!

Warm breezes this morning however have me thinking differently. The snow is disappearing as I write and the forecast looks good. Not fall Baetis good mind you, but if you weren’t quite ready for winter and want a few more of those pleasant autumn days before we descend into winter’s cold then you should like what’s coming. An abundance of sunshine and moderate temps on tap for the next 10 days will likely bring a substantial bump in angler traffic though with hunting in full swing I still wouldn’t expect it to be overwhelmingly busy.

Izaak’s has closed for the season. Shotgun Annie’s will reportedly be open through Thanksgiving and I believe The Oasis is still serving food but this time of year your best bet might just be stocking up on groceries and staying with us. All of our remaining open units with the exception of Cabin #3 are equipped with kitchens and there are gas grills available for your use.

The warm-up has filled our available lodging starting tomorrow through the weekend but it looks like the nice weather will extend into next week. We’re tentatively planning on closing the cabins late next week but we’ll let bookings (or lack thereof) dictate that decision. The Bungalows will be open and available all winter long. 

As you might expect, the warmer weather has brought with it a fair amount of wind so be prepared for that. 15 – 21 mph out of the south today with gusts as high as 29 and a little better tomorrow with sustained south wind at around 11 mph, gusting to 20. Expect similar conditions through the weekend.

Once again, between the sunshine and the wind I wouldn’t expect much on the dry fly front though last light could be good but nymphing and streamer fishing should be good. We’re hearing some solid reports from those swinging as well so keep that in your repertoire.

Shop Hours 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday – Saturday and 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM on Sunday.

Web Store coming soon to wolfcreekangler.com. Stay Tuned….

10 20 20

Fall Fading Fast in Wolf Creek

All is quiet on the Missouri as we cruise through October with the end of the 2020 season in sight.

Traffic has slowed to a crawl and will likely stay that way with more winter weather on the way. A very pleasant autumn day today with highs nearing 50 but that’s all about to change as we’ll see a cold front arrive tonight.

Tomorrow looks like it could be that Baetis day we’ve been waiting for with rain and snow in the morning changing to all snow in the afternoon with a high of 38. We may see up to four inches of accumulation tomorrow night as lows drop into the teens and it will be more of the same for the remainder of the week with a chance for snow each day and highs in the 20’s with overnight lows plummeting into the single digits.

Things warm up starting the first part of next week but the forecast is extreme enough through the weekend that we’ll be closing/winterizing our motel rooms tomorrow. We’ll have cabins available at least through the end of the month and the bungalows are open all winter long.

Fall is never as busy as you might expect but it’s particularly quiet this year which should be music to your ears if you don’t mind a little cold weather and you’re looking to extend your 2020 season. Fishing is worth your while on all fronts with solid nymphing, the potential for silly dry fly fishing any day now and streamer fishing good enough and only getting better from here on out.

All of this AND you can have it virtually to yourself.

We are running our last guide trips on the books this week but expect they’ll trickle in as we close out the season. Give us a call today and book your fall guided fishing trip on the Missouri or if DIY is more your style we’ve got plenty of lodging available and the shop is fully stocked with everything you need for fall fishing. Cold Weather gear, shuttles, bugs, Adipose drift boat rentals, Simms waders and boots and a bunch of cool new logo gear just in time for holiday shopping either in store or very soon to be online with our web store which is currently under construction and expected to be live in the coming days.

We are your streamer specialists on the MO with a full assortment of specialty lines for any and all sub-surface scenarios and the expertise to get you dialed in with the perfect streamer set up. We’ve also got what has been proclaimed by many to be the best streamer selection on the river so look no further than WCA.

Nymphing or dry fly fishing? We’ve got you covered too with fully stocked baetis bins and the best selection of Missouri River nymphs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

We are your Missouri River full service fall fishing one stop shop ready to serve you.

Fall shop hours 7:30 – 5:00 PM Monday – Saturday and 7:30 – 4:00 PM Sunday.

Early October on the MO’

Fall fishing at its finest. Mom with the assist, netting this Missouri River beast hooked and fought solo by Emma Lawrance. Way to go! Photo by Matthew Lawrance


A couple of weeks into autumn and we’re still waiting for some hint of fall weather.

We’ve had an abundance of sunny, cloudless days with temps holding in the 70’s which is not exactly what you would expect for the first week of October. It definitely feels like fall in the mornings but we’ve yet to have a day where you need a jacket past 10 am.

Water temps are dropping slowly but still hanging in that 58 – 59 degree range and flows are as low as I’ve seen them, currently just shy of 3300 CFS, well below what we normally see this time of year which is somewhere in the 4000 CFS range. Last year at this time we were seeing flows of 4500 CFS with water temps at 54 degrees and dropping. It’s definitely a different year in more ways than one, not the least of which is low water on the MO.

Not to despair though as fishing should do nothing but improve from here on out.

We’ll see a cool down starting Sunday with highs only in the low 50’s and overnight lows dipping into the high 30’s. There’s a chance for some rain and snow showers as well so keep your fingers crossed, we could see BWO’s next week. In the meantime keep those nymphing rigs at the ready or suck it up and commit to throwing the big stuff, weeds be damned.

As stated, nymphing has been the go-to for numbers with most of the traffic concentrated between Holter Dam and Craig. Best bugs have been black or purple Zebra midges, Red 2 Bit Hookers, Brown S & M’s, Little Green Machines, BWO Redemption, Jujus, Tailwater Sows, Frenchies, Pill Poppers and Rainbow Czechs. The crayfish bite seems to have come to an end though I wouldn’t necessarily rule it out completely. Always worth at least a try.

We’ve had a lot of inquiries about dry fly fishing the last week or so and even had a few trips out who were pretty intent on hunting heads. Unfortunately that’s really not a thing right now. That’s not to say there aren’t some opportunities out there if you really work at it and put your time and your miles in but we are definitely languishing in the in between as we await the more fall-like weather and hopefully the bugs that accompany it.

The warm temps and lack of a freeze mean there are still plenty of hoppers around so we are still encouraging folks to blind fish hoppers and ants and October Caddis are a good call as well. Drop a nymph, trail a smaller terrestrial or fish it solo. It’s certainly not as productive as straight up bobber fishing but it’s hard to beat that take on a big dry.

The streamer bins have been getting a lot of attention this past week and it sounds like things are improving daily out there. Like I said, if you’re going to fish streamers you ought to commit to doing it all day long. Like the dry/dropper, it’s a low-percentage method but the return is well worth the investment. The weeds are frustrating to be sure but once you work though all of that and find the right water and the right bugs it’s game on! A few chases, a few takes and you’ll be hooked. Or maybe not, but most of the streamer crowd with whom we run are fully committed (or in some cases should be committed) and passionately addicted and live for fall streamer fishing. I don’t think I know anyone who merely dabbles in the streamer game. You’re either all in or you’re out.

Stop in and check out our streamer selection. Some have proclaimed it to be the best on the MO’. And while you’re at it, if you are in the market for a new streamer stick we’re wheeling and dealing during our annual fall rod and reel sale with 25% off all rods and reel…now until they’re gone.

New shop hours are in effect this week. 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Monday – Saturday and 7:30 – 4:00 PM Sundays. We are your one stop destination shop on the Missouri River. The hardest working, most professional guides on the river, clean and affordable lodging, Adipose drift boat rentals, shuttles, bugs, Simms boots, waders and accessories and much much more.

Closing Out A Busy September

Autumn Days on the Missouri – Photo by Nancy Thouvenell


Another month in the books which ended up being surprisingly busy for September. And now on to the heart of fall fishing in Montana. October really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Aside from some Labor Day snow showers September turned out to be a very pleasant month weather wise and while the fishing could have been better, it also could’ve been much worse.

Terrestrial fishing was on the slow side, a bit below average I’d say, but nymphing was solid throughout the month and the crayfish bite, while perhaps not the shoo-in of some Septembers past, was good enough to keep things interesting.

Streamer fishing is just getting started and while we did have some decent days in September throwing the big stuff, now is the time. Weeds have been, and will continue to be an issue throughout the fall but from here on out the potential payoff makes the struggle worth the while.

We had one of our busiest months of guide trips in September, due in large part to the annual Schultz Outfitters group which kept us busy on the MO as well as the Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers. It’s always nice to have Michigan folks around and it’s been awesome hosting this group these past two seasons. We can’t wait to have them back next fall. A huge shout out to Mike Schultz and James Hughes for working so hard on putting this thing together and for trusting us to provide your clients with an exceptional Montana fly fishing experience.

Good Times with the Schultz Outfitters crew on the Blackfoot – photo by Brad Turner

It also just so happened that the Schultz group coincided with a first-time visit from our friend Tommy Lynch (aka The Fish Whisperer) so it was indeed a Michigan invasion in and around Wolf Creek last week.

Boat full of Michigan on the Stone with Dan White, Jeff Jennings and Tommy Lynch.

I love hosting new visitors to the Missouri River and it’s especially gratifying when they’re friends and colleagues from back home making the trip to check out Wolf Creek Angler and to see what I’ve been up to here in Montana. I feel incredibly blessed to be here and while it sounds extremely cliché it isn’t lost on me that I really am living the dream, doing what I love in this amazingly stunning place I’m so blessed to now call home.

While this season has been a gut punch in so many ways, it’s also been a season filled with visits from friends, some of whom had never been to Montana. So in spite of the Covid Shit Show that has defined 2020 it’s been an awesome summer of connecting with friends and sharing our amazing state with them.

Looking ahead to October we’ve got a busy couple of weeks ahead and then things really open up. This is a change from the usual as we’re typically fairly slow through September, picking up in October and into the first part of November.

In talking with other outfitters and shops around the area it appears as though we’re all in for a different October with the lodging and guide calendar clearing about the time things should start really getting good. We’re hoping for a continuation of the last minute bookings which have become the norm this season but as we start pushing up against the season’s end and the imminent change in the weather conditions our current plan is to start shutting lodging down around the third week of October. Mind you we will once again have limited lodging available all winter long but if we don’t see a huge influx of bookings in the next few days we will be closing the majority of rooms down before the end of October.

Keeping in mind that the BWO’s should be happening around the middle of October and that streamer fishing could be lights out into November, it would behoove you to book your fall dates today to insure we have guides and beds available for you.

It’s been a surreal year for everyone, guides included, and while we’re all very grateful for the days we were able to salvage this season there is a general sense of doneness which has been creeping in and I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the guides began to migrate for the winter, perhaps a few weeks earlier than normal.

That’s not to say we won’t have guides available…some of us aren’t going anywhere. But as we close rooms and guides depart the MO it will become more of a challenge to accommodate your plans so book those dates now and get them locked in.

Fall Shop Hours will go into effect on Monday, October 5th. We’ll be open from 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Monday – Saturday and 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM on Sundays.
Stop in for shuttles, bugs, Simms waders and boots and much more and don’t miss our annual fall rod and reel sale happening NOW.

Mid September Reality Check

The leaves aren’t the only colors of fall. It’s time to go on the hunt for Missouri River browns.

Here we are mid-way through September and just under a week out from the official first day of fall. The march to our Second Season is on and each day brings us closer to those ideal autumn conditions which make fall fishing on the MO’ so spectacular.

In the meantime we wait.

Traffic has increased considerably over the past 10 days and these next several weeks look to be our busiest of the fall. There is definitely reason for renewed optimism coming off of the long hot August ghost town. That being said, I caught myself yesterday giving what was perhaps, an overly pessimistic assessment of the current opportunities and conditions to some folks from out of the area who had stopped in for a report.

As I gave these folks the lowdown on the nymphing and warned them about the abundance of weeds and the lack of dry fly fishing opportunities it struck me that for people showing up here for the first time and hearing this, I was painting a bit of a bleak picture which is the last thing I want to do. Following this exchange I did reformulate my presentation to paint things in a better light but at the same time I made certain to maintain an honest evaluation and to not oversell it.

Let’s be honest, early September can be tough and while it does carry with it the promise of ever-improving conditions as we transition to fall it can be a challenging time to fish the Missouri. Those first two weeks of September are essentially a continuation of the Dog Days but with some cooler temperatures creeping in, especially in the early and later parts of the day, keeping our focus trained on what’s coming.

My standard report as of late is that that nymphing is the ticket to numbers and that the dam to Craig is the ticket to the nymphing but that’s not to say that things are horrible elsewhere. And in fact, when traffic is stacking up at the dam I always advise seeking out other opportunities as there’s simply no reason to pack into one 8 mile section of river when we’ve got 30 plus miles of river and plenty of fish throughout.

If I’m asked if the weeds are bad my standard response is that they could be worse, which is definitely the case, but sometimes I feel like people don’t really want to hear it. Sometimes I feel like people want to hear that there are no weeds, that there are no crowds at the dam, that the fish are incredibly grabby every day and that opportunities abound no matter what your preferred method but this simply is not the case and I would be doing you a disservice by telling you it was. 

 
On a positive note nymphing is pretty darn good right now and should continue to carry the day. Most days have seen a big push of traffic at the dam and for good reason. The grass flats below the dam typically shine in September which has in fact been the case more days than not as of late but if the bumper boats isn’t your thing then don’t be afraid to skip the dam, there are plenty of fish throughout the system.

You could very well make it through your day without changing rigs but it never hurts to show them something different either. Frenchie/Zebra, Purple Weight Fly/Tailwater Sow, Zebra/Sow, Tung Dart/JUJU, Zirdle/Sow, Claws R/Zebra…there are a lot of rigs working right now but fail-safes have been #18 Black or Purple Zebras, #16 no-bead Tailwater Sow, #16 Frenchie, #16 Purple Weight Fly and #8 Zirdles in natural or olive. Again, there are plenty of other options which you should not overlook. Flashback PT’s, Rainbow Warriors, Split Case BWO’s, Olive S & M’s, Pearl Lightning Bugs, Soft Hackle Sows, Olive Psycho Mays, Poxyback Sows, Snapping Crays, Magic Flies, 2 Bits, LGM’s…good options every one of them. 

Dry fly fishing proper is not great though the terrestrial game remains strong depending on the day. Smaller hoppers and ants and October Caddis will get some attention, particularly in the middle and lower sections. I’ve been getting a lot of calls about BWO’s. Not yet. Probably a month or so. Perhaps a trico or two around and the random caddis but this is what I’m saying about September…it’s simply not our best month for dry fly fishing. We’re in between hatches, closing out the tricos and awaiting fall BWO’s.

Blind fishing terrestrials can be very effective. It can also make for a long day. It just depends on the day. It’s definitely worth your time to give it a go but if hunting heads and targeting rising fish is your game then bide your time, keep an eye on the reports and be ready to make your move on a moment’s notice. My guess is mid to late October.

Fall is also traditionally Streamer Season and there’s no time like the present to get after it. Weeds will frustrate and challenge you throughout the fall season, they aren’t going anywhere. But that being said, hooking into those aggressive fall browns makes it all worthwhile EVERY TIME!

We’re stocked up on streamers and sinking lines and we’ll talk streamer fishing for as long as you can stand to listen. Weeds or not, it is the most wonderful time of the year!

We are your Missouri River Fall Fly Fishing destination, your one stop shop on the MO’. Look no further than WCA for a wide range of lodging options, the most professional guide crew on the river, Adipose drift boat rentals (including free rentals for vets and active duty military personnel through Mending Waters Montana), and a shop filled with the goods you need for fall fishing on the Missouri and beyond.

Feeling Fallish on the MO’

Fall on the Mighty Missouri



A shot of winter weather over the Labor Day weekend and a couple of frosty mornings to start the short week are the perfect transition as we say goodbye to summer 2020 and welcome fall fishing on the MO’.

A warm up is underway with temps climbing back into the 80’s for the weekend but chilly,  longer nights and cold mornings will remind you that fall is officially on the way.

No need for early starts as we transition into autumn. Mid-morning until dark makes for the perfect day.

Things have started to pick up again though we get the sense that it might be a quiet fall compared to what we’re used to. Local traffic has slowed as many have switched their efforts to chasing game rather than hunting heads and Covid continues to thwart travel for many which spells opportunity for those able to do a spur of the moment trip.

Fishing has been good enough and should only improve from here on out with nymphing being the go-to for numbers but plenty of opportunities for dry fly fishing as well. Fall is also the time to break out the streamer rods and the swing set will arrive in due time.

It’s been a Sow Bug/Zebra Midge nymph game as of late with a fairly consistent crayfish bite as well.

Best bets sub-surface;

#18 Tungsten Black Zebra Midge (silver bead)
#16 Tailwater Sow Bug
#16 Soft Hackle Sow
#18 S & M (Brown or Olive)
#18 LGM (PT)
#18 Split Case BWO
#16 Weight Fly (Purple)
#16 Frenchie
#18 Lightning Bug (Purple, Olive, Pearl)
#8 Zirdle (Natural or Olive)
#8 Claws R Cray
#8 Snapping Cray

Dry Fly Essentials for September

#20 Hi Vis Trico Spinner
#20 Indicator Spinner
#18 Two Wing Trico Spinner
#10 – #8 October Caddis
#12 – #10 More or Less Hoppers (gold/peach/grey/pink/purple)
#16-#14 Ants (Cinnamon/Black/Sparkle/Purple)
#16 – #14 Beetles
#16 Bloom’s Para Caddis
#16 Cornfed Caddis
#16 CDC Caddis Emerger
#16 Stockingfoot Caddis
#16 Outrigger Caddis

Streamer fishing both on the swing and the strip will continue to frustrate with the amount of weeds in the river but prepare yourself mentally, seek out clean water and fish hard. Best bets on the swing or strip include Pine Squirrel Leeches, Buggers, Fruit Rollups, JJ’s, Autumn Splendor, Lil’ Kim, Sparkle Minnow (JJ/Brownie) Dirty Hippy (Brown/Black), Mini Dungeons (Olive), ZK’s Inflated Ego (Olive) and anything else you might like.

Expect hit and miss action with the streamer fishing keeping in mind it’s only going to get better as we move into the heart of autumn fishing. Mammoth browns will soon be on the prowl looking to attack so be ready for the tug or the slam.

All of these bugs and many, many more available now at Wolf Creek Angler. We’ve got the largest selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana as well as anything and everything else you might need for your day on the water.

Shop hours remain 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily. Cold weather gear has arrived and Simms waders and boots are in stock and back in style with water and air temps soon dropping.

Lodging is busy but we’ve got some availability and more often than not we can get you a guide with a day or two notice.

We hope to see you soon for fall fishing on the MO’.

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