winter Archives - Page 3 of 6 - Wolf Creek Angler

Welcome to MOvember

It’s hard to believe but November is upon us and a very busy 2021 season is coming to a close.

The transition to the off season is almost complete with the majority of seasonal folks having already disappeared. Things are quiet in Wolf Creek and Craig.

That being said, November brings its own dedicated contingent to the MO with swing season underway, streamer fishing still hanging on, fall dry-fly fishing at its apex and pre-winter nymphing providing plenty of action for those seeking a different Missouri River experience, one of solitude, absent the throngs.

Things look and feel deserted right now but a closer look reveals evidence of a different, more subdued season underway. A season where you can have the river seemingly to yourself on most days but a season which lacks not just the crowds but much of the infrastructure enjoyed by the prime season angler.

Commerce has slowed to a crawl with some businesses closing for the season and others shifting to abbreviated hours for the winter months.

Izaaks is closed for the season and Annie’s is open Friday – Sunday 11 AM – 8 PM but will be closing for winter on November 21st. Bottom line… you’d be wise to bring food if you’re headed this way any time before next spring.

The Canyon Store is OPEN all year with fuel, beer,food and other essentials and Wolf Creek Angler remains open every day for the time being. We’ve closed a third of our lodging thus far and have gone to winter rates on our remaining open rooms. $99 (plus tax) for a cozy cabin or bungalow, each with a full kitchen and private bath.

It is indeed our quiet time on the MO but that being said, Wolf Creek shines this time of the season with everything you need all in one place, just minutes from Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge where the vast majority of Missouri River winter fishing occurs. Why would you go anywhere else? There’s NOBODY closer to Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge than Wolf Creek Angler.

We’ve got everything you need for your day on the water from Adipose drift boat rentals to Simms waders and boots and cold weather gear to lines, leaders and tippet from Rio and Airflo to tools and accessories from Fishpond, Rising and Loon to the now near legendary largest selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana. Our flies come from Montana Fly Company, Umpqua Feather Merchants, Solitude and Yellowstone Fly Goods and are the highest quality flies available.

So while things may look deserted out there on the river right now, we’re enjoying hosting a good portion of the late-season contingent this early November at Wolf Creek Angler.

We’re near full capacity all week long with awesome fall weather on tap for at least the next 7 days. Cabins 2 and 3 are available through the weekend and next week we’re wide open so if you’re looking to make the trip give us a call.

The late season is generally a DIY affair but if you’re looking for a guide we can likely accommodate. As mentioned above, many of the seasonal folks have left the area but most of our guides at WCA are local so if you’re looking for a late season guided trip let us know.

Great weather, great end of the season deals in the shop, and most importantly, GREAT FISHING happening NOW at Wolf Creek Angler.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-11-02T09:45:47-06:00November 2nd, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Adipose, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana, MOvember, RIO, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Wolf Creek Angler is honored to be your Fly Shop

Since adding our online web store in December we’ve been pleasantly surprised not only by the volume of online sales we’ve been doing but also by the wide range of locations from which we’ve been receiving orders.

It’s not a big surprise when a deeply discounted item like a rod or reel gets ordered by someone on the other side of the country but getting an order for a Wolf Creek Angler Trucker Hat or T shirt from Nowhereseville MN, WI, PA, GA, SC etc. sure puts a smile on my face.

It’s got me thinking a little differently about retail.

When we decided to build an online store we had originally intended on limiting it to WCA Logo gear as that is what we get the most calls about, but as we’ve worked to add additional items we’ve been overwhelmed by the response. I never expected anyone would go to www.wolfcreekangler.com to buy a spool of 4X tippet or a dozen Rainbow Czechs but people actually do and we couldn’t be more pleased.

So while my focus has always been on in-store sales I’m seeing now that having such a limited focus has hurt us, or at least prevented us from reaching our retail sales potential.

We’ve always had the perfect set up during the season with a captive clientele made up of all the folks staying with us. It’s what separates us from the rest. We are truly a one stop shop with lodging, guides, shuttles, drift boat rentals and a quality fly shop all in one place and closer to Holter Dam and Wolf Creek Bridge than any other shop.
That’s a dream during the season but truth be told, there aren’t a lot of folks traveling to Wolf Creek or Craig to go to a fly shop this time of year, despite what you may have read elsewhere.

Sure, we get the occasional visit from folks passing by on the Interstate who swing in simply out of curiosity and we do of course have people staying with us most of the winter, at least on the weekends but generally speaking our retail volume is drastically reduced during the winter months.

There are plenty of days during the heart of winter where we don’t see anyone darken our door which has always had me contemplating the merits of closing for a month or two. But there’s a lot more to WCA than retail alone and much of that happens in the winter with people booking for the coming season. It’s office work which could obviously be done elsewhere but truth be told, I don’t work well from home so that is why we’re open all year.

But the question has always been…how can we increase retail during the off season?

Enter the web store.

Now we have a way to truly be your fly shop 24/7 365 wherever you are, and I’ll be honest, I never really thought about retail that way. I’ve always figured we’re here for you when you’re here with a shop full of everything you need during your visit. But why not be here for you anywhere you are, anytime with everything fly fishing you need period?

Like each of our competitors we have a loyal following, a cadre of fans who would rather purchase from us than anyone. It’s for this reason that we’ve battled from the start to expand our product offerings to meet the needs of our customers because while it may be the case that they’d RATHER buy from us, if we don’t have what they need we’re forcing them to go elsewhere.

We’ve more than tripled our product offerings from the time we opened in 2014, stepping up our game along the way with the addition of A List brands like Simms, Rio, Echo, Smith, Airflo, Lamson, Korkers and more. We’ve steadily built our fly selection with top quality flies from the likes of Montana Fly Company and Umpqua to the point where we boast a selection that rivals that of any of our competitors. We’ve brought in niche products, some of which have done well, some of which haven’t. The point is, our focus is and always will be on providing you, our customer, with the very best products offered by the top brands in the industry. As Industry Ambassadors we personally use the products we sell and we believe in and stand behind all of the brands we carry.

And while we’ve come a LONG way, it’s still an uphill battle trying to assemble all of the brands we’d like to offer you. The politics of proximity are complicated and are a huge hurdle but we’re not backing down until we have all of the things you’re asking to purchase from us.

In the meantime, we are honored and humbled to be not only your Missouri River Fly Shop but your Fly Shop in general…wherever you are.

We’ll continue to add products to our online store and we encourage you to contact us if you don’t see what you’re looking for because we’ve obviously got a lot of products not yet listed in the web store. And when it comes to products from any of the brands we carry, if we don’t stock the particular item you are looking for we are always more than happy to get it for you and have it drop shipped to your door.

Thank you for making us your fly shop and for trusting us to provide you with the products, the services and most importantly the customer service that sold you on us in the first place. We rely solely on you to be able to what we do and you can rest assured that we are committed to doing everything we can to exceed your expectations. Whether it’s upgrades to our lodging, expanded services or the aforementioned addition of the brands and products you demand, you are our number one priority.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-02-18T12:00:46-07:00February 18th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Airflo, Echo, fly fishing, Holter Dam, Korkers, Lamson, Missouri River, Montana, Montana Fly Company, Rio Products, running line, simms, Smith, Umpqua, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Thaw

It didn’t last long but after bottoming out repeatedly at -27 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chills as low as -50 it feels good to emerge from last weeks’ arctic blast. We went several days without breaking zero and probably averaged somewhere around -5 for much of the week. Cold for sure, but nothing like February 2019 when we averaged less than one degree for the entire month. Not so this year.

We’re warming up this week with highs near 30 for the next couple of days and overnight lows dipping down around 20 though we will see a return to single digits tomorrow night with a low of 7 but the warming trend resumes on Thursday and into the weekend when we’ll see temperatures in the 40’s and possibly nearing 50 by next Monday.

After a bump in flows to compensate for the frigid temps we’ve dropped back down to around 3500 CFS. Water temps are COLD, currently right around the freezing mark.
The river definitely got a good rest last week and we haven’t seen much activity as of yet this week but we’re expecting some traffic as we head into the weekend with both the hard water anglers and those fishing the river now competing for a limited number of rooms closer to the action than any other lodging option.

Wolf Creek Angler lodging is the best deal you’re going to find anywhere in the vicinity this time of year coming in just under $100/night for a cozy bungalow with two twin beds, a full size pull out couch, a private bath and a full kitchen which is a must have this time of year with zero dining options currently being offered.

Plan to resume winter fishing techniques when you get back out there with nymphing obviously being your best bet. As cold as the water is plan to dredge the depths of those SLOOOOW winter runs with the usual suspects (anything pink, sowbugs, Hot Bead Rays, Caviar Scuds, Soft Hackle Sows etc.) I like a #10 or #12 tungsten bead lead trailed with a pink or gray soft hackle sow but it’s way more about location than selection right now.

With water temps hovering around freezing the fish are not doing much. Conserving energy is the name of the game so they aren’t likely to move far to eat. Consequently, you’ll have to adjust your depth until you find where they’re at and once you get your bugs in their face more often than not they’ll eat. They need the calories, they just can’t afford to expend much energy to get them so set up shop where you know they’re at and adjust until you find them.

As the water temps bump up expect things to get a little easier as the fish start to move. They’re hungry and just as soon as the cost/benefit equation starts to turn in their favor with warmer water the focus will shift from energy conservation to caloric consumption. Spawning season is rapidly approaching for our Rainbow population which means it’s time to maximize calorie intake. Expect the action to heat up just as soon as we see a warming trend take hold.

We’re also heading into the best time of year for fishing midges, the unofficial start of dry fly season on the MO. Keep your dry fly rod rigged, and ready and in reach.

Swing season is still a go and we’re mere weeks away from prime streamer fishing getting underway.

I’m trying not to wish winter away just yet as we really do need substantially more precipitation but one can’t help but get excited for what’s on the way with such a drastic shift in the weather.

I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of winter but it’s not too early to start thinking spring fishing. After all, spring is only a month away.

Before you know it the season will be upon us so there’s no better time to start organizing your gear and figuring out what you already have and what you need for the season ahead.

It’s the perfect time to purchase those new waders and boots you’ve been promising yourself for the last several seasons. Or how about a new rod and or reel for 2021. Based on what we saw last year with people flocking to our sport gear may be hard to come by again so don’t drag your feet.

Spring product is continuing to trickle in and that late winter trickle will soon be a steady flow. We’re replenishing and restocking and also bringing in a bunch of new gear for 2021, including more new fly patterns than we’ve ever brought in before.

So as we emerge from this short arctic blast and prepare to embark on Season Number Eight at Wolf Creek Angler I can’t help but feel like this is going to be the best year yet.

Shop our online store or come see us in person. Extended shop hours and additional lodging options on the way just as soon as the demand requires it and the forecast permits it. Winter Lodging just $99/night plus tax. Guide Trips $450 for one or two anglers and our World Famous Winter Guide Trip and Lodging Special just $550 for a full day on the water and not one but TWO nights of premium lodging. All in effect through April 18th.

Shop Hours currently 8 AM – 3 PM Tuesday – Saturday and we’re ALWAYS OPEN for lodging and guide trips.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-02-16T12:10:55-07:00February 16th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Go To Winter Nymphs on the MO

Colder weather on tap this week and through the weekend, though definitely not January in Montana COLD.

Conditions remain prime to get out and enjoy some winter solitude while getting your trout fix.

Highs in the high 20’s and low 30’s are expected through the weekend with a slight chance for snow Thursday night and Friday. Expect cloudy skies and calm to moderate winds on Thursday and Friday with an abundance of sunshine expected on Saturday and Sunday.

Water conditions remain stable with flows currently holding at 4070 CFS and water temp slowly dropping, currently just shy of 34.5 degrees.

You really couldn’t ask for better conditions as we move towards late January. Classic winter water minus the snow and ice on the ramps. Enjoy it while it lasts. Winter is coming sooner or later (we hope).

Holter Dam to Craig is where you’ll want to concentrate your efforts, especially as the water temperatures drop. Dam to Wolf Creek makes a nice half day float if you want to get a later start while Wolf Creek Bridge to Craig is a good full day float. We’ve emerged from the afternoon darkness so you’ve got some extra light on the back end of the day but even so, Dam to Craig is maybe still a bit much unless you plan to just blow through it.

We are definitely in winter nymphing mode with all of the standards in play. Pink Amex, Bubble Yum Scud, Rainbow Czech, Pill Popper, Hot Bead Rainbow or Pink Weight Fly and the like paired with Tailwater Sows, Soft Hackle Sows, Caviar Scuds, Pederson’s Sow, Pink Lighting Bug, UV Yum Yums and zebra midges.

Swing Season also remains in full effect and the streamer set is taking advantage of the mild weather and extended light to stretch out those floats and cover as much water as possible.

The wind has been a factor as always but as we get into February and beyond look for dry fly opportunities to increase with midge activity increasing.

Remember WCA has the best winter lodging deal in the area at $99/night (plus tax) for a cozy bungalow complete with full kitchen and private bath. And just FYI we have gotten word from the 7R Guest Ranch that they are now serving dinner on the weekends so if not having a restaurant to go to has been keeping you away…problem solved.

And speaking of deals – we invite you to join us for our $550 guide trip and lodging winter special. A full day guide trip for one or two anglers with the best guides on the MO and TWO nights of lodging for the impossibly low rate of $550. Space is limited so book now. Offer runs through the end of March.

Winter Shop Hours remain 8 AM – 2 PM Tuesday through Saturday. Open EVERY DAY for lodging and guide trips. Stop by for bugs, cold weather gear, Adipose Drift Boat rentals and much more.

While you ponder your winter plans make it a point to call this week to book your spring and summer dates. Prime Time is filling quickly and it looks like it’s going to be a busy year on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-01-19T12:50:15-07:00January 19th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: 7R Guest Ranch, Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Holter Dam, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

WCA Shocks the Fly Fishing World

In a move that’s sure to cause a stir on the MO, Wolf Creek Angler has defied convention by offering a winter guide trip and lodging deal the likes of which has NEVER BEFORE BEEN SEEN.

$550 (plus tax) for a full day guide trip AND two nights lodging. You read it right. A full day trip and not one, but two nights of lodging for the same price you’ll pay for just a trip alone with the competition.

While deals abound in the spring, winter guide trips have traditionally not been offered at a discount. Not surprisingly, these trips have always been somewhat of a rarity.

That is until now!

“With the mild winter we’ve been having we just saw an opportunity to get an early start to the 2021 season by offering an unbeatable deal” said Jason Orzechowski, owner and outfitter at Wolf Creek Angler. “Spring deals are great but we just figured that since we’re talking about shorter days on the water and the potential for weather that might push the comfort zone for many it only makes sense to offer winter trips at a deep discount.”

Here’s what you get

• Full Day Guide Trip for one or two anglers with the best guides on the river. These aren’t transients, these are full-time resident guides who fish the Missouri EVERY month of the year. Trip includes all flies and terminal tackle and any equipment needed as well as lunch and refreshments. The only things not included are your Montana fishing license and guide gratuity.

• Clean and Comfortable lodging in our cozy bungalows. Rooms equipped with two twin beds, a full pull out couch, private bath and complete kitchen with full sized fridge, range, microwave, coffee maker and all cookware included.

• The guaranteed BEST WINTER DEAL ON THE MISSOURI with no cancellation fees. Cancel anytime for any reason…no questions asked!

Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity to experience winter solitude and hot fishing on the Missouri all winter long. Space is limited so BOOK NOW.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-01-13T11:27:57-07:00January 13th, 2021|Categories: Local Buzz|Tags: $550 winter guide trip and lodging special, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, simms, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Sunrise on 2021

As the sun rises on 2021 the promise of a new day gives us plenty of reason for optimism as we anticipate the coming season.

Summer bookings continue to fill the calendar, giving shape to what we hope will be another strong season as we begin year number eight. As previously stated the outdoor recreation industry was a good one to be in during a pandemic and indications are that this will continue to be the case indefinitely, even as the world starts make a return to normal. Even so, having lost our spring last year due to the shut down and having suffered through plenty of cancellations throughout the 2020 season due to travel difficulties and Covid concerns, we’ve got some ground to make up. Early indications based on our current 2021 bookings are that we’re headed in the right direction.

That’s the outlook for prime-time but what about now?

As I write I’m looking out the window at bare ground as has been the case for much of this winter thus far. The thermometer reads 32 degrees with cloudy skies and relatively calm conditions. River flows are currently around 3800 CFS with water temps holding at 35 degrees. In short, winter fishing conditions on the Missouri are prime, especially by January standards, with no big changes on the horizon.

There hasn’t been much variation in the forecast for the past several weeks. Highs around 40, overnight lows in the 20’s, a mix of clouds and sun with little precipitation. Wind has been an issue at times but all things considered, it’s been an extremely fishable winter season with very light traffic.

As previously announced we are back in the business of winter lodging so there’s really no reason to not take a couple of days off and spend some time on the Missouri. Book a guide or bring your boat (or rent one of ours) or just do the winter walk/wade. Most are settling in to winter nymphing, some are opting to swing and a few are intent on logging that first dry fly eat of the year. All are good options given the current conditions.

Nymphs – Think Pink! Pill Poppers, Bubble Yum Scuds, Amex, Yum Yums, Rainbow Czechs, Pink Weight Flies, Pederson’s Sow, Pink LB, Cotton Candy, Tailwater Sow, Pink Lucent Bead Rays, Soft Hackle Sows, Caviar Scuds…just to name a few. Slow, deep winter water fished deep with a bb or two to get you down.

Streamers – Winter Standards like Kreelex, Polar Leeches, Thin Mints, Balance Leeches, Buggers etc. but don’t be afraid to stray from the standards. Dredge the depths with a SLOW retrieve or swing the tailouts.

Dries – Griffiths Gnat, Grizzly Midge Cluster, Hi Vis Midge, Black Midge, Adams Midge, Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Black Sipper. Midges are it for the next couple of months and may or not be present, all depends on the day but it’s never a bad idea to keep a dry fly rod rigged and ready just in case.

The Winter Program

Guided Fishing – WCA Guides are the BEST on the river. Book yourself a trip today and leave the rowing and rigging to us. $450 winter rate for a full day float for one or two anglers and no risk with no cancellation fees for any reason for winter trips.

Lodging – Wolf Creek Angler is your best option and the best deal you’ll find anywhere. $99/night (plus tax) for a cozy, clean bungalow with two twin beds, a pull out couch, full kitchen and private bath just minutes from the river.

Dining – You’re pretty much on your own so all the more reason to book one of our bungalows, each with a full size fridge, range, microwave, coffee maker and all cookware provided.

Boat Rental – Adipose Flow drift boats. $100/day. You haul. $150 if you need us to haul it for you.

Shuttle Service – Headhunters remains the only game in town at this point but we’re currently mulling over options based on the persistent mild weather. Stay tuned!

Shop Hours – Officially still Tuesday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM but it’s a safe assumption we’ll be here on Mondays if it’s nice (at least long enough to get our boats hooked up and hit the river) and if winter ever returns we likely won’t be here on days it doesn’t make sense to make the trip out. Regardless, we’re open for lodging and guide trips EVERY day.

We’re excited for the New Year and the coming new season and we hope to see you soon at Wolf Creek Angler.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-01-04T11:32:17-07:00January 4th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: $450 Winter Rate guide trips, 2021, Adipose, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter Solstice

You wouldn’t know it by looking at the weather but winter has arrived, on this, the shortest and darkest day of the year.

Today we turn the corner. Days get longer starting tomorrow and before you know it we’ll be back into long, hot summer days on the MO’.

Turning the corner towards summer days on the Missouri

For now we’ll see temps topping out in the low 50’s today followed by some snow tomorrow and then right back into the same weather we’ve had for what seems like a month now. Partly sunny skies, highs in the low 40’s with no weather events on the horizon.

The WCA guide and shop crew will be enjoying the solstice en masse, spending the day on the water as you would expect.

We’ll be back in the shop tomorrow with regular hours Tuesday and Wednesday and 8 – noon (ish) on Christmas Eve. We will be closed on Christmas, but back in the shop Saturday before taking a few days off next week for some end of the year R and R.

We hope you get out and enjoy this Christmas week on the MO.

Tight Lines and Happy Solstice!

By Jason Orzechowski|2020-12-21T09:36:21-07:00December 21st, 2020|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, winter, winter solstice, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

There’s NO TIME like STREAMER TIME on the MO’ photo by Wolf Creek Angler

December has arrived and the weather couldn’t be better (by late fall standards) for getting in a few more days on the water in 2020. We’re currently in the midst of a very stable weather pattern with daily highs reaching into the 40’s and overnight lows in the 20’s. The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies each day right on through the weekend though we are seeing some perfect cloud cover this morning. And best of all – winds are light and variable, in the 6-11 mph range for the next several days and hopefully through the weekend.

Traffic will likely continue to be very light so not only are weather conditions favorable for late fall fishing but there is an abundance of solitude to be found on the river right now which means you can pretty much pick and choose where you want to fish and have it virtually to yourself.

The last couple of times out we saw no one. I expected a bit more activity on Black Friday – the Friday after Thanksgiving, with most everyone having the day off of work and near-perfect weather conditions and I was right. We saw two other boats between Craig and Mid…quite the traffic jam. I assume there may have been some nymphing traffic up at the Dam but all in all the Missouri is currently a Ghost Town which spells opportunity for anyone looking to get back out on the water now that hunting has wrapped up.

I’m sure the lack of available services are contributing to the absence of anglers this fall but once again, the Missouri is your best option for late-season angling state-wide.
You may have to spend some time on the road traveling to and from but there’s no reason you shouldn’t be spending these days on the water. We are continuing to keep our lodging closed for the time being due to the Covid situation and from what I can tell Annie’s remains closed but we’re just a short drive from Helena or Great Falls (or Cascade for that matter) where you’ll find plenty of lodging and dining options. With the weather being what it is camping is still an option as well though I’d personally opt for a heated trailer over a tent right now.

Regardless, fishing is good, especially if you’re into stripping, swinging or nymphing.

Flows have bumped to 3760 with water temps having recently dipped below 40, currently hanging at 39.5 degrees. If you’re nymphing this spells winter fishing protocol so dust off the pink stuff and start concentrating your efforts in the slow, deep winter water. That being said, with the air temps being relatively warm the water temps will tick up each day which is likely going to prevent those fish from totally committing to the winter slumber so don’t overlook the medium fast, shallow to medium depth water including those island tail outs.

And speaking of island tail outs – if there’s anywhere on the river you’re going to have to compete for water it’s at those tail outs and other easily accessible runs where the swingers like to camp out. Polar Leeches, buggers, Pine Squirrel Leeches, Kreelex, Fruit Rollups and the like are the preferred Swing Selections.

Old School Strippers are covering vast stretches of water and still finding fish everywhere you’d expect and in some places you wouldn’t. Big Streamers, Small streamers, black streamers, Yellow streamers, flashy streamers, natural streamers…it’s been all over the board with plenty of willing players both of the Bruiser Brown and Rainbow Trout varieties. Get after it!

Once again, store hours are 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Tuesday – Saturday and while we’re unfortunately not currently doing lodging or shuttles we do have a shop full of things you need for your day on the water or perhaps to occupy space under your tree for your favorite fly anglers.

Simms waders, boots, sportswear and accessories; Fishpond packs and accessories; Rods and Reels a plenty (ON SALE NOW) from Echo, Redington, Ross, Loop, Lamson and more; lots of WCA logo gear and of course, the BIGGEST and BEST selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Sheltering in Place? No problem. Shop wolfcreekangler.com from the comfort of your home. We are adding items daily. ALWAYS FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50. Check out our online store today.

We appreciate your patience as we continue to navigate these times. We can’t wait for things to get back to normal and we are so thankful and proud to be your Missouri River Fly Fishing Headquarters.

By Jason Orzechowski|2020-12-01T11:36:15-07:00December 1st, 2020|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, Echo, Fishpond, fly fishing, Lamson, Loop, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, Redington, running line, simms, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|2 Comments

Winter getting an early grip on the MO’

The calendar says early November. The snow covered ground and the thermometer say otherwise.

Yes, it seems as though winter has arrived and despite the fact we may still have another couple of weeks of fishable weather it feels like it’s time to put the wraps on our 2020 season.

We did see temps actually break into the 70’s last week with plenty of wind to go along with the warm weather. Things changed over the weekend with a winter storm arriving Saturday night. Temps in the teens with blowing and drifting snow made for an interesting drive out yesterday and an easy call to keep things closed for the day.

Winter Hours are always a challenge as we try to strike the balance between being here when you need us and not wasting time and fuel to come out and open the shop if we aren’t going to do any business. It’s even more of a challenge this year with the early arrival of winter weather and the continuing challenges of operating during a pandemic.

We did pick up a couple of last minute guide trips last week with the mild weather and lodging has actually been on the busy side all things considered but with the winter storm in the forecast we made the call last week to close much of our lodging for the winter. From here on out we will have our bungalows available all winter long for $99/night plus tax. We generally do a fair amount of business in those units over the winter with hunters, hard water anglers and the occasional hard core fly anglers when the weather is right. We shall see what this year brings with below average temps and above average precipitation predicted for the winter.

Lodging and guide trips are easy – we’re always open for them. The shop is a little trickier. It won’t surprise you that business really drops off during these winter months and there are plenty of days we are pleasantly surprised if we see customers. That being said, there is always plenty to do with inventory, bookings etc. so it makes sense for me to be here.
What doesn’t make sense is staffing the shop during the winter months so herein lies the challenge with winter shop hours.

At this time I’ve decided that Winter Hours will officially go into effect next week. Starting 11/15/20 our shop hours will be Wednesday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. We will be closed Sunday – Tuesday. These will be our published hours but you can rest assured that if we hit a stretch of amazing weather we will likely be here Sunday through Tuesday as well. Likewise, sub-zero temps and/or hazardous conditions occurring Wednesdays – Saturdays may result in us being closed on those days. Your safest bet? Give us a call prior to coming out just to make sure we’re going to be around.

One other announcement regarding winter operations…as much as we regret to do so we are suspending shuttle service until spring. Between our abbreviated winter hours and the continued threat of Covid, staffing is just too much of a challenge. We appreciate your patience and understanding and we will resume shuttling likely in mid to late March. In the meantime please contact our friends at Headhunters Fly Shop for winter shuttles.

In an effort to offer you the convenience of online shopping we have been busy constructing our online store which will hopefully be going live very soon. The site has been built and we’re just working through the technical issues now so with any luck you’ll soon be able to purchase WCA Logo gear and other select items from the comfort of your home. We’re starting out with logo gear because that is what we get the most calls for. We will expand the store in accordance with the traffic we get but the hope is that we will continue to add items throughout the winter months building towards a complete selection sometime in the not too distant future.

So there you have it, another one in the books. One we won’t soon forget. As always, a huge thank you to all of you who stayed with us, fished with us, shopped with us or simply followed us here or on social media.

2020 will be remembered for its challenges but as we close in on the end of this year there is of course much to be thankful for. Even so, we’re very much looking forward to 2021 and our EIGHTH season at Wolf Creek Angler.

By Jason Orzechowski|2020-11-09T19:28:14-07:00November 9th, 2020|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

2020

The Holiday Haze is lifting and we’re excited 2020 is finally here.

While there was a fair amount of couch time I spent much of yesterday taking down Christmas decorations at home and am doing more of the same here at the shop today. With the holidays falling mid-week this year it feels like two weeks of the world on hold and as enjoyable as I’m sure that is for those fortunate enough to have all this time off, I for one am ready for a return to the normal routine.

As much as I enjoy the glow of the Christmas tree, the day the tree comes down always feels like a psychological weight lifted as we move on from the holiday haze and start engaging in the everyday again. We’re not quite there yet as these next several days will round out the break but with the decorations put away we’re that much closer to normalcy.

Obviously, for me normalcy is restored when traffic returns to the river so by the calendar we’ve got a long winter ahead before the 2020 season gets underway but judging by the mild extended forecast I’m optimistic we may see that traffic begin to trickle in sooner rather than later.

Whether this happens or not, the days are getting longer and with the holidays in the rear view people are already shifting their focus springward judging by the number of calls we’ve received the last couple of days for spring and summer lodging and guide trips. Have you booked your dates yet? There’s no time like the present.

2020 is starting much like 2019 did weather wise with very mild temps in the immediate forecast. High 30’s and low 40’s this week but breezy as you would expect and much of the same for next week. River flow is currently 4460 cfs with a water temperature of 34.5 degrees. Winter water conditions to be sure.

If you’re looking to get out you’ll want to target the slow winter water. It’s officially the season of pink if you’re planning on nymphing so check your stock on Pill Poppers, Bubble Yums, Pink Rays, Pederson’s Sow, Rainbow Czechs, Pink Lightning Bugs, Caviar Scuds, Cotton Candy, Pink Amex, Rainbow Warriors, Firebead Sows and more. We’re fully stocked on all of these and many more of your winter water essentials so stop in and replenish your winter nymph boxes before hitting the water.

As we’ve been reporting these last couple of weeks traffic has been MINIMAL. Many of the anglers I have seen out there have been swinging reportedly with varying degrees of success. Polar leeches, Kreelex, MoJo Minnows, buggers and leeches are all viable options. Swing those troughs and tailouts. If you’re unsure of where you should be fishing a quick drive up and down the river corridor on a moderately busy day can be extremely helpful (or you could just stop by the shop and ask us where you should be fishing). Take note of where you see people fishing and return to those spots when you can. It’s not that those are the ONLY place you can catch fish but there’s definitely a reason you see people in those same runs, day after day, season after season.

And don’t feel like you HAVE to swing. There are always fish to be caught stripping as well. I can’t think of any conditions in which I wouldn’t strip, save perhaps the weediest of summer days but even then I’ll at least give it a try. I’ve caught plenty of fish on the strip every month of the year, regardless of water temp. Obviously conventional wisdom dictates the colder the water, the slower the strip and that’s something you need to be mindful of but that being said you just might be surprised what happens with a moderately fast retrieve (with plenty of pauses) in 34 – 35 degree water. I’ll generally do a strip/swing/pause mashup during the cold water months but I’ve had plenty of trout smash a streamer in cold water with a moderately fast retrieve so don’t rule it out. Switch up your retrieve and your bugs until you find what works and keep your expectations reasonable. You aren’t likely to have any off-the-charts action days during the winter months but you never know. To me, a chase or two and maybe a nice fish to hand beats a bobber any day but that’s just me.

Along those lines of low-percentage winter techniques I’ve seen enough midge activity every time I’ve been out lately that it might warrant having a dry fly rod rigged up. Most of what I’ve seen for rises have been sporadic but I think if you were to put a lot of effort into finding feeding fish you would likely be able to avail yourself to numerous opportunities and maybe even fool one or two into eating.

Remember we’ve got great winter lodging and guide trip rates and with the mild weather ahead I expect we’ll start to see some people around again and while the holidays are over the great deals in the shop are still going strong. Do us and yourself a favor and take advantage of some amazing deals on great gear while you help us clear the way for spring arrivals coming soon.

Our normal winter schedule goes into effect next week. Shop hours will be 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Wednesday – Saturday and 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM on Sundays. We will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for the time being but that could change based on the weather and the traffic. We’ll keep you posted.

By Jason Orzechowski|2020-01-02T19:11:28-07:00January 2nd, 2020|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Christmas, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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