Wolf Creek Angler Archives - Page 11 of 67

Winter Returns

24 degrees this Monday morning in Wolf Creek with a light snow falling…the calm before the storm.

There is a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 6 PM tonight through 6 AM Wednesday for heavy snow and gusty winds starting late this afternoon.

We saw temps near 80 degrees last Friday and while it’s hard to not enjoy a day like that, we hope we don’t see that again for at least the rest of April. The forecast is calling for blustery north winds at 24 – 28 mph this evening with 4-8 inches of snow expected followed by more of the same with an additional 2 – 4 inches of snow tomorrow. The snow tapers off on Wednesday but we won’t make it above freezing that day and the temps actually dip into the single digits Wednesday night with a low of 6.

Things return to somewhat more seasonable conditions starting on Thursday with daily highs in the low 40s. Storm Total snow accumulations of 5-10 inches expected at lower elevations with 10 – 20 inches of desperately needed snowfall expected in the mountains. Let’s hope so!

We had a fairly busy week of guide trips scheduled and have already cancelled all trips for Tuesday and Wednesday. Hopefully we’ll be able to salvage a few days at the end of the week.

The extended forecast looks good as far as fishing weather goes with temps back in the 50’s next week but we’ll take as much of this winter weather as we can get.

Our lodging is 100 percent open now with plenty of availability throughout the rest of the month. Things get progressively busier once we hit May but we’ve generally got at least a vacancy or two most nights until we hit June so we hope you make us your Missouri River spring fly fishing destination.

The shop is bursting with new gear. In fact we’re running out of places to put it all.

We’re open at 8 AM daily with everything you need from guides to lodging to shuttles to flies and all the gear you could possibly want.

Sit back and enjoy the spring snow storm resting assured that this is exactly what we need, and we’ll see you on the other side.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-04-11T09:58:31-06:00April 11th, 2022|Categories: Local Buzz, Shop Life|Tags: Missouri River, Montana, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

7,000 Trout Per Mile – source Jason Mullen FWP Fisheries Biologist

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Fisheries Biologist Jason Mullen delivered the annual State of the Missouri presentation last Wednesday in Helena in a meeting held at Montana Wild Education Center by Pat Barnes Missouri River Trout Unlimited and while there were some encouraging revelations, it sounds like the challenges posed by drought conditions will persist in 2022.

First the good news.

6,611 RAINBOW TROUT PER MILE.

Mullen reported the second highest number of rainbow trout over 10” long on record in the Craig section (Wolf Creek Bridge to Craig), more than doubling estimates from surveys from the previous two years. This number is second only to the 2012 estimate of 7,068.

Coupled with the brown trout estimate of 362 fish per mile which is down considerably from the long term average of 560 but still within normal parameters, that’s a trout count of nearly 7000 fish per mile in the Craig stretch. The Missouri fishery continues to amaze.

Drilling down into the data the good news continues. 2021 surveys saw an estimate of 1400 rainbows per mile in the 20 plus inch size class, a number we would expect to see drop off this season, though with the abundance of small fish in the 6” – 7” class we saw in 2020, it’s very possible the big fish trend will continue through 2022. 2021 surveys revealed good numbers of rainbows in the 9” – 10” range which should continue to bode well for big fish numbers on the MO.

The brown trout saw big numbers in the 6” – 8” range, very few in the 9” – 16” range and upward trends in the 17” – 24” range with each of those last size classes numbering somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 fish per mile. We would expect to see a lot of those fish in the 10” – 16” size range this season, hopefully with a stable population of big browns in the mix.

This is all great news on the fishery front in the Craig stretch and truly amazing when you consider the pressure on the fishery which ranked second only to the Madison in 2019, the last year for which we have data, with 154,628 angler days. It’s worth noting that this angler use figure is down from the previous two which were 170,736 and 183,479 in 2017 and 2015 respectively. It’s a lot of use no matter how you cut it but the downward trend is surprising and one I’d expect will change once the 2021 numbers are in which will include last year’s Pandemic Migration to Montana. Trip related expenses for anglers on the Missouri totaled over $60 Million in revenue in 2019 which makes the MO and fishing in Montana in general, a MAMMOTH portion of the state’s economy.

Now the not so good news.

2021 saw extremely low flows and high water temps and with not having had much of a winter the reality is that absent a very wet spring, we’re likely in for more of the same in 2022.

The Missouri saw Hoot Owl restrictions in July of 2021, the first time this has happened in over 20 years, when low flows and water temps in the 70 degree range coupled with high angling pressure caused FWP to announce the closure.

We had essentially self-imposed our own Hoot Owl restrictions for guide trips a couple of weeks prior and stopped booking new trips altogether for the summer season at that same time. It’s unfortunate, but we’re readying ourselves for similar conditions in 2022 and we’re prepared to do the same things again. Canyon Ferry is currently 68 percent full so we’ve got a ways to go and while snowpack is currently in the 70 – 80 percent range, most probable flow conditions project flows to be essentially right where there at, in the 3,000 CFS range, all season long.

We would love to see massive amounts of precipitation over these next couple of months to bring things back into shape but as always, our main concern is doing what we need to do to take care of the resource and if this means taking a financial hit we’re ready to do so.

Pray for rain!

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-04-06T12:06:18-06:00April 6th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, Canyon Ferry, Craig MT, Holter Dam, Hoot Owl Closures, Missouri River, Montana, running line, State of the Missouri, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Doubled Up Streamer Eating Beasts on the MO

The spring season is now in full swing but you might not know it based on the weather conditions this morning. A taste of winter has returned with a dusting of snow and temps hovering in the mid 30’s. We saw downright summer-like weather over the weekend and yesterday with plenty of sunshine and temps breaking the 70 degree mark. Dramatic changes in the weather are a spring staple in the Rockies so no surprise there. In fact we’re stoked for the precipitation in any form and looking forward to the greening we should see soon as conditions return to seasonal norms later today and through the remainder of this week. Expect daytime highs in the 50’s with overnight lows in the 30’s, a chance of rain here and there and plenty of sunshine….quintessential early spring weather on the MO.

As expected, the weekend brought the traffic with Saturday having been our busiest day of 2022 thus far. A lot of boats on the water that day, primarily in the Holter Dam to Craig stretch which will likely be the case for the next month or so despite the fact that there are plenty of fish to be found river wide.

Knowing there was an approaching weather system we took advantage of the Monday lull closing the shop, grabbing the streamer sticks and hitting the water to see if we couldn’t find a willing player or two.

WCA Super Guides Luke Koerten and Brad Turner joined me for a fun day of pre-season fishing before things start getting crazy for all involved. Once the guide season gets rolling we don’t get a chance to fish together so it’s always good to get out and enjoy what brought us all here.

Not exactly lights out, but enough action to keep things interesting throughout the day and a perfect storm of the right water, the right time of day, the leading edge of the weather system, the right bugs and maybe even something to do with the ones throwing them all culminating in an epic 10 minutes of fishing with three 20 plus fish landed, two of which came on an extremely rare big brown double. Doubles happen fairly regularly when nymphing and you get the occasional streamer double but hooking two fish over 20 inches, one from each side of the boat, and landing them both….that’s a day maker for anyone.

As I said, it wasn’t exactly lights out but it won’t be long. The water temps are still cold, in that 36 – 38 degree range but these next few weeks should bring about the prime time spring streamer fishing. If you’d like to fish prime streamer time on the MO and get a shot at that fish of a lifetime make those plans NOW! It’s a lot of work and it’s definitely NOT a numbers game but if you get the streamer game then you already know that. There’s a few of us who are Streamer Obsessed and who would like nothing better than to take you on a hunt for that Missouri River fish of a lifetime.

If nymphing or dry fly fishing is your preference I’d suggest staying up high, at least based on what we saw yesterday. Very few midges in the canyon and the little bit of dry/dropper fishing we tried failed to produce.

The word from the Dam section is abundant dry fly opportunities and solid nymphing on Pill Poppers, Tailwater Sows, Caviar Scuds, Pink Rays, Pederson’s Sow, Zebras, Cotton Candy, Bubble Yums, Amex, Yum Yums etcetera along with mayfly nymphs like BWO Magic Flies, Little Green Machines, Psycho Mays and Split Case BWO’s all getting some attention.

Our advice on dry fly fishing is keep it simple with a Griffiths gnat and a Parachute Adams. They’ll also eat various midge clusters, Black Midges, Black Sippers and the like but why not just keep it simple while you can?

Soon enough they’ll have smartened up and won’t be so eager to eat just any old bug you throw at them. A sloppy cast with a skating fly that doesn’t match the hatch in both size and profile is not, generally speaking, an effective strategy on any water but particularly on the Missouri where the trout are famously picky and educated and sophisticated and do not suffer amateurish casting or fly selection.

The shop is loaded up with new spring gear. New flies, rods, reels, waders, boots, lines, leaders, nets, tools, accessories, drinkware, headwear, eye wear… and on and on. We’re bursting at the seams.

Open daily at 8 AM for all of your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-03-29T11:57:01-06:00March 29th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, midge, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

MARCHing into Spring

Our current weather forecast looks much more like May than March with highs in the 60’s all week and likely breaking 70 this weekend. It’s warmer than it should be and this weather isn’t going to do our snowpack any favors but boy that sun feels good!

Angling traffic has been moderate during the week and downright busy on the weekends with plenty of folks getting out and enjoying the spring weather. Has winter left us for the season? I wouldn’t count on it but it’s hard to imagine winter’s return with spring really starting to take hold. We generally end up getting at least one final blast of winter at some point in April. Let’s hope it happens, at least in the high country as we’re in desperate need of precipitation.

At this point it looks like river flows will likely hold where they’re at (currently 2980 CFS) right on through the season. Late snows and spring rains could, and hopefully will, change the equation but my gut feeling is that these are the conditions we’ll be seeing for 2022.

Obviously water and weather conditions are out of our hands and not really worth obsessing over. As we always do we’ll work with what we’ve got and do everything we can to successfully strike the balance between keeping our clients happy and preserving and protecting the resource, the latter of which will always take precedence.

But enough about that for now, there’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealing’s done.

In the meantime I’m pleased to report that we just happen to be in the midst of one of the best early spring fishing seasons we’ve seen.

As previously reported, dry fly fishing has been outstanding with plenty of opportunities more days than not. Midges galore and plenty of hungry trout looking up. #18 Griffiths Gnat is money but you’d be smart to mix it up with various midge clusters or a parachute Adams. And speaking of dry fly fishing, you could do much worse than rolling with a big bug, prospecting, as there have been a few reports of Skwala sightings out there. Try a True Skwala or a chubby and cover all of those fishy spots that scream large lurking trout.

Nymphing? Yes. Your best bet for numbers as always. Pill Poppers, Yum Yums, Tailwater Sows, Pederson’s Sow, Radiation Baetis, Zebra Midge, Little Green Machine, Amex, Rainbow Czechs, Caviar Scuds, Soft Hackle Sows, Psycho Mays, Magic Fly BWO…..all in play. Favor the slowish water but don’t ignore the moderately fast stuff. Water temps are on the rise (currently 36.5) and fish are on the move. Expect more of this as air and water temps climb.

And yes, if Streamers are your game it is indeed the most wonderful time of the year and it’s just getting started. Swinging has been solid, stripping just starting to come into its own. Swing a Balanced leech, a Thin Mint, a bugger, a Fruit Rollup, a Kreelex etc. Strip what you like and commit to doing it all day long…or not. Good reports on Olive, black and natural but every day is different. Find one that works and roll with it. And don’t be afraid to go big. Conventional wisdom on the MO might say otherwise but conventional wisdom catches conventional trout. We prefer to defy convention and I don’t mind telling you that we do just fine.

Our streamer bins are overflowing with bugs you won’t likely find anywhere else on the MO. Come have a look for yourself and let us know if you’ve seen a better streamer selection on this river.

We also just got a bunch of new SA streamer lines in that we can’t wait to try. I’ve been fishing Airflo Streamer Max Short for years and I love it but I’m anxious to try a couple of these new lines. It’s our first season carrying SA and we’re super stoked to have them in the shop. I learned the streamer game back in Michigan on SA Streamer Express and swore by it so I wouldn’t be surprised if I happened to find a new favorite among these.

Spring shipments are arriving daily and the shop is filling up quickly. We’d be honored as always, if you came by to have a look at what we have to offer and we’d like nothing better than to be your Missouri River go to.

The shop is open at 8 AM daily with everything you need for your day on the water. Brand new 2022 Adipose Flows for rent and Mending Waters boats are back free of charge for all vets and active duty military personnel.

Lodging is two thirds open and we will likely open the rest within the next week or so.

Guides are chomping at the bit and are about to be extremely busy so book em’ while you can.

The season is upon us and we couldn’t be more excited. We hope to see you soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-03-23T13:20:54-06:00March 23rd, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, Airflo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, SA, Skwala, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

March Midge Madness on the MO’

Last week’s arctic blast is but a memory now as spring weather and spring traffic have arrived on the MO this week.

Seven cabins open, Seven Cabins full as we host our friends from Freestone Fly Shop in Hamilton this week. Despite the standard intermittent breezy conditions most days, you really couldn’t ask for better Mid-March weather. And the fishing? Suffice it to say, it has not sucked.

The midge action has delivered the most consistent late winter/early spring dry fly fishing I’ve experienced here on the Missouri. I reported a couple of weeks back about an epic dry fly outing I’d had while on a puppy training float and at the time I felt like I lucked out and happened upon the best day of 2022 midge action but from the reports we’re getting in the shop it seems it was just one of many epic dry fly days. It seems that most days, absent the wind, the fish are up in big numbers, feasting on tiny midges. Mind you it’s not everywhere, but if you know where to look and the wind conditions allow for it, most afternoons are providing an abundance of opportunities. Smiles all around for those seeking out the early season dry fly experience as well as those rocking the bobber and stumbling into it. It’s been a fun few weeks and it appears the fun will continue with midges indefinitely with BWO’s not too far out on the horizon.

The Griffiths Gnat has been king in a size #18 but we’ve also heard of plenty of success with midge clusters, parachute Adams, Buzzballs and more. Bins and bins of midge patterns at WCA, each worth at least a try. If you’re a member of the deteriorating vision crowd such as myself and love the idea of sticking with the same rig all day long then by all means go with the GG and call it good but if you’re a techy type and love the process of feeding them pattern after pattern to see just how many they’ll eat we’ve got plenty of options for you.

Nymphing has been solid and status quo for the time of season with Pill Poppers, UV Yum Yums, Rainbow Czechs, Caviar Scuds, Soft Hackle Sows, Zebras and the like keeping things easy but the times they are a changing and Mayflies are now integrating into the sub surface buffet. Maybe think about a Little Green Machine or Psycho May or BWO Magic Fly or Radiation Baetis…they sky is the limit.

Most are finding a Pill Popper and a tailwater Sow rig will get it done all day long but if you want to show them something different you may increase your odds by throwing in a mayfly nymph now and again. Totally your call but regardless of the route you pursue we’ve got you covered with full bins of every flavor including all of your favorite jig patterns. Spanish Bullets, Perdigons and standard jigs…we’ve got piles of them.

And as if all of this wasn’t enough, don’t forget spring is Streamer TIME on the MO. Swing or strip, you decide. Both methods are effective and are currently being utilized with varying degrees of success daily. We’ve got a string of Swing trips slated for the next two weeks and the single hand set is starting to show up as well. Polar Leeches, Balanced Leeches, Kreelex, Thin Mints, Buggers, Fruit Rollups on the Swing. Meatier offerings if you’re bombing the banks. Just make sure you’re swimming deep and slow as not to discourage would-be aggressors from putting forth the effort. Strip too fast and they’ll watch it fly by as it just doesn’t make sense for them to expend that kind of energy to chase it down under the current conditions. That being said, water temps are on the slow climb so it might not hurt to try a fast retrieve or two just to see what happens.

We’re open daily at 8 AM with everything you need for your day on the water. Bugs, Shuttles, Boats, Lodging, 2022 Fishing Licenses, Cold Weather Gear, Rain Gear, Wading Gear, Lines, Leaders, Tippet, Nets, Tools, Sunscreen, Ice, Headwear, Footwear, Hand wear, Eyewear and more.

Lodging is full through the weekend but opens up next week. Guide trips are starting to roll but plenty of availability both below Holter and at the Land of the Giants. Call and book your trip today!

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-03-16T08:18:47-06:00March 15th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Winter Holding On

As if on cue, last week’s mild temperatures which spurred us to de-winterize and open up a couple more cabins, were replaced this week with another arctic blast. We’ve seen the brunt of it though temps will dip down into the negative digits tonight with wind chill factors hovering near -10.

The warm up will be underway starting tomorrow with temps back in the 30’s and we will see 50’s by the weekend and into the first part of next week. Expect breezy conditions this weekend with the warmer air moving in with gusts of to 33 mph expected on Saturday.

We’re expecting a busy week on the MO next week. We’ve got a full house starting on Monday and I would expect we aren’t the only ones.

Despite the frigid conditions out there at the moment warm spring days aren’t far off. Spring Fever has started to take hold and the MO is your perfect spring fishing getaway.

Things are still in Winter Mode in Wolf Creek and Craig for the moment but it won’t be long before things start to open up and before you know it we’ll be back in full swing.
In the meantime you’d be smart to make Wolf Creek Angler your destination as we offer kitchenettes in all of our open lodging. And speaking of lodging, there’s just 11 days left to take advantage of our Winter Guide Trip and Lodging Special which means that spring is less than two weeks away!

The expected product floodgates didn’t exactly break open wide last week as we had anticipated. Two words….and I bet you can guess what they are….Supply Chain. So we’re not where we thought we’d be with spring product but we’ve got your essentials covered. Bugs, leader, line and tippet are fully stocked and chances are we’ve got most of what you need outside of that as well. We’re light on waders and boots at the moment but should have those items in very soon.

We’ve got plenty of cold weather gear, nets, tools and accessories, 2022 fishing licenses, 2022 Adipose Flow rental boats and much more.

The pre cold-snap fishing report was EXTREMELY encouraging with a couple more epic days of midge action, consistently good nymphing and ever improving streamer action.

There’s nothing quite like spring fishing on the MO. The action is consistently good and while there is definitely an uptick in traffic it can still be considered the calm before the storm of the busy prime season.

As we enter Season Number 9 at WCA we couldn’t be more excited for things to get underway.

We’re open at 8 AM daily though with Daylight Savings Time beginning this Sunday you’ll probably want to push your start time to allow things to warm up a bit.

Either way, we’ll be here bright and early ready to take care of all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-03-09T12:57:29-07:00March 9th, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, Craig MT, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|2 Comments

In Like a Lamb

Spring is in the air this first morning of March with temps nearing 60 today and just enough moisture in the air to impart that unmistakable scent of spring. A bit of rain in the forecast starting tonight and running through Thursday. We’re under a high wind warning through this afternoon but tomorrow looks like the best day of the bunch with temps in the 50’s, a chance of rain and winds out of the south at 7-10 mph. These spring-like conditions will begin to recede at the end of the week as temps drop and the chance for snow returns. Let’s hope this next round of winter happening next week delivers as we’re in desperate need of precipitation.

It looks to be a quiet week on the MO….the calm before the storm. Winter weather or not, the switch will flip next week as spring traffic begins to arrive. We’ll likely see busier weekends and mid-week traffic will come and go but March has become the unofficial start of the season so be prepared to share the water. Mind you we’re not talking about anything remotely resembling summer traffic but to those who have been enjoying the winter solitude over the last couple of months the bubble is about to burst.

March also means busy days in the shop as the majority of our spring orders are scheduled for arrival this week. We’ll be flooded with new gear and scrambling to maximize space while attempting to transition from the puppy pen to behavioral modifications to keep Zeke out of mischief. It’s going to be an interesting spring around WCA…please bear with us as we continue to work on building a well-behaved Shop Dog.

It’s also time to open more lodging which we’ll plan on doing likely following next week’s winter (ish) weather. We’ll see what the weather brings but I would expect to have all of our cabins open by the middle of the month with the motel target date right around April 1st.

Our Winter Lodging and Guide Trip Special comes to an end on March 19th so time is running out to take advantage of the best deal on the MO.

Fishing continues to be good following last week’s deep freeze. Continue to utilize the tried and true techniques and patterns of late winter/early spring and you should be in for plenty of action. If you’re nymphing think pink with a side of Sowbug or Zebra Midge. Fire beads will also be money for the next while. Firebead Rays, Firebead Czechs, Rainbow Weight Flies and Caviar Scuds all good choices at this point. Keep your major focus on the deep slow winter water but don’t completely ignore the tail outs and similar runs with a little more speed and a little less depth. Water temps are still cold at around 35 degrees but they’ll be ticking upward from here on out, signaling to the fish that the long-awaited time to move is underway.

Look for abundant midge action on the calm days, keeping that dry fly rod rigged and ready with a Hi-Vis Adams and a Griffiths gnat in #18 or #20.

The swing action continues with Polar Leeches, Balanced Leeches, Thin Mints, Kreelex, Fruit Rollups, Buggers and the like still on the menu but look for the single hand strippers to begin to take over the streamer set as water temps come up and the energy expelled/caloric intake equation starts to favor hunting and running down those high calorie meals.

It’s our FAVORITE time for streamer fishing the MO’.

The shop is open at 8 AM daily. Brand new Adipose Flow Drift Boats for rent, 2022 Fishing Licenses and anything and everything you need for your day on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-03-01T09:42:01-07:00March 1st, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, dry fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Arctic Blast on the MO.

We’re currently emerging from an arctic blast which arrived on Sunday night and which bottomed out at -19 in Wolf Creek this morning with wind chill values as low as -30. Suffice it to say…not a lot of traffic on the river so far this week.

We’ll see highs back in the teens today, twenties tomorrow, 30’s on Friday and back in the 40’s and low 50’s over the weekend and into the first part of next week. The warmup is welcomed, especially considering the cold blast brought very little in the way of precipitation. Arctic air is much more tolerable when it comes with much needed snow. Without the snow there’s not much good about it. Cold hands, frozen pipes, too cold to do much of anything outside AND the necessity of dumping more of our precious water as increased flows are necessary to keep things from freezing at the dams.

I’d expect a somewhat busy weekend ahead with abundant sunshine and temps bumping into the 50’s Sunday – Tuesday. It’ll likely be breezy with the warmer air moving in but you shouldn’t let that deter you because if the pre-arctic blast fishing is any indication we should see a return to some damn good fishing, especially following several days of zero fishing pressure.

Nymphing will be your go to for numbers with pink in play. Try a #12 Pink Amex, Rainbow Czech, Bubble Yum Scud, Pill Popper, Caviar Scud, Pink Weight Fly, Pinkalicious etc. trailed with a black Zebra Midge, Tailwater Sow, Soft Hackle Sow, Pederson’s Sow or Lucent Bead Pink Ray. Fish the deep, slow winter water thoroughly, starting in close and working your way out. 5’ indicator to split should be a good starting point. Adjust as necessary.

Streamer fishing will be gaining steam from here on out with plenty of winter swingers still around and the single hand set starting to make an appearance as well. I hope we’ll see winter’s return yet again but as spring weather takes hold expect streamer action to heat up. March and April are probably my favorite months for streamer fishing the MO with minimal weeds and hungry trout on the hunt for maximum caloric intake. Sparkle Minnows are my go to, serving as the proverbial canary in the coal mine.

Swingers are finding success with the usual winter fare….Kreelex, Polar Leech, Thin Mint, Black or Olive Buggers, MoJo Minnows, Fruit Rollups, Pine Squirrel Leech, Balanced Leech etc.

As the water temps tick upward don’t be afraid to go bigger with your bugs and do what you can to make them dance! A varied retrieve with plenty of pauses in between generally proves to be effective but keep the strips on the SLOOOOW side for the time being.

Midge fishing last week was phenomenal. Let’s hope for some calm afternoons and hopefully a few hours here and there of epic winter dry fly fishing. Griffiths gnat is the go to but you’ll likely want to pair that with something hi-vis so you can see where you’re at. An Adams or Hi Vis Midge should do the trick.

We’ve got trips scheduled for this weekend and will likely be busy by winter standards over these next few weeks as folks take advantage of the last of the Winter Lodging and Guide Trip Special which comes to an end on March 19th. That’s 2 nights of premium lodging AND a Full Day Missouri River Guided Trip for one or two anglers for just $550. You won’t find a better deal ANYWHERE!

The shop is open daily at 8 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. Our winter/spring dry fly and nymph bins are fully stocked and you won’t find a better streamer selection on the MO. Simms waders, boots and cold weather gear. Oros Strike Indicators. Rio lines, leaders and tippet. Rising nets and accessories and your 2022 Montana Fishing Licenses starting March 1st.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-02-23T14:37:55-07:00February 23rd, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Winter Lodging and Guide Trip Special, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Training Days

The weather hasn’t felt much like winter as of late so while worrying about lack of precipitation definitely has its place, I’ve opted to forego the handwringing for the time being and instead to take advantage of the situation. With plenty of sunshine, mild temps and not much wind, conditions have been ideal several days to put the boat in the water and begin the process of hopefully building a boat dog.

So far Zeke doesn’t quite know what to make of the boat or the water. He did dip a tow and most of the rest of him in the water one day last week and didn’t seem overly impressed. With water temps still holding in that 34 degree range we’ll likely look towards warmer days to get him acclimated to the water. As of yet he has not given any indication that he’s apt to launch himself out of the boat but I fear that day is coming.

We started slow with a couple of days rowing around at the dam last week but graduated to a short float yesterday afternoon with a quick run from the dam to Wolf Creek Bridge. Last week was just about letting the pup explore the boat. Yesterday I actually brought along a fly rod, thinking that perhaps we might encounter a rising fish or two. I rigged up my Lamson Velocity #5 (available now at Wolf Creek Angler) in double midge fashion hoping for the best. It was not a disappointing first fishing outing for 2022!

There was no shortage of rising fish and none of them could seem to resist a Griffiths gnat placed anywhere in their general vicinity. By far the best day of dry fly fishing in February I’ve ever had and that was keeping it short as to keep the pup engaged.

Next we’ll tackle a Wolf Creek to Craig run and maybe even get a second body in the boat so we can concentrate more on actually fishing while also getting pup and owner both accustomed to this scenario.

We’re in the midst of a couple of dreary days with some rain and snow falling and we’re not complaining. Things clear up beginning Thursday and look good through the weekend though it may be on the breezy side.

Nymphing has been off the charts more days than not, streamer fishing is beginning to pick up steam and now we can officially proclaim epic midge fishing is underway….or at least it was yesterday. The fish are definitely looking up and while there are a fair amount of juveniles feasting on the midge train it’s always worthwhile to take some time and observe the rise forms around you. There are usually a few larger fish seated at the table and maybe even a beast somewhere in the mix. Throwing to every rising fish (and hooking many of them) is fun as hell but what’s even more fun is sitting back and watching what’s happening all around you and then targeting the alpha. It doesn’t get any better!

We’re all booked up for weekend lodging with things clearing out on Sunday but it looks like winter could very well be making a comeback with snow in the forecast for Sunday and much colder temps on the way.

Keep an eye on the forecast and make the call if you see the window open. Guides are starting to get hungry and the fishing has been as good as winter fishing gets on more than a couple of days. Take advantage of our Winter Lodging and Guide Trip Special all winter long. Two nights lodging and a full day on the water for one or two anglers for just $550 (plus tax). You won’t find a better deal ANYWHERE!

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-02-15T13:32:48-07:00February 15th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Craig, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Griffiths gnat, Lamson, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, Velocity, Winter Lodging and Guide Trip Special, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, Wolf Creek Bridge|0 Comments

Spring Fishing Arrives Early on the MO

Just a week into February and it feels like spring is upon us….hopefully winter will return.

For the time being we’re seeing unseasonably warm temps with daily highs in the 40’s and low 50’s and overnight lows just barely below freezing. Not great news at this point for the long term water prognosis as we look towards the summer season but it’s only February so we remain optimistic. There’s a lot of winter yet to go and some late season snow coupled with a wet spring would go a long way in setting us up for more favorable water conditions.

We’ve been getting a lot of calls recently regarding snowpack and the outlook for the season and while we’re always hopeful, the simple fact is that drought conditions continue to persist in much of the region. Consequently, as always, the bottom line is that we will have water, how much is unclear but whatever the case may be, we will take it as it comes and react accordingly.

All that being said, current conditions are optimal for getting out and enjoying some outstanding mid-Winter fishing on the Missouri. We’ve seen quite an uptick in business this week with a busy week of lodging and retail starting to regain a pulse.

Air temps are extremely moderate, winds have been tolerable and the fishing has been good to great more days than not. A consistent emergence of midges has resulted in good dry fly fishing opportunities, nymphing has been predictably solid and swingers and strippers alike are finding plenty of willing players as our resident wild trout react to spring weather conditions by doing what they do as they emerge from winter’s grip, which is EAT.

Water temps are still cold which will keep the bulk of the fish concentrated in the slow winter depths but bugs on top tend to attract attention as do baitfish exposing themselves to predation by hungry trout looking for maximum caloric intake.

It looks like this weather is going to hold at least through the early part of next week. We encourage you to take advantage of the situation while you can as hopefully we will soon see winter’s return.

There’s no better time than NOW to take advantage of our Annual Winter Guide Trip and Lodging Special. That’s 2 nights of lodging and a full day guide trip for one or two anglers for the ridiculously low rate of $550. We challenge you to find a better deal ANYWHERE….you won’t!

We’re open at 8 AM every day but Sunday for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs. We’re loaded up on winter/spring bugs, including an impressive midge selection, all the hottest winter nymphs and THE best streamer selection on the MO…hands down.

We’ve got a great selection of cold weather gear and waders and boots from Simms Fishing Products and a great selection of fly lines, leaders, tippet and accessories for any and all situations from Rio and Airflo.

And don’t miss this opportunity to pick up a pair of Simms G3 waders at 50% OFF!! G3’s were redesigned for 2022 so we’re looking to move our remaining stock. Currently we have Medium, Large 12-13 and Large King in Cinder and Medium and Large 9-11 in Shadow Green. You’ll never see a better deal on G3 waders.

Spring gear trickling in…the new product flood gates open March 1st.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-02-09T12:51:36-07:00February 9th, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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