Wolf Creek Angler Archives - Page 15 of 67

Spring Special Coming to a Close…it’s GO TIME

Spring is beginning to show itself on the MO. Photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Just a few days left to take advantage of our 2021 Spring Lodging and Guide Trip Special. It all comes to an end on Sunday April 18th and while we’ve been experiencing some winter-like conditions this week it looks like we’re in for another gorgeous weekend. Saturday looks like near perfect conditions with sunshine and 64. Sunday won’t be quite as nice with the possibility for some rain in the forecast but that could up the odds you might find some BWO’s. I’m not able to personally confirm but we have heard reports of a few bugs here and there this week.

We’ve got plenty of availability for both lodging and guides for the weekend so we hope to see you out here.

If you’re planning your own guideless adventure we’re happy to have you as well. Spring special lodging rates also come to a close on Sunday so don’t miss this opportunity to take advantage of the best lodging deal around.

It’s been a little quiet this week with the weather being what it is, but despite the fact that there’s snow on the ground this morning Wolf Creek and Craig and the MO are definitely OPEN for business.

Shotgun Annie’s has already expanded their hours and are now open every day. (Monday and Tuesday dinner only, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM and Wednesday – Sunday lunch and dinner 11:30 – 9:00 PM). We’ve also got a new place in town, The Wolf Ice Cream and Hoagies, located next door to the laundromat/Oasis. I haven’t been yet but I hear it’s good.

Izaak’s in Craig is OPEN Wednesday – Sunday 3-9 PM and The Craig Taphouse should be open soon…we can’t wait!

Suffice it to say, the fishing has been good to great most days, things in and around town are up and running and all we need is a little spring sunshine to make it feel like a bit more like the season is underway.

Flows are low and stable at around 3500 CFS with water temps holding in the 42 degree range and it doesn’t look like we’ll see much of a change any time soon with flows predicted to pretty much hold in this range all season long. A wet spring could obviously change that but we’re settling in to these flows and dialing things in accordingly.

I’ve said it repeatedly and I’ll keep beating the drum…if streamer fishing is your game this is your time. Water temps are near prime and conditions are optimal, at least for the next six weeks or so. Nymphing is the numbers game with Tailwater Sows, Caviar Scuds, Pill Poppers, Hotbead Rays and Zebra Midges still leading the charge. Little Green Machines and other baetis nymphs also now playing an increasingly important role.

Again, not much for BWO’s just yet and the midge game hit and miss but between the random Skwalas and midges and the increasing potential for BWO’s you could definitely put together a dry fly day if you worked at it.

Stop in and see all the new arrivals. From the hot new River Ops boots from Korkers to the awesome new rod and reel offerings from Waterworks Lamson, a brand new jig section in our fly bins, the amazing Tornado Anchor, new Camo Air Lock Indicators and much, much more.

Open daily at 8:00 AM for shuttles, licenses, lodging, guides and anything and everything you need for your day on the water.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-04-14T12:38:05-06:00April 14th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Craig Taphouse, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Izaaks, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Shotgun Annie's, Streamer Fishing, The Wolf Ice Cream and Hoagies, Tornado Anchor, Waterworks Lamson, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Early April on the MO

Just back from a week in the Utah desert and trying to settle in to the busy springtime groove this week on the MO’.

The migration from the west side has begun with flows over there bumping enough to send a bunch of traffic our way this week.

Yesterday turned out to be a good day to dig out from under a week’s worth of things left on hold while I was away. The cold snowy morning kept traffic to a minimum which kept things quiet in the shop…perfect conditions to re-acclimate.

Today is a different story. A quintessential early spring day with blue skies and an abundance of sunshine. I started early, launching a couple of rental boats before we opened and since I turned the OPEN sign on it’s been pretty much non-stop traffic, the majority of which has come from the west side.

We’ve got a few folks staying and a number of trips out this week but we’ve got plenty of openings for lodging and guide trips both if you’re looking to take advantage of our Spring Guide Trip and lodging special which comes to an end on April 18th.

$550 for a full day guide trip for one or two anglers plus not one but TWO nights of premium lodging. Guide trips alone are $450 plus tax for a full day while if lodging is all you need kitchenettes are running $99/night. These prices simply can’t be beat but like all good things, they too must come to an end. Regular pricing goes back into effect on April 18th with guide trips back at $550 plus tax and premium lodging back to $135/night (plus tax).

As of late last week all of our lodging is now open so our always popular motel rooms are back in play at $75 for a single room (one full bed) and $85 for a double (one twin and one full bed).

Nymphing turned the corner last week and our clients have been treated to some epic days as of late. The numbers are at the dam but fishing has been good everywhere if you want to separate yourself from the crowds and if streamers are your game then this is your time.

I’ve been out of the shop for a week so I haven’t seen the day to day on what bugs folks are buying but judging by the bins it sure appears as though the tailwater sows, pill poppers and caviar scuds are still leading the charge and I did sell my first Little Green Machines of the season today so look for the baetis nymphs to be starting to play a major role as well.

Sparkle Minnows and Kreelex have been the hot sellers from the streamer bin today but this is the time to throw the kitchen sink at them. As tempting as it is to stick with one or two patterns ( I do it all the time) it is Prime Time for Streamer fishing so mix it up and see if you can’t discover the next hot bug.

The weather looks good for the rest of the week with tomorrow being the nicest day by far with temps reaching near 70. It’ll be 50s for the remainder of the week with a chance for some of that spring snow over the weekend. All in all things are in good shape. Flows continue to hold in the 3800 CFS range with temps climbing into the low 40’s, currently just shy of 41.

The cooler weather will bring things back into shape elsewhere so that west side pressure will taper off over the next couple of days and while there will be some traffic around over the weekend this really is the perfect time to fish the MO’ with hot fish and relatively low pressure.

We hope you make us your first stop on your way to the MO for shuttles, bugs and much much more. The shop is open at 8:00 AM daily.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-04-06T13:47:15-06:00April 6th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

St Paddy’s Day Update

The official start of spring is still a few days away but the spring fishing season has already started in earnest and from what we’ve seen so far it feels like just the beginning of what is sure to be one of the busiest seasons on record not only for Wolf Creek Angler and the fly fishing industry but for the outdoor industry in general.

One year ago our doors were CLOSED as a non-essential business in the early stages of the pandemic. We completely lost our spring season and had no idea what we were in for as summer approached. As it turned out we were able to open our doors by late spring and June brought a lifting of quarantine restrictions for out of state visitors allowing us to salvage a season many thought would be completely lost.

Outdoor retail turned out to be a bright spot in a crippled and struggling economy and while we ended up having a decent retail season we took a significant hit with lodging and guide trip cancellations as much of the country was locked down and/or leery of travel throughout the summer.

Fast forward a year and we’re thankfully looking at a very different outlook for 2021. Thanks in large part to three vaccines developed in record time we are in the waning days of this pandemic. Case numbers and restrictions continue to drop while bookings continue to build and from where I sit in Wolf Creek Montana this thing is about to be in the rear view.

Montana is going to be an extremely busy place this spring and summer and like I said, this season on the Missouri will likely be one for the record books as many of those who skipped traveling in 2020 resume summer travel and either return to favorite haunts or visit places they may have never seen. It’s going to be a big year for regulars as well as for first time visitors looking to get a taste of this wild and socially distanced place we call home.

Suffice it to say, if you haven’t booked your summer dates by now you may be out of luck. We’re slammed through the third week of July and then things open up a bit. We do have random vacancies here and there so it’s worth a call even if it’s prime time but if you need more than a night or two we don’t have much in the way of consecutive nights available.

It’s a similar story with our guide calendar, a few random openings here and there but guides are as busy as I can remember them ever being since I’ve been here, at least for June and July. As with the lodging, things open up in late July but even that late July/August time frame which is usually DEAD, is starting to fill up.

Prime fall dates are still available but I’d expect much of that will fill early this season as well.

We’re super stoked for the 2021 season and as always we’re making continuous improvements to make your stay with us more enjoyable. Some things you may or may not notice this season; another shipment of new mattresses and box springs has now completed the replacement of all 22 beds on the property, new bedding replacing the old cabin style comforters and bed skirts with clean white duvets, new heating/cooling wall units in our bungalows, new matching dish sets and cookware in all of our kitchenettes and new ceiling fans in the railroad cabins just to name a few.

Our cabins and bungalows are now all open and we’re likely a week or so out from opening our motel rooms. We’ve got plenty of lodging available for your Missouri River spring getaway and a shop full of must have new gear. Spend that stimmy on a spring guide trip and lodging special and a new pair of G3 waders and have plenty left over for dinner and drinks at Annie’s.

Happy St Paddy’s Day from Wolf Creek Angler – we’re looking forward to seeing you soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-03-17T12:36:42-06:00March 17th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, St Paddy's Day, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Early Spring on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Winter made a brief return last night almost as if on cue after we decided to open up the majority of our lodging late last week. I had to do a little bit of shoveling this morning but as I write last night’s snow is rapidly disappearing with temps back in the 40’s and a few peeks of sunshine. Spring has re-emerged.

This is exactly that best case scenario we’ve been hoping for with snow continuing to accumulate in the high country while we enjoy fishy spring-like weather on the MO’. We’ll see 40’s and plenty of sunshine all week as we head into another awesome weekend with temps expected to be back in the 50’s and maybe even near 60 again on Sunday.

It will likely be another busy weekend on the water. Last weekend felt like spring with Chewy back behind the counter, a lot of traffic through the shop, a lot of fishing licenses being sold and all of our available lodging occupied.

Things emptied out yesterday which gave us a chance to prepare for the next round which started today with a big group of our friends from Freestone Fly Shop in Hamilton over for a couple of days of early spring fishing on the Missouri.

Early spring is one of my absolute favorite times of the year as everyone starts to emerge from the winter doldrums and slowly but surely the traffic ticks up and before you know it the spring season is in full swing.

We’ve already half committed to our normal spring schedule, removing Sunday from the CLOSED list and starting the 22nd (if not before) we’ll be open EVERY DAY from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Daylight Savings Time begins this weekend which unfortunately means losing an hour of sleep on Sunday morning but on the flip side it means an extra hour of daylight in the evening and the continued march towards those long summer days which will be here before we know it.

Prime Time guide trip and lodging dates (June/July) are all but gone and Spring Special bookings as well as those for fall are really starting to ramp up. It feels like it’s going to be one for the ages with our current bookings easily eclipsing anything we’ve ever seen in the past for confirmed bookings at this point in the year.

If you’re still contemplating your summer plans, time is running out! And it’s not just here on the Missouri, and it’s not just here in Montana. I spent a good part of my Sunday trying to book RV spots for a planned trip back east in August and it’s the same everywhere. Campgrounds are full, hotels, motels and resorts are full, guide calendars are rapidly filling and while we fully expect to have a shop full of gear to offer you all season long we’ve been warned that the demand for outdoor gear will continue to be unprecedented so if you’re considering a purchase (waders, boots, rods, reels etc.) don’t drag your feet.

Unlike Prime Time, we do have plenty of lodging available for the coming weekend though I do expect it will fill. $99 for a cozy cabin or bungalow, each with a full kitchen and private bath. Cook for yourself OR stop in at Shotgun Annie’s which is opening this Friday. For the time being they will be open Tuesday – Sunday 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM. We’re SUPER STOKED to have them back!

Yes, spring is taking hold and we can’t wait to see you back in Wolf Creek and back on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-03-09T14:44:59-07:00March 9th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: fly fishing, Freestone Fly Shop, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, running line, Shotgun Annie's Wolf Creek, spring fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

In Like a Lamb

March has arrived this time not like a roaring lion but rather a gentle lamb. Maybe we’ll miss the lion altogether (though I’m not counting on it) but for the time being spring has sprung!

Abundant sunshine and temps nearing 60 through Saturday. Not quite as warm on Sunday and into the early part of next week but 40’s and 50’s nonetheless. Not bad for early March in Montana.

As you would expect the phone has been ringing nonstop with people looking for lodging and guide trips this weekend. We’re currently full but that may be changing today as we make our best effort to get more lodging open for the weekend.

The fact that we’ve decided to get things opened up early will pretty much guarantee a return to winter in short order but after losing most of spring 2020 to the pandemic we are ready to make hay as the sun begins to shine.

Expect some traffic out there this weekend but don’t let that deter you. March traffic is a far cry from April, May and June traffic. There’s plenty of water and there are plenty of trout for all.

River flows are stable currently at 3400 CFS and the water temps are bumping up, currently at or near 35 degrees. Stay on the winter program if you’re nymphing targeting the slow depths with pink anything, firebead anything and sows and scuds. Try a Pill Popper, Pederson’s Sow or Caviar Scud as your lead coupled with a #16 tailwater sow or pink soft hackle sow. If you have it to yourself work it until you find them, adjusting depth accordingly.

Prime Streamer Season is about to commence. Obviously the water temps need to come up a bit for things to really heat up but it’s definitely worth your time right now targeting slower water and structure and keeping your retrieve SLOW with plenty of pauses in between strips. Kreelex, Polar Leeches, Sparkle Minnows, Clousers, Mojo Minnows, Mini Dungeons and the rest of the usual suspects are moving fish but I wouldn’t hesitate to size up and throw something new into the mix like ZK’s Gladio or Thick Biscuit…hot off the vice and new for 2021.

Midge action has been sporadic at best but I’ve got a feeling it’s about to get good. Keep that dry fly set up rigged and ready with your favorite midge cluster.

If you’ve been waiting patiently for SPRING SPECIAL GUIDE TRIPS to go into effect then you haven’t been paying attention. The WCA Winter Lodging and Guide Trip Special has been in effect all winter long and will run through the middle of April. $550 for a full day on the water and not one but TWO nights of premium lodging at Wolf Creek Angler. It’s a deal that CAN NOT BE BEAT…we challenge you to try!

Don’t need the lodging? Guide Trips are $450 through mid-April which is the going rate for spring trips on the Missouri.

Spring shipments arriving daily. New waders, boots, rods, reels and the biggest pre-season fly order we’ve ever done!

Once again, we’re fully expecting winter to return but for the moment spring is here and WCA is ready to roll.

Keep an eye on our Facebook Page or feel free to give us a call to find out when that additional lodging will become available.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-03-03T09:05:23-07:00March 3rd, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, running line, spring fishing, Streamer Fishing, streamers, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Spring is on the way – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

As we approach the end of February with but a handful of days left in the month we are rapidly shifting gears into spring fishing mode with all indications pointing to a busy season ahead.

Here is your glass half full outlook for spring 2021 on the Missouri.

1. Winter is Waning

This is both good and bad but the main takeaway is that it is still only February so chances are good we will see plenty more winter weather in the weeks to come. That being said, the current forecast is calling for seasonable conditions for the next ten days with highs in the mid 30’s to 40, a bit of colder air on Saturday and back to the status quo early next week. As per usual wind has been a factor making those temperate days a little less so, but all in all conditions are favorable for an early start to spring fishing.

Meanwhile, snowpack is looking good and hopes are that we will continue to see significant accumulation in the high country which will keep us in good shape through the spring and summer seasons.

2. Healthy Fish and Stable Numbers

This is traditionally the time of year we see The Annual State of the Missouri report presented by Fish, Wildlife and Parks which is where they present the data from the previous year’s fish counts and give an assessment of the current season in regards to fish populations and water conditions.

Unfortunately Covid protocols continue to throw a wrench into things so while we expect that presentation to happen in one form or another sometime soon we haven’t gotten word of when that will be.

Consequently, we did reach out to FWP Fisheries Biologist Jason Mullen to see if we could get some highlights and we’re happy to report that based on what he was willing to share with us we should be in for a good season based on the 2020 data. Trout numbers are stable, but more importantly, they reported the second highest relative weight (measure of “fatness”) for the period of record for rainbows in the Craig section and additionally, they saw an abundance of juvenile fish, handling “more 6” – 8” fish by far than in previous years in the Craig section.

This is excellent news, indicating a thriving, healthy trout population on the MO. We’ll report more details once we have them but we couldn’t be happier with what we’ve heard so far.

3. Covid Cases on the decline

Following a peak of over 1600 new daily cases in mid-November Covid cases have been on the steady decline.

With the vaccine now starting to see wider distribution it looks to me like that light at the end of the Covid tunnel is now in plain sight and we’re well on our way.

The state mask mandate was lifted a couple of weeks ago but many counties including Lewis and Clark where we are, still have mandates in place.

We are cautious and we are optimistic and we are ready to close the book on Coronavirus to the furthest extent possilbe.

4. Busy Days Ahead

Bookings for the coming season look good with prime time rapidly reaching capacity. We’re hard at work preparing for the coming season with maintenance and repair projects in full swing.

As always, you can expect a commitment to customer service as well as a commitment to the health, safety and well-being of all of our clients and guests.

Regardless of what happens with the Covid numbers and regulations, you can rest assured that we will continue to employ the same enhanced cleaning and safety protocols we put into place last season. We will continue to not only clean, but to also completely disinfect rooms between stays and we will not only follow, but go above and beyond the safety and health protocols prescribed by the state and county.

The days are getting longer. The sun is feeling closer and it won’t be long before we are in full spring swing on the MO’.

We hope to see you in the shop and on the water very soon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-02-23T13:13:13-07:00February 23rd, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, 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

February Delivers Yet Again

Following weeks of mild winter with above average temps and below average participation Mother Nature finally served up a good helping of actual winter weather starting with a winter storm over the weekend and followed by the coldest weather we’ve seen in a long time. We won’t see positive digits until Saturday so it’s a good solid week of sub-zero temps and while the storm definitely didn’t produce an excess of precipitation, it did bring our snowpack back up into the 90 – 109 % range across much of the region vastly improving the 21 season outlook for the time being.

Forget fishing this week unless you’re doing it through the ice. We’re currently sitting at about eight below with the coldest air yet to come. High of -2 today and tomorrow and the real cold snap coming Wednesday night into Thursday with lows of -22 and a high of -10 on Thursday.

The icy grip begins to loosen over the weekend and it looks like we’ll be back into the low to mid 30’s early next week.

We’ve opted to remain closed this week but will be back on our normal schedule next week.

If you love winter sports now is your time. If you’ve been waiting for ice to form on Holter Lake now is your time. Let’s hope the outlook for this month continues to hold true with lower than average temps and above average precipitation as we start to prepare for the spring season. Hopefully the snow continues to fall in the mountains building great flows for the season and as long as we’re thinking wishfully, it would be great to see a return to mild weather here at the lower elevations around the first of March while snow and cold persist in the high country which would give us the best of both worlds with a great head start on the spring season and the slow melt we need for good flows all season long.

It’s definitely too early to predict what we’ll see for weather and for water this spring but as we always say this time of year; there will be water, there will be weather and there will be trout. How much water we don’t know, what kind of weather remains to be seen but you can rest assured that regardless of what’s coming, we’ll soon be on the water chasing bobbers, stripping streamers, hunting heads and doing what we do best which is putting you on fish.

Winter Special in effect, now through April 18th. $450 Full Day Guide Trips for one or two anglers which is the going rate for spring special trips on the MO.
What is NOT the going rate is $550 for a full day on the water AND not one, but TWO nights of premium lodging. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, can touch this deal so do yourself a favor and book your trip today. Space is limited!

We’ll be in and out this week, making sure everything is weathering the cold and tending to emails and voice mails so leave us a message. We will get back to you ASAP.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-02-09T10:22:56-07:00February 9th, 2021|Categories: Local Buzz|Tags: fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Welcome to February on the MO

The season is rapidly approaching and will be here before you know it with the first month of 2021 already in the books.

The Groundhog says six more weeks of winter…let’s hope so. The bare ground and blue skies tell a different story this second day of February and while it appears as though we’ve got some colder temps in the forecast, winter continues to elude us.

We’ll see 50’s today and highs in the high 30’s for the remainder of the week. A chance for some rain and snow on Friday and cold Friday night with lows in the single digits and only climbing into the 20’s on Saturday. Perhaps not the best conditions for weekend fishing but it couldn’t be much better than it is right now.

We’ve got rooms and guides and rental boats available daily and the best deal on the river all winter long…$550 for a full day guide trip with the best guides on the river and not one but TWO NIGHTS of premium lodging in our cozy bungalows. Offer good through the end of March.

If you prefer to DIY winter lodging rates are $99/night (plus tax) and if you just want to make a day out of it we’re doing guide trips without the lodging for $450 for a full day for one or two anglers.

Water conditions are status quo with flows hanging around 4100 CFS and water temps back up near 35 degrees. Holter Dam to Craig continues to be the go-to but don’t hesitate to work the water below Craig. Things were getting a little slushy last down low so I’d recommend staying above mid canon.

Winter Nymphing, Swinging and stripping are all good options right now and midge activity should be ramping up this month if you’re set on dry fly fishing.

We like to mix it up on winter floats, generally switching methods according to location, with the dry fly rig always at the ready.

Status quo all winter long as far as the bugs go. Think Pink! Pill Poppers, Bubble Yums, Amex, Cotton Candy, Pederson’s Sow, Pink Lucent Bead Rays, Firebead Rays, Firebead Czechs, Soft Hackle Sows, Pink or Rainbow Weight Fly, Zebra Midge, Caviar Scud, Rainbow Czechs…you get the picture. Target those super slow winter buckets and work them thoroughly.

Best bets on the streamer front – go small (ish) and leechy….or not. Polar leeches, Fruit Roll Ups, Balanced Leeches, Thin Mints, Pine Squirrel Leeches and black buggers or if you want to size up go with Kreelex, Sparkle Minnows, Mini Dungeons, Clousers and the like. A lot of swinging going on these days with plenty of takers and moderate success on the strip as well. Keep your retrieve slow with plenty of pauses in between and be ready for the take on the pause.

Griffiths gnats and midge clusters for all of your top water action. Keep your dry fly rod rigged and ready so you’re able to target those rising fish immediately as a lot of the winter feeding tends to be somewhat sporadic.

It kind of felt like spring around here last week with multiple guests staying multiple nights and keeping us busy all week long in the shop and with a few guide trips. It’s always nice to see trucks and trailers filling the parking lot after a few lonely weeks and judging by the early bookings it’s going to be a busy season. So while we’re praying for snow and cold we’re also keeping a close eye on the long-term forecast and we’re ready to spring into action with more lodging as soon as conditions look like they’re going to be stable. We’ve been waiting for that arctic cold snap all winter long and we’re holding out hope that it’s still coming but if we don’t see it materializing sometime soon we may just go ahead and open things up so we’re ready for the inevitable rush.

Spring gear is starting to trickle in and we’re well stocked this winter with everything you need for your day on the water.

We are your Missouri River mild winter fly fishing destination with everything you need all in one place. Lodging, guides, Adipose boat rentals, Simms wading gear and accessories, cold weather gear, fishing licenses, eye wear from Smith and Suncloud, lines and leaders from Airflo and Rio (including MOW tips and versi leaders for the swing set) and of course, the largest selection of Missouri River bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.
Swing in or shop online.

The shop is open Tuesday – Saturday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM with expanded and extended hours likely coming soon. Open EVERY DAY for lodging and guide trips.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-02-02T11:44:33-07:00February 2nd, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Adipose, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, simms, spring fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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