Wolf Creek Angler Archives - Page 33 of 67

This Week on the MO

Wolf Creek Angler is Your Missouri River Fall Fly Fishing Destination

Early August continues to deliver a welcome respite from the heat wave we suffered through for most of the month of July.

The fishing has been hit or miss but the weather has been gorgeous, the flows have been stable and we can’t think of any better way to spend a late summer day than floating the MO’ regardless of the fishing report.

The traffic is light though we have seen a steady trickle of folks in the shop and last minute rooms and guide trips are the norm during late summer. We’ve got plenty of rooms and guides at the ready so clear your schedule and make the call. Our Dog Days Special has been generating some interest and is definitely something you should take advantage of. Now through the end of August book a full day guide trip and a night of lodging and mention the Dog Days of Summer Special and get a second night of lodging on us.

Dry fly fishing is preferred right now though the fish are late summer spooky and wont tolerate bad cast shenanigans. Keep your distance and deliver the goods and you may be rewarded. Get too close, blow the cast or just look at the pod wrong and they’ll go down. If you’re going to play the Trico game you need to bring your A game.

Many have been opting instead to fish blind with hoppers and ants, with or without a dropper. This is a fun way to fish and while it may not produce big numbers, there’s nothing quite like the take. I’ll take a chug or two on a hopper over watching a bobber any day.

Nymphing has been a little tough as of late and weeds are definitely becoming a factor. The dam is probably going to be your best bet for nymphing as there are plenty of fish and cleaner water but you still need to be vigilant about keeping your rig clean. Weedy nymphs don’t catch fish. Check your bugs often and keep them clean. The lower you go the more weeds you will encounter so if you’re planning to nymph the lower stretches prepare to be frustrated.

The same can be said for streamer fishing right now. It’s definitely worth your time but you have to work hard at it, choosing your water carefully in an effort to minimize weedage and constantly checking your rig to make sure it is weed free. Battling the weeds can be extremely frustrating and can definitely try your patience. I suggest perhaps crushing your barbs if you’re going to throw streamers right now. If you happen to get to flailing around because the weeds are pushing you to the brink of madness you might just get a little sloppy and a little careless with your cast. Sloppy and careless and streamer hooks don’t go well together. Make it easy on yourself (and the fish) and go barbless.

My tried and true Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow moved more fish my last time out than I’ve moved on the Missouri in a LONG time, maybe more than I’ve moved EVER, but we just couldn’t get them to commit.

Being that things are on the slow side it’s the perfect opportunity to employ some different tactics out there just to see what happens and that’s exactly what we’ve been up to at WCA. Different bugs, different water, different techniques and some ultra-covert night ops in pursuit of behemoth browns of the MO’.

Stop by the shop and hear all about it.

We are your Missouri River late summer destination with lodging deals nobody can touch, the hardest working guide crew on the water and a shop full of everything you need for your day on the water. We’ve got the best gear from the top names in the industry. Loop, Ross, Smith, ARC, RIO, MFC, Umpqua, Fishpond, Simms, Redington, Nautilus and Echo just to name a few.

Open daily for everything Missouri River Fly Fishing.

Hopper Eating Piggy on the MO’.

Despite a long awaited change in the weather and a break from the 90’s we’ve hit the late summer slump.

Things are quiet around the shops and on the river and while many enjoy this respite from the chaos of prime time, after just a couple of days we’re rested and ready for the next round. Unfortunately for us, the next round is likely a few weeks out but fortunately for you it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the situation and enjoy a late summer getaway to the Missouri River.

The crowds are gone (for now) but the fish haven’t gone anywhere. Late summer fishing can have its challenges but I can’t say it enough, I’ve had some of my best days on the Missouri in August. You won’t know if you don’t go!

Tricos are in full force if you enjoy that challenge but we’re starting to concentrate our efforts on hoppers and ants. Nymphing has been more miss than hit as of late but you never know when it’s going to turn on. If nymphing is your thing we suggest you fish the dam to minimize the weed issues and maximize your opportunities based on the higher concentration of fish. They aren’t always willing to eat but they are always there and sooner or later you’re bound to hit it when they’re hungry.

Black zebra midges continue to be the hottest of the hot nymphs but we’re also having some luck with Green Machines, S & M’s, Split Case PMD’s, Weight Flies, Tung Darts, Psycho Mays, PT’s, Peep Shows, Red Headed Step Child, Doc’s Summer Bug, Purple Lighting Bugs and various crayfish including Snapping Craws and Claws R Crays.

On top you’ll want the standard lineup of Trico patterns including Indicator Spinners, Double Wings, Trico Hackle Stackers and an assortment of midge clusters and buzzballs. Keep your Elk Hair Caddis, Outrigger Caddis, Blooms Parachute Caddis, Cornfed Caddis and CDC Caddis Emergers at the ready but devote some time to ants and hoppers…there’s nothing quite like watching big browns crush a hopper! Moorish and More or Less Hoppers in Pink, Purple and Gold have all been getting eaten and Bloom’s Stealth Ant in purple is a must have for your terrestrial box.

Streamer fishing should start to heat up as we move towards September but the weeds will be an issue so prepare to be frustrated!

This is all happening NOW….and there’s NOBODY here! If you’re interested book a trip with us today and take advantage of our Dog Days Special. Book a full day guide trip and a night’s lodging and your second night is on us. Spend a second day with a guide or rent one of our Adipose or RO drift boats and do it yourself.

Food has been a challenge lately, especially on Tuesday evenings when nobody is serving dinner. We’ve got the perfect solution. With a full kitchen in your cabin or bungalow and access to barbecue grills your dining problems are solved. Eat what you want when you want it.

Lots of folks are busy trying to squeeze every last drop out of summer before the return to reality and we get that. If this is the case and fishing the MO’ isn’t in your August plans there’s no time like the present to book your fall stay. Mid September through mid to late November have become the Second Season with cooler weather, hungry fish and the magic of fall in the air. October is booking fast and November will follow so book your guides and lodging today while there’s still time.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T16:39:51-07:00August 3rd, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Hoppers, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

photo by Sam Casne

It’s time to take advantage of our annual Dog Days of Summer Special, going on now through the end of August.

Book a full day guide trip and a night of lodging and your second night of lodging is on us.

We’re still doing early starts to beat the heat so why not arrive the night before your trip and relax. Get a great night’s sleep and save yourself the morning drive. Your guide awaits…just a few steps from your door.

Spend a gorgeous summer day on the water with your guide and then return for another night of relaxation at Wolf Creek Angler. The sun and the heat (and all that reeling in fish) will take it out of you and you probably won’t feel like doing much of anything after your trip. You definitely won’t feel like driving home so kick back on the deck and relax. Share your stories from the day over a cocktail or two with the other guests or venture out on your own for an evening of hunting heads.

Fishing has been challenging as of late to say the least and we’re not going to tell you that the fishing is going to be great but as we’ve touched on before if you simply lower your expectations and just enjoy the late summer fishing for what it is you’re in for a great time regardless of the numbers.

It’s an awesome time of year to avoid the crowds of primetime and there’s no reason you couldn’t stumble into a spectacular fishing day. You just never know.

Prepare for the challenges of the season, embrace those challenges and you’ll have a great day.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T16:41:30-07:00August 1st, 2017|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Dog Days of Summer, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Caddis Sunset – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

Hot, dry weather continues to be the story of the summer of 17.

We’ve been seeing highs in the 90’s for what seems like months now with no cooling trend in sight. Evenings have been pleasant however with temps dropping into the high 50’s making early morning the time to be on the water if you want to beat the heat.

Traffic has dropped off considerably which means it’s time to entice you with our Dog Days of Summer special to get you back on the MO’. Now through the end of August book a night of lodging and a full day guide trip and get a second night of lodging for free.

The fishing reports have been a mixed bag but it seems the consensus is that things have slowed down out there. Nymphing in particular has gotten tougher. It’s been good in the early morning most days and slower during height of the day as you would expect though even the mornings have been tough the last couple of days. Dam to Wolf Creek Bridge has been the preferred location for nymphing as of late and #18 Tungsten Black Zebra Midges have been the bug of choice but we’ve also had limited success with purple lighting bugs, green machines, Peep Shows, PT’s and S & M’s. Reports from lower down indicate the crayfish could be a good call, depending on the day. Regardless of where you go, expect weeds and pay close attention to keeping your bugs weed free.

Dry fly fishing has been consistently good with plenty of Tricos about and plenty of fish keyed in to them. Presentation is always important here on the Missouri but perhaps never as important as it is right now. A good reach cast and a perfect drift will get you hooked up but the hookup is only half the battle. Indicator spinners, midge clusters, Griffiths gnats and double wing tricos have all been good options.

There are plenty of caddis around though finding fish feeding on them can sometimes be a challenge. Outriggers, Blooms Hi-Vis, Cornfed and CDC Caddis Emergers will fool a lot of fish.

Streamers? Not the best time of year for stripping with the weeds and all but still worth your time in the right spots. Hoppers? Absolutely. You may only get an eat or two on that hopper rig but one hopper eat equals a dozen bobber drops in my book.

Lodging has opened up and we have plenty of availability both for guides and lodging through around the middle of September. It’s hot, it’s a little weedy, it’s a little smoky but it’s still an awesome place to be. The fishing could be challenging but so what? It’s fishing. A day on the Missouri River casting to rising trout and taking in miles of breath taking scenery ? What could be better? It’s time to lower those expectations and rise to the challenge of late summer fly fishing on the Missouri.

It’s also the perfect time to book yourself a day on the nearby Blackfoot to experience something completely different from the MO’. It’s what many consider to be the quintessential Montana fly fishing experience. You’ll catch more and bigger fish on the MO’ but the scenery is something completely different and it doesn’t get much better than throwing big bugs to eager cutties. Book a day on the Blackfoot with WCA today.

Give us a call for up to the minute river conditions and fishing reports and make us your first stop on the way to the river for shuttles, bugs, drift boat rentals and all things Missouri River Fly Fishing and beyond.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T16:43:20-07:00July 26th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

The Lookout Fire west of Wolf Creek MT Photo by Rocky Infanger

High water fears have given way to earthquakes and wildfires. It’s been an interesting couple of weeks here with Montana’s largest earthquake in decades taking place a couple of weeks back and now the Lookout Fire burning just a few miles west of Wolf Creek. Thankfully evacuation orders issued on Saturday have been lifted as crews have launched an aggressive approach to contain the 390 acre fire which they hope to have a line around by Thursday.

It wasn’t but a few weeks ago we were still getting calls about high water. That’s all changed and the wade anglers are loving it. 4100 cfs from here on out is what they’re saying. We were hoping for a little more water but we’ll take it. Things could be much worse.

From FWP –

Waterbody Restrictions, Closures & Reopenings – Region 3

Tue Jul 18 09:37:17 MDT 2017

(BOZEMAN, Mont.)—High water temperatures and low stream flows have prompted Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to implement “hoot owl” restrictions on several rivers in Southwest Montana starting Wednesday.

The following sections of rivers will be closed to fishing daily from 2 p.m. to midnight until conditions improve effective Wednesday:

Big Hole River from Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to the Mouth of the North Fork Big Hole River;
Big Hole River from Notch Bottom Fishing Access Site to the confluence with the Beaverhead River;
Lower Beaverhead River from Anderson Lane to confluence with Big Hole River;
Lower Madison River from Ennis Dam to the mouth;
Lower Gallatin River from the confluence with the Madison River at Three Forks to Sheds Bridge (Hwy 84) near Four Corners;
East Gallatin River from Spring Hill Road Bridge (Hwy 411) to the confluence with the Gallatin River;
The entire Jefferson River

These restrictions come two weeks later in the year than the first restrictions seen in 2015 and 2016.

Regional Fisheries Manager Travis Horton said, “We’ve been fairly fortunate so far this year with flows in general, but temperatures are high and could stay that way for a while.”

Additional restrictions are possible on other stretches of these or other southwest Montana rivers in the coming weeks.

For up-to-date information on restrictions related to drought, visit http://fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions/.

Dry Fly fishing continues to be off the charts and with the decrease we’ve seen in traffic as of late if you aren’t here fishing the MO’ right now you’re missing out on some of the best fishing we’ve seen in recent memory and you can have it virtually all to yourself (at least by July standards).

PMD’s are all but over leaving Tricos as the current focus though it might be hard to tell whether it’s trico columns or smoke you are seeing because there’s no shortage of either right now. Caddis are present throughout the day and more so in the evenings. It’s hopper time as well. I haven’t heard of any great hopper reports just yet but I’ve seen plenty of hoppers around and while this is not the best hopper river in the west there’s no reason you shouldn’t dedicate some time to throwing the big bugs. Like anything if you put your time in you will eventually be rewarded. My biggest fish on the Missouri to date was a completely random eat on a pink More or Less hopper last summer.

We like the Moorish and More or Less Hoppers in pink, purple, yellow or tan and also the Carnage and Panty Dropper Hoppers. Plenty of these and many more in the giant drawer of FOAM at Wolf Creek Angler!

Best bets for tricos include Indicator Spinners, Double Wing Tricos, Quigley’s Trico Hackle Stackers and Griffiths gnats and buzzballs. Our go-to Caddis rig is the Outrigger Caddis paired with a Grey CDC Caddis emerger. There are all sorts of other options but it’s been my experience that this rig rarely disappoints.

Hot nymphs this week include tungsten bead black zebra midges, Peep Shows, Brown 2 Bits, PT LGM’s, gold weight flies, tung darts, tan UV Czechs, Nitro Caddis, Doc’s Summer Bug, Rusty Magic Flies and Psycho Mays.

Lodging and guide availability are opening up, slowly but surely. Don’t let the hot weather and the smoke get you down. We’re continuing to do early starts to get you off of the water before the real heat sets in and the fishing goes south.

We’d love to have you as our guest but whether you’re staying with us or not stop by on your way to the river for bugs, shuttles, sun protection and anything else you need including what some consider to be “the best coffee in the canyon”. We are your Missouri River fly fishing destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-07T16:49:02-07:00July 18th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Lookout Fire, Missouri River, Montana, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|1 Comment

It’s Trico Time on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

We’ve been enjoying this brief respite from the scorching heat these last two days with daytime temps only in the 80’s but it’s about to heat up again and we’ll be pushing 100 beginning on Thursday and running right on through the weekend.

Early starts are a good idea, something in the 6:00 – 6:30 AM range. Be off the water by early afternoon and refresh and refocus for the evening hatch. The hours spent in the hot sun can be exhausting but nothing a good old fashioned afternoon nap can’t fix.

It’s prime time for dry fly fishing right now with PMD’s, Tricos and Caddis all in play. PMD’s wont last much longer but not to worry. Tricos and caddis are going strong and terrestrials are about to become a major part of the mix. Bring your A game and come experience some of the best dry fly fishing in the country, if not the world.

Like you, we’ve got our favorite dry fly patterns. Unlike you, we’re happy to share them. Best sellers from the dry fly bins this season include Rusty Spinners, PMD snowshoe emergers, PMD smoke jumpers, Hi-Vis PMD Spinners, Nyman’s DOA Cripple PMD, Brooks Sprout PMD, Blooms Parachute Caddis, Cornfed Caddis, CDC Caddis Emergers, Outrigger Caddis, Extended Body Caddis, Trico Indicator Spinners, Barrs Trico Emergers, Double Wing Tricos, Quigley’s Trico Hackle Stacker, Eric’s Trico Spinner, Bloom’s Stealth Ant, Micro Chubby, Purple Haze, Parachute Adams and WCA Trudes. These are all great patterns to be sure but don’t get hung up on what’s HOT. Take some time to explore the countless other patterns we stock for every hatch. Show them something different.

The focus this time of year is obviously on dry fly fishing but there’s no shame whatsoever in nymphing so have at it. Zebra midges at the grass flats below the dam have been money. Pair them with a gold or purple weight fly or a Tan UV Czech Nymph. Other hot nymphs have been Little Green Machines, S & M’s, Magic Flies, Psycho Mays, Peep Shows, Nitro Caddis, Doc’s Summer Bug, Purple Lighting Bugs along with a host of other offerings. Once again, don’t get hung up on what’s HOT. Get creative and show them something they haven’t seen. You could also go the other direction and show them something they’ve seen since the start. Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears, Copper Johns…..there’s a reason they’ve been around forever. Never overlook the classics.

Streamer fishing has been getting tougher as the weed mass continues to build but it’s definitely still worth your time.

Stop by the shop and stock up on leaders, tippet, bugs floatant and anything else you might need. We’re still officially open at 7 AM daily but more often than not coffee is on and we’re milling about the shop by 6 or 6:30. Stop by if you’re getting an early start.

Traffic is down considerably this week, particularly of the drift boat variety. Plenty of wading anglers out there but overall expect fewer anglers then we saw throughout last month.

Missouri and Blackfoot Guide trips are available and while it is getting easier to find guides on short notice we still recommend you book as far in advance as possible. We’ve got limited lodging available for the next couple of weeks and then things open right up for late July and the entire month of August.

Fall is a different story. If you haven’t booked your fall dates yet we suggest you do it now.

Stay cool and stay fishy my friends.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:22:33-07:00July 11th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Like the view? Call Wolf Creek Angler and book your Missouri River Fly Fishing Guide Trip today.

It’s hard to believe we’re already into June but that is the case so welcome to PRIME TIME on the Missouri.

The river continues to drop (8310 cfs as of now) and we’re likely just on the cusp of potential dry fly Nirvana depending on what happens with the water. More on this soon!

This last week of May into the first of June has proven to be a bit of a lull in the action as folks wrap up their pre-summer activities but it’s about to get real as people from all around the country and in fact all around the world descend on the MO’ for a healthy dose of legendary Montana trout fishing.

Much of the water around the state is on the rise leaving the amazing MO’ one of the only options available for the time being and what an option it is.

Expect nymphing to continue to be the go-to for now but the dry fly game will soon come into play. We’re shifting those BWO patterns out of the bins to make room for the PMD’s which have already started to make an occasional appearance. The dry fly side of the bin has been a lonely place thus far this season with the higher water so as you can imagine we are anxious to see those bugs begin to move.

The nymphs of choice continue to be Tailwater sows, Fish Finder Worms, Wire Worms, Zebra Midges, Rainbow Czechs and the like but we’re starting to see a shift to PMD nymphs including split case PMD’s, Light Peep Shows, PMD S & M’s , Rusty and PMD Magic Fly and PMD Military Mays. Caddis pupae are also in play. Think Tung Darts, Weight Flies and Tan or Caddis UV Czech Nymphs.

It’s also time to get your dry fly boxes in order. Midges are still on the menu along with the occasional BWO but it’s soon to be a PMD and Caddis game.

Streamers are still an effective option on the right day. Cloudy days? Yes. Sunny days? Yes. Early in the morning ? Yes Mid day? Not so much but you never know….

We’ve got a few holes in the lodging and guide book for the next week or so and then it’s slim pickings until mid July but we do get the occasional cancellation and there are a few vacancies sprinkled in here and there so if you haven’t yet made plans and a trip to the MO’ sounds like something you’d like to do then by all means give us a call and we’ll do our best to make it happen.

We know you’ve got a lot of options when it comes to fly shops and outfitters and we are sincerely thankful for each and every customer. We will never take your business for granted. We hope to see you soon at Wolf Creek Angler, your Full Service Missouri River Fly Fishing Destination.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:35:17-07:00June 1st, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Steve with one of several streamer eating bows.

The summer season unofficially began yesterday with Memorial Day and coincidentally we saw flows on the river decrease daily over the weekend making it look and feel a little more like the river we’ve become accustomed to in late spring with flows in the 8700 cfs range, clearing water and the fish returning to the faster water in which you’d normally expect to find them.

The weather is feeling like summer as well with plenty of sunshine, highs in the low 80’s and scattered thunderstorms popping up here and there daily. We’ll close out May with temps near 90 tomorrow before things return to more seasonably normal conditions towards the end of the week.

The official word on flows has things holding in the 8500 cfs range for the time being. We’re anxiously awaiting the updated operations report and flow forecast for June from the Bureau of Reclamation and we will share that with you as soon as we get it. There’s still a fair amount of talk about big water due to the well above average snow pack in the high country but as you can see the current SNOTEL map is indicating a somewhat gradual but steady reduction of snowpack in our region which is now in that 90 – 109 % of average range indicated by the color green.

11,000 cfs was fun, like a whole new river with fish fleeing to the slow depths and consistently eating sow bugs and the like presented at or near the bottom. These substantial drops in flows over the past few days have made things interesting and a little challenging depending on the day,but from what it sounds like from most of yesterday’s reports things may be settling. It’s transition time so while you shouldn’t necessarily abandon the worm/sow rigs it’s definitely time to start adding mayfly nymphs into the equation. Little Green Machines, Peep Shows and various PMD and Caddis nymphs (PMD Magic Fly, Split Case PMD, S& M PMD, Doc’s PMD, Tungsten UV Czech Caddis, Gold or Purple Weight Fly, Tung Dart,etc) You’re options are limitless right now!

Fish the slow depths for sure but start paying attention to the medium fast, swirly water as well. They are there and they are in feeding mode. No need to shorten up, you’re 9-10′ overall rig with which you’ve been plying the depths these last two weeks should work just fine.

The dry fly game is not really being played yet. The fish aren’t playing so we’re not playing but it shouldn’t be long, especially if the flows continue to hold or drop.

Not much talk out there about streamers as of late but don’t let that fool you. If you like the streamer game then play the streamer game. If you put your time in chances are you won’t be disappointed.

I had the pleasure of doing a full-on streamer float with Steve Fraley, a good friend from Michigan this past Saturday. Steve is Co-owner of Baldwin Bait and Tackle on the Pere Marquette River in Baldwin MI and it just so happens he played a major role in my becoming a streamer fishing addict by convincing me to do a destination streamer trip to Argentina way back in the day. I never looked back!

Steve made a surprise visit to Wolf Creek on Friday while en route to Seattle and on to Alaska where he guides during the summer months. We decided to do a short float on Saturday morning starting with nymphing and maybe switching over to streamers later in the day. The nymphing lasted for about an hour before we decided to go full-on streamers and we had several hours of solid action before things went quiet in the afternoon. I had downplayed streamer fishing on the MO’, especially with the bright sunny conditions but as is often the case, the fish were not deterred by the conditions. Just the opposite in fact. Maybe not LIGHTS OUT but a bunch of fish moved, a fair amount hooked and a few to the boat….a pretty good streamer day on any river and all in just a couple of hours of fishing.

The bottom line for late May/early June fishing on the MO’ is that things are good. If dry fly fishing is what you are seeking it’s not yet your time but conditions couldn’t be better for nymphing and streamer fishing. The crowds from two weeks ago have thinned a bit but the major influx is coming!

We hope to see you very soon at Wolf Creek Angler. We are your Missouri River fly fishing destination with EVERYTHING you need for your fly fishing odyssey. Affordable lodging, the best guides on the river and The up and coming Full Service Missouri River Fly Shop. Book your stay with us today or swing by on your way to the MO’ and see what the buzz is about. Open at 7 am daily for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:36:47-07:00May 30th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Baldwin Bait and Tackle, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Steve Fraley, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

The Big Muddy. Blackfoot River from Scotty Brown Bridge on May 6th. Photo by Blackfoot Angler Fly Shop

The BIG PUSH has begun. Runoff has started and with it the migration of guides from around the state to the Missouri seeking fishable water for their clients.

The MO’ is definitely where you need to be if you plan on fishing western Montana in the immediate future and while we are largely immune to the blow out conditions found on the freestones during runoff we do have some big pushes of water coming from Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn adding cold water and color which present challenges but also opportunities. LPP is currently running at a muddy 274 CFS while the Dearborn is cranking at 800 making flows on the MO below Dearborn somewhere in the neighborhood of 8500 CFS. Above Prickly Pear the Missouri is currently flowing at 7440 CFS with a water temp of 47 degrees.

Reports from Sunday were mixed but it sounds like the rain and cooler air temps so sought after by the dry fly and streamer guys were negated by the influx of cold, muddy water from the tribs. Solid nymphing reports from the Dam, not so much from Wolf Creek on down.

Conditions will remain somewhat status quo this week as temps in the 70’s and 80’s continue to contribute to runoff. Plenty of sunshine this week as well which may not be what you want if you can’t wait to throw a dry fly but don’t rule it out, we could have some great evening activity this week. Again, blue skies and sunshine are not exactly optimal for streamer fishing either but you might be surprised. Sunshine or clouds, I know what I’ll be throwing this week and it ain’t nymphs or dry flies.

Speaking of nymphs though, we would definitely recommend including a worm in your offering, especially if you’re fishing low. Sow bugs are still getting the biggest nod but it’s time to start throwing the kitchen sink at them. Purple Lighting Bugs, LGM’s, Hot Belly Pheasant Tails, Hi Def, Radiation and Juju Baetis, Split Case BWO’s, Dark Peep Shows, Rainbow Warriors, 2 Bits, S & M’s…..you get the idea.

We’re pretty well booked up for lodging through mid-week but we do have openings for later in the week and through the weekend and we’ve got guides at the ready each and every day.

The shop is full of all kinds of new gear from Simms, Korkers, Fishpond, Redington and more and the fly bins are overflowing with every bug you need for the MO’ and beyond.

Stop in for shuttles, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, Realtime Missouri River updates and intel and what has frequently been referred to as the best coffee in the canyon.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:43:22-07:00May 8th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Dearborn, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, Little Prickly Pear, Missouri River, Montana, Redington, RO Drift Boats, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Are there any bugs you ask? Ummm….just a few! photo by Luke Koerten

As we close out the month of April and head into the heart of the spring season things are shaping up nicely on the Missouri with plenty of water (but not too much), plenty of bugs and plenty of hungry trout.

The fishing has been tough on some days, pretty damn good on others. Overall I would still call it “spotty” but there are stretches which are consistently fishing pretty good and some go to areas within said stretches which are holding good concentrations of fish as you would expect them to in mid to late spring.

We’ve still seen better numbers of fish being caught in the canyon but we’ve also had some fair days in the dam to Craig stretch which seems to be improving by the day.

Flows have stabilized in the 7000 cfs range but we are still seeing drops and bumps of a couple of hundred cfs on a fairly regular basis which may be contributing to the spottiness. Water temps are on the rise and are currently holding in the 45 degree range which has the trout on the move.

Streamer fishing has been inconsistent but if you hit it right you can expect plenty of chases and some aggressive takes. The same could be said for the dry fly action. There has been no shortage of bugs with gobs of midges and plenty of BWO’s in the mix but finding feeding fish has been a challenge on most days. Again, if you hit it right you could be in for some epic dry fly fishing….the best of this young season. Obviously “hitting it right” is the key and therein lies the challenge. Our advice….fish early and fish often. You may or may not hit it right but we can say with 100 percent certainty that if you aren’t on the water you aren’t going to catch fish. It’s as simple as that.

Nymphing has been less of a roll of the dice and will continue to be the best bet for numbers. With the increase in flows some of the slots you may be used to holding fish may have moved so if you come up empty fishing your usual line go back and do it again, changing your path rather than the depth of your rig, generally moving towards the bank a foot or two to find your desired water column.

We’ve found most of the fish in the top section are still concentrated in slower, deeper, winterish water which has been producing good results river-wide however we have definitely begun to see a transition to shallow, faster water in the canyon stretch. Fish the slow stuff down there and if you can’t find them then try shortening up your rig and fishing the faster shallow summer water.

Sow bugs have been our go-to as of late with the Tailwater sow leading everything else in my box. We’ve also had good luck with soft hackle sows, yum yums and Firebead sows. Caviar Scuds, Bubble Yums, Rainbow Czechs, LGM’s, Rainbow Warriors, black zebras, Pink Amex, Radiation Baetis, S & M’s , Juju’s, pink or purple Lightning Bugs and hot bead wire worms have all been good options depending on the day.

Keep your midge clusters and BWO’s at the ready as well just in case you happen upon some heads. A hi vis parachute Adams or a Purple Haze paired with a Griffiths Gnat or midge cluster is hard to beat but we’ve also had BWO rigs at the ready. Sprout Baetis, Nyman’s DOA Cripple Baetis, BWO Film Critic, Wilcox’s Micromay BWO’s , No Hackle BWO’s, Flash Cripples and Hackle Stackers are all good dry fly options you have at your disposal.

On the streamer side we haven’t seen any one bug leading the charge. It’s kind of been all over the place but greys, whites and olives have been producing in various sizes. I’ve had good luck lately with ZK’s Bunny Wailer in olive and in white and we’ve also been moving fish with brown Dirty Hippies, Sculpin and JJ Sparkle Minnows, Godzilla Sculpins, Baby Gongas in rust, tan and olive Circus Peanuts and black and olive Dolly Llamas. I say it all the time…fish what you like because you’ll fish it with confidence and if you are fishing with confidence you’ll up your odds. Give it a solid hour or more. Change colors, change patterns, vary your retrieve. Streamer fishing requires a commitment which often times leaves you blanked but when you see that chase or feel that slam you’ll definitely want more.

Come on by the shop and check out our much talked about amazing fly selection. We’ve got bugs you won’t find anywhere else as well as plenty you’ll find everywhere else. We pride ourselves on our extremely well-stocked fly bins and we’re confident that if you’ve never shopped our bins you’ll likely be shocked and awed by our selection and if not shocked and awed than at least pleasantly surprised. Buy your Missouri River flies where many of the best guides on the river do…Wolf Creek Angler!

We’re open daily at 7:30 am for all of you Missouri River fly fishing needs. Shuttles, Adipose and RO Drift Boat Rentals, LOOP rods and reels, Redington wading gear, Simms outerwear and accessories, clean and affordable lodging, the best guides on the water, the aforementioned biggest and best selection of bugs ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek MT and much more.

We’ll be looking at cloudy skies and a chance of precipitation (rain and snow) most of this week. BWO and Streamer weather to be sure. We did have a couple of cancellations for the weekend which has been booked solid for some time. If a last-minute trip to the MO sounds like something you’d be interested in give us a call and book today. It’s the final weekend to take advantage of our spring lodging and guide trip special….2 nights and a full day on the water for the ridiculous price of $500. You heard right. Don’t let this opportunity slip away. Starting Monday this same trip will cost you over $750.

By Jason Orzechowski|2017-12-08T15:45:28-07:00April 26th, 2017|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Spring Special Guide Rates, Montana, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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