Wolf Creek Angler Archives - Page 4 of 65

Dog Days 2023

Zeke enjoying the Dog Days of Summer

We’re enjoying a lull in the action as summer starts to slip away.

The season has flown by us as they tend to do….seemingly going by more quickly with each year that passes.

Pre-season jitters, Prime Time Chaos, the boat rental blur, green hills, BWO’s, PMD’s, long summer light….all in the rearview now.

The cool, dark mornings, fading greens and sagging choke cherry tree branches heavy laden with ripening fruit all have us thinking fall but there’s still plenty of summer ahead of us.

Trico fishing has been the best it’s been in years and while the hopper bite has been less than stellar it’s still good enough. Last light caddis have provided somewhat consistent evening action and nymphing, while made challenging by the increasing weed mass, has been racking up the numbers more often than not.

Fishing has definitely been better in the mornings and slowing in the afternoon so early starts (not too early) are still recommended.

We’ve been starting most of our trips right around 7 AM which has been working out just fine.

Some days you can count the boats on the water on one hand, other days it’s busier but all in all it’s been a quiet week on the MO.

Less traffic equals fewer shuttles which means we’ve been wrapping up shuttling fairly early in the day most days. There have been a fair number of folks rolling in later whom we’ve had to send away. We apologize for the inconvenience and ask that you get here by noon to get into our shuttle queue on any given day. We expect things to pick up at some point which should extend our shuttle hours though the next challenge is that we’ll soon be losing a significant portion of our shuttle crew with school starting.

I have no doubts we’ll figure it out as we’ve got a busy fall season ahead. And just a reminder, we are the home of the cheapest DAM shuttles on the MO so if you’re doing the top section of the river and you’re getting a shuttle from any other shop, you’re paying more than you need to.

We’ve got an abundance of lodging vacancies all month long as well as some guide availability and plenty of boat rental availability should you decide to work the MO into your late summer schedule.

The river is quiet but the fish have no idea it’s time to chill and relax and enjoy what’s left of our Montana summer. They’re still eating and we’re still looking to feed them. Come see what August has to offer.

The shop is open at 7 AM daily for all of you Missouri River fly fishing needs.

Shuttles, bugs, ice, SAGE R8’s, Korkers wading shoes and sandals, sun protection, fishing licenses, lines from SA, Rio and Airflo for any and all situations and all kinds of summer sportswear/sunwear from Simms and Ouray on sale as we close out the summer season and make room for fall gear arriving soon.

We are your Missouri River late summer fly fishing destination!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-08-10T15:36:47-06:00August 10th, 2023|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: caddis, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Late summer on the Missouri – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The late-summer switch has been flipped.

The lull is underway.

Early summer crowds have dwindled as the sun beats down, browning our green landscapes and supercharging the aquatic vegetation and ushering in the challenges (and advantages) of late summer fishing on the MO. More weeds equals fewer anglers. If you’re a regular on the MO you know the deal and while you will hear some chatter out there about how bad the weeds are, there is nothing out of the ordinary here. Embrace it. Deal with the weeds and enjoy the relative solitude August provides.

Low light, cool mornings are the norm as daylight hours continue to diminish. There’s definitely nothing wrong with getting that 6 AM start considering the afternoons have been on the slow side but as daytime highs start to trend downward you might want to extend that float and maximize your terrestrial options with breezy afternoon ants and hoppers.

Tricos in the mornings, Caddis, lingering PMD’s and terrestrials throughout the day and consistently good caddis action in the evenings. Nighttime is also the right time to give those mice a try.

Nymphing has been good (as always) and will continue to be your go-to for numbers. Maybe stick to the upper river to minimize weed-related challenges. Black Zebras, Tung Darts, Weight Flies, Pheasant Tails, Green Machines, Frenchies, Sow bugs, Claws R Crayfish, Zirdles, Nitro Caddis…all fine choices. Fish em’ deep or run short with pinch-ons, plying the fast shallows.

We’re continuously hit with questions about streamer fishing since having established ourselves as The Missouri River Streamer Authority, and we’re always happy to help but suffice it to say that late summer streamers can be a frustrating game with the aforementioned aquatic vegetation in play.

As far as we’re concerned it’s always worth your time to try it but if you’re someone who is just dabbling in the streamer game, you might want to wait until winter/spring or seek out cleaner waters. A couple of hours of hooking into seemingly every string of floating weeds in the river and having to constantly clean your rig could seriously end your desire to join the streamer club. That being said, it could also pay off big and you could hook the brown of a lifetime. The choice is yours but please proceed with caution.

The hopper bite has been so-so. Ants seem to be getting more attention so why not double your odds and run one of each. We like the More or Less hopper in peach and also in grey. Donkey Kong in yellow or pink could also be the ticket. And while these mimic the naturals pretty closely, we’ve found that it can sometimes be effective to mix up your hopper game, trying a Water Walker or Micro Chubby as opposed to a traditional hopper pattern .

Try the hopper – ant combo or drop a pheasant tail or green machine off of your hopper to cover all your bases.

We’ve adjusted our shop hours in accordance with what we’ve been seeing for early traffic and are now open daily at 7 AM for the foreseeable future. We’re continuing to offer early starts for guide trips if you’re into getting off of the water before the hottest part of the day but retail hours will be 7 – 5 for the time being.

Bug bins are stocked, we’re loaded up on sun protection and wet wading gear including the new Korkers sandals and wading shoes, and we’ve got plenty of everything you need for your day on the water including ice, a smorgasbord of floatants and the Cheapest Dam Shuttles on the MO!

How about a new dry fly or nymphing stick? SAGE R8’s have been flying off the rack but we’ve got plenty more and also have Foundations and Sonics as well as great rods from Echo, Lamson and Redington.

Come enjoy one of our favorite months to fish the MO. The crowds have gone (for the moment), the fish have not. Whatever you do, please don’t tell anyone about August on the MO, we’d hate for the secret to get out.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-08-01T15:04:42-06:00August 1st, 2023|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: brown trout, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

The Blur Begins to Fade

The second half of June and the first half of July are our busiest part of the season, often referred to as THE BLUR due to the lack of demarcation from one day to the next. It’s a time of pre-dawn boat rental boat launches, chaotic mornings in the shop getting trips out the door and often times working well into the night picking up boats and prepping them for the next day. A few hours a sleep per night is pretty standard during The Blur. Our guides have their own Groundhog Days to deal with during this time, often working three or four weeks straight without a day off. It’s these weeks that test the mettle of those looking to make a go at a career in Montana Fly Fishing.

Now as we move into the latter part of July, the Blur has started to fade. Don’t get me wrong, things are still busy, just not the fever pace of a week or two ago. Slowly but surely, things are slowing down. Traffic has lessened and soon will slow to a relative crawl as the Blur gives way to the Fade and the Fade gives way to the Dog Days of Summer.

The days are already noticeably shorter and while we’re still opening at 6:30 AM daily you can expect later light and cooler temps as summer falls away. We’ll see where the weather goes but for now we’ll likely push you to start as early as possible to counter the triple digit highs on tap for the days ahead. July is our hottest month of the year and we may see this heat wave stick around for a while but sooner or later cooler temps will return as will a 7 AM open. We’ll let you know when that’s happening.

Fishing has been somewhat inconsistent but overall there’s not much to complain about.

Some Like it Hot

The wade anglers are happy with flows having now dropped below 5K (currently 4860 CFS) with water temps holding in the mid 60s range. Keep an eye on those water temps on those hot days as it doesn’t take long to heat up with these lower flows. We encourage every angler to carry a thermometer with them at all times and check water temps often. Once that temp eclipses 68 degrees it’s time to think about giving the fish a break and finding something different to do.

We’re expecting flows to hold where they’re at which should keep things cool but once water temps hit 70 degrees or greater you really shouldn’t be fishing. There’s been no talk of Hoot Owl on the MO this season but self-regulating is something we should all be doing. You can expect us to request 6 AM starts on the really hot days but regardless of whether you start early or not our guides will stop fishing if water temps exceed 68 degrees.

Need a stream thermometer? We have them available for purchase at WCA!

Tricos have been gaining momentum, Caddis have been the consistent evening go to and hoppers and ants are getting the occasional looks. Plenty of options for the DFO. Best-selling dries this week have been Hi Vis Trico, Guide Winna Spinna (Rusty or Trico), Double Wing Trico, Indicator Spinner Trico, Barr’s Trico Emerger, Lighthouse Spinner Trico, Cornfed Caddis, Missouri CDC Caddis, Outrigger Caddis, Blooms’s UV Caddis, Stockingfoot Caddis and CDC Grey Caddis Emerger.

More or Less Hoppers in Peach, Tan and grey have been moving fish and Micro Chubbies are getting plenty of looks as well. Come check out our greatly expanded FOAM section, which, I think it’s safe to say, rivals or exceeds that of any other shop on the MO.

Those chasing bobbers have had good luck with black Zebra Midges, Frenchies, Little Green Machines, Pheasant Tails, Split Case PMD’s, Purple or Gold Weight Flies, Tung Darts, S & M’s and of course, Sowbugs. Zirdles have also continued to have their moments though that has lacked consistency.

Not much to report as far as streamer fishing goes though buggers, particularly Thin Mints, have been effective.

Hot summer nights (though not too hot) are the perfect time to throw a mouse as well. Once again, keep a close eye on those water temps, but when the water temps allow for it why wouldn’t you try your luck at fooling a mammoth Missouri River brown trout with a mouse. Not for the faint at heart!

Just to repeat, we’re open at 6:30 AM daily for all of your Missouri River summer fly fishing needs. Sunscreen, Ice,Headwear, Neck Gators, Sun Gloves, Smith and Suncloud Sun Glasses, Simms Solarflex shirts, flip flops, NEW Korkers wading shoes and sandals and much more. How about a new SAGE R8 or Sonic? We’ve got em’.

Lodging and guides are still locked up but another week and we’ll have rooms available and might even be able to find you that (somewhat) last minute guide trip.

Adipose Drift Boat rentals, Simms waders and boots, Rio and SA lines, leaders and tippet and without a doubt, the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

Don’t forget, Wolf Creek Angler has the confirmed CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES on the MO. You won’t find a cheaper Dam shuttle anywhere. Our shuttle business has more than doubled from last year but we still can’t help but wonder why anyone would go anywhere else for a shuttle from the Dam down unless they just enjoy spending more money on said shuttles which must be the case because there are all kinds of rigs being shuttled from the dam which we aren’t moving.

The only other thing it could be is that folks don’t know that we’re here. Case in point, we had clients show up a few minutes late the other day for their trip because they “just assumed we were in Craig”. They assumed WOLF CREEK angler was in CRAIG! Help us get the word out – CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES ON THE MO ONLY AT WOLF CREEK ANGLER located in Beautiful WOLF CREEK MONTANA.

We LOVE Craig. We’re perplexed by watching the rigs with drift boats in tow passing us by in the morning presumably en route to Craig, only to see those same rigs at the dam later in the morning. And in this case it’s not just that our shuttles are cheaper, it’s that some folks are driving an extra 15 miles which means more money spent on fuel and at least a half hour later start than what would’ve been the case had they stopped here for a shuttle. Obviously to each their own but we’d love it if you spread the word to your peeps.

We hope you join us for The Fade and beyond this season on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-07-18T16:04:02-06:00July 18th, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: Adipose, brown trout, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Montana, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Summertime

The frantic pace of June has slowed.

Crowds have thinned a bit with a good number of our seasonal regulars having already come and gone, most of them having booked their dates for 2024 which is always a good feeling from where I sit.

Flows are still running higher than what the wade anglers would prefer, currently sitting at around 8100 CFS. Most Probable outlook from the Bureau of Reclamation has us at around 5K for July so we should start to see things drop very soon.

PMD report has been mixed but the consensus is that sporadic is an apt description of PMD activity in 2023. Are PMD’s done? Not likely, but it seems we’re trending that way. That being said, I’d encourage you to keep that PMD box close at hand with plenty of spinners (Rusty has been $$) and cripples at the ready.

Evenings have provided plenty of caddis action…so much so that some of our most ardent evening floaters have opted out choosing instead to ply the wadable waters on foot.

Cornfed Caddis has been king, always accompanied by a CDC Caddis Emerger. Missouri CDC Caddis, Iceberg Caddis and Stockingfoot all wise options as well.

Tricos are here…just getting started. The fish have yet to key on them but they’re definitely starting to take notice. Two-Wing tricos and Indicator Spinners are a couple of my favorites. We’ve got plenty of both with many more to choose from.

Still chasing bobbers? Sow bugs, Frenchies, Purple Weight Flies, Little Green Machines, Split Case PMD’s, PMD and Rusty Magic Fly, Psycho Mays, Nitro Caddis, Translucent Caddis Emerger, plain old Pheasant Tails and Zirdles all attracting plenty of attention.

Streamer season is over according to the calendar but you’re still allowed to throw them and with the higher flows weeds have yet to get a real foothold so strip to your heart’s content.

We’re a couple of weeks out from hoppers but there are some naturals around. If you’re bored with the bobber replace it with a hopper. Drop a Pheasant Tail, a sowbug or a Green Machine and see what happens. You might be surprised.

Conventional wisdom says Hot Summer nights are best for throwing the mouse. I agree with that wisdom from a comfort perspective but I don’t know that the fish care whether it’s a warm night or a cold night and I know the mice don’t care so if you’re into the nocturnal game, cool nights aside, it’s probably go time.

It’s summertime and there is a tremendous abundance of trout food out there. You are right smack dab in the midst of Prime Time so enjoy it. The march towards winter’s darkness is underway and this will all be over before you know it.

We’re open early, 6:30 AM for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-07-06T17:20:38-06:00July 6th, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Goodbye June….Hello Summer

It’s a sleepy Wednesday with intermittent rain showers and a general sense that it’s a good day to wait it out in anticipation of a very summer-like forecast ahead.

Sunshine and 90’s on the way starting tomorrow just in time for the kickoff to the pre 4th of July weekend…the real start of summer. It’s time to bid farewell to this cool wet June and get the Montana summer underway.

Finally there are consecutive days without “a chance of showers and thunderstorms” in the forecast. Not that we won’t continue to see the occasional summer storm but it’s nice to see a forecast with sunshine as the headline rather than the carbon copy chance of rain and thunderstorms we’ve seen for most of June.

What’s that mean for your PRIME TIME dry fly season on the Missouri? Hopefully good things to come.

PMD’s have been sporadic at best and now that we’re approaching the time when they tend to begin to taper off it’s unclear whether we’ll see a late surge or if my favorite hatch on the MO just fades away giving way to Caddis and Tricos and terrestrials.

Our council is to remain prepared for any and all of it.

Good reports this week on the Caddis front from those doing the late shift. Cornfed, Missouri CDC, Iceberg and Stockingfoot Caddis in tandem with the old standby CDC Caddis emerger all money right now in the right place at the right time.

Nymphing continues to be the numbers game. Broken Record Nymphing Report…..Sowbugs should be your go to. There isn’t a #14 Tailwater Sow to be found in any shop right now but we’ve got a pretty good stock of #16’s at the moment.

Split Case PMD’s, Frenchies, Little Green Machines, Faucii’s, PMD Magic Flies, PMD Redemptions are all producing as are go to caddis pupae like the gold or purple weight fly, Translucent Caddis Emerger, Nitro Caddis, Tung Dart, Pulsating Caddis, Deep Six Caddis Pupae and more. All in stock now at Wolf Creek Angler.

Boat rentals are full bore right now and the Mending Waters boats for vets and active duty military have never been so busy. Our summer guide season has peaked but chances of getting a last minute guide will continue to be slim to none for the next few weeks. Not that you shouldn’t at least give us a call though. We do get the occasional cancellation.

Same with rooms. We’re full from now to the third week of July but we do get cancellations once in a while so make the call. And just a note, our regulars have been extremely intentional about getting things booked for next year so if you had intentions on coming in 2024 I’d suggest you make those plans now before everything fills up.

Fall dates have started to fill but we’re still looking pretty good for late September and much of October if fall fishing on the MO is on your agenda.

These are the long days of summer but the march to darkness is underway with each passing day shaving off moments of light. Before we know it the morning light will arrive a little later and will not linger quite so long as darkness returns.

But for now – enjoy the Montana summer.

Plenty of sunshine on the way and the heat to go with it. The river will soon be busy with rec floaters looking for a cool respite so just be aware of that going in. The resource is here for everyone and we should all make it a point to go out of our way to get along and promote harmony on the water.

Starting July 1st we’ll be open earlier yet at 6:30 am for all of your Missouri River fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-06-28T13:31:17-06:00June 28th, 2023|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Signs of the Season

Welcome to a soggy start to the season. It’s rained every day of June thus far and looks as though it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future with the forecast reading “a chance of showers and thunderstorms” every day in the 10 day outlook.

We’ve avoided some of the soaking rains and thankfully most days have at least started with sunshine but the cumulative effect has been a substantial increase in reservoir volume which has resulted in the biggest flows of the season. (Currently 13,300 CFS).

Wade anglers are now biding their time, awaiting the drop. Boat fishing is ON.

Many transient guides and outfitters have vacated the MO and returned to their home waters. Traffic is moderate.

A fairly typical early June on the Missouri.

Streamer Fishing has had its moments in this dreary weather. Keep after it.

PMD’s are here, perhaps not in force, but they are here.

Big Flows = Worms and sows and weight.

Big flows have slowed top water action much to the disappointment of our visiting DFO’s.

All signs of a typical high(ish) water early June.

That being said, the true indicator that the season has started is that we’ve already had an excavator digging up plumbing in our yard. It seems it’s not officially “the season” until this happens so now that we’ve gotten that out of the way it’s time to plant some grass in the backyard and watch the waters recede as we await Dry Fly Nirvana…..it’s coming soon!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-06-08T17:07:19-06:00June 8th, 2023|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Wolf Creek Angler is your Missouri River Fly Fishing Headquarters

It’s relatively quiet this first day of June on the Missouri but that’s about to change!

Chalk it up to being a post-holiday week or just the calm before the summer storm but it’s been eerily quiet this week with many of the transient guides and outfitters taking their clients and returning to their home waters.

Wet weather has perhaps kept some of the local angling traffic away and we’re still a ways out from the heat that drives the recreational floaters to the MO but all that aside, the fact of the matter is, we’re on the cusp of the start of the summer season and a few days from now things are going to look a whole lot different so if spring solitude is your thing this is your window and it’s about to close!

We’re now entering the days folks book a year or more in advance. These are the days of pilgrimage from afar to the hallowed waters of the Missouri. These are not the days of “everything else is blown so we’ll have to fish the MO”, from here on out everyone who is here is here for this. They’re here to carry on what are often times generational traditions of summer days on our giant spring creek.

These are the days of the DFO. Not that you won’t see plenty of bobbers on any given day but the history of fly fishing on the Missouri is one steeped in the lore of epic hatches and monster browns and bows sipping well-presented dry flies. It’s a place known for technical fishing with all of the elements in play that make a soft landing and a drag-free drift a necessity.

The coming early days of Caddis and PMD activity always allow for a fair amount of sloppiness and less than stealthy presentation but it won’t be long before things get techy and the fish get extremely picky and if you’re not on your game you’ll likely have a tough time on the Missouri. Prepare yourself for the Missouri River Dry Fly Extravaganza!

That being said, this world class tailwater is chock full of sub surface food which means if you prefer the bobber to the dry fly the Missouri is for you as well. It’s almost always game on for the nymphing set and while the reckless abandon with which these trout have been feeding for the past month may be waning there is an incredible abundance of food in the water right now and the fish don’t stop eating.

Of course sow bugs continue to be the staple but there are caddis pupae, baetis nymphs, PMD nymphs, March Brown nymphs, worms, crayfish and who knows what else bouncing around the water column. Anchor your rig with a beaded Tailwater sow, Czech nymph, Weight Fly, worm or Crayfish and trail a Little Green Machine, 2 Bit Hooker, Magic Fly, Split Cast PMD, S & M, Frenchie, Psycho May and on and on….All available at Wolf Creek Angler.

Back to dry flies – we’re currently making the shift, switching the hi vis bins from BWO’s to PMD’s and Caddis. Stock up today on the latest and greatest as well as the old standbys. We recommend you keep a good selection of spinners and duns at the ready but we catch a bunch of fish on cripples…just sayin.

The Guide Winna Spinna is a relative new-comer to the Missouri. Great Fly….Terrible Name. CDC PMD Spinners and Para PMD’s along with Indicator Spinners in PMD and Rusty – all fine PMD options. Hellen Keller PMD, PMD Film Critic, PMD Flash Cripple. CDC Winged Emerger, Brooks Sprout PMD and the ever-popular Buzzball should all hold a place in your fly box.

Our go-to Caddis patterns include Cornfed Caddis, Blooms Para Caddis, Sloan’s Outrigger Caddis, Stockingfoot Caddis, Missouri CDC Caddis, Iceberg Caddis, Front End Loader, X Caddis and the always popular CDC Caddis Emerger.

You’ll find all of these and many more filling the bins at WCA amongst the largest selection of Missouri River flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

As you prepare for the weeks ahead think about replacing those old fly lines. There’s nothing quite like fishing a fresh new line to help you step up your game. It’s difficult enough to overcome the challenges posed by micro currents when trying to perfect that presentation. Why add the challenge of a line that won’t float? Cleaning and dressing helps but at some point you need to replace those lines.

We’ve got you covered with all the basics as well as the more technical tapers from SA, Rio and Airflo.

Stock up on 5X and don’t forget your floatant.

We’re open at 7 AM daily for EVERYTHING you need for your day on the MO.

Sun protection, rain gear, Simms waders and boots, the brand new Korkers Swift Sandals and All Axis wading shoes, SAGE R8’s, Lamson Speedsters, tons of Simms logo gear, Adipose drift boat rentals, Mending Waters Drift boats FREE TO ALL VETS, Fishing licenses, Fishpond Nomad Nets and now featuring the CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES ON THE MO!

Welcome to Pre Prime on the MISSOURI!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-06-01T12:23:50-06:00June 1st, 2023|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Adipose, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, Fishpond, fly fishing, green machine, Korkers All Axis wading shoe, Korkers Swift Sandal, Lamson Speedster, mending waters montana, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Sage R8, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Memorial Day Weekend on the MO

It’s hard to believe but the unofficial kickoff to the summer season is upon us.

The three-day Memorial Day Weekend is about to kickoff, and right on cue, monsoon season has arrived.

It’s been an on and off rainy last couple of days. No real soakers just yet, but enough to likely keep the splash and giggle traffic to a minimum this weekend. There’s a chance of rain and thunderstorms in the forecast every day through Sunday. Memorial Day proper looks like it could be the best of the bunch with mostly sunny skies and a high near 80.

Flows are currently 7850 CFS with water temps hanging just shy of 52 degrees. Expect a bump tomorrow morning, somewhere in the 8K range.

Dearborn and Little Prickly Pear are in great shape at 644 CFS and 212 CFS respectively, both slightly on the rise but not adversely affecting the MO.

Fishing has been solid this week though there have been a couple of days offering a bit more of a challenge than what we’ve been seeing for the past several weeks. As it should be. You may have to actually try something other than a Tailwater sow bug and you may have to adjust rigging to accommodate conditions. They call this fishing.

Traffic has dropped off slightly and with people spreading out to all sections of the river it really hasn’t seemed all that congested out there save the traffic jams at the swirly holes where a slow day can be transformed into an epic day in just a couple of row arounds.

Keep running those sow bugs but get those zebra midges, mayfly nymphs and caddis pupae in the mix and don’t overlook the worm or the zirdle.

Top water action is still primarily a midge game but we’re just on the cusp of caddis action and PMD’s are coming soon.

If you need any or all of the above you know where to go. WCA boasts a fly selection that meets or exceeds that of any shop in the area. And our flies are all the real deal, not shop ties. The best bugs from Montana Fly Company, Umpqua, Yellowstone Fly Goods and Solitude.

A busy weekend on tap at the Inn with but we do have two rooms that just came available for Friday – Sunday night. If a somewhat rainy but very fishy holiday weekend on the MO sounds good to you give us a call and make one of them yours. Come see what the buzz is all about with the remodeled rooms at WCA, you won’t be disappointed!

The shop is open daily at 7 AM with EVERYTHING you need for your day on the water. Waders and boots and rain gear from Simms, rods and reels from SAGE, the CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES on the MO and all the gear from all the brands you love. We’re stocked up and ready for the summer season at WCA.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-05-25T16:49:02-06:00May 25th, 2023|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Creek fishing opens this Saturday

Another heat wave on the way this weekend with temps expected to approach 90 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As luck would have it we’re currently experiencing some smoke from the wildfires burning in Alberta and British Columbia which does affect air quality to an extent but more importantly it also provides overcast conditions, all the better for those fishing the MO.

Current air quality conditions in Wolf Creek are moderate for the most part, worse as you travel to Helena and Great Falls. Expect hazy conditions today through Saturday with things starting to clear on Sunday.

Saturday is the general stream opener in Montana which will soon begin to distribute the angling traffic around the region however with the current streamflows already running high and hot weather on tap for the weekend which will likely bring about an increase in runoff, we’re expecting continued heavy traffic here for the time being.

We’re in good shape on the Missouri with current flows at 7000 CFS with water temps right around 50 degrees. Flows on the Dearborn and Prickly Pear have steadily dropped this week but will likely be on the rise again this weekend. Both are adding color to the MO but not in a bad way – chalky, not muddy. Just how we like it.

It’s been a decent week for BWO’s, especially with the low light conditions and there are a few caddis bouncing around out there as well as some march browns and of course, the ever-present midges which are still providing plenty of low light action for the dry fly set. Much more to come!

Nymphers are replacing sow bugs and scuds with BWO and PMD nymphs as well worms and zirdles in select locales. You needn’t abandon the sows altogether though as they are on the menu every month of the year on the Missouri.

Streamer fishing has been good enough with the better action during low light as you would expect. White, tan, yellow, olive….all good choices. Deeper has been better with a moderate retrieve and plenty of pauses in between. Work the banks, making sure you hit every fishy looking seam and pocket and every under-brush lair. There’s a reason you think those spots look fishy. It’s because they are. That being said, you’ll also want to hit island tailouts mid-river riffles and drops, water that maybe doesn’t look quite as sexy but which may hold the beast you’re seeking.

We’re open at 7 AM daily with everything you need for your day on the water, be that the MO or anywhere else. The CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES on the MO and so much more!

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-05-18T11:34:13-06:00May 18th, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, midge, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Two weeks into May and we’re rapidly settling into the grind.

The new Wolf Creek Angler crew is continuing to take shape, guides are fully ensconced in the groove and honestly, it feels busier at this point in the season than I can recall it ever being which is obviously partially a product of the influx of guide traffic from other parts of the state but I like to think it’s also a product of WCA continuing to grow and gain momentum as your Missouri River fly fishing destination.

We recently welcomed Keith Tucker aboard as our go to shop guy. Keith’s been doing the salt water thing as a captain in the Florida keys for the past 9 years and brings with him a wealth of experience in the industry. Stop in and meet him next time you’re headed to the MO.

Lodging has been slammed with WCA guests as well as a steady stream of folks fishing with other outfitters and many of those outfitters and guides also staying with us when vacancies allow. We’ve always worked hard to build these relationships with our colleagues in the industry and we’re thrilled that in what is definitely a highly competitive business, we’ve established a trust that allows for working together.

WCA has long been a favorite haunt of many guides and outfitters who prefer the chill nature of our location to the chaos.

Fishing has been consistently spectacular despite the concentration of traffic in the upper stretches. It’s definitely been busy, more days than not.

A steady parade of drift boats can be found at the dam daily from first light to early afternoon with the busiest time generally in the 9 AM – 11 AM range. If you don’t want to see other boats you should probably think about hitting a different river but an extra early start or a post 11 launch will alleviate some of that sense of crowding.

Guides who have worked on the Missouri know the drill and when everyone operates within the accepted parameters things go swimmingly. You’ve seen the fish numbers. There are plenty of fish and even in a short stretch of river there is plenty of water to accommodate the heavy traffic. What’s always amazing is how consistently good the fishing is day after day even with this kind of pressure. It’s truly an amazing fishery.

With the Little Prickly Pear and Dearborn on the drop things are rapidly coming into shape on the lower stretches and traffic has started to spread out accordingly. You’ll still see crowds at the dam but now there are a host of options if you want to get away from some of that traffic.

Current water conditions on the Missouri – 7290 CFS, water temp 47.5 degrees. Little Prickly Pear and Dearborn at 405 and 851 cfs respectively and dropping. We expect we’ll see some traffic on the Dearborn this weekend. Call the day before for shuttles as we’re planning on doing just one or two runs a day to the Dearborn depending on demand.

Nymphing continues to be the numbers game with sow bugs still reigning as the go to food source but with the water temps steadily climbing the baetis action is heating up. BWO nymphs should definitely be a part of your arsenal at this point. Little Green Machines, Psycho Mays, Redemptions, Pheasant Tails, Military Mays, Radiation Baetis, Olive or Pearly Lighting Bugs, Split Case BWO’s….all good options and don’t be afraid to work some PMD nymphs into the mix as well, it won’t be long. You might start with a PMD Magic Fly or a Split Case or Crack Back PMD.

Dry fly anglers are finding targets with midges, BWO’s and a few March Browns around and Caddis waiting in the wings. First or last light is best, cloudy days offer some mid-day opportunities.

Streamer fishing has been hit or miss but definitely worth your time. Brown and Yellow has been good with white, natural and olive all getting some attention as well. Ply the shallows off the banks, dredge the depths, vary your retrieve and if you’re not getting looks then change bugs. It can be slow going. It can turn on just like that and shut down just as quickly.

Need gear? We’ve got you covered with a streamer line for any and all situations or just go with a VersiLeader if you’re not ready to commit. Come by and try a Streamer X or Sage Igniter if you’re in the hunt for a new streamer stick.

Got questions? We’ve got answers. From gear to rigging to bug selection we are the Missouri River Streamer Authority!

The shop is open early, 7 AM daily with everything you need for your day on the water. Simms waders and boots, sun protection, Adipose drift boat rentals, fishing licenses, piles of fresh WCA logo gear, the CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES ON THE MO and of course the most extensive selection of flies ever assembled under one roof in Wolf Creek Montana.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-05-11T12:55:34-06:00May 11th, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report, Shop Life|Tags: Adipose, cheapest dam shuttles on the mo, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

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