Wolf Creek Archives - Page 11 of 60

Arctic Blast on the Retreat

Arctic Blast on the MO.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Training Days

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spring Fishing Arrives Early on the MO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

February on the MO

We’re one month in to 2022 and though it feels like the dead of winter as we settle into the current cold front, the season will be upon us before you know it. January felt LONG, as it always does but as we turn the page to February today the countdown is underway.

Enjoy these final weeks of solitude because very soon we’re going to be in the thick of it. We got a little taste of what’s to come over the weekend with a fair amount of traffic both the wade and boat varieties. A mild weather weekend in late January always brings out the crowds by winter standards but nothing like we’ll see in a few more weeks as spring approaches.

Fishing has been good, especially on the front side of this weather system which arrived last night. The nymphing has been solid with plenty of fish being caught on the swing as well. More often than not you’ll have at least a little wind to contend with but if you somehow hit it on a calm day you can expect some dry fly action as well as the midge action begins to heat up.

It’s the time of year you can often run the same nymph rig all day long, never changing flies or depths and hooking up throughout the day.

Rainbow Czechs, Tailwater Sows, Pill Poppers, Bubble Yums, Pederson’s Sow, Soft Hackle Sows etc. Bug selection is not critical. If you happen to be out there on the right day and you’re fishing the right water you should have plenty of success.

Slow and deep is your target water but don’t overlook those tailouts, especially if you’re swinging. Polar Leeches, Kreelex, Fruit Rollups, Thin Mints and Black Buggers have all been deadly on the swing.

Winter has returned today with temps back in the teens and wind chills in the single digits and below. More of the same on tap for tomorrow but we start to warm up again Thursday and into the weekend with highs back in the 40’s and pushing 50 on Monday. Expect some traffic out there this weekend and look for things to get busier as winter progresses. Cabin Fever usually starts to hit folks pretty hard in February with the promise of spring on the not-too-distant horizon.

It’s the perfect time to take advantage of our Winter Guide Trip and Lodging Special. Get Two nights of lodging and a full day guided trip for one or two anglers for just $550 with NO CANCELLATION FEES FOR ANY REASON.

It’s always a roll of the dice with the weather in the winter but rest assured that if things end up going south with the weather, or if you just have a change of heart and decide you don’t want to catch a bunch of Missouri River trout on a winter afternoon, you’re not on the hook for anything. With nothing to lose there’s no reason you shouldn’t be booking your winter guide trip on the MO. An abundance of fish and winter solitude await!

If you’re looking for things to do in Helena this weekend don’t miss Pat Barnes TU 2022 Ice Bowl Membership Drive and Winter Social at Sleeping Giant Lanes on Saturday at 4 PM. Bowling compliments of PBTU, pizza compliments of Rocky Mountain Credit Union. It’s a great way to spend a Saturday evening in February.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-02-01T12:37:13-07:00February 1st, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Local Buzz, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Pat Barnes Trout Unlimited Ice Bowl, running line, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

A Different Season

25 days into 2022 and I have yet to wet a line.

It’s a different season than what I’ve become accustomed to.

Puppy parenthood has altered my existence in ways I really hadn’t anticipated….and I’m not complaining. Zeke is a blessing but he’s also a bit of an albatross at this point. I realize I’m far outside the norm in being able to bring him to work with me every day and for this I’m thankful. I’m lucky to have all of this time to bond with him. Unfortunately it will be a few more weeks before he’ll be fully immunized and ready to interact with the outside world and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t counting the days.

His world is small right now. Our house and yard, my vehicle and the shop and shop property. That’s it. These are the places he can go and consequently, for the past seven weeks these are now the places to which I am limited as well.

It’s been an adjustment for sure. Adding to the fun of 2022 I got a breakthrough case of Covid last week which has shrunk my world even more, removing going to work form the equation and keeping Zeke and I cooped up in the house for days on end.

That has now run its course and it’s nice to be back in Wolf Creek this sunny day. Now I’ll be biding my time, dreaming of hot summer days (and nights) on the water while making preparations for the coming season. And very soon Zeke will be introduced to the MO. I’ve had him in the boat a few times in the garage getting him used to the confines of a drift boat but I can’t wait to actually get him out on the water.

Fishing has been good from what I’ve heard and the weather has been moderate to say the least, at least by January standards. Sure it tends to be breezy more often than not but temps are tolerable and traffic is minimal, ideal conditions for winter fishing on the MO.

It’s usually around this time of year I start thinking about winter dry fly fishing and from what I understand there have already been some decent days out there. Let’s hope it turns out to be a phenomenal midge season which, if everything goes according to plan, should be prime about the time I start getting Zeke on the water.

Lodging has been moderately busy but all in all things have been pretty quiet. We’re expecting an uptick in traffic as we close out January should the mild weather persist which it appears it’s going to. Highs in the high 30’s and low to mid 40’s expected through the weekend and into the first part of next week.

Flows are holding steady at 2900 CFS and water temps are hanging right in that 34 degree range.

If you’re starting to suffer from cabin fever I know all about it and I know a trip to the MO will cure what ails you. Nymphing, swinging, stripping and maybe even some dry fly fishing to be had if you’re lucky.

Winter rates are $99/night (plus tax) for a cozy bungalow with a full kitchen and private bath. Bungalows sleep three comfortably with two twin beds and a full size pull out couch. Treat yourself to a winter guide trip on the MO. We’ve got the best deal you’ll find anywhere….Two nights of lodging and a full day guided trip for one or two anglers for just $550 with NO CANCELLATION FEES FOR ANY REASON.

Our bins are freshly stocked with all the hottest Missouri River winter bugs and we’ve got all the cold weather gear you need as well as blow out pricing on all remaining Simms G3 waders and boots.

These next few weeks are PRIME TIME for winter fishing with an abundance of hungry trout and winter solitude. Before you know it that solitude will start to be in short supply so get it while you can.

The shop is open at 8:30 AM every day but Sunday for all of your Missouri River winter fly fishing needs.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-01-25T10:59:46-07:00January 25th, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, midge, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, running line, simms, Simms G3 Waders, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|1 Comment

Quiet on the MO’ photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The cold snap which lingered over the holidays is but a memory now as we settle in to more seasonal conditions with daily high temps hanging right in that average, or slightly above average, 35 – 40 degree zone for the next while.

It’s been breezy more often than not as you would expect but the breeziness is much easier to contend with on a 40 degree day than a single digit day. While snowpack conditions are holding fairly steady in the high country the snow is all but gone here in Wolf Creek and on the Missouri. A bit of shelf ice hanging around here and there and the occasional chunks of ice falling off of the dam but wading conditions by winter standards, are actually optimal right now.

Flows are low and steady currently at 2840 CFS with water temps just shy of 34 degrees.

This is winter fishing at its best. Mild temps, low flows and hungry trout.

Hungry yes, aggressive….not so much. While there are no shortage of hungry fish, their primary concern right now is conserving energy. Winter is hard. Water temps are cold. It’s a whole different game from an angling perspective.

Sexy riffles and seams are not your winter targets. Holding in cold fast water requires energy the fish simply don’t have during the winter months.

Slow and deep….that’s where you’ll find them. And you’ll need to pick that water apart because they aren’t going to move much for a meal. Grid your water starting in close and working from the inside out. If you’ve covered the grid without success try going a little deeper and cover it again. Once you find one, you’ll generally find more in that same zone as they tend to stack up where favorable conditions prevail.

Bug selection is usually not the issue, it’s just a matter of putting the bugs in the right place.

A tungsten bead lead fly, usually along with a bb or two, will help you achieve your desired depth. Good options include Rainbow Czechs, Pink Amex, Caviar Scuds, Pill Poppers, Bubble Yum Scuds, Pink Weight Fly, Rainbow Weight Fly, Firebead Sows…you get the picture. Trail with a soft hackle sow, tailwater sow, Pederson’s sow, Pink Ray, Pink Lightning bug etc. and you should be in business.

Start with 5’ – 6’ from your indicator to your split and see what happens.

Or you could swing.

Or you could strip.

These methods tend to be less effective in cold water conditions but that’s not to say you won’t coax a few into breaking the rules. Nymphing is where the winter numbers are but you’ll still find plenty of folks swinging and a few even sticking to the single handed stripping game. Go DEEP and strip PAINFULLY SLOW…you might be surprised what you dredge up from the depths.

A high calorie target moving lethargically through the zone with plenty of pauses in between strips is often too great a temptation for our resident hogs to resist. It’s a low percentage method you might not want to commit your whole day to but I would. The largest brown trout I’ve caught on the Missouri was on a cold early January day. Dredged up from impossible depths.

It’s a great time to fish the MO and you can pretty much have it to yourself for at least another month.

We’re not quite ready to commit to published daily hours but we’re working in that direction and as it stands now we’re here more often than not at 8:30 AM with the definite exception of Sundays.

Open for lodging and guide trips EVERY DAY. Call, email or direct message us on Facebook and we’ll respond promptly.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-01-13T12:53:09-07:00January 13th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: brown trout, fly fishing, indicator, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

Secret Season on the MO (Don’t tell a soul)

It’s been a cold start to 2022. Temps have been hanging in the single digits with brutal wind chill factors. We’re currently under a Wind Chill Advisory as well as a Winter Weather Advisory with wind chills as low as 30 below expected through this afternoon. The Winter Weather Advisory is for additional snow throughout the day and will remain in effect through 10 pm tonight with 2-5 inches of accumulation expected at lower elevations and 5-10 inches in the mountains. We’ll take it!

It’s all good news as we’re still in desperate need of any precipitation we can get. Much of the region has reached 90 – 100 percent of normal snowpack which is great but considering those percentages are based on a 30 year average our hope is that those numbers keep climbing throughout the winter and remain well over 100 percent.

That being said, for those who enjoy fishing the river during the winter months conditions have not been favorable, but it looks like that’s about to change. A January thaw is on the horizon. We’ll see highs near 45 tomorrow followed by average highs in the mid to high 30’s with overnight lows in the 20’s through the end of next week. As expected, we’ll see high winds tomorrow and over the weekend, but it tapers off early next week to the point where we could see some absolutely prime winter conditions out there the middle part of next week.

Likewise, if you’ve been waiting for good ice on Holter we’re there. We haven’t heard much in the way of fishing reports but there are plenty of folks hitting the ice each day so I would assume they’re catching fish.

Things have been quiet at WCA these last few weeks but I’m expecting we’ll start to see some traffic over the weekend and into next week. Don’t forget we’ve got winter lodging available for $99/nights. Rooms are fully furnished with two twin beds and a pull-out couch, full kitchens and private bath. Call, email or message us on Facebook to book a room. Shop hours have been hit and miss but we always return calls, and we respond quickly to emails and FB messages whether we’re in the shop or not. Our phone number is (406)235-4350 and the best email for winter is jason@wolfcreekangler.com

We’ve been in inventory mode so a bit of chaos in the shop at the moment but it’s an orderly chaos! Slowly but surely, we’re getting things cleaned up and organized and we should be in good shape just in time for the thaw. A few new items trickling in including the start of spring fly orders and the new OROS Strike Indicators that promise to be all the rage in 2022.

All remaining Simms G3 waders and boots are on closeout until they’re gone and we’re still wheeling and dealing on rods and reels and sportswear, making room for new spring inventory.

How about a January guide trip?

Back by popular demand we’re pleased to announce our WINTER GUIDE TRIP AND LODGING SPECIAL. A full day Missouri River guide trip for one or two anglers and two nights lodging for only $550. We’ll post more details soon but what more do you need to know? It’s the best deal you’re going to find ANYWHERE!

Things could certainly change between now and then but at this point Thursday and Friday of next week look awesome with temps in the high 30’s and very little wind in the forecast. Per usual, NO PENALTY for CANCELLATION for winter trips so book it now and if things go south, you’re not out anything if you decide to bail.

For today (and for the next 8 weeks) we say LET IT SNOW! But should mild weather settle in for a spell we say Welcome Back to the MO! We can’t wait to get this 2022 season underway.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-01-06T09:19:48-07:00January 6th, 2022|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, running line, Winter Lodging and Guide Trip Special, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

2021 – Year in Review

As we close the books on 2021 it’s worth just taking a quick look back before we embark on season number 9 at Wolf Creek Angler.

With winter finally starting to take hold those hot summer days seem like a lifetime ago. We’re in the midst of the first real cold snap of the winter with single digits and below, daily wind chill advisories and a good start to the snowpack we so desperately need. Fingers crossed for much more of the same for the next couple of months.

Without a doubt the biggest story of 2021 was the drought which continued to stress the west. Low flows and high water temps took a significant toll on the rivers of Montana in 2021, this in the midst of one of the busiest seasons we’ve ever seen following a year of pandemic lockdown.

Hoot Owl Closures came early driving even more traffic to the Missouri and in July the unthinkable, though not unexpected, happened as Hoot Owl Restrictions went into effect on our Missouri for the first time in over 20 years.

The fever pace of spring and early summer subsided in late July as the conditions hastened the arrival of the Dog Days of Summer with a significant angler exodus as many of those who love nothing better than evening dry fly fishing on the MO disappeared in response to the Hoot Owl Restrictions.

It was an unprecedented season for us and while it was our busiest yet through early July things got tough mid through late summer as we dealt with the fall out of FWP restrictions after having already placed self-imposed restrictions on our guide business in early July with abbreviated trip hours and a cap on summer guide trips. It was the right decision and I’d do it again without hesitation with the long view in mind.

As the summer heat finally started to subside we were treated to an amazing autumn with gorgeous weather and awesome fishing on the MO and seemingly everywhere else we fished throughout the fall. The fever pace of business returned and we ended strong, just as we had started in the spring. Even with the challenges of summer we had our best season ever and we intend to maintain the trajectory!

Some highlights from 2021….

Covid still a factor (sort of) in 2021. We did continue to see cancellations due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Not nearly as many as in 2020, but travel was still a problem for some, including our good neighbors to the north in Alberta, many of whom missed yet another season on the MO. We’re counting on you for 2022!

There has been an abundance of political hay made on all sides of this thing and I will continue to steer clear of all of it. That being said, compared to 2020, 2021 felt essentially Post Pandemic at WCA and we’re confident 2022 will feel EVEN MORE that way.

Fishing with the Gov -And speaking of politics, or at least of politicians.…we had the pleasure of taking former Governor of Montana Steve Bullock fishing in late May which was definitely a highlight not only for 2021 but for the entire time we’ve been in business. A very cool thing in my mind and one which transcends party politics. When the Governor asks to go fishing, you take the Governor fishing, regardless of the letter next to their name. At least that’s the way I see it.

The first week of June I had the absolute pleasure of fishing the Salmon fly hatch on Rock Creek with WCA Guide Extraordinaire Luke Koerten. This was a first for me, and hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to do it again. We happened to hit it just right but I think I would’ve enjoyed it immensely even if we hadn’t. Definitely a day I will not forget and an experience I highly recommend to those who’ve not had the pleasure.

Water Problems – I arrived to work one morning in July to find that many of our guests were without water. A quick call to our water/well guy revealed that we were one of over 10 calls he had received that morning for the same problem. With temperatures running high and stream flows running low wells were running dry and it was feared this was what we were experiencing.

A delve into our well later that day revealed this was thankfully NOT the case but the water issues persisted. It was a mortifying experience as the Innkeeper as there was nothing we could do to immediately remedy the situation and get water to our guests who, by the way, were all extremely gracious in spite of the tremendous inconvenience.

Eventually, after digging up a good portion of our property in search of a broken pipe we made the decision to abandon the existing underground plumbing and run a new main line.
We were able to temp in a supply line to get water to our guests after a couple of days without, and finally in September we dug up our newly replanted lawn once again and buried a new main line. Problem solved! A HUGE Thanks to John Parker and American Septic/Water Net for all of your help anytime we need it.

Fire – Around the same time as our water problems were occurring the Wolf Creek/Craig community had a close call with the Rock Creek Fire sparked by a vehicle pulling a trailer on Highway 287. Interstate 15 between Wolf Creek and Craig was closed and some residents were evacuated as the fire made its way towards the river, even crossing the Interstate at one point but thankfully they were able to get things under control working through that first night. The fire ended up burning some 3500 acres and was the first of several which threatened the area through the summer and early fall.

Hoot Owl Restrictions went into effect on the Missouri on July 20th and were in effect for roughly a month. Smoke from regional wild fires actually helped the water temp situation by filtering the sunlight and keeping water temps from rising as much as they would’ve under clear skies.

Jake – On August 25th we said goodbye to our beloved shop dog and companion of 12 years. He is sorely missed! While Jake can never be replaced we did welcome a new pup into our lives in early December. Zeke is our shop dog in training and you will likely meet him this season.

New Dog on Duty at WCA

As previously mentioned, it was an amazing autumn in Montana with awesome weather, awesome colors and more often than not, awesome fishing.

The 2021 fishing season started early, around the second week of March to be exact and current bookings indicate 2022 will be much the same….weather dependent. We’re expecting another LONG and prosperous season and we’re praying for winter to bring us plenty of precipitation to feed our streams in 2022.

Here’s wishing you all a blessed and Happy New Year from all of us at Wolf Creek Angler. We can’t wait to see you in 2022.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-12-30T14:22:32-07:00December 30th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: Craig MT, Governor Steve Bullock, Missouri River, Montana, Rock Creek, Rock Creek Fire, running line, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|2 Comments

Winter Solitude on the MO’

It’s been one of the windiest Decembers I can recall, so much so that I arrived this morning to once again find our rental boats blown from their parking spots into the yard, a good 20 – 30 feet away. This is the third time this has happened in the last few weeks. It certainly didn’t happen at all during the season and I don’t recall it happening at all last fall/winter. Suffice it to say it’s been windy.

Howling winds have kept river traffic to a minimum though there’s usually at least one or two hard core anglers out there regardless.

Conditions seem ideal this morning with cloudy skies, 38 degrees, no wind and an occasional light snow falling. It’s perhaps the fishiest day we’ve seen this month but thus far I’ve not seen a race to get to the river.

If you’ve had the itch to get out there but have been kept away by the winds, today might be the day. In fact, the week ahead looks favorable with similar conditions tomorrow followed by colder air arriving later in the week. A few snow showers predicted today, tomorrow and again on Thursday and temps dipping down into single digits Thursday night before things return to somewhat average seasonal conditions for the weekend…the last weekend before Christmas if you’re counting.

Water temps have been steadily dropping and are currently holding at around 40 degrees while flows remain low, currently at 2840 CFS. Snow pack is starting to accumulate, slowly but surely.

Hopefully we’ll soon start to see some substantial precipitation in the high country, our 2022 season depends on it!

With the aforementioned wind seemingly always present along with now having an 8 week old puppy to tend to, I haven’t been on the water for a while though plans are in place for our Annual Staff Christmas Float next week, hopefully the weather will cooperate. In the meantime however, while I don’t have an up to the minute fishing report, I can tell you that current conditions point towards classic winter nymphing techniques coming into play.

Colder water temps have undoubtedly spurred migration into the deep, slow winter waters. Go deep (5’ – 6’ from indicator to weight and adjust accordingly). It’s time to break out the winter nymph box – think pink! Pill Poppers, Pink Amex, Rainbow Czech, Pink Weight Fly, Bubble Yum Scud, Caviar Scud, Pederson’s Sow etc in the lead followed by Tailwater Sows, Pink Lightning Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Soft Hackle Sows, UV Yum Yums, Lucent Bead Pink Ray Charles, Radiation Baetis in Pink and don’t overlook a standard Black Zebra Midge. The bugs are generally not the challenging part of the equation. It’s finding where in the water column they’re at (aim deep) and putting your flies directly in front of them. Cold water means conserving energy is critical so they aren’t going to move far for a meal.

All that being said, the 2 Handers will continue to ply the faster tail outs all winter long and will entice fish to move on a well swung leech (buggers, fruit rollups, polar leeches, balanced leeches etc)

Likewise, cold water be damned, the strippers will persist in targeting subsurface structure as well as seeking those occasional rogue fish hanging in the shallows, near the drop offs close to the bank. It’s time to load up that heavy sink streamer tip and get down. Don’t ignore the sexy water off the banks, there may be fish there, but you’ll also want to get down deep with a SLOOOW a retrieve and plenty of pauses. The slow retrieve is critical…the bugs not so much. Winter may not be prime streamer time but we’ve dredged up plenty of BIG FISH on days the water temps were in the mid to high 30’s with the air temps bordering on too cold to be out there.

The online store has been busy these past couple of weeks with folks loading up on gift cards and WCA apparel for Christmas giving. Our fall rod/reel sale will run through the end of the year and we’ve got clearance pricing on select items from Simms including G3 waders and boots.

Lodging and guide trips available ALL WINTER LONG.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-12-13T11:38:03-07:00December 13th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Christmas, fly fishing, Missouri River, Missouri River Winter Fishing, Montana, nymphs, running line, simms, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler|0 Comments

New Dog on Duty at WCA

It’s been a LONG time since we’ve had a new puppy in the house…more than a dozen years, and I have very little recollection of those days when our beloved Jake first joined our family.

A few days ago we welcomed a new pup into the fold. Ezekiel Jacob Montana is his name, and he goes by Zeke.

Zeke will be eight weeks old on Sunday and so far he’s everything we hoped he would be and and also a lot of things we maybe weren’t 100 percent ready for, having apparently repressed those memories from the last time we shared a house with a tiny yellow Labrador.

In some ways it’s been easier than I thought it would be. He has absolutely no aversion to being crated and so far it’s been me waking him up at night to take him out, not vice versa. He sleeps a lot. But when he’s not sleeping he requires constant attention and supervision. There’s a lot of eating, biting, playing, going to the bathroom (so far so good for the most part with housebreaking), exploring any and every place he’s able to get to followed by frequent naps and more of the same.

I’ve trained two dogs in my lifetime, both of whom were absolutely amazing but again, I don’t remember what we did to train them. I’ve spent the last month pouring over dog training books and YouTube videos and now I have a mashup of techniques in my head which I’ve been attempting to implement, some with success, some not so much. Zeke is incredibly bright and learns quickly. The stall outs, when they occur, are all on me but we’ll get there!

Part of our strategy with getting a late fall/winter pup was the fact that it’s obviously a slow time for the business which would afford me plenty of time working with the puppy. So far so good. The weather turned cold the day we picked him up so I haven’t been too concerned about not being in the shop the last couple of days. I did take him to work this morning with the thought that I could tend to emails, voicemails, filling and shipping online orders and the like. Zeke had other ideas.

We will try again once I get an enclosed play/hang out area set up for him which will happen this week but until that time there’s not much happening other than puppy supervision while we’re at the shop.

This being the case, I’ve decided to unofficially close the shop for the next couple of weeks. We’ll be around at some point most days and will be OPEN when we’re there but I think it’s in everyone’s best interest if we steer clear of published hours for the remainder of 2021.

We’re still open for lodging and guide trips every day and if there’s anything you need from the shop we’re around and just a phone call away. Visit our online store for shopping made easy, including those coveted WCA gift cards which make an excellent gift for any of the fly fishers on your list.

We wrapped up our shuttle season in November and have been referring all shuttle requests to Headhunters and while I would love to have the shop open from 8 -5 every day for those making the trek to the MO, between staffing challenges and puppy training it’s simply not practical.

Again, Zeke and I will be in the shop more days than not and when we’re there the OPEN sign will be ON but hours will be of a random nature for the next few weeks.

We appreciate your patience and understanding and we can’t wait for the world to meet Zeke (once he’s where he needs to be).

Call forwarding to my cell phone will be turned on as of tomorrow and I am really good about answering messages and emails. If you need a room or a guide give us a call or shoot me an email and we will make it happen. I’ve been busy with 2022 confirmations for the past several days and have most of them done. If you haven’t yet received yours it’s coming shortly. 2022 is going to be another very busy year on the Missouri so if by chance you haven’t yet booked your dates…. time is of the essence.

Cheers!