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August on the MO

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

Eternal Winter on the MO

It just keeps coming!

A steady snow falling this Thursday afternoon, APRIL 20th. Lows in the mid 20’s expected tonight with more snow on the way tonight and tomorrow. One more night of unseasonably cold lows Friday night and then maybe, just maybe we’ll be done with this.

No complaints about the snow – it’s all good but generally once we’re this far into April we’re ready for those temps that might freeze plumbing to have ceased. I’ve been waiting to turn the last of the water on having learned my lesson in years past when we’ve ended up with frozen plumbing in mid-April but we’re getting down to the wire and we’re going to need that water soon.

The dice will undoubtedly be rolled this weekend. Overnight lows look to be climbing and I think perhaps we’re on the precipice of leaving winter behind.

In addition to challenging my sanity, the unseasonably cold weather has also had somewhat of a chilling effect on business. With the exception of a couple of nice days that brought folks out of the woodwork (notably last Saturday) things have been relatively quiet for late April on the MO. Cold weather has kept the waters state-wide in good shape and delayed the runoff that generally precipitates the annual spring migration of guides and outfitters to the MO from around the region.

This has made for some relatively quiet days on the water which no one is complaining about. No one with the exception of the fly shop owners who are sitting on piles of new inventory watching the spring season pass by! But that’s neither here nor there.

Weather and stories of woe aside – fishing has been outstanding. Just what you would expect in mid to late April on the Missouri. Nymphing has been outstanding, last light dry fly fishing on midges has been consistently good depending on the day and streamer fishing is in PRIME TIME so if that’s your game these next few weeks are when you’ll want to be here.

Best bets for nymphs….Pill Poppers, Peterson’s Sow, Tailwater Sow, UV Yum Yum, Pink Ray with lucent pink bead, Caviar Scud, Rainbow Czech, Radiation Baetis (Pink), Pink Lighting Bug, Rainbow Warrior, black Zebra midge, soft hackle sow, Cotton Candy, Split Case BWO, BWO Magic Fly, Little Green Machine, Olive Psycho May. Sow bugs and anything with pink or orange beads have been the go tos but you should definitely be mixing some baeits and midge nymphs just to show them something they maybe haven’t seen quite so much.

The fish are on the move. You might find a few hanging in that slow winter water yet but you’ll definitely want to target the medium fast, medium depth water which is where they seem to be congregating at the moment.

Most of the nymphing traffic has been in the Holter Dam to Craig stretch but there’s no reason not to spread it out as the river is fishing well in all sections.

Dry Flies – Black Midge, Griffiths Gnat, Parachute Midge, Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Midge Sprout, Parachute Adams and maybe give that Skwala a try.

Streamers – all over the board but best sellers have been Skiddish Smolt, Sparkle Minnow, Thin Mints, Kreelex, Silk Kitty, Swim Coach, Mini Dungeon, Baby Gonga, MK Ultralite. Best Colors – Natural, white and olive.

Swing or strip. Bomb the banks, work the troughs, dredge the depths. The fish are where you find them which could be anywhere right now. Try a varied strip with plenty of pauses. Hit the shallows and give it a second to settle before you strip.

There’s no time like spring time on the MO.

We’re open daily from 7:30 AM – 4 PM. Stop in for everything you need for your day on the water including the CHEAPEST DAM SHUTTLES ON THE MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-04-20T16:37:05-06:00April 20th, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, Montana, running line, Streamer Fishing, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Predlude to Spring

It’s been a roller coaster weather wise this week on the MO with spring showing up on Monday and Tuesday before another winter smack down in the form of a Winter Storm bringing 6 plus inches of new snow on Tuesday night and Wednesday.

The sun is shining this St Patrick’s Day morning and the forecast looks good with an abundance of sunshine and a high near 42 and south southwest wind just 7 – 11 mph. Definitely a favorable forecast for spring fishing on the MO but you might want to give it a minute as we’re currently sitting at 14 degrees.

And speaking of spring fishing – Monday is the day, the official first day of spring. The current forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a high near 50 and calm winds. If that forecast holds you can’t do much better than that for the first day of spring on the Missouri River.

Between now and then the weekend looks similarly appealing with highs right around 50 each day, manageable winds on Saturday and calm winds on Sunday. No sign of snow in the forecast until Monday night and that chance will linger throughout next week but maybe, just maybe we are past the significant winter weather. A welcome change to be sure!

In spite of the weather ups and downs what has been consistent is the fishing which has been consistently good all week long. Early spring is amongst the very best times to fish the MO if numbers are important to you. It’s already heating up as our fish emerge from their winter slumber. A couple of more ticks up in the water temps and it’s going to go off! We’re still hanging around 34 degrees which is on the cold side but it won’t be long and those spring sun BTU’s will get things moving towards optimal trout temps (44 – 67 degrees).

Best bets for nymphing – Pill Popper, Bubble Yum, Cotton Candy, Pederson’s Sow, Tailwater Sow, Rainbow Czech, Pink Amex, Pink Lucent Bead Ray Charles, UV Yum Yum, Caviar Scud, Radiation Baetis, Zebra Midge, Firebead Ray, Firebead Czech, UV Sow, Soft Hackle Sow…you get the picture. All of these and many more in stock NOW at WCA.

Midge Madness on any given day for those looking to catch that first fish of the season on a dry fly. Try a Griffiths Gnat, Grizzly Midge, Bucky’s Midge Cluster, Black Sipper, Black Midge or even the tried and true Parachute Adams.

We’re a couple of weeks out from Prime Time for streamer fishing but there’s no time like the present to start down that road. Good reports as of late on white, grey and black but that will change with the day depending on water conditions and light levels. Polar Leech, Kreelex, Sparkle Minnow, Skiddish Smolt, Thin Mints, Mod Maidens, Mojo Minnows, MK Ultralite all good on the slow strip. Best bet on the swing would be leeches, buggers, Fruit Rollups and the like.

The shop is stocked up with TONS of Bugs, Simms Waders and boots, a bunch of new sweet sticks from Sage, Lamson, Echo and Redington and all the gear and accessories you’ll need for your day on the water.

We’re open from 8:30 – 4 PM Monday – Saturday and will expand those hours as things get busier.

Stop in for shuttles, fishing licenses, intel, the best coffee in the canyon and so much more.

By Jason Orzechowski|2023-03-17T11:15:59-06:00March 17th, 2023|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: Black Midge, Black Sipper, bubble yum, Bucky's Midge Cluster, Caviar Scud, cotton candy, dry fly fishing, Firebead Czech, Firebead Ray, Griffiths gnat, Kreelex, Lamson, midge, Missouri River, MK UYltralite, Mod Maiden, Mojo Minnow, Pederson's Sow, pill popper, Pink Amex, Pink Lucent Bead Ray Charles, Polar Leech, Radiation Baetis, Rainbow Czech, running line, simms, sparkle minnow, Streamer Fishing, Tailwater Sow, Thin Mint, UV Yum Yum, winter, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Farewell August…Autumn is upon us

We enjoyed a brief respite from the heat last weekend but we’re right back in it this week with highs in the 90’s and pushing triple digits. The good news is we’re cooling WAY down overnight with temps dipping into the 40’s and 50’s. This bodes well for keeping water temps in the comfort zone and as we close out the month of August it’s certain that cooler weather will be here soon.

In the meantime start early and skip the heat of the day. 7 AM has felt like the ideal as of late with darkness starting to overtake that summertime early morning light.

River flows are holding steady at around 4,000 CFS with water temps in the 64 – 66 degree range. With an abundance of our regional waters on Hoot Owl Restrictions right now you really couldn’t ask for better water conditions that what we’re seeing right now…especially by late summer standards. Yes, weeds are an ever-present challenge but definitely not nearly as bad as they could be.

The shift in the weather seemed to trigger the autumn bite these past few days. We’ll see if that maintains through this next run of hot days which looks like it’s going to run into the middle part of next week.

Black Zebra midges getting it done, autumn style. Pair it with a purple weight fly, beaded sow or beaded Pheasant Tail or do the double zebra, medium to shallow depth on your rig with or without a bb. Pairing with a Zirdle could also be the right call but whatever nymph rig you’re running be sure to check it often and keep it clean.

The hopper bite has slowed a bit but it’s still good enough that you should be able to move at least a few fish it you put your time in. Trail with an ant or drop a zebra or green machine to up your odds or just run solo if casting proficiency is an issue. Grassy banks are the obvious target, mid-river riffles and shallow flats might surprise you.

We’re clearing out summer gear at 40 percent off….get it while it lasts. Fall gear arriving daily including killer WCA logo Simms Challenger Hoodies.

We’re fully stocked with Simms G3 and Freestone waders as well as wading pants and waders from Redington and a bunch of boot options from Korkers and Simms.

Summer fly bins are being rapidly depleted. Streamers, October Caddis and fall/winter options are in great shape.

Our Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale is underway with 25 % off ALL RODS AND REELS. Lamson, Echo, Redington, Ross, Loop….all 25% off. The best deals of the season happening NOW.

We’re open at 7 AM daily with everything you need for your day on the water. Shuttles, bugs, ice, fishing licenses, sun protection, stream thermometers, anchors, nets, fly boxes in all shapes and sizes, lines, leaders…if you need it we more than likely have it. If we don’t have it you probably don’t really need it.

We are your Missouri River Fall Fly Fishing One Stop Shop.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-08-30T11:07:45-06:00August 30th, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale, fly fishing, Missouri River, running line, simms, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Summer Fading Fast

It’s hard to believe but August is already coming to a close. Summer 22 is about to be but a memory as we turn the page and start to look towards fall fishing.

It’s been one of the hotter summers in recent memory with the number of days above 90 degrees far outpacing the average. We’ll see 90 today but cooler temps and maybe even some rain are on the way for the remainder of this week.

We’ll see highs in the high 70’s and low 80’s all week with a good chance for rain showers and possible thunderstorms starting tomorrow and running through Friday. Overnight lows will continue to dip into the low 50’s which should provide some relief to our stressed waters around the region. Fingers crossed that we get some precipitation and hopefully avoid any serious fire activity.

We anticipate solid fishing this week with the change in conditions, especially on the days with cloud cover which we should see starting tomorrow. The hopper bite continues to be strong on the right days with the hopper/ant rig outperforming the hopper/dropper rig but both have been effective. A single hopper or ant also gets it done for those who are working to improve their casting proficiency but perhaps aren’t quite there yet.

We’ve had better luck on smaller hoppers in the #12 – #14 range but don’t be afraid to mix it up and try the #8’s and #10’s. Tan Donkey Kong and Morrish and More or Less hoppers in Tan, Peach and Yellow have been money. Trail with a Stealth Ant and work the banks as well as the mid-river riffles.

Tricos have been hit or miss but there have definitely been some stellar days. Those opportunities should persist into early September.

Sow bugs, Green Machines, PT’s, black or olive zebra midges, weight flies in purple or gold, Peep Shows, Frenchies and Zirdles have all been good nymphing options though weeds are making things challenging so be mentally prepared for that.

The river remains quiet for the time being. Most traffic is concentrated at the dam as you might expect with most opting for the coldest and cleanest water but as those water temps hopefully start to drop a bit this week it might be worth your while exploring lower river options.

Rec traffic has been heavy, especially on the weekends but that’s all about to change as the world shifts out of summer mode and back to the grind.

Angling traffic will increase next month. It’s one of our busier Septembers as far as guide trips go with folks looking to get the jump on fall fishing. We’ve got several large groups coming in for annual trips starting the second week of the month so last minute bookings in September will be tough to fill but October is pretty wide open at this point if you’re looking to make plans for a fall pilgrimage to the MO.

With the days getting shorter and things hopefully cooling down soon we’re going back to opening at 7 AM this week. End of Summer Sale happening now with 40% OFF ALL SUMMER GEAR including cool T’s from Yakoda and all WCA summer logo wear. Annual Fall Rod and Reel SALE coming SOON.

Enjoy these late summer days on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-08-22T10:08:40-06:00August 22nd, 2022|Categories: Fishing Report, Uncategorized|Tags: fly fishing, Hoppers, Missouri River, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, Yakoda, zebra midges|0 Comments

Summer Solitude

Deep in the heart of summer here on the MO and all is well in our world.

The hatches have been consistent. The flows are near perfect when they’re not getting bounced around. The weather, while a little unstable, has been pleasant with cool evenings and mornings and just enough heat in the day to remind you it’s our hottest month of the year. The fish are happy and hungry and the crowds have thinned to the point where there is plenty of solitude to be found on the water which isn’t great for us but which should make you drop what you’re doing and head to the MO for one of the better dry fly seasons we’ve had in recent memory.

A good number of inflatables out there on the weekends so maybe skip those days or just get a super early start and be off the water before they get there. Or just fish in the midst of them and be happy that everyone is out there enjoying the resource.

We’ve been starting our trips early (6:30 – 7), leaving the heat of the day to the rec crowd. The heat of summer has started to have an effect on some of our regional waters with the Sun, the Smith and the Madison all on Hoot Owl restrictions. Hopefully with these steady flows in the 4K range, plenty of water in Canyon Ferry and these cool overnight temps we’ll steer clear of the Hoot Owl here on the Missouri.

Tricos are your early morning and daytime target with caddis providing some near-dark evening action. Hoppers and ants should also be in the mix with or without a nymph dropper.

Those choosing to chase the bobber are getting the numbers with sow bugs, Green Machines, Zebra midges, Frenchies, Purple or Gold Weight flies, Nitro Caddis, S & M’s and pheasant tails.

Plenty of lodging available right now and maybe even a guide or two available though that’s definitely been hit or miss.

Rental boats are finally available again after a busy three weeks.

It’s really the perfect time to sneak away to the MO where the fishing has been epic, the weather and water conditions couldn’t be any better and you might just have it to yourself. Whatever you do, don’t tell anybody!!

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

By Jason Orzechowski|2022-07-19T13:15:20-06:00July 19th, 2022|Categories: Shop Life|Tags: caddis, dry fly fishing, fly fishing, green machine, Missouri River, running line, tricos, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

In Like a Lamb

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

September Stride

Halfway through September and about a week away from the official first day of fall and we’ve hit our September Stride.

The late summer lull is over and we’re back to bustling mornings at the shop getting trips out the door and making certain all of our guests and clients have everything they need for their day on the water.

The morning and evening chill has arrived and with cooler daytime temps settling in it’s probably about time to put away those shorts and flip flops. Not quite wader weather just yet but it’s coming soon, possibly as soon as this weekend. Hot temps and high winds on Saturday followed by cooler weather and rain on Sunday and Monday with highs in the 60’s and 50’s respectively. Classic autumn days on tap after that with blue skies and sunshine and highs in the 60’s with overnight lows in the high 30’s/low 40’s.

The colors are rapidly changing, the weather is cooling, the fishing is heating up…you really can’t beat autumn fishing on the Missouri.

Nymphing is the go to river wide with most traffic occupying the upper reaches from the dam to Craig. Zebra Midges are the ticket, #18 or #20 in black, olive or purple. Pair it with a weight fly, a Tungsten Tailwater Sow, a Peep Show, any old tungsten bead Pheasant Tail or go with the Double Deadly Double Zebra rig.

Most are running short, some with weight some without. All are keying on the fast moving, choppy water in the 1’ – 3’ range. Crayfish have dropped off but still worth a trial run. If it doesn’t produce relatively quickly, ditch it. It ain’t happening.

Hoppers are hanging on. Maybe the fish have had their fill. It might be worth a try with a Zebra or Green Machine dropper but like the crayfish trial, probably best to not spend a whole lot of time on it if you don’t see something happen in relatively short order. The better bet for your dry selection might be an October Caddis.

Streamers are En Vogue and are worth your time. Weeds will test your patience but the risk/reward ratio favors persistence. And while I’ve advised abandoning crayfish and hoppers if they don’t produce in short order the same does not hold true where streamers are concerned. Stick with it…you’ll be glad you did. Buggers, Clousers, Sparkle Minnows, Circus Peanuts, Dungeons, Dirty Hippies, Swim Coach, Peanut Envy, Autumn Splendor, Lil’ Kims, Inflated Egos and anything and everything else you might want to throw at them. Black, Olive, Brown, Natural, White all fine choices. JJ or Brownie Sparkle Minnows can be $$ on any given day.

River flows are flat-lined at 3100 and change with temps holding in the low 60’s with no big changes on the horizon.

See us at 7 AM daily for shuttles, Adipose boat rentals, the best bug selection on the Missouri, hats, gloves, socks, sun protection, waders and boots, outerwear, layering….and much more. And speaking of waders – get your Simms G3 Waders for 30% off in-store and online, while they last.

Lodging available most nights, guides as busy as they can be with September as close to completely booked as we’ve ever seen. Always worth a call but probably best to look to October if you want to get a day booked this fall.

See you soon for autumn fishing on the MO.

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-16T20:14:23-06:00September 16th, 2021|Categories: Fishing Report|Tags: Craig MT, fly fishing, green machine, Holter Dam, Missouri River, nymphs, running line, Streamer Fishing, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges|0 Comments

Fall is in Bloom on the MO – photo by Wolf Creek Angler

The mental shift to fall is underway, even as summer returns this week with daytime temps climbing back into the 80’s and 90’s. Not to worry, there’s plenty of cool (followed by COLD and likely even frigid) weather in store for the not too distant future.

Last weekend’s unofficial end of the summer season was a great mix of warm sunny summer days on the water combined with the embrace of the signs of the upcoming season. There was plenty of traffic on the river this weekend, both angling and recreational floating with beautiful weather for both. And while it may still be tubing weather, change is underway.

Fall colors are emerging as the green leaves of summer transform into brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. Choke Cherries are thick this year and the bears have been feasting on them up and down the banks of Little Prickly Pear.

The evening chill in the air is immediate and unmistakable once the sun fades and there’s nothing quite like the feel of that fall morning sun as it climbs over the horizon, warming everything upon which it falls and chasing the chill away.

High school and college football are underway (Go Griz!) and couch-bound NFL Sundays commence this weekend. It’s time to trade in our T shirts, shorts, sun shirts and flip flops for hoodies, long pants and socks and shoes. It’s time for Oktoberfest brews and elk tenderloin on the grill.

But elk aren’t the only big game we’re pursuing. For many, fall is time to put away the fly rod and pick up the bow or rifle. For others, fall IS fishing season and colored up browns are the quarry.

It’s streamer season in Montana now through the end of autumn and we couldn’t be more excited. It’s just getting started mind you so by all means, the best is yet to come.

We’re still on the early side but if yesterday was any indication we could be in for an epic fall streamer season. There’s already a fair amount of aggression out there amongst the brown trout population with plenty of fish of all sizes willing to chase the streamer, if for no other reason than to defend their territory and chase off intruders. Hook ups were hard to come by but if you’re like me and measure streamer fishing success by the number of fish moved rather than just those hooked and landed then you would not have been disappointed with yesterday’s action.

Stop in for everything Missouri River Streamer Fishing. Streamer X rods, a streamer line for every occasion, stripping guards, the best streamer selection on the Missouri and most importantly, all the advice and practical information you could ever want from a staff well-versed in the game and more than ready and willing to talk about it. We live for this.

For those outside of the streamer set the nymphing has been solid with black Zebras and Zirdles still ruling the day. Small mayfly nymphs and sow bugs should also be a staple of your fall nymph arsenal.

Hopper fishing should continue to be solid for the next couple of weeks. Tan and peach hoppers have been working well in sizes ranging from #10 – #14. Trailing an ant is never a bad idea though we have not had a ton of action on the ants as of late. Fish the banks. Fish the mid-river riffles. Fish the non-descript random water whether you think it looks fishy or not. The trout are everywhere. They’re opportunists on the hunt for calories and they may just surprise you when you’re least expecting it so don’t take your eye off of the ball.

We are adjusting our shop hours for fall this week in accordance with the morning darkness and will now be open at 7 AM daily.

Lodging is moderately busy but we do have a fair amount of availability. The guide book is getting busier by the day but we do have some openings here and there and things do open up again around the second week of October. We’re happy to fish any way you like but we absolutely love to guide streamer trips. Book yours today!

Stop in for clean and affordable lodging, Adipose Drift Boat Rentals, vehicle shuttles, summer clearance items like Smith Sunglasses and Simms sportswear and amazing fall deals on select waders, boots and more.

Annual Fall Rod and Reel Sale coming very soon. Stay Tuned

By Jason Orzechowski|2021-09-07T14:33:20-06:00September 7th, 2021|Categories: Shop Life, Uncategorized|Tags: Adipose, brown trout, fly fishing, Missouri River, Montana, running line, simms, Smith, Streamer Fishing, Streamer X, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Angler, zebra midges, Zirdle|0 Comments

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