Winter fishing on the Missouri River means that you will most likely be doing some nymph fishing. The water is cold and the fish can be lethargic. The most effective method usually involves putting a nymph right in their face. A pink one. Nymphing is an effective and popular method all year long below Holter … Read more
Top 5 Missouri River Winter Fishing Tips from Squeeky today on the Headhunters Fly Fishing Blog. The 5 tips do not center around actual rigging techniques, but more about the approach to winter fly fishing. Winter Fishing is different, a different pace than the frenetical summer pace. The winter fishing weather has been really quite … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Will you do some fly fishing this winter? In Montana? Most of the best winter fishing venues in Montana are solid each and every year. The upper Madison, Bighorn and Missouri are likely the most popular, but there are plenty of other spots that can provide some excellent and reliable winter angling. Techniques for mid-winter … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Montanan’s Fish in the winter. Or ski. Or both. Some even nordic ski around here when there is enough snow on the ground. And there has been so far this year. The slight rain on Saturday and Sunday erased the remainder of skiable snow. So again we fish here locally. The shelf ice has evaporated … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We’ve set the dates for the 2015/16 Spey Clinics at Headhunters. As usual, these dates are somewhat tentative, as we occasionally move them due to weather. But we make every attempt to keep those dates solid. We get quite a few attendees from out of the area who make plans far in advance. These clinics are open … Read more
Over the last few winters, I’ve spent more time fly fishing the Mo’ with a two handed rod than with a single hander. This is especially true when it comes to streamer fishing. In fact the inconsistent and often slow winter streamer fishing is one of the reason I first played the waters around Craig … Read more
Cliff above on the water with long time friend and HH Guide Mark this last week. Today Peter is on the water with a a couple guests. This warm weather gets some folks in the guide boat and why not. The weather continues to be the story. Warm and quite windy on Friday and leading … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Saturday January 23rd Missouri River Fishing Report Still kinda winter here in central Montana. Cool this morning as well as yesterday with air temps dipping into the single digits. Not much snow, if any accumulations int he last couple months. Mild air temps for the most part with afternoons a solid option. More spring … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Wednesday November 4th Fishing Report Another winter storm lurking out there for the latter part of the week as we continue to see non-seasonal warm temps coupled with the ubiquitous sun inspired winds. And that is how it has gone this fall. That has been our pattern. Unfortunately. 2020 is a strange one… Of … Read more
Fall is for friends, BWO’s, and fishing Although ti does not feel like fall out there. It feels like February. The phone weather app states it feels like 12F outside. And it does. So we wait. Until tomorrow. Air temps rising to the 40’s this weekend and that will be just fine. Then snow again … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It’s time for our annual Trout Spey Gear Roundup as “Swing Season” approaches. A month from today we will be getting after it pretty hard (some of us are now), and in two months we wont be doing much else. We like to think we have a pretty darn good selection of Ultra-light Spey gear, … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Inconsistent is the word on the Mo’ right now. Inconsistent weather, crowds, river conditions and bite. In the last few days we’ve needed both sunscreen and hand warmers and we’ve experienced difficult nymphing and epic dry fly fishing. The river has gone from crystal clear to blown out to somewhere in between. The river has … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Headhunters Advanced Dry Fly School July 25-29 2019 What you’ve been waiting for this winter! We announce the Headhunters Advanced Dry Fly School July 25-29 2019! Yes, a few of your favorite guides we be teaching this Missouri River Dry Dry course. HH owners John Arnold and Mark Raisler along with long time Missouri … Read more
Headhunters Advanced Dry Fly School July 25-29 2019 What you’ve been waiting for this winter! We announce the Headhunters Advanced Dry Fly School July 25-29 2019! Yes, a few of your favorite guides we be teaching this Missouri River Dry Dry course. HH owners John Arnold and Mark Raisler along with long time Missouri River … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Don’t Let Me Down 13K today. Will we see dry fly flows this coming week? Oh, don’t hold your breath. And, Don’t Let Me Down. While we like the wonderful flows in the 5-6K range for the ultimate in dry fly angling, it is strange to see the water drop. The green hillsides, the … Read more
Here we go to 9K! Plus a Safety Conversation SWE is still blue on the map above. Warm weather all week long. Will it start coming off? The snow? We’ll witness it here on the ground and report back to you the daily Headhunters blog reader. And thanks for reading. We appreciate you the Missouri … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Missouri River Fishing Report March 2nd Spring is on the doorstep. Another couple weeks and we will reach the 1st day of spring. It’s coming. Although the Groundhog thing said we would face another 6 weeks of winter last month. And we are seeing here in central Montana. Snow on the ground and more … Read more
Think Pink. Again. Winter is still here. Warmer this past week but the snow and winter like conditions are on our doorstep. Again. So what do we do? Think Pink. Again. Above are common pink patterns that produce well during the winter months here on the Mighty Mo. Do others work as well? Of course. … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Headhunters has been dabbling in guided spey trips for the last two winters. We’ve run a few, but haven’t really pushed it too hard. Most of our guides have no interest in more work during the winter. They’re more interested in hunting, skiing and sleeping. But Mark and Dewey have sucked it up and showed … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] MONTANA TROUTSPEY The Swing Season is upon us, and we are starting to line up our free Spey Clinics for the 2016-17 season. Folks are asking about it and many have already swung a fish or three this season. Our clinics and methodology continue to evolve, as spey fishing for trout – not Steelhead … Read more
5 Tips for early fall Missouri River Fly Fishing A few reminders, tips and techniques to get you off the ground this fall. The Missouri River can hand your ass back to you this month. Pseudo’s are out, the weather can be foul, and your new office friend who said he can row real good…can’t. … Read more
Missouri River March Fishing Forecast Things to think about in March We are already a few days into the 3rd month here on the Missouri River. The Missouri River March Fishing Forecast looks strong. Average water levels and warming water temps are what we will see this month along with more and more midge flies … Read more
February Fly Fishing Forecast 2016 We can start be saying the winter weather has left us for the next 10 days. Monday the daytime high achieved 58F. Look ahead. More to come. Today we bring you the February Fly Fishing Forecast 2016. Not a ton to report or predict as it still qualifies as a winter month. … Read more
Why should I take up spey “two-handed” fishing you ask? Could it be that new learning is good? Could it be that it looks like fun? Could it be that after watching people make that beautiful cast I just thought that I had to give that a try? Yes to all of the above. This is … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] MRDF 455. Lab only. 3-5cr.(days) Summer Quarter. Class location Missouri River Craig MT. Missouri River Dry Fly 455. PREREQUISITE: An intense desire to learn. Examines and explores Missouri River dry fly technique primarily with mayflies. Dry fly casting techniques will include reach cast, slack line presentations, wind casting, double haul, down and across presentations, … Read more
It really is time. You have the rest of the winter to get it done. It only takes a few minutes a week. And, you will reap the rewards for the entire season. A building block for even greater accuracy, distance, and fun on the water. So what is holding you back? You can certainly … Read more
Missouri River Trout Spey Report 11.23.15 It’s been pretty good. The number of good runs for winter fishing here on the Missouri River is what makes us feel fortunate to be here during the several cold and snowy months. Great runs for winter swinging. The Missouri is full of them. A a fun time to be … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Headhunters manager Sara Roholt and guide Beth Hood held our first women’s spey clinic this weekend. As expected from these two, the clinic was a success and all who attended learned a thing or two about spey casting, rigging and equipment from these 2 spey-junkies. Sara and Beth are on the water all winter throwing … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]OPST – short for Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics – is a new player in the Spey market, but with very old roots. Owners Ed Ward and Jerry French are part of the crew that invented Skagit lines and techniques. In an effort to build exactly what they wanted, they formed OPST and introduced two products … Read more
[vc_row height=”auto” width=”full”][vc_column][us_image image=”34502″ size=”full” align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row height=”auto” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22margin-right%22%3A%22100px%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%22100px%22%7D%7D”][vc_column][us_separator][vc_column_text] MONTANA SPEY The team at Headhunters refers to the time from November to April as “swing season”. We devote most of our efforts towards chasing Montana trout with Spey Rods and swung flies. Why? Because we like it, and we live on one of the best “swinging” trout … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Pretty much rules this late part of the month. The fishing part. Pretty much rules. Does it get better? Oh yeah. Much better. I think this time of year it gets a touch better every day until the epic Jul5th. Then it gets worse every day, meaning harder, until October. Then better for … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Our birthday in downtown Craig today. April 4th. Our opening day 4.4.08 brought big flaked spring snow. All day. This year? Snow too. We are moving into our 8th year here on the banks of the Missouri River. We couldn’t be happier. The Headhunters staff has always been strong and we appreciate the … Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Enough of the Spey, you say. What’s up with the “normal” winter fishing techniques? You know, bobbers and such. Though we haven’t been talking about it that much, those who have been chasing the bobber this winter have had great fishing, and arguably the most consistent catching of the off-season. Nymphers usually hang up around … Read more
All kinds of people around this weekend fishing Montana’s Missouri River. A bunch of anglers. Why? The warm weather. Temps in the mid 50’s kept most interested all day long. Saturday the wind let down and remained dead calm most of the day. Remarkable. Windy in the am, then perfectly dead calm and overcast the … Read more
The twice annual Reach Cast discussion kicks off today this hump day in mid July. The other time we talk about this is when me, Mark, has nothing else to say ion the mid winter. Or nothing of value daily to say about fly fishing the world’s finest trout fishery. Long time clients Joe and … Read more
This article was written for SAGE Current Blog a couple weeks ago. Now we are posting for your pleasure…or who knows. You may just say aghhh baloney. Nevertheless we have our final Free Spey Casting Clinic on March 8th. It has 2 spots available. Interested? Call the Spey Hotline if you want to attend. 406-235-3447 … Read more
Winter. Still winter here fishing Montana’s Missouri River. While the weather dictates the number of folks plying their winter fishing trade the fish simply don’t care how hard it blows, how much snow is falling, or if you’d rather be on the couch eating spaghetti. They gotta eat. Montanan’s fish in the winter. Most, I … Read more
Yep, it’s on. Tying tonight in Craig Montana. Snowing as I write this post and we expect a few inches is all. No wind. Nice! Been reading Scumliners posts this last week and learning a ton! Maybe he should write more often. I sure enjoy his knowledge and based on the comment stream you certainly … Read more
Wind is a fact of life for Missouri River fly fishermen. It blows around here, as it does all along the eastern slope of the Rockies. Visiting anglers are often shocked to see how hard it can blow. They’re even more shocked when we tell them that it’s just a breeze. Here’s the most recent … Read more
Missouri River Fishing Report for the week of November 5th. Tuesday and all is well. Not many folks around and we like that. We also like the rising trout. Lots. While the hatches are not epic, the fishing is. The lack of pressure really lets those fish get comfortable. And, catchable. Missouri River Fishing Report … Read more
We’ve just had our first big cold-front of the fall. Real cold. The one that brings rain, sleet and snow. Temps in the 30’s. Freezing hands. You forgot the coffee? This is the front that we wait for every year because it changes the fishing. Like a light-switch things will change. The nymph rig has … Read more
Warm and windy today on Montana’s Missouri River. Temps in the 60’s and wind in the teens. Good stuff? No? Slower traffic on the river today with football match-ups keeping some away. Sounds good to me. Not many though, lots of wade fishermen here this weekend. Missouri River Fishing Report Streamer Bite The high and … Read more
Lots happening this weekend on the Missouri River. The fishing is good, the fellowship is fun, and the Headhunters Sale and BBQ kicks off today! Why aren’t you here? Oh, you are waiting for the baetis? Yah, we are too. But until then we have strong fishing via the nymph, the streamer,a dn the blond … Read more
[vc_row height=”auto” width=”full”][vc_column][us_image image=”33157″ size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22margin-right%22%3A%22100px%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%22100px%22%7D%7D”][vc_column][vc_column_text] MISSOURI RIVER MONTANA FISHING The Missouri River is one of the longest rivers in the world, and most have heard it’s name. Trout fishermen are mostly concerned with the 35 mile section below Holter Dam near the towns of Wolf Creek, Craig and Cascade. This “tailwater” section offers some … Read more
[vc_row height=”auto” width=”full”][vc_column][us_image image=”19873″ size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row height=”small” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22margin-right%22%3A%22100px%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%22100px%22%7D%7D”][vc_column][vc_column_text] MISSOURI RIVER GUIDED FLY FISHING TRIPS Few rivers in the world possess the combination of trophy trout, massive hatches and great dry fly water. While you don’t need a guide to fish the Missouri, it certainly speeds up the learning curve for the unfamiliar. Experienced anglers have learned … Read more