Dwayne Sutphin

Dewey's Trout Spey Rig

Dewey’s Trout Spey Rig

by

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Dewey’s Trout Spey Rig Ed note: Today on the Headhunters Blog we have Dewey’s Trout Spey Rig.  Dewey loves to swing the fly! He and Shane nymphed quite a few up on Thursday. But the real success was on the swing. Each had approx. 10 on the swing with lots of additional grabs, bites, … Read more

One man's spey rod journey

One man’s spey rod journey

by

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 my short journey into two- handed fishing and why I love it.

I started a few short years ago truly because I wanted to catch a steelhead swinging with a spey rod. After watching all the videos I could stand, I knew it was time to go for it. I was like many beginners overwhelmed with equipment, terminology, and casting.

I have worked for Headhunters for a couple years now. But before I did I had signed up for Headhunters monthly series of free spey clinics. Much of the terminology and equipment was explained during the morning inside presentation. I’m not saying I retained all the info but words like Skagit, Scandi, anchor point, and snap-t became tangible. At the very least after the indoor morning session I would not be totally lost if  I was engaged in a conversation about casting a spey rod.

One man's spey rod journey
Swing Season Montana’s Missouri River @ Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig

Off to the water we went and after a short demonstration from John, I was handed a long trout spey rod.  I stepped into the river and made my very first spey cast. Wow!? After an afternoon of coaching from John, Sara, and Ninch I managed make a few casts that sent the line flying!

Thus begun my journey into the world of two-handed fishing. I did purchase equipment and began to practice on the Missouri as much as possible. My goal was get competent enough to swing for steelhead in the spring. I found I didn’t want to fish any other way during the winter months. Not only was the trout spey rod fun to cast but also an effective way to fish. That was the real surprise that it may be the most efficient winter method on the Mo!

As I look back at getting into the two-handed world it’s comparable to all the different aspects of my fishing life. At the beginning I remember my very own rod with a closed face Zebco reel.  Dad didn’t like untangling our lines. Then came spinning reels, no more Zebco. Life was good until I saw my first fish caught on a fly rod. Now a whole new world of fishing became apparent. Finally receiving a fly fishing outfit for my birthday the spinning reel begun to collect dust. Soon I found out casting was not as easy as it appeared but practicing was an obsession. Since that day I have always enjoyed learning many of different disciplines of fly fishing. Then the world of two-handed fishing touched my world and I liken it to putting down my spin outfit and picking up a fly rod. A whole new world of casting and fishing opened up. I viewed it as a challenge and fun to get right. Once the cast is made many techniques from streamer and still water fishing are effective. Two-handed fishing is a whole new part of fly fishing that makes me feel like a kid  starting out again. By the way I do use my single handed rod during the warm months.

For all of you out there looking for a challenge or new way of fishing give it a go. I caution you attending a two-handed clinic can be detrimental your single handed rod. We at headhunters would be happy to answer questions or help out with equipment selection. We promise not to sell you any equipment you do not want or need.

Oh yea last month I did catch my first steelhead on the swing. It was all that I hoped for.

Dewey

 

 

Good Old Days…

by

I was sitting in Joe’s Bar the other day, no really, and someone made the comment,

 

 

You should have seen the river years ago, it was so much better.

 

So being a nosy guy I thought I would ask,

 

Q: How long ago are we talking about?

A: Oh, early 80’s.

 

 

Now, I am dating myself. My first memory that I can conjure up had to have in the late 60’s. I probably started to seriously fish the river in the early 70’s. About the time that Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) came out in the theaters.

.
Disclaimer by me, Dewey: This is simply Dewey’s lifetime observations of the Missouri as they pertain to the quality of the river. I may disagree with someone’s opinion of the river. That said it doesn’t mean I am right.

In my late teens my buddies and I would jump in my 69 Ford F-150 and race up to the river above Craig to fish the evening caddis hatch. I remember needing only one pattern to get through the night the Missouri River Special.

Screen Shot 2014-11-30 at 1.38.54 PM
Skaggs Drug Center 10th Ave @ Holiday Village Great Falls

That was due to most fly selections came on a card from Skagg’s Drug Store or Great Falls Sporting Goods. This spawned my desire to tie my own flies.

We would be the only anglers on the river as this was pre “The River Runs Through It” (1992) days. Yes this was the good old days with fish rising everywhere and most eating our flies. Good thing because our floating lines didn’t float very well and what the heck was a tapered leader!?

All would be well until those in charge at Holter Dam decided to bump the river flow up. That would be the end of the bite. In the good old days the river fluctuation occurred often. (Our understanding is 2K<8K>2K as the power generation was needed.)

Stocking of the river was still in practice with a 10 fish limit. (Stocking of Montana rivers until 1983.) I can imagine how this could be a gratifying memory. My recollection is less fish per mile with the average size of 14 to 15 inches. Once the stocking practice ceased the size and fish per mile increased. Although currently the angling pressure has increased the fish per mile and size continues to be far better than the past.

Screen Shot 2014-11-30 at 1.55.50 PM
Cool!

In the good old days I would fish much larger flies and presentation did not have to be perfect. In the late-eighties to mid-nineties I would fish sink tip lines with a sz. 8 Bitch Creek Special or Peacock Wooly Bugger. This was my nymph, streamer, and dry fly set up for all conditions.

Gradually my go to method ceased to be effective. Now I could blame it on the increased fishing pressure but I have always had the desire to learn more about the sport and become a better angler. It forced me to learn to nymph, tie better patterns, and present the dry fly drag free. I learned to fish down stream with a reach cart before I new the cast had a name.

Once the sport exploded the Missouri was not left behind with the angling pressure increasing exponentially. I’ll admit driving up to fish the Mo and finding someone occupying the spot I wanted to fish was frustrating. Again it forced me to seek out new water and deal with. I could whine about it but the fact is it forced me learn new water. If not for more people I would probably be stuck in the same old water.

I am much more fulfilled to the challenge of the Missouri River today over yesterday. All of the local folks and fishing folks in Craig Montana are pretty chill. The Missouri is a large river with lots of room. I dig the younger fisherman as their talent and expertise amazes me.

Screen Shot 2014-11-28 at 8.05.11 PM
Scene from Thunderbolt and Lightfoot with Eastwood looking west at current I-15 Rest Stop site. The old Dearborn school used be be here until ? That’s where they found the money behind the chalkboard.

Sometimes I feel like I was born in the wrong era, but I get over that in a hurry when I look at the job market. Remember, fishing isn’t always about catching fish. It’s about being in the moment and enjoying it.

Enough bull sh#$ from me. People are always commenting on the good old days and that ‘you should have seen the fishing.’

I believe that today is and are the good old days and don’t let anybody ruin your own personal Missouri River Montana experiences!

 

Time to Swing

Time to Swing?

by

The days of Autumn are here and the daylight becomes about 4 minutes less per day.  The hours I work at the shop limit fishing time before and after work. The other day I thought I would get out for a couple of hours before my shift and work on my spey casting and maybe hook a fish or two.

Armed with the Sage Method 6119, RIO Scandi 390, and a Olive/White Dali Lama I headed up stream from Craig. Around 8:30 I entered the river with a nice 17 mph SW wind blowing down stream.

After a few warm up casts that placed my anchor point everywhere but the right spot I managed to throw some line to my intended target. Part of my scouting trip included seeing if the weeds would be too much to swing a streamer. Not at all is the answer.  With few exceptions the weed flew off during the cast.

Placing my anchor point in the weeds was my only concern at this point. Even the fish decided to cooperate by hammering the Dali. I prefer a longer two-handed rod like like the Method 6126 for throwing line with ease. The Method 6119 makes me a better caster as the timing needs to be right for long casts, but when a 18″ fish climbs on board the bend in the rod is similar to a 6wt single handed rod.

For the two-handers in the audience the river is shaping up for swinging. If wading is your only option it’s another tool to get that streamer out there. Headhunters has plenty of two-handed demo rods from Sage, Orvis, Thomas & Thomas, and Echo to get you into the swing. Stop by the shop and the staff will help with equipment questions, hot streamers, and recommendations for areas to swing on the river. Don’t miss our Two-Handed Spey clinics this winter, for information visit our web site or call the shop.

Dewey, Ben, and Peter Go Golfing

Dewey, Ben, and Peter Go Golfing

by

A cool article written by Dewey a Headhunters All Star about the weekly trial and tribulations of folks in the fishing game. Dewey is our resident Safety Expert. His background dictates he fills this position. Ben and Peter? Their backgrounds? College grads of course. Most fishing guides are before they find their way.

Guide the Guides

What do guides do after a day trip on the river? I have shared a cold beer on the deck and Joe’s with the guys and gals, but what’s up when they leave the Missouri River corridor and venture out.

A couple of guides, lets call them Ben and Peter, invited me to golf after guide trips. I had the opportunity to join them a couple a weeks ago.

We headed to my home course Eagle Falls in Great Falls with a cooler full of Busch Light. We arrived about 45 minutes before tee time so they let us go out the back nine.

Ben and Peter had never played the back nine at Eagle Falls and both were as excited as hungry brown trout during a Trico emergence. I thought to myself I get to guide the guides into new territory. I explained the layout of the tenth hole. I was guiding the guides.  I tee’d off and put it in the bunker. Ben and Peter hit the fairway. Then they both shot par on the first hole while I made bogey. I was off to a shaky start as a guide.

The next hole worked out a little better as I hit the fairway along with Ben and Peter. Now I was guiding. I think we all made par.

I soon found out these guys can play golf. They did not need any guiding from me other than which way to the next hole. The problem is they were to chill and having to much fun to care about the score. The way fishing should be!

We finished the round and went to Borries for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised  to find out the driver gets treated to dinner. I happened to be the driver.

That night was great and gave me a glimpse into how a Missouri River fishing guide unwinds. If a guide invites you to golf you ought give it a go.

By the way Ben and Peter golfed in flip-flops while I golf in tennis shoes. I now golf in flip/flops, it’s bitchin.

Dewey