John Arnold

Weekend Update

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The “back-to-school” lull is in full swing, and it’s pretty quiet in Craiglandia these days. Which is nice. The guides are recovering from weeks of sun stroke, and our shop staff is fishing more and harder than they usually do. Speaking of staff, we will be losing a few this week. Peter Longoria will be … Read more

Life Aquatic

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I spent a day with my friend Pat Clayton helping him shoot some underwater trout images. By helping, I mean sitting on the bank and watching him slip into the icy mountain water to take photos. Occasionally I take a few above water pictures and catch a few fish. Most people know Pat by his … Read more

Quiet Time

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Above: Ben McNinch schooling some trout with a single dry fly and the new Headhunter Fly Line. And it’s that time of year. Typically quiet on the river as school is starting and people plan for Labor Day weekend activities. Fly Fishing the Missouri is usually not on most people’s agenda for the last holiday … Read more

Sunday Scenery

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Your Sunday Scenery shot from a cool and cloudy yesterday. The beautiful view of the Prewett Creek ‘hood from the south face at Tower Rock State Park. You should go hike it. I need help keeping the trail from getting overgrown. The weatherman says we’re supposed to return to a warmer trend this week, which … Read more

Headhunter Fly Line Update

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We’ve now had several weeks to fish hard with our new Headhunter Fly Line, as well as receive feedback from the many customers who have purchased one. Generally speaking, it has been fantastic, the feedback has been incredibly positive, and sales are great. We’ll likely run out before our next batch arrives. Here’s a few … Read more

G Loomis NRX LP Closeout!

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]UPDATE all the 9’ 5 weights were gone in hours as expected. We do have two 9’ #4 rods left as of Saturday AM. One of our all-time favorite Missouri River Dry Fly sticks is being closed out by G Loomis, and you can get a great deal on the few we have remaining! This … Read more

Searching with Attractors

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]August, typically some of the most productive attractor fishing of the year on the Missouri. And because afternoon hatches can be slim, it’s often the only real dry fly option. Hard to cast to feeding fish when you can’t find any. We’re talking about “hopper fishing”, but also throwing other terrestrials like ant and beetle … Read more

Falling Into August

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It looks like we’ve arrived at our typical August slow down, and exactly on time. August 10 has always been the date that anglers seem to vanish and Craiglandia enjoys a little peace and quiet. Shop staff goes from overtime to extra fishing time, and many of our guides grab family or friends and take … Read more

Event Announcement: Trout Spey Camp October 10-12

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We’re excited to announce a long anticipated and oft requested event, our first annual Trout Spey Camp here on the Missouri River. It will involve 3 full days of Trout Spey Casting instruction, demonstration and interactive clinics, dinner presentations, and boatloads of demo gear. But most importantly it will involve lots of Spey FISHING, and … Read more

New Just Add Vise Kits

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We’ve just added a few new Just Add Vise kits to our inventory, and updated a few others. Our Just Add Vise Kit’s continue to be very popular, and most of these new kits were created based on numerous requests. You can find the videos all on one page on the menu under “RESOURCES > … Read more

A Fistful of Whitey

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After dropping a few pics on Social Media, we’ve been getting quite a few queries about when these will be on our online store. Well they’re up, so grab a few for yourself, and they make great gifts for your fly fishing buddies “My Whitefish doesn’t like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea they’re … Read more

Fisheye Guy Gallery in Philipsburg

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our good friend and photography guru Pat Clayton (Fish Eye Guy Photography) finally pulled up stakes in Bozeangleles and landed a couple hours west in the less busy Ski/Fish Mecca of Philipsburg Montana. Lots of folks in our neck of the woods spend a fair bit of time skiing at Discovery (Disco) during the winter … Read more

Slow Stuff Fishing Report

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Asked Ninch what kind of fishing feedback he heard in the shop over the weekend… And I quote, “ Dudes that think they’re going to roll through ‘summer water’ and wreck ‘em are complaining about tough fishing. Dudes that are spending the time to decipher the slow s*** and moving in between those spots are … Read more

Sunday Scenery

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or is it supposed to be a Saturday? I can never remember. Mark is basking in the glorious SoCal sun this week, so here’s my ode to a Springtime Swing. Jim Chalmers getting it done on the lower river.

Weekend Troublemakers

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As of last night, here’s the hurdles you’ll face if fishing the Missouri this weekend. The biggest problem continues to be boat access on the lower river. Open for launching are Holter Dam, Wolf Creek, Craig, Stickney Creek, Spite Hill, and Mid-Canon boat ramps. Below that, it’s a no go. At least in a hard … Read more

Spring Roller Coaster

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[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

Office Xmas Party Sunday – Closed in the Afternoon

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Headhunters will be celebrating the Holidays with our staff tomorrow afternoon, Sunday Dec. 16, at our annual Office Party in an undisclosed location. We will be open in the morning until around 12 noon, so if you need a shuttle you better be in the shop before 10 or 11. If you walk in at … Read more

Weekend Update: Swing Report

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Fishing reports vary from good to great right now. Remember, it’s all relative in December. To most, a pleasant winter day on the river that brings 6-10 nice fish to the net is “great”. To others that’s just “good”. Either way, I think you can count on that kind of day right now. If you … Read more

Weekend Tip: Keep Those Hands Down

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Look at this picture and let it burn into your memory banks. For you spey junkies planning on hitting then river this weekend, here’s a tip. In fact it’s THE tip. This is without a doubt the #1 mistake that beginning (and intermediate & sometimes advanced) spey casters make: They let their hands and arms … Read more

Spey Special Ends Soon

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Lots of folks have taken advantage of our fall Spey Special this year. $400 for a full day guided trip with excellent and experienced Spey Casting instructors and guides like women’s World Speycasting Champ Whitney Gould. If you don’t have the gear we provide that as well! The Spey Special ends DEC 31, so just … Read more

Mid-Winter Forecast. Will you Fish?

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[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

Popular Flies Back in Stock

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ninch is keeping those bins full, and many of our best selling (and fishing) patterns that have been tough to find for awhile are now “In Stock”. All of these patterns will be “Out of Stock” again at some point, As they are perennial killers. Most of these patterns are for summertime situations, but there … Read more

FWP Wants Your Opinion – Upper Missouri Reservoir Plan

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is requesting comments that will help them define the future of Fisheries management for the Upper Missouri River Reservoirs as well as the Missouri River from Toston to Holter Dam. 20 years ago, it’s unlikely you’d hear a fly fisher-person talking about angling on the Upper Missouri River anywhere other … Read more

Saturday Scenery – Where Would You Like to Be?

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Throwback to our buddy Jon Yousko trying to entice some Tarpon West of Key West. Why not go somewhere warm this month? Comment below if you have any suggestions for Headhunters Nation. A great guide, best apres’ fishing spot, easiest and cheapest, DIY, blow up your buddies secret spot, whatever. Just make sure its warm…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Swing Tips: Fish Broadside

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tomorrow is CYBER MONDAY. FREE SHIPPING on ALL ORDERS today, tomorrows and the remainder of the holiday season. Shop with online ease while you get all the things that Santa may forget!

We’re often asked about how we present the fly when fishing with our two handers on the Missouri. We find that changing retrieves and speeds can dramatically effect your success rate. If you’ve never thought about differing retrieve styles when swinging flies, check out this short video we put together with Mike McCune.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/146467809″ video_title=”1″][us_separator height=”20px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]Mike touches on most of the retrieve styles you might use, and just glances off presentation. While many spey anglers like to mend constantly upstream to keep the swing as slow as possible, we typically do the opposite. Our standard presentation on the Missouri is a broadside presentation. We do this by mending downstream after the cast and keep our rod tip pointed directly downstream while imparting some action to our fly (not necessarily “retrieving”). As the fly swings across the river, we execute large but gentle mends, again to the downstream side of our rod-tip. Our fly line is perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the current the entire swing, which results in the fly swimming broadside. This gives the fish a better view of the fly, but also is a more natural presentation, especially when fishing leeches or minnow patterns.

Old school Atlantic Salmon and Steelhead fishermen would refer to this description as a “greased-line” approach. The big difference for our situation is that we are likely using a sink tip and swimming the fly deeper. The original greased-line approach centered around a surface presentation. But the arc and speed would be identical.

This method is very effective – for both trout, Steelhead and Salmon – in slower currents. It is an especially useful presentation when you find yourself casting across a faster center current with dead water on either side. A situation we commonly find or selves in on the slow-moving Missouri.

In faster currents, and especially faster and deeper slots – we’d likely defer to an upstream mend, slow swing presentation. But for slower glides and tail outs, we find a broadside presentation far more effective.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Turkey Day Spey Report

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We’ve got some great fishing weather in the forecast for the next couple of weeks, and Trout Spey anglers will find the fish are pretty receptive to the swung fly. Pressure has been light lately, as most Montanan’s are out in the field chasing Elk and Deer. Yesterday, Bill Hart (above) came down from the … Read more

Trout Spey Report 11.5.18

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Break out the two-handers, November has arrived. Cooler – but not cold – temperatures over the last week have improved the swing bite, and that cold air we need is in the forecast for later this week. Trout Spey fishing should go from good to great over the next 2 weeks. Last weekend saw many … Read more

Missouri River Spey Report

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Trout Spey Fishing Report for Late-October We are in full “swing” on the Missouri River, and it’s easy to spot anglers exploring the Missouri River with their Trout Spey rods. Recent warm weather has hurt the fishing for both the single and two-handed crowd. “Inconsistent” would be the best word to describe our current … Read more

Trout Spey Lineup 2018-19

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Swing Season has arrived on the Missouri River, and at Headhunters that signals the start of our “second season”. Most of our new Trout Spey rods, lines and tackle arrive in the fall. Here is a rundown of our primary selection of spey gear for the 2018-19 season. Like last season, our main focus is … Read more

Saturday Scenery… and a Fishing Report?

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A shot from yesterday to give you an idea of what it looks like ‘round here. As you can see, you won’t need your snowshoes. I call this photo “Silly Saturday Scenery” and dedicate it to Mark Raisler.

FISHING REPORT

The river has been very quiet this week. I think we’ve done a shuttle or two each day, and I’ve seen the occasional wading angler here or there. But I’ve also driven from Craig to the dam twice and not seen an angler. Typical quiet right before the holidays. School got out today, and I expect a few more anglers this weekend and into next week.

With the lack of pressure, we don’t have a ton of feedback to base a fishing report on. Most anglers I’ve seen or talked to have been swinging streamers from their feet, and doing well. Water type and fly choice seems to be all over the place. As I stated earlier in the week, I believe the fish are still transitioning to the winter tanks. You won’t find them everywhere in every run, but you can’t really ignore anything either. That’s a tough task when the days are short.

I would spend most of my time concentrating on 5he heads of runs (at the drop off), but I would start a little higher than normal for December. We’re still picking them off in fast water. In quicker water I would lean towards flashier bugs like the Skiddish Smolt, Kreelex, Zonker (all colors), Shock & Awe, etc.. When you get to slower “tanky”water is switch to a leech pattern or bugger.

Dont hesitate to fish a deep tip. I’ve seen some pretty good fishing with full deep sinking tips recently (10’ T-8 or close). Seems like the fish are still in some faster water, but holding a little deeper than they were 2-3 weeks ago.

I haven’t talked to more than a nympher or two. All reports have been good using the normal December imposters. The Rainbow Czech, various Firebeads, Red Worms, Pink Lightning Bugs, Zebras, etc. Mayfly nymphs are still producing.

The nymphing trick is way more about where than what. Whenever reports are either “we killed ‘em”, or “it was tough” (what I’ve been hearing), the successful crew was fishing in the right spot and the unsuccessful was not. So if you’re not getting them, try some different water.

Weve had a pocket of warm air associated with Chinook winds hanging around for a while. It’s been chilly to our south, even in Helena. More so in Butte and Bozeman. In Craiglandia, it’s mostly been in the 40’s. Pretty comfortable for this time of year. We’re supposed to get a little snow this weekend, and as the high pressure breaks down it will cool down a little, but still comfortable for winter fishing. And the wind should lay down a bit next week.

Swing Tip: Anchor Placement

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There are a few critical components of a Spey cast that I like to emphasize in our trout Spey clinics, because they are the keys to troubleshooting when your cast heads south. Clinics, demonstrations, books and YouTube are all great resources, but they don’t offer much help while you are out on the water. Maybe your different, but when my cast falls apart I’m usually on the water, not in front of my computer.

I’ve had the opportunity to cast and fish with (and just observe) some great Spey casters in my life. All the great – and consistent – Spey casters I have spent time around have one thing in common. They are masters of anchor placement. And, they pay close attention to their anchor on every cast.

Most of us are stoked if we place our anchor in a target the size of a drift boat. Most of the time that’s close enough to keep us fishing. But the great casters are placing their fly in an exact spot when they set the anchor. Like in an area the size of a basketball. And they “watch” the fly into that spot. It’s not too far fore or aft, and it’s generally very close to them.

For novice casters, I recommend that you try and set your anchor within a rod length of you. You can get away with a rod length and a half, but we’re trying to improve, right? Get it close. You want that anchor to be lined up with your target, and generally even with your body position to whichever side you intend to launch from.

I won’t go into the “how” here, there are abundant resources for that, and everyone has a different opinion. But I will stress that you’re never going to be a great Spey caster if you “drag” your fly into position. You are going to have to aerialize that line to achieve close and accurate anchor placement.

These can be very touchy/Feedly moves, and you need to spend some time practicing. Mileage counts here, and you’ll be rewarded by taking some time from fishing while you simply practice setting the anchor. Each time you get in a new run, practice your anchor set 10 or 20 times before you begin practicing and fishing. As you move through the day, you’ll begin to develop muscle memory from both sides of the river, both shoulders, and in a variety of currents and wind directions.

Sounds boring for sure. But you will never be a great two-handed caster until you master anchor placement. I always encourage students to find their own style. There are plenty of great casters out there, and they all have different options of which way is the “right way”. Find the one that works best for you.

And the next time you’re struggling through a run, stop and focus on your anchor placement. Improving the anchor tends to improve the cast.

 

 

Winter Down Low

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The above image is not normal. It was taken yesterday morning looking upstream from Pelican Point. There should be ice jams and snow on the ground. When it’s real cold the river might be frozen over. Even on a warm and dry year, there should be some snow on those higher peaks and a little ice in those inside channels.

Not this year. Winter started great, but it’s been weeks since we have had any significant snowfall. Daytime highs and nighttime lows have been above normal. For the last few weeks it’s been jeans and sweatshirt weather. We have even had some smoke in the air this week from the fires in Southern California.

While we never root for drought conditions, it does create some unusual opportunities for anglers. On a typical year, fishing below Prewitt Creek would not be much of an option in late December. But for the next few weeks – according to the weatherman – you might find some good fishing on the lower river

The trout haven’t completely moved into the big, slow winter tanks yet, but they’re starting to. On some lower river stretches find8ng winter holding water can be difficult, and so can finding fish when the water temps are in the mid to low 30’s. With our unseasonable temperatures, you should still be able to find fish in shallow riffles.

As for access you can get on the water at Pelican Point, as well as from the “backside” on the Sheep Creek Road upstream from Cascade. You can do a nice short float from Prewitt Creek to Pelican Point, which has plenty of great Wade fishing water as well. The short days and often windy conditions in December mean that Pelican to Cascade is an unlikely option. You’ll be pushing a lot to get off before dark.

A swung fly (on a single or two-hander) is a great way to cover the broad runs on the lower river. Move fast and cover as much water as you can. Leech patterns are crushing it right now, but we always do well with flashy baitfish patterns around Pelican late in the year.

Nymph rigs will be similar to the upper, but I’d be using the bigger stuff – Czech mymphs, worms, scuds, crawdads – more than midge stuff you might find productive near Holter Dam. They’re eating midges, and midges will work, but you likely don’t need to go that small unless you find a group of fish midg8ng in shallow water. As with streamer fishing, cover lots of water quickly until you find them.

Dry flies may be a player, and we’re still seeing some BWO’s here and there. Midge hatches are not typically very intense until later in the winter, but I would certainly have a few Griffiths Gnats on me. Some of my favorite winter dry fly water is in the big riffles between Hardy Rapids and Pelican Point. You access this stretch through Anderson Ranch/FWP access points from Sheep Creek Road.

Go explore and good luck.

Montana trout spey fishing

McCune on Trout Retrieves

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/146467809″ video_title=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]”Exactly how do you retrieve or work your fly?”

We still get this question A LOT. Spend a few minutes with our pal Mike McCune as he goes over a few of the techniques he uses while fishing for trout with a two-handed rod. And feel to free to change it up, or combine a couple of these techniques into your own home-brew retrieve.

You can also learn a lot while watching Mike cast.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Swing Tip: Sweep to the Bank

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You should have a plan for setting the hook. When we dry fly fish we lift slow and high. In the Tarpon boat is an aggressive strip set. Bobber lobbers hit ‘em hard and fast.

Fishing a swung fly with a Spey rod is no different. You need a plan.

It’s a simple one, but many trout fisherman find it difficult to adapt. I see a lot of straight-up, high tip hook sets out on the river. And I see a lot of those fish come unpinned.

When you are swinging a fly down and across, you should prepare for the hookset by leading you line with the rod tip, not following it. Lead it gently, as if your about to pull the fly, and keep your rod tip low. Your rod tip should be below horizontal.

When a fish grabs, there will be a moment when you may have to make a decision about timing. Steelhead anglers will generally let the fish turn and take a little line before they come tight. Works great on Steelhead, but not on Trout. I’m not going to describe every kind of take you can get from a Trout, but it will range from takes you literally cannot feel to explosive strikes that can burn your finger. On those lighter takes you may want to let the fish take a bit before the hookset.

So, now you’ve decided to set the hook on a fish. You’re pretty tight to the fish already because you’re leading that swing (if you’re following your swing with the tip you may not even feel the take). Your rod tip is low and you should have the line under your finger on the grip, and your stripping hand on the line.

In one smooth motion you should sweep your rod quickly to the bank (keeping the tip low), and perform a long strip strike. If it’s a small fish or a fish that comes at you continue stripping.. long aggressive strips.

You should be hooked up now. Time to keep that rod low and towards the bank. Begin the fight in that position you finished your hookset on. As the battle progresses you can change angles however you need.

Silly Sunday Scenery?

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mark and Danielle are in Hawaii checking out the BBQ situation, so it’s up to me to bring you “Silly Sunday Scenery”. Or was it supposed to be “Silly Saturday Scenery”? And come to think of it, “Friday Foto” kind of rings a bell…

While I’m unsure which day is dedicated to landscape photography, I’m certain that I’m too lazy to go backwards through the blog posts to find the answer. So here is a beautiful shot from the top of Dearborn Rock. As you can see, the weather was fantastic yesterday, and more of the same is in the forecast. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Weekend Update

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Feels like there should be a few folks out on the Missouri River searching for trout this weekend. Really nice temperatures with winds forecast to be around 10-15 mph (not bad at all this time of year). I’m guessing there be a few guys camped at Craig in this nice weather, and a few beers knocked back at Joe’s and Shotgun Annie’s this weekend. The new Craig sewer system is done and the construction work is even over. Nice and quiet with a chance of very good fishing…

The Missouri is still on the shift after the bump in water flows last week. I can also feel a drop in water temperature. Not a sudden or drastic one, but as its now down into the 38° range, your feet can feel that its cold. Those two factors are pushing the fish into deeper water, but they haven’t moved all the way down into the winter tanks. They are still favoring a decent current, so I’d suggest looking at the heads and bailouts of long runs.

The black leech is still my best pattern. Sara and I spent a few hours floating from the Dam to Wolf Creek yesterday with Russell Schmidt from G. Loomis. Finding and catching fish was pretty easy on the two-hander, and the deeper tips outfitted the lighter ones. The Leech was money, but we also caught fish on some smaller buggers. As usual for this time of year, the Rainbows we caught were all big.

But this Leech isn’t the only fly producing. Medium sized flashy patterns are starting to work well (about a month later than normal). Whitney Gould and Mike McCune were out yesterday and reported some good action on the Shock & Awe, a slender baitfish pattern tied on a tube (available at the shop). Kreelex, Foxy Clouser, Thin Mint, Brown Skiddish Smolt and Zonkers are also consistent patterns right now.

Streamer fishing from the boat is also good right now, and if you’re headed to the canyon make sure and rig up a 6 or 7 weight with any of the above patterns. You’ll usually not find me throwing huge articulated streamers on the Missouri, but if I was going to right now might be the time and the Canyon the place.

No clue on the nymphing report, I haven’t heard much in recent weeks. I suspect its pretty good if you can pinpoint the right current depth and speed. The typical Mo’ winter nymphs should produce. Think pink.

Bottom line… the weather is unseasonably warm, the scenery and light are spectacular right now, and the fish – especially the Rainbow Trout -are in fantastic shape and you’ll catch some of the largest fish you’ll catch all year. Time to hit it. Good Luck…[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”29300″ align=”center”][vc_column_text]Sara Roholt casts into big water with the new IMX Pro 11′ 11″ 4 weight.

Top of page G. Loomis sales rep. Russell Schmidt with a nice Missouri River buck.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Montana Upland Season

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Big Game hunting is finished but Upland-bird season is still going strong for many Montana sportsman, and the mild weather we’ve been having has created some great conditions for wing-shooters. Our upland hunting expert Sara Roholt can be hard to find around Craig this time of year. If she’s not in the shop (only 4 days a week in the off season), she’s probably following her dogs Waylon and Sturgill through the wide open country of eastern Montana, along with her husboyfriend and Missouri River guide Kurt Michels.

In this part of Montana, hunters like Sara employ pointing dogs while pursuing Hungarian Partridge and Sharptail Grouse. “Sharpies” are our native birds around here. Cool critters that evolved on the cold and windy prairie. These two species hold best for pointers, but if a Cock Pheasant gets up, he dies too. While most hunting takes place on private property, Montana’s excellent Block Management hunting program allows hunters to access a massive amount of private property. Sara has this program dialed, but also secures access using her wit and charm on other farms and ranches.

If you’re interested in learning more about upland hunting in Montana, and specifically how to gain access to private property, we do not recommend talking to Sara. She won’t tell you a thing.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”29295″ align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Quiet Time

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Were heading into a few weeks that are typically quiet, but offer some great fishing. Thats OK. The Mo’ can use a break. We will still do 2 or 3 shuttles a day – more on weekends – and there are a few wading anglers around. Winter on the river is way behind schedule this year, so conditions are comfortable if you do want to go fishing. If you want to go skiing, conditions pretty much suck. According to the weatherman, were headed into 2 weeks of unusually dry and mild weather.

Speaking of winter arriving late, we had some pretty good BWO hatches Saturday and Sunday at our Trout Spey Clinics. Neither Mark or I can ever remember seeing BWO’s on the water in December. And they were the really big ones. If you can hit some clouds and diffused light, you should be able to find a few sippers. I’d be looking in the channels between the Dam and Jacksons Rock. A big Nymens or Last Chance Cripple should do the trick.

With the whole river open, the next few weeks should offer some great two-handed fishing. If you’re already set, the entire river is fishing. Even down to Cascade. If not, swing by the shop, grab a rod and give it a try. A handful of streamers and soft hackles is all you need. And were seeing a change in the fishes behavior this week. Moving out a little deeper and hunting some bigger flies. The Browns appear to be finished with the spawn.

If you’re a veteran don’t forget about our 2 PHW Adipose Drift boats, free to use by any veterans or active duty members of the armed forces. This is a great way to get out on the river with your brothers. Call the shop and reserve in advance.

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2017-18 Trout Spey Lineup

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The 2017-18 Spey season has begun on the Missouri River, and it’s time to layout the gear we use while swinging the Mo’. Last season we began a transition from 6 and 7 weight spey outfits down to true ultralight rigs in the 2,3 and 4 weight class. That transition is now complete. For 95% of our fishing we are using true “troutspey” equipment. We occasionally may reach for a 6 weight, and the shop will continue to sell lines, tips, reels and the other gear you need to rig rods up to 9 weight. Our clinics – and this post – will focus on equipment below 360 grains (5 weight).

WHY SO LIGHT?

Remember, those 2, 3 and 4 weight spey rods that sound so light, effectively correlate to 4, 5 and 6 weight rods. So really, your using standard gear. If you’re new to spey fishing, these rods will feel much more familiar to your hand. Most are 10’6″ – 11’6″ in length. Your reel will be a 5-7 weight reel. In terms of total weight, you’ll not be far off from your 9′ #5, though the swing weight will be increased significantly.

These ultralight rods are a pleasure to fish with and you won’t feel overmanned with a 14″ trout on the end of your line. Softer presentations can be important, especially when fishing soft hackles, and these sticks do the job when lined properly. We’re fishing for trout after all, so why not use some trout gear. Thanks to manufacturers like Echo, Scientific Anglers, Sage, OPST and RIO, trout spey anglers now have a decent amount of gear to choose from.

RODS

The ECHO TR Trout will continue to be our most popular spey rod for the 2017-18 season. It’s a great rod, finished nicely and really does everything you’d ask from a trout spey rod at a reasonable price of $379. Everyone seems to like the army green/orange tipped cosmetics, and many folks comment on the slender grip, which can make a long day of casting more comfortable. Like all of the TR family, these rods throw both Scandi and Skagit lines with ease. If you like to throw giant Galloup-esque flies, you can comfortably over line these rods to increase turnover power. Pretty much all of our staff owns at least one of these rods, and we use them for demo rods in our casting clinics. We’re very familiar with them, and have matched them with nearly every line we carry, so we can easily get you paired with the right line for your casting and fishing style. If you’re looking for a 2 weight, however, you’ll have to look elsewhere. The Echo TR comes in 11′ #3 and 11’3″ #4 variations. Also, we still throw the 12’6″ #6 occasionally on the Missouri, and it’s an excellent choice for Summer Steelhead on the Ronde, Deschuttes, etc. Great rod, great company and great customer service.

The SAGE ONE Trout Spey is one of the first – and arguably the best – dedicated Spey (not switch) rod on the market. Designed with help from Skagit guru Mike McCune, the Sage is a really sweet caster designed to throw relaxed sustained anchor casts. As you’d expect from Sage, the finish is top shelf like the action. You will definitely feel a weight difference in your hand when you pick up one of these vs. a price-point rod like the ECHO TR. The 10’9″ #2 is the preferred rod for swinging small and medium sized soft hackles on lighter tippet, while the 11′ #3 is the daily driver that will throw everything up to about a heavy #4 streamer. A perfect rod for the Missouri. We also like the 11’6″ #4 for throwing Scandi lines. Unlike the 2 and 3, the 4 is a rebranded rod from the previous ONE Switch series possessing a little faster action. While it will definitely throw a Skagit head, it shines with a longer and lighter Scandi head. Price of entry is steep, however, at $950. If you’re a dedicated spey guy or gal and a fan of Sage, you’re all in. If you’re new to the sport that may be more than you want to spend, and we don’t blame you.

New to Headhunters this season are Gary Anderson Custom Rods (ACR), from the Rogue River country in Oregon. While his name may not be familiar in Montana trout circles, Gary Anderson is widely known in the west coast spey community. His rods are used by some of the best two-handed casters in the sport, including our own Whitney Gould. The ACR Nova lineup will be first in the shop. The performance and finish of these rods easily outpaces the price, and Gary has created more troutspey models than the rest of the industry combined! The Nova comes in at $450 and is available in 2, 3 and 4 weight configurations. We will likely be bringing in some of ACR’s Elite series rods as well. We expect Nova rods to be one of our best selling models in 2018. Demo rods available some swing by and grab one for a pass or two.

The Orvis Clearwater series remains polar for those looking for Steelhead or Steelhead/Trout crossover rods. The 12′ #5 Clearwater is the only 5 weight rod we stock, and it’s an excellent choice for big streamers on the Missouri or Yellowstone, as well as lighter Steelhead work on the Grande Ronde. This would also be an excellent choice for Alaska or Patagonia trout, or Pink Salmon. The 12’6″ #6 and 13′ #7 are also popular choice for Steelhead, the latter being one of our more popular models for winter Steelhead on the coast. For newbie trout and Steelhead spey anglers, the $349 price point is easy and leaves plenty of cash for heads and tips. Orvis is not the biggest name in Spey, but everyone who throws these rods likes them. Hopefully they will enter the troutspey arena in the future…

The ECHO Glass Two Hand series remains popular with the crowd that likes, well… fiberglass. These rods have methodically slow actions that really throw some strong, nice loops. And at $279 these might be the best deal going if you like the action and the super retro honey colored blanks. The 10’6″ #3 is an excellent soft hackle rod with a soft tip that protects lighter tippets and helps increase hookups. The 10’8″ #4 is a good daily driver, especially if you fish smaller water or fish in situations that don’t require longer casts in windy conditions (sound familiar?). The 12’4″ #6 and 12’9″ #7 are also excellent rods for both big trout and Steelhead, but smaller anglers will definitely feel the extra weight after fishing one for a full day.

Thats our core group of rods, but always have some others bouncing around the shop and commonly bring in more models when our staff gets a chance to try and evaluate other rods on the market. If you’re interested in any other models ask one of us and we will likely have tried it.

LINES

Lines are the whole deal, right? At least that’s what I tell folks at our spey clinics. And it true. A couple of years ago there were very few lines available for smaller trout spey outfits. None of you defined them as “good” lines. Suddenly, we have choices. And it’s changing the way people fish for trout during late fall and winter. Thanks to the advancement of lines designed specifically for lighter trout spey applications, more and more anglers are out there swinging on their feet.

Remember, we have all of these lines in demo, and encourage you to try before you buy! Once upon a time I though when we finally got the lines we needed in the lighter weights the “grain window” would tighten up and we see less variation in line recommendations and preferences. Not true. I’m continually amazed at the wide grain window I see people choose for each rod in our shop. So take a few heads out for the day and see which you prefer.

Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics (OPST) really got the game going with their Pure Skagit Commando Head ($55), designed for shorter single and two-handed rods. These lines changed the game in our shop. We finally had the right lines to match up to our UL two-handers and single handed rods. The Commando is our most popular selling Spey line, and brings incredible versatility to the swing game. Customers and staff use these on two-handed rods from #2 weight on up, and we sell plenty to anglers who use them on single hand rods both while wading and from the boat. They have a nice smooth taper that throw fast tight loops and behave like a quicker Scandi line when downsized with a floating tip.

The new Scientific Anglers Spey Lite series brings us the first Scandi line created specifically for UL spey applications. Something we’ve been waiting for, and are excited to finally add to the arsenal. Near surface presentations are ofter better than deep presentation on the Missouri (like now as I write this!), and the Spey Lite Scandi throws a long way with power. Swinging soft hackles is an increasingly popular tactic, and this is the best line for that purpose without a doubt. The Spey Lite Scandi is an integrate line (1 piece) with a visual, audio and tactile transition zone that is easily to hear and feel in low light conditions. You can add a “poly-leader” as well to achieve a little depth. SA also has a Spey Lite Skagit head that is available in both an integrated and shooting head configuration. Like the Scandi version, it’s an excellent caster that throws tight loops, but with more power to turn over bigger flies and tips. I’ve been using the Shooting head model with mono running line, but have come to like the textured transition of the integrated Scandi model so much that I may switch to the integrated Skagit. It would also be nice to lose that loop-to-loop connection when retrieving a fly or landing landing a trout. The only downside of an integrated line is price ($89 vs $49 for a head) and the fact that you really need to dedicate a reel to that line.

The Airflo Skagit Scout is another very popular line in the shop. The Scout seems to be more popular with those seeking to perfect that effortless sustained anchor casting stroke. I also notice the anglers who like this line are the ones who like things overweighted a bit. The Scout throws big flies and heavy tips with ease, and is one of the better choices if you’re the type who always has 12′ of T8 and a Sex Dungeon on your rod. If you do a lot of winter Steelhead fishing you will quickly identify with the feel of this line. Very popular with the ECHO TR #4 and a favorite of local outlaw fly tier “7weight”. Normal price of $59.

RIO’s Skagit Trout Max was designed to match up with the Sage ONE Trout Spey rod series, and it’s an excellent match on those rods as well as the rest. The Trout Max series are all 11′, and are the shortest heads we’re aware of. Depending on grain weight, this can be 1-5 feet shorter than competitors heads. This creates a very powerful and compact system that can turn over larger flies than you would expect in relation to the line weight. The short head is also a blessing for those that retrieve the fly (instead of a static swing), giving you a few more feet to work that bug back before that shooting line/head connection jams in your tip-top. Watch some of videos of Mike McCune and you can see how easily this line casts in the hands of a pro. The Skagit Trout Max is $50.

SHOOTING LINES

We carry shooting or running lines from OPST (mono), Scientific Anglers (coated), Airflo (coated) and RIO (coated). If there is any are where even novice spey anglers quickly form an opinion, this is it. In general, the same guy who likes a Scandi line, also likes a coated running line (and probably integrated as well), which is good, because that’s all a pretty good match. And conversely, the guy who likes a slow, sustained anchor Skagit cast probably likes his shooting line to be mono. Again, this is good and all pairs real well.

For coated lines we have several, but the Scientific Anglers textured shooting line (.032″) is probably the most popular. It’s small enough to shoot well with lighter heads (though nothing like mono), and the texture that helps shoot ability also helps with grip and line management. The RIO ConnectCore Shooting line is also popular, but I think the fact that it comes in 4 sizes just confuses people. It’s good stuff, shoots really well and comes in a size smaller (.026″) than the SA. Some folks consider it a bit “tangley”. Both of these excellent shooting lines are $59, so significantly more expensive than mono.

OPST Lazar Line is our primary monofilament shooting line, and it comes in several sizes and colors. We also have some general purpose bulk mono at our reel winding station that you can get spooled up with. Both work fine but the OPST seems to last a little longer and is available in more and larger sizes. All mono stays kink free much longer when used with a swivel in-between the mono and the head (ask at the shop if you don’t know about this). And remember, mono is cheap, but it’s also disposable. It’s not going to last forever.

TIPS

We have an incredible selection of Skagit tips and “poly” leaders in the shop, and I cannot claim to have tried every one of them. The iMOW series from RIO ($25) is certainly the most popular, and we really like the “black/white” color combo that makes it easy to identify each tip without have to search for microscopic printing. As the industry “standard”, I suppose we compare everything to them, which is a testament to great design from McCune, O’Donnell and Ward (MOW).

Speaking of microscopic printing, Scientific Anglers has the market cornered with their line markings. I can actually read them without readers on every one I’ve ever picked up. Bravo. In terms of fishability, I really like the TC Skagit Tips ($25) and use them often. The “light” 80 grain series that we use on our troutspey outfits is also 8′ instead of the usual 10′. I like that. It gets down all I need (and not too much) and I don’t miss that extra two feet while casting. These are dual density tips (S1/S2, S2/S4 etc.) so it is a different system than the T8 material that RIO uses. We do not like the bright optic green/white floating tip. Too bright for smart trout near the surface.

OPST makes Commando Tips ($15-$24) to match their Commando Heads. They come in 5′, 7.5′ and 12′ lengths in 3 different grain weights and 3 different sink rates called “riffle” (slow), “run” (medium), and “pool” (fast). It’s a little bit confusing, and I’ve always thought these tips fished a tiny bit deeper than the rest. The tree lengths do allow you to pick a tip that does exactly what you need it to do, however. I think the little 5′ tips will find a home in many head wallets. I would probably pick the 12′ “pool” as the deepest fishing tip if I had a need to get really deep. Like where Walleye live.

SINKING LEADERS (aka POLY-LEADERS)

Used on Scandi lines and heads, single handed lines and occasionally on very light Skagit heads, sinking leaders are an effective and economical way to add some depth to your system. RIO make the VersiLeader ($15) which comes in a wide variety of sizes and sink rates, is our most popular sinking leader. I always have a few on me, usually in intermediate and 3ips sink rates. The only knock on VersiLeaders is that that are a bit fragile. Stretch them to hard or rake then over the rocks a few times and they begin to fall apart. But at $15 its not a big deal. You’ll likely get a season out of them.

Scientific Anglers recently introduced Sonnar leaders ($15), which are more durable, stiffer (which may or may not be good), and have a coating that extends to the tip (VersiLeaders have a short piece of mono at the end). You can easily throw a perfection loop in the coated tip. They seem to have a stronger core and I have not been able to produce any coiling by overstitching them. They have also proven to be very durable and are a different execution of the sinking leader. I really like them and have been using them exclusively on my Spey Lite Scandi setup. So far so good, check ’em out…

REELS

In past years we discussed reels specifically for two-handed rods as we were often using larger 8-10 weight reels for our 6-8 weight rods (the oversize is to accommodate the extra heavy spey lines). We still carry and recommend larger reels for Steelhead rods like the Orvis Battenkill Spey, Hatch 7plus and 9plus, and Galvan Grip. But as we’ve downsized into UL Spey rods we find ourselves using typical trout reels in the 6 and 7 weight range. We do recommend larger arbor reels for those using mono shooting lines, but other than that just use what you want.

THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO TRY THIS

If you’re interested in giving this a try, but are not interested in shelling out for a whole new outfit, here’s the best way to try it on the cheap. Is all you need is an understanding of how to execute a spey cast or two.

First, grab 5 or 6 weight fly rod from your quiver. Doesn’t have to be fancy, fast action or pretty. Any old crapper will do. Longer is good, and so is slow action. Second, grab a fly reel to match your rod (5 for a 5, etc.) and strip the line and backing off of it. Now, head down to your local Big Box store and buy a 100 yard spool of 20 or 25 lb. monofilament and spool it up on the reel. Stiff stuff is good, like the stuff that says “catfish” or “big game” on it. Tie a big Surgeons loop in the end of the mono.

Now, you need to get out your wallet. Find a shop that sells Trout Spey gear and pick up a Skagit head. Its going to cost you around $50. Any of the above Skagit lines will work, but get a Skagit head (not a switch line, nothing integrated, and not Scandi heads) and make sure its short… 11′ – 16′. This Skagit head/mono combo is going to be the easiest to learn with, and show you best what can be done with zero room behind you and a spey cast. You’ll want something around 330 grains for your 6 weight. 250 for your 5. Look in the sale bin, you can fudge it heavier, but don’t go lighter. You’ll also need a Skagit tip, and I’d recommend a RIO iMOW tip in the 7.5 intermediate / 2.5 sink configuration ($25). You also might find the older MOW tips (not iMOW) in the sale bin. If so, get that one. Put 5 feet of 0X on the end and your favorite streamer. Go fishing.

So, for about $75 bucks you can get yourself setup and see what you think. This will be an effective outfit. If you really get into it, you’ll probably want to get a dedicated spey rod, but you won’t need to. You’ll likely be surprised where and how effectively you can fish, or maybe you’ll hate it and never try it again.

You can also attend one of our free trout spey clinics this winter. The next clinics are on December 2 or 3. Call the shop to sign up at 406-235-3447.

 

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Swing Season 2017-18 is Here!

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We’ve been swinging with our two-handers for a few weeks now, and we know a few of you have as well. In our brains, the 1st of November is the beginning of “Swing Season”, but as the weeds disappear from the Missouri River and the Brown Trout start to move, we can’t resist. Some of us have even been exploring further form home, using our Trout Spey rods to fish places we’re familiar with but haven’t approached down and across before.

Despite anemic runs of Steelhead, we’ve heard a few decent reports from the Clearwater/Snake/Ronde systems. If you’re headed that way in the next few weeks we wish you luck. Unfortunately, the State of Idaho decided to open a limited “kill” season for the handful of Steelhead that returned to the upper Columbia tributaries. That won’t help your success, but it may do further harm to a fragile resource. If you do catch a Steelhead, take care to land him quickly (not on the beach) and release him gently. Steelhead have enough problems already.

CURRENT SWINGING CONDITIONS – MISSOURI RIVER

Right now things are pretty good for the swing. Water temps are right, and the drifting weeds have decreased to the point that you won’t be pulling your hair out. Both floating and sinking lines will work this time of year, and if you ever wanted to try and skate up a trout on an October Caddis, now’s the time. For streamers, we recommend sticking with our typically small and flashy Clouser’s, Kreelex’s, Skiddish Smolts and the like. Small Buggers like the Thin Mint are also a good call. If you need your fly to be bigger, stick to a heavy sink tip and bury that sucker between the Dam and Craig.

Most freestones in the region should be in play as well. Warm weather this week will keep the water temps on the Madison, Jefferson, Yellowstone, etc. in the right zone. Where you can target Bull Trout you may have some interesting options as well.

SPEY CLINICS

We will continue to offer our free Spey Clinics again this year. Like last season, we will be offering 1 day clinics on two separate weekends. The first clinics will be on December 2nd and 3rd. The second session will be February 10th and 11th. Sign up at the shop or call 406-235-3447. Space is limited to 12 students per session. We always have waiting lists for these clinics, so don’t sign up because you’re bored. Our free clinics are designed for those new to spey casting, so please don’t suck up a spot if you’ve attended in past years. We will likely be holding a few advanced clinics for more experienced casters, so keep your eyes peeled.

Clinic Details:

  • 9am to 3pm or later.
  • Pastries, Coffee and Juice provided.
  • 1.5 hour presentation and Q&A session. Remainder of the day is on-water.
  • Rods provided, but bring your own if you have one!
  • Demo lines available to use with your rod.
  • FREE!

TROUTSPEY

Last season, we began to make the shift from light Steelhead gear to Troutspey gear, and we will pretty much complete that transition this season. While we will still carry a small assortment of “steelhead” rods (and a bigger assortment of lines), we will focus on Montana waters and the ultralight gear designed for them. The majority of the demo gear in the shop (and at our clinics) will be Troutspey rods and reels designed for <350 grains.

We will also be adding a few more rod models in the shop this season, including rods from Gary Anderson Custom Rods (ACR) built in Rogue River, OR. Some have already arrived and more models are on the way.

Swing by the shop if you have any questions about spey rods, spey reels, spey lines, sink tips, leaders, shooting lines, or anything else. Our staff will be happy to help you get setup for the season.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Kicking Plastic

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After several years of threatening to do so, a few of our guides – myself included – are switching from store bought plastic water bottles to other methods of transporting and distributing water to our guests. Most guides I know hate the garbage produced by the hundreds of plastic bottles they throw away each year. Costa, Orvis, Fishpond, Patagonia, Yeti and others have directed both consumer and guide “kick plastic” campaigns over the years. Everyone nods in agreement during the presentation, and agrees to switch to “hard” water bottles in the future. But few do.

I do know a few outfitters who provide water and water bottles for their guests, including our friends at the North Fork Crossing Lodge on the Blackfoot. And I suppose outfitters in remote camps in Alaska and Russia have no choice. But by and large, most fishing guides buy dozens of the inexpensive bottled water “flats” you can find in every grocery store and gas station from Forks to Key West. It’s frightening to think of the volume of plastic garbage the fishing industry contributes to Mother Earth each year.

I checked out Ban The Bottle to get a few numbers, and read that the average American throws away 167 water bottles each years. Scary for sure, but I’ll bet some guides come close to that each week during hot weather in July and August!

So, as part of my return to guiding this year, I promised myself I would finally “kick plastic”. Which prompted both agreement and discussion among our guide staff on how to implement that. The two big hurdles for most guides include:

  1. Bottled water is cheap. Probably the smallest daily expenditure for guides. Right behind spit shot.
  2. Customers don’t trust us or our water bottles.

Having guiding for long enough that I don’t really care what my guests opinions of my water bottles are (or much else), I decided to give it a whirl. I did a little research, and combined with my own experience decided on the following 32oz Nathan water bottle for guests in my boat. I purchased a bunch of these in “paired” colors so each dude can have a couple of the same color.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”27455″ align=”center”][vc_column_text]The first day I broke these out – with a brief explanation as to why they weren’t being served Albertson’s bottled water – I got 1 “good for you” and 1 sideways glance as the customer hesitantly took a sip. That has more or less continued. I’m probably batting just above .500 when it comes to approval/disapproval. Quite a few have asked if it’s “safe to drink from” (seriously?) while others could care less. They’re thirsty.

I understand why anglers who’ve hung around guides for any length of time would be suspect. Guides are not the cleanest creatures. Dirty boats, trucks, waders, coolers and clothes are all part of the package.

But I don’t know many guides who would intentionally hand a client a “used” water bottle from the day before. But I do know a few…

So I am carefully washing mine in our high temperature dishwasher each time they go in the cooler, whether they were used or not. After being washed they are immediately filled and put in the “drinks only” refrigerator at our house. One reason I chose these Nathan bottles is that they have a removable silicone mouthpiece that can be sterilized separately.[/vc_column_text][us_grid columns=”2″ post_type=”attachment” items_quantity=”” images=”27458,27456″ orderby=”post__in” items_gap=”” items_layout=”gallery_default” img_size=”us_600_600_crop” overriding_link=”popup_post_image” breakpoint_1_cols=”2″ breakpoint_2_width=”768px” breakpoint_3_width=”480px” breakpoint_2_cols=”4″ breakpoint_3_cols=”2″][vc_column_text]

So that’s my program, and some of our other guides are doing it differently. Some are sticking to the bottled water from the store. Some are using paper cups and water tanks. Some believe stainless cleans better. Some clients only drink beer anyhow!

My single biggest concern is not that a guest will disapprove, but that they won’t drink enough water during the course of the day.

BRING YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLE!

If drinking out of a clean water bottle that has been used before scares you, then we suggest you bring your own water bottles on a guided trip (at least 2 x 32oz). Even if your guide is carrying store bought water you will be reducing the amount of plastic waster that your boat produces. And if your guide doesn’t care about the environment, you will at least be saving him 2 or 3 bucks. Believe it or not, you can also buy a water bottle in our shop!

Note: This blog post is available as a live and loud version from our shop manager and kick plastic queen Sara Roholt. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Hangman Spey Video – Mike McCune

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/215850449/settings/privacy” video_title=”1″][vc_column_text]Here’s a valuable casting video Mike McCune and I recently shot. Valuable because it is the spey cast I see Mike executing more often than not when we are trout fishing. I have had a number of customers ask me about this cast (it can be seen on other video’s Mike and I have done) and I often refer to it as Mike’s “Pendulum” cast, but Mike refers to it as the “Hangman”. The Hangman possesses a couple of very important advantages over other casts that Mike covers in this video.

This cast is especially suited to the short and light heads we use with our trout spey rods here in Montana. Many of our customers strive to achieve Mike’s completely effortless style of Skagit casting, and this cast is part of that formula.

More video’s from Mike and I coming soon.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Troutspey Reels and Running Lines

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/215113935″ video_title=”1″][vc_column_text]There is always a lot of talk about running lines for trout spey rigs around the shop. Some like mono, and some like a coated running line. I think were at about a 50/50 split among our customers and staff. In the above video Braden talks about why you should probably choose a large arbor reel for monofilament running lines, if you’re in that camp. He also goes over some of our most popular trout spey reels for both mono and coated running lines.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Attitude and Effort

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Spent a great couple of days with Joe and his 9 year old son Brooks. Brooks had tried a little Tenkara fishing near Mammoth, CA and a bit if smaller stream fishing in Utah, but this was his first trip on bigger water and in a drift boat. As you can see from the above photo he adapted to the Missouri River quite well. In fact by day 2 he was crushing it, as was his more experienced father. Their motto was: “attitude and effort”. We couldn’t agree more.

We’ve said it before, but spring is our favorite time of year to get young anglers out on the water. And fathers as well. Congrats on the results Joe and Brooks![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_image image=”27026″][us_image image=”27027″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

What I did for Spring Break: Watch my wife and daughter catch fish on Dry Flies

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Everyone at Headhunters fishes. Some more than others, and some not as often as they once did. Our GM Julie falls into the latter category, but still loves the sport. She and I always try to catch one of the first BWO days each spring. The other day we hit the river along with our daughter Adair, who is now a capable enough angler to throw dries, streamers and whatever. She can also row and net fish. Two attributes that her father admires.

So Julie – who spends most of her time making sure the shop is running smoothly, the bills are paid, and your lodging and/or guide trips are all set – finally gets out for some dry fly fishing and hits it. At least a little. And she deserves it.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”26805″ align=”center” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]Nothing better than the above scene. My wife battling a nice Brown she caught on a single dry, and my daughter ready with the net. And because the upper stretches have been fishing a little on the slow and inconsistent side, no people around us at all. Those BWO’s the Missouri is famous for in April and May are just starting to show in good numbers, and we managed to put a couple of nice fish in the boat.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”26804″ align=”center” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]Not only did Julie experience some great fishing, but so did Adair who caught her first Mo’ fish of the year on a dry. Nice accomplishment for a 12 year old. She also nabbed a few BWO’s for the camera crew.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

On The Brink

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I think the river is about to explode. The water color has changed a bit in the last couple of days, I’m finding fish in some unusually fast and shallow water, and yesterdays streamer bite was like in the olden days. I fished with former Simms Representative and World Angler Jon Yousko yesterday. We’ve been fishing together for well over 10 years, but it’s been a few years since he and I had really good streamer fishing. Yesterday was really good.

And that funky algae brown color thats been emanation form Holder Dam seemed to disappear yesterday. Not sure if it was the lake turning over or something more sinister. By yesterday afternoon on the drive home, the river had that inky blue-black color that I associate with spring fishing.

While we were wearing out our 50+ year old arms throwing streamers, Headhunters guide Ben Hardy was keeping his clients bent trowing nymph rigs. So all is right with the Missouri River. Now we just need a blanket BWO hatch and a cloudy day.

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Saturday Swing Scenery

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Out doing a little spey fishing with Missouri River first-timers Greg and Sam yesterday. The swung fly was not incredibly productive, but we did manage to score a few times. Thats Greg landing a nice Brown above. These guys are all about the two-hander, and pushed it into the wind all day on the lower river. Fishing reports are varied right now, with most guides calling it “good enough but not great”. Plenty of smaller rainbows especially in the Canyon and below. Some nice Brown Trout around with that springtime aqua sheen on the gill plate.

Enjoy the weekend wherever you’re playing. If you’re in Craig, Izaaks opened last night, and the ribs looked great as usual.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”26571″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

First Madison Rainbow Trout

Get Those Kids Out There!

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Spring has pretty much sprung around here. We still need the water to warm a little to kick off the BWO, March Brown and Mothers Days Caddis hatches, but it’s not far off. Spring offers some of the easiest fly fishing of the year on the Missouri. Nymph and streamer fishing can be spectacular, and the dry fly fishing is as good as it gets when conditions are right during pre-runoff. And we all like spectacular fishing.

You know who else likes spectacular fishing? Kids. You don’t have to give them that lecture about “patience” when their rod is doubled over all day. They won’t get “fidgety” when fighting a fish. They learn quicker. They focus a little harder. And they want to go again.

The Missouri River in April and May offers some of the best kids fly fishing I’ve ever seen, though a drift boat or raft is required. You can rig up a simple indicator rig with 1 fly, no split shot and a bobber, and you’re virtually guaranteed some fish. Young anglers don’t have to worry about long casts, as fish can be caught right off the tip of the oars. Heavy tippet can be used which saves on break-offs that are so common later in the season. The slow moving currents favor younger eyes and the sometime slower reflexes that children have. The boat also removes the dreaded backcast obstacles the can frustrate new casters young and old.

No Boat?

Not everyone owns a boat, but if you live in Montana you probably know someone who does. If you live in Bozeman you can probably walk out your front door and see 4 or 5. Borrow one, or see if a neighbor or friend will take you and a child out for a day. And if you have a boat, go find a neighbor kid who wants to go. Not much is more satisfying than mentoring young anglers.

If you’re a Military Veteran, you can reserve one of our 2 Project Healing Waters boats for free. The only thing we like to see more than our nations Veterans out on the water, is Veterans out there with their families.

Rent a boat. All of the fly shops in Craig offer boat rentals for around $150 per day (which includes your shuttle). While not inexpensive, it’s an easy way to get out on the Missouri. We even launch it and pick it up for you. And remember this; you could rent that boat 10 times in a year and you still wouldn’t have paid for the trailer on a new Adipose or Clackacraft drift boat, so it really does make economic sense. And your child will never forget it.

When August Trico fishing rolls around, you should probably leave the kids at home, unless you want to teach them a lesson in frustration and humility. But during the spring months conditions are ripe for young anglers. Go get them hooked.

Tips for Fly Fishing with Kids:

Use 1 nymph, a bobber and no weight. This reduces nearly all tangles for anglers of all ages! I like to pick a larger, weighted, bright nymph (San Juan Worm, Bubble Yum, etc.) that gets hit harder than more subtle patterns. Young kids often have trouble seeing a take in the indicator. The harder a fish grabs your fly, the easier it is to see.

PINCH THAT BARB! Nothing will ruin the day quicker than a barbed hook stuck in a kids face. And if you don’t know the “mono” hook removal trick, Google it or ask a local fly shop to show you.

Use heavy tippet. Kids are going to “horse” fish, and use what guides call the “death grip” on the line. Some fish will pull off, but it’s better than breaking them off. And no child wants to hear your lecture about necessary tippet diameters. I usually use 3X.

Let them net a few. Kids absolutely LOVE to net fish. If you have two children in the boat, let the one in the front net fish for the one in the back. Teamwork baby! (Often, a child will decide he likes netting the fish more than catching them. If this happens stop fishing immediately! That child runs the risk of becoming a fly fishing guide.)

Don’t teach too much. Teach them how to cast just far enough to catch a fish (just past the oar blades). Let them use two hands and go too far back (which creates open loops and fewer tangles). Don’t teach them how to false cast, reach cast, throw negative and positive curve casts, steeple casts, or anything else you learned on YouTube. You are going to have to teach them to mend and set the hook properly and quickly. Focus on that, as thats what catches fish.

Have Fun. You’ve heard it before but it bears repeating. Have fun!

 

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New Scientific Anglers Spey Lite Lines

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A couple of months ago, Scientific Anglers sent me a few prototypes of some new “Trout Spey” lines they were working on. I’ve been fishing them regularly and have been really impressed. They cast extremely well, and feel right (not too heavy, not too long) on a variety of 3 and 4 weights I’ve tried them on. Last night, I returned home after swinging the Missouri with said lines (last fish on the prototypes above), and there on the counter was a package from SA with the final product.

Called the SPEY LITE, they are available in Skagit heads and integrated lines, and a Scandi Integrated line. They are offered in grain weights 150-360. The colors are nice but understated. The Skagit in a Horizon Blue, and the Scandi in a standard Willow Green. I would like to see the Scandi in a shooting head, but after fishing the integrated version for a while now, I may be coming around. The reason I like the head system is mostly for convenience. With an integrated line I have to have a reel dedicated to that line. Also to come later are matching shooting lines. If the shooting lines on the integrated lines I’ve tried are any indication, these should be very popular among the trout crowd.

One of the most innovative features is the textured transition zone. SA has added a transition zone into the integrated lines that is both colored – so you can see it – and textured – so you can hear/feel it. I immediately found this to be super helpful while stripping in to make a cast. No more staring into the sun to see if was at or near the right spot. This feature alone sets this line apart. I expect this feature to be on the shooting lines when they come out. For now, you have to get an integrated line to see what it is like.

Casting wise, these lines performed how I like a line to perform. They cast and fish light, but with power. They are not clunky rectangles like some Skagit heads, but they’re no whimpy either. They also seem to fish with less drag on the swing than some lines, which is very nice when fishing smaller flies and slower currents. The soft-hackle crowd is going to love these on a #2 or #3. The Scandi lines have a built in intermediate tip, which is nice for casting turnover, fishing small unweighted flies, and maintaining your anchor in the wind.[/vc_column_text][us_separator show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][us_image image=”26548″ align=”center”][vc_column_text]

SPEY LITE SKAGIT HEAD

150 GRAIN 11’ / 3,4m 11’ / 3,4m 150gr / 9,8g
180 GRAIN 11’ / 3,4m 11’ / 3,4m 180gr / 11,7g
210 GRAIN 12’ / 3,7m 12’ / 3,7m 210gr / 13,6g
240 GRAIN 13’ / 4,0m 13’ / 4,0m 240gr / 15,6g
270 GRAIN 14’ / 4,3m 14’ / 4,3m 270gr / 17,5g
300 GRAIN 15.5’ / 4,7m 15.5’ / 4,7m 300gr / 19,4g
330 GRAIN 17’ / 5,2m 17’ / 5,2m 330gr / 21,4g
360 GRAIN 18’ / 5,5m 18’ / 5,5m 360gr / 23,3g

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SPEY LITE INTEGRATED SCANDI

150 GRAIN 20’ / 6,1m 100’ / 30,5m 150gr / 9,8g
180 GRAIN 20’ / 6,1m 100’ / 30,5m 180gr / 11,7g
210 GRAIN 21’ / 6,4m 100’ / 30,5m 210gr / 13,6g
240 GRAIN 22’ / 6,7m 100’ / 30,5m 240gr / 15,6g
270 GRAIN 23’ / 7,0m 100’ / 30,5m 270gr / 17,5g
300 GRAIN 24’ / 7,3m 100’ / 30,5m 300gr / 19,4g
330 GRAIN 25’ / 7,6m 100’ / 30,5m 330gr / 21,4g
360 GRAIN 25’ / 7,6m 100’ / 30,5m 360gr / 23,3g

[/vc_column_text][us_separator show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][vc_column_text]I should add that I have been using the Third Coast Textured Spey Tips from Scientific Anglers, and really like them. The light sinking versions are all a 4×4 combo of two densities (I/S2, S2/S4, etc.). I tried them to see how well they cast on SA’s own lines, and they do it very well. I should add that I don’t really like the floater. It’s too bulky and is half white, half optic green. A little bright for trout fishing. But if I’m using a floater I can use a ploy-leader or the Scandi.

Speaking of Poly Leaders, there were also some new Sonar Leaders in the package. Scientific Angler’s version of the popular “poly-leader”, these appear to be much higher quality than others I’ve used. Way stiffer, and the coating flows right into the level 1 foot tip. I’ll need to get out and fish them.

The new Lines – retail and demo – and leaders are on order and should be arriving shortly at Headhunters. I know many of you have been jonesing for a Scandi line for your Trout Spey. Here it is. And I think those looking for a true-to-weight Skagit head that casts tight will love this new head.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Casting Range

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TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!

For many anglers springtime means “gear time”. Lots of things on the to-do list. Cleaning lines, tying flies, cleaning out that mess you call a boat bag, and for many it means some new equipment. In March rods are probably the most talked about new item around the shop. Everyone wants one but are you actually going to pull the trigger?

One of the best ways to help talk yourself into it is to cast it. We encourage all prospective buyers to try before they buy, whether out on the water as a demo, or on our 100′ casting range on the side of the shop. On water gives you a chance to fish a rod, and on the grass gives you the opportunity to try several rods and – more importantly – several rod/line combinations quickly.

The casting range has been a busy place lately as customers search for both a new favorite rod and line. Above are a couple of our customers trying out some Sweetgrass bamboo rods with a couple different lines. They were even trying a #4 on a 5 weight rod to speed up the action. Only bamboo aficionados think that way. But it usually works.

Because fishing is usually a mid-day affair this time of year, it gives you a couple hours before or after fishing to try out some new gear. We’ve had customers out on the range trying out the new G Loomis Asquith, the Sage X and Pulse, the Orvis Covert (I think they’re just looking at the super-cool blackout paint job in the sun) and the wonderful Epic Fibergalss rods. And we always encourage you to take at least 2 or 3 different lines out with you.

Yes, we have tons of demo lines as well. Including all the troutspey heads you would ever consider. But you really need to walk over to the bridge and try them out on moving water with the two-hander. Grass Casting won’t tell you much with your spey rod.

PRIVATE LESSONS

And we have been doing a few of our private lessons recently as well. If you would like some one-on-one instruction, sign up at the shop. If you need help with your spey cast, you’ll be forced to spend a couple hours with yours truly. If you want some single handed instruction, Mark will be your instructor. So far the feedback has been great. You really can learn a thing or two in a customized one-on-one situation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Sunday Scenery

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A packed house yesterday as the weather topped 70° in downtown Craiglandia for the first time this year. Seems early to me, but most folks don’t mind shorts-and-flip-flop weather in mid-March. The parking lots were full and the Headhunters Crew spent most of the day shuttling rigs between the Dam and Prewitt Creek. A giant herd of sheep headed up to the dam and the more adventurous souls headed into the Cañon.

Fishing reports were OK at best, and pretty rough at worst. Down was better than up. Not sure if it’s the how the what or the where? Wading anglers seemed to do much better as well.

I don’t expect it to be as crowded Sunday, and things will hopefully be a bit cooler and cloudier. And not so windy. But I wouldn’t bet on the latter.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]