SIMMS Wader Makers Clay Krull

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SIMMS Wader Makers Clay Krull

Clay lives ad works in Montana.

He fishes in Montana.

Clay rules.

We met Clay at a SIMMS wader manufacturing tour years ago.

He fishes the Missouri, amongst others.

 

Clay is the real deal. No bullshit.

No bro, and no brah.

 

His home: Montana

His job: Cutting Gore-Tex

His fly shop in Craig? Headhunters

G3 sizes in stock @ Headhunters? 22. All of ’em. Every size.

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Roaming Montana

Roaming Montana

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Getting out and roaming Montana this week. Good friend EBitty and myself roaming around and fishing a bit. Love the Missouri River here in Craig but always good to more of Montana than just the canyon. And so we did. A good reminder that there is more to Montana fishing than our own backyard. When … Read more

Missouri River Late Summer Fishing Report 8.22.16

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Missouri River Late Summer Fishing Report 8.22.16 The latest from your friends at Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig in regards to the Missouri River Late Summer Fishing Report 8.22.16. All over the board is the best way to describe the fishing in central Montana this last week. Good reports of catching trout with more of … Read more

Aquatic Nuisance Species Reminder

Aquatic Nuisance Species Reminder

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Aquatic Nuisance Species Reminder Before moving to a new body of water you must wash your boat, waders, boots, or anything that may carry Aquatic Nuisance Species. This has become habit for many in the last several years with the increased education regarding evil parasites and such that can creep into our recreational waters. … Read more

Real Scary Shit

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Real Scary Shit This developed yesterday. Actually the day before the signs were in place. The entire stretch of the Yellowstone, the trout fishing reach, is CLOSED TO ALL RECREATION. That is serious. Read it all at RT News, or this comprehensive article from the Helena Independent Record. Real Scary Shit. Keep invasive species away, … Read more

Missouri River Ant Fest

Missouri River Ant Fest! Are you an Ant Addict?

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Missouri River Ant Fest I got an order for ants about 25 years ago. I was tying commercially and this feller wanted a couple hundred ants. What kind of ants I asked? He said quite simply…”Oh tie me up a variety of colors a sizes. You know, ant patterns. Some foam, some thread, some … Read more

Creek Fishing

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Did a little “Crick” fishing’ with my daughter yesterday. Had to get out and have a walk around. And catch some fish in a boulder filled stream. We found a few, and we also found surprisingly cold and powerful flows for late-summer. Some of that is due to recent Thunderstorms dumping ample rain over the Upper Missouri region, but most of the higher elevation freestones I’ve fished this summer seem to have “normal+” flows, despite the drought conditions many of Montana’s larger lowland rivers are experiencing. I’ve heard this from a handful of anglers from other parts of the state as well (but not everywhere).

I’m always at ease tackling a small mountain stream this time of year, knowing I’ll only need a handful of flies and some 4X. If things get tough, I’ll throw on a BH dropper. Yet I continue to find these “easy” fish doing what all trout in Montana do in August. Eating Tricos. You’d think after so many years of doing this it would no longer be a surprise. Yet it is, and I still rarely have anything close to a Trico in my backcountry box.

And some of the bailout and inside lies these freestone geniuses can set up in are just as tough as the Missouri. Maybe tougher considering the cliffed-out, deep wading, brush busting, knee scraping approaches you need to make. But it’s fun, and most of our local creeks contain some good fish to go along with the smaller trout one expects. Fish that are worth bruises and punctures.

We didn’t catch a ton of fish, mainly because we didn’t fish that much. This kind of trip involves some non-angling activities. Hiking, checking out caves, general exploring and maybe a river nap. But when we fished we caught them, and I don’t think we found a fishless pool. And that’s not always the case.

While these streams can and do suffer from extremely low flows, warm water and a lack of oxygen, they don’t seem to be this summer. At least no where I’ve looked around North-Central Montana. There are some fantastic mid and upper (“side country” and “backcountry”?) elevation freestone opportunities right now that shouldn’t be viewed as a plan B. Excellent fisheries with good numbers of fish and some good ones if you look hard enough and walk long enough. Before you do go, however, take a thermometer and check the temp. If you’re not familiar with the stream try to get some intel on regular flows for this time of year (many of these streams do not have USGS gauges).

Get out there!

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Freshwater Drum – Did You Know?

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our good friend and Adipose Boatworks GM Justin Waayenberg recently posted a picture on Social Media showing off a Montana Freshwater Drum he caught somewhere in Eastern Montana, and I asked him to put together a few words and images for us.

Most Montana fly-flickers don’t even know this species exists in the bigger waters in the eastern half of the state. If you live in the Great Falls area you’ll hear a story or two about them downstream of the falls. “Hard pulling’ fish” is always part of that story. I’ve fished where they live but have never seen or cast to one. I’ve always wanted to. But I don’t put in the time that Justin does…

I found out about freshwater drum (or Sheepshead) 3 years ago while on a trip to Michigan. I was immediately intrigued as the guy who told me about them said that you can sight fish for them. To me sight fishing is the pinnacle of the sport, and is my favorite way to fish. I began to do some research and found out that we have some in Montana. There was a place that I had been fishing for a little while that was said to hold some, and I began to keep an eye out when I was there. While I had no luck for a long time, a friend of mine caught one blind casting last year and it got me even more excited to know for sure that they were there.

Earlier this summer I was fishing in one of my favorite carp spots and was spotting fish for a friend while he was casting. I saw a smaller fish in a group of carp and immediately knew it had be a drum. He cast at it and it spooked off to never be seen again. We went back to the same area this past weekend and were catching some monster carp when my buddy spotted what he thought was a smallmouth bass following a couple of carp. I looked and said “No way man that’s a drum”. He took a couple of shots and it spooked off. We walked a bit farther and I spotted another one, I got down in position and made a cast. I stripped my fly in front of him and let it drop to the bottom. He followed it down and my buddy who was spotting for me started to holler he ate it, I stripped set and he was there. For the size of the fish it put up a great fight. They are a really cool looking fish and are a blast on fly rod. We took a couple of photos and let him swim off to be fished for another day.

-Justin

Awesome fish. Looks a whole lot like Black Drum I’ve caught on the Gulf Coast. At a time of the year when anglers statewide are talking about laying off the trout due to warm and low flows, Justin and his buddy are doing it and making the most of it. Looks like a few nice Carp as well. I like knowing there are guys like this out there doing this…

Follow Justin on Facebook to see if he catches more…

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Sheltahats fly fishing

Fly Fishing Sun Protection

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Above: Former firefighter and fly fishing model Dwayne Sutphin sporting some of our favorite sun protection gear: a DeYoung Patterned Buff, a 12WT FreeWT shirt, and the new Osprey Hat from Sheltahats.

We sell a lot of sun protection gear at Headhunters. If it has a “SPF” tag on it it’s likely one of our top sellers. In the last decade, sun protection has become incredibly important subject for those who constantly recreate outdoors. Watching our parents generation deal with sun-related skin issues – some serious – has taught us all a lesson.

As we roast through the last two months of summer and sunburns, we thought we’d share a few of our favorite sun protection products

While the baseball hat/buff combo has prevailed in the fly fishing world for the last 10 years – especially with the younger crew – I’m seeing more and more wide brimmed hats on anglers of all ages. Especially guides. A straw Tula Lifeguard Hat is our preferred lifeguard/cowboy hat and provides great protection. It is hard to travel with, however, and kind of a pain in the wind. And we have that.

Recently we discovered Sheltahats (as seen on Dewey above). These are very high tech hats that offer incredible UV protection and are designed to be used in and around the water (think surfing, SUP, whitewater, swimming, etc.) Dewey and I have been testing these for the last couple weeks and that are serious sun hats that we both agree outperform anything else. They have a stiff “winged” brim that offers great protection and vision, and doesn’t flop around even in 50mph winds. They are incredibly cool, and they stay put in the wind. The chinstrap can be clipped to the back to stay out of your way, or removed in seconds and stashed in a built in pocket. They’re expensive, but so far I would say they are well worth double the cost of other bucket, straw and up/downer hats I’ve tried. And they are just about double the price of many sun hats at $65.

Dewey is also rocking a FreeWT shirt from 12WT, a low-profile company that’s very popular with guides and industry folk, but has yet to gain serious traction in the Northern Rockies. This shirt has a lot of competition, but the fabric 12WT uses is incredibly comfortable, breathable and washes well. Everyone that owns one loves it, but you have to pass by all the artist series shirts in a myriad of colors to get to the 12WT gear. And colors are somewhat limited. Comfort is not. They also make what I consider to be by far the most comfortable sun-gaiter (“buff”), and excellent sun gloves.

Lastly Dewey is rocking a DeYoung artist series BUFF. We have been selling Buff’s since day one, having discovered them in the Keys years ago. We typically have a very large selection of colors in stock. While some argue that the Buff isn’t the most comfortable sun-gaiter on the market (personal preference) it works great, has some style built-in and is still the biggest seller in the outdoor world. Buff also makes some serious sun/fishing gloves we like, as well as finger stripping guards and some cold weather Merino Wool products we love.

Good old sunscreen still has it’s place, especially around the ears, nose, bald spot and neck. We’ve tried a bunch of waterproof sunscreens. They all work, but the two we’ve settled on – and believe to be the best – are Beyond Coastal and Sunbum. It’s almost a tie here. They both disappear into your skin without leaving much white residue all over, they both feel good (not greasy) and both work great. Beyond Coastal wins on the waterproof endurance scale (great for the back of your hands and forearms) and Sunbum probably takes the “feels great on your skin” award. We do prefer the Beyond Coastal lip-balm, and we also love the Sunbum Spray (bald spot crowd!).

Sungloves are very popular on the shadeless Missouri River, and longtime sunglove maker Simms wins by a landslide here. Buff, 12WT and others all makes great gloves as well, but the Simms models have the “open palm” design which is the most popular and breathable. A few years ago Simms introduced Sunsleeves (think buff for your arms), a product long ridiculed by myself and others. I began to carry these while hiking in the backcountry – where I typically wear short sleeves – and have pulled a 180 and become a huge fan. They’re super light and go anywhere and you can wear them with any shirt. They also provide pretty good protection for the back of your hands, all but eliminating the need for gloves. I guess I’m old enough that I just don’t care anymore…

Solar attacks on your epidermal layer will continue through September, so make sure you are properly protected. And ask your guide what he or she uses and likes. Fly Fishing guides spend a massive amount of time in the sun, and most have definitive opinions on sun protection products, performance and comfort.

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Sunday Scenery

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A calm sunset at the Wolf Creek FAS. Those aren’t clouds, but smoke from the Roaring Lion Fire at Hamilton, Montana. We’ve had very little smoke in our area from that or other fires in the region.

All quiet on the Mo’ this week. Weekends are seeing an incredible amount of recreational traffic and a wide variety of “pool toys” on the river. This week should be calm with some fishy, cloudy weather in the forecast.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Saturday Fishing Report & Housekeeping

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]”You gotta fish at the coolest time of day.” A tip from Braden, who we find twitching and skittering after dark in the above image. The after-hours party is happening right now, with a mix of Caddis, tiny PED’s, Craneflies, a few Spruce Moths, and a gozillion bats. If you go out after dark – and don’t like bats inside a rod tip length – don’t turn on your headlamp.

Nymph Report

Continues to fish well. The weeds have gotten a tiny bit worse, but that drifting mess seems to wax and wane as it always has based on factors we have never understood. I think a combination of air vs. water temperature, oxygen content in the H20, and some kind of lake effect. Bottom line: it will drive you nuts at some point during the day, but not all day. And not everywhere. TIP: The bigger and harder you mend, the more weeds you’ll pick up.

The dam still seems to be the spot most folks are getting stumped. I recommend tiny sow bug patterns (no bead) and beadless Zebra midges. Get deep with it and stick around near the dam until you hit on the pattern. Actually, I recommend going somewhere else…

From Wolf Creek to Dearborn, and mix of skinny Mayfly patterns like the Little Green Machine, Caddis imitations (Blooms Purple Weight Fly has been best), and some flashy Rainbow Warrior type flies are a good call. Start at 5 feet and go up and down from there. Lower down most anglers are having success with larger patterns like the Worm, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Clouser Crawfish, and Cranefly Larva. I would throw a large #8 or #10 scud in the mix along with a snail pattern if you have one (we don’t).

Cascade is fishing pretty well and getting more abuse than normal for this time of year. I hope the anglers hitting the lower stretches are paying close attention to the water temperatures. Flies should include some hopper type junk, Czech droppers and Ant patterns. You’ll likely encounter localized Callibaetis and caddis hatches at some point.

While the nymph fishing is still a bit of a riddle, it’s by far the most productive and consistent for most anglers. It also seems to be improving each day, and that should continue as we experience some cooler weather in the next week.

Trico Wars

The only thing consistent is that it’s a tough battle most days in most places. Two days of weak hatches can be followed by a monster spinner fall. And that big event could occur at Wolf Creek Bridge or at Mountain Palace. The fish are tough and we are using 6X, small clusters and spinners, and looooong leaders, tippets and casts. So it’s the usual for the first week of August. The good news is that moderate to minimal pressure means you can fish most of the spots you want to. No need for a long float if you’re hunting heads.

Hopper Fishing

You can follow our guides leads and be on the water at 6:30. It can be really good with the big bugs. But more than once in the last 10 days that good session was at 1:00pm, like the book says. If that wind kicks up after lunch tie one on. And, they’re cutting most of the fields along the river right now which tends to kick a few hundred-thousand hoppers into the river. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. They’ve all seen it now. Long casts down in front of the boat are key. If they refuse it, twitch it. Our advice? If you tie on a hopper, leave it on all day. Any float will do.

Housekeeping…

The new Sage X is in stock now in both the 590 and 690 configurations. Get them while they last. We’ve got demo’s ready for you to try.

We also have the new 4 piece Swift Flyfishing Epic Fastglass rods in stock. A variety of colors in 580, 686 and the 5 piece 7’6″ #4 “Packlight” which has become my most used rod this season. I love it.

Talk to Sara if you’re interested in purchasing an NRS Freestone Drifter Demo with oars, pump and anchor. You’ll love it this fall when the water comes back up and cools off a bit. We also have a beater raft trailer that rolls great for sale. First $400 takes it.

If you’re looking for the ultimate in high performance sun protection headwear, check out the new Shelta hats in stock. Dewey and I have been test driving these for a couple of weeks and we are sold. Awesome protection, breathability, lightweight and they stick to your head in the wind.

And pretty much all technical sun shirts are on sale right now (I just filled up the rack yesterday!). Cruise by Headhunters and score some sportswear at a great price.

We actually have an unspoken for Abel Super 5 Grateful Dead 50th Anniversary reel in stock! (Seems impossible, but it’s true!)

Mark’s Advanced Fly Fishing School is full. You missed out!

Perch fishing is on fire in the river (if you know where to look) and on the lake. Why pick on those trout suffering in warm water when you can feed your family…

Looking forward to some cooler weather and hopefully some precipitation this weekend and early next week.

[forecast]

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Friday Foto Hiking with Jim

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Shop regular Jim Brandley and I spent a day hiking a small stream up near Glacier NP last month. Here’s a few shots of our day. Incredible scenery. Pretty good fishing. Great hike. No bears.

Enjoy the weekend. A few fishermen around, mostly the hardcore type. A few out of state guides taking a late summer vacation to somewhere new. It’s always fun to share and compare the differences between the Missouri and other rivers.

Plenty of splash & giggle floaters on warm afternoon weekends this time of year.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_image image=”19591″ onclick=”lightbox”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

I Said Delicate!

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you’ve been out on the Missouri chasing heads in the morning lately, you know that the fish can be tough. Super Snotty. And nothing frustrates anglers more than fish that go down on the first cast, even when it’s a good one! We’ve been hearing this gripe lately from the morning dry fly crowd.

There’s no doubt that our trout get a little wiser each year. And when the hatches are a little thin – as they’ve been lately – the fish seem to be that much more wary. Stealthy approaches are a necessity. Keep your feet or oars hushed while you get in position. Measure your line at least 45 degrees from the fish. And for Pete’s sake don’t pile it in on them!

While some fish just aren’t going to play no matter how well you do it (did Ben Hardy just leave the area?), others will if you do it right. We constantly harp on the importance of that first cast. And we’re usually stressing accuracy. But landing that line and leader delicately is just as important during late summer.

The simplest piece of advice to keep things landing lightly is to stop that tip high on your forward stroke. Sounds easy, right? It is, but it’s also one of the most common casting errors guides & instructors see, and also one that many let slip by in this era of bobber lobbing and chucking streamers (dropping your tip is a good thing when nymphing). Guides also let you get away with it because it’s one of the many things we repeat thousands of times a year (“set it!”, “mend”, “you’re going too far back”, etc.). Sometimes we just run out of words.

In the above image we see ex-Mo-guide Simon Perkins performing a delicate dry fly presentation. See where that tip is stopping? That’s how it’s done. As a result you can see his line and leader extended perfectly parallel to the surface. His line, leader and fly are all going to “parachute” down together and land as light as possible. No forward energy to pile into the river. All forward energy has been expelled in the air.

This one is easy to work on in the back yard. Use a fixed amount of line (usually no need to shoot much this time of year), and keep it on the short side. Think about the average distance you work a trico pod from. Likely around 40 feet. In a nice bouncy riffle, probably less. Use that amount.

Concentrate on stopping that rod tip high. This means your forward stroke will be short. Despite the Rev. MacLean telling you to perform the cast between 10 and 2 o’clock, you’re going to rein it in to 11 and 1. Real tight.

I also like to envision that line coming off the tip and straight out into the air. Not up, and definitely not down. Watch your rod tip and line at the end of the forward stroke, not your target. It will help.

Years ago a I heard a casting instructor (probably the late, great Mel Kreiger, but I can no longer remember for sure) tell the class to perform that forward stroke just like your hitting a nail into a wall right in front of you. Think about that. A short forward stroke with your wrist locked (we’re talking a framing hammer here) and an abrupt stop. Your hand is just above your shoulder. Tap, tap, tap. If you’ve never used a hammer (millennials?) go steal one from your dad’s tool chest and give it a try. You really can’t use a hammer wrong. If you do you’ll end up in the ER.

We’re on the early and late shifts right now, so you have plenty of time to practice this stuff in the afternoon. Muscle memory is key to good casting. And burn the above image into your mind.

If you just want to practice hammering, swing by the shop. You can work on the fence.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Jason Fowler Helena

Recycled Anchors

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A few years ago Jason Fowler walked in our shop and asked if we wanted to buy some “used” drift boat and raft anchors. When I asked him where he got used anchors, he told me he dove for them. With scuba gear (actually a hookah rig). He said he was going to try and find as many as possible. I bought a few from him – at a price not much different than what I pay for new anchors – and never expected to see him again.

But he came back again, and continues to do so. Jason has made it his mission to recover as much lead from the bottom of the Missouri River as possible. He logs all salvage, and to date has removed 1800 lbs of lead from the Missouri River below Holter Dam! And that doesn’t include the 9 anchors he stopped by the shop with the other day when I took the above photo.

At first, I though the idea of repurposed anchors at near full retail pricing was not going to work. But it does. We’ve found most folks don’t really care, they just need an anchor. And the fact that Jason is cleaning up the Missouri River while supplying anchors for fishermen appeals to a lot more folks than I would have guessed. And that’s a good thing.

Jason has become our primary provider of drift boat anchors. He sells us both “restored” anchors, and new ones he makes from the melted down lead anchors that he feels are unusable or unsellable. He can make you an anchor in any weight, and we typically carry 30lbers, along with a few 25 and 20 lb models. He also provides river salvage services (fly rod overboard?) and will look for and usually find anything you’ve lost to the Mo’.

If you see an unmanned blue raft unnervingly tracking down the Missouri River on it’s own, you probably just ran into Jason. I won’t go into the details of how he does it, but if you stop and talk to him he’ll be glad to show you. And be careful around him and his boat. Diver down!

We applaude Jason efforts to clean up the Missouri River. Support his efforts by purchasing one of his anchors instead of adding more new lead to the Mo’!

If you need an anchor or dropped that  new reel in the river, you can contact Jason at Missouri River Anchor & Salvage 406-465-3742.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Dog Daze Fishing Report – Missouri River

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So inconsistent I can’t even keep up with it. Fishing reports are all over the place right now, and fortunately you can fish all over the place right now. Pretty rare to be heading to the lower river during August hot-weather, but you can. And most of the toughest reports I’ve heard have come from the Dam? Another August anomaly.

First the good news. 1. Water temps have been what I would call “below average” for late-July /August. Yesterday the began at 62 and rose to around 65. You can’t ask for much better than that on the Mo’ in August. 2. Also, weeds are not a serious issue. Those who bitch about them right now ain’t been around these parts long. 3. Crowdless. Yes, the angling crowd is pretty thin right now, though on weekends the splash & giggle crowd will be out in force. But if you’re out on the water early you won’t see too much competition for your favorite hole.

Now the bad. 1. Trico hatches have been less than stellar, and the fish – as they often do – are reacting by not reacting. At least on top. Prepare to find small pods, and not that many of them. Some days, however, it rocks. You need to go to know. 2. Evening caddis hatches have been fluctuating between shitty and crappy. There are bugs out there, but by all-time Missouri River standards it’s pretty grim.

So, what to do? Well, we suggest hitting the river early, say by 7:30, and to be prepared to fish Trico’s or Nymph. You can throw the big bugs as well, but if you’re unfamiliar with mid-river lies right now, you may find that move tough. Nymphing will be more productive and easier to figure out. Nymph fishing has actually been very good lately (most days). Hit the river with a wide variety of Mayfly nymphs (Psycho May, PT Flashback, Military May, etc.) as well as small sow bug and midge larva. Grape Slushy and Purple Weight fly are money. Don’t mend too much or too violently or you’ll pick up drifting bits of green. Be gentle and hit it hard.

Bring your standard Trico patterns and midge clusters for your dry fly arsenal. If you’re on the water real early have some Trico Duns as well. And everyone is buying and fishing drowned Trico spinners or similar. Blind fishing in the morning can be accomplished with anything from the Purple Haze to a Morrish Hopper. Royal Trude? House & Lot? Caddis are still effective even though you may not see a single live adult.

Evenings are a crapshoot. If it’s over 90 degrees during the day, you can expect a very brief “frenzy” right before and at dark. So brief its not worth floating. Just walk in to your favorite spot. If it’s cloudy (or likely smoky next week) and not too warm the evening fishing should get pushed forward a bit. I’d head out at 7pm. I would also fish somewhere below Craig.

As for “where”, the Canyon has been the most consistent fishing, both with nymphs and dries. It’s not way better, but it’s better. Larger attractor nymphs can and do work, as does the typical Missouri River selection. Streamers are worth trying, but you’ll have to stick to half the river to avoid the moss. Hopper and ants are a good bet for blind prospecting. When you stick a fish, take note of the water depth and speed and try and keep your fly in front of the boat in the same stuff.

And while Canyon seems to be the most consistent, all sections are worth a try and are putting out fish, including the lower. Those who know the river are getting them for sure, and a lot of very large trout are being handled right now.

Which reminds me…

Don’t fight fish too long on light tippet. Push it to the edge and try and get those fish in asap. If you break them off who cares. If you do land them, try to #keepemwet and unhook them quickly. Pictures are for springtime and Bull trout. Just get our trout back as quickly as possible.

By the way, the clarity is excellent right now, and with bright and spooky conditions, the guy in the back of the boat needs to get his or her fly a long ways from the boat…

ALSO

Just received the forecasted water report from Dam managers today. They don’t say it out loud, but Im betting they’re going to drop flows into the 3500cfs range. When they do, expect an increase in mossy weedy conditions. I could be wrong, but how often does that happen?

Good luck out there, and make sure you don’t leave your problem solving skills at home.

LATE ADDITION

Just received word that FWP has imposed a 24 full hour closure on the Jefferson River, and also on portions of the Big Hole.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”FWP Stream Closures & Restrictions” color=”danger” size=”lg” align=”center” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Ffwp.mt.gov%2Fnews%2Frestrictions%2FwaterClosure.html||target:%20_blank”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

UPDATED HOOT-OWL CLOSURES

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Recent warm weather has increased water temperatures and decreased flows on a number of Montana rivers triggering Hoot-owl restrictions. It seems the days of complete closures are over. Here is the most recent update for those wondering which rivers are under restrictions. Remember, you can still fish these rivers in the early part of the day. We propose that you carry a thermometer and take water temperatures every hour. Also FIGHT FISH QUICKLY, and if you notice fish struggling to recover after the fight, it’s a good sign that it’s time to head to the bar for a cold one.

You probably shouldn’t trust my copy & paste skills, and check out the official report here.[/vc_column_text][us_separator show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][vc_column_text]

Big Hole River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/23/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to North Fork Big Hole River Mouth (7/22/2016)

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/25/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Big Hole River from Maiden Rock FAS to Notch Bottom FAS. (7/25/2016)

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/23/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Notch Bottom FAS to confluence with the Beaverhead River (7/22/2016)

Bitterroot River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/29/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Bitterroot River from Tucker Crossing FAS near Victor to the confluence with the Clark Fork River. (7/28/2016)

Blackfoot River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/29/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire Length (7/28/2016)

Boulder River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction Lifted starting 7/30/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Boulder River from Natural Bridge to the confluence of the Yellowstone River. (7/29/2016)

 

Clark Fork River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/29/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Clark Fork River from the mouth of Warm Springs Creek near Warm Springs to Rock Creek. (7/28/2016)

Copper Creek

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/29/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire Length (7/28/2016)

East Gallatin River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/08/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
East Gallatin River from Spring Hill Road Bridge (Hwy411) to the confluence with the Gallatin River. (7/7/2016)

Gallatin River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/01/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
From the confluence with the Madison River at Three Forks to Sheds Bridge (Hwy 84) near Four Corners, MT (6/30/2016)

Jefferson River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/01/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire river. (6/30/2016)

Madison River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 06/30/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Madison River from Ennis Dam to the mouth (6/29/2016)

Mill Willow Bypass

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/29/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Downstream portion of Silver Bow Creek Closure (7/28/2016)

Monture Creek

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/29/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire Length (7/28/2016)

Morrell Creek

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/29/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire Length (7/28/2016)

North Fork Blackfoot River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/29/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire Length (7/28/2016)

Ruby River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/25/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Ruby River from Duncan District Road to the confluence with the Beaverhead River. (7/25/2016)

Shields River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/29/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Shields River from Daisy Dean Road Bridge to the confluence with the Yellowstone River. (7/28/2016)

Silver Bow Creek

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/29/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire Length (7/28/2016)

Smith River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/25/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Smith River from the confluence of the North and South forks of the Smith River to Eden Bridge. (7/24/2016)

Stillwater River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/30/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Stillwater River from the Cliff Swallow FAS downstream to the Yellowstone River (7/29/2016)

Sun River

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/25/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Sun River from the Highway 287 Bridge to the mouth of Muddy Creek. (7/24/2016)[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”19560″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Depth Perception Video

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Depth Perception Video

From Scumliner’s long list of kick ass Missouri River videos comes Depth Perception.

Shot 5 years ago this classic is sure to entertain. Caddis evenings can be great.

Nice evenings and great mornings will help you through the remainder of the month.

Enjoy the weekend and TGIF.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/26814387″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Trout Bummin'

Trout Bummin’

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Trout Bummin’ Found these cats fresh outta the water at Wolf Creek Bridge after a swim bath in Mother Mo. Trout Bummin’ Montana. A short chat revealed they had rented a boat from us and had enjoyed sampling some of our Missouri River Trout Fruit. Turns out these fishy smelling’ fellas had been to the … Read more

Hump Day Missouri River Fishing Report

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Hump Day Missouri River Fishing Report A short bulleted version of the Hump Day Missouri River Fishing Report. Good Trico spinner fall in the morning. The farther you are downstream the longer it lasts. If you are fishing at the dam it goes by and poof gone! Lower downriver the bugs keep coming for a while. … Read more

Dog Days this Week

Dog Days this Week

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Dog Days this Week We are a couple strong weeks away from the Dog Days of Summer but the temperatures will remind us that August is coming. Remember that July is our warmest month here in central Montana with August historically cooler. But it can be stale and stale. We may see this this week. … Read more

Mid July Missouri River Fishing Report

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Mid July Missouri River Fishing Report Mid July Missouri River Fishing Report begins and ends with the Trico hatch. Going strong here fishing central Montana’s Missouri River. It is the focus of most everyday. Missouri River Trico Hatch Timing is everything. You want to be in your spot or flat when the Trico’s fall … Read more

Saturday Cinema – Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Locations

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/110600787″][vc_column_text]We’re huge fans of the 1974 film Thunderbolt & Lightfoot, and not just because it’s filmed in this area. It’s a must-see modern Western starring two great actors. We’ve written about it before, and some feedback clued us into the fact that a cult-like following surrounds this film, and it extends around the world.

But filmmaker Herve Attia spent the time to figure out many of the locations and his film gives you a “then and now” look at many of them. His incredibly creative way of showing the locations – and inserting himself into them – makes for a fun short. And he has done this for some other classics as well. If you’re trapped at home on this Saturday, check it out.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Friday Foto Rain Delay

Friday Foto Rain Delay

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Friday Foto Rain Delay Two of my favorites over the years. Tony and Sandy. Quite a pair. Enjoyed fishing with both of them. This is a rain delay a number of years ago under the tailgate at Stickney Creek. Rain and TStorms this weekend in combination with sun! Be prepared with the right rain gear … Read more

The Montana Story 40 Years of Success Video

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The Montana Story 40 Years of Success Video

Awesome. A great story about this great state.

It is why we have trout like no others.

Period.

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Missouri River Bugs – July

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Missouri River bugs The following are some pictures of Missouri River bugs that were collected just downstream of the Mid Cañon boat ramp on July 7th. It has been a month since our last bug post, so some of the bugs are the same and some are new. Mayfly nymphs, caddis larvae, midge larvae, scuds, … Read more

The Scandinavian Way Video

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The Scandinavian Way Video

Funny, clever, terrific is how I rate this video.

Perfect for a Saturday in July.

Chill. It looks good on you.

This crew stopped by the shop last simmer after completing their journey.

Love the results!

Enjoy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/173902504″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Commando Style – Explore Rentals

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we head into a drought year with at least some fishing restrictions, we thought we’d throw a long overdue shout-out to our friends at Phasmid Rentals (now Explore Rentals) in Bozeman. Owner Will Cassella has been a customer for years and runs an excellent 4 Wheel Drive/Camping/Boat Rental operation that many of our customers utilize.

If I could give one piece of advice during a low-water/hot weather year, it’s to BE MOBILE. The ability to quickly changes plans and rivers allows you to work around unexpected closures, poor fishing and sometimes the weather. Mobility means camping, not the typical hotel/lodge accommodations.

Camping means you’re either going to drive to Montana (can be thousands of miles) -or- ship some camping gear here ahead of your visit -or- go to Wally World and buy a crappy tent, sleeping bag, etc. to be left in the airport dumpster. Flying this kind of gear out has simply become too expensive, and the airline pain-in-the-ass factor has become intolerable.

Or, you can rent all of this stuff from Explore Rentals. It starts with a Suburban or Outback, and you go from there. You can add a camper or an NRS Freestone Inflatable Drift boat (one of our favorites). You can choose between multiple sleeping options, including the “Zzz” setup to crash in your car, or a variety of tents, sleeping pads and bags. A variety of cooking kits, coolers, tables, camp chairs, etc. is available. Explore even rents Bear Spray and two-way radios. The list is enormous.

While you won’t be as comfortable as you would staying in a nice riverside cabin with a shower and Satellite TV, you can quickly and easily move to where the fishing is best. And you get to do a little “roughing it”, which is good for you. Watch the sun go down on the bank of a different river each night, including some of those lesser fished places that don’t have services.

We’ve heard nothing but great things from our customers who have utilized Explore Rentals, and they’ve grown considerably in the last few years. If you are in the planning stages of a Montana fly fishing trip for later this summer – and you don’t mind sleeping on a pad instead of a bed – we highly recommend that you check out this option. Fly to Bozeman, pick everything up and then go where the fishing is the best.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

At least the hurricane force winds kept the flags flying all day.

The town that forgot how to 4th of July

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]photo essay by John Arnold

Every once in a while, a town forgets how to 4th of July. Yesterday was that day for the village of Craig. A handful of folks drifted through town to celebrate our Nations independence on a warm, windy and dusty afternoon. Through the magic of Adobe software, I’ve transformed these images into gloomy, high-contrast black and whites that make it seem much more miserable than it actually was.[/vc_column_text][us_separator show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][us_grid columns=”5″ post_type=”attachment” items_quantity=”” images=”19289,19277,19284,19282,19283,19286,19285,19287,19281,19278″ orderby=”post__in” items_gap=”4px” items_layout=”gallery_default” img_size=”us_350_350_crop” overriding_link=”popup_post_image” breakpoint_1_cols=”5″ breakpoint_2_width=”768px” breakpoint_3_width=”480px” breakpoint_2_cols=”4″ breakpoint_3_cols=”2″][us_separator show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][vc_column_text]To be honest, we kind of saw this coming. And we still had a good time visiting with the folks who were around. They were all fisherman, which is nice. Craig could use a “4th off”, though I’m sure Joe’s Bar and a few the town residents still put on a good fireworks show. While some folks were bummed we opted out of the Fireworks and all night BBQ, it did give our staff the opportunity to roam around the region and enjoy some of the other Independence day celebrations. Or just sleep.

We hope you had a safe holiday and are ready for some July dry fly fishing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Montana Hoot-Owl Restrictions

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Here we go. July 1 and we’re already seeing some “Hoot-Owl” closures around the state. That means that June was a little warmer than we like it. Or than the trout do. It seems early, and it also seems like just a couple of weeks ago some of these rivers were high and un-fishable. Here is the current list (as of 7/2/16):

BEAVERHEAD RIVER

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/01/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Beaverhead River from Anderson Lane to the Confluence with the Big Hole River. (6/30/2016)

This is the “lower” Beaverhead, downstream of Dillon to Twin Bridges. Not likely on your list of spots to hit unless you’re fishing with a guide from the Twin Bridges area.

BIG HOLE RIVER

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 06/30/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to the Mouth of the North Fork Big Hole River. (6/29/2016)

This is the way upper Big Hole drainage and a wade fishing area. Home to threatened Grayling. Probably not a place you had planned to fish.

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/01/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Big Hole River from North Fork Big Hole River to Dickey Bridge (6/30/2016)

This one will affect some anglers who like to fish the upper Big Hole just upstream from Wise River.

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/01/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Big Hole River from Notch Bottom Fishing Access Site to the Confluence with the Beaverhead River. (6/30/2016)

This section is well below Melrose and Glenn, and represents the lowest 2 floats on the Big Hole.

GALLATIN RIVER

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/01/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
From the confluence with the Madison River at Three Forks to Sheds Bridge (Hwy 84) near Four Corners, MT (6/30/2016)

The very lowest sections of the Gallatin and not likely a place you planned to fish in July.

JEFFERSON RIVER

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/01/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Entire river. (6/30/2016)

If they need to impose Hoot-Owl restrictions on the entire Jefferson on July 1, they should just close it. Stay off this one.

MADISON RIVER

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 06/30/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Madison River from Ennis Dam to the mouth (6/29/2016)

The entire lower Madison. Best left to the splash & giggle crowd this time of year anyhow. Again, probably should just be closed.

RUBY RIVER

Hoot Owl Fishing Restriction starting 07/01/2016
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Ruby River from Duncan District Road to Confluence with Beaverhead (6/30/2016)

The very lower sections of the Ruby, and not likely a spot you were planning to hit unless you have access to private property.

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Broad, slow and shallow sections like the Missouri River near Cascade should probably see the same drought closures as many Montana freestones.

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SHOULD I EVEN GO THERE?

These restriction get very confusing to folks unfamiliar with Montana, and sometimes get over-publicized nationally, causing anglers cancel their trips to Montana all-together. For example, it’s likely that a national news organization will write the typical “Montana Streams Closed to Trout Fishing”, or “Montana’s Famed Big Hole Closed Due to Drought” story in the next week or two. In reality, the section of the Big Hole that receives 90% of the fishing pressure is still open and under no restrictions. And 99.9% of Montana’s rivers and streams are open to fishing!

On the other hand, broad, shallow lower reaches like the Jefferson and Madison below Ennis should probably just be closed. They get incredibly warm at times, and don’t have either the elevation or shady canyons to help cool them at night or when the sun is low. Political and economic forces have made the “Hoot-Owl” restriction the norm. 15 years ago many of these restrictions would have been imposed for 24 hours, not 10.

If you’re concerned about where you will be fishing, watch the weather, use your head and carry a thermometer. Just because a river is open doesn’t mean the trout are not in danger of over-stressing in warm water temperatures. The “Big 3” that never get restricted (Missouri, upper-Madison, Big Horn) all suffer from water temperatures that should trigger a closure. Again, those in power seem to have decided long ago to leave these rivers open no matter what stream conditions are.

So use your brain and think about all of the factors that affect the river you plan on fishing. Weather, elevation, shade, gradient and depth all play a factor into how a stream reacts to extended warm air temperatures. And be ready to pull the plug if you see the fish you catch having a tough time reviving after a fight. Ultimately it’s not the states decision where you fish, it’s yours.

Maybe it’s time you finally try the Kootenai River?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Welcome to July with Dead Flies Don’t Swim Video

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A Scumliner Classic today to greet you into July on the Missouri River.

July means bugs. july means Trico’s. July means early mornings. July means fun.

Lots folks around during this the busiest month of the year.

Bring your sunglasses, sunscreen, dry fly rod, and reach cast.

Big ass BBQ on the 4th at Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig. 4-8pm. Come on by and say hello. Cast a bit at the Craig Casting Club. Tell fish stories.

Enjoy July wherever you are. The best of summer. Enjoy your weekend.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/101744402″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

June is done Missouri River Fishing Report

June is done Missouri River Fishing Report

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June is done Missouri River Fishing Report Caddis, Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sally’s, Nocturnal Stones, Brown Drakes, Callibaetis, and now Trico’s. What is not to like?! July is a great month on the Missouri River with lots of dry fly opportunities. You really can fish the dry fly dawn til dusk. And June? June is … Read more

Sage Trout Season Video

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Sage Trout Season Video

Enjoy this summer time Sage Trout Season Video appearing on the Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service Blog.

Tune in here for the best in trout fishing entertainment, information, and education.

Many can bring you the weather report. Many can bring you some sort of inane trout psychobabble.

Headhunters brings you experiences relating to Mother Mo.

Daily.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/171477044″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

New Boat Smell Hyde Montana Skiff

New Boat Smell Hyde Montana Skiff

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New Boat Smell Hyde Montana Skiff Shane Wilson and his new Hyde Montana Skiff today at Headhunters Fly Shop. Max Mattioli has one too. Now both of these HH guides are rocking this Hyde version of the ever so popular skiff that is taking over Montana’s Missouri River. Some don’t like the skiff design because … Read more