Trout Bum 101

Trout Bum 101

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So you wanna be a trout bum. The first thing I would tell you is to finish your degree and pursue a normal career. If you don’t want to go the smart route, and spend the rest of your life having a ball and chasing fish…then jump in with both feet! If you read the … Read more

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 2.18.14

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Coming out of the holiday weekend we feel great. Lots of anglers around on Saturday as the weather cooperated the first time in months. Sunny, calm, and just right! As the week moves onward we see temps drop and precip increase. Just like winter is supposed to be. [forecast] As for the fishing report. It … Read more

5 Easy Winter Tasks

5 Easy Winter Tasks

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Missouri River Winter Fishing today on the Headhunters Blog with 5 Easy Winter Tasks. while at home dreaming about fishing there are some tasks you can accomplish setting yourself up for the coming season. In many parts of the country you cannot fish all 12 months so you may need something to keep your mind … Read more

SIlly Sunday Scenery

Silly Sunday Scenery

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The weather yesterday was just fantastic. Nicest day all winter. Or for quite some time! I think we touched 50F. It sure felt like it. And today? Should be nice, but the wind may come up! If you are coming, call first and we will give you wither the A-OK, or turn that truck around  … Read more

John Prine Whistle and Fish

John Prine Fish and Whistle

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John Prine Whistle and Fish Video today on the Headhunters Fly Fishing Blog. John Prine is one of our favorites here in Craig Montana. A couple of our shop staffers, Ninch and Sara, love them some Prine. Today we are teaching Spey Casting at one of our free clinics. Whistle and cast, whistle and fish…both … Read more

Missouri River Presidents Weekend Fishing Report

Missouri River Presidents Weekend Fishing Report

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Is winter over here in central Montana? No. But Old Man Winter is giving us a break this holiday weekend! A lighter weather report will allow fishing this weekend without too much pain. The boat ramps are pretty much cleared. Earlier this week we saw drifts and tough ramp conditions but the snow and ice … Read more

Sunday Spey Clinic

Sunday Spey Clinic

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A really cold day on the river, practicing 2 handed casting techniques. A number of folks showed and were interested. A lengthy classroom session with a couple hours on the water. Iced guides? Yes, but not enough to discourage us. Not at all. We have part 2 of the split session this coming Saturday. You … Read more

Utah fly fishing

Stream Access Battles

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If you spend even 5 minutes a week surfing around blogs, forums, FB & Twitter, you should at least be aware that Montana and Utah continue to battle small but powerful (well funded) lobbies and individuals attempting to shutdown rivers and streams to public access. Here at home, it’s an every two year process. Our … Read more

Jared Edens Poetry plus a Taco Recipe!

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Jared Eden is a Headhunters Guide Exrta-O-Dinaire. I asked him if he had written poetry before. He said, “Nope. First poem.” Thanks for the Blog Jared! Old man winter sitting on the porch this morning.  I like poems, so I thought about giving writing one a try. The frozen H2o Its journey downward begins Born … Read more

Tailout Scumliner Media

Tailout | Scumliner Media

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John’s video last year that debuted at Down the Hatch Video Festival in Missoula. A cold spey clinic today with lots of indoor action. Next week, outdoor action too. Although we will venture out for a short, and frozen, casting session. Handwarmers required. Enjoy this film today dreaming about your next Steelhead adventure. Tailout – … Read more

Vedavoo Made in America

Vedavoo Made in America

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You may have seen this cool new Made in America packs, gear portals, and pouches on a few of our guides or on your city streets. This product is crazy good. Hand made in America and colorful. When they aren’t building packs for you and I for river use, they are designing and building packs … Read more

spawning salmon

Sunday Science – Salmon GPS

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From WIRED Magazine – by Mary Bates Interesting read from the wires… how those Salmon and Steelhead get back to the creeks they were born in. Salmon Inherit a Magnetic Map Young salmon with no experience of the world, and without any guidance, are able to use the Earth’s magnetic field to find locations on the … Read more

F3T “50” Tarpon Teaser

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A cool video coming to a theater near you. The F3T show will be rolling through Great Falls March 14th at the Hilton garden Inn. Save the date and come out to shed the winter doldrums, your Patagonia puffball, your pasty white skin…have a few beers ad enjoy the fly fishing event to kick off … Read more

Montana winter spey fishing

Spey Clinic Options for this and next week.

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Cold weather continues to interfere with our Spey Clinics, and we’re planning on a second adjustment to this weekends clinic. We’ve just sent out email to those signed up, so check you inbox. Here’s the nuts and bolts: After moving the clinic from Saturday to Sun day, the weather forecast for both days has deteriorated … Read more

Lower River Fishing Report – Ice

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Probably not the best stretch to float today, unless you happen to own one of these. In all seriousness, cold winters like we’re experiencing bring lots of ice to the Cascade stretch of the Missouri River. This winter is no exception. Floating below Prewitt – definitely below Cascade – would not be possible today. Slivers … Read more

Headhunters Winter Spring Calendar

Headhunters Winter & Spring Calendar

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Lots happening in the near future here on the Missouri River. While Mother Nature never rests, although it is difficult to tell this week with air temps hovering below Zero, neither do we. The Headhunters gang is busy in the shop while getting you up to date on whats happening. Headhunters Winter & Spring Calendar … Read more

montana fly shop

Closed Today… too damn cold.

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-21 this morning. Little chilly. We’re going to take the day off instead of forcing our staff to head to work. It’s not like you’re going fishing today. Maybe ice fishing. If you need to call the shop to make lodging or guiding reservations, no problem. Give Julie a call at 406-868-5473. She and I … Read more

Montana Spey Rids

Headhunters 2014 Spey Rod Lineup

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With another two-handed (spey) clinic coming up this weekend, we thought we’d go over our lineup of two-handed rods. As two-handers get shorter and faster, we have constantly improving models available in that 6-7 weight range we like (385 – 450gr Scandi for Spey Trekkies). Your First Spey Rod We always like to preface talk … Read more

Winter Guide Trips...

Winter Guide Trips…

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Headhunters Guide Peter Skidmore coming up for air as he and his fiance, and a pile of locals remodel his house. Maybe Peter will stick around for a while as he establishes deeper roots. Peter is a highly regarded and booked Missouri River guide. The Spring Special has been announced and you can book Peter … Read more

Montana spey clinic

Spey Clinic moved to Sunday

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Due to the super cold temperatures forecast for the end of the week, we are forced to move our free spey/two-handed clinic to Sunday, instead of Saturday as scheduled. Temps on Saturday are forecast to be 0 degrees when we wake up, and a high of 15-20 degrees. Sunday looks like 36. Kind of  no-brainer. … Read more

Gary LaFontaine Wisdom…

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New employee Braden Lewis,  you’ll meet him this summer, sent us this mid-winter blog post. Thanks Braden. We love LaFontaine wisdom too! While the winter time on the Missouri River still offers solid fishing, I find myself taking more time during these shorter days to read about, think about, and participate in tying flies. I … Read more

SIMMS Teaser

SIMMS Teaser | Off Season Angling

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Check it out. A nice diversion on this Thursday. Tying night last evening. Some tying some small bugs for some hatch on some Missouri River dry fly flat. How about you? You getting ready for the eye opening season of Spring? We are…     Check out the SIMMS Gear Guide here…http://www.simmsfishing.com/gear-guide/2014-spring/

Missouri River Trout Numbers High

Missouri River Trout Numbers High

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Trout Number high again this year on Montana’s Missouri River according to biologists. We are looking strong. Real strong again with trout numbers high, average fish size high, and advance bookings high as well. Sara says get your friends together and make your plans now as June and July are real tight. Late July with … Read more

Missouri River Montana

Missouri RIver Montana Fishing Report 1.29.14

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Winter. Still winter here fishing Montana’s Missouri River. While the weather dictates the number of folks plying their winter fishing trade the fish simply don’t care how hard it blows, how much snow is falling, or if you’d rather be on the couch eating spaghetti. They gotta eat. Montanan’s fish in the winter. Most, I … Read more

Superbowl Week at Headhunters

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We’re big Superbowl fans around here. When you live in North Central MT in the winter, events like the Superbowl help you mark the time as the long winter passes by. Mark and I are Puget Sound natives, so the fact that the Seattle Seahawks are in the game is a big deal. There are some Seahawks fans around here, but Montanan’s don’t have any professional sports teams. They have the luxury of being professional bandwagon fans, and this year many of them are rooting for the Bronco’s.

Enjoy this hilarious video from Bad Lip Reading. Very funny stuff.

Ben Hardy Montana guide

Win a Free Trip with Headhunters guide Ben Hardy and Support Cancer Research!

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Help cure cancer and go guided for free?  Sounds like a win win. You’ve got a guest blogger today ladies and gents, Headhunters guide Ben Hardy here (picture above), writing from the tropical Bahamas.  Here’s the deal. My younger brother Jon and his wife Shannon are running the Boston Marathon together on April 21. In … Read more

Missouri River

We can’t keep them off the Missouri River!

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Lots of college kids here this week. Finals… While I don’t remember much of my finals week, I do remember wanting to fish, all the time. I would trick my self into tying flies instead of studying. I felt that moving forward in some direction was better than moving laterally or backwards! A bunch of … Read more

Friday Foto

Friday Foto | 2010 Flashback

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A shot from the lower river. Awesome. Love the lower river. It’s damn nice. Differing characteristics make the Missouri a must. Yah, tell your wife you must come this summer. We can write a doctor’s note if that will help… Friday Foto. The only thing missing in this foto is you.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 1.23.14

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Great reports from all anglers. Anglers are out on a daily basis too. Many nimpers, some swingers, and an occasional dry fly Nazi’s. Cabins all full for the week, yet open for the weekend. Yep, fully booked here in this month of January. Our local winter discounted lodging is rocking. Why not. Stay at Joe’s way … Read more

Louisiana Marsh Report

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You know we love to fish for Redfish in Louisiana. Mark and I got weathered out in December and had to cancel our trip. Fortunately, Headhunters guide JP Basile and his wife Teal are making up for it this week. They’re fishing The Port Sulpher area with Capt. Alec Griffin.

Fly Fishing Film Tour 2014 Helena

F3T Opens in Helena!

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The first F3T show of the year is this week in Helena, MT. That’s right. Helena. Montana. If you’re in the region you can be the first to view this years selections from the group of video aficionados at The Fly Fishing Film Tour. Local homeboys Adipose Boatworks – also from Helena – are sponsors of this years tour. If you live in Helena, or Montana for that matter, there is no way you can find something better to do with your Tuesday night. So throw some beers in your socks and head on down to the Grandstreet Theater.

Hit play to see a trailer for The Kinnetic Loop, one of the featured flicks at F3T from Simon Perkins, sorta Craig local…