Essentials for Deep Winter Fly Fishing A couple weeks ago as I walked out my door for another late fall/early winter day of guiding, I realized that it was not fall at all! It definitely winter! The tides had changed. The bitter winter air had arrived. Not nearly yet a full winter effect, but the … Read more
Still miserably cold here on Montana’s Missouri River. Still beautiful though. Love looking at the scenery through the comfort of the windshield. With the heat blasting. The truck does not want to start during this deep freeze. At all. Silly Sunday Scenery | Bitter Ass Cold Edition Not a soul, not an angler on the … Read more
Sydney Resel today on New Breed Chicks Rule. Sydney does rule! New Breed Chicks Rule! Where is your New Breed Chick? Send her to us for Blog Fame…mark@headhuntersflyshop.com subject line NEW BREED Saturday afternoon shop closed until Monday. Too damn cold and we went home!
We are cold too. The river temps dipped to 37F this past 4 days. It should stay in that range for months. The water flows are up to 4120cfs and…? You? Work on those fly boxes for the coming week. A re-org is in order. That is true for mine…in the midst of kitchen table … Read more
Damn cold still. Will remain that way for the week, and maybe the coming week as well. Snow on the ground, the roads are vacant. Thursday Lowdown | Headhunters Style Craig is vacant. When it gets this chilly…Montanans stay indoors. Some may think travel is dangerous. Probably right. The first big one of the year … Read more
We do a lot of mending here on the Mo’. The flows are moderate to slow – not the fast, tumbling water you’d see in free stone streams. Most of these trout have seen it all and dragreally turns them off, so getting a good drift is critical whether you’re fishing dry flies or nymph … Read more
We got the Streamer Fly Lines for your winter excursions here on Montana’s Missouri River. Headhunters Fly Shop is flush with them. We never stop thinking, or dreaming, about trout fishing. The Missouri River is a 12 month game, and we are all in! Streamer Fly Lines for Winter Fun As the water temperatures continue … Read more
Check out the original FWP Article here… Look at the Helena IR article from this spring here Independent Record Eve Byron Missouri River Trout Numbers Good HELENA (AP) — Chances are, if you had a “trout on” while fishing on the Missouri River between Helena and Great Falls recently, it was a nice-sized one. Fish surveys … Read more
The damn cold weather got us…we are pulling the plug on the Saturday Headhunters Spey Clinic. We’ll move this Saturdays Headhunters Spey Clinic to the following Saturday the 14th, weather permitting. Same fun, same class, different day. We still have some openings for this very popular free spey clinic. Headhunters is the 2 Handed Spey … Read more
A really cool product from Fishpond. The Nomad Series nets qualify for one of the cooler intro’s this winter. Carbon fiber and glass with a super ghost net will make this one of the items you want adorning your drifter this coming summer. The RiverKoat finish is damn fine. Grippy when wet. Lightweight with a … Read more
Our friends @ Adipose Boatworks has a good showing in this film… It’s cold and windy here in central Montana. Enjoy this break form your reality today. “Chasing Waters: In the Rings” (Trailer) – Official Selection, IF4 2014 from IF4 on Vimeo.
The fish do not seem to respond to the same sort of stimuli as we do… I’m pretty sure they are not aware of the super deals online today. Quiet here on the river today. Will be for the week with the weather approaching. Having said that, the fishing has been shit hot for the … Read more
Headhunters Sunday Surf Flick on this Holiday Thanksgiving weekend. Football, naps, and senseless laptop retail fun. Fishing has been damn good this last week and this weekend. Enjoy this trailer of Big Wednesday. It’s Scumliner’s favorite surf movie. Buy it today and enjoy the warm blooded good natured surf angst all winter long. Big Wednesday … Read more
Team Headhunters Fly Boxes. Need something for a stocking stuffer? How about these dandy slimline HH Logo Fly Boxes! A Headhunters Gift Card fits nicely into an envelope to send your _______. Check out our smashing deals with our Black Friday Cyber Monday extravaganza. Enjoy! Shop open daily from 8am. Free Shipping all week long. … Read more
Yah, we’re small. But we’re tough. Small Business Saturday created by the credit card company American Express is a great way for big business to care… Or something like that. Marketing 101, I think. We would appreciate that you bite on the small business campaign and spend some time with us…here in the tiny fishing … Read more
A Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service Gift Card. Think if it as your pre-paid fun pass for the Missouri River. Get it for $100 and gift your secretary. Get it for $200 for your kids. Haul off and drop the Full Monty @ $495 and get one for your wife equaling a summer guide … Read more
Black Friday Deals and Specials and Sale Items… Black Friday to Small Business Saturday on to Superfly Sunday and finally Cyber-Monday. We’ll be busy here all weekend long answering your phone orders, filling web orders, selling in store and living the dream while still fishing, talking about fishing, shuttling, guiding, having a few shots…and loving … Read more
An awful beautiful place, the Missouri River is. We love it. Have you made your reservation for lodging yet? For 2014? February is too late for prime time lodging options. Just sayin’. You don’t want to miss out on Missouri River memories…do you?
Thanks to you the loyal fishy friends. To all the folks that read this daily blog, that fish the Mo, and that enjoy the Headhunters Life. Thanks to you. Enjoy your day, the weekend too. Stop in if you are in our neighborhood for a shot of Joe. Or Redbreast. Most stop in for a … Read more
It is really quite good. Good weather, good streamer bite, fantastic nymph angling…all good my fishy friends. Water temps in the low 40’s with low flows and fish gobbling the streamer. White, yellow, flashy are all on fire. On fire. Many 2 handers out on the river, all catching fish. [forecast] Shop open daily @ … Read more
Don’t let the late fall season pass you by. Or, if you do…no worries. The fish are trapped in the river. And they are as healthy as they have been in the fall, maybe ever. Honest. Portends well for the future as the Rainbow Trout generally gain weight though out the winter months. Yes, gain … Read more
Ninch said to me the other day…you should write a blog about the Missouri River Summer Lodging conundrum soon. You like PMD’s like the photo above? Caddis hatches dawn til dusk? Being able to walk to all the fly shops, dinner, and Joe’s Bar? Yah, we do too! So, here we go. Announcing that Missouri … Read more
Monday morning here in Craig Montana. We are settling in. Totally settling in. The pace has slowed from the slow pace last week. Now, it is truly weather dependent for the anglers daily arrival. Purely locals and some regional folks around. Some hunters, some anglers, some just lost asking questions in Craig. Bathroom, gasoline, why … Read more
Missouri River Turkey Week Fishing Report is real, real good. Whether it be roasted, BBQ’d, deep-fried, or smoked you won’t be the turkey this week fishing the Missouri River. Warm and unseasonal weather this last weekend and for the foreseeable future has kept the trout in top shape. Missouri River Turkey Week Fishing Report Folks … Read more
Check it out. A Kinetic Loop…it’s cool and we can’t wait to see the feature length version. Simon Perkins of Sharptail Media with this new film teaser. Simon shot and produced the Sipping Dry Film we all love. A Kinetic Loop will be part of The 2014 Fly Fishing Film Tour. Coming to a theater … Read more
Brian Cheyney today with New Boat Smell. We asked Brian what he liked most about his new Adipose Flow Skiff. His response? “It rows better than any other drift boat.” That’s about all you need to know. Ease of rowing is important. The most important feature for most. New Boat Smell Adipose Flow New Boat … Read more
Headhunters and Missouri River friend Terry Armstrong today with this blog he sent to us via electronic mail. We’ve known Terry for a number of years and some of you have met him at our Saturday BBQ’s, out swinging a 2 hander, or his latest love, a Sweetgrass Bamboo Rod. He loves his wife Gigi, … Read more
I wonder if the rod companies get lots of letters like this. I mean from the Missouri River. Our trout are getting arguably larger. No shit. Do you think they have special Missouri River rider? Say no more… Let’s hope that the Missouri River Broken Rod syndrome doesn’t visit your vacation.
I know I’m gonna get some shit for this post…but I don’t care. If you’re that tight today, lighten up or stop reading now. The world is full of overinflated blogs, reviews, fluffer-type articles praising products that really are not that good. And I think we can all agree that not every product that makes … Read more
Still here, still fishing, still damn good. Dr. Harvey stopped by again this week from eastern Washington for a winter trout bite. Looks like it was OK. Headhunters Guide Nick Stipech and the gang braved the wind adn did well! A tough bunch indeed. While the wind, the cold, and the snow slowed many down … Read more
Friday Foto has all you need to get through the day. Redbreast and a kick-ass flask from your favorite fly shop? We’ll sell you a flask. We can’t sell you the Redbreast. Although, we may pass you the bottle when it the mercury dips below 92 in the shade 30F.
A fun video off of the SAGE Blog today on the Headhunters Fly Shop Blog. Most of the staff here at the shop used to spend the winter months in the ski business. Quite common for fishing folks to be ski folks the opposing season. So we dig this video by Drew Stoecklein.
Headhunters staffer Jake is famous. And carp got him there. You know the guy. A tall glass of water with an oversized smile on his face. Excited. Really excited. Yah, you know him. Former Headhunters All Star Jess McGlothlin writes, shoots great images, and roams the countryside whipping up photo-prose like the article in the … Read more
The best part of the fishing day is the solace on the river. The Missouri River Montana Fishing Report is good. Pretty damn good. A few boats out daily and that is about it. A few bird hunters too. The weather looks like it is stabilizing and with it, the wind will crawl back into … Read more
Abel manufactures the cool shit. We can all agree on that. These Abel Nippers are one of the most popular accessories in fly fishing today. At 60 bucks a whack, these are not your fathers nippers. No, not at all. While the $5, $10, and $20 nippers work just fine, the Abel Nippers are a … Read more
Yep, it’s true. $400 Missouri River Winter Guide Trips are here for the winter months. Shorter days with lots of fish is what you can expect from late fall and winter fishing trips on the Missouri. The good news is there is no danger with the winter trips. If the weather is shitty, no worries. … Read more
Danielle Raisler today on the Headhunters Blog w/ New Breed Chicks Rule. Feels Like Winter Edition for this Monday morning November 18th. Not as much snow as they predicted this week. Really none at all. Big Rainbows are part of the winter experience on Montana’s Missouri River. Come make your own memories this winter here … Read more
Slower this weekend on the Missouri River. What will a Missouri River Monday bring? Probable slowness. On the river, slowness. Not the fishing part. The people part. Maybe the fishing part too. Til the afternoon., then it will pop! Supposed to be real windy today. Here is what NOAA says: Monday: Mostly cloudy with a 20 … Read more
Silly Sunday Scenery today on the Headhunters Fly Shop Blog. It’s not snowing today. Sunday. Be sure and attend the Missouri River Foundation today 3pm @ the Oasis in Wolf Creek. BWO’s still present. Just be in the right spot at the right time. Easy. The weather is not supposed to cooperate today, with wind … Read more
I was beat. I’d been in the water at first light, hunting heads as the tiny trico duns came off. Even if I didn’t get many, it was worth it just to escape the August heat and be there as the river came alive. When the sun hit the water, I whacked ‘em on a … Read more
Merle Haggard today on the Headhunters Blog. Turn me loose, set me free, somewhere in the middle of Montana.
Honest. (Some) Flyfishers are a serious folk. RIP Worst Flyfishing Products Blog. 2 folks, out of a ton of readers could not handle it… Flyfishing is bereft of humor. Trust me. I’m a humorless guide.
The next meeting of the Missouri River Foundation is at the Oasis Bar in Wolf Creek 3pm. Come and join in the conversation as we create the Mission Statement. You got something to say? Come and join! See you at the Oasis Sunday Night. Missouri River Foundation Wolf Creek Oasis Bar @ 3pm.
Happy Friday. The Missouri River is Magical. Any time of the year. Looks like it is cooling off this weekend. Brr. Cold.
Sara said it best on Thursday. Transitions. We are in a transition period that could last a few weeks. Perfectly put Sara. We re indeed in a period of transition, of change, of well, cooling. On all fronts. The fish are moving from fall water to winter water. It will take the better part of … Read more
Take a kid fishing this year. If you didn’t, then you better this coming year. Perpetuation of the sport is important. Introducing kids to the great outdoors is truly important. You can help them understand the proper way to act, to respect, to enjoy the sport of fly fishing. It’ll be good for both of … Read more
I always thought that fly shop employees in the winter just watched YouTube. Lots of YouTube. Or Vimeo, we like Vimeo! The Top 5 Fly Shop Winter Activities will follow below. So what do those fly shop employees do all winter long? And texting, lots of texting. Actually, the winter activities of a fly shopper … Read more
Tomorrow Night the Missouri River Flyfishers present April Vokey @ Great Falls Real Estate Association 401 13th Ave. Sth. Be there @ 730 for the presentation Missouri River Flyfishers is pleased to welcome our November genreal meeting guest speaker and fly tier, April Vokey of Fly Gal Ventures. April will be speaking on fly fishing for … Read more
All is well on Montana’s Missouri River. Quiet too. The holiday weekend has passed us by and we will move into relatively soft pressure until March, mid March sometime. We love it as the pace slows to the winter crawl. The town, the bar, the river. The shop stays busy with booking questions about lodging, … Read more
Andrea Banks with this nice Rainbow today on New Breed Chicks Rule. Andrea was not an angler here first several trips to the Missouri River to visit Squeeky, actually Squeeky’s wife Danielle. She would drift and watch..and then one day Danielle forced Andy into the front seat, the Queen’s Seat, with a fly rod in … Read more
We here at Headhunters Honor All Who Served. Veteran’s Day 2013. We facilitate the Missouri River Project Healing Waters boats here @ Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig. Call us for use of PHW boats, which rent for FREE. Sponsored by the Helena PHW Chapter and HH. Just pay for your shuttle or do your own. … Read more
Miles Titland with this nice Brown trout a few weeks ago. Coulda been a month ago now. Enjoy the Sunday Silly Scenery image today. It is raining, sleeting and calm this morning. Reserved looks of excitement on the angler face as they fill out their shuttle forms. Streamer fishing seems to be the theme today. … Read more
Adipose Boatworks 4th Birthday. The 4th Anniversary this last weekend in Helena Montana. This video from Gink and Gasoline at the ICAST Show in Vegas. Tracey and Mike chatting about the Flow Skiff. Want to be in an Adipose Boatworks Flow this next year? Want to be on the famous Headhunters Fly Shop Blog w/ … Read more
Yesterday we had a short and sweet fishing report. We may have the same today. Just blowing harder is all. The fish will rise in the leeward shores. If you can find one…positive attitudes are something that dry fly anglers do not have a hard time achieving. The dry fly fishing is good, when the … Read more
Top 5 Winter Guide Activities. While we still have 2 guides on staff for the winter, most fly shop dedes and guides are looking for answers…to questions, they don’t even know. That is the conundrum. Top 5 Winter Guide Activities YouTube Visiting your folks. For 6 months. Cleaning the cooler. Or chucking in the … Read more
The big bugs are here. Yesterday not many on the surface for long. Wind blew 15mph most of the day. Which seems like 30mph. But, it’s not. Missouri River Fishing Report Cold in the morning. Have coffee with Bailey’s to ensure afternoon success. Start fishing about noon. Wander the flats looking for bulging trout. Or … Read more