Fishing Report

Fly Fishing Report for the Missouri River, Dearborn River and Blackfoot River Montana.

Christmas Break Forecast

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Things always slow down a little as the Holidays approach. Lots of stuff to do. I'm cleaning up the house before family arrives. You probably have some similar tasks that are preventing you from fishing or chasing birds.

Or you have a job.

At any rate, we expect it to be a little quiet until after Christmas Day. There will be a few anglers out there. Those that somehow have priorities completely in order.

The weather looks good for fishing this week, if you can make it. Not too cold, not too warm. Might even see a few midges on the surface.

There has been a little bit of green funk in the river lately. Not sure if it's related to some kind of turnover in the lake, or if it's just the Whistling Ducks muddying things up.

While we've been swinging only with flashy streamers, others have been pounding them with nymphs. As I mentioned the other day, there were plenty of rising fish on Saturday with the storm. Keep your eyes peeled and a few midge clusters in your box.

[forecast]

Looking at the long term forecast it seems as fishing should be on your holiday “to do” list. Looks great.

We typically see a fair number of anglers between Christmas and the New Year. If the forecast holds I expect that to be the case this year. And with the fair weather we've had, conditions in the lower canyon have been very good. No ice and plenty of eager fish.

 

 

Fishing Report and Walleye on the Fly

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]First of all, apologies for the “Friday Foto” on Thursday. Apparently I don’t know what day it is. So forget you saw it yesterday and be amazed again today.

Fishing has been excellent up to the dam and down the river to Pelican. I think a few even tried the Cascade section this week, as the ice is gone and the weather has been stellar. As I write this it is 66 degrees in Cascade. Very light breeze. Beautiful.

Here’s a report from one of our customers:

I was in your shop yesterday and you shuttled me in the canyon stretch. FYI, the streamer fishing was very, very good, and I nymphed very little. You’all sold me a white/tan streamer and a copper-ish streamer. Both worked very well . . . til I hung em up. I concentrated on the side channels where I could get out of my pontoon boat. The fish were in somewhat slow, 3′ to 5′ water . . . even in the main channel.

Sound like some very good fishing. We’re swinging the two-handers a bunch, and action has been great. Big Rainbow’s mostly. But above, you can see that Max nabbed a nice big Walleye the other day below Holter. Sweet. I especially like catching Walleye in the winter months, and fried in a light oil with a flour-egg-flour coating, cabbage, black olives, feta, lime, tomatoes and flour tortillas.

Most consistent Walleye fly for me: Black Marabou Leech pattern.

As stated the weather is phenomenal today, but looks to stay in the very fishable range for the next week. See you this weekend.

REMEMBER: Come by and grab a two-hander off our rack if you want to try something new, or just try it for the first time.

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Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 12.8.14

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Pretty good fishing, pretty good weather, pretty good times.

Adam straight outta Omaha fishing with his brother today and guide Mark Raisler. Fun times, used the net bunch,a dn had a couple pulls front he flask. All good all day.

The weather is getting much better and they, the weather dude, is threatening a day or two over 50F? What? December weather?

Pink is good. Worms are good. Firebeads are good. Sowbugs are good. Split shot is good.

Slower inside bends where the water speed goes from slow, to slower, to almost stopped. Look for the water speed that is one notch above stagnant. Then just toss the fly in and wait.

Hit the fly hard and hope it is a trout. Lots of rainbows getting bigger as they do in the winter months.

Saw a few fish roaming around near the surface, but they are decoys.

Streamer fishing is OK. Swingers are out and catching a few.

Water temps in the 36-37F range.

Guide trips for a winter bargain of $395. Guide trips out this last weekend, spey clinics too.

Spey Guide trips are @ $300 for the remainder of the month. Get some!

Fly shop open for shuttles, Xmas gifts, GIFT CARDS, fly lines, fly rods, flies, guide trips, rental boats, and anything fishy you may need beginning daily @ 8am.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 12.6.14

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 12.6.14

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Spey Clinic today!

Fishing today as well. If you are not attending the 1st of our 4 Free Spey Casting/Fishing Clinics you might as well fish.

So, what is happening on the river?

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 12.6.14

The weather is good. Yes, over 40F and not too windy at all. Thursday and Friday were quite nice and the anglers on the river reflected the positive change. Cloudy and calm. Hi’s above 40F all week long with a mixture of rain and sun. Snow today, somewhat.

You can always give us a call for a wind or more detailed actual report. Operators are standing by!

Winter nymphs are the norm for those tossing the bobber rig. Smaller streamers for those swinging. Midge clusters for those hunting heads.

4500cfs and the water temp at 37F. Wade fishing is nice and easy. Boat fishing too, but why not wander around on foot getting a little exercise in-between spots.

All kinds of gifts for the angler in you at the shop. Thermos, SAGE, logo’d Headhunters gear, fly lines, GIFT CARDS, KAST Gloves, Abel reels.

Shop open daily for shuttles, flies, info,  coffee, demo rods, bobbers, hand warmers…

 

Headhunters Winter Fly Fishing Events & 2015 Lodging Update

Headhunters Winter Fly Fishing Events & 2015 Lodging Update

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Getting throughout the holidays can be difficult. Getting through the holidays without either fishing or planning for fishing can be really difficult.

We suggest either route to get you through. If you need a fix right now you can check out our Vimeo page by Scumliner Media here. No Balck Sabbath, just tons of fun fishing footage.

Back on track here as I got kinda excited about winter fishing. YEs, winter fishing. We fish all winter long here on the Missouri River. Some days are better than others. There are plenty of days that the weather is not all that conducive for angling. Just not all that comfortable on days when it is too much below 32F. At 0F no chance of us getting out there for too long…

Missouri River 2015 Lodging Update

Ninch wanted me to let you folks know that the lodging scenario for both June and July is fading away rapidly. Already the two most popular Missouri River months for fly fishing and consequently lodging June and July lodging is always tight. This year is now different.

The amount of advanced 2015 bookings for June and July is pretty overwhelming. Dry flies and long days with nice warm seasonable temperatures bring many anglers to Montana’s Missouri River for these favorable months.

The upshot is as follows. Ninch says,

“Book now or stay in Helena or Great Falls this June and July. And, might as well get your guide locked in too. It makes a lot of sense to get these reservations in the books before the New Year arrives setting your trip in stone for 2015. Don’t be left out yearning for your favorite Craig Trout Camp cabin or any one of our killer riverfront properties.”

 

Check out www.craiglodging.com for all the 2015 Missouri River Montana accommodations and lodging options.

Headhunters Winter Fly Fishing Events

  • Free Spey Casting Clinics begin this Saturday December 6th @ 9am. Call today and get in one of the last spots for this well attended and excellent worthwhile free 2 handed casting clinic. We’ll also show you how to fish with your Spey/Switch rod for Missouri River success. Not just a casting clinic, a fishing clinic too. Morning session is an indoor coffee and donut filled PowerPoint presentation by John Arnold. The noon to 3pm outdoor casting session with lead instructor John Arnold and supporting staff from Headhunters Fly Shop and friends including Sara Roholt, Ben McNinch, and Mark Raisler. We also have guest instructors and tackle reps at nearly every event. A great time to try out and find the Right Fly Line for your 2 handed spey rod. We have a mountain of lines that will be appropriate for your rod. Bring your gear and we can help! Demo rods on the river as well from SAGE, Echo, T & T, and Orvis.
  • Clinics Saturdays Dec 6th, January 10th, February 6th, and March 6th. Sign up for any of them today by calling Headhunters Fly Shop @ 406-235-3447
  • Craig Trout Camp Lodging begins @ $125 for the Brown and Rainbow Cabins. The Craig House is $150/2 and $50/head for every add’l guest.
  • Headhunters open daily @ 8am. Closed on Christmas Day. Open in the am Christmas Eve. Open New Years Day!
  • Get your Headhunters Gift Card at the shop or call and we will pop one in the mail for you, or your wife.
  • Headhunters famous Fly Tying Nights tentatively planned for Wednesday nights January 7 & 21, February 11 & 25, March 11. Usually starts @ 6pm and runs a couple hours. More on Fly Tying Night in America as we start the New Year.
  • Swing Season Guide Trips “Spey Only” for $300 through the end of the year.

These events and many more coming the remainder of 2014 and into the 2015 Missouri River Fly Fishing Season.  We are here int eh store daily to help in any way we can. See you this weekend at the Spey Clinic or just stepping out for a nit of wade fishing.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.29.14

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.29.14

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Windy and cold. Some snow too.

While there are a few anglers tough enough to come on out on days that make most stay indoors you don’t have to feel bad if you don’t make it out on questionable holiday weekends like this one.

When driving up the road Friday afternoon to the tiny town south of us Wolf Creek to pick up my mail I was nearly blown off the road numerous times. Then upon arrival at my home I was treated to the no power deal.

None. Awful dark. And cold.

That is a feeling you can have on the river when the fish are not biting.

Awful dark. And cold.

But the anglers that have been brave enough to ply the fly fishing trade have been quite successful.

Streamer fishing is the all the rave but the nymphers are the ones who have been cleaning up.

Pink is the word. Winter is here and we are in full pink force. Worms too. Al the best slutty flies are working and fishing well. We got suffer Christmas bins full of them at Headhunters Fly Shop.

Black Friday is passed us but we have sales gong on all month long as we move from the Thanksgiving month and into the Christmas month. Remember, we are open daily for all your Christmas giving needs. Check out the Online store for cool stuff shipped to your doorstep.

Deeper with the nymphs than the last month or two. Get ’em deeper with split shot. The fish will not suspend until the bugs decide to hang out at that level. Deeper is better now. Find those deeper buckets and drop the flies in there. Hit it when it moves even a little bit.

Streamer fishers are still out there and will be swinging for the entirety of this month ahead. Stop in for a fantastic selection of streamer patterns. We are the place for over 125 streamer patterns in stock. Awesome.

We have a pile of streamer add on items too. RIO VersiLeaders and Airflo weighted leaders along with tippet made for streamer fellers.

Shop open daily for guided trips, rental boats, shuttles, flies, killer sale items all month long including SIMMS items deep;y discounted. Boots and waders. Stop by for the table of death with items that have to leave the store this month.

Happy Holidays from a snowy and cold Craig Montana.

[forecast]

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.25.14

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.25.14

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Looking like light snows for the week ahead.This holiday week of Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.24.14

Snow? Not the first of the year and will not be the last. Not a ton is predicted but a smattering. That is usually what we get here on the eastern slopes of the Rockies nestled in the canyon fishing the waters of Montana’s finest trout stream. Montana’s Missouri River.

Swingers Abound, Angling Illness, & Weather Change

Swinging has been the theme for most but a number of nymphers were in and fishing this weekend. Some near the dam, others stretched out on the upper river.

The swingers are scattered about up and down the river. Mostly down though. Success had by all this last weekend as the wind really blew on Saturday. Like a bunch, hard, fast, ugly. Windy. Sunday much, much nicer and the number of anglers reflected the weather change. Look at the week ahead and decide if you are callling in sick early in the week, or just Wednesday.

 

My suggestion is to start feigning illness today, Tuesday. Then decide, based on the weather and your dislike of the boss and the office, if you will leave early today or if you will call in sick Wednesday. Smart, savvy, seasoned, and certainly cynical employees started this process last Thursday and have been fishing all weekend.

 

I understand that most employers will recognize this all too common sickness that precedes all holiday sessions. but that is OK. It is a long weekend and all will be forgotten as the L-Trytophan Turkey Hangover should last through the weekend.

[forecast]

So check out the forecast in your region and plan accordingly. If you live in or around the Missouri River Region I will let you know we have lodging at discounted rates for the winter session. The Craig Trout Camp with the Rainbow and Brown Cabins renting for $125/night and the Craig House starting at $150 for the first 2 guests and $50 per additional guest(s) up to 6. Full kitchen at the Craig House. Turkey Day on the Mo’? Why not.

There are a couple other discounted lodging options in Craig this winter. Call the shop 406-235-3447 for more details.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.25.14

Guided trips out this last weekend and the weekend ahead. Both regular and $300 Spey Trips. Fun.

Mark fished with Clifton of Portland Oregon Sunday pictured above and had a great day. Nymphed all day long and caught a number of nice rainbows. Only 1 brown trout in the mix. The traditional WC to Spite winter float was plenty of water. A nice drift with a good bite. Could not ask for more. Air temps in the 40’s. Wow. We’ll take a few more of those!

Hot flies were the Red Tunghead Worm and a Pink Lightening Bug. Also good were the fire bead stuff like the FB Caviar and the new Ninch creation a the Pink Firebead Sowbug. Yep, it worked too. Other hot flies filling fly cups going out the door this week include Zebra’s, all flavors of worms, FB Ray Charles, regular non beaded Ray Charles in pink and grey, with the occasional mayfly like the Pearl Lighting Bug, Red Headed Step Child, Little Green Machine, smaller S & M’s. Stop in for the best in winter flies and top shelf information too.

Not much for dry fly fishing. Translation: Pretty shitty. Some might say just awful. Nonexistent. Crossing our fingers there is something for you this Thanksgiving week/weekend.

Streamer fishing on the Missouri River? Good. Not great. But pretty good. Both the strippers and the swingers are catching enough fish to keep them happy. As we water temperature cools the retrieval rate has slowed. Some jigging the fly, some stripping more slowly that last week, and yet others just swinging it.

 

The beauty of fly fishing is that you get to choose. It is your game, played by your rules, and consequently you always win. Play the game for yourself, with your favorite flies, in your spots, in your own style. That is what makes fly fishing special. It’s a game played on your own terms. Always.

 

So are you coming out this week? We will see folks fishing in this great November holiday weather up and down the river. Love it.

Flows, Temps, and Headhunters Fly Shop

Flows are up a bit at the 4.6K range. Feels like it up too. Just a little higher on your waders and some of your wade spots are quicker in pace, others slower. Find your dream seam and fish it.

Water temps are still plunging lower but the daily air temps will help slow it a little as we are out of the below freezing pattern. Fell about 10 degrees in just over a couple weeks. 42F is the current temp and bodes well for Thanksgiving Weekend fishing Montana’s Missouri River.

Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service is in full swing as we help accommodate your fishing weekend. Lodging available here in Craig. Fly shop open at 8am daily.  On Thanksgiving Day we are open for the morning session 8am til noon. Shuttles everyday, rental boats, flies, coffee, SIMMS Sale items like wading boots and more, guides, and any Spey Rods needs you may have.

See you this weekend here in Craig.

 

Missouri River Swing Season Fishing Report

Missouri River Swing Season Fishing Report

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Today we bring your the Missouri River Swing Season Fishing Report.

You know the nymphing is good. It is November and the river is quiet.

You know the dry fly fishing in not too good. It is November and the bugs are scarce.

But did you know that the streamer fishing has been consistent and some days even pretty good?

Missouri River Swing Season Fishing Report

  • Fishing with the two handed rod has been pretty strong. Not 20 fish days, but that is not the object or goal of swinging a fly through a run. No. The goal is to slow your heart rate down to a tolerable pace ad hook a few wild trout in the process.

It is the journey, not the destination.

  • Some crazy angler must have said that at some point. Sounds like a fisherman to me…rambling on, speaking nonsense, babbling about heads, tips, Starling feathers.
  • Hooking a few on Skiddish, Mozzuri Minnows, smaller flies like Micro Zonkers, baby buggers, leeches, soft hackles, Clous-A-Bous. Your choice really.
  • Make sure you are at a depth you are comfortable with. A depth that you feel the trout are. The great part about spey ones is they can accommodate any number of different tips. Floating, intermediate, type 3, T-11 and up. Sound confusing? It’s not. Need some hints and tips about sinking leaders, tips and the like? Come into the sotre and we can help clear up some of the confusion.
  • Mostly inside bends at this point. That is where you would want to swing. But still some action int he quicker water too. The water temps are still in the 40’s and will be for another week or so. Maybe longer. so stay on the soft inside shoals. Lots of room for the swinging fly in that zone.
  • Lots of room on the Mighty Mo’ during this winter period. Find a run with nobody around. Perfectly quiet.
  • The entire river is still fishing. Some folks fishing all the way to Pelican with an occasional boat still drifting to Cascade. May find some bugs on the lower reach too.
  • No need to get out early. Noon to dark is a good bet.

Headhunters Fly Shop open daily @ 8am for all your river needs including river shuttles, flies, a complete line of spey tools like leaders, Scandi and Skagit lines, tips, running lines, Demo Rods and always free hot coffee.

Headhunters Fly Shop Fishing Report Missouri River Montana

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Fishing is OK. Not great, but not terrible either.

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being off the charts the fishing comes in at a 7.

A strong 7 though.

You could give it another point or two if you factor in the solace factor. It is quiet. It is perfect.

Continuing with video week as we move through November. We are past the tipping point. We are closer to December than we even can fathom. The holidays are upon us.

Headhunters Fly Shop Fishing Report Missouri River Montana

Most are swinging and tossing stripping and ripping streamers. The other set is nymphing. Some dry fly action here and there.

Lots of waterfowl around as well.

Guided trips out this weekend with a few $300 Spey Trips coming up as we near the holiday week. If you war in on this gig, call us.

Fly shop open daily at 8am. Shuttles, flies, the best info on the river, killer 2 handed demo rods, hot coffee, sale items, and get your Christmas shopping done early. Why not.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.18.14

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.18.14

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Sunny and warm. Warm considering the last couple weeks.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.18.14 Well over 30F yesterday and some folks on the water. Early cabin fever setting in as it is way too early for that oh so common winter syndrome.

What’s happening on the water you ask?

Dries. Some. Some randomly rising trout on a few tiny olives and some larger ones too. Mostly subsurface stuff with the occasional bona fide true top rise form. Stop on in th shop for the up to the minute report and some suggested flies.

Ninch still has a few more winter flies to stuff into the well stocked Headhunters fly bins. The only 12 month fly shop has the only 12 month fly selection on the Missouri River.

Midges, midges, and more midges to come soon. Until then, we will have to toss a few more BWO’s and the scarce late season caddis.

The streamer and swinging gang has been the most common group of anglers. Any number of streamer patterns will get you through the day. Sjkiddish, Bugger, R2R, Dalai Lama, Skip’s Rainbow Minnow, Mozzuri Minnow, Lord of the Fry’s, White Zonker, and all the small mini streamers. Black Mini Sculpzilla, Orange Blossom Sculp’s, Micro Zonk’s, and the like.

Nymphs? Killing it. But most are swinging for the remainder of the year. We got all the kick ass nymphin’ gear at Headhunters Fly Shop. Bobbers, split shots, nymphing leaders, split rings, Czech’s, sows, soft hackles, Firebeads, Pink Lightening Bugs.

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.18.14
Still falling…

Water flows are holding at 4360cfs and as you can see the water temperatures are falling rapidly. Looks like better weather for the upcoming week and weekend too. Get out while you can, it could turn on us again. $300 Swing Season Guide Trips for those who want to cast a two handed rod all day.

Looking at 40F midweek. That feels right.

Shop open daily @ 8am for all thing Missouri River. Your 2 handed and streamer fishing HQ here in Craig.

Missouri River Arctic Blast Fishing Report

Missouri River Arctic Blast Fishing Report 11.14.14

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Got real cold this week. Looks like it will extend through the weekend.

So, not much fishing going on here in the Missouri River canyon.

Looks like snow today on the somewhat accurate forecast. More accurate than normal. Unfortunately accurate.

Those few who have been braving the cold have had frozen snake and stripping guides along with frozen fly lines and frozen toes, ears, noses etc.

Missouri River Arctic Blast Fishing Report
Cold.

Shop open daily from 8-5 if any of you wander down to the river for the weekend. We have a couple cabins available for $125 and Joe’s bar is still open till 2am.

The warmest spot in the canyon, for sure! Joe’s Bar indeed.

So, not much to report but there have been some bigger bugs around. Of course. Lower the air temps to ZERO and they come. Fish rising predictably in the predictably rising spots and zones.

Anglers on Sunday and Monday from the early part of the week saw a few pretty good sized pods eating a bundle of insects as they moved from subsurface to the surface and off. Albeit slowly. The of the water deal.

Also look for the dorsal and fin show in softer waters not isolated to but including eddy’s and inside bends.

Missouri River Arctic Blast Fishing Report
Falling rapidly. Get out and toss the BWO NOW!

Flows are at the 4400cfs mark and water temps are plummeting daily. Fell a few degrees this week. We should expect the same this coming week too.

Cancelled a couple guide trips this weekend do to cold air temps. Even with heaters in the boats, lots of Thermos’ filled with piping hot chicken broth, whisky, smiles, and hats? Ya, let’s wait a few more days and go when it is somewhat more entertaining. The winter program is certainly different from the summer program. Looser for sure.

Swingers should come back out of the house this weekend. A bunch of 2 handers around in the winter months. Remember the FREE Spey Clinic Saturday December 6th. Sign up today for your spot. Bring your girlfriend, your wife, your neighbor, your co-worker…or all of them.

That is all the news that is as we bring you the most up to date fishing report for the Missouri River. Thanks for reading as always and let us know how we can help plan your 2015 Missouri River vacation.

 

Missouri River November Fact Sheet

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November is one of our favorite months. Why? Well, as you know we’ll tell you. A list of the things happening during this early winter spell.

No people. Very few anglers. If it is at all above 30F we have some good ‘ol locals fishing. Locals and regional folks get after it in November and December, and anytime the mercury is above that 30-40F mark.

No people. Very few anglers. Did I mention that?

More overcast days. The percentage of overcast days is great that nearly any other month in the Missouri River calendar. Fish like overcast days. They do not have eyelids and cannot squint. Streamer fishing is much better. The trout can lie in the shallows for longer each and every day. The fish like to get up on the secondary shelf and feed. Both for the dry and the streamer attack!

Headhunters Guide Service Winter Pricing

  • $495 through the month of November for regular guide trips. The Single handed rod version. Start @ 9am and fish til dark. All gear, fly rods, terminal tackle, flies, lunch, hot and cold beverages included. An empty river included too.
  • $300 Spey, 2 Handed Swing Special. Guided Two-Handed Spey Trips on the Missouri River with the Headhunters gang. Experienced instructors, great fishing, and all equipment included. It’s time to learn a new facet of fly fishing. Why not learn with a baby spey rod and catch a few trout swinging streamers. Pretty damn fun. And a bargain rate of $300!
  • $400 Guide Trips December 1st through March 14th. The key to your Missouri River success? Solace. Quiet river scene. Fish all winter long for big rainbows. Mostly nymph fishing and some dead drifted streamers with some swinging too!

 

Missouri River November Fact Sheet
We like winter here in central Montana.

Shorter days. Later starts. Both of those things get us fired up. The steaming hot cocktail tastes even better after a good November day on the water. Izaak’s is closed for the season. You will have to get your Hot Toddy @ Joe’s.

The Oasis may be open for dinner. The Frenchman and Me is certainly open and always is. The most consistent restaurant hours on the river. Joe’s Bar always open. Pizzas and beer. What more do you need.

Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service open daily @ 8am. Open all day long all 7 days all winter long til 6pm. The full service shop open everyday.

Headhunters is your Spey Rod Headquarters in Craig on the Missouri River. We have DEMO RODS from SAGE in the Method and the One, ECHO 3’s, Thomas & Thomas 2 Handers that many love, Orvis Clearwater Rods that are reasonably priced. A bundle of DEMO SPEY LINES from RIO and Airflo. HH is your Trout Spey Destination. Call or stop in for any questions about lines, preferred spey trout rod lengths, or demo rods. We got it all. Versi Leaders and tips for you too.

Montana spey fishing

Spey Trout Guide Special is $300. Learn about 2 handed casting with Trout Spey and Switch Rods in a guided trip environment. Learn and catch trout on the Missouri River all in the same day.

December brings the 1st Free Two-Handed Clinics. Sign up in November to insure your spot in these always well attended free spey clinics. A classroom Powerpoint presentation by John in the morning with donuts and coffee followed by the afternoon casting session that goes as long as you want it to.

Craig Trout Camp Winter Pricing

  • Craig House. Sleeps 6 anglers. 3 BR, 2 bath, large kitchen fully stocked with all you need for cookware. Lots of room to stretch and a couple nice leather couches to watch the Sunday game on. Satellite TV, BBQ too. Base price of $150/night for 2 guests, add $50 per head after that.
  • Brown Trout Cabin. $125/night for up to 3 guests. 2 beds, one futon. Satellite TV no kitchen. BBQ avail if you need.
  • Rainbow Trout Cabin. $125/night for up to 3 guests. 2 beds, one futon. Satellite TV no kitchen. BBQ avail if you need. Just like its neighbor Brown Trout Cabin.
  • Ask about other Craig rental properties and winter discounts. We are your 12 month lodging booking experts.

 

Missouri River November Fact Sheet
Book today for the best of the year!

A good time to book your 2015 Fly Fishing Vacation. Choose the best in lodging @ Craig Trout Camp and CraigLodging.com November is the time to get this done. The best selection for both guides and certainly river housing. Browse adn choose today. Get your fishing vacation in the books today.

Lots happening in the next month or two. Lots of fishing to be had for you regional fly fishing folks. Lodging, guiding, clinics, and your favoirite destination fly shop. Black Friday is coming soon. Don’t forget to pick up a couple gifts while in town. We got everything you favoirtei angler might need.

How about a Gift Card? Can’t go wrong with that item…

Streamer Fishing is popular this month. Come on in and see the acres of streamers@ Headhunters. We have all you need for tips, streamer lines, streamer info.

Hot flies for the month have been the good old black bugger. Coming back hard is the trio of Skiddish Smolts. Zonkers still damn good, Micro Zonkers really fantastic. The other side of the coin is the large fly. Yes, for you large fly lovers…the large fly is hot! And we got ’em @ Headhunters.

Along with the November Streamer bite is the perpetual shit hot nymph fishing. All winter long. Get used to it. Months of the bobber. For the best info on the river with the fishiest staff in the tri-county region stop on in for our tips for nymphing success.

Not pink yet, we got another month or two. Scuds, sows, along with the tiny micro may stuff and midge pupa.

The Missouri River is a dry fly river. Not a ton of excitement as of late, but today is damn cold and snow is in the air. So today it could change. We will let you know tomorrow how things are going.

Missouri River November Fact Sheet

 

  • Shuttles Daily. Headhunters is your 7 day a week fly shop in Craig.
  • Guides available every day of the year!
  • Fresh flies. Always @ Headhunters.
  • Winter Lodging available. 5 properties right in Craig for rent. The largest summer seasonal selection of lodging on the Missouri with 21 properties! Accommodations for 1-12 anglers.
  • Swing Season is in full effect. Your Missouri River demo center with all the rods from SAGE including the 2 handed Method and One.
  • Open 8-6 Daily. Call for an up to the minute fishing report 406-235-3447 or 877-DRY-FLYS

 

 

Now, it's winter.

Now, it’s winter.

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Yep. Winter. Now.

@1630 Sunday it was 45F, partly cloudy and dead calm.

@ 1632 Sunday it was 31F, blowing out of the north 17mph, and snowing.

Sunday night snowing hard and damn cold.

This morning. Cold. Snowy.

Maybe baetis will come now.

Nobody around. A perfect ploy.

Water temps plummeting this week. They should fall quickly with the air temps falling well below the 20F range!  During the day. Mostly lower though.

Now, it's winter.
Now, it’s winter.

The fishing? Decent.

Swinging can be really good. Streamer fishing pretty good too.

Nymphing? Not as good as it should be, but not terrible either. We are so fortunate to be here on the Mo. It’s good. Just not an “11” right now. Depends on the day. Some days they just eat it better.

Dries? Near dusk for the weekend. Today and this week? Don’t even want to hazard a guess. Cold I think…

Guided trips out this last weekend. More towards the end of this week. More 2 Handed Specials as we move well into the November period. 1st FREE Spey Clinic December 6th. Sign up today. You’ll love it. A classroom session led by John with his killer Powerpoint Presentation, coffee, donuts, friends, and a room full of Spey. Followed up by an afternoon of on the water action with lots of different spey rods to try, cool lines, and hands on instruction. Bring your own rod, or use one of ours. Free and Easy. Call today.

Shop open daily 8-6.

[forecast]

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.5.14

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 11.5.14

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Two Words.

Quiet. If you say it slow enough and pause on each syllable it blends into two words.

The Missouri River update is as follows…

Water temps in the lower 50’s. Air temps daily in the upper 40’s and lower 50’s. Pretty normal for this time of year although it is commonly cooler. Overcast is the predominant sky color. Grey is good with us.

The landscape will soon turn grey too. Or grayish-tan. Or dark grey-brownish.

[forecast]

 

Upper River. Quiet. A boat maybe at the dam and at WC Bridge. Nice. A few wade fisher fellers in this reach as well. Nobody bothering you in this section. Not may if any bugs. If the quantity changes we will let you know. Don’t think you are gonna go up there and witness a mega hatch. Cause you’re not gonna.

Streamer fishing average. Quiet though and you can fish it at the bank for another month. Fun stuff. Traditional flies been working well like Zonkers, buggers, Skiddish, Clousers.

Nymph fishing good. Fish it short all day long if you wish. Or long. Your choice. Pretty fun stuff. Scuds, sows up top with a mayfly dangling off of the front fly. Split if you want it.

Mid-River. Quiet. Really cool blind dry water and you can do well with this technique. Adams, see’um type of flies with a dropper if you wish. Try one in the film for even more creative anglers. Skitter ti? Yes, for another week or two. Then they will not look at that moving sideways stuff.

Streamer fishing pretty good. Lots of smaller fish on the bite in the canyon. Fun stuff. The juveniles are on the serious chew. Later afternoons are better. The fish do not like to get aggressive until lunch time. Before then you might believe you have forgotten how to fish. No worries. The afternoons have been better. Sleep in. Honest.

Nymph fishing? Great. Double Pheasant Tail type flies. A big one and a little one.

Lower River. Your best bet for BWO’s. The only place where they have come off well. Daily? I don’t know. But maybe? Seek out bug loving trout and you will be rewarded.

Good streamer water too. Blind dries. Yes they will come to it.

Headhunters Fly Shop open daily at 8am. Guide trips out this week and next. A nice time to be here. It’s quiet.

Perfect.

 

 

 

Missouri River November Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana November Fishing Report 11.3.14

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Halloween is beyond us and that signals the end of the month.

It is over. Now we move into the hopefully cooler and cloudier month. A month that we encourage.

So, the water temps are falling, albeit slowly. Today they are falling as we look past the weekend which the air temperatures are falling too. Snow maybe? That would be cool.

[forecast]

Streamer Fishing pretty can be on any given day damn good. Toss them all day long and you will find a few nice fish. Sometimes a bunch. And then, sometimes…

Try Halloween colored flies to find Halloween costumed brown trouts.

We are into full November mode already. Store open daily 8-6 with full services like lodging, fishing guides, and retail. Shuttles daily too. We are here full time.

Nymphing is excellent. Going toward the pink side in another month. But until then we got lots of BOW nymphs, sows and scuds,

Dries? Still not enough. But we are scrolling our fingers. This weather could knock a few loose. Sunday brought light snow and some rain. Cooler temperatures for sure.

That is pretty much the fishing report. If you like solace not he river and not too many, if any, other boats in your run, now is the time to be here.

We have a smattering of guided trips out this month. Remember the $300 Spey Trips for all day of Spey Casting here on the Missouri River. Some tuna while taking advantage of a full day of learning.

We will have the full November and December calendar and winter pricing schedule out later this week. Maybe Friday. Look for deals all the way around as we encourage winter fishing here in Craig.

Check out the temps below. Still moving in the right direction for bugs. The baetis have yet to show. Hmmm…Flows are holding in the 4.2K range and will hold, as they have for a long time. The month or two in front of us. That is the schedule that FWP, DNRC, and PPL are planning. The water temps at 52.5 currently and will drop this week ahead some more. Maybe 1.5 degrees.

Missouri River November Fishing Report

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.27.14

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.27.14

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Today we are having the first cold weather in a decade. Or so it seems.

We have had themost pleasant fall that many can remember. Sunny and 70F. Standard for the 2014 season.

Today it changes. We command it to change. While this never works the timing of the storm could be the catalyst to get out true baetis out of its shell. Will it actually work? Golly, we hope so.

[forecast]

We have not truly gotten into the period of the year, most of the winter and spring, where the weather will dictate the day. We still have all of November and some of December to get through. The days of November can be so very pleasant. And, no people around.

Wide open dry fly flats…

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.27.14

Dry Fly Fishing

Dry fly fishing continues to be relatively limited throughout the day. If you are into posting up on classic sippers near the bank it has been somewhat limited. But you can go out and seek them out. Go first or go last. Those are the two methods to bank sipping success.

Or just have a better hatch. Really today could be the start. Let’s hope.

Blind dry fly fishing will get you a look or three per mile. Good enough to keep most paying attention. Caddis or a mayfly patterns can work. A skittering big orange caddis has been known to work this past week too. Yep, still.

Many would say that this October has seen the best blind October dry fly fishing in the past several years. Still going…

Streamer Fishing on the Missouri

Good to great depending not he reach, the angler, and the day. Good to great days have been heard and had by all.

The secret? Mostly slow stripping, or the pause. You can strip it fast too, but the fish have been interested in the pause. Or dead drift that SOB. Do it.

Smaller flies like baby sculpins, mini Sculpzillas, small black buggers, micro Zonkers, tiny leeches…or go big if that is your game.

The most popular of the fly lines include both he dry line or the 10′-15′ clear intermediate tips from RIO. We got them all int he shop if you need some help. Those truly savvy streamer dudes have a couple if not three streamer rods rigged. Just like those bass fellers. They have several rods at the ready. Why wouldn’t you?

Nymphing the Mo

Oh, it’s good. Use your normal fall or winter rig. It’ll work.

Missouri River Flows and Temperatures

4420cfs as of Sunday night and the water temps are below 54F. Dipping into the 53 range is good. Still warmer than normal. For sure. It will continue to dip as the week moves through. The flows should remain about the same for some time.

Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service

Open daily all winter long. 730am is when we arrive and we sill stay for your convenience til 7pm. The time change is nearing and we will go to an 8am start and 6pm finish as we move into November.

Tons of stuff still on sale. Rods, fly lines, flies, a few summer items, some fall stuff, a jacket or 3, a bundle of fly fishing accessories…something for everyone.

 

November is the New October

November is the New October | Missouri River Chronicles

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John wrote an article about the too nice, the way too nice late October weather we have been experiencing and I concur. Let’s move on into the fall, the true fall conditions we have so come to love. Not expect, but certainly love!

So I put together this piece about the future. The future that we can expect, or hope to expect this coming month. The cloud cover is supposed to be more. The temperatures are supposed to be cooler. And the bugs are supposed to be bigger and come more often.

Missouri River October and November Forecast

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac…

OCTOBER 2014: temperature 46° (3° below avg.); precipitation 1.5″ (avg. north, 1″ above south); Oct 1-10: Rain to snow, then sunny, cold; Oct 11-16: Showers, mild; Oct 17-22: Snow showers north, rainy periods south; chilly; Oct 23-31: Rain and snow, then sunny, mild.

NOVEMBER 2014: temperature 41° (4° above avg.); precipitation 0.5″ (0.5″ below avg.); Nov 1-4: Sunny, mild; Nov 5-8: Rain to snow, then sunny; Nov 9-11: Rain and snow, then sunny, cold; Nov 12-18: Sunny, mild; Nov 19-20: Rain and snow showers; Nov 21-26: Sunny, mild; Nov 27-30: Snow showers, cold.

Annual Weather Summary: November 2014 to October 2015

Winter will be colder and slightly drier than normal in the north and milder than normal with near-normal precipitation in the south. The coldest periods will be in late December, early to mid-January, mid- to late February, and early March. Snowfall will be below normal in the east and near normal in the west, with the snowiest periods in early to mid-November, mid- to late December, mid-January, and early and mid- to late March.

November is the New October

Has it been colder and more normal like in years past than it has been this year? Yes, in years past. Has it also been normal with overcast and cooler temps creating more opportunities for fish to look toward the surface? Yep.

The reality is that it has been both and will continue to be. The snow and inclement weather will arrive. In November? Maybe. Reading the info above from the Old Farmer’s Almanac I don’t know what to believe. I do believe winter will visit at some point.

The big bugs have not shown yet. Will they come? I don’t know. I suspect they will. The water temps will continue to plunge as fall, or winter, may actually come. The streamer bite is becoming better everyday. Honest. Nymphing is just fine, per usual.

November is the New October

Guide trips available all month long. The November month. We get into that 2 Handed game as well. $300 Spey Trips until the end of December. Craig Trout Camp is open all winter long with lodging here in Craig. Call us for anything you may need from 2 Handed Rods, to lodging, to guides, to shuttles, to our always free coffee.

The average snowfall in November is 8 inches. The average precip total is 0.59 inches. The average high air temp is 43F with the low coming in at 23F. Much cooler than November. Although October is historically cooler than it has been.

Swinging is good in November. Real good.

Tough to choose for most between the rhythm of the swing or the beat of the dry fly bite.

What do you want to do?

I just want to be ready with dry fly rod in hand wading out to my favorite BWO slick.

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.23.14

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.23.14

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The success rate goes like this…

  1. Nymphing
  2. Streamer Chucking
  3. Dry Fly Angling

That is how the numbers stack up. We all fish for different reasons. Sometimes just one fish is enough. While we do occasionally go blank one fish seems good enough.

Is it still good when we go blank? You bet.

I for one just enjoy getting out and enjoying the day. Watching the day go by is my favorite fishing plan. You can hook a few with this plan too. A little too loose for many though. Those serious anglers need more planning than that…

We get and enjoy both pursuits.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.23.14

How about a couple hints for nymphing success.

  1. Find the bugs and put your flies, your imitations, right in the mix. Understand where the fish, the bugs are, at the time of angling and sink them accordingly.
  2. Trust yourself.
  3. If your shit ain’t working, change it immediately.
  4. Sows, scuds, midges, and mayflies will get you through the day.
Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.23.14
Get on board this winter with a Spey Day on the Missouri River

Some Streamer Fishing Secrets

  1. They, the trouts, can eat it dead drifted or on the drop. Be aware of that.
  2. When the sun comes off the water the fish go nuts for streamers. Or cloudy days.
  3. Change if you are not getting the bite.
  4. Slow strips, fast strips? Change if they are not responding to your magic.

Dry Fly Antics

  1. First cast is the best cast.
  2. Slack line presentations catch way, way, way more fish.
  3. Leave the fish if you do not get them in an hour. Give ups dn move on.
  4. Or stay til you are blue in the face. Or your fishing partner is a snoring.
  5. Cripples catch tons of trout on the Missouri River

Missouri River Weather, Flows, and Temps

4200cfs and 55F for the water temps. The weather ahead of us is not dis-similar to the weeks behind us this Ocotber. Will it change? Yes, in th endear future towards the back end of the weekend we should see more seasonal types of temperatures, clue covers, snow, sleet, baetis…you know all the stuff we pray for in this historically buggy month.

[forecast]

Click on that ICON on your right there friend. Check out the videos by Headhunters and Scumliner Media on Headhunters TV. Do it now and enjoy some Missouri River love!

The shop is open daily from 730am til 7pm. Lots of sale stuff including fly lines, jackets, gloves, hats, logo wear, Howler Bros, SIMMS, a couple demo rods from this year from SAGE and Echo and Orvis.

Check out the Spey Special that starts November 1st. $300 Spey Guide Trips. Love it. Come on out an enjoy the day swinging streamers with your 2 handed rod. If you do not have one, we can supply one. Never spey cast in your life? No worries there either. Book your $300 Spey Special and you will be catching fish on that goofy long 2 hander by days end! No Problem. Call the shop for mor info if you like.

Come by for shuttles, info, demo rods, a new RIO In Touch Connect Core fly line for your streamer or dry fly rod, or anything else that may get your through the day like killer Missouri River flies.

Izaaks’ closes for the season on the 26th. This coming Sunday. So come on out one more time for a good rack of Ribs and a cocktail.

No worries. Joe’s Bar is open 365 days a year.

See you soon in Craig!

 

Headhunters Fly Shop Missouri River Fishing Report

Headhunters Fly Shop Missouri River Fishing Report October 20th

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Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service Missouri River fishing report.

Coming to the end of the month and we still have warm temperatures. This past weekend we saw the highs get into the 70’s. Too warm for October.

The fishing? Not too bad. The RIO Line Co was hosting their annual trip and most of the week the gang was streamer fishing. Was it good? From time to time the fishing really heated up. Good and bad all week long. But that is the upshot of fishing.

Do we want it to become more fall like? Absolutely.

[forecast]

Dry flies that seem to wrk when you find a few fish rising? Mostly Cripples and tiny CDC Emergers.  Some have been having good luck with LaFontaine’s Buzzball. Ants, caddis, smaller attractors can get them looking up too.

Nymphers have been having a ball. What is the secret to bobber success? A scud or sow for the lead fly followed by the Zebra or a small mayfly imitation. That is the most common rig. But if you want to experiment beyond that formula you are certainly welcome to do that. Firebeads are coming back. Worms have been known to have worked recently.

Any of the midge stuff that you like is working too. Lots of those annoying tiny fellers swarming around you head in the mornings, evenings, at lunch. Tiny flies are the norm in the late fall into the early winter. They can become selective. Get that ball of fire to settle down for a spell and we should be just fine.

Then most anything works really. Short or long and many places in-between. Find the depth you like and fish it.

The streamers that were hot this last week…because that is all we really know is that. Predicting the future is s tough thing to pull off. Brown or Olive Skiddish Smolts, Marabou Clousers, smaller closers, black buggers, Micro Zonkers, smaller Double Bunny’s, Purple Buggers, and some leeches too!

The popular streamer line is the RIO Streamer Tip withe the 10′ Clear Intermediate Tip. Just right for the water conditions this fall!

Shop open daily from 7am til 7pm. Lots of fun still be be had this October. Pray for overcast skies and some inclement weather patterns and we will see you on your favorite dry fly flat.

Missouri RIver Montana Weekend Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Weekend Fishing Report

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Getting revved up for the big Weekend ahead. Not much to talk about other than the fishing. It is good. Or at least some of the time. Really depends on your skill set. Commonly, certainly when the fish do not want to go on a feeding bender where they eat everything that passes by their mouth, the fishing is as good as you are. We have arrived at that satge once again.

Fish will drive you to drink. Sometimes happily.

Missouri River Montana Weekend Fishing Report

So what is happening on the Mighty Mo’? Just the regular too warm fall stuff. The days have been warm, save for some pretty windy, really damn windy…afternoons. Too warm I might add. We like some sort of hint that winter is around the bend. Like overcast skies and baetis going nuts at 145pm daily.

We are reminded nightly with the ALCS and the NLCS on the boobtube that we are in the fall time frame. Wintery afternoons with some freezing, or near, temps would get us ramped up for the real BWO. Hopefully coming to your, no our, river soon.

I like wandering into Izaak’s for a Hot Toddy, or three, after getting the job done tossing streamers all morning long , then lunching, then hunting heads til dark pushes you to the bar.

Is that too much to ask?

 

 

Missouri River Water Flows and Temps

Flows int he 4K range and should be stable for a while. Good flows for this time of year. Right at the 68 year average. If you are keeping track. So the fish are adjusted to this flow. Water temps are falling slowly too. Please come out big bugs. Big BWO’s.

Missouri RIver Montana Weekend Fishing Report

Missouri River Weekend Weather

[forecast]

Way too sunny for my liking. It is damn pleasant with these blue skies and warmer daytime temps, but not too good for the non eye lidded trout. I guess we will have to fish anyway…

Missouri River & Headhunters Fly Shop

Guides available for the remainder of the month. Lodging too. Call our crack staff and get on board. Remember $300 Spet Guided Trips beginning November 1st and the bevy fo Free 2 Handed Casting Clinics select Saturdays beginning in December.

The shop is open daily from 7am on til after dark.

Izaak’s open every night but Tuesday til October 26th. Then you will have to eat in Wolf Creek at the two restaurants there, the Frenchman & Me and The Oasis.

We’d love to see you this month on the Missouri River. Let us know how we can help.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.14.14

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Approaching the middle of the month and the big BWO’s? Not here.

They have flirted, a little bit. Nothing to write home about.

So what are we doing this week to keep ourselves busy on the water? well, we’ll tell ya.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.14.14

Dry Flyin’ when we can. Blond fishing still producing good numbers of eats with your favorite dry flies. Bigger the better for the human factor. The fish like the little stuff. Can you meet somewhere in between? Your choice.

Adams, Wulff’s, ants, baetis stuff, some good caddis dries as well. Emergers? If you want to get a few on the trailer, then yes. Try your favorite attractor like an October Caddis. For those who find the sipping trout of the Missouri River you should be comfortable with small CDC Emergers, cripples, and spinners. Any of the killer Harrop stuff will work if you are so inclined.

Nymphin’? Short or long with a big one up top and a small one on the bottom. Or two small ones. How about double Zebra’s. How about a sz 20 Zebra and a sz 20 PT? That’ll work.

Streamer fishing? Brown is the theme of the week. Then yellow. Then flashy. Just sayin.’

Lots of apostrophe’s this report.

Weather? Windy and too sunny yesterday. Windy is a constant bothersome event here on the Mo’. But you know that. Get your stiff rod out of the car and use it.

[forecast]

Guide trips for the last week of October? Yes, we got guides. Fishing Hotline in Craig? 406-235-3447 or 877-DRY-FLYS. Call today.

Shop open every morning at 7am with hot cheap free coffee.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.10.14

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.10.14

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Getting mighty fishy my fishy friends. It is heating up and the fishing is getting a little bit better everyday.

Matt and Oliver fishing with Mark caught this killer double above from this last week. Nice fella’s!

Want to rip some lips and deep nymph all day long stacking ’em up? You can.

How about short and easy? Yes to that magic as well.

No bobber for you? DFO? Yes of course. The Missouri will provide the love.

Don’t like any of that action and love to chuck and duck all day till your arm says no more…yet you still have two miles to go? You dig that kinda fishing? Answer? Yes.

Anything you like to do we got it here in central Montana. Per above the fishing is really coming on strong and will continue to get better. The out of area guides are all here too. Most of the working guides in Montana are here including us here at Headhunters. Guides out daily. We have some killer Adipose rental boats for your pleasure too. Full service fly shop? Oh yeah. How about lodging for the remainder of the month or even into November? www.CraigLodging.com

[forecast]

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.10.14

The entire river is fishing well from Holter Dam to Cascade and every run and stretch in between. Choose your reach and enjoy. Not as many folks around this mid week but we should expect some more fishermen around this weekend. Unless they all decide to hunt, watch football, or clean the dreaded garage. Call the shop for the up to the minute fishing report from one of our super fishy staff.

Nymphers Unite

Killer flies that will get you through the weekend include for those who like the nymph include Little Green Machine, Angel Hair PT, JuJu BWO, Juju Brown version, Hot Belly PT, Two Bit Hooker, Magic Fly BWO, Glass Beaded RS@ PT, Zebra, Newmans Own, Rainbow Czech, tan UV Czech, FB’s, Tailwater Sows, Ninch’s Lucent Bead Sow, Ray Charles, Indigo Child, Red HEaded Step Child, CDC Beaded Bubble Backs, Micro Mays, CDC Emergers, and your fav’s too.

DFO’s

For those dry fly enthusiasts you will like Adams, Purple Haze, Purple Craze, Purple Phase, CDC Emergers, Harrops Cripples..all of them, CDC Bubble Backs and Loop Wings, small Adams, BWO PArachute, SPlit Wing BWO’s, and your fav’s.

Headhunters is your Streamer HQ

Streamer fellers will like R2R’s, Yellow Yummy’s White and Black Urchins, Black and Olive Buggers, Skiddish in all flavors, Superflash Zonkers, Kreelex, Leeches, and may more.Headhunters has over 125 bins stuffed full of Streaemer Flies for the Missouri River and beyond. We have the Galloup stuff for those who like to stock their fly boxes as many other shops run out of the killer articulate patterns. Not us. We are fully stocked and ready for you the angler. The best streamer selection on the Missouri River hands down. Come and check it out.

We are known for our vast selection of fly lines and for you streamer addicts we have all of the right gear. Lines from RIO like the Outbound Short and Streamer Tips and density’s that many do not carry. We got ’em all! Versi Leaders for those wanting to tweak the rig even further. The sinking attached leaders in many differing sink rates and lengths.

You need demo rods for the two handed set? We have them ready to go for the fall and winter. Lines too. Your streamer and two handed destination fly shop in Craig is Headhunters. Let us know how we can help. Coming on November 1st we are introducing our Two Handed Spey Guided Trips for $300. More on this later.

Flows and Water Temps

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Water temps continue to fall and the river has dipped in its level as well. We are loving this cooler temperature as the fish are at their peak of activeness and fighting well. Jumping too. Bottom line is that they are comfortable at this temp like we are as humans at 68F. So come out and enjoy.

The flows have dipped this last week and check out the link on the right to the USGS site for current conditions. Good wading and good rising fish level for the remainder of the month.

Headhunters Fly Shop is open daily at 7am for all your Missouri River fishing needs. Ldging, guiding, gear, flies, info, and free coffee daily here in Craig. See you soon on your favorite dry fly flat!

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.8.14

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.8.14

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If we can get grid of this damn sun and move into some cloudy weather patterns we will see more fish rising.

Until then, we will just have to endure the beautiful relatively windless days here on the Missouri River near Craig Montana.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report,
Frank from NY with this Rainbow below Craig MT

The bugs come int he afternoon and we do get a few hours sometimes more of dry fly fishing as the afternoon moves int he direction of the veining. Do you need to stay out til the cows come home? No. But staying out afternoon is good.

Some mornings can be tough as the air temps seem to keep the bite on the slow side. But if the air temps are in the high 50’s or low 60’s then you may stand a chance of having a fantastic morning fishing session.

As I stated the afternoon bite has been strong. From short and long nymph rigs to blind dry fly fishing to streamer tugging to sight fishing to sipping trout in pod like behaviors. Have breakfast at the Frenchman in WC and we will see you for a shuttle and flies after that last cup of coffee.

The water temps are falling with the cooler evenings and the BWO’s have not arrived. That is the status as of today. Falling air temps later in the week will help this cause.

[forecast]

Headhunters Fly Shop open daily @ 7am and open late til 8pm for all your Missouri River needs. Shuttles, flies, warm clothing, rain gear, hats, HH logo wear, and much more. Check out our SALE Rack!

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 9.20.14

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September and all is well. The river is not empty as we move through the 3rd busiest month of the year.

October is not as popular, but we suggest you may like it. Well only if you like streamer fishing and BWO’s.

As for this weekend on the river, Montana’s Missouri River, we can expect some decent fishing.

Are we setting records on the catch rates? No, not really. If you work hard you can get the job done and enjoy the day thoroughly. Fishing is not always about the catching. Sometimes it is, others not. The days have been so very wonderful as the daytime highs are just right for all day long comfort.

[forecast]

You like? Remember the big party tomorrow on the river, at Headhunters Fly Shop sponsored by Howler Bros Clothing right outta Austin Texas. Howlin’ on the Mo’! begins at 3pm with live music, food, swag, sales, and tons of your favorite fishing folks wandering around Craig and hanging at the shop for a spell.

Howlin_OnTheMo_WebBanner copy

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 9.20.14

The dry fly fishing on any given day can be very good. A good bite on Caddis, some larger mayfly stuff like the Callibaetis and the tiny Anoka’s. Read this killer informational blog by John here about these Pseudo Anoka’s that can just drive us batty!

Blind fishing a big bug of your choosing can work as well. Adams, Caddis, attractors of you favorite flavor, Try it if you lile it. You certainly do not have to do as I suggest. You can nymph too.

WE

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report
Good falling water temps means BWO’s are around the corner!

We love the falling water temps as the BWO’s should come at some point. When? I actually think they should come earlier but they never seem to follow my plan, my dream. When they do come it is game on. Until then we will have to fill our afternoons with the bigger bugs like the October Caddis, I think John mentioned that if you wait too long…and the streamer bite can be quite good in the latter parts of September before the brown trout make their way towards sex, towards mating, towards spawning time.

Mike Jared
Mike with this nice brown trout fishing with HH Guide Jared Edens!

The entire river is fishing well and the weeds are not a problem. No complaints in the last couple weeks. Pretty light year for weeds anyway and we do not even consider them to be an issue. High line speed casts and some good casting can alleviate mush of the concern. Come into the shop and see where the pressure is and float somewhere else if you lie to get and stay away from other anglers. Some pressure here and there from bank anglers but they too are spread out nicely.

Nymphing is as good as the day will provide. Sometimes the bite is not as good as we like it to be so keep changing those flies. Try all the regular stuff like Czech Nymphs, Purple and Gold Weight Flies, Worms, Sows, some Firebead stuff and Crawdads up top with the selection towards the bottom of the rig patterns like Little Green Machines, Zebra’s, Peep Shows, Purple LB’s, Pearl LB’s, PT’s, Don King’s, Newman’s Own Midge, WD 40’s, Red Headed Step Child’s Juju BWO’s, Tungsten Redemption, and your killer home tied stuff.

Keep it fresh for all day success. If the fish eat the fly right out of the gate and then stop…you have to make the change. You have to dictate your catch rate. Those who wait for success, well…you know how this ends. Make your own destiny and fish hard!

Come on out and join us tomorrow at 3pm for food and music and such. Sale items include summer stuff, shirts, hats, SIMMS, Howler Bros, RIO, demo rods, cheap accessories. Also the new fall gear is in and moving too. Wool shirts, gloves, warm hats, hand warmers, coffee Thermos’, rain gear too.

Shop open daily @ 7am and open late til 8pm for all your Missouri River needs. Shuttles, BS, free info, free coffee…

 

Blackfoot River fly fishing

Blackfoot River Fly Fishing – Final Countdown

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mark and I continue to sneak over to the Blackfoot River if we can both find a day off together. Fishing has been good, and only seems to be getting better. Typical for this time of year. Things are cooling down, fall hatches are intensifying and the fish know that it’s time to eat. In a month, their metabolism will slow to a crawl as the water temperatures drop into the 30’s.

Nighttime lows are a bit chilly at these higher elevations, so there is no need to be on the water early. The best fishing occurs from 11am on. By 3 in the afternoon, the water temps have hit their peak and you will see a mixed bag of bugs. The fish will also be at their most active then.

You’ll encounter a variety of mayflies, including Trico’s, Mahogany Duns, Hecuba’s and Baetis. October Caddis were hatching the other day as well. One of our favorites. We definitely found fish that were keyed on a specific bug. And by “keyed on” I mean that fish that were eating Trico’s were not going to eat our #12 Purple Haze no matter how many times we threw it at them. Amazing how an 8 inch Cutthroat can humble you.

Hopper patterns were working very well later in the day, and produced much larger average size fish. Purple More-or less was all we tried and all we needed.

We didn’t throw any streamers, as we have become old & cranky dry fly snobs. Or it can be described as “too lazy to change flies and rigs”. Conditions were perfect, however, with a socked in sky and muggy, warm temps. We absolutely saw a few large, green trout (char?) lying around in some tailouts. I have a feeling the streamer fishing would have been pretty good.

Very few anglers around, as all of the Missoula area streams are fishing very well right now. Most anglers are probably sticking closer to town on the Clark Fork and Bitteroot.

Fishing won’t last much longer on the Blackfoot. Soon, cold temperatures will make the effort to float not worth it for a few hours of decent afternoon fishing. Wade fishing in the late afternoon will continue to be worthwhile, however. If you want to float one of the prettiest rivers in Montana, the time is now.

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October Caddis. Yes.

October Caddis. Yes.

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Fish these. October Caddis can be good in September.

Don’t wait to long. Get on it.

This is the short fishing report.

You can nymph too. It is mostly good, most of the time.

Fish the caddis, October or not, and you can be happy. Big Adams too. Big anything that you can stand it. Ants?

Sunny this week as we move along in September. October is nearing as the weather will sour. For sure.

Get on out and enjoy the week. It’s awesome.

[forecast]

 

October Caddis. Yes.
Fantastic Afternoons on the Missouri River
September Missouri River Fly Fishing Facts

Missouri River September Fly Fishing Facts

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Mid September has rolled on in and all we had to do was blink. Well blink no more for the remainder of the month as w have truly been enjoying this particular September.

The best dry fly fishing that we have witnessed in this generally dry fly drought month. The caddis have returned as they commonly do in the latter part of  summer and pressing into the month of September here on the Missouri River. The pesky Psuedo’s are here in a big way but they too have allowed some successes when casting at these frequently snobby feeding trout.

Missouri River September Fly Fishing Facts

Best weather of the summer. Save for this week we historically have highs int he 70’s and lows in the 40’s. Some days will creep higher and some mornings will fall below the freezing mark too. All in all a great month with very little precipitation and favorable daytime highs.

This September we have hopper fishing. Toss the bigger fly or go the other way and tie on the small fry of your choice.

October Caddis fishing is really quite good. Can you twitch it? Remember there is a difference between just dragging it and the proper twitch. If you do not know how, just dead drift it for resounding sucking takes.

Nymphing is red hot. Until the afternoon. Then some days it sucks. Pretty bad. A fish a mile in the pm can be good. Depending on the day. You’ll just have to try it to know. The dam is of course white hot. Work out your arms and row around as long as you want. This great nymph month should only get better.

The colors are changing. While we do not get the famous broad brush strokes of the NE US we do get some pretty stunning yellows. Bring your camera for the colored up brown trout and the leaves.

Psuedo’s.Try your hand at the mostly impossible sipping trout on these damn small BWO’s. Good luck. Sometimes we toss bigger flies at these rising trout. We recommend spending less than 10 minutes on fish that won’t eat the fly. Trust me, I’m a guide.

The streamer fly is making a comeback. Fellers pausing and pawing through the streamer region at Headhunters this month already. Need some kick-ass patterns for the upcoming fall bugger season? Stop in. We got a bundle of them. Truly. October is coming.

Bring more clothes. It can get pretty shitty if the wind comes up. A sweater and a rain jacket are not a bad idea on any given day.

Time to get out a few more times before the fall slips by. It certainly can. Come up for the afternoon if you are local and sneak out for a weekend if you are further from our wonderful resource. If you don’t come this year you will be one year older when you do…

 

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 9.13.14

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Missouri River Montana Fishing Report for this coming week including the weekend.

Warming up although it started out cool this morning throughout the week with air temps apparently moving into the low 90’s this week. Do we believe it? I guess so. While t is not the norm for September we don’t really expect anything different form this mystery month.

[forecast]

Until then we will enjoy the re-emergence of summer. Will we get a few more Trico’s before the Autumn fully sets in? Probably.

The Psuedo’s are out in force and we are getting the normal questions about how to catch them on top. The answer for most smart anglers is to move on down the river until you find tort that may entertain a dry fly. I will spend about 5 minutes on these mostly non eating fake fly fish. Do we care? We only care if they don’t eat our flies, and they commonly don’t. I have already spoken with several fellers that have invested hours on these fish. Are they eating on top? Sometimes. Sometimes they are eating just under the surface.

The nymphers are getting the job done with Purple Weight flies, Crawdads, Czech’s, big Tungsten PT’s, Hare’s Ears, October Caddis Pupa, Tan UV Czech’s, Juju BWO, Red Headed Step Children, Grape Slushy, Two Bit Hooker, Magic Fly BWO, Angel Hair PT’s, Purple Hot Spot PT’s, Gold Weight Flies…

The dry fly guys that are doing well are blind fishing bigger junk like the Hopper still, ants, beetles, Stimi’s, October Caddis dries, giant Adams and the like. Why not blind a few out there. Can’t hurt right?

Streamer fans are starting to froth at the mouth as we near the month of October. It will come. Headhunters has the best selection of Streamer Flies int he county. Fer sure dudes.

Rental Boats from Adipose and guides from Headhunters will get you through the week. Just had a big group right outta Great Falls here this weekend and they had a ball. Some went down river ad got them on the dry. The others went up river and got them on he nymph. Where will you go?

Headhunters open daily @ 7am and open late til 8pm. All kinds of fall clothing in the shop. Is it time for new waders this fall. Toss those leaky ones in the trash and get into a dry GoreTex set for the fall and winter. We can help. Rian gear and warm stuff too. Hats and gloves for all seasons. See you here this months and certainly in October!

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 9.9.14

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I think the hopper fishing is over for the week. Maybe the Trico’s too. Callibaetis? Oh they will be strong as well as the Psuedo’s. Hatch-O-Mania.

Look at the river stats and the weather before dressing for the day. Hot soup, hot coffee, hand warmers, and boat heaters. See, easy.

[forecast]

The hopper bite has been good enough to get you through the afternoon, until today. October Caddis may be the ticket if you choose to dry fly fish blindly. Or try the C’Baetis Spinner. Nymen’s Calli Cripple? All good dry fly choices as the weather turns toward the fall.

Big nymph show as you know in September. Hot flies include the ever popular Rainbow Czech Nymph. The Pearl Lightening Bug is key too. Then all the spin-offs like the LGM, S & M, Bubbleback BWO, PT, Red Headed Step Child, Indogo Child, Military May Black, Two-Bit Hooker, RS2’s, and more like them. Come in for the best techy tiny nymph fly selection in the Tri-County region.

Lots of sale stuff in the shop as well as a bundle of warm clothing for cooler days. Hats, gloves, hand warmers, free hot coffee, and waterproof SIMMS jackets. How about new waders to get you through the fall winter and spring. The Demo Rods are nearly gone but some good Loomis, Orvis, Echo rods still wanting to leave the cond=fines of the store.

Streamer dudes will get all hopped up this week. Start near the dam and strip freely. Not as easy as you head downstream. Go lower if you want some freedom from crowds. Lower middle? Just bee creative and pick your stretch based on the factors you appreciate. Solace, bugs, style, time of day, drinks…

Blackfoot River is a long shot as it can get really cold across the divide. Call for an update and a snow report?

This fall foreshadowing should pass and we will get a little more beautiful September weather. The Golden Eagles are moving through, the Osprey are leaving, the Mink are preparing for winter, the anglers are prepping fro greatness, and you are planning either your hunting or fishing trips for October and November.

Shop open daily at 7am and open late til 8pm for all your river needs. Forget something important? Stop in and we can help!

 

 

Missouri River & Blackfoot River Fishing Reports

Missouri River & Blackfoot River Fishing Reports 9.6.14

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Both rivers fishing well. Why wouldn’t they? We are heading into one of our favorite seasons. Maybe our favorite? Yours?

The weather is fading into a perfect fall pattern with daytime highs in Craig in the 70’s while across the divide the daytime highs are more like 60’s and low 70’s. Nightime lows will and have brought frost to the boat seats and the brush and trees are starting to show the colors of fall.

[forecast]

Missouri River Fishing Report 9.6.14

Nymphing is the star of this month. Most are up at the dam just whacking the trout. Good to great catch rates if you are into rowing around in circles. Many love this deal and it sure is fun. The best time of the year to engage in circus like fishing behaviors and we can facilitate this kind of day if you wish. It really is its. Rowing around with lots and lots of fish on. Jumping, running, laughing, landing. All can be had at the dam in late August and early September. Stop in for hints of dam success.

If you like fewer folks around and less of a circus scene, fish anywhere else. Wolf Creek, Craig, Stickney, and even to the lower reach. It too has been very busy so check out the traffic levels at your local fly shop before heading out in the morning.

Callibaetis, Psuedo’s, and OCtober Caddis can bring some attention to the surface oriented trout. Ants, beetles, and any attractor that you are comfortable with including hoppers can get your blood pressure higher with spectacular takes and super secret sucking takes too.

The streamer fans are getting a few looks fishing up to too. Not as many weeds, although they are quite tame this year, on the upper sections of river. with the sun high in the sky the flashy stuff that we love can be the key. Skiddish Smolts, R2R’s/Coffey’s Sparkle Minnows, Kreelex’s and the like are lighting it up. Time to get a new streamer line on that streamer rod too. Come in for the best streamer line selection on the Missouri River. We have 10+ models to choose from. RIO, Wulff, Airflo, Orvis all in stock and deep. To get you to the fish!

Fall lodging is filling. Look up your perfect property here on our Craiglodging.com website. The preferred properties include Craig Trout Camp with cabins right here in Craig. Check them out too on the loading site. Get your guided trip here with our outstanding full time guide staff. Get a guide for a couple days, wade fish a couple days, and rent an Adipose Driftboat too!

Missouri River & Blackfoot River Fishing Report
A nice place to be in the morning. Nice sky too.

Blackfoot River Fishing Report 9.6.14

A really nice tome to experience the Blackfoot River. Fishing here not eh Mo for more than a couple days? Try out the Blackfoot with one of our guides. They love it too. Fall colors come earlier as the temps not he wet side of the divide cool earlier int he fall. Near freezing air temps many mornings make this a great late morning and afternoon fishery perfectly designed for the angler heading over the hill.

October Caddis are available to the fish as well as hoppers, Hecuba’s the fall drake, some smaller mayflies, and a few other unidentifiable insects are out too. Crips and duns should entice some killer Cutthroat. As always the streamer fishing can be really good if you are willing to put in the effort. Not a terrible idea to bring 3 rods to the Blackfoot. While we love heading over to this ridiculously beautiful river for the change of pace we almost always defer to the dry fly. Why not. The Missouri provides technical fishing and while the Blackfoot can be techy we love tossing the larger dry flies. The Hecuba is one of those flies that will excite you and the trout.

Hoppers, Caddis, attractor dries, streamers, ants,a dn your terrestrial of choice can get you through the next month. September is quite possibly the best shot on this famed freestone.

We love the fall and it is coming here in September this year. The shop open daily @ 7am and til about 8pm. See you this fall in Craig.

 

 

Headhunters Fly Shop Fishing Report

Headhunters Fly Shop Fishing Report September 4th

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The Missouri River is fishing quite well. The Blackfoot too. Which river should you fish? How about both.

John and Mark are heading over the hill today to fish the Blackfoot for a couple days to see the cool color changes, the high mountain experience, and try to fool a few Cutthroat trout along with the healthy populations of Rainbows and Browns. Maybe a Bull Trout or two as well? We will give yo an update on the fishing in the next couple days as to the success of the trip across the Continental Divide.

The fishing on the Mighty Missouri is heating up for fall! The flow plans are in as well and it looks like we will be seeing a few more cubic feet per second than normal. Will that affect the fishing? It may get better. It will cool the water sooner for sure and maybe bring the bigger BWO’s out of hiding sooner tan the previous years. Will it release those weeds earlier? Maybe.

Screen Shot 2014-09-04 at 6.32.28 AM

All reaches of the river are fishing well. The Dam? Unbelievable. Big trout on tiny midges and some larger PT and mayfly patterns too. Try anything bigger? Stop in the shop and ask our knowledgable staff for any up to the minute hot flies for your Missouri River success.

The streamer fellers are not yet cleaning ups s the weeds in the water column will not let too many casts through before picking up the junk. How are the weeds? Not bad at all. I would say roar less than the two previous years not eh Missouri River. Shake ’em off, cast them off, or just enjoy the day. Have not had anyone of my clients complain about them in the last two weeks.

Quieter for another couple days and then the folks do return for the good September fishing parade. Nymphing is always rock star status in Spetember but this year the late summer caddis and ants have made their way into the conversation big time. Blind dry fly fishing is very good and try your hand at that in the afternoons is you so desire. Lots of good stories about not only the ant and the caddis but the hopper too. Whatever bigger fly you like tie it on and go out there and cast!

[forecast]

Not too bad and cooler mornings have been keeping the water temps in the right region. Nicer afternoons in the mid 70’s this last week and more to come. We can see temps creep into the 80’s in September but judging the summer and the cooler temps all year long, we do not see that happening.

The shop is open daily at 7am for all your Missouri River trout fishing needs. Some sale hangover items including deep discounts on DEMO rods from SAGE, Loomis, Orvis, Echo and reels, lines, shitty flies, fly fishing accessories, shirts, some rain gear and the like. We’ll see you this weekend on the Mo or the Blackfoot!

Enjoy the fall here in Montana with Headhunters.

Missouri River Early September Fishing Report

Missouri River Early September Fishing Report

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September weather is here and the daytime highs are in the 70’s and sometimes 60’s. We would rather it go that route than get back into the 80’s. We are happy to move out of August and into the future. September and October are terrific months for fly fishing in Montana. Fewer folks around and damn good fishing.

4340cfs and 63F are the stats that you may be looking for. Weeds? Some. Some days lots. Is is what you let it be. Overhearing the conversations on Headhunters porch, Izaak’s dining room, and the well worn bar @ Joe’s it is not a topic of concern. It si what you make of it. Honest.

[forecast]

The fishing is really quite good. The nymphing is turning on as September is historically a fantastic and very consistent nymphing month. Not as many bugs, dries around this month but if you look, you can find a few trout sipping dry flies.

Callibaets make an appearance in September. Look for silty runs and keep your eyes peeled. All you need to see are a few spinners hovering overhead and tie on a cool spinner. An Adams can do the trick too.

Psuedo’s everywhere. Daily on some part or reach of the river. Look for rising trout that you may not be able to catch. Try all your favorite BWO patterns and then some other goofy shit. Don’t spend an hour on fish that will not eat. Unless you are into that sort of thing.

Some caddis around too. Look for them and try your luck blind fishing or sight fishing a caddis over Pseudo rising trout. Make good presentations early in the casting session for a shot at these fish.

Streamer fishing picks up as the weeds dissipate. Some are catching fish on the bigger subsurface bug but not too many stories yet. Up towards the dam is the key to success as you can stay out of the weed for a few miles.

The entire river is fishing as many are heading into the canyon and lower. Boats all over the river. There will be pressure up top for another couple weeks and then back to normal.

Trico’s are a thing in the morning still but the window may be short. An hour or two is about the norm. Pray for calm weather and the spinners will get to the water. If the breeze appears you amy want to get out your bobber.

Hoppers in the afternoon and in the mornings is you prefer are still an option. Some days we see really great participation by the fish, others not so hot.

Lodging available for the next couple months by calling the shop @ 406-235-3447. Craiglodging.com is another route if you want to preview our 20+ rental properties before you book. Guides available too for the next few months. Book today for the best options in regards to both guides and lodging.

The shop is open daily @ 7am. Tons of sale stuff on the rack from SIMMS, SAGE, Echo, RIO, Orvis, Howler Bros., Mountain Khaki, HH logo wear and much more.

September is a really nice month that many around here truly love. We’ll see you on the river.

Missouri River Rain Day

Missouri River Rain Days

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Liquid Sunshine falling from the sky this morning. Rained most of the day yesterday too.

So what should you do? Put on your rain-gear and go outside. Just what any normal sound minded angler would do.

The NOAA Weather Service states: Rain. High near 54. North northwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Missouri River Rain Days
Missouri River Water Temps Falling

Trico’s today? Probably not. Probably not tomorrow either.

Hoppers? No, not really an option.

Streamers? Totally your gig today. Or give nymphing a shot.

The water temperatures have cooled with this dousing of cooler wetter weather. No worrying about getting too warm this August now. Not that we were, but it is out of the question after this weather event passes through. Temps currently holding at the 62F mark. The flows are stable at 4320cfs and all is well. Shoot not too many more degrees below the 62 mark and we may see some BWO’s? Psuedo’s for sure.

Shoot, maybe a good Psuedo hatch today! Keep your eyes open, protected from the rain and have at ‘er.

5 Tips to Keep you Dry and Warm during the Deluge

  1. Wear the best rain gear money can buy. We like the SIMMS Stuff for sure. The Slick, Acklins, G4, the Bass Jacket…or have your buddy wrap you in Saran Wrap. Use Duct Tape for the seams.
  2. Fish under the bridge all day. The fish don’t care, they are all wet anyhows!
  3. Bring lots of hot coffee, soup, and/or Chicken Broth.
  4. Whiskey!
  5. Renegade fish from the car. Wade fishing is good when you have the protection of the car, the heater, and the option to go to Joe’s, stand by the fire, and tell some lies.

Toss streamers all day long.is the last one. May will be doing this all day. Good results in the rain. We love the rain and the cooling of the river. Feels good.

As for the dry flies and the Trico’s. We’ll see how they fare during this rain day. They are not done by any stretch so keep it tuned here for an update after the clouds part. Looks good for the front end of this coming week.

[forecast]

That is all for this morning. Enjoy your weekend. Keep warm, and wear some killer rain gear. Shop is open daily @ 7am for all your Missouri River Montana Fly Fishing needs. Streamers, warm layers, raingear/waders from SIMMS and Orvis, rainpants, warm hats, and free hot coffee.

 

 

Fall Forecast

Missouri River Fall Flyfishing Forecast

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Missouri River Late August

Not too bad at all. While the other dozen freestone rivers in Montana are fishing quite well we are fishing pretty well too. Hoppers get all the headlines but we have a damn strong Trico hatch nearly every day. They hatch every day, sometimes not as full a hatch as others. Also you can get the Pump Fake, as John Arnold calls it, where the bugs show well, then move into the next county. Or something.

Nymphing has been pretty damn abysmal as of late. What is happening and when it will change is a mystery to most including us. Water temps are not out of line and the Trico production is phenomenal. So…?

Nymphing will return as we tear the pages of the calendar off sliding into September.

Hoppers do get the headlines as some really nice Brown Trout fall for the meaty flaring fly. Chubby’s, Morrish, Mongo’s, Dave’s, Whitlock’s, Peanut’s are all good choices for the remainder of August.

Callibaetis have started to show a little. Cooler air temps next month will bring this oft missed severely localized larger mayfly to our attention.

Friday Foto
Big Brown Trout caught on Missouri River Montana Fly Fishing Grasshoppers!

 

Missouri River September

The best nymphing month of the summer. Historically speaking. Many look forward to this generally hatch less month as a chance to get back behind the bobber. Kids are back in school and the parents prepare for an Autumn Get-A-Way. A relatively busy month on Montana’s Missouri River as fish counts go up.

Some Pseudocloen activity in the beginning of the month followed by daily Pseudo events as we near October. They can just drive a guy nuts. Most smart folks including Missouri River Fishing Guides when seeing a Pseudocloen Pod just keep on rowing. Don’t look back either. A good rule of thumb is to stop and anchor. Cast at them for 5 minutes or 1 fly change. If nothing happens, no eats, no refusals no nothing happens…move. Immediately. O

Or stay for a couple hours. Your choice.

If you are in need of a few killer Pseudo patterns stop in the shop and sift through our substantial Pseudo section. Smoke Jumpers, RS2’s, CDC Emergers, Black Posted Duns, and several parachutes patterns to keep you busy the entire Baetis Pseudocloen Season!

The aforementioned Callibaeits are present in specific silty runs. The rule of thumb is if you see a couple flighting about, put one on. A Parachute Adams will fit the bill but there are more patterns out there for cavorting with Callibaetis. Tilt Wings, Harrop’s Callebaetis Spinner, Callebaeits Flog, Harrop’s D & D Cripple, and many more.

Hoppers can stay around for a while depending on how the nighttime air temps present themselves. If we have a bunch of below zero evenings we will see them disappear rapidly. All terrestrials will rise and fall wight he conditions. Ants are players about 8 months of the year. Honest. It is never a bad idea to play the ant through your favorite run.

The October Caddis Trichoptera Dicosmoecus shows in the nymphal form this month. Try swinging one through a sexy riffle and see what happens. They are actually in play in late August so do not discount your big orange buddy this fall.

Historically we would have this late caddis session too. But probably will not happen this year based on the caddis progression or lack thereof this summer. Keep it here for hatch events as they occur.

Missouri River Fall Flyfishing Forecast
Pot ‘O Gold near the Headhunters Fly Shop. We call it the Missouri River

 

Missouri River October

One of our favorite months here in Montana. If we could have 6 months of October, we would! Fall fishing is fishing at it’s finest and the Missouri River shines for 31 days in the 10th month annually.

October Caddis, BWO’s in 3 sizes, good streamer fishing, fantastic nymphing, and fewer folks make this a month for angling all-stars. October is month upon we get visitors from the fishing industry testing gear for the upcoming years and out of work Montana fly fishing guides from Bozeman, the Bighorn River, Whitefish, Livingston, and Missoula. You know if a gaggle of trout bums are here…there might be some action you may want to participate in. No?

Streamer fanatics come out of the woodwork while the dry fly anglers stalk actively feeding fish on acres of DFO Flats. Book your lodging now for this month as the premier properties fill fast. Check out CraigLodging.com for the full line up of Headhunters Rentals Properties.

 

Missouri River Fall Forecast

So that is it. The fall is on its way ash the fall fishing will heat up with the changing of the colors. Dry flies, nymphs, and streamers are all on the docket for fall fishing on your favorite fall river in Craig Montana. Give us a shout if you have questions about the fishing, hatch schedules, lodging, or guided fishing trips. We love to talk bout fishing the Missouri River.

Fall Fishing Hotline 406-235-3447

“Hoot Owl” Restrictions on Dearborn, Sun and Smith

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With all the water Montana has received this season, stream closures due to warm and low flows are not on most people’s mind. We do have a few however, and as they are all in our area, you should be made aware. Read the descriptions closely for the exact stretches and times that are closed.

Dearborn River

Hoot Owl Restriction 
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
From Highway 434 Bridge downstream 41 miles to the confluence with the Missouri River north of Craig (8/8/2014)
View Water Body Report

Smith River

Hoot Owl Restriction 
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Smith River from Eden Bridge to the confluence of North and South Forks of the Smith River.(8/8/2014)
View Water Body Report

Sun River

Hoot Owl Restriction 
Mandatory Drought Closure – 2 PM to Midnight
Sun River from mouth of Muddy Creek to Highway 287. (8/8/2014)
View Water Body Report

None of these will drastically affect anyones fly fishing right now, though there are a few anglers who might hit some of these on foot right now. Fortunately, there are plenty of other wade fishing opportunities in the area if you like to get away from the crowds on the big rivers. The upper creeks on the Blackfoot River are a good place to start. Streams in the Little Belt range are another good place to look.

LINK to Montana FWP closure list

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 8.18.14

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 8.18.14

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August is here. We are here. The trout are here.

Mostly.

The upshot of the week is this. It is short and bittersweet.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 8.18.14

Trico’s

Mornings can be really great. Strong hatches riverside. The most pressure is on the upper. If you want some solace from the rest fish below Craig somewhere. If you want even more? Fish below Mid Canon. If you like the lower reach, fish there. You will have good to great Trico fishing if the wind does not blow too hard and send the spinner fall to north to Great Falls.

The thought is that Trico’s may hatch throughout the rest of August. Maybe into Septemebr. That is the historical pattern. Whether Mother Nature follows that path, we just do not know. But we think it should be strong for another 2-3 weeks.

Spinners are the key to your success. Try another non Trico pattern if you wish. It can be the key to Trico success. Or just keep tossing different and odd Trico flies until the fish cooperate. A sunken Trico can do wonders as well. Zebra?

Caddis

No, not really. Actually not at all. Fish caddis patterns with success here on the Missouri but not for the Caddis Hatch man. Maybe next year. P.S. You want a boat load of caddis flies for cheap?

Nymphing

No, not really. Well sort of. The nymphing for most has been pretty piss poor. I’m not saying that if you drown a worm, or a Zebra, or a Little Green Machine, or  Juju Baetis, or some sort of Caddis Pupa you will not find success. Because you will find a few. But we are familiar with net use when nymphing and that is certainly not the case this last couple weeks.

Moments of brilliance yes. A total annihilation? No, not really.

Come in and wee the latest news here int eh shop and we can put you on the right track. The latest info is found here locally from those who have there finger on the pulse of the Missouri.

It will turn around soon? We think? Every day is truly different. Not much consistency. The month of September is one of our finest nymphing months and it bleeds into October and November. So hang on to your hats, your bobbers, your net. It will bounce back.

Hopper Fishing

Good to great to not so good to terrible. All things heard in the bar ad in the shop. We love to fish the big fly here as so often we are squinting to see the tiny dry fly. So fishing a size 10 or better is a pretty good day/deal. Pink and purple continue to rule with red, gold, and green creeping up the scale.

Ants and beetles are making some waves as well. Blooms, Arrick’s Blooms Hopper and Cricket seem to be coaxing some trout into making bad decisions. Small and large flies are what you should be tossing. Ambiguous? Yep. You catch ’em on what you are tossing. Fishing the middle river is the key. Not all fish lay on the bank. Some do. We like to look for 18″-36″ of moving water and present the bug. Wait, twitch, wait, wait some more and watch it get sucked.

Kiss it. Lick it. Swallow it. Hammer it. Suck it. Eat it.

We have a fantastic Hopper selection at the shop. Well over 120 bins stuffed full of foamies, hair wings, and the like. The ants box has some jewels in it too.

Weather and Flows

Flows are holding at a respectable 4500cfs and the water temps are fluctuation between 64F and 68F daily. Not much movement above the 68F mark this year. July is our hottest month here in central Montana so we do not expect there to be any further upwards movement in regards to Missouri River water temps.

[forecast]

We are approaching the end of summer as we move into Autumn. The colors will change and the Baetis will come. Hopefully we get a big October Caddis showing too. Cross your fly fishing fingers and we will see you in the fall. It really is nice as the days become shorter and the fish friskier!

Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service

Now is the time to book your late summer and fall fly fishing trip to the Missouri River in Craig Montana. Check out CraigLodging.com for housing and Headhunters for all your guiding and rental boat and rod, reel, and wader needs. Don’t let the fall fly fishing season slip by you. Book today.

Headhunters Fly Shop open daily @ 7am and well into the evening hours closing @ 9pm. Stop in for your Sun Bum sunscreen, new RIO In Touch Fly Lines, hoppers galore, GINK, SAGE Method fly rods, Dr. Slick, Howler Bros, SIMMS fall wear, toques, and sungear too.

Blackfoot on Mondays.

Blackfoot on Mondays.

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The Blackfoot was good today. Monday.

A few folks on it but we beat the crowds early this morning.

Chubby’s, caddis, moths, and assorted attractors ruled the day. Headhunters has plenty of Blackfoot River patterns to get you through the day. Ninch, our fly guru, lived and fished the Missoula waters for years before making his way across to the arid side of the divide. We got all those cool floaty flies. Nymphs too. You want to try out your hand at streamer fishing the B-Foot? Got ’em in stock.

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Blackfoot Vulture.

Lots of sun, eagles, vultures, and killer Montana birds filled the silence between the trouts.

Brookies, Browns, Rainbows, and Cutty’s all on board and in the net.

Big ones? No, not really. But all the same, a good time.

The Mo holds bigger trout. Blackfoot holds the beauty. Hands down.

Change up your itinerary and include the Blackfoot River this coming trip. We can help.

Tie in dinner and a few drinks in Missoula too. A cool overnighter to finish your trip to central Montana. Missoula is a kick and a real Montana town with amenities that you will like. Great food and really fun folks. Shopping, the confluence of many rivers, a University, west side living.

Just do it. You certainly will enjoy it.

Blackfoot on Mondays.
Banks Family Blackfoot Mondays.

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Headhunters Fly Shop Fishing Report

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All is well as we finish the first week of August.

Generally a soft period fishing Montana’s Missouri River. Why? Because the rest of the rivers in Montana are actually fishing this time of year. While the Mo fishes all 12 months the rest of the state has to deal with run-off consequently a shorter fishing season. So as the rest of the the state enjoys their peak, we settle into a late summer program.

What does that entail you ask? Well my fishy friends here are the highs and lows of August fishing Missouri River style.

Headhunters Fly Shop Fishing Report

Early mornings. Well not as wearily as the last month. You can actually sleep in a bit. If you make it to the water by 8 or 9am you still get the best of the Trico spinner fall. Not a big rush as the pressure here is light. Wander out to your favorite flat and have that last cup of Joe. Then dress your line and make that first cast.

Early off in the afternoons. Don’t stay out til 5 pm. Come in and take yourself a Siesta. Nap for a while, review the days events, then wander over to Joe’s for a Bloody Mary. Then to Izaak’s for a Pulled Pork Platter. Then off to bed to dream of the big Mo River Trout.

Hopper Time. Rock it all day long if you are so inclined. Headhunters has over 50 hopper patterns for your Brown Trout fix. Stock up for other rivers too. We got Chubby’s! Lots of them. Honest. Buy a box full.

Fish Caddis. There are not a ton of caddis in water, in the air…but they trout will eat them. Tie it on and let it ride.

Fish the Blackfoot with one of our guides. Want to experience something different than the Missouri? Let us show you another river and new world. Freestones are cool!

Try fishing the smallest flies in your box. They work! Tiny flies here on the world famous Mo are certainly challenge. Are you up for it?

Fish a new stretch. The lower river is fun. Not familiar with the canyon? Try it. You might enjoy the scenery and the hungry brown trout.

Trico’s are still happening in the am. Get out there and enjoy it. Remember that the flies you choose do not have to be Trico’s. You can fish other food items over the heads and the mouth will respond.

Headhunters open daily @ 6am for all your river needs. The fall clothing is in the store and the remaining summer stuff must go. Stop by for killer sale times like shirts, hats, flips, flies, fly lines, and the like. We’ll greet you with a smile.

 

 

 

Twist of Fate

Twist of Fate

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In a strange but true situation here on the Missouri River the Dry Fly Fishing is better than the Nymph Fishing.

Honest.

While the Missouri River is know for its famous dry fly fishing it is also a fantastic nymph fishery. Unbelievable in fact.

But, for the last couple weeks the nymph bite has been shitty soft. An understatement really. While we are still getting some trout to eat the nymph it has not been stellar. We are used to stupendous nymph fishing all year long. Of course we see some soft spots…this is certainly one of them.

Not that you can’t catch  few trouts on the wet fly. You can. But it not what we, or you, have become accustomed to. It will turn at some point. We will let you know here of course. But until then, do not expect to set any records.

The Dam is not even that hot yet. It will allow heat up as the month passes by and we approach September.

Twist of Fate. The Dry Fly is Hot!

On the other hand, the dry fly anglers are still having a heyday! Not much pressure for us in August and there are plenty of fish not getting bothered. Go out and find your Valhalla.

Some days there are rising fish all day long after the spinner fall in the morning gets the fish in the right mood. You know that feeling. The Trico Spinner Falls have been epic on any given day. Not always, but almost always. Less pressure here than in July and June have allowed the fish to become pretty comfortable sipping in historical summertime pods.

Then there are those lone fish. Do you like the loners? They can be brown in flavor.

Folks are finding the dry effective all the way through the canyon and downriver to Cascade. Check out the daily weed flow and choose your reach. Today the weeds not too bad. Better than the last few days for sure folks.

Headhunters guides are stretched out all over the river. Mostly downstream though as the hopper and attractor flies have been killer. Maybe not all day long but before the sun gets too high the fish are certainly in a positive feeding mode.

We love Trico’s and love to fish them. Get on out and enjoy a quieter river for another month. Then September picks up a little. Most of the rest of the state is fishing really well and we enjoy this time of year while some of our guests are fishing the Freestones. Like the Blackfoot!

If you love the dry fly, come on out and toss your line in. Most days I see more dry fly anglers than nymphers. Yep, true.

Shop open daily @ 6am and open late til 9pm. Late shuttles, flies, info, and the early stuff too. Coffee is on and hot early here in Craig.

Missouri River August

Missouri River August

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August has arrived and with it the high and bright sun. Would not expect anything different than that? Would you?

The fact is that the average daily high temperature in August is 82F. 1 degree cooler than July. The water temps follow suit as they drop throughout this month.

So as the water and air temps cool the fishing can become difficult. If you know that coming into the game you should be just fine. August is tougher than the previous two months because of the conditions. We have some weed in the water column, the air is hot, the sun is high int eh sky, and the fish have seen it all.

You too can overcome the challenges and succeed! A few tips below to insure August angling success.

Missouri River August Tips for Success

Go out early and beat the heat. Not one concept better than this one. Go early and beat the heat. Fish do not like high sun. They do not have eyelids. They can’t squint man.

If you can’t go early, go late. But the evening session is by no means as good as the morning shot. Dawn Patrol for sure.

Be a better angler. The fish can get a touch gun shy in August. They have been fished over for a couple strong months. Make the first cast count and make sure you set up quietly. Gently. Secretly.

Stay hydrated. It’s hot. Drink lots of water. Wear a wide brimmed hat. Buff’s. Sungloves. A Bimini stretched over the top of your drifter? A great idea. How about SunBum Sunscreen. Lather it on.

Be prepared with a  few dry fly rods strung up. A techy small dry rod. A hopper rod. And maybe a bobber rod. Switch when needed.

If you want to stay away from the rest of the anglers fish the lower river. While it has more weeds, it has fewer boats.

Clean your fly line. It probably has not been done in a while. Do yourself a favor and clean that baby. It is the tool that delivers the fly to the fish. Cherish and enjoy clean fly lines. OR just get a new one. You deserve it.

Small tiny droppers can bring you success. Fish faster water. Don’t drag the fly. Clean off the weeds. Fish midweek. Get off before you are too punchy. What are your secrets for August?

Just use some good ‘ol common sense this month and you can get over on a few. They are finicky and they do go away when you make drifting mistakes. Trout are wild animals and sense predators.

 

 

 

Big Brown Trout on dry flies

Big Brown Trout on Dry Flies

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You like good fish on top?

We do. The Missouri River is producing some really nice fish on the dry fly.

You can nymph them up too. Streamer fishing? OK I guess. “Not Much” is the quote from Dewey @ Headhunters.

Big Brown Trout on Dry Flies

Why would you fly fish with the big bug when you can hook ’em with the small white winged black? To each their own…I guess. 

The great thing about the Missouri River is that you can skin the cat in so many differing ways.

Small techy dry fly fishing is at it’s peak right now. Go to your spot and get them on the small dry. Whether it be the PMD. the Trico, the mysterious caddisfly.

If you want to roll the terrestrial betwixt points of rising interest feel free to do so. I would. Well, only if you like that sort of thing.

The Big Brown Trout on Dry Flies deal. 

 

 

Missouri River Summer Dry Fly Love

Honest. Dry Fly Love.

We so commonly, as of late, meaning the last decade, get categorized into a nymph loving resource. True in some respects.

Not true in others. Respects that is.

Montana’s Missouri River is a classic, the classic maybe, dry fly river. 7K catchable fish per mile. Just think about that for a moment. Name the other resources with that kind of number. 180K insects per square meter. Do the math on that one. Name some other rivers with that number.

So, fish the dry fly. We never disregard the value and effectiveness of the nymph, of the streamer fly. Never. We advocate the use of all. The ability to fish so many different disciplines on any given day is one of the reasons that the Missouri River is highly regarded in so many trout fishing circles.

While we love all the participants in so many differing styles of trout fishing…we love the dry fly.

It is why so many of the locals, the hangers on, the employees, the trout bums, the guides, the shop staffers, the waiters, the bartenders, the dreamers, the dry fly lovers, the travelers of the dry fly, the monks of the dry, the purists, the fantasizers, the reach casters of America.

They love this time period.

Who doesn’t love to catch or at least cast at Big Brown Trout Dry Flies?

Welcome to the Mo in August,. It truly does get more difficult as the month ticks by. Really hard in fact. Practicer a few times in your yard before getting on that jet airplane. You will appreciate the fly rod time in hand upon making the first cast on our beloved river.

The fishing has been just fantastic. Not everyone likes us to tell all to the readers. Well I do not believe that stating that the dry fly fishing is pretty damn good, pretty awesome, some may say mind-blowing….is wrong. The dry fly fishing on any given day is very good. Lots of opportunities for you fellers that like to toss the tiny dry.

Long live the dry fly fisherman!

 

Check out this kick ass video from Scumliner Media titled Dead Flies Don’t Swim…

 

Dead Flies Don’t Swim from scumliner media on Vimeo.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 8.1.14

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The update is as follows. The fishing is fantastic in the morning, not so good in the afternoon!

The heat and some weed growth have kept the post lunch fishing a bit slower than we like. Those who like to get it done head out early and take advantage of the pre heat bite.

Good Trico spinner falls almost every day. Some are not as good as others as the hatch in conjunction withs gentle breeze can diminish the fall.

Remarkably good PMD action still to be had as the spinner falls have been quite impressive. Even some decent emergences in areas nearly every day. Don’t forget about this mid summer mayfly yet.

Caddis better in the evenings with good catch reports coming from the late night gang. Shuttles available at the shop if you plan on heading out after work. Stop in for a shuttle and a batch of kick ass flies.

Terrestrial fishing is as good as you are. Toss it out there as you can and let ‘er ride. Twitch if you can. Only if you can. A fine line between dragging the fly and twitching the fly. Perfect practice makes perfect.

Not as much pressure as we move into the month of August. Come on out early and make a half day of it for your pleasure. Come during the week if you need some real solace. Get out there!

Lodging has some availability as well. Give us a shout and stay in Craig this August at the Craig Trout Camp here in downtown Craig.

Still no fires bothering us here in our neighborhood. Good news.

The fish are getting a touch finicky if you foul up the initial drift. Get your game face on and make the first drift count. Give folks lots of room out there too. Treat others as you you would like to be treated!

Headhunters open at 6am for all your trout fishing needs. Fall clothing in stock as we near the fall. Not nearly yet, but it will be here before we know it. Open late for your late shuttles and lodging needs.

Lots of caddis patterns are working well. While we do not have our normal abundance of Caddis Flies this summer.

[forecast]

 

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 7.29.14

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Missouri River Trout Fishing on the Missouri River is good. Damn good.

The dry fly fishing has been truly great. Did you read the fishing report blog from a few days ago? It still is as good as you are. Honest.

PMD’s are still a factor as we had a couple spinner falls that rival any I have seen in my entire life. As good as a Trico Spinner Fall, but much paler in color. A pale green one at that.

The caddis are making an appearance, slowly, and the trout are eating them well. We fish the caddis over the Trico feeding trout…often.

Check out the Trico Video Dead Flies Don’t Swim from John and Scumliner Media this last week!

Some very large spinner falls this last week. Will it continue this next week? Golly, we hope so. Should have Trico’s for another month if history is any indication. Mother Mo can fool us, and does often. Trico hatch nearly every morning with that spinner fall that we all love. The entire HH gang has been out fishing daily to get some of the best, wait “The Best of the Year”, dry fly fishing. It is really good.

Trico’s all the way from Holter to Cascade. PMD’s? on some sections and not as much on others. Sally’s? Gone.

A few ways to catch them this coming week. Go out and stake up. Wait for the Trico’s to come. Or toss some attractors all day long. Hoppers? OK. Or toss nymphs and get ’em that way too.

Shop open daily @ 6am for all things Missouri River Trout. Shuttles, demo rods, rental boats, guides, killer flies, and a fantastic staff to help you enjoy your Missouri River visit.

 

 

It's as good as you are...

It’s as good as you are…

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Today’s Missouri River Montana Fly Fishing Report is as follows…

It’s as good as you are. Simple and true.

 

The yearly statement about your skill level and how it correlates to your catch rate. John and I were talking about this concept on the porch a couple evenings ago. And it rings true every year this time of year extending into and through August.

We are of course speaking about the dry fly end of the spectrum, but can certainly be applied to the nymphing game as well. If you rock your own boat and row it down the river this is certainly true. You gotta know where the fish live and feed. Then your angler, the feller in the bow, must execute the drift properly and let’s hope you have a grip on the trout bait of the day. Then you can find success.

But back to the original question and answer. Q: “How’s the fishing?” A: “As good as you are.”

What does that mean? It means that the insects are doing their part. Hatching daily, somewhat predictable spinner falls, and rising in/at consistent locations. It means that you are required to do your part. Cast well, drift better, and set the hook.

Those anglers who cast better, drift better, fish better catch more fish.

No offense intended to those anglers who do not posses the upper level skill sets. That is not we we intend by this post. Lots of parallels in other sports. Those who play more basketball score more points. Those who ski 50+ days a year are more comfortable skiing steeper terrain. Those who either practice casting and/or fish more often catch more of our late July finicky freely rising trout. Just that simple.

A few tips that can improve your experience here on the Missouri River for the remainder of the summer include…

    • Approach the fish gingerly and with care. It is the time of the year when your anchor needs to be deployed quietly. No stomp and splash actions please. Those fish will vanish quickly.
    • The high and bright sun puts the trout in a defensive mode. Wen it is sunny, predators from above can spot fish easily and the trout instinctively are aware of the danger. A presentation that drags over the trout can put them down.
    • Make a couple practice casts beside the fish first and get yourself into a successful situation. Measure the line you need, understand the drift, and then make that first presentation.
    • There is no rush. the fish are feeding. You do not have to get in there fast. Haste makes waste. It truly does. Approach the rising trout with a plan and execute it. It is not a race to see has rapidly you can get rid of those sipping trout.
    • Use a reach cast or the proper cast for each situation. Generally a slack line presentation of some sort should be employed. That is what the practice casts next to your target are good for. Understanding the drift before your present the fly to the fish. I have always said that 99 of 100 dry fly casts here on the Missouri River are reach casts. That means more than 1 in a row. That means 99 of 100. The fly has to be drag free nearly all of the time so those who continually drag the fly over across and around the fish cannot expect to have the fish eat the fly. So commonly we are using a dead bug pattern like a spinner. Spinner are dead. Dead flies do not swim. IF the fly is dragging violently you cannot blame the fly pattern. The only one to blame is?
    • Practice casting at home. Those who see their casting instructor, or just pull the fly rod from the tube a few times before the trip…catch more fish. The conversion rate is much higher.
    • If you are approaching the trout on foot…walk quietly. They are wild animals and suspect the worst. They may not go down, but they are aware of your presence. If you are approaching via boat, anchor a ways away and sneak up on them!

Just a few reminders for those who love to stalk rising trout. Do yourself a favor and practice a few times before coming. Casting wildly in-between rising trout does not qualify as practicing. Enjoy the river and enjoy this time of year. It really is fantastic dry fly fishing. Kind of as good as it gets. Really.

[forecast]

Missouri River Montana Tuesday Fishing Report

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One of the greatest spinner falls I have ever seen occurred earlier today on the upper river. Honest.

Billion, shoot brazillions, of Trico Spinners hit the water later in the morning and we had a helluva time getting our flies noticed for a spell. Then, then it happened. Caddis, PMD’s, Buzzballs turned on and we were able to capitalize on the Trico feeding fish. Just too much of a good thing for a time there. You truly cannot compete with so many naturals on the water.

Missouri River Montana Tuesday Fishing Report

Many folks, anglers, toss the Trico Spinner to Trico eating fish. It does work. They are actually eating Trico Spinners much of the time. But here is the helpful fly fishing feeding hint of the day…fish will eat flies other than Trico’s when they are feeding on Trico’s. They will. Trust me, I’m a guide.

Still no sign of the caddis here in big numbers. Although we have seen a couple days of spent caddis on the water in the mornings. Hatching at midnight? Could be. Will they come? If they don’t, we still have PMD’s and Trico’s. And terrestrials on their way?

Ants are still getting some attention and the hoppers? On their way. We have been seeing few go out of the shop this last couple weeks in preparation for the big event. We have a fabulous selection of the big fellers here in downtown Craig!

The water flows are up and down as the water managers have been thrown a monkey wrench a few time this spring and summer. Currently at the 4500cfs mark and water temps bouncing around too. The last couple cool days coupled with really cool mornings have kept it down.

The weeds have made an appearance and the lower you go the more you see. Can make nymphing difficult at times but does not bother the dry fly angler as much.

Some great guides still avail toward the end of this month as we mover toward the month of August. Lodging too. Come on out or come on over if you live somewhere within a good casting distance. Call us up on our Trout Fishing Hotline @ 406-235-3447 or 877-DRY-FLYS.

The shop is open at 6am for all your trout fishing needs here in central Craig near the river. A bundle of new fall clothing from SIMMS is getting stocked now for when the weather turns and so do the leaves. Sooner that later. Come by for our SALE Rack as it expanded recently while we need to get out with the summer stuff and in with the new.

Headhunters can handle your shuttle, your fly line issues, a new rod or two, outwear, innerwear, headwear, gloves, and BUFF’s too. Stop by for a cup of hot Joe in the morning and get the up to the minute fishing report from our crack staff…

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 7.20.14

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Late July and all is well.

The dry fly fishing has been fantastic and aided in part from the false overcast this last week from the fires to the North and to the West.

Now the smoke has been blown out by the wind as we head into the new week.

Sunday and a ton of non angler crafts will again float and drink while we fish and sometimes drink. It has been damn hot here so plan accordingly with the proper amount of water in the YETI Cooler. The weather will cool as we get closer into August and the water temps too.

The Trico’s will hold your interest for the morning session as they come off and spin in the mid morning hours. Some days they will stay on the water until well after noon.

Some days we have a good to decent PMD Spinner fall in the late morning as well. Hope that one of these events prolongs the dry fly bite. Some days we can have opportunities for fishing fish dawn til dusk. Lots of non-local locals here as the month comes to the end. August is a new deal.

Caddis are not around in the numbers that we are used to and they may come? I honestly do not really know the answer to that oft asked question.

We will keep you informed as to the dry fly and insect activity.

Flows are holding at the 4600cfs mark and the water temps are rising as the summer days pound on us. Not too hot though and while the weeds have begun to grow they are not a problem yet. The nights bring it to 62F and the days it can reach 66F. Let’s not have it reach higher.

As for the graph, the USGS Graph, it looks like they re-calibrated it and we are now at 4600. So was the 4K reading a farce?

Did I mention that August is a much cooler month here in central Montana and we will expect both the air and the water to cool.

Folks are spread out from top  to bottom and fishing at night as well. Choose your drift and enjoy it. Stop in for a shuttle if you like.

We are now open at 6am for coffee, flies, info, boat rentals, sunscreen, and much more too!

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report July 17th 2014

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report July 17th 2014

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Shop fly guru Ben McNinch with this healthy night time Brown Trout.

Awesome Ben. While we work most of the time we still find time to get out on our favorite dry fly fishing river in the world.

We are just lucky to live and work on this great fly fishing resource.

The dry fly month is here and will continue for another full month?

Trico’s every day. PMD’s most days. Caddis some days. Sally’s on the weekends.

The water temps spiked today as the sun is high. Air temps in the daytime vicinity of 90ishF. Will she move higher? Maybe. July is the hottest month of the year. August is cooler.

The weeds are not here yet but we may see them in August. Honest.

Fly flicking dries all day long on the Mighty Mo. We got ’em for the next 6 weeks.

Want to book a late July guide trip along with lodging here in downtown Craig Montana? We have avail. for the next 6 weeks. September and October too. Not too early to get your name on the books for the late season dry fly love. We’ll host you here at Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service.

If we don’t see you soon, we’ll see you in the fall.

Plan today for your future trip. Do it.

Top 5 July Missouri River Fly Fishing Tips

Top 5 July Missouri River Fly Fishing Tips

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The top 5 Tips to get you through the month of July.

Dry Fly fishing is here in force and those who want to step it up can.

If you need to go the the next level consider some of these tips!

Top 5 July Missouri River Fly Fishing Tips

  1. Make the first cast count. Catch them on the first cast.
  2. The afternoon may suck. Enjoy the window of good fishing.
  3. Attractor patterns work. If you like techy small dry flies. Use those too.
  4. A longer leader may help. Try a 12′ RIO leader to start and then tippet it out longer. And the devilish 6X. It can help.
  5. Mandatory skinny dipping on days over 90F. Use your own discretion.

You may already know these tips and if you do, I’ll try some new ones later this week.

The fishing is just fantastic. It can be damn hard at times. That is usual for dry fly fishing. Honest.

Happy Monday!

Missouri River Mid Summer Fact Sheet

Missouri River Mid Summer Fact Sheet

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The flows are coming down per the blog and the USBR as scheduled. Should be int he mid 4K’s Monday.

The flows are good for all including the wade fishers and the boat anglers. The flows are currently holding at 5290cfs and the water temps are 61F. Not bad for the middle of July. The weeds have not become a problem. Not at all.

The bugs are good and the hatches are consistent. PMD’s, caddis, Sally’s, and Trico’s are here and available for our hungry trout.

Lots of boats on the upper and not as many on the lower. Spread out is good for all.

The days are getting shorter and the night time fishing is decent. Get out if you wish. We got your back and will do late shuttles.

Guided trips are avail in the late month if you need a late July fix. August will be kick ass per the current wage temps and the late season higher flows. Every cooler day we have here in July adds a day of good fishing in August.

September is booking and October is filling too. Get your plans together and get on out here this fall for one of the nicer times of the year. We love October.

Need more info? Call the shop anytime for lodging, fishing, and bug hatch confirmation. We love to chat about trout fishing the Mo!

 

Friday Fishing Report

Friday Fishing Report

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Just fantastic weather and fantastic fishing on Montana’s Missouri River.

This is the busiest time of the year so if you do not like fishing near others, this may not be the environment for you. Unless you explore and understand the intricate, mundane yet predictable, movements and rhythms of fly flickers.

Think about your approach and execute.

PMD’s, Trico’s, Caddis, Sally’s, a bundle of other tiny mayflies, midges, and hatching daily here on the Missouri. Top to bottom. Dam and locales further north.

The flow will do this according to the knob handlers at the dam(s). Mother Nature really dictates what happens. Many like to blame the dam water predictors…you try to predict the future. I have been critical in the past about the Ouija Board Water Management of our waters but no longer harbor hard feeling for those responsible for the decisions made on our behalf. It has gotta be damn hard to work in that capacity trying to enable happiness from many many water factions.

GENERAL COMMENTS:

Inflows into Canyon Ferry are declining while releases continue to evacuate storage out of the exclusive flood pool. To balance the rate of evacuation and flow reductions, the following operation change is required at Canyon Ferry Dam and Powerplant.

CANYON FERRY RELEASES AND OPERATIONS: Times are Mountain Daylight Savings Time (MDST)

At 0900 hour on Friday, July 11, 2014:

Decrease releases through the river outlet gates to 930 cfs.
Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.
Maintain turbine release at ≈ 4,900 cfs (≈ 1,303 MW-Hrs/day using 90.2 cfs/mw).
Maintain release for Helena Valley Project at 670 cfs (340 cfs pumped to Helena Valley and 330 cfs discharged to the Missouri River).
Decrease release to the Missouri River to 6,160 cfs.
Decrease total release from Canyon Ferry to 6,500 cfs.

At 0900 hour on Saturday, July 12, 2014:

Decrease releases through the river outlet gates to 430 cfs.
Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.
Maintain turbine release at ≈ 4,900 cfs (≈ 1,303 MW-Hrs/day using 90.2 cfs/mw).
Maintain release for Helena Valley Project at 670 cfs (340 cfs pumped to Helena Valley and 330 cfs discharged to the Missouri River).
Decrease release to the Missouri River to 5,660 cfs.
Decrease total release from Canyon Ferry to 6,000 cfs.

At 09 : 00 hour on Sunday, July 13, 2014

Decrease releases through the river outlet gates to 0 cfs.
Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.
Decrease turbine release to ≈ 4,830 cfs (≈ 1,303 MW-Hrs/day using 90.2 cfs/mw).
Maintain release for Helena Valley Project at 670 cfs (340 cfs pumped to Helena Valley and 330 cfs discharged to the Missouri River).
Decrease release to the Missouri River to 5,160 cfs.
Decrease total release from Canyon Ferry to 5,500 cfs. (continue on next page)

At 0100 hour on Monday, July 14, 2014:

Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.
Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.
Decrease turbine release to ≈ 4,330 cfs (≈ 1,303 MW-Hrs/day using 90.2 cfs/mw).
Maintain release for Helena Valley Project at 670 cfs (340 cfs pumped to Helena Valley and 330 cfs discharged to the Missouri River).
Decrease release to the Missouri River to 4,660 cfs.
Decrease total release from Canyon Ferry to 5,000 cfs

 

So that is the latest. The water temps will do? Sometimes they rise, sometimes they fall. Let us know how we can help while staying and fishing the Missouri River.

We are open daily from 630am and open late for any shuttles you may need, the best in flies, friendly sage advice, casting help, new fly lines, lodging, and guided fishing trips. Headhunters is the place to make your Missouri River experience fulfilling.

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Blackfoot River Fishing Report 7.8.14

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We’re finally starting to get over to the Blackfoot River on a regular basis. Our favorite freestone has been fishing for a while with deep, heavy rigs, but we’ve been waiting for the water to clear and the surface action to pick up. Also, we’ve been way busy fishing the Missouri River, which has been excellent. A couple of our guides have been over to the Blackfoot in the last week, and reported good fishing and Salmonflies. Guide JP Basile and I decided to head over on a rare day off to see for ourselves.

Blackfoot River fly fishing

The Blackfoot is on the drop and was flowing 2600 cfs (at Bonner) while were on it. Though the upper main stem is running low and dirty, the North Fork is high and clear so visibility below the confluence is not an issue. Water temperatures are in the high 50’s. Comfortable for both fish and fishermen. We wore shorts.

The big stoneflies were definitely hatching. The fish have seen some pretty intense angling pressure over the last week and were a tad bit suspect of our offerings. Refusals and whimsy takes were not uncommon. We caught fish on a wide variety of dry flies from #12-#4. We did not use a dropper at all, though we did try some emerger style trailers. No doubt we would have hooked many more fish with a dropper. As it was we had some pretty decent fishing, including a few nice ones like JP is showing you here. The big Cutt-bow above was a particularly strong fish.

As the Blackfoot continues to drop, you can expect smaller insect to come into play. Yellow Sallies, PMD’s, Green Drakes, Caddis and others will have the fish looking up, especially in softer thigh-deep riffles.In prime Salmonfly water you will continue to see the big bugs for awhile.

Nymphing is good, though we prefer to stay on top. It takes a bit of filtering to get past all of the aggressive smaller Cutts, but worth it when one of the big ones inhales your offering. As stated, I think you can use a wide variety of patterns and sizes on the Blackfoot River right now. I would definitely be trying some Green Drake patterns as well as small to medium size Chubby’s, etc.

Blackfoot River montana cutthroat

We always get our shuttles from Leroy and Sue at Ovando River Shuttle – 406-793-3717 or 406-210-4164. Give them a call.

Blackfoot River Shuttle Service

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 7.7.14

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Good to great depending on who you talk to. The guides out have been reporting good dry fly action in the mornings and slower afternoons. Good evening bite is pretty normal and it has been good enough to be out the last 3 hours of daylight.

The visiting anglers have been having a blast too. Good dry fly opportunities coupled with red hot nymphing has kept you busy from dawn til dusk. Rental boats, your own boats, wade fishers have all benefitted from cooler water temps and these great simmer flows. We do not like the short flows of below 3000 cfs.

Gord Dawson straight outta Clagary with this nice trout caught with HH Guide Jared Edens this last week on a dry fly. Nice work!

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

PMD’s coming in the morning hours and the spinner fall happening sometime during the day. The upper has about as many PMD’s as the rest of the river but the lower reach has been on fire. Try it if you dare.

Caddis are in the canyon and beyond. Not too many on the upper river but that will change as the month progresses. Spents are not all the rage yet but they will be important as the July moves through and the days shorten. The translucent pupa is the key for dangling something off of your dry. Weighted pupa’s are key too. Find one you like and send it down to the depths. We also like Silvey’s Pupa. Flashy son of a gun.

Trico’s have made their initial appearance and the spinner fall while not epic has been producing some good times. Fish looking up.Try an emergent CDC pattern to give you entertainment before the day really gets rolling.

Sally’s are cool too. The Sally bite on the surface has been really good. Not all that common for our river system but they have been working well. We love the low riding Outrigger patterns for the Sally. Try the caddis version too! Just sayin’.

Want to see some really cool images from John taken Macro Style? Look at this morning’s Monday Blog for a stunning peek below the river surface.

The traffic on the this last weekend was evident on the upper and middle sections of river. Less pressure lower down. You could say the same thing for the weeks ahead. If you want less pressure…do some figuring. And stay with the plan. Or just go up top and battle.

The flows are and will come down as the river inflows at Toston continue to diminish daily. Read this blog post yesterday to see the specifics of what will happen. We just got the July forecast from the USBR and will post later. The initial look indicates lower flows than we are seeing right now. Per usual. We should see flows int he 5K range shortly. Keep it here for the most and up to date info on the Missouri River corridor.

Water temps continue to increase as the days become warmer. Summer is here, we think. Overcast and dead calm this morning with afternoon winds and warmer temps as I write this Mid Day Monday Missouri River Fishing Report.

There are plenty of bugs and plenty of fish to be found. Lots of good wade fishing too. Had to write the blog yesterday in regards to the fears of many anglers that think the Missouri should be better? I just told them to go to the Henry’s Fork and wait for the fish to rise. And wait some more…

For those of you who are coming and those of you who appreciate this great resource I applaud you. We love it and respect it and appreciate it. For those of you who complain about only catching X number of trout, that there are no bugs and no trout…move on please. I hear the Madison calling your name.

It is truly busy here not eh Missouri River in this the busiest months of June and July. Honor, respect, watch, learn, appreciate, smile, encourage, mentor, teach, enjoy this great river and we will see you on the porch for a cold beer @ Headhunters.

The fly shop open daily @ 630 am open late til 9pm for all your river needs. Flies, shuttles, info, coffee, sun wear, hats, sun hats, sungloves, sunscreen, GINK, Shimi-Shake, Frogs Fanny, Hatch Reels, SAGE Fly Rods, RIO Fly Lines, and mush more for your shopping pleasures.

No Fish. No Bugs
The Toston historical inflows. Look to this chart for what may happen in the coming week(s)
Missouri River Montana Fishing Report New Breed Style

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report New Breed Style

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Char Ford fishing with Headhunters Guide Jared Edens today on this updated fishing report from Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig Montana.

It is July, and the fishing is easy. Well sometimes. I am referencing the Porgy and Bess tune from the Gershwin Brothers. Catfish are jumping’…

On any given day the stretch you fish can be quite vacant. Look around and go the other way. It works. After the 5th? Maybe.

Not too many bugs yesterday as we are in a mode where sometimes they are gonna come big, and other days not so much.

5 Ways to get it done this July

Dry or Die. Most that are here for the July period are DFO’s. Tie them on and cast. Bring your industrial bottles of GINK and Fly-Agra. Get out early and stay out late.

Blind fish the dry. Many do this in between rising fish. A good way to pick up a couple extra trout. Look for 18″-36″ of moving water and toss an attractor like an ant or a giant Adams or some sort of caddis.

Dry-Dropper. Something that not many of us do. It sacrifices both the dry and the dropper. We believe that it is perfect for freestone rivers, but not so hot for our river. Reduces the effectiveness of the dry and the dropper equally. Choose one or the other. Your most efficient option.

Deep Nymph Rig. Get the flies not he bottom with a split shot. The bottom is where most of the fish live. Deep nymphing is batting for average. Singles win ballgames. For those who like to catch a bundle, this is your technique.

Streamer Fishing. Underrated summertime activity. Strip them fast before the weeds make an appearance. Explosive grabs and bigger trout. Try it when things get slow on the other fronts.

Headhunters open daily @ 630am and open late until 9pm. Stop in for the best in Missouri River Flies. Free info too.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report July 1st!

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The dry fly month has arrived here on Montana’s Missouri River. We love July.

It is one busy month though. Bring your battle gear and prepare for dry fly fishing madness.

The morning can be great, the veining too. Most fish bankers hours here but if you want to think outside the box so to speak, you can find a little bit of Missouri River Heaven.

The entire river is lit up with bugs. They seem to have taken a couple days off but they were back yesterday. Today? Probably more of the same. The month of July is famous here for dry fly fishing dawn til dusk. We concur.

Look at John’s Blog yesterday to see some of the better PMD patterns we employ here. Really cool stuff. Cripples and emerges and spinners rule the day.

Caddis are popping big time on the lower reaches. Anywhere below Stickney. Saw a bundle int he morning hours as we left Crag too. Some last night on the upper too. SO they are becoming prevalent on the entire ditch.

Sally’s are nearing the pop too. Water temps have held us back for this skittering elusive topwater insect. We do have some killer Sally patterns inout bins for you to try. Look at the Outrigger Sally and the Stacker. Our two fav’s.

Drakes? Late. See you local guru about this big brown bug.

Midges are the rule up top as the Euro crowd was out catching them on tiny midge patterns top side near the dam. Ulf Borjessen of MadTrout is out with some Swedes fishing here and there for a couple weeks. Mostly here with some Henry’s Fork and Madison mixed in for good measure.

So you have a bundle of opportunities with the dry fly. Find your peace here on your favorite piece of water. Less traffic downstream as of late. It has flopped over to the top side for many dry fly fans.

And the Trico you ask? Not for another week or two. Then we will be in full summer swing. Dawn til dusk.

Parties coming up include America’s Birthday and we celebrate it here in Craig. A cool place to be. We will have our normal big party not he 4th with BBQ’s, sale items, swag, fun, porch partying, and lots of BS.

The real crowds show on the 5th. Lots of the non local local’s here right now. Faces we have been seeing for 20+ years here not eh Mo. Lots of long timers around.

The flows are up over 6K and not so hot for wade fishers that are not in the know. You step into the water at 6K and it is near the top of your waders. Boats are a plus if you want to cove lots of ground, or water, and be efficient. The temps are above 60F. No just kidding. This morning we are at 58F. That is why our bugs are a little behind the curve. They have only touched the 60F mark a couple days. We suspect wight eh weather ahead this week that we will see them move upwards again. Cooler temps now mean better fishing alter. Honest.

USGS.06066500.01.00060..20140624.20140701.log.0.p50

You can also run into fish that will not eat the fly. Not so much today, but in a couple weeks she can get a touch touchy! We just move on to another target. Some cannot pull themselves away. That is OK too. To each their own. The Mo can offer something for everyone. Hard to impossible to quite possible to…every extreme here in central Montana.

If you are coming soon check out the water and pack sunscreen. If you need additional sun products you can visit the sun superstore here in Craig at Headhunters Fly Shop. We have everything you may need on that front. Sunshirts from SIMMS and FreeFly, sun headwear from BUFF and SIMMS and FreeFly, sungloves from SIMMS, BUFF, 12wt. Lots of logo wear too for you to rock at home or here in Izaak’s. I hear you get mad props from your lady friend too if you rock the right HH Gear? Just sayin’.

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The Funnest Fly Shop in the World open daily @ 630am and open late til 9pm for all your Missouri River needs. Shuttles, HH Gear, sun wear galore, info, the best in Missouri River Flies, GINK, friendly staff and free coffee daily as well.

See you on the porch tonight reliving the big one on a  dry stories!

 

Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service Missouri River Fishing Report

Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service Missouri River Fishing Report 6.30.14

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Coming off of a great PMD week on the upper with the caddis on the lower reaches increasing in strength daily. Had one report from a long time resident here on the Mighty Mo that stated he had never seen so many caddis in his entire life. But, that may not be true…

Yep, it’s good. It’s summer.

I know you are coming out this summer so we do not have to cover that here today.

Caddis on the lower river are thick. Yes thick. Lots of bugs in the bushes. Not so many inundating the river arena yet. Strange yes. Why? I don’t know. This next month will bring them to the water.

PMD’s have been anemic in the last couple days with the howling wind conditions here locally. Less wind this coming week along with higher daytime air temps. 80’s I believe. Not the 1980’s

Streamer anglers have been getting it done too with ripping fast retrievals and leeches, shiny patterns,and your fav home brew too.

All the stretches of the river are being fished daily with lighter pressure here and there. Choose wisely and float on down.

Hot Nymph flies for the week ahead include…

  • PMD Tungsten Redemption
  • Mason’s Peep Show
  • Military May
  • Ju JU PMD
  • Poxyback PMD
  • Purple Weight Fly
  • Tung Dart
  • Trina’s Angle Case PMD
  • Wiers Choco Cherry
  • Translucent Pupa
  • Silvey’s Pupa
  • Psycho Prince Kyle’s Yellow Sally
  • Sows, all of them
  • Rainbow and Tan Czech Nymph

Dry Flies that are leaving the bins at amazing rates include…

  • Purple Phase Loop Wing
  • Buzzball
  • Trapped Dun PMD
  • CDC and Elk Caddis
  • Arrick’s Parachute Ant
  • Shimi CDC Ant
  • PMD Sparkle Dun
  • Harrop’s Cripple
  • Brindle Chute
  • Harrop’s Palmered Caddis
  • Bloom’s Caddis
  • Quigley’s Sally Stacker
  • Rusty Spinner
  • Quig’s Half Dun Hatching
  • X Caddis
  • Stocking Wing Caddis
  • All Stages Caddis

Hot streamers include…

  • R2R Golden
  • Skiddsih Smolt Brown or Silver
  • Chronic Minnow
  • PigPen Leech
  • Simi Leech
  • Foxy Clouser
  • Dalai Llama
  • Home Invader Yellow
  • We have a pile of that Galloup stuff for you folks that like that stuff!

 

We’ve had a lot of Demo Rods go 0out this last week. Fun stuff. Why not demo a rod from SAGE, Orvis, Echo, Sweetgrass Bamboo while you are here fishing the Missouri? We have SAGE Method and One, Orvis Helios2, Sweetgrass Mantra, Echo Gecko kids rods.

We also have a plethora of fly lines to try on your existing rod. RIO Gold, Grand, Outbound Short, and the latest RIO Perception Connect Core lines in many sizes. Take one out and see how it likes your fly rod. You may like it too!

Headhunters open daily @ 630am!