Fishing Report – Page 11

Friday Fishing Report and Foto

June 27, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Dentist Joe releasing this fabulous Brown Trout this last week on a PMD Spinner. Awesome.

The PMD Spinner has been one of the stars this last couple weeks with it’s cousins the Cripple and the Emerger. Really great PMD hatches daily, with the weather tossing a monkey wrench in the mix occasionally. The rain can knock down the bugs…then we fish the Knock Down Duns. Not so bad.

Folks are still blind fishing with success. Lots. Come in and see us for the blind fishing cocktail of choice for the day. Adams, big ones, and ants of all sizes,a nd some other attractor stuff will work.

The PMD’s are hatching on the upper well withe the Caddis showing lower. A Yellow Sally Parade has not started as of yet but they keep threatening! Drakes?

Nymphing remains just over the top, per usual, with PMD’s, Sally’s and Caddis subsurface filling the fare. Any depth and sometimes many in one day will get you by. The fish are moving zones and may start deep, move into the secondary zone, then to the surface, then returning to the bottom again for the afternoon and evening session.

Some of the gang is staying out late for the last hour. It can be good. Early too?

Headhunters open early @ 630 am and open late as well for afternoon shuttles, flies, coffee, sungear, killer Logo’s hats and T’s, sunscreen, sun hats, BUFF’s, rain gear, and cool gift items for your family at home. See you this wonderful Montana Weekend ahead.

TGIF!

Game On. The Missouri River Report.

June 25, 2014 by Mark Raisler

It’s a go. The dry fly fishing is a go.

Great PMD Hatches daily. The Caddis are gaining strength, the Sally’s too. Drakes? Soon. Saw some midge and some Psuedo’s today. The rain will bring a few Callibaetis as well.

Just a smattering of insects to choose from. Leave your other boxes in the truck making sure to have plenty of Fly-Agra, GINK, Aquel, Frog’s Fanny, Super Power Fly Floatant, Shimi-Shake, Shimi-Shake Spray, Top Ride, Loon Dust and the like. Amadou too.

Not as much pressure as you would think during the week although the Henry’s Fork Crtowd has arrived…what does that tell you about the Fork? Yah, something we’ve known for years. You rarely hear Mo River Anglers saying something like “I think I’ll head over to the Fork this weekend. Just too many rising trout here on this dry fly creek. I’d like to stand around more…”

In fact, have yet to hear anything like that.

Game On. The Missouri River Report.

Same stuff on the end of your line. Crips, emergers, spinners. Caddis too. Some skittering behaviors exhibited int eh canyon. The lower as well.

A big weekend upcoming. Bob Lay’s Memorial on Saturday. BBQ Friday Night to honor Bob and to kick off the real summer opener and the dry fly bite. He loved to fish dry flies! We may have shortened retail hours on Saturday to attend his party. Keep it tuned in here for the update.

The fishing weather was perfect Tuesday. Calm, muggy, overcast. Buggy too. Check out the forecast for the rest of the week and you will see what a perfect storm looks and feels like. Cool at night with some rain, then mid 70’s during the day. Yep, perfect.

[forecast]

Stop in for Smith and Costa Sunglasses, kick ass sungear, an awesome and Craig leading women’s department, flip flops, sandals, sun hats, the best in flies, shuttles, coffee, info, smiles…open daily at 630 and open late too!

See you in Craig this weekend!

Hot Weekend Tip: If you want to eat at Izaak’s, go early to beat the crowds. Eat at 4pm til 530 pm and fish the late evening bite. Miss the food crowds and the fishing crowds. 2 birds, 1 stone.

Missouri River Summer Fishing Report 6.23.14

June 23, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Good fishing to be had in the month of June. Great? Some days yes indeed. Others, just good.

Lots and lots of folks around this weekend as the Montana contingent was out in force. The Dearborn River received a ton of pressure as it is flat able late into the month. Get on it if you want to enjoy our smaller creeks this summer. A mini Smith River is what many call it. The flows on the Dearborn are falling at 315 cfs and should be fishable/floatable for another week? Maybe?

The Missouri River is holding at 4070cfs and a water temp of 57F. Downwards go there flows and the temps.

Missouri River Summer Fishing Report

The nymph anglers are getting it down too with both shorter and longer nymph rigs. The Worm is still in play but is becoming second fiddle to top flies like the Frenchie, the Peep Show, Blooms Weight Fly in both purple and gold, Tungsten Death Metal and a Tunghead PT. Look for something hanging below that like a PMD nymph or a caddis or a Sally depending on your reach you choose to fish. Stop in the shop at any time for a up to the minute nymph report. We can help in many ways…

The fishing is really great for those wishing to dry fly fish all day long. Yes, you too can do it. Look for the right water and post up. If you like to fish a blind dry, you can do that too.

Headhunters Unite!

Make the first drift count. The #1 Rule in dry fly fishing.
Dead flies, i.e. spinners, do not drag, or swim. “I’m giving it action” is not a comment we, or the trout accept. The trout make the final decision.
Set your anchor outside, or in the water, before you approach the trout and then let it down quietly by hand. You will catch more if you sneak in to place. Sneak attacks do not utilize loud dropping sounds of the anchor. Sounds like a Amana Refrigerator dropped from the sky? Not too good man.
Sit while fishing if you are close. Even if you are not close, get low and stay low. Fish have conical vision. IF you are standing like a beanstalk waving your arm wildly around, they may sense that a predator is near. BE a predator, not some crazy person swinging the line in haphazard paths…
If you must stand, stay a lone distance off of the fish. You will hook more!
Use cripples, spents, and emergers. They work well here not he Mo. HH has the most river specific and greatest selection in the tri county area. No bullshit.
Have fun. Be serious about catching trout. But with a smile. Be friendly to other anglers. Wave. And, be polite. And, treat other anglers like you would like to be treated. Don’t low hole. Be courteous. Have fun!

Headhunters open daily early and open really late too. Free coffee, information, shuttles, flies galore, demo rods, the best knowledgable staff in regards to fly lines, fly line cleaners, HH sungear, sunscreen, ice…we got all you need for your Missouri River adventure!

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 6.21.14

June 21, 2014 by Mark Raisler

PMD’s, Caddis, Yellow Sally’s, Ants.

The upper river has a pile of PMD’s coming off in the morning with the spinner fall sometime in the afternoon. Emergers, cripples, and spinners. All you need. The mid and lower are experiencing the same thing. Those who like to post up and cast at singles are fishing from Craig upstream. Those who like to roll downstream and blind it out there…are fishing the canyon and beyond.

Caddis seem to be the game in the canyon and ad downriver. Terrestrials are can make a few fish llil up too. Sally’s are beginning to show in the middle and up river of Mid Canon. They are generally good to great in the lower canyon and in the swifter currents towards Pelican.

Downwinged flies are the key to success here on this fabulous spring creek like resource. Patterns that sit in the film, in the water, not high riding flies…are the KEY. Hence the Buzzball pattern. Use it soon.

The flows are just perfect for wade fishing and drift fishing. The flows are 4400cfs and the water temps are holding nicely in the 58F range. All good in this Missouri River neighborhood.

Stop in and say hello early @ 630 am for coffee, the best fly selection on the Missouri River, free info, killer HH fresh & artful sungear hoody’s, cigars, cool logo’d lids, RIO Fly Lines, SAGE flyrods, Adipose rental boats…open late for your afternoon and evening shuttles too. See you here in the eli-center of Montana fly fishing soon!

Max Speaks!

June 19, 2014June 18, 2014 by Mark Raisler

One of our new shop All-Stars speaks today on the Headhunters Blog.

Max is a recent graduate of University of Montana. He has been a great addition to our fantastic fishy staff here in Craig. Max wrote this about his fishing day a few days ago. Thanks Max.

One addendum…there are fish rising to small dry flies now! It has just happened with daily PMD and caddis events.

Pictured above is my good friend and fishing buddy Travis Rehm, with an awesome Missouri River brown that he caught on a size 18 BWO spinner this week. High wind speeds during the afternoon screwed up the Blue Wing action so we didn’t find as many heads as we would have liked, but we did find a few rising fish and were able to get them to eat—but only a few. So we mainly fished small dries blind along the shallow grass banks.

It has been my observation that one of the most productive techniques lately is this blind dry fly fishing. I look for small riffles in shallow water, usually less that a foot deep, and fish the inside seams with small attractor-dries that I can see i.e. Parachute Adams, Bloom’s Parachute Caddis, Hi-Vis Spinner etc.

The fish that I have found feeding in the shallow, quick water have been the easiest to catch, whereas the podded up fish in the slick water have been the trickiest—so if you find a fish up feeding right next to the bank in the shallows it is likely that it will eat on the first pass. It is also likely that it is a nice brown. The presentation is more important than the pattern for these fish (in my opinion) because the Mo has been somewhat between hatches this week so fish aren’t seeing a ton of food on the surface (also my opinion).

I haven’t seen an epic day yet this summer with small dries, but the brown in this photo is a perfect example of what you can catch on any given day while we wait for the caddis and PMD hatches to really take off.

One thing I have learned during my short time here at Headhunters is that The Missouri is the only river where I can go out in an evening and catch four or five quality rainbows and browns on tiny dry flies, and still feel like I got my ass kicked because I was unable to get one of the really big noses to take my fly down. Humbling is an understatement. I learn a little more about fly fishing and a little more about myself every time I fish this river.

The clouds this week and ever-increasing water temps should bring some phenomenal dry fly fishing our way. Needless to say, I’m stoked!

Thanks Max for the report. Max wrote this about the fishing a few days ago and the small dry fly deal is happening. Many of our guides have been enjoying the blind dry fly game as of late. They believe you can net just as many tossing a blind dry than you can with the nymph. Hmm. The Missouri is a dry fly river. Honest.

Missouri River PMD Fishing Report 6.17.14

June 17, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Yes, hatches daily now.

The trout will eat a PMD, a caddis fly, BWO’s, a Callibaetis, a Sally, an attractor pattern too.

Your drift has to be good. In a couple weeks your drift has to be perfect. The first time.

So it is a good time to be here. On the cusp. The fish are friendly still. YEs, friendly.

The boats are spread out and not much pressure, or feeling pressured. Some wade fisher-dudes but not many.

Come on in and see us for fly suggestions. Crips, emerges, spinners, and even some dun patterns are working well. I believe this is a presentation river. That the fish are interested in something buggy looking drift perfectly by the troutski. Until they don’t want it. And then I am a fan of changing to a new patterns. A techy fly pattern river as the summer progresses.

Headhunters is the source for Missouri River Specific flies.

The nymphers are getting the job down with worms, sows, PMD nymphs like the Micro May, the S & M, the Military May, Two Bit Hooker, Tung Redemption, Harrop’s Orange Soft Hackle, Rainbow Warrior, Ju-Ju PMD, and a few others too!

BWO’s popped late in the afternoon with the advent of another rain storm. Spinners and small Adams did the trick with the baetis bite.

Caddis are coming off on the lwer end and moving up to the top as the week passes us by. Probably when the air temperatures climb higher. When will that be?

[forecast]

The flows are predicted to go to 4100 cfs and we believe they will. Should see stable flows at that level for the summer. We like it. Would we like a little bit more water? I for one would but would get a ton of disagreement from some. The water temps are 58F with flows currently at 4700cfs.

The weather will be cool and the fishing will be hot. Call in sick today or tomorrow and we will see you on the dry fly flat of your choice.

Shop open daily @ 630am…open late too.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 6.16.14

June 16, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Great fishing man. Dry fly opportunities for those who like that sort of thing.

The PMD image above shot by our good friend David from Calgary. He got this with a point and shoot, some luck, and a shit ton of talent. Thanks David for the kick ass PMD Image!

Still a bundle of nymphers around but the dry fly bite and what, how, why, and when seem to be the topic of conversation on most Craig porches.

June is upon us. The days are long, the solstice is near, the dry flies are popping,a dn we are headlong into the heart of the season. Still a touch soft this weekend, but Monday, today, it starts. We are in the peak of the peak. June, the last week, is damn busy. The next month will be nutso. Good fishing from dawn til dusk daily. The shop is open early for those early birds. Remember: Early bird does get the worm.

Still some availability in the last two weeks of July. Strange real. Seems that the slide towards June has happened. We see that trend until the 2nd high water year in a row. Then back to July they run. Then the transitions starts all over again.

June is damn good, that is why the slide to June. The fish are not as educated, the fish are fresh, the water temps are cooler, the pressure is less.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

The bugs, yes. PMD’s of both kinds are coming off. Not in the huge numbers we would like, but the afternoons at this point hold some hope. Lots of fish rising and not as many noticeable bugs. Remember: This is a film feeding type of river. You may not see the fish eating pretty little duns like they do in your trout fishing dry fly dreams.

So it appears as if the fish are eating nothing. They are eating something near the surface, but not on the surface a lot of the time. They can eat off the top, but as I state here and will for the next 2 months…not all the time. It amy appear as though they are feeding on the top, but they are not. Near the top, near the surface.

Cripples, emergers, spinners. Nuff said.

Flows are holding flat at 4440cfs and the water temps are @ 58F. All good for the dry fly fish. The volume and the depth that most trout are lying in 18″ to 36″ of water. But sometimes much shallower. Keep your eyes open.

The Dearborn is still floatable at 400ish cfs and somewhat stable. Water temps in the upper 50’s too. Just right! The Blackfoot is at 5K and on the slow down slope. We will be there shortly. Keep it here for updates on the Blackfoot River as we will be heading over the divide all summer long!

The weather for th week ahead is cooler than normal. Where will it lead us? It will slow the afternoon bite, until the afternoon. Slower temp increases of the water will keep the insect emergence at bay until later in the day. The sun has to get a little higher.

Remember: Friday Night June 20th we have the Montana Fly Fishing Film Festival here on the grounds of Headhunters with the 2nd Annual Drift Boat Drive-In. BBQ, get a cocktail at Izaak’s or Joe’s Bar, swag, prizes, contests, etc…Bring your Pick up and back it up with lawn chits and enjoy the show at DUSK here in Craig!

Planning a trip and concerned about the summer flows? Well don’t be. We are heading, and already engaged in, a great flow regime for the remainder of said summer. Should be in this range, the 4K plus range for the whole run. Through the end of October. Sound good? Well it should. It feels good. Our fish love this level and the wade fishing is awesome. The boat fishing? Awesome too!

Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service in Craig is your information source for all things Missouri River. We are the education leaders and we can help you rig your rod, point you in a dry fly direction, help with fly selection…You know the shops you go into and hardly get a “Hello” from the staff? That is not Headhunters in Craig. We greet you and look forward to meeting you. Let us know how we can help from lodging to guiding, to wade fishing to boat rentals to rod and line matching to just a conversation about emergence behaviors over a cup of coffee.

Headhunters Fly Shop open daily @ 630am for shuttles, flies, info, coffee, boat rentals, lodging, Wi-Fi, cell service with our cell booster, boat washing for invasive species, rental waders, demo reels with killer fly lines, and much, much more!

[forecast]

Headhunters Fly Shop Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 6.14.14

June 14, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Flag Day today and we are flying it high. The Flag that is. Happy Flag Day to you and yours this June 14th.

Tomorrow Father’s Day. Another big one. Remember both this weekend as yo are out and about hopefully fishing with your father waving the ‘ol stars and stripes.

Headhunters Fly Shop Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 6.14.14

It almost feels like summer, some of the time. We think full time summer will arrive this summer, sometime. Masybe not he first day of summer, which is next week. Maybe. We sure do love 75F and calm for the summer angling surprise. Surprise! Dry flies.

Cooler weather has haunted us this last week with a few days where you wish you had brought more clothing on board. If you happen to be wade fishing, we hope you had some extra layers in the truck. Had my gloves out today during a late spring squall. Bring your rain gear and an extra layer with you for good measure this weekend too.

[forecast]

Guides out daily with a lighter week behind us. Light traffic all week long and we sure enjoyed it. The last couple weekends have been warm and the splash and giggle crews were out in force. This weekend we expect lighter traffic due to the cooler weather forecast.

The Dearborn River is perfect at 405 cfs Friday night. The Blackfoot is above 5K shut falling on a slow downward jog until it comes into perfection soon. The rest of the state is coming into shape and soon some of the additional pressure that we feel when the entirety of the state’s rivers are off color and blown out. We love seeing our out of area friends arrive in the spring and we love when our out of area friends go back home too. We love both. So, if you like a bit saner river experience, you day is coming.

And back to the Dearborn River. It is perfect. Float it while you can. You will enjoy it. Call us for your Dearborn Shuttles and stop by for our killer selection of Dearborn River Flies!

Tips for the Missouri River Weekend

Dry fly anglers should focus on dead bugs. An Adams is a good example of a dead looking bug. Some think it looks like a dun. Others a caddis. Yet others a mayfly dun. It can also look like a spinner and/or bits and pieces of dead decomposing bugs. Spinners, emerges, and cripples are among our first choices when figuring out patterns to attack our dry fly fish with.

Seek the center if your normal game is not working. Nymphers can go out in the middle of the river and get deep. Dredge the center and see what you find. You gotta have balls to do this as it is a freaky experience. Trust it. Stay true to your nymphing roots and make sure the flies re scraping the bottom and you change flies diligently if the previous batch sucks. If the edges ad the inside out lanes, and the historic channel edges do not work, change your deal man.

Headhunters Open at 630am for your early bird coffee and flies and shuttle set up/sign up. Get out early and beat your neighbor. We are also open late for the late afternoon crowd and that killer evening dry fly float. We can shuttle late!

Izaak’s serves dinner until 9pm. Don’t be late if you want the good grub in Craig. After 9pm? Joe’s Pizza. I like the Supreme myself.

Father’s Day tomorrow. Don’t forget Dad. Take him fishing! Or give him that new SAGE One he has been wanting! Do it. He’s your Dad.

Smile & Laugh. It makes the whole weekend better.

See you this weekend at the store. No BBQ tonight because we are saving it up for next Friday Night and the Drift Boat Drive-In June 20th. Almost the longest night of the year. We will see you at near dusk for a party Craig Style! Good times.

See our sale rack for the stuff that must go. Our $5/dozens fly sale bin is always changing. Rent our NRS Inflatable Drift Boat for anew spin on drift fishing and Montana Floating! We got your back here in the roughest part of Craig, the central district…

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 6.13.14

June 13, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Good to great depending on who you chat with. Weekend in the West is certainly upon us and with it brings thunderstorms last night and today.

Bring your rain gear and your Gink.

The dry fly bite has been good and not many bugs. The lower river has enough caddis to get your blood pumping and heard a rumor of a Yellow Sally too. March Browns, as well? Baetis still and issue as the season has really begun and the flies are having their way with the confusion.

The trout are not confessed as they are willing and rising freely. The Missouri River Mystery has shown its face already as not all the fish are rising to the surface. Some of that famous not eating on the actual surface behaviors already being exhibited.

So what will the trout eat? The flies that sit in the film, that do not ride too high. Although I have had success and others have seconded the mini Stimi approach along with other attractor stuff. We like the spinner approach for the most part. Like the Adams that sits flush with the water. Harrop’s array of spinners is popular, the Half Dun Hatching is one of our weapons, emerges will suffice as well.

What will the water do for the near future? For the long term this summer? Well, lower than many expected. The doomsayers will have to wait another year for the high water to overcome us. The 11K did a nice job and the trout are fat and happy. Just how we like them. Look at the chart below from the USBR to peer into our future.

The water flows today are 4480cfs. Wade fishers paradise. Yep. Those who like to wade acres and into center river flats are excited to see these summer flows return.

PMD’s are truly on the brink. See a few around with the caddis, as mentioned above, showing down river. Sally’s in the week ahead too. We will keep you informed here on this daily juggernaut called the Headhunter.

Call us up if you need lodging or a weekend guide. We have rental Diablo Kayaks, Inflatable Drift Boats, and Adipose Flow Skiffs for your floating pleasure.

Come by the shop this weekend for shuttles, all the patterns you will need on this fantastic resource, coffee, information, our new free map of the stream, sale items, demo rods, lodging, fly line cleaner from RIO, demo lines too. Open daily at 630am and late for all your late afternoon dry fly shuttles.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 6.11.14

June 11, 2014June 11, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The Missouri River Fishing Report.

You know when you should be here?

Today.

Or tomorrow.

A few PMD’s, caddis…tomorrow better.

The day after too.

Missouri River Dry Fly Fishing Report

June 9, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The Dry fly report is as follows for the beginning of the dry fly season and the beginning of the second week of the Dry Fly Month of June! We are off to a good start as the water has fallen to a perfect dry fly level.

Can I say dry fly one more time in this short fishing report? You bet.

Missouri River Dry Fly Fishing Report

You can find fish rising on all reaches of the river. Some days tons, other not so much. Tons may be stretch at this point. But, that number is coming. We are still waiting for the big pop, any pop really of our summer bugs. Some caddis downriver not he lower reaches and in the lower canyon. Not an explosion as of yet. We will let you know when that happens here on this very fly fishing blog.

Flies that are working include poly winged cripples. Hairwinged cripples. in many various sizes and colors. CDC cripples too. Poly winged spinner of the baetis variety. Hi-Viz as well. Sunken ones work. Floaty ones too. Spinners and cripples.

Other reports include poly winged ants in the larger sizes. Bigger fluffy type attractor fires are in vogue too. X Caddis and CDC Caddis have been leaving the shop in secretive umbers.

Also lots of fellows stocking up on specific tailwater type flies that are very popular on this very popular tailwater like Missouri River. You got your boxes full?

So you can go out and get some fish on the dry. Is it riverside? No, certainly not. But look, seek, and discover the sipping trout. Need help? Come by and we can pint you in a direction. What direction? Towards the river for sure. We can make a few suggestions to help you along the way. Headhunters is good that way.

PMD’s and caddis are both on the cusp and we cannot wait. Sally’s? Soon. Trico’s? Next month. We got a lot of river to fish before we get to the white winged blacks.

The water level is low and fishing well. We will see you soon here on Montana’s Missouri River. Headhunters open daily @ 7am and open later that the rest here at your Dry Fly HQ in Craig MT.

Dry Fly Report The Dry fly report is as follows for the beginning of the dry fly season and the beginning of the second week of the Dry Fly Month of June! We are off to a good start as the water has fallen to a perfect dry fly level. Can I say dry fly one more time in this short fishing report? You bet. Missouri River Dry Fly Fishing Report You can find fish rising on all reaches of the river. Some days tons, other not so much. Tons may be stretch at this point. But, that number is coming. We are still waiting for the big pop, any pop really of our summer bugs. Some caddis downriver not he lower reaches and in the lower canyon. Not an explosion as of yet. We will let you know when that happens here on this very fly fishing blog. Flies that are working include poly winged cripples. Hairwinged cripples. in many various sizes and colors. CDC cripples too. Poly winged spinner of the baetis variety. Hi-Viz as well. Sunken ones work. Floaty ones too. Spinners and cripples. Other reports include poly winged ants in the larger sizes. Bigger fluffy type attractor fires are in vogue too. X Caddis and CDC Caddis have been leaving the shop in secretive umbers. Also lots of fellows stocking up on specific tailwater type flies that are very popular on this very popular tailwater like Missouri River. You got your boxes full? So you can go out and get some fish on the dry. Is it riverside? No, certainly not. But look, seek, and discover the sipping trout. Need help? Come by and we can pint you in a direction. What direction? Towards the river for sure. We can make a few suggestions to help you along the way. Headhunters is good that way. PMD's and caddis are both on the cusp and we cannot wait. Sally's? Soon. Trico's? Next month. We got a lot of river to fish before we get to the white winged blacks. The water level is low and fishing well. We will see you soon here on Montana's Missouri River. Headhunters open daily @ 7am and open later that the rest here at your Dry Fly HQ in Craig MT. — Missouri River below Holter Dam 4680cfs. Nice.

Headhunters Weekend Fishing Report Missouri River Montana

June 7, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The weekend looks good. While winter is over, spring is still around, and summer has still yet to set in.

Bring your rain jacket, your fleece, and some sort of warm hat if you headed out for the day. Waders still have not worn out their welcome.

As I mentioned yesterday or the day before the PMD’s are coming soon. The BWO’s are still around, remarkably. And they are making a difference in the afternoons. Look for them.

The PMD and Caddis fare are popular subsurface along with T-Beaded Worms and Scuds. The Rainbow Czech is glued to many rigs all 12 months.

Emergers, cripples, and spinners are the all stars when tossing dry flies at rising fish. Blind dry fly anglers are putting up numbers too. Some. The fish are not everywhere, but they are somewheres. Sometimes.

Streamer anglers dong well enough.

BBQ tonight at the fly shop about 5pm. We will see you there. Or here.

Headhunters open at 7am daily for all your trout fishing needs of all things Missouri River, Blackfoot River, and the Dearborn River too. The whole gang is around for guiding, rigging, bullshitting. We got rot gut coffee as well. Free of course.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report June 6th 2014

June 6, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The water levels have arrived at the dry fly level of 5240cfs. LEss than a week ago we had Holter Dam outflows of 11K+.

All we can say is…terrific.

Dry fly fihsing can commence now.

Are there bugs in our dry fly world yet?

No, not really.

The bugs are subsurface an waiting for an increase in water temps. We are sitting at 52F. Down for the last week. It will rise soon.

The rest of the state is still in flux. They too will get to a level of their liking. Until then, welcome to Montana’s Missouri River. We have another great weekend in the west on tap for you here in Craig.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report June 6th 2014

The Dearborn River is in shape and quite fishable. It is flowing below 600cfs and falling. Get out now if you like to experience this wonderful freestone in our back yard. Water temps on the Dearborn are good and we have not heard of any Salmonfly activity yet…but they will eat the worm as well as stones and rubberlegs.

Little Prickly Pear is not adding any dirt to the river as it is flowing at 161cfs. So we are all clear here on the Missouri River.

We have been having good luck with PMD patterns subsurface and caddis too. Anywhere from the dam to Cascade the summer bugs are quite active.

All parties are happy with the water. The wade fisher can now make his way to his spot. The dry fly fisher can find a few, or more, to toss a fly at most of the day. The streamer feller can strip til his arm fails, then switch arms. The nympher can shorten his bobber length and be more creative about nymph presentations.

Lodging available @ www.Craiglodging.com and keep it here for the fishing skinny all week long. We also have guide available for you early June fly fishing trip. Give our first class shop staff a shout and set something up today.

Headhunters Fly Shop open daily @ 7am and open late til 8pm for all afternoon and early evening shuttle needs. Flies, fly lines, demo rods, boat rentals, sungear, HH logo wear…and the best cleanest damned freshest info on the the river. Honest.

Missouri River Flies for early June

June 4, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The bottom is dropping out right now as I write this Tuesday evening. Look at the chart. You will approve.

Already speculation that there will not be enough water to fill the reservoir. It is just that until we see what the level is like in the last week of June.

What we do know is the dry fly fishing will turn around. Tuesday afternoon saw some glimpses of the future. And I gotta tell you, I liked it.

Wednesday, today, will bring us more info, real-time knowledge and a fishing report.

Tuesday turned up smelling a lot better than Monday. Way better. The fish were on the bite and the river was nearly empty. Really quite nice.

Check out the levels and smile. We’ll see you on your favorite dry fly flat soon.

Knock on wood.

Missouri River Flies for early June

Row 1: San Wire Worm, UV Czech Nymph, Tailwater Sow, Purple Weight Fly

Row 2: Tungsten Dart, Tungsten Reckoner, PT Soft Hackle, Olive Anato May, Two Bit Hooker, Little Green Machine, Angelhair Flashback PT, Tungsten Redemption PMD, Red Zebra Midge

Row 3: Buzzball, Parachute Black Ant, Purple Haze, Purple Phase Loop-WIng, Nymen’s DOA Cripple Baetis, Elk Hair CDC Caddis

Row 4: Bloom’s CDC Caddis, Double Duck Caddis, Johnson’s RC Caddis, Stockingwing Caddis, Tan Wing Emerger, Translucent Caddis

June Events Missouri River Montana

June 3, 2014 by Mark Raisler

A few June events to keep in mind as we move into my favorite month of the year.

Summer has arrived albeit not officially til later in the month. The days are getting really nice, and really long. More time for angling here on Montana’s Missouri River.

Photo sent in from our good friends Leonard and Dan Gross along with Rick Green. This one above shot by Len of brother Dan.

PMD’s. Soon. Usually the 2nd week of June.
Caddis. They were here, then they left. They will return in bigger numbers and trout love Caddis Flies.
BBQ’s at Headhunters. Impromptu BBQ Events all summer long.
Drift Boat Drive-In Friday June 20th @ Headhunters Fly Shop. BBQ, beer, movies, fly fishing madness @ Dusk.
Izaak’s open daily. Joe’s open daily. Montana pares fishing food and beverage here in downtown Craig.
Yellow Sally’s. Those yellow devils return later in the month.
Longest day of the year.
Dearborn River Floats. Give us a call to get on board and learn more about this seasonal float.
The next two weeks will be an indicator of things to come. the water is coming down, how and when we can only guess along with info from the USBR. It is a crap shoot. Keep it here for up to the minute water and hatch reports.

[forecast]

The fishing has been hit and miss the last week with the water levels moving around violently. Some to none for the dry fly anglers. The nymphers are having mediocre angling with catch rates down from our fantastic average. The streamer guys have been getting a few here and there. Stripping hard, stopping often.

June will bring a change for us here on the Missouri River. When and how? We thinks it will go the dry fly route. But nobody is infallible. Nobody.

See you here in Craig @ Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service for all things Missouri River. Shades by Smith and Costa. Clothing from FreeFly, SIMMS, Headhunters Logo Wear, Fishpond. Sungear from SIMMS, BUFF, 12wt., FreeFly. Raingear from SMMS. Rods from SAGE, Orvis, ECHO, and Sweetgrass Bamboo. Reeles from Abel, SAGE, Hatch, Orvis, Nautilus, ECHO, Galvan. Fly Lines from RIO Products, Airflo, Cortland, and Wulff. Flies from all 4 corners of the earth and the best in dry flies for the Missouri River here @ Headhunters.

We got yer back on all day long shuttles, info, coffee, raw baloney, and much more in Craig. Open daily @ 7am.

FLOW UPDATE! Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 6.2.14

June 2, 2014June 2, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Just in from the USBR Tim Felchle this morning.

It appears the snowmelt runoff into Canyon Ferry Reservoir has peaked and inflows continue to decline. To control the rate of fill and assure the reservoir of refilling, releases out of Canyon Ferry to the Missouri River will be gradually decreased. As a result, the following operation changes are required at Canyon Ferry Dam and Powerplant.

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

At 0900 hour on Monday, June 02, 2014:

Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.
Decrease releases through the spillway gates to 3,000 cfs.
Maintain turbine release at ≈ 5,600 cfs (≈ 1,315 MW-Hrs/day using 102.2 cfs/mw).
Maintain release for Helena Valley Project at 810 cfs (380 cfs pumped to Helena Valley and 430 cfs discharged to the Missouri River).
Decrease release to the Missouri River to 9,030 cfs.
Decrease total release from Canyon Ferry to 9,410 cfs.

At 1500 hour on Monday, June 02, 2014:

Increase releases through the river outlet gates to 2,000 cfs.
Decrease releases through the spillway gates to 0 cfs.
Maintain turbine release at ≈ 5,600 cfs (≈ 1,315 MW-Hrs/day using 102.2 cfs/mw).
Maintain release for Helena Valley Project at 810 cfs (380 cfs pumped to Helena Valley and 430 cfs discharged to the Missouri River).
Decrease release to the Missouri River to 8,030 cfs.
Decrease total release from Canyon Ferry to 8,410 cfs.

Welcome to June. We love June. It is one of the two busiest months. June and July.

Why are they the two busiest months? Dry Fly Action is the primary reason. For a good solid two months we got the best in the region. The Tri-State Region. While the rest of the state can be blown out, high and muddy, we are right int he wheel house for great fishing.

All three disciplines are in play and the fish generally cooperate. Mostly.

But the dry fly is the primary reason folks visit the river every summer.

This is in it’s heart a dry fly river.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

If you continually work hard and fish well, you will catch fish. –Headhunters Guide Jared Edens

Guide Peter Skidmore with Bob and this nice brown trout last week. Bob has come twice with Randy who has been visiting Headhunters for 5 years now. They really love the Craig experience. The fishing is OK too they wanted me to say.

So very true. Tough sledding some days and some runs and some periods of the day for all of us, all of you, all of them. Not much for the dry fly bite this last weekend, but that will come soon.

The streamer fishing is tough too. Some fish in shallow water regions like the 18″-36″ in banks. Look for that perfect water and strip on through. White, yellow, and the brighter colors being the most popular. Still rocking T-7, T-10 and intermediate tips daily. The water temps are at the magical 53F+ mark and the fish will follow, chase, attack when prompted correctly, or often.

Flows 11K as I write on Sunday evening. Will it recede this week? Check out the inflows at Toston Sunday afternoon below. Indicative of things to come? Foreshadowing the future? We think so.

So what will happen?

Everything that goes up must come down.

Reports from all over the board this weekend. Good, bad, and ugly. We fully understand as we all have shitty days while trying to fool the trouts. Shitty catching that is, fun times must be had or it may not even be worth the trouble.

The weather is June like with daily thunderstorms reminding us that we are so very close to the Rockies. Those who do not bring rain gear are tempting fate. We all know how that story ends.

[forecast]

Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service open everyday from 7am. Open lat til 8pm as well for late afternoon dry fly shuttles, information, line cleaning, bullshitting, porch sitting, info gathering, and anything you may need to make your stay better.

Used the “s” word 3 times wiring this blog.

Soon the fishing will be hot.

Shit Hot.

4 times…

Not yet on the Blackfoot River

June 1, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Just did some recon on the Blackfoot River yesterday and today. Still blown.

No surprise to those who know how freestone streams behave in the spring, and searly summer, and sometimes mid summer.

According to Cathy at the Blackfoot Angler they should get rolling towards the end of June beginning of July. Based on her 16 years in Ovando and living on the Blackfoot and her “feel” she says not for a while longer.

We ventured up tot he Upper North Fork of the Blackfoot and watched the river rage through the high canyon walls amongst forests of Pine. Really a pretty place. A fun place to wade fish in the mid summer. Really nice freestone environs on the westside.

We are ready for when the Blackfoot breaks with tenured guides on the Blackfoot with Peter Skidmore, Nick Stipech and Kurt Michels. Jared Edens and Ben Hardy along with Brett Matula and myself love to run over the hill as well and fish the Big Blackfoot for dry fly action. A real pretty river with great fishing opportunities.

If you are attending, fishing, visiting the Missouri River region and want to experience a bit of the green side of the state, look us up and tack on an additional day, or weave it into your multi-day Missouri River trip.

We will keep you informed as the Blackfoot comes into shape and tracking the Salmon Fly Hatch too! We got yer back here in central Montana. Look to the right of this blog and you will see the Blackfoot River live water graph from USGS and associated link.

As you may have read in yesterday’s post we anticipate lower water levels on the Missouri River very soon. We cannot wait to dry fly fish daily. It is coming. The Blackfoot? We will have to grin and bear it here with all those PMD’s, Caddis, and Yellow Sally’s until the Blackfoot comes into shape.

Happy Sunday to you all!

Missouri River Montana Water, Runoff, and Flow Update

May 31, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Mark spoke with Stephanie Micek of the USBR Friday morning and this is what I found.

The runoff has started and the snow is coming off nicely. The expected inflows into Canyon Ferry are expected to peak at 23K soon. Maybe this weekend or front end of next week. Inflows are 21.4K as I write this after midnight Saturday morning. They will get a touch higher according to Stephanie. That is what she predicted.

With that in mind she expects the flows to drop, the inflows, as the week progresses. That means that we should see a reduction in the outflows at Holter Dam.

Barring any major rain catastrophe in the coming weeks, we’ll monitor the weekend rain here, we should see lower flows quite soon!

How low can they go? Stephanie stated that there will be a meeting for the month of June forecast and she will get back to us midweek with the findings. We will report them right here on this highly accurate information blog when that information come available.

She said we could see flows with in 10 days of 6000cfs to as low as 5000cfs. Wow. Not may expected this flow in mid June. Lots of bullshit speculation and wildly incorrect numbers being spread around the neighborhood this past month.

Will it really happen or am I engaged in yet another bad blog dream?

If it does, expect fantastic dry fly angling this year. With all these fat and happy trout, we look forward to action like that! The water temps are already 54F. Just right. A perfect storm? Maybe. You may have to be on the water to see the PMD’s come off en masse.

You coming to the Mo this year? It may be in your best dry fly Headhunting interest…

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.28.14

May 28, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Great weather and not many folks around make for a great week.

Nice and quiet for the last time. For about 10 weeks. Then June, July, August.

With the increase in guests we have an increase in the dry fly bite. More bugs, more fish looking up. Got your plans yet? Call today for guides, lodging, information.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

More of the same with some changes too. Nymphing is the best way to get some in the net while the dry fly bite exists and streamer anglers are getting a few as well.

What will you do? Some of each if you wish.

The dry fly guys are finding a few during the day eating caddis down low. Low in the canyon, down low in the Cascade region. March Browns are all but gone til next year. But, but there are still some BWO’s around and the fish are on them. On them in a manner that many do not recognize. Baetis spinners are filling the mouths of late afternoon feeding fish. Look for softer spots where 9K cfs fish rise. Near banks for sure.

The trout are eating the dead bug. So whether you like to fish the spinner, a Harrops Hi-Viz works nicely or a Hackle Stacker too, or if you like the cripple approach that is fine as well.

The flows are holding int he upper 8k range and 8690 falls into that category. Water temps are 54F and just right for the time of year. Some movement throughout the day is normal.

Nymphers are still rigging their system with 6′-7 1/2′ from bobber to split shot. The worm and the Rainbow Czech Nymph are the most common top flies with the Caddis Pupa making a run for the top spot. The bottom fly can change through out the day and the hot ones are sows, caddis pupa, pink tops, Ray Charles, translucent pupa’s with beads, Purple Weight flies…

Streamer fans? Sink tips with additional sink tips with wither weighted or non weighted patterns depending on your tip weight. Banks are the focus of these anglers and they are picking up some fish daily. Overcast and hazy mornings help this parade of casts.

The weather has been downright pleasant. Too pleasant for some and just right for others.

[forecast]

The shop is open daily @ 7am and open later than the rest as we prepare for the summer months. We will stay on pace with your fishing schedules and always be here, be there, be everywhere for your Missouri River fishing needs!

We have some availability for the next week, maybe two if you need to get out and beat the heat, beat the summer pressure, or just relax and have a Headhunters Guide drift you down the river. Want to learn a new stretch or improve you reach cast? We can help…

Check out John’s Weekly Newsletter here if you want another angle and to keep in touch with a deeper conversation about the Mo!

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.26.14

May 26, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Two things we are excited about this Memorial Day Weekend include the sun and at the river.

The two stars of the show. And you.

You are a star too!

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Water levels are Dearborn 1120cfs and Little Prickly Pear 351cfs. The Missouri is running at a current level of 8670cfs with a water temperature of 54F. Right in the wheelhouse of trout favorite temperature. It is like our 68F. The trout love 54-58F. Perfect. Jump and run and fight hard do our trout.

The river below the Dearborn is off color. Is it fishable? Yes, sort of. Some are going down and scratching out a day. Others not so hot. You choose. The upper river is quite crowded so the lower may be an option for you. Depends on your game. Into the experience? Lower. Into body count? Upper. Half of both? Craig to Palace?

The Dearborn while floatable is not for fishing yet. We will keep you on top of the action here on the Headhunters Fly Fishing Blog.

Nymphs that Rule!

Flies that the trout like are all over the board. Talk to 10 different anglers and you will get 10 different outcomes. The flies and type that are so very popular this weekend and week ahead include narrow bodied mayfly nymphs like the Two Bit Hooker and the Brush Hog. Little Green Machine and his cousin the Red Headed Step Child. Indigo Children can work and Micro Mays, Peep Show’s, Angel Hair PT’s, and the like.

Midge Pupa still playing well at the dam and locales downriver. Fat ones, skinny ones, one’s you tied, one’s you stole from your fishing partner. Caddis Pupa playing a huge role as you drift downriver. Probably on the upper as well.

Had a feller in the store ask me why we would toss a caddis when he had not seen that many adult caddis in the Craig region. I simply reminded him that caddis, all insects, are living subsurface before they enter our atmosphere. So, the caddis are very active subsurface before the “hatch”. So bring your fly box full of caddis flies.

Dry Flies that we Love!

Caddis and other flies that are making a move include XCaddis, X2Caddis, Translucent Pupa, Stocking Wing, Goddard, CDC and Elk, AC Caddis, Buzzball, Adams, Ants of all kinds. We are nearly into a zone where many differing flies will get the job done. The difficult part is finding the fish. When you find then you can generally get them.

Stop and look for rising fish in normal rising fish locations. If you want to blind fish you certainly can get it done. Not a terrible idea. Bring couple

Baetis Spinners for the secret fly. Got it? Secret Fly is a BWO Spinner.

Streamer Fishing moving forward or deeper

Tips, intermediate tips, T-8 and more to get you to the zone where the fish are. The high and bright sun has not helped your streamer bite this last weekend. If you want to get out and get on it in the morning, that would help. If you want to get out and fish during the evening session you may get rewarded. Or not. But how will you know if you don’t go.

Flies that leave the store more frequently than others include the ever popular Dali Lama, Yellow Yummy, White Zonker, Ramp to Ramp, the leech is back, Gold-Diggers, White and Natural Sculpzilla’s. This game moves fast as you know so if you need up to the minute fly reports, come on by and check out the largest streamer selection in Craig.

The week ahead in Montana

Enjoy the rest of today as the worm week for most starts tomorrow. Rest and get ready for the coming weekend. Let us know how we can help. If you are coming to Montana and scheduled to fish another Montana river we may see you here in Craig. Craig is rolling and in full summer motion. All ahead full.

June is right around the corner and the bugs are happening. Get ready for a good one? One for the ages? Maybe. We will have to monitor the water levels closely and hope for the perfect storm.

[forecast]

See you in Craig this coming weekend. Or just come this week. Let us know how we can help with any questions, concerns, or info needs regarding Montana’s Missouri River.

Friday Foto Memorial Day Weekend Fishing Report

Friday Foto Memorial Day Fishing Report 5.23.14

May 23, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Hooray for the weather, for the holiday weekend, for the trout.

All good things happening here in Craig Montana. Kicking off the weekend in the west!

If you are not coming this weekend, we certainly hope we see you this coming weekend, or for the hell of it, try the mid week. Take the week off. We’ll understand.

This last weekend with the Caddis Festival was awesome. But who could beat this weekend with the weather and the fun here in Craig. Check out the weather. Over 80F today!

[forecast]

Friday Foto Memorial Day Fishing Report

To keep you on track while packing for your trip tot he Mo, we have compiled a list of items to include when rolling up to Craig Montana.

Drift Boat. The flows are at the 8770cfs zone and we want you to have a great time. A boat will allow you greater freedom as the wade fishing is diminished with these spring release flows. No boat? Rent one from us! Try out the NRS IDB. You may like it. An Adipose Flow? A Diablo Kayak? Yep, we got those too! Fun floating devices at Headhunters.

BBQ. Bring one of these if camping. Or visit Izaak’s. Open daily @ 3pm for cocktails, 4pm for dinner. Try the Nacho’s for a pile of goodness. Ribs for dinner. Home made ice cream for dessert. See Stevie or Claudia for a Moscow Mule!

Headhunters is rumored to have a Tube Steak BBQ on Saturday? You heard anything about that?

Rods. Bring fly rods. Lots of them. A streamer rod with a set of sink tips, a dry rod with a RIO Gold attached, and a Nymph rod with a RIO Indicator II line. Want to try a new rod for 2014. We got ’em! Demo a rod from Headhunters like a SAGE Method or One or Circa for those with dry fly aspirations. An Orvis Helios 2? A Sweetgrass Mantra Bamboo? You want one of those? Try before you buy at Headhunters.

Flies. Bring a boat load. Or get some additional hot flies from the shop. We’ve got the most comprehensive selection in Craig. Bar None! Scuds, Sows, FB’s, derivations of Mayfly nymphs that will blow your mind, caddis pupas and emergers, Midge Mania, dry flies like cripples and emergers for the March Brown emergence, and a vast selection of caddis dry flies as they are happening now and the invasion could come this weekend.

Sleeping bag. Don’t forget the sleeping bag and have to sleep on the hood of the truck. Not that I’ve ever done that. Check out our www.craiglodging.com site for over 20 great canyon rentals!

Camera. Bring the camera for hero shots and for capturing the moment your buddy falls out of the boat.

Beer. Whiskey. If you space it, you can always pick up a 12 pack at Joe’s. Open daily @ 8am. And you know the rule. If you see me in the bar @ 2am, send me home.

Mini Bike. For hi-jinks around camp. If you need a shuttle, call us, stop in, or just send us an ESP message. Ninch can pick up on those type of things. He is very perceptive.

Wiffle Ball and Bat. For fun after fishing. Don’t throw out your casting arm. And definitely not your rowing arm!Or just come to the porch and hang.

Sunglasses and sunscreen. A sun shirt for good measure too. It’s gonna be real nice.

Smiles. Bring a bundle of them.

The cooler. A YETI. Full of the BBQ fixin’s, Budweiser, Gatorade for the hangovers.

A map of Craig. If you don’t have one stop into the shop and we will draw you one. Just get off on exit 234 and you should be fine. How do you know when you get Headhunters? Just look for the funnest fly shop in the world, and turn right.

Headhunters open all weekend @ 7am with a free cups of Joe for those in need. Open late til at least 8pm for evening shuttles, apres fishing hang, fly line cleaner, sun hats ,shirts, gloves, sunscreen, flies, free info, an ear to bend, smiles, boat wash, demo rods, boat rentals…

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.22.14

May 22, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Getting warmer by the day and the water temps are following suit. You should bring your warm weather gear as many have been over dresses. On the Mo, in the month of May? Yes, it is gonna be 80F today.

We like 80F.

Headhunters Guide Nick Stipech and our good friend Ben Ashley with this pig Rainbow above. Nice weather accompanied by nice fish. Nice fishing too.

As for the fishing and the flows. Stable. The Dearborn is 867cfs and stable at 50F for a peak high. Matching the Mighty Mo. The LPP near WC is holding at 315cfs with the Mo at 8720cfs adn 50F as well.

The lake, Canyon Ferry is at 71.6% full. Up from the holding level of 70% this last month. The gates at the dam are open and we are enjoying the stable level here on the Mo at the nearly 9K level. Keep this in mind as you navigate the Mo at this level. It is only 2′ deeper than your wade fishing favorite flow of 3K. So, not too bad. Only 2′ of water. Just adjust your plan accordingly.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Dry Fly? Still a struggle for most, on any given day you may find a few. If you are diligent and lucky, and damn good as we know all of you folks are…then you may find more than a few. The caddis are gaining the foothold on the lower. GO there and command a dry fly performance.

It is also time to get out the caddis nymph box and start dominating subsurface. Caddis are on the rise! In subsurface numbers that is.

We just love the caddis as it may be the first true sign of summer. While we know that the summer does not actually start until Mark hosts one of Headhunters Famous Hot Dog BBQ’s. Coming soon…this weekend?

Some would say it come June 21st. Most actually.

Nymphs? Get out the caddis ~~vault~~ fly box. Don’t leave behind the mayfly jug either. We still got those. Midges? They are ubiquitous.

If you need scuds and sows and worms come on by the small shop in Craig with all the personality. Headhunters has all the flies to fell, no fill you needs.

Streamer dudes are getting it done. Strip, sink, then strip and smile. Headhunters also has all you need to attach to the end of your dry line, your intermediate line. We have T-8 and up. Cut the Airflo version to length. Try the MOW Tips from RIO and get it there Idaho Style. Sinking leaders for streamer success. Or just toss your dry and attach a heavily weighted jig. And jig it man.

Headhunters Fly Shop open daily 7am for all your Missouri River needs. All of them.

Thanks for reading this fishing report nd blog. We appreciate the look. Introduce yourselves in the shop. We love to meet our readers!

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.21.14

May 21, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The water levels remain stable as the higher level snows have started to come off. Albeit just recently. Like yesterday.

So when will the river be in the 6K range? Not for a while is my guess. Late June?

Just throwing that out there. I hope it sticks. We got a lot of water to run through before we can even dream of those kind of flows.

Is the dry fly fishing good? No, not really. It is if you find a few. Those who are looking have had success. But you gotta look.

The fish are not all that educated at this point. My and those who I have spoken with this last week have echo’d the same story. Spot ’em you got ’em. But you gotta spot ’em first. Adams, clusters, May Browns, and even heard of a few taken on a caddis towards the lower river. Good evening action, well bugs, caddis on the lower as well.

We do know that the bigger browns are showing up in nets throughout the river. And some really big Rainbows too. A few fish on the tape this last week in the 24″ range. Honest. Peter Skidmore Headhunters All-Star and Lynn straight outta Tennessee with this pig in the photo.

Floaters, boats, and just plain drifters all over the river. If you want some peace and quiet the dam is the place. I have heard rumors of just one boat up there this week. And not just once.

So that is the story. Need some facts to get you through this humpday? We ll just keep reading.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Flows & Temp: 8690cfs, 49F.

Little Prickly Pear Flows: 327cfs and level. A touch of color. Gone around the corner.

Dearborn River Flows & Temp: 845cfs & 48F. Had a few float it. OK. Not great. Good scenic float, some fish. Call the shop for an update if you plan on going.

Hot Nymph: WORM? Sows, Scuds. Caddis down river. Micro Mays, Little Green Machines, BWO Bubblebacks, Hot Spot PT, Tung Death Metal, Tung PT, HAre’s Ears, Zebra’s, Newman’s Own, Don King’s, Amex, Choi’s Spicy Scud…

Hot Dries: Adams with various colored post for viz! Buzzball, Nymen’s, Purple Craze, Smoke Jumper, RS2. Bottom line? Something yo can see and they will eat it. Most of the time. PS, don’t drag it too many times!

Hot Streamer: Skiddish and his 2 cousins. FireEye Kreelex, white, flashy brown. Bright fly bright day? Try it.

Hot Float: The reach with the fewest boats.

Hot Tip on Clothing: All the kick ass sungear at Headhunters. Sun Gloves, BUFF, Freefly logo’d hoody’s, SIMMS Women’s hoody’s, SIMMS Mens hoody’s and crew necks, Freefly crew necks logo’d, 12wt. neck gaiters and sun shirts, FishPond logo’s and original art sunshirts, HH logo’d sunshirts, SIMMS Sungloves…and more. We have sunscreen too!

Headhunters Footwear: Flips, sandals, covered toe sandals, light and fleet of foot SIMMS Vapor Boots.

River Vehicle: Drift Boat. Flows pretty high for good wade fishing. While you can wade, it is not as efficient as the other method. Come or call in for tips and boat rentals.

Headhunters Fly Shop: Open daily @ 7am for all your river needs. Flies too. We have the best, most specific, and techy fly selection here in Craig. It really is good. Need a new fly line? We got those too. Line cleaner? The fly line is the vehicle that delivers the fly to the target. Just sayin’ Trust me, I’m a guide.

Lodging Hotline: 406-235-3447 www.craiglodging.com

Bullshit Hotline for those who want to chat: 406-235-3447

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.20.14

May 20, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Welcome to the Headhunters nearly daily fly fishing report for Montana’s Missouri River.

Flows still at 9K and water temps flirting with 50F.

The tribs are still relatively clear and viz below the Dearborn, 987 cfs, is about 2 1/2 feet. Not bad at all below the Little Prickly Pear @ 341 cfs until…keep checking the chart for updates. Until now no worries.

So the spread is still good with the upper packed nearly daily.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Dry flies are stronger on the lower with caddis popping along with a strong March Brown presence. Found them eating spinners Monday afternoon. Although on any given day the Baetis pop can happen and a few will be chomping them up. Big Adams, March Brown Spinner and Cripples, D &D’s, Nymens, Traditionally hackled MB’s, Sparkle Duns, Caddis Softies, Downwings…clusters and many more.

Nymphs that are ruling include all kinds of sows, scuds, Ray Charles, Czechs, Nitro Caddis, Beaded Translucent Pupa, Purple Translucents, Blooms Weight flies, all kinds of pupas…

Streamers? Back on tap. Sink tips and the like to get the bugs to the fish. Skiddish in all flavors, Dali Llama’s, R2R’s, Leeches, , Yummy’s, Zonkers…

Weather not bad with the temps moving out of the 60’s into the 70’s along with nighttime lows as high as they have been all spring long.

Bottom line? Good with moments of greatness. Sometimes not too good wither withe the bite having been variable in the last week. But, with moments of brilliance. Saturday great bite. Sunday not as good. Monday slow morning better afternoon.

Let us know if you are coming our way and we will help you find a place to rest after you meal at Izaak’s. Breakfast at the the Birger Stand or down the road in Wolf Creek. Guides available daily with shuttles, flies, rods, reels, cool clothing and the like daily at Headhunters opening 7am-8pm. Swing on in and fill your cup…

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.18.14

May 18, 2014May 18, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Raining. Rain tomorrow. Warmer weather. Great fishing. Some dry fly action. Creeks seem to be running relatively clear.

That is the nut shell report. But, we will give you more today on the Headhunters Fly Shop fishing report.

Drove across the the Dearborn earlier today and the mud line is not too bad. It disappears with in a mile. The water is turbid though. Down river of the confluence it mixes by the time it gets around the corner to Mid Canon. The tribs are open nd some are fishing them. TH rain and warmer temperatures this week will dictate the upper snow run off level. I suspect we are getting into the range where we will see the effects of the higher level snows down here on the lower level. We will keep you informed here on this very fishy blog.

For more about this look at Marks Blog earlier this last week to keep up to date on the runoff possibilities.

The Dearborn is currently running at 906cfs. She will get higher as the week progresses. How high? Crap shoot really. The Little Prickly Pear Creek is running a little higher too, 324cfs, but not mudding up the river either. We are pretty fortunate that these two tribs do very little damage to our clear and clean reputation.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.18.14

Nymphing really quite good. Yesterday it was red hot. Today, the mid day reports state the bite not quite as good. Good meaning real good. Not great. Remember that our good is pretty damn good. Above average for many resources.

Sows, scuds, all kinds of small mayfly patterns with the March Brown sized mayfly nymphs fishing well too. Caddis are on the horizon and those who are trying to get the subsurface bite headed in the right direction are tying on and fishing the caddis pupa and emerged with confidence.

Remember: You do not have to see the bug in our atmosphere for the bug to work in the watery atmosphere of our trout. Keep this in mind when matching the hatch below the waterline.

Dry fly fishermen are getting a few in all the right places and some of those not so common places as well. What and where can you go to get in on this kind of action? Well firmly, keep you eyes open for tiny sipping rise forms. Then put the fly on them. You may see some splashy rises too. Out in the middle of the river they mean nothing, near the bank? Maybe something.

March Brown patterns are in vogue along with some down winged caddis that are leaving the shop and not only making into some fly boxes but onto the river as well. Be the first in your crowd to fish the caddis in 2014.

As for midges and BWO’s the trout are still interested but both of these bugs are on the way out. They are still important for the remainder of the month and specifically this week as we have inclement weather upon us again.

What will the weather do?

[forecast]

The NRS Inflatable Drift Boat has been out a number of times this last month since it’s arrival. You want to check this boat for you all your travels around the state. If you like to fish the Smith, the Dearborn, The Big Hole, The Beaverhead, The Blackfoot? Then you oughta entertain the IDB.Come by and check it out. Couple with a trailer of your choosing and you are set up for the best Montana summer of your life!

Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide service open daily for all your Missouri River, Dearborn, and Blackfoot needs. We got the flies for your freestone excursions so swing by on your way to the Blackfoot. You want to fish the Dearborn this year? Let us know and we will set up the guide trip for you. Just want some suggestions? We got those too.

We carry NRS supplies like straps, cup holders, sponges, K-Pumps, oars…if you need anymore items we can get them in for you too.

Adipose Boatworks FLOW Drifters for rent daily too. We got all the best for you here in Craig. Your gear, guides, and information experts here on the Missouri River.

Headhunters open daily @ 7am and open late til 8pm daily. Sometimes, most all the times…open later for your late afternoon shuttles, flies, fly lines, demo rods, wader rentals, and the best apres fishing porch in town!

Missouri River Montana May Dry Flies

May 15, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Here is a short list of flies that are rocking it in May. While we do not have the caddis flies on this list, they are very near.

Yep. Saw a this last week fluttering about while doing some evening dry fly fishing.

The river becomes quiet as most of the anglers here fishing Montana’s Missouri River keep banking hours.

Yes, it is nice at night. Not nearly as many anglers plying the fly fishing trade post 5pm.

Here is a current list of a few flies that are hot right now.

Next week too? Yes, probably. Try them. You might like them.

Missouri River Montana May Dry Flies

Guide Chute
Pink Hi-Viz Parachute Adams
Glarachute
Purple Craze
Swishers Purple Clumpa
Purple HaWiese’s Purple Phase
Nymen’s DOA Cripple
Harrop’s CDC Baetis Spinner
Last Chance Cripple
D & D Cripple
Sparkle Dun
ParaSpinner CDC BWO
Brooks Sprout
CDC Indicator BWO
Storm Chaser
Snowshoe Dun BWO
UV2 Sparkle Dun
Para March Brown
Traditional March Brown
Stranahans Brindle Chute
Para March Brown
Kory’s March Brown
Harrops D & D March Brown Cripple

These and more are happening right now.

What’s next? Caddis. Caddis are on the way. Some have been seen on and around the river. Until they really pop, the Mother’s Day Caddis that is, we will have to enjoy the midge, the BWO’s, the March Browns.

Looks like the spring weather will continue through the weekend ahead. What are you doing this weekend? Caddis Festival in Craig after you fish during the day? Sunday will be a good day too. Or skip work today and beat the traffic this weekend. Either is a great idea.

The Spring Opener for small creeks and streams is Saturday. Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn in our neighborhood will both be open for the summer. Still keep in mind there are doe sensitive redd areas out there. Be aware and be respectful.

Get your dry fly rod out of the tube and drew the line. It is dry fly season too. At least that is how we are proceeding. Even if the dry fly bite is just heating up, we want to be ready. Truly ready.

Are you ready for the Missouri River dry fly bite?

It is not red hot, or even all that great yet. But it will be. Soon. It will be here soon.

May State of the Missouri River

May 14, 2014May 14, 2014 by Mark Raisler

May State of the Missouri River from Headhunters Fly Shop in downtown Craig Montana.

The river is fishing well. Nymphing great. Streamer fishing well. Dry fly fishing just OK.

The water levels are higher than normal with the current flows being in the 9K cfs.

So where are we at for the remainder of the month of May? How will it fish? What will the water do? How can I the angler plan my Missouri River May?

May State of the Missouri River

Not a common May for us. But what is a common May. The flows for May are up above the average flows of the previous 65 years. The average coming in around 6K. Check out these charts for daily updates. If you want to see more of what the USBR is up to then look at this PDF by Stephanie Micek and here recent update.

So this is the nuts and bolts of the entire Micek work. You can read the entire document by clicking the above link. SO this is where we get the info that we pass on to you folks. This and a few other indicators and some “feel” based on John and Mark’s longevity on this fabulous resource.

Do we think it will be great this summer? Yes, you bet. We think dry fly fishing should be off of the charts. Remember the late dry fly seasons of the high water years 08′-’11? We do. The Trio’s went a long way into September. Did the PMD’s show in a big way? Not as much. But the rest of the bugs were sure great, albeit later in the season than in the low water years. Remember ’01-’07? Low water years where the bugs all came early and left early. So we do not have any reason to believe that it will be an early year for insects.

The March Browns are here on time, the Caddis coming this week? We think so. Try tossing on a caddis pattern subsurface this coming week. You may be surprised. Remember that the bugs are active subsurface before they become our top water obsessions!

The midges are strong with midge clusters int he early and late evenings. The Baetis are here and better for feeding trout during overcast periods. The caddis? Yes, on the way.

Back to the predictions. We can predict anything but…what will really happen? We gotta believe that the chart above shows the probable outcomes.

If you follow the red bars the dry fly climate will be just right. The probable high flows for June if you look at the blue bar will be too high for the best dry fly fishing. But the red bar is just right. We gotta believe in Red!

The green bar is too low for perfection. So that is the information we have right now. The Lake, Canyon Ferry Lake is at the 70% full mark. It has been for a month now. In the future? It will move upwards as we get into June. Historically.

So, there you have it. The May State of the Missouri River. Look back often for more info and guessing. Educated guesses of some sort.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for fishing the Missouri River.

You information experts here @ Headhunters Fly Shop writing about Montana’s Missouri River.

For more about the weekly happenings here in the Missouri River Canyon read John’s Weekly email Newsletter here.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.13.14

May 13, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The sun came out. Yes, I said it. The sun came out today. How about today?

Will it come today?. The weatherman says it will.

Just no more snow please for us here in central Montana. We have enough. Honest.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

The fishing is good and getting better. Some aspects are. Did we mention the weather is improving?

Nearly every guide in Montana is here, not all of them, but soon the remainder will be here as the water all over the state is rising. We love it here and welcome all who attend. We can help the out of area guide, the out of area angler, all of them. We got the goods here at Headhunters and are anticipating your visit.

For those of you who planned on coming to the Missouri or are coming soon we will give you just the facts today on the nearly daily Headhunters Fishing Report.

The water is higher than the historical average, 6K, at an even 9K.
Water temperature is 47F. A couple degrees below water year temps.
BWO’s are popular subsurface.
Sows too.
March Browns are out. And fish may or may not like them.
Tributaries clean and clear. Falling too.
Fishing well from top to bottom.
What will happen when the daily air temps rise?
Headhunters Guides out daily. Plan your summer trip today and sleep better tonight.
Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service open every morning at 7am for any of your Missouri River Trout Fishing needs. Flies, info, terminal tackle, GINK, Shake and Bake, Rot Gut watery coffee, new fly lines, demo rods, NRS IDB’s…

[forecast]

Missouri River Mothers Day Fishing Report 5.11.14

May 10, 2014May 10, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Missouri River Mothers Day Fishing Report from the headquarters of fishing madness near the shores of Montana’s Missouri River.

Fishing is good. The flows are moving upwards to alleviate the traditionally higher flows of late May and June. Will we see higher flows in June? It’s looking like we may. How high? Not that high.

Although Canyon Ferry Lake is still at the 70% full range we have endured some cooler spring temps and the upper level snow is staying put. The water managers have been able to quell the fire, will they be able to reduce the impact in June? You will just have to follow along with us in this annual process. We still think it will be just fine.

The weather yesterday wa supposed to be nasty. It was not. Will the weatherman be wrong again? How could he…

Missouri River Mothers Day Fishing Report

Nymphing continues to be the most common method withe the dry fly coming on strong. Sort of.

With the flows in the 9K mark and the water temps in the hi 40’s we are seeing active fish jumping and running hard. Most are running a rig that is over 10′ in length. Most. Some are shorter.

The hot flies include anything from the Czech family, grey and tan scuds of all shapes and sizes, Ray Charles beaded or not, Sili Scuds, Spicy Scuds, Rainbow Warriors, BWO Bubblebacks, Hot Spot PT’s, Peep Shows, Frenchie’s, Little Geen Machine’s, Micro-Mays, Red Headed Step Children, Indigo Child, Angel Hair PT’s, Tungsten PT’s, Hare’s Ears for the March Brown and some others too, and a pile of midge patterns.

We got midges. Lots.

Streamer fans are still chucking and ducking with heavy Versi Tips and sink tips. White, shiny brown, black, yellow, and olive. That is the order of the flies going out of the shop. We got the knowledge and the staff to help you improve your streamer game. Come on in and let’s chat.

The dry fly bite is OK. March Browns, BWO’s, and Midges coming off daily. You want to dry fly fish? Then go do it. The folks who have the most opportunities to catch fish on dry flies are those who focus on catching fish on the dry fly. Those you like to nymph, then look, then fool around, the nymph, then toss a streamer…those folks do not capitalize often. Just sayin.’

Happy Mother’s Day to all you Mothers. Hooray. Have you husband, kids, or somebody row you around the river today. If not, have them do all those dishes, or clean their room, or pick up anything off of the floor. It is your day and let’s hope you get dinner for free. Order a bottle of Champagne too. You Deserve it!

Will the weather cooperate this coming week?

[forecast]

The tribs are still falling and clear. Most non Mo River anglers think that since the rest of the river in the state are blown, that our tribs would be too. Incorrect. Our tribs our clear and clean. And falling.

Fly Shop open daily for all your fly fishing needs. Flies, info, coffee cups, GINK, new fly Lines from RIO, rods from SAGE, clothing from SIMMS, and much much more!

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.9.14

May 9, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Good weekend ahead of us here on the Missouri River. Good weather too. If you like potential snow and rain. You should like this weekend just fine.

The tributaries are clear and clean and the entire river is fishing just fine. Some of the normal mayflies for this month are starting to pop and we are just fine with that. BWO’s and a few March Browns seen too. Get on board and keep the dry fly rod out. Get it in the rotation for the weekend and beyond.

[forecast]

Things to remember for the weekend ahead and the Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Lodging. Not your tent. Unless you like your tent. And your tent companion. www.Craiglodging.com

Boat. Bring your boat or you boat rowing dude, or gal. Rent one, a boat. Rent a rower at Headhunters. Or drag your own over and dump it in the Mo. We will help you with the fly selection and the reaches that you want to see. Go anywhere you want with safe cruising from the top to the bottom.

Flies. Firebeads, a bundle of sows, scuds, worms, Amex, Czechs, the color purple, Peep Shows, Frenchie’s, a plethora of midge patterns, and some cool white streamers. White was the color of the week. Will it hold through the weekend? Maybe. Dries like big Adams, a March Brown pattern or two, midge clusters, Buzzballs, Rabbit Foot Clusters, and many more our Fly Guru Ben McNinch has in store for you the Missouri River angler.

Gear. Raincoats. Handwarmers. Boat Heaters. Gloves.

Smiles. Wide ones please.

Flows. The tribs are clear and clean. No problem there. The Mo is near 9K. Below the Dearborn more like 10K. Its cool with the water temps at 48F bouncing around the last couple weeks with the variable daytime weather conditions. The Dearborn is falling and nearing 600cfs. The Pear shows a similar trend. Clear too.

The Missouri River. Great shape, great hatches, great times.

Headhunters Fly Shop. Open all weekend at 730am w/ free rot-gut coffee, flies, info, shuttles, that killer one of kind logo wear, gloves, new and super cool headwear from Buff, rental NRS Freestone Drifters, SIMMS waders…

Headhunters Guides Ben Hardy and Mark Raisler with guests last week at Mountain Place in the image above. We love the sun. The canyon is good and the lower river is getting better. The upper? Busy.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.6.14

May 6, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The water downriver is clearing already. The LPP Creek has about half the volume of mud as it was yesterday. Today, half as much again. Good vis all the way to Craig. The water is green but not dirty. I’d say 2 feet still in Craig with vis not an issue until you get to the Dearborn. Then not too bad. Guides all the way to Cascade again yesterday. No fear.

Tons of out of area guides here on the Missouri this wee and until Mid July. Until the west-side and north-side and south-side rivers recede. They all come to the Missouri. If you are headed here and need lodging please check out www.craiglodging.com.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Good to great nymphing depending on who you ask. Morning was better than the afternoon yesterday, but today? Gotta go to know.

Worms were on fire yesterday. Today? Try it for your lead fly and go with it. It is a fly that the fish will come to in certain conditions. A valuable tool for spring conditions.

Sows, scuds, PT’s. The same stuff for the month. May is a terrific month for fly fishing on the Missouri. Will the dry fly bite come on?

That is what we are holding our breath about. The dry fly game. Still holding. Late nights is still the answer. For a couple. Not a handful.

Streamers? Yes.

[forecast]

Getting cooler and getting wetter. Yep, spring in Montana. We did like th 70F weather last week. More ahead? not this week. Maybe the weekend will bring nicer skies. Although the BWO’s like the overcast. The fish like the overcast. The BWO’s get stuck when it is cooler and wetter. That is why the dry fly bite is better during overcast days. The bugs stay on the surface longer.

Headhunters open daily @730am for all your Missouri River Fly Fishing needs. Gloves, sunscreen, killer logo wear, SIMMS products, RIO fly lines, SAGE fly rods, accessories galore, and the friendliest staff in Craig.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.5.14

May 5, 2014May 5, 2014 by Mark Raisler

We survived, and you, the weekend again. Rain, cool air temps, and some sort of sleet at one point kept anglers cooler on Saturday but as it warmed Sunday to nice blue skies and nearly 70F we all breathed a sigh of relief. The wind was around as it generally is.

Our successful Spey Clinic hosted by Mike McCune and Whitney Gould wrapped up as well and those who attended are better casters for it. Casting education is important for both single and two handed casters. It allows you get to closer to the fish. No?

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

The water clarity below Craig is diminished. The viz in Craig is about 2 feet. The tribs are all over the board and has affected the water conditions. Will this rain and threatening snow this week change the outcomes? Maybe.

Check out the forecast below and across the page here for your fishing window. If you are looking forward to summer fishing, book now for best availability. The peak season guides and lodging options are now gone. If you like the June and July periods, early booking is imperative.

Missouri River Hit List

Water Temps 46F. May move up this week, or stay flat if the weatherman is being honest.
Water Flows 8640cfs this morning. We think, we think they will be stable.
If you are drinking beer today, make it Mexican. It is Cinco de Mayo. We like Pacifico.
Water Viz. Little Prickly Pear is puking mud. It comes, mixes finally in Craig, at Sterling. 2 foot in Craig. Below Stickney about the same, maybe less. Below the Dearborn, less again.
LPP is running at 429cfs.
The Dearborn is running at 852cfs.
Worms in the mud can be deadly.
Sows are still hot.
Firebeads do not fall from grace until June 1st.
Split shot is cool. In some circles.
Check out Mark Raisler and his Nymph Line article on the RIO Blog.
Baetis nymphs have their moments. Have some at the ready for subsurface fun.
Izaak’s is killing it. Rave reviews from our guests. The calamari is the app of choice. The BBQ Sampler with Ribs, Brisket, adn Pulled Pork for dinner. Homemade Ice Creak for dessert. Open daily @ 3pm, 4pm for dinner.
Dry fly guys are not as happy. Only a few scattered fish on the rise. Again evenings are proving to be best. Anemic baetis hatches this last weekend did not help things.
Streamer angers are coming in happy. White is the word. Today? Could be yellow. Can’t beat black though. Or can you?
Need a sink tip, Versi Leaders, sinking leaders, a MOW tip, a new streamer line? We got ’em. Over 10 streamer line options in stock for your depth finding mission.
Headhunters Logo gear flying out the door. Check it!
Headhunters Fly Shop open daily @ 730am. Open late for any odd questions, concerns, new fly lines, nymphing primers…etc.
Thanks for reading the only daily fishing content in the tri-county area. We appreciate it. We like to make anglers smile. Angers like you.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.3.14

May 3, 2014 by Mark Raisler

A couple hints today on the Headhunters Fly Fishing Report for this early May weekend.

Sow bugs man. Scuds and sows. Mostly the key for the Headhunters guides this week. Some mayfly action, but the prominent flies are of the crustacean variety. Come into the shop and see our vast and significant selection of sows. Scuds too. Czechs and a variety of many more.

Today the McCuneGould Spey Clinic is happening at 9am. Mark has some chicken marinating in a bag for the guests at lunch. First Headhunters BBQ on the property in Craig? Soon, oh so soon my fishy friends.

A couple spots open for the clinic tomorrow too. Call today and get yourself in to this once yearly Missouri River magical instructional class. You might learn a few things about spey. Quite a few things maybe.

The weather is cooling and so are the water temps. With the rise in air temps this last week we saw the water temps increase. Then the drop in sun in the sky, the wind, and such and we got 44F again. Baetis like it. Midges like it. The fish like it.

Clean and clear tributaries for your floating and fishing pleasure. The Dearborn, clean. The Prickly Pear, clean. Sheep Creek, clean. Stickney Creek, clean.

[forecast]

The NRS Freestone Drifter is on the property and ready to rent. Come by and see this perfect boat for the Madison, the Missouri, Belt Creek, the Blackfoot, the Dearborn, your river or creek. This is the sports car of inflatable drift boats. 250# of rubbery love. Yep, I said it.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.3.14

Good to great reports yesterday. Rec fishermen came in with varying reports. Not many fish in buckets and they are right. The fish are in-between the buckets. Run and gun with a couple sows, scuds, or Czechs. Worms too.

Midges and tiny attractor type flies like Rainbow Warriors, Gard’s Miracle Midge, Frenchie’s, Firebeads and the like are working as well.

Boats are top to bottom with many days the clogged section being the upper. WC has received a ton of pressure. Go later in the day if you want solace in that run. Craig down is a good choice. The canyon? Lower yet, you bet.

Dry fly guys are staying out late and getting a few to hand. Midge clusters like the Buzzball, the Griffith’s, big giant Adams, CDC Hanging Midges, Quig’s Cluster…and many more.

Streamer anglers are getting it done. Slow and fast both. Mostly the slow though. Toss the heavy bug with a sink tip. Get after it. Streamer fishermen are the oat positive of all of the disciplines. They may be the most fun. No fish to hand? Great day, lots of follows and some killer refusals. All good to that crowd. Good attitudes are infectious and these guys lead that parade.

Headhunters Fly Shop

Open daily @ 730am for all your river needs. Come in today and see us. We have some cool full coverage Buff’s that are awesome. A new line of sun wear from 12wt. Check it. Tons of new logo’d stuff that is sure to impress with the sun protection in mind…and a few collared shirts too. Demo rods galore, rental waders, rental boats including the new NRS Freestone Drifter as well as the always popular Adipose Flow, and fun people too.

Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig. World’s Funnest Fly Shop…

Missouri River Montana Weekend Fishing Report

May 1, 2014May 1, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The weekend us upon us and the weather is warm. Time to head out fishing to your local river or lake, or to the Missouri River. It’ll be fun!

The fishing report will be short and factual.

2 spots left for the Sunday McCune/Gould Spey Clinic. $200/head for some world class spey and 2 handed instruction. Mark will be BBQ’ing up some killer lunch and snack items during the day while the fellowship is sure to be great. Cast on both sides of the river with one on one instruction from both Mike and Whitney. A do not miss event to get your 2 handed cast in tune!

I ran into another local outfitter today and he wanted me to mention that the dry fly fishing is tough. Not a whole lot of fish rising. But there are some. He believed I had mislead you, the reader that the dry fly fishing was ‘on’. It is not ‘on’ per se, but there are fish rising toward the evening periods. Get out at noon and float til dark. You’ll see some busting midge balls as they float down the river. If you stay out late, you will see them. An Adams towing a Buzzball should suffice.

So one or two fish during the day will be the norm until it is not the norm, it is the exception. Those tossing the Skwala all day long have been pretty quiet. Blanksville I think is the address.

The nymphing was better today as the fish seemed like they would cooperate more willingly. Boats from the Dam to the tiny ‘burb of Cascade. Sows, Czechs, Ninch’s Pink Selection @ HH, FB’s, Worms, more PT stuff. The normal from the last couple weeks. Any number of midge pupa’s as well. Lots of good options for flies this weekend!

Longer from bobber to split than you are comfortable doing. 7’+ is the norm. A split or two to get you there.

[forecast]

Headhunters Fly Shop open daily @ 7:30 am and open late for that evening float you will be doing this weekend. Or knock off early to day at work and come down to the river.

May Day Missouri River Fishing Report

May 1, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Better dry fly daily. You will still have to work hard to find the sipping trout as there are not many in the high and bright sun.

But later in the day. When the skies become hazy? You know Headhunters runs shuttles late right? Just sayin’.

It can be pretty good with fish busting midge balls in a totally random manner. How do you fish for fish that are not rising on a specific bug in a specific lane?

It’s simple…Keep casting.

[forecast]

Sunny today and warm. Look for the bottle of sunscreen and hide the rest with a new Buff.

The Dearborn River and Little Prickly Pear streams are running clean. A touch of color for a couple hundred feet is all. No blown feeder creeks here. Stickney Creek and Sheep Creek are gin clear. Check out the charts and you will see stability.

May Day Missouri River Fishing Report

Nymphing about average. The fish are not on the hard core bite but tossing and chasing the bobber all day long will bring plenty of fish to hand. Good drifts allow you to be in the game. Bad drifts? Nobody has time for too many of those. Mend man.

And again man.

Baetis, midges, and more hatching from the morning hours onward. Fishing through the day into the evening will pay off!

The streamer guys are getting them in tailouts and finding the thinner water whether it be slow or fast. Get them in there and strip. The water temps rising are getting the fish in a better mood for the chase.

Come in and rent the Inflatable Drift Boat the Freestone Drifter from Northwest River Supply. It kick’s ass. Adipose Rental Boats too. The Flow is really a great tool for this river.

May has arrived and we look forward to the sun daily. Sun daily is a good thing for we here in central Montana still chilled to the bone from the cooler winter we endured.

Shop open daily from 7:30am and late til 7:30pm. Tons of new logo wear has arrived along with hats and cool accessories too. Need sunglasses for the sun this week? Smith and Costa with all the hottest styles at Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.30.14

April 30, 2014April 30, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The fishing can be difficult as the Rainbows are, or seem to be on strike.

Or on the spawn. They are not as present as they have been or will be.

But the Brown Trout are out and being caught. Lots of big ones caught this month and more to come. Missouri River Fly Fishing Guide Ben Hardy with this big trout client caught this last week. The fishing will heat up as the fish return to the river from the tributaries and the Rainbows come off of the spawn. May will be a real good rocking month. It always is.

The nymphers have been beaten the last week with the catch rates down. Is it the depth, the flies, the flows, the weather, the sun?

Maybe. All you can really change is the depth, add more split or take some off. Move the bobber farther from the split, or closer. The drift? Mend better bro’. those are the variables we control.

The others? Mother Mo is large and in charge. Always.

[forecast]

The weather is warming through the week. Will the bugs keep coming on strong? Yes. Oh yes they will.

The flows are currently 8670cfs and water temps are holding at 44.5F. Good times. We expect the flows to be stable for a while. I see information on the web that may not be correct and pure speculation. Be careful who you trust for your info.

The tributaries will certainly see some more water as the mid and upper level snows will budge with the latter week daily air temps.

Another couple days of the Spring Special and then back to normalcy. Many that have enjoyed the $300 Guide Trips and discounter Craig Trout Camp lodging have pre-booked for the 2015 season. Do you want to be involved in the best deal in Craig this coming year? Then book today. Nothing wrong with planning a spring trip early. Just means you got more time to tie killer Pink Flies for next year.

Shop open daily for all things trout. Shuttles, flies, info, new kick ass logo shirts and hats, coffee, fly rods, waders, new fly lines from RIO, and much much more at 730am. See you late for after work shuttles and more.

Remember to check out our Freestone Drifter from NRS. Rent it today, buy one tomorrow. You will dig this boat!

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.28.14

April 28, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Flows holding at 8670cfs and water temps are 44F. Not bad for an April Monday.

The bugs have definitely arrived in a big way and some fish are responding. Look hard in the afternoons and post up for those surface friendly creatures. The dry fly gang has had a few fish to smile about this past week. Not many, but this week promises to be the breakout week. I think? Guessing Mother Nature’s moves has proven even harder than…insert your caption here.

[forecast]

Looks good to me. We hope the spring weather sticks for a while. At least until summer. Makes sense. No? May is a great month for warmer temperatures, dry flies, nymphs, better to the best streamer fishing of the year and still relatively quiet ont he river for pressure.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.28.14

Dry Fly Killers: Glarachute Adams, Purple Craze, Sparkle Dun, Nymens DOA black posted or grey, Smoke Jumper, and Snowshoe BWO Dun.

The March Browns should come this week. They generally do, according to history. That’s what we got to go on. The past will tell the future. They could be a week late though with the temps a touch below historical numbers. Do you remember your good March Brown spots/runs?

Nymphers: Still the same bugs with FB’s making a return, Worms, Trad. Lightening Bugs, Pearl LB’s, Purple LB’s, large Rainbow Czechs, T-Head Warriors, Purple Prince’s, Anato-Mays, Micro Mays, Zebra’s, Don Kink’s, Newman’s Own Midge.

The fish have been ornery this last week again with highs and lows. Some mornings good fishing, and poor afternoons. Then some days the opposite. Just like fishing can be. The water is deeper than you may think in some runs. Also the water speed has changed in lots of runs too. Slower in some spots while the faster regions will confuse you. Check it out and make a solid nymphing plan and go forward. If Plan A does not work, I hope you got the next in line. You will need it.

Watch and learn. Look for anglers with trout on the line and observe the type of water they are in, and find some water like it! See, learning is fun.

Streamer Fishers: Better daily. Kreelex, R2R, any one of many good looking leeches, for Walleye too, Skiddish Smolts in Olive, Brown, and regular, Black Bugger Jigs, Widowmakers, Daili Lama’s, Home Invaders, Yellow Yummy’s White Zonkers.

Sink Tips still the word. Heavier if you wish. Some still rocking the dry line, but not many. If you are, come in and get yourself a sinking tip. We got lots to choose from and we can educate you about how and why, and of course when to employ these game changing poly tips.

May is nearing and we are excited. We get continually jacked as the months roll on. The spring is upon us and summer is in the sights. But not for a while. About half of the staff loves May. It is their favorite month. A great month for blind dry fly fihsing, March BRown’s, Midge, BWO’s, the tail end of the Skwala, the first caddis, a nymphers paradise, and great streamer fishing for big browns as the rainbows are on the spawn adn not in the game.

What is not to love? Get out before June this year and ply your fly fishing trade on the Missouri River. Call us if you need assistance or stop in the shop daily open @ 7:30 am and open late til 7:30 pm nightly.

Remember us for all your lodging needs too. www.CraigLodging.com is your source for the widest variety and largest selection of rental properties for Montana’s Missouri River corridor.

Get in on our McCune/Gould superstar casting clinic this Sunday. A few spots left!

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.26.14

April 26, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Raining and sleeting out this morning as we movie into more winter here in Craig Montana.

Montana’s Missouri River is fishing well if you are prepared for the elements. Bring rain gear, hand warmers, a Thermos or 2 of coffee, a flask of whiskey, a cup-full of San Juan Worms, and a plan.

Lots of boats here this weekend as the other fantastic Montana river are out of shape. Folks from the Yellowstone, the Flathead, the Clark Fork, B-Root, Rock Creek Region, Broze-Man fellers, and many more. We are the relief valve for the state here on the Missouri River as we never blow out.

It is raining though. Should stop sometime this year? Like Monday. Totally. Back to our scheduled spring weather.

[forecast]

The last week of $300 Guide Trips as the Spring Special goes away in May. Get on board for the front end of this week and enjoy a cheap guide trip.

We also have a few more spots for the McCune/Gould Spey Casting Session Sunday May 4th. $200 will get you an entire day with these two Spey experts on the Missouri. Lunch included. A fun time will be had along with the top notch education.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.26.14

Good to great depending on who you talk to. The dry fly gang has been getting a few as the hatch improves daily. Today should bring a ton of BWO’s. Overcast, cool, moisture in the air and 50F. Just what those olives need. All you need is a box full of baetis flies and a strong reach cast.

The midgers have been doing OK too. More and more as the month passes by. Clusters are still producing well with the emerged coming a close second.

The nymphers have been having a ball. They are still gorging on the Firebead flies but the WORM is getting stronger asa lead fly. Rainbow Czechs continue to produce with the array of grey scuds fishing well too. Some are all PT all the time. Mayflies on the bottom, or filling both the top and bottom fly locations seem to be hooking a bunch of trout. Gard’s Glint Nymph and Rainbow Warriors are kicking ass. Hot Spot PT’s, Angel Hair PT’s, Red PT’s, Purple PT’s, Green PT’s, LB’s of all flavors…you get the drift? Get in and see our impressive selection of mayfly nymphs. Nearly 400 in our bins today.

Streamer anglers? Yes, getting it done. The snide is off this group and they are stripping their way to success. Still eating them on the pause. Watch and learn. Dead drifting with tension can work too. Sink tips? Yep.

Headhunters Fly Shop open daily @ 730am. Open daily late tip at least 730pm. Get your reservations for July or August today. Good dry fly action and lots of lodging still available. Operators standing by. How about the fabulous month of May? It rules too!

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.24.14

April 24, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The Spring Special rolls on as we enter the final week of $300 Guide Trips.

Grant, Paul, and Blair were out fishing today down from the northern region and graced us with this beautiful Rainbow image. More on the Facebook Page tomorrow.

The weather is cooperating somewhat with the wind hampering some of the dry fly action. The bugs were here yesterday but the fish didi not respond as we would have liked. Today? A new day indeed.

The rain did not come in the volumes that the weather guesser said it would and that is OK. We have enough water on the ground, in the ground, in the reservoirs, in the river this year.

The warm weather did not come either. Some did. But the tributaries felt a little pressure as the mid level snow budged a touch and is matriculating into our larger system.

The Dearborn is rising slightly at 461cfs and the Little Prickley Pear is off color at 271cfs and on an upward path. Both should be stable and falling before the end of the weekend. Or not?

Rain forecast for the weekend and today, tomorrow. How much precipitation will actually fall? Oh less than an inch. The high level snows are still frozen and will not move until we get daytime highs over 80F and nighttime lows over 40F. That has yet to happen. But we are still in April which is winter in Montana.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.24.14

The dry fly fishing that we normally witness is not upon us in the capacity that it normally is. But the weather, water temps, and water level have something to do with that. We are experiencing higher water levels than we normally have for April. Having said that you can find a few. Look hard in your old dry fly haunts and you may be rewarded.

Adams, Midge Clusters, tiny little midge patterns, with CDC emergent droppers can bring the trout to hand.

As for the streamer bite? Better every day. The water is warming and the trout like to move for the big bug more often when their metabolism is increasing. Plus, a long winter for them too. Hungry bastards like meaty treats. Stop into Headhunters for over 150 streamer patterns to choose from. The best selection in the Tri-County Region!

Headhunters has a full and wide selection of weighted tips for you to choose from as well. And streamer lines? Tons. A vast selection from RIO, Airflo, Orvis, Cortland. All the best for your the Missouri River angler.

Nymphers are having the best luck. Still deep with bobber to split in the 6′-8′ range. Pink is not out of favor but the normal flies are making their mark. A ton of midge patterns with mayfly patterns are leaving the bins after their long winters rest. Peep Shows, Frenchie’s, Angel Hair PT’s, Hot Spot Pt’s, Hot Spot Scuds, Arnold’s Sili Scud, Choi’s Spicy Scud, BK’s Pink Blob, Purple LB’s, Micro May’s, and many more!

[forecast]

Headhunters Fly Shop open 730am to 730pm. 12 hours of goodness for you the Missouri River Trout Angler. Izaak’s is open too daily @ 3pm with dinner @ 4pm. Yum. Uncle Joe’s Bar daily @ 8am. The Taco Cart not yet. The Frenchman in WC and the O too. See you in Craig this weekend for trout fishing fun. You know you want to come…

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.23.14

April 23, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Flows are holding at 8160 cfs with water temperatures moving upwards daily. The bugs like it too as we have been seeing more and more midge and baetis everyday.

The weather this week? Really quite nice yesterday and Monday. It went sour about 3pm yesterday and is scheduled to rain for a while. Or snow.

It really is spring here in Montana now as we can have all weather types in the space of one day, one afternoon. Today it may rain, snow, sleet, spew some gilt, dry out, then blow. Standard.

Bring all the gear if you are venturing out to hook some of our wily trout here on the Missouri River. Raingear should be included in your gear all 12 months. Bring your waders too.

[forecast]

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Flies? The big news is the real movement of the trout to the mayfly side. Pink is still killer with Amex and Rainbow Czech, SIli Scuds, Spicy Scuds, Tan UV Czech, and a pile of grey & tan colored sows leading the gaudy fly charge. The BWO nymphs are fishing really strong. S & M’s, Peep Show light and dark, Purple Lightening Bug, Trad. Old School Lightening Bug, Little Green Machine, Sparkle PT’s, Hot Spot PT’s and the list goes on.

Still rocking about 6′ to split. Some using a couple split or a BB. Find ’em. They may be off the bank farther than you think. I know the location has been moving on any given day. Search, search, and search some more.

The streamer bite has improved albeit slightly. Some chargin’ hard and using sink tips with decent results. Slow, and pause. That is the word.

Dries? Yep. Find a lee in the wind this week and look for the nose. He is there. Just gotta find them. Baetis and midge flies can get the trout to make a mistake. Emergers seem to be the trick. They will eat the dun for a while longer until they become wiser than we like. First cast still works. Although they will let you make a few mistakes still. That time frame will close soon.

Water? Probably more? Pure speculation. No word yet. We will let you know. Should see a little swelling in the trib’s if we get any measurable precip. this week.

Guide Trips? Daily. Just one more week of Spring Special pricing and then we move on to May. May looks strange. Most of the Headhunters Staff are big fans of May.

May brings March Browns, more Midge, more BWO’s, Caddis and yes, more fun. Book your trip today and your lodging too. Not too late to get in on our 2nd month of spring.

Shop open daily @ 8am for anything you ay need. New 12wt. gear in the store along with a ton of Headhunters Logo wear. Maybe a blog tomorrow outlining the cool stuff stacked to the beams at your favorite fly shop in Craig.

Missouri River Monday Fishing Report

April 21, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Monday on Montana’s Missouri River and all is well. The flows are hovering around 8000cfs and the water temps are 43.5F.

The bugs are here and more are hatching daily. The dry fly weather is suspect as the air temps are rising and while we did not have an early Spring it seems to have shown up now. 73F for a high today. We like that.

Some water will come from the mid level melting that will surely occur the next few days. We will see some water come through the Dearborn, not much from the LPP. Stickney and Sheep Creek are usually unaffected.

The bugs though. They are excited about the warmer weather. We should see continued improvement in the hatch volume as the next few weeks come to pass.

Missouri River Monday Fishing Report

The nymphing the last few days has been difficult. You may see rosy reports elsewhere, but they may be seeing fishing through Easter colored glasses. While it has not been red, or even white hot, the fishing is good enough to keep the net wet. Are we catching them at our normal rate? No. Still pretty good compared to other rivers when they drop off the chart. We are catching some, not a ton.

Many of the Rainbows are on the spawn, some are out of the river, some are just not interested in pink flies. They are busy procreating. More trout is good. Good times man.

The streamer bite continues to be slow. While a few fellers are catching a few not he bigger bugs, it is not super duper streamer fishing. Deep and slow is the ticket if you want to go that route. Tips, sink rates, weighted flies…see your local fly shop for more information.

Dry flies? Yes. Cluster midges, single midge, Buzzballs, RS2’s, BWO Cripples, BWO emerges, CDC Midges, para Adams, Smoke Jumpers, Nymen’s Crips, Harrop patterns. We got them all and the trout are ready for action. More daily. More and more tip we can make an honest afternoon out of dry fly fishing. Soon.

The flows should remain stable for a while. We are still monitoring the inflows, Canyon Ferry is 71% full and holding at that level-ish for the last ten days. We will see how the water managers play their hand. They are looking for normal water levels this summer.

[forecast]

Call the shop for lodging this spring, for $300 Guide Trips through the end of the month, summertime guide trips and lodging, any gear you may need, to chat with a top level fly shop staffer, or just to see if we think the wind will blow. We are here 7 days a week for shuttles, flies, info, coffee, new SIMMS shirts, sunblock, Buff’s, sungloves, or even Smith or Costa sunglasses.

Open daily @ 8am.

Saturday Missouri River Fishing Report

April 19, 2014 by Mark Raisler

All is good with the Missouri River. Nothing is blown, the creeks are clear, and the fishing is good.

The Dearborn, Prickly Pear, Sheep Creek, and Stickney Creek are all clear and not affecting the flows or the color. The color is green, and there is some turbid condition,s, mostly form the lake above. The fishing is strong.

The best news of the week is the addition of dry fly angling. Do we have riverwide mega hatches? No. Not yet. Some baetis and some midge have made the fish look upwards and we like that. Posted up casting to sipping trout is what we live for. So look and keep your eyes open for these opportunities, as they are still quite rare. More every day though!

The chart is good. We like this better in April than we do in June. The reason for the higher than normal water? To keep it away in June for the dry fly bonanza…like PMD’s, Caddis, that sort of thing.

The nymph bite was off yesterday. Strange really. Some had better results than others. Most considered it a tough day. But spirits are always high and we will return to normalcy today. The hiccup in the water to blame? Maybe.

The streamer bite continues to be quite slow. Why? Who knows. Ask Mother Mo. Sink tips like fast and like extra fast are in vogue for the bugger bunch. Flashy, brown, gold, white, yellow seem to be the buzz if you ask at the bar.

The dries? Yes, as above on the rise. Good news. More as the hatch continues to wax. Keep it here folks. The info pipeline of the Missouri.

The weather? Spring-like today and tomorrow. We’ll see you applying your sunscreen liberally. Seen some burnt faces this week. Buff’s can help too.

[forecast]

Shop open daily with guide trips for $300. Spring Special in full swing. Discounted lodging too with Craig Trout Camp leading the charge. Call today and our helpful staff can get you into something for the week. Not all are discounted but they are all great and near the river!

8am is when you will see us at the shop for coffee, shuttles, flies, new SIMMS Waders, demo rods, info, and the general BS you should expect at Headhunters.

10 Tips for High(er) Water Success

April 17, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The flows this morning are 8360cfs. This is not high by historical flows, but is higher than some anglers are comfortable with.

High flows are aver 15K to us here on the Missouri. We will write another blog when she gets to that level, which we do not expect. The flows are similar to the 6K mark, but higher. Smart huh?!

Imagine the subsurface structure and put the flies on those structure points. Here is where long time Mo River Anglers thrive. They have a map of the bottom of the river etched in their minds and they are looking at it while fishing/drifting. Think of drop offs, bank lines, the old primary shelf, the secondary shelf…things like that. Fish love structure. They feed, hide, chill on structure points.

10 Tips for High(er) Water Success

Stay on the inside bend while nymphing. The fish don’t like that turbulent water near or on the rip-rap banks at this temp and at these flows.
Add a tip to your streamer line. If you are going to streamer fish, use a T-7 or T-8 tip to get it down to where the fish are.
Don’t rip your streamer back to you like you are on some sort of dreamy Galloup TV shoot. Slow and easy with long pauses. Get the flies down to the fish and then begin your stripping magic.
Look for other boats catching fish. See and learn what they are doing and replicate their movements. Don’t cut them off or low hole them, they may mention it to you. But watch and learn.
Chat with your fly shop, Headhunters, and glean some information from the staff. They are out fishing daily and will lend a hand in your success. Flies, split shot, technique, areas etc. Use them for knowledge and hints. Headhunters is transparent. We’ll tell you all we know.
Add more weight if you are not flirting with the bottom of the river occasionally. If you do not get the bait in front of the trout, they will not eat it. Period.
Float longer floats. Bigger, faster water will allow you to cover more water. There are only a few great runs per mile in these higher and accelerated flows.
As the Hazel gang in Maupin always say, “Fish good water well.” If you find ’em, stay on ’em.
Get good at striking the fly hard when the bobber moves. Only those who hit it more often catch more fish. Those who watch, well…you know the unfortunate answer to that equation.
Dry fly guys look for the bugs and slow inside tucked out of the way environs. You know those spots. Get in there and look, watch, wait…then cast. The BWO’s are out, or sort of coming daily. The midge yesterday was pretty epic in some areas. It is definitly happening as the water temps climb. We waited a long time, now it is the time. It will get better daily. We may be a week out still for consistent daily dry fly action? Bring your dry rod, you may employ it!

An easy 10 Tips for High(er) Water Success today from your information experts here at Headhunters Fly Shop in downtown Craig MT. Stop in any time for info, a vast Missouri River specific fly selection, tons fly lines, shuttles, or just to chew the fat. We dig fly fishing talk!

Ed Note: Hey if you want to view any of our past content you can! Just click on the Blog Icon in the Header for all of our fishing reports and blogs. Need to waste an hour or two at work? We got the content for you!

How to Fish Rising Waters & Current Water Predictions

April 16, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Lots of questions, calls, and folks inquiring about how to fish the rising water levels.

Generally this happens in June. It is April. No worries.

Bottom Line? The water will rise. When? Soon, now, today, tomorrow.

The plan is to allow the water to go through the gates to prepare for the 117% of water in the upper hills. The Rockies. The Missouri River drainage area.

So will we have a ton of water in June? Maybe. But the water managers plan on not repeating the debacle of 2011 or 1997. If it starts raining now and does not stop until Noah arrives..then we may have a problem. Until then. We are not concerned.

Missouri River Water Advisory Committee

The Missouri River Water Advisory Committee meeting this previous Friday outlined the probable flows for the upcoming months. They stated a probable flow of 10,000 cfs. A probable low of 8,500 cfs and a probable high of 12,500. The meeting consisted of a bundle of FWP, DNRC, BOR, PPL, and 6 public. While a couple log time local outfitters were in attendance Headhunters Fly Shop was the only fly shop in attendance at this very important Missouri River water and flow indicator meeting held annually. At no point during the meeting did the panel suggest we would have flows over the 12,500cfs mark.

Unless it starts raining cats and dogs tomorrow and does not stop until the 4th of July. Then, we got issues.

The colder weather in December led the flow to be below average than historically measured while the warmer than normal March led us down the road of low lying snow melt and higher than normal inflows. That brings us to today April 16th.

Historically we have all the precipitation on the ground by April 15th according to Stephanie Micek of the US Bureau of Reclamation. She also stated that inflow in 1997 and 2011 we sat or above 200%. We are on the same path for those inflows to continue April thru July 2014. In an attempt to mitigate the the flows that many consider too high the USBR and PPL are attempting to release some of the water in Canyon Ferry Lake so we do not encounter another 1997 or 2011 level of flows.

She is saying they, we, you do not want flows at or above 15K. We agree Stephanie.

Average peak flow of the previous 64 years? 14,900cfs.

As many of you remember ad already know the plan yearly is to fill Canyon Ferry to full pool, 97%, in the last week of June allowing for summer flows of 4100cfs.

Looking at models from the previous 64 years the water managers devise a plan that resonates with all parties involved to achieve this optimal flow of 4100cfs.

Saturated ground water levels also mean that the need for irrigation is lessened therefor the water amount pulled from reservoirs is diminished. More water through the system. We are currently experiencing more ground saturation than the previous two years.

NOAA predicts that we have an equal chance to have above average precip as we are to have below average precip. The temperatures for the next two months are predicted to be below average.

The Missouri River is a resilient gal. She fishes everyday. We are so fortunate to live an work on this river. Mother Mo allows us to fish non-stop while other freestone rivers experience annual run-off as they become unfishable due to clarity and color. Not so here on the Missouri.

Our local tributaries are clean and falling. Our low level snow is off the hills and we are clean. The river proper is green, greener than normal with visibility in the 3′ range. Not diminished in any manner to slow the bite.

The Dearborn is 297cfs and Little Prickly Pear is 188cfs and falling. Both on the steady downward slope. Little to no coloration change as both of these tribe can carry a bit of color. Sheep Creek is clear. Stickney Creek is running and is gin clear too.

How to Fish Rising Waters

Some days you get ’em, and other you don’t get as many. That is the theme. We are so fortunate that we are able to fish this world class resource all 12 months and while the better than average flows this April can change your style, your approach a bit…we are able to fish through these Mother Nature influenced periods.

We don’t consider this 8K mark high water. Is it higher than our historical average? Yes, but high to us means over 15K. That is considered high water. This is a seasonally adjustment to alleviate the potential of higher than average flows in June.

Fish where you used to fish, when the water was lower. Except rig deeper now. The fish may have moved inside a bit. Nymphing is the game for most. Inside with the boat. The best way to look at the run is to believe you are wade fishing it. Look upstream and cast to the soft inside seam. The soft water. Medium speed along with medium depth. Imagine the sub-surface structure and put the flies on the shelf lines.

Or watch someone catching fish and replicate their actions.

The same old spring flies are on the menu. Pink, FB’s, PT’s, Rubberlegs, Worms, Skwala Nymphs, Midges, and BWO’s. Coming soon more of everything. Honest.

The good news for the bank addicted angler is that you can actually fish towards the bank. Find and fish the right sink tip for streamer success. Many are still fishing the softer insides for bugger brilliance, and most are still staying away from hard banks with too rapid a flow.

Fish the soft inside runs adding weight until you get near the bottom. Bobbers are good, Your choice of indicator. Just make it floaty enough to hold up the anchor attached.

Wade fishers are going to have a tough time. Safety is important and keep that in mind. Those running boats be aware of your safety gear like life jackets etc. Most of the places you step in the water @ 6K cvs the water is near the top of your waders. At 8K+? Yes, it is higher than your nipples. Be very careful as the water rises the pace is faster too.

Being a stupid angler is easy to fix. Being a stupid wader is much more difficult to remedy.

Dry fly fishing this week? Yes. BWO’s are here. In bigger numbers as the week fades towards the weekend. Midges are coming on strong too. Be ready for them to pop in a big way…today?

Call us up on the phone if you need more info or to read our mood, or our minds. It may get you nowhere, but worth the dime for sure.

The shop is open daily with guided trips $300. We have a few openings and we would be glad to help. Lodging is also discounted for the remainder of the month as well.

Check out this video from a couple years ago. This was not shot last week. We have flows of just over 8,000 cfs. A bunch of these techniques are valid for use at current flows.

See more videos from our vast selection of Hedhunters Videos on Headhunters TV.

High Water Nymphing from scumliner media on Vimeo.

Missouri River Monday Fishing Report 4.14.14

April 14, 2014 by Mark Raisler

As the weather warms just getting better everyday.

The sun always makes the fishing better. If you have had winter until yesterday morning that is. Today Monday?

I’m praying for sun. I did a little coffee & sun jig this morning before I wrote this Blog.

What will this week bring? Sun I hope.

[forecast]

Sun brings water temps that rise. Sun brings spring bugs to the surface. Sun brings smiles.

Missouri River Monday Fishing Report

Deeper, slower, slenderer is the word on the river for those who like to strip their fish in. Or on.

Try those follies too skinny for most. Those that are not articulated. Those patterns that look anemic to Galloup fans. They certainly sink faster. Too much volume on the fly keeps it suspended in the water column. Honest.

Skinny Flies Rule.

Nymphs sink faster when they are slenderized too. That is why the iron worm gets there. Ju-Ju Baetis. Zebra’s. Thread based flies. Those Copper Johnny deals. We used to call those Copper Johns…back in the day Wire Abdomened PT’s. Just sayin’.

Split shot helps it sink faster. The nymphs. Try two for twice the success. Slutty flies are the answer. Did get a few on those Copper Johnnies today. Back in the day we used to call them…

Saw a few BWO’s slipping by the chines Sunday afternoon in the canyon. Just a few. Midge mania later int he day as well. Clusters peeling off the boat on anchor near the shore.

Maybe the dry fly deal is maturing. Finally.

Rolling through the month with guides out daily, tons of shuttles, Missoula visiting daily, flies beginning to shift to normality, and lots of fishing friends showing on the porch for the first time this year. We love and enjoy seeing old friends.

And meeting new ones too.

Shop open daily from 8am and staying late for after work shuttles, the best in local logo wear, all the fresh info you can chew on…digest it at your own risk.

Clean, fishable, and open

April 12, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Yes indeed. We here on the Missouri River have clean water, it is quite fishable, and we are open.

Sounds like the boys from the west side have some color. Too much I am guessing.

The Dearborn is flowing at 366cfs and falling. It peaked yesterday and is not off color. A little bit but not enough for me even to pull over and take a image for you to see. It is coloring the river for about a half mile. Not a concern at all. The Dearborn River temps is 50F and warming the water column albeit for a short stretch. Try worming near it? Just sayin.’

The same with Prickly Pear. It s off color, not chico milk by any stretch. Coloring the river near Wolf Creek Bridge for a couple hundred yards is all. Not a concern either. It peaked Friday afternoon and is on the fall too. 229cfs as I write Friday evening. Looking good.

Look to the right on the Blackfoot chart. Still on the rise as the Missoula set will confirm.

So we are out of the woods water under the bridge literally, on those two accounts, those two streams.

They will be on the fall for the weekend as the air temps cool and the local runoff is halted. Most of the low level snows came through a couple weeks ago. No fear of blowing out on the Missouri River as we are nearly runoff proof. The 3 dams above us kind of keep us off of that program. We are so fortunate to live and work on this 12 month fishery.

Our primary stream the Missouri River is just fine. It is running higher than our historical average at 7140cfs with a water temp of 41F.

The Missouri River is fishing well with nymphs. The best of the three methods., The streamer guys are scratching and clawing while the dry fly clan is a little mopey.

Clean, fishable, and open: The Missouri River In a Nutshell

Nymph of the Week: Pink Scud looking fly.

Streamer of the Week: Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow

Streamer Fly Line of the Week: RIO WF Full Intermediate.

Streamer Add On of the Month: Versi Leaders. Get some while in Craig.

Dry Fly of the Month: Skwala

Lodging on the Missouri River: Some openings for this e coming over the divide. Call the shop or try www.Craiglodging.com

$300 Headhunters Guide Trips: Through the end of April. Call today for your Spring Special pricing.

Craig Trout Camp: Rainbow & Brown Cabins @ $100. Sutton House @ $200. Craig House @ $150/2 persons & $50/head beyond. Some other discounted housing available as well. Call the store for avail and information.

The Missouri River Mood: Great. Looking forward to another good one. We will have more water this year and we like that. Better for PMD’s, Caddis, and Trico’s. Ww already have plenty of Midge and Crustaceans.

Ninch says: Get on in here and check out our updated fly selection. We added 400 bins so the nymph selection is world class. And our streamers? Wow. Don’t forget that the dry fly is our favorite game and Headhunters will enjoy the wide variety of top water patterns.

Mark says: Good to see all of the guides back to work and also great to see our fishing friends. They are visiting the Missouri and adjusting their smile. Tuning up the happy quotient is important for all of us!

Izaak’s Restaurant in Craig: Open daily 4-10pm. We are so happy to have Chef John Winders opening his doors for another season. The Ribs are succulent, the beer is cold, and the waitstaff is eager to serve you!

Uncle Joe’s Bar: Open daily 8am-2am. Perfect.

Headhunters Fly Shop: Open daily @ 8am for all your fly fishing needs. Shuttles, flies, information, warm hats, logo wear galore, free coffee, Missouri River maps…

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.11.14

April 11, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Friday, Friday, Friday.

We are really close to the weekend. And the fishing is heating up. Literally.

The water temps are moving upwards and the fish are jumping upwards as well.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Water Temps have moved above the magical 40F mark. The flows are reaching toward the 7K level. Will find out more of what may possibly happen in the future as we will report our findings from the Missouri River Advisory Committee meeting today.

The fishing is getting better. Still not all that terrific in the streamer department but that will change as the month progresses. Flashy, Brown, and some white patterns are in the conversation. Check out the best streamer selection in the tri-county area next time you are in Craig at the Streamer HQ. We got an amazing array of streamer lines for your low, mid, or deep water streamer fantasies.

Nymphing good to great on any given day. The regular array of spring flies will do the trick. Worms have been red hot with Firebeads and all shades of pink bringing up the majority of the fish to hand. Midges of course are finding their way into the water and BWO flies are making more sense every day.

Most are 6′-7′ from split to bobber and using about the size of a B or a BB or a string of 4’s. Mix and match for indicator nymphing success.

Dries? Skwala anglers are getting a few a day. Fish them in the Skwala Method you dig and cross your fingers. Or clean your fly lines because casting and placement is damn important.

Midges are in play too. Have seen some actual rising fish the last couple days. A few more in the evening too. Come late and look for some heads.

Missouri River Weekend Weather

[forecast]

Cooler by the looks of it. Dress warmly for the weekend weather as the midges will be hatching and our green stones too. Warmer next week and we will continue with the spring weather. Warmer please.

The westside guides have been crossing the divide as they are blown. We are not ~~never~~ blown and we are open for any thing and any information and any lodging requests. Your favorite out of area fly shop is open daily at 8am.

Shuttles, fly rods, rental waders, all kinds of killer flies, information, demo rods, Adipose Boatworks Flow rental boats, warm clothing, summer T’s, Headhunters Logo Wear, and free hot coffee.

See you in Craig this weekend. Stop in and say hello.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.9.14

April 9, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The sun has come. But rain today and 61F.

The bite is on with good reports of nymphing and some highlights of Skwala action. The Skwala action is not red, or even white hot but a few have been fooled below Craig.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Nymph Flies that are red hot, or Pink Hot include FB Sows, FB Rays, Soft Hackle Rays, Caviar Scud, Hot Beaded Softies, Rainbow Czech’s, Amex, Pink Lightening Bugs, Zebra’s, Purple Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, PT’s, Worms in all flavors, Skwala Nymphs, Rubberlegs…

Rigs that many guides and anglers are fishing run something like 6’+ from bobber to split, a couple spring favorite flies strung on below the split. Add more split if you need to get further down, but a size B should suffice. Add a touch more like a 4 or 6 if you need that extra horsepower. Moving the indicator will help too. Be in tune with your rig and if you are not hanging them as often as you think you should, change.

Streamer dudes are getting a few. The bite is not all that great for all the anglers. Reports of slow to non-existent streamer fishing are heard at the bar. But today is Wednesday and things could change for the better. IT is the latter part of the week. See you with sink tips and Poly Sinking leaders attached tossing long sloppy streamer casts here on the Mo soon! Book your lodging today for a place to rest your weary casting arms.

Headhunters carries a wide variety of Streamer lines. Why not get the right tool for your kick ass streamer rod this spring. Stop in and give the crack HH staff a heads up on how you roll. They can accommodate your fetish. Or at least point you in the right direction.

Skwala fishing on the Missouri River? Yes. While we do not have the numbers that some west side river have as far as the olive big bugs go, we do have enough to get the trout wound up and excited about this spring stonefly. Some are tossing them daily. We got the patterns that our trout love inside the warm confines of the HH HQ. Yes, in downtown Craig. Ninch has stocked the right stones for your dry fly pleasures. I hear purple is the new pink? What does that even mean?

Flows are stable at 6460cfs. Stable and flat for over a week. More info coming at you Saturday as we attend the Missouri River Advisory Committee meeting in Helena. More then.

Water temps are rising with the advent of Spring Air Temps! We are currently at 39.5F and we may touch the hallowed 40F today. Or tomorrow. What will happen then? Goodness is the answer. Greatness? Not til 42F.

Missouri River Montana Fishiing Report — Rising temps make us smile!

Check us out if you need any lodging or guiding service this month or any month ahead of us. We got all you need, well most, for your Missouri River trip. Just need info about hatches and such? We love to talk trout. Shop open daily @ 8am with shuttles, flies, info, warm hats, gloves, sunscreen, fly poles, and all the terminal tackle you can shake your fly stick at.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.8.14

April 8, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Spring is here. What? Yep. The 2nd day over 60F today and we are nothing but excited.

And warmer.

Get out your tube of sunscreen and apply liberally. Warmer tomorrow for sure.

[forecast]

The weather will be great all week with air temps over 60F. We dig it. Maybe it truly is time to crawl from your winter cave and wet a line.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Nymphing is really good. But not for all. Those squirrelly trout can be tough to locate some days. Try and try and try again.

Adjust something if you cannot get them. There are only 3 things you can control while nymph fishing.

The drift. Mend, mend up, mend down, mend across…do something to keep the drift rolling along as long as possible. You can’t get ‘er done without participation in your drift. Your float. It is you who dictates the drift. Be involved. If you do not know how to do it, learn. It is an, the most, important part of the equation. If it is not presented properly the fish will shy away from your shit.
The depth. Split shot can get you there. Add more, add less, spread it out, concentrate it in one spot. Add a weighted fly, or flies. Be in control of your sink rate. Drop them, the rig, in the water and watch it sink. If it gets there fast, that is gooood! And for those who think nymphing is tying a 12″ dropper from your dry fly you my be fooling yourselves. While that works, it is surely not getting to the fish harbored on the bottom of the Missouri River. Those in the know have several sizes of split and use them often. Be adaptive and involved in your depth selection!
The fly. The fly pattern can be important. If the one, or ones you are tossing/sinking do not get bit, then change. Give them a chance though. Whatever that length of time may be is up to you. I would guess an hour without a take may be long enough. Many, some will change before that juncture. Pink is still the word. Grey, tan, reddish, pinkish, orange-ish seem to be flavors in the mix. Some purple too? Change it up when no action is the rule. You want action, get some!

Missouri River Stats

Flows are flat level at 6460cfs. The water is a touch turbid. That means there is a little color in it. Not dirty by any means, but greener than normal. Actually quite normal in the spring as the lake(s) above us are in a state of change. The ice is coming off. And certainly more will disappear this week with the warmer daytime temperatures.

The water temps are rising slowly. Maybe a bit more this week with the aforementioned sun penetration. 38.5F this morning. We are looking forward tipping over the 40F mark. Soon, oh so soon. Then we get that olive flavored insect we love so very much.

And sun this week. We got that too.

Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service

Check out the fantastic short by Scumliner Media here on this very Fly Fishing Blog Super-site. FISHSKI is the name. Fishing and Skiing is our game! It is really a fun video.

Speaking of videos, we are filming with the New Fly Fisher this week. We will let you know when this TV show will air. January 2015 is the word.

We are just coming off a big weekend with our anniversary, OGR14 in Zootown and here in Craig, along with a bundle of HH Guides out on the water. We are in full swing with the Spring Special. Cheap lodging @ Craig Trout Camp and a few other properties on the Missouri River in conjunction with $300 Headhunters Guide Trips. Fun times in your favorite fishing ‘burb in central Montana.

If you have not fished the Missouri this year, or ever…then maybe this is your year. We’d love to host you on this Blue Ribbon fishery.

Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service open daily @ 8am. We are open late if you feel the need or overwhelming desire to fish after work or book your tip while in you living room, in your slippers, dreaming of the Mighty Mo and the un-real Trico Spinner Falls in late July!

Shuttles daily, guides available, rental Adipose Drift Boats, any lodging needs, demo rods, flies, info, sunscreen, BUFF’s, or a shoulder to cry on. We got your back.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.5.14

April 5, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Yes pretty damn good. We add the sun divide the breeze multiply the fun and come up w/ the quotient this week as we have been in dire need of it for months.

The sun.

So fishing is a 7 with 1 point awarded for the comfort of air temperature.

The weekend weather is great. We look forward to fishing without gloves, snow toques, boat heaters and whiskey.

Just weak black coffee and a handful of streamers.

Streamer Fishing Report

Streamer fishing? Better than a stick in the eye. Great? Not really.

Some days are better than others. Again today reports across the spectrum. Some days are better than others.

Leeches of all flavors. Black, purple, red, olive and aural grey. They seem to be attracting the right kind of followers. Also this streamer pattern made for the Missouri River which the name has escaped me but it works. It is an articulated Sparkle Minnow. A double hooked R2R. Come in and see it. It is just killer.

Home Invaders, R2R’s, Coffey Sparkle Minnow in Smoke colors, Black Buggers, Micro Zonkers, full sized Zonkers in white or natural, Egg Suckers in purple or black, Skiddish in brown or olive, Shiela, Space Invaders, Kreelex…

Dries?

Did not see may. But a few. A few, not more. More bugs Thursday and even more Friday. Today? Maybe they will rise.

Nymphers Dee-Light

Getting it done. PINK, Worms, a bundle of differing FB’s, PINK, Zebra’s, Exploding Midge, Newman’s Own, Don Ming, Dominick’s Dam Midge, Red Flasher, Stupor Sparkler…

Missouri River Weekend Weather

[forecast]

Better huh? Sun. Let’s hope it continues for 7 months.

Water Levels and Temps

In the mid 6K range. Temps are moving upwards and the sun penetration will help move the mercury higher. Can you say 40F soon? I can hear you brother and I applaud your exclamation!]

How about 42F for Skwala’s and BWO’s. Soon.

Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service

Party time tomorrow Sunday the 6th. Fun in the sun with a BBQ hosted by Orvis and Izaak’s. See you around 4pm for Craig MT April fun. You might like it.

See you daily @ 8am. We got your slot for the $300 Guide Trips. Headhunters is your lodging connection too. Why not book both at the same time? Seems reasonable.

Spring is here and the dry fly bite will start soon. Do a simple dry fly jig in your living room. If you are embarrassed, do it in your garage. We’ll take either and we appreciate your dancing even if your wife does not.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.3.14

April 3, 2014April 3, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Yesterday brought sleet, snow, rain, wind, sun, overcast, calm.

Today? Who knows. Probably more of the same.

Our Spring Special is picking g up speed and several guides out daily.

You cashing in on the $300 Special?

Bugger Chuckers

The streamer guys are getting happy. Are they crushing them? Sorta. Not setting catch rate records but the action is good enough to keep them in high spirits for the Lion’s share of the day.

Brown, sparkly, jiggly. You know. The good action. We’ve got some cool patterns that we know you haven’t seen. We’ll get you up to speed on the hottest patterns of the week.

Bobber Fare

Nymphers? Hot and cold. Some coming back with good reports, others not. The fish seem to be wandering according to the reports. Will they wander into your pink pattern? Let’s hope so.

Look for not so fast currents and seek the bottom. Split shot is the way to nimping nirvana.

And if the bobber hiccups a millimeter…hit it hard. You are trying to catch them right? Just sayin’.

PINK, WORMS, PT’s, and all of the derivations you can choke on. Just remember to not forget the ball bearings. Pinch them on your line and watch it descend. Rapidly I hope. The key to getting more fish on nymphs is to get the bait in front of the target species and keep it there a long time.

Keep in mind that as the water is deeper and may be continues to get deeper that does not always mean you want to lengthen your leader. The upper region of the water column can hold fish too. As the midges move to and fro…they can be staged in the upper third. Watch and learn while parked. Understand your surrounding and capitalize. That’s what predators do…

Had a client once ask “Did he eat one of the flies or this ball bearing.”

Dry Fly Fans

Not much to cheer about. Mother Mo is holding back. A blanket hatch a couple days ago in spots. Will it happen again? Maybe this weekend!

The BWO’s are moving subsurface so the annual spring appearance is bound to come in April. It historically does…

Weekend Weather

Better. Can’t be any worse than the last couple weeks. Maybe the weather conditions will hold for more than 2 hours at a whack. Variable has been the theme. The old adage is relevant even today…“If you don’t like the weather now, wait 5 minutes and it will change.”

[forecast]

We are nearly finished with our 2014 remodel. We think it looks great. Stop in and see the positive changes. We’ll pour you a cup of coffee, stay a while.

Lodging for the weekend is going away. Call today for a spot in the sun. Shop open daily from 8am and open late tip fish. Later is needed.

Big to-do Sunday April 6th here in Craig withe Orvis Guide Rendezvous Craig Style and killer BBQ from Izaak’s beginning at 3pm. Casting contest open to all with a Orvis Helios 2 and a reel and a line on the blocks for the top 3 finishers.

Izaak’s OPEN for business tonight. 7 nights/week @ 4pm. Serving tip 10 for you late night anglers. Bar open at 3pm. Welcome back to Izaak’s. I know we are all smiles here at the shop as Chef Winders opens the doors for the 2014 season. Welcome back Izaak’s!

Missouri River Monday Fishing Report 3.31.14

March 31, 2014 by Mark Raisler

I think we are turning the corner on spring.

The indicator birds have arrived. The Robins and Starling last week. The Bluebirds a couple days ago. Yesterday the Osprey came home for the summer. The Goldeneye are on their way out…

And snow/sleet/rain last night.

The weather this week looks bester as the days pass. We like Wednesday through the weekend. Much warmer temps make us smile.

[forecast]

Missouri River Monday Fishing Report

The streamer bite is turning the corner too. Strip them slow in soft and deep runs with sink tips. Find water that is not too fast, not too slow…the water that is just right. Soft sides and hard sides are coming on. IF they do not respond, try different water. Then change the fly.
Flies that work for the bugger whackers include the Dalai Lama olive or flesh, Skiddish Smolt original or brown, Hot Headed Leeches in purple or black, mini or micro leeches in a few flavors, Ramp to Ramp in traditional colors, Kreelex in bright or yellow, Zonkers in all colors. The theme is jigged heads with a side of flash.
Nymphs? Standard Issue. Pink, Midge, and Baetis. You could try a worm is you wish too. Add more split and find the zone. It could be in closer, out farther, in faster, or maybe slower water. The fish can move, they can swim. The bite is consistent while the fish location may vary. Keep the flies in the water as long as possible.
Dries? Not too hot. A very slow March for the dry fly. While some fish have been caught, we are not out finding them wily and dry flies leaving the store are pale in comparison to nymphs and even streamers. More streamers leaving the store than fires? Yes. It will turn around. The dry fly bite and the hatch scenario.
Anglers this previous weekend fishing top to bottom. The entire river has fish and is fishing. The streamer guys going lower, the nymph guys staying higher.

Shuttles daily and good avail for the coming weekend in our local lodging spots @ Craig Trout Camp. A few other cool river houses avail as well. $300 Guide Trips continue to roll out daily. The best pricing coupled with the best guides? Slam dunk.

Laying carpet today. Fooling with rod display too. Installed new counter, counter tops, reel display and new line display this weekend. No April foolin’.

Give us a call and set up your summer trip today. Late July and August are looking good. Lodging and guides available…

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 3.28.14

March 28, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Looking up daily here on Montana’s Missouri River and here in Craig.

We’ve been fishing daily and the clients have been able to keep themselves warm with the trout action.

Not too much on the dry, none really, but there is hope! Nymphing and some streamer fishing will keep you busy enough.

The flows are still in the mid 6K range and will stay that way fro some time. Really quite refreshing for some while it does remove some of the wade fishing spots it encourages new learning of location due to necessity. Some of those skinny gravel bars have another foot of water on them and have been known to harbor midges and dry fly opportunities in the spring.

Water temps will reach 38F today and we like the movement upwards. More action, warmer water, more action. Period. Over 40F is a whole new ball game.

The sun today will heat things up. At least it will feel much warmer.

Stop in for the best Missouri River fly selection including an acre of nymphs, a field of dries, and a dungeon of streamers. We got you. You’ll have to come in and see it with your own eyes to see if you agree.

Hot beads, scuds, PT derivations, worms, and midge patterns rule the day. Try some other freaky shit too. It may work. The fish are in good shape and the takes in the last week have been more aggressive.

We have a few events coming to Craig MT n the near future.

Izaak’s will open for business on April 3rd. Hooray!! The hours will be 7 nights a week 4-9 or 10 through the month of April and then lunch coming on the weekends beginning sometime later. We are happy to have Izaak’s here and we know you feel the same.

The Missouri River Inn is closed as we speak. So nobody knows what the program is, but we do know it will not be open any time soon, and maybe not this summer. That is more than likely.

Sunday April 6th will bring the Orvis Guide Rendezvous to Craig and Headhunters Fly Shop. An afternoon Public Event with casting competition giving away a Helios 2 Rod, an Orvis Reel, and an Orvis Fly Line for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place! A BBQ will begin @ 3pm sponsored by Orvis and Izaak’s of Craig. Stop in after fishing Sunday and have a bite to eat and win a fly rod!

Headhunters Fly Shop Spring Special! $300 Guide Trips continue through the end of April. The last weekend in April is full but the remainder of the month has good availability. Get on board with this discounted guide trip and enjoy the first day out this year with a Headhunters Guide!

Craig Trout Camp. Rainbow and Brown Trout Cabins are $100/night. The Craig House starts at $150/night and Sutton House is $200/night for 4 anglers! We have a couple other discounted properties avail too. Call the shop for more info and reservations.

Headhunters Fly Shop Remodel. Yes again in 2014 we are not resting. We are installing a new Reel Counter, new counters and counter-tops in the front end, a new line display, new rod display, additional fly bins, and much more for your fishing convenience this year. Stop in and see us. We apologize for the minor mess…we are moving forward!

Shop open daily @ 8am for all your river needs. Remember we have Demo Rods and Demo Lines for you to try before you make the next step. Shuttles daily too. Flies, info, coffee, adn anything you may need to improve your Mo River Experience…

Missouri River Hump Day Trout

March 26, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Missouri River Hump Day Trout is a Brown Trout with Headhunters Guide Jared Edens.

Fishing in reaches other than the top end is in vogue as we move through the latter week of March.

It’s WFO. Yo.

This is the fishing report for the Missouri River today. Brown Trout are out.

You should be in.

We’re here daily with lodging options for those who end up in Craig.

Inexplicably.

We know. That’s how most of us got here.

Shop open at 8am for those who need coffee at the end of a long journey…

…where you ended up here on Bridge Street in Trout Town.

Montana’s Trout Town.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 3.25.14

March 24, 2014 by Mark Raisler

The short fishing report from the info source Headhunters this morning.

The last week brought us snow and cold temps. This week, starting today brings us much warmer temperatures and no snow. Just rain.

Fishing is good. For many it is not great. The water levels have some grasping at straws. I know the feeling. Fished with Andy form Colorado yesterday and caught some nice trout. But they were not always easy to find.

The fish certainly have spread out in the watery freedom they have be granted. They are in all the normal spots. Slow and deep, faster and shallower, medium speed runs, deep slack eddy’s, and a few other locales as well. I just did not find them all. Definitely not. The river certainly is much bigger.

Worms and pink lead the charge with the BWO/Midge stuff coming in second place. Make sure you got them all in your boat bag/fly boxes before you get out on the water.

A handful of boats on the water this weekend with Saturday afternoon turning out to be the jewel. Sunday more snow and north winds.

This week we will have more spring like conditions. Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. South wind 6 to 8 mph.

Does that jive with your fishing schedule?

[forecast]

Dries? Too windy to bring too many up yesterday, but that is changing. I predict this will be the week the irk comes off. Or next week?

Streamers? Yep, with tips. Get them deep. Swinging at the tail ends of islands? Finding the perfect depth is harder with the flows.

Flows @ 6360cfs and water temps 37.5F. All good. Will be up for some time, we think with the low level snow and rains.

The high level snow and such has not moved. It has just been added to as the snows low come and go while the snows in the hills is staying put. We will open Pandora’s Box with the water meeting April 11th in Helena.

The shop is going through some changes this week as the counter got torn out yesterday. New fixtures for reels, lines, rods…all arriving this week. We will jam them into place and get on with the end of March.

The Spring Special continues with guides out this week. Guides out last week were treated with good fishing from the Dam to Cascade. You coming?

Shop open daily @ 8am with shuttles, flies, info, coffee, fly rods, cheap guide trips, fishing licenses, tippet, bobbers, split shot, waders and anything you may need for your trip to the Missouri River.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 3.23.14

March 23, 2014March 23, 2014 by Mark Raisler

Looks like a better week coming at us. We are moving from snow and 30’s to sun and 40’s to rain and 50’s.

You like apples?

Tumultuous and wonderful all in the same breath.

Fishing? Good. Folks wandering around in all reaches of the Missouri and finding success. Where is your favorite run? You can pick and choose.

You like the lower? Do it. You like the Dam? Do that. You like the shadows of the canyon? Get in there.

Your best bet is your best bet.

Sunday and all is well. Continued anglers crawling out of their winter caves and finding Craig Montana as their temporary fishing release daily. Some come for the weekend. Some come for the week.

Just one question.

When you comin’?

The weather is the key for you comfort. If you don’t like Montana in the winter or the spring…don’t come.

If you like trout fishing before the pressure increases then come now.

We have cabins, guides, and a spot for you.

Check out the forecast and plan accordingly.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 3.23.14

For those who fish here is the latest on the latest…Nymphing heating up as the water temps reach to the 37F mark., Seems like every one degree higher the mercury creeps the fish just get hotter. And in such chilly watery conditions. 37F is good. 38F is better. How abotu 40F. Watch out.

Next thing you know there will be baetis littering the surface of Mother Mo.

You may want to come for that. In the mean time we are waiting for the Midge Explosion 2014. Not here yet. Damnit. Maybe this week. Maybe. We’ll let you know about two days after it happens…that is when it will register. The first day can be an anomaly and those who are here get first whack at them. Just how it goes man.

So how goes your addiction. Are you ready to come, or will you wait for the BWO’s? The Midge? The Skwala? The Caddis in May? Or are you a PMD man?

Everybody has their weakness.

If you happen to be on your way, in your car, following this blog closely then you should be aware of the current conditions.

[forecast]

Water temps are in the 37F range and will move upwards this week. A couple strong temps days in the hi 50’s will move it more rapidly. But in time. Anything worthwhile is worth waiting for. Patience.

Still not too fantastic a dry fly bite. Although they are near the surface in some slack ass backwater areas. You can toss it out and wait. Some trout may find it attractive, edible. Start looking more this week. It really is about time. The mid month mark is generally the front end. Some years it comes early, earlier. But in reality not by much. Too cold, the water temps this winter.

Swingers are attaching tips and getting a bit deeper. Come in for suggestions and reminders that the water is a bit deeper. Careful wading to some of those islands you have become comfortable visiting. Be aware the water is up. Flows are 6340cfs at press time.

Tributaries are clean and clear and no problems there.

Shuttles daily, shop open at 8am, free coffee, don’t mind our construction we are always open for you the Missouri River angler.

Thanks for your support the previous 6 years. We appreciate you as a customer. Come by and say hello.