Patterns from the island of discarded/forgotten flies.
Since the spring, the employees here in the shop have been saving all the discarded/forgotten flies that have been left in our rental Adipose drift boats. The picture accompanying this post shows the flies that we’ve accumulated thus far.
They offer a pretty good snapshot of how the fishing has been. There are rainbow Czech nymphs and sowbugs from the winter/spring. There are tungsten San Juan worms and wire worms from the spring’s high water period. There are purple comparadun and Stormchaser dries from the spring Baetis period. There’s a March brown in the mix as well. Then there are the pale morning dun emergers and rusty spinners of late spring/early summer, some caddis dries and emergers, a yellow sally nymph, a Buzzball, the ants of summer, the ever present Zebra midges, and some streamers in the mix as well.
If you look closely at the photo, you’ll probably recognize a pattern or two that you caught some fish on this year. Czech nymphs, Zebra midges, Little Green Machines, rusty spinners, pheasant tails, CDC and elk dries, Buzzballs, San Juans… These patterns are definitely mainstays here on the Missouri River. Maybe some of the flies in the picture even belonged to you once. A few of them look pretty chewed up…
While cleaning our rental boats in the next couple of months, we’ll probably find some more trico flies, a callibaetis or two, some baetis/pseudo imitations, hoppers, more caddis (hopefully some of the October variety), and the streamers of the fall. Maybe we’ll throw another picture up here on the blog as the collection grows.
What will you be fishing this fall on Montana’s Missouri River? Do you agree on the Boat Fly Review of the Year so far?
Make your own memories this fall here in Craig. Get on it and we’ll keep the coffee warm for you.
A cool article written by Dewey a Headhunters All Star about the weekly trial and tribulations of folks in the fishing game. Dewey is our resident Safety Expert. His background dictates he fills this position. Ben and Peter? Their backgrounds? College grads of course. Most fishing guides are before they find their way.
Guide the Guides
What do guides do after a day trip on the river? I have shared a cold beer on the deck and Joe’s with the guys and gals, but what’s up when they leave the Missouri River corridor and venture out.
A couple of guides, lets call them Ben and Peter, invited me to golf after guide trips. I had the opportunity to join them a couple a weeks ago.
We headed to my home course Eagle Falls in Great Falls with a cooler full of Busch Light. We arrived about 45 minutes before tee time so they let us go out the back nine.
Ben and Peter had never played the back nine at Eagle Falls and both were as excited as hungry brown trout during a Trico emergence. I thought to myself I get to guide the guides into new territory. I explained the layout of the tenth hole. I was guiding the guides. I tee’d off and put it in the bunker. Ben and Peter hit the fairway. Then they both shot par on the first hole while I made bogey. I was off to a shaky start as a guide.
The next hole worked out a little better as I hit the fairway along with Ben and Peter. Now I was guiding. I think we all made par.
I soon found out these guys can play golf. They did not need any guiding from me other than which way to the next hole. The problem is they were to chill and having to much fun to care about the score. The way fishing should be!
We finished the round and went to Borries for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised to find out the driver gets treated to dinner. I happened to be the driver.
That night was great and gave me a glimpse into how a Missouri River fishing guide unwinds. If a guide invites you to golf you ought give it a go.
By the way Ben and Peter golfed in flip-flops while I golf in tennis shoes. I now golf in flip/flops, it’s bitchin.
Headhunters Fly Shop Big Labor Day Sale today through Monday at the fly fishing superstore in downtown Craig Montana.
Tomorrow, Sunday is the BIG 50% OFF ALL FLIES in the store. And we have a bundle. Ninch says come on in and clean us out. Streamers, Hoppers, small techy Missouri River nymphs, and all the dry flies you’ll need for the Mighty Mo! Stock up for fall and winter. Spring? Yep get all those killer pink nymphs tomorrow!
Today through Monday we have killer deals on all sun shirts at 40% off! We have gone bonkers and lowered the prices even further than advertised. 40% off all sun shirts.
50% off 12wt gloves and headwear
40% all Logo’d Headhunters Hats
ECHO Demo reels with lines start at $39.95
Demo Rods from SAGE, Echo, Orvis, Loomis at rock bottom prices.
Spend $100 and get a FREE SHUTTLE COUPON!
Lots of used fly lines, reels, oars, and much more.
Tons of miscellaneous items for discounted prices.
BBQ Sunday for your shopping pleasure.
Mountain Khaki, SIMMS, SAGE, Rio, Loomis, Echo, Cortland, Airflo, Orvis, 12wt., Dr. Slick, Sharktooth, Howler Bros, Chaco, Fishpond and many more brands at end of the summer prices. Stop in this weekend for the best prices of the year!
Come on out and get in on lowest prices of the year!
Big Labor Day Sale starting tomorrow and continuing through the weekend. You gotta come out and save some money on our killer fly flicking products from Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig Montana.
Hats, shirts, fly lines, and much much more. BBQ too.
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As usual. We’re having a Labor Day Sale, BBQ and general Mo-down this coming weekend 8-30 thru 9-1. This is a great chance to pick up some awesome fly fishing gear at great prices. We will be outside under the tent, having a great time and helping you score some deals. A few of the things you’ll be able to snag:
All flies will be 50% off on Sunday ONLY! Yes, everything. Ninch’s orders.
BBQ as well on Sunday afternoon, so come by and at least get a free dog, Dog.
Saturday – Monday you will find 30% off all sun shirts (tech-T’s), 40% off logo hats, and if you spend $100 you’ll get a free shuttle coupon good for any Missouri River shuttle anytime!
Also, we will have some good to great discounts on fly lines, packs and bags, summer clothing and demo rods. Why? Why not?
If you have not seen the Art of Andrea Larko yet you should be soon.
You have seen it on the shirts of Headhunters around the river and the far places our Missouri River anglers travel.
We have a couple clothing items of Andrea Larko art donning both men’s and women’s shirts here at Headhunters.
Andrea Larko, the Drake, and Headhunters Fly Shop
John found her art surfing the interweb this last year and contracted her for some killer art. A triptych, or polyptych, of insects screened on FreeFly bamboo shirts. It really is some cool stuff.
The Drake found here interesting enough to publish this article in the latest mag in their Scuddlebut section.
Next trip into the shop check out the Andrea Larko art shirts that only Headhunters carries. Yes, a one off original Headhunters sungear.
Bamboo Freefly shirts at HEadhunters. Mayfly, Stonefly, and Caddis
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Here’s a neat video from our bud and famous Montana artist Derek DeYoung. You get to watch the process of a DeYoung painting in creation, and Derek shares a little story about Redfish, one of his – and our – favorite species to chase. Check it out, and make sure and go to Derek’s website where you can order all sorts of cool fly-fishy art and paraphernalia. You can also get some DeYoung gear at Headhunters,[/vc_column_text][us_separator icon=”fas|star” show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/103727537″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Not too bad at all. While the other dozen freestone rivers in Montana are fishing quite well we are fishing pretty well too. Hoppers get all the headlines but we have a damn strong Trico hatch nearly every day. They hatch every day, sometimes not as full a hatch as others. Also you can get the Pump Fake, as John Arnold calls it, where the bugs show well, then move into the next county. Or something.
Nymphing has been pretty damn abysmal as of late. What is happening and when it will change is a mystery to most including us. Water temps are not out of line and the Trico production is phenomenal. So…?
Nymphing will return as we tear the pages of the calendar off sliding into September.
Hoppers do get the headlines as some really nice Brown Trout fall for the meaty flaring fly. Chubby’s, Morrish, Mongo’s, Dave’s, Whitlock’s, Peanut’s are all good choices for the remainder of August.
Callibaetis have started to show a little. Cooler air temps next month will bring this oft missed severely localized larger mayfly to our attention.
Big Brown Trout caught on Missouri River Montana Fly Fishing Grasshoppers!
Missouri River September
The best nymphing month of the summer. Historically speaking. Many look forward to this generally hatch less month as a chance to get back behind the bobber. Kids are back in school and the parents prepare for an Autumn Get-A-Way. A relatively busy month on Montana’s Missouri River as fish counts go up.
Some Pseudocloen activity in the beginning of the month followed by daily Pseudo events as we near October. They can just drive a guy nuts. Most smart folks including Missouri River Fishing Guides when seeing a Pseudocloen Pod just keep on rowing. Don’t look back either. A good rule of thumb is to stop and anchor. Cast at them for 5 minutes or 1 fly change. If nothing happens, no eats, no refusals no nothing happens…move. Immediately. O
Or stay for a couple hours. Your choice.
If you are in need of a few killer Pseudo patterns stop in the shop and sift through our substantial Pseudo section. Smoke Jumpers, RS2’s, CDC Emergers, Black Posted Duns, and several parachutes patterns to keep you busy the entire Baetis Pseudocloen Season!
The aforementioned Callibaeits are present in specific silty runs. The rule of thumb is if you see a couple flighting about, put one on. A Parachute Adams will fit the bill but there are more patterns out there for cavorting with Callibaetis.Tilt Wings, Harrop’s Callebaetis Spinner, Callebaeits Flog, Harrop’s D & D Cripple, and many more.
Hoppers can stay around for a while depending on how the nighttime air temps present themselves. If we have a bunch of below zero evenings we will see them disappear rapidly. All terrestrials will rise and fall wight he conditions. Ants are players about 8 months of the year. Honest. It is never a bad idea to play the ant through your favorite run.
The October Caddis Trichoptera Dicosmoecus shows in the nymphal form this month. Try swinging one through a sexy riffle and see what happens. They are actually in play in late August so do not discount your big orange buddy this fall.
Historically we would have this late caddis session too. But probably will not happen this year based on the caddis progression or lack thereof this summer. Keep it here for hatch events as they occur.
Pot ‘O Gold near the Headhunters Fly Shop. We call it the Missouri River
Missouri River October
One of our favorite months here in Montana. If we could have 6 months of October, we would! Fall fishing is fishing at it’s finest and the Missouri River shines for 31 days in the 10th month annually.
October Caddis, BWO’s in 3 sizes, good streamer fishing, fantastic nymphing, and fewer folks make this a month for angling all-stars. October is month upon we get visitors from the fishing industry testing gear for the upcoming years and out of work Montana fly fishing guides from Bozeman, the Bighorn River, Whitefish, Livingston, and Missoula. You know if a gaggle of trout bums are here…there might be some action you may want to participate in. No?
Streamer fanatics come out of the woodwork while the dry fly anglers stalk actively feeding fish on acres of DFO Flats. Book your lodging now for this month as the premier properties fill fast. Check out CraigLodging.com for the full line up of Headhunters Rentals Properties.
Missouri River Fall Forecast
So that is it. The fall is on its way ash the fall fishing will heat up with the changing of the colors. Dry flies, nymphs, and streamers are all on the docket for fall fishing on your favorite fall river in Craig Montana. Give us a shout if you have questions about the fishing, hatch schedules, lodging, or guided fishing trips. We love to talk bout fishing the Missouri River.
Ran over the hill yesterday for a change and we were all happy with the decision. Iowa brothers Toby and Tim fishing with HH Guide Mark Raisler had a ball changing it up by heading over the divide. Headhunters guides have been fishing the Blackfoot nearly daily in the recent past and that will continue for the month ahead.
Why not fish a little moving water without weeds? Here for a few days? Why to give the Blackfoot a shot. Damn pretty scenery that not only looks good but smells good too. It smells like the westside. It smells like Cutthroat.
The fishing is pretty good with dry flies being the primary tool. Saw some Spruce Moth action, a few PMD’s, and some grasshoppers. Fished all of them too. Toss in a caddis pattern or two and we made it a great day.
Need a change? Book a Headhunters guide for a trip over the hill.
Well, not too good for Mr. Hopper himself. But pretty good for those tossing them in the water.
We got lots. Lots in the bushes, lots clacking on the banks, and a few in the river. The Missouri is not the world’s best hopper river, but we get by.
Trico’s are still rolling in big numbers most every morning and that is the focus until the last spinner is inhaled by some persnickety Rainbow Trout.
Missouri River Hopper Time
Then it’s time for a quick bite and cold Diet Coke. Tie on the hopper and hope!
I love having hopper affairs during the late summer. It is the finest. Many love the small sipping daintiness of the trico’s…I love the gulp a a good hopper eat. It is really cool.
Get your RIO Perception fly line and get after it. The head on that classic hopper type fly lone is just right for picking up 25′ and chucking it back at the bank. A RIO Grand is not too bad either. But the Perception is our favorite late summer fly line. Check it out next time you are loading up on hoppers. Try a new line too. Just like Christmas in August.
We are digging the foams here in Craig. Get yourself a bottle of GINK, douse the foamie, and watch it get eaten!
Staying a couple days? Try one day on the Missouri and one day not eh Blackfoot across the divide. A perfect two day plan!
Cool article and photo essay in the latex Hatch Magazine Online about your fly shop in Craig.
Chad Schmukler puts this great mag together with photogs and writers from around America and beyond. High quality photos and content make this a must read this summer…or winter if you are so inclined. Or just busy trying to fool those pesky Trico feeders. Anytime is great time to check out this blog style online fishing mag. Politics, destination pieces, tips, product reviews, and kick ass photo essays from gals like former Headhunters All-Star Jess McGlothlin.
Check out the 50 photos of Craig, it’s characters, and Headhunters Fly Shop.
Your Friday Foto here on the fly fishing blog that contains daily content.
Not every post contains meat, but some do.
The fishing here on the Missouri River is still pretty fantastic. Good times in the morning hours and good times until the sun gets too high. Then she slows a nit. The evening bite? Not too great. You can yard in a couple if you give it your best shot.
Until tomorrow. Thanks for reading. TGIF. Hope you are fishing today. Or tomorrow.
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Today is Julie’s Birthday. You can’t wish her well face to face, because she is floating down the Elk River in BC (in the front of the boat, of course), sticking big Cutties on dries. Single dries.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”6143″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]Julie making the right cast (above) and setting the hook into another big one (below).[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”6144″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]Julie has been on fire this week, not only catching lots of fish, but lots of big fish. Here she is with our good buddy and longtime Elk River guide Darcy Richardson. They say these fish have shoulders. I would agree. At the top, guide Sebastien Stewart is showing off another big shouldered Cutt that Julie caught.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”6146″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]The Elk is a fabulous fishery, but the scenery is a big part of a fishing trip here. It’s incredible. Plenty of splashy waves to run, here with Darcy on the sticks. Also, it looks like it’s been a while since they’ve been in this spot, but they been in this spot. Julie is fine with the fact that these bear tracks are a little old.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”6149″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][us_image image=”6148″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][us_image image=”6153″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]Our trip to Fernie, BC was great from start to finish. Great food as well, including some outstanding Sushi, Indian Food and great unique Mexican street food. Special thanks to Paul, Darcy and Sebastien at the Elk River Guiding Co. who made our trip memorable. These guys get down to the Missouri a bit as well, and you may run into them around the shop.
Speaking of the shop, thanks for all you do to make Headhunters run smooth, Julie.
Future Fly Fisher Hayes straight outta North Carolina today on this very fishy blog.
Hayes was out with his grandmother for a week in early August and experienced his first wester fly fishing experience.
Future Fly Fishers Hayes Edition
Headhunters Fly Guru Ben McNinch spent an hour at the Craig Casting Club showing Hayes the casting ropes he needed to follow. Hayes got that casting stuff pretty easily.
Then he spent the day with Headhunters Guide Extra-Ordan-Aire Jared Edens plying his casting skills on the Mighty Missouri River. How about that. A good week all together. Grandma, casting, catching, in the west! Awesome.
Thanks for visiting us here in Craig MT. Hayes you are
Today we talk about the individual charged with helping the angler in the bow of the boat. The angler, albeit important, does not hold the singular responsibility in the vessel. The guy holding those 9′ overpriced sticks is the guy holding all the cards. He can make or break your day. That person can put you in the spots, or just drift by and watch. Which category do you fall into?
The more often the oars are in contact with the water, the better!
So often you see boats floating down the river without any plan. Occasionally you see boats spinning in circles and you certainly know what is happening there. A rookie rower. We have all been there. Just trying to keep the boat off of the shore. It is truly frustrating and experience is the best teacher. Also watch how other conduct themselves behind the sticks. You can learn ton from watching a rower with stealthy moves.
You know the guy. You may have fished with some sort of rowing guru. It feels, looks, and is like he or she is not doing a thing. Nothing in fact. It is surgical how efficient professional or great rowers can be. Small soft movements with the oars. No hard and deep thrashing about. The sign of a new rower is one who makes took large or gross movements and is quite loud with his oar strokes. The good rower makes a number of smaller movements with soft oar entry and exit movements. Quiet is the theme. Efficiency is the game.
A result of good rowing!
Execute the Plan
One who executes a plan for the future, for downriver, who is engaged in the fishing game. A good rower is constantly communicating with the angler, or anglers, and is willing to work with them. We so often see the rower pushing, pulling, spinning, or the worst of all of the rowing movements…nothing! Nothing is not good. I call it this style Wings Up! Don’t be that guy.
Having the oars out of the water for any length of time is considered evil by those who like to catch fish. That means that the rower is not interested in using the other tool laying next to him. The net. No interest at all. Many think that the rower does not carry that much responsibility. Wrong. He is the guy that cries the key to angling success. Whether that be drift fishing, common on the Missouri River, or posting up on rising trout.
When posting up on rising fish the rower plays a big role too. How, when, where are all factors in your angling success. Those who come in hot and drop the anchor like dropping a refrigerator out of the sky…don’t catch as many fish. sneaking up on the trout proves to be a solid technique. Alerting the enemy that you are in the neighborhood is never a good idea.
You are not doing your buddy a solid just by sitting your ass down in the middle seat. No, not true. You actually have to do something with those sticks hanging out of the boat.
Those Sticks are Oars
Those sticks are oars my friend. To put your fishing buddy, the feller in the bow, into a situation where upon he gets to use the net…that rubber basket that you need to employ more often.
The rower, row boy, or oar boy needs to participate in the process or get out of the center and move into the back. The back seat in the drift boat is the seat where nobody is expected to do anything other than pitch his two buddies in the front two seats shit. And lots of it. That is the primary role of the dude in the back seat.
In the back seat you can drink beer, nap, take photos of wildlife, steal flies from the rower, clean your fly line or any other task you desire. The back seat is the privileged seat. The King’s Chair is the rear seat. Many think it is the front seat. Wrong. The front seat is the seat for work. Do work son. The back seat is for those educated anglers who want to watch until the fishing gets really good. Then the feller in the rear can jump into the game sighting non-activity for the last several hours. A good line at this point is something like “I’m just gonna make a few casts at this giant sipping Brown trout little Rainbow.”
Bird’s Oar View
The Oarsman makes the Day!
Back to the rowing, the rower, the man in charge. You have to use the oars to get your buddies into the trout. You have to participate in the fishing game. Only if you dig your friends. The folks that cat h the most fish from a boat are the folks that have somebody helping along the way. If you are a fellow that uses the boat for transportation then disregard this wordy blog.
Those who keep the oar blades from the water, those that are afraid to make a few strokes for the sake of their fellow fishermen, those who think it is cool to make your friends cast a long, long ways to the trout, those who like seeing the bobber swim from the front of the craft to the back rapidly your friends want you to recognize that you may be the type of guy I am speaking about.
Your friends do not want to fish with you all that often if you suck at rowing. If you hear something like this at the boat ramp when you say that you would like to start out the day rowing “No Bob, I’ll start rowing today. Besides you rowed a lot last time. Why don’t you fish today and I’ll row. My treat.” If you hear something like this, you should question your skills behind the sticks.
Translation:
You are bad at rowing.
You make it impossible to fish.
I cannot stand fishing if we will be nowhere close to fish.
I hate it when you do not participate when I’m fishing.
Do you really think that I row like that when you fish?
Dude, please don’t touch the oars.
Oh, yeah…I’ve been fishing more with my wife.
Those are all statements that should make you understand that your buddies may not want to continue your fishing relationship. Honest.
You know the truth hurts sometimes. Those type of comments should be a wake up call for you. That is the nice way of saying insert insult here.
Rules for Rowing a Drift Boat
Never front row. We see this all the time. Fellers pushing downstream for no reason. Why would you take away the drift. Drift, while drift fishing, is everything. Having the bugs move at the same rate as the current helps those trout buy into our program. Back stokes and back rowing are what we do oat here on the Missouri. Slowing the boat down for more presentations and to get the bobber to move at the same rate as the water.
Less is more. A few strokes are generally all you need to make a move. To move the boat a couple feet. Big deep and hard strokes are for dodging rocks. Here on the Mo we do not have those issues. Here we want slow and gentle movements to deal with our technical current lines.
Point the nose away from danger and back row. A good lesson for those in faster water too. Point the nose, the bow, at danger and back away. Rowing toward bad stuff is just that. Bad.
Dip the oars into the water. They won’t melt and neither will you. You may even hear some applause from your buddies. They may even pick up the tab at the bar for you. They may even invite you to go fishing with them again. Try it. Do it. Embrace it.
A good oarsman can put you in the right spot!
Be a better Rower
There you have it. If you are the type of fellow who does not row well, listen to your buddies. Try harder. Engage the oars with the water. It is OK. We all sucked at one point but those who are quite comfortable at rowing are so for a good reason. They practiced and learned from others.
Watch how those pros work the oars and blades. Look at seat position. Look at how often the oars come in contact with the water. It is often. The oars never stop moving. It is more of constant minor movements that get the job done. No drastic stokes digging water deeply. All surface strokes with purpose.
Go out and learn by yourself. Go out and take charge. Go out and get better. Go out and become a better oarsman.
Headhunters will be closing at 5 PM this Friday August 8th, instead of our usual 9-10 PM. The entire staff is getting together for our annual Employee Appreciation Day! For those rolling into Craig after work, you’ll have to find another shuttle option. Fishing is way better in the morning anyhow. We will see you bright and early at 6 AM on Saturday morning.
The nymphing the last couple days has picked up. Thankfully. A bit bumpy on the subsurface road for a few days, now it has picked up!
The weather is hot and indicative of August here on the Mo. High and bright afternoons without much wind have made casting pretty easy and the shopper fish are responding.
Trico’s going in the mornings and those who are targeting them are having a good time. Pretty damn good fishing if you poll those involved.
It is August and all is well.
Come on out if you have an inkling to toast the dry fly. It has been really quite good!
September booking coming right along. Kids back in school, parents out to play. Call today for a hand in planning your trip for the fall.
Shop open daily @ 6am and the early start has been the key. Open late for any needs you may have whether it be flies, shuttles, info, campsite suggestions, GIK…or just a friendly ear to listen to your big fish story! We’re here for you.
August has arrived and with it the high and bright sun. Would not expect anything different than that? Would you?
The fact is that the average daily high temperature in August is 82F. 1 degree cooler than July. The water temps follow suit as they drop throughout this month.
So as the water and air temps cool the fishing can become difficult. If you know that coming into the game you should be just fine. August is tougher than the previous two months because of the conditions. We have some weed in the water column, the air is hot, the sun is high int eh sky, and the fish have seen it all.
You too can overcome the challenges and succeed! A few tips below to insure August angling success.
Missouri River August Tips for Success
Go out early and beat the heat. Not one concept better than this one. Go early and beat the heat. Fish do not like high sun. They do not have eyelids. They can’t squint man.
If you can’t go early, go late. But the evening session is by no means as good as the morning shot. Dawn Patrol for sure.
Be a better angler. The fish can get a touch gun shy in August. They have been fished over for a couple strong months. Make the first cast count and make sure you set up quietly. Gently. Secretly.
Stay hydrated. It’s hot. Drink lots of water. Wear a wide brimmed hat. Buff’s. Sungloves. A Bimini stretched over the top of your drifter? A great idea. How about SunBum Sunscreen. Lather it on.
Be prepared with a few dry fly rods strung up. A techy small dry rod. A hopper rod. And maybe a bobber rod. Switch when needed.
If you want to stay away from the rest of the anglers fish the lower river. While it has more weeds, it has fewer boats.
Clean your fly line. It probably has not been done in a while. Do yourself a favor and clean that baby. It is the tool that delivers the fly to the fish. Cherish and enjoy clean fly lines. OR just get a new one. You deserve it.
Small tiny droppers can bring you success. Fish faster water. Don’t drag the fly. Clean off the weeds. Fish midweek. Get off before you are too punchy. What are your secrets for August?
Just use some good ‘ol common sense this month and you can get over on a few. They are finicky and they do go away when you make drifting mistakes. Trout are wild animals and sense predators.
Greg Brown will be performing at the Myrna Loy Center in Helena at 7 PM on Sunday, August 17. He has generously agreed to support a Montana nonprofit organization, Project Healing Waters, by coming to Helena for this one-man concert. Project Healing Waters’ mission is to provide recreational therapeutic opportunities through rod building, fly tying, fly fishing and other outings to disabled military personnel. PHW is proud that, through the generosity of our community and elsewhere, it has been able to serve hundreds of Montana soldiers. All proceeds from this concert will be used by PHW to realize its mission.
Greg appeared at the Myna Loy in September of 2011 to a packed house of loyal fans who have enjoyed his musical odyssey of over four decades. His music styles defy definition. He is a guitar virtuoso that can play the blues, folk songs, jazz, rock and most everything else in a way that is at times earthy, at times ethereal and always transporting. The songs he has written are pastoral lyric poems. Listen to him spin the story about his grandmother canning the fruits of summer harvest in jars or lost love in an old blue car whose brakes make a sound that say, “what’s the use.”
Greg also performed at the Red Ants Pants festival in White Sulphur Springs last summer.
Please join us in supporting a home town effort to help our military men and women move forward with their lives. Tickets are on sale now at the Myrna Loy Center in Helena, Cactus Records and Vootie Productions in Bozeman and at local vendors around Montana.
We do. The Missouri River is producing some really nice fish on the dry fly.
You can nymph them up too. Streamer fishing? OK I guess. “Not Much” is the quote from Dewey @ Headhunters.
Big Brown Trout on Dry Flies
Why would you fly fish with the big bug when you can hook ’em with the small white winged black? To each their own…I guess.
The great thing about the Missouri River is that you can skin the cat in so many differing ways.
Small techy dry fly fishing is at it’s peak right now. Go to your spot and get them on the small dry. Whether it be the PMD. the Trico, the mysterious caddisfly.
If you want to roll the terrestrial betwixt points of rising interest feel free to do so. I would. Well, only if you like that sort of thing.
The Big Brown Trout on Dry Flies deal.
Missouri River Summer Dry Fly Love
Honest. Dry Fly Love.
We so commonly, as of late, meaning the last decade, get categorized into a nymph loving resource. True in some respects.
Not true in others. Respects that is.
Montana’s Missouri River is a classic, the classic maybe, dry fly river. 7K catchable fish per mile. Just think about that for a moment. Name the other resources with that kind of number. 180K insects per square meter. Do the math on that one. Name some other rivers with that number.
So, fish the dry fly. We never disregard the value and effectiveness of the nymph, of the streamer fly. Never. We advocate the use of all. The ability to fish so many different disciplines on any given day is one of the reasons that the Missouri River is highly regarded in so many trout fishing circles.
While we love all the participants in so many differing styles of trout fishing…we love the dry fly.
It is why so many of the locals, the hangers on, the employees, the trout bums, the guides, the shop staffers, the waiters, the bartenders, the dreamers, the dry fly lovers, the travelers of the dry fly, the monks of the dry, the purists, the fantasizers, the reach casters of America.
They love this time period.
Who doesn’t love to catch or at least cast at Big Brown Trout Dry Flies?
Welcome to the Mo in August,. It truly does get more difficult as the month ticks by. Really hard in fact. Practicer a few times in your yard before getting on that jet airplane. You will appreciate the fly rod time in hand upon making the first cast on our beloved river.
The fishing has been just fantastic. Not everyone likes us to tell all to the readers. Well I do not believe that stating that the dry fly fishing is pretty damn good, pretty awesome, some may say mind-blowing….is wrong. The dry fly fishing on any given day is very good. Lots of opportunities for you fellers that like to toss the tiny dry.
Missouri River Trout Fishing on the Missouri River is good. Damn good.
The dry fly fishing has been truly great. Did you read the fishing report blog from a few days ago? It still is as good as you are. Honest.
PMD’s are still a factor as we had a couple spinner falls that rival any I have seen in my entire life. As good as a Trico Spinner Fall, but much paler in color. A pale green one at that.
The caddis are making an appearance, slowly, and the trout are eating them well. We fish the caddis over the Trico feeding trout…often.
Some very large spinner falls this last week. Will it continue this next week? Golly, we hope so. Should have Trico’s for another month if history is any indication. Mother Mo can fool us, and does often. Trico hatch nearly every morning with that spinner fall that we all love. The entire HH gang has been out fishing daily to get some of the best, wait “The Best of the Year”, dry fly fishing. It is really good.
Trico’s all the way from Holter to Cascade. PMD’s? on some sections and not as much on others. Sally’s? Gone.
A few ways to catch them this coming week. Go out and stake up. Wait for the Trico’s to come. Or toss some attractors all day long. Hoppers? OK. Or toss nymphs and get ’em that way too.
Shop open daily @ 6am for all things Missouri River Trout. Shuttles, demo rods, rental boats, guides, killer flies, and a fantastic staff to help you enjoy your Missouri River visit.
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/101744402″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Dead Flies Don’t Swim is a short video shot last week in our backyard. Mark and I love the Trico hatch, and this season it’s been better than it has in years. We thought we’d go out and gather a few clips with the help of shop guys Braden Lewis and John Ewald. Mark shares some of his thoughts on this famous Missouri River hatch. Video or not, it’s nice to get out early in the morning with friends.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Today’s Missouri River Montana Fly Fishing Report is as follows…
It’s as good as you are. Simple and true.
The yearly statement about your skill level and how it correlates to your catch rate. John and I were talking about this concept on the porch a couple evenings ago. And it rings true every year this time of year extending into and through August.
We are of course speaking about the dry fly end of the spectrum, but can certainly be applied to the nymphing game as well. If you rock your own boat and row it down the river this is certainly true. You gotta know where the fish live and feed. Then your angler, the feller in the bow, must execute the drift properly and let’s hope you have a grip on the trout bait of the day. Then you can find success.
But back to the original question and answer. Q: “How’s the fishing?” A: “As good as you are.”
What does that mean? It means that the insects are doing their part. Hatching daily, somewhat predictable spinner falls, and rising in/at consistent locations. It means that you are required to do your part. Cast well, drift better, and set the hook.
Those anglers who cast better, drift better, fish better catch more fish.
No offense intended to those anglers who do not posses the upper level skill sets. That is not we we intend by this post. Lots of parallels in other sports. Those who play more basketball score more points. Those who ski 50+ days a year are more comfortable skiing steeper terrain. Those who either practice casting and/or fish more often catch more of our late July finicky freely rising trout. Just that simple.
A few tips that can improve your experience here on the Missouri River for the remainder of the summer include…
Approach the fish gingerly and with care. It is the time of the year when your anchor needs to be deployed quietly. No stomp and splash actions please. Those fish will vanish quickly.
The high and bright sun puts the trout in a defensive mode. Wen it is sunny, predators from above can spot fish easily and the trout instinctively are aware of the danger. A presentation that drags over the trout can put them down.
Make a couple practice casts beside the fish first and get yourself into a successful situation. Measure the line you need, understand the drift, and then make that first presentation.
There is no rush. the fish are feeding. You do not have to get in there fast. Haste makes waste. It truly does. Approach the rising trout with a plan and execute it. It is not a race to see has rapidly you can get rid of those sipping trout.
Use a reach cast or the proper cast for each situation. Generally a slack line presentation of some sort should be employed. That is what the practice casts next to your target are good for. Understanding the drift before your present the fly to the fish. I have always said that 99 of 100 dry fly casts here on the Missouri River are reach casts. That means more than 1 in a row. That means 99 of 100. The fly has to be drag free nearly all of the time so those who continually drag the fly over across and around the fish cannot expect to have the fish eat the fly. So commonly we are using a dead bug pattern like a spinner. Spinner are dead. Dead flies do not swim. IF the fly is dragging violently you cannot blame the fly pattern. The only one to blame is?
Practice casting at home. Those who see their casting instructor, or just pull the fly rod from the tube a few times before the trip…catch more fish. The conversion rate is much higher.
If you are approaching the trout on foot…walk quietly. They are wild animals and suspect the worst. They may not go down, but they are aware of your presence. If you are approaching via boat, anchor a ways away and sneak up on them!
Just a few reminders for those who love to stalk rising trout. Do yourself a favor and practice a few times before coming. Casting wildly in-between rising trout does not qualify as practicing. Enjoy the river and enjoy this time of year. It really is fantastic dry fly fishing. Kind of as good as it gets. Really.
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Here’s your Monday Morning Macro of yesterdays Missouri River nymph survey by in-house biologist Braden Lewis. Pretty cool shots, and another weekly change in what’s on the menu for Missouri River trout. Kind of like those “visual” menu’s at Denny’s. If you swim for a living.
What do we see this week? Lots of damsel nymphs, not as many scuds, but still many PMD nymphs. The variety of mayfly nymphs is increasing, with some Trico and Pseudo nymphs, as well as others that Braden will have to get out his ID book to work on.
A big Crawdad made the scene. He appears to be molting. Lots of sucker fry, an often overlooked but very important food source. The Sucker fry were incredibly fragile, beginning to croak a few minutes after we put them in the tank. 1 juvenile sculpin made the scene as well.
The bad news? 1 caddis larva. One. Can you find it?
Make sure and CLICK ON THE IMAGES to enlarge in a lightbox.
Fly Tiers, take a good look at that Sucker fry.[/vc_column_text][us_separator icon=”fas|star” show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][us_grid type=”masonry” post_type=”attachment” items_quantity=”” images=”5858,5859,5860,5861,5862,5864,5865,5866,5867,5868,5869,5870″ orderby=”post__in” items_gap=”” columns=”6″ items_layout=”gallery_default” img_size=”us_350_350_crop” overriding_link=”popup_post_image” breakpoint_1_cols=”6″ breakpoint_2_width=”768px” breakpoint_3_width=”480px” breakpoint_2_cols=”4″ breakpoint_3_cols=”2″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
We are entering the final third of July and the fishing is red hot.
Those who love to dry fly dawn til dusk are having their cake and eating it too.
Trico’s continue to be the hottest ticket from dawn too the afternoon period depending on the wind, the spinner fall and a billion environmental factors.
We know the reach cast factor helps too.
There PMD’s are still around but not always in the number we like. The spinner fall can come out of nowhere and make the afternoon more tolerable.
The caddis seem to be nowhere near as fulfilling as the past 50 years but the fish do respond to a caddis fly floated over their nose properly. Will they come in bigger numbers this year? We are not holding our breath. Braden our in house bug seiner and researcher is out right now gathering specimens and we should have a blog about the river contents today sometime. Keep it here for updates in regards to the biomass moments and changes.
Until then, here are the hot flies of July from Montana’s Missouri River.
Late July Missouri River Hot Flies
Late July Missouri River Hot Flies
Harrop’s Hi-Viz Rusty Spinner
Harrop’s Hi-Viz Pale Green Spinner
Harrop’s Hi-Viz Trico Spnner
Quigley’s Cluster
Cluster Midge Double Parachute
Limestone Cripple
D & D Cripple
Cloud Caddis
CDC and Elk
Double Duck Caddis
Stocking Wing Caddis
Parachute Caddis
Bloom’s Caddis
Harrop’s Palmered Caddis
Translucent Pupa floated
X-Caddis
Buzzball
Bubba Ant
Pink Morrish Hopper
Bloom’s Ant
And a few nymphs for your palette.
Late July Missouri River Hot Flies
Poly Wing Zebra
Purple Weight Fly
Ultra Damsel Nymph
Rainbow Sowbug
Rainbow Warrior
Green Weenie
Tung Dart
Zebra Midge Black & Red
Cheeseman Emerger
Ju-Ju PMD
Mason’s Peep Show
Soft Hackle Black
Rainbow Czech Nymph
Purple Lightening Bug
Little Green Machine
Grape Slushy
SJW Red
Tungsten Lightening Bug
That should keep you busy for a while. There are plenty of bugs that work that are not on this list. These are hot sellers and hot flies that seem to be popular for the last week(s) of July fishing Montana’s Missouri River.
Good dry fly bite in the mornings and it can continue throughout the day per above. The nymphers are doing well in all water types at all levels. Look for good nymphing in faster water as the fish are moving to higher oxygen environments. They do every summer as the water temps rise. No secret there. Just remember to follow your late summer instincts and fish near the surmise and the sunset. Smart.
See you tomorrow on this very buggy blog. Friday is just 4 days away!
A cool boat from our good friend Steve. He dropped us this line about the history and the reasoning behind the Boat Eyes on this killer Woody.
Hey Mark,
Thank you for your hospitality!
There is a long tradition in Southeast Asia of putting eyes on boats, to help them see danger and thus protect their passengers better.
These particular eyes were modeled after the eyes on the giant stupa, or prayer mound, in Kathmandu, Nepal, named Swayambhunath. They are said to be the eyes of the Buddha.
The twice annual Reach Cast discussion kicks off today this hump day in mid July.
The other time we talk about this is when me, Mark, has nothing else to say ion the mid winter.
Or nothing of value daily to say about fly fishing the world’s finest trout fishery.
Long time clients Joe and Paul Taylor are here from Rome NY and they do understand the validity of the reach cast. More fish are caught when you employ some sort of slack line presentation when fishing to our often difficult bastard fish freely rising trout.
I’ve been fishing with them 15 years and they know what I’m gonna say before I say it. Comments like, “I know, a reach cast would work here” come from their mouths when I open my mouth to gently probably rudely suggest trying…
If you don’t, you may as well be practicing non fish catching techniques. Shoot, you can do that at home, in your back yard without freely rising wildly reproducing whities rainbows and browns.
Back to the Reach Cast. Use it. Live it. Love it. Test on Monday.
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Another weekend gone, and another set of photo’s from father/son Ken and Max Rubino in my inbox. This Great Falls duo puts in a ton of days on the Missouri River. It’s a rare weekend that they aren’t in the shop arranging a shuttle.
I don’t hear Ken talk much about Carp, but Max won’t leave them alone. I suspect that he takes a peek in every slough they float by. His favorite Carp fly? I ain’t telling, but if you look closely, and are familiar with the Headhunters fly selection, you can figure it out. Hint: It’s not some drab, small bead-head.
This is a magnum Carp for our section of the river. Max actually looks like he might be straining a little hefting it for the camera. Ken and Max also did a little evening fishing for trout, but I can’t show the pictures and give away the fly…
One tip Max. In the picture with that Carp on the tape, it looks like you have a cold beer in that koozy. I’m not sure, but I think that it’s against the law to drink beer while Carp fishing in Montana until you’re 18?
Nice pic’s team Rubino. Keep ’em coming. As for the rest of you, get out and do a little Carp fishing.[/vc_column_text][us_separator icon=”fas|star” show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][us_image image=”5784″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
The flows are coming down per the blog and the USBR as scheduled. Should be int he mid 4K’s Monday.
The flows are good for all including the wade fishers and the boat anglers. The flows are currently holding at 5290cfs and the water temps are 61F. Not bad for the middle of July. The weeds have not become a problem. Not at all.
The bugs are good and the hatches are consistent. PMD’s, caddis, Sally’s, and Trico’s are here and available for our hungry trout.
Lots of boats on the upper and not as many on the lower. Spread out is good for all.
The days are getting shorter and the night time fishing is decent. Get out if you wish. We got your back and will do late shuttles.
Guided trips are avail in the late month if you need a late July fix. August will be kick ass per the current wage temps and the late season higher flows. Every cooler day we have here in July adds a day of good fishing in August.
September is booking and October is filling too. Get your plans together and get on out here this fall for one of the nicer times of the year. We love October.
Need more info? Call the shop anytime for lodging, fishing, and bug hatch confirmation. We love to chat about trout fishing the Mo!
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Local “shop kid” Adair has a new hobby. Quickly freezing mayflies is the latest in 9 year old entertainment around here. Never tried it myself, but I have quickly discovered that frozen Mayflies are much easier to photograph than “hot” bugs. Here’s a couple of detailed shots of our favorite Missouri River Mayfly for those who have never looked close, or those who can’t because the eyesight ain’t so good no more.
To learn more than you need to know about Ephemerella Infrequens, here it is at Troutnut.[/vc_column_text][us_separator show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][us_image image=”5750″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Not just how and why we have so many fish over 18″ but also where all the little ones are. And where do they live? And, why don’t we catch any little trout?
All great questions. Do we know where and why and how of the small trout? No not really.
They may live up the creeks until they make their way into the big Mo.
We would know more but since we rarely catch the juniors here.
If you want to catch smaller trout you may have to go to other rivers.
But having said that, our boy Danny manhandled this mini trout at the boat ramp trolling it in yesterday.
Nice and small. A rarity here fishing Montana’s Missouri River.
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Braden and I set up the Macro Tank the other day to see what exactly is squirming around in the Missouri River. Lot’s of PMD nymphs, and relatively few Yellow Sallies like last week. I do see many stages of PMD nymphs as well. Looks to me like a more olive nymph patterns than the more mature amber nymphs with dark wing cases we gathered last week. Also, lots of scuds and the Damsel nymphs are showing up.
If you want to know exactly what we have here, you’ll have to talk to Braden face to face. Stop by the shop. He’s hesitant to identify things quickly. He does his homework, and does it right.
Do you need to know what they’re called, or just what they look like?
We’re still getting our photo set-up dialed in. Expect the images to get better soon.[/vc_column_text][us_separator icon=”fas|star” show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][us_grid type=”masonry” post_type=”attachment” items_quantity=”” images=”5695,5696,5692,5691,5693,5690,5689,5688″ orderby=”post__in” items_gap=”” columns=”6″ items_layout=”gallery_default” img_size=”us_350_350_crop” overriding_link=”popup_post_image” breakpoint_1_cols=”6″ breakpoint_2_width=”768px” breakpoint_3_width=”480px” breakpoint_2_cols=”4″ breakpoint_3_cols=”2″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
A common wade fishers belief. That there are no fish below Craig. I do understand that the upper is classic wade water and that the wade fish opportunities are not as prolific downstream…but having said that, there are some ways.
Attention: Those who like the honesty thing should stop reading right here and tune in again tomorrow where the tone may be more amenable to those who like fantasy land shit.
With the water higher than we have had in 2 years in July, remember the 4 yrs of high water? Let me remind you of ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11. Remember those high water years? With the water higher than we have had it in 2 years there is some disappointment from some Mo River visiting anglers that these flows of 6800cfs have ruined the river.
Well let’s look at some facts first before we come to rash conclusions based on emotion.
Check out the graph from Sunday morning and look at where the triangle is. That is the historical average. It is based on 68 years of evidence. So we are higher than the last umpteen, 68 to be exact, years. Yes. By a couple hundred cubic feet per second. I challenge you to show me on a ruler how much difference 250cfs is in real height values. I believe it would be in the less than 1 inch range. The difference between 3000cfs and 9000cfs is 18inches. True.
Flows July 5th 2014: 6800cfs
Flows July 5th 2013: 2800cfs
Flows July 5th 2012: 4300cfs
Flows July 5th 2011 23000cfs
Flows July 5th 2010: 22000cfs
Want me to keep going? The flows are normal. Well, no…just over normal. About 300cfs over normal.
Check out this chart from the inflows @ Toston and see what history tells us. If you do not like charts, I don’t as I am a failed History Major, then let me explain. The flows are and will come down. If you look carefully at the triangles, historical average, you will see that in one week we should be at a water level of approx. 6K cfs and the following week you will see a flow average of 5K cfs.
See. Perfect.
As for the bugs. Not as many hatching as we would like. Mother Nature gets to choose the insect quotient.
Here is the hatch report for Sunday July 6th 2014.
Upper River above Craig Montana
PMDs daily. Pretty anemic hatches the last 3 days. Water temps got ’em down? Maybe. The flows? Probably not. Mother Nature? certainly. They will come back. Remember the BWO resurgence in early June? The latest we ever had them. Bugs are funny. They are a mystery too.
Caddis. Not too may. Although a trout will eat when presented on a platter. Or first cast.
Trico’s. Not yet. Maybe today.
Mid River
PMD’s. YEs. Some days a ton, others not as much. Crips, emerges, spinners. Good spinner falls can be had anywhere anytime here on Montana’s Missouri River.
Caddis. Lots and lots. We do not see the caddis emergence like clockwork like we did way back in the day. Pre 2000. So be ready for a caddis event anytime any day. Spents and sunken caddis work well on the mid river sections.
Trico’s. YEs. Towards the bottom. Or even the middle. Shoot, as I write the males could be coming off here in Craig. BE here is the plan. Here in Craig.
Sally’s. More and more daily. No big punch yet. The trouts love them subsurface and occasionally on the top too. But for us here on the Mo is is mostly a subsurface fish catching deal. Again, all these big events are tied to water temperatures. The flows up and down I guess could have fouled things up. But, who knows and maybe.
Lower River
PMD’s. Same as above. Sometimes good, sometimes not. Let’s hope they come back but the science behind is? While I have heard lots of speculation, as we fishers love to spin a tale, yet no conclusive evidence to make me believe any of it. Give me some evidence, precedence, substance and I will bend an ear. Until then I don’t believe the hype.
Caddis. Yep.
Trico’s. Could be.
Sally’s. Sure.
The other big bug. If you are reading this at home you are too late right. Maybe next year.
The water temps here below Holter Dam are holding a daytime average of 61F. Believe it. They drop to 58F at night with nighttime air temps hovering around 60F.
So that is the skinny for all you folks out there in cyber fish land.
Higher water? It is not higher than average fellas. Maybe putting fish off, maybe not. I don’t believe that is the case at all. One fishers opinion.
Fish below Craig? Nope. Don’t go below Craig Montana. Go to the Dam everyday. It’s good up there.
Bugs upriver? About as many as everywhere else except there are more below Craig as I write this very storied blog. Tough for that certain sect that does not believe that you can fly fish below Craig.To that sect I say…“You may not like it. Stay on the upper for sure.”
So as Mother Nature strings us along this wonderful dry fly month of July, just remember that these are wild fish on a not so wild controlled water release system that we are so very lucky to live and work and recreate on and around. We love it so and it is not always perfect. It just is not. If you like lots of bugs, go to the Fork. Their problem is no water and not many fish. Everybody has got problems. Look beyond them and go out and enjoy the river.
That is the Sunday Missouri River update brought to you by the friendly honest folks at Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig Montana. The World’s Funnest Fly Shop and your Missouri River information magnate.
Open daily @ 630am and open late til 9pm. Later this coming week we may go earlier.
We have done it. The big 4th of July party here in Craig Montana is over. Over for another year.
Lots of folks around for the only big 4th of July host in Craig Headhunters Fly Shop with our famous Garlic and Onion Burgers and Kosher Dogs slathered in Kraut and mustard.
Our 7th Annual Fireworks display went off without too many hitches. No lost digits that we know of.
Thanks to John, Dewey, and Braden for again braving the elements, and explosives…a good show was pulled off after dusk.
The tiny fishing ‘burb of Craig survived yet another colossal party. If you have not been to Creaig for the 4th, you would really like it. Plan now for the coming year. It really is a lot of fun.
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Here’s a short I dod a year ago today. I was playing around with the 240fps WVGA setting on the GoPro Hero 3. Pretty cool super slo-mo. Enjoy your Holiday weekend, and please be safer than Team Headhunters was in 2013! After watching this we decided to use cakes instead of mortar tubes…[/vc_column_text][us_separator icon=”fas|star” show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/99947567″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Yes one of our favorite holidays. Celebrate America’s Birthday with us here in downtown Craig.
We will be BBQ’s up some burgers and dogs and hanging out all day long and well into the evening. Fireworks at dusk.
Bring your helmets and a six pack and we will see you on the banks of the Missouri.
Missouri River Fishing Report 4th of July 2014
It is all coming together. PMD’s, Caddis, Sally’s, and some bigger bugs around as well. Figure out your perfect dry fly pleasure and go for it.
The flows are 6760cfs and the water temps have fallen into the 59F range. Whoa. Goofy deal here on the Mo.
The good news is happy and smiling anglers into Izaak’s nightly. Then finishing at Joe’s.
We will see you for an afternoon burger before the evening bite, then Izaak’s, then fireworks, then Joe’s, then bed…then another great day ont he Missouri River.
The fly shop open daily @ 630am and open late til 9pnm. See us for all your Missouri River needs!
The flows will fall soon enough so the bank anglers can rein again. Wade too. When will it happen? Soon, maybe.
Trico’s are on the way. The 5th of July is tomorrow.
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.
An article of love written by us here at Headhunters in March. Bob worked for Headhunters for a summer and we all fell in love with him. Tomorrow is his memorial, party, gathering, remembrance in Craig at the Vaders House on the river.
Here are some specifics about the memorial tomorrow June 28th.
Morning Floatilla: Departs at Wolf Creek promptly @ 9am. Bring your own boat arrange a shuttle and join the family as we float to Lone Tree pullout. Bob’s ashes will be returned to the river at 11am. From there we will continue to Craig. Please consider leaving early as we want to avoid traffic jam at the ramp.
If you prefer to join from shore meet the shuttle van in beautiful downtown Craig, the Shriners will drive you to Lone Tree FAS.
The van will also be running all afternoon from Craig to The Cabin on the Flats, Vader’s. Parking is very lmited please drive in, drop your coolers, chairs people etc. And then park your car back in Craig Catch the Shuttle and Join.
The Party begins at 130pm followed by a luncheon on the lawn. Please bring the following. Your own alcoholic beverages and mixers. Lawn Chairs salad to share and stories of Bob. There will be video booth where we can all share memories and stories about Bob.
Live music and Cherry Pie round out the day.
“Every Second Counts”
Bob Lay passed 2 weeks ago in Missoula with friends and family at his side.
It is appropriate that Bob was being guided through the end as it was Bob that guided so many of us throughout his purposeful life.
Bob, for those of you who knew him, was truly great. A great person, a great mind, a great caring individual that always put you, first.
Bob w/ Fly Fish Chick on the Missouri River
The last couple weeks when talking to folks who knew Bob a pattern developed. First the sadness would cross the individuals face. Then a wry smile as the person thought about Bob. Then they would invariably start telling a story about spending time with Bob and the hilarity that ensued. The thoughtfulness that Bob had brought and the caring feeling that Bob left you with.
The loss of a friend hurts more when that friend left a mark on you. Bob left a mark on many of us.
Bob always remembered your name. You were important to Bob. He spoke to you with respect. He recognized the importance of every conversation and situation. He was painfully honest.
Bob mentored many. Perhaps thousands. The number of people that I can list in my head is numerous. Multiply that by the number of friends Bob kept in his quarry, which included nearly everyone who crossed paths with Bob, and the actual number is staggering.
In the last couple weeks the number of stories with Bob as the central character is also staggering.
And Bob had character. Lots of it.
Bob Lay was a friend to the veteran. A vet himself serving in the Navy from ’62-’66.
Bob continued to serve his entire life. Bob was integral in the development of Montana Project Healing Waters Helena Chapter. As a board member and past President Bob always put the interest of the vets first. He loved helping and the amount of volunteer time and mentoring never seemed like work to Bob. His dedication to helping all he loved is surpassed by few.
Bob spent a ton of time with Federation of Fly Fishers tying flies at conclaves, shooting and teaching on video for the FFF. Bob co-wrote Introduction to Fly Tying with Al Beatty and it is still a popular FFF publication. Bob won the coveted Charles E Brooks Memorial Award in 2008 and stole the show by also winning the Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award in 2008. Both national awards. Bob was highly respected within the FFF and will be fondly remembered by the number of members he touched.
His involvement in annual FFF Conclaves, his teaching time, and his volunteer ethic will be missed by the Federation. I’m sure making that organization better through his involvement. That was the theme of Bob’s life.
Better through his involvement.
Bob had the uncanny talent of always making you feel comfortable. When you finished any conversation, cocktail, or project with Bob he left you with the feeling that you had helped him. He would thank you for the conversation, for your help, and for your input on said topic.
Then later, sometimes much later you would realize that it was he, it was Bob…Bob was actually helping you.
His humor was quick, dry, witty, and dirty. The kind of guy you like to have at a party. And Bob loved to laugh. He enjoyed telling self deprecating jokes that still has us smiling. Many will tell stories about Bob and his sense of humor for years to come. Honest.
Pat his wife of 47 years is a jewel. To live with Bob for that long would take a special lady. And Pat is that special lady. She too has a heart of gold and is a good as the day is long. We love Pat.
Sense of humor. Yep! A yearly tradition. We always looked forward to the Holidays.
A couple years ago another good friend of the community passed, Michelle Wells. Bob and Pat could not make the memorial held in Craig and sent along a note to be read at her memorial service.It was an honest remembrance of Michelle and how she had touched Bob and Pat in the few short years of their acquaintance. At the end of the note Bob stated that he would remember Michelle and show his love and reverence by looking towards the sky and smiling.
We can do the same for Bob by looking towards the sky and smiling at Bob. But we all know that it will be Bob caring for us. Even without Bob on this green and watery earth he is still making us believe that we are helping him.
But we all know that the inverse is true. It’s really Bob helping us…
Wife Pat, daughter Suzanne and son Jim wish you all will attend the celebration of Bob’s life June 28th in Craig Montana. You should attend because Bob planned it. Growling Old Men will be strumming the guitars & playing some music, a few drinks will be raised in honor of Bob. And stories will be told.
Pat says the admission price is a story about Bob.
Many have stated, “Just one?!”
Bob graced us @ Headhunters by working for the shop a few years back. Bob certainly kept things light. We’ll miss Bob in Craig stopping in for a chat, a cup of coffee, and maybe a tug off of the bottle. We will keep you up to date here on this Blog when the time comes closer for us to gather in celebration of Bob.
Bob’s Obituary Helena Independent Record March 23rd, 2014
He always said he’d go until there was nothing left. On, Sunday, March 16, 2104, Robert E. “Bob” Lay ran out of life.
Born in East Cleveland, Ohio, to Charles and Clarisa Robertson Lay on June 25, 1943, Bob grew up in Ohio until he entered the U.S. Navy in 1962. He was honorably discharged as an MM2 (E5) machinist mate on Aug. 29, 1966.
He then entered into a 35-year career in the telecommunications industry, starting out as a cable splicer in the manholes of New York City. He retired from PTI/CenturyTel in Dolores, Colo., in 1998 but then re-entered the workforce as a superintendent with Wilde Construction Company of Shevlin, Minn., responsible for construction of large fiber optic projects. From 2000 until his true retirement in 2004, he was a nationwide construction project manager for Bechtel Construction and Engineering of San Francisco.
Bob’s accomplishment that provided him the most pride was his family. In January 1964, he met his wife, Patricia “Pat” Sheridan. They were married on Oct. 28, 1967, in New York City. In 1969, Bob and Pat moved to Colorado.
Subsequently, Suzanne Janet was born on Jan. 14, 1971, and James Robert (“Jimbob”) on Dec. 25, 1974, in Longmont, Colo. On Sept. 4, 1994, Suzanne married Thurston Elfstrom. Together, the five of them have had many grand and glorious adventures, which Bob was sure would continue in the future. All five were together to share Bob’s final moments.
Bob enjoyed all of life to its fullest. Two principles he lived by were to tell the truth at all times and never pass up an opportunity to help somebody.
He was very active in Kalispell’s Trinity Lodge No. 152 and Algeria Shrine Temple, as well as Helena’s Algeria Shrine Temple. As a Shriner he was involved in helping children with disabilities receive the best care possible. He also served on the Flathead County school board, where he advocated for young adults — particularly those who struggled within the traditional school system.
He was a lifetime member of the International Fly Fishing Federation, where many of his contributions centered on teaching fly tying. In 1994, he chaired the national convention, held in Kalispell. In 2008, he was honored with the Charles E. Brooks Memorial Award and the Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award — the highest award the FFF bestows to a member for excellence in fly-tying teaching.
Bob and Pat moved to Helena in 2006. He then became active with Montana Project Healing Waters, Inc. He was subsequently the recipient of the highest civilian award the National Guard can issue, the Adjutant General’s Distinguished Patriot Medal, for his work with Project Healing Waters. He went on to serve as board member and board president.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Carolyn Virginia Anderson. He is survived by his brother, Richard (Carol) of Oakdale, Penn.; sister, Frederica Irwin (Don) of Arden, N.C.; good friend and brother, Carl Mucha (Jane) of Union, Ky.; along with his immediate family and close friends in the Masonic and fly fishing communities throughout the nation.
A memorial service and celebration will take place at one of Bob’s favorite spots along the Missouri river on June 28, 2014. To receive additional details email CelebrationForBob@yahoo.com. The service is open to anyone who would like to share stories about Bob.
If so inclined, contributions can be made to Flathead Shrine Club Transportation Fund, P.O. Box 762, Kalispell, MT 59903; or Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc., P.O. Box 695, La Plata, MD 20646 (please earmark your donation for Montana).
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]I’m sitting in the Traverse City, MI airport with Alex Landeen(above), waiting for our respective flights home. Alex to Tuscon, myself to Great Falls. We’ve both got our laptops out and are reviewing the images and video we captured on our first trip to Beaver Island. The typical verbal recap is going on as well. We both agree it’s an incredible place. Incredible.
I feel a little hungover, but I’m not. It’s more of a “cumulative” hangover from a week of fishing, dining and drinking with a great crew.
[/vc_column_text][us_separator icon=”fas|star” show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][us_image image=”5543″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]Kevin Morlock (left) and Cameron Mortenson (right) heading out onto the flats on a rare calm morning.[/vc_column_text][us_separator icon=”fas|star” show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
The Island
Kevin Morlock runs a pro-operation along with guides Steve Martinez and Austin Adduci. Gear, flies, knowledge and – most importantly – company were all top shelf. Not only did they show us the fishing, they spent the evenings showing us around Beaver Island’s eating and drinking establishments. Definitely putting in long days, but as they put it, “Island Life” is a big part of the Beaver Island experience. By the end of the week, you feel like your part of the community.
We also had the chance to eat dinner (it was great everywhere) with Steve West from the Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce, who shared his thoughts on what makes Beaver Island so special. He pointed out that along with the great hunting (turkey’s, anyone?)and fishing, BI is a great family destination. Our guides agreed, and all have their families out for a week of island life during the 4th of July week.
Cameron and Kevin arranged lodging at the Fisherman’s House, a chill cottage right across from the harbor on the main drag. We walked everywhere, and because crime is non-existent in this paradise, left our gear out on the front porch. I think I was buzzed enough that I left my camera gear out there as well a time or two.
Instead of taking the ferry, we flew out on Island Airways, and the crew there was friendly and accommodating. I hear the 2.5 hour ferry ride is a blast as well, especially if you bring a few “boat drinks”.[/vc_column_text][us_separator show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][us_image image=”5449″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][us_separator icon=”fas|star” show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
The Fishing
It’s really hard to describe the fishing at Beaver Island. I had read about it, and the idyllic descriptions of “flats that make you think you’re in the Carribean” seemed overstated. They’re not. We had some rough weather during the week, but when the sun popped out, it did not seem like the Great Lakes. The flats are smooth and blue, and the water is as clear as any I’ve ever fished.
The Carp here are big, and they can be aggressive. They feed on small invasive fish called Goby’s, which remind me of the many small “bullheads” I caught growing up on the Puget Sound. So this isn’t nymph or slow leech Carp fishing. The flies are big. Bigger and heavier than most Permit flies. The fish hunt and chase. Bring your 9 weight.
We fished on foot and from the boat. Both were productive. I usually prefer fishing from the boat with some eyes up on the platform, but the fish are so easy to spot and the flats so wadeable that being on foot would be my choice. Looking for Carp in rough water on downwind beaches was a blast.
The fishing here is going to appeal to the sight-fishing and saltwater crowd. If you’re a “body-count” fisherman, it may be a little tougher than you want. Casts need to be long and accurate. Not easy with the heavy flies and long leaders we often threw at deep tailing fish. Body-count anglers would love the Smallmouth fishing that takes place a little later in the year, however.
While the fish and the fishing are great, all three of our guides acknowledged that the island and the community were a big part of what makes the Beaver Island experience so special. Agreed.[/vc_column_text][us_separator icon=”fas|star” show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/98947199″][us_separator icon=”fas|star” show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][us_grid type=”masonry” post_type=”attachment” items_quantity=”” images=”5446,5448,5452,5551,5552,5553,5554,5555″ orderby=”post__in” items_gap=”” columns=”6″ items_layout=”gallery_default” img_size=”us_350_350_crop” overriding_link=”popup_post_image” breakpoint_1_cols=”6″ breakpoint_2_width=”768px” breakpoint_3_width=”480px” breakpoint_2_cols=”4″ breakpoint_3_cols=”2″][us_separator show_line=”1″ line_width=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
Would I go Back?
Absolutely. Especially with a great crew like we had on this trip. I was hesitant to participate in a trip with a group of anglers unknown to me, but Cameron nailed it. Combined with an excellent bunch of guides, it was perfect despite some nasty weather that chilled the water and our fishing.
And don’t forget that this is coming from a guy who has been know to dis’ Carp fishing. But this is so cool. I’m changing my mind, at least at this location.
I could see doing Beaver Island with my hardcore Keys buddies, or with my wife and daughter.
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Check out Alex Landeen’s great photo’s and writing about our trip to Beaver Island as well.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
