Silly Saturday Scenery

Silly Saturday Scenery

Silly Saturday Scenery Rainbow. Double Rainbow. What does it all mean? Raining here in the canyon, and beyond. A bundle of rain on the easter front fo the Rockies. It’ll come down the Dearborn. Mud. Coming. Sunday. How long will the March Browns stick around? Maybe not an issue as the Mo Day’s Caddis will … Read more

Summer is Coming Game of Thrones T's

Summer is Coming Game of Thrones T’s

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Summer is Coming Game of Thrones T’s If you are a fan, you gotta have this T from House of Headhunters! Game of Thrones is a hot topic, and so is this Headhunters only apparel. Order yourself and your friends a couple T’s today. You will feel better about the end of the GOT … Read more

Craig Caddis Fest and BBQ Cook-Off Saturday May 18th

Craig Caddis Fest and BBQ Cook-Off Saturday May 18th Pretty stoked for our annual Fundraiser for the Fire Department this coming Saturday May 18th! We will see you in Craig! 13thAnnual Craig Caddis Festival & BBQ Cook-Off Saturday May 18th   Benefitting the Craig Volunteer Fire Department 4pm til 10pm in downtown Craig Montana Parade starts … Read more

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day A day late? Most Mom’s are familiar with this behavior. Yes. I know mine is. My wife and I did send flowers on time. But this post is belated. We love Mom’s. Mom’s are the reason that all of us are on this planet. To fish. Yep. And Mom’s are OK with … Read more

Smith River Comment Period Ending May 10th

Smith River Comment Period Ending May 10th If you care about the Smith River, Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) needs to hear from you.  Until May 10, 2019, the DEQ is accepting comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a large copper mine a foreign-owned company is proposing in the headwaters of … Read more

Monday, May, Neil Young, and Harvest Moon

Monday, May, Neil Young, and Harvest Moon

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Monday, May, Neil Young, and Harvest Moon

Dull, dreary, Monday, May, Neil Young, and Harvest Moon.

The harvest moon is later in the year. A true harvest moon comes near the autumnal equinox. I worked in agriculture in my teen sand early twenties having been spawned and reared in north of Seattle in Mount Vernon. The Skagit Valley has rich soil, is famous for tulips, peas, strawberries, lots of seed crops, the Skagit River, and the gateway to the San Juan Islands.

I operated a pod stripper, a pea combine, working nights 545pm til 545 am for 3 college summers. Seen some beautiful large harvest moons…while harvesting. So this song has always been dear to my heart.

In that combine I learned to smoke cartons of cigarettes, drink coffee, eat bulk chocolate getting heartburn so bad that you could not fall asleep, and sing Harvest Moon start to finish even bellowing out the harmonica portions.

While I did not sound quite like Neil I kept myself awake, and entertained. I also sang tons of Jazz Standards, my favorite nighttime tune being Misty. Attempting to sound like the silver fog, Mel Torme.

The Silver Fog. Great nickname. Mine for years before coming to Craig was Sparky. Only a few know that here in Craig. Very few. I did like the nickname Sparky.

Now Squeeky Oar Lock will have to do. Or Mark. Mark is fine as well.

Wet weather ahead of us and is kind of clammy this morning. The flows at 10K. May or may not see movement this week. Not terribly warm nor is it terribly warm in the evenings in the mountains. The snow melt stops in the hills if it drops below 40F at night. So not too much movement this week ahead.

Play Harvest Moon in your office today several times. Watch the vid, listen closely. Then play it again, close your eyes, and superimpose your Harvest Moon memories to this beautifully pleasant tune.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2MtEsrcTTs”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Hump Day Hot Tip

Hump Day Hot Tip You know, a fella could take a shot of his fishing license on his cell phone and keep it in his pocket, the phone. And the fishing license. But so many fellers forget to bring their fishing license out fishing, or even on the fishing trip. Yes, any license provider can … Read more

Where is 7wt?

Where is 7wt?

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Where is 7wt?

Raining here on the Eastside Friday nite.

Saturday brings wind.

Sunday brings snow.

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Friday Foto Fishing Report 4.19.19

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Friday Foto Fishing Report 4.19.19 I liked the Yes and No format earlier this week. It fits my rapid posting early morning style, and needs. So here we head into another Montana Weekend in downtown Craig. Love to see you! Yes: Brown and gold streamers like the Kreelex. Or Sparkle Minow. Or olive flavored. … Read more

A Fistful of Whitey

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After dropping a few pics on Social Media, we’ve been getting quite a few queries about when these will be on our online store. Well they’re up, so grab a few for yourself, and they make great gifts for your fly fishing buddies “My Whitefish doesn’t like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea they’re … Read more

Caddis Fest Live Auction Art

Caddis Fest Live Auction Art

Caddis Fest Live Auction Art Original Caddis Fest Art by Greg Meyer. He donated last year as well. Happy buyers at the live auction Caddis Fest & BBQ Cook-Off Saturday May 18th. Buy it this year will proceeds going directly to the Craig Volunteer Fire Department. October Caddis on the Missouri Greg Meyer I want this … Read more

Nirvana

Sunday Tribute Video Nirvana

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Sunday Tribute Video Nirvana

Kurt Cobain passed 25 years ago this week. April 5th 1994.

A pretty big part of my youth was mis-spent drinking, dancing, and enjoying live music in the Pacific NW.

Enjoyed it thoroughly.

Had an album release party at the house I lived in in downtown Tacoma WA. The album was Nevermind from Nirvana. The second commercial release from this legendary grunge band. Danced all night long in our living room with 30 of my closest friends.

The video, while not the explosive and energetic style that Nirvana displayed on stage with the full electric components, reveals the intimacy of the band and certainly Kurt. That is why I chose this vid.

As you know this is a David Bowie tune that Cobain covered. The Man who Sold the World is a fine tune.

Rock stars die too young. Great ones.

Nirvana changed the world, how we listen and love music. It certainly made an impression on myself and friends closest to me at the time. Hearing the tributes this past week brought a ton of those thoughts, feelings, and emotions of that period of my life in the early 90’s.

Saw tons of grunge and live acts in the Seattle/Tacome/Olympia I-5 corridor in my youth. Including Nirvana. Awesome.

Enjoy your Sunday and listening to a bit of Nirvana.

The Man Who Sold the World. Nirvana. Unplugged.

Watch it. Then cruise around YouTube watching and listening to the genius of Kurt’s melodic punk inspired compositions.

Watch the first vid and then the second. The latter is the one to knock the dust from the rafters.

Lithium. A good one.

Turn it up to 11. Dance in your living room. Invite your family to join you. Do it. It’s good for your constitution.

 

 

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Izaak's Opening April 11th

Izaak’s Opening April 11th

Izaak’s Opening April 11th Hooray! Izaak’s opening for summer 2019 April 11th. First week of operation Thursday thru Sunday 4-9pm The following week Chef John and the gang will open Wednesday thru Sunday 4-9. I already smell the Smoker being fired up. Ribs on my mind. Headhunters love the Brisket Nachos! We will see you … Read more

Friday Foto

Friday Foto

Friday Foto Spring is here. Friday Goto. Squeeky having problems with the BBQ charcoal. An early Headhunters Free BBQ. This one legendary of course because this is the moment that Adair realized that her fathers business partner is not too smart. Nothing has changed since this 2010 Friday Foto. Enjoy your weekend. We will be … Read more

Fishing Meetings

Fishing Meetings

Fishing Meetings Mark is at Chico Hot Springs embroiled in Fishing Outfitter Association of Montana Annual Meetings. Fishing politics. Public Access issues. Lobbying. Legislative Issues. Madison River Recreation Plan. Negotiates Rule Making Committee Updates. And some general bullshitting. Mark is your Missouri River region director for FOAM. You can contact him if you wish to … Read more

Soul Saturday

Soul Saturday If you want me to stay Sly and the Family Stone

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Soul Saturday If you want me to stay Sly and the Family Stone

Super groovy. Sly has a killer voice!

A legendary group from the past. Sly and the Family Stone made up of many family, Stone, members and a bunch of other cool cats.

I want this song to be my new “Walk Up Music” walking from the truck to the boat in the morning.

Or the Red Hot Chili Peppers version. Both really.

I’m down with the outfit. Kinda guide like. Floppy hat, albeit with holes in it. Some sort of scarf/Buff around the head and neck. Knowing you got game. Sure. For sure.

But rock stars are way cooler than fishing guides.

Have you ever seen the sticker that says…

Nobody cares that you are a fishing guide bro’

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Pick up the Pieces Average White Band

Pick Up the Pieces Average White Band

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Pick Up the Pieces Average White Band

I find myself singing this as we are walking around the shop shoveling snow from roofs, sidewalks, ice dams in the gutters, thinking about how to get the rental boats out from under the heavy white blanket, and dreaming of summer!

The air temps have been creeping from the basement the past couple days with some melt happening. The surface roads are clear. The parking lots and areas alongside the road are not. Still not a great time to head out fishing. But we will update you this week on the improvements along the river corridor.

Lots and lots of calls to the shop daily in regards the fishing scene. No scene yet fella’s. Maybe this week.

Making room for all of the cool spring gear that is flooding the shop. Flies galore, SIMMS, sage, Loomis rods, fly lines, sun gear, springtime fishing gloves…

The staff is bowling again today as we wait out winter. No fishing to be had, so we turn to bowling and beer. Closed early today for our staff outing.

I bet we are back on track late this coming week with shuttles, guide trips, and the like. The rental properties are ready to go for your Cabin Fever Guide Trips $400 starting this Friday!

While we continue to Pick Up the Pieces we hope you enjoy this video from The Average White Band.

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Izaak's Restaurant Craig Montana Hiring Staff 2019

Izaak’s Restaurant Craig Montana Hiring Staff 2019

Izaak’s Restaurant Craig Montana Hiring Staff 2019 Chef John @ Izaak’s Restaurant in downtown Craig Montana is hiring staff for the 2019 season. Cooks, waitstaff, dishers, bartenders…any and all are encouraged to spend the summer in a damn good fishing town. John is excited to open Izaak’s for his 8th summer and would love to … Read more

March 5th Missouri River Seasonal Status Update

March 5th Missouri River Seasonal Status Update

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] March 5th Missouri River Seasonal Status Update [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The water is high. The ice is too. Super High! Drove down the river today and it is higher than these photos tell. Flooding on some riverfront properties in the lower canyon. That little yellow boathouse you have seen in high water images above the big log … Read more

Madelyne Joan Templeton

Caddis Fest Poster Submission Madelyne Joan Templeton

Caddis Fest Poster Submission Madelyne Joan Templeton Poster submission for the 13th Annual Craig Caddis Festival and BBQ Cook-Off from Madelyne Joan Templeton. This years fest is scheduled for Saturday May 18th. Always the 3rd Saturday in May. We have several to choose from and the vote for the Caddis Poster comes alter this week! … Read more

Summertime Covers

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Summertime Covers

Summertime is a few months away. Shucks. Snowing hard in Craig today. And the week ahead. Not many hints of summer out there. The river is frozen. It is wintertime. Not Summertime!

Been singing this tune to myself for a month now.

Now, time to impregnate your brain with it.

A great one from the Gershwin’s/Porgy and Bess mid 30’s.

The inter-web states there could be 25,000 covers of this tune.

Sublime is a good one with the lyrics changed. All of the Jazz greats covered it too. The 3 Queens: Sarah, Ella, Billie. The Chairman of the Board. And beyond. Musicians in every genre will continue to cover this unreal tune composed 80 years ago.

A few of them below. I do like the Willie versions.  It did not appear on his historic album Stardust, although I though it did until I looked it up. Stardust/Nelson is amazing.

The Sarah Vaughn version is haunting. Miles Davis is great and the Summertime cover is no different. The Herbie Mann Album @ the Village Gate is unreal. And the cover is fantastic too!

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Friday Foto Is February Over Yet?

Friday Foto Is February Over Yet?

Friday Foto Is February Over Yet? Pretty tough to see your bobber in that ice and slush flow. But the sun is out today. And maybe tomorrow morning. Until the next snow storm hits us. And that will be Saturday morning, afternoon? We were busy yesterday shoveling the roof of the shop. Getting that snow … Read more

More snow, Hump Day, and Squeeky's unanswered questions

More snow, Hump Day, and Squeeky’s unanswered questions

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] More snow, Hump Day, and Squeeky’s unanswered questions Snow in the 10 Day Forecast More snow on the way. Currently snowing here in Craig with 3-5″ expected today into the evening. Not quite as cold coming in at 20F. That is OK with us. Had to plow out the shop and the cabins this … Read more

Pretty in Pink Happy Valentines Day

Pretty in Pink Happy Valentines Day!

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Pretty in Pink Happy Valentines Day!

Psychedelic Furs with todays Valentines Day nod. Classic 80’s.

Kiss your wife or girlfriend as you hand her the flowers. It’ll take the sting out of you mentioning your fall Blue Winged Olive trip to the Mighty Mo.

Happy Valentines Day.

More pink stuff below. Pink Lightening Bug Vid. Pink flies for sale online store. Did you see the Water Projection Update on yesterdays blog?

Enjoy your day.

Still cold here. -9F right now. Actively booking the spring summer and fall at the shop. We may not be open right at 8am but we are in the shop daily during the peak of the elating hours. 10-5ish. Julie always avail for add’l booking and depositing duties at 406-868-5473.

The Headhunters Dry Fly School has a couple more openings but nearly booked. Spring Special trips are out there and start in Mid March running through the end of April @ $400/day. Discounted lodging as well available in downtown Craig @ the Craig Trout Camp.

February is the boring-ist month of the year. Not much happening locally. Nothing really. As the air temps crawl out fo the depths we will begin fishing again. Looking forward to that for sure.

Happy Valentines Day from all of us here in downtown Craig Montana.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuWmsg-ihLg” video_title=”1″][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/122357219″ video_title=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_grid columns=”4″ orderby=”title” order=”ASC” ids=”11069, 30330, 30569, 29602, 30341, 29594, 31089, 11113″ post_type=”ids” no_items_message=”” items_layout=”shop_trendy” items_gap=””][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Walk Up Music. Apache. The Shadows

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Walk Up Music. Apache The Shadows

This is the tune I want playing as I glide from the truck to the boat.

Or after lunch when we mount up for a fast and furious afternoon.

It is already playing in my head but I would prefer it on the loudspeakers.

Then quiet when fishing.

What would be your walk up music to head out fishing? You know, just like a major league ballplayer. Walk up music![/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzgbcyfJgfQ” video_title=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Andy Griffith Intro

Andy Griffith Intro

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Andy Griffith Intro

Isn’t that the best TV intro of all time?

Father, son, black and white, throwing rocks, fishing poles.

Pretty good.

Shop closed today, and probably tomorrow. Below zero.

This happy song makes me think of summer. Warmer days ahead…[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvSXdO7SDCE” video_title=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Drift Boat Sledding

Friday Foto Drift Boat Sledding Throwback Image

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Friday Foto Drift Boat Sledding Throwback Image Sara sledding through town with a quick stop at Joe’s Bar winter 2010. Oh, the good old days. It is drift boat sledding time in Craig again this season. Will we see you sledding through town? We’ll see a couple inches of snow falling from the sky … Read more

Backcountry Film Festival Great Falls Feb 8th

Backcountry Film Festival Great Falls Feb 8th

Backcountry Film Festival Great Falls Feb 8th Join Montana Wilderness Association’s Island Range Chapter for the 14th-annual Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival, featuring ten short films that highlight the human-powered experience, and the importance of protecting and caring for our winter landscapes. 14th Annual Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival Friday, February 8 6 – … Read more

Headhunters Advanced Dry Fly School July 25-29 2019

Headhunters Advanced Dry Fly School July 25-29 2019

Headhunters Advanced Dry Fly School July 25-29 2019 What you’ve been waiting for this winter! We announce the Headhunters Advanced Dry Fly School July 25-29 2019! Yes, a few of your favorite guides we be teaching this Missouri River Dry Dry course. HH owners John Arnold and Mark Raisler along with long time Missouri River … Read more

Friday Winter Foto

Friday Winter Foto

Friday Winter Foto Winter visited us yesterday. A bit of sun followed by another spit of snow on Sunday. Should see anglers today and tomorrow. Fewer Sunday. Good to see a touch of winter. Have not had too much so far. IT’ll come. Some midges have been seen on the water this last week. Could … Read more