Headhunters Life

Things we do and see on the Missouri River Montana.

Vacation: Dirty Heads Video

Vacation: Dirty Heads Video

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Vacation: Dirty Heads Video You don’t like what you are doing…change it. You can control your life. You can choose the outcome. You can. You are in control. Saw the Dirty Heads Friday night in Missoula along with Pacific Dub, Movement and Iration. Just awesome. Live music is good for your soul. Dancing too. … Read more

Don't Let Me Down

Don’t Let Me Down

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Don’t Let Me Down

13K today.

Will we see dry fly flows this coming week?

Oh, don’t hold your breath. And, Don’t Let Me Down.

While we like the wonderful flows in the 5-6K range for the ultimate in dry fly angling, it is strange to see the water drop. The green hillsides, the mosquito’s, the creative fishing techniques, and the daily loss of flies. We will be sorry to see that go.

The high water brings life. It brings fat trout. It brings the lifejackets out. It creates conversation. It cleanses the river. It brings spring entertainment after a long and cold winter.

I’ve posted this vid before, I think. And if I have, so very sorry. Watch it again. The Beatles were certainly cool. Don’t Bring Me Down is a great tune.

Enjoy your Saturday. Look for the June Fly Fishing Forecast on Monday.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCtzkaL2t_Y” video_title=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Happy Mondays here at Headhunters Fly Shop

Happy Mondays here at Headhunters Fly Shop

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Happy Mondays here at Headhunters Fly Shop High water. Check. Sunny June Weather. Check. Green hillsides. Check. Happy Mondays? Check. Just another day on the river for us here in downtown Craig. The Dearborn is falling fast. And clearing up somewhat. It is not muddy, but yet, unclear at this moment. It is falling … Read more

Silly Saturday Scenery

Silly Saturday Scenery

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Silly Saturday Scenery 20K and fishing well. Nymphing well. We will wait another month for the dry fly to be in play. Until then we will be happy with a few nice brown trout. Rainbows too. Josh liked this one. Fished with Josh and Lance from Calgary yesterday. Fun times for sure. The river is … Read more

Silly Sunday Scenery Golden Retriever

Silly Sunday Scenery Golden Retriever

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Silly Sunday Scenery Golden Retriever Post Caddis Festival Sunday. We are resting. Well, after some additional clean-up this morning. Great day yesterday. Good turnout and not too much rain. A decent weather afternoon with some sun! Today I was awoken by sunny skies. Alas, the day after. One of those things that never happens in … Read more

Craig Caddis Fest & BBQ Cook-Off Saturday May 19th

Craig Caddis Fest & BBQ Cook-Off Saturday May 19th

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Craig Caddis Fest & BBQ Cook-Off Saturday May 19th Big day today. Or maybe this year we will see some sunshine for the entire event! That would be terrific. Lots of great live auction items on the block at 730pm Saturday Izaak’s Log Jam including… Original art from Christa HArdy Original art from Greg Meyer … Read more

High Water FAQ's

Missouri River High Water FAQ’s

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Missouri River High Water FAQ’s A short list today on the HH Blog. Sunny, 83F today. We love it. Rain Thursday and Friday. No rain, I hope, on Caddis Fest ’18 Saturday. Can I wade fish? Sort-of. Up at the dam there is some room. The paved and dirt road sides. Walk around up there … Read more

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day!

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Happy Mothers Day! Take your Mom fishing. If she usually rows the boat, it may be your turn. Respect that she nurtured you for all of those years and pay it forward. Moms, grandma’s, great-grand-moms and Mother-In-Laws too. Above with Guide Beth is My Mother-In-Law Andy Banks. Rejoice in the spirit of Mom today!  

It can be a circus

It might be a Circus

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It might be a Circus It might be a Circus out there this weekend. And in the following weeks ahead. Our Governor declared a statewide flooding emergency. We are not flooding here. We have 3 dams, and 3 lakes, feeding this river. She must be hungry because she is digesting plenty of water. This morning … Read more

Friday Foto

Friday Foto

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Friday Foto Shane Wilson drifting down the river last week. Laughing, fishing, enjoying the day. The weather is fresh, springlike, and fantastic. Visit us when coming to the Mo We’d love to meet you. We have Craig’s only Wi-Fi, cellular connectivity, and free coffee. Enjoy your weekend!

Dearborn Boat Ramp Work

Dearborn Boat Ramp Work

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Dearborn Boat Ramp Work Some work going on at the only county owned boat ramp on our river. This Wednesday at noon-ish. Will update tomorrow or tonight when we see what has happened. We believe that it is already finished and we will return to business as usual. Don’t know where they put those big … Read more

Silly Sunday Scenery Blackfoot River Off Color

Silly Sunday Scenery Blackfoot River Off Color

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Silly Sunday Scenery Blackfoot River Off Color Westside rivers are all out of shape. Maybe not today, not tomorrow, but this spring for sure. They have a bunch of snow lying in wait, in those hills, in those mountains. Lots. So the Mo will once again absorb the pressure from across the state. Displacement is … Read more

The tide is rising

Friday Foto The tide is rising

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Friday Foto The tide is rising Came up to 8480cfs yesterday. More coming on Monday. This wekend’s weather is gonna be warm! Calm today Friday and super windy Saturday. Decent Sunday. Rain and wind Monday. But no snow in the near future! Izaak’s open Wednesday thru Sunday so you can get your BBQ fix here … Read more

The snow is gone…for a short while

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The snow is gone…for a short while It came, it went. It’ll come again on Monday, then again later in the coming week. It was so very pretty Friday morning. A cleansing of the dirty snow and dust and mud that follows winter. I guess dust will be around this summer too. Wetter, and cooler. … Read more

Osprey Sunset

Osprey Sunset

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Osprey Sunset YEs, the Osprey have arrived. Last week sometime. I was away so I don’t know the exact date that our local fish hawks flew into town. Historically on the 30th, or 31st. I think they were a couple days late. This bitter winter held them up! The Missouri River Osprey are here now. … Read more

Summer Foreshadowing

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Summer Foreshadowing Looking at the end of winter today?  Maybe. Before we get to thinking about summer we have to get ourselves into spring. And that may happen this month? We sure hope so. A couple days of 60’s but not enough strung together to make much difference. We did have a bit of early … Read more

Brown Trout Like Snow!

Brown Trout Like Snow!

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Brown Trout Like Snow! Guide Shane Wilson and this fishy feller got on top of the heap Saturday while snowing and cold on the Mighty Mo. Good to great fishing on a daily clip. Midges? Sometimes. Gotta go to know. How will you know if you don’t go? Nymphing is really good. Streamer fishing is … Read more

Silly Saturday Scenery Wishing for Summer Edition

Silly Saturday Scenery Wishing for Summer Edition

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Silly Saturday Scenery Wishing for Summer Edition Snow on the ground today. Gone tomorrow? Maybe locally. We are looking at warmer temps for the coming week with daily air temps breaking the 60F mark. On the horizon are BWO’s. They should be just around the corner. But before that happens we need the water temps … Read more

Headhunters Spring Special

Headhunters Spring Special thru April 30th!

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Headhunters Spring Special thru April 30th! Our annual discounted guide trips and local Craig lodging have become quite popular. If we believe Oscar Wilde and his quote, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” then we are doing just fine. Our 8th year of the Headhunters Annual Spring Special … Read more

Aguas de Marco Elis Regina

Aguas de Marco Elis Regina

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Aguas de Marco Elis Regina

Waters of March.

That is where we are at. Higher at 6.7K  cfs and the fish have spread out a bit. Certainly tougher to find. Smaller sweet spots.

Streamer anglers have been finding a few though. Bigger and blacker seems to be one of the tips overheard at Headhunters this last weekend. Lots of anglers out there swinging, stripping, and looking for heads. A few of them out there too, but don’t hold your breath.

Ridding the reservoir of water in anticipation of some of that snow coming off front end of this week before we flirt with late winter storms upcoming towards the end of the week.

The Dearborn still blowing some mud into the river.

This version of Aguas de Marco is worthy. Elis nails it. Of course a tune by Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Waters of March runs through my head whilst swinging.

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Hump Day on the Mo

Hump Day on the Mo

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Welcome Spring! Hump Day on the Mo The new South Fork Skiff at rest. You can order yourself up one at Adipose Boatworks of Helena. Enjoyed fishing in this last week with Shane of HH and Justin of Adipose. A perfect craft for those minimalists. Of which, in this game, there are few. Lightweight, manuevable, … Read more

Dead Drifter on a Hoody

Dead Drifter on a Hoody

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Dead Drifter on a Hoody Our most popular Hoody with the Headhunters Dead Drifter art is back. Come by while supplies last. These really do go fast! Happy Friday. The weekend looks good for fishing. Swing on by and fill your cup of coffee and check not he hottest fly patterns on the river.

Friday Foto

Friday Foto Get your Lodging lined up image

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Friday Foto Get your Lodging lined up image Parked in front of Brown Drake Lodge swinging on Thursday. Got a couple here. You want to fish to a few trout sipping here in the mid Summer? Or in the fall for a trout spey run in your front yard? Pretty killer. I’d book it today, … Read more

"Hatred for guides overtaken by Massive Pink Flamingo Floaty"

“Hatred for guides overtaken by Massive Pink Flamingo Floaty”

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“Hatred for guides overtaken by Massive Pink Flamingo Floaty” Saw a few of these craft hanging from the Sam’s Club roof today. The first thing I thought of was “Hatred for guides overtaken by Massive Pink Flamingo Floaty”. Although the hatred for guides delivered by those who surf the Massive Pink Flamingo Floaty cruising down the … Read more

Silly Sunday Scenery

Silly Sunday Scenery

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Silly Sunday Scenery Blackfoot River Sunday morning. Image shot from Scotty Brown Bridge. Temperature 13F. Still winter on the westside too. But, air temps in Craig 47F today. Getting warmer all week long reaching the low 50’s. A couple dozen drifters floating the Missouri River Sunday. This window of nicer weather has allowed a much … Read more

Tying one on

Tying one on

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Tying one on Snow all weekend long. Snowed pretty hard last night. Why not, after our snowiest February in history we ay as well continue the theme for another month. Shane this last week tying on another trout spey fly. An olive leech. He then walked out and swung up a couple trout. I think … Read more

Squeeky's Fly Sort Update

Squeeky’s Fly Sort Update, including rants

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Squeeky’s Fly Sort Update Maybe half way through of my annual fly sorting, configuring, culling process. Certainly making headway. I’m finished with the PMD box most recently. Trico’s done. Worms and such box. Done. Tiny mayfly nimps, done. Scuds and sows. Yep, finished. Caddis ahead of me. And much more. A combining of some boxes … Read more

UMOWA plans Streambank Restoration @ Prickly Pear

UMOWA plans Streambank Restoration @ Prickly Pear

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UMOWA plans Streambank Restoration @ Prickly Pear Ed Note: This just in from UMOWA. Their first stream bank project on the Missouri River. Progress from our local watershed group. Congrats. Look forward to seeing more projects like these here on the MO! Upper Missouri River Watershed Alliance has completed plans for a full restoration of … Read more

Friday Foto

Friday Foto

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Friday Foto Shotgun Annie’s of Wolf Creek. The winter eatery in the canyon. Stop in and say hello, order a round, and enjoy a burger. Summertime too. Snow here this weekend. Nice today, mid 30’s. Winter returns Saturday. Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Mid February Missouri River Fishing Report

Mid February Missouri River Fishing Report

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Mid February Missouri River Fishing Report The short and cold version of the Fishing Mid February Missouri River Fishing Report. It’s cold out there. And in the water. 34F water temp. Somedays the air temp crawls over the water temp. Some days. A few midges on non-windy days. The last couple days gusts to 50mph. The … Read more

Caddis Fest '18 Poster Art Contest

Caddis Fest ’18 Poster Art Contest

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Caddis Fest ’18 Poster Art Contest Get those paintbrushes out and create some art of the annual Caddis Fest ’18 Poster Art Contest. Taking art submissions until April 1st. Send to mark@headhuntersflyshop.com and/or lynn@lynnkenyon.com. Got a few in the bag already with some great art from local painters. It could be anything really. Base your art … Read more

Craig Montana Winter

Craig Montana Winter

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Craig Montana Winter Best snow February in some time. It’s stark. Craig Montana Winter. Nothin’ happening right now. Phones ringing at the store. Booking ’18 Spring Special Trips, a bunch of summer, and a few fall… It’s stark out there.

Winter Storm

Montana’s Winter Storm and Water Predictions

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Montana’s Winter Storm Dumping right now as I write this Winter Storm Blog Thursday morning in Cascade Montana. Weather Underground says…snow expected, possibly heavy at times. Total snow accumulations of 2-5 inches are expected, with 8-16 inches expected in the mountains. Bring it. We love all of the snow! Makes for a more comfortable summer … Read more