$300 Guide Trips

Headhunters Missouri River Fishing Report 4.2.15

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Missouri River Montana Fishing Report reporting some of what happened this last week on the Mo from the Dam to at least Pelican Point. Some anglers below towards Cascade as well.

Lodging in Craig is booming and Izaak’s is open for the season! Izaak’s open daily @ 3pm for cocktails and dinner at 4pm. Stop in Craig for your full service experience. They will be closed Mondays through April but open the rest of the week. Joe’s is always open for your late night hang!

The fishing is getting better as the days pass by this spring. Consistent fishing is arriving as the the grass becomes greener. Nearly all businesses open in Craig. Almost. The Taco Cart not up to speed quite yet.

The weather sours starting today while the trout wear bigger smiles.

Headhunters Missouri River Fishing Report 

Hot hatches on the horizon include our generally good spring baetis and the continuance of midge flies. Both will be gracing us with daily emergences this coming week. A few BWO’s out and about this last week. Meaning a few, like 3 seen recently. More to come soon. In conduction with the snow flurries panned for the week ahead? Maybe. You’ll just have to be here to witness it.

Bigger flies on the surface as well as our spring stones can be found under rocks too. Still a month out from the March Browns. Let’s play with the existing insects first.

Nymphers are out daily fishing all the way from the dam to ? How low can you go…

Streamer anglers stripping as well from top to bottom. Dry lines, intermediate tips, and some who like to go deeper yet. Hickman’s and Coffey’s and Kraft patterns are getting it done. Come by for the streamer super store in Craig. Open daily for your streamer fantasy at 8am.

Water temperatures continue their climb and stall occasionally. Like today, tomorrow.

Flows are in the lower 4K’s. Hiccuping this week is what we may see.

On the rise.
On the rise.

The weather will screw with us in the next few days. Check out the forecast and/or call us for the up to the minute fishing and weather reports.

I for one am packing a few Thermos’ products in my boat today along with hand warmers and a few pair of KAST gloves. W shave both the Raptor and Steelhead models for your spring fishing pleasure. Try the SIMMS ProDry as well. The HH staff love these as  well!

Lots of winter and early spring pieces in stock at Headhunters. We truly are your Missouri River Spring Specialists! While the rest are still ramping up we are in full spring swing. Stop in for a hot cup of Joe and fill your Thermos on us. See you before and after your wintery weather

My Day with Nick and the Fish Magnet

My Day with Nick and the Fish Magnet

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Ed Note: This article sent to us by Headhunters Fly Shop friend Terry Armstrong in regards to their annual guided trip through Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service during the Spring Special. Headhunters Guide Nick Stipech is the guide in this story and a strong asset of our guide team. Thanks to all for participating and to you Terry for writing and fro you Gigi for becoming the fish magnet!

My Day with Nick and the Fish Magnet | Terry Armstrong

This year’s trip started the night before with us making sure all our needed gear and then some was packed and ready to go. We packed two 5 wt graphite rods; one was my old reliable workhorse rod a Sage RPL that has been with me over 25 years now, and the other my wife Gigi’s Winston.

Then just in case this happened to be the day the fish started poking their noses out and sipping on midges and BWO’s I threw in the Sweetgrass Mantra bamboo rod I bought last October and haven’t had much opportunity to fish with yet. Then I gave some serious thought to throwing in the 8wt streamer rod for good measure. I couldn’t help at least thinking about it. It’s the streamer junkie in me.

The rods where then followed with an assortment of other items deemed necessary for a day on the water in late April. Hats, gloves, handwamers, rain gear, and of course the condiments: wine (for her), bourbon (for me), and cigars.

We arrived Sunday morning at 8am in the thriving metro Craig area. Town was buzzing and the Headhunters Fly Shop parking lot was wriggling. To be honest I really didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the town except for a brief whimsical gaze in the direction of Joe’s Bar. We met up with Nick, our guide for the day, was already there and waiting.  We exchanged pleasantries, decided on section of river to float, and transferred gear from our vehicle to his.

We started at the Wolf Creek Bridge without incident.  Just the last minute usual trips to the little unisex concrete bathroom. I have to admit it is nice having someone rigging rods for you and putting the boat in the water while you light a cigar and enjoy the view. Or in Gigi’s case…wandering around the area contemplating possible hiding places for a Geo-cache reportedly in the immediate area.

The boat was launched and so began our day on the water. It was a great day of nymphing with a long leash and some scud imitations. Gigi as usual caught at least 2 fish to my one, and probably even better than that, but who’s counting?

On many occasions Gigi had a fish on before I even had my line all the way out. Chicks rule and she was a fish magnet on the water. The fish are definitely becoming more energetic with the warming water temps. Didn’t get a look at the backing but came close on a couple of occasions.

We were into fish all day long with mostly sunny skies and cool temps 40 to 50 degrees. The big “W” reared its ugly head at times but had an adequate number of merciful reprieves to keep the day fun. Half-way through the float I was thinking this was going to be to short of a day that we should have chosen a longer float, but by the time we reached Spite Hill to take out I had caught plenty of fish and was more than ready to bring a great time to a great end.

 Gigi being the show off, and a fish magnet…she caught one last fish as we headed to the takeout.

Once again I ended a day of guided fishing as a slightly better angler then I started with a few more tidbits of knowledge added to my 35 plus years of experience. It never ceases to amaze me how little I know. After fishing the Missouri River 50 plus days a year for 35 plus years I still am learn new things every time I fish with someone else or read a book.

This was my fourth guided trip in my life and my third on the Missouri and I have ended each trip a little better angler than when I started. Thanks to Headhunters Fly Shop Nick Stipech for a great day.

Missouri River Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.30.14

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

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

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

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

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

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

[forecast]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.28.14

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

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

[forecast]

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

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.28.14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.26.14

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

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

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

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

[forecast]

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

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

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.26.14

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

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

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

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

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

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

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.24.14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missouri RIver Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.24.14

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

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

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

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

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

[forecast]

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

 

 

 

New Breed Chicks Rule #547

New Breed Chicks Rule #547

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New Breed Chicks Rule #547.

Lisa has always been a New Breed Chick. And she Rules.

Thanks for coming on out Lisa and fishing the Missouri River.

We will see you later this summer!

We love women anglers! They are the best. We also have female guides that will guide you or your wife. Give us ahsout.

New Breed Chicks are everywhere and welcome here in Craig.

Missouri River Monday Fishing Report

Missouri River Monday Fishing Report

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

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

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

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

Missouri River Monday Fishing Report

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

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

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

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

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

[forecast]

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

Open daily @ 8am.

Saturday Missouri River Fishing Report

Saturday Missouri River Fishing Report

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

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

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

Saturday Missouri River Fishing Report

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

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

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

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

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

[forecast]

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

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

 

 

Top 10 Tips for Higher Water Success

10 Tips for High(er) Water Success

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

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

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

10 Tips for High(er) Water Success

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

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

 

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

 

 

 

New Boat Smell

New Boat Smell | Tax Day Edition

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It is the time of year when we see a ton of new boats coming out to the Missouri River for the inaugural float.

Why not christen your craft on the Missouri?

This is one more of the many new boats we see on the Mighty Mo every year.

Dump your boat in the Holy Waters, stay at the Craig Trout Camp, and eat at Izaak’s, drink at Joe’s.

A perfect weekend.

New Boat Smell

Do you have a new boat ordered for the 2014 year? Why not? Most of America is flat broke on this Tax Day. A great day to get on the horn and order yourself a deduction for 2014? Right?

You can top it off with a $300 Guide Trip with Headhunters. A $400 trip at Land of the Giants.

While we love the Adipose Boatworks Flow Skiff we are looking forward to the arrival of the NRS Inflatable Drift Boats, the Freestone Drifter. You can read more about it here as we tested and reviewed this boat last August. We are promised they are in the mail en route to Headhunters, the funnest fly shop in the world. Maybe today? Maybe.

New Boat Smell
Get yours at Headhunters Fly Shop

We will post here on this informational blog about the arrival, the first build, and the New Boat Smell that will surely ensue. We will have one, the NRS Freestone Drifter, for demo and you too can get on board with the hottest new boat of the young 2014 fly fishing season.

So if you like either and Adipose, a Hyde, a Clackacraft or one of these new babies above get your New Boat Smell out on the water for everybody to smell. Truly, one of the better aroma’s we can think of!

Happy Tax Day to you all. We hope your day includes a delicious lunch courtesy of Uncle Sam. Write it off. It is the American way.

No?

Clean fishable and open

Clean, fishable, and open

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

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

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

Clean fishable and open
On the fall. Little Prickly Pear graph looks the same.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nymph of the Week: Pink Scud looking fly.

Streamer of the Week: Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow

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

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

Dry Fly of the Month: Skwala

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.11.14

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Friday, Friday, Friday.

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

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

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missouri River Weekend Weather

[forecast]

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

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

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

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

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 4.5.14

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

The sun.

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

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

Just weak black coffee and a handful of streamers.

Streamer Fishing Report

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

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

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

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

Dries?

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

Nymphers Dee-Light

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

Missouri River Weekend Weather

[forecast]

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

Water Levels and Temps

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

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

Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service

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

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

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

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 3.28.14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

Missoiuri RIver Montana Fishing Images

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 3.23.14

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

You like apples?

Tumultuous and wonderful all in the same breath.

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

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

Your best bet is your best bet.

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

Just one question.

When you comin’?

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

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

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

Check out the forecast and plan accordingly.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 3.23.14

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

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

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

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

Everybody has their weakness.

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

[forecast]

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

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

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

Tributaries are clean and clear and no problems there.

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

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

 

Spring Training Spring Fishing

Spring Training Spring Fishing.

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Love spring. For some the favorite season of the the year.

The grass in becoming greener, the snow is less frequent, the refreshing smells of spring, smiles come easier, and we become comfortable enjoying the longer afternoons and rising temperatures.

The beer on the porch seems to add a spring in our step too! Soon, the BBQ will come out of storage and fire up!

Spring Training Spring Fishing

A pleasant time of the year for all. A time of year to find the pile of fly rods in the corner of the garage and dust it off.

I love Mariner’s Baseball and a number of you like your local teams as well. Peter is an A’s fan, Ben is a Boston fan, Ninch, Stipech and Matula are Detroit fans…who do you root for?

When the Pitchers and Catchers report to spring training I get excited. Excited for the spring baseball, for the daily games on the television, for the awakening of summer. Spring is the precursor to summer. The snowpack is foreshadowing a great water year. Great water years produce lots of trout based on the spawning recruitment. More water creates more habitat for insects.

It’s all good.

The rhythms of baseball and the rhythms of guide life have numerous parallels.

A daily game. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. You play for the sake of playing. You truly enjoy the process, the skill sets, the luck quotient, the sun on your face, the camaraderie amongst fellow guides and anglers, the repetivenss of the cast, the beauty of the sport, the intricacies of the flies, the mechanics of the drift, the minutiae that fly thread coloration makes, the same damn ham sandwich, the opportunity to learn, the length of the Missouri River summer which lasts as long as the major league schedule, the privilege to experience this world class resource on a daily basis.

It’s all good whether it be Spring Training or Spring Fishing.

How are you looking and feeling this spring? Good? Get out the glove or get out the rod and begin to enjoy the season that is upon us.

 

 

Headhunters is again offering the Spring Special. Feel like getting your Spring Training started? $300 Guide Trips and lodging starts @ $100.

 

Friday Foto Fishing Report

Friday Foto Fishing Report

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The water is up since the last report, since the last weekend, since the last snow and wind and rain events. Tonight? The Fly Fishing Film Tour stops into Great Falls at the Hilton Garden Inn @ 7:30pm. But the action gets t-rolling about 4:30pm with beers, contests, the best deals on gear all year … Read more

300 Missoiur River Guide Trips

$300 Missouri River Guide Trips | Headhunters Spring Special

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Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service Annual Spring Special begins March 15th and runs thru April 30th. $300 Guide Trips with your favorite Headhunters Guides. Try on our LOG Trips for $495 with Captain Ryan McCourtney. Yep, Ryan says bring it on. “Fishing is just great in April and I want to introduce a few … Read more