A few dates to get into your calendar for the upcoming 2016 season. Headhunters events, community events, and hatch events that can make your vacation planning easier.
The water looks like it will be in the average range for the summer ahead. At this early point we feel that we can state that fact. But Mother Nature does make the call.
February
February 6th: Headhunters Free Spey Casting Clinic. Sold Out
February 10th & 24: Headhunters Fly Tying Night in America. Wednesday @ 6pm-8pm.
Midge Hatch: Can start in the middle of the month. We will keep you up to date here on this very site about the activity. Some epic hatches can get your dry fly mania going.
March
March 5th: Headhunters Free Spey Clinic. Sold Out. If any openings occur we will inform you here on this blog.
March 9th: Final Fly Tying Night in America @ the shop 6pm-8pm
March 15th-April 30: Spring Special Guide Trips $350. Our famous Spring Special for all to attend. Full day guided trips to knock the rust off.
March 15th-April 30th: Spring Special Lodging pricing. Call Headhunters today to get killer deals, 30% off, on Craig Trout Camp losing and other great Missouri River area lodging!
Midge Hatch: Continued Midge action throughout the month. Get your early season dry fly fix.
Skwalas?
April
Spring Specials all month long with Guide Deals @ $350 and area lodging discounts.
Blue Winged Olives: Late in the month. If water temps rise early we can see some BWO action earlier in the month. Look for 42F for the start of this historic spring hatch.
The big bugs may come too.
Great nymphing all month long. The streamer gang gets going too. Strip the big bug for the big brown trout.
May
One of the favorite months for the Headhunters staff. Good to great blind dry fly fishing and probably the best in streamer fishing. More big brown trout are caught in this month than any other. Meaning, the biggest brown trout.
March Browns: The middle of the month can bring out this early mayfly. The fish get kinda stupid for this bug. We love the March Brown hatch here on the Missouri River.
BWO’s: Good afternoon action for this twice yearly hatch.
May 20th: Montana Fly Fishing Film Festival. Headhunters hosted night before event at 8pm. Come enjoy some Montana made films, food, beer, and swag the day before the Craig Caddis Festival.
May 21st: Saturday the 10th Annual Craig Caddis Festival and BBQ Cook-Off. Big time event in Craig. Come one come all. Food, beer, live music, live and silent auction, parade…a good fundraiser for the Craig Volunteer Fire Department. Email Mark if you want to be involved, donate any auction items, or BBQ for fame! mark@headhuntersflyshop.com www.caddisfestival.com
June
Caddis Flies: The beginning of our favorite summer hatch. Get ready. One of the two busiest months on Montana’s Missouri River.
Pale Morning Duns: This 2 month hatch begins about the 3 week of the month. You want in?
June 18th: Headhunters Summer Solstice Party. A big time afternoon BBQ and party. Contests, swag, fun with your favorite Headhunters til dark. More on this as we get more planned. As you know, we love to throw a good party.
Brown Drakes: Late in the month. This short lived hatch brings out some regular visitors to the Mo.
July
Trico Hatch: Can get rolling on July 5th. Lower water years it can start earlier. Higher water years as late as the 4th week. Many anglers favorite hatch. An amazing Missouri River hatch.
July 4th Party: Another big time party at Headhunters. America’s Birthday. Afternoon BBQ with fireworks at dusk.
PMD’s, Caddis, ant and hoppers too: The best dry fly month of the year. Consistant dawn til dusk.
August
Dry flies all month long. Getting more difficult as the moth progresses. Some don’t like the month because of the weed growth in August. Techy dry fly anglers like it for the difficulty level. Not many anglers during latter half. Pretty quiet.
September
September 3rd: 2nd Annual Browns and Brews Craft Beer Festival. This afternoon even 4-8pm is bound to be one of the summers best. 6 local breweries will share their beer during this tasting event. Live and silent auctions, live music, and food vendors will round out this Saturday Labor Day Weekend event. Book your guides and lodging now for best availability.
One of the better nymph months. The angling pressure increases again as the kids are back in school. If the month is cold you can see some BWO action late. The Pseudocloeon comes and drives folks mad. A fun time on the river.
October
Some anglers favorite month. Historic BWO hatches have been down but the Pseudo’s are around. Streamer anglers like October.
BWO’s: Generally late in the month. Good to great dry fly fishing depending on the year.
Headhunters Fly Fishing School: These are in the planning stages and we will post soon about this idea. Families, dry fly fans and nymphers alike will find something to learn at these Headhunters sponsored schools.