Casting

Tuesday Fly Casting Tactics w/ Simon Gawesworth

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Tuesday Fly Casting Tactics w/ Simon Gawesworth

A great tip from Simon Gawesworth fo RIO Line Company today. Tuesday here in Craig and all is well.

The fly shop staff is out on the casting lane often fine tuning personal casting issues. Should they be out there more often? Well I won’t criticize here on this blog. What I do know is that you cannot fine tune all of the casting changes you personally need to make while fishing.

Casting issues, changing your cast, improving your overall effectiveness with a fly rod in hand takes time. That time is now. That time is not with fly rod in hand casting at difficult bank feeders. In July. No, that is not the time to learn, that is the time to execute.

So a heads up, as I always remind you this time of year, is to practice now. Make those changes now.

Changes take time. It does not happen rapidly. It happens over lots of casting sessions.

The key to success on any of these learning objectives is to do lots of mini sessions. Do not try to do hour long marathons. Nope. Short 5-10 minute sessions will allow you to advance quicker. Long overdrawn exhaustive learning sessions are not smart. Regression will happen!

Get your practice rod out and get going. January is the time to begin the improvements.

I practice with the fly line I will be using to take it to the next level when I get to the “Show!” So I use the Headhunter Fly Line during practice on the lawn, with hoops for targets, to gain accuracy. First cast is the best cast, and the winter months is when and where you develop those skills.

Headhunters Guides including me, Squeaky Oar Lock, are available for casting lessons any time of the year. Call the shop today and get your casting lessons set up this spring!

Be better in 2021!

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Wednesday Workshop: How to get better at fishing, without fishing

Wednesday Workshop: How to get better at fishing, without fishing

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Wednesday Workshop: How to get better at fishing, without fishing We have lots of questions like “How can I get better at fishing?” Our answer is always watch more YouTube vids at work   Fish more. But if you cannot spend the amount of days that it truly takes to get to the next level of fishing, … Read more

Swing Tip: Anchor Placement

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There are a few critical components of a Spey cast that I like to emphasize in our trout Spey clinics, because they are the keys to troubleshooting when your cast heads south. Clinics, demonstrations, books and YouTube are all great resources, but they don’t offer much help while you are out on the water. Maybe your different, but when my cast falls apart I’m usually on the water, not in front of my computer.

I’ve had the opportunity to cast and fish with (and just observe) some great Spey casters in my life. All the great – and consistent – Spey casters I have spent time around have one thing in common. They are masters of anchor placement. And, they pay close attention to their anchor on every cast.

Most of us are stoked if we place our anchor in a target the size of a drift boat. Most of the time that’s close enough to keep us fishing. But the great casters are placing their fly in an exact spot when they set the anchor. Like in an area the size of a basketball. And they “watch” the fly into that spot. It’s not too far fore or aft, and it’s generally very close to them.

For novice casters, I recommend that you try and set your anchor within a rod length of you. You can get away with a rod length and a half, but we’re trying to improve, right? Get it close. You want that anchor to be lined up with your target, and generally even with your body position to whichever side you intend to launch from.

I won’t go into the “how” here, there are abundant resources for that, and everyone has a different opinion. But I will stress that you’re never going to be a great Spey caster if you “drag” your fly into position. You are going to have to aerialize that line to achieve close and accurate anchor placement.

These can be very touchy/Feedly moves, and you need to spend some time practicing. Mileage counts here, and you’ll be rewarded by taking some time from fishing while you simply practice setting the anchor. Each time you get in a new run, practice your anchor set 10 or 20 times before you begin practicing and fishing. As you move through the day, you’ll begin to develop muscle memory from both sides of the river, both shoulders, and in a variety of currents and wind directions.

Sounds boring for sure. But you will never be a great two-handed caster until you master anchor placement. I always encourage students to find their own style. There are plenty of great casters out there, and they all have different options of which way is the “right way”. Find the one that works best for you.

And the next time you’re struggling through a run, stop and focus on your anchor placement. Improving the anchor tends to improve the cast.

 

 

Hangman Spey Video – Mike McCune

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/215850449/settings/privacy” video_title=”1″][vc_column_text]Here’s a valuable casting video Mike McCune and I recently shot. Valuable because it is the spey cast I see Mike executing more often than not when we are trout fishing. I have had a number of customers ask me about this cast (it can be seen on other video’s Mike and I have done) and I often refer to it as Mike’s “Pendulum” cast, but Mike refers to it as the “Hangman”. The Hangman possesses a couple of very important advantages over other casts that Mike covers in this video.

This cast is especially suited to the short and light heads we use with our trout spey rods here in Montana. Many of our customers strive to achieve Mike’s completely effortless style of Skagit casting, and this cast is part of that formula.

More video’s from Mike and I coming soon.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Mike McCune – Perry Poke Video

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/193603477″][vc_column_text]If you haven’t had a chance to attend one of our clinics with Mike McCune – and wife Whitney Gould – this will give you an idea what it’s like to spend the day with him on the water. For those who don’t know, Mike is a longtime AK/WA/OR/CA Steelhead, Salmon and Trout guide. and one of the Godfathers of Skagit Casting and line design. We’re fortunate to have mike spend a little time with us each spring. Some of our staff go spend a little time with him each fall on the Grande Ronde as Dewey and Braden did last month.

Mike and I like to shoot these short videos while out on the river. No plan really, just pull the boat over, turn on the camera and let Mike share some knowledge from years of fishing and guiding. We usually pick a topic that we falls under “frequently asked questions”. He’s an excellent communicator and his visually descriptive terminology will help you become a better caster. I like to keep the camera close so you can watch his hands and feel the rhythm. Most viewers would prefer to watch a wide angle speycast shot from a distance, fluorescent line booming a hundred fifty feet over the water. But you’ll learn more by watching what happens inside the circle.

Here, Mike shows us how to perform the Perry Poke. To be specific, a downstream shoulder, right-handed, river left Perry Poke. Mike also shares some thoughts on ultra-short Skagit Trout heads, anchor point importance and more. When I go fishing with Mike here on the Missouri, this is the cast I see him performing most often. It’s a simple and effective cast. As Mike says, “it’s a good fishing cast”. Agreed.

If you’re interested in improving your spey casting skill set, watch it at least once. After that, turn off the volume and just watch Mike’s hands over and over again.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

I Said Delicate!

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you’ve been out on the Missouri chasing heads in the morning lately, you know that the fish can be tough. Super Snotty. And nothing frustrates anglers more than fish that go down on the first cast, even when it’s a good one! We’ve been hearing this gripe lately from the morning dry fly crowd.

There’s no doubt that our trout get a little wiser each year. And when the hatches are a little thin – as they’ve been lately – the fish seem to be that much more wary. Stealthy approaches are a necessity. Keep your feet or oars hushed while you get in position. Measure your line at least 45 degrees from the fish. And for Pete’s sake don’t pile it in on them!

While some fish just aren’t going to play no matter how well you do it (did Ben Hardy just leave the area?), others will if you do it right. We constantly harp on the importance of that first cast. And we’re usually stressing accuracy. But landing that line and leader delicately is just as important during late summer.

The simplest piece of advice to keep things landing lightly is to stop that tip high on your forward stroke. Sounds easy, right? It is, but it’s also one of the most common casting errors guides & instructors see, and also one that many let slip by in this era of bobber lobbing and chucking streamers (dropping your tip is a good thing when nymphing). Guides also let you get away with it because it’s one of the many things we repeat thousands of times a year (“set it!”, “mend”, “you’re going too far back”, etc.). Sometimes we just run out of words.

In the above image we see ex-Mo-guide Simon Perkins performing a delicate dry fly presentation. See where that tip is stopping? That’s how it’s done. As a result you can see his line and leader extended perfectly parallel to the surface. His line, leader and fly are all going to “parachute” down together and land as light as possible. No forward energy to pile into the river. All forward energy has been expelled in the air.

This one is easy to work on in the back yard. Use a fixed amount of line (usually no need to shoot much this time of year), and keep it on the short side. Think about the average distance you work a trico pod from. Likely around 40 feet. In a nice bouncy riffle, probably less. Use that amount.

Concentrate on stopping that rod tip high. This means your forward stroke will be short. Despite the Rev. MacLean telling you to perform the cast between 10 and 2 o’clock, you’re going to rein it in to 11 and 1. Real tight.

I also like to envision that line coming off the tip and straight out into the air. Not up, and definitely not down. Watch your rod tip and line at the end of the forward stroke, not your target. It will help.

Years ago a I heard a casting instructor (probably the late, great Mel Kreiger, but I can no longer remember for sure) tell the class to perform that forward stroke just like your hitting a nail into a wall right in front of you. Think about that. A short forward stroke with your wrist locked (we’re talking a framing hammer here) and an abrupt stop. Your hand is just above your shoulder. Tap, tap, tap. If you’ve never used a hammer (millennials?) go steal one from your dad’s tool chest and give it a try. You really can’t use a hammer wrong. If you do you’ll end up in the ER.

We’re on the early and late shifts right now, so you have plenty of time to practice this stuff in the afternoon. Muscle memory is key to good casting. And burn the above image into your mind.

If you just want to practice hammering, swing by the shop. You can work on the fence.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

MRDF 455 Lab Summer Quarter 2016

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MRDF 455. Lab only. 3-5cr.(days) Summer Quarter. Class location Missouri River Craig MT.

Missouri River Dry Fly 455. PREREQUISITE: An intense desire to learn. Examines and explores Missouri River dry fly technique primarily with mayflies. Dry fly casting techniques will include reach cast, slack line presentations, wind casting, double haul, down and across presentations, tiny fly pattern ID, low profile casting situations, stalking movement procedures. You will learn that failure is a big part of the learning curve. Requires early mornings, patience, GINK, Frog’s Fanny, line cleaner, and a couple beers in the cooler. Class size limited.

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Headhunters University

Education comes first

Our business is built on education. It is even in our mission statement. Entertainment, information, education, and customer service for the Missouri River trout angler. And we practice those values daily. Whether it be your 1st day to the MO or your 1000th we know that you are interested in bettering your game. Stepping it up. That is why we believe so strongly in angler education.

From our free Trout Spey Clinics in the winter months to our always free casting lessons on our casting lane here in Craig to fishing with our experienced tenured guide staff and into the fly shop where our fish driven staff will help you with all things trout. Headhunters Fly Shop is centered around education.[/vc_column_text][us_grid columns=”2″ post_type=”attachment” items_quantity=”” images=”16267,16270″ orderby=”post__in” items_gap=”4px” items_layout=”gallery_default” img_size=”us_600_600_crop” overriding_link=”popup_post_image” breakpoint_1_cols=”2″ breakpoint_2_width=”768px” breakpoint_3_width=”480px” breakpoint_2_cols=”4″ breakpoint_3_cols=”2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sound like something you might be interested in? Summer technical dry fly fishing. Mayflies are the primary vehicle to success with caddis, terrestrials, and other attractors too. But the focus is centered on figuring out the often frustrating mayfly stage and emulating it perfectly. Behaviors of the summer feeding trout will frankly dry you mad. If you enjoy any of the concepts above you might be ready.

Pale Morning Duns, Trico’s, March Browns, Blue Winged Olives, Callibaetis will keep you busy whenever your calendar allows you to visit our 35 mile long campus. Even if you didn’t have good grades in school this venue is very accepting. Although the trout do make the final evaluation!

Have you ever wanted to go back to college? Yeah, me neither. But, but you have never wanted to stop learning. Why not enroll at Trout U here in Craig Montana.

A ton of the annual returning Missouri River anglers book these time periods a year in advance. In fact, most who know of this affliction, who are admittedly infected, have been a fixture for years, a decade, or even a quarter century. Most of their adult lives in the same place, at the same time…yearly.

Winter fishing on the Mo is a bitch. Summer is not.

The dream time periods for the class above include June and July. Another good window of dry fly action in the middle two weeks of May which falls around the Craig Caddis Festival and BBQ Cook-off Saturday May 21st. Another great session in the latter part of October. August is good too, but you might call the class

MRAF 305. Lab Only. Summer Quarter. Missouri River MT.

Missouri River Attractor Fly 305. Hoppers, ants, and your favorite generic attractor patterns are in vogue in August. Long cast, high floating flies, and spectacular brown trout eats will keep you busy for the month of August. Tricky, difficult techy small dry fly fishing available in the mornings with your afternoons filled with the big fly. For big trout.

Headhunters encourages daily learning

Headhunters is the education location while in Craig Montana. The education leader on Montana’s Missouri River. Whether you’ll be joining us reading this daily blog, enjoying the videos on Headhunters TV, or enrolling in Headhunters Trout University for the 2016 school year. We are all about education.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_grid columns=”2″ post_type=”attachment” items_quantity=”” images=”16271,16269″ orderby=”post__in” items_gap=”4px” items_layout=”gallery_default” img_size=”us_600_600_crop” overriding_link=”popup_post_image” breakpoint_1_cols=”2″ breakpoint_2_width=”768px” breakpoint_3_width=”480px” breakpoint_2_cols=”4″ breakpoint_3_cols=”2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/101744402″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

It's time to work on your casting technique

It’s time to work on your casting technique

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It really is time. You have the rest of the winter to get it done. It only takes a few minutes a week. And, you will reap the rewards for the entire season.

A building block for even greater accuracy, distance, and fun on the water. So what is holding you back? You can certainly spare 10 minutes a week. Get yourself motivated for better fishing this year.

But you must ask yourself these questions first.

  • Do you want to become a better caster?
  • Conversely do you want to catch more fish?
  • Do you want it bad enough?
  • Do you want your buddies to envy your dry fly cast?
  • Do you want to cast with ease in windy conditions?

Or are you comfortable with where you are currently at? If you are you need not read this blog. Skip the re-runs of Christmas television and spend a couple minutes with your rod in hand.  Or if you are at work…stash your fly rod in your trunk and practice a bit at lunch. Good idea huh.

Speaking of the windy conditions question above. Most anglers have trouble even with the slightest breeze. Newsflash: It is commonly breezy in many fishing situations. So what can you do about it? Practice. Practice in the wind.

The wind, light winds under 15mph, should not affect your cast. But for most even the lightest wind, light winds under 5mph, really compromise 99% of anglers. Don’t let that happen to you. Learning a few basic techniques can let you rise above the conditions.

A double haul gives you the tools to rise above the wind. Most folks believe the double haul is for distance, and true it can help for casting farther. But the increased line speed that the double haul creates is even a better answer to windy conditions.

Some tips for becoming that better caster include getting yourself into a casting lesson with someone in your area. They are easy to find. Go to your local fly shop and ask them who they would recommend.

I just thought of the casting at lunch program. It really does make sense. Get outside and cast. It’ll be good for you body, your mind, and all those fish you have not met…beware!

Make a plan for your casting improvement this coming year. It can be your New Years Resolution. 10 minutes a week is all it takes to move to the next level of caster. To the next level off angler. And then, happy fishing. It’s really that easy…

 

Friday Foto

Friday Spey Foto

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A nice shot on Friday.

Friday Foto.

Looking good this weekend of rSpey Casting the Missouri.

We are The Missouri River Spey Shop.

Demo’s galore, lines too.

Stop in and see us for any of your single or two handed equations.

See you on the river on this fantastically beautiful weekend.