Missouri River Montana Monday Fishing Report 8.24.20

August 24, 2020 by Mark Raisler

Missouri River Montana Monday Fishing Report 8.24.20 August. Our slowest two weeks of the summer season. Thanks last two of August. And we like it. The river is in tough shape as it moves through the mechanisms of warm weather, daytime highs, lower water levels, and weeds. As September arrives and passes so do the … Read more

Joe Walsh Rocky Mountain Way

May 18, 2020 by Mark Raisler

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Joe Walsh Rocky Mountain Way

Another installment of great Rocky Mountain music today on the Headhunters Blog. Today rocker Joe Walsh and Barnstorm with Rocky Mountain Way.

John mentioned this tune yesterday as a lock for the blog this week. I couldn’t agree more. A power rock

All good here in Craig Montana on the east slope of the Rockies. It’s Monday. A great weekend behind us with a fantastic dry fly weather week in front of us. Some wind mixed in as the daily air temps in the mid 60’s chance of rain, mostly overcast skies, and you? You coming soon?

Flows 4800 cfs.
Water temps 52F.
March Browns for another week or two? This fickle bug shows up, then leaves. May is the period.
BWO’s for another week or two?
Midges? Another month.
Mothers Day Caddis? Yessir. This two week event is happening, sort of. May 18th was one of my best dry fly days in the last 20 years. BWO’s, March Browns, and Caddis filled the day. Dry fly all day long. About 5 years ago. Burned in my memory.
Rumors of opening to out of state traffic fill our phone lines, thoughts, and conversations. The governor of Montana may speak towards the end of this week in regards to moving into Phase Two, and could bring news about the 14 day quarantine. We are hoping for June 1st as the lifting of travel restrictions. Call today and get your guide and lodging dates for this possible change in regulations.
The fishing is damn good. The nymphing is lights out. Sows and scuds with the mayfly playing a large role too. Caddis nymphs are rocking too below Craig. Upriver the normal fare. Downriver more options for those dunking flies couple with split shot.
The dry fly bite is what it is. If you are in the right place at the right time, with the right cast, you can get ’em. Planning is important if you are headhunting the fish feeding near the surface. The weather plays a big part in the eagerness of the trout. Overcast skies help the fish look towards the surface. They do not have eyelids and cannot squint. Overcast skies have no relevance in the hatching of insects. Sun and wind help dry the wings of mayflies, a requirement for flight, and therefore are stuck on the water for a longer period. Consequently more time for fish to eat them. Bugs do not hatch better, on overcast days. Some mayflies do hatch better in a rainstorm as the water tension is broken allowing easier movement from watery environs to our atmosphere.
The canyon is the most popular float in the past couple weeks. Then the dam. Followed by the remainder of the Missouri River reaches.
Guided trips out daily here at Headhunters Fly Shops and Guide Service. We are not fully booked as we generally are die to the travel restrictions. We have several of our top guides available right now through the rest of the month. We love Montanans in the boat! Give us a call if you’d like to fish the river this week during this timely dry fly session. It’s good. Yep.
Lodging available as well. Give Julie a shout, 406-868-5473 and get yourself booked.
Fly Shop open daily. Shuttles, lodging, guide trips, rental boats, casting lessons, DEMO ROD SALE, Best Flies Under the Big Sky!, Montana’s Trout Spey HQ, Jet Boat Trips, BlackStrap Face Masks, Buff’s, mega Sunglass selection, our friendly informational/instrucctional staff to help you catch more fish here on the Mighty Missouri River!

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Monday Snow Day, Trout Spey, & Shop w/Headhunters

May 1, 2019December 5, 2016 by Mark Raisler

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Monday Snow Day, Trout Spey, & Shop w/Headhunters Cold and snowing today here in the Missouri River canyon. We like it. While it is colder than most would like for tossing a fly into the famed winter waters of the Missouri River there will be a few tough guys out there making it happen. … Read more

Cyber Monday Fishing Report

November 28, 2016 by Mark Raisler

Cyber Monday Fishing Report Some of you are busy shopping online on this Cyber Monday. What are we doing here in Craig Montana? Filling orders not only form our web store but running shuttles, chatting with folks ’bout trout fishing the MO. That is what we do everyday! So no different on this Monday. … Read more

Monday Morning Missouri River Fishing Report

May 1, 2019September 19, 2016 by Mark Raisler

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Monday Morning Missouri River Fishing Report Marcie caught this bad brown on a tiny small olive mayfly. A sz 20! She is kicking off our Monday Morning Missouri River Fishing Report! Nymphing is on fire this week, and last, and the 8 weeks ahead of us still! Short leash, deep rig, or even in … Read more

Monday Morning Fishing Report 1.26.15

January 26, 2015 by Mark Raisler

All kinds of people around this weekend fishing Montana’s Missouri River. A bunch of anglers.

Why? The warm weather. Temps in the mid 50’s kept most interested all day long. Saturday the wind let down and remained dead calm most of the day. Remarkable. Windy in the am, then perfectly dead calm and overcast the rest of the day.

Sunday. A touch breezier! 59.6F is what the mercury topped on Sunday. Still warm out there! Water off color below Prickly Pear Creek. For miles. Check it out before putting in @ WC or Craig. It settles below the Dearborn River? GO figure. Dearborn frozen still. LPP running brown.

Today Monday. Nice and quiet, winter style. The phone is still ringing with 2015 summer guide and lodging bookings.

Looks like nice weather all week ling and into this coming weekend. See here in Craig daily if you are coming fishing or traveling through. We would love to chat about the winter bite.

Flies? Pink

Techniques? Nymph, swinging, or single handed stripping.

Where? Deep and slow.

Reach? Anywhere Dam to Prewitt Creek. Pelican Boat Ramp is still off limits, unless you got a long rope and 4WD. Dearborn can be sketchy too. The rest are in great shape.

Clayton and the gang rigging for Sunday fishing affair.

Lots of DEMO Rod action as many are trying several of our Two Handed Rods Demo selection. Top to bottom all you need in the Switch and Spey game for Montana and the west coast Steelhead Rivers. We have all kinds of Spey Lines too. VersiTips, Scandi, Skagit, VersiLeaders, PolyLeaders, and much more for the two-handed angler. The only place to get hooked up on the Mo’!

Craig Trout Camp is on sale all winter long. Rainbow and Brown Cabins for $125/night and the Craig House begins @ $150/2 anglers and $50/head beyond the first two. Beach House and Trout House on a seasonal discount too. Call our crack booking staff today to get in on super deal.

Most of the shelf ice is gone and the shore access is quite easy. A good time to come out and enjoy this mid winter winter break. We will surely have much more winter like weather ahead of us. More snow, sleet, rain, etc.

Shop open daily @ 8am for all your Missouri River needs. The only full time fly shop on the river. Book your 2015 reservation today if you would like to visit the Missouri this year. June and July are almost gone. Honest. September fading. Book today.