September Fishing

5 Hot September Tips for the Missouri River Fly Fisher

5 Hot September Tips for the Missouri River Fly Fisher

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What to do when your September fishing day goes soft? How about a few tips to get the blood flowing and the mind searching for the next best thing. 5 Hot September Tips for the Missouri River Fly Fisher Look for heads in the morning. Hold out Trico’s are still around and we not only … Read more

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 9.28.15

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The bulleted fishing report this Monday morning to get your engines running…

The weather is taking a turn for the better, meaning not as much sun, this week and the fish and fishermen will applaud this fall-like change.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 9.27.15
Temps dipping…we need overcast!

The streamer anglers are arriving but they are not seeing the kind of inclement weather that they truly love. The two handers are getting revved up too and I think we will see some more about the newest in two-handed gear from John this week. Check out the OPST gear from a blog this last week.

Here is the Monday Morning Bulleted Fishing Report…

  • The high and bright sun is bullshit. Not good for those unprotected fishy eyes. Mornings and evenings prove to be good fishing times. We lean towards the evenings because of the baby baetis that can provide some good dry fly action.
  • Short leash the evening bite as well. The bugs can bring the fish nearer the surface and therefore the ‘shorty’ can be the key. A PT, GRHE, Rainbow Czech, Purple or Gold Weight Fly, WORM or something like that for the lead fly. We like a sow, small mayfly like the S&M, Micro May, Indigo Child, Red Headed Step Child, LGM, Pearl LB, Purple LB, Magic Fly, Ju-Ju BWO, and more. We got lots of Palsa Tabs in stock for your Short Leash pleasures.
  • The entire river fishing well. Your choice. Longer floats can let you skip some of the softer water. The faster paced water has been producing better than the pond like areas. Get ’em in and watch them for the soft takes we have seen in those faster lanes.
  • The traffic has picked up and Saturday was pretty busy. This week ahead? Don’t really know. We are moving out of September into a historically slower month of October. You coming?
  • A good time to get that new dry fly line on your rod. BWO’s on the horizon. Good presentations should be on your radar. We have the entire line of RIO Fly Lines along with Wulff, Airflo to compliment your favorite fly rod.
  •  Missouri River flows are below 4K at 3760cfs and water temps hiving around the 60F mark. Water temps falling as we move into the real fall period.
  • Shop open open day @ 7am for shuttles, flies, fly lines, fall clothing, HH logo wear, gloves, demo two handed rods, the only spey line selection in the canyon, and SIMMS gear.

Weekly Hatch Schedule for Early September

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Things, meaning the bite, are looking up this early September and partly due to the number of bugs around.

Funny huh?

Still some damn good Trico fishing in some areas. A good spinner fall can bring the fish up top. Many have been seen aggressively feeding on those late generation micro insects. Mostly a morning gig but I have seen the fish contently fishing on dead Trico’s as late as 1 or 2pm. Keep your eyes peeled and find those hungry fish.

And in conjunction with the lighter traffic those fish have not been bumped off the shorelines or those shallower water lanes the fish will be holding in their favorite top water feeding zones.

After the white winged black’s leave the water the Callibaetis have been showing well. Spinners and duns can both produce good takes. We have a several patterns in stock for your bigger fly love.

Skittering caddis are around too. We get this late season smaller caddis, smaller than the giant October Caddis, that can bring some fish crashing and slashing the surface. Drop the hook and get out your caddis box when you see this kind of behavior exhibited by our wildly reproducing trout population. Tan and sized 16. All you need to know.

Can you skitter your fly?

The Pseudo show begins int he afternoon as well. In the rain this previous week they really got rolling. Inclement weather will bring the fish to the bug. They do not respond as well in high bright sunny conditions.

We are hoping for a cooler September than we have experienced in the last few years. Rainy, wet, and overcast for both September and October please.

Do your fall conditions dance before you head out to the Mo this season. Do it in your living room. In front of your family. The goofy-er the better. If you appear like you have fallen off your rocker your family may send you out of the house and you can then escape to the Mo.

We will welcome you here in Craig. We encourage dancing in the streets. On the river too.

The hot flies for the surface are outlined above. The subsurface game? Craw’s, Weight Flies, Sows, Scuds, Hare’s Ears of the larger variety, Peep Shows, Cheesemen emergers, LGM’s, Purple Lightening Bugs, Old School LB’s, and more.

Still some hopper bites out there as well. This week will be warmer than the last and we should have a few more weeks of the big fly staying int he realm of reality.

New fall hours for the Headhunters Fly Shop 7am-8pm. Open first and open last.

See you out here in Spetember. One of our fav months on the Missouri River.

But I will let you in on a secret…we like most!