Missouri River Fall Fishing Forecast 2020 Bring on the cloudy, wet, and snowy fall weather that we just love in October. Let’s not wait until November. We do want it in November as well but the October time frame will suit us just fine. But we are looking for the perfect day as described below… … Read more
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
Friday Foto Great Fishing on the Mo! BWO’s off daily. The little ones. Saw the bigger ones this week too. Not the 16’s. The 18’s. More on the way. Ending September and moving gleefully into the 10th month. October rules. September is leaving us. We’re good. We thank the two previous months for breeding the … Read more
Missouri River Fishing Report April 29th 2018 Not normal Missouri River fishing. Lower than average catch rates. Difficult situations. Fluctuations in the water couple times a week. Swollen feeder creeks like the Dearborn and Little Prickly Pear. Lots of boats. No wade fishing to speak of. That is our reality. And we are one of … Read more
New Years Day Missouri River Montana Fishing Report starts out with cold air temps.
The Umteenth (21st) Annual Craig Polar Bear Plunge is at High Noon today a the Craig Boatramp. Were you there? Do you wish you were? Do you feel that wading in the river in mid-July is nearly the same thing…except your toes don’t shrivel up?
Water temps are cold at 33.5F and flows at 3180cfs. The slush factor while this last week was nearing defcon 8 it has been reduced to a reasonable defcon level of 3. Looked fishable to Prewitt Creek as I traveled the river road yesterday. The shelf ice does continue to grow as the high temps for this last couple weeks do not reach much beyond the mid 30’s. Most of th time in the mid 20’s. Looks like more of the same for the week ahead.
We have been locked in this winter pattern for nearly a month. Hi’s in the 20’s and 30’s with light snow a couple days a week. Night time lows anywhere from barely above zero to the mid teens. Winter for sure.
The fish are in the true winter lanes. The softest and slowest moving water you can find. Lots of shelf ice on most of the great insides so be damn careful out there. Watch for the floating ice islands. They can level you, put you down, make your day turn a direction you do not want.
Fool around with a handful of pink flies for the bobber gang. Fool around with a bit of flash for the swingers. Both of you find the soft and soggy winter haunts and stay there. Find good road spots so you can warm yourself up after your feet become the shape of ice cubes. The car heat can thaw them of stop into Uncle Joe’s for something a bit stronger. Sometimes the heat needs to start in your belly!
Happy New Year to all the Headhunters out there. We are looking into the future and what do we see? Who knows? We are guessing that it will be filled with water, bugs, and big dry fly eating trout-skis.
All the best to you and yours as we greet the new year of 2016.
November is one of our favorite months. Why? Well, as you know we’ll tell you. A list of the things happening during this early winter spell.
No people. Very few anglers. If it is at all above 30F we have some good ‘ol locals fishing. Locals and regional folks get after it in November and December, and anytime the mercury is above that 30-40F mark.
No people. Very few anglers. Did I mention that?
More overcast days. The percentage of overcast days is great that nearly any other month in the Missouri River calendar. Fish like overcast days. They do not have eyelids and cannot squint. Streamer fishing is much better. The trout can lie in the shallows for longer each and every day. The fish like to get up on the secondary shelf and feed. Both for the dry and the streamer attack!
Headhunters Guide Service Winter Pricing
$495 through the month of November for regular guide trips. The Single handed rod version. Start @ 9am and fish til dark. All gear, fly rods, terminal tackle, flies, lunch, hot and cold beverages included. An empty river included too.
$300 Spey, 2 Handed Swing Special. Guided Two-Handed Spey Trips on the Missouri River with the Headhunters gang. Experienced instructors, great fishing, and all equipment included. It’s time to learn a new facet of fly fishing. Why not learn with a baby spey rod and catch a few trout swinging streamers. Pretty damn fun. And a bargain rate of $300!
$400 Guide Trips December 1st through March 14th. The key to your Missouri River success? Solace. Quiet river scene. Fish all winter long for big rainbows. Mostly nymph fishing and some dead drifted streamers with some swinging too!
We like winter here in central Montana.
Shorter days. Later starts. Both of those things get us fired up. The steaming hot cocktail tastes even better after a good November day on the water. Izaak’s is closed for the season. You will have to get your Hot Toddy @ Joe’s.
The Oasis may be open for dinner. The Frenchman and Me is certainly open and always is. The most consistent restaurant hours on the river. Joe’s Bar always open. Pizzas and beer. What more do you need.
Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service open daily @ 8am. Open all day long all 7 days all winter long til 6pm. The full service shop open everyday.
Headhunters is your Spey Rod Headquarters in Craig on the Missouri River. We have DEMO RODS from SAGE in the Method and the One, ECHO 3’s, Thomas & Thomas 2 Handers that many love, Orvis Clearwater Rods that are reasonably priced. A bundle of DEMO SPEY LINES from RIO and Airflo. HH is your Trout Spey Destination. Call or stop in for any questions about lines, preferred spey trout rod lengths, or demo rods. We got it all. Versi Leaders and tips for you too.
Spey Trout Guide Special is $300. Learn about 2 handed casting with Trout Spey and Switch Rods in a guided trip environment. Learn and catch trout on the Missouri River all in the same day.
December brings the 1st Free Two-Handed Clinics. Sign up in November to insure your spot in these always well attended free spey clinics. A classroom Powerpoint presentation by John in the morning with donuts and coffee followed by the afternoon casting session that goes as long as you want it to.
Craig Trout Camp Winter Pricing
Craig House. Sleeps 6 anglers. 3 BR, 2 bath, large kitchen fully stocked with all you need for cookware. Lots of room to stretch and a couple nice leather couches to watch the Sunday game on. Satellite TV, BBQ too. Base price of $150/night for 2 guests, add $50 per head after that.
Brown Trout Cabin. $125/night for up to 3 guests. 2 beds, one futon. Satellite TV no kitchen. BBQ avail if you need.
Rainbow Trout Cabin. $125/night for up to 3 guests. 2 beds, one futon. Satellite TV no kitchen. BBQ avail if you need. Just like its neighbor Brown Trout Cabin.
Ask about other Craig rental properties and winter discounts. We are your 12 month lodging booking experts.
Book today for the best of the year!
A good time to book your 2015 Fly Fishing Vacation. Choose the best in lodging @ Craig Trout Camp and CraigLodging.com November is the time to get this done. The best selection for both guides and certainly river housing. Browse adn choose today. Get your fishing vacation in the books today.
Lots happening in the next month or two. Lots of fishing to be had for you regional fly fishing folks. Lodging, guiding, clinics, and your favoirite destination fly shop. Black Friday is coming soon. Don’t forget to pick up a couple gifts while in town. We got everything you favoirtei angler might need.
How about a Gift Card? Can’t go wrong with that item…
Streamer Fishing is popular this month. Come on in and see the acres of streamers@ Headhunters. We have all you need for tips, streamer lines, streamer info.
Hot flies for the month have been the good old black bugger. Coming back hard is the trio of Skiddish Smolts. Zonkers still damn good, Micro Zonkers really fantastic. The other side of the coin is the large fly. Yes, for you large fly lovers…the large fly is hot! And we got ’em @ Headhunters.
Along with the November Streamer bite is the perpetual shit hot nymph fishing. All winter long. Get used to it. Months of the bobber. For the best info on the river with the fishiest staff in the tri-county region stop on in for our tips for nymphing success.
Not pink yet, we got another month or two. Scuds, sows, along with the tiny micro may stuff and midge pupa.
The Missouri River is a dry fly river. Not a ton of excitement as of late, but today is damn cold and snow is in the air. So today it could change. We will let you know tomorrow how things are going.
Missouri River November Fact Sheet
Shuttles Daily. Headhunters is your 7 day a week fly shop in Craig.
Guides available every day of the year!
Fresh flies. Always @ Headhunters.
Winter Lodging available. 5 properties right in Craig for rent. The largest summer seasonal selection of lodging on the Missouri with 21 properties! Accommodations for 1-12 anglers.
Swing Season is in full effect. Your Missouri River demo center with all the rods from SAGE including the 2 handed Method and One.
Open 8-6 Daily. Call for an up to the minute fishing report 406-235-3447 or 877-DRY-FLYS
Halloween is beyond us and that signals the end of the month.
It is over. Now we move into the hopefully cooler and cloudier month. A month that we encourage.
So, the water temps are falling, albeit slowly. Today they are falling as we look past the weekend which the air temperatures are falling too. Snow maybe? That would be cool.
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Streamer Fishing pretty can be on any given day damn good. Toss them all day long and you will find a few nice fish. Sometimes a bunch. And then, sometimes…
Try Halloween colored flies to find Halloween costumed brown trouts.
We are into full November mode already. Store open daily 8-6 with full services like lodging, fishing guides, and retail. Shuttles daily too. We are here full time.
Nymphing is excellent. Going toward the pink side in another month. But until then we got lots of BOW nymphs, sows and scuds,
Dries? Still not enough. But we are scrolling our fingers. This weather could knock a few loose. Sunday brought light snow and some rain. Cooler temperatures for sure.
That is pretty much the fishing report. If you like solace not he river and not too many, if any, other boats in your run, now is the time to be here.
We have a smattering of guided trips out this month. Remember the $300 Spey Trips for all day of Spey Casting here on the Missouri River. Some tuna while taking advantage of a full day of learning.
We will have the full November and December calendar and winter pricing schedule out later this week. Maybe Friday. Look for deals all the way around as we encourage winter fishing here in Craig.
Check out the temps below. Still moving in the right direction for bugs. The baetis have yet to show. Hmmm…Flows are holding in the 4.2K range and will hold, as they have for a long time. The month or two in front of us. That is the schedule that FWP, DNRC, and PPL are planning. The water temps at 52.5 currently and will drop this week ahead some more. Maybe 1.5 degrees.
Today we are having the first cold weather in a decade. Or so it seems.
We have had themost pleasant fall that many can remember. Sunny and 70F. Standard for the 2014 season.
Today it changes. We command it to change. While this never works the timing of the storm could be the catalyst to get out true baetis out of its shell. Will it actually work? Golly, we hope so.
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We have not truly gotten into the period of the year, most of the winter and spring, where the weather will dictate the day. We still have all of November and some of December to get through. The days of November can be so very pleasant. And, no people around.
Wide open dry fly flats…
Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.27.14
Dry Fly Fishing
Dry fly fishing continues to be relatively limited throughout the day. If you are into posting up on classic sippers near the bank it has been somewhat limited. But you can go out and seek them out. Go first or go last. Those are the two methods to bank sipping success.
Or just have a better hatch. Really today could be the start. Let’s hope.
Blind dry fly fishing will get you a look or three per mile. Good enough to keep most paying attention. Caddis or a mayfly patterns can work. A skittering big orange caddis has been known to work this past week too. Yep, still.
Many would say that this October has seen the best blind October dry fly fishing in the past several years. Still going…
Streamer Fishing on the Missouri
Good to great depending not he reach, the angler, and the day. Good to great days have been heard and had by all.
The secret? Mostly slow stripping, or the pause. You can strip it fast too, but the fish have been interested in the pause. Or dead drift that SOB. Do it.
Smaller flies like baby sculpins, mini Sculpzillas, small black buggers, micro Zonkers, tiny leeches…or go big if that is your game.
The most popular of the fly lines include both he dry line or the 10′-15′ clear intermediate tips from RIO. We got them all int he shop if you need some help. Those truly savvy streamer dudes have a couple if not three streamer rods rigged. Just like those bass fellers. They have several rods at the ready. Why wouldn’t you?
Nymphing the Mo
Oh, it’s good. Use your normal fall or winter rig. It’ll work.
Missouri River Flows and Temperatures
4420cfs as of Sunday night and the water temps are below 54F. Dipping into the 53 range is good. Still warmer than normal. For sure. It will continue to dip as the week moves through. The flows should remain about the same for some time.
Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service
Open daily all winter long. 730am is when we arrive and we sill stay for your convenience til 7pm. The time change is nearing and we will go to an 8am start and 6pm finish as we move into November.
Tons of stuff still on sale. Rods, fly lines, flies, a few summer items, some fall stuff, a jacket or 3, a bundle of fly fishing accessories…something for everyone.
That is how the numbers stack up. We all fish for different reasons. Sometimes just one fish is enough. While we do occasionally go blank one fish seems good enough.
Is it still good when we go blank? You bet.
I for one just enjoy getting out and enjoying the day. Watching the day go by is my favorite fishing plan. You can hook a few with this plan too. A little too loose for many though. Those serious anglers need more planning than that…
We get and enjoy both pursuits.
Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 10.23.14
How about a couple hints for nymphing success.
Find the bugs and put your flies, your imitations, right in the mix. Understand where the fish, the bugs are, at the time of angling and sink them accordingly.
Trust yourself.
If your shit ain’t working, change it immediately.
Sows, scuds, midges, and mayflies will get you through the day.
Get on board this winter with a Spey Day on the Missouri River
Some Streamer Fishing Secrets
They, the trouts, can eat it dead drifted or on the drop. Be aware of that.
When the sun comes off the water the fish go nuts for streamers. Or cloudy days.
Change if you are not getting the bite.
Slow strips, fast strips? Change if they are not responding to your magic.
Dry Fly Antics
First cast is the best cast.
Slack line presentations catch way, way, way more fish.
Leave the fish if you do not get them in an hour. Give ups dn move on.
Or stay til you are blue in the face. Or your fishing partner is a snoring.
Cripples catch tons of trout on the Missouri River
Missouri River Weather, Flows, and Temps
4200cfs and 55F for the water temps. The weather ahead of us is not dis-similar to the weeks behind us this Ocotber. Will it change? Yes, in th endear future towards the back end of the weekend we should see more seasonal types of temperatures, clue covers, snow, sleet, baetis…you know all the stuff we pray for in this historically buggy month.
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Click on that ICON on your right there friend. Check out the videos by Headhunters and Scumliner Media on Headhunters TV. Do it now and enjoy some Missouri River love!
The shop is open daily from 730am til 7pm. Lots of sale stuff including fly lines, jackets, gloves, hats, logo wear, Howler Bros, SIMMS, a couple demo rods from this year from SAGE and Echo and Orvis.
Check out the Spey Special that starts November 1st. $300 Spey Guide Trips. Love it. Come on out an enjoy the day swinging streamers with your 2 handed rod. If you do not have one, we can supply one. Never spey cast in your life? No worries there either. Book your $300 Spey Special and you will be catching fish on that goofy long 2 hander by days end! No Problem. Call the shop for mor info if you like.
Come by for shuttles, info, demo rods, a new RIO In Touch Connect Core fly line for your streamer or dry fly rod, or anything else that may get your through the day like killer Missouri River flies.
Izaaks’ closes for the season on the 26th. This coming Sunday. So come on out one more time for a good rack of Ribs and a cocktail.
Liquid Sunshine falling from the sky this morning. Rained most of the day yesterday too.
So what should you do? Put on your rain-gear and go outside. Just what any normal sound minded angler would do.
The NOAA Weather Service states: Rain. High near 54. North northwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Missouri River Water Temps Falling
Trico’s today? Probably not. Probably not tomorrow either.
Hoppers? No, not really an option.
Streamers? Totally your gig today. Or give nymphing a shot.
The water temperatures have cooled with this dousing of cooler wetter weather. No worrying about getting too warm this August now. Not that we were, but it is out of the question after this weather event passes through. Temps currently holding at the 62F mark. The flows are stable at 4320cfs and all is well. Shoot not too many more degrees below the 62 mark and we may see some BWO’s? Psuedo’s for sure.
Shoot, maybe a good Psuedo hatch today! Keep your eyes open, protected from the rain and have at ‘er.
5 Tips to Keep you Dry and Warm during the Deluge
Wear the best rain gear money can buy. We like the SIMMS Stuff for sure. The Slick, Acklins, G4, the Bass Jacket…or have your buddy wrap you in Saran Wrap. Use Duct Tape for the seams.
Fish under the bridge all day. The fish don’t care, they are all wet anyhows!
Bring lots of hot coffee, soup, and/or Chicken Broth.
Whiskey!
Renegade fish from the car. Wade fishing is good when you have the protection of the car, the heater, and the option to go to Joe’s, stand by the fire, and tell some lies.
Toss streamers all day long.is the last one. May will be doing this all day. Good results in the rain. We love the rain and the cooling of the river. Feels good.
As for the dry flies and the Trico’s. We’ll see how they fare during this rain day. They are not done by any stretch so keep it tuned here for an update after the clouds part. Looks good for the front end of this coming week.
[forecast]
That is all for this morning. Enjoy your weekend. Keep warm, and wear some killer rain gear. Shop is open daily @ 7am for all your Missouri River Montana Fly Fishing needs. Streamers, warm layers, raingear/waders from SIMMS and Orvis, rainpants, warm hats, and free hot coffee.
