UMOWA

#Giving Tuesday UMOWA

#Giving Tuesday UMOWA

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#Giving Tuesday UMOWA Upper Missouri River Watershed Alliance, UMOWA, would like a few bucks from you today. Why not throw a few casts at the organization that watches the Missouri River and has improved bank lines, brought about awareness of possible aquatic weed issues, and sponsored aquatic insect studies. Why? Because rivers like the Missouri … Read more

Upper Missouri River Watershed Alliance Video

Upper Missouri River Watershed Alliance Video

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Upper Missouri River Watershed Alliance Video

The new video from Upper Missouri River Watershed Alliance.

Snowing here in Craig today.

This video shot in early August. It was warmer then.

Hey if you are looking for organizations to donate monies to this year, we would like you to consider donating to UMOWA. Your watershed, your fishery, needs your help.

Or a simple membership. It’s cheap, and you can feel good about the Mighty Mo.

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UMOWA plans Streambank Restoration @ Prickly Pear

UMOWA plans Streambank Restoration @ Prickly Pear

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UMOWA plans Streambank Restoration @ Prickly Pear Ed Note: This just in from UMOWA. Their first stream bank project on the Missouri River. Progress from our local watershed group. Congrats. Look forward to seeing more projects like these here on the MO! Upper Missouri River Watershed Alliance has completed plans for a full restoration of … Read more

2016 UMOWA Water Quality Report

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] 2016 UMOWA Water Quality Report Yesterday we summarized the 2016 UMOWA Macroinvertebrate Report written by David Stagliano of the Montana Biological Survey. Today we are going to discuss the 2016 UMOWA Water Quality Report.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”27520″ align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Study Design In 2016, UMOWA began collecting water quality data at the same seven sites where they began … Read more

2016 UMOWA Macroinvertebrate Report

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] 2016 UMOWA Macroinvertebrate Report On March 17, the Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance (UMOWA) published the results of the 2016 bug study performed by David Stagliano of Montana Biological Survey. We are late in sharing the results, but with the UMOWA Annual Meeting coming up in Craig this Saturday, June 17th, I thought now might be … Read more

UMOWA: The Case For Flushing Flows

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Case For Flushing Flows The Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance (UMOWA) recently released their spring newsletter. Within the letter, UMOWA discusses the history of Missouri River flows and the beneficial contribution that flushing flows have upon the health of the Missouri River. The remaining text of this post is republished from the UMOWA spring newsletter.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”27520″ align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] River … Read more

State of the Missouri River Craig Montana 8.26.16

State of the Missouri River Craig Montana 8.26.16

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State of the Missouri River Craig Montana 8.26.16 Bringing you the State of the Missouri River Craig Montana 8.26.16. Headhunters is the information source on the banks of the famed Missouri River. Keep it tuned here for your daily bite of trout information, education, and trout fishing entertainment. So how are we doing as we move … Read more

Fall Bug Sampling

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[vc_row full_width=””][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=””]Over the last couple weeks, I’ve had the privilege of aiding David Stagliano with the fall invertebrate sampling of the Missouri River. The Upper Missouri River Watershed Alliance (UMOWA) initiated this sampling in order to establish a baseline data set that will allow us to see how the river changes over time. It will also serve as a health indicator of the river. As far as fishermen/women are concerned, knowing what bugs are in the river helps us figure out what flies to use.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=””][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]IMG_0358[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css_animation=””]The picture to the left shows a typical sample taken from the upper river. This particular sample was taken just upstream of the Little Prickly Pear confluence. In the sample you see sowbugs, caddis larvae, snails, worms, scuds, midge larvae, and a few mayfly nymphs. This matches pretty well with the flies that are working well on the upper river – sowbugs/Rays, weight flies/Czechs, San Juans, the Zebra family, and PTs of all shapes and sizes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=””][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]The following are some interesting anecdotal pieces of info that I’ve noticed from the fall sampling that may be interesting to fly anglers.

  • Bug density (bugs per square meter of bottom) is greatest on the upper river and decreases as you move downstream.
  • Bug diversity (the number of different bugs at each site) increases as you move further downstream.
  • Lots of sowbugs. Everywhere.
  • Lots of scuds and midges too.
  • Scuds vary dramatically in size. You see everything from size 20s up to size 8s.
  • Midges aren’t just black. There are lots of white and red ones too.
  • There are a bunch of aquatic worms living in the river. Your San Juans aren’t just imitating drowned earthworms. Similar looking worms live in the riverbed and are there all the time.
  • There are a bunch of cased and free living caddis larvae in the river right now.

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The top vial contains a sample taken near Lone Tree FAS. The bottom vial sample was taken near the Cascade FAS.
The top vial contains a sample taken near Lone Tree FAS. The bottom vial sample was taken near the Cascade FAS.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sampling for the year is done now, but will restart in the spring. Samples are taken in the spring, summer, and fall. As more data accumulates UMOWA will be able to track changes in the invertebrate life of the river to help inform management decisions as well as flyfishers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Headhunters Fly Shop January Update 1.19.15

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The New Year arrived and it has moved behind us and now in the distance.

Lots of anglers out this last weekend with the first weather weekend over 40F in the last couple months. With the warmth we got the wind. But, that did not keep the many thick headed Montanan’s from getting out of the house. Thanks for coming by and visiting us. Some Demo Spey Rods out the door and a few fly lines getting spooled too.

A few cabin rentals recently as Craig Trout Camp is open for business. The roads have thawed in town and the mud is emerging. Nice.

The water temps remain cool int he mid 34F range but it has not stopped the fisher folks. Water levels in the high 4K’s and will remain for some time. The water for the summer is sowing and building in the Rockies. We are all smiles!

A few events we have on our calendar for the month(s) ahead.

This Wednesday Jan. 21st: Headhunters Tying Night in America. Ninch and Mark will host this mid winter tying night Wednesday at 6pm til 8pm. We’ll see you for a couple hours of random fly tying.

Thursday Jan 22nd: The Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance is holding its first annual member’s meeting at the Craig School on Thursday January 22nd starting at 6:00 PM. The Alliance which is dedicated to the conservation and protection of the Missouri River for future generations will present their planned projects for the coming year. Public Welcome!

On the program will be a presentation by Grant Grisak, from Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks on the current “State of the Missouri.” Grant is a biologist responsible for Montana’s Region 4.

David Stagliano is a biologist with 18 years of experience in freshwater ecological studies. David has done studies of aquatic invertebrates in Idaho, Michigan, and Kansas and is currently the Aquatic Ecology Project Leader for the Montana Natural Heritage Program. David is the head of the Alliance’s aquatic resource committee and will discuss historic and current aquatic conditions.

Guy Alsentzer, Environmental Attorney and executive director of Missouri Riverkeepers, Inc. will give a presentation of their work to preserve the Missouri by enforcing water quality standards.

The Alliance will provide a potluck dinner with drinks. All interested parties are invited for an evening of fun and information and a chance to show your appreciation for the Missouri River.

Great Weather this coming weekend. Come out from Billings, Havre, Whitefish, Bozeman and Calgary. Good cheap lodging, discounted guide trips,a dn awesome wade fishing. Joe’s Bar open at 8am daily. Open late for your dinner of frozen pizza. The winter fishing is pretty good. Walleye guys are stacking them in the cooler at the dam. Ice fishers on the lake report a damn good Perch bite.

Sunday February 1st: Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Fly Shop closed at some point in the afternoon for pre-funking with the staff.

Saturday February 7th: Our next FREE Spey Casting and Fishing Clinic. Sign up today for the last couple spots. This well attended clinic is fun for all from beginner to advanced 2 handed caster.

Ninch says flies start arriving Feb 5th: Headhunters updates its world class Missouri River fly selection. Flies by the barrel-full coming in weekly as we prepare for the summer ahead.

The Missouri River’s Winter Fly Shop: We have all the stuff you need for winter angling on the Mo. Gloves, demo rods, hand warmers, free coffee, shuttles, spey line demo’s, information, lodging, sale items and flies.

Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service Spring Special: $300 Guide Trips start March 15th and run thru April 30th. This incredibly popular spring pricing special fills quickly. It books backwards from the end towards the beginning. The latter weekends in April are all but gone. Get on this soon if you want a specific guide for your spring warm up guide trips on the Missouri. Cheap lodging too. Craig Trout Camp and a couple other properties are involved in this spring special.

McCune/Gould Spey Clinic April 11th and 12th. This world class sustained anchor clinic is $200 and well worth it. A few who attended last year are already signed up for the second time Whitney and Mike will be here in conjunction with Headhunters Fly Shop. Call today for your reservation and deposit. Find out more about this clinic here.

Good fun to be had here on the Missouri River this winter. Good fishing, cheap lodging, great fellowship, Joe’s Bar, and Headhunters Fly Shop. Here entertaining the angler daily.