Mark Raisler, Author at Headhunters Fly Shop

Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

2HTROUT, Fall, MissouriRiver, November, nymph, October, Streamer, Swing, winter

Late October November Missouri River Fishing Planner Good times here on the Mo. Calm this week and last. Calm most of the month. Cold all week long, this week past, including snow and vacant waters. That is the type of…

Friday Foto

October 27, 2023

Headhunters Life, Photography

Fall Montana, friday foto, October Colors

Fall colors in full effect. But, leaving as the snow fell the past couple days. Heavy, decomposing leaves, falling to the ground. Streamer fishing? Getting closer to full throttle. Dry fly fishing? Pretty sweet the past week. True BWO’s showing.…

Currently in Greater Craiglandia

October 26, 2023

Headhunters Life, Landscape

October, Rhoda Island, Snow

Currently in Greater Craiglandia Snowing. 12F. Peaceful.

In The Life of a Headhunter

October 25, 2023

Dry Fly Fishing, Foul Weather, In The Life of a Headhunter

The daily routine of a Headhunter might just go like this… Wake. Look outside to verify cloud cover. If sunny, sleep for as long as you want. If not, rollover and sleep until 10am. 10am. Get out of bed. Make…

Missouri River Montana Snow Ahead

October 24, 2023

Throwback image today on theHeadhunters Fly Shop Blog. May have been the 3rd year open. 2010 image? Highs in the 20’s later this week. Lows in the single digits. Lots of snow forecast as well. 10″-20″? BWO weather? Swing weather?…

Finish Up, Start Down.

October 23, 2023

Essentials of the cast, Fly Casting

Fly Fishing Technique

Finish Up, Start Down. A repeat of this article from about 1 year ago. I was out all week guiding and watching anglers cast as they passed. 9 of 10 casters fail at this vital portion of the cast. The…

Ahhh, Fall Weather.

October 22, 2023

Ahhh, Fall Weather

Ahhh, Fall Weather. We like this forecast. How about you? Should keep the fair-weather anglers off the water. Shop open daily. Guides available. Lodging too. Mo River Booking Hotline 406-235-3447 ext. 1 Mo River 4 minute Voice Fishing Report 406-235-3447…

Silly Sunday Scenery Canyon Image

October 22, 2023

Fall, Image, Silly Sunday Scenery

Silly Sunday Scenery Canyon Image Awful pretty this time of year. Enjoy your Sunday. We will be fishing, and watching football. How about you?

Water Levels Return to Seasonal Norms

October 21, 2023

Water Levels Return to Seasonal Norms 4100 cfs. Normal for this period. We like it. Snow on the way. Enjoy your weekend. Wrap up the outdoor stuff here locally. Get out your wool socks and long johns. See you stalking…

Trout Spey on the Missouri River

October 20, 2023

Trout Spey, Trout Spey on the Missouri River

Troutspey

Trout Spey on the Missouri River Swinging daily here fishing Montana’s Missouri River. Good success swinging soft hackles for the BWO feeding fish. Good success with the leech and smaller buggers this week. Next week? Success with floaters and intermediate…

Good Dry Fly even in the SUN!

October 19, 2023

BWO, dry fly, Nymphers Unite, sun, wind

Good Dry Fly even in the SUN! We hope for more overcast days here this October and November. But some days it is just, sunny. While those days are memorable of the low angler sun, stunning fall vistas, and warm…

Just Add Vise Mozuri Minnow

October 18, 2023

Fly Fishing Video

This fly kicks ass. John created this pattern for the Mighty Mozurri. Check it out on this lovely Hump Day morning. We have Just Add Vise Tying Kits here, including the Mozuri Minnow. Mozuri Minnow from Headhunters Fly Shop on…

World Series Missouri River Style

October 17, 2023

World Series Missouri River Style

I am personally pulling for the National League team, the Phillies. I hate the Astros, cheaters, and dislike the Rangers. Both in the same division as the Mariners. Arizona is kinda boring, so the Phillies with the characters on that…

How to catch those damn Pseudo eating fish!

October 16, 2023

How to catch those damn Pseudo eating fish!, Pseudocloeon

Fly Fishing Technique

How to catch those damn Pseudo eating fish! Pseudocloeon will drive you nuts. So many bugs on the water and not many fish eating them. Sunny skies and emerging, bulging, fish ignoring your fly as it passes over them 25…

Sunday Mo River Foreshadowing

October 15, 2023

Baetis, BWO, olives, Psuedo's, Tiny Olives

Sunday Mo River Foreshadowing Sooner than later. Not yet. BWO’s have been reported here locally. Not what we have seen out there at all. Lots of the baby BWO’s, no longer in the Baetis family, but the smaller cousin. BWO’s,…

Silly Saturday Scenery

October 14, 2023

Good colors this week.The length of this fall is forecast to be lengthly. Yep, the colors will stay around for a while. Uncommon. Generally we get a hard freeze when the colors begin to shine, and the leaves die, then…

3 Guide Tips for Fall Missouri River Success

October 13, 2023

Do you ever fall into a rut? Fish the same water every trip. Fish it because you had success some time ago, some trip where you caught a bunch of beauties? Then, it just has no t been the same?…

Trout. A glimpse…

October 12, 2023

All we get is a glimpse of the elusive trout. We only get glimpses. Mere Glimpses. If you break down the time we tie flies, we plan trips, we talk about trout angling around the water cooler, the leader tying,…

Fly Line Cleaner. Important!

October 11, 2023

Fly Fishing Technique, Headhunters Life

Do yourself a favor today, Fly Line Cleaner, RIO

Fly Line Cleaner. Important! The most important thing you can do for your cast today, that will make immediate impact, is to clean your fly line. Lots of products out there that are terrific. The easiest, effective, and inexpensive offering…

Monday Fishing Report straight outta HHFS

October 10, 2023

Monday Fishing Report straight outta HHFS Looking good for the middle of the week in the fishy weather category. The next few days could be jewels. A couple of the days in each of the last couple weeks have provided…

Water Projections for Montana’s Missouri River near Craig

October 8, 2023

Water Projections for Montana’s Missouri River near Craig Pretty standard. Although yesterday there was a move lower. Will it stay for long? According to the dam operators the drop is to maintain some equipment, and should be back up for…

Saturday October Caddis Image

October 7, 2023

October Caddis

Saturday October Caddis Image Love these big bugs. The largest caddis of the season! Got a few in the past week with one of these orange skaters hanging off the line! Enjoy. Fall is here. The fishing is strong. The…

Friday Foto of Fall

October 6, 2023

Tail

Friday Foto of Fall Tail. Enjoy your Friday. Hope to see you this fall knee deep!

Thursday Fishing Report Montana’s Missouri River

October 5, 2023

Thursday Fishing Report Montana’s Missouri River Flows headed to 3300cfs Saturday am. Currently 3990cfs. Water temps crashing and below 58F, currently. Nymphing very good. Variations of BWO nymphs, midge nymphs, bugger nymphs. Many already short, with the water dropping, most…

Missouri River October Fishing Forecast 2023

October 2, 2023

Bugs, Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

Dry Fly Fall Fishing, Dry Fly Fishing, November, Nymphing, October, Streamer fishing, Streamer Fishing the Mo

Missouri River October Fishing Forecast 2023 Bring on the cloudy, wet, and 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…

Headhunter Fly Line Review

October 1, 2023

Fly Fishing Gear

Advanced, DFO, Dry Fly Line, Headhunter Fly Line, Review

Published a few years ago. Reposting today as we head into the fall session here on Montana’s Missouri River near Craig. The Headhunter Fly Line continues to sell extremely well. Better than we would have speculated when it debuted and…

Cowgirl in the Sand Neil Young Farm Aid 2000

September 30, 2023

Cowgirl in the Sand, Neil Young

Cowgirl in the Sand Neil Young Farm Aid 2000 Love this jam. Love Neil Young. Saturday. Final Day of September. Enjoy the overcast skies and rain on the way. Looks like the water temperatures are falling accordingly for the season.…

Friday Foto End of September Image

September 29, 2023

Friday Foto End of September Image Good looking month will pass us by when we blink this weekend. A better looking, certainly fishing, month as we happily skip into October. Definitely a slower pace as the seasons change which allows…

Autumn Leaves, again

September 28, 2023

Headhunters Life, Un-Fishing

Autumn Leaves, Bill Evans, Bill Evans Trio, Jazz Standards

Autumn Leaves, again Posted several, maybe 4 or 5 versions of this killer jazz standard on this very blog. This year, Bill Evans, plays Autumn Leaves. If you like jazz, and standards at that, then it would behove you to…

Sparrow Fly Tying Video Just Add Vise

September 26, 2023

Fly Fishing Video, Fly Tying

JAV, Just Add Vise, Online Store, Sparrow

Sparrow Fly Tying Video Just Add Vise This pattern, the Sparrow, is a big player in the fall and winter here on the Mo. A true classic as Jack Gartside was the first one to come up with this pattern.…

September Morn-ing

September 25, 2023

September Morn-ing Finishing up the month. September. Headed into one of our favorite months, October. But before we leave this preliminary fall month let’s talk a bit about the nymph bite. Deep vs. Shallow Many beginning the day fishing deep.…

Silly Sunday Scenery

September 24, 2023

Silly Sunday Scenery Sunday. Football. Fall. Stalking trout. Swinging up a few. Deep breathing. Silence. Hope.

Saturday Missouri River Fishing Report from Your Information Leader in Craig

Autumnal Equinox, Fishing Report, and the love of Rain!

September 22, 2023

Autumnal Equinox, Fishing Report, and the love of Rain! Fall has arrived. Yesterday we received about a half inch and today more, even more rain. Thursday a high of 48F and rain.Today more of the same. Highs and lows are…

The 10 Most Important Missouri River Flies for Fall

September 21, 2023

Bugs, Fishing Report

The 10 Most Important Missouri River Flies for Fall Checking out the fly boxes for the fall season in Craig. Removing the PMD boxes, alas, the caddis boxes although we still have that autumn tan caddis size 14-16 and the…

A few words today about life, moving forward, and fishing?

September 20, 2023

Encouragement

A few words today about life, moving forward, and fishing? Enjoyed this piece. Sent to me by a reader of this blog. I thought it was great. We all need encouragement, success, and the ability to get up every day…

Hello Monday Tips for Missouri River Love this week

September 18, 2023

Fishing Report, Fly Fishing Technique

fishing report, tips

Hello Monday: Tips for Missouri River Love this week Start a bit later if you like the dry fly action. No need to be first boat out. Fewer dry fly anglers means a lazy appropriate start time. Fish the large…

Missouri River Late September Fishing Report

Missouri River Sunday Fishing Report 9.17.23

September 17, 2023

Autumn, Fall, fishing report

Missouri River Sunday Fishing Report 9.17.23 Water flows currently 4960 cfs. Water temps currently 63F. All good here on the Mo. Weeds not terrible. average is about where the feel this level is. Some insides nice and clean. Cleaner nearer…

RIO Compostable Spool

September 15, 2023

Conservation, Fly Fishing Gear

Compostable Spool, RIO, video

RIO Compostable Spool Hey now. Compostable Spool. RIO Products Idaho Falls, Idaho. Happy Friday. Cooler weather. Autumn, in full swing. Love it! Swingers getting out there finding some jewels. Stop in for the best in Swing Gear. We got it!…

Friday Foto Fall Foreshadowing

September 14, 2023

Fall, friday foto, photo

Friday Foto Fall Foreshadowing This image from the Blackfoot River. Bobby Clark after catching couple Cutthroat on a Chubby Chernobyl. The Blackfoot is about over as we move into cooler weather on the westside. But it is just heating up…

Weekly Hatch Schedule for Mid-September

September 12, 2023

Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

fishing report, September Fishing

Things, meaning the bite, are looking up thisMid-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…

Missouri River Montana Flows for the month, year

September 10, 2023

Missouri River Montana Flows for the month, year Average. We like average. Trout like average.

Morning Sunrise in Craig

September 9, 2023

craig, Craig Bridge, September, Sunrise

Morning Sunrise in Craig Have a great Saturday. Many are out wing shooting, spotting elk, and sneaking around in the highlands. Other are here, fishing. Flows are normal. Temps are normal. The bite, is normal. It’s peaceful ’round here starting…

Summer in Craiglandia

September 8, 2023

Keenan Morrison Headhunters Fly Shop 26, August 2023 Summer In Craiglandia In the beginning, starting work @ Headhunters Fly Shop I was pretty nervous. I knew I was going to be surrounded by people who have a much greater knowledge…

Dam Nice Rainbow Image!

September 7, 2023

Dam, Holter Dam, Kevin Cumley Image, Rainbow Sky Image

Dam Nice Rainbow Image! Rainbow arch above. Dam in the middle. Rainbow trout below. Image provided by Kevin Cumley. Thanks Kevin. Stunning shot.

Just Add Vise Kit Frenchie w/ Video

September 6, 2023

Fly Fishing Video, Fly Tying

Just Add Vise Kit Frenchie w/ Video

Just Add Vise Kit Frenchie w/ Video Still selling boatloads of Frenchie fly patterns this Autumn. Zebra’s, Frenchie, and Little Green Machines. May be all you need for a great nymphing day all season long! Love this fly. We love…

Remembering Labor Day 2000

September 5, 2023

Labor Day

Remembering Labor Day 2000 Snowing 23 years ago this weekend. Today. I was producing flies, streamers, at my tying desk Wolf Creek Montana. Drinking Bailey’s and Coffee, just like this morning, and watching the oversized flakes fall heavily to the…

Missouri River September Fly Fishing Facts

September 4, 2023

Missouri River September Fly Fishing Facts

Early September and all is good here on Montana’s Missouri River. Water temps are good, the bite is good and getting better through one of our favorite months on the Mo. The days are shorter and the nights are cooler.…

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 9.3.23

September 3, 2023

fishing report

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 9.3.23 Fishing well the first week of September on Montana’s Missouri River. A grade? How about a B. A bit above average as we come out of the two hottest months, air temps, of the…

Famous Mo River Shot

September 3, 2023

Headhunters Life, Landscape

Famous Mo River Shot We like this one. Shot several years ago on magical September morning. No filter. As is baby. Happy Holiday Weekend.

Silly Saturday Scenery Eagle Shot

September 2, 2023

Birds

Silly Saturday Scenery Eagle Shot This fella in the sun flaring. Have a safe weekend! Fishing is quite good. Floaters abound as well. Crowds end Monday with cooler weather. Streamer fishing Monday?

Missouri River September Fishing Forecast 2023

September 1, 2023

Autumn, Bugs, dry fly, Fall, Headhunters Fly Shop, nymph, Terrestrial, Water Flows, Water LEvels, Water Temps

Rolling into September 2023. All good here as we welcome Autumn with cooler daytime highs, today only forecast to reach the 80F mark. The nighttime lows are not dipping below the 40F point yet, but it Isi certainly coming soon.…

Monday Upper River Image

August 28, 2023

Fly Fishing Gear, Headhunters Life

Monday Upper River Image Hangin’ Loose on the Upper River this Monday in late August. Knocking on the door of Autumn. Bring it.

Silly Sunday Scenery Headhunters Life

August 27, 2023

Silly Sunday Scenery Headhunters Life All good at Headhunters of Craig Montana. Sunny and warm for the next week. Tricos in the am for the dry fly set followed by hopper/ant afternoons. Nymphers like the dam and Zebra midge for…

Statewide Fisheries Management Plan Comment Period

August 26, 2023

Conservation, Uncategorized

Statewide Fisheries Management Plan Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) recently released for public comment their new draft comprehensive Statewide Fisheries Management Plan. “The intent of the statewide management plan is to let people know not only what FWP does but…

Straight Lines

August 25, 2023

Straight Lines | John G “I don’t always want things to go straight”…simple words stated assertively and without pretense as we slowly drift downstream on a moving ribbon of clear blue looking glass, filled with illusions and internal promises of…

Missouri River Fishing Report 8.24.23

August 24, 2023