Mark Raisler, Author at Headhunters Fly Shop

Dreamin', Summer, winter

December 30th Summer Dreamin’, again. Can’t help but think about summer. Tomorrow is the final chapter of 2022. Bring on the new year. What will it bring? Water, bugs, sunshine. My top 3. Cold here today. Cold feeling. Temps in…

Scumliner’s FishSki today on the HH Blog

December 29, 2022

Scumliner's FishSki today on the HH Blog

Fly Fishing Video

Scumliner’s FishSki today on the HH Blog Not enough snow on the ground here in Craig to ski today. Just melting off after the cold two month period we just endured. Snow melting and temps returning into a normal winter…

Yep, you could fish.

December 28, 2022

Yep, you could fish. Pleasant weather out there this week. Beyond the wind. And some were fishing. Yep, you could fish. Gonna sneak out of this year this weekend. We are looking forward to the new year as well. Good…

Merry Christmas from Headhunters

December 24, 2022

Merry Christmas from Headhunters Thankful for the past year. Thankful for you, our guests. Thankful for this great river. Til we meet again, we love and appreciate the Headhunters out there. Happy Holidays from all of us here in downtown…

As cold as it gets…we hope!

December 22, 2022

As cold as it gets…we hope! -27 this morning with a bit of wind drops it to -48F. That’s too cold. Too cold to do anything. Except dream about summer. And that is what we gotta do here in downtown…

Mid Week Blues!

December 21, 2022

Mid Week Blues! No outside again today! Tomorrow really quite cold. Wind Chill Temps as low as 50 below. Yep, still closed today. How about Friday? Let’s hope…

Christmas Week Ahead / Last Chance Mailing!

December 19, 2022

Fly Fishing Gear

Christmas Week Ahead / Last Chance Mailing! Last Chance Mailing today, Or tomorrow. Or we will send it next week if Santa is gonna be late this year. Either way, we will make that angler in your family much happier…

Silly Sub-Zero Sunday including Shop Hours this Week

December 18, 2022

Silly Sub-Zero Sunday Looking damn cold outside for the next few days. Highs may not reach above the zero Fahrenheit threshold. Too cold to fish? Nope, ice fishing is always good when it’s cold. Fly fish? Yeah, too cold. Looks…

Let the fishing guide, guide…

December 17, 2022

Fly Fishing Technique

Clients, Expectations, Guides, Headhunters Guides

Let the fishing guide, guide… To get the most out of your fly fishing guide trip the best method is to let the fishing guide, guide you. Sometimes I get an angler in the boat who wants to guide me.…

Winters Grasp is Strong!

December 15, 2022

Winters Grasp is Strong! A cold start to the winter here in central Montana. Bitter temperatures coupled with snow daily here in central Montana has us smiling. Happy for the future and the water that the snow promises for the…

Redington Trout Spey Field Kit w/ Bonus Fly Box

December 13, 2022

Troutspey

Redington, sale, Trout Spey Kit

Redington Trout Spey Field Kit w/ Bonus Fly Box Want to get a new rod and try a new technique or fly fishing discipline in 2023? Why not. Want to skip the sometime difficult nomenclature of this somewhat mysterious line…

Euro Kit Christmas Special!

December 12, 2022

Fly Fishing Gear

Deal, Euro, Free Flies!, Kit, Nymhing, Rod, Special

Euro Kit Christmas Special! Euro/Competition nymphing has been one of the fastest growing sectors of the fly fishing industry in recent years. Many anglers have applied these different techniques to their local waters and have seen their catch count increase. …

Deep(er) Thoughts on the Headhunter Fly Line

December 10, 2022

Fly Fishing Gear, Fly Fishing Technique

Deep(er) Thoughts, Headhunter Fly Line, Review

Deep(er) Thoughts on the Headhunter Fly Line We wanted to design a line for us. For Headhunters. A couple days ago we published the Headhunter Fly Line Review. As I thought about that blog, I recognized that I left out the…

Sunny Saturday with Snow the week ahead

December 10, 2022

winter

Sunny Saturday with Snow the week ahead Looks like a bundle of cold and snow ahead of us this week ahead. Bundle up, if you come on down. Continuing to be a real winter here in central Montana. Will it…

The Current Winter Outlook

December 8, 2022

The Current Winter Outlook Cold. More snow. That’s good. All courtesy of the BOR. More cold weather with wetter skies on the way. Bring it. Currently sunny and mid 30’s today. Love it. May bring an, an angler out today.…

When we were younger Wednesday

December 7, 2022

When we were younger Wednesday An image of long time guest Joe and the author, when they were both younger. I believe this image was taken in 2001, or 2002. Yep, 20 years ago. I fished with Joe my first…

Too Cold to Dream?

December 6, 2022

Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

Too Cold to Dream? Almost. Snowing this am with the mercury reading 5F. Winds from the North at 10-15mph. Wind chill values well below ZERO. I like the look of falling snow. The feel. The fantasy. Out in it 8-10…

Squeeky’s Thought of the Day

December 5, 2022

Guessing Games, Is this the year of change?, Rant, SOL, Squeeky Oar Lock

Squeeky’s Thought of the Day The weather has not been conducive for trout fishing in central Montana for the past 5 weeks. The last day I guided was November 5th. It blew as hard as it has, while I’ve been…

City Life Rebelution Video

December 4, 2022

Headhunters Life, Un-Fishing

City Life Rebelution Video, Life Choices

City Life Rebelution Video Fishing as much as you wish? Is this how you planned it? You know, your life. SOL’s advice to the youth that step into the boat, or frequent Headhunters porch is this… You can control your…

SkwalaClaus

December 2, 2022

contest, sale, Skwala, soft goods

SkwalaClaus Enter to win $2000 in Skwala gear and a chance to win two guided days from any of the Skwala Dealers around this great nation. Including us! Enter here! And we have a Christmas bundle of the Skwala gear…

Cold and Snow…PMD Edition

November 30, 2022

Bugs

PMD

Cold and Snow…PMD Edition 6 months. Feels like a long time. This author is already dreaming of June ’23. But first, more winter. Lots more. Head on back a couple blogs to purchase your Euro Nymph rod for your local…

UMOWA & Upper Missouri Waterkeepers Giving Tuesday

November 29, 2022

UMOWA & Upper Missouri Waterkeepers Giving Tuesday Our local watershed organizations always need money. We here at Headhunters believe in both of these organizations. We donate to both of theme as well. Today is a good day to donate. Giving…

The Sun Sets on 2016 Final Fishing Report

Silly Saturday Scenery and Small Biz Saturday

November 26, 2022

Silly Saturday Scenery and Small Biz Saturday Come by today for a shuttle, a new rod, flies, HH Logo Gear. All of that stuff. Yep, open per usual. Daily. The weather yesterday and today the best this month! Honest. Air…

Thanksgiving 2022

November 24, 2022

Headhunters Life, Landscape

Thanksgiving 2022 Happy Thanksgiving. Here’s hoping you are spending it with your family and friends. If not today, then a memorable sometime in the near future. We are in between storms in Craig Montana. A spit of snow yesterday, a…

Rainbow Czech Nymph Tying Video JAV

November 22, 2022

Fly Fishing Gear, Fly Fishing Video

24/7, JAV Kits, Just Add Vise, Online Shopping, Rainbow Czech Nymph, tying, video

Rainbow Czech Nymph Tying Video JAV RAINBOW CZECH NYMPH The legendary Rainbow Czech was popularized on the Missouri River by the crew at Headhunters. Works every day of the year. We’ve put together this Rainbow Czech Nymph Fly Tying kit…

Holiday Week Report Montana’s Missouri River

November 21, 2022

November, spey, Thanksgiving Week, Wint4er

Holiday Week Report Montana’s Missouri River Flows just under 3K. Water temps continue to fall at 42.5F. Boat ramps are usable, but with variable weather this past couple weeks, and ahead, you should check any of the steep ramps for…

Silly Sunday Scenery

November 20, 2022

Landscape

Silly Sunday Scenery

Silly Sunday Scenery Gorgeous. Snow on a Sunday morning. Bring more snow and winter please Mother Nature. We need it for the summer ahead. We all need it. Looks like fishable weather as we look forward to this holiday week. Not…

Headhunter Fly Line for Serious Dry Fly Only Anglers

November 19, 2022

Fly Fishing Gear

Advanced, DFO, Fly Line, Headhunter, Line, Proprietary

Headhunter Fly Line for Serious Dry Fly Only Anglers We think you may need one of these for the coming dry fly season. This line developed by Headhunters, for Headhunters, is designed for advanced casters salivating to put the fly…

Friday Frigid Foto

November 18, 2022

friday foto

Friday Frigid Foto Snowed this wee a couple days. Put a white coating on the river. Water temps falling fast. 41F this morning. Water flows 3280cfs. Air temps this am 2F. Yes, damn cold. Un-fishable?!?! Quiet. Quiet on the river. Except…

Black Fly Day Sale @ Headhunters of Craig

Hump Day Fishing Report 11.16.22

November 16, 2022

November, Snow, winter

Hump Day Fishing Report 11.16.22 Cold. Snow. Quiet. Not too much happening out there this past couple weeks. Looks like more silence on the horizon with snow falling today and the air temp dipping into the sub-zero region tomorrow. We…

Thank You Izaaks, Craig Trout Camp, Craig Tap House and more! Updated

November 14, 2022

Thank You Izaaks, Craig Trout Camp, Craig Tap House and more! Want to give a big shout out there the great local businesses in Craig Montana that help our guests enjoy the time here in this dusty fishing ‘burb of…

Silly Sunday Scenery

November 13, 2022

Headhunters Life, Photography

Throwback image today this Sunday in November. Way back to the first couple years at the shop. The original sign shown here of this shop. Steve Butt and The Parrothead Fly Shop. A few still around that were contemporaries of…

Montanans Fish in the Winter

November 12, 2022

Montanans Fish in the Winter

Montanan’s Fish in the winter. Or ski. Or both. Some even nordic ski around here when there is enough snow on the ground. And recently we had enough to ski a bit. November is a great month to work on…

Friday Foto Untouchables Winter Bridge

November 11, 2022

Friday Foto Untouchables Winter Bridge

Friday Foto Untouchables Winter Bridge Cold and snowy. Friday. Winter. The air temps have crawled above the freezing mark. But not all that nice out there yet. Looks like highs int he 30’s this weekend. 30’s next week as we’ll…

Monday Morning, 12F, Winter.

November 7, 2022

Below Freezing, COLD, winter

Monday Morning, 12F, Winter. Monday and winter seems to have arrived. Looks like it will be colder tomorrow as well. Things, fishing included, have slowed. Today, stopped. The fishing has been good. A few rising in the pm. Nymphers are…

Silly Saturday Scenery | Fall Colors Edition

November 5, 2022

The Missouri River welcomes all… The silence is nearly deafening this past week. We loved it. More late fall like weather on the docket the week ahead. Snow and such. We are enjoying a very nice fall. The niceties of…

Friday Foto Fall Drift Boat

November 4, 2022

Headhunters Life, Landscape

Fall Colors, Friday Foto Fall Drift Boat, Headhunters Fall, October

Friday Foto Fall Drift Boat Pretty river. They all are when the leaves change. Fall is spectacular. And sometimes the fishing is white hot. Windy AF today and tomorrow. Quite nice Thursday. Relatively calm albeit bright. More rain and overcast…

2022 Adipose Flow Drift Boats For Sale

November 3, 2022

2022 Adipose Flow Drifter, Adipose, Rental Botas, sale

SOLD! 2022 Adipose Flow Drift Boats For Sale UPDATE: Both boats sold! Thanks. Check back again 11/23 for another round of rental boats for sale! This years Adipose rental boats for sale. Made in February/March these two are ready for your…

Monday Fishing Report Montana’s Missouri River

October 31, 2022

Monday Fishing Report Montana’s Missouri River Flows 3000cfs. We like it higher. May be at this level for the winter months, into the spring. Water Temps 51.5F. We’d like to see it stay in the current state above 50’s range…

Silly Sunday Scenery

October 30, 2022

Headhunters Life, Photography

Images, Silly Sunday Scenery, Trout

Howling again on Sunday. Today. Blowing over 20mph. Blowing pretty hard. Overcast though. That helps, or the chop on the water helps?!?! Those trout out there look real, real, healthy. Big dogs. Get in on some of the fatty bows…

Missouri River Fall Saturday Image

October 29, 2022

Headhunters Life, Photography

Fall, Overcast, Saturday, Silhouette, Weahter

Missouri River Fall Saturday Image A drifter of sorts. Quiet river again Thursday. Today? Fishing is pretty good. Could it ramp itself up this week ahead with the weather turning south? Oh, we are fantasizing about overcast skies for a…

Friday Brown Trout

October 28, 2022

Brown Trout, Fall, friday

Friday Brown Trout Windy today. Windy yesterday. A bit nicer Saturday. See you on the river.

After the Guide Season…

October 27, 2022

Audrey Hepburn, Best Party Scene Ever, George Peppard, Guides Party!, Holly Golightly

Un-Fishing

After the Guide Season… This comes from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Holly Golightly likes to party. We do too. Specifically after the 240 day trout season here on the Mo. Guides will be sleeping in, fishing a bit stripping, swinging, and…

Wednesday October 26th on the Mo

October 26, 2022

Wednesday October 26th on the Mo On the back end of the season. It dropped off, the traffic, sometime last week. It feels real good man. If you like solace, not many anglers, and a slower pace to the day,…

Fly Tying Friday Little Green Machine Just Add Vise Kits

Fly Tying Tuesday Little Green Machine Just Add Vise Kits

October 25, 2022

Fly Fishing Video

Fly Tying Kits, Headhunters Only, JAV Kits, Just Add Vise, Little Green Machine

Many carry the Little Green Machine in their box. Many fly shops carry this fly in their bins. We carry it in several sizes and this convenient fly tying kit as well. It is so damn popular that we have brought…

10 Tips for Missouri River Baetis Success

October 24, 2022

Fishing Report, Fly Fishing Technique

10 Tips, Baetis, Technique, Trout Planning

10 Tips for Missouri River Baetis Success We are all into catching more fish on BWO dries. Actually not true. Some anglers. Not all anglers are interested in the dry fly. I have often stated to those who believe that…

Late October Missouri River Fishing Report

October 23, 2022

BWO, Fall, Late October Missouri River Fishing Report, Nymphers, October, Swing Bite

Late October Missouri River Fishing Report All good here on the Mo. Snow this week. Seasonal weather will bring those fish back to the surface. We just finished with an uncommon windless October session tied in with high and bright…

Silly Saturday Scenery October 22nd 2022

October 22, 2022

Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

Autumn, color, Fall

Silly Saturday Scenery October 22nd 2022 Finally raining today. Snow this afternoon, and snow tonight, tomorrow… Bring it. The wet portion of fall. Happy Saturday.

Little Prickly Pear Fall Colors

October 21, 2022

Headhunters Life, Landscape

colors, Fall, Little Prickly Pear, Missouri River Expeditions, MRE, Tim Plaska

Little Prickly Pear Fall Colors Thanks to long time Missouri River Outfitter Tim Plaska for shooting this image! Fall here on the Mo. Snow this afternoon possibly with certain winter conditions arriving Friday night. 1″-3″ both Saturday and Sunday with…

Foxee Minnow Just Add Vise Video

October 19, 2022

Fly Fishing Video, Fly Tying

Foxee Minnow, Foxee Minnow Just Add Vise Video, Streamer, Trout Spey, video

Foxee Minnow Just Add Vise Video Really a cool pattern that was popularized here about 20 years ago. Easy to tie, easy to throw, and quite addictive to our trout here fishing the Mighty Mo. Just caught a couple in…

Tuesday Fishing Report Missouri River Montana 10.18.22

October 18, 2022

DFO, Fall, nymph, October, Swing, Trout Spey

Tuesday Fishing Report Missouri River Montana 10.19.22 Late in the month and we are enjoying it here in central Montana. A bit warmer that we would like for the fall session but quite nice as for humans the first 3…

October, and Caddis

October 17, 2022

October, and Caddis Monday. October, and Caddis. The entire river is in full fall dress. A rare sight here in central Montana. We are enjoying it. Stop in if you are in the neighborhood.

Silly Saturday Scenery, Wooden Boat, Dog, Fishing, Fall Colors

October 15, 2022

Birds Bugs and Wildlife, Headhunters Life

Dogs, Fall, Family, fishing, Sunday Scenery, Wooden Boat

Silly Sunday Scenery Wooden Boat, Dog, Fishing, Fall Colors Really great scenery this time of year. Good fishing too. A really quite good tiny baetis bite in the morning (nymphers) and the afternoons with overcast skies keeps those bugs glued…

Streamer Season is upon us! Dick Magill Chronicles

October 12, 2022

Fly Fishing Technique

Streamer Season is upon us! Dick Magill Chronicles The Chronicles of Dick Magill on the Headhunters Blog. Thanks Richard for the blog today. Yes, many have been streamer fishing and it has been as consistent as we could hope for.…

Trout Spey Flies @ Headhunters. Sparrow Tying Video

October 11, 2022

Fishing Report, Fly Fishing Video, Fly Tying

Trout Spey Flies @ Headhunters. Sparrow Tying Video Great Swing bite this week. And the fly that was on top of the list was this Sparrow. Runner up being the Carey Special. Included in the top five is the leech.…

Monday Morning Missouri River Fishing Report 10.10.22

October 10, 2022