Nice job Rick. Rick’s first, but not last saltwater excursion…

He does look happy. I would be too, it is a happy moment.

Fishing is so much of just that, the fishing part. It’s enjoyable to participate in the catching part too.

Nice job Rick!

Dick Raisler, father of Headhunters Mark, sent us these great photos from a recent trip to Newfoundland.  Awesome images and a great North American Atlantic Salmon!

Dick Raisler tied up in the Newfoundland.

Dick Raisler with a beautiful 25lb Atlantic Salmon

We still have a couple slots open on the CanAm Trout Tour.  At the last minute, we’re suddenly getting lots of interest.  Don’t procrastinate, book now!  With the high water we’ve seen on the Missouri, late July fishing promises to be outstanding.  The reports from the Bow this year have been great.  Our friends from Alberta report a resurgance in the fishing.  Oh, and by the way, it’s supposed to be a record hopper year.  Bad news for farmers, but the trout love it…

Canadian Outfitter Dave Brown with a Bow River Brown.

Rainbow Swirl photo Mark Raisler

Release photo from this past week. Lots of nice fishy folks wandering the Mo with Headhunters guides in May. Not too many rising fish this week. Strange. Conditions are occasionally perfect.  The sun and moon have not aligned. They will. We’ll be sure to keep you informed first.

Rising fish or not, the fish health is still the conversation most likely overheard in the local apres’ fishing establishments. Joe’s Bar is ringing with praises of large, fat, jumping bows. Dinner patrons of Izaak’s often raise a celebratory cocktail of praise… in deference of our fishs’ obesity.

Jerry enjoying this May day!

Nice sunshine graced us for a spell yesterday. We shed layers and soaked in the sun for a couple hours. Today, overcast, warm, and calm. Tomorrow? Who knows. Just go fishing, it’s the right move. Call us and book now. Talk about sleeping better tonight.

June is around the corner. The fish move into faster, funner water. i, for one, am looking forward to a change of pace. And the dry fly side of life is enticing too. Oh, how I long for dawn til dusk dry fly casting. June 5th-ish is the first mediocre PMD showing. Within 5-7 days, it is game on. My favorite time of the year. Fishing with my dad for a couple of those days, a long time friend and former boss, Rick, Capn Carp, Danielle, maybe even Scumliner. It is important for even me to fish more. It is so damn healthy. Good for SOL’s soul.

Yours too. Think about it. Do it. Fish more.

Some good avail in early June at Headhunters. Our guides are the greatest. Young, full of energy, knowledgeable, and willing to perform daily. And do they ever. Come enjoy a nice trip to the memorable Missouri River this summer. Let us put together a trip itinerary that will accommodate your wishes and desires while expanding your fly fishing skills.

Do not miss the best fishing the Missouri has produce in nearly a decade. Summer 2010 is already turning heads and creating legends…come out and participate in a fly rod fantasy.

Wonderful dry fly fishing during Missouri River summers

Joe and Paul, pictured above, will be attending the dry fly event again this summer. This is their 11th in a row. 5 days does not seem like enough time. These fellas take advantage of their river time and as DFO’s, they get the job done. Once in a while I threaten to tie on a grasshopper…no is the answer. Small dries only to rising fish. Preferably browns…no silly rainbows. Joe usually catches the browns, and Paul is left to the junior fish, the bow. And so it goes, one more year with the Taylors…I can’t wait.

Begin your dry fly tradition today. You will not be sorry. I promise.

Conch Key Mailbox...where we could maybe afford to reside

Launched out of Conch key one day. Ran hard towards Flamingo, blew hard, not much light…super cool. Had a couple eats.

Bunch of goof balls roaming around in the morning. As there always is anywhere in the Keys. Some guy, we named Captain Canada,  stopped by and informed us of where to go, how to fish, etcetera. Bet he’s a good Pike fisherman, stay to what you know fella. Leave the Tarpon up to us. As if I know…

Sage Xi3 11 wt. with a black & Red Toad...both effective tools.

Just loved the Sage Xi3 11 wt lined up with a Rio Tropical F/I Saltwater Line is really great. Casting in the wind is something you will deal with daily in the Keys and the extra weight in the front end of the Outbound really helps. Loading it in the wind is so common that we used this line in lots of applications. The 9 1/2′ clear tip is an added benefit for spooky sight fishing laid up fish. Toss the fly across the line of sight and strip. For those of us me who make an occasional errant cast…the clear tip is much appreciated.

Squeeky Oar Lock amazingly hooked up...even a blind squirrel finds...

Yes, it’s true, even I catch fish once in a great while. The fishing was quite good. Lots of shots daily…we even made good on a good number of them. They are still tough finicky little bitches, but I truly enjoy a challenge and love the hunt. Fishing with Capt. Mike Pollock of Keys and Montana fame. HE owns/operates Meadow Lake Lodge in Ennis for the summer months through Otober. Then back to the Keys until June.  Mike has been guiding out of Key West for 24 years and it shows. Great fun captain with a ton of Tarpon knowledge. suspect he knows a thing or two about bonefish and permit too.

You can contact Mike | flyfishingmike@hotmail.com or phone him for availability | 305/304-5108

Searching, looking, 1000 mile stare...

Fishing at the Marquesas with Mike, and Zach Dalton of Rio. Lots of fun fishing with Zach…great caster, patient, and willing to learn. As we all should be. Makes life, and fishing, much easier on you and your friends if we all participate in the life long education of the angling art. No time for negative, pompous folks unwilling to move forward.

Zach had some neat lines, rods, and stories about the line business. Cast a few lines on the trip. Liked them all. Most important things I learned on this trip.

Fish with clean lines. Clean daily. The Rio Agent-X Line Cleaner is outstanding. I already knew this fact, but was pleasantly reminded again. The overnight cure is the best, try it, you’ll like it.

• Make good casts. Practice in advance.Be familiar with your gear. Reels
• Always listen to your Captain. He is your team leader. He wants it pretty bad too.
• Don’t make bad casts. The frivolous kind. You know, the shitty ones. We all make ‘em. Try to reduce the total number.
• Be happy to experience sight fishing to big fish. Enjoy every moment.

Swimmers...

Dinner at Keys Fisheries in Marathon off of 35th Street. Feed the tarpon roaming around this sub-surface green light while dining on fresh caught creatures from the sea. Real Keys style. Outdoor, over-priced and poor service. The food is damn good though, so it’s best to overlook all the shortcomings of the cesspool of the entire eastern seaboard and focus on the positives.

The fishing. It is fantastic…if you like difficult, big ass fish.

Zach Dalton ...he's in the game.

Just back from Valhalla. Enjoyed it. Fished with 2 great guides. Caught some fish, missed some fish…had a few cocktails.

Back on the Mo in the morning…I still love the trout. Tarpon are nice, but so are 6″ browns.

Will post a couple photo essays in the next week.

Who would deface this weekly rag box?

More later…glad to be back on my favorite river, in my favorite place on earth. Right here in Craig Montana…

PS: Just a few days left on our now infamous Spring Special. Bust loose with $300 and fish with us for the remainder of the month. It’s fun brother.