Check out this article in the NY Times. It real, the Aquatic Nuisance Species stuff. Honest.

Ubiquitous on the Mo this time of year...

Boreal Bluet | Enallagma boreale | Dragonfly Order

1 1/4″ Damselfly. Male brilliant blue, with black markings on head and abdomen. Female, lighter with more black on abdomen. Wings clear.

Did you notice the PMD, Ephemerella infrequens, dangling precariously from his mandible? I do too, although I suspect it will not escape. Saw this damsel snatch this fly from the surface of the water, from the clutches of freedom. Can you imagine spending the last 12 months growing, molting, emerging through the terrifying trout frenzy and struggling through the surface tension just to get lifted off the water by this blue damsel. Tough way to go. The life cycle of the ecosystem we love, the living river system we enjoy daily.

Bert executes flawless reach casts...he practices

This was written by Andrew a couple years ago and lost in my computer until last night and un-earthed. Here it is in all its glory. A well written spot about the reach cast and it’s importance here on the Mo. If you do not know the cast, or want to improve, come see Andrew, or any one of us,  at the store and we will be happy to help. Impromptu casting happens daily at Headhunters. The information and fly fishing fun center of Craig Montana.

Dry fly fishing is considered by many to be the toughest and most enjoyable way to catch trout. The Missouri River is considered a technical dry fly fishery.  Because of the overwhelming availability of food, the Missouri’s trout simply aren’t going to be consistently fooled by sloppy casts and faulty presentations like the trout on so many other rivers.  While being a world class caster and master of entomology won’t hurt, understanding a few basic principles of the cast and drift required to fool our fish will help the average, intermediate fisherman gain confidence in his or her ability to take fish on top.

Don’t give trout too much credit. Now don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for Mother Nature and all her children, but trout aren’t that smart. While there are rare days where the fish are extra spooky and seem to be more difficult to catch; it’s not a matter of intelligence.  More likely than not, its fishing pressure, the angle of light related to the fisherman’s position on the water, or some other variable not taken into consideration by the fisher.  Try thinking about a trout’s behavior in three different ways; confident (in their safety and ability to actively feed), weary (catchable but cautious), and threatened (not catchable).Trout act instinctively to survive, and almost all of the things that threaten an adult trout come from above the water.  It’s the goal of the successful dry fly fisher to keep trout confidently feeding and eliminate anything that may cause a trout to become weary or feel threatened.

Learning to keep a low profile when casting is imperative. Knowing when to stay seated in a boat or to crouch down on shore can make all the difference.  Monitoring one’s shadows is also very important.  The shadow from the boat, fisherman, rod, and line all have to be considered.  Many of the rising fish on the Missouri are in skinny water.  Sometimes, all it takes is one spooked fish to alert the whole pod of risers of impending danger.  Practicing proper approach and learning to keep shadows away from fish will increase the amount of eats an angler gets on top. Once an angler understands what he or she can do to keep the fish confident and feeding, they are on their way to successful dry fly fishing.

John Dietsch, host of Adventure Guides, learning the Reach Cast

As a fly shop employee, I’m constantly asked about what flies are working.  Many people are taken aback when shown a whole pile of flies that will get the job done. Well ok, here’s the secret. That perfect fly, the magic one that always gets it done, the fly that, on the Missouri,  day in and day out, fools the most selective of fish: it’s the fly that is on the action end of a well placed, properly executed reach cast,  and is visible to the angler.  So much time and money is wasted by anglers who feel that either they have the wrong fly or they need to downsize their tippet because the fish won’t eat.  Presentation is the absolute be all and end all of successful dry fly fish on the Missouri.  Becoming accurate with a reach cast makes fly selection much less imperative, and 5x tippet is all one ever needs.

The goal of the reach casts is simple. Properly executed, it lays the angler’s line out up-current from the fly and fish.  The cast ensures that when a presentation drifts over a fish, it drifts fly first. When an angler’s cast lays out perpendicular to the bank, up current from a fish, invariably, the line gets taken by the current ahead of the fly. First, this causes drag, creating an unrealistic drift. Second, it gives the fish the opportunity to see the line or tippet before it decides to eat the fly.  Most anglers unfamiliar with a reach cast would throw in a mend to get the line up-current. This hacks up the water, takes the fly out of position, sinks the fly in many cases, causes the angler to cast too far upriver and too far off target to be consistent, and is just an inefficient way of dry fly fishing. Throwing a reach cast causes the line to land pre- mended, up current from the fly.  This means the angler can make an accurate cast and go right in to a clean, fly first drift. Throwing a reach cast is pretty simple with practice. Let’s assume the angler is right handed, in the front of a drift boat with the anchor down, casting at rising fish on the left bank.  Let’s also assume the angler has assessed the situation and is now prepared to make their first cast. As the line is traveling forward, after the angler has stopped the rod in front of him or her and before the line lays out, simply drop the rod tip left and down, finishing with the rod pointing upriver and almost parallel with the boat.  When fishing the right bank, simply drop the rod tip right and down.  This will finish the cast with the line landing upriver from the fly and set the angler up for the best opportunity to make a clean drift. With a little practice, this cast is deadly on rising fish.

Dan loves a reach cast...

Once the cast hits the water, the angler needs to be ready to feed out line to maintain a drag free drift.  If the fly line becomes tight and the fly swings or skidders even a little bit, it’s most likely over.  The angler needs to have untangled line, already peeled off the reel, ready to be sent onto the water.  At first, this can be a lot trickier than it sounds.  Making sure the fly doesn’t move as line is sent out is crucial.  With practice, it’s easy enough to get the hang of.

Dry fly fishing does not need to be overly complicated or intimidating.  When an angler can approach fish properly, make an accurate reach cast, and is prepared to feed line and maintain a proper drift, they are well equipped to catch wild, rising trout on the Missouri River.  There are countless flies out there that catch fish. Understanding the fundamentals is much more important than finding the perfect fly.

Dallas, a Canadian, executes reach cast and sending line...

Thanks Andrew, we all need to work on this cast. More lessons, more practice, or just more fishing. It all works.

Caught digitally by Mark on Wednesday.

Lots happening at Headhunters. New products arriving daily.

Sage rods and reels came yesterday. Good stuff.

Rio Lines, a bundle for your 2010 re-lining projects.

10’s of 1000’s of cool shit hot Missouri River patterns. Cool, new, effective…certainly flashy. Bling Flies.

Who knows what may arrive today? Stop by and chat us up, or grab the hottest coffee in town, gratis of course.

Nice this weekend. HH open 8-at least 6 daily.

Little Kid, Big Smile

Stopped in for a soda…gotta re-hydrate after battling with these lunkers. Nice job pardner.

The future of angling…right here.

Take a kid fishing and you will be the one smiling.

Afternoon @ the Welcome Hole

 The structure near this oft fished area has changed in the last ten years. There used to be a great big hole near the bottom of this run…no more. Now it is filled in with small gravel and a touch of silt. There are a few rising fish here in the summer, and definitely during a spinner fall. Just below is the new fence installed by the Sterling Ranch Co.  

Sterling Ranch lets  many folks wander around the property for most of the year. The exception being in the fall . Anything painted Bright Orange is private property in Montana and if crossed is considered trespassing.   If you have fished between Stickney Creek and the Dam on the frontage road side, you have stepped foot upon Sterling land. They allow access if for all anglers. It is gracious and which they do not have to do. Keep this in mind if you are fishing on the property.  

I have seen folks parked in front of  field entrances, therefore blocking entry and prohibiting daily ranch work. Not too smart. I have been known to leave hand written come to Jesus notes Love Letters slipped under the windshield wiper hopefully educating assholes with blinders on their eyes. It is the same fella who immediately calls the tow truck if some body is parked in front of their driveway. Lets just be aware of others around us and act appropriately. Respect landowner rights while fishing the Missouri.  

Golden Eye's Going Away

Most of the land you cross to wade fish here is private land. Yes, most all of it. The boat ramps are owned by the state and access there is open to all. Tread lightly elsewhere. It is a privilege granted by others that benefits our fishing experience. Keep these items in mind while fishing the Missouri.  

Never park where you know you shouldn’t. Gated fence areas! On the dirt road (Holter Dam Rd) heading to the Dam. That too is an easement and should be treated as private. Park in designated areas.  

Don’t litter, be cognisant of your self and belongings. Go one better, pick up anything you may see strewn on the shoreline or during your travels. We all win.  

Just remember it anytime you are on private property, treat it with respect. Leave gates as they were. If it was closed when you pass through, close it behind you. If it is open, let it remain open.  

If you have any question if a property is private, assume it is and ask permission before crossing. Be on your best behavior and we will continue the longevity of respect and trust between landowner and angler. 

We can all get along with our neighbors…if we try and are aware of our surroundings.