Mark Raisler, Author at Headhunters Fly Shop

Missouri River Swing Report

Missouri River Swing Report While the wind blew snow around yesterday and it truly felt and looked like it may have been blowing 100mph, I know it wasn’t really. Just like saying you caught 100 fish, we know it felt…

Missouri River Midges

February 25, 2018

Midges

Midges It is that time of year. Midges are here. They have been here for a few weeks. But the slush and cold and wind have kept us from the water. Looks like February heading into March may bring us…

Classic Headhunters Hoody’s

February 24, 2018

Classic Headhunters Hoody's, HH Logo Gear

Classic Headhunters Hoody’s Sara has brought in some kick ass Headhunters originals already this spring. The HH Dead Drifter is back on a hoody. This one is a favorite of our staff and you the American Headhunter. Womens HH logo…

Stealing Happy Hours 311 Video Live

February 23, 2018

Stealing Happy Hours 311 Video Live

Un-Fishing

Stealing Happy Hours 311 Video Live If I have something like this weaving through my brain helping endure the winter months I get closer to summer. Today is Friday. This month is getting closer to over as well. Thankfully. If…

Press release from Montana TU

February 22, 2018

Conservation

Press release from Montana TU NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 21, 2018 Contact: David Brooks (MT Trout Unlimited Executive Director), 406-493-5384, david@montanatu.org Chris Schustrom (MT Trout Unlimited State Council Chair), 406-260-1198 chris@gardenwallinn.com Citizen Initiative Filed to Prevent Permanent Pollution…

Since my brain is fried, I may as well organize flies.

February 21, 2018

Bugs, Headhunters Life

Annual Hell, February, flies, Organization

Since my brain is fried, I may as well organize flies. Here I go. Winter is not over. It feels like it is just beginning. And flies do not sort themselves. As a fishing guide I have lots of flies.…

2 Must Have Fly Fishing Items

February 20, 2018

Hook Sharpener, Ketchum Release

2 Must Have Fly Fishing Items The only two I gotta have with me at all times. The Ketchum Release is #1. Use it to keep fish handling to a minimum. If you have it attached to your net, you…

Summertime on the Mo

February 19, 2018

Spinner Fall, Summertime on the Mo

Summertime on the Mo Early mornings always sound like a great idea late night at the bar. The best way to shake that fog is to get on the water early. Some of my worst mornings have been immediately cured…

Montana Fishing Film Festival 2018

February 18, 2018

Montana Fishing Film Festival 2018

Montana Fishing Film Festival 2018 Once again Matt Devlin brings the Montana Fishing Film Festival 2018 rolls through Montana. Check out the show in Helena March 3rd 730 @ Grandstreet Theater. Head on out and enjoy an evening of thrilling…

UMOWA plans Streambank Restoration @ Prickly Pear

February 17, 2018

Conservation, Headhunters Life

conservation, restoration, streambank, UMOWA

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…

Friday Foto

February 16, 2018

friday foto

Friday Foto Shotgun Annie’s of Wolf Creek. The winter eatery in the canyon. Stop in and say hello, order a round, and enjoy a burger. Summertime too. Snow here this weekend. Nice today, mid 30’s. Winter returns Saturday. Enjoy your…

Mid February Missouri River Fishing Report

February 14, 2018

Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

Mid February Missouri River Fishing Report

Mid February Missouri River Fishing Report The short and cold version of the Fishing Mid February Missouri River Fishing Report. It’s cold out there. And in the water. 34F water temp. Somedays the air temp crawls over the water temp. Some…

Caddis Fest ’18 Poster Art Contest

February 13, 2018

Caddis Fest '18 Poster Art Contest

Caddis Fest ’18 Poster Art Contest Get those paintbrushes out and create some art of the annual Caddis Fest ’18 Poster Art Contest. Taking art submissions until April 1st. Send to mark@headhuntersflyshop.com and/or lynn@lynnkenyon.com. Got a few in the bag already…

HH Guide Max Mattioli catches New Zealand Eel

February 13, 2018

Destination, Fly Fishing Travel

Max Mattioli, New Zealand

HH Guide Max Mattioli catches New Zealand Eel Max checks in from New Zealand where he and fellow HH guide Brett Matula are fishing their way around that fishy country. Max on his first visit with Brett making his second journey…

Craig Montana Winter

February 12, 2018

Craig Montana Winter

Craig Montana Winter Best snow February in some time. It’s stark. Craig Montana Winter. Nothin’ happening right now. Phones ringing at the store. Booking ’18 Spring Special Trips, a bunch of summer, and a few fall… It’s stark out there.

How to Avoid Twist and Memory of a Fly Line Video

February 11, 2018

Fly Line, Fly Line Memory, Maintenance, RIO, Twist, Un-twist, video

How to Avoid Twist and Memory of a Fly Line Video From RIO this informative video about How to Avoid Twist and Memory of a Fly Line Video. I don’t see this everyday but when I do it is trouble. A…

SpaceX: Falcon Heavy Launch Video

February 10, 2018

SpaceX: Falcon Heavy Launch Video

Un-Fishing

SpaceX: Falcon Heavy Launch Video If you have not seen this… It is awesome. The re-entry and landing of the booster rockets is simply amazing. Next seasons fly rod tech may come from SpaceX? Maybe?

Headhunters Weekend Trout Spey Clinic Cancelled. New Dates Feb 17, 18.

February 8, 2018

Troutspey

clinics, Education, Headhunters Education, Trout Spey

Headhunters Weekend Trout Spey Clinic Cancelled. New Dates Feb 17, 18 The Trout Spey Gang at Headhunters has called off the weekend 10th ad 11th free clinic. Too cold, too snowy, too shitty for fun learning. And not all the…

Montana’s Winter Storm and Water Predictions

February 8, 2018

February, Montana's Winter Storm, SWE, Winter Storm

Montana’s Winter Storm Dumping right now as I write this Winter Storm Blog Thursday morning in Cascade Montana. Weather Underground says…snow expected, possibly heavy at times. Total snow accumulations of 2-5 inches are expected, with 8-16 inches expected in the…

SIMMS G3 Guide Wading Boots

February 5, 2018

G3 Guide Boot, SIMMS, Vibram, Wading Boots

SIMMS G3 Guide Wading Boots Simms with a change in the G3 Guide Wading Boot this year. Cooler, tougher, leading the trend of wading boots that wear more like a shoe than a cumbersome boot of of yesteryear. I am…

Not Mine, Ours. Smith River Video from TU

February 4, 2018

Conservation, Fly Fishing Video

Save Our Smith, Smith River, Smith River Mine, TU, video

Not Mine, Ours. Smith River Video from TU Super Bowl Sunday. Enjoy the game. Save the Smith. www.smithriverwatch.org

Saturday Snow. Haiku too.

February 3, 2018

haiku, Saturday Bullshit, winter

Saturday Snow. Haiku too. The cold enveloped me as I walked out of the shop while the snow battered my face taking this image Saturday about noonish. This haiku was blown, and stalled cracklin’, on my rear leg. Another 9…

RIO Nymphing Leader

February 2, 2018

Nymphing Leader

RIO Nymphing Leader The next 4 months you may need something like this on the end of your fly line. Nymphing Leader? Why should I rock a nymphing leader you day. Can’t I just use a regular tapered leader, something…

February Top 5

February 1, 2018

dry fly, February, Midges, Top 5, Trout Spey

February Top 5 Not my favorite month. Not too much going on. Slow. My February Top 5 below this Thursday February 1st. Midges may happen mid month. That is a breath of fresh air. Lends itself to spring thoughts. Already…

Hump Day Fishing Report 1.31.18

January 31, 2018

Hump Day Fishing Report 1.31.18 Good times out there coasting into the beginnings of February. January is water under the bridge. Hooray. One day closer to spring. Bring loads of snow to the hills in February please. We could use…

ECHO TR2 Trout Spey Rod Video

January 29, 2018

ECHO TR2 Trout Spey Rod Video

ECHO TR2 Trout Spey Rod Video Our #1 favorite Trout Spey Rod. Our #1 selling Trout Spey Rod. It could be your #1 Trout Spey Rod. Give us a call and get one in the mail today. Or swing into…

F3T Helena MT Grandstreet Theater Tuesday Nite

January 28, 2018

2018, F3T, Greandstreet Theater, Helena MT

F3T Helena MT Grandstreet Theater Tuesday Nite Great Falls had the IF4 Friday nite and this coming Tuesday you can see another fishing film tour roll through Helena with the F3T. Check out the trailers here and enjoy the evening…

March SPEY CASTING Madness @ Headhunters Fly Shop

January 27, 2018

Fly Fishing Technique, Headhunters Life, Troutspey

March SPEY CASTING Madness We are launching our March SPEY CASTING Madness schedule today on the Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service Blog. March 23rd, 24th, and 25th with 3 spey clinics raising the bar on your Spey Game! It…

Friday Fog Foto Craig Bar

January 26, 2018

Friday Fog Foto Craig Bar

Friday Fog Foto Craig Bar Lite snow this weekend. Cloudy too. Might be a nice weekend to step out to the Mo. If you live anywhere else around the American neighborhood fishing may not be on your schedule. If it…

IF4 Film Fest in GF

January 25, 2018

Fly Fishing Video, Headhunters Life

Do Bar, FIlm Fest, Great Falls, Pat Barnes Club

IF4 Film Fest in GF Friday nite in Great Falls 730pm. The Do Bar. Go check it. They serve beer and cocktails there. So pretty fun. With fishing videos too. Enjoy! A trailer for met ’18 show. Focus.

Missouri River Summer Foreshadowing

January 24, 2018

Bugs, Fishing Report

Ants, Beetles, Brown Drake, Bugs, Caddis, Guide Trip, Hatches, Hopper, lodging, PMD's, Streamer, Summer, Terrestrials, trico

Summer Foreshadowing Just the 24th of January today. We have more than our toe dipped into the proverbial year, more like our ankle has entered the water. We are just beginning. And having that ankle submerged made me think of…

SIMMS Challenger Pull On Boots

January 23, 2018

14", Challenger Pull On Boot, Lifestyle Gear, SIMMS, video

SIMMS Challenger Pull On Boots They are here. They have arrived. SIMMS Challenger Pull On Boots in the 14″ length are in store today. These will be popular with the boat only crew. Never put on waders? Sounds damn good…

Late January Missouri River Fishing Report

January 22, 2018

fishing report, Float, Flows, Late January, missouri river, Sink, Swing, Weather, winter

Late January Missouri River Fishing Report Mid Winter check on Montana’s Missouri River as we today give you the Late January Missouri River Fishing Report from your information source Headhunters Fly Shop of Craig Montana. Facts fill the fishing report…

Somewhere Out West Video

January 21, 2018

Scumliner Media, Somewhere out West, video

Somewhere Out West Video This video does not need an introduction. Happy Sunday.

High And Dry @ Headhunters Fly Shop

January 20, 2018

Fly Fishing Gear, Uncategorized

High And Dry @ Headhunters Fly Shop If you spill this on your shirt, it won’t stain it for life. And, it floats your flies…High and Dry. Damn fine products. Available @ Headhunters Fly Shop of Craig. Stock up on…

One Month ’til Midges?

January 18, 2018

Bugs, dry fly, February, Forecast, Midges, One Month 'til Midges?

One Month ’til Midges? Spending the week in Western Washington as the hard rain has got me thinking…One Month ’til Midges? I did not start out with this exact thought. It started with the hard rain, and being thankful that it…

Orvis Helios 3 Video

January 16, 2018

Accuracy, Fly ROd, Headhunters Fly Shop, Helios 3, Orvis, video

Orvis Helios 3 Video This is a really great rod. Whether you want the distance (D) version or the feel (F) version you will be overjoyed with either. Popular with fishing guides, shop staff, and the you alike, this rod…

Summer Dreams

January 14, 2018

Summer Dreams

Summer Dreams Variable weather here in Montana. This weekend warm and windy. Last week, hyper-cold and snowy. The week ahead? Looks like more snow, and some variable weather patterns too. What I do know about summer, is…more consistency. And warmer…

Classic 3 Door Suburban

January 13, 2018

Chevy, Suburban

Classic 3 Door Suburban Would love to have one of these classic 3 door ’68-’72 Chevy Suburbans. There is one in Great Falls. It used to be parked at the Dearborn boat ramp as the folks that had it at…

Friday Foto Mountain Palace Winter

January 12, 2018

friday foto, Mountain Palace, winter

Friday Foto Mountain Palace Winter Real cold today. Lots of snow falling. Quite a bit overnight. Looks OK for the weekend. Much warmer temps. Maybe fishable. If you deem it fishable, stop in the shop. We have hot coffee. Unless…

How to Tie a Soft Hackle with Hans

January 11, 2018

Fly Fishing Video, Troutspey

fly tying, SD Angler, Soft Hackle, video

How to Tie a Soft Hackle with Hans Today a soft hackle video with Hans S of the South Dakota Angler. We used to post a quite a few vids from Hans. A good tier. If you are in the…

How to interpret water data or Realism: A sport most anglers want nothing of.

January 10, 2018

missouri river, Realism: A sport most anglers want nothing of., science, Seasonal Flows, Theory, Water Data, Water Flows

How to interpret water data or Realism: A sport most anglers want nothing of. The case in point today revolves around a couple charts that we see most often used by bloggers like HH and beyond. Below is an article…

Tuesday January 9th Missouri River Fishing Report

January 9, 2018

fishing report, Jan 9th, Nymphing, Trout Spey, winter

Tuesday January 9th Missouri River Fishing Report No dry fly action. Warm and windy here for the last several days with winter coming to greet us yet again this evening. More snow in the forecast. We love it. Bring more.…

Silly Sunday Melting Snow Scenery

January 7, 2018

Snow, Sunday Scenery, winter

Silly Sunday Melting Snow Scenery You have 3 more days, including today to get out tree and enjoy the river before we slip back into a winter pattern. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Then January brings winter in with snow an scooper…

Montana Boat Builders Jason Cajune Video

January 6, 2018

Jason Cajune, Made in Montana, video, Wood Boats

Montana Boat Builders Jason Cajune Video These truly are the most beautiful boats you will see on the river. Sara has one she bought second hand a few years ago, the skiff model. Super killer. A great sneak boat. I…

Friday Foto

January 5, 2018

friday foto

Friday Foto Warming here in Craig. Shelf ice around, but navigable. Check the boat ramps before doing anything too stupid. Come by the shop get a shuttle, fill the voids in your fly box, check out our Just Add Vise…

White Snow, White Flies.

January 4, 2018

Troutspey

Bobber Flies, Nymphs, Pink, Trout Spey Patterns, White Flies., White Snow

White Snow, White Flies. And Pink. A few white flies to get you into the weekend here on the Montana’s Missouri River. The recent warm spell has got us pretty stoked. Water temps are still frigid but the air temps…

Missouri River Winter-Spring Info Sheet

January 2, 2018

Dates, Guide Trips, Hatches, Info Sheet, lodging, Save the Date

Missouri River Winter-Spring Info Sheet 2nd day of the year here in downtown Craig as we take a look at the future. The past is so last year. Still damn cold here thru today but it will crack the freezing…

Happy New Year 2018!

January 1, 2018

Headhunters Life, Landscape

Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2018! Happy New Year to all of the Missouri River lovers out there! Happy New Year. Is this the year that you spend some time on the Mighty Mo, living out your dry fly dreams? Bring it…

Chasing Coral Trailer

December 30, 2017

Conservation

Chasing Coral, conservation, Trailer

A great film trailer today about coral conservation. Chasing Coral is dramatic. I will be watching it today on Netflix. Beats shoveling snow here in central Montana with outdoor temps currently at -12F. Got a couple more inches of snow…

It’s cold. Think warm thoughts.

December 27, 2017

Headhunters Life, Nature

It’s cold. Think warm thoughts. I think it got to 10F. No wind though. Clear and bright. No wind though. We are in the treading water stage of the winter. It’s stale. Watched Hitchcock’s Rear Window last night. Wow! Great flick.…

Montana Fly Shop Strong

December 26, 2017

Echo Fly Rods, Montana Fly Shop Strong

Montana Fly Shop Strong Another cool video Fly Shop Strong Montana Edition today on the Headhunters Blog. John takes part in this edition as Tim Rajeff wanders through Montana visiting ECHo dealers reminding us of why we love homegrown fly…

Merry Christmas from Headhunters of Craig Montana

December 25, 2017

Headhunters Holidays, Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Headhunters of Craig Montana Merry Christmas from Headhunters to all of you. We appreciate you all year long and we are all thankful for you and your families. Enjoy this time with your friends and families. Be…

One of the great John Cusack Quotes

December 23, 2017

Classic 80's Films, John Cusack, video

One of the great John Cusack Quotes What do you want to do? Are you doing it? Did you have a crossroads decision at one point? We all did. This is a fantastic scene with John Cusack in Say Anything…

Friday Sno-Foto

December 22, 2017

Craig MT, Friday Sno-Foto

Photography

Friday Sno-Foto Cold in Montana. Snowing at press time this morning at 133am. More on the way. We like snow. The bitter cold? Not so much. -11F is cold, along with the wind. Happy Friday. Heading into the holiday weekend.…

Winter Solstice. Fly Fishing To Do List. December.

December 21, 2017