Guides v. Pitchers Just because your ace is pitching today does not mean he will win the game. Nope. Seen it a million times. Your top hurler for your team has to endure lots of variables. Stadium, air temps, humidity…
Monday Winter Foto Winter visited us Saturday and Sunday here in downtown Craig MT. Should see anglers today and tomorrow as the air temps are holding at about 40F for daily highs. Good to see a touch of winter. Have…
Liquid Sunshine falling from the sky this morning. So what should you do? Put on your rain-gear and go outside. Just what any normal sound minded angler would do. The NOAA Weather Service states Today 02/03 97% / 0.3 in Rain…
Get your Summer Lodging lined up TODAY! Parked in front of Brown Drake Lodge swinging on Thursday. Got a couple here. You want to fish to a few trout sipping here in the mid Summer? Or in the fall for…
Squeeky’s Thoughts on Hump-Day Believing only in fly pattern is like only believing in your personal dress. Just ’cause you look cool, you like the threads you’re donning, are following the newest trend, does not directly correlate to success in…
Pink Lightening Bug Just Add Vise Kit w/ Video It’s winter. It’s cold. It’s time to tie some flies. The Pink Lightening Bug is an 8 month bug here in central Montana. We fish it hard November into early June.…
Monday. Almost all, is well. Been a week since we last spoke. A great week for this author as rarely does a day go by without something on this page from the head of SOL. And a week without thinking…
Missouri River Winter Fishing today on the Headhunters Blog with 5 Easy Winter Tasks. While at home dreaming about fishing there are some tasks you can accomplish setting yourself up for the coming season. In many parts of the country…
Not as cold outside today. But the cold weather is abating. We will see temps in the 40’s for the next ten days. Hooray! Still tons of slush in the water. Still lots of dangerous shelf ice. And the aforementioned…
A great fly for swinging this winter. For stripping this winter. For having in your arsenal as we move through the winter. This came around a few years ago and has been a fantastic producer here on the Mo and…
Water Flows Falling. Air Temps Increasing? Water flows falling this week to 4200cfs. That is low. The verbiage from the DNRC below… Reclamation is making a 500cfs decrease to conserve water for storage based on forecasted inflows. And what does…
5 Winter Mo River Tips Lots of stories every winter of anglers not getting the catch rates they want during this sometimes frigid and lengthly Montana winters. What are the reasons that lead to too much solace and quiet on…
Endless Winter The Swing fishing will become good again. Soon? Endless Winter still has a long ways to go. Stop by for any trout spey gear you need. Montana’s 2HTROUT HQ. Open daily during the Endless Winter.
Still cold outside Currently snowing outside. -18F. A couple inches on the ground. Total. Made up a bit of ground for the total spring number. We desperately need a bundle more. Lots more. Playoff football, AO Tennis, and 5 minutes…
Closed today Friday, Saturday, Sunday Out for the cold today. Below zero. Well below zero. Too cold to fish. The 7 cars that stop for bathroom use only, will have to use the sub-zero outhouse seats at the boat ramp…
Winter Trout Spey Video Switch it Up Cold again here in Craig this morning. Minus, below ZERO air temps make it pretty hard to fish! Looks like it runs through the weekend with temps dipping to a frigid -32F Saturday…
Zirdle Bug Just Add Vise Tying Kit and Video Tie these up for summer and fall fishing success on the Mo. Ever thought of fishing it on your trout spey rod? A few of our gang has been flirting with…
A skiff approaching an inch today as we move through January with only our second snow sighting. The initial being in October for a weeks worth of winter. So we rejoice this Sunday. Many are rooting for the Montana Grizzlies…
Gonna be looking for 2024 Staff soon. Nearing is the day when we begin looking for 2024 shop staff. Start thinking about your next move. We’ll talk to you soon.
January 4th 2024 Water temps below 36F. That’s cold. Fish don’t wanna move too far in those temps. Flows are below 5K. 4840cfs. Quite normal for the winter months. Wade anglers around. Mostly above Craig. Boat anglers around. Mostly above…
You vow to get better this year? No? Discontinue reading this short blog today, the 2nd day of the year. Cast today. It is that simple. Lots of short sessions far, far, far, far, far better than one long session…
Happy New Year! Thanks to the Mighty Missouri River. We give thanks and wish for a great year for the trout, the staff, and you the angler. May your casts be free and easy. May your travels include the outdoors…
Had a customer say to us today ” You know what separates this fly shop from the rest? It’s the first rate customer service, friendliness, and professionalism of the the staff, that you are open all but a few days…
Holiday Fishing Report Montana’s Missouri River Been decent fishing on the river here this holiday period. Water temps are cold. 36F. Water flows are winter-like. Currently 3990cfs. The DNRC claimed a water increase this week, but just like any gov’t…
Astrud Gilberto Stan Getz Girl from Ipanema Lost Astrud Gilberto this year. A big loss for the Bossa Nova world. The voice that introduced much of America to the soft and ethereral whispers of said music style. Maybe my favorite…
Fulfilling an ask from reader. You want us to write an article about? Let us know! Water levels on the rise. December 29th. Quite normal for a move of this type in the water months trying to alleviate any actor…
You may have seen this short 1 minute film with Sara having some winter fun. It is our traditional, now, film of the holidays here at HH of Craig. Play this when you feel the pressure of the family, your…
One of the coolest Christmas Songs Actually “Linus and Lucy” is the title of this tune. Composed by Vince Guaraldi the Italian Jazz Composer who composed most of the Peanuts animated television music. I also dig “Christmas Time is Here”.…
Santa Claus is Coming to Town Love this Bruce Springsteen version. Happy Holidays to you and yours from all of us here on the banks of Montana’s Missouri River
Why we love the shortest day in Craig MT Closed Sunday and Monday 24th and 25th. Open today and Saturday. See you Tuesday morning. Not toooo early though… We have crossed over the Winter Solstice here in Craig MT and…
2023: Remaining To Do List A few things to get done before we tear the final page from the calendar. We still have a couple weeks left in the current year and why not scratch these items from the list…
Christmas in Craig Hollis A throwback to 1987. About the time when Weight forward fly lines were coming a big thing. Pre-beaded fly patterns, VHS was king, and many anglers still casting fiberglass rods. What a time. The Mighty Mo…
Silly Saturday Scenery 40’s today with light wind. Pretty nice out there. Some are Christmas shopping. Others are dipping a fly in the water. We, we are here, shuttling, playing Santa, and jamming to a bit of reggae. Enjoy your…
Friday Foto Headhunters Holiday Shot We are in the full holiday swing here at Headhunters. The phone is ringing for fly fishing gift items and we are mailing gifts not only to Santa but to husbands, wives, friends, and families…
Fire Bead Ray Charles Just Add Vise Kit A fly that will get you through the winter. All winter. Pink is the theme for nymphing from December 1st until mid June? We find ourselves using regular looking flies that represent…
1 Goal for Winter If I had to choose 1 goal for winter, it would be… Understand that every cast has an ending. Finishing with the rod tip, or entire rod, parallel with the water/ground; is incorrect. Every time. Nobody…
And Winter Arrived on the Mo Day 1 of winter, today. It has arrived. Not a soul in Craig. A couple, meaning a couple waterfowlers roaming. A long fall preceded this moment. Great fishing for the swinging and stripping set.…
A great article written by John 10 years ago. Republishing today for your entertainment. And a reminder to practice casting in the wind. Lots. Often. Great wind free and warm week behind us with tons of anglers and spey casters…
Missouri River Montana Projected Seasonal Flows & Fishing Report Waters fluctuating as we move through the off season here on the MO. But, daily air temps crept over the 60F mark yesterday. And it was quite nice. Along with some…
Where are you going? This winter, this spring, this summer. Are you coming? Have you fished the entire river? If you have not it may be time to give yourself a treat and fish some new waters, on the Missouri…
Check it. The Kreelex Just Add Vise kit is in stock. Kreelex Minnow. Just a few words about our Just Add Vise Kits today on the Headhunters Blog. And, Kreelex Minnows, fly patterns, are stocked as well. In many color…
December Missouri River Fishing Forecast All good here on the Mo this early winter. Above average daily temps, along with the ubiquitous wind. Above average numbers of anglers this past November. A good fishing month overall with the dry fly…
Saturday Swing Pic Enjoying the solace here on the Missouri River near Craig Montana. Late fall-ish windy and cold weather has settled in here in Craig. It will continue through the new year, beyond into the spring months. Get used…
Headhunters 2023 Christmas Party: Closing early Saturday Dec. 2nd Closing it up early on Saturday. A good time for our staff and guides with a homespun pizza party in the tiny fishing ‘burb of Craig. Maybe some wings, salads, and…
Tying the Bubble Yum Scud When you think about the Mighty Mo, and nymphing, you think of scuds, sows, and in the winter months…Pink! Check this baby out. It has a heavy tungsten bead to get you to depth rapidly.…
Tuesday Morning Fishing Report 11.28.23 Water temps continue to fall. Fishing stays strong. 41.5F Flows are hiccuping around at 4360cfs. Nymphing is great. It will become not quite as exciting as the water temps fall. Zebra’s and sows galore. Dry…
We know you have your own reasons for visiting Montana’s Missouri River every year. Here are a few more reasons to visit this summer. Plus, you need to try out that new Sage R8 on our hard fighting jumping Rainbows!…
Fly Shop Small Saturday Yes we are open. Yes we are small. Yes we are a fly shop. Yes today is Saturday. Shop with us today. Everyday! Yes we thank you. Always online, in store, or on the phone. We…
Holiday Update from Downtown Craig Montana Pretty slow yesterday as the cold kept many away. And a TDay hangover of sorts whether it be turkey based or otherwise. Dead calm and overcast yesterday. Braden Lewis out guiding locals yesterday. Not…
Louis Armstrong: What a Wonderful World this Thanksgiving 2023 Up and down weather this past week. The Turkey Holiday with snow today, and cooler weather for the remainder of the weekend. Open at 9am Friday morning with guide trips out…
Happy Thanksgiving Week from Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service Hello all! Have a great holiday wherever you may cast your line. Closed Thanksgiving Day 2023. We will be watching football too, eating, napping, drinking, napping.. Come by and see…
REPOST: Love this video shot by John and Mike several years ago. Worth the watch again nd again. Enjoy if you are viewing after the turkey this Thursday! If you haven’t had a chance to attend one of our clinics…
Turkey Week Fishing Report Water temps 44.5F Flows below Holter Dam about 4K. Pressure: Waning daily as the days pass us by in November. Guide trips out today, later this week. Guide trips available 364 days a year. Bugs: Fewer…
Weekend here in Craiglandia. Sunny today, sunny tomorrow. Maybe some weather this coming week, albeit minor. Bundle of anglers around when the weather is like this. This a pattern that you should tie on when the remained of the box…
A swan this Thursday. A lovely bird. Snowed last night for a couple hours. Just a skiff on the ground, lawn, river banks. High sun this afternoon. Looking for more clouds. Weekend ahead. Looking forward to it!
Missouri River Montana Current Fishing Report 11.14.23 Water Flows hovering around 4K. Water Temps falling at 46F. Angler pressure is above average as the daily temperatures are above average. Hi’s in the 50’s for the next 10 days. Shuttles daily…