Holiday Fishing FOrecast

Potential Great Fly Fishing Weather

The Holiday weather forecast looks good if you’re interested in doing a little winter fly-fishing. High’s in the upper 30’s and 40’s, and the critical nighttime lows above freezing, and well above what you need for good fishing conditions. With warm winter temperatures like these, wind will be your only concern. If it’s a ski or fish choice, it’s pretty easy as most area ski hill’s are on the light side as far as snow cover (ski reports).

Closed Christmas Eve afternoon & Christmas Day

Headhunters will close around 12 noon on Christmas Eve the 24th, and will be closed Christmas Day. Other than that day-and-a-half, Headhunters will be open for business from 8am- 5pm, including shuttles, rental boats (Utow), and guided fly fishing trips. We’ve got all the winter nymphs and troutspey flies, as well as Skagit and Scandi tips, bobbers and shot, and cold weather gear from Skwala.

Missouri River Winter Tips

All of the boat ramps should be doable, which is often our biggest obstacle. Once you’ve picked your float (err on the shorter side), concentrate on flat water, especially early in the day. I typically won’t fish ‘broken’ water (like below) until late in the afternoon (like below). On that note, it’s not important to be out there early, but it usually is rewarding to stay out late. I often hit the ramp right at dark this time of year. If you’re nuymphing from the boat and the forecast is for wind, Craig down is a good call, as is swinging with a Skagit tip.

Flies should be pink for nymphers, and black leeches for swingers. Other stuff will work, but those are excellent starting points.

Good Luck & have a Happy Holiday!

Landing a swung trout at the end of the day.