Mid-May Missouri RIver Fishing Report Headhunters in Craig

Better than half way through this month. All is good. Water levels are currently holding at 3300 cfs. Water temps all over the board from 51F-55F.

The busiest month on the Mighty Mo is right now. For the next month into mid June we will see the highest pressure of all of the twelve months here in central Montana. Lots of anglers from other parts of the state here for a while dodging what is historically high water periods on other waters not controlled by dams. So, if you don’t like boats or anglers near you this is not the time for you. See you in July.

What’s on Tap for MAy?

PMD’s: Mostly what anglers are here for on the dry fly side. Started a week ago. In great numbers, the bugs, yet? Nope. But enough to bring a few trout to the surface. Emergers, cripples, trapped duns. On the nymph side the Frenchie is king. Lots of mayfly PMD patterns too. Of course changes through the years, but the Frenchie is King! Come by and get a cup full today at HH of Craig. Currently on the lower end of the river but the hatches will begin up river soon.

PMD’s in play for another month to 6 weeks. Hopefully longer. Many anglers favorite hatch on the Missouri River near Craig. Headhunters is your dry fly destination here on the Mo. Knowledgable shop staff that fishes a ton. Guide driven daily info to keep your ear to the ground if you are not fishing daily.

A hatch that begins with fish that are not quite intelligent yet. A hatch that towards the end, the fish become so intelligent that you may not find a pattern they are interested in, at all…never. And that is the allure of the PMD hatch. All kinds of joy, frustration, smiles, and throw your rod overboard moments.

P.S. The bugs do not move upriver as commonly stated. The bugs stay in their place. The water temps dictate when the bugs begin to emerge. A common misspoken non-fact. Also…the nymphs of the PMD have been in play subsurface for some time. If you dip a bug net in the water column you will find this out. If you dig a bit in the gravel, dirt, veg on the bottom of the river you will find these nymphs very much in play for the previous month and the month to come.

BWO’s: In the game for some time. Early emergence date. Some years holding on through mid June. Again, the nymphal stage in play for months. Still in play today later in the hatch. Dry Fly Patterns we love include Half Dun Hatching, Cripples of all sorts including poly winged and CDC posted patterns are very good here on the Mo. Emergers too. The nymphs we all are into include Tungsten Psycho May, BWO Tunghead Redemption, Tungsten BWO Wonder Nymph, Two Bit Hooker, the venerable Little Green Machine, Bubble Up May BWO…

Midge: Never out of season here locally. A 12 month player. Zebra Midge is king of the subsurface varieties. Any derivation thereof as well. The Euro Stylie patterns are very good. Last a long time, many fish. And, sink quickly. The dry fly side include Griffith’s Gnat, small Adams, Purple Haze in tiny sizes, Quigliey’s Cluster, Cluster Midge, Stacker Midge, Harrop’s Hanging Midge, Stacker Mosquito, Cluster Peacock, Drifting Midge Black, Caviar Midge Grey…

As stated above in play all day long, everyday. Great anglers on the Mo include this thought as they plan their fly selection and rigging style. Midges should be in every anglers wheelhouse on this 12 month resource.

Caddisflies: On the docket for the next 5 months. Yep. Brown, light brown or cinnamon, a few green, and finishing with orange colored caddis in the fall. Size 14-18 with the October Caddis a size 10. Anglers enjoy the Addis. One of the flies that you can see on the water.

Emergers, adults, and pupa rule the roost. The number one fly for us is the Translucent Emerger in a couple colors and sizes. We like X Caddis, Cornfed Caddis, Outrigger, Harrrop’s Palmered Caddis, Parachute Caddis, Tungsten Translucent Emerger Caddis, Outrigger Caddis, Missing Link Caddis, Hi Vis Spent. Nymphs include Weight Fly, Bloom’s Tung Dart, Translucent Pupa tan.

Mid May. Lots in front of us as. we get really stoked of the dry fly season ahead. Many been coming for years, decades, to fish the Trico and PMD and Caddis emergences. Coll stuff at the shop including the nets from Rising and Fishpond. Get yourself an updated f-cool net you can sling in your pack or pose in your boat!

Skwala outerwear and hoodies been a shop and customer favorite. Lots of sun hoodies in stock on the floor. SteelyZips layering pieces that we wear daily are super cool! A staple for shop staff and HH anlgers!

Getyour fishing license before you come, arrive. Online here. No inshore purchases of fishing licenses anymore. Do it on your phone, on your laptop at home, before you arrive.

Oh yeah! Want some feel, back in your life? Demo Rods available including era Centric and the GT! See us inshore for more on these classic generational rods made for today’s trout angler!

Scott Rods available now at Headhunters in Craig. The GT and the Centric are super killer! Want to bring back the smile in casting? Want to feel the cast? Want to impress your friends!!! Want to love fly fishing again? This is the gateway to those lovely trout fishing feelings! Fine rods from Colorado available at Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig.

PMD Nymphs!

Shop open daily 7am. Late til 7pm. Shuttles daily. Guide Trips out daily. Lodging options galore. The Best Flies Under the Big Sky. Rental Boats from Adipose Boatworks. Demo Rods form Scott, Sage, Epic FastGlass, Orvis Helios, and Loomis! Come in and try out the Headhunter Fly Lines. The new Montana Boat Line and the dry fly cult favorite Headhunter Dry Fly Line!

Enjoy your Sunday, your week ahead, and summer on the horizon.