Fly Fishing Technique Archives - Headhunters Fly Shop

5 Tips for Missouri River August Success Go early. Early bird gets the worm. First to fish is a good plan. If you think about warfare and the tactics that never fall from favor, you will understand. If you like…

Searching with Attractors Fishing Montana’s Missouri River

August 11, 2023

Fishing Report, Fly Fishing Technique, Headhunters Life

attractor, Education, Hopper, Long Leader, Technique

Scumliner penned this article a few years ago. Information like this is pertinent today as ever! August, typically some of the most productive attractor fishing of the year on the Missouri. And because afternoon hatches can be slim, it’s often the…

The twice annual Reach Cast Discussion

July 27, 2023

The twice annual Reach Cast Discussion

The twice annual Reach Cast discussion kicks off today this Thursday in late July. The other time we talk about this is when me, Mark, has nothing else to say in the mid winter. Or nothing of value daily to…

Efficiency. A Blog by Max Mattioli

July 13, 2023

Efficiency, Max Mattioli

Efficiency. A Blog by Max Mattioli Today Max Mattioli writes this fantastic article bout trout fishing with the dry fly. A great read and thanks to you Max for this Thursday article! Want to fish with Max in 2024? Look…

Top Tips for Wednesday

May 24, 2023

Spring, tips

Top Tips for Wednesday A few tips to get you through the week and how to handle your fishing here on the Mo. Top Tips for Tuesday include… Get on early or get out late. Busy during the day. First…

Missouri River April May Fly Fishing Forecast

Missouri River Late April May Fly Fishing Forecast

April 23, 2023

Birds, Bugs, Fishing Report, Fly Fishing Technique, Nature

April, birds, Bugs, Forecast, May, Populations, Trout, Water LEvels, Weather

Missouri River Late April May Fly Fishing Forecast Snow on the ground. Green grasses below the white cover. Next week better air temps. And maybe less snow on the ground here locally. This water update article along with fishing predictions…

MLB Pitch Clock vs. Dry Fly Trout Clock

February 27, 2023

cast, Casting Clock

MLB Pitch Clock vs. Dry Fly Trout Clock Ahhh, an interesting dichotomy. As many of you know, MLB fans, that there are some rule changes this season around the league. A pitch clock has been installed for the speed of…

How we learn physical skills in fly fishing

February 23, 2023

How we learn physical skills in fly fishing Perfect practice. That is how we learn physical skills. Golfers do not learn how to drive the ball, by playing golf. Nope. You do not learn how to improve your swing, by…

Common Casting Mistakes: Slack Line, 5 Essentials, Quick Video

February 19, 2023

Common Casting Mistakes: Slack Line, 5 Essentials, Quick Video We see this one executed quite often from not only novice casters and anglers, but surprisingly from seasoned anglers too. Leaving slack line in the casting equation does not ever help…

Happy V-Day: I Said Delicate! Repost of a great Scumliner Blog

February 14, 2023

cast, Casting, tip

Happy V-Day: I Said Delicate! Repost of a great Scumliner Blog Ed Note: Happy V-Day to all you lovers out there from us here in central Montana. A repost today of a great blog John wrote 7 years ago, mid-summer,…

Fly Casting Essential #2

February 13, 2023

5 Essentials of the fly cast, Casting, FFF

Fly Casting Essential #2 All 5 have to happen for the cast to be perfect. Or, even work. 2. Slack line should be kept to an absolute minimum. Pulling taut line, is all the fly rod/tool can do. The rod is…

The 5 Essentials of Fly Casting

February 10, 2023

The 5 Essentials of Fly Casting We tend to think about fly casting more in the winter, as we mentally and physically prepare of the coming summer 2023. Every winter we think about the year ahead, how to improve, and…

Swing Tips: Fish Broadside

January 28, 2023

broadside, spey

Ed Note: A great article from John and Mike McCune. Swing Season is in full effect, with a slight hiccup in the fishing with the below zero temperatures and snow! We’re often asked about how we present the fly when fishing…

5 Winter Mo River Tips

January 13, 2023

Missouri River Technique, Nymphing, Nymphs, Technique, winter

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…

Let the fishing guide, guide…

December 17, 2022

Clients, Expectations, Guides, Headhunters Guides

Let the fishing guide, guide… To get the most out of your fly fishing guide trip the best method is to let the fishing guide, guide you. Sometimes I get an angler in the boat who wants to guide me.…

Deep(er) Thoughts on the Headhunter Fly Line

December 10, 2022

Fly Fishing Gear, Fly Fishing Technique

Deep(er) Thoughts, Headhunter Fly Line, Review

Deep(er) Thoughts on the Headhunter Fly Line We wanted to design a line for us. For Headhunters. A couple days ago we published the Headhunter Fly Line Review. As I thought about that blog, I recognized that I left out the…

10 Tips for Missouri River Baetis Success

October 24, 2022

10 Tips, Baetis, Technique, Trout Planning

10 Tips for Missouri River Baetis Success We are all into catching more fish on BWO dries. Actually not true. Some anglers. Not all anglers are interested in the dry fly. I have often stated to those who believe that…

Streamer Season is upon us! Dick Magill Chronicles

October 12, 2022

Streamer Season is upon us! Dick Magill Chronicles The Chronicles of Dick Magill on the Headhunters Blog. Thanks Richard for the blog today. Yes, many have been streamer fishing and it has been as consistent as we could hope for.…

Finish Up, Start Down.

September 27, 2022

Essentials of the cast, Fly Casting

Finish Up, Start Down. Today’s Tuesday Tip from SOL here on the HH Blog. Just a simple task. Simple execution. A simple cast. The fly cast. Those who can replicate, repeat, cast with success every cast all do the same…

5 Hot September Tips for the Missouri River Fly Fisher

September 12, 2022

Bigs, Nymphing, Rigs, September Fishing, Streamer fishing, Technique, tips

What to do when your September fishing day goes soft? How about a few tips to get the blood flowing and the mind searching for the next best thing. 5 Hot September Tips for the Missouri River Fly Fisher Look…

Only do this. If you want to catch them.

August 14, 2022

cast, Drift, Mend, reach cast, Reach MEnd, SOL Speaks

Only do this. If you want to catch them. For the dry fly angler. Yessir. Reach Mend. Reach Cast. Or some sort of slack-line presentation. Approach quietly. Headhunters understand that the element of surprise is still very effective in war.…

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 6.22.15

Missouri River August Tips

August 11, 2022

Missouri River August Tips

A few tips to get you through this coming week. It’s gonna be hot and the fish don’t really care for the high and bright sun. Missouri River August Tips Get out early. We’ll see you at the shop before…

Squeeky’s Top 5 Don’ts of July

July 20, 2022

July, Rant, Squeeky's Top 5 Don'ts of July

Or should it be the bottom 5 don’ts of the month? Your choice. I wrote a blog a few years back of the Top 10 Worst Fly Fishing Products and got a ton of flack about it. So if you…

May Missouri River Tips for Fly Fishing success!

May 2, 2022

May Missouri River Tips for Fly Fishing success!

May Missouri River Tips for Fly Fishing success! Hello all out there in TroutLand! May has arrived and the fishing is good. A couple hot tips or suggestions for the Missouri River angler as we move through the month of May.…

May Missouri River Fishing Forecast 2022

May 1, 2022

BWO, Caddis, DFO, dry fly, Hatch Chart, March Brown, May, May Missouri River Fishing Forecast, missouri river, Mother's Day, Nymphing, River Flows, Streamer, Timing

May Missouri River Fishing Forecast Today on the Headhunters Fly Shop Blog you get the May Missouri River Fishing Forecast. What to expect, wish for, and believe for the month ahead. Here we go out of April running full speed…

Squeeky’s Recent Thoughts: Structure Education

March 30, 2022

Fishing Report, Fly Fishing Technique, Headhunters Life

Squeeky’s Recent Thoughts: Structure Education Thinking a lot, about less and less… My favorite Dead lyric. Late in the tune Althea. Check it here. Kinda outta context the way I think about it, that’s my prerogative as the writer here.…

Dick Magill Chronicles: Streamer Fishing for Nice Ones

February 16, 2022

Dick Magill, flies, Streamer, Technique

Dick Magill Chronicles: Streamer Fishing for Nice One Streamer fishing is definitely the most versatile form of fly fishing when targeting predatory fish Not just trout but all predatory fish. When fishing a streamer you have the ability to imitate…

Tom Rosenbauer Prospecting for Trout Video

February 3, 2022

Orvis, Prospecting for Trout, Tom Rosenbauer

Tom Rosenbauer Prospecting for Trout Video Great video today by one of the greatest fly fishing educators in my lifetime. YEs, there are many more out there, but I truly believe that Mr. Rosenbauer is a the top of the…

Practice Rod Time

February 1, 2022

Catch more Fish!, Practice Rod, Things to do this winter, Tim Rajeff

Practice Rod Time In your garage. At your desk. On the phone. Disciplining your children. Doing your children math homework. These are times when the practice rod should be in your hands. Prepping for the season ahead. Ten minutes, or…

Stripping streamers in the dark

January 29, 2022

Fly Fishing Gear, Fly Fishing Technique

Fly Line, HH Ramblings, Match, Perfect, reel, Rod, Streamer

Stripping streamers in the dark Trout do not have eyelids. They can’t squint. They cannot buy sunglasses. Trout do not like sun in their eyes… Unless there are a ton of bugs on the surface. Then they can make an…

January Flies – Winter Nymphs and Streamers

January 27, 2022

Braden Lewis

Bugs, Fly Fishing Technique

flies, January, January flies, Missouri River Winter Flies, Nymphs, Streamers, winter

The daily air temps have been tolerable as of late. Some anglers out there fishing with the sunshine we have had for a couple days. The wind is coming, but the air temps have been enough to make us smile!…

Winter Tasks at Hand

January 5, 2022

Casting, Tasks, To Do List, winter

Winter Tasks at Hand Got the winter doldrums? Bored? Want to fish but cannot because the weather outside? Want to go to the Bahamas but your spouse does not think that is such a good idea? But you can’t? And…

Mike McCune – Troutspey Retrieve Methods

November 15, 2021

Fly Fishing Technique, Fly Fishing Video, Troutspey

mccune, Technique, troutspey

Mike McCune does an excellent job of covering the primary methods we use to add action to the fly when swinging for trout with our two-handers. You also get to watch some excellent, relaxed, compact, troutspey casting. Watch enough and…

Don’t let you, hold you, back

November 9, 2021

Don’t let you, hold you, back A couple problems hold most anglers back. Yep, just a couple casting fails that hold most anglers back from progressing. From moving forward. From kicking more ass. Too much Slack The first of the…

Efficient Missouri River Nymph Strategies

November 3, 2021

Fall, fly fishing technique, Missouri River Technique, nymph, Technique

Efficient Missouri River Nymph Strategies Want to catch more with a nymph rig? Yeah, we agree. Follow the simple strategies and tips below to improve your catch rate this fall. Take advantage of the lower water by targeting the subsurface…

How to Approach Like A Pro. Fall Edition.

October 20, 2021

DFO, dry fly, missouri river, Pro, Rising Trout, SOL, Spring Creek, tailwater, Technique

How to Approach Like Pro The number one reason that more anglers do not catch fish with a dry fly is because they do not approach rising fish in the proper manner. Most every angler (men) rush right in and…

Don’t be afraid to practice, or change your approach

October 18, 2021

BWO, DFO, dry fly, Missouri River Technique, Practice, Technique

DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHANGE Watching the NLCS this past weekend I had some thoughts stirred up by the unique approach the LA Dodgers took for game 1 and the final game of the NLDS. What was so exciting was…

A few Missouri River October Fly Fishing Tips

October 14, 2021

A few Missouri River October Fly Fishing Tips, Dry Flies October, Fall Fly Fishing Tips

We are in full swing for the month of October. Lots of stuff happening. Not the big bugs yet but they gotta be on the way. Tons of Pseudo’s around almost every day. Monday brought the advent of the true…

Fish the Center

September 23, 2021

Fish the Center

Fish the Center If you are an edge, or are bank centric, fish the center river for a change. Yep. Lots of action out there in the middle. Check it. Then take a mental picture and remember it when the…

7 September Missouri River Tips

September 15, 2021

7 September Missouri River Tips

7 September Missouri River Tips Enjoy the outdoors. Colors changing, weather changing. Enjoy your friends. Whiskey is a nice liquid to harbor in your flask. Bring your JetBoil too. For the coffee. Dry fly caddis if you dare. Blind it…

5 Must Do Tips for Missouri River June

June 29, 2021

5 Must Do Tips for Missouri River June, Brown Trout, dry fly, First Cast, June, PMD's

A quick overview of the things that you must do in June on the MO. They include not only technique but also timing for your best shot here on the dry fly stream of choice in central Montana. No run-off…

The 5 Don’ts of Dry Fly Fishing

June 26, 2021

Fly Fishing Technique, Uncategorized

The 5 Don'ts of Dry Fly Fishing

The 5 Don’ts of Dry Fly Fishing We speak often about the ways to catch fish. Today we speak briefly about the way you can assure that you do not catch as many dry fly fish. The number one way…

Two Forbidden Dry Fly Maneuvers

June 22, 2021

dry fly rules, SOL

Two Forbidden Dry Fly Maneuvers Fly pattern does not matter if you do one or both of the Two Forbidden Dry Fly maneuvers listed below. Angler chooses not to cast at the target. The rising trout. Instead he or she…

In Defense of Dry Fly Anglers

May 4, 2021

dry fly article, fly fishing technique, missouri river, Squeeky's Rants, team Headhunters

I wrote a recent blog reminding us, we, the industry need to be a aware of the wants and needs of all anglers. Reminding us that whether you be a nympher, a streamer junkie, or a dry fly fanatic there…

Those who Row or Why some catch more nymphing than others.

April 28, 2021

Education, Nymphing, rental boats, Row Jimmy Row, Rowing Skills

Low water greets you when you reach the MightyMo this year but if you are towing a boat behind you eventually somebody has got to settle into the rowers seat and get after it. Some sit int he rowers seat.…

Words of Dry Fly Wisdom

April 25, 2021

BWO, DFO, Guide Suggestions, Midge, Trust Me. I'm a Guide, Wisdom

Words of Dry Fly Wisdom Thinking about the dry fly bite this am before heading to the water today. Some things never change. Fish are wild animals. They are not trained. They do not understand that you did not practice…

Change, when Change happens

April 7, 2021

Change, when Change happens April, May, June. One thing in common of all three is change. High water, low water, falling and rising. Water temps along with the left over weeds or peculiar dam operations can change the water conditions…

Best Time to Fish the Missouri River for Beginners

February 8, 2021

Fly Fishing Technique, Future Fly Fishers

Best Time to Fish the Missouri River for Beginners A common question we get here at Headhunters as we book guide trips and lodging for first time or beginner anglers…is When should I come? Best Time for Beginners We here…

Dry Fly Super Bowl still a few months away

February 7, 2021

Casting, DFO, dry fly, Practice, summwer

Dry Fly Super Bowl still a few months away Image: Long time Headhunter Jim Arkin sizing up a PMD flat. Patience along with accurate confident first drifts put Jim in the right mood for success. A big game today. All…

Squeeky’s Top 5 Missouri River Winter Fly Fishing Tips

January 18, 2021

Squeeky's Top 5 Missouri River Winter Fly Fishing Tips, WInter Fly Fishing Techniques

Top 5 Missouri River Winter Fishing Tips from Squeeky today on the Headhunters Fly Fishing Blog. The 5 tips do not center around actual rigging techniques, but more about the approach to winter fly fishing. Winter Fishing is different, a…

Tuesday Fly Casting Tactics w/ Simon Gawesworth

January 5, 2021

Casting, DFO, dry fly, Hopper, Simon Gawesworth, Streamer, Technical casting, Technique

Tuesday Fly Casting Tactics w/ Simon Gawesworth A great tip from Simon Gawesworth fo RIO Line Company today. Tuesday here in Craig and all is well. The fly shop staff is out on the casting lane often fine tuning personal…

5 Missouri River Low Water Tips

October 13, 2020

Low Water, Technique, tips

5 Missouri River Low Water Tips The Mo has not been this low in some time. Years, decades. And we love it. It is interesting to find new water, find the water that the fish have moved into. To explore…

Pull a bend into the rod

August 27, 2020

Pull a bend into the rod

Pull a bend into the rod That’s what you do. You pull a bend into the rod. Think about that one today. Just that one thought. How do you pull a bend into the rod? I can give you a…

Peter Speaks about August Flies

August 12, 2020

Peter Speaks about August Flies We have entered the dog days, The boys of summer are still roaming the streets of Craig. 85 and sunny, day in and day out turns into a slew of groundhog days filled with dry…

Presentation is Everything!

August 3, 2020