Fly Fishing Technique Archives - Headhunters Fly Shop

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

Fly Fishing Technique, Fly Fishing Video, Troutspey

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

John Arnold

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 Tips for Missouri River August Success

August 10, 2021

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…

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 Winter Mo River Tips

December 2, 2020

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…

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

Presentation is Everything! How important is it to present yourself well at a job interview? Put your best foot forward On a first date? Sloppy dirty shirt? Or clean. You get to decide this. You can control the outcome of…

Sunday Surf Jam

August 2, 2020

Fishing Report, Fly Fishing Technique, Fly Fishing Video

Reality Check, Sunday Surf Jam, The bikini Lovers

Sunday Surf Jam When you don’t make the first cast the best cast this is what you see and hear. No, no, no. Welcome to August on the Mo. Push play and watch what happens. No, no, no. The…

5 Missouri River Summer Nymphing Tips

July 23, 2020

5 Missouri River Summer Nymphing Tips

5 Missouri River Summer Nymphing Tips Fish summer water. No soft insides, no slack ass water. Fish quicker oxygen filled runs. Summer fish love the caddis fly. Run without the split shot. Let it all hang out there with the…

Dead Flies Don’t Swim Video & 5 Things to Never Do Dry Fly Fishing

July 6, 2020

Fishing Report, Fly Fishing Technique, Fly Fishing Video

Dead Flies Don't Swim Video & 5 Things to Never Do Dry Fly Fishing, DFO, dry fly, July, Technique, tips

Dead Flies Don’t Swim Video & 5 Things to Never Do Dry Fly Fishing Water levels falling this week we think. They fell yesterday by a couple thousand and will fall again today below 9K. Hooray. The dry fly bite…

5 for Friday June 26th 2020

June 26, 2020

5 for Friday June 26th 2020

5 for Friday June 26th 2020 5 great tips to get you through the Missouri River summer weekend ahead. We are currently sitting just 10K @ 9840cfs. Water temps 58F. Will it come down this weekend? Maybe, or not. We…

10 Tips for Missouri River Baetis Success

May 8, 2020

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…

Reach Cast Video

April 21, 2020

Reach Cast Video

Reach Cast Video An oldie but goodie on the Headhunters Blog. Since you have been practicing casting the entire month we are reminding you to do a bit of this action too. Some sort of slack line presentation can be…

News Flash. Not all anglers want to be dry fly anglers!

February 26, 2020

fly fishing progression, learning, missouri river

I’ve been rolling around a personal progression of fly fishing for a couple years and as of late it has been haunting me daily. I believe that we, as an industry, are educating our anglers in an improper way. We…

How a Practice Rod is Helping Me Catch More Fish!

February 4, 2020

2020. Your Best Year!, ECHO Micro Practice Rod, ECHO MPR, Orvis Practicaster, Practice Casting

How a Practice Rod is Helping Me Catch More Fish! One of my Fly Fishing Goals this year is to Cast Better. And getting out to the lawn, to the river, or the park is not always easy with daily…

Ditching Old Faithful

January 29, 2020

Dick Magill, Ditching Old Faithful, Headhunters Crack Staff, Richard, science, Streamers

Ditching Old Faithful From our revealing Dick Magill, Angler Series comes todays blog by crack staffer and writer Richard. Want to speak with Dick Magill? Stop in and see him weekly @ Headhunters of Craig. When you are on the…

Casting Tip Today from Tim Rajeff

January 15, 2020

Casting Technique, Echo, missouri river, Off Shoulder Cast, Tim Rajeff, video, your brother in law

Casting Tip Today from Tim Rajeff One of the great casters, instructors, and minds in todays fishing world. He also makes some pretty popular rods by the name of ECHO. Tim today talks about Off-Shoulder casting. Truly an important cast…

Successful Situations

January 2, 2020

Successful Situations

Successful Situations Two traits that make fishing some dry fly fishing guides popular with guests is the ability to put the angler consistently into successful situations. Just like good sports coaches, strong educators, great fishing guides…they all have the ability…

Wednesday Workshop: How to get better at fishing, without fishing

December 4, 2019

Accuracy, Assumptions, Casting, Do it, Practice, Squeeky Speaks

Wednesday Workshop: How to get better at fishing, without fishing We have lots of questions like “How can I get better at fishing?” Our answer is always watch more YouTube vids at work Fish more. But if you cannot spend the amount…

Deep(er) Thoughts on the Headhunter Fly Line

November 21, 2019

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…

Montana Trout Spey Video Scumliner Media

October 8, 2019

Fly Fishing Technique, Fly Fishing Video, Troutspey

Montana Trout Spey Video Scumliner Media

Montana Trout Spey Video Scumliner Media New, no. Cool, yes. I have watched this a ton of times. And I’m gonna watch it many more today. I love watching good casters. It never gets old. Mental training is important in…

What Hopper?

August 28, 2019

John Arnold

Hoppers

Were in the midst of a good hopper season in Montana. From the Yellowstone to the Madison to the Bitteroot, it seems like everyone is talking Hoppers. Same on the Mo’. The hoppers were late – like all the other…

Sub-Surface School Sept. 26-30

August 20, 2019

John Arnold

We’ve only got 2 spots left for our new Sub-Surface Fly Fishing School coming up at the end of September. We talk “Dry Fly” all the time, but the reality is that nymphing is an important part of most modern…

Tuesday Tips to Get You Outta Da Rut!

July 30, 2019

Tuesday Tips to Get You Outta Da Rut!

Tuesday Tips to Get You Outta Da Rut! Find yourself not catching more dry fly fish this year than last? Are you the guy that takes 711 casts to get the rising trout to even eat the fly, while your…

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Wednesday Workshop July Dry Fly Tips

July 17, 2019