Headhunters Life Archives - Headhunters Fly Shop

Dearborn, masks

A Saturday Afternoon update for those on the Missouri River, or planning to be here in the next couple of days. Many people on the water this Saturday afternoon. Most angling pressure the last 2 days has been concentrated from…

For Immediate Release: Headhunters Fly Shop Hiring Today!

June 22, 2020

For Immediate Release: Headhunters Fly Shop Hiring Today!

For Immediate Release: Headhunters Fly Shop Hiring Today! 2nd year shop stud Peter Longoria with this nice brown above he plucked for the shore with a streamer. See yourself catching a few like this? We do too! Apply today. Hiring…

Fathers Day 2020 Missouri River

June 21, 2020

Fathers Day 2020 Missouri River

Fathers Day 2020 Missouri River All is well here in Craig Montana. Happy Fathers Day 2020. Calm, 65F, water levels 8600cfs, dry fly fishing daily, nymphing too. Honoring our fathers out there in Craiglandia and beyond as we meet the…

It’s Dry Fly Season! The Headhunter Fly Line

June 18, 2020

Fly Fishing Gear, Headhunters Life

DFO, Dry Fly Line, Fly Line, Introducing the Headhunter Fly Line

The Headhunter Fly Line Today speaking about the Headhunter Fly Line. A dry fly line designed by Headhunters manufactured by RIO for our dry fly obsessions! It is finally dry fly season here on Montana’s Missouri River. And no better…

Shelter from the Storm, Dylan, afternoon Water Update 6.8.20

June 8, 2020

Bob Dylan, Dearborn River, missouri river, Shelter from the Storm, Water Update

Shelter from the Storm, Dylan, afternoon Water Update 6.8.20 The rain has stopped today. 3 days of a very good wetting. We were a bit behind our annual rainfall. And now the hills are green again. The Dearborn is still…

The Rain Song for this Rainy Weekend…

June 6, 2020

Fly Fishing Video, Headhunters Life

The Rain Song for this Rainy Weekend...

The Mighty Zep with the Rain Song for the rain we have received this weekend. Posted this first 5 years ago. Been listening to the Mighty Zep a bunch this past month. The Rain Song has been in my Top…

First Mo River Dry Fly Fish for Chris!

June 5, 2020

Caddis, DFO, First Mo River Dry Fly Fish for Chris!, PMD, Summer

First Mo River Dry Fly Fish for Chris! Nice dry fly trout for Chris who recently moved to GF from the east coast. He came here for this kind of thing. Welcome Chris. He almost landed in Montana 25 years…

Missouri River June Water Forecast

June 2, 2020

Missouri River June Water Forecast

Missouri River June Water Forecast Looking good for the month ahead for the Missouri River June Water Forecast. Yes, normal is what we should expect as we heading the first of the two peak dry fly months fishing he Missouri…

Achilles Last Stand Led Zeppelin

May 30, 2020

Achilles Last Stand, Achilles Last Stand Led Zeppelin, The Mighty Zep

Achilles Last Stand Led Zeppelin Montana’s Last Stand this weekend. And float and fish they have been. Today again as many Saturdays in the past month have been the Montanans were out in force. A 100 boat trailers at Mid…

Tuesday Trout Bum

May 26, 2020

Peter, Tuesday Trout Bum

Tuesday Trout Bum Local Shop Rat Peter again today with his latest post of what he finds to do when not fishing! It does not happen often as the shop staff is on the water any moment they are not…

Memorial Day 2020

May 25, 2020

We Honor those who have fallen today. At 3pm is time observe a moment of silence. Honor. Respect. Remembrance. In traditional observance, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly…

14 Day Quarantine Ends June 1st. Montana Tourism Open! What does that mean?

May 20, 2020

Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

14 Day Quarantine, Craig Lodging, Flights, Gov Bullock, Guide Trips, June 1st, Montana Travel, Phase 2

14 Day Quarantine Ends June 1st. What does that mean? It means that out of state visitors and anglers can begin to travel to Montana without a mandatory 14 Day Quarantine Monday June 1st. No longer do you have to…

Montana Opens June 1st 2020

May 19, 2020

Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

Governor Bullock, Montana Opens June 1st 2020

Montana Opens June 1st 2020 Governor Bullock announced 11 minutes ago that he will lift the 14 Day Quarantine effective June 1st. That means out of state residents can visit, stay, and fish in Montana. Until June 1st it is…

Shop Closed Thursday Afternoon – Extended Hours This Weekend

May 13, 2020

Headhunters Fly Shop will close around 2 or 3 on Thursday afternoon. We’ll be undertaking a little exterior construction project, and the front door won’t be accessible. We will be available on the phone, and we’ll be in the office…

Mothers Day 2020

May 10, 2020

Mother's Day, Peter Speaks, Peter Writes, Thanks Mom

Mothers Day 2020 Ed Note: Again this week Peter speaks to us from Headhunters HQ in Craig Montana. We all have a Mother to thank. Thanks Mom! FYI this is not Peter’s mother. Nope. But it is a mom we…

10 Questions with Chef John of Izaak’s

May 9, 2020

10 Questions with Chef John of Izaak's, Craig Montana, Izaaks, Smoked Meat

10 Questions with Chef John of Izaak’s Izaak’s Restaurant of Craig Montana is open for business this spring. Cars packed the parking lot Thursday night as the smell of Izaak’s smoker out back brought in the anglers like the Mothers…

Izaak’s Open Thursday May 7th

May 6, 2020

Izaak's Restaurant

Izaak’s Open Thursday May 7th Open May 7th. Izaak’s! We love our neighbor establishment and Thursday May 7th is opening day! The season started out good, then trouble, now social distancing, sanitizing, and reduced occupancy. May Day has passed. And…

Extinction of the Trout Bum?

May 5, 2020

Extinction of the Trout Bum, Peter Longoria, Ramblings of a trout bum, trout bum

Extinction of the Trout Bum Ed Note: 2nd year shop staffer Peter with todays blog post. We love it. If you follow the progression of both John and Mark it includes many nights, weeks, months in tents, pickup beds, sleeping…

Missouri River and Craig Montana Monday May 4th Update

May 4, 2020

COVID-19, May, missouri river, Missouri River and Craig Montana Monday May 4th Update

Missouri River and Craig Montana Monday May 4th Update All good in this neighborhood. The update of all things Missouri River, Craig, and Montana today on the Headhunters Fly Shop Blog. Craig Mostly open for business. Headhunters Fly Shop open…

May Day in Craig Montana

May 1, 2020

May Day in Craig Montana

May Day in Craig Montana Plugging along here in central Montana. The first week of Phase One. Shop open, guides out, shuttle crew shuttlin’, flies flying out of the shop. Open daily 8-6. Enjoy the first day of the weekend!

Headhunters Fly Shop Re-Opening

April 26, 2020

Headhunters Fly Shop, Headhunters Fly Shop Re-Opening

We will be re-opening Headhunters Fly Shop tomorrow Monday April 27. The Missouri River Business Community has been communicating with one another, and while we are excited for the season to start (again), we are also cautious about an influx…

The Montana Song Dick Noel, plus fishing report

April 24, 2020

The Montana Song Dick Noel

The Montana Song Dick Noel Sunny. Friday. The Montana Song by Dick Noel. Status Quo here in downtown Craig Montana. Anglers around. BWO’s and Midge around. Clusters, singles, cripples, emergers. Nymphers getting ’em. Deep, slow, and medium slow water. Pink,…

George Harrison Give Me Love, Give Me Peace on Earth

April 23, 2020

George Harrison, Peace On Earth, video

George Harrison Give Me Love, Give Me Peace on Earth A great tune. A great message. From one of the Beetles. This will get me through Thursday. Opening Monday here in Craig. Give me love, give me peace, give me…

420 in Craiglandia

April 20, 2020

420 in Craiglandia, April 20, Rasta Lunker

420 in Craiglandia It looks like this… Rasta Blackstrap $20.00 Read more Rasta Foam Trucker – Green and White $29.95 Read more Rasta Lunker Die Cut Sticker $4.95 – $12.95 Select options

Saturday Black and White

April 18, 2020

Saturday Black and White Rain today. 50F. Craig, Montana. Black and white trout release. The longer you stare at this image, the better it gets. At least for me. Love the way the bleached front end of the trout is…

Zappa. Montana. ’73

April 17, 2020

Zappa. Montana. '73

Zappa. Montana. ’73 It’s the weekend. Play Zappa loud. For those who don’t “get Zappa”, so sorry. If Frank makes your ears hurt, or just confuses you, or you don’t understand the music? Elton John may be more your speed.…

Thursday Cold, side of Snow

April 16, 2020

HArdy Creek, Spring, Thursday Image, Untouchables Bridge

Thursday Cold, side of Snow Not anywhere near the ZERO mark this morning but still cold at 25F. The Untouchables Bridge this morning was stunning. A white blanket of snow again yesterday and last night set up a picture perfect…

John Foust. Montana Fishing Legend

April 15, 2020

John Foust. Montana Fishing Legend

John Foust. Montana Fishing Legend I had the privilege of fishing with John a few times over the last twenty years. There is only one John Foust. Met John and Elna when I worked for the Trout Shop Cafe in…

City of New Orleans. Steve Goodman

April 12, 2020

City of New Orleans. Steve Goodman

City of New Orleans. Steve Goodman I think of this tune and sing it often. Good Morning America, how are ya. An American theme song. I think of it as an American Anthem. For now, for yesterday, for tomorrow. A…

Spring Craig Saturday Snow

April 11, 2020

Spring Craig Saturday Snow

Spring Craig Saturday Snow Snowing pretty hard this morning in Craig. In north central Montana. Spring in the Rockies. Will snow through the evening. This coming week we will see more of the same. Plodding along here in Craig. Keeping…

Hello in There. John Prine Dies at 73

April 8, 2020

COVID-19, John Prine, RIP

Hello in There. John Prine Dies at 73 Deeply sad news today as John Prine dies at 73. One of the soldiers that lost their live due to Covid-19. It saddens me along with the loss of life we are…

An April Reminder to not Tread on Redd

April 6, 2020

Conservation, Headhunters Life

Etiquitte, Rainbow, Redd, Spawn, Spawning, Trout

An April Reminder to not Tread on Redd A reminder today regarding the Rainbow Trout Redds currently in the Missouri River. Don’t step on them. They, the eggs and trout doing the fragile incubation and spawning dance of tomorrows trout…

Mike revisits the events that brought him to the Mo

April 4, 2020

COVID-19, friday, Life Path, Mike Owen

Mike revisits the events that brought him to the Mo Mike O from Headhunters today tells us the story of how he arrived on the Missouri River and the extenuating circumstances leading to his lifelong passion for Mother Mo. …

Missouri River Montana Campgrounds Closed

April 3, 2020

COVID-19, Missouri River Montana Campgrounds Closed

Missouri River Montana Campgrounds Closed This just in. Campgrounds closed on the Mo. The Holter Dam BLM campsite is closed as of today. Don’t know about the boat ramp. But indications are that it is open. There we folks out…

More closures at Montana FAS sites?

April 2, 2020

Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

More closures at your local FAS sites? Some closures dropped down by the Fish Wildlife and Parks folks two days ago could be expanded as we make our way through the days, weeks, and months ahead. While some larger group…

Can’t make all this s**t up!

April 1, 2020

Coronavirus, COVID-19

A gnarly spring storm ripped into Craiglandia yesterday afternoon, covering the region with 1-6” of snow. Super windy as well. I hurried home from the shop on the front end of the storm, and decided to take a short nap.…

Somewhere in the Middle of Montana Monday

March 30, 2020

Somewhere in the Middle of Montana

Somewhere in the Middle of Montana Monday Monday morning here in central Montana. Sunny, hi forecast of 57F. Not much wind. A pretty nice Monday. We are sending out online orders this morning to you out there in TroutLand. Tying…

Silly Sunday Scenery Summer Ahead

March 29, 2020

Silly Sunday Scenery Summer Ahead

Silly Sunday Scenery Summer Ahead At the end of this long tunnel we are in… Sit a couple chairs by the river.

Make that list man

March 28, 2020

Make that list man Started writing this morning without a title, without a blog topic, without a direction for my day, without the fly shop open, without a purpose. And that is bad. Awful. Dangerous! No direction is like being…

Spring Sunshine, Snowpack, and Surprises

March 26, 2020

Spring Sunshine

Spring Sunshine, Snowpack, and Surprises Been pretty nice here on the river. Good fishing, good weather, fresh air. But, as I write this Wednesday evening it is snowing hard, with an inch on the ground in the past 30 minutes.…

Cabins & Shuttles & Rental Boats… No Go.

March 24, 2020

Headhunters Life, Uncategorized

Unfortunately, we have decided to close down our lodging at the Craig Trout Camp here at Headhunters. This closure will run from now until April 1, at which point we will re-assess. We made this decision after discussing it over…

Flies… To Go!

March 24, 2020

Takeaway

And of today, the front door at Headhunters will be locked and we are asking customers to use the “takeaway” window on the Side of the building, AKA the “beer drinking porch”. Trying our best to help everyone keep their…

Weekend Recap

March 23, 2020

Whoa, what a weekend. Saturday saw the masses descend on Craig and the Missouri River. While there were plenty of fisherman, there was plenty more folks just getting out of the house and enjoying some flawless March weather. Sunny with…

Silly Sunday Scenery

March 22, 2020

Silly Sunday Scenery

Silly Sunday Scenery Craig MT. Snow AM. Sun PM. No wind all day long. Happy Sunday from downtown Craig MT.

Saturday March 21st

March 21, 2020

Saturday March 21st

Saturday March 21st Spring in Craig Montana. And in your neighborhood too. The earliest spring equinox in 124 years. It snuck right past me! Maybe you too? Sunny Saturday March 21st. 3rd day of Spring. 50F and yes, sunny. Anglers…

Fishing & Weekend Operations

March 20, 2020

Headhunters is still open, and we’re getting a number of calls asking if we will be open this weekend. Answer: Yes, we will and are. We’re really here as a service provider at this point. Shuttles, lodging, guide trips and…

Throwback Thursday Mayflies on the Water

March 19, 2020

Mayflies, Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday Mayflies on the Water Plugging along here in downtown Craig Montana handling the international health issues the best we can. We are fielding phone calls and questions about the future daily. Call us if you have any concerns.…

COVID-19/Coronavirus Operations Update

March 15, 2020

Coronavirus, COVID-19

Edited May 20, 2020, High Noon 14 Day Quarantine Ends June 1st Out of state visitors and anglers can begin to travel to Montana without a mandatory 14 Day Quarantine Monday June 1st. No longer do you have to lock…

Closed This Weekend… Saturday for Sure, Sunday Probably

March 12, 2020

A nasty Winter Storm is forecasted to descend on Craiglandia this weekend, so we are just going to close The shop down Saturday and Sunday. No point in asking our staff to work in what looks to be un-fishable conditions.…

Thursday Throwback Ants

March 12, 2020

Thursday Throwback Ants

Thursday Throwback Ants High water this coming year? We don’t think so. This image of creepy ants is from 2010. A high water year for sure. Does not look like we will see this kind of run-off this year. Unless…

Friday Foto It’s March!

March 6, 2020

friday foto, MArch

Friday Foto It’s March 71F today on the river. Calm for the morning session, windy for the afternoon. Tonight possible snow flurries. Again on Saturday nite too. Montana. Spring. Normal. SNAFU. The fishing is picking up. Along with the springlike…

Back of the House 2010

February 29, 2020

Back of the House 2010

Back of the House 2010 Looking at the back of the shop about ten years ago. That Parrothead sign is important to me. I’m gonna refinish it soon. Maybe this next week. Saturday on the Mo. Kinda warm, windy, not…

In Defense of Dry Fly Anglers

February 27, 2020

Fly Fishing Technique, Headhunters Life

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…

Winter Day Dreaming

February 24, 2020

Daydreaming, Dick Magill. Angler, Richard Writes, Summer

Winter Day Dreaming Another installment of Dick Magill. Angler. Thanks for the great summer story today Richard. I too am looking forward to the summer season. Not that I don’t like spring, and I don’t really like winter…summer keeps my…

The Police Live at Beat Club 1978

February 22, 2020