Trout Spey Camp Fly Contest
Here’s a great group of swing flies submitted for our fly tying competition at Trout Spey Camp. Maybe they will inspire you to get on the vice and whip up a new Trout Spey home brew of your own. Thanks…
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Trout Spey Camp Fishing Forecast
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More winter on the way this week, which should ramp the swing fishing up another level (it’s already pretty good)! Right now we are under a Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by cooler temperatures for the rest…
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Trout Spey Camp – Intro to Spey Clinic FULL
Just a heads up for those who still haven’t signed up for our Trout Spey Camp. Our “Intro to Spey” Clinic is now completely full. You can still sign up for the Camp, but you’ll need to attend Mike McCune’s…
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Weekend Weather Outlook – Break Out the Toboggan’s and Galoshes!
Just an update on the current weather forecast for this weekend, a subject on the minds and tongues of everyone over the last 24 hours. The forecast is for a major winter storm to hit North Central Montana from Friday…
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Trout Spey Camp Update & Report
Fishing today is the priority, so let’s get right to the spey report. The crew is starting to get out with the two-handers now, and we’ve been running a few guided spey trips as well. Fishing the swing is pretty…
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Trout Spey Fly Tying Contest
As part of our new 2019 Trout Spey Camp, Headhunters will be holding a fly tying competition for the best Trout Spey Pattern. We are looking for some great new Trout Spey “Swing” patterns for the Missouri River and beyond,…
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Trout Spey Gear Roundup 2019-20
It’s time for our annual Trout Spey Gear Roundup as “Swing Season” approaches. A month from today we will be getting after it pretty hard (some of us are now), and in two months we wont be doing much else.…
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Trout Spey Camp Event Page
DEDICATED EVENT PAGE We’ve created an EVENT PAGE for our first annual Trout Spey Camp so you can see a complete – but fluid – itinerary. I will keep updating the page as changes and additions are made. We’ve also…
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Saturday Scenery
Today you are either watching college football or fishing somewhere or spending the holiday weekend with family and friends. It’s the last weekend of the summer, so you’re not likely laying on the couch checking out the Headhunters blog. For…
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Do You Use a Streamer Specific Line?
Cuz you don’t have to. But most hardcore streamer anglers I know not only have a streamer specific line, but a whole outfit. Generally a 6 or 7 weight, and occasianally an 8. If they wade fish a lot with…
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End of August Fishing Report
Our longtime friend RJ Maricich with a dandy Brown Trout he caught recently with guide Shane Wilson. On a hopper if you can believe it! And that’s the program right now for most. Hoppers. But there’s more going on than…
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What Hopper?
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…
Read MoreCheck out the Big Brain on Ben!
If you cruise around our shop, you’ll notice we like 2 things: 1. Fly fishing products that are useful, well made and and incorporate exceptional design. 2. Things that make us laugh. From the creative mind of Ben McNinch comes…
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Where’s Mark?
Probably at the Ball Park If you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re not actually reading our blog posts. Mark is long gone on vacation, and will be for a while yet. He’s on the East Coast, on a MLB…
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Weekend Update
The “back-to-school” lull is in full swing, and it’s pretty quiet in Craiglandia these days. Which is nice. The guides are recovering from weeks of sun stroke, and our shop staff is fishing more and harder than they usually do.…
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Life Aquatic
I spent a day with my friend Pat Clayton helping him shoot some underwater trout images. By helping, I mean sitting on the bank and watching him slip into the icy mountain water to take photos. Occasionally I take a…
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Quiet Time
Above: Ben McNinch schooling some trout with a single dry fly and the new Headhunter Fly Line. And it’s that time of year. Typically quiet on the river as school is starting and people plan for Labor Day weekend activities.…
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Sub-Surface School Sept. 26-30
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…
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Sunday Scenery
Your Sunday Scenery shot from a cool and cloudy yesterday. The beautiful view of the Prewett Creek ‘hood from the south face at Tower Rock State Park. You should go hike it. I need help keeping the trail from getting…
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Headhunter Fly Line Update
We’ve now had several weeks to fish hard with our new Headhunter Fly Line, as well as receive feedback from the many customers who have purchased one. Generally speaking, it has been fantastic, the feedback has been incredibly positive, and…
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G Loomis NRX LP Closeout!
UPDATE all the 9’ 5 weights were gone in hours as expected. We do have two 9’ #4 rods left as of Saturday AM. One of our all-time favorite Missouri River Dry Fly sticks is being closed out by G…
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NFG – Mike McCune joins our Guide Staff
Headhunters is stoked to announce that legendary Spey caster Mike McCune is the latest addition to our excellent guide staff. Mike has been doing a few Spey trips this year, but as we roll into autumn, we know that many…
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Falling Into August
It looks like we’ve arrived at our typical August slow down, and exactly on time. August 10 has always been the date that anglers seem to vanish and Craiglandia enjoys a little peace and quiet. Shop staff goes from overtime…
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Event Announcement: Trout Spey Camp October 10-12
We’re excited to announce a long anticipated and oft requested event, our first annual Trout Spey Camp here on the Missouri River. It will involve 3 full days of Trout Spey Casting instruction, demonstration and interactive clinics, dinner presentations, and…
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New Just Add Vise Kits
We’ve just added a few new Just Add Vise kits to our inventory, and updated a few others. Our Just Add Vise Kit’s continue to be very popular, and most of these new kits were created based on numerous requests.…
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A Fistful of Whitey
After dropping a few pics on Social Media, we’ve been getting quite a few queries about when these will be on our online store. Well they’re up, so grab a few for yourself, and they make great gifts for your…
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Spot Open for Sat. McCune|Gould Spey Clinic!
We just had a last minute cancel for this Saturday’s 101 Spey Clinic with legendary two-handed casters Mike McCune and Whitney Gould. This all day clinic is perfect for those who are looking to get in to the sport, or…
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Fisheye Guy Gallery in Philipsburg
Our good friend and photography guru Pat Clayton (Fish Eye Guy Photography) finally pulled up stakes in Bozeangleles and landed a couple hours west in the less busy Ski/Fish Mecca of Philipsburg Montana. Lots of folks in our neck of…
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Slow Stuff Fishing Report
Asked Ninch what kind of fishing feedback he heard in the shop over the weekend… And I quote, “ Dudes that think they’re going to roll through ‘summer water’ and wreck ‘em are complaining about tough fishing. Dudes that are…
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Sunday Scenery
or is it supposed to be a Saturday? I can never remember. Mark is basking in the glorious SoCal sun this week, so here’s my ode to a Springtime Swing. Jim Chalmers getting it done on the lower river.
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McCune Gould Spey Clinics – only a few spots left!
UPDATE – Both Clinics are now full. You can sign up as a backup. Mike and Whitney’s annual spring Spey clinics are coming up and nearly full. In fact the “rookie” clinic on April 20th is full, but there a…
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Weekend Troublemakers
As of last night, here’s the hurdles you’ll face if fishing the Missouri this weekend. The biggest problem continues to be boat access on the lower river. Open for launching are Holter Dam, Wolf Creek, Craig, Stickney Creek, Spite Hill,…
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Spring Roller Coaster
Inconsistent is the word on the Mo’ right now. Inconsistent weather, crowds, river conditions and bite. In the last few days we’ve needed both sunscreen and hand warmers and we’ve experienced difficult nymphing and epic dry fly fishing. The river…
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Office Xmas Party Sunday – Closed in the Afternoon
Headhunters will be celebrating the Holidays with our staff tomorrow afternoon, Sunday Dec. 16, at our annual Office Party in an undisclosed location. We will be open in the morning until around 12 noon, so if you need a shuttle…
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Weekend Update: Swing Report
Fishing reports vary from good to great right now. Remember, it’s all relative in December. To most, a pleasant winter day on the river that brings 6-10 nice fish to the net is “great”. To others that’s just “good”. Either…
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Spey Special Ends Soon
Lots of folks have taken advantage of our fall Spey Special this year. $400 for a full day guided trip with excellent and experienced Spey Casting instructors and guides like women’s World Speycasting Champ Whitney Gould. If you don’t have…
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Mid-Winter Forecast. Will you Fish?
Will you do some fly fishing this winter? In Montana? Most of the best winter fishing venues in Montana are solid each and every year. The upper Madison, Bighorn and Missouri are likely the most popular, but there are plenty…
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Popular Flies Back in Stock
Ninch is keeping those bins full, and many of our best selling (and fishing) patterns that have been tough to find for awhile are now “In Stock”. All of these patterns will be “Out of Stock” again at some point,…
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FWP Wants Your Opinion – Upper Missouri Reservoir Plan
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is requesting comments that will help them define the future of Fisheries management for the Upper Missouri River Reservoirs as well as the Missouri River from Toston to Holter Dam. 20 years ago, it’s unlikely…
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Saturday Scenery – Where Would You Like to Be?
Throwback to our buddy Jon Yousko trying to entice some Tarpon West of Key West. Why not go somewhere warm this month? Comment below if you have any suggestions for Headhunters Nation. A great guide, best apres’ fishing spot, easiest…
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Turkey Day Spey Report
We’ve got some great fishing weather in the forecast for the next couple of weeks, and Trout Spey anglers will find the fish are pretty receptive to the swung fly. Pressure has been light lately, as most Montanan’s are out…
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Trout Spey Report 11.5.18
Break out the two-handers, November has arrived. Cooler – but not cold – temperatures over the last week have improved the swing bite, and that cold air we need is in the forecast for later this week. Trout Spey fishing…
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Missouri River Spey Report
Trout Spey Fishing Report for Late-October We are in full “swing” on the Missouri River, and it’s easy to spot anglers exploring the Missouri River with their Trout Spey rods. Recent warm weather has hurt the fishing for both the…
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Trout Spey Lineup 2018-19
Swing Season has arrived on the Missouri River, and at Headhunters that signals the start of our “second season”. Most of our new Trout Spey rods, lines and tackle arrive in the fall. Here is a rundown of our primary…
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Saturday Scenery… and a Fishing Report?
A shot from yesterday to give you an idea of what it looks like ‘round here. As you can see, you won’t need your snowshoes. I call this photo “Silly Saturday Scenery” and dedicate it to Mark Raisler. FISHING REPORT…
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Swing Tip: Anchor Placement
There are a few critical components of a Spey cast that I like to emphasize in our trout Spey clinics, because they are the keys to troubleshooting when your cast heads south. Clinics, demonstrations, books and YouTube are all great…
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Hardy Rapids
Nothing much to say today. Fishing continues to be the same (good) so here is an image from this morning.
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Winter Down Low
The above image is not normal. It was taken yesterday morning looking upstream from Pelican Point. There should be ice jams and snow on the ground. When it’s real cold the river might be frozen over. Even on a warm…
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McCune on Trout Retrieves
“Exactly how do you retrieve or work your fly?” We still get this question A LOT. Spend a few minutes with our pal Mike McCune as he goes over a few of the techniques he uses while fishing for trout…
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Swing Tip: Sweep to the Bank
You should have a plan for setting the hook. When we dry fly fish we lift slow and high. In the Tarpon boat is an aggressive strip set. Bobber lobbers hit ‘em hard and fast. Fishing a swung fly with…
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Silly Sunday Scenery?
Mark and Danielle are in Hawaii checking out the BBQ situation, so it’s up to me to bring you “Silly Sunday Scenery”. Or was it supposed to be “Silly Saturday Scenery”? And come to think of it, “Friday Foto” kind…
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Weekend Update
Feels like there should be a few folks out on the Missouri River searching for trout this weekend. Really nice temperatures with winds forecast to be around 10-15 mph (not bad at all this time of year). I’m guessing there…
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Montana Upland Season
Big Game hunting is finished but Upland-bird season is still going strong for many Montana sportsman, and the mild weather we’ve been having has created some great conditions for wing-shooters. Our upland hunting expert Sara Roholt can be hard to…
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