Mark Raisler, Author at Headhunters Fly Shop

Headhunters Fly Shop, Helo Line

Your one stop fly fishing source in Craig Montana. Call today for summer fly fishing help. Like guides, rental boats, Craig Montana lodging, on-line fly fishing equipment, trout-spey information rods, lines, and gear, and pretty much anything trout related. We…

Redington Taco Tour Video w/ Mark Raisler of Headhunters Fly Shop

January 15, 2025

Fly Fishing Video, Headhunters Life

PMD, Redington, SOL, Summer, Taco

Redington Taco Tour Video w/ Mark Raisler of Headhunters Fly Shop Had a ball tossing PMD dries, drinking Special Beers, and making Birria Tacos with Guide Mario Guel of Redington last summer. Just viewed long time friend Wayne Peterson of…

January Missouri River Water Update 2025

January 14, 2025

January Missouri River Water Update Looking normal. We would love to get to the water levels we did last spring and early summer. Average water levels are good. Let’s head that route. Doing snow dance(s) daily. You? Plan your summer…

#TBT Depth Perception Video

January 9, 2025

#TBT Depth Perception Video

Fly Fishing Video

#TBT Depth Perception Video Throw Back Thursday brings you Depth Perception by Scumliner Media. This throwback vid filmed in late July 2011. Between storms here in central MT. More snow this weekend. A bit warm today with air temps creeping…

Closed today Monday

January 6, 2025

Closed today Monday Out for the cold and primarily snow today. A bit sketchy for the drive for the staff. Back in the store tomorrow. Well below freezing as well. Guides may freeze up after two casts. Save them for…

Friday Foto 1.3.25

January 3, 2025

Landscape

COLD, Dam, Snow, winter

Damn cold and snowing today. This picture of that dam reach above Wolf Creek Bridge. Cold there too.

Craig Montana January 2nd 2025

January 2, 2025

Fishing Report, Fly Fishing Travel, Headhunters Life

2025, Happy New Year, January

Craig Montana January 2nd 2025 Currently 8F in downtown Craig Montana. High of 14F today. Snowing. Calm. Quiet. Only thing happening is the phone ringing. What? Yeah, booking 2025 guide trips, lodging, and otherwise. Questions too. Lot so of ’em.…

Happy New Year 2025!

January 1, 2025

Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2025! Thanking you and all of our friends and guests. Thank you for a very nice 2024. Looking forward to the best yet? Always hoping. The true drive of any angler. Hope. We hope to see you…

Hurricane Helene Guide Relief Raffle!

December 31, 2024

GuideReleifProgram

Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, made landfall on Thursday, September 26th, in Northwestern Florida before moving through Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee. The ensuing winds and heavy rains caused unimaginable flooding and damage to small towns in…

One of the great John Cusack Quotes

December 31, 2024

Classic 80's Films, John Cusack, video

One of the great John Cusack Quotes What do you want to do? Are you doing it? Did you have a crossroads decision at one point? We all did. This is a fantastic scene with John Cusack in Say Anything…

Things Squeeky learned about teaching fly fishing this year

December 20, 2024

Things Squeeky learned about teaching fly fishing this year

Fly Fishing Technique

Ed Note: Wrote this 6 years ago. Still pertinent in today’s world. Happy Holidays. Enjoy the Ed piece today and have a great weekend! Things Squeeky learned about teaching fly fishing this year I was fishing with an individual who was…

Swing Season Tuesday Scenery

December 19, 2024

Dearborn, Sunday Scenery, Swing Season, Trout Spey

Swing Season Tuesday Scenery Swinging this Tuesday. Happy Holidays. If you are in the neighborhood swing by for a cup of coffee. And a fishing chat. Get your hands on a Headhunters Fly Shop Gift Card for you, your neighbor,…

Christmas Spey by Jeff Kennedy

December 18, 2024

Christmas Spey by Jeff Kennedy, Jeff Kennedy, spey, Spey Pattern

Christmas Spey by Jeff Kennedy Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah. Wishing you the best today, this week and throughout the upcoming year. Thanking all of you for a fantastic 2024. Looking forward to a wonderful 2025. A cool Christmas…

Monday in Craig Montana | Gift Card!

December 16, 2024

Birds, Fly Fishing Gear, Fly Fishing Travel, Headhunters Life

Gift Card

Pretty boring in town in this winter month, specifically pre-Christmas as we are located in the middle of nowhere. 45 miles from both Great Falls and Helena. Not too close for Christmas shopping. But, we do have a great new…

Mid December Missouri River Fishing Report

December 13, 2024

Mid December Missouri River Fishing Report Just saw the water dip below the federally mandated, suggested, lows of 2800cfs. Now back to 2920cfs. Frightfully low below the 2800 mark. Let’s keep the water up, message to water managers. A good…

This from the Water Managers

December 12, 2024

December, Water Projections

This from the Water Managers Love the new addition of the numbers on the bottom of this chart. Gives us a bit more to think about. I like the projections for the summer. We do need to get going on…

SOL Tactical Hoody on Sale today!

December 11, 2024

Birds, Fly Fishing Gear

SOL Tactical Hoody On SALE today ONLY! 20% Off @ HH of Craig! Serious anglers wear serious sun shirts, and this 12 Days of Skwala Sale deal gives you a great price on the only high-performance sun hoody on the…

You’ll Shoot your Eye Out!

December 10, 2024

You'll Shoot your Eye Out!

You’ll Shoot your Eye Out! Spey casting is easier than shooting your Red Ryder. You won’t shoot your eye out with a 11′ 3wt. Merry Christmas from all of us here in Craig! Don’t Shoot your Eye Out!

Fly Fishing To Do List. December.

December 9, 2024

December, To Do List

Fly Fishing To Do List. December. Warmer than normal this month. A touch of snow last night, for about an hour. A scant coating this morning greeted us. Gone now. 30’s and 40’s the entire next week. Un-seasonable weather. A…

Friday Mo River Fishing Report 12.6.24

December 6, 2024

Friday Mo River Fishing Report 12.6.24 All good out there. Warm, windy, an uncommon December. Staff party tonight. May leave a bit early from the shop at 4pm. Got pre-funking to do. Water temps 40.5F. Water Flows 2830 CFS. Swingers…

Skwala Back Eddy Sale

December 6, 2024

Birds, Fly Fishing Gear

Skwala

Skwala Back Eddy Sale This terrific staff favorite Skwala Back Eddy Jacket is on sale today! 20% off. So, of you are in the neighborhood, out shopping for yourself or others, save some dough today at HH of Craig. Also,…

Endless Winter

December 4, 2024

Endless Winter Bring it. Quiet out there. Enjoy it. The fishing. Enjoy.

Missouri River Winter Fishing Checklist

December 3, 2024

Missouri River Winter Fishing Checklist, RIO VersiLeader

Fly Fishing Gear

Missouri River Winter Fishing Checklist. All the stuff you need for your winter excursion. Whether you be fishing at your local pond or here on the Missouri you need to be prepared in a different way than you would be…

December Missouri River Fishing Forecast

December 2, 2024

December Forecast, winter

December Missouri River Fishing Forecast All good here on the Mo this early winter. Above average daily temps, along with the ubiquitous wind. Below average numbers of anglers with November in the rear view mirror. A decent fishing month, but…

Missouri River Fishing Report 11.27.24

November 27, 2024

Missouri River Fishing Report 11.27.24 All good in this neighborhood. Water temps falling to 43F. Water flows 3080cfs. Swingers are the most common angler on the water this month. Will have some college kids and adults this weekend. Brawl of…

Shop Small November 29th

November 26, 2024

Shop Small November 29th The time is coming for that shopping blitz known as Black Friday. Yeah, the mobs arriving at stores at midnight has been lessened the past few years, but still fanatical shopping time in the states. Today…

Rough Legged Hawk

November 23, 2024

Birds, Birds Bugs and Wildlife

Rough Legged Hawk

Rough Legged Hawk The Rough-legged Hawk spends the summer capturing lemmings on the arctic tundra, tending a cliffside nest under a sun that never sets. Winter is the time to see this large, open-country hawk in southern Canada and the…

Trout Spey Flies

November 22, 2024

Fishing Report, Troutspey

Trout Spey Flies

Trout Spey Flies Squeeky’s Trout Spey Fly selection has grown over the years. The more flies you have, the more fish you can catch. Right? But, can a feller really have too many flies? No is the answer, if you…

12 Days of Skwala @ Headhunters of Craig

November 21, 2024

Fly Fishing Gear

Carbon Collection, Jacket, Pant, sale, Skwala, Wader

12 Days of Skwala @ Headhunters of Craig Great deal on Skwala Carbon Wader, Carbon Jacket, and Carbon Pant @ Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig for the next 4 days. Save 20% on the best selling Skwala Jacket and pant…

TBT @ Headhunters Fly Shop

November 20, 2024

#TBT, Shop

TBT @ Headhunters Fly Shop Water temps falling. Anglers waning. Did not see an angler on the water yesterday. Mid November. TBT from 15+ years ago.

Mid Week, and cold.

November 19, 2024

COLD, late fall, Weather, winter

Mid Week, and cold. 18F at the shop this morning. Currently calm, will it last? Our first test of winter like weather this week in Craig. It was time. Water temps falling quickly. Most are swinging out on the river.…

Silly, meaning stunning, Saturday Scenery | Steamin’ Edition

November 16, 2024

Headhunters Life, Photography

Guides, lodging, November, Scenery

An awful beautiful place, the Missouri River is. We love it. Have you made your reservation for lodging yet? For 2025? February is too late for prime time lodging options. Just sayin’. You don’t want to miss out on Missouri…

Friday Fishing Report Missouri River Montana

November 15, 2024

Fall, fishing report, November

Friday Fishing Report Missouri River Montana 2900cfs, low. Probably for the winter. Temps 47.5F. Falling a degree every two and a half days. Once below 40F, we consider winter fishing techniques, norms, etc. Pretty nice out there. Not many craft…

Just Add Vise Kit Fall Super Sale 40% OFF!

November 14, 2024

Fly Fishing Video, Fly Tying

fly tying, HH Only, Just Add Vise Kits

Just Add Vise Kit Fall Super Sale Today is a good day for the Fly Tyers out there. If you like your materials in kit form and are not a full time, or wanna be full time fly tyer, these…

Craig Trout Camp Open All Winter!

November 12, 2024

Area Attractions, Fly Fishing Travel

Craig Trout Camp open all winter long. Yep. Last winter was mild. Mild enough to keep anglers on the water most everyday in the winter months. Will it, the winter, again be fishable? We don’t know. We do know the…

Headhunters Advanced Dry Fly School July 25-29 2019

Veterans Day

November 11, 2024

Veteran's Day

Celebrating all veterans today November 11th. We honor, remember, and celebrate the service of all US Armed Services in peace and during war. Today we honor the bravery and service of all veterans. We at Headhunters keep these men and women…

Weekend Update Missouri River Montana Headhunters Fly Shop

November 8, 2024

Fall, fishing report, November, Swing, Trout Spey

Weekend Update Missouri River Montana Headhunters Fly Shop 3250cfs with 49.5F temps. Some BWO action with a few other mayflies around. Small ones. A great drift combined with a size 16-20 dark mayfly cripple, emerger, or dun. Plenty of trout…

Thursday Throwback

November 7, 2024

Fall, Flashback

Flashing back to a decade ago, summer, BBQ, fellowship. We like all of those things. Except, we look forward as we are glancing back. That is more realistic. Currently sunny and windy. Common for the season. We prefer calm and…

Hump Day in Montana

November 6, 2024

Hump Day

Hump Day in Montana Personally thinking about the future today here in Craig. Conservation took a hit yesterday locally and nationally. Public Lands will be in question, human rights, and even our opportunities to recreate in one of the greatest…

November Missouri River Fly Fishing Forecast

November 4, 2024

Fishing Report, Troutspey

BWO, Guide Trips, November Missouri River Fly Fishing Forecast, October Caddis, Private Lessons, Trout Spey

November Missouri River Fly Fishing Forecast We are looking forward to the month ahead. November is great fishing. One of the best parts of the month include the lack of anglers around. Another highlight is the fish that like to…

Friday Foto Fall in Montana

November 1, 2024

Fall, missouri river

Friday Foto Fall in Montana It’s pretty nice out there. Maybe some snow next week. Maybe. Temps dipping a bit as time goes by. TGIF.

SOL Reality Check. Casting at 25′

October 30, 2024

Fly Fishing Technique

Cast it 25', SOL Rant

SOL Reality Check. Casting at 25′ Disclaimer: If you are a nymph angler fishing with a guide, disregard this article. If you are an angler looking to move beyond guiding fly fishing w/out a guide or competent nymphing rower, then…

After the Boys of Summer are gone…

October 29, 2024

Boys of Summer, Fall, Sumjer

After the Boys of Summer are gone… Slowly seeing an open and empty river. Many reading this love this fact. The fish do too. The locals do, and we do as well. The Quiet Season is upon us. Swingers Unite.…

Silly Saturday Scenery Craig Montana

October 26, 2024

Classic Image, craig, fog, missouri river, Montana

Silly Saturday Scenery Craig Montana Moving towards the final days of October. Decent dry fly fishing afternoons. Good enough streamer bite in between. Nymphers paradise. Fading traffic. Late October. Wade fishing paradise. Flows @ 3K. Temps 54F. Fallen two degrees…

Friday Foto Fall Edition

October 25, 2024

Fall, friday foto

Friday Foto Fall Edition Cold out this morning. Below Freezing. Finally. No wind too. Overcast. Happy Friday to all out there not fishing today. For those that are? See you on the water. Stripping and hunting heads will be my…

Low Water for the Fall Period on Montana’s Missouri River

October 24, 2024

Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

Fall, Water Flows, Water Temps

Low Water for the Fall Period on Montana’s Missouri River Lower water this fall, this October, and into the future? Look at the graph above?!? Water management procedures and policies have changed over the past 30 years. I could go…

Endless Summer – The Elovators

October 23, 2024

Claire Wright, Endless Summer, The Eolovators

Feels like an Endless Summer here in Craig Montana. Temps nearing 70F in the next 5 days, getting us close to the end of the month. The last 4 days will get us near the historical averages in daytime air…

Tuesday. It’s Sunny Outside.

October 22, 2024

No Fall here

October is 2/3 of the way over. Bummer. Good news, is that we have November ahead of us. It’s sunny outside today. We like fall conditions instead of the late summer weather patterns. It is cooler outside this week with…

Fall Fishing Montana’s Missouri River

October 21, 2024

Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

Fall Fishing Montana's Missouri River

It is pretty good out there. The big bugs, large BWO and may hatch in localized areas, but have not seen a river-wide event in some time. Although, the dry fly fishing can and has been pretty good. Different stretches…

Jim Hill Memorial & Celebration of Life Oct 16th 4pm

Friday Fishing Update Headhunters Fly Shop Craig Montana

October 18, 2024

Fall, fishing report, October

Friday Fishing Update Headhunters Fly Shop Craig Montana Longer fishing report a couple days ago, reference if you wish. Flows low at 2870cfs. Pretty dam low. Water temps have fallen 2 degrees in the past 2 days. Currently 56F. Perfect!…

Missouri River BWO Fishing Report 10.21.15

Hump Day in Craig MT

October 17, 2024

Uncategorized

Hump Day in Craig MT October. Overcast. Cool. Relatively calm. It’s gonna be a good day. Strippers and dry fly fellers like this kind of weather. Enjoy your Wednesday. We will as well. Wandering around the Mighty Mo. We’ll wave…

Missouri River Birds | Western Grebe

October 16, 2024

birds, missouri river

The Western Grebe visits us here on Montana’s Missouri River every fall. This year it seem like there is more. Some young around for a few weeks but they have gone elsewhere. I think. They could be lurking in some…

Tuesday Fishing Report Missouri River Montana 10.15.24

October 15, 2024

A few Missouri River October Fly Fishing Tips, Fall, fishing report, October

Tuesday Fishing Report Missouri River Montana 10.15.24 Looking like fall out there. The leaves and the color changes are stunning right now. A great time to be spending time in the outdoors wherever you may stand. Certainly adds to the…

How to Approach Like a Pro. Gospel of SOL

October 14, 2024

How to Approach Like a Pro

Fly Fishing Technique

How to Approach Like a Pro How to Approach Trout like a Pro by Mark Raisler Many times I get asked to show an angler how to catch more trout. I live and work on one of Montana’s most difficult…

Thank You Izaaks. Final 2024 Nite in Craig!

October 13, 2024