Headhunters Life Archives - Headhunters Fly Shop

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…

This from the Water Managers

December 12, 2024

Fly Fishing Travel, Headhunters Life

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…

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

Fly Fishing Travel, Headhunters Life

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…

Endless Winter

December 4, 2024

Fly Fishing Travel, Headhunters Life

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

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

Sunday Swing Image

October 20, 2024

Dwayne Sutphin

Time to Swing?

Blue Skies and Spey Casts. Looking for more, or any, overcast skies and dry flies? Or both. A sunny October. I always believed that 4-5 perfect days o the Mo in October is the average. This year, a couple overcast…

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…

Thank You Izaaks. Final 2024 Nite in Craig!

October 13, 2024

Izaaks

Thank You Izaaks! Final 2024 Nite in Craig! Want to give a big shout out there the great local businesses in Craig Montana that help our guests enjoy the time here in this dusty fishing ‘burb of Craig. Chef John,…

Silly Saturday Scenery Casting Image

October 12, 2024

Casting, Fall, RIO

Silly Saturday Scenery Casting Image Montana’s Missouri River. Looks like the weather forecast is tipping in the correct direction. More fall please. Give us a nice fall, before Ol’ Man Winter arrives. Shop open daily 7am.

Friday Fall Foto

October 11, 2024

Friday Fall Foto

Friday Fall Foto After next week, we may see fall. Happy Friday.

Missouri River October Fishing Forecast 2024

October 7, 2024

Bugs, Fishing Report, Headhunters Life

Dry Fly Fall Fishing, Dry Fly Fishing, November, Nymphing, October, Streamer fishing, Streamer Fishing the Mo

Missouri River October Fishing Forecast 2024 Bring on the cloudy, wet, and fall weather that we just love in October. Let’s not wait until November. We do want it in November as well but the October time frame will suit…

Missouri River October Gig Harbor Fly Shop

Sunday Brown Trout Image

October 6, 2024

Best Lodging in Craig, Gig Harbor Fly Shop, Group, Guide Trips for all, HH Fly Shop

Sunday Brown Trout Image Blake with this nice Brown Trout. Just got done hosting and guiding Blake and his gang outta Gig Harbor Washington. You wanna put together a group to come on out to the Mighty Mo? Yes? Call…

Stream Access Rally Bozeman Wednesday Oct. 2nd

September 28, 2024

Conservation, Headhunters Life

stream access

Stream Access Rally Bozeman Wednesday Oct. 2nd 5-7pm What: Celebrate Montana’s Best in the Nation Stream Access Rule and learn more about what you can do to protect our access! When: Wednesday, October 2nd // 5:30 – 7:30PM MST Where: Gallatin County…

Friday Foto Whoa Dude!

September 27, 2024

Friday Foto Whoa Dude!

Friday Foto Whoa Dude! I’m not sure if the anglers even see this cliff dweller. And it probably does not matter either way. Happy Friday. Enjoy your weekend!

Montana River Recreation Survey

September 26, 2024

Conservation, Headhunters Life

FWP Recreation Use Survey

Montana River Recreation Survey Ever want to weigh in on the current Montana river recreation use? Today is the day man. Take this Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks survey about how you feel about the last 3 years on any…

Red Jammer. Best Guide Rig Ever?

September 25, 2024

Guide Rigs, Red Jammer, Red Jammer. Best Guide Rig Ever?, team Headhunters

Best Guide Rig ever? It may be just that. Pack a ton of folks, gear, and even your lunch. Wiki with the Red Jammer here. These are so cool. I want one. When you visit one of the parks that…

Wednesday and all is well

September 18, 2024

Get here now. Or next month. It is getting serious. Fish are keying in on the feed. Yes, the food in the water column. Captain Obvious this Humpday. Rain the last two days. Looking good out there for those from…

Silly Saturday Scenery Autumn Daze

September 14, 2024

Headhunters Life, Landscape

Autumn

Silly Saturday Scenery Autumn Daze Swingers. Two-Handers. Trout Spey. Autumn. Saturday. September.

Friday Fly Fishing Facts. Or a Squeaky Autumnal Rant

September 13, 2024

Friday Fly Fishing Facts. Or a Squeaky Autumnal Rant

Friday Fly Fishing Facts. Or a Squeaky Autumnal Rant Ed Note: This blog from 5 years ago, this week. This is still a problem for casters. The rainbow cast. The waving of the rod tip fore and aft without purpose,…

Sunday Horsey Scenery

September 8, 2024

Sunday Horsey Scenery

Sunday Horsey Scenery Fall. Horses. Fishing. Sunday.

Fall Fishing will get better and better…

September 4, 2024

missouri river, phtography

Untouchables Bridge and hooked up! Fishing is fair with better hatches to come in the near future. Put yourself in this Foto and dream of wild fighting Rainbows and Browns. Book your fall trip today. We love October and November.…

Don’t forget about Zeptember

September 3, 2024

Led Zeppelin

Nobody’s Fault but Mine… Robert Plant claims to have sold his soul to the devil for Led Zeppelin success. I did the same here on the Missouri River. Although some days it does not seem to be working… …

Fly Fishing Fellowship

August 28, 2024

Fly Fishing Fellowship

Fly Fishing Fellowship There are several reasons that we start fly fishing. Fly Fishing Fellowship is why most of us stay in the game as long as we do. We see lots of good friends, fishing partners, and spouses that…

Do you Row?

August 27, 2024

Fly Fishing Technique, Headhunters Life

Drift Boats, helping your buddy, It's a Team Effort, Rowing, Team

Today we talk about the individual charged with helping the angler in the bow of the boat. The angler, albeit important, does not hold the singular responsibility in the vessel. The guy holding those 9′ overpriced sticks is the guy…

Monday, Summer Fading, Atlantic Salmon Fly International PSA

August 26, 2024

Monday, Summer Fading, Atlantic Salmon Fly International PSA Quiet time on the Mo. Last week ands this week, quiet. September will wake us up and we will get back into the game. You will too. This morning I felt like…

Craig Caddis Festival next Saturday Aug 17th!

Craig Caddis Festival Saturday Aug 17th!

August 16, 2024

Fly Fishing Gear, Fly Fishing Technique, Headhunters Life

Craig Caddis Fest

Craig Caddis Festival this Saturday Aug 17th! Come and bring the entire family, grandma too! Gone be some vendors of crafts and such before the event. Stop and peruse the Silent Auction Table for cool fly fishing and additional goods!…

Sharpie your Hopper

August 13, 2024

John Arnold

Do you use Sharpie, Pantone or Prismacolor markers to add some personalized color to your hopper patters? Lots of Missouri River guides do. So do some of the more particular local anglers. Their belief is that an “out of the…

Closing at 1pm Today for Baseball

August 8, 2024

Closing at 1pm Today for Baseball Generally open late, but today we are closing at 1pm for staff mayhem. See you tomorrow. Enjoy. Cloudy and smokey today. Calm. Bet they are rising out there…

August, mornings, afternoons, and a ball game Thursday

August 5, 2024

August is a strange month. Or can be. Hot temps generally keep the fishing confined to the morning hours. But not always. This year, sort of. The fishing is pretty good in the mornings so far this year. The cool…

Silly Sunday Scenery Canyon Image

August 4, 2024

Fall, Image, Silly Sunday Scenery

Silly Sunday Scenery Canyon Image Awful pretty this time of year. Enjoy your Sunday. We will be fishing, and watching baseball. How about you? Felt the first edge of fall this morning. Not too soon, but around the corner? We…

Hump Day Foto: That’s Cliff Edition

July 31, 2024

Friday Foto Cliff Edition

Cliff looking for rising trout about ten years ago. It was really tough shitty that particular last week of July. Not too good either. But Cliff did not fall off the turnip truck yesterday. Seek and he shall find. He…

CraigFlyShop.com is LIVE!

July 27, 2024

Fly Fishing Gear, Headhunters Life

CraigFlySHop, Fly Shop Store, Online Retail, www.craigflyshop.com

CraigFlyShop.com is LIVE! It has arrived. In-house design and implantation by my biz partner John has brought us the newest of our web stores with this beauty at www.Craigflyshop.com If you got a few minutes to day to peruse the…

Where do all the little ones live?

July 23, 2024

Where do all the little ones live?

We constantly get questions about our big fish. Not just how and why we have so many fish over 18″ but also where all the little ones are. And where do they live? And, why don’t we catch any little…

Wade fishing the Missouri River

July 21, 2024

missouri river, wade fishing

A great year to wade fish the Missouri River. Low flows have allowed the wade angler to access a ton of fishy water. Dry fly guys are happy that they can wander and find noses, sometimes a lot of noses.…

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

July 20, 2024

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. This video is just 1 of several episodes…

PMD’s Up Close

July 14, 2024

John Arnold

macro, mayfly, PMD

Here’s a couple of detailed shots of our favorite Missouri River Mayfly for those who have never looked close, or those who can’t because the eyesight ain’t so good no more. To learn more than you need to know about…

Missouri River Trico’s

July 7, 2024

Missouri River Trico's

Great Trico hatches on the Mo daily. The Trico’s came on time this year. Caddis on the. PMD’s on time. Are you, are you on time? Top to bottom you can find your favorite white winged black friends coming off…

Happy 4th of July

July 4, 2024

4th of July

Happy 4th of July Slow day on the river. Family days. good times. PMD’s and Caddis dominate the dry fly day. Frenchies, SplitCase’s, and sows generate interest subsurface. Soon Trico’s will be added to the diet. Ants, hoppers, more and…

Missouri River June Saturday

June 28, 2024