GUIDED Trips

Missouri River Guided Fly Fishing

We operate one of the most successful Outfitting & Guide services* on the Missouri River. That’s a reflection of not only our guides, but also our shop and booking staff. They all work as a team to provide you with the best experience possible. All of our guides are full time professionals who primarily guide on the Missouri River, several of them over 150 days a year. They are all excellent instructors, boatmen and women, and anglers. Because they don’t travel around the state like most Montana guides, they are dialed in to the current conditions on the Missouri River. Most of our guides work primarily for us, and we are proud of the relationships they have developed over the years with our guests. Our shop staff knows all of our guides well, and they commonly go fishing together after work, or on the rare day off.

Our booking and shop staff will not only get you or your group lined up with the right guide(s), but can arrange lodging for you as well. They can also answer questions about dining options, where to get groceries, which airports to use and where to get rental cars [trip planner]. If you have detailed questions about the fishing at different times of the year they can answer those as well.

Guided Fly Fishing Rates 2025

Full Day Trip | $700

Missouri, Dearborn, Blackfoot
April 1 - Nov 31
1 or 2 anglers
Our standard guide trip on the Missouri River is generally about 10 hours long. Included is a delicious lunch, non-alcoholic beverages (BYO beer), flies, terminal tackle, and transportation to and from the river. Rods and waders are provided if needed.
Anglers are responsible for providing a current Montana Conservation/Fishing License.
Half Day Trip | $550

Missouri River
Apr 1 - Nov 31
1 or 2 anglers
We don’t do these often, but if your schedule dictates that you are arriving late or leaving early, a half day trip might be an option. We occasionally use this trip if Mother Nature is putting extreme afternoon heat on us. Lunch is not included on half trips.
Anglers are responsible for providing a current Montana Conservation/Fishing License.
Off Season | $550

Missouri River
Dec 1 - Mar 31
1 or 2 anglers
Off season rates run December 1 - March 31. When the weather is warm enough for angler comfort, the fishing is can be very good, and the crowds non-existent. The price reflects the shorter daylight hours rather than the fishing quality. These are often spey trips.
Anglers are responsible for providing a current Montana Conservation/Fishing License.

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CANCELLATION POLICY

Deposits for canceled guide trips will be refunded in full with a 30 day or more notice. Cancellations within 30 days will forfeit all deposit monies. If we are able to re-book the guide, we will refund the deposit or apply it to a trip at a later date. If a trip is cancelled with less than 72 hours notice, the full price of the guide trip will be charged. Our guide trips go out in all safe weather and water conditions, therefore inclement weather, water levels or undesirable fishing conditions are NOT acceptable reasons to cancel or receive a refund. Trips cancelled by the guide or mutual guide/client decision due to unsafe weather or water conditions, state or federal closures, or other uncontrollable circumstances will have the entire deposit refunded.

Brett Matula

GUIDE
Brett is a nomad, having traveled, fished, skied and guided all over the West. After a season away from guiding while working in our shop, Brett decided he had found his home on the Missouri River, and got back behind the oars. He brings an incredible amount of patience and knowledge to the boat every day. Brett is an excellent instructor, and enjoys fishing with anglers new to the sport, as well as advanced fly anglers.
Max Mattioli

GUIDE
Max grew up in Helena, and worked for us in the shop before migrating to the river as a full-time guide. Years later, he is established as one of the most requested guides on our staff. Max works his tail off each and every day to show his customers a great time on his home river. Growing up fishing and hunting Central Montana with his father and brother, he is very familiar with the rivers and mountains of the region.
Shane Wilson

GUIDE
Shane came to us years ago as a member of our shop staff. He previously worked at other fly shops, including a stint at Mike Lawson’s Henry’s Fork Anglers. Shane is hard working and doesn’t let the details slip through the cracks. He’s an extremely focused guide, and enjoys his time on the water with clients. Having fun is important, but catching fish comes first in Shane’s boat. Shane’s wife Kelli is known for her fabulous lunches you’ll enjoy on our guided trips.
Braden Lewis

GUIDE
Longtime Headhunters crew member Braden Lewis originally worked in the shop, and has now become one of the top guides on the river. As a trained biologist, Braden looks at the river, the fish and the insects through a scientific lens. He also loves to share that knowledge with all who are interested. Combined with his patience, humor and teaching skills, you're bound to catch a lot, learn a lot and laugh a lot while spending a day on the river with Braden.
Jared Eckhardt

GUIDE
Like many of our guides, Jared paid his dues in the shop before becoming a full time guide. He brings his affable personality and abundance of enthusiasm to work every day, and has quickly become one of our top guides. In the off season, Jared hunts the west, followed by a long winter of calving on his family ranch on the front range of the Rockies where he grew up.
Peter Longoria

GUIDE
Peter has grown up traveling and fly fishing, and has extensive experience in both fresh and saltwater. If you ask him to go fishing, the answer will be in the affirmative. As a former shop staff member, he is familiar with all things on the Missouri River and Craig. Peter has strong observational and communication skills, resulting in success for the anglers in his boat.
Ben McNinch

GUIDE

Ben McNinch has been part of our staff for years. Many know him for his longtime presence in our shop, where he became a noted fly designer. A few years ago he decided to switch to guiding, and has quickly become one of our most in-demand guides. Ben knows the river top to bottom, and strives to catch as many fish as possible every day. Ben helped us pioneer spey fishing on the Missouri River, and is an expert when it comes to swinging the river with two-handers.
Whitney Gould

GUIDE | USCG Capt.
Whitney came to us after a long career in Alaska, where she was an integral part of a guide staff that pioneered spey fishing for King Salmon. Famous as a spey caster, in Montana she has found a home where she can practice and guide all disciplines. Whitney can be found nymphing, dry fly fishing, and spey fishing; sometimes all in a day. Whitney is a 6 time Spey-O-Rama world casting champ, and is considered one of the world’s best two-handed casters.
Kurt Michels

GUIDE
Kurt grew up in the region, and has spent his entire adult life working as a guide on the Missouri, Blackfoot and other area rivers. He’s an excellent boatman and guide, who excels at finding fish. Kurt loves to explore, and has fished just about every river and creek in our area. He’s cool and collected in the boat, and knows our rivers intimately, having spent years showing anglers some of Montana’s best fishing. Kurt spends the off season hunting and skiing.
Will Stolski

GUIDE | USCG Capt.
A second generation guide, Will began his guiding career in Alaska, working on a number of different rivers across the state. He now calls the Missouri home, and enjoys sharing it with seasoned and novice anglers alike. Will is known as a professional, and keeps his program tight. He places a lot of value in a successful day. In the winters you can find him traveling and exploring various fishing locations in South America.
Beth Langell

GUIDE
Beth was raised fishing the Missouri River, and has been a part of the Craig community for years. Her patience, calm demeanor, and knowledge of the river are the result of years of fishing the Missouri with many of it’s best anglers and guides. While the Missouri is Beth’s home – and trout her target – she has traveled extensively and loves to chase Steelhead in BC, Bonefish in the Tropics, and any other fish that swims in front of her.
Carson Bender

GUIDE
Carson quit full time guiding a couple years ago to begin teaching and coaching in Helena, and raising a family. Fortunately, we still have access to this great guide for a couple of months during the middle of the summer. Carson is a total pro, and he puts fish in the boat every day. While Carson isn’t on the water as much as he used to be, he has not lost a step, according to the rave reviews he gets from our customers. If you’re set up with Carson, consider yourself lucky.
Mike McCune

GUIDE | USCG Capt.
One of the most respected fly fishing guides in the west, Mike built his reputation on the trout and salmon streams of Alaska, and as one of the premier Steelhead guides on the West Coast. Part of the group that developed the modern Skagit Spey lines and casting techniques, he is well known as a spey guide. Mike now spends most of his time guiding trout spey fishing on the Missouri, and chasing Steelhead on the rivers of the west coast.
Chad Boedecker

GUIDE
A Montana native, Chad was a full-time fly fishing guide in Montana for decades. Chad has a relaxed persona, and is a total professional with extensive experience and knowledge, not just on the Missouri River. He contributes to the local community as a school teacher these days, so we only get to have Chad on our staff during the peak summer season. While we miss having Chad on the staff full time, Montana needs school teachers way more than it needs fly fishing guides.
Rob Baldwin

GUIDE
A former guide in California, Rob used to spend a few weeks fishing the Missouri each summer. He liked it so much he made the move and is now part of our great guide staff. Rob has worked in a few fly shops - including Headhunters - and is a gear nut. If you like to talk rods and reels, Rob is your guy. As a guide, he understands your expectations, and works hard each day to exceed them. He’s a complete professional, and we’re lucky to have him as part of our staff.
Jason Williams

GUIDE
Jason has been a guide in Montana for decades, and has spent the last one on the Missouri River. As one of our more :mature” guides, he’s not likely to get super excited about anything in the boat. He’s probably seen it before. Jason loves to have a good time on and off the water, and when he’s not guiding he’s probably headed right back out to the river to catch a few for himself. We appreciate Jason’s relaxed demeanor and positive attitude around the shop.
Steve Collie

GUIDE
Steve came to Headhunters from Northern California a few years ago, bringing with him a unique approach developed over a lifetime of fly fishing. Steve possesses some unique and extensive knowledge regarding Euro-nymphing, fly tying and the works of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. If you don’t want to talk Seven Samurai vs The Magnificent Seven, don’t worry. Steve knows where the fish are and how to catch them. As a year ‘round resident of Craig, Steve can be found hunting trout on the Missouri 12 months a year.
Eric Mondragon

GUIDE
A longtime Missouri River guide, Eric has over 30 years of guiding experience. He began his career in his home state of Colorado, fishing the Arkansas and other east slope rivers. Eric moved to the Missouri River in 2000, and has been showing anglers how to catch fish on the Mo’ since. Like most Colorado anglers, he has an extensive technical background, from tailwater nymphing to stalking spooky risers. Eric loves to travel, and when he has a day off he and his wife April can be found exploring other rivers in the Montana and beyond.
Cameron Short

GUIDE
While he’s the newest guide to our staff, Cameron brings plenty of guiding experience from his former job guiding the Yakima and Klickitat rivers in Washington. He had a great first season at Headhunters in 2024, and is now established as one of our core full-time guides. Cameron spent time as a youngster living in Helena, and has a Fish and Wildlife Mgmt degree from MSU in Bozeman. In the offseason, he guides waterfowl hunting in West Texas with his lab Cody.
Eric Schmidt

GUIDE
Eric spends his guiding days moving back and forth between day trips on the Missouri River, and weeklong floats on the legendary Smith River. You need some energy, and to love what you’re doing, to live that kind of guiding schedule, and Eric does. Eric is known as a confident and steady guide on the Missouri, who loves to joke around but not at the expense of catching fish. When he’s not guiding, he can be found working on his house or fishing.
Ben Tyson

GUIDE
Ben has been guiding the Missouri for so long, he probably remembers when Raisler showed up! He has guided on the Missouri, Smith and Blackfoot rivers for longer than most. Ben has seen the Missouri River change through the years, and like any solid veteran guide, he has adapted to bigger crowds, tougher fish, and different tactics. His humor and local knowledge will keep you entertained while you catch fish with a pro.
Dwayne Sutphin

GUIDE
Dwayne, or “Dewey” as he is commonly known (nobody seems to know why?), has been guiding and working at Headhunters for several years. A retired career firefighter from Great Falls, Dewey has worked in the shop, then guided spey fishing trips in the fall, and finally moved into a full time Missouri River guide position. In the last few years he has slowed down the work so he can enjoy retirement through travel with his wife.
Mark Raisler

GUIDE | OUTFITTER
Mark is co-owner of Headhunters Fly Shop, and a longtime Missouri River guide and outfitter. Mark claims the Missouri River courses through his veins, and you will not find another angler more devoted to the Mighty Mo’, and his knowledge about it’s history, fish, hatches and people is unparalleled. Mark no longer guides every day, choosing to focus on dry fly fishing with his many longtime clients.
John Arnold

GUIDE | OUTFITTER
John is the co-owner of Headhunters, and has been guiding for over 30 years in Montana, Idaho and Washington for both trout and Steelhead. John is no longer guiding, and his primary duties revolve around behind the scenes work at Headhunters. Most of his Missouri River fishing these days is done with a spey rod.