No more Mr. Nice Guy!!

Had 6+ Budweiser's and let my soft side out on the Blog...give me too much down time and look what happens. I need to get more time on the river, less time staring at this confuser. That all begins again tomorrow...good bye feel good SOL, hello taskmaster.

On the right is yet another fish taken on a Hickman's Skiddish Smolt. Circus-Kirpatricka and Jerry from Columbia Falls, both former guides here on the MO, were here last weekend and fished hard. Mostly streamer chuckin' with some boobber time mixed in...they had success both ways. Those guys will throw the big bug all day...and force some results. Guaranteed these are not poetry writers, or readers! Hard fishing and hard drinking fellas from the north.

When the fly flicking gets tough, you just have to put on your big boy pants, go out packin' heat, and knuckle down. As Tom Hanks said in League of their Own, there is no crying in baseball...same deal in fishing...no freakin crying, sobbing, pouting is certainly the worst! It's the deep breathing sighing and pouting that some fellas do when, god forbid they have not hooked a fish in 8 minutes. If this describes you, I suggest not fishing this week. The fisherman that are currently around do not possess a soft bone in their body. Just get in the boat, shut up, and cast. Cast again, cast again, then cast again.

No more Mr. Nice Guy, Ms. Nice Girl, none of that shit...it does not promote fish catching behaviors.

Quirky Fisherman Behavior of the Day:Not taking the plastic off of the cork from your new fly rod??!! Speaks truth about certain bizarre tendencies.

Capt. Carp's Fav. Dead Song of the Day: Space Jam from Red Rocks 7/7/77

Simple Pleasures...

The best things in life embody simplicity.

Manage expectations and find gratification in the lowest common denominator.

Go outside, sit on the porch, and dream...

Let go, and all the worries that are attached like plaque to your soul diminish.

Concerns should drift downstream...farther and farther...until out of sight...

Turn towards the sun, and the shadows fall behind you...

Gotta Love 'Em!

Long live the fly fishing girl. Chicks Rule! There really is nothing better than a gal holding a nice trout. They make the trout look waaay better. On the right is Molly from Belgrade fishing with SOL a couple years ago. The bottom line is that girls get it.

The gals that do fish are just like the gals that ski or snowboard. When they are good, they are much better than most men. I know this may be hard to swallow from a male standpoint, but what I speak is TRUTH. Many women qualify as level 6 fishermen, they truly enjoy the entire day, catching fish along the way.

I know I speak for the majority of guides when I say that I would rather have two gals in the boat than the alternative. Guiding men allows me to make my Suburban payment every month, and I appreciate that. The industry number for the percentage of female fly rodders is 4%. Boy, I'd like to see that number increase. And it is. The new generation of fly fishers includes 90% of that 4% figure. We see more and more women and it is refreshing. They don't seem to get mired in the dry fly funk and pretentiousness that some men do. They also have an incredible ability to learn. What a positive attribute. We, as men, can certainly learn from this.

A short story: This is the stereotypical day with a husband and wife. Disclaimer: This is not an absolute, many husband wife teams do not exhibit this behavior...but it does happen. The man pulls you aside in the morning and mentions that this trip is for his wife, that he already knows how to fish, and he will sit in the back of the boat. "You just pay attention to my wife and get her some fish. I'll keep my mouth closed and catch fish in the back." Here's what follows. The gal listens intently to every word I have to say, learns rapidly and starts hooking a few fish. About the 4th or 5th fish landed the husband says, "Honey, great fish, maybe I should sit in the front and get a couple." She says OK and the switch is made. The male, who generally can cast a country mile, whacks casts out 40+ feet and consequently cannot get a drift. The fish don't care if you can cast, they just care if you can drift! The wife has her bobber just off the oar and is attaining perfect drifts. She continues to hook trout and the smoke begins to waft out of the husbands ears. "Do I have the same flies on as my wife?" Yes, you have identical rigs sir. "Are you sure, let me see her flies." OK sir, as you see, same rig. "Why is she catching fish and I'm not?" Well sir, she is getting great drifts. The tension continues to build and the wife, to dissolve any long term rifts between the two, stops fishing. Smart lady.

The upshot is...women fly fishers kick ass! For a cool female blog perspective, check out Christine Johnson's Blog...Flyfishchick.com You will enjoy it.

Quirky fishermen behavior of the day: Saw a guy doing push-ups at the boat ramp, pre-fishing ritual. That's odd.

Capt. Carp's Favorite Grateful Dead of the Day: Uncle John's Band

Fly of the Week: Hickman's Skiddish Smolt

Peeps...not just for Easter anymore!

I have finally thought of the perfect use for that package of Peeps that you have had in the pantry for well over a decade. Ball them up, about the size of your favorite bobber, then hunt up a rattle can of lacquer, and hose them down with liberal amounts of deadly spray. Next time you are short an indicator, simple pop on a Peeps bobber and fish on!

As you know, they come in several colors for differing light conditions. I like to get out the Sharpie and color them black. Like if you are BWO Peeps bobber fishin' in the fall and when the glare is so bad.

Yet another use is as an actual lure. Tie the Peep in as you would a tube fly or attach a blade for spinner like action. I have also tied the prop deal in front and had good luck during a Pike bite. Lunker Browns can rise to the Peep itself, and then the rodeo is on. Hold on to him for 8 seconds donning your pink, pearl buttoned, paisley embossed button down and consider it a victory. Twitch it near bank lines with a stinger hook hanging out the ass end for top water teeth rattlin' strikes. I have found that when Bass fishing the Peep, prep the chicklet with either a garlic or salt frog brine. Deadly.

My suggestion for the initial start up package is to steal your nephews carton when he is pogo sticking around the kitchen all hopped up on a killer sugar buzz...reminding you why you convinced the doctor to perform a vasectomy when you were only 23. Also, look for super deals on Peeps during the post Easter liquidation candy sale. Stock up for the year and don't forget about your fishing partners needs too.

B and E Ben

Break-in-Ben is back from the long winter in Massachusetts. His first duty on the Mo was to break into Doc White's Bronco. It took him about 30 seconds, 1 piece of scrap pine, and 1 coat hanger...Nice Ben. Wonder what he does in the off-season? He does actually have a job outside of the fishing industry, and no it's not working for the Miss America Pageant as he tells anybody who will listen. BIB plowed snow for some reprobate in Mass, and pounded nails for some other derelict, and then managed make his way west for another Missouri River summer. He truly is multi-talented and we are fortunate to have him back. How smart do you think he would be if he did not come back to the Mo?

Now that Ben is back in Craig he will be working in the store for the time being, helping out with the long lists of BS jobs that Scumliner, J the B, and Squeeky have designed for him. After he accomplishes that feat, he will be guiding again for Headhunters and knockin' 'em dead in his sophomore effort. Young and eager guides like Ben are damn hard to beat. They accrue knowledge at an amazing rate and work harder than most Wal-Mart greeters.

We welcome Ben back and will be enjoying his humor, his many faceted skills, and his growing list of repeat clients.

George Harvey Slackline Leader

I've been using the Harvey Slackline for going on 15 years and still love it. Are there better leaders for dry fly fishing? Maybe...it is all conjecture and personal opinion. The beauty of a Slackline is that it turns over, and leaves the last 25% of leader, the tippet, slack so you can achieve the proper drift for the sometimes difficult fish that inhabit the Missouri.

It starts with Maxima Chameleon which allows for a good turnover of the leader, and depending on which mono materials you prefer can continue with Max until the tippet portion. All the old schoolers like Max, still popular with the steelhead gang too, and especially if you are from the East Coast. Another benefit of hand tied leaders is that you can truly design a leader to do exactly what you want. Sometimes store bought machine tapered leaders will "kick" in a direction that you do not desire. I'm sure you have encountered this. If you are casting downstream at a giant rising brown...and as the leader unfolds, the fly "kicks" upstream. That is enough to drive a guy to drink! You may only have one shot at a fish like that. So, you really need a leader that does the right thing in this situation. That is where a hand built leader like the Harvey is clutch. I always tie these with Blood Knots, mainly because it is nice looking, I don't believe in the Surgeon's Knot...but that is neither here nor there.

Here is the Harvey Slackline All Around 10' Formula:
I start with a larger diameter butt section Chameleon Max .022"-.024" with a loop to loop, or not. Then tie on:
10" .017 Maxima Chameleon
20" .015 Maxima Chameleon
20" .013 Maxima Chameleon
20" .011 (0X) Maxima Clear
12" .009 (2X) Rio Flouroflex Plus
10" .007 (4X) Rio Flouroflex Plus
28" .006 (5X) Rio Suppleflex Mono

This leader starts with stiff Max Mono/brown, tapers to Max Mono/Clear, Flourocarbon, and finally to soft/limp mono. A damn good dry fly leader. I generally cast down and across to rising fish, and this works well for myself and my clients. It unfolds straight, and drops to the water with slack built in. Most guides have their own dry fly leader formula, and there is commonly arguments about leader design on the porch at night...this is just my favorite.

There are a ton of leader designs that are effective. Check out the Leader Formula Bonanza http://www.flyfisherman.com/skills/50formulas.pdf

Grand Opening 2009

Grand Opening 2009 is today April 3rd. Scumliner, Squeeky, and J the Brain have got things put back together just in time for the Spring. We really like the look of the updated store and are anticipating a Kick-Ass year. Bookings are strong and the excitement never stops.

Izaak's is also opening tonight with an updated menu...still your favorites, but also some new dishes to keep you coming back night after night.

Headhunters has the same great service oriented staff as last year with a couple new faces too. Ben Hardy will be here very soon, Andrew Martineau will arrive mid month. Sarah Roholt will be new to us this year and we can't wait to have an additional gal in the shop. Julie is still here making it all work, without her John and I would be completely and totally lost. She is the glue that holds the shop together. Of course John and I are still here and are in the shop every waking moment that we are not guiding. Having shop owners that fish/guide 5 days a week allows Headhunters to stay on top of current fishing events, hot flies, and the behaviors of the Missouri. She can be a temperamental bitch! I think we all can agree on that statement.

Spring hours are 8am to 6pm...but as you know we are generally here much later than the posted closing time. Feel free to give us a call for up-to-the-minute fishing reports...and for immediate news on the Baetis that have not shown...they will. The fella's tossing streamers are still doing quite well and landing some lunkers.

Holter Lake is open and the guys and gals fishing at the boat ramp are having real good success. Purple Prince's behind a bobber are doing the trick. Get on up there if you like to whack false spawners on the head and eat 'em. Just try not to get too greedy...you know it is not a positive virtue, and one of the 7 deadly sins.

Look forward to seeing the happy faces come through the door at Headhunters with coffee cup in hand...and always...Hippies use the Backdoor!