Ouiji Board Water Management and Mother Nature

Constant calls to the shop about predicted water flows...let's think about that one.

Yes, I know it is a valid question. I try to answer this crystal ball equation every time. It usually proceeds like this..."No, I do not know. It's a connundrum.

I have been here on the Mo for some time, and I do remember the big water years and do remember what happened after them...but am I familiar enough with Mother Nature...and am aware of the multiple factions involved with the water management decisions, including FWP, BLM, B of Rec, commercial interests well down stream of us, flow pulses for spawning Pallid Sturgeon, etc, etc, etc.

Been to water meetings, constantly talk to folks in the know who have been here for much longer than myself, stare at the river most everyday, try to follow historical weather patterns, read the Farmer's Almanac, and practice Chinese meditation while doing naked Yoga-Pilate's summoning the Water Gods to channel even just a small bit of wisdom to my guide size brain

...and I still have NO IDEA what the water will do at any given time. You like Apples? Well how do...

Tell you what...Call Oboma on the Red Phone...ask him!

Bottom Line...NOBODY KNOWS...except for the Water Management Ouiji Board Operators and Mother Nature, and even they are learning daily.

BIG 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN CRAIG MONTANA...COME CELEBRATE AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY IN THE EPICENTER OF TROUT FISHING

Headhunters Fly Shop and Guide Service will be hosting our 2nd Annual 4th of July Party with Kick-Ass Activities all day long.

Free BBQ @ Noon until Dusk

Wiffle Ball, Badminton, Horseshoes, Micro-Practice Rod instruction, All day long. We provide the free fun portion.

Echo Gecko Kids Rod Casting Competition: Off handed, meaning casting with your non-traditional hand. Just distance. 3 casts per contestant. Admission Free. Come try your hand at the best kids rod ever made. Maybe the first kids rod ever made. Ends @ 8pm. Winner gets the Echo Gecko, dead last competitor gets a Micro Practice Rod.

Smallest Bikini Contest & Most Patriotic Costume: Airflo Fly Line for the Winners

Donations for the Craig Fire Department Accepted

Firework's @ Dusk

Izaak's Open 6am til ?

Pig Roast @ 4pm for Donations for Craig FD

Live Music @ 7pm on Izaak's Porch: Max Hay performs Folksy Rock Jams

Keg on the porch too, $1 Drafts of America's Finest Beeron it's finest day...Budweiser

Fireworks @ Dusk

Joe's Bar: Open 8am til 2am...see Michelle for your perfectly mixed cocktail or ice cold fancy Micro-Beer. Tip her well, she works her ass off, and she's nice.

You must attend the Buggest Bash 4th Extravaganza, pun intended, in the Tri-County Area...you won't be let down...Our fishing here is said to be pretty good too!

Call Headhunters for a 4th of July Update and to bug our top notch shop staff with questions about the flows and when we anticipate them to be historically normal. Those who are normal do not have a place in flyfishing.

Yes, it's taped.

Jim Arkin with a 22 1/4" Brown. Yes, it is taped. Jim is a big smiling fella and caught this beauty on a spent caddis. Probably the prettiest rise form I have seen this year. Outstanding!

The deal about fish length and size...I call bullshit if you tell me you caught a handful of fish over 20"...especially if you are in the bar. Not that I don't believe you, but if you are throwing out numbers like that, I expect them to be taped.

Jim and Ed are Headhunters and they speak truth. They have steelheaded around the world, caught boney's and list continues. They do not lie.

So go out and get 'em, but don't lie to me.

You bullshit your friends, I'll bullshit my friends, let's not bullshit each other.

Capt. Carp's Dead Song of the Day: One More Saturday Night

Fly of the Day: CDC Tent Wing Caddis

Dumb-Ass Guide Move of the Day: Lose your anchor...if you don't take your foot of the anchor release, it keeps on going, going, going...Yes, it's me, SOL, once again not getting any smarter. Who woulda thunk!

Oar Whore?

What's your vote? I vote yes on my own behalf.

This connotation does not in any way relate to inappropriate sexual behaviors but instead to the willingness of career guides to perform maneuvers in the safe confines of the boat allowing our guests to hook as many fish as humanly possible...and sometimes against their will. Putting fishermen into successful situations is what we do best and are always striving to achieve the most positive outcomes.

SOL lost this oar while landing a fish, crashed into the bank like a your sister on the sticks completely oblivious to my where abouts with total disregard for my vessels proprioception...having lost my own bio-mechanical awareness many years ago...the bow careened into the bank levering the ass end and the anchor off the soft shoal and into mild pandemonium. Landed it, stuck it, no broken rods... just another cookie cutter Brown of 18 and change.

Shameful walk, stumble, & slip upstream to retrieve overpriced counter-balanced Sawyers.

Just another daily example of how I am not getting any smarter...I am hopefully getting wiser.

Another day with my clients drawing the short straw. My boat is short too. You think about that one.

Superguide witnessed yet another daily melee transpire and become reality. He never tires of hysterical laughter on my behalf.

LG would say, "Standard, pretty standard." My friends, get on the Montucky Lanyard if you want to keep up with the cool cats. If you don't know what I am referring to, do some research and get on board. Minor plug for 406 Productions

The fishing is white hot and I am here to tell you...if you want to catch every fish you see, make the first cast count. If you want to catch every odd fish, go to another river. Funny inside joke with myself.

Bad Guide Statement of the Day: "Dude, if you want to fish this bank, (after said guide cut off another guide,) just drop our anchor and wait 5 minutes. It's cool Bra'."

Missouri River Statement of Fact and Truth: We don't have to lie about the size of our fish

SOL's Catch Phrase of the Month: Encourage the Drift

Fun, funner, funnest...you choose

Yet another party at Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service. Here is Andrew with his perpetual smile glued to his face...an anomaly...not really. He is even smiling when catching our ubiquitous White Trout. He is still smiling while hooking biggy browny on dry flies. That last picture of him on the Blog was not a fish on a streamer, but his largest to date on a dry. So, my bad Drew...correction noticed and handled my friend.

Think ahead and come on out to the Mighty Mo...there are lots of great fishing towns in our wonderful world...some are fun, most are funner, and then we arrive at Craig Montana, the funnest trout town on the entire earth.

Not only are our fish giant and getting fatter every day...but if you want to try your hand at Wiffle Ball, Micro Casting Rod Olympics, or casually tipping back a cold Budweiser from our Porch 65qt Yeti..this is the place.

Come an join us any afternoon @ Headhunters...but not if you are some sort of bump on a log, waterlogged and sinking...those folks need not apply.

Quirky Guide Behavior of the Day: Forgetting to write down the correct shuttle and getting pissed at the shop for your stupidity...Note: I have done this multiple times!

Capt Carp Dead Song of the Day: Uncle K-Hole's Band

Fly Fish Chick in the House!

Yes, it's true, Fly Fish Chick has arrived on the Missouri. She is seen here with Curt Michels and Tom Warren's Nephew Randall the Rock Star about to embark on an epic journey...or at least one filled with laughter, a few cocktails, and a few large rising Brown Trouts.

I like calling them Trouts, yes, in the plural, because just touching one of our leviathan's is equal to fooling with fish on many other rivers. We are so damn fortunate to have the Missouri here for us to enjoy. And enjoy it we do.

A large part of the fishing experience is meeting folks, and developing relationships. What else would I or you rather do, or any of the folks that grace us with their presence. Fellowship before, during, and after the day is a large part of the fun! Most of us sling shit at each other...boy it really is fun. I will say it again, and I believe I have said it before..."friends don't stab each other in the back, they stab you right in the front"

I would love to do a joint blog with FFC, and proposed the idea this a.m. We will try to give it a whirl. Or maybe fantasize about it at the very least at Joe's whilst embracing pints of iced cold beer. FFC and I , back in the day yo, would sing along with Jimmy 'the Guitar Playing ' Bartender. I think we may have had a couple glasses of brown liquor to facilitate and lubricate the vocal chords. For those of you who know FFC, she can carry a tune. And if you follow her Blog at all, you also are familiar with her affinity for good music and having an absolute ball in any given situation.

This time of year brings a pile of non-local locals...good fishing, good friends, and good times.

Welcome Fly Fish Chick, look forward to seeing you and the cast of thousands.

Capt. Carp Dead Song of the Day: Anything in the 1st set @ Shorline in the 70's

Fly of the Week: Anything with a huge Tungsten Bead on it...as the flows are coming up.

Presentation is important when dealing in the 3 most important F's: Food, fishing, and F g!

Do some sort of jig/dance to appease the water gods, to bring it down to 7000 CFS, and keep it there for the summer. Fish love to rise @ that level. They stay big and chunky too!

Summer Soltice and Boat Wash

The longest day of the year...you should be fishing late tonight. The trout love to eat well into the night and therefore you should be hangin' a few big browns.

We are cleaning up after a successful Bikini Boat Wash and BBQ. Great fun was had by all. Over $500 was raised for the Craig Fire Department ...thanks to all who donated and attended. The next scheduled Bikini Boat Wash will be Labor Day Weekend...put it on your calender.

the fishing is as god as it gets right now, for those of you who would like the heads up about how good it is...now is the time. It should continue for the next couple months, but keep in mind the Big Browns get really dumb this time of the year, so get out here and enjoy outstanding fishing.

Carp fishing is starting to heat up as well. If you would like to fight a fish substantially larger than our over sized trout, this is your game. Capt. Carp is our resident expert and he is booking Carp trips as we speak, so give us a call to book a big fish trip to remember.
Nymph of the Week: Hogan's Military Mayfly / A great PMD pattern

Dry Fly of the Week: Limestone Cripple / A terrific PMD Crip pattern
Worst Guide Outfit of the Month: An Itsy-Bitsy-Teenie-Weenie-Yellow-Polka-Dot-Bikini
Fly Line of the Month: Rio's Carp Line...it will turn over the tasty morsels we toss at Carp

Whuzzup at Headhunters...

Here's just a few of the things that have been going on and are coming up at Headhunters:

2nd Annual
BIKINI BOAT WASH
Saturday June 20th (tommorrow!!)
The ladies of the Missouri River are helping out the Craig Volunteer Fire Dept. by holding their second annual Bikini Car/Boat Wash. Let them buff your boat (and car if you like) in just a few minutes. The gals had 'em lined up last year, so be prepared to wait a few minutes...you'll enjoy the scenery. The boat wash will be held from noon until 9pm. Cost is $25 for your filthy boat, and $40 for your filthy boat and POS Rig. Just the thing for those involved in the Missouri River Cleanup tomorrow. Cleanup Volunteers receive an additional $5 discount. Every cent goes to a good cause, so help our community out. A limited run of Headhunters "Get Wet" ladies boat wash T's will be available as well.

BBQ Saturday Night
Following the Bikini Boat Wash, Headhunters will be hosting a free BBQ for all of our loyal friends and customers. Chef Martineau will be wearing the apron, so expect more than the typical BBQ. Izaak's will have live music on the deck as well, so it should be a good time. No doubt that Tracy Allen will be on the mound for whiffle-ballers. We will also be accepting donations for the Craig Volunteer Fire Dept.

More YETI Coolers!
We've just recieved a third shipment of Yeti Coolers, and they'll likely go fast. We've got 15, 25, 35, 45 and 65 quart models available. The hot weather is here and it's time to keep your adult beverages cool. All the cool guides are buying them, shouldn't you? You get what you pay for...Buy Yeti! FREE ICE for the rest of the summer if you buy a Yeti! Rememer, we can drop ship your YETI cooler anywhere in the Continental US in 2-3 business days. Just give us a call and we'll take care of the rest.

Fishing is on Fire
These are the salad days for the Missouri...heads to hunt all day long. Days like we're having remind us why we choose to live, work and play on the 'Mo. It doesn't get any better than right now. Our guides have been busy showing our guests some of the finest fishing the US has to offer.