Thursdays...

Craig MT during the week are damn slow. This time of year is quiet. As China of Izaak's stated last night, "I like it when we get Craig back." Meaning, not all the folks around, it is quite nice...for a couple weeks...then it is just plain painfully boring.

B & E Ben tying Skykomish Sunrise @ Izaak's | 11/7/09

Although, it does give seasonal businesses time to mend and heal. Having operations that are open every day takes its toll on those who are involved. There are no weekends off, every day is a weekend. So, that aspect of this time of year is enjoyable. Sleeping in, reading the paper, catching up with those friends you have in town who you may not have talked to in 6 months...you know, the normal life kind of stuff. In Craig, you run hard for 210 days in a row.

Thursday night this year will be Fly Tying Night @ Izaak's. A great opportunity for the Craig local set to gather, tie, eat, drink, and kibitz. Last night was a free for all, with no theme set. Ben tied Steelhead flies, John tied Redfish Flies, Mark & Danielle tied Grizzly Hackle Peacock's, and the Kuhnert's tied Zebra Midges. Heckert made us a delightful plate of Beef Straganoff and Melanie a wonderful Choco Chip soft baked slice of heaven with a dollop of ice cream on top.

All locals are invited to this weekly event, or if you happen to be lost and in Craig on Thursdays and don't have anything better to do, stop in and whip one up! I believe there will be some potluck involved as the cold season progresses.

Ben and John Insulating the Floor | November '09
Headhunters stock photo

Scumliner Productions will be putting up fly tying videos of our favorite Missouri River Flies for those of you who tie at home and wish to prepare for your 2010 trip. I am excited about this, as we all can learn more about tying. Casting and tying alike, there is always more!

As the off season Blog moves along, SOL, and hopefully other Authors too, will be writing more instructional and informational style entries. If you would like to see us address any type of situation or discuss any fly fishing topic, or would like to pen an article for the Blog...please let us know.

We are open at the store this weekend for shuttles and a place to hide out of the wind. Saturday and Sunday promise to be very good with the wind going away and the clouds coming in. Get on out here to catch the last hoorah of Baetis before the Holiday Weekend coming.

MMmmm...Turkey...the most over-rated meal of the year.

Vacation Time

Scumliner just returned from a great Redfishing trip in the Gulf. Just missed Ida by a day, but had some epic sight fishing for big Redfish. Man is it nice to get out of town for a few days, even if I have to spend it with Lt. Dan...

Montana Style...

Young Severed Deer Leg | Joe's Parking Lot
photo mark raisler

Things you may see on the ground in Montana never cease to amaze me.

Here is a short Top 5 List:

1. Horse Head; Entire Head, stripped of any hair, eyes still in place, cut off at neckline
2. Small Birds; 2 Song Birds, posed next to the Horse Head
3. 6 Pack Rainer Pounders; Side of road, afraid to pickup based on region of MT
4. Dead Deer; any road in Montana, scattered like confetti at a Bday party
5. Readers Choice; If you've been here, you have an item for this list

Monday, and looking forward to Monday Night Football. I don't even like football, but Craig in the off-season, you learn to like football...or re-runs of I Love Lucy

Capt Carp: Thrashing a 2 Hander on the Clearwater

Scumliner: Back from the marshes of LA, bunches of Red's to hand w/ Lt Dan

SOL: Camel Free 4 weeks today, generally unhappy..but not cranky/pissed

B & E Ben: Planning the interior Re-Mod, insulation under the floors tomorrow

J the B: Reworking the IPod for winter, adding more Hip-Hop to keep Scumliner and SOL active

THE BOSS: In Napa CA with Skidmore for the winter. Sunshine is cool!!

FNG: Back in Boise for the winter. I wonder what's in Boise?

Adair: Living like a 5 yr old...Bliss every moment

The Might Mo: Attracting waterfowl, and wind, and a few anglers

You, the Reader: Planning your next Missouri River Adventure...that's right

Strides...

The Original Exterior Look | November 2007
Mark Raisler photo

...there have been many since our inception...

"Will you just look at that little, red and runty, building?!*#" That describes our initial thoughts about the Headhunters shack. We are still here after 2 years...looking at that little scrappy structure gives us the strength to move forward...ahead...improve...all that positive shit.

Headhunters has made great strides in our short existence in Craig Montana. The exterior has changed, the interior has changed...and both of these things will continue to change.

Interior Work | February 2008
John Arnold photo

What will remain the same is our unparalleled staff, products, and services.

Headhunters Fly Shop Staff will remain the same with maybe add'l cast members forthcoming. Andrew and Sara both plan to be back in the spring of 2010. They will continue to provide outstanding customer service and possess excellent product knowledge. Julie will of course be the anchor of Headhunters with John and Mark continuing to balance time between guiding and shop responsibilities. Ben will be back for his 3rd year with Headhunters guiding and working a limited amount in the store. I anticipate adding another key employee or two for 2010. We are focused daily on how to improve our already great customer service.

There are several Product changes and improvements for this upcoming year. We are changing about a 100 bins of flies. We have 816 fly choices in our Missouri River Specific Selection...that means that Headhunters will have approx. 100 new choices in 2010. Always improving and updating our fly selection is one concept John and Mark are committed to.

Stagnant fly selections
are like stagnant
Web Sites, Fishing Reports, & Blogs...
I hate stale shit!

Shuffling Flies | March 2009
Mark Raisler photo

All the new Super Techy Nymphs, Thingamabobber Attractors, a pile more Hi-Vis Dries, and even more Streamers will be available for your fishing pleasure when you visit this next summer.

We vow to never become the store that is relying solely on retail...we just have the actual stuff you need on the river. Our vision to keep a narrow focus and stay true to the most important facets of Headhunters while managing expectations of both ourselves as well as our clients is how we dictate what will come next. That's a big sentence; Damn True. What this all means to our valued guests is...Quality of Experience and Focus on Service.

We are so proud of our Services and are looking for ways to improve for 2010. All of the Guides that we have worked with will be around for 2010. Your outfitters here at Headhunters, Falls Outfitters MBO #5807 & Get the Drift Outfitters MBO #9031, only hire career guides who perform on a daily basis. They fish hard and we expect them to guide hard as well. Keep in mind that these fella's book a lot of their high season trips by February, and many a year in advance. If you wish to fish with specific guide..as the saying goes..."Book early for the good guides!"

We will have at least 3 Rental Boats this next year and they too are beginning to book earlier every year.

Rainbow & Brown Cabins | Summer
headhunters stock photo

Lodging at the Craig Trout Camp has become Extremely Popular. The Occupancy Rate for rainbow, Brown, and Sutton Place was better than 83% in 2009. If you wish to stay in Craig, next to Headhunters and Izaak's...a stones throw from the Missouri River...make your reservations sooner than later. The high seasons are nearly gone. This is NO BS! Contact us at the shop to hammer out your Craig MT Reservations.

Izaak's will open full time again and better than ever. We are fortunate to have a successful team at Izaak's and we would starve if they were not here. As for visitors...they are truly appreciative as well. Thanks Izaak's for providing high quality cuisine, beer, entertainment, cocktails, and wine selection.

Strides...we never look behind us, we only look forward...this allows us to make countless more strides and to enjoy and embrace the challenges ahead.

Remember: Information, Education, and Customer Service... our achievable goals.

Headhunters Summer Games

Wiffle Ball | Summer Game of Headhunters

Summer Reflections...Fall Realities

The Chase Rover @ Headhunters Fly Shop | Summer 2009
headhunters stock file photo

Today is cold and bright. It is nice lookin' with the snow on the hillsides still. The Mighty Missouri is still fishing well, evidenced by the number of folks around.

A few shuttles today at the shop and they are mostly on the upper half of the river. Streamer fisherman are coming out of the woodwork looking for the Big Brown. The dry fly guys are having great afternoons ...the last two days were "Off the charts good!"

So, if you're into that kind of fishing, come visit when the clouds are obscuring the sun and Get your Ya-Ya's Off.

Fishing and Friends...

John of Izaak's | Perfect Fall Day
photo mark raisler

Fishing is fun; even more when fishing with friends. As soon as you drift away from the boat ramp, all the worldly worries slip away. Then...

While upset at work, let your mind seek the enjoyable times of your last summer and reflect on the positive enlightening experiences of fishing with friends.

If that does not do it, sneak that bottle of Maker's Mark from the desk drawer and take a couple hits.


Happy Birthday to Captain Carp, he is 32 today. Guiding will age him rapidly. He is one of the young ones, still not afraid to work hard. He is booking well in advance for this upcoming season, so get on it if you want one of the best guides on the Missouri.

Capt. Carp with his 1st Permit. Spring 2009 with Captain Scott Yetter of Sight Fish Charters, Ramrod Key, FL.