The Articulate Fly

Episode OverviewIn this Southwest Virginia Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with guide Matt Reilly for a timely spring conditions update. With pre-spawn smallmouth season winding down under extreme drought pressure — flows running at roughly a fifth to a quarter of seasonal averages — Matt breaks down how he's adapting tactics on the water in real time. Rising water temperatures, driven by a stretch of days pushing into the upper 70s and near 80°F air temps, have forced the bite to shift well ahead of the typical photoperiod-driven spawn timeline. The result is a low, clear-water pattern that demands the kind of finesse approach more commonly associated with late summer than early spring. Matt details his pivot to smaller, slimmer, more natural-colored baitfish imitations — CK Baitfish, his buddy Roger's Rump Shaker and bigger Murdich Minnows — after watching the bite transition linearly away from the large 6–7 inch chartreuse-and-orange profiles that were working earlier. He also walks through his line and leader setup adjustments for clear, pressured conditions: a clear-tip intermediate seven-weight line with a leader running closer to seven feet. With the pre-spawn window for Matt closing around mid-April, this episode is essential listening for anglers planning pre-spawn smallmouth trips or trying to understand how low water conditions affect the spring streamer bite.Key TakeawaysHow to recognize when rising water temperatures are pulling smallmouth bass out of the pre-spawn window prematurely and why adapting quickly matters.Why downsizing to smaller, slimmer, more natural-colored baitfish streamers outperforms big profile flies when Southwest Virginia rivers run low and clear.How a clear-tip intermediate line paired with a longer (approximately seven-foot) leader helps generate strikes from wary pre-spawn smallmouth in bright, low-water conditions.When to prioritize early and late windows during high-sun days on low, clear smallmouth rivers, mirroring the approach used for pressured trout.Why water temperature is the leading indicator for pre-spawn smallmouth behavior, and how flows far below seasonal averages can affect the entire spring bite calendar.Techniques & Gear CoveredMatt Reilly's approach to low, clear pre-spawn conditions centers on intermediate-line streamer fishing with a deliberate reduction in fly size and profile. He described fishing a seven-weight rod with a clear-tip intermediate line paired with a leader he's extended to roughly seven feet to add distance between the line tip and the fly. On the pattern side, Matt has landed on smaller baitfish imitations in the 4-inch range: the CK Baitfish, the Rump Shaker (a slimmer profile pattern from his friend Roger) and bigger Murdich Minnows are his current go-tos. He's deliberately stepped away from the larger 6–7 inch profiles in brighter chartreuse and orange that were effective earlier in the pre-spawn, confirming through daily observation that going bigger at this stage does more harm than good. Color selection has shifted toward more natural, subtle tones, with early-morning and late-evening windows providing the best action on sunny days — a strategy that mirrors pressured trout streamer fishing logic.Locations & SpeciesThis report covers Southwest Virginia's smallmouth rivers during the late pre-spawn period, with Matt fishing these waters daily as a full-time guide. No specific river names are discussed in this episode, but the conditions Matt describes — flows at roughly a fifth to a quarter of seasonal average, water temperatures sliding into the upper 50s and threatening to breach 60°F ahead of the photoperiod-driven spawn — apply broadly across the region's smallmouth fisheries. The target species is pre-spawn smallmouth bass, with Matt noting that the fish are still actively feeding on baitfish imitations despite compressed and technically demanding conditions. The seasonal context is critical: the window is narrowing fast, with Matt expecting the prime pre-spawn bite to close soon, and booking availability for this phase of the year is essentially gone.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do you adjust your streamer setup when Southwest Virginia smallmouth rivers run low and clear?Matt drops to a seven-weight rod with a clear-tip intermediate line and extends his leader to approximately seven feet. The clear tip reduces line visibility, and the longer leader creates more separation between fly line and fly, both of which help generate strikes from wary fish in bright, pressured conditions.What fly patterns and sizes work best for pre-spawn smallmouth in low, clear water?Matt has shifted to smaller baitfish imitations in the 4-inch range — the CK Baitfish, the Rump Shaker and bigger Murdich Minnows — in more natural, subtle colors. He's moved away from the larger 6–7 inch chartreuse and orange profiles that worked earlier in the season, noting through daily observation t

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash reconnects with Blane Chocklett — tier, guide and founder of The Chocklett Factory — for a wide-ranging conversation covering conservation, product launches and what's ahead for one of fly fishing's most recognized innovators. Blane offers a firsthand recap of Tie Fest, the ASGA-backed conservation fundraiser held at Carter Andrews' property, where proceeds are funding a five-year jack crevalle acoustic tagging research program. He reflects on the community of guides, brands and fly fishing legends who showed up in honor of figures like Lefty Kreh, Bob Popovics and Flip Pallot, and confirms the event will return in 2027.The conversation then pivots to one of the most eagerly anticipated product releases from The Chocklett Factory: the commercially tied Feather Changer. Blane walks through the design history of this Game Changer platform variant — including the pivotal conversation with Bob Popovics that sparked the fly's development — and explains why natural feathers give the Feather Changer a swimming action and water column behavior that synthetic materials can't replicate. He also previews cicada patterns timed to summer emergences, along with new shrimp patterns rounding out the 2026 lineup. Blane closes with a look at his upcoming travel calendar, including a smallmouth bass filming project for Fly Fisherman magazine in Pennsylvania, a conservation visit with On the Fly Outfitters in Brunswick, Georgia and planned trips to Baja and northern Saskatchewan for northern pike.Key TakeawaysWhy the Feather Changer occupies a unique position in the Game Changer platform by blending natural and synthetic materials to achieve a swimming action and water column depth that neither approach achieves on its ownHow a bathtub test and a conversation with Bob Popovics directly led to the development of the Feather Changer as a solution to buoyancy problems with deer body hair Game ChangersWhy the Feather Changer's profile versatility — mullet, sculpin, dace and beyond — makes it one of the most species-adaptable flies in the Game Changer lineupHow The Chocklett Factory's 2026 product rollout (Feather Changers, cicadas, shrimp patterns) is timed around spring and summer fishing and cicada emergences across the countryWhy smallmouth bass deserve their place as a premier fly rod species and how decades of guiding them directly shaped many of the flies now central to the Game Changer platformWhy ASGA's jack crevalle acoustic tagging research program represents the kind of targeted, funded conservation work the fly fishing community is uniquely positioned to supportTechniques & Gear CoveredThe episode is primarily a product and conservation update rather than a technique-focused installment, but Blane provides substantive insight into the design logic behind the Feather Changer. He explains how natural feathers interact with laminar flow differently than synthetic materials — diverting water in a way that creates exceptional movement without bulk and allows the fly to settle into the water column at depths that buoyant materials like deer body hair cannot reach. The Feather Changer is discussed in the context of pre-spawn smallmouth bass fishing in Pennsylvania rivers, where its realistic swimming profile and soft landing characteristics are particularly relevant. Blane also previews cicada patterns designed for surface fishing during both annual and periodic hatches, and shrimp patterns aimed at the saltwater and flats side of his expanding lineup. Brand mentions include Yeti, Patagonia, Costa, Scientific Anglers, TFO and Nautilus in the conservation context, and Schultz Outfitters is cited as an example of a shop that has built extensively on the Feather Changer platform for Midwest smallmouth.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat makes the Feather Changer different from other Game Changer platform flies?The Feather Changer uses natural feathers instead of synthetics to exploit laminar flow around the fly's body, producing an exceptional swimming action that includes movement without movement. Unlike more buoyant Game Changers, feathers allow the fly to settle deeper in the water column without added weight, solving the buoyancy problem that came with earlier deer body hair variants. The result is a fly that holds a realistic silhouette, lands softly and triggers strikes across a wide range of species.How did the Feather Changer come to exist?Blane traced the fly's origin to a conversation with Bob Popovics after a trip to Arkansas where deer body hair Game Changers were proving too buoyant. Popovics suggested natural feathers as a solution — mentioning the Semper Fli — and Blane tied the fly immediately, tested it in a bathtub, filmed the result and sent the video back to Popovics. From that exchange, the Feather Changer was born, blending the tradition of natural feather flies with the modern articulated Game Changer platform.What new Chocklett Fact

Episode OverviewIn this Casting Angles episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash and Mac Brown of Mac Brown Fly Fish cover the spring fishing picture in western North Carolina just ahead of the Easter and spring break rush. The conversation is a candid, practical guide for anglers planning a trip to the region — with an honest assessment of current stocking conditions on delayed harvest water and a strong case for pursuing wild trout in the backcountry instead.Mac and Marvin address a notable stocking reduction on western North Carolina's delayed harvest (DH) water, with Mac reporting no stocking through March and a planned 60% reduction going forward — a ground-level reality check against the rosier picture often circulating on social media. The Nantahala River, which holds a large year-round fish population and most of the state's trout records, is identified as a productive alternative once hatchery-supported waters open in early April. For anglers willing to go further afield, the wild streams of Great Smoky Mountains National Park are described as fishing in peak spring form, with little black caddis hatches actively occurring, Quill Gordons already coming off, and Hendricksons and March Browns on the near horizon. Mac and Marvin both advocate for dry-dropper rigs — specifically an elk hair caddis or Stimulator as the dry with a soft hackle pheasant tail as the dropper — as the most effective and versatile approach for this time of year, targeting fish feeding actively in the surface film and mid-column rather than on the bottom.Mac also updates listeners on his guide school schedule, including an Advanced Line Control casting school on April 11–12.Key TakeawaysWhy wild trout streams in western North Carolina and Great Smoky Mountains National Park offer better spring fishing than stocked delayed harvest water during the spring break periodHow a dry-dropper rig — elk hair caddis or Stimulator over a soft hackle pheasant tail — covers both the surface film and mid-column where spring trout are actively feedingWhy fishing the "tabletop" (surface) rather than dredging the bottom is the more productive approach on western NC wild streams this time of yearWhen to expect the spring hatch progression in western North Carolina: little black caddis now, followed by Hendricksons and March Browns, with terrestrials taking over by early summerHow to interpret hatchery-supported water signage and adjust fly selection — toward attractor and "junk food" patterns — when fishing freshly stocked Nantahala water after it opens in early AprilTechniques & Gear CoveredThe primary technique emphasis is dry-dropper fishing for wild trout on freestone mountain streams, with both Mac and Marvin endorsing it as the most versatile approach for early spring in western North Carolina. Mac frames the key tactical principle as targeting the "tabletop" — the surface film — rather than bottom-dredging, which he identifies as a common mistake that costs anglers hours of productive fishing. Specific patterns discussed include the elk hair caddis and Stimulator as the dry fly component, and a soft hackle pheasant tail as the dropper, with Marvin noting he particularly enjoys fishing soft hackles in the mid-column on the swing or drift. For hatchery-supported water on the Nantahala after it opens, both hosts note that recently stocked fish respond best to attractor and "junk food" patterns — worms, eggs and high-visibility flies — consistent with the behavior of fish transitioning out of a hatchery environment.Locations & SpeciesThe episode focuses on the western North Carolina trout fishing corridor centered on Bryson City and the surrounding national park backcountry, with Great Smoky Mountains National Park wild trout streams serving as the primary destination recommendation for visiting anglers. The Nantahala River is highlighted as the region's premier hatchery-supported fishery — holding fish year-round and producing most of the state's trout records — with its hatchery-supported sections opening in early April after the March closure period. Wild trout in GSMNP backcountry streams are the target species throughout, with fish actively looking up and responding to dry flies under spring conditions.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy should I fish wild trout streams instead of delayed harvest water during spring break in western North Carolina?Mac Brown reports that DH water on the delayed harvest sections received no stocking through March and faces a 60% reduction in planned stocking going forward — meaning heavily fished DH beats likely hold only fish stocked the previous October. Wild trout streams in the Park, by contrast, are in excellent spring condition with active hatches and fish looking up, making them a far more productive and rewarding destination for the spring break window.How should I fish the Nantahala hatchery-supported water when it opens in early April?The Nantahala hatchery-supported sections open in earl

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Mark Melnyk, producer and owner of The New Fly Fisher, one of North America's most recognized fly fishing television series. If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to build and sustain a fly fishing media brand over 25 years — through network layoffs, a global pandemic and a rapidly shifting media landscape — this conversation delivers rare, unfiltered access to the people and decisions that shape the content anglers watch and learn from. Mark traces his serendipitous path from sports broadcasting at TSN and Animal Planet to hosting and eventually owning The New Fly Fisher, sharing the pivot moments, mentors and near-misses that defined his career. The conversation covers the show's core philosophy of education and conservation, the lean two-person production model that drives 26 episodes per year, and Mark's vision for expanding The New Fly Fisher into new international destinations — from the Dolomites of Northern Italy to the jungles of Colombia. He also offers an honest look at how the show has evolved its business model away from endemic fly fishing sponsorship, and what that shift has meant for the authenticity and reach of the content.Key TakeawaysHow a willingness to fish with anglers better than yourself — and to embrace the learning curve publicly — accelerates fly fishing skill development in ways no single mentor can replicate.Why The New Fly Fisher has remained rooted in education and conservation for 25 years, and how that consistency has become its most durable competitive advantage.How a lean two-person field crew — one host and one camera operator — allows The New Fly Fisher to deliver both high production value and the authentic, unscripted storytelling that viewers trust and respond to.Why dropping endemic fly fishing sponsorship in favor of gentle product placement opened doors that traditional sponsorship models had closed, while actually strengthening the show's credibility with viewers.How the post-pandemic surge in fly fishing interest has accelerated international distribution growth for fly fishing media, creating new revenue pathways that didn't exist before.When authenticity matters more than production perfection — and why the moments that go wrong on camera are often the most valuable teaching content in any episode.Techniques & Gear CoveredThis episode is a fly fishing industry and media interview rather than a technique-focused fishing episode, so the coverage centers on production methodology, storytelling craft and content strategy rather than specific fishing tactics or equipment. Mark discusses the full arc of The New Fly Fisher's production workflow — from pre-season travel scheduling through field logging, paper editing, voiceover, long-form cut, broadcast cut, audio post-production and network delivery — detailing how a 26-episode annual slate is managed across a team of editors, hosts, camera operators and post-production staff. He touches on the evolution of production technology, from $350,000 shoulder-mounted ENG cameras to GoPros and DJI OSMO rigs, and the democratizing effect drones have had on aerial cinematography for fishing content. Gear mentioned in the context of The New Fly Fisher's partnership with Orvis includes rods ranging from the Helios to the entry-level Clearwater, cited as examples of the show's non-prescriptive, multi-product approach to product placement. Tom Rosenbauer's involvement in producing Orvis Tips content in conjunction with The New Fly Fisher team is also discussed.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow did Mark Melnyk come to own The New Fly Fisher?Mark was brought on as a guest host by show founder Colin McKeown after a period of unemployment in traditional broadcasting. Over time he became a 50/50 partner, with full 100% ownership transferring in June 2024 — a process extended from two years to seven partly due to the COVID pandemic. McKeown passed away from terminal cancer approximately two months after the deal closed.What makes The New Fly Fisher different from other fly fishing television shows?The show has maintained an unwavering commitment to education and conservation since its inception, and refuses to treat any technique, fly or piece of gear as a proprietary secret. Mark emphasizes an open-book policy where real fishing days — including tangles, lost fish and equipment failures — are shown as they happen, creating content that viewers trust precisely because it reflects the reality of a day on the water.How does The New Fly Fisher approach sponsorship and monetization differently than most fishing shows?Rather than pursuing endemic fly fishing sponsorships that require product exclusivity, the show shifted to a gentle product placement model where gear appears naturally on screen without traditional paid endorsement deals. This approach, developed in conversation with Tom Rosenbauer and Simon Gawesworth, has expanded the show's ap

Episode OverviewThis fly fishing podcast episode delivers a timely early spring conditions update from Central Pennsylvania, featuring George Costa, Shop Manager at TCO Fly Shop in State College. George reports on improving but variable conditions across the region's premier trout waters — Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and the Juniata — as the season teeters between winter's last grip and the first genuine hatch activity of the year. Water levels are running near average for the time of year, on the higher side as systems flush through, with clarity improving after recent runoff. Nymphing has remained consistent throughout the transition, while streamer fishing has been productive in the elevated flows. Most notably, George flags the imminent arrival of grannom caddis — expected within five to seven days at the time of recording — following scattered early caddis reports and strong blue-winged olive activity during the preceding warm spells. With temperatures forecast to climb back into the 60s and 70s, George anticipates a meaningful uptick in dry fly opportunity and encourages anglers to get their dries ready. The episode also touches on late-season steelhead fishing as an alternative option, and briefly recaps a hosted shop trip to South Andros Lodge in the Bahamas. George rounds out the report with updates on remaining spring classes and upcoming sales at TCO Fly Shop.Key TakeawaysWhy high, off-color water in early spring shifts the most productive technique toward streamers rather than dries or nymphs.When to expect the grannom caddis hatch on Central PA freestone and spring creek systems and how warming temperatures accelerate its arrival.How to read the transition from consistent nymphing conditions to the first genuine dry fly opportunities of the spring season.Why late-winter and early-spring steelhead remain a viable alternative when Central PA trout streams are running high and off-color.When to take advantage of end-of-season sales at fly shops to stock up on last year's gear at reduced prices before spring inventory fully arrives.Techniques & Gear CoveredGeorge Costa covers the three primary presentations that define early spring Central PA fishing: nymphing with standard subsurface patterns (described as "all the usual suspects"), streamer fishing in elevated and off-color water, and dry fly fishing as conditions warm and early hatches emerge. No specific fly patterns are named beyond the bug categories discussed — grannoms and other early caddis, blue-winged olives and general nymph imitations — reflecting the broad-strokes, conditions-focused nature of the fishing report format. The gear discussion is brief, with George directing anglers to TCO Fly Shop's spring inventory rollout and noting that winter merchandise will be moving to sale pricing soon. The overarching tactical theme is reading the water conditions and having the flexibility to shift between techniques as flows drop, color clears and insect activity builds.Locations & SpeciesThe report centers on Central Pennsylvania's most productive trout waters: Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and the Juniata River, all running near seasonal averages with slightly elevated, clearing flows at the time of recording. The primary target species throughout is wild trout — the conversation is framed around the approaching dry fly season that defines Central PA fishing in late March and April. George also briefly references Erie-region steelhead as a concurrent late-winter option, with shop staff actively fishing them. A hosted trip to South Andros Lodge in the Bahamas is mentioned in passing, with bonefish and barracuda as primary species, though the Bahamas content is contextual rather than instructional.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat are current stream conditions on Central PA trout waters in early spring?At the time of recording, Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and the Juniata were running on the higher side of average following a series of weather systems, with flows dropping and clarity improving. George Costa describes conditions as "okay-ish," noting that both the Penns and Juniata systems got very high before beginning to drop and clear up — typical behavior for Central PA freestones in late March.When can Central PA anglers expect the grannom caddis hatch to begin?George forecasts grannom activity within five to seven days of the recording, citing scattered early caddis reports and strong BWO hatches during the preceding warm spells as leading indicators. He emphasizes that a forecasted return to 60–70°F temperatures over the upcoming weekend should trigger meaningful hatch activity across the region's spring creeks and freestones.How should fly anglers approach Central PA streams when flows are elevated and off-color?Costa notes that fish are actively moving in the high water and several anglers have already had strong streamer days in the elevated flows. He recommends leaning on streamers when wate

Episode OverviewIn this Casting Angles episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash and Master Casting Instructor Mac Brown close out the fly fishing show season with a candid debrief on what happens after students leave the classroom. Recorded immediately after both Marvin and Mac wrapped up their teaching schedules at the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show — the final show of the year — the conversation digs into one of the most practical and underexplored questions in fly fishing education: how do you structure a class so students can actually keep improving on their own once they leave? Mac Brown, owner of Mac Brown Fly Fish in Bryson City, North Carolina, and a Master Casting Instructor through Fly Fishers International, draws on decades of coaching experience and current sports physiology research to frame the core tension between teaching to immediate performance versus teaching for long-term self-correction. The episode explores how video on smartphones has transformed what's possible in a single class session, why saturation happens faster than most instructors expect during hands-on practice, and how foundational mechanics — particularly the elbow drop and correct arm path — give students a reliable framework to diagnose and fix their own casting long after the lesson ends. Mac also previews his spring guide school season starting in late March in Bryson City, making this a timely listen for anyone considering casting instruction before the season ramps up.Key TakeawaysHow to structure a casting class so students leave with both foundational understanding and the self-correction tools to keep improving independently.Why teaching entirely to immediate performance — without covering the underlying mechanics — leaves students unable to troubleshoot when their casting breaks down.How using smartphone video during a lesson gives students a concrete reference point so they know exactly what to look for when they practice at home.Why 15 to 20 minute practice sessions, repeated several times a week, produce better results than long, unfocused practice blocks that lead to early saturation.How the elbow drop and correct arm path mechanics — grounded in 160-plus years of casting science — deliver a measurable, immediately felt difference in loop speed and efficiency that converts skeptical students on the spot.Techniques & Gear CoveredThis episode is focused entirely on casting instruction methodology rather than on-water tactics, so there are no fly patterns or gear brands discussed. The core technical concept Mac returns to throughout the conversation is the relationship between arm path and loop quality: when casters move the rod hand horizontally straight forward — essentially throwing like a shot put — they generate far less line speed than when the elbow drops and the rod tip travels on a proper path. Mac uses a practical field demonstration to make this concrete, counting out a slow, soft cast aloud (1001-1002-1003-1004) and contrasting it with the sub-half-second delivery produced by the elbow drop, then asking students which loop they'd want in a 30-knot Belize or Montana wind. Beyond the mechanics, Marvin and Mac discuss a drill-based curriculum structure — roughly six drills covering power, pause and path — that students can work through in short, focused practice sessions using their phone cameras for feedback. The broader instructional philosophy draws on contemporary coaching literature, including Nick Winkelman's language-of-coaching framework, and aligns with what Mac and Gary Borger have implemented in their all-day casting classes.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy shouldn't a casting instructor just focus on getting students casting as quickly as possible?Mac Brown explains that while pure performance-based teaching can produce fast results in a demo context — like getting a kid casting 40 feet with tight loops in two minutes — it leaves students with no conceptual framework to fall back on when their casting starts to deteriorate. Without understanding the underlying mechanics, they have no idea what to change, and they end up needing to return for the same lesson repeatedly rather than progressing independently.How do you use smartphone video effectively in a casting lesson?Mac Brown and Marvin both emphasize that students should use their phones to film the instructor demonstrating the correct movement. The key is that students leave the class knowing exactly what they're looking for — and having footage of it. Without that reference, independent practice becomes guesswork.How much hands-on practice time should be in a casting class versus instruction?Marvin notes that students reach a saturation point with hands-on practice faster than most instructors expect. He describes his introductory class as roughly 75% classroom and 25% hands-on. The goal is not to have students perfect every skill in class, but to build enough intellectual understanding that they can drill effi

Episode OverviewThe Articulate Fly's Central PA Fishing Report returns with George Costa, manager at TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, delivering a timely early spring conditions update for central Pennsylvania's trout waters. This episode captures the region at a pivotal seasonal inflection point: after a long cold winter, rising water temperatures and the first notable olive hatches signal the transition from winter holding patterns to active spring feeding. Spring Creek, Penns Creek and the surrounding Centre County limestone streams are the focal waters, with wild trout as the primary target. George covers the full tactical picture for this particular window — the simultaneous emergence of blue-winged olives (sizes 18–22) and little black stoneflies, streamers in off-color rising water and the nymph game poised to accelerate through the coming months. Anglers will also find timely context on the grannom hatch timeline (late March into early April) and conditions outlook as a warming trend arrives on the heels of meaningful rainfall. George also previews upcoming classes at TCO and his impending Andros bonefish trip, providing a glimpse of the shop's spring momentum.Key TakeawaysHow to read rising, off-color spring water conditions in Central PA as a trigger for switching to streamers in search of larger fish.Why small olives (sizes 18–22) and little black stoneflies (sizes 14–16) are the first dry fly opportunities worth targeting as winter transitions to spring.When to expect the grannom hatch on Central PA limestone streams — historically the last week of March into the first week of April, water and air temps permitting.How to structure your spring approach around three concurrent methods: dry flies during hatch windows, nymphing in the column as nymphs begin migrating, and streamers in stained water or on overcast days.Why a warming trend following a rain event is one of the best short-term conditions setups for early spring trout activity in Central PA.Techniques & Gear CoveredGeorge outlines three productive approaches for this early spring window. Dry fly fishing with small olives (sizes 18–22) and little black stonefly patterns (sizes 14–16) is the headline, with fish actively rising once the warmth triggers hatch activity. Nymphing gets an extended emphasis — George notes that nymphs are beginning to move around, setting up what he expects will be a productive two-month run for subsurface presentations. Streamer fishing in off-color, elevated water is flagged as the big-fish opportunity of the moment, with George specifically recommending streamers on cloudier days when visibility is reduced. No specific fly brands or rod/reel gear is discussed beyond fly pattern sizing, keeping the focus on approach and conditions reading.Locations & SpeciesThe episode centers on Central Pennsylvania's limestone stream corridor — Spring Creek, Penns Creek and the broader Centre County watershed around State College. These are primarily wild brown trout fisheries, and the discussion assumes year-round catch-and-release water or designated regulated sections rather than stocked water. Conditions at recording time show streams rising with slight color following recent rainfall, with a warming trend (high 60s) forecast for the following week. The grannom hatch discussion also points toward Penns Creek as a traditional anchor for the late-March/early-April caddis emergence that serves as Central PA's equivalent of the iconic Mother's Day caddis events found on other Mid-Atlantic and Southern Appalachian tailwaters.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat dry flies should I be fishing in Central PA during early spring?Blue-winged olives in sizes 18–22 are the primary hatch driver right now, with little black stoneflies in sizes 14–16 providing additional topwater opportunity. George recommends keeping dries accessible as hatches are actively going off and fish are beginning to rise after a long winter.When does the grannom hatch happen on Central PA streams?George places the traditional grannom hatch in the last week of March through the first week of April, with timing dependent on water and air temperatures. He notes this event is still roughly two and a half to three weeks out from the time of recording, but characterizes it as right around the corner.How should I adjust tactics when Central PA streams are running high and off-color?Rising, off-color water is prime streamer water in Central PA, especially on overcast days. George recommends targeting bigger fish with streamer presentations in those conditions rather than dry fly or nymph presentations.How long will the nymph bite be productive this spring?George expects strong nymphing conditions to last through the next couple of months as insects ramp up activity and fish become increasingly aggressive after winter. Nymphs are beginning to move around in the column now, making this an excellent time to commit to subsurface presentations.Is George's A

Episode OverviewThis fly fishing podcast episode delivers a timely late-winter transition report from Southwest Virginia, covering the critical window when musky season winds down and pre-spawn smallmouth bass fishing kicks into gear. Host Marvin Cash reconnects with guide Matt Reilly of Matt Reilly Fly Fishing — a USCG-licensed captain and specialist in smallmouth, musky and other predatory game fish in the New River system — for a frank assessment of where conditions stand and what anglers should be targeting over the next several weeks. Recent snowmelt pushed water temperatures down, but a sustained stretch of warm days (highs in the 60s and 70s with some approaching 80°F) has temperatures climbing back through the mid-to-upper 40s, signaling that pre-spawn smallmouth are beginning to stage out of their winter holding water. Matt also previews his spring striper run program, opening dates on his guiding calendar, and his expanded mountain trout program through associated guides in southwest Virginia — a fishery he argues is underutilized by visiting anglers drawn instead to the Smokies or Virginia's tailwaters. For serious anglers planning a spring trip or looking to understand how temperature history shapes fish location in early season, this report is essential listening.Key TakeawaysHow water temperature history — not just current readings — dictates where pre-spawn smallmouth will be holding after warm early-season spikes followed by cold snaps.When to start streamer fishing for pre-spawn smallmouth: once morning temps consistently hit 50°F, a mid-column baitfish presentation becomes reliable; mid-to-upper 40s can work with slow retrieves and long pauses.Why fishing smallmouth through the winter gives you a positional advantage in early spring, since you can track fish as they move from deep winter holds to staging edges.How to locate early pre-spawn fish: upper ends of winter pools, lower ends and tail-outs, spreading throughout the river once temps push past 50°F.When to book spring guide dates proactively rather than waiting for newsletter announcements — late-notice cancellations open dates that never get widely publicized.Why the southwest Virginia mountain trout fishery is an overlooked destination for visiting fly anglers focused on the Smokies or regional tailwaters.Techniques & Gear CoveredThe episode is technique-focused on early pre-spawn smallmouth streamer presentations. Matt details the adjustment between cold-water (mid-40s) and warming-water (upper 40s into 50s) approaches: in colder conditions he recommends a slower mid-column retrieve with extended pauses and suspension, explicitly advising against immediately defaulting to dumbbell-eyed patterns bouncing on the bottom. Once morning temps reach 50°F, he transitions confidently to a standard baitfish-profile streamer fished mid-column. The conversation also touches briefly on the striper run, which typically runs mid-April through mid-May and requires constant monitoring given how quickly fish can move through.Locations & SpeciesThe primary fishery discussed is the New River in southwest Virginia, with contextual references to the broader regional mountain trout waters of the same area. Target species include pre-spawn smallmouth bass (the dominant focus), musky (wrapping up the season with a couple of remaining guide trips), striped bass (spring run, mid-April to mid-May) and wild mountain trout in the higher-elevation tributaries and streams of the Mount Rogers area. Conditions at time of recording reflect post-snowmelt recovery, with water temps north of 40°F in most stretches and some reaching the upper 40s — the threshold Matt identifies as the beginning of productive pre-spawn streamer fishing. The episode also notes the absence of any cicada brood emergences in 2026 (the only such year in the next 13), which Matt acknowledges will simplify the spring guiding calendar compared to recent years.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do water temperatures affect pre-spawn smallmouth location on the New River?In the mid-to-upper 40s, smallmouth are staging at the edges of their winter holding areas — look for them at the upper ends and tail-outs of winter pools. Once temps push past 50°F, fish spread throughout the river and become more actively feeding. Temperature history matters significantly: if fish have already experienced 52–53°F water during an early warm spell, they may have already moved even if a cold snap has pulled temps back down to the mid-40s.What streamer presentation works best for pre-spawn smallmouth in cold water?In the mid-40s, Matt favors a slow mid-column presentation with long pauses and extended suspension rather than bottom-bouncing dumbbell patterns or active retrieves. At 50°F and above, a standard baitfish-profile streamer fished mid-column is his go-to — at that temperature threshold he has enough confidence in the bite to commit fully to that style unless conditions clearly dictate otherwise.When do

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Master Casting Instructor Mac Brown for another installment of Casting Angles — a wide-ranging conversation on the philosophy of continuous improvement in fly fishing and fly casting. Recorded just before the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show, the episode centers on one of the most practical yet underappreciated principles in skill development: approaching your craft with a beginner's mind, no matter how many years you've been on the water. Mac draws on feedback from students at recent west coast events — including anglers with 30 to 40 years of experience who received their first structured casting instruction — to illustrate how long-held assumptions can silently ceiling growth. The conversation touches on Mac's "four stages of learning" framework, the infinite circle of knowledge and the parallels between fly casting mastery and elite performance in any discipline. Practical spring fishing news also surfaces in the second half: listeners get actionable intel on early-season Quill Gordon dry fly hatches on wild Appalachian freestone streams, the ideal nymph sizing window as hatches begin (sizes 12–16) and emerging activity of little black stones and blue winged olives on Tennessee tailwaters. Mac and Marvin also preview their respective Lancaster show appearances and detail upcoming guide schools and casting classes at macbrownflyfish.com for anglers planning their spring season.Key TakeawaysHow adopting a beginner's mindset — staying open to new information regardless of experience level — is the single most reliable driver of improvement in fly casting and fishing.Why intermediate anglers stagnate: the false belief that years of time on the water equates to skill development, which shuts down active learning before it can happen.How Mac's four stages of learning framework maps the path from novice to expert, and why most anglers get stuck at stage two.When Quill Gordon dry fly hatches arrive on wild Appalachian freestone streams, they represent one of the season's best dry fly windows because the adult floats for 15–20 minutes while hardening its wings.Why early-season nymphs (sizes 12–14) are as large as they'll be all year, making this the optimal window to fish bigger nymph patterns before successive hatches progressively reduce insect size.How structured instruction — rather than YouTube, books or show demos alone — accelerates skill acquisition in ways self-directed learning rarely can.Techniques & Gear CoveredThe episode is primarily instructional and conceptual rather than gear-heavy, but several practical fishing frameworks emerge. Mac references his own book Casting Angles — a fly casting handbook endorsed by the ACA and FFI — as the source material for the four stages of learning discussion, and directs listeners to the article on his website for a deeper read. The conversation touches on the comparative limitations of self-directed learning via YouTube and books versus structured in-person instruction, particularly for developing proper casting mechanics. On the dry fly fishing side, Mac recommends dry fly presentations targeting Quill Gordons on freestone streams in size 12, with the extended float window (15–20 minutes) making these hatches unusually productive for surface takes. Marvin notes that pairing size 14 and 16 nymphs during this same early-season window takes advantage of the year's largest nymph profiles before they diminish through the season. Mac also promotes two-day casting schools through macbrownflyfish.com as the highest-value instructional investment for anglers who want to advance their skills heading into spring.Locations & SpeciesThe episode references wild freestone streams in the Western North Carolina / Great Smoky Mountains region — Mac's home water around Bryson City — as the primary context for the early Quill Gordon hatch discussion, with these streams producing active trout as water temperatures begin to rise. Tennessee tailwaters are also noted as waters where little black stoneflies and blue winged olives are already appearing, signaling the beginning of productive surface-feeding windows. The target species throughout is wild trout, with Mac's commentary on Quill Gordon hatches specifically framed around waking large fish that have been dormant through winter. The seasonal framing is early spring, a transition period characterized by warming daytime temperatures, emerging hatches and increasingly active trout — one of the most productive dry fly windows of the year in the Southern Appalachians.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow does a beginner's mindset improve fly casting and fishing skills?Beginners enter instruction with no preconceptions to dismantle, which makes them highly receptive to new technique and feedback. Mac argues that anglers who believe they are already proficient — after years of fishing without formal instruction — unknowingly stop absorbing new informati

Episode OverviewIn this Chocklett Factory episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with legendary fly designer and guide Blane Chocklett for a wide-ranging conversation covering two central topics: the mechanics and design philosophy behind Chocklett's support disc and spreader dam system, and the upcoming Lefty Kreh's Tie Fest conservation event in Vero Beach, Florida. Blane explains how his support discs — available in round and oval profiles ranging from 6mm to over 20mm — create the water diversion that drives the serpentine, side-to-side swimming action that defines Game Changer articulated flies. Rather than relying solely on fiber tips to generate movement, the supports actively redirect water flow around the body of the fly, producing a realistic fish-like swimming motion that passive designs cannot replicate. Blane also walks through the practical tying advantages: faster construction, easier material distribution, built-in profile tapering and greater fly longevity. The second half of the conversation turns to Lefty Kreh's Tie Fest, a conservation-focused event benefiting the American Saltwater Guides Association (ASGA), set for March 21 in Vero Beach at Carter Andrews's property. Blane shares the vision behind the event — honoring legends like Lefty Kreh and Bob Popovics while cultivating the next generation of anglers — and previews an intimate lineup that includes Andy Mill, Rob Fordyce, Hillary Hutcheson, Carter Andrews, Chase Smith and Fletcher Sams, among others.Key TakeawaysHow water diversion around the body of an articulated fly — not just fiber-tip movement — produces a true serpentine swimming action that triggers more strikes.Why Chocklett support discs in graduated sizes (6mm through 20mm+) allow tiers to build precise, tapered profiles for different baitfish silhouettes without excess material.How to choose between round disc supports (cylindrical/sucker profiles) and oval supports (taller, narrower bunker or shad profiles) to match specific forage.Why the Lefty Kreh's Tie Fest model — small, intimate, conservation-focused — delivers meaningful angler access to fly fishing legends that larger industry shows cannot replicate.How supporting ASGA through events like Tie Fest funds the fisheries science that policymakers need to protect saltwater species populations long term.Techniques & Gear CoveredThe core technical discussion centers on Chocklett's support disc and spreader dam system as a mechanism for achieving active water diversion and realistic swimming action in articulated flies. Blane explains that while Bobby Popovics' reverse-tie bucktail approach relied on fiber tips for passive movement, inserting support discs into the body of a Beast-style or Game Changer fly forces water to divert around the structure, initiating true left-to-right serpentine motion. The system uses two disc geometries — round supports for cylindrical profiles (suckers) and oval supports for taller, narrower silhouettes (bunker, shad) — in graduated sizes from 6mm to over 20mm, allowing tiers to stair-step profile width from tail to shoulder for a natural taper. Practically, the supports eliminate the need to reverse-tie bucktail and guess fiber length, dramatically simplifying the tying process while also extending fly longevity by preventing bucktail collapsing and thinning out over time. Materials referenced include bucktail, synthetic fibers and TFO rods (Blane is a TFO brand ambassador).Locations & SpeciesThe episode's fishing-specific travel content focuses on the Alabama Gulf Coast, which Blane describes as a highly underrated saltwater destination where clear Florida-influenced water meets the nutrient influence of the Mississippi Delta. He fished this area out of FlyWay Charters with guide Sam (based near the Community Fly Supply shop), targeting redfish, black drum, tripletail, jack crevalle and sheepshead. The Lefty Kreh's Tie Fest event at Vero Beach, Florida, adds another saltwater context — the Indian River Lagoon and Treasure Coast area known for tarpon, snook and permit, ecosystems that ASGA's conservation work is specifically designed to protect. The episode's conservation framing extends to the broader health of saltwater species populations across coastal fisheries, with Blane connecting healthy fisheries to the long-term viability of saltwater fly fishing as both a sport and a guiding profession.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do Chocklett support discs create a serpentine swimming action in articulated flies?When a support disc is placed inside the body of an articulated fly, it forces water to divert around the structure rather than flowing straight through the fibers. That diversion initiates a side-to-side, serpentine movement that mimics the natural swimming motion of a baitfish — something fiber-tip movement alone cannot produce. The key mechanism is active water redirection, not passive fiber flutter.What is the difference between