Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/482 Presented By: Jackson Hole Fly Company, Daiichi, Togens Fly Shop Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Join us for an awesome episode as we catch up with Riverhorse - an angler, writer, filmmaker, musician, surfer, and Patagonia Fly Fish Ambassador. Having been on our podcast twice before, we'll delve into his recent film projects with Patagonia and his other exciting ventures. We discover how you can contribute to preserving the Boundary Waters through SaveTheBoundaryWaters.org. Beyond his wilderness pursuits, Riverhorse talks about how he leads the Editorial of a magazine called, ToneQuest Report Magazine, featuring contributions from rockstars and musicians. Riverhorse talks about his upcoming fly fishing book filled with essays and adventure stories and also talks about the impact of music on people's lives. Plus, a bonus poetry read at the end! Stay tuned for that! Show Notes with Riverhorse Nakadate 03:00 - Riverhorse had been on the podcast twice at WFS 80 and WFS 266. We talked about saving the Boundary Waters. 03:10 - Riverhorse talks about his most recent film projects with Patagonia and others. 06:50 - He noted a project he did with Patagonia called, It's All Home Water - A Northern Light which resulted in a mining ban for 20 years. 08:45 - We encourage people to explore SaveTheBoundaryWaters.org for the latest updates and discover ways you can contribute to preserving the Boundary Waters. 11:50 - Riverhorse is now running the ToneQuest Report Magazine after his friend who used to run it passed away. A lot of other rockstars and musicians contribute to the magazine. Check out their editorial board here. 13:30 - We noted the song, You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive by Darrell Scott. 18:40 - Riverhorse has been stories for Fly Fish Journal. They just issued a recent one called, HEARTLAND DRIFTING: A MINNESOTA PICARESQUE. 19:15 - Riverhorse is writing a fly fishing book with essays and adventure stories that he's been saving up. 20:45 - We had John Gierach on the podcast twice. His recent one is WFS 434. 25:00 - He noted Erin Block who's a female angler and fly fishing writer. Check out her stuff here. 28:00 - Riverhorse talks about how his mom taught him to communicate his feelings honestly. 30:10 - We talk about how to stay optimistic when it comes to conservation. 37:30 - Riverhorse talks about Jeff Liskay and their adventures together. 39:10 - Jeff Liskay is now part of our podcast with his own series The Great Lakes Dude. 46:00 - We hear the story of when Yvon Chouinard wrote Riverhorse a touching letter of appreciation. 47:00 - We had Craig Matthews on the podcast at WFS 427. 52:30 - Riverhorse talks about his poem, Cloud Burst. Listen to his poetry read starting at 55:10. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/482

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/481 Presented By: Mavrk Fly Fishing, Yellowstone Teton, Drifthook Fly Fishing, Togens Fly Shop Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors In today's episode, the Dude Jeff Liskay chats with one of the best shallow-water fly anglers, Dave Hurley. They connected because of their love for the freshwater Drum. They think it's a cool fish with its chicken feathers but interestingly enough, some people call it "trash fish". Now Dave joins our show today to talk about why these fish are great to target. Dave is a skinny water specialist that runs skinny water safari guide service. Dave roams the backwater of the Great Lakes based on the Lower Peninsula, Michigan where he pulls his way through the miles of skinny water flats, sight-fishing for a wide variety of warm water species out of his towee boat. Show Notes with Dave Hurley on Skinny Water Fishing 04:00 - Dave joined a community of fly fishermen who fished in the surf along the Pacific where they fished for Corbina, Surfperch, and Croaker species. Dave got really into fishing for Spotfin Croaker. 06:00 - Dave found out that a stonefly nymph pattern works great for Spotfin Croakers. 09:00 - Dave talks about getting his first boat. 17:50 - He talks about the time when he and his best friend fished sight fished for musky on the flats. 18:40 - His go-to is a 6-wt rod and occasional 7-wt. 19:30 - Dave now focuses on carp fishing and goes up to 10-wt. For leader, he goes up to 15-pound test, and sometimes 12 or 10-pound. 27:25 - Dave doesn't really pay attention to water temperatures. He and his team are mostly sight fishing. 35:55 - We talk about casting. "Your short game is just as important as your long game", Dave says. 39:25 - Dave's favorite line is the SA Bass Bug Fly Line. 42:25 - Dave talks about how he improvises when he ties his flies, tying them differently each time. He also talks about the common materials he uses. 47:40 - Jeff's go-to flies always have rubber. 49:00 - Dave talks about how being an artist affects his creativity in fishing. 51:00 - Dave talks about how he practices handling fish in a way that doesn't hurt the fish. And also talks about how he tries in his own little ways to protect the waters he fishes. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/481

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/480 Presented By: Yellowstone Teton Territory Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Get ready for an epic adventure at the Lodge At Palisades Creek on the South Fork of the Snake River! Justin's got an awesome story to tell—from chef to fly fishing guide to running the lodge. We find out how they won the Orvis Fly Fishing Lodge of the Year and how Orvis has supported them along the way. We explore the river's stunning five sections, each stretchin' about 12 miles. We dive into the wild world of Yellowstone cutthroat and those rowdy rainbows, causing a stir in Idaho with bounties on their heads! We've got the lowdown on the Salmon fly, Goldenstone, and Caddis fly hatches—nature's showtime! Justin also shares valuable tips for all the DIY anglers out there and discusses the importance of river etiquette. Plus, a crazy story involving Dick Cheney's bodyguards and a sketchy civilian that came so close to a river shootout! Show Notes with Justin Hays on Lodge At Palisades Creek 03:00 - Justin tells the story of how he transitioned from being a chef to being a fly fishing guide to managing a lodge. 06:50 - Justin talks about how partnering with Orvis has provided so much support to them in every aspect along the way. 08:20 - We talk about Yellowstone cutthroat decreasing in numbers and the rainbows increasing, almost being considered invasive. As a result, the Idaho Fishing Game made it legal to catch and kill rainbows, making it a controversial topic in Idaho. IFG even put a bounty on rainbows. 12:50 - We are coming to the Southfork in Fall for Euro Nymphing School with Pete Erickson. 20:20 - We had an episode about the Henry's Fork Foundation with Brandon Hoffner at WFS 414. 23:15 - Trivia: Henry's Fork was originally called the North Fork. 27:40 - They divide the river into 5 sections. Each section is roughly 12 miles long. The 1st section has 5 access points. The 2nd and 3rd sections are the Canyon sections - Justin talks about the amazing campsites in these sections and how amazing it is to fish there. The 4th section begins in the town of Ririe. Read about these sections in detail here. 35:45 - You can visit MillerDriftBoats.com to rent a raft or a drift boat. 36:15 - Stonefly hatch lasts about 2 weeks. Justin talks about the Goldenstone hatch. In the summer they have a hopper season which ends in August. He also noted the Mutant Stonefly hatch - stoneflies that can't fly. And then they have some Dunns as September progresses. 41:50 - "The trick to the Salmon fly thing is throwing a large dry fly on 2x underneath a bush or a tree and twitching out and try to mimic the real lifecycle of an adult Salmonfly...", Justin explains in detail. 46:20 - Perdigons has been a game-changer for them in the last 2 years. 48:20 - Caddis fly hatch starts in mid-October. 48:55 - Pro tip for DIY anglers: "This river empties at 5 pm. You can have that river to yourself at 5 pm and it doesn't get dark until 10 pm." 52:30 - Justin is turning 55 this year. He started fishing in the Snake River when he was about 19 years old. 55:45 - We talk about river etiquette. 1:00:50 - Justin talks about how they won Orvis Fly Fishing Lodge of the Year. 1:06:55 - We noted that video by The New Fly Fisher highlighting the Lodge At Palisades Creek. Scroll down to watch the trailer. 👇🏻 1:07:20 - Their outfitting team mainly uses ClackaCraft Drift Boats. Justin talks about how they customized their boats and their great features. 1:11:30 - Justin recommends a 9-foot 6-wt rod. 1:13:13 - Justin noted a few restaurants and places around the area that has good food. 1:14:45 - Justin talks about Dick Cheney who's also a passionate fly angler. He tells a crazy story of when Dick's bodyguard suspected a civilian of being a threat and almost got shot. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/480

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/479 Presented by: Stonefly Nets, Angler's Coffee, Trxstle, Bearvault Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Derek Darst is here to introduce us to the St. Joe River and some of his specialty fly patterns. We explore this lizard fly and some of his other unique flies as we look at his top flies for Idaho. We also learn where to look for Westslope cutthroat trout in his part of the world. Fly Fishing the St. Joe River Show Notes with Derek Darst 3:21 - Derek tells us how he got into fly fishing. He spent a lot of his time backcountry fly fishing with his father, and at the age of 10, he started learning how to tie flies. He now offers flies online through Saint Maries Flies. 5:33 - We dig into the St. Joe River and Saint Maries River which he says has a good Westslope cutthroat population. 9:10 - We find out where to look for Westslope cutthroat trout. 15:05 - He recommends some must-have fly patterns to catch some Westslope cutthroat trout, such as stimulator, elk hair, caddises, and royal wolf. One of his favorites is the Turks tarantula with a red body or burnt orange colored body. 18:28 - He takes us through the year through the St. Joe River. 21:12 - We talk about Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. A lot of people visit this area for the lakes. 22:25 - He gives us the key to finding some bull trout. I mention our episode with Dave Blackburn where he talked a bit about the regulations on targeting bull trout. 29:21 - He sells Pat Cohen patterns on his website. Pat was one of his big influences in fly tying. He quit selling flies and dedicated his time to tattoo artistry through his Instagram @rusuperfly. We had him in the podcast on episode 107. 30:20 - We dig into his fly tying. At first, he was self-taught, but then he bought some of Pat Cohen's videos to learn about deer hair. 31:52 - The most common flies he ties are the poppers, divers, and frogs. 34:14 - He gets his deer hair from North American Trading in Strum, Wisconsin. He looks for the thickest and longest hair. 38:48 - He also sells lizards for muskies and bass which are around nine to 10 inches long. He ties these for an hour at least. 43:28 - We talk about Westslope cutthroats. There are also a few rainbows in St. Joe River. 46:27 - He recommends the Huckleberry Campground. People mostly camp during summer in around July and August. 47:08 - We do some random rapid-fire questions. 49:09 - He shares about that time when Luke Bryan visited their town to fish. He performed live in Spokane and at the 2:15 minute mark of the video, he signed a board with Derek's flies on it and took the fly with him. 50:53 - He went to Florida, at Tampa Bay, a couple of months ago for a fishing trip. 53:06 - He did a video for Musky Town on tying deer hair diver and popper. 54:57 - He uses a lot of Kona Xtra Stong Stinger (XSS) hooks for his hair bugs. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/479

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/478 Presented By: Mavrk Fly Fishing, Dette Flies, Trxstle, Bearvault Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Patrick Berry takes us into Fly Fishers International and the resources you can utilize for fishing and conservation. We discover where locally you can get involved in sustaining your fishing and your fishery. We also find out which top national issues they are working on this year and the history of how it all started for Patrick and FFI. This is not just your ordinary fishing chat — it's an inspiring journey of passion, dedication, and making a difference. Fly Fishers International Show Notes with Patrick 03:00 - When it comes to conservation, names like Fly Fishers International and Trout Unlimited always come up. We've previously had Len Zickler on the show, and today we're diving into an exciting update on FFI with Patrick Berry. But first, we hear about how Patrick got into fly fishing. 04:00 - Patrick's earliest memories in life were of fish and fishing. Despite not having much growing up, he vividly recalls a camping trip with his family, where his father ingeniously crafted fishing rods out of sticks, strings, and safety pins as hooks while digging worms for bait. 08:20 - Patrick shares his journey into conservation work, which he describes as a common path for many fly fishers. He quotes the words of Lee Wulff, one of the founders of FFI, who famously said, "When you teach a person to fly fish, you have just created a conservationist." 10:14 - After years of trout bumming after college, Patrick got a job in a fly shop with Jeff Currier. He says reading Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac inspired Patrick to pursue environmental science, focusing on freshwater ecology and fisheries. This marked the beginning of his remarkable conservation-focused career. 12:35 - After years in Montana, Patrick and his wife decided to return to Vermont, where he worked for the Vermont Natural Resources Council. He was later appointed head of Vermont's Fish and Wildlife Department. Fly Fishers International — Who Are They? 14:38 - Patrick Berry sees Fly Fishers International as an organization that is available to guide people on their fly fishing journey no matter what their skill level is, where they live, or what fish is their favorite to chase after. Fly Fishers International started with a focus on conservation, education, and community in the 1960s, and they've stayed true to their roots to this day. 15:00 - Fly Fishers International's most significant strength area is high-quality fly fishing education. The Casting Instructor Certification at FFI is considered a premier casting instructor program worldwide. 18:00 - Patrick shares his perspective on pressing issues today, such as climate change and more. According to Patrick, climate change movements sometimes fall short of providing information on how an average person can help make a difference. 35:40 - Patrick lets us in on FFI's conservation focus for the upcoming years. Their main goal is to keep providing conservation grants at the local level and collaborate closely with partners to tackle big-picture conservation challenges head-on. 41:17 - We also touch on the significance of technology and the role of famous personalities in driving change. 46:17 - Since our upcoming event is centered around the Great Lakes, I couldn't miss the opportunity to ask Patrick for his insights on the steelhead program in the region. 1:05:27 - Patrick is a music and podcast enthusiast, and he admits to having a dedicated playlist exclusively for The Avett Brothers' songs. Additionally, Patrick is a big fan of the SmartLess Podcast, especially the episode featuring George Clooney. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/478

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/477 Presented By: Chota Outdoor Gear, Trxstle, Mavrk Fly Fishing, Daiichi Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Jeff Liskay is back on the podcast to take us back into Steelhead Alley this year with some bonuses and a big trip! We talk about what you can expect for that trip to Steelhead Alley with me, Jeff Liskay, Rick Kustich, and a bunch of other anglers, and why you should be excited about it! Jeff shares some great tips on casting, gear setup, and how to have a great day on the water. We also talk about Jeff's multispecies boat which has lots of awesome features. Stay tuned as announce the big winner live on Facebook for that Steelhead Alley trip! Show Notes with Jeff Liskay on Steelhead Alley 07:00 - You can check out all of the Great Lakes Dude's podcast episodes at wetflyswing.com/gld 10:30 - Jeff talks about fishing for drums, carp, and gars. He tells us how water temperatures affect fishing and what fishing looks like between now and December. 18:30 - We just had Rick Kustich back on the podcast to give us a little teaser on what we're going to be doing on that Steelhead Alley trip. 25:30 - Tip: "Do not be afraid to use your single-hand rod, or the spey line, or small switch rod, or do some indicator fishing for the day". 37:00 - Jeff talks about how he and his buddies mix things up with rod setup, lines, leader, tippet, flies, how they swing, etc. 45:00 - Jeff shares some awesome casting tips. 50:00 - "Your eyes are your best tool", Jeff says.. when it comes to fishing deep waters. He explains why. 52:00 - Tip: "Most good fishing locations are places you don't want to fish or are hard to get to". 1:00:45 - Tip: "Do not be afraid to drive to better river conditions than fight a bad water condition". 1:01:25 - Tip: "Play around with your leader or tippet". 1:07:45 - Jeff recommends the SA Spey Lite Skagit Line by Scientific Anglers. 1:12:12 - We talk about Jeff's 22-foot Ranger multispecies boat that has 5 fish finders and other awesome features. 1:14:30 - We'll be announcing the Steelhead School winner live on Facebook next week. So stay tuned and good luck! Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/477

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/476 Presented By: Yellowstone Teton, Togens Fly Shop, Waters West, Mavrk Fly Fishing Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors The one and only Rick Kustich is ready to blow our minds today with all things modern spey fishing and some exciting updates, including his latest book. We're diving deep into the spey game, uncovering the early players, and getting all the juicy details on how Rick works his magic with flies on the Lake Erie tributaries. Rick and his crew will be our guides for the upcoming Steelhead Alley, so we'll also get an exclusive sneak peek of what awaits us on this thrilling adventure. Modern Spey Fishing Show Notes with Rick Kustich 03:00 - It's hard to believe it's only been a short while since our last episode with Rick in January 2022. Today he brings us up to speed on his latest adventures and a brand new book on Steelhead. 03:45 - Rick shares his insights on the unique steelhead experience in New York and what sets it apart from other Great Lakes locations. 05:38 - Rick Kustich aims to demystify spey fishing through his new book, Modern Spey Fishing. It covers everything from steelhead to trout and even smallmouth fishing, making it a valuable resource no matter your skill level. 08:39 - Rick paints a picture of what awaits us on our December trip to New York. According to Rick, New York's unique advantage over Ohio is its access to tributaries on both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. 11:10 - Rick also provided a comprehensive rundown of the fishing techniques we'll use at that time of the year. 12:36 - Rick and his crew, along with Nick Pionessa, will be our guides for the upcoming Steelhead Alley. Additionally, Rick mentioned the potential participation of his good friend Vince Tobia from Cattaraugus Creek Outfitters as a third guide on the trip. Q & A with Rick 13:06 - Our Instagram followers join the conversation with their questions for Rick, and he eagerly takes on the challenge. What is the ideal water temperature for swinging for steelhead? 13:50 - The ideal water temperature for swinging for steelhead is between 42 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit. Rick says this temperature range is when the fish are most active. Additionally, Rick emphasizes that it's not solely about the absolute temperature but instead having more stable temperatures, where sudden overnight drops are avoided, which helps keep the fish more active. What is the Spey Nation Event? 18:44 - We delved into the topic of the Spey Nation event, originally a one-day spey clave started by Geoff Schaake, which had to be put on hold due to COVID. This time, Swing the Fly is bringing it back as a three-day event, scheduled from August 11 to August 13. 19:40 - Last year, Rick and Topher Brown collaborated with Swing the Fly to offer spey casting classes on the Salmon River. This year, they plan to integrate those classes with the traditional format of the Spey Nation event. How do you catch a fish on the fly in low clear water? 24:00 - When it comes to catching fish on the fly in low clear water, Rick suggests employing a stealthier approach. One effective strategy is to use a long monofilament or fluorocarbon leader and a weighted fly and cast the fly further away from the fly line. What's Rick Kustich's gear choice? 39:14 - Rick Kustich prefers using rods 11 to 12 1/2 feet long, recommending brands like Scott Fly Rods, R.B. Meiser, and Echo. Additionally, Rick has collaborated with Simon Gawesworth and RIO for several years, and he mentions that Simon wrote the forward for his new book. Rick uses RIO's Elite Skagit Max Launch. What's next for Rick? 47:13 - After putting in much effort to write Modern Spey Fishing, Rick looks forward to taking a break from books. However, he has big plans and hopes to write a book about trout someday. How do you detect the strike and ensure you don't miss a fish? 57:24 - Rick adopts a more passive approach when setting the hook, particularly for steelhead. In his book, he extensively discusses hook setting, recognizing it as a challenge many anglers face. 1:03:00 - We wrap up the conversation with Rick with his "desperate salmon story" in the York River. This tale is also featured in his book Reflections on the Water. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/476

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/475 Presented by: Yellowstone Teton, Angler's Coffee Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Ralph Scherder is here to take us fishing Pennsylvania and break down traveling and fishing in the north part of PA. We'll learn more about Route 6 and why you might be interested in taking a tour up there. We learn about Dark Skies Fly Fishing as well as a breakdown of some of the most well-known trout streams along this path. Fishing Pennsylvania Show Notes with Ralph Scherder 2:57 - Ralph began fly fishing when he was about 14 years old. From an early age, he knew he wanted to be a writer, so for the past six or seven years, he has been selling articles to fly fishing magazines such as American Fly Fishing. He blogs about fly fishing via his website, darkskiesflyfishing.com. His website also has an online store where he sells books, flies, and other stuff. 4:12 - He grew up in Butler County. He spent so much time camping and fishing in Prouty, Pennsylvania, until he and his wife eventually decided to move to Coudersport, PA. 7:01 - He talks about the fishing opportunities in PA. They have a robust population of native brook trout. They also have wild brown and rainbow trout. He considers the First Fork of Sinnemahoning Creek his home water. It's the stream that he grew up on. 11:10 - His fishing technique in the Sinnemahoning Creek is constantly changing. He uses whatever works that day. 12:00 - His place is somewhat isolated, therefore there aren't many fly shops there. Although he doesn't have a physical store, he is the main fly seller in the area. 13:43 - We dig into PA Route 6. It's a transcontinental highway that begins on the east coast near Boston and goes west to the California Coast. He names several of the well-known rivers and streams that may be found along Route 6, including Bowman Creek, Lackawaxen, and Lackawanna. 22:00 - The PA Route 6 Alliance preserves, enhances, and promotes the transportation heritage of the said transcontinental highway. 23:38 - We dig into his website, darkskiesflyfishing.com. One of his favorite pieces that he did just recently is entitled "Fishing and Life: An Afternoon on Kettle Creek". He talks more about Kettle Creek, which is just south of Route 6. 29:05 - We talk about the changes we see in our waters, the bugs, and the species. 32:38 - He tries to write one blog weekly with diverse content. 34:43 - He talks about the day he met fly fishing legend Joe Humphreys and spent a few days with him. He profiled him in an essay for American Fly Fishing. His life story was the subject of a documentary called "Live the Stream" that was released a few years ago. 37:54 - We had Joe Humphreys on the podcast in episode 073. 39:45 - I ask him about another one of his pieces about the Oil Creek Region, which he says is probably Northwestern Pennsylvania's best trout stream. It became the first fully functioning oil well in the world. 41:14 - He suggests his blog as a resource for individuals organizing a fishing vacation to Pennsylvania. It has a lot of details about the streams in the different areas. He suggests PA Route 6 and the Visitors Bureau for basic travel information. 45:34 - The spring creeks in Pennsylvania are the major hubs for fly fishing. However, he says that the streams can get pretty crowded year-round. He notes that there are also good fishing opportunities outside those areas. 47:21 - I ask him about the top places I pulled up when I searched for fly fishing in Pennsylvania. Among these waters are the Youghiogheny, Susquehanna, and Little Juniata. 48:40 - There's a high demand for developing campgrounds in Pennsylvania. He shares that just a few months ago, an article was released saying that Potter and Tioga counties were named the best outdoor destinations in Pennsylvania. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/475

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/474 Presented By: Daiichi, Waters West, Angler's Coffee, Trxstle Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Monte Burke, author of Lords of the Fly, shares his journey of becoming a renowned writer and author. He shares the pivotal moment that transformed his life as he recounts how his first fly fishing story caught the attention of the editor at Sporting Classics, propelling him to become a full-time writer. Discover the dedicated tarpon fishing enthusiasts of the Homosassa club and the current challenges faced by Florida's waters. Explore the stories of fly fishing legends like Tom Evans and Andy Mill, who pushed the sport's boundaries. Monte also recounts his encounter with Nick Saban, one of college football's greatest coaches, resulting in a historic feature in Forbes Magazine. Learn about Monte's other books, including Leaper, Sowbelly, and 4th & Goal, and get a preview of his upcoming book on the Southwest's water crisis. We talk a lot about writing and noted some renowned authors such as John Gierach and Thomas McGuane, and the fascinating intersection of passion, storytelling, and fly fishing. This episode is a must-listen for both avid anglers and literature enthusiasts. Show Notes with Monte Burke on Lords of the Fly 03:00 - We noted his book, Lords of the Fly: Madness, Obsession, and the Hunt for the World Record Tarpon, which is a pretty popular fly fishing book. 03:45 - We had John Gierach on the podcast in episode 047 who's arguably the best fly fishing writer of all time. 04:00 - Most of the males in Monte's family fly-fished - his grandfather, his uncle, and his dad. Monte caught his first Atlantic salmon with his uncle on Margaree River in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. 08:30 - Monte tells the story of when he wrote his first fly fishing story about Ed Shenk from LeTort Spring Run that he sent to different magazine companies. He then got a letter from the Editor of Sporting Classics, Chuck Wexler offering to buy his story for $200. That was his turning point from going to business school to being a fly fishing writer. 10:25 - Topher Browne mentioned Monte on a recent episode at WFS 464. 12:00 - Monte also did a story about Andy Mill who's like a Tigerwoods of Tarpon fly fishing tournament. Andy was on the podcast in episode 330. Andy gave him Tom Evan's number so he could write a story about him. He also noted names of the world's best fly anglers in the 70s and 80s. 19:20 - We talk about how Florida is being ruined nowadays and gets worst each year. 21:10 - We noted Bonefish & Tarpon Trust are doing a great job in researching about the problems in the waters of Florida. Captains For Clean Waters are also fighting hard for Florida waters conservation. And also VoteWater Florida. 24:30 - Monte talks about the rockstars of the Homosassa club who were obsessed with tarpon fishing and made it possible for future generations to catch tarpon. 30:23 - The biggest tarpon ever caught was over 200 pounds on a 20-pound test which was caught by a non-regular guy who was just fishing with his dad. Tom Evans holds the record for the 16-pound test which was 190-pound tarpon. He also holds the record for the 12-pound which was 194-pound tarpon. 44:30 - We talk about Nick Saban who's arguably the best college football of all time. 46:30 - Monte tells the story of when he got a phone call from Nick Saban agreeing to write a story about him. The story was then published in Forbes Magazine (2008) which also became the highest single issue of the magazine ever. Read that story here. 49:20 - Monte talks about his process of writing. 54:25 - We dig into his book, The Making of a Coach which was a story about Nick Saban's life and incredible coaching career. 54:45 - Monte talks about his book, Leaper: The Wonderful World of Atlantic Salmon Fishing, which was a collection of Atlantic salmon stories. 55:15 - Monte did another fishing book called, Sowbelly: The Obsessive Quest for the World-Record Largemouth Bass. 55:50 - We also noted his book, 4th & Goal: One Man's Quest to Recapture His Dream which was about Joe Moglia's legendary career transition from head football coach at Coastal Carolina University to the CEO of TD Ameritrade 56:55 - Monte is writing a new book about the water crisis in South West looking through the lens of Lake Mead. 58:30 - We talk about what makes John Gierach a great writer. Monte says "he's a great lyricist" and explains why. 59:45 - We also noted Thomas McGuane. Monte tells us what makes McGuane's writing special. 1:03:30 - Monte tells the story of when he went to Labrador with Yvon Chouinard and other anglers. 1:07:30 - I asked Monte the question "Are you a writer or a fly fisherman first?". Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/474

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/473 Presented by: Stonefly Nets Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Dan Pribanic is here today to take us to Chagrin River Outfitters, the Steelhead Alley area, and some fishing tips and tricks. We discover which strains of steelhead they are hitting up there in that part of Lake Eerie. We also get his take on single-hand versus two-handed rods and spey. We also dig into which other species he's focusing on this year in his area. Dan and his team are the big reason why our last trip to Ohio was so successful, so let's find out exactly how they work the magic. Chagrin River Outfitters Show Notes with Dan Pribanic 2:25 - Dan tells how he got into fly fishing. He came from a big family with 10 siblings. His older brothers were involved in outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting, so they were the ones who influenced him to fish. His first fly-fishing experience was in central Pennsylvania. 3:54 - He grew up in Pittsburgh. There are a lot of great trout fishing and warm-water opportunities there. 5:01 - He shares the story of how he started Chagrin River Outfitters. Around 1999, he thought of going to law school. He worked in a law firm for a year with his brothers, who are attorneys, and that was when he realized that that was not the path he wanted to go down. He and his wife eventually opened the shop in 2006. 7:34 - Their shop is right on the Chagrin River, which is a great fishery. They pretty much cover the northeast Ohio area at a little bit of Pennsylvania at times. 8:20 - He takes us into their fishing program if somebody visits their shop around the summer. Steelhead is their number one species. They also have pretty good smallmouth and pike fishing in their local rivers. 12:03 - I ask his thoughts on the steelhead versus not steelhead thing that some people talk about. 14:29 - He talks about how they fish throughout the seasons, particularly the fly patterns and lines. A lot of fishing in their area involves floating Skagit heads and changing up the sink tips they're running. He also describes his go-to rod for his home waters. 19:22 - We dig into smallmouth bass, which is native to their area. These species start coming in by the end of April. 22:48 - He also mentions some other species that they target throughout the year, such as carp, quillback, and gar. 26:44 - There are not a lot of other fly shops in their area, but he mentions the Backpackers shop, which is about an hour and 10 minutes drive from their shop. 27:18 - We dig into Steelhead Alley. They're right in the middle of it. That area has been called the Steelhead Alley for a long time. 29:16 - He walks us through what their shop looks like throughout the year. He mentions some staff members who usually man the shop and provide guiding services. 31:24 - They focus on single-hand and two-handed rod fishing for steelhead. They also host six trips to the Bahamas and Belize yearly for bonefish and permit fishing. They tie steelhead flies and also sell some shop merchandise. 33:27 - He tells the story of the first time he met Jeff Liskay. He has known him since he opened his shop. 34:30 - They also offer single-hand casting classes in their shop. 35:21 - We dig into single-hand versus two-handed casting for steelhead. 36:15 - He mentions some fly patterns that work well for hitting steelhead. He also gives some fishing tips and tricks for catching steelhead, such as speeding up his fly. 42:31 - Most anglers start to fish for steelhead in September when it starts to rain a little bit and the temperature cools down. They also get a lot of guys in their shop who prepare for salmon fishing in Michigan and New York at that time of year. 45:35 - If you want to avoid the crowd, he recommends fishing at Steelhead Alley in December. He also likes fishing from late February to March. For those who are interested in our Steelhead School with Jeff Liskay, visit wetflyswing.com/SteelheadSchool. 47:58 - We throw him a question from one of our Instagram followers about tying droppers. For steelhead fishing, he ties up a bunch of droppers and rigs in advance and puts them in a little bag, which he says is a time saver. 51:24 - He never listens to a podcast, but he loves listening to music and reading books. He's a huge fan of Gordon Lightfoot. 52:03 - He tells us a bit about his busy daily schedule. 53:06 - He talks about Cleveland, Ohio. It has a great food scene and nice fishing. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/473

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/472 Presented by: Daiichi, Chota Outdoor Gear Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Sara Jo Royalty is here to give some fly tying techniques and take us into her story around sailing and music. We find out whether being a professional golf caddy or a professional fly fishing guide is harder, what's new with her new FFI fly fishing event she got coming up this year, and then she knocks it out of the park with a live guitar solo at the end of the episode. Fly Tying Techniques Show Notes with Sara Jo Royalty 2:49 - Sara talks a bit about the recently conducted NW Fly Fishing Expo in Albany which she attended with Caleb Luzader and tied for Daiichi. We had Caleb in the podcast in episode 431. 5:32 - Sara shares how she got into fly fishing and fly tying. She started on the east coast as a commercial long liner. 8:21 - I ask her about how she got sponsored in fly tying and how that works. She sells flies and also ties ones for Daiichi Fly Fishing. She also tells her goals regarding her widely sold patterns. 12:14 - She talks about her process of tying flies or her fly tying zone. 13:42 - Her most common patterns are perdigons, salmon flies, simulators, and chubbies. Her most popular pattern is the pinfish which costs $45 for a 6-inch fly. You can use it for any and every species. If she can only have one fly in the box, that would be her fly. 16:42 - She pretty much ties all year. She also has a guiding license, but she doesn't guide that much. 18:20 - For her, it's harder to guide than to caddy. 19:40 - We dig into how she got sponsored by Daiichi. 21:55 - We had Steve Potter on recently in episode 444. She mentions her go-to hooks from Daiichi. Her favorite hook from them is the 1730 nymph hook. 27:35 - She talks describes their first fishing camp on the Upper Rogue last year. She invited a number of conservation groups in Oregon. Sara is the vice president of Fly Fishers International in the state of Oregon. 32:21 - For this year, the camp will be open to the public. They'll have passes for one night and two-day camping. They'll also have night passes for the music. Free Creatures will be their main band. 34:12 - We dig into her music. She started as a classical pianist when she was three. Now she writes songs and plays the bass and the guitar. She loves classic rock like The White Stripes. 39:36 - Right now, she has been working full-time at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort as a caddy for 10 years. 42:02 - She explains what she does as a caddy, the difficulty of playing golf, and how it's an excellent place to get to know somebody, especially in business. 47:41 - We talk about Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie Woods, who also plays golf. 50:50 - We get back to fly tying and her process. 55:05 - She shares that time when she encountered a different bug that she hasn't seen before. 56:35 - We talk about how she knew Dick Sagara of Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO). Sara has been with TFO for about eight years. 58:18 - She shares her experience when she was living in a boat just sailing for eight years before moving to Oregon. 1:05:26 - We talk about her music. She already has three albums ready to record. 1:06:08 - She promotes their event from August 18th to 20th called Hook, Wine & Thinker - Conservation Campout by Oregon Council of Fly Fishers International at Rogue River Ranch. 1:07:45 - She asks the listeners for stage name suggestions for her. Send your suggestions to her Instagram @SaraJoFlies. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/472

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/471 Presented By: Togens Fly Shop, Waters West, Mavrk Fly Fishing Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors As the seasons change, it's essential to prioritize your well-being and stay healthy. And who better to guide you than Cody Wood? With years of experience and a passion for all things wellness, Cody is here to share his top tips to ensure you have a thriving season ahead. From simple lifestyle adjustments to nourishing nutrition advice, Cody's expertise will empower you to make positive changes and take charge of your health. Whether you're looking to boost your immunity, maintain an active lifestyle, or find balance amidst the chaos, Cody's got you covered. Get ready to embark on a journey of wellness with Cody Wood as your trusted companion. Discover practical tips, actionable strategies, and expert insights to help you navigate the season feeling vibrant, energized, and at your best. Let's unlock a healthier you together! Top Tips to Stay Healthy Show Notes with Cody Wood 2:48 - Cody shared his introduction to fly fishing with a co-worker in the restaurant industry in Oklahoma City, and it all started with a fly rod and fishing in small lakes and private areas. 3:43 - Cody worked for 6 years as a therapist, and what he has learned about it through his own understanding and others he has met is the influence it has on a positive livelihood. 4:42 - Cody has a 12-foot kayak named Jackson Kilroy, and he thinks Stillwater fishing's quickly becoming more of his favorite thing to do just for the serenity. He also loves a good hike along the creek. and he loves to fish in running water, spinning all day, floating around. Whether that's dragging a leach pattern, just trolling, or actually standing up and casting those, he thinks these are his most fruitful days. 5:41 - We talked about how he loves Stillwater compared to the fresh water in the streams. And it's because he's equipped to do it. He's uniquely equipped with the boat. He can get into some areas that others can't. You know, you can throw a bunch of gear in his boat that he wouldn't be able to take with him when he was hiking. So he kind of has his own little space, and that's what's most appealing to him as he gets older just having all the belongings. 7:08 - Cody grew up in Southwest Oklahoma. Lake Reka. And his mom was actually the one who taught him to fish. 11:26 - Cody is now actually in Utah. His in Spanish Fork. He moved down there in August. He moved away from Montana in April. He went to Arizona to pursue business and then he ended up in Utah in August. 12:35 - Cody shared that, being in Oklahoma, Yellowstone Park is to the north, and that has been his magnetic north all his life. When he moves there, he struggles with the fact that, where he is, he instinctively thinks that his north is south, like towards the park. So, for him, it's like a magnetic pole. There's a lot of it; it's a very unique place there. 13:44 - Cody is in Utah County, and he's excited to explore some of these places this summer. He looked at it, and there were some lakes and some things that he was excited to get on the boat. And there was one place they had a Tiger muskie; that was something he never caught. And of course, the Tiger Trout, which he knew was a hybrid, It was a sterile fish, but it was something he had never touched. So he's excited to aim for those and then see where life takes him this summer. 14:50 - We talked about his corporate stuff Pain-Free Outdoors, which started for him as a way to serve active individuals. People like him. People who don't want to go to a clinic or spend time in a gym just have to do it at home or on the road if they live an active lifestyle. Where he is, serving teams, organizations, and groups that have the same approach to physical modalities that he takes. Whereas Life Sync requires a more nutritional and physical approach. So being pain-free on the outside is just the physical side of it, although I touch on the basics of nutrition for people who need it. But for most, it's decompression work. 16:27 - Cody shares why he created Pain-Free Outdoors because if we look at our modern lifestyle, it all goes to the pain-free outdoors, which is what we were made for. We were made to run barefoot, catch things, hunt, Fish, and be alone. Farming and longevity are the biggest pieces of the puzzle that many people have lost because of their lifestyle and because of things that have become cultural norms. So connecting those two dots is why he created Pain-Free Outdoors. 17:45 - We talked about some things that a person can do today or this week to be more active. The Big piece of the puzzle for Cody is body shape recognition. The ability to see it and say, Okay, I'm in good shape versus bad form. So, that awareness is always the biggest part for him when teaching because all the training he gives is based on that shape. 20:15 - Cody mentioned that a lot of people are going to see it as yoga, bu

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/470 Presented By: Togens Fly Shop, Dette Flies, Bearvault, Drifthook Fly Fishing Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Today's guest is someone I've been eagerly trying to get on the podcast for a while, and now it's finally happening! Kate Crump is here to talk about fishing Bristol Bay and what it's like to run an Alaskan lodge. We'll also learn about the art of swinging flies for King Salmon and discover what makes this place a haven for crazy-sized fish, including rainbows. Did I mention we'll even get a sneak peek into their steelhead operation in the lower 48? This is going to be one wild ride! Fishing Bristol Bay Show Notes with Kate Crump 03:20 - Kate and Justin have been in Alaska since April to prepare for this season. We hear about the different projects they're working on with the help of their friends and family before they open on June 17 with their first group of guests. 08:12 - Kate and Justin worked as guides for a number of years before they decided to have their own lodge. The Lodge at 58 North operated as a DIY property before, so the Crumps rallied their families and friends to assist them with the major remodeling of the place. 12:45 - The Naknek River is their home water, but they also fly to locations like Katmai National Park, Nushagak River, and Becharof National Wildlife Refuge, using their float plane, a de Havilland Beaver. 13:04 - Kate also dreams of flying their float plane. This reminds me of an episode featuring Tim Rawlins of LineSpeedJedi, who shared his experience flying a float plane in Alaska. Different Species at Bristol Bay 15:41 - According to Kate, Bristol Bay is the greatest swung fly fishery for rainbows in the world. But they also have people coming up in June specifically for King salmon because the Nushagak is home to the largest runs of King Salmon. 19:41 - Kate tells us what makes Bristol Bay so special compared to other fishing locations in Alaska. We also hear about the management practices for sockeye salmon in their area. 25:47 - Kate describes the diverse fishing experiences available at their lodge. They are a small operation that accommodates a single group of eight guests or two groups of four. This setup allows for a personalized and intimate experience for each fishing trip. 34:00 - Kate walks us through the different seasons up there. Additionally, we delve into whether they have plans to make Alaska their permanent home in the future. 42:23 - We talk about fishing for King Salmon and the important regulations in place to protect them. 49:58 - Kate shares insights about the rainbows in their area and discusses the perfect rod for targeting them. We also delve into the incredible abundance of sockeye salmon up there. The Crumps in Oregon's North Coast 58:22 - Kate shares a glimpse into their steelhead operation in the lower 48 and how it differs from their guiding experiences in Alaska. 1:00:54 - Kate says she is the only female fishing guide on the north coast. She opens up about the barriers she encountered and her mentor, Nancy Morris Lyon, the first female fishing guide in Bristol Bay. 1:13:32 - Kate loves hiking into small streams and fishing for rainbow trout in June and July. Her go-to mouse pattern is RIO's Pip Squeak. 1:16:00 - Kate enjoys listening to music while flying around on their float plane or when she's out on a boat. 1:18:13 - Kate always makes sure to have her sunglasses and rain jacket with her when venturing into the backcountry, and she recalls a time when she forgot her rain jacket and vowed never to make that mistake again. As a Patagonia ambassador, she highly recommends their Swiftcurrent rain jacket. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/470

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/469 Presented By: Daiichi, Trxstle, Mavrk Fly Fishing, Bearvault Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Today we're kicking off with Part 1 of an exciting two-part series focusing on stillwater fly lines. We're going to get an understanding of why you need multiple lines to be consistently successful on lakes, and we'll be taking a close look at different types of floating lines to help you make informed choices and get the most bang for your buck. Throughout this two-part series, we'll explore Phil's impressive collection of 20 stillwater fly lines, uncovering the secrets behind each line's purpose and functionality. Phil will also guide us through selecting the three fly lines you should consider having with you at all times. Stillwater Fly Lines Show Notes with Phil Rowley 04:12 - When it comes to river and stream fishing, an excellent floating line will last you a long time and allow you to present your fly using various techniques. But the multitude of available fly lines can be overwhelming and intimidating when it comes to lakes. 07:25 - Phil carries over 20 fly lines in his kit bag because he likes to be prepared for different fishing situations. 09:07 - Some people think the only way stillwater fly fishermen fish lakes is with a strike indicator and a floating line. Phil says it is a deadly presentation technique he uses all the time, but it is NOT the only way to catch fish when fishing lakes. Factors to Consider When Choosing a Fly Line 10:19 - Wind is an essential factor, and a weight-forward line helps manage the wind and achieve longer casts to cover more water and increase the chances of catching fish. 11:13 - When Phil first started, double taper lines were popular. It provided a more delicate presentation when fishing to surface-feeding fish, particularly in rivers and streams, but you also had to cast a lot to get that line speed built up to cover any distance. A weight forward line has the weight concentrated in the first 30 to 40 feet, allowing for efficient casting and generating line speed. 12:41 - Another thing to consider is the depth of the water. We need lines to sink at different rates to present our flies at different depths. 13:00 - The retrieve speed is also crucial. You need to have a line that will sink slowly as well, so the sink rate of the line doesn't overpower the horizontal retrieve speed you're using to imitate what you're trying to imitate. 13:36 - Fish activity is also closely correlated with retrieve speed. When fish are active and aggressive, faster-sinking lines can be used. 14:31 - Phil also stresses the importance of being versatile, as relying on a single presentation technique can limit success. The best time to try out a new line is when fishing conditions are favorable. How Fly Lines Are Made 17:08 - Different line requirements and fishing environments influence fly line manufacturers' design. The outer coating determines its weight, buoyancy, color, and slickness, while the core of the fly line is where its strength lies. The different types are: Multifilament cores Braided monofilament cores Monofilament cores Low-stretch cores 18:40 - Stiffer cores, like monofilament cores, help provide tight loops and good line speed. Manufacturers offer a variety of lines tailored to specific fishing disciplines to ensure better enjoyment and meet the needs of anglers on the water. 22:57 - Different presentation challenges require different line profiles and tapers to be successful. For example, casting indicators and long leaders need a different line profile and taper than fishing dries, emerges, or lightly weighted nymphs. 24:22 - Besides indicators, Phil loves to fish with long leaders, known as the naked technique. 25:06 - Phil uses the RIO Elite Technical Trout line. This line has a long taper line that provides excellent turnover and delicate presentation. 24:45 - Low-stretch fly lines are less elastic than regular multifilament core lines. Low-stretch lines offer benefits during fish fights by efficiently transferring rod actions to the fish, allowing anglers to tire the fish more quickly in catch-and-release scenarios. Phil Rowley's Guide to 20 Essential Stillwater Fly Lines 30:15 - Phil Rowley discusses the use of floating lines in Stillwater fly fishing, specifically focusing on their application for indicator presentations, the naked technique, and floating lines for dries, emergers, and unweighted or lightly weighted nymphs in shallow water situations. Floating Lines for Indicators and the Naked Technique 30:53 - When looking for a line to cast an indicator or the naked technique, it is essential to have a line designed for that purpose. These lines have oversized heads and maybe one and a half to two line weights heavier to provide the necessary mass for turning over indicators and long leaders. 35:14 - Phil is a big proponent of using the roll cast when fishing with indicators. Roll casting keeps the indicator, lead

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/468 Presented by: Trxstle, Togens Fly Shop, Bearvault Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Geri Meyer is here to talk about all things driftless fly fishing. We will discover what the crane fly hatch is all about, we will get the top caddis flies and how to fish them, and then walk through her patterns and tips for fishing the driftless area. We will also find out what the Driftless Angler and the Women's Fly Shop are all about. Sit back, relax, and let's talk about driftless fly fishing with Geri Meyer, co-owner of Driftless Angler and Women's Fly Shop. Driftless Fly Fishing Show Notes with Geri Meyer 3:07 - Geri takes us back quickly to when she first got into fly fishing. She wasn't attracted to fishing when she was young, but her interest was piqued when she and her family had a casting lesson in Oregon. 4:12 - She and her husband Mat Wagner, also a proficient angler, visited the driftless area in Wisconsin, immediately fell in love with it, and decided to move there. 7:17 - She tells what she loves about living and fishing in New Mexico versus Wisconsin. 8:04 - She tells more about the streams in the driftless area in Wisconsin which is her favorite place to fish. Brook trout and brown trout are the usual species you can catch in this area. 10:14 - There is also a big chunk of driftless in Iowa, but not as big in Wisconsin. Their fishing season stays open year-round. 11:22 - We talk a bit about fishing in Mississippi which she says is an absolute blast during the summer. 12:33 - We dig into their shop which is the Driftless Angler. They hand out maps to clients that give rough information on the streams and watersheds in their area. 14:20 - May is their prime month for fishing in the area. She mentions some of the hatches in the summer such as colored mayflies, crane flies, and caddis. 15:33 - We talk about what the peak season looks like in their streams. For those who are planning to visit their area, they can check the seasons and hatches on their website. 19:23 - We talk about crane flies which she says are difficult to tie. Their go-to cranefly is the Coulee Cranefly which they also sell in their shop. 21:52 - Their caddis time lasts until the end of the summer. Some of the hatches they also get are olives, mayflies, sulphurs, and cahills. More of the bugs and hatches can be found on their website. 23:06 - She mentions some of the popular dries they use for caddis such as elk hair and missing link. 25:20 - She gives her top five patterns and other favorites to have in her box for the whole summer. Her number one is the hippie stomper, followed by purple drank, scuds, pink squirrel, and film critic. 28:27 - I mention our episode with Jason Randall where we also talked about the Driftless area. 28:54 - We go into the detail on how she fishes her favorite flies that she mentioned. For the scud, she dead drifts it and puts a little bounce to it. 34:08 - The biggest she has caught in their streams is a 15-inch brookie. She also shares a bit of her perspective on the brook trout population. 37:04 - There are many great campgrounds in their area. One of which is the Vernon County Campgrounds. A list of other lodging, hotels, cabins, and camp areas can be found on their website. 37:55 - We talk about fishing in Mississippi. She loves fishing for smallmouth bass. 43:28 - They start musky fishing on October 15th and then host trips in January. They do a lot of trips to Argentina, Brazil, and other places. 45:45 - She describes how they do their hosted trips. 49:13 - She talks about the Women's Fly Shop and how it started. 50:48 - I ask her perspective on the population and involvement of women in fly fishing. She also suggests some efforts that the fishing community can do to encourage more women to join the sport. 58:00 - We dig into gear. She loves the kits from Echo and Orvis. They carry those in their shop. 1:03:50 - We do the Fly Shop Friday segment. She recommends other fly shops near their area such as Root River Rod Co., Orvis shop in Preston, Rod & Rivet, Musky Fool, Tight Lines, and a few others. 1:05:55 - She gives some valuable tips on fishing in the driftless area. 1:07:45 - She likes listening to music from the '70s to the early '80s. She loves Queen and Dr. Hook. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/468

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/467 Presented By: Togens Fly Shop, Dette Flies, Drifthook Fly Fishing, Yellowstone Teton Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors George Daniel, the Director of the Joe Humphreys Teaching Program at Penn State University and a former member of Fly Fishing Team USA, returns to the podcast with exciting updates. Currently teaching multiple sections at Penn State, George explains why he doesn't include euro nymphing in his basic class. He also dives into his fly fishing clinics and provides detailed information about his popular book, Dynamic Nymphing. George reveals valuable tips for fishing pools using a euro nymph setup and highlights the advantages of using an ultra-thin monofilament system. Prepare to be captivated by George's fascinating stories and extensive expertise as he immerses you in the dynamic world of fly fishing! Show Notes with George Daniel on Dynamic Nymphing 03:00 - George was on the podcast for the first time at WFS 055 where we mainly talked about his teaching philosophy, guiding, Joe Humphries, and a number of other great topics including fishing Musky. 03:50 - George now teaches full-time at Penn State University. He is now the Director of the Joe Humphreys Fly Fishing Program. He teaches a total of 7 sections there with about 25 students in each section. 09:20 - George talks about how he teaches fly fishing clinics. 11:00 - We dig into one of the books he wrote, Dynamic Nymphing: Tactics, Techniques, and Flies from Around the World. 13:20 - George states that "80% of the problems people have with euro nymphing is lack of line control". He explains why. 17:05 - We talk about how he fishes pools with a euro nymph setup. 21:00 - George talks about how an ultra-thin monofilament system takes a lot of the guessing work out when hooking a fish. 22:30 - George describes how euro nymphing rods eliminated the need for tapered leaders. 27:20 - We talk about Joe Humphreys, who was already Czech nymphing before the Czech Republic was a country. He also noted Frank Sawyer, the guy who created Pheasant Tail Nymph and was fishing 12-foot cane poles back in the day. 29:55 - George doesn't teach Euro nymphing with his basic class because his students lose interest in dry fly and streamer fishing. 33:00 - We noted Joe Humphreys's book on Trout Tactics where George learned his foundations in nymphing until he joined the US Fly Fishing Team. 34:00 - Lance Egan and Jeff Currier were already on the team when George joined. 36:20 - George tells the story of when he went to Northern Italy for a year and he was the Captain of the team. 37:45 - George talks about trail running every day for 10 years straight and only missing 3 days. 43:00 - George talks about how Devin Olsen has immensely evolved throughout the years. 43:44 - George talks about how his book, Dynamic Nymphing came to be with the help of Jay Nichols from Stackpole Books. 45:10 - George has a YouTube channel. Check out his videos here. 46:10 - George also wrote 2 other books called, Strip-Set: Fly-Fishing Techniques, Tactics, & Patterns for Streamers, and Nymph Fishing: New Angles, Tactics, and Techniques. He's working on his 4th book called, Fly Fishing Evolution which is expected to be published in October 2023. 49:20 - George has a Masterclass Series on Vimeo that you can stream. 50:17 - He talks about one of his favorite patterns, the Sunburst Sulfur which is a perdigon pattern, and describes how he fishes it. 53:00 - George talks about Karst Geology and Limestone Stream in Central PA. 56:55 - George noted some of the conservation groups in Central PA like the Clearwater Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and others. 1:02:10 - George tells the story of when he unintentionally kicked a musky when he was snorkeling. 1:07:20 - George talks about playing basketball in high school and getting a scholarship for it. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/467

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/466 Presented By: Togens Fly Shop, Dette Flies, Bearvault, Mavrk Fly Fishing Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors It's boat talk today with Chris Callanan as we delve deep into Outcast Boats. We explore his tips on finding the perfect boat, including their unique tweaks to float tubes and the significance of internal bladders in all their boats. We also gain valuable insights into the boating industry. Let's jump into the realm of boats, float tubes, and of course, fly fishing from a whole new perspective. Outcast Boats Show Notes with Chris Callanan 03:16 - We did a stillwater event with Phil Rowley, giving away a Fish Cat 4 Float Tube from Outcast. Chris reveals that the Fish Cat 4 is their top-selling float tube because of its good design and materials. And speaking of float tubes, we look back to the '80s and '90s and explore the evolution and notable differences between float tubes of the past and the designs and materials used in today's models. 05:00 - Outcast provides a range of float tube sizes to cater to individuals' varying needs and sizes. They have two models for the bigger guys: the Prowler and the Fish Cat 5 Max. Chris Callanan's Fly Fishing Story 07:00 - Chris grew up in Buffalo, New York. His father was a physician who loved fishing and hunting, so they moved to Idaho, where he and his dad spent their weekends fishing together. 07:53 - Chris had the opportunity to work during the summers as a fishing guide for the Yellowstone Angler, becoming George Anderson's second employee. 09:26 - Today, Chris lives in Idaho and is working for AIRE, with Outcast as the fishing side of the company. AIRE and Outcast Sporting Gear Products 16:47 - Outcast has been in business since 1995. According to Chris, one notable feature of their products is the inclusion of internal bladders. He breaks down the significance of these bladders to safety and simplified repair processes. 22:51 - We discuss frameless boats like the Fish Cat Scout IGS and the OSG Stealth Pro. 24:57 - Phil Rowley is a big fan of the PAC 9000, an exceptional all-around boat offered by Outcast. 27:35 - The PAC 1400 is the top-selling raft frame on the Outcast side. For AIRE, it's the Super Duper Puma. 30:06 - Chris recommends the OSG Clearwater and OSG Commander if you're steelhead fishing. The OSG Commander is more of a kayak-style boat. For Chris, the OSG Clearwater is also an excellent all-around boat. 35:19 - The OSG Striker is one of the staff-favorite. It is a frameless two-person raft that weighs 100 lbs. 39:00 - Besides their boats, Outcast offers a wide range of boating accessories, including fins, oar locks, oar stops, oars, pumps, and more. They also offer durable bags made from leftover boat materials. 39:54 - Chris highly recommends the AIRE 136DD as the perfect boat for longer trips, including full weekends and overnight adventures. 46:59 - We also talk about our stillwater guru, Phil Rowley, who has a long-standing partnership with Outcast. 50:43 - Chris provides a detailed breakdown of the business operations at Outcast. Coffee Talk with Chris 1:00:00 - Chris loves black coffee and admits to being a coffee snob, having lived in Seattle for a while. He also enjoys making his coffee. 1:02:00 - Chris admits to still using the rod George Anderson gave him 40 years ago during his time at the Yellowstone Angler. He uses a 6-wt. rod for everything, a choice that Phil playfully teases him about. 1:03:48 - Chris loves the Smartless and The Rewatchables. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/466

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/465 Presented By: Yellowstone Teton, Trxstle Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Get ready for an exciting episode as we take another dive into the enchanting realm of Henry's Fork - an angler's paradise. Mike Lawson, founder of Henry's Fork Anglers and a fly fishing author, is back on the podcast for the second time to take us on a captivating journey through the vibrant hatches, diverse waters, and hidden gems at Henry's Fork. We learn the art of matching the hatch and discover the magic behind renowned patterns like the Renegade, Speckled Spinner, and Parachute Adams. Mike unveils the secrets of Henry's Fork, sharing its unique features like spring creeks and tailwaters, and some insights on setting up your fly box. We also get to know the friendly experts at the Henry's Fork Anglers fly shop. Stay tuned as we unravel the wonders in one of the world's top fly fishing destinations. Show Notes with Mike Lawson on Fly Fishing Henry's Fork 02:00 - We had Mike on the podcast for the first time in episode 190. 03:45 - The Greendrake hatch typically starts sometime after June 15 at Henry's Fork. 04:45 - They recently had a long winter snow so they anticipate Salmonfly hatch soon. It typically lasts for only 7 to 10 days. 06:20 - From September until October, they have some Blue-winged Olived and occasional Mahogany Dunns from early to late September depending on what the year is like weatherwise. 08:00 - You can visit HenrysForkAnglers.com to check out the chart of different hatches at Henry's Fork. 08:45 - Mike wrote 2 books with Stackpole - Spring Creeks and Fly-Fishing Guide to the Henry's Fork: Hatches, Flies, Seasons & Guide Advice for 80 Miles of World-Class Water 10:59 - Mike talks about what makes Henry's Fork special, describing its diversity from spring creeks to tail waters, and more. 13:41 - We talk about the different hatches and the fly that matches. 22:45 - We talk about Harriman State Park. 29:25 - Mike talks about how he sets up his fly boxes. 31:28 - Tricos at Henry's Fork hatch in July and peaks in August. 35:20 - We noted the Renegade fly pattern, the insect it imitates, and why it works. 46:50 - We noted the Speckled Spinner fly which matches with Calibates species. 48:40 - Parachute Adams is still one of the best all-around dry flies. 52:25 - Flav Mayfly is one of Mike's favorite hatches in the Summer. 53:43 - Mike explains when you would use a hackle versus a no-hackle fly. 58:30 - We touch on the Spotted Sedges fly. 1:04:00 - If you want to visit the Henry's Fork Anglers fly shop, you can look for Chris or Andy to get some assistance. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/465

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/464 Presented By: Drifthook Fly Fishing, Waters West, BearVault Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Join me and Topher on an exciting adventure into the world of Atlantic salmon fishing! He takes us to stunning rivers in Quebec and famous spots like Norway, where these magnificent fish are waiting to be caught. Topher will spill all the details about his epic fishing trips, like the time he reeled in a whopping 45 salmon in just one week! He's always up for a challenge and loves finding fish that give him a real fight. Learn all about what affects salmon behavior, like temperature and water levels, and discover the secrets to picking the perfect fly. Topher's got some awesome favorites, like the fancy Picasse pattern. He'll also spill the beans on gear and techniques that work best. If you've ever wondered about Atlantic salmon fishing, Topher's got all the answers to the burning questions. Get ready for thrilling tales of success and learn about the important conservation efforts in the mix. Get hooked on the enchanting world of Atlantic salmon fishing in this super exciting episode! Show Notes with Topher Browne on Fishing for Atlantic Salmon 05:30 - Quebec has one of the best pay-to-play access to fish Atlantic salmon. In Nova Scotia, you have to get a salmon license for about 125 CAD to fish any rivers there the whole season. 08:30 - The Kola Peninsula in Russia is a great destination for Atlantic salmon but unfortunately, it's now closed because of the recent war. Topher noted that Norway and Quebec are his two favorites for Atlantic salmon fishing. 17:10 - Topher's best week for fishing Atlantic salmon is when he caught 45 of them. 18:10 - Topher is looking for fish that will kick his ass. 23:05 - Temperature affects the Atlantic salmon numbers and activity but it has more to do with water levels. 26:30 - Topher talks about the book, Greased Line Fishing. 32:20 - Topher wrote a book for Wild River Press called, Atlantic Salmon Magic which took 2nd place in the National Book Awards. 43:20 - Bigger flies (4 to 5 inches long) work better if the river is big and muddy so that the fish can see it. If the water is clear, you can use smaller flies. 46:25 - Topher's favorite fly is the Picasse fly pattern which is a French-Canadian fly. 50:30 - Topher teaches Spey casting lessons with Rick Kustich and a few other Spey anglers. 53:50 - In a good season, the average weight of Atlantic salmon they catch is around 12 to 14 pounds. 56:00 - We've had Rick Kustich on the podcast at WFS 277 where we dug into advanced tactics for steelhead fishing. 59:00 - Topher talks about Spey Nation. Check out the events schedule here. 1:02:00 - The frequently asked questions about Atlantic salmon fishing are: 1. What should I get for gear? -Topher recommends a 14-foot, 8 or 9-wt rod if you are to bring just one rod. Then use a floating line. He breaks down the other options. 2. How do I set a hook on a wet fly? If that fly is coming across, what do I do? -You really don't want to do very much. Topher explains why. 1:11:45 - Travis Johnson recently won Spey-O-Rama at the Golden Gate. 1:17:15 - Topher got featured on Forbes.com, authored by Monte Burke. Read that article here. Topher recommends getting Monte on the podcast. 1:19:40 - We talk about Long Rod Resurgence. 1:25:55 - We noted Whitney Gould, who's the best fly caster in North America between single-handed and two-handed. She's won Spey-O-Rama 8 times. She also won the US National Casting Tournament. 1:29:50 - Topher noted the conservation group, Atlantic Salmon Federation based in New Brunswick Canada. He serves on their National Counsel. He also noted the North Atlantic Salmon Fund in Iceland. Lastly, he noted the Atlantic Salmon Trust in UK. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/464

I have a short podcast announcing a Big (little) change for the podcast this week. This is a Quick bonus episode and update letting you know that we will not be publishing this Tuesday for the first time since launching. We will be dropping Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week so the same amount of episodes just different days. Checking in anytime if you have feedback: [email protected]

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/463 Presented By: Waters West, FishHound Expeditions, Chota Outdoor Gear, Angler's Coffee Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Jon Hazlett is our guide today as we conquer the world of Rogue River fly fishing. We hear Jon's captivating tales, from his early guiding misadventures in Alaska to his favorite boat to use in the Rogue. What is on the menu today? Our main course is spey with a side of steelhead. Don't miss out on this exciting escapade on the Rogue River with Jon. Rogue River Fly Fishing Show Notes with Jon Hazlett 03:35 - Jon got into fly fishing when he was 11. 06:51 - Jon got into guiding in 1998 through his close friend, Chris Lyda, who was guiding in Rainbow King Lodge in Alaska. He also recounts the unexpected events that led him to be fired from that very job. 09:39 - Jon's friend Chris Lyda helped him secure a job in Elk Creek Lodge in Colorado, where he guided for trout and even dabbled in elk hunting. It was during this period that Jon met his first wife, who hailed from Southern Oregon, ultimately leading him to discover the Rogue River. 10:15 - During his three seasons of guiding at Elk Creek Lodge, Jon met Brian Gies from Fly Water Travel, and that's how he got into guiding the Rogue River. 13:40 - Jon talks about the Rogue River and the fishing opportunities there. 20:08 - Jon paints a picture of what a trip to the Rogue would look like. 25:59 - Jon discusses the different techniques they use when fishing the Rogue River. Jon says he bases all his decisions on the water type, water conditions, and the time of day. 29:09 - Jon prefers to use an AIRE 136DD raft when Rogue River Fly fishing. Spey Lessons with Jon 32:43 - Jon talks about his spey lessons and his website. We also hear about some of Jon's guiding stories. We had John Gierach on the show, and he talked about some good guides. 39:26 - Jon talks about the times he fished with Simon Gawesworth and Charles St. Pierre. 43:00 - Jon breaks down the D-Loop Stroke and the other casting tips and techniques he teaches. 52:30 - Jon recommends the Rogue Valley Anglers Fly Shop as a great resource for people who want to hit the Rogue River. Coffee Talk with Jon Hazlett 53:50 - Jon's go-to snack when Rogue Fly Fishing is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, beef jerky, and nuts. He recommends the Old Trapper Beef Jerky. Jon also hunts, so he usually has deer and elk pepperoni sticks. 54:58 - Jon listens to music or the NFL Network. He is also a big Pearl Jam fan. 55:57 - Jon suggests checking out the Common Block Brew Pub for people visiting the Rogue. 56:15 - If Jon were to pursue a professional career in a sport, he would opt to become a football player. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/463

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/462 Presented by: Bearvault, Daiichi, Waters West Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Jani Himanko is here to talk about fishing Finland and give us amazing options and resources on your next trip there. We find out who the other European lodges that run drift boats are. We also get a feel for this lodge and the restaurant that is literally on the river. We get an insight into the European Hall of Fame as well. Everything Finland today! Let's find out how to plan that next European vacation. Fishing Finland Show Notes with Jani Himanko 3:48 - Jani shares his first memory of fly fishing. When he saw the film A River Runs Through It, he was hooked. That's the main reason he became a fly fisher. 5:26 - He tells the interesting story of how he got to own the Kapeenkoski and how he was hesitant at first to take the opportunity. Currently, they also offer rafting and river boarding besides fishing. 11:12 - They have a place in the lodge for dining and private parties like weddings. This is located by the water which he calls a "trout land" because it's a perfect place for trouts to spawn. 14:51 - We talk about why he chose Willie Boats for their drift boats. Their river has a lot of rocks that's why they prefer aluminum boats. For the oars, I recommend him the ones from Sawyer. 16:39 - He describes Finland as very similar to Norway and Sweden in terms of language and culture. He also talks a bit more about Norway. He loves going there every year to fish with his friends. We also covered fly fishing in Norway in episodes 286 and 419. 19:40 - The closes city to their lodge is Jyvaskyla. He tells us how to visit their lodge if you're flying from New York. According to Jani, you won't be able to find Kapeenkonski on the map. Instead, search for Laukaa or Äänekoivisto. 21:51 - He mentions the species you can find in their river such as brown trout, grayling, and pike-perch or zander. They also have 20-30 lb. northern pikes. 23:28 - We dig into their guided fishing and the fishing seasons at Kapeenkoski. They are already sold out for June this year, but they have availability for July to August. 27:25 - We dig into his fishing techniques. Streamer fishing is his favorite fly fishing method. He also shares a bit about his clients' experiences. 31:45 - The best season for dry flies is late July to August. The Goddard caddis in size 10, 12, or 14 is the best pattern to have in your box. He also recommends the Swedish Super pupa. 33:56 - Aside from the fishing laws in Finland, he also makes the local fishing rules. Clients can euro nymph in their waters, but there are some restrictions which he explains further. 37:37 - We go back to dry fly fishing. 39:04 - He gives tips and information on creating your itinerary for Finland. We also talk a bit about European beers and drinks. He drinks Lonkero which he says is the Finnish national drink of fly fishermen. 43:34 - He tells a funny story about that time when he and his wife visited Munich, Germany. 45:10 - I ask him what food they usually serve their clients in Kapeenkoski. We also talk about the seasons and culture in Finland. The best time to visit is summer. 49:15 - He tells his favorite Guns N' Roses song and album. 50:20 - He shares his perspective on how Finland is different from Germany. We also dig into their country's history involving Russia and other European countries. He already has been to the Kola Peninsula in Russia many times to fish. 55:50 - When Jani was 19, he did military training for 11 months and served as a chef there. 59:16 - We talk about hunting in Finland. The species they usually hunt are ducks and moose. 1:00:41 - We dig into how they do streamer fishing. His friend, Mika Vainio, whom he says is one of the best streamer fishermen in Finland created the Musta Kostaja or "The Black Avenger". 1:04:08 - They have this Finnish fly called Surffilauta or the "surfboard tube fly". It's a dry fly, but it's a streamer. 1:07:09 - I ask him about his recognition as the driving force behind fishing tourism in Central Finland. His name can be found in the Finnish Fishing Hall of Fame in Kotka's Maretarium. 1:07:48 - He also writes articles for some fishing magazines such as Metsastys ja Kalastus which he says is the biggest fishing magazine in Scandinavia. 1:08:46 - I ask him about Scandinavia and fishing in Estonia. He also mentions some rivers in Finland that are great for fishing and the species you can find in each of them. 1:12:11 - We talk a bit about hockey in Finland. Jyp Jyvaskyla is his hometown's team. 1:13:40 - He shares his experience in raising his two daughters. 1:16:20 - He used to be a salesman at Rapala, a lure company. For rods and other fishing gear in Finland, he recommends Vision Fly Fishing. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/462

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/461 Presented By: Trxstle, Yellowstone Teton, Jackson Hole Fly Company Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors In this episode, we'll hear the incredible stories and adventures of Barry, a seasoned guide on Bow River. From his unexpected start as a boat rower to becoming a guide in 1977, Barry's story is full of exciting twists. Get ready to be amazed as he tells us about his unforgettable moments with famous angler Lefty Kreh and the fascinating history and geology of the area. Find out how the river's landscape has changed over time due to big floods that reshaped the map. We discover the secrets of fishing the Bow River, including the best times to fish it and fly patterns to use. Barry's expertise shines as he reveals the magic of fishing in July when the days are long and you can fish late into the night. Learn about Barry's exciting floating adventures, how he adapts to different clients' skills, and the fly shops that keep the fishing spirit alive in Calgary. And before we wrap up, we take a sneak peek into Barry's book, "My Bow River," filled with captivating fish pictures. Get ready to dive into the world of the Bow River, its hatches, and the enduring love for this incredible Canadian gem. Show Notes with Barry White - Bow River Fly Fishing 03:40 - We talk about what makes Banff a National Park in Canada. 04:30 - Barry shares the story of how Jim McLennan offered him to row their boat at Bow River Company and after one week started guiding for them. This was 1977. 07:10 - Lefty Kreh and Barry did a video on the Bow River. Unfortunately, we can't find that video on YouTube. They spent 6 days on the boat, fishing 13:00 - Bow River flows through Hudson Bay. Barry talks a little bit about the geology and history of the area. 15:30 - Barry talks about how the 3 major floodings widened the rivers in Alberta since the 1980s. Some islands disappeared on the map too. 20:00 - Barry tells the story of when Lefty flew into town. Days before that, they had a rainstorm which added 5 feet of water to the river, making it totally unfishable. When Lefty arrived, it went back to normal and they had great fishing. 23:40 - July is the best time to fish the Bow River since the water gets shallow and clean which the fish loves. 27:45 - The longest distance Barry floated is 20 miles which took him 6-7 hours. He tells us how he did it. 37:10 - Barry's setup depends on his client's ability to cast. 37:50 - A Chernobyl Ant pattern makes a good stonefly pattern. The Girdle Bug pattern makes a good dropper. Barry also like Whitlock's Beadhead Squirrel Nymph. 43:50 - In July, it doesn't get dark in Alberta until 11 pm so they can fish from 6 am to 11 pm. 47:00 - Barry talks about the book he wrote, My Bow River. This book is filled with fish pics. 52:20 - Barry talks about the different hatches they have throughout all seasons. 54:00 - Barry used to own 6 boats. Now he only has 1 and it's 35 years old. 59:00 - We hear a story of when Barry dumped their boat during a guided trip. 1:02:15 - We noted some fly shops in Calgary including the Fishin' Hole Fly Shop, Fish Tales Fly Shop, and Bow River Troutfitters. Bow River Conclusion with Barry White In conclusion, this show provided a fascinating exploration of the Bow River and its significance as part of Banff National Park in Canada. Barry, the guest speaker, shared captivating stories and insights about his experiences guiding and fishing on the river. He discussed the geology, history, and environmental changes that have shaped the area, including the impact of major floodings. The discussion also touched on the best time to fish the Bow River, recommended fly patterns, and the diverse hatches throughout the seasons. Barry's book, "My Bow River," was mentioned as a valuable resource filled with fish pictures. The episode concluded with a mention of fly shops in Calgary, providing useful information for those interested in exploring the area further. Overall, this show was an engaging and informative journey into the world of fishing on the Bow River. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/461

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/460 Presented By: Bearvault, Drifthook Fly Fishing Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Get ready to catch the big one as we jump back into Great Lakes fly fishing today. We know how much you love this, so we're serving up another dose of steelhead wisdom and adventure from the Great Lakes Dude, Jeff Liskay. We continue where we left off, building a roadmap to Great Lakes Steelhead. This time, we cover the equipment, presentation, and of course, the flies. Great Lakes Fly Fishing Show Notes with Jeff Liskay 00:34 - No Great Lakes Dude episode is ever complete without a classic story from Jeff. This time, he takes us back to 1971 when he landed his first King Salmon. 04:19 - We pick up right where we left off in episode #2 of Great Lakes Dude, where we explored the steelhead awareness zone. Jeff Liskay on Fly Presentation 04:25 - Presenting your fly first starts with your equipment. Jeff often gets asked about the ideal rod and line to buy. When choosing a rod, consider where you'll fish the most. 05:38 - Longer rods provide better line management and control over our presentation than shorter ones. 06:35 - It's all about payload delivery when choosing rods and lines. There's no bad rod or line, just bad rod-to-line matching for what you're trying to achieve. Single-Hand Rod Set Ups 07:23 - A 10 ft long with 6, 7, or 8 wt. is recommended for single-hand rods. A 7 wt rod is suitable for smaller venues like Ohio and PA. 08:02 - Regarding lines, the two choices are streamer lines or steelhead taper lines. Jeff's go-to is the Scientific Anglers Mastery Titan Taper Fly Line. For larger venues, Jeff uses the Scientific Angler Anadro Indicator. 09:59 - If Jeff had to pick one rod that might do it all, he would choose a 10 ft 8 wt single-hand rod. Switch and Two-Hand Rod Set Ups 10:31 - Ohio, PA, New York, and all the other Great Lakes Venues can be classified into two categories. The first one is switch trout spey and short spey. This family of rods starts at 10 ft 6 inches to 11 ft. 9 inches, ranging from 4 wt. to 8 wt. 11:19 - Jeff generally leans towards Skagit lines, and when selecting a grain window for a switch rod or short spey, he finds that the 400 to 450 range can get the job done. 13:23 - Jeff walks us through the setup for two-hand rods. According to him, these rods typically range from 12 ft to 15 ft in length and range from 6 wt to 10 wt. 20:12 - For those starting, Jeff's recommendation is to learn it all. 22:01 - Jeff discusses the pros and cons of swung flies. 29:09 - When presenting a fly, the rod's position and casting angle are all part of the equation. 37:37 - Jeff talks about line mending and suggests that one needs to be good at aggressive mends rather than minor adjustments typically used in trout fishing. 40:00 - Jeff's fly box contains a greater variety of sizes and colors rather than a wide range of distinct patterns. 44:50 - Jeff's rule for your tip system is to fish with a shorter distance when the water is cold or dirty and to fish with a longer distance when the water is warm and clear. 46:00 - Jeff discusses the factors to consider when choosing the right sink tip. Choosing the Right Fly 55:36 - Jeff recommends baitfish patterns, egg patterns, and some aquatic bug patterns for nymphing. Pick one or two patterns for each and tie those in three sizes to match the water clarity. 57:48 For swung fly patterns, Jeff says he mostly fishies unweighted flies. He uses three sizes of his six best patterns for low, average, and high water conditions. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/460

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/459 Presented by: Trxstle, Stonefly Nets Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Richard Wilby, the man behind Forged Fly Fishing, shares his journey of creating a fly reel company and a fishing gear company simultaneously. He shares his lineup of reels, what it's like living in Merritt BC, and the rich stillwaters of the area around this part of the world. We also find out which is the perfect stillwater reel. Forged Fly Fishing Show Notes with Richard Wilby 3:10 - Richard tells how he first got into fly fishing and why he started his company, Forged Fly Fishing. The first reel they launched was called Requiem in remembrance of his father. 5:32 - Not soon after releasing the Requiem, they launched the Royale which is now upgraded to be called Anthem Steelhead/Spey Reel. 6:15 - He explains the difference between a center pin reel and a mooching reel. 6:55 - For stillwater fishing, they have the Invictus Fly Reel which is a smaller version of the Anthem. 7:43 - We dig into his process of starting a fly reel company. The most difficult part of his journey was finding proper manufacturers. 10:05 - He has complete control over every aspect of the design of their reels. He shares more about the process of designing their products. 12:18 - He talks about their current location in Merritt BC which is his sister's cattle ranch. 13:39 - He mentions some places in their area where you can catch giant Kamloops rainbows. His favorite lake to fish in is Knouff Lake. 15:48 - He uses the Swellfish Classic Inflatable Boat (12'10"). 17:23 - He proudly talks about his Pro Staff at Forged Fly Fishing. 18:53 - We dig into the other company he started in 2018 called Spitfire Fishing Products. He named it after his grandfather who fixed and designed machine guns for the Spitfire aircraft and the Hurricane during World War II. 21:31 - One of their sought-after products at Spitfire is their Hawker Spoons. All of their products at Spitfire are for ocean, stillwater, and any type of fishing. 24:53 - They also have Pro Staff at Spitfire. 26:11 - They have physical shops in their area. Their products are also available in several fly shops in Canada which you can find in the Retailers section on their website. 28:15 - He shares how he gets going out there during stillwater season. He fishes mostly in the spring and more in the fall. This year, he plans to do more river fishing. 29:52 - We dig into steelhead fishing. For steelhead runs, he usually goes to Cowichan River with a Scandi setup during winter right around Christmas. 33:37 - He gives a heads-up about their products at Forge Fly Fishing and Spitfire Fishing Products. 34:43 - We talk a bit about Riley, his dog which is a Golden Retriever and Border Collie cross. She loves the water. 35:28 - He tells more about what they do in his sister's cattle ranch. He and his wife have been helping out there. 39:40 - For stillwater fishing, his fly box usually contains a lot of leech, scud, and blob patterns. 41:12 - He talks about the new big thing that's coming out soon from Forged Fly Fishing. He also shares a significant tip for manipulating the reel while fishing. 45:09 - I ask him about his bucket list of trips. This includes Terrace and Kenai. 46:20 - For stillwater fishing, his go-to fly is a ruby-eye leech. 46:38 - He mentions some of the guys in their area who are reliable sources for fishing. Some of them are their Pro Staff at Forged and John Kent who designed the pumpkin head leech. 47:32 - He describes what it's like living in Merritt BC. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/459

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/458 Presented By: Waters West, Country Financial, Chota Outdoors, and Togens Fly Shop Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Jeff Brady from Mystic Outdoors to share the story of how he purchased a fly rod company during Covid and what it took to keep this thing above water and growing. Jeff also digs into choosing the fly rods and what it takes to choose the right fly rod for the species you are chasing. You can listen to the entire the Podcast or read more below. Mystic Outdoors Show Notes with Jeff Brady 03:56 - Jeff had a great season and noted The Wasatch Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo 04:20 - Jeff also noted a really cool event in Colorado called Trout Fest. Trout Fest Colorado is a one of a kind summer festival and celebration of conservation, education, and fly fishing. 04:32 - Jeff mentioned that shows are a pricey investment but it's so much fun to see everybody, see your friends and talk a little business with people and meet people like us. 04:48 - We talked about the cost of the booth at a typical show, and as per Jeff, it depends on the show; the range is going to be anywhere from 800 to 2,000 dollars for a 10 by 10 booth. 05:32 - Jeff also mentioned the travel cost, logistics cost, shipping cost, and all those things. It's a major investment, but at the end of the day, typically, there's a big return that you look forward to. 06:29 - Jeff talks about Stillwater; that is one of the categories they are focusing on. Phil Rowley is Mystic Outdoors Ambassador and he's the host of our Littoral Zone Podcast. 06:55 - There's definitely been an increase in interest in Stillwater flyrods. Jeff mentioned that he has seen a big boom in the sale of his M-Series Fly Rods. 07:16 - Jeff mentioned that there are a lot of new fly-fishing men and women in the industry. There's been a large increase in fishing pressure, particularly in Colorado, Utah, the West, the North East, and the North West. People are looking for a little more solitude. Stillwater Fishing is one type of fishing that allows you to find more solitude on the water. 9:04 - Dave makes the analogy between Michael Jordan and Phil Rowley. Who do you think would win in a one on one fishing competition. 9:18 - Hey, Jeff attended the Denver The Fly Fishing Show this year. The Denver Fishing Show is one of the biggest fly fishing show of the year. 10:57 We talked about the live event from the giveaway where you get the chance to win a fishing trip and huge fly fishing gear pack. Click here to check out the next event 11:45 - Jeff was born and raised in the Dallas, Texas, area, and he went to college there. He always had a burning desire to be a ski bum because that's what he wanted to do. 13:00 Jeff failed his last college test and decided to move west with his 1987 4Runner packed up and ready to go. They headed to the Red River in Mexico. 17:38 - Jeff shared that all of their rods, from their premium entry-level rod, The Inception, all the way up to their trimmer saltwater line, were designed by Dennis Klein. Learn more about the Mystic Story here 20:25 - Jeff noted the popularity of there Reaper X Fly Rod. He also made a analogy of the blind cast off and how the Reaper X will stand up to any rod in the market. 24:56 - Jeff shared story about Dennis Klein who designed their every line up rods. 28:56 - Jeff talked about the Sapphyre Rod series and how it's one of the only women's fly rod series. 29:54 - Jeff shared that they have two rods in their line-up, the Inception Fly Rod and the Inception with Mystic Outdoors Case Special, that are manufactured in China. 34:00 - Jeff talked about Covid and how their business impacted the industry as a whole. He was incredibly impressed with the creativity that fly shops across the country came up with to stay afloat. 35:10 - Jeff shared their business strategy for 2020: get out to shows, get busy with the brands, and talk about the plans to reenter the fly-shop market. 35:28 - Jeff mentioned that when he was in Nebraska doing his day job in March 2020, he was planning to fly to Michigan to do the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo, but it was cancelled due to the pandemic and was diverted to Denver. 37:24 - We talked about how show season was a big part of their business particularly in 2020. 38:06 - Jeff shared that in 2020, even if there's a pandemic, the fly fishing industry will grow because, by nature, fly fishing is socially distancing and an outdoor activity, and people want to go outside. 38:42 - Jeff shared that they survived in 2020 and moved in 2021 by having more conversations with fly shops and starting to rebuild that kind of relationship. 41:09 - Jeff described how he pitches to a fly shop and 3 most important benefits he offers as a company to local fly shops. 44:11 - Jeff shared that he loves Trout Species, and he started to introduce Stillwater to his routine. 44:37 - Jeff talked about the last of May, together with his couple of friends in Baja Mexico. They chase

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/457 Presented By: Waters West, Trxstle, Mavrk Fly Fishing, Dette Flies Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors In this episode, we meet Craig Richardson - Head Guide at Fly Cast Away on St. Brandons Atoll, Guide at Como Maalifushi in the Maldives, and WorldCast Anglers. Craig's early entry into competitive fishing in South Africa sets the stage for our exploration of euro nymphing and the drawbacks of excessive tight lining. He shares an intriguing story about landing his first guiding opportunity in a tigerfish river, highlighting a significant milestone in his angling journey. Craig provides valuable recommendations for those dreaming of a Seychelles trip and discusses the amazing strength of Humphead Parrotfish, the angry nature of Giant Travellies, and the unpredictable allure of Triggerfish. The conversation also touches on Craig's fishing adventures with Jeff Currier and his current work at Bob Marriott's Fly Shop in Los Angeles, adding another exciting dimension to his angling journey. This episode is filled with insights, stories, and a shared passion for the sport. Show Notes with Craig Richardson 03:00 - We had Jako Lucas in the podcast in episode 281 where we dug into Jako's top 20 fly fishing destinations. 05:00 - An average Giant Trevally size is about 75-85cm. A bigger one is about a meter. And a huge one is about 115-120cm. 14:05 - Craig got into competitive fishing at 13 years old when he joined the youth team in South Africa. 18:00 - Craig tells the story of how he was offered his first guiding gig in a tigerfish river in South Africa. 26:30 - Baitfishing for carp is the largest community of fishermen in South Africa. 28:10 - Craig based all of his fishing knowledge on the book, Trout Hunter: The Way of an Angler by Rene Harrop. 35:00 - Craig explains why focusing too much on tight lining is bad for euro nymphing. 46:00 - FlyCastAway.com and AlphonseFishingCo.com are great companies to book your Seychelles trip with. 46:30 - We talk about the Humphead Parrotfish and what makes this creature special. 48:25 - Giant Travellies are one of the maddest and most aggressive fish in saltwater. 49:10 - Parrot fish fights really hard. Their beaks are like bolt cutters. 50:30 - People usually come to Seychelles to target GTs but end up loving Triggerfish. 52:00 - Watch this Triggerfish attack a diver. 54:00 - We talk about Jeff Currier. Craig tells us how they used to fish together a lot when they became neighbors. 1:02:30 - Craig is in Los Angeles right now, working for Bob Marriot's Fly Shop. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/457

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/456 Presented By: FishHound Expeditions In this episode of Ask a Pro, we catch up with Adam Cuthriell from FishHound Expeditions, a company specializing in wilderness heli and float trips in Alaska. Adam takes us through the ins and outs of mousing for rainbows, one of the most exciting ways to fish for these amazing creatures. We dig into the techniques involved in presenting your mouse fly to make it appear like a real mouse as well as some invaluable tips on the importance of positioning yourself upstream of the fish and the benefits of using articulated mouse patterns to help with fish mortality. We also explore other fun ways to fish for rainbows including swinging streamers, as well as the rivers that the FishHound crew typically fishes in, such as the Kwethluk and Kuskokwim Rivers. Adam tells us the best fly lines for mousing, and we take note of some of the mouse patterns that they commonly use, such as the Rio Pip Squeak and Mr. Hankey. Join us as we dive deep into the world of mousing for rainbows with Adam from FishHound Expeditions. Show Notes with Adam Cuthriell 00:40 - We did the first round of Ask a Pro last year at WFS 346 with Adam. 01:20 - Adam tells us what FishHound is all about - heli and float trips throughout Alaska for rainbows, arctic grayling, dolly varden, salmon, and more! 02:40 - We talk about the rivers that they usually fish like the Kwethluk and Kuskokwim Rivers - beautiful rivers! 04:55 - We talk about how mousing for rainbows works and the best times to do them. 09:25 - Adam describes how to present your mouse fly to make it appear like a real mouse panicking and making its way out of the water. 10:55 - We talk about how to cast a big mouse fly. 12:30 - Tip: Position yourself upstream of where the fish is. Adam explains this technique. 13:45 - Adam describes what mousing looks like when you're fishing from a boat. 15:40 - Adam recommends the Outbound Short fly line by Rio. 17:05 - Swinging streamers with a 2-handed rod is also a fun way to fish for rainbows. 18:00 - We noted some mouse patterns that they commonly use like the Rio Pip Squeak and Mr. Hankey. Anything that's articulated is great because it helps with fish mortality. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/456

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/455 Presented By: Daiichi, Waters West, Drifthook Fly Fishing, Dalton - Country Financial Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Ready to explore the world of Catskills fly fishing? In today's episode, John Shaner takes us into the Catskills area and describes the flies, the people, and the history of these famous waters. We also dig into some of the famous hatches of the East, and we get a full scoop on the people, the places, and what makes this all unique and historic. Plus, we hear stories about the legendary Theodore Gordon. It can't get any better than this! Tune in now. Catskills Fly Fishing Show Notes with John Shaner 03:54 - John tells us how he first got into fly fishing. 04:39 - John shares insights on the reasons behind the prominence of Catskills in fly fishing, but he believes the Catskills is not the birthplace of fly fishing in the US, even though some may disagree. 08:01 - John has a connection with the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, and they recently reviewed the fly collection, gaining insight into the evolution of fly development in the Catskills. John Shaner on Theodore Gordon 08:57 - John discusses Theodore Gordon's role in introducing and popularizing dry flies in the US. 10:17 - Roy Steenrod, Herman Christian, and Rube Cross are some of the people who continued the Catskill dry fly fishing after Gordon died in 1915. 13:35 - While Theodore Gordon is primarily known for fishing in the Neversink, he also had fishing experiences in the Beaverkill and the Limestone Streams of Pennsylvania. 15:03 - In the late 1940s, John McDonald collected Gordon's notes and letters into a book called The Notes and Letters of Theodore Gordon. 16:18 - John is a big George Edward MacKenzie Skues fan. 18:39 - We learn the difference between the English chalk streams and the Catskills. 20:10 - We talk about some big names in Catskills fly fishing, like Ed Van Put and Joan Wulff. We also talk about the Darbees and Dette. Dette Flies is one of our sponsors on the show. 30:25 - John gives us an overview of the locations to explore in the Catskills and the best times to fish there. 38:52 - We learn more about the Catskill flies, especially the Hendrickson hatch. 42:51 - John walks us through his fly fishing setup. For his rod, John mostly fishes exclusively in 4 wt. He uses a 9ft. 4wt. Graphite rod, and he prefers long leaders. A short leader for him is anything less than 15 feet. 44:57 - We did an episode with John Hudgens and talked about their leaders. Check out here: The Anglers Academy with John Hudgens - Henry's Fork, Bolivia, Dry fly Fishing. 45:43 - John highlights the importance of hook strength, which he says many people might not think about. 54:38 - We delve into more details about the Hendrickson hatch. Two Indicators to Identify a Hendrickson Hatch Forsythia - The blooming of the shadbush is an indicator of the Hendrickson hatch. Elder leaf - Another sign of the Hendrickson hatch is when the elder bush's leaves reach the size of a squirrel's ear. 1:00:18 - John suggests getting early accommodations for people visiting the Catskills. 1:02:44 - Aside from Theodore Gordon's book, John also recommends Sparse Gray Hackle's Fishless Days, Angling Nights, Art Flick's Streamside Guide to Naturals and Imitations, Harry Darbee's Catskill Flytier: My Life, Times, and Techniques, and Fly Fishing the Beaverkill by Gary Lafontaine and Eric Pepper. 1:14:39 - We talked about John's brief guiding career. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/455

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/454 Presented By: Dette Flies, Stonefly Nets, Bearvault, Togens Fly Shop Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Today we have a special guest, Mark, who is not only a talented angler and a Navy veteran but also turns out to be my long-lost cousin. So we start off the conversation by discussing our family connection. We talk about how he volunteers for Project Healing Waters by helping veterans by tie flies and fishing with them. Mark shares with us his experience being on a Navy ship and then delves into his love for kayak fishing. We also talk about the Kayak Fishing Northwest events in Oregon and Idaho and a walkthrough on how we can sign up for them. Mark then talks about how they get prepared for the KFNW tournament and breaks down his top 5 flies for smallmouth bass. We wrap up the episode by talking about my dad, Doug Stewart, and what he admires most about him. Show Notes with Mark Middleton 03:55 - Mark's stepfather was my dad's cousin. We talk about our family connection. 11:07 - We talk about how he was introduced to Project Healing Waters. Now he helps veterans tie flies and fish with them. 12:30 - We had Beau Beasley on the podcast where we talked about the new book that he was working on which has 40 powerful stories from veterans with traumatic pasts. We got emotional on that episode, it was really touching. 15:30 - Mark talks about his experience being on a Navy ship. 18:55 - Mark talks about kayak fishing. He's got a Hobie kayak he uses when fishing in big lakes. 22:55 - We talk about Kayak Fishing Northwest events in Oregon and Idaho and how you can sign up for them. 29:15 - We talk about how using a sounder or finder helps in Stillwater fishing. 31:15 - Mark talks about how they get prepared for the KFNW tournament. 38:30 - Mark breaks down his top 5 flies for smallmouth bass: 1. Simi Seal Leech 2. Baitfish Brush 3. Popper 4. Wooly Bugger 5. Damsel or any bug imitation 39:28 - We talk about fishing the Umpqua and the Payette Rivers. 42:50 - They have a training event coming up at KFNW that will be held in Henry Hagg Lake. You can check their schedule and sign up for the event here. 48:18 - Mark feels younger when he joins these tournaments and he gets to spend time with his son Mark Jr. 54:55 - We talk about my dad, Doug Stewart. Mark calls him every once in a while to check on him. Mark tells us what he admires most about my dad. 1:02:35 - Mark and his wife are going to Alaska in July. He noted a video that shows the exact trip that they're taking. Watch below. 1:06:25 - We noted my dad's book, The Practical Fly Fisher: Lessons Learned from a Lifetime of Fly Fishing. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/454

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/453 Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/teton In this episode, Darren Huntsman will be sharing his expertise on some of the best top lakes in Idaho and beyond. Not only that, but he'll also be giving some game-changing tips for stillwater fishing that you won't want to miss. So if you're planning a trip to Idaho or just looking to up your fishing game, be sure to tune in and join us for this informative and fun-filled episode. Lakes in Idaho Show Notes with Darren Huntsman 2:47 - Darren tells us how he got into fly fishing. He grew up just outside of Shelley, Idaho. 3:48 - He shares how STLWTR Fishing Co. came about. 4:43 - I ask him about the stillwater opportunities in eastern Idaho. 5:16 - He mentions some lakes in Idaho that are good fisheries. 7:53 - He gives recommendations on planning a trip to Idaho. 9:03 - We talk about Hebgen Lake. 11:15 - His favorite thing about stillwater is that the fish are bigger. 12:01 - We dig into his stillwater fly fishing technique. 12:53 - One of the focuses of STLWTR Fishing Co. is to get more kids fishing. 13:22 - We talk about boats. He has an old 16ft Klamath which is his favorite boat to fish out of. 14:44 - Aside from Hebgen Lake, one of the easiest to get up to is Chesterfield Reservoir. 17:56 - He shares his setup and techniques in fishing the Chesterfield Reservoir. 22:30 - We talk about the recently held Southeast Idaho Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Expo. 24:38 - He tells what is it that makes Southeast Idaho unique. 25:36 - He talks about fishing in Alaska. He ran fishing trips from 1991 to 2015. 30:22 - We dig into his plans for STLWTR Fishing Co. 31:46 - We talk about why stillwater fishing has not gotten traction as much as the others like river fishing. 32:55 - I mention our Littoral Zone episode with Phil about approaching new lakes. 34:15 - He shares more about his experience during the Southeast Idaho Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Expo. 36:55 - He gives us a list of his top flies. 39:06 - I ask him about private lakes in their area and Sheridan Creek. He also mentions the Eagle Ridge Ranch. 41:22 - He tells more about the times of the year they fish in some of the lakes in Idaho. 41:53 - He highly recommends fishing in Henry's Lake. 42:47 - He mentions the species you can find in Hebgen and Henry's lakes. He also recommends other lakes and lodges in Idaho if anyone is planning to visit. 45:20 - Darren is a stonemason by trade. He did all the stonework for Angler's Lodge. 45:38 - We talk about Johnny Sack's Cabin. 46:39 - Their area is just a shooting distance almost from Yellowstone Park. 47:05 - He tells about the changes he has seen in Idaho through the years, particularly in the fly fishing scene. 50:06 - His go-to local fly shop is Jimmy's All Seasons Angler. He gives examples of the fishing stuff he usually gets from Jimmy's. 52:00 - He gives a list of stillwater fishing must-haves. 53:25 - He highly recommends Bill Schiess' book entitled "Fishing Henry's Lake". He also gives fishing tips that he got from the book and from Phil Rowley. 58:23 - I ask him about the type of music and the bands he loves listening to. 59:24 - I talk a bit about our next episode with Phil Rowley. He also shares a story of their experience in the Pyramid Lake. 1:03:52 - He shares his favorite place to dine in Idaho. 1:04:39 - He mentions some famous people in Idaho. He also mentions our episode with Bob Jacklyn. 1:05:57 - He tells a story about Craig Mathews. We had him in the podcast in episode 427. 1:07:13 - He used to camp with his family. His parents had a 16-foot Aristocrat lo-liner. 1:08:40 - We tackle a bit of the history of the fishery in Idaho. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/453

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/452 Presented By: Mavrk Fly Fishing, Trxstle, Angler's Coffee, BearVault Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors James Thull from Montana State University talks about what they have going at MSU Library, home of the world's largest collection of books on trout and salmon. We talk about the rich history and culture of angling through MSU's extensive book collection and over 370 interviews with anglers from around the world. James also highlights some of the notable interviews, including the ones with Bud Lilly and AK Best, as well as his experience interviewing Lefty Kreh at his house and fishing with Jeremy Wade from River Monsters. We discover the challenges James faced while traveling to different countries to conduct interviews and MSU's mission to preserve the global history, culture, and legacy of angling. Show Notes with James Thull 03:30 - They have the world's largest collection of books on trout and salmon at MSU. This collection was started by Bruce Mordan and Bud Lilly. 04:29 - Bud told James a story of an old gentleman he took fishing who landed his last fish and then died a few weeks later. 06:45 - You can head over to wetflyswing.com/msu to check out their trout, salmon, and angler history collection. They have done around 370 interview videos with anglers from around 65 to 70 countries. 19:30 - Someone donated a book signed by Isaac Walton to MSU Library. 23:30 - They collaborated with the American Museum of Fly Fishing on a project to digitize old cassette tapes. 27:05 - James recommends checking out the interviews they've done with Bud Lilly. Also the interview with AK Best. He also mentioned some of the notable ones including Lefty Kreh. 32:05 - James interviewed Lefty Kreh at Lefty's house. Lefty showed him his museum of personal artifacts. James saw a picture of Lefty with Fidel Castro and Ernest Hemmingway standing together with rods in their hand. (Unfortunately, we couldn't find this picture on Google) 37:00 - James talks about the tips Bud shared with him: The fish don't know whether you're using a $900 rod or a $90 rod. For the most part, fish strike for 2 reasons - they're hungry or they're pissed. 44:00 - James talks about going to different countries in Africa and Asia to conduct interviews. We hear about the challenges he faced along the way. 59:40 - We had Henry Winkler on the podcast in episode 334. We noted his book, I've Never Met an Idiot on the River. 1:00:40 - James talks about fishing and hanging out with Jeremy Wade from River Monsters. 1:04:30 - Their mission at MSU is to preserve the global history and culture of angling. 1:05:00 - James talks about their upcoming to Belize this fall to teach people about using archives on angling and history. 1:06:30 - We had John Gierach on the podcast for the 2nd time at WFS 434. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/452

Enter to Win Here: https://wetflyswing.com/giveaway Join the Live Announcement: https://wetflyswing.com/live Grab a Spot to the Skeena Spey School and Lodge here: https://wetflyswing.com/school Support all of our Partners below: Waterworks Lamson: https://www.waterworks-lamson.com/ Echo Fly Fishing: https://echoflyfishing.com/ Anglers Coffee: https://anglerscoffee.com/ RIO Products: https://farbank.com/pages/rio Skwala Fishing: https://skwalafishing.com/ Loon Outdoors: https://loonoutdoors.com/ Togens Fly Shop: https://togensflyshop.com/ BearVault: https://bearvault.com/ Trout Unlimited Canada: https://tucanada.org/ Skeena Spey Riverside Wilderness Lodge: https://skeenaflyfishing.com/ JH Fly Co: https://jacksonholeflycompany.com/ School of Fishing: https://schooloffishing.co/ Pieroway Rods: https://www.pierowayrods.com/ Wet Fly Swing Podcast: https://wetflyswing.com/ Enter to Win Here: https://wetflyswing.com/giveaway

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/451 Presented by: Angler's Coffee Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Simon Gawesworth is back on the podcast to drop some spey knowledge bombs all day long. We're going to discover which spey line and tip you need for trout and steelhead this year. We find out what Simon's schools look like and we get a rundown of what event you'll find Simon this year. We also dig into his new role at Far Bank. RIO Products, Skagit, and Scandi Show Notes with Simon Gawesworth 3:46 - Simon tells us what has been keeping him busy. He transitioned from Brand Manager in RIO to Education and Engagement Manager for Far Bank. 4:54 - He describes the trips and programs they conduct at Far Bank. 7:59 - He talks a bit about that time he'd been in Skeena Spey Lodge. 9:00 - He differentiates a fishing school from a clinic. 10:42 - He tells more about the Skeena Spey Lodge. 11:53 - We talk about their transition to online video education. 12:58 - Just last year, they released the second season of their education series. You can access their videos here. 15:40 - We dig into rods. For steelhead, he recommends a 7wt or an 8wt. 16:50 - He recommends what fly lines to use for a 12 or 13 ft 8wt rod. He mentions their 550gr and the 575gr Skagit lines and RIO Scandi. 19:50 - I ask about running lines. He says that the low-stretched shooting lines are the best for hooking and landing a fish. 27:57 - He encourages listeners to check their video on how to choose a sink tip. 28:55 - I ask him about the story behind the T tips. 30:26 - We dig into the RIO Skagit Mow Tips. 34:45 - We talk about trout spey. 38:03 - He compares the Skagit vs Scandi on casting. 42:41 - He tells about the biggest struggle that he has observed among people learning to cast. 45:33 - I ask him if he is interested in doing casting competitions. 47:29 - He shares his love for traveling. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/451

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/450 Presented By: BearVault, Drifthook Fly Fishing, Waters West Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Lesley Peterson, Conservation Director of Trout Unlimited Canada, talks about her involvement with the Calgary Women Fly Fishers Club and Trout Unlimited Canada, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. She discusses issues like urban and sediment runoff that pollute river systems and how TU Canada has a project to rescue fish in irrigation canals, having already rescued over a million fish. Lesley also talks about the Athabasca Rainbow Trout and the ways you can get involved in TU Canada's conservation efforts. This episode also mentions other notable conservationists and organizations who've done amazing work in stream restoration and conservation as a whole. Show Notes with Lesley Peterson 04:00 - Lesley is a part of the Calgary Women Fly Fishers Club. 04:50 - We talk about Trout Unlimited Canada. They just celebrated their 50 years anniversary. 12:50 - We talk about Urban and Sediment runoff that pollutes the river systems and ultimately, the fish. 15:20 - They have a project that rescues fish in the irrigation canals. They've rescued over a million fish now. 18:50 - We talk about the difference between the Athabasca Rainbow trout versus a regular Rainbow trout. 19:45 - You can donate or volunteer for their program. Lesley talks about the other ways to get involved.. 22:30 - Lesley is the Conservation Director at TU Canada. 31:28 - We talk about Phil Rowley being the former Marketing and Communications Director of TU Canada. Phil's got his own segment on our podcast called, The Littoral Zone. 33:15 - We talk about Cows & Fish, how this organization came to be, and its mission. 36:30 - She noted Jack Imhof who was the National Biologist/Director of Conservation in Canada for 10 years. He's done so much amazing work and taught many people about stream restoration. 42:00 - Lesley majored in Conservation Biology in Edmonton, Alberta where she got really interested in conservation. 42:45 - The Executive Director of TUC, Silvia D'Amelio is a Biologist too. She's been with TUC for 20 years. 46:00 - She noted Sporkful Podcast which she listens to a lot. Also Archored by April Volkey. We had April on the podcast way back in 2018 at WFS 30. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/450

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/449 Presented By: Angler's Coffee, Yellowstone Teton, Trxstle, Bearvault Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Brian Niska is back on the show to take us into Skeena steelhead fishing. Brian paints the picture of what you can expect if you're putting out a trip together to the Skeena Spey Lodge. He describes why he fishes the shallow water close to the bank, plus he gives us tips on how to do it. Brian really got nerdy today, and we loved it! So grab your gear because we're going deep into the weeds today with Brian. Skeena Steelhead Show Notes with Brian Niska 01:00 - We're back at it, and we're giving away a trip to Brian's lodge. 03:20 - In episode 370, we talked about the Skeena River Spey Lodge with Brian Niska. Today, we catch up with Brian and get an update on what he's been up to since then. 05:16 - Brian talks about fishing opportunities at the Skeena Spey Lodge. 10:06 - Brian paints a picture of what to expect when planning a trip to the Skeena River Spey Lodge. They have 14 A-frame cabins and a cool lodge building that used to be a barn. 11:02 - Their culinary team is top-notch, so you can always expect delicious food. 14:48 - We talk about the Spey Fishing School and how it's different from just a typical guiding trip. 15:50 - If people are interested in fly tying, they can spend time on the tying bench set up right by the pool table. They have great fly tyers amongst their guides, like Michael Orlowski and Adrienne Comeau. 24:26 - Brian tells a story about the time he caught a 30-pound Chinook Salmon in the middle of August. We had George Cook on the show before and talked about Chinook. 31:30 - Brian enjoys skiing with his family in winter. He also discusses the possibility of heliskiing at the Skeena Spey Lodge. 35:26 - Brian dives deep into the techniques, gear, and fly presentations that they use for finding fish at the Skeena Spey Lodge. 46:48 - Brian and his team use Mow Tip from RIO. 50:56 - The Skeena Lodge has a fully-stocked fly shop on the premises, where they've got a great selection of all the gears they use for fishing. 58:44 - We touched on the history of the Skeena Lodge. 1:07:00 - Brian and his team love using the Kingfisher Shallow Water Extreme boat. 1:09:00 - Brian recommends taking a day or two in Vancouver before going to the lodge. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/449

Enter Giveaway: https://wetflyswing.com/giveaway Save your spot: https://wetflyswing.com/school This is a quick bonus episode to announce the Skeena Steelhead Spey School we just launched and the giveaway that is going on now! Learn more at https://wetflyswing.com/giveaway

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/448 Presented By: Yellowstone Teton, Angler's Coffee Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Our stillwater guru, Phil Rowley, sits down with Nico Sunseri of Pyramid Fly Co. to take us to Pyramid Lake fly fishing. Nico shares his extensive knowledge of the area, giving us insight into the unique fishing techniques that work best on this North American stillwater. We hear about the history of the extinct-but-not-so-extinct Pilot Peak strain Lahontan Cutthroat. We also hear about Phil's time fishing the waters of Pyramid Lake. Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Show Notes with Nico Sunseri 01:51 - Phil went Pyramid Lake fly fishing earlier this year with Nico Sunseri and the Pyramid Fly Co. crew. A few things changed since his last visit to this North American stillwater in 2011. 02:24 - Nico also runs the BearFish Alliance Podcast, where Phil has shared his stillwater experiences as a guest several times. 07:32 - Nico grew up in San Dimas, where Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure was filmed. He is relatively new to fly fishing but has been an avid spin angler since he was a kid and used to fish at the Puddington Reservoir. 12:05 - Pyramid Lake is located 40 mi northeast of Reno, Nevada. It is home to Summit and Pilot Peak strain Lahontan Cutthroat. The Pilot Peak strain was the original strain at Pyramid Lake and was thought to be extinct in 1943 due to overfishing. Other species in the Pyramid Lake Ancient Cui-ui Tui Chub Sacramento Perch 28:56 - Nico talks about the different techniques you can try when fishing Pyramid Lake. 35:57 - He walks us through his setup with a switch rod. 46:09 - Nico also talks about using ladder chairs at Pyramid Lake. 51:40 - Nico talks about the best times to go to Pyramid Lake. March is the most popular month to hit the Pyramid Lakes waters. 55:38 - Nico tells us about the Pyramid Fly Co and how he and Capt. Robert Hagerty partnered up. He also talks about the team of experienced guides like Morgan Kane, Trevor Herring, and Cole Hildahl. 1:00:36 - Nico shares about the wide range of services offered by Pyramid Fly Co., details about the delicious food they serve, and the different accommodation packages they offer. 1:11:57 - Pyramid Fly Co. can also be found on Youtube, where viewers can catch some exciting fly fishing action on Pyramid Lake. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/448

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/447 Presented by: FishHound Expeditions Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/fishhound Cam Gordon is here today to share his journey around fishing Honduras, fly fishing, and Fishhound Expeditions. We find out how he found himself creating this Honduras fishing operation, what his next year looks like around the Fishhound Expeditions in Alaska, and what it's like to be a full-time guide. Fishing Honduras Show Notes with Cam Gordon 3:20 - Cam takes us back to how he got into fly fishing and how he made it into a business. 5:16 - He talks about when and how they started their guiding trips in Alaska. 7:54 - I ask him what keeps him in Alaska. 8:55 - March is one of his favorite months in Talkeetna, Alaska. 9:50 - He talks a bit about their guiding in Fishhound Expeditions. 11:09 - We talk about fly fishing in Honduras. He recommends Fly Fish Guanaja with Steve Brown which he says is one of the best operations for saltwater flats fishing. 12:15 - Guanaja is part of the Bay Islands of Honduras which is where he's starting his operations. 12:28 - He shares how he and his girlfriend discovered a fantastic spot in the Bay Islands. 13:20 - He talks about their soft opening in Honduras and his transition from a guide to the owner of Fishhound Expeditions. 15:06 - He describes Honduras, what to expect, and what makes it amazing for fishing. The spot where he is at is bonefish mecca. 16:02 - I ask him if the grand slam is doable in their area in Honduras. He also mentions the species you can find there. 18:25 - We talk about tarpon. 19:27 - He shares about the time when the whole Fishhound team came down to Honduras. Their head guide, Will Donnelly, also talked a bit about this in episode 401. 22:40 - He mentions some places near him to get some food and hang out. He aims to make the fly fishing resort he's starting there to be a little different from the rest. 24:34 - We dig into how he sees this venture with Fishhound as a long-term deal and how this all started as a spur of the moment when COVID-19 hit. 30:04 - For those interested to fish in the Bay Islands with Cam, they can reach out to Fishhound Expeditions. 31:12 - He has been working with Steve Brown of Fly Fishing Guanaja to start his operations there and learning everything. 34:13 - He compares guiding and fishing in Alaska vs in Honduras. 39:34 - He takes us flats fishing and shares some exciting stories of fishing in Honduras. 44:25 - He talks about how he explored the flats by himself when he first came to Honduras. 46:02 - He mentions some of the challenges he encounters when fishing there such as changing weather conditions. 47:18 - He describes the mangroves and the important role it plays in conserving the environment. 49:02 - He mentions a nonprofit organization called Fish for Change which teams up with local organizations to work on conservation initiatives. 50:26 - We touch on his Instagram account called Log Jam Productions which gives people a glimpse of his life as a backcountry fishing guide in Alaska. It also features some of his best friends whom he met through fishing. 54:50 - I ask him about his life before fishing and guiding with Fishhound Expeditions. 55:36 - He talks about the technicality of going through a whitewater. 56:39 - He shares an amazing story when his boat deflated while fishing with a father and son client in a river in Alaska. 1:02:10 - I ask him about the music scene in Honduras and the types of music he listens to. 1:03:25 - He grew up in the Great Lakes. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/447

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/446 Sponsors: BearVault, Country Financial, Anglers Coffee, Trxstle Are you planning a trip to Maine for some Fly Fishing? Would you like to find out which are the top species to chase on the fly? Greg LaBonte from Maine Fly Guys answers these questions and much more today on the podcast. Greg is the owner of Maine Fly Guys and also a professor with a focus on fisheries. He describes his take and how he utilizes his podcast, In the Film to start discussions around controversial topics. Click play below to listen to the podcast. 11:58 - Greg noted their popular blog which focuses on fish biology and life histories. Take a look at Maineflyguys.com 12:56 - We talked about how brook trout and other salmonids get stressed around 70 degrees F and can impact their survival. 13:24 - Gord Pyzer was on the podcast in episode 446 and talked about musky life history and fishing tips. 18:15 - Lefty Kreh said his favorite smallmouth bass fishing was in maine! 23:24 - The St. John River is a important fishery and is almost entirely un-dammed. The musky have thrived in this basin and have impacted brook trout. 44:25 - You can find Greg on a beach chasing stripers in the months of June, July and August. Greg's Top 7 Species for Maine: Musky Striped Bass Pike Smallmouth Bass Salmon Rainbow Trout Brook Trout Brown Trout Lake Trout 52:55 - Greg hosts the In the Film podcast where he tries to stay on the edge of topics to create a good discussion. 55:54 - Greg notes the IFW Hoot Owl regulation review episode. You can listen to in in the Film here. 59:35 - We talked about the Web Growth Code Podcast and my interview with the founder of Buzzsprout. 1:02:56 - MK Kitchen in Gorham is a must stop for great food. 1:11:54 - Shoutout to Queen!

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/445 Presented By: Angler's Coffee Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Our main man, Jeff Liskay, is back on the podcast, and he's going to take a deep dive into how to build a roadmap to success when chasing Great Lakes steelhead and salmon. We cover all things Great Lakes from gear, fly, big water, and of course, swinging flies. We also hear a classic Elk Creek story from the Great Lakes Dude. Don't miss out on this one. Great Lakes Steelhead Show Notes with Jeff Liskay 00:39 - We start the episode with a story of Jeff's first trip to Elk Creek in Pennsylvania in 1982. 05:00 - Jeff shares his insights on how to build a roadmap to success when chasing Great Lakes steelhead and salmon. 06:00 - Each river has its signature and personality that you need to understand, from the flows to the run, timing, and everything in between. There are a lot of different factors before you even wet your fly. The first thing is that you have to understand and make a mindset of what's a realistic catch rate. 09:42 - There are two distinct stream characters in the Great Lakes. 12:14 - Success starts before you leave the house. Your job is to put together a game plan way before your trip. The most successful anglers are the ones who can adjust the quickest during the day. 15:12 - Clarity is going to be a big part too. Michigan streams generally stay fairly clear. But Wisconsin streams, Ohio streams, and some New York streams, they can get fairly turbid. 18:16 - You have to make a report card for each river before deciding to fish one. 20:15 - The tributaries are going to be your go-to during super high water events. They warm quicker in the spring, so the fish will gravitate to them. They also cool quicker in the fall time, so a lot of times, there's not enough water for the fish to go up them in the fall. 20:56 - Water temperatures are very key. But water temperature is in relationship to the other rivers that are surrounding the river you plan on fishing. 22:57 - The hardest thing to overcome is the competition with fellow anglers. Jeff's tip is to fish areas with fewer anglers. Jeff's Rule of Three Execute your plan. Evaluate it. Adjust if it doesn't work. 35: 14 - Get yourself a map, find the tributaries, and divide the whole river into three sections. Always start in the lowest section possible. 42:49 - Take breaks and observe the water you are fishing. The stream always gives up its secret if you look upstream. 47:10 - If you have a question, send them over to Dave at [email protected] or Jeff. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/445

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/444 Presented By: Waters West, Daiichi Steve Potter is here today to dig into deer hair poppers and walks us through the steps in choosing the right hook for the next fly you're about to tie. We find out the best resources for fly-tying materials including some tips on how to tie bass bugs. Steve tells us why he likes it better to live in Florida than in California and where his go-to fisheries are in that area. We also find out how his signature cigar and hummingbird fly came to be... do they really work on fish? Show Notes with Steve Potter 3:40 - Steve retired from the Navy in 1985. He served for 21 years. 10:30 - We had Pat Cohen on the podcast at WFS 107. 11:10 - Steve is a Daiichi fan. He uses the 2546 hooks. 12:30 - Daiichi's got a new specialty hook - 2477. Steve uses this a lot for his game-changer flies. 16:40 - Steve now uses a regal vise but before that, he used a Thompson vise for a long time. 19:55 - For wet flies, Steve uses a 1550 Daiichi Standard Wet Fly Hook. 22:40 - For Wooly Buggers, he recommends using a 2220 Daiichi 28:40 - Steve's go-to fly is a Clauser Minnow for saltwater fishing. He uses 2546 for this one too. 30:00 - We had Enrico Puglisi on the podcast in episode 210 where we talked about how he developed the EP fibers and brushes. 33:20 - Steve lives near a golf course where there are alligator gars, crappies, and black bass in the pond. 36:00 - Steve tells us why he prefers to live in Florida than in California. 38:30 - We noted the 2720 Stinger Hook. 44:50 - We noted Joe Jackson who we had on the podcast in episode 384. He also ties some hummingbirds and other cartoon-like flies. 46:14 - Steve tells the story of when he gave a Kingfisher fly to Jeff Currier which Jeff then gave to Bryan Gregson from Yellowdog Fly Fishing. Bryan caught a rainbow with it in Kamchatka. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/444

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/443 Presented by: Dalton - Country Financial, Drifthook Fly Fishing, Mavrk Fly Fishing, Chota Outdoor Gear Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Bas Van Dam is here to take us around fishing Europe and how he has done this living out of his van. We dig into the different parts of Europe that allow this. We get a bunch of huge tips like how to find cheap houses that you can stay at that are under the radar, what the Dolomites, Italy is like, and some of the other resources that you should check out when you're planning your next trip to Europe. Fishing Europe Show Notes with Bas Van Dam 3:01 - Bas has been fly tying for almost 40 years now. 3:50 - He takes us back to how he got into fly fishing. He grew up in the Netherlands. 5:22 - He talks a bit about fishing in the remote spots he has been to. 7:37 - We dig into how his van life started and how it has been since then. He's currently in Leonidio, Greece where there's a lot of climbing. 8:24 - He talks about the challenges of living out in a van and camping in Greece and other parts of Europe. 9:49 - He gives some tips on camping in Europe. He recommends the Park4Night app. 10:52 - Their camper van is a Ford Transit. 11:41 - We dig into fishing in Europe. He says that one of the best places to fish is in Fyn, an island in Denmark. 14:08 - I ask him why Denmark is a hotspot for fishing. 16:28 - He talks about the best times to hit sea-run browns in Denmark and also do some traveling with the family. 19:17 - He recommends Go-Fishing, a fly shop in Odense, Denmark. The shop is owned by Claus Eriksen whom Bas says is one of the best fly fishermen in Denmark. 22:28 - We dig into his fishing gear and techniques. Pattegrisen or the pink pig is a famous fly from Denmark. 26:53 - He recommends some video resources on sea trout fishing in Europe such as the tourist information from Fyn and @kanalgratisdotse, a Swedish fly fishing channel. 27:50 - We further talk about sea trout fishing in Europe. 29:19 - He recommends the sea trout guidebook with the title "117 Fine Funen Fishing Grounds". 29:31 - Bas gives some tips on traveling around Denmark including holiday houses that you can stay at. 31:50 - He talks about what activities can tourists do in Denmark aside from fishing. 33:39 - We talk about the places he's been to since he started his van life and his next destination. 35:20 - He talks about why he loves the Dolomites in Italy, the best times to visit, and the species you can fish there. 37:08 - He tells about the best thing you can do when you're planning a trip to Europe and the best times to visit. 39:12 - I ask him the best places to fly into when you're coming to and going around Europe. 40:17 - He recommends some online resources on fishing in the Dolomites such as Trentino Fishing. 41:14 - He talks about getting a license or ticket that will allow you to fish in certain sections of the river in Trentino, Italy. 42:11 - He compares trout fishing in Denmark vs in Italy. 42:28 - He shares when he's going to start his trip back up north and the next destinations he's planning to visit. 44:30 - I ask him about how he plans and sets up his trips. 45:05 - Arco is the best place in Italy for sport climbing while Sarca is good for fly fishing. 45:54 - I ask him about the fly fishing niche in Europe. 46:41 - He shares his dream destination outside Europe through his camper van. 47:16 - He hiked the whole Appalachian trail with a fly rod in his backpack for six months. 47:49 - We talk about his background that allows him to live the van life. At the moment, he's a professional fly tyer. 48:18 - He used to sell his flies through Etsy. Starting May 1st, you can purchase his products at the-fly-tying-guy.com. 50:23 - Their van uses solar panels as an energy source. I also ask about the mileage and setup of his van. 53:16 - We go back to fishing in Italy and what gear to prepare for trout fishing in that area. He says Italy is an amazing place for euro nymphing. 54:51 - He tells the dry flies you should prepare for your fishing trip. 55:46 - I mention our episode with Martin Joergensen. He's the man behind GlobalFlyFisher.com which is also a good resource. 56:09 - He mentions the people that have helped him in his journey, such as John Roberts who wrote a book about grayling fishing in Europe. 56:33 - He also mentions Hans van Klinken, the man behind the Klinkhamer Special dry fly. 56:46 - He recommends Matteo Lavezzini's fly shop in Italy called Lavezzinifly and his YouTube channel @Lavezzinifly as a good resource for fishing. 57:54 - Other than browns, there are also a lot of graylings in Europe. He mentions other species you can fish in Europe. 59:14 - We talk about traveling to Netherlands and Amsterdam. 1:04:30 - He mentions the places in the US and Canada he wants to visit for fishing. 1:05:13 - I ask him where he discovered the Wet Fly Swing podcast. We also talk about euro nymphing. 1:08:16 - We do the two-minute drill w

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/442 Presented By: Togens Fly Shop, Daiichi, Stonefly Nets, Angler's Coffee Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Alen Baker is here to take us to the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians. We discover who some of the most famous people are in this region and why they have a drift boat in the museum. We also learn how they are different and similar to some of the museums around the country. Tune in and get ready to reel in some new knowledge! Fly Fishing Museum Show Notes with Alen Baker 03:00 - Alen shares how he got into fly fishing in 1981, noting that he grew up fishing with worm bait. 04:18 - Alen's idea for the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians came to fruition after a trip to Nova Scotia, where he visited the Salmon Museum and was inspired to create something similar for the South. 08:12 - The museum primarily focuses on the people and methods of fly fishing in the mountains, with a special exhibit on Ray Bergman's rod and book called Trout. 10:03 - Alen noted some individuals that have contributed significantly to the history of fly fishing in the Southern Appalachian region, like Fred and Allaine Hall, who were well-known fly pattern creators. 13:05 - The Hall of Fame has expanded to include the Ozarks and is now known as the Southern Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. It includes people like Bernard "Lefty" Kreh, Davy Wotton, Dave Whitlock, and others who have significantly contributed to the fly fishing industry, including conservationists and craftsmen. 14:08 - Other notable museums include the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum, the Fly Fishers International in Livingston, and the American Museum of Fly Fishing. 16:15 - Alen walks us through the museum's Hall of Fame selection process. The museum holds a meet and greet and induction luncheon for their Hall of Fame, followed by a museum tour. They also host a fundraiser to raise money for groups like Casting Carolinas. 19:08 - Bryson City is well known for whitewater rafting on the Nantahala Outdoor Center and the Smoky Mountain Railroad. 20:54 - The new building for the museum will feature aquariums and a cabin-style museum with a vaulted ceiling to house exhibits such as Gary and Wanda Taylor's McKenzie-style drift boat built and run in the southeast. We had Wanda Taylor on the show before. 26:15 - We had a whole mini-season on drift boats before. In one episode, we also had John Bond talk about moving his drift boat to Norway. We also had Jack Dennis in Episode 217. 28:12 - The museum has also established satellite exhibits in various locations to promote the museum and make it more accessible to people who cannot visit the primary site in Bryson City. They currently have seven satellite exhibit locations. 35:14 - Alen wrote My Fly Fishing Playbook and also a book about the museum. He will also write a follow-up book to Fly Fishermen of Caldwell County: North Carolina Life Stories. 38:46 - Alen recommends the Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing and Tuckaseegee Fly Shop for people who want to fly fish in Bryson City. 42:00 - Jim Casada, Don Kirk, and Jim Dean were some of the individuals that influenced Alen in his fly fishing. Don started his own Hall of Fame called Legends of the Fly. 46:18 - If you build it, they will come. -- Alen Baker Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/442

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/441 Presented By: Yellowstone Teton Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Bob Jacklin, the founder of Jacklyn's Fly Shop, is here today to share stories of his 50+ years of fishing, guiding, and teaching in the West Yellowstone area. He talks about who his mentor was in fly fishing and how they eventually became competitors while still being good friends. We talk about the book he wrote with Bruce Staples about West Yellowstone fly fishing and how it's relevant in today's time. Bob walks us through the best times to fish the Firehole River. And we also talk a little bit about fly fishing history where we noted some of the fly fishing legends and how he relates to those stories. Show Notes with Bob Jacklyn 03:10 - Bob opened his fly shop in April 1974. 03:55 - The Firehole River is Bob's go-to river and the Madison in the park. 04:45 - Bob just retired from guiding last year after 53 years of guiding and outfitting. 06:20 - We've had Justin Spence from Big Sky Anglers at WFS 227. 06:50 - Bob started guiding in 1969 and Bud Lilly offered him a job. They eventually became competitors but remained very good friends. 08:30 - Bob wrote a book with Bruce Staples called, Fly Fishing West Yellow Stone: A History and Guide. We also had Bruce Staples on the podcast a while back at WFS 269. 13:00 - He noted Jim Danskin who was a great angler and also feature in their book. 15:25 - Bob tells us about the fly fishing school they taught. 17:30 - Bob was one of the first 6 people that passed the certification test for the International Federation of Fly Fishers. 23:00 - Bob has kept only 6 fish in his whole life. 31:30 - Tip for new guides: Use a long leader and a long tippet. 33:10 - The best time to fish the Firehole River on the first couple weeks of June up until the first couple weeks of July. 39:00 - Bob talks about Kelly Galloup. We had Kelly on the podcast twice at WFS 52 and WFS 167. 41:10 - Sage Rods used to be called Winslow Rods. Bob also tells us about the history of Fenwick Rods, which was one of his first rods, and how it's related to Sage Rods. 44:20 - We hear about the story of how Jim Green patented the Feralite ferrule. 54:00 - Bob was a musician and was raised in a musically inclined family. He used to be a drummer when he was in the army. He also had dyslexia but did not find out until later. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/441

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/440 Presented by: Mavrk Fly Fishing, Waters West, Dalton - Country Financial Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Gord Pyzer, one of the most well-known researchers and fishermen for musky, is on the podcast today. He takes us into the Lake of the Woods and some of the great species that this place offers. We get into some big tips on chasing big predators. We get a little background on the seminar program that he does around the country and why he's so sought after. And then discover some of his cutting-edge techniques for fishing. Musky Show Notes with Gord Pyzer 3:31 - Gord tells how he started fly fishing and working with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. 5:07 - He says that Lake of the Woods is probably the largest lake and the best musky fishery in the world. 5:20 - He talks about his interest in writing about fishing. 8:53 - He mentions his good friend Dr. John Casselman who headed their aquatic research section in Ontario. 9:58 - We dig into catching muskies, specifically the figure-eight knot that is perfect for muskie and pike leaders. 13:44 - He further talks about the behavior of muskies. 15:07 - We talk about his significant work and study around muskies. 17:05 - He gives a primer on muskies such as where they are native and transplanted currently. 18:48 - We talk about the issues concerning the musky population such as over-harvesting and invasive species. 22:11 - Anglers have been good at catching fish it appears to be that the fish population has not been plummeting. 27:00 - He shares the number one thing he has learned over the years of fishing. 28:11 - He tells us about his work in Outdoor Canada magazine, the largest outdoor magazine in Canada, and In-Fisherman magazine. 30:58 - Gord has been writing for Outdoor Canada for about 42 years now and the magazine just celebrated its 50th. 32:20 - He shares what he did before writing for Outdoor Canada. 33:44 - He describes the Lake of the Woods which he considers his home water. 38:52 - The lake has 48 major species. He names some of the popular ones such as musky, lake trout, northern pike, walleye, smallmouth, and his favorite which is the yellow perch. 40:03 - We take the discussion back to muskies. He tells the reasons why they are elusive. 42:08 - I ask him about what keeps him busy these days. He just came back from an ultimate ice fishing show seminar in Toronto. 42:48 - He shares an interesting story about the seminar he did at the Toronto Spring Fishing Show. 47:48 - He tells about the similarities between pikes and muskies. They are so closely related that they crossbreed and produce tiger muskies. 50:08 - He does seminars on muskies. He tells us what he usually discusses in these events. 51:59 - He gives helpful tips on catching muskies. 53:58 - He tells the essential baits the musky anglers would need. 54:41 - He mentions their number one producing musky bait. 55:48 - I ask him about the top lures that would be used for muskies. 57:28 - He advises listeners to follow their fly fishing editor at Outdoor Canada, Scott Gardner, who is also probably the top fly fishing muskie and northern pike angler in Canada. 58:21 - We dig into conservation issues affecting the fish population specifically salmon and trout. 1:00:39 - He explains why big fish matter in maintaining and improving the fish population. 1:02:36 - He encourages people to take the time to read articles written by professionals and listen to them. They dedicated their whole lives to producing good fisheries for us. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/440

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/439 Presented By: Waters West, Trxstle, Angler's Coffee, Stonefly Nets Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Katie Burgert from the Fish Untamed Podcast is here to break out a serious chat about podcasting and the outdoors. We roamed all over the place in this one, from 50/50 to conservation to podcasting to business and everything in between. Katie's got a good podcast and a great interview style, and we're excited to share this with you. Fish Untamed Show Notes with Katie Burgert 06:05 - Katie launched the Fish Untamed Podcast in 2019. It started as a blog to make her feel connected to fishing while working a job that kept her indoors. 08:28 - I was on Katie's podcast last March 02, where we discussed swinging flies for Steelhead. 12:37 - Katie mentions she likes episodes focusing on specific species, such as her conversation with George Kaider about fly fishing for pike. 13:38 - Katie Burgert likes to focus on backcountry fishing on her show. We had a few episodes talking about gear and backcountry tips. Check out some of them here: WFS 357 - Bear Vault with Sarah Leichnetz and Grant Breidenbach - Hiking, Camping, Food Storage Fly Fishing Founders - Wilderness Lite Float Tubes with Phil Hayes - Ultralight Boats, Gregory, Outcast, REI, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers 14:55 - Katie loves to do two- or three-day backpacking trips during her days off. She prefers going to Alpine lakes, which are only accessible for a few months each year. She tends to focus on fishing in small streams and rivers for the rest of the year. 16:46 - Katie is originally from Pennsylvania, where she studied while guiding in Colorado. She has been living in Colorado since 2015. 24:39 - We delve deeper into some of the episodes of Fish Untamed. Katie's podcast primarily focuses on fishing-related topics. 25:23 - We talk about hunting and showing respect toward the animals we eat. 29:20 - We also discussed audience demographics and the Orvis 50/50 on the Water initiative. 34:46 - We discuss Podcast 2.0, and Katie shares with us her plans for the future of her podcast. 43:03 - Katie provides insights on how she records her podcast, including the equipment she uses, such as an Audio-Technica headset and the recording platform Zencastr. 48:08 - We touch on saltwater fishing, which Katie would be doing for the first time in June for their honeymoon. 50:20 - I asked Katie about some of the episodes she'd recommend for those new to listening to her podcast. 52:33 - Katie had April Vokey as a guest on her podcast shortly after April released her Anchored Outdoors program. 54:45 - Katie's target audience for the Fish Untamed podcast is backcountry fly fishing enthusiasts, and she believes that those who share that interest would find her show valuable. 56:00 - We talk about backpacking tips. We had an episode with Grant from Bearvault about Ultralight Backpacking Gear List. 59:42 - It's time for the two-minute drill, and I ask Katie what her top podcast episode is. She said the most downloaded episode is Fly Fishing for Panfish with Bart Lombardo. We also had an episode with Bart about The 13 Essential Panfish Flies. 1:00:38 - Katie said she'd choose fishing over hunting if she could only go for one thing. 1:02:00 - Katie's go-to rod is a 9ft 4wt rod. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/439

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/438 Presented By: Range Meal Bars Zach Hein, Founder of Range Meal Bars, is here today to talk about the story of creating one of the tastiest and healthiest meal bars in the world! We find out how they make it super power-packed at 700 calories as if you've had a full meal without feeling stuffed and why you have to have some for your next outdoor trip. Zach tells us how Range Meal Bar is dedicated to making these healthy bars without compromising the taste and we also get a hint of what their next flavor is going to be. Show Notes with Zach Hein 05:00 - Zach had enough of those sweet and unhealthy bars so he came up with his own version that does the job. He started bringing some outdoors and his buddies loved it. 07:00 - We had Grant Breidenbach from BearVault in episode 387B where we talked about caloric and volumetric density in packing your backpack. 08:30 - Probar makes some good bars too! We had the founder of Probar, Jeff Coleman in episode 256. 12:55 - Their first flavor is Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Coffee (Alpine Start). 13:55 - They also have Molasses, Ginger, and Sea Salt (Fresh Tracks). 22:20 - Zach took a course at Foor Innovations Center in Portland Oregon where he learned the science behind food preservation and stuff. 29:15 - Zach plans to make their 3rd flavor nut-free. 30:10 - He noted that they're a member of 1% for the Planet. We had Craig Matthew on the podcast in episode 427 where he told the story of founding 1% for the Planet with Yvon Chouinard. 37:55 - Zach tells the story of when he received an email from a person who had a struggle with an eating disorder and how Range helped boost his appetite. 39:30 - Zach goes backcountry skiing during the winter. Some backpacking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and a little bit of fly fishing. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/438

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/437 Presented by: Yellowstone Teton, Daiichi, Mavrk Fly Fishing Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Jay Peck is here to walk us through New York, and some of the rivers he guides and fishes. We discover his egg setup and how he fishes it, some tips for handling your line and fishing on the water, and an overall primer to fish one of the great states in the union. Get ready to put the feed bags on and find out what it means. Fly Fishing New York Show Notes with Jay Peck 3:45 - Jay tells how he got into fly fishing and guiding. He grew up on a dairy farm in New York. 5:12 - We dig into what rivers to fish in New York in December. He says that the Genesee River in Rochester can be an amazing steelhead river during a dry winter. 7:41 - He talks about fishing in New York specifically near where he lives. 8:37 - He mentions the waters in the state that are great for fishing, including the Beaverkill. 9:53 - He talks about the climate issues he encounters when he fishes in New York. 10:47 - He spends a lot of time fishing in the Salmon River. 12:26 - He loves fishing tributaries and fishing for steelhead, salmon, and brown trout. 13:23 - We dig into lake run browns. 14:42 - He describes the gear he uses for steelhead fishing. He recommends a 10ft 7wt for a one-handed rod. He also uses a 10 1/2ft 6wt with a little switch grip on it and a 10ft switch rod. 16:20 - He walks us through how they present a fly to browns and what fly patterns he uses. 18:18 - He talks about his egg pattern setup when fishing for browns. He uses a lot of nickel roll bugs. He uses a lot of nuclear roe bugs and Oregon cheese is his favorite color for that pattern. 19:37 - We dig into the indicator and the advantages of doing an indicator swing. 22:36 - He mentions the leaders and tips he usually carries with him. 23:41 - He further explains how he does the indicator swinging. 24:51 - I ask him about the best time to swing out there and hit steelheads or browns. 26:41 - He explains where the term feed bag came from. 27:14 - He talks about how they swing for salmon. For Chinook salmon, he uses a lot of woolly buggers. 29:27 - He gives more tips and dos and don'ts on salmon fishing. 34:09 - I ask him how they find a great salmon when there's a bunch of spawners. 36:39 - He talks about the flies he likes to use for swinging. They use a lot of egg-sucking leeches for steelheads. 38:55 - The watershed for the Salmon River is the Tug Hill Plateau. They estimate that the river there produces 20 million young-of-the-year (YOY) wild salmon. 41:43 - Mid to late September is the best time to hit some wild fish. 42:23 - Early to mid-October is the best time to catch some browns. 46:29 - He takes us throughout the year of his guiding. This includes the fish cycles and the species he catches for certain months. 48:43 - We dig into northern pikes. 52:43 - New York has fairly diverse species. 53:48 - He gives us a heads-up on what content they have released and will be releasing on their YouTube channel. 55:25 - He gives a quick summary of their video showing how to fix your waders. 56:37 - We do the two-minute drill. 57:14 - After a long day fishing, he likes listening to Metallica. 57:29 - He tells us his one rod for New York to pick. If it's in the tributaries, he'll go for an 11 ft 7wt switch. He has been using rods from Douglas Outdoors. 59:09 - He prefers the white zonker size six for browns. 59:38 - He gives some tips on spey casting. 1:00:25 - He talks about that one trip that he wants to tick off his bucket list. 1:01:18 - He mentions the people who had the biggest influence on him and his business. 1:03:56 - Listeners can find Jay at JayPeckGuidesFlyFishing.com. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/437

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/436 Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Morgan Misek is here today to take us into bike packing and some of the new product lines at Trxstle this year. We find out how the Geryon Universal Bike Packing system came to be, how he co-founded Trxstle, and what's on the horizon for the company. We also dig into Morgan's biking journey and how Trxstle aims to solve some of the biggest pains in the biking world. Bike Packing Show Notes with Morgan Misek 01:53 - We had an episode with John Smigaj before where we talked about their fly rod carrier. Morgan Misek tells us how he co-founded Trxstle with John. They worked together as mechanical engineers before starting their engineering firm. 03:53 - They realized they had some great product ideas they'd like to turn into reality, so they launched Trxstle. The first product they sold was a T-shirt, but their first actual product was the CRC System. Trxstle collaborates with diverse artists to create unique shirt designs as a part of their Artist Series. 05:49 - John introduced Morgan to fly fishing, and Morgan introduced John to mountain biking. They combined the two activities to ride to fishing spots. Morgan grew up riding in the woods and later raced mountain bikes in college. 08:19 - Morgan discusses the origin of the Geryon, one of the first product ideas they had when starting. The purpose was to provide a means for bikers to carry any gear while mountain biking. 13:26 - The Geryon has 30 lbs gear capacity, 15 lbs on the front + 15 lbs on the rear rack. 19:28 - Morgan shares his top recommendations for bike riders to check out, including Reece Wallace, Brandon Semenuk, the Athertons, who host a race series in the UK called Hardline, and anyone riding in the Redbull Rampage. 20:18 - The name "Geryon" comes from a three-headed giant in Greek mythology who was related to Medusa. Geryon was also the name of a steam locomotive used during the 1800s. 23:50 - We talk about the success of the Trxstle clothing line. Their Tumbleweed Series has been very popular. 26:17 - Morgan highlights the unique feature of Trxstle's CRC System, explaining that its telescopic collapsibility sets it apart from other similar products. 33:40 - Trxstle has new upgrades and a new color option for the CRC system. 34:25 - Morgan also talked about their waterproof cases, like the River Locker Compact Waterproof Case and the Big Water case. 36:00 - We did the two-minute drill with Morgan. I asked him how he felt seeing his product out in the world. For Morgan, success is to see other people use the thing he designed. 38:00 - Morgan's superpower is visualizing things in 3D space. 41:00 - Morgan advises that to find the perfect bike, it's best to consult your local bike shop for expert recommendations. With their knowledge of the local trails and the price points, they can help you find the right bike that suits your needs. 42:40 - Aside from biking, Morgan also likes skiing and surfing. He said he wanted to surf in Alaska. 47:31 - John Gierach was on the podcast, so I asked Morgan his favorite book. His go-to book is Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/436