Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Episodi

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  Strike Indicator Techniques for Stillwaters with Phil Rowley (Littoral Zone #27) 15.09.2026 1h 51min

  #983 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/983Presented by: Golden Fly Shop, FishHound Expeditions, On DeMark Lodge, Pescador on the FlyStrike indicator techniques for stillwaters can be one of the most effective ways to control the depth and speed of your flies.In this Littoral Zone episode, Phil Rowley takes us through his indicator system, from choosing the right indicator and building leaders to setting exact depth and casting long rigs. We also get into bobber stops, swivels, depth locators, and the naked technique with long leaders and weighted flies.Phil also answers Brad from Arizona’s questions about anchor rope length and shares practical tips for getting your flies to fish at the depth and speed you intended.Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/983
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  982 | Keep Fish Wet with Sascha Clark Danylchuk: Better Catch-and-Release Practices and Water Temperature 14.09.2026 55min

  #982 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/982Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho, Gallatin River Lodge, Fly Fish with Me Utah, Sullivan Fly RodsIn this episode, Dave talks with Sascha Clark Danylchuk, executive director of Keep Fish Wet and a fisheries scientist, about simple ways anglers can improve the outcome for every fish they release. Catch-and-release is more than getting a fish back into the water. How long a fish stays out of the water, what it touches, how long it is handled, and the water temperature can all affect what happens after release.Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/982
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  981 | Exploring New Trout Water with Tim Cammisa: Access, Flows, and TroutRoutes 11.09.2026 1h 5min

  #981 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/981Presented By: TroutRoutesIn this episode, Dave talks with Tim Cammisa of Trout and Feather about exploring new trout water with a better plan. Tim explains how he uses TroutRoutes, access maps, USGS streamflow data, local information, and backup locations before leaving home. The planning does not end when Tim reaches the river. He confirms access, checks water temperature, watches for insects and rising fish, and studies the dominant water type before choosing a fly. Dave and Tim also discuss river-reading, technology, social media, and protective trout water.#981 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/981
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  980 | Swinging for Steelhead in Indiana with Tim Scott of Tie-A-Thon 09.09.2026 57min

  #980 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/980Presented by: On DeMark Lodge, Golden Fly Shop, Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho, Jackson Hole Fly Company On a fall weekend in South Bend, Indiana, you can hear the Notre Dame marching band from the river while swinging a fly for steelhead.Tim Scott has spent more than 30 years fishing these waters where steelhead, St. Joe smallmouth, and streamer fishing are all part of the experience. He is also the co-founder of Tie-A-Thon, which started with a goal of a couple thousand flies and has now passed 500,000, supporting groups that use fly fishing for education, therapy, veterans, and kids.We also dig into Tim’s steelhead setup, his sink-tip system, and a Clouser-style minnow inspired by the work of Fox Statler and Kevin Feenstra.Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/980
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  979 | Fly Fishing Belize with Chris Leeman: Permit, Tarpon, and Bonefish 08.09.2026 1h

  #979 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/979Presented by: Blue Bonefish LodgeIn this episode, Chris Leeman of Blue Bonefish Lodge explains how Sargasso has changed fishing Belize around Ambergris Caye. He also breaks down seasonal opportunities for tarpon and bonefish, why full moons can produce excellent fishing, and why July may be one of Belize's most overlooked months.Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/979
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  978 | Miramichi River Atlantic Salmon with Marlon Prince from New Brunswick Fishing Guides 07.09.2026 1h 6min

  #978 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/978Presented by: Montana Fly Fishing Lodge, TroutRoutes, Stonefly Nets, Yellowstone Teton TerritorySponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors Marlon Prince gives us a guide's view of New Brunswick, including the famous Miramichi River and a long list of fisheries that don't always get the same attention. We dig into when to come, what to bring, how the spring salmon fishery works, and why New Brunswick has become much more than a place anglers drive through on their way somewhere else.Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/978
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  977 | The Small-Fly Playbook: 14 Tips from Ed Engle 04.09.2026 12min

  Show Notes: http://wetflyswing.com/977Sponsors: http://wetflyswing.com/SponsorsIn this episode, we’re digging back into a conversation with Ed Engle, one of the longtime voices in fishing and tying small flies. Ed has spent decades fishing technical trout water, and his approach is less about making things complicated and more about getting the fundamentals right.We’re pulling out 14 of Ed’s best tips for fishing small flies, including why size comes before color, how close you should get to feeding trout, and why a longer leader isn’t always the answer.You’ll also hear how Ed reads a trout’s position in the water before making a cast, why he wants an unweighted nymph somewhere in his rig, and how he uses movement when fishing small BWO nymphs.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why you shouldn’t fish a smaller fly than the trout requireWhy simple patterns can be so effective in tiny sizesWhy Ed often sticks with a 9- to 10-foot leader instead of going extra longHow to adjust your hook set when presenting a dry fly downstreamHow Ed swings small wet flies to rising troutWhy BWO nymphs don’t always need to be dead-driftedHow a weighted fly can help an unweighted nymph move naturallyWhat a trout’s vertical position tells you about whether it’s actively feedingWhy actually seeing your tiny dry fly mattersHow to make your fly the first thing a trout seesWhy slack-line casts become so important on technical waterHow the way a trout rises to your fly can tell you whether your presentation is rightWhy Ed wants to get as close to a trout as possible without changing its behaviorWhy matching the size of the natural is Ed’s #1 priorityEd’s approach comes back to simplicity. When you find the natural insect, start by figuring out its size. Get that right first. If your fly also comes close in color and silhouette, even better but size is where Ed starts.We’ll also hear why Ed believes small-fly fishing is ultimately about having as little as possible between you and the fish.If you fish midges, BWOs, tricos, technical tailwaters, or selective rising trout, this episode gives you 14 ideas you can take straight to the water.
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  976 | Dean River Steelhead and Spey Casting with Kara Knight 02.09.2026 59min

  #976 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/976 Presented by: Fly Fish with me Utah, FishHound Expeditions, Drifthook Fly FishingSponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors Kara Knight is a steelhead angler, casting instructor, longtime lodge professional, and competitive caster based in British Columbia. We get into the Dean, Spey-O-Rama, steelhead conservation, casting practice, competition gear, and the lessons Kara has picked up from years spent around some of BC’s great steelhead rivers.Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/976
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  975 | Gallatin River Fly Fishing with Ryan Kirt - Montana, Trip Planning, Terrestrials 01.09.2026 52min

  975 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/975Presented by: Gallatin River LodgeAsk ten Montana anglers where to fish, and you’ll probably hear ten different answers. Every now and then, someone points you toward a stretch that still feels a little overlooked. Today, we’re heading into southwest Montana for some Gallatin River fly fishing with someone who has called Bozeman home for more than 30 years.Ryan Kirt has lived in Bozeman for 32 years and has been connected with Gallatin River Lodge for more than a decade. He shares what makes the Gallatin different, from private-access fishing and wade fishing to late-summer terrestrials, streamers, and nymphs.We also cover the best rods and flies for the Gallatin, how to build a three-day Montana fishing trip, and what makes Gallatin River Lodge a special base for exploring Southwest Montana.Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/975
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  974 | Trout Unlimited’s Chris Wood on Conservation, Public Lands, and the Power of Anglers 31.08.2026 1h 12min

  #974 Show Notes https://www.wetflyswing.com/974Presented by: Drifthook, AVC Rig, Redd's Flies, Golden Fly ShopIn this episode, Chris takes us from that first Alaska salmon encounter to some of the biggest conservation efforts Trout Unlimited has worked on, including the Roadless Rule, Bristol Bay, the Klamath, Yankee Fork restoration, and Apache trout recovery. More than anything, the conservation shows why Trout Unlimited believes anglers can make a real difference when they speak up, stay involved, and protect the waters they care about.Show Notes https://www.wetflyswing.com/974
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  Hunting with a Fly #4 | Fly Fishing for Lake Trout in the Great Lakes with Jerry Darkes 28.08.2026 1h

  #973 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/973Presented by: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsorsJerry Darkes has spent decades chasing lake trout across the Great Lakes as a manufacturer’s rep, guide, instructor, travel host, and author. He shares his experience finding lake trout in shallow and deep water and tracking their seasonal movements.We cover the history and recovery of lake trout in the Great Lakes, the evolution of fly lines and patterns, boat and shoreline strategies, retrieves, hook sets, and what it takes to land a 10- to 20-pound lake trout on the fly.Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/973
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  972 | Outdoor Gear Design with McCormick Snow: Rooftop Tents, Trout Spey, and Colorado Fly Fishing 26.08.2026 51min

  #972 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/972Presented by: Intrepid Camp GearIn this episode, McCormick Snow takes us behind the scenes of outdoor gear design and shares how his product development background has changed how he thinks about the equipment we bring outdoors. McCormick studied Outdoor Product Design and Development at Utah State University before joining Intrepid Camp Gear and moving to Colorado. Fly fishing became an obsession along the way, giving him another way to connect to his career with the outdoors.Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/972
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  971 | Rachel Finn on the Ausable, Dry Fly Fishing, and Patagonia 25.08.2026 58min

  #971 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/971Presented by: PatagoniaSponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors Rachel Finn has spent decades guiding anglers on New York's famous Ausable River while building a career as an artist and conservation advocate. Our conversation covers everything from climate challenges facing trout streams to travel, art, saltwater adventures, and why curiosity never stops making us better anglers.Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/971
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  Craig Mathews on Caddis, Yellowstone, and a Lifetime of Fly Fishing [Re-Release] 24.08.2026 1h 18min

  Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/970Sponsors: Redd’s Flies, Fly Fish with Me Utah, Golden Fly Shop, Gallatin River LodgeToday we’re bringing back one of the most-listened-to conversations in the Wet Fly Swing archive with Craig Mathews, a lifelong angler, author, conservationist, and founder of Blue Ribbon Flies. Craig has spent nearly seven decades fly fishing, and in this Re-Release episode from 2023, we cover everything from Yellowstone caddis hatches and trout fishing to conservation, fly tying, and some unforgettable stories from his years in West Yellowstone.Craig takes us back to his early days in Michigan and the move that eventually landed him in Montana. What was supposed to be a one-year adventure turned into a new life when Craig became the police chief of West Yellowstone. A few years later, while making $9,000 a year as police chief, he started a wholesale fly-tying operation that employed people with disabilities. That business became Blue Ribbon Flies in 1979 and eventually grew to four fly shops.Blue Ribbon Flies became a gathering place for anglers, fly tiers, writers, and some of the biggest personalities in fly fishing. Craig shares stories about Jack Gartside, Gary LaFontaine, and the constant flow of people through the shop. He remembers Gary as someone who could walk into a fly shop and immediately get everyone fired up about fishing, insects, and fly patterns.Conservation is another major part of Craig’s story. He talks about his longtime friendship with Yvon Chouinard and how their shared commitment to giving back helped launch 1% for the Planet. Craig explains how businesses can support approved conservation organizations and shares examples of projects that have protected habitat and public access around the Madison River and Montana.Then we get into one of Craig’s specialties: caddis and fishing caddis.Craig breaks down several important Yellowstone-area caddis hatches and explains how anglers can better identify what trout are actually eating. His biggest lesson is simple: slow down and watch the river. Instead of immediately stepping into the water and casting, spend a few minutes observing rise forms, insect activity, and what’s moving through the water.Craig also explains why fly pattern is often blamed when presentation is the real problem. Getting closer to the fish, choosing the right tippet, controlling drag, and making accurate casts can matter far more than constantly changing flies.We also cover the X-Caddis, Iris Caddis, spent caddis patterns, pheasant tail flies, and why Craig uses pheasant tail for much more than nymphs.Finally, Craig takes us into the wilder side of old West Yellowstone, sharing stories from his police chief days involving motorcycle gangs, organized crime, and the relationships he built with people passing through town. Decades later, one of those former encounters even turned into a day of fishing together.This episode is part fly-fishing lesson, part Yellowstone history, and part reminder of how much can happen when you spend a lifetime paying attention to rivers, insects, conservation, and people.
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  969 | Community Fly Fishing with Austin Campbell - Colorado Guiding and the South Platte 21.08.2026 1h 3min

  969 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/969Presented by: PatagoniaToday's guest has spent years guiding trout anglers in Colorado, but these days he's measuring success by something bigger than just the fish that make it to the net.Austin Campbell is a Colorado fly fishing guide, Patagonia ambassador, and founder and executive director of Community Fly Fishing. He shares his approach to the South Platte, fishing the Deckers section, finding trout on dry flies, and knowing when to leave the bobber behind.We cover George Daniel and the Penn State fly fishing program, warm-water challenges during a tough Colorado season, and how Community Fly Fishing is creating zero-barrier opportunities in Colorado, Chicago, Atlanta, the Bahamas, and Belize.Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/969
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  The Fly Fishers with Pat Ehlers and Jeff Liskay: Smallmouth Bass, Streamers & Topwater (Great Lakes Dude Podcast #18) 19.08.2026 1h 10min

  #968 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/968Presented by: Stonefly Nets, Montana Fly Fishing Lodge, Togiak River Lodge, TroutRoutesSponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors Pat Ehlers has been fly fishing since he was a kid exploring trout streams in Wisconsin's Upper Peninsula. Over the years, his curiosity expanded far beyond trout, leading him to become one of the leading voices in warmwater fly fishing and innovative fly design.We dug into bass behavior, fly line selection, fly tying materials, electronics, and how lessons from conventional bass fishing continue to improve fly fishing techniques.Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/968
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  The 25 Best Most Versatile Flies with Al Ritt: Fly History and Tying Techniques (Traveled #51) 18.08.2026 1h 2min

  967 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/967Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit IdahoThe greatest fly patterns don’t just catch fish, they stand the test of time and become part of fly fishing history.Fly tyer and author Al Ritt shares the stories behind his book, 25 Best Most Versatile Flies, and some of the most useful patterns in fly fishing. We explore classics including the Adams, Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear, Royal Wulff, and Clouser Minnow.We explore Al's long history in fly tying, the East Idaho Fly Tying Expo, his own fly patterns, and his approach to teaching beginners and learning the techniques behind fly tying.Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/967
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  966 | Skip Morris on Imposters, Dry Flies, and the Secrets of Selective Trout 17.08.2026 1h 31min

  #966 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/966Presented by: TroutRoutes, FishHound Expeditions, Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho, Jackson Hole Fly Company.In this episode, we speak with longtime fly-fishing author Skip Morris about his latest published book, Imposters, and a collection of essays that brings together fly patterns, fishing history, personal stories, and artwork by his wife, Carol Ann Morris. Skip also shares practical lessons from decades on the water, including his “turn-down trick” for presenting a fly to rising trout, why action and size can matter more than constantly changing patterns, and how classic dry flies and wet flies still have a place in today's fly box.Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/966
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  965 | Remembering Doug Stewart: Fly Fisher, Teacher, and Dad 14.08.2026 1h 2min

  http://wetflyswing.com/965Sponsors: Sullivan Fly Rods, On DeMark Lodge, Redds FliesDave shares the story of his father, Doug Stewart, who recently passed away at 87. Doug was the person who introduced Dave to fly fishing, and his influence eventually helped lead to the creation of the Wet Fly Swing Podcast.Doug’s own fly fishing story reaches back more than 70 years.He first started fishing the Deschutes River with his father in the early 1950s, when seeing a dozen anglers on the river could make it feel crowded. He eventually became a longtime Deschutes guide, fly shop owner, fly tyer, rod builder, writer, and teacher who introduced countless people to fly fishing.Doug was also the creator of the Max Canyon steelhead fly. He tells the story of sitting under the trees with Steve Dorn during a brutally hot day on the Deschutes. With fishing slowed down, they started tying flies to pass the time. Doug liked orange and black, put the colors together, and eventually refined the pattern that became the Max Canyon.We also hear about the early days of Stewart’s Custom Tackle, which later became Stewart’s Fly Shop. Doug talks about building the business through word of mouth, teaching casting and fly tying, and watching A River Runs Through It bring a surge of new anglers into fly fishing.But this episode goes well beyond the history of a fly shop or a famous steelhead pattern.Doug shares stories from decades on the water, including hooking and releasing 58 steelhead with Jim Teeny during an incredible day of fishing, falling into the Deschutes while fighting a steelhead, encounters with bears in Alaska, and watching the fly fishing world change around him.Teaching runs through much of Doug’s story. Before going full-time in fly fishing, he was a seventh and eighth grade teacher. He later brought that same mindset to the fly shop, guiding, casting lessons, fly tying classes, and the many anglers he helped along the way.Dave also reflects on what that influence looks like today. Doug taught him to fish. Dave passed some of those lessons to friends, who then taught their own kids. That ripple effect may be one of Doug’s greatest legacies.Near the end of their original conversation, Doug is asked what he would like to be remembered for. His answer comes back to the people: running the fly shop, teaching people to cast and tie flies, learning from others, and staying connected to the fly fishing community.This episode is ultimately about more than fly fishing.It’s about fathers, sons, teachers, friends, and the limited amount of time we get together.If your dad, father figure, mentor, or fishing partner is still around, give them a call. And if you still have the chance to take another fishing trip together, don’t wait too long to make it happen.
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  964 | Beyond the Giveaway #2: Trophy Pike and Trout Fishing at Scott Lake Lodge with Paul Plum 12.08.2026 53min

  #964 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/964Presented by: Montana Fly Fishing Lodge, AVC Rig, Fishhound ExpeditionsSponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors Paul Plum entered our Scott Lake Lodge giveaway without expecting much to happen. A few weeks later, he got the call that changed his summer. Together, we traveled deep into northern Saskatchewan, where world-class fishing, incredible hospitality, and untouched wilderness created an experience neither of us will forget.Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/964