Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

947 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/947

Presented by: TroutRoutes, Gallatin River Lodge, FishHound Expeditions, Toyota Prairies, Toyota Pacific

You can learn a lot about a person by looking in their cooler at the end of a fishing trip. In this episode, we're digging into Cast and Iron Camp Cooking and British Columbia Fly Fishing with Teddy Cosco.

Teddy is a steelhead angler, university professor, camp cook, and someone who has spent years exploring rivers across British Columbia, the Yukon, and beyond.

We get into steelhead fishing, Spey casting, camp cooking, and why...

#946 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/946

Presented By: TroutRoutes, AVC Rig, Jackson Hole Fly Company

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Paul Arden, founder of Sexyloops and one of the most respected fly casting instructors in the world, returns to the podcast to share lessons from more than three decades of teaching anglers how to cast more efficiently. From beginners learning loop control to experienced anglers searching for more distance and accuracy, Paul breaks down the fundamentals that separate average casters from great ones.

The conversation covers fly casting plateaus, loop control, back-cast...

#945 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/945

Presented By: AVC Rig, TroutRoutes, Jackson Hole Fly Company

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Drew Evans of House of Fly returns to the podcast to share why carp may be one of the most underrated gamefish in fly fishing—and why they offer some of the best preparation for chasing bonefish, redfish, and other saltwater species. Drawing from years of experience fishing Idaho's rivers and traveling to the flats, Drew explains how sight fishing for carp builds the casting, presentation, and fish-spotting skills that translate almost anywhere in the...

#944B Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/944B  

Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Territory

Paul Bowen has spent over 50 years fly fishing and tying flies throughout eastern Idaho. From the South Fork of the Snake to Henrys Lake, Hebgen Lake, and a variety of lesser-known reservoirs, he's developed a reputation for effective stillwater patterns and thoughtful fly design. This conversation covers his favorite lake tactics, fly modifications, and the long-running Eastern Idaho Fly Tying Expo. 

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/944B  

944 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/944

Presented by: Blue Bonefish Lodge, Drifthook Fly Fishing,  AVC Rig

Some rivers don't reward bigger boats. They reward smarter access.

Water Master Rafts have built a reputation for helping anglers reach water that bigger boats often can't. In this episode, Rich Stuber joins me to share the story behind the company, how he went from employee to owner, and why portability has become such a big part of the way many anglers fish today.

We get into what makes Water Master boats different, from their unique d...

#943 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/943

Presented By: On DeMark Lodge, Pescador on the Fly, Togiak River Lodge, Jackson Hole Fly Company

In this episode, Davy Wotton discusses why many anglers are missing fish before their flies even land. While most anglers focus on casting farther, Davy argues that shorter, more controlled casts in traditional wet fly fishing often result in better presentations and more fish caught.

 
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/943

#942 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/942 

Presented by: AVC Rig, TroutRoutes, Stonefly Nets, Drifthook Fly Fishing

Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors/    

Matt Thornton shares the story behind Wilderness Calling and how a simple conversation about conservation funding turned into one of the most ambitious steelhead research projects currently underway. We dig into satellite telemetry, Oregon steelhead fishing, Alaska guiding, and the challenge of understanding fish that spend most of their lives far from shore.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/942   

#941B Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/941B

Presented By: Gallatin River Lodge

A successful Montana fly fishing trip isn't just about choosing the right river—it's about building the right experience. Kathryn Bartlett, General Manager at Gallatin River Lodge, shares how thoughtful planning, flexible scheduling, great guides, and a comfortable home base can transform a fishing vacation into something much bigger. For anglers looking to explore Montana's legendary waters while still enjoying everything the region has to offer, Gallatin River Lodge provides a unique starting point.

#941B Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/941B

941 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/941

Presented by:  Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho, Stonefly Nets, Fly Fish with me Utah

What does it take to keep producing nine-pound trout year after year?

In this episode, we're heading to Henry's Lake with Kevin Skenandore of the Henry's Lake Foundation. Kevin has spent decades fishing these waters and is now helping lead conservation efforts aimed at protecting and improving one of the West's most iconic stillwater fisheries.

We talk about the new Feed the Fish program, how volunteers are restoring spawning habitat in tr...

#940 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/940 

Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Territory

Phil Rowley and Darren Huntsman share why Henry's Lake remains one of the premier stillwater fisheries in North America. More importantly, they explain how the techniques taught during the Henry's Lake Stillwater School can help anglers improve on lakes everywhere. 

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/940  

#939 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/939

Presented By: Stonefly Nets, Jackson Hole Fly Company, Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho, Fly Fish with me Utah

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Paul Arden, founder of Sexyloops and one of the most respected fly casting instructors in the world, returns to the podcast to share lessons from more than three decades of teaching anglers how to cast more efficiently. From beginners learning loop control to experienced anglers searching for more distance and accuracy, Paul breaks down the fundamentals that separate average casters from great ones.

#938B Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/938B

Presented By: Pescador on the Fly

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Chris Teas joins Jeff Ditsworth of Pescador on the Fly to share lessons learned from more than five decades of fly fishing around the world. From growing up fishing Wisconsin and Colorado waters to traveling across South America and beyond, Chris explains why experience has taught him to simplify gear, focus on presentation, and stop overcomplicating fly fishing.

The conversation covers fly fishing travel mistakes, stolen gear, packable rods, Euro nymphing, guide tactics...

938 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/938

Presented by:  Patagonia

If tomorrow were your last day on the planet, would you feel like you left enough out on the water? That question sits at the heart of this conversation with Riverhorse Nakadate and his new book, Water Lines.

Riverhorse has spent decades exploring marshes, rivers, oceans, surf breaks, and wild places around the world. Today, he shares some of the stories, adventures, and lessons that came from a life spent following water wherever it leads.

We're talking about the making of Water Lines, w...

937B Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/937B

Presented by:  Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho, Stonefly Nets

Fly fishing Eastern Idaho is all about timing. Hit the river during the right hatch, find the right feeding lane, and a good day can turn into one you'll remember for years.

I sat down with Elden Berrett, a longtime eastern Idaho guide, fly designer, and tier who spent more than 25 years guiding on the South Fork Snake, Henry's Fork, Yellowstone waters, Hebgen Lake, and the Teton.

We talked about the East Idaho Fly T...

#937 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/937  

Presented by: TroutRoutes, On DeMark Lodge, FishHound Expeditions, Montana Fly Fishing Lodge

Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors/      

In this episode, I sat down with Blake Merwin from Gig Harbor Fly Shop to talk about Puget Sound cutthroat fishing, steelhead on the Olympic Peninsula, and the small details that separate productive days from frustrating ones. We dug into beach structure, tide movement, chum fry migrations, topwater opportunities, and why standing still is often the biggest mistake anglers make.

Blake has spent decades guiding and exploring these waters...

#936 Show Notes https://wetflyswing.com/936

Presented By: TroutRoutes 

In this episode, we head to Montana with Mike Pogoda from Rising Trout Fly Fishing to break down how to properly plan a fly-fishing trip in one of the best trout destinations in the West.

We dive into choosing between the Madison River, Yellowstone River, and Gallatin River, adapting during low water seasons, and making smarter on-the-go decisions so you're not second guessing once you step into the river. 

Mike also shares insights from guiding these rivers every day and how local guides st...

935B Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/935B

Presented by:  Drifthook Fly Fishing 

Every angler has heard it before: this fly always works, this is my confidence fly, you have to have this pattern in your box. But when you're standing on the river with hundreds of flies to choose from, how do you know what actually matters?

Matt Bernhardt from Drifthook joins us to break down fly selection and share a simpler way to think about choosing flies. 

We also talk about what drives good fly selection, why size and silhouette oft...

#935 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/935 

Presented by: TroutRoutes, Yellowstone Teton Territory, Jackson Hole Fly Company, Fly Fish with me Utah

Jani Himanko owns Kellankoski Lodge in central Finland, where anglers target native brown trout, grayling, pike, and other species in a low-pressure river system connected by lakes and rapids. The fishery is known for aggressive trout feeding behavior, migrating baitfish, and a unique streamer technique centered around the surfboard fly.

This conversation digs into the technical side of streamer fishing, Finland's trout culture, and how protected private water helped preserve giant native browns i...

#934 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/934

Presented By: Intrepid Camp Gear, Togiak River Lodge, Gallatin River Lodge

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

What does it really take to film fly fishing at the highest level? In this episode, Todd Moen of Catch Magazine joins us to share the story behind some of the most iconic fly fishing films ever created—from steelhead rivers in the Pacific Northwest to remote destinations across the globe.

We dig into Todd's early production days filming for Fly Fishing the World, surviving a plane crash in t...

#933 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/933 

Presented by: Golden Fly Shop, TroutRoutes, On DeMark Lodge, Montana Fly Fishing Lodge

Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors/     

Allie Cunningham from Science on the Fly breaks down how anglers can become community scientists by collecting water samples from their local rivers. The project focuses on tracking nutrients, water chemistry, and long-term watershed health while helping everyday anglers better understand what's happening in the places they fish.

This conversation also highlights how grassroots conservation can create real change. From polluted wastewater entering Texas rivers to monitoring wate...

#932B Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/932B

Presented By: Togiak River Lodge

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

In this episode, Tom Petry and Jorden Susewitz of Film The Hunt share their experience at Togiak River Lodge, where a filmmaking project turned into a deep dive into spey fishing, Alaska wilderness, and the people who make the lodge special. What started as a content trip documenting the Larsen family's journey quickly became something more as both Tom and Jorden picked up spey rods for the first time and discovered the addictive pull of swinging...

932 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/932

Presented by:  Montana Fly Fishing Lodge, Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho,  FishHound Expeditions, AVC Rig

There aren't many anglers left who were there when modern fly fishing was still being figured out. Jim Teeny and Dick Sagara lived through that era, helped shape it, and still have the stories to prove it.

In this episode, we dig into the early days of winter steelhead fly fishing in the Pacific Northwest, the birth of the Teeny fly lines, and the people who changed the sport along the way. We...

#931B Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/931B

In this episode of Hunting with a Fly, Rick Kustich sits down with Vince Tobia of Cattaraugus Creek Outfitters to talk about one of the most overlooked predators in saltwater fly fishing—the barracuda. While many anglers head to the flats focused solely on bonefish, Vince explains why barracuda deserve a spot on every fly angler's radar. From sight-fishing tactics and presentation angles to gear setup and landing fish safely, Vince shares the lessons he's learned from years of chasing these aggressive apex predators across the Bahamas and beyond.

...

#931 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/931 

Presented by: FishHound Expeditions, Pescador on the Fly, Jackson Hole Fly Company, Gallatin River Lodge

Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors/     

Mia Sheppard has spent decades guiding and outfitting across the Pacific Northwest through Little Creek Outfitters. From steelhead rivers like the Deschutes and Grande Ronde to multi-day rafting adventures, she's built a career around rivers, community, and outdoor culture.

This episode covers the return of the Sandy River Spey Clave, Dutch oven camp cooking, the changing landscape on the John Day River, and a few class...

930 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/930

Presented by:  Jackson Hole Fly Company, Golden Fly Shop, Fish The Fly Guide Service, TroutRoutes

In this episode, our stillwater guru, Phil Rowley, sits down with Chris Callanan from Outcast Sporting Gear to talk about inflatable watercraft for lakes.

They dig into float tubes, pontoon boats, frameless boats, anchoring systems, safety, maintenance, storage, and how to choose the right setup for your fishing style. 

Chris also shares the history behind Outcast and how portable watercraft evolved from the old donut-style float tubes into today's modern V-hull des...

#929 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/929

Presented By: Gallatin River Lodge, Drifthook Fly Fishing, TroutRoutes, Jackson Hole Fly Company

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

What does it really take to film fly fishing at the highest level? In this episode, Todd Moen of Catch Magazine joins us to share the story behind some of the most iconic fly fishing films ever created—from steelhead rivers in the Pacific Northwest to remote destinations across the globe.

We dig into Todd's early production days filming for Fly Fishing the World, surviving a plane crash in...

#928b Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/928b 

Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho 

Mike Komara and Michael Bradley are two of the five starters representing Team USA at the upcoming World Fly Fishing Championships in Eastern Idaho. They've spent years refining modern Euro nymphing tactics, and this episode digs into one of the biggest changes in competitive fly fishing over the last decade: the move from traditional sighter systems to fully colored micro leaders.

The discussion also covers team strategy, competition preparation, dry-dropper adjustments, minimalist gear systems, and how presentation often ma...

928 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/928

Presented by:  Montana Fly Fishing Lodge, Drifthook Fly Fishing, AVC Rig, FishHound Expeditions

Today, we're digging into dries and dry dropper fishing beyond the basics with Jason Randall. We talk about better drifts, longer leaders, strike detection, presentation, and the small rigging changes that can completely change how your flies fish on the water.

Jason also shares where dry droppers work best, where they fall apart, and a few subtle tricks that help your flies look more natural instead of just floating by.

Show Notes: https://w...

#927 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/927

Presented By: Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho, Togiak River Lodge, Jackson Hole Fly Company, Drifthook Fly Fishing

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

What happens when a family helps shape the history of drift boats for nearly a century? In this episode, Jeff Helfrich joins us to share stories from the early days of McKenzie River drift boats, how his grandfather Prince Helfrich helped evolve whitewater boat design, and what it's really like navigating technical rivers like the Middle Fork Salmon and Rogue River in wooden boats.

#926b Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/926b 

Presented by: Montana Fly Fishing Lodge

Sean McLendon guides out of Montana Fly Fishing near Absarokee, Montana, where anglers can fish everything from technical spring creeks to big freestone rivers like the Yellowstone and Stillwater. His specialty is small water fishing, especially the kind of creeks where stealth and presentation matter more than distance casting.

Throughout this conversation, Sean shared practical strategies for approaching selective trout, fishing dry flies on small streams, and covering water efficiently without spooking fish.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/926b...

#926 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/926 

Presented by: Pescador on the Fly, Jackson Hole Fly Company, Gallatin River Lodge

Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors    

Greg Keenan is back on the podcast to talk all things stillwater fly fishing, from early season ice-off opportunities to advanced presentations for selective trout. Greg guides and teaches on the lakes around British Columbia and has become one of the go-to voices in stillwater education through his schools and YouTube content.

This conversation covers everything from reading lake structure and finding productive shoals to fishing chironomids, lee...

925 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/925

Presented by: Drifthook Fly Fishing, Golden Fly Shop,  On DeMark Lodge

Today, we take a look back at 50 years of Henry's Fork Anglers with Mike Lawson and some great stories from the early days of fly fishing on the Henry's Fork. 

We talk about the rise of fly shops, graphite rods, matching the hatch, famous fly fishing writers, and how Henry's Fork helped shape modern fly fishing as we know it today.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/925

#924 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/924

Presented By: Fly Fish with me Utah, Jackson Hole Fly Company, Smitty's Fly Box, Montana Fly Fishing Lodge

Some of the best water you'll ever fish is the water most people never reach. In this episode, Christian Pretorius joins us to share stories from a life spent guiding and traveling across some of the wildest fisheries on the planet—from Seychelles GTs and Kamchatka rainbows to giant Golden Dorado deep in the Bolivian jungle.

We dig into what makes remote fisheries so special, the tradeoffs between helicopter access an...

#923 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/923

Presented By: FishHound Expeditions

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

How does one of the largest free-flowing rivers in the United States end up back on the table for major development projects? In this episode, Margaret Stern from the Susitna River Coalition returns to the podcast to share what's happening right now across Alaska's Susitna watershed—from a proposed hydroelectric dam to a massive access road that could permanently change the region.

We talk about why the Susitna remains such a unique and accessible wild river system, ho...

#922 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/922b  

Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho 

Dry fly fishing can look simple from the outside. Match the hatch, make a clean cast, and watch the eat. But once you dig into how top competitors approach it, you realize it's not about the fly nearly as much as everything around it.

In this episode, I sat down with Devin Olsen and Jack Arnot to break down what they're doing differently, especially with the Spanish dry fly system. This one gets into leader design, casting control, and why...

922 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/922

Presented by:  FishHound Expeditions

Today, we're digging into what's happening right now across Alaska, from the fight over West Susitna and Alaska public lands to bycatch, mining, and road development, and why it matters to anyone who cares about wild fish.

I sat down with Rachel James and Ryan Astalos from SalmonState, along with Adam Cuthriell of Fishhound Expeditions. We talk about Bristol Bay, the proposed West Susitna Road, trawl bycatch, and how public lands decisions in Alaska ripple across the entire country.

This one goes b...

#921 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/921

Presented By: On DeMark Lodge, Intrepid Camp Gear, Pescador on the Fly, Jackson Hole Fly Company

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Why do some anglers seem to find fish instantly while others struggle all day on the same lake? In this episode, Gareth Jones, sales Director at Airflo Fishing, breaks down Stillwater fly fishing at a level most anglers never reach—from understanding exact sink rates to building repeatable systems that help locate fish quickly.

We dig into countdown systems, retrieves, line densities, and how wind, dep...

#920b Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/920b 

Presented by: Moccasin Fly Club

In this episode, I sat down with John Hunt from Moccasin Fly Club to dig into what these trips actually look like. We got into fly fishing Baja liveaboards, chasing trophy roosterfish, and the stuff most people don't think about until it's too late.

If Baja has been on your radar, this one gives you a clear picture of what to expect and how to do it right.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/920b     

#920 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/920

Presented By: Togiak River Lodge, Golden Fly Shop, AVC Rig, TroutRoutes

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

What happens when you take fly fishing beyond your home water and start chasing it across the world? In this episode, we sit down with Emilie Björkman and Ted Logart from Loop to talk about Wild Fish, Wild Places, a global series focused on travel, culture, and conservation.

They share how the project came together, how they choose destinations, and what they've learned filming in places like Montana, Sweden, I...

919 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/919

Presented by: Golden Fly Shop, TroutRoutes, FishHound Expeditions

In this episode, we go inside the minds of world champion fly casters Whitney Gould, Rick Hartman, and Kalyn Hoggard to break down what really separates good from elite.

We talk about the World Fly Casting Championships, what it takes to carry 80+ feet of line in the air, and the biggest mistakes most anglers make when trying to cast farther.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/919