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Listen to the full Episode 255 here: https://wetflyswing.com/255 Sponsors: Stonefly Nets, Jackson Hole Fly Co, Outpost on the Nush In this Greatest Hits solo episode, Dave revisits his 2021 conversation with Jeff Liskay and pulls out 11 practical Spey and switch rod tips for Great Lakes steelhead. Jeff’s system starts with an 11-foot 5-weight switch rod, roughly 330 grains, a short sink tip, a 14- to 18-inch leader, and an unweighted fly. From there, the focus is less on making long casts and more on controlling swing speed, fishing the right water, and keeping the fly in front of cold water steelhead. Dave breaks down why Jeff fishes higher and dirtier water before the crowds arrive, slows his swing when water temperatures drop into the 30s, and searches the edges before moving toward the middle of the river. You'll also hear why shortening your sink tip can immediately make a struggling Spey cast easier and why presentation matters more than casting across the river. Jeff also explains why he lets the sink tip control depth instead of adding weight to the fly, why some of his best water is the stuff other anglers walk right through, and when warmer, clearer conditions might even call for skating a dry fly for Great Lakes steelhead. The episode wraps up with two bigger lessons: separate casting practice from fishing, and don't fish yesterday's water. Migratory fish move, conditions change, and Jeff would rather keep searching new water than become attached to the spot that produced the day before. If you're getting ready for Great Lakes steelhead season or want to make your switch rod setup simpler this episode gives you 11 tips you can take straight to the river.

#994 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/994 Presented by: Stonefly Nets, Drifthook, Togiak River Lodge English trout fishing offers anglers a different set of rivers, access challenges, hatches, and seasonal opportunities than many famous waters in the American West. Howard Croston shares his experience with English trout fishing, his career with Hardy, competition dry-fly fishing, European grayling, and the equipment being developed for modern anglers. Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/994

#993 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/993 Presented by: Golden Fly Shop, FishHound Expeditions, AVC Rig, Redd's Flies In this episode, Adam explains the hatches, flies, access, water conditions, boat fishing, wading, and presentation skills that matter on West Branch Delaware. He also shares how to recognize feeding rhythms, when to change flies, and why slowing down before the next cast can make a difference. The West Branch Delaware is one of those rivers where a trout can be holding in a narrow current seam and ignore a fly that passes only an inch or two away. Adam Franceschini has spent 15 spring seasons on the West Branch Delaware, learning how to approach its wild trout and technical dry fly fishing. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/993

#992 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/992 Presented by: Smitty's Fly Box, Togiak River Lodge, Stonefly Nets, Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors Jan Erik Granbo lives near Trondheim in central Norway, where he has around 40 Atlantic salmon rivers within his region. We dig into everything Atlantic salmong fishing, from the June salmon window and Scandinavian two-handed setups to finding resting fish, planning a Norway trip, and fishing dry flies later in summer. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/992

#991 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/991 Presented by: Moccasin Fly Club Every destination has a season when the fishing feels just right, and along the Louisiana Coast, clear water, moving tides, and sight fishing are what make Louisiana redfish fly fishing so special. David Phelps from Southbound Fly Expeditions talks about seasonal redfish movements, changing weather, sight-fishing tactics, casting, flies, and tackle. We also dig into the three-day Louisiana trip we're putting together with Moccasin Fly Club. You’ll hear how David sets up the fly for different redfish behaviors, why the 20- to 40-foot cast matters more than the 70-foot cast, and the biggest mistake he sees from trout anglers. #991 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/991

#990 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/990 Presented by: Sullivan Fly Rods, Blue Bonefish Lodge, AVC Rig, Gallatin River Lodge Bitterroot River fly fishing offers an unusual mix of water, from mountain-stream fishing in the headwaters to wide, technical flats closer to Missoula. Robert Prince spends about 90 percent of his guiding and fishing days on the Bitterroot, and he joins Dave to break down the river's major hatches, dry flies, nymphs, and presentations that help anglers find trout year-round. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/990

Listen to the full episode: https://wetflyswing.com/989 Domenick Swentosky of Troutbitten joins us for one of the most-downloaded Wet Fly Swing episodes of 2020. Dom breaks down a different way to approach streamer fishing, one that borrows heavily from tight-line nymphing. Instead of relying on huge flies and aggressive retrieves, he explains why smaller streamers, precise presentations, and direct contact can be so effective for trout. We get into Dom's Mono Rig streamer setup, including why he likes a 20-pound Maxima Chameleon butt section, a 10-foot 4-weight, and a two-streamer system that helps him track what's happening below the surface. He also explains how he uses his sighter to judge depth, why he targets small pieces of water around rocks, wood, and banks, and why anglers may be stripping their streamer away from the best holding water too quickly. Dom also shares one of the most interesting concepts from the episode: streamer head position. You'll hear how he gets his fly facing down and across, why he wants to keep it near structure, and how his “slow slide” presentation gives trout an easier opportunity to eat. If you want to bring more control and precision to your streamer game, this episode gives you a different way to fish them.

#988 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/988 Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Territory, Gallatin River Lodge, Fly Fish With Me Utah, Drifthook Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors Backcountry fly fishing has a way of simplifying things. When every ounce has to ride on your back, you start figuring out pretty quickly which pieces of fishing gear actually matter and which ones can stay at home. In this episode, Patrick and Daniel Bauman of Colter Backcountry take us into that world. We dig into ultralight backcountry gear, native trout across the West, wilderness safety, and the lessons they picked up backpacking and fishing far from the road. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/988

#987 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/987 Presented by: No See Um Lodge Alaska trout fishing changes throughout the season, and Caleb Hitzfeld has spent nearly two decades watching those changes firsthand. In this episode, Caleb explains how salmon fry, insects, mice, eggs, and streamers shape Alaska trout fishing. No See Um Lodge also shares how the lodge's fly-out program gives anglers access to different rivers. The conversation begins with Caleb's journey from Texas to Alaska and eventually to owning No See Um Lodge. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/987

#986 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/986 Presented by: Jackson Hole Fly Company, Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho, Golden Fly Shop, TroutRoutes Nearly 90 years after Grand Coulee Dam cut these fish off from the ocean, Steven Bird still fishes Upper Columbia rainbows that act a whole lot like steelhead. Today, we’re getting into Trout Spey, wet flies, reading water, and the history behind this unique fishery. Steven is the author of Trout Spey and the Art of the Swing and associate editor at Swing the Fly. He shares what he’s learned from decades on the Upper Columbia, along with swinging soft hackles, fishing small spiders, and finding good swing water. We also cover dead-drifting Bombers, leader setups, the Leisenring Lift, and what has changed on Steven’s home water over the years. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/986

#985 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/985 Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Territory Michelle Edwards is a fly tyer and former guide who spent years fishing and guiding the South Fork of the Snake. We get into South Fork hatches, guide flies, nymphing from a drift boat, streamer fishing for bigger trout, and the lessons Michelle carried with her from Colorado to Idaho. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/985

#984 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/984 Presented by: Drifthook, TroutRoutes, No See Um Lodge, Togiak River Lodge In this episode, Todd Karnas of Eastern Guides shares what he has learned from more than 15 years of fishing around St. John's and the Avalon Peninsula. We cover Atlantic salmon, small rivers, surface flies, sea-run trout, resident brown trout, capelin, water conditions, and the best time to experience each fishery. Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/984

#983 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/983 Presented by: Golden Fly Shop, FishHound Expeditions, On DeMark Lodge, Pescador on the Fly Strike 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

#982 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/982 Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho, Gallatin River Lodge, Fly Fish with Me Utah, Sullivan Fly Rods In 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

#981 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/981 Presented By: TroutRoutes In 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