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Episode OverviewOn this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Eric Hurst, the fly designer behind the Umpqua-produced Thrasher and Agent Scully streamers, fresh off his first season in Montana. It's a candid conversation about guiding burnout, building a name from scratch and designing streamers that actually swim. For serious streamer tiers and anglers weighing a move from Southeastern tailwaters to big Western trout water, Hurst's perspective is unusually raw and practical. Hurst grew up bass fishing in Alabama and came to fly fishing self-taught, learning to tie largely from YouTube before spending close to a decade guiding out of Alpharetta Outfitters on the Georgia tailwaters around Atlanta, with days in Tennessee and North Carolina. Now working for Kelly Galloup at Galloup's Slide Inn in Montana, he explains why Western trout key on hatches far more exclusively than Southeastern fish, why he would rather fish a good caddis hatch than chase the salmonfly hype and why he has stepped away from guiding until he knows his new water well enough to be fully confident. The heart of the episode is streamer design: his profile-first philosophy, the Mike Schmidt "rule of halves" for building a tapered silhouette, pairing buoyant and sinking materials so the fly works with less input on the retrieve and a glue-free thread wrap, also from Schmidt, for securing articulation wire. He also shares how Umpqua came to him about the Thrasher and Agent Scully, previews his new Secret Shopper, walks through the materials currently on his bench and makes the case for Bobbin the Hood as the event every streamer tier should attend. Key TakeawaysHow to build a tapered streamer profile with the "rule of halves," sizing each successive material at roughly half the length of the one behind it.Why pairing buoyant materials like deer hair with sinking materials like Laser Dub produces a fly that moves on its own and requires less work on the retrieve.How to secure articulation wire without glue using Mike Schmidt's back-and-forth thread wrap that tightens under tension like a Chinese finger trap.Why trout in Montana key on the hatch more exclusively than fish on Southeastern tailwaters like the South Holston, and what that means for an angler moving west.Why less is more at the vise, from trimming back a fly that already looks finished to pulling out long fibers rather than stacking materials.How handing new patterns to shop staff and clients gives a designer more objective field-testing feedback than fishing them personally. Techniques & Gear CoveredThe tying discussion centers on articulated streamers and swim flies, including Hurst's Thrasher, a swim fly tied weighted or unweighted, and the Agent Scully sculpin pattern, both produced by Umpqua in standard and mini sizes, with the newly added Secret Shopper to follow. He breaks down two techniques he learned from Mike Schmidt, the rule of halves and a glue-free thread wrap down the articulation wire, along with his recent move from two Hareline 3D beads to one for better swimming action. On the materials side he highlights Montana Fly Company's peppered chenille, used on Mike Schultz's Woodsman to build profile without holding water, and Kelly Galloup's Fish Feathers from MFC printed in rainbow, brown and speckled trout patterns. At the bench he ties on a black-and-gold Regal vise and brushes out fibers with a switchblade-style comb from Gatlinburg, Tennessee. For a deeper dive into swim fly mechanics, see BONUS - The Science of Streamers (Pt II): Kirk Klingensmith on Swim Flies. Locations & SpeciesHurst cut his teeth guiding trout on the Georgia tailwaters around Atlanta, with additional trips in Tennessee and North Carolina, before relocating to Montana for his first season on Western trout water. His biggest adjustment has been how selectively Montana trout key on hatches compared with Southeastern tailwater fish, even during strong sulphur hatches on the South Holston. He describes this year's Montana salmonfly hatch as hit or miss, fishing more like streamer fishing where you have to be in the right place at the right time, and says he would rather catch a good caddis hatch. His fishing roots go back to bluegill and bass in Alabama, which he still revisits to keep himself grounded. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is the rule of halves in streamer tying?The rule of halves, which Hurst credits to Mike Schmidt, sizes each material at about half the length of the material tied in behind it. For example, a schlappen tail is followed by bucktail at half the tail's length, and the main body is half the length of the bucktail. The result is a fly that tapers naturally, and Hurst says you can see the improved profile when it swims. How do you secure articulation wire on a streamer without glue?Using a technique he learned from Mike Schmidt, Hurst wraps thread down the wire, back up halfway, down the full length and back up halfway again so the wraps behave like a Chinese finger trap: the harder the connection pulls, the tighter it gets. He stopped using glue on his articulation connections entirely after adopting the technique. How is fly fishing for trout in Montana different from Southeastern tailwaters?According to Hurst, Montana trout key on the hatch far more exclusively than fish back east. Southeastern tailwater trout will lock onto a strong sulphur hatch on the South Holston, but Western fish often want only what is hatching. He also found the salmonfly hatch less dependable than its reputation and prefers a strong caddis hatch for dry fly fishing. How did Eric Hurst get his fly patterns picked up by Umpqua?Umpqua reached out to Hurst first, while he was still tying purely for fun, and asked whether he had ever considered submitting patterns. He sent in the Thrasher, named for Georgia's state bird the brown thrasher as a nod to brown trout, and the Agent Scully, a sculpin pattern named as a nod to The X-Files. Both are now available in standard and mini sizes, the Secret Shopper is coming and he hopes to add micro versions. What does it take to be a good fly fishing guide?Hurst says a good guide has to love teaching and sharing, and that catching fish is secondary because no guide can make fish eat. He approaches every trip as a teacher who wants to fish through his clients, and he will not take anyone out on water he is not fully confident on. He also warns that giving everything to clients day after day takes a real mental toll. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentBONUS - The Science of Streamers (Pt II): Kirk Klingensmith on Swim Flies BONUS - A Deep Dive into the Swingin' D: Techniques and Tips with Mike Schultz S8, Ep 14 - Crafting Connections: Blane Chocklett on Fly Design and Conservation at Tie Fest S7, Ep 9 - Inside The Chocklett Factory: New Fly Tying Products, Bobbin and More with Blane Chocklett S8, Ep 64 - Streamer Strategies: Ellis Ward's Late Day Fishing Tips for East Tennessee Connect with Our GuestFollow Eric on Instagram. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our a href="https://thearticulatefly.substack.com" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Episode OverviewThis award-winning episode of The Articulate Fly, which took 1st place in the 2026 Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) Excellence in Craft awards (Radio/Podcast: Conservation), features outdoorsman, conservationist and grassroots organizer Land Tawney on how hunters and anglers can protect America's public lands and waters. Recorded in Fall 2025, the conversation pairs Land's nearly 30 years of conservation advocacy with a candid assessment of what he calls the most serious threat to public lands he has seen in his career. Raised in Missoula, Montana, Land traces his conservation ethic to childhood float trips during the Big Hole River salmonfly hatch, his parents' work as full-time conservation lobbyists at the state legislature and mentors including fisheries biologist and author Jim Posewitz. He breaks down the three ingredients that helped grow Backcountry Hunters & Anglers to roughly 40,000 members across political lines (fun, an open path to volunteer leadership and standing for something) and explains how to coach empowered volunteers without breaking them. Land then introduces American Hunters and Anglers Action Network, a 501(c)(4) that can lobby without the limits placed on 501(c)(3) groups and engage directly in elections. He lays out a "dismantle, defund, divest" framework for current threats, from a proposed mine just south of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Ambler Road through Alaska's Brooks Range. Finally, he makes the case for responsible development and principled compromise, citing the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Montana's Blackfoot Valley as models. It is essential listening for any angler who wants a real voice in the future of the waters they fish. Key TakeawaysWhy grassroots action is the most accessible way for busy anglers to influence conservation policy and how pressure from the field gives lobbyists leverage at the negotiating table in Washington, D.C.How fun events, an open path to volunteer leadership and a consistent stand for the resource helped Backcountry Hunters & Anglers build an unusually broad coalition of hunters and anglers.How to coach empowered volunteers after a misstep rather than holding them back, and why Land would rather rein in a running horse than coax one out of the barn.When to lean in on an issue, with maximum effort reserved for bedrock fights such as the sale of public lands and attacks on the Clean Water Act that affect everyone.Why the difference between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations determines who can lobby without limits and engage in elections, and how American Hunters and Anglers Action Network complements groups like Trout Unlimited.How to recognize the "dismantle, defund, divest" pattern behind current threats to public lands and waters, from agency staffing cuts to land sale proposals. Locations & SpeciesLand's fishing roots run through southwest Montana, where float trips during the Big Hole River salmonfly hatch shaped his earliest memories and mentor Dale Burk's favorite pattern, the Golden Stone, proved its worth even when salmonflies were on the water; Marvin recalls hitting the same hatch on the upper Madison River with his young son. The conservation discussion spans the 640 million acres of public lands Americans own, with particular focus on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota, the caribou and salmon habitat of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the proposed 210-mile Ambler Road through Alaska's Brooks Range, which would cross 11 rivers and roughly 3,000 streams. Land points to Wyoming's oil and gas fields as a cautionary tale for mule deer and pronghorn migrations and to Montana's Blackfoot Valley as a model of collaborative compromise among timber companies, ranchers, hunters, anglers and recreationists. He also notes that roughly 70% of Montana's fishing access sites were funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a direct link between federal conservation policy and the places anglers actually fish. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is the difference between a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(4) conservation organization?Land explains that 501(c)(3) groups such as Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Ducks Unlimited can devote only a limited portion of their budgets (he cites 20%) to grassroots and direct lobbying and cannot engage in electoral politics. A 501(c)(4) like American Hunters and Anglers Action Network can lobby full time and work to elect or unseat candidates based on their conservation records. Land sees the roles as complementary: the 501(c)(4) builds pressure from the grassroots so 501(c)(3) organizations can walk into the room and make the deals. Why should anglers get involved in grassroots conservation advocacy?Land argues that grassroots action is the easiest way for people with careers and limited time to make a difference, because it lets you "do what you can with what you got, where you are." Noise from the field is what gives lobbyists leverage in Washington, D.C., and, without that pushback, compromise and progress do not happen. His closing message is that hunters and anglers are either at the table or on the menu. How did Backcountry Hunters & Anglers build such a broad coalition?Land credits three ingredients. The first is making conservation fun through pint nights, brewfests, storytelling nights and film festivals, the second is letting any volunteer willing to contribute time and energy step into leadership without paying years of dues and the third is standing up for the resource every time in plain language. Combining youthful exuberance with the sage wisdom of longtime advocates attracted young and old members alike, and he also credits the talented volunteers and staff around him. What are the biggest threats to public lands according to Land Tawney?Land groups the threats into three categories: dismantling, defunding and divesting. Dismantling includes deep federal agency workforce cuts (which he estimates at about 25% of most agencies), a threatened reduction in force and efforts to open special places like the Boundary Waters and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to development. Defunding includes a proposed 35% cut to federal land management agencies, while divesting refers to public land sale proposals that were stripped from legislation but that Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair Mike Lee has said he is not done pursuing. How can public lands be developed responsibly without sacrificing conservation?Land stresses that he is not anti-development, citing Theodore Roosevelt's principle of managing resources for the most people over the longest time. He points to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a compromise that balanced North Slope development with protection, to phased oil and gas development that cleans up as it goes and to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which directs offshore oil and gas royalties to conservation and access nationwide. Modern selective timber harvest and the Blackfoot Valley collaborative show that compromise is a path forward rather than a dirty word. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use artfly20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS8, Ep 66 - The Roadless Rule Debate: Chris Wood on Protecting America's Wild Spaces and What You Can Do S7, Ep 105 - Changing the Narrative: Robbie Kroger's Mission with The Origins Foundation S7, Ep 91 - The Chocklett Factory: I Have Been Everywhere, Man S8, Ep 14 - Crafting Connections: Blane Chocklett on Fly Design and Conservation at Tie Fest Connect with Our GuestFollow Land on Instagram. Follow American Hunters and Anglers Action Network on Facebook, a...

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Michael Williams, owner and host of Nomadic Waters, to explain how anglers catch Amazon peacock bass on the fly and what makes a Brazilian jungle expedition work. Williams runs Orvis-endorsed trips on the Rio Negro, Rio da Lua and Rio Tatuagem, where guests chase Temensis and rare Vazzoleri peacock bass from Bass Tracker boats and floating cabins. It is a practical roadmap for trout and saltwater anglers weighing a first Amazon trip. Williams traces his path from a shared fly rod with his sister and guiding in Colorado to humanitarian work in Brazil that grew into Nomadic Waters. He explains why an ambushing peacock bass demands a faster retrieve rather than a pause, how a partner-style doubles strategy lifted catch numbers 30 to 40 percent and why presentation and casting matter far more than fly choice. He also covers pacing yourself in equatorial heat, including the mandatory midday siesta that raised fish counts. Williams also explains how community partnerships and the nonprofit Parallel Resource reflect a philosophy of exploration without exploitation. Along the way, he addresses who thrives in the Amazon, from beginners to professional guides, and he explains why guests who arrive as self-declared experts are the hardest to help. For any angler asking who should book an Amazon trip and when to go, this conversation offers honest answers. This re-broadcast of S7, Ep 2 (January 10, 2025) won First Place in the 2026 OWAA Excellence in Craft awards for Radio/Podcast Fishing. Key TakeawaysHow to trigger a peacock bass strike by speeding up your fly as the fish charges out of structure instead of pausing the retrieve.How to raise your catch rate by fishing as partners so the second angler casts behind a hooked fish, a doubles strategy that lifted Nomadic Waters' numbers 30 to 40 percent.Why casting quality, presentation and a solid strip set matter far more than fly choice when a 12-pound peacock bass can shatter 40-pound leader on its first run.How to pace a hot equatorial fishing day by picking your shots and taking a midday siesta, a change that raised fish counts even with three fewer hours on the water.When to time an Amazon trip: the Rio Negro from mid-January through February (sometimes into March) as water falls, and the Rio da Lua and Rio Tatuagem from September through November.How to decide whether an Amazon expedition fits you, based on your appetite for exploration, your willingness to take coaching and your comfort with heat and long casting days. Techniques & Gear CoveredWilliams describes a boat-based, partner-style approach to peacock bass: casting to structure and lagoon edges from Bass Tracker boats on the larger rivers and john boats with casting platforms on the smaller ones, then speeding up the fly as a fish charges out of cover. Most eats come within about 20 feet of the rod tip, which lets anglers watch every strike and finish with a strip set. He stresses that peacock bass do not eat only big flies, that a 12-pound fish can shatter 40-pound leader on its first run and that a clean double haul and an efficient cast keep the rod rather than your shoulder doing the work. Nomadic Waters often targets schools of two-pound fish on day one, because they teach presentation, speed, depth and hook sets before anglers cast to larger fish. Gear mentions are light: six and seven weight rods with floating lines and ant or beetle patterns for matrinchã plus small spinning rods with bait for piranha off the back of the mothership. Locations & SpeciesNomadic Waters fishes three Brazilian Amazon rivers: the Rio Negro (a mothership with daily trips in Bass Trackers), the small, clear water Rio da Lua (float plane access and floating cabins) and the Rio Tatuagem (home to the rare Vazzoleri peacock bass). Target species are peacock bass, including 20-pound Temensis on the Rio da Lua, with piranha, red tail catfish and matrinchã as variety. A typical week on the Rio Negro puts about ten guests on roughly 1,200 landed fish. Seasonal timing follows the water, since the Rio Negro can rise or fall about 30 feet in a season: mid-January through February (sometimes into March) once levels start falling, September and October for the Rio da Lua and November for the Rio Tatuagem, with those two rivers resting about ten months of the year. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do you fish for peacock bass on the fly in the Amazon?Cast to structure and lagoon edges where peacock bass ambush prey, and speed the fly up as a fish charges out of cover because stopping the retrieve makes it lose interest. Most eats happen within about 20 feet of the rod tip, so you see the strike and finish with a strip set. Nomadic Waters also fishes as partners: when one angler hooks a fish, the second casts behind it at the followers, and this doubles strategy raised catch numbers by 30 to 40 percent. What skills do you need for an Amazon fly fishing trip?Williams welcomes all experience levels, including beginners, and says the best guests are willing to explore, take direction and ask for help with things like a double haul. He ranks the cast and presentation far above the fly pattern, and he warns that a 12-pound peacock bass can shatter 40-pound leader on its first run. Anglers who want a sure thing are a weaker fit than those who enjoy discovery, and guests who arrive as self-described experts unwilling to take guidance are the hardest to help. How do you handle the heat and physical demands of peacock bass fishing?Pick your shots instead of casting at every fishy-looking spot, because tired anglers get sloppy, miss strikes and snag trees. Williams compares fly casting in the Amazon to a baseball pitcher's limited number of great pitches per game and teaches guests to let the rod do the work rather than the shoulder. Nomadic Waters schedules a mandatory midday siesta with lunch and air conditioning, then fishes the last couple of hours of light, and catch counts rose even though the fishing day is about three hours shorter. When is the best time to fish the Amazon for peacock bass?For Nomadic Waters, the Rio Negro season runs from mid-January through February and sometimes into March, timed for when the water has been falling for a couple of weeks and the fish have gone about three months without fishing pressure. The Rio da Lua fishes best in September and October and the Rio Tatuagem in November, and the season ends before Thanksgiving. Water level is the deciding factor, because the Rio Negro can change by about 30 feet in a season. What does exploration without exploitation mean for a fishing operation in the Amazon?Williams uses it as a core value filter for every decision, tied to Nomadic Waters' origins as a humanitarian group working with remote Amazon communities. A support vessel carries a medical clinic, a dental clinic and water filtration systems. Guests share community lunches with villages, and a separate nonprofit called Parallel Resource was created to support the work. He warns against well-meant help that does not last, citing a visiting group that placed braces on children in a village and never returned, so that the Nomadic Waters dentist later spent a day removing them from adults. Related ContentS5, Ep 83 - A Fly Fishing Life with Jeff Currier S6, Ep 132 - Fly Tying and Destination Travel with Tim Flagler S5, Ep 111 - Gustavo Hiebaum of SET Fly Fishing S8, Ep 20 - Behind the Scenes: Mark Melnyk's Adventure with The New Fly Fisher Connect with Our GuestFollow Nomadic Waters on Facebook and a href="https://www.instagram.com/nomadicwaters/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Episode OverviewOn this episode of The Articulate Fly, Trout Unlimited President and CEO Chris Wood returns to discuss the fight to save the Roadless Rule, the 25-year-old policy now facing a full rescission by the U.S. Forest Service. With a public comment period closing September 21st, host Marvin Cash and Chris cover why this fight matters well beyond hunters and anglers. Chris, who helped write the original 2001 Roadless Rule as a Forest Service policy staffer under Chief Mike Dombeck, walks through its origins, the parallel legislative attack led by Senator Mike Lee and why the rescission would open 44 million acres of backcountry to new road construction. The conversation ranges from Idaho and Utah's grazing and oil and gas leasing inside roadless areas to the outsized role these lands play as cold, clean water sources for the Tongass National Forest, Colorado's greenback cutthroat trout habitat and Idaho's bull trout and Chinook and steelhead runs. Chris also details recent Trout Unlimited conservation wins, including record coho returns from the North Coast Coho Project and a deal to acquire four dams on Maine's Kennebec River to open habitat for Atlantic salmon. The episode closes with concrete advice on how anglers can make their voices heard before the comment deadline. Key TakeawaysWhy the Roadless Rule's rescission would strip protections from 44 million acres of backcountry that provide the coldest, cleanest water for downstream trout and salmon fisheries.How to submit an effective public comment before the September 21st deadline, including personalizing it with a specific roadless area or species that matters to you.Why the "de facto wilderness" argument against roadless areas doesn't hold up, since these lands already permit off-road vehicle use, grazing, oil and gas leasing and mining.When a more deliberate, iterative rulemaking process (like the state-specific rules Idaho and Colorado developed under the Bush administration) makes more sense than a blanket rescission.Why building a broader coalition beyond traditional hunters and anglers is becoming essential to winning public lands fights in the current political environment. Locations & SpeciesThe episode centers on the 58.5 million acres of national forest backcountry protected by the 2001 Roadless Rule, with particular attention to Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Alaska's Tongass National Forest. These roadless areas supply drinking water for more than 40 million Americans and serve as critical, contiguous habitat: 70% of Colorado's greenback cutthroat trout, 68% of Idaho's bull trout and 70-75% of the Tongass' and Idaho's Pacific salmon and steelhead populations depend on habitat found within roadless areas. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is the Roadless Rule, and why is it being challenged right now?The 2001 Roadless Rule bars new road construction across 58.5 million acres of national forest. On August 18th, the U.S. Forest Service proposed rescinding it entirely, with a public comment period ending September 21st. A parallel legislative effort led by Senator Mike Lee also seeks to eliminate the rule and bar any future administration from reinstating it. Why do roadless areas matter for trout and salmon fishing specifically?Roadless areas are the source of the coldest, cleanest water for the larger rivers downstream that support wild trout and salmon. They protect outsized shares of at-risk populations, including most of Colorado's greenback cutthroat trout, Idaho's bull trout and the Tongass National Forest's Pacific salmon and steelhead runs. Isn't a roadless area basically the same as a designated wilderness area?No. Unlike wilderness, roadless areas already permit off-road vehicle use (33% of all motorized trails in the 12 Western states are in roadless areas), oil and gas leasing, grazing and mining, so the argument that they're "de facto wilderness" locked away from any use doesn't hold up. How can anglers make their comments count before the September 21st deadline?Personalizing a comment with a specific roadless area, species or memory that matters to you is more effective than a generic form submission. Comments can be submitted through Trout Unlimited, and the goal is to exceed the 1.6 million comments the original rule drew 25 years ago. What happens if the rescission goes through anyway?Advocates expect the rescission to face extensive litigation. Continued advocacy and public pressure are seen as important groundwork for reversing the rescission under a future administration if needed. Submit Your Comment Before the DeadlineSponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS2, Ep 40 - Chris Wood of Trout Unlimited S7, Ep 98 - The Fight for Our Future: Land Tawney on Grassroots Advocacy and Public Lands S7, Ep 105 - Changing the Narrative: Robbie Kroger's Mission with The Origins Foundation Connect with Our GuestFollow Chris on Instagram. Follow Trout Unlimited on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options. Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app. Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us. Helpful Episode Chapters0:00 Introduction 3:56 Why the Rule Matters 10:38 How It All Started 18:18 Roadless Areas Aren’t Wilderness 25:26 Habitat Benefits for All 32:41 The Agency’s Staffing Crisis 39:25 Why Nuance Got Lost 43:01 Broadening Conservation Messaging 45:34 How to Take Action 51:20 TU’s On-the-Ground Wins

Episode OverviewOn this episode of The Butcher Shop fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash welcomes back Kirk Klingensmith for Part Two of their Science of Streamers conversation, this time digging into the physics behind swim flies and the Game Changer platform. Klingensmith brings an engineer's eye to the vise, breaking down why doubling a fly's length doesn't mean doubling its diameter and why that distinction matters more than most tiers realize. The conversation opens with the geometry of drag: length scales linearly, but diameter drives drag by the square, so a modest increase in diameter has an outsized effect on a fly's action. From there, Klingensmith and Cash trace how turbulence created at the front of a swim fly, whether from a deer hair lip, a cupped popper head or simply a bulky front-loaded profile, sets up the unstable eddy currents that make the rear of the fly undulate on the retrieve. They cover material choices (marabou, rabbit, craft fur, Flashabou) that add movement, the role of shank engineering and segmentation in producing a serpentine swim, and how stinger hook placement and connection material (wire, gel-spun, mono) change both the fly's action and its hookup rate on short-striking fish. A highlight of the episode is Klingensmith's breakdown of Brian Shumaker's Shimmering Minnow and the "hover and twitch" presentation he uses on pressured smallmouth bass in warm summer water. Key TakeawaysHow to scale a streamer's diameter separately from its length, since drag increases geometrically with diameter while length scales in linear proportionWhy turbulence-inducing elements like a deer hair lip, a cupped popper head or an oversized front profile make a swim fly kick and undulate on the retrieve instead of just sinking straightWhen to fish a swim fly on a dead-stop hover rather than a fast retrieve, particularly for pressured smallmouth bass in warm summer waterHow to use material mass and segment placement to dial in a tighter or more gradual S-curve swimming action on an articulated flyWhy adding a stinger hook can improve hookups on short-striking predatory fish while also changing how much mass and crash the tail of the fly carriesHow fly designers use a "chassis" mindset, treating patterns like the Clouser Minnow or Game Changer as adaptable platforms rather than fixed recipes Techniques & Gear CoveredKlingensmith explains swim fly action as a function of engineered turbulence: a drag-inducing front end (a lip, a cupped head or simply a bulky profile) creates unstable eddy currents that the rear of the fly follows, producing the swimming motion, while a laminar (streamlined) front would produce no swim at all. He details how progressively smaller shanks toward the tail increase segmentation and produce a more serpentine undulation, and how adding mass to those rear segments dampens the action into a slower, more gradual S-curve. On stinger hook rigging, he walks through connection options (wire, gel-spun, mono) and how hook placement and gauge affect both the fly's swim and its hook-up percentage on fish that nip at the tail rather than eating the head. Named patterns discussed include the Game Changer platform and two of its variants, the Jerk Changer and the Feather Changer, along with the Drunk & Disorderly, Brian Shumaker's Shimmering Minnow, the Clouser Minnow, Bob Popovics' Beast Fleye and Chris Walker's Kreelex-variant, a stinger-hook trout streamer designed for brown trout that key on the tail. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy don't fly proportions scale linearly when you size up a streamer pattern?Because drag from a cylindrical or spherical shape increases geometrically with diameter while length only scales linearly. Klingensmith explains that it's reasonable to scale a fly's length proportionally when going from, say, four inches to six inches, but the diameter should only be increased modestly, not scaled by the same ratio, or the fly's action and drag profile will be thrown off. What makes a swim fly like the Game Changer move with a swimming action instead of just sinking?The action comes from turbulence engineered into the front of the fly. A lip, a cupped popper head or simply a bulky, non-streamlined front end creates a drag source that generates unstable eddy currents, and the rest of the fly follows those currents on the retrieve. A streamlined, laminar-flow front would not produce this swimming motion. How does adding a stinger hook affect a swim fly's action and hookup rate?It depends heavily on how the shank-to-stinger connection is built, whether with wire, gel-spun line or mono, and whether the hook is left free or incorporated into the tail material. Stinger hooks are especially effective on predatory fish that nip at a fly's tail rather than striking the head, and shorter-shank designs like octopus hooks tend to hold hooked fish more securely than long-shank hooks. What is the "hover and twitch" technique Kirk Klingensmith uses for pressured smallmouth?Rather than burning the fly back with a fast retrieve, Klingensmith lays the Shimmering Minnow within six inches of structure and lets it twitch and suspend with almost no forward motion, letting subtle microcurrent movement do the work. He believes this near-motionless presentation gives pressured smallmouth, especially in warm water, something they haven't already learned to refuse. How can fly tiers control the tightness of a swim fly's S-curve swimming action?By adjusting material mass in the segments behind the head. Lighter segments produce a tighter, more pronounced undulation, while adding more mass and gradually stepping it down through the rear segments dampens the action into a slower, more gradual S-curve. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentListen to The Science of Streamers (Pt I) BONUS: The Science of Streamers (Pt I): Kirk Klingensmith on Jigging and Wrecking Flies BONUS: Castability Unleashed: Mark Sedotti's Journey with the Sedotti Slammer BONUS: Swine Design Secrets: Eli Berant Discusses the Optimus Swine S6, Ep 144: The Chocklett Factory: Conservation, New Products and a Legacy Remembered Connect with Our GuestFollow Kirk on Facebook and Instagram. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options. Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app. Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us. Helpful Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction 02:51 Scaling Fly Geometry 05:35 How Swim Flies Swim 11:28 Paused Retrieves Matter Most 16:26 Stinger Hooks and Fly...

Episode OverviewOn this episode of The Butcher Shop fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with Kirk Klingensmith, a retired Corning engineer and lifelong angler, for a physics-driven breakdown of why streamers move the way they do. Klingensmith, who wrote the "physics of fly motion" chapter for Blane Chocklett's Game Changer book, brings a scientist's eye to the vise, translating drag, momentum and weight placement into practical tying and fishing decisions. In Part One of this two-part conversation, he and Cash work through jig flies and wrecking or kicking flies, saving swim flies for a follow-up episode. The jig fly discussion centers on the Clouser Minnow, where lead-eye placement and hook angle (90-degree versus 60-degree versus 15-degree jig hooks) determine whether a fly dips gently or nose-dives on the pause, and on how bucktail's stiffness contrasts with the collapsing action of flash-bodied flies like the Kreelex. From there the two turn to wrecking and kicking flies such as Blane Chocklett's T-Bone, unpacking how momentum in the tail and drag in the head combine to create the sideways "kick" that triggers strikes from muskies, smallmouth and brown trout alike. Throughout, Klingensmith returns to a central theme: the fly is only one part of a system that includes leader construction, tippet stiffness, fly line selection and retrieve style, all of which anglers can manipulate to fine-tune a streamer's behavior on the retrieve and on the pause. Key TakeawaysHow lead-eye placement on a Clouser Minnow determines whether the fly dips gently or nose-dives on the pauseWhy bucktail and flash materials like Kreinik Flash create fundamentally different drop behaviors when a jig fly stallsWhen to switch to a full-length tippet leader, as used in Alaska salmon fishing and Euro-nymphing, to amplify a jig fly's drop and sink rateHow momentum in a fly's tail combines with drag in the head to produce the sideways kick that triggers musky, smallmouth and brown trout strikesWhy reverse-tied bucktail heads, as used on the T-Bone, stall and flare on the pause to exaggerate a wrecking fly's actionHow retrieve style, fly line choice and tippet stiffness work together as a system to control a streamer's action, not just the fly itself Techniques & Gear CoveredKlingensmith walks through how lead-eye placement on a Clouser Minnow governs its jigging action and contrasts bucktail's stiffer, slower-collapsing profile with the accelerated drop of flash-bodied flies like the Kreelex, tied with Kreinik Flash. He details how 90-degree, 60-degree and 15-degree jig hooks change the abruptness of the transition between retrieve and pause, and how a full-tippet leader system, borrowed from Alaska salmon fishing and Euro-nymphing with jig streamers, sinks a fly faster and amplifies its drop. On wrecking and kicking flies, he breaks down the reverse-tied bucktail construction behind Blane Chocklett's T-Bone, explaining how a dense, high-drag head stalls on the pause while a lower-drag tail continues forward and kicks sideways, and how material choices such as deer hair, wool, synthetics and foam heads change how a fly suspends or sinks at rest. He also touches on line selection, using sink-tip or full-sinking lines to present a kicking fly low in the water column, and loop knots as the standard connection for preserving that action. Locations & SpeciesKlingensmith fishes primarily for smallmouth bass on the Chemung River, a Susquehanna tributary in the Finger Lakes region of New York, running a drift boat and carrying both floating and sinking lines to cover different parts of the water column. The bite triggers discussed apply broadly across predatory species, with specific mentions of musky, brown trout and smallmouth reacting to kicking and wrecking fly action, and striped bass responding to jigging presentations on pressured saltwater flats. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat determines whether a jig fly dips or nose-dives on the pause?Weight placement and hook geometry are the primary factors. Moving the lead eyes farther from the hook eye on a Clouser Minnow produces a flatter drop, while placing weight closer to the eye causes a more pronounced nose-dive; steeper jig hook angles (90 degrees versus 60 or 15 degrees) create a more abrupt transition between the retrieve and the pause. Why do bucktail and flash-bodied jig flies behave differently when they stall?Bucktail is a stiffer material that resists collapsing, so a fly like the Clouser Minnow dips rather than dives when it stops. Flash materials, like limp Kreinik Flash, offer far less resistance, and flies like the Kreelex fall more like a flimsy parachute, making them sink faster but with less controlled action. How does reverse-tied bucktail create the kicking action in flies like the T-Bone?Reverse-tying builds a dense, drag-heavy head that stalls abruptly on the pause while the tail, carrying more momentum and less drag, continues moving forward and swings sideways, similar to a tractor trailer truck jackknifing when the cab brakes. Tuning the length and diameter of the front section, along with the materials used, controls how sharply that kick occurs. When should anglers switch to a full-tippet leader for jig flies?A leader made entirely of tippet material, as used in Alaska for salmon and increasingly in Euro-nymphing with jig streamers, reduces resistance in the system so the fly sinks faster and produces a stronger, more pronounced jigging pull on the pause. This is especially useful when maximum depth and drop are the goal. Why do predatory fish sometimes strike a fly that doesn't resemble food at all?Klingensmith points out that fish lack hands, so investigating an unfamiliar object or eliminating a struggling intruder from their territory can trigger a strike independent of whether the fly looks edible. Klingensmith sums up the goal as tying a fly that wins an award for looking helpless, hurt and vulnerable rather than one that looks like a healthy baitfish. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS1, Ep 2: The T-Bone: A Deep Dive with Blane Chocklett - The Butcher Shop S2, Ep 2: A Deep Dive into the Swingin' D: Techniques and Tips with Mike Schultz - The Butcher Shop S6, Ep 124: Fly Tying with Chase Smith BONUS: Mastering the Beast: A Deep Dive into Bob Popovics' Legendary Fly with Captain Ben Whalley BONUS: Castability Unleashed: Mark Sedotti's Journey with the Sedotti Slammer Connect with Our GuestFollow Kirk on Facebook and Instagram. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options. Subscribe & Advertisea...

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Butcher Shop, host Marvin Cash sits down with Mark Sedotti, inventor of the Sedotti Slammer and one of the pioneers of weight-balanced streamer design, to trace nearly 35 years of big-fly development for striped bass and bluefish. Sedotti explains why a lead keel and the right amount of absorbed water can make an oversized streamer cast further and more accurately than a small one, overturning decades of conventional wisdom that heavy flies are harder to throw. Working from western Long Island Sound, where he first tied the Slammer to imitate adult menhaden up to 15 inches long, Sedotti walks through the evolution of his high-and-low bucktail tying method, the construction of a rectangular lead keel to stop wide-profile flies from rolling, and the concept of weight balancing that ties it all together. He also details how the Slammer found its way to Michigan's Manistee River in the early 1990s, where guide Russ Maddin nicknamed it the Screaming Jesus and helped ignite the modern big-streamer trout movement. The conversation covers rod and line selection for casting giant flies, including Sedotti's signature Sayonara sling casting technique, along with retrieve mechanics, leader setups, and where to source materials and commercially tied Slammers. Anglers chasing striped bass, bluefish or trophy trout with oversized streamers will come away with a working framework for why some big flies cast beautifully and others simply won't turn over. Key TakeawaysHow to weight balance a streamer so it casts smoothly regardless of its size, rather than dragging through the airWhy adding water-absorbing materials like bucktail can improve a big fly's castability instead of hurting itHow to build a rectangular lead keel from lead wire to stop a wide-profile fly from rolling in the waterWhen to size a streamer to match adult versus immature baitfish, since selective stripers and bluefish may refuse flies shorter than the natural forageHow the Sayonara sling casting technique adds effective rod length and line speed for longer distance with a single-handed rodWhy a long leader of eight to nine feet improves fly action and strike rates when streamer fishing for trout Techniques & Gear CoveredSedotti's core concept is weight balancing: adding just enough weight to a streamer to counteract wind resistance and drag during the cast, which he discovered by building a rectangular lead keel out of 0.030-0.035 lead wire to prevent wide-profile flies from rolling. His high-and-low bucktail tying method, refined with input from Bob Popovics on achieving a three-dimensional bunker profile, remains consistent across pattern sizes from three and a half to over 20 inches, with synthetic yak hair, bucktail and feather substitutes used as natural saddle hackle and schlappen became harder to source. For casting, he favors a fast-action 11-weight rod paired with either integrated sinking lines, shooting heads or a floating line for shallow presentations, and retrieves with long, fast strips followed by a pause where most strikes occur. Locations & SpeciesSedotti developed the Slammer in western Long Island Sound around Greenwich, Port Chester, and Rye, New York, targeting striped bass and bluefish keyed in on schools of menhaden, or bunker, ranging from three and a half to over 15 inches depending on the season. He later carried medium-sized versions of the fly to Michigan's Manistee River, where it proved effective on trout and helped spark the region's big-streamer trout culture, as well as to Montana's Beaverhead River for trout. Today, he fishes deep structure at Montauk and Southwest Ledge on Block Island for large striped bass, working the fly 35 to 45 feet down on sinking lines. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is weight balancing in streamer fly design, and why does it matter for castability?Weight balancing means adding enough weight to a fly to counteract the wind resistance created by its materials as it moves through the air during a cast. Mark Sedotti found that a properly weight-balanced fly, regardless of size, will false cast smoothly with a normal loop, while an unbalanced fly either drags or develops an uncontrollable loop. How do you build a keel to stop a wide-profile streamer from rolling?Sedotti wraps half-inch strips of lead wire in layers of five, stacking three levels to form a rectangular, raft-like keel along the underside of the hook shank. The exact method matters less than achieving the correct total weight for that specific fly to keep it weight balanced. Why can waterlogged flies actually cast better than dry ones?A dry fly with the same amount of bulky material is more wind resistant and harder to turn over, while a wet fly collapses and cuts through the air more easily. Sedotti found that the added weight from absorbed water often helps counteract that wind resistance, provided the fly isn't carrying so much water and weight that it becomes overloaded. What rod and line setup works best for casting large weight-balanced streamers?Sedotti prefers a fast-action 11-weight rod for big saltwater patterns, paired with either an integrated sinking line, a shooting head or a floating line depending on depth and structure. His Sayonara sling casting technique adds effective rod length and increases tip speed for longer casts with a single-handed rod. How did the Sedotti Slammer influence Michigan's big-streamer trout fishing?In the early 1990s, Sedotti brought a medium-sized Slammer to Michigan's Manistee River, where guide Russ Maddin was stunned by how aggressively trout attacked it and nicknamed it the Screaming Jesus. That introduction is widely credited with helping launch the modern big-streamer trout movement centered around Michigan's guiding community. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentBONUS: Tying the Circus Peanut: Streamer Secrets and Fishing Strategies with Russ Maddin BONUS: Mastering the Beast: A Deep Dive into Bob Popovics' Legendary Fly with Captain Ben Whalley BONUS: A Deep Dive into the Swingin' D: Techniques and Tips with Mike Schultz Connect with Our GuestFollow Mark on YouTube. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options. Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app. Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us. Helpful Episode Chapters0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:33 Designing the Original Slammer 0:06:43 Unlocking Castability 0:15:33 Perfecting the Profile 0:19:17 Synthetic Evolution 0:32:53 Michigan Streamer Breakthrough 0:47:15 Casting Big Flies Well 0:53:42 Lines and Leaders 0:56:35 Fishing the Retrieve 1:06:26 Final Thoughts on Weight Balance

Episode OverviewThe Articulate Fly host Marvin Cash sits down with fly tying guru Allen Rupp, founder of Fly on the Water and Dave Whitlock's hand-selected legacy tier, for a deep dive into the classic fly patterns that built modern fly fishing. Rupp traces his fly tying education back to childhood phone calls with Bob Clouser, in-person mentorship from Lefty Kreh and George Harvey, and decades spent learning directly from Dave Whitlock, explaining why patterns like the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half, Lefty's Deceiver and Whitlock's Near Nuff Crayfish and Sculpin remain so effective that newer materials and techniques rarely improve on them. The conversation ranges from the upper Potomac River, where Rupp first learned to tie and fish, to saltwater destinations like the Seychelles and the Amazon, where his Semper Fli patterns are now requested by name by local guides. Rupp and Cash dig into why presentation matters more than fly choice (a lesson Rupp learned fishing a single hare's ear nymph for an entire year), how legends like Whitlock and Clouser relentlessly simplified their patterns rather than complicating them, where to source increasingly scarce natural materials like hand-plucked mallard flank and Cree hackle, and which adhesives belong on every serious tier's bench. Whether you fish for smallmouth bass, stripers, bonefish or golden dorado, this episode is a masterclass in why the old patterns still catch fish and what they can teach today's tiers about durability, simplicity and effective design. Key TakeawaysHow focusing on a single fly pattern for an entire season can teach anglers that presentation matters more than fly choice.Why classic patterns like the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half and Lefty's Deceiver remain more effective than many modern variations.How simplifying a fly pattern down to its essential materials often makes it more durable and more effective than adding complexity.Why choosing the right adhesive for a material (soft adhesive for soft materials, rigid adhesive for hard surfaces) prevents premature fly failure.When to source fly tying materials from non-fly shop retailers like craft and fabric stores.How filling Clouser Minnow thread wraps with resin in a triangle or heart shape creates a fly that is nearly weedless. Techniques & Gear CoveredRupp walks through the construction logic behind classic patterns including the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half, Lefty's Deceiver, the CK Baitfish, Chico's Bonefish Special, Lou Tabory's Snake Fly and Dave Whitlock's Near Nuff Crayfish and Sculpin, explaining how each pattern's simplicity contributes to its durability and fish-catching consistency. He details specific tying fixes including pre-treating deer hair eye cavities with Flexament before adding Goop and a final drop of Flexament to prevent eyes from popping off, and filling Clouser Minnow thread wraps with resin in a triangle or heart shape to create a snag-resistant profile. On adhesives, Rupp runs a bench of nine different products including Zap-A-Gap in two viscosities, Softex, Tuffleye and various other cements, matching soft adhesives to soft materials like deer hair and rigid adhesives to harder surfaces. For tools he favors Mark Petitjean bobbins for fine thread work and Renomed scissors for their durability and lifetime warranty, while sourcing scarce natural materials like Cree hackle, hand-plucked mallard flank and dry fly saddles from specialty sellers. Locations & SpeciesRupp's tying and fishing roots trace to the upper Potomac River and the Mid-Atlantic region of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, where he learned from guide Mark Kovach and crossed paths with Lefty Kreh and Bob Clouser at regional fly fishing shows. His classic patterns now see action well beyond home water, targeting smallmouth bass and trout in eastern rivers, striped bass at night from Virginia to Maine on Lou Tabory's Snake Fly, and trevally and golden dorado in destinations like the Seychelles and South America, where his Semper Fli pattern has become a guide favorite. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy do classic fly patterns like the Clouser Minnow and Lefty's Deceiver still outperform many modern variations?Allen Rupp explains that classic patterns endured because their originators relentlessly simplified them down to only the materials necessary for action and durability rather than adding complexity for visual appeal. Newer flies often look more elaborate but can introduce problems like tails that foul on the cast, while classics like the Deceiver (just bucktail, feathers and flash) remain reliably effective. How does fly choice compare to presentation in catching more fish?Rupp credits mentor Brad Yoder with the lesson that presentation matters far more than fly pattern, after fishing a single gold-ribbed hare's ear nymph exclusively for an entire year. He caught roughly the same number of fish as he had with pattern variety, reinforcing that learning to fish one fly in every water condition teaches more than chasing the next new pattern. What is the best adhesive to use on different fly tying materials?Rupp's rule, learned from Dave Whitlock, is to match a soft, flexible adhesive like Flexament to soft, flexible materials like deer hair and reserve rigid adhesives like Zap-A-Gap for harder surfaces. Using a rigid adhesive on a flexible material creates a stress point that cracks and fails after a few fish. Where can tiers find scarce natural materials like Cree hackle and quality mallard flank?Rupp sources hard-to-find feathers and fibers from a mix of specialty sellers, friends who hunt and hand-pluck birds, and even craft stores like Michaels and Joann Fabrics for items like glass beads, foam and embroidery materials. He notes that machine-plucked commercial mallard flank is often unusable for patterns requiring intact feather shape, making hand-plucked birds essential for some classic ties. What is swing nymphing and where did the technique originate?Swing nymphing is a technique Rupp developed independently as a teenager on the upper Potomac by adapting light jig presentations to a fly rod, only to later learn that Charlie Brooks had pioneered the same approach on the Yellowstone River decades earlier. Rupp covers the technique in an upcoming magazine article and credits Harry Murray's writing for connecting him to its origins. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS7, Ep 66 - Tales of a Fly Fishing Legend: Remembering Dave Whitlock BONUS - Mastering the Beast: A Deep Dive into Bob Popovics' Legendary Fly with Captain Ben Whalley S4, Ep 150 - FLY TYING REDUX: Soft Hackles with Allen McGee Connect with Our GuestFollow Allen on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options. Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app. Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us. Helpful Episode...

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with Josh Trammell, Head Guide at Mad River Outfitters in Columbus, Ohio, for a candid look at what it takes to build and sustain a full-time, four-season guide career. Josh covers the Ohio multi-species fishing calendar — smallmouth bass, northern pike, steelhead and carp — along with seasonal guiding in Alaska and destination schools targeting musky and trophy trout. Josh traces his path from catching his first steelhead at age 11 on Elk Creek with Tim Hess — a swung fly — through early years shadowing the Steelhead Alley Outfitters crew of Greg Senyo, Nate Miller and Patrick Robinson, to becoming Head Guide at Mad River Outfitters and a seasonal guide at Naknek River Camp near King Salmon, Alaska. His guide year spans Ohio smallmouth through multiple simultaneous seasonal windows on Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers, northern pike during their late-winter pre-spawn, steelhead from November through freeze-up and summer Pacific salmon guiding in Alaska. Josh also discusses the January musky school he co-runs with Blane Chocklett and Virginia Trophy Guides in Roanoke, Virginia, spring trout trips to the White River in Arkansas and his growing enthusiasm for carp on the fly. Throughout, he shares practical, unvarnished advice for aspiring full-time guides on the financial realities, logistics and genuine passion required to make it work year-round. Key TakeawaysHow a young angler can break into guide work at reduced financial risk by starting early, staying local and leveraging mentor relationships before major life expenses accumulate.Why the four-season model — cycling through Ohio smallmouth, pike, steelhead, Alaska salmon and destination schools — insulates full-time guides from unpredictable weather far better than single-species operations.When Ohio smallmouth become the most technically versatile species to guide, spanning crayfish dead-drifts, big early-season streamers, scaled-down baitfish imitations and topwater presentations across multiple seasonal phases.Why calibrating each guide day to the individual client's skill level and genuine expectations — rather than chasing personal hero shots — is the real key to repeat business and a sustainable career.How carp on the fly delivers a saltwater-style sight-fishing experience on Ohio freshwater, with few presentations per day and a high premium on reading fish behavior before ever picking up the rod.Why partnering with a full-service fly shop like Mad River Outfitters gives clients a reliable gear and knowledge resource and meaningfully reduces administrative pressure on the guide. Techniques & Gear CoveredJosh guides across a wide technique spectrum that shifts with species and season. Ohio smallmouth receive dead-drifted crayfish patterns in low, clear conditions; big early-season streamers in high or stained water; scaled-down slim-profile baitfish imitations as flows drop through summer; and topwater presentations during the warmest stretches of the year. Steelhead on Steelhead Alley are targeted on both swung flies and indicator rigs, while northern pike receive focused attention during their January and February pre-spawn window — when Ohio weather cooperates. Carp fishing is an increasingly important part of Josh's warm-weather program, using a methodical visual approach borrowed directly from saltwater fly fishing: reading feeding behavior, waiting for clean shot opportunities and presenting deliberately to individual fish, often making no more than 10 to 15 casts in a full day. The annual musky school he leads with Blane Chocklett in Roanoke, Virginia, pairs a one-day tactical masterclass in predator fly techniques with four days of fishing on the water through Virginia Trophy Guides. Locations & SpeciesJosh's Ohio guiding program covers Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers in northeastern Ohio, targeting steelhead through the November to freeze-up window and northern pike during the late-winter pre-spawn period. Ohio's multi-phase smallmouth calendar — with pre-spawn, spawning and post-spawn fish available simultaneously across different tributaries in mid-spring — gives Josh an unusually diverse season that stretches from spring through early fall. Carp are pursued on Ohio's clearer flatwater fisheries using visual sight-fishing methods, providing a reliable warm-weather alternative when smallmouth and pike waters run high and off-color. For destination work, Josh guides Pacific salmon at Naknek River Camp on the drainage near King Salmon, Alaska through summer; pursues musky with Virginia Trophy Guides on rivers outside Roanoke each January; and leads spring trout trips targeting caddis and sulphur hatches on the White River near Flippin and Cotter, Arkansas. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do you break into a full-time fly fishing guide career?Josh emphasizes starting young when bills and financial obligations are minimal — shadowing established guides on both working trips and fun-fishing days, learning how programs are structured and how to rig for different conditions. Building genuine relationships within a regional guide community, as Josh did with the Steelhead Alley Outfitters crew, opens the doors to early opportunities. He cautions that anyone entering the guide game with significant financial obligations should plan carefully around Mother Nature's ability to cancel trips and budget realistically for the shoulder seasons. What does a full four-season guide year look like in Ohio?Starting in mid-spring, Josh runs Ohio smallmouth across multiple simultaneous seasonal windows on Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers, alongside pike fishing that extends through warm weather. He transitions to Alaska for Pacific salmon guiding through early October, returns for a brief Ohio window before steelhead season opens in November and then runs Steelhead Alley through December freeze-up. Winter brings the annual musky school in Roanoke, Virginia with Blane Chocklett; spring opens destination trout trips on the White River in Arkansas; and carp provide a flexible alternative when other fisheries are unfishable. Why are Ohio smallmouth such a compelling guide species?Unlike steelhead, which Josh describes as largely limited to swung or indicator-presented flies, Ohio smallmouth accommodate a wide range of techniques across multiple seasonal phases — from large early-season streamers in blown-out water to crayfish patterns in low, clear conditions to topwater presentations on summer flows. That tactical variety keeps guides and clients engaged across a far longer window than most single-species programs allow. The overlapping seasonal stages across different river systems also mean a thoughtful guide can almost always find smallmouth in a fishable phase somewhere in the region. What is the key to being a successful fishing guide?Josh argues that the most important skill is calibrating each day to the individual client's actual skill level and genuine expectations — not the guide's own benchmark for a good outing. A beginner who lands several smallmouth while mastering a 30- to 40-foot cast has had an excellent day by their measure, which may look very different from a guide's definition of success. Open communication between guide and client about what they actually want from the day smooths out the experience and builds the kind of relationship that generates return bookings. How does carp fishing on the fly compare to other species in Josh's program?Josh describes carp as the closest freshwater equivalent to saltwater sight fishing available in Ohio — standing, hunting, watching and waiting before making deliberate presentations to individual fish rather than covering water. On a productive day with 10 shots at fish, he may cast only 10 to 15 times total, making each presentation count. High-water years that push smallmouth and pike fisheries off-color or out of shape have accelerated his carp development, and he now relies on it as a consistent warm-weather alternative when other species aren't cooperating. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS6, Ep 97: Fly Fishing Wisdom and Industry Pet Peeves with Greg Senyo S7, Ep 40: Exploring the Carp Game: Techniques and Tales with Corey Haselhuhn of Schultz Outfitters S8, Ep 22: From The Chocklett Factory: Blane Chocklett on Community, Conservation and New Fly Releases S8, Ep 24: From Tattoo to Trout: Aaron Chine's Dual Passion for Art and Steelhead...

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Jason Taylor — a Philadelphia-area fly tier, Tiers Row fixture at the Edison show and regular contributor to Masters of the Fly — for a wide-ranging conversation about fly tying philosophy, natural materials and the tradition of innovation rooted in Bob Popovics' work. On this fly fishing podcast episode, Taylor traces his journey from a 2008 Belize honeymoon that ignited his passion for the sport, to the early-2010s online forums — particularly Stripers Online — that connected him with a formative community of Northeast saltwater tiers including Popovics and David Nelson. Taylor shares the philosophy that drives every session at the vise: every feature in a fly must serve a purpose, and materials should be used as sparingly as possible to achieve it. The conversation digs into the enduring versatility of the hollow fleye platform — what Taylor calls "the Christmas tree" — its adaptability across materials and applications, and his own innovations including an ostrich herl hollow fleye variant and a Surf Candy adaptation with embedded foam for neutral buoyancy when targeting false albacore in calm, glassy conditions. Taylor also offers detailed guidance on selecting and handling bucktail and ostrich herl, shares tying tips rarely covered elsewhere, and takes listeners through the exotic and vintage natural materials currently occupying his tying bench. Key TakeawaysHow to apply Bob Popovics' "Christmas tree" principle to hollow fleye design — preserving the core profile shape while freely adapting materials, proportions and techniques.Why using less material than you think you need almost always produces a more castable, livelier fly.How to select bucktail for hollow fleyes by identifying soft, kinky fiber pulled from the middle half to two-thirds of the tail for the most predictable flare under thread pressure.Why a neutrally buoyant fly presentation — using embedded foam under a hard body paired with an intermediate line — consistently outperforms standard Surf Candy patterns when false albacore become selective in calm, flat-water conditions.How to stabilize thread wraps using brushable cyanoacrylate applied directly to the thread before making final wraps rather than to the hook or materials.Why grading ostrich herl by length, taper and barb density — rather than just overall plume size — is critical to achieving consistent movement in large saltwater patterns. Techniques & Gear CoveredThe episode centers on hollow fleye construction — specifically the bucktail collar technique Bob Popovics developed and Taylor has refined over more than a decade, including his personal adaptation of palmering ostrich herl down a mono or shank base to create a mobile, feather-forward variant. Taylor details his Surf Candy–based neutral buoyancy modification, incorporating foam beneath the hard body to maintain a suspending presentation throughout the retrieve — not just the first few strips — which he argues better matches the behavior of bait sitting still in calm, low-turbulence water when paired with an intermediate fly line. He also covers his evolution of the Semper Fli, replacing time-consuming palmered feather fronts with commercially available fly tying brushes for consistent, production-speed results without sacrificing profile. On the tools and materials side, Taylor explains his preference for monofilament thread for virtually all saltwater work (with gel-spun for mounting eyes), walks through his grading process for both bucktail and ostrich herl, and advocates for brushable cyanoacrylate applied to the thread to more durably secure the final wraps. He references Regal as his favored vise, Tuffleye (a blue-light–cured resin with origins in dental applications) as his preferred coating for albie and Surf Candy patterns, and monofilament as the default thread for nearly all non-dry fly work. Locations & SpeciesTaylor's saltwater fishing world centers on the Northeast coast — New Jersey beaches and jetty structure where he targets false albacore (albies) and striped bass. The neutral-buoyancy Surf Candy modification he developed addresses a specific condition: calm, glassy water where bait is suspended neutrally in the water column rather than being pushed and darting erratically, a situation that allows albies to scrutinize flies far more critically than in ripping current. The foam-infused body paired with an intermediate line creates the illusion of naturally suspended bait being dragged just below the surface — a presentation Taylor describes as reliably effective when albies appear finicky. Jetty fishing accounts for heavy fly loss in his program, which directly influences his bench work: efficient, repeatable tying at high quality is not just an aesthetic goal but a practical one. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is the "Christmas tree" principle and why has the hollow fleye remained relevant for decades?Taylor borrows this framing directly from Bob Popovics: the hollow fleye's core construction — bucktail tied in parallel to the shank and then pushed back on itself in a reverse tie to form an umbrella shape — creates a foundational profile that can be dressed up or stripped down infinitely. In its simplest form it ties in under five minutes and catches fish for anything; at the other extreme it accommodates exotic feather work, articulations and brush-based enhancements while retaining the original profile logic. Taylor's own ostrich herl variant illustrates how elastic the platform is: by palmering ostrich around a mono or shank base — orienting the material perpendicular to the base rather than parallel — he achieved a different movement profile while staying true enough to the Christmas tree shape that Popovics immediately recognized the technique as sound. That openness to adaptation was always the point: a baseline any tier could take and make their own. How do you select bucktail for hollow fleyes?Look for fibers that are soft, slightly kinky or wavy rather than pin-straight, and of medium hollowness. Taylor recommends pulling material from the middle half to two-thirds of the tail, where hair has enough hollow structure to flare predictably but enough density to stay controlled. He warns that the softest, most hollow base fibers can be too erratic for general hollow collar work and are better reserved for specific profile applications near the front of a fly. Why do false albacore seem to go finicky in calm, flat water?Taylor's answer is that this behavior isn't true selectivity — it's a physics mismatch. In ripping current or choppy conditions, bait is pushed around and moves erratically; a fly stripped through that same water fits right in. In flat, glassy conditions, suspended bait is genuinely neutrally buoyant and barely moving, and albies can see that a standard fly doesn't replicate that suspension. His foam-infused body maintains the neutrally buoyant presentation throughout the retrieve rather than sinking progressively as trapped air escapes, which he argues is the key to the pattern's effectiveness in those conditions. How should brushable cyanoacrylate be used correctly at the vise?The standard approach — applying glue directly to the hook shank or finished materials — can stiffen fibers and make delicate collars unpredictable. Taylor applies brushable super glue to the thread itself, just before making final securing wraps, which locks the thread without affecting material movement or positioning. This is especially useful when controlling sparse bucktail or fine feathers where a traditional coat would ruin the texture and action of a finished collar. Why does kinky or wavy bucktail produce a better hollow fleye than straight bucktail?Taylor explains that kinky, wavy bucktail creates an illusion of greater bulk and size than the amount of material actually on the hook warrants. Just as straightening curly hair reveals how much longer it truly is, the kinks and curves in wavy bucktail compress into a shorter measured length — meaning the fibers occupy more visual space on the hook than pin-straight hair of the same count would. For hollow fleyes, where the goal is achieving profile and the illusion of size with the least possible material, that optical magnification effect is a direct advantage. Straight bucktail, by contrast, gives you exactly what it is and nothing more. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS6, Ep 144: The Chocklett Factory: Conservation, New Products and a Legacy Remembered S8, Ep 14: Crafting Connections: Blane Chocklett on Fly Design and Conservation at Tie Fest S6, Ep 91: Predator Flies and Sparkle Boats: Steve Maldonado's Journey S7, Ep 66: Tales of a...

Episode OverviewThe Butcher Shop goes deep on one of the Great Lakes predator fly world's most distinctive patterns in this conversation with Eli Berant, the Michigan-based fly designer and founder of Great Lakes Fly. Eli is the creator of the Optimus Swine — a reverse foam head-embedded, side-kicking musky streamer that has been turning heads and producing fish since around 2009. In this episode, host Marvin Cash walks Eli through the full arc of the pattern: the lake musky problem it was designed to solve, the unconventional decision to reverse a foam popper head to create a slower fall and a pronounced glide-bait wiggle, the material choices that define the fly's profile and movement and the step-by-step construction logic from spinner bait hook to laser dub head. The conversation covers the full Swine family — the original 8–9 inch version on a 6/0 Mustad, the scaled-down Swine Junior for river smallmouth and stripers, the fettuccine-foam Pot Belly Swine for subsurface river applications, and the articulated Maximus Swine and Maximus Swine Junior, which remain something of a "secret menu" offering. Eli also addresses color selection by region — from olive-and-pink for fired-up Tennessee muskies to the Wisconsin-proven Willen's Villain black-white-yellow combo and his own favorite Mardi Gras pattern — and breaks down his preferred line and leader systems for lake musky versus river smallmouth applications. Throughout, the discussion grounds fly design theory in direct, tactical fishing application. Key TakeawaysHow reversing a foam popper head toward the rear of the hook creates a slower fall rate and induces the Optimus Swine's distinctive side-to-side glide-bait action.Why proportionality in bucktail application — specifically how much material per section and how many sections — is the most common failure point for tiers attempting the Swine for the first time.How to tune the Pot Belly Swine's fettuccine foam piece by removing individual strips to achieve neutral balance and proper swim orientation before fishing.Why a jerk-strip retrieve with a sinking line (350–450 grain tip) is the preferred delivery system for lake musky, allowing the sink tip to hold depth while the fly kicks side to side on each pull.When to dial back retrieve aggression and employ a stutter-strip or extended pause with the Swine Junior, particularly during cold-water conditions when bass are holding and waiting.Why sharing newly discovered synthetic fly tying materials openly — rather than hoarding them — is essential to keeping those materials in production and available to the broader tying community. Techniques & Gear CoveredThe Optimus Swine is designed around a jerk-strip retrieve that drives its foam-induced side-to-side action, and Eli breaks down exactly how to execute it — stripping two feet with the line hand in alternating pulls, roughly like ripping a bag open. For lake musky, he runs a 10-weight with a 350–450 grain sinking tip, paired with a short 3–4 foot leader from loop to fly — a butt section of 40-pound to wire, finished with cross-lock snaps for fast fly changes. River smallmouth and striper applications drop to a 7- or 8-weight with a 200–350 grain tip depending on conditions. Construction-specific details are substantial: Mustad 32608 spinner bait hook (6/0 for the original), Rainy's Mini Me medium foam popper head reversed and goop-set with silicone adhesive, synthetic yak hair blended with flash for the tail, grizzly saddle feathers as flanks, Magnum Flashabou, everyday bucktail applied in top-and-bottom sections, laser dub for the head, and 1/2-inch eyes pressed and held in a two-touch goop cure process. Anadromous Fly Company tungsten carbide scissors get a specific callout as Eli's go-to cutting tool for heavy production tying. Locations & SpeciesThe Optimus Swine was developed specifically for lake musky, with Lake Saint Clair in Michigan serving as the primary proving ground — a relatively snag-free fishery that allows anglers to fish sinking lines freely across the water column. The pattern's documented multi-species versatility extends to Great Lakes migratory species, pike, lake trout, stripers on the East Coast and river smallmouth, including Eli's personal use of the Swine Junior on Lake Saint Clair for targeting large smallmouth by eliminating the smaller fish. Color selection is explicitly regional in the episode: olive-and-pink for fired-up Tennessee fish, pink-and-chartreuse or the Willen's Villain black-white-yellow for Wisconsin tannic water, and Mardi Gras (pink, chartreuse, black head) as a broadly effective pattern. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow does the reversed foam popper head make the Optimus Swine swim differently than other musky flies?Positioning the foam head toward the rear of the hook — rather than at the front — reduces the fly's sink rate compared to a traditional epoxy-head pattern and shifts the center of buoyancy rearward. This causes the fly to kick side to side with a pronounced glide-bait cadence on a jerk-strip retrieve, rather than simply pushing water or diving. The effect is amplified when fishing a sinking tip, which holds the running line low and forces the rear of the fly to tip upward and roll on each strip. What are the most common mistakes tiers make when tying the Optimus Swine?Eli identifies two primary failure points: applying bucktail in clumps that are too large, which destroys proportionality, and using too much laser dub in the head, which throws the silhouette out of balance. The fix for bucktail is learning to feel the correct bundle size — roughly the width of a toothpick at the pinch, the width of a popsicle stick at the ends — and building five top-and-bottom sections before reaching the laser dub head on the original Swine. Managing the laser dub means stacking it, pulling off loose fibers and removing material rather than adding more. How do you tune the Pot Belly Swine to swim correctly for river applications?Because the Pot Belly Swine uses fettuccine foam strips in place of the reversed popper head, Eli ties in more foam strips than needed — six to eight — and tells buyers they may need to remove one to four strips to get the fly to balance and swim true. The goal is first to eliminate any spin or tilt, then to dial in the side-to-side action. This is the same principle as Barry Reynolds's flash philosophy applied to buoyancy: put in more than you need because you can always remove it, but you can't add it once the fly is finished. What line and leader setup does Eli prefer for lake musky with the Optimus Swine?For open lake musky fishing on snag-light water, Eli runs a 10-weight with a Scientific Anglers sinking tip in the 350–450 grain range, specifically preferring striper-style lines with a long 26–28 foot tip section. Leaders are intentionally short — 3–4 feet total from loop to fly — built with a 2-foot 40-pound butt section going straight to wire, then a cross-lock snap at the fly. The short leader keeps the fly in the sink tip's depth zone and maximizes the kicking action on the jerk-strip retrieve. How should retrieve style change when downsizing to the Swine Junior for smallmouth or stripers?Moving to the smaller patterns calls for a less aggressive retrieve cadence overall, but Eli emphasizes breaking out of monotonous repetition — consciously varying the retrieve is as important as the base technique. Key adjustments include a stutter-strip (half-length pulls done twice in quick succession) and extended pauses, which become particularly effective in cold water when bass are holding and watching the fly. The foam piece in all Swine variants allows the fly to hang suspended during a pause without sinking, which is the primary trigger for following fish. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS1, Ep 2: The T-Bone: A Deep Dive with Blane Chocklett - The Butcher Shop BONUS: Shack Nasties and the Drunk & Disorderly: A Winter Chat with Tommy Lynch BONUS: Crafting The Nut Job: A Deep Dive with Brendan Ruch BONUS: A Deep Dive into the Swingin' D: Techniques and Tips with Mike Schultz S6, Ep 124: Fly Tying with Chase Smith Connect with Our GuestFollow Eli on a href="https://www.instagram.com/greatlakesfly/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with Aaron Chine, guide at Steelhead Alley Outfitters and accomplished visual artist based in Warren, Ohio, for a wide-ranging conversation about the intersection of fishing, guiding and fine art. Aaron came to fly fishing through Pennsylvania trout streams in his early teens and eventually found his way to Steelhead Alley through a mentorship network that includes Jeff Blood and Nate Miller, two of the fishery's most respected veterans. He joined Steelhead Alley Outfitters when Justin Schachilli and Patrick Robinson took over from Greg Senyo and has been guiding there ever since. The episode covers the full arc of Aaron's guiding career on Steelhead Alley, his philosophy on what makes a great guide and the seasonal rhythm of the Lake Erie tributary steelhead fishery from fall through early spring. On the art side, Aaron discusses his work in oil painting and murals — including a landmark 130-foot mural on the Scientific Anglers building in Midland, Michigan — his tattooing career at The Box Gallery and his perspective on the story and soul that human-made art carries in an age of AI-generated imagery. Upcoming Orvis collaborations round out the conversation. Key TakeawaysWhy finding migratory steelhead requires covering water aggressively rather than returning to yesterday's productive spotsHow the guide season on Steelhead Alley runs from fall through early spring, with November and March as peak periodsWhy showing clients a good time on the water — not just maximizing fish counts — defines long-term success as a guideHow using a grid method at large scale allows muralists to maintain proportion across massive public installationsWhy the story behind human-made art creates value and staying power that AI-generated imagery cannot replicateHow fishing and fine art intersect as sustainable parallel careers when neither alone provides full financial stability Techniques & Gear CoveredThis episode is more biographical than tactical, so the fishing content skews toward guiding philosophy and fishery structure rather than specific techniques or rigs. Aaron explains that steelhead on Steelhead Alley are migratory fish that move constantly, which means guides must put in the legwork to locate fish rather than relying on prior knowledge of productive lies — a discipline he credits largely to early mentors Jeff Blood and Nate Miller. He notes that tougher, more spread-out seasons demand even more aggressive water-covering to stay on fish. On the art side, Aaron discusses his medium in detail: he works primarily in oil on canvas, uses a grid-based scaling method for large murals and approaches large-scale work one block at a time to maintain proportion — the same technique taught in middle school art class, simply executed at 2-foot-by-2-foot scale. Scientific Anglers' signature red paint featured heavily in the SA building mural, which consumed 24 gallons of paint over seven days. Locations & SpeciesSteelhead Alley is the fishery at the center of this episode — specifically the Lake Erie tributaries along the Ohio-Pennsylvania-New York border, including Conneaut Creek and Cattaraugus Creek (the latter referenced in passing as Marvin's own experience fishing it with Jeff Blood). Steelhead are the primary target throughout the fall and spring seasons, with the fishery operating from roughly September or October through freeze-up in winter, and again through mid-April in spring. Aaron notes that conditions this season and last fall have featured more spread-out fish than peak years, reinforcing the fishery's migratory and weather-dependent nature. For summer fun fishing once the guiding season wraps, Aaron looks forward to smallmouth, pike and musky from a raft — a deliberately lower-pressure complement to the intensity of steelhead season. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow does the guide season on Steelhead Alley typically run?Aaron describes a two-peak season: fall, running from September or October through early December or freeze-up, with November as the prime window; and spring, with March as the busiest month and trips running through mid-April. January and February fishing is weather-dependent — this year, freeze-up shut it down entirely. Guides work essentially every day during peak periods. What's the key to being a successful steelhead guide?Aaron's answer centers on showing clients a good time rather than chasing maximum fish counts. He acknowledges that guides naturally want to put big numbers in the net, but argues that good clients primarily want to experience the fishery, learn to cast and run better drifts and enjoy time on the water — particularly in seasons when fish are spread out and harder to locate. Why does finding steelhead require so much mobile, aggressive water coverage?Because steelhead are migratory fish that move constantly, productive lies from one day can be completely empty the next. Aaron emphasizes putting miles on the boots and staying mobile, especially in lower-fish-density seasons. This is a foundational piece of Steelhead Alley guiding culture, reinforced by mentors like Jeff Blood and Nate Miller. How did Aaron approach painting the massive Scientific Anglers mural in Midland, Michigan?Aaron divided the 130-foot wall into 2-foot-by-2-foot grid squares and treated each block as its own self-contained piece, maintaining proportion across the full installation. He worked from sun-up to sundown for seven straight days to complete it before the 80th anniversary party. The project used 24 gallons of paint, including eight gallons of Scientific Anglers red for the background alone. How does Aaron think about the threat AI poses to visual artists working in the fishing and outdoor space?Aaron acknowledges that AI can produce visually competent imagery quickly and without paying an artist, but argues that it lacks the story and soul behind human-made work. He believes audiences — and fellow artists especially — can spot AI imagery immediately, and that the personal narrative connecting an artist to their work is ultimately what creates lasting value and authentic connection with buyers and fans. Related ContentS7, Ep 18 – License to Fish: The Intersection of Art and Angling with Cody Richardson of Cody's Fish S3, Ep 145 – All Things Steelhead Alley with Jeff Blood (Part I) S3, Ep 153 – All Things Steelhead Alley with Jeff Blood (Part II) S6, Ep 97 – Fly Fishing Wisdom and Industry Pet Peeves with Greg Senyo Connect with Our GuestFollow Aaron on Instagram. Follow The Box Gallery on Instagram. Follow Steelhead Alley Outfitters on Instagram. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck,...

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Mark Melnyk, producer and owner of The New Fly Fisher, one of North America's most recognized fly fishing television series. If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to build and sustain a fly fishing media brand over 25 years — through network layoffs, a global pandemic and a rapidly shifting media landscape — this conversation delivers rare, unfiltered access to the people and decisions that shape the content anglers watch and learn from. Mark traces his serendipitous path from sports broadcasting at TSN and Animal Planet to hosting and eventually owning The New Fly Fisher, sharing the pivot moments, mentors and near-misses that defined his career. The conversation covers the show's core philosophy of education and conservation, the lean two-person production model that drives 26 episodes per year, and Mark's vision for expanding The New Fly Fisher into new international destinations — from the Dolomites of Northern Italy to the jungles of Colombia. He also offers an honest look at how the show has evolved its business model away from endemic fly fishing sponsorship, and what that shift has meant for the authenticity and reach of the content. Key TakeawaysHow a willingness to fish with anglers better than yourself — and to embrace the learning curve publicly — accelerates fly fishing skill development in ways no single mentor can replicate.Why The New Fly Fisher has remained rooted in education and conservation for 25 years, and how that consistency has become its most durable competitive advantage.How a lean two-person field crew — one host and one camera operator — allows The New Fly Fisher to deliver both high production value and the authentic, unscripted storytelling that viewers trust and respond to.Why dropping endemic fly fishing sponsorship in favor of gentle product placement opened doors that traditional sponsorship models had closed, while actually strengthening the show's credibility with viewers.How the post-pandemic surge in fly fishing interest has accelerated international distribution growth for fly fishing media, creating new revenue pathways that didn't exist before.When authenticity matters more than production perfection — and why the moments that go wrong on camera are often the most valuable teaching content in any episode. Techniques & Gear CoveredThis episode is a fly fishing industry and media interview rather than a technique-focused fishing episode, so the coverage centers on production methodology, storytelling craft and content strategy rather than specific fishing tactics or equipment. Mark discusses the full arc of The New Fly Fisher's production workflow — from pre-season travel scheduling through field logging, paper editing, voiceover, long-form cut, broadcast cut, audio post-production and network delivery — detailing how a 26-episode annual slate is managed across a team of editors, hosts, camera operators and post-production staff. He touches on the evolution of production technology, from $350,000 shoulder-mounted ENG cameras to GoPros and DJI OSMO rigs, and the democratizing effect drones have had on aerial cinematography for fishing content. Gear mentioned in the context of The New Fly Fisher's partnership with Orvis includes rods ranging from the Helios to the entry-level Clearwater, cited as examples of the show's non-prescriptive, multi-product approach to product placement. Tom Rosenbauer's involvement in producing Orvis Tips content in conjunction with The New Fly Fisher team is also discussed. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow did Mark Melnyk come to own The New Fly Fisher?Mark was brought on as a guest host by show founder Colin McKeown after a period of unemployment in traditional broadcasting. Over time he became a 50/50 partner, with full 100% ownership transferring in June 2024 — a process extended from two years to seven partly due to the COVID pandemic. McKeown passed away from terminal cancer approximately two months after the deal closed. What makes The New Fly Fisher different from other fly fishing television shows?The show has maintained an unwavering commitment to education and conservation since its inception, and refuses to treat any technique, fly or piece of gear as a proprietary secret. Mark emphasizes an open-book policy where real fishing days — including tangles, lost fish and equipment failures — are shown as they happen, creating content that viewers trust precisely because it reflects the reality of a day on the water. How does The New Fly Fisher approach sponsorship and monetization differently than most fishing shows?Rather than pursuing endemic fly fishing sponsorships that require product exclusivity, the show shifted to a gentle product placement model where gear appears naturally on screen without traditional paid endorsement deals. This approach, developed in conversation with Tom Rosenbauer and Simon Gawesworth, has expanded the show's appeal to a wider range of brands while eliminating the perception of bias that traditional fishing show sponsorships often create. What does the production process look like for a single episode of The New Fly Fisher?Each episode involves one day of travel, four to five days on the water and another travel day, followed by weeks of footage logging, paper editing, voiceover, editing, color correction, audio post-production and network delivery. Long-form YouTube versions are cut first, then trimmed to 23-minute broadcast versions. The full 26-episode season requires a tightly managed rolling production schedule with hard network delivery deadlines. What destinations and species is The New Fly Fisher targeting in upcoming seasons?This season's content includes episodes from Chilean Patagonia (brown and rainbow trout), Manitoba (northern pike), Saskatchewan (grayling, lake trout, arctic char), Newfoundland and Labrador (brook trout, Atlantic salmon) and the American West. Mark is also developing new content in Colombia targeting peacock bass, payara, arowana and saltwater pelagics, with future aspirations for Ireland, Scotland and the Dolomites of Northern Italy. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS8, Ep 6 – From Fly Tying to Foodie: Tim Flagler's Passion for Culinary Arts S6, Ep 132 – Fly Tying and Destination Travel with Tim Flagler S6, Ep 97 – Fly Fishing Wisdom and Industry Pet Peeves with Greg Senyo S6, Ep 147 – Tailwaters Fly Company: A New Haven for Fly Fishers in East Tennessee Connect with Our GuestFollow Mark on Instagram. Follow The New Fly Fisher on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options. Subscribe &...

Episode OverviewDrew Price of Master Class Angling returns to The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast to deliver a season debrief from Lake Champlain and discuss the release of his debut book, Favorite Flies for Vermont: 50 Essential Patterns from Local Experts (Stackpole Books). For anglers curious about multi-species fly fishing in the Northeast or the fly patterns that actually produce on Vermont's diverse waters, this episode covers both with depth and specificity. The 2025 season on Champlain was defined by record-low water levels — a rarity that revealed structure Drew had never seen and produced drone footage that will inform future guiding. Bowfin fishing was among the best he's seen in years, and November lake trout fishing exceeded expectations, reflecting growing demand for Laker guide trips. Drew brings that same multi-species perspective to the book, which covers 53 patterns ranging from pragmatic brook trout dries and blue-line streamer patterns to bowfin, gar and bass flies — including Drew's own glow-in-the-dark Clouser Minnow variation for lake trout and Chocklett-influenced bowfin patterns he's adapted for Champlain conditions. The conversation also covers the production process in candid detail: Drew's self-directed macro fly photography, his phone-interview approach to wrangling 50-plus tiers across Vermont and the editorial relationship with Jay Nichols at Stackpole. The historical dimension is a highlight — patterns like the Governor Aiken Bucktail, the Spirit of Pittsford Mills and a tribute to the late Rhey Plumley place Vermont's fly fishing culture in a lineage that goes back to Mary Orvis Marbury's early commercial tying work in Manchester. Key TakeawaysHow a record-low water year on Lake Champlain exposed bottom structure and shifted Drew's understanding of fish-holding spots in ways that will pay off for seasons to come.Why Vermont fly tiers skew pragmatic — tying quickly and in volume over aesthetics — and why beat-up flies often outfish perfect ones.How to properly attribute pattern variations to their originators, and why that intellectual honesty matters for the sport's tying culture.When to expect outstanding lake trout fishing on Lake Champlain, with November emerging as a peak window for fly rod Lakers.Why Lake Champlain's combination of world-class bass fishing, exceptional bowfin populations (including multiple IGFA tippet-class records) and 88 resident species makes it an underappreciated destination for fly anglers.How Tom Rosenbauer's CDC Rabbit's Foot Emerger became a standout pattern in the book, and what the story behind its development reveals about matching emerger behavior in the surface film. Techniques & Gear CoveredThe episode touches on a range of techniques tied to Champlain's multi-species fishery rather than a single tactical deep dive. Sight fishing in the shallows — push-pole work targeting bowfin, gar and carp — is central to Drew's guiding approach, and several flies in the book were designed specifically for those conditions. For lake trout, Drew discusses his glow-in-the-dark Clouser Minnow variation, a deep-November pattern that he describes as producing an unmistakable visual trigger as the fly returns to the boat in the dark. Variations on Blane Chocklett's patterns adapted for bowfin fishing also feature in the book, illustrating how Game Changer-platform thinking has crossed over into the warm-water exotic-species world. The book's fly photography (all shot by Drew himself using a macro setup he developed during the writing process) includes both hyper-realistic imitative patterns — like Thomas Ames's emerging caddis, designed to capture a specific stage of insect emergence — and intentionally rough, high-production guide flies built for Vermont's blue-line brook trout water. The trolling application of the Governor Aiken Bucktail for landlocked salmon rounds out the technique coverage, reflecting the lake's migratory salmonid fishery that intensifies in fall. Locations & SpeciesThe episode centers on Lake Champlain and the broader Vermont fly fishing ecosystem, with the lake positioned as a legitimate destination fishery for bass, bowfin, lake trout, pike, gar, carp and landlocked salmon — as well as brown trout and brook trout in the tributary streams. Drew notes that Champlain has ranked among the top five bass lakes in the country according to Bassmaster for three decades, and that it holds records across IGFA tippet classes for bowfin. The book also addresses Vermont's blue-line brook trout fishery, acknowledging the state's honest limitations as a trout destination (no super-consistent hatches, less predictable than Pennsylvania or Colorado tailwaters) while pointing readers to the wild brook trout corridors that define summer fly fishing in Vermont. Historically notable waters referenced include Furnace Brook in Pittsford — President Eisenhower's favorite trout stream — and the Northeast Kingdom, the setting for an archival photo tied to the Governor Aiken Bucktail chapter. November is flagged as a particularly productive window for lake trout on fly, with record-low 2025 water conditions adding context for why structure knowledge carries outsized importance on Champlain. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat made the 2025 fishing season on Lake Champlain unusual?The lake hit near-record low water levels in 2025, a sharp contrast to the high-water years immediately prior. The low water exposed bottom structure Drew had never seen, allowing him to understand exactly why fish hold in certain locations. Drone footage from the season is now part of his ongoing location research. What types of flies are featured in Favorite Flies for Vermont?The book covers 53 patterns, with roughly 40 trout flies and the remainder targeting warm-water and exotic species including bowfin, gar and bass. Patterns range from simple Tenkara-style CDC dries to hyper-realistic emerger caddis imitations from Thomas Ames. Several historically significant Vermont patterns are included, such as the Governor Aiken Bucktail and the Spirit of Pittsford Mills dry fly, with full attribution and historical context for each. How does Drew Price approach pattern attribution in his book?Drew is deliberate about crediting the originators of any pattern he's adapted, even when his modifications are significant. Variations on Blane Chocklett's warm-water patterns and a riff on Bob Clouser's minnow design for lake trout are both attributed explicitly in the text. He extends the same standard to historical patterns, tracing variations back through the tying lineage rather than presenting adaptations as entirely original work. When is the best time to fish for lake trout on Lake Champlain with a fly?November stands out as the peak window, based on Drew's guide experience. The season saw strong late-year Laker fishing and a notable uptick in guided Laker trip requests, which Drew describes as a welcome surprise. A glow-in-the-dark Clouser Minnow variation is his go-to pattern for night-time and low-light Laker sessions on the lake. Why does Drew Price consider Lake Champlain an underrated fly fishing destination?Champlain holds 88 species, roughly 30 of which are realistic fly rod targets — Drew has personally caught 15 different species in a single day on fly. The lake consistently ranks among the top five bass lakes in the U.S. and has produced IGFA tippet-class records for bowfin across nearly all classes. Despite those credentials, it remains well below the radar of most traveling fly anglers, which Drew is actively trying to change through the book and continued guiding. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS7, Ep 27 – Master Class Angling: The Art of Fishing Exotic Species with Drew Price S7, Ep 8 – Fly Tying Mastery: Tim Cammisa's New Book and Euro Nymphing Adventures S2, Ep 114 – All Things Game Changer with Blane Chocklett Connect with Our GuestFollow Master Class Angling on Instagram. 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Episode OverviewMike Schultz joins The Butcher Shop to deliver a comprehensive deep dive into the Swingin' D, one of predator fly fishing's most effective swim patterns for targeting smallmouth bass in Michigan rivers. This detailed conversation traces the pattern's evolution from its early 2000s origins through modern 2.0 variations, exploring the critical role of Larry Dahlberg's diver head design in creating the fly's signature side-to-side action. Mike shares the problem he was solving—creating a fly that would hang and move horizontally rather than just vertically like traditional leech and crayfish patterns. He walks through material selection spanning over 15 years of refinement, from the original beads-and-wire construction to today's shank-based articulated designs. The discussion covers tactical presentation details including optimal water temperatures (45-50°F+), rod and intermediate line selection, retrieve cadences and the importance of fishing at proper angles to achieve maximum action. Mike also provides updates on Schultz Outfitters' new e-commerce platform and upcoming events including the fourth annual Bobbin the Hood. Key TakeawaysHow to achieve unpredictable horizontal swim action by properly selecting and seating Rainy's diver heads, which create side-to-side darting movement that mimics wounded baitfish when fished at 45-degree angles on intermediate lines.Why the Swingin' D fills a critical gap in predator fly boxes by suspending in the strike zone and allowing precise depth control through strategic weighting with lead wraps or tungsten scud bodies balanced against the buoyant foam head.When to fish the Swingin' D most effectively—peak performance occurs in 45-50°F+ water during late March through May when smallmouth are aggressive and feeding in shallow 2-4 foot zones.How to construct durable 2.0 versions using The Chocklett Factory shanks, Senyo micro shank connections, Ahrex XO 774 rear hooks and Gamakatsu 2/0 worm hooks up front to prevent hook failures and maximize hookups.Why proper head selection and orientation matters—wider heads with substantial collars produce aggressive side-to-side action for cold water while narrower heads swim tighter for warmer conditions. Techniques & Gear CoveredMike emphasizes the Swingin' D's effectiveness stems from proper presentation on intermediate lines using 7-8 weight rods like the G. Loomis IMX Pro V2 or his signature NRX+ Swim Fly. The fly excels when fished at 45-degree angles from a moving boat, using erratic strip-and-pause retrieves that allow the Dahlberg diver head to create horizontal darting action. Keeling techniques using .020-.030 lead wire or Hareline tungsten scud bodies balance the buoyant foam head to achieve desired depth penetration. Mike details construction using articulated shanks (The Chocklett Factory, Senyo micro shanks), Ahrex XO 774 universal curve rear hooks and Gamakatsu 2/0 worm hooks up front, incorporating materials like Senyo's Predator Wrap, Whiting hen saddles, mallard flank and Blane Chocklett's rattle boxes. Leaders run 4-7 feet terminating in 15-16lb fluorocarbon tied with loop knots to the fly with no swivels. The pattern's versatility allows customization through flash colors, head widths and weight placement to match conditions ranging from high spring flows to lower summer levels. Locations & SpeciesThe Swingin' D was developed specifically for Michigan's small to medium-sized rivers where smallmouth bass are the primary target during the critical late March through May peak season. Mike's guiding focuses on shallow water zones of 2-4 feet depth where the fly's horizontal swimming action excels at triggering aggressive strikes. The pattern proves most effective when water temperatures climb from 45°F into the optimal 50-60°F+ range and bass feed actively in current seams, log jams and structure. Pike frequently intercept the fly, necessitating heavy 15-16lb fluorocarbon tippet to prevent bite-offs. While designed for Michigan's specific smallmouth fisheries, the swim fly principles and Dahlberg head mechanics translate to other predator fishing scenarios where anglers need flies that suspend and dart horizontally in the upper water column. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow does the Swingin' D differ from traditional smallmouth patterns?The Swingin' D fills the gap between vertically jigging flies like leeches and crayfish by incorporating Larry Dahlberg's diver head design, which creates horizontal side-to-side darting action when fished on intermediate lines at proper angles. The foam head provides buoyancy that allows the fly to suspend and hang in the strike zone, while strategic weighting controls depth. This mimics wounded baitfish behavior that triggers aggressive strikes, particularly during the peak spring season when smallmouth are actively feeding in shallow water. What materials and construction techniques make the modern 2.0 version more durable?The 2.0 version uses articulated Chocklett Factory and Senyo micro shanks, eliminating the wire-kinking problems of original beads-and-wire construction. Rear hooks switched from the B10S (which bends out easily) to the Ahrex XO 774 universal curve in sizes 2-4, while the front maintains the reliable Gamakatsu 2/0 worm hook. Materials include Senyo's Predator Wrap or translucy brushes, Whiting hen saddles, mallard flank and Blane Chocklett's new rattle boxes which seat more securely than traditional glass rattles. Liberal use of Wapsi brushable super glue throughout construction creates indestructible flies that survive multiple fish and wood contacts. When is the optimal time and water temperature to fish the Swingin' D?While the Swingin' D can catch fish as cold as 40-45°F, peak effectiveness begins when water temperatures reach 50°F and above, typically during the third to fourth week of April in Michigan. The prime window runs from late March through May into early June—Michigan's peak smallmouth season—when water levels are still elevated but warming and bass are aggressive. In February's coldest water, traditional leeches and peanuts outperform swim patterns, but as temperatures climb into the 45-50°F range, the Swingin' D's horizontal action becomes increasingly deadly. How should anglers weight and balance the Swingin' D for different conditions?Balancing the buoyant foam head with proper weight achieves desired depth and swim action. For immediate water penetration, wrap .020-.030 lead wire (10 wraps of .025 is a good starting point) on the front Gamakatsu 2/0 hook bend, then coat with flexible resin like RaidZap or Solarez to protect it and allow on-stream adjustments by breaking away sections. For heavier applications in deeper or faster water, Hareline's tungsten scud and shrimp bodies in small or medium sizes provide concentrated weight while maintaining the fly's suspended character. The goal is creating a fly that dives quickly on the strip but hangs and suspends on the pause, maintaining position in the 2-4 foot strike zone where Michigan smallmouth feed most aggressively. What rod, line and leader setup works best for presenting the Swingin' D?Mike recommends 7-8 weight rods designed specifically for streamers, particularly the G. Loomis IMX Pro V2 (his most popular client rod at $595) or his signature NRX+ Swim Fly, both 8'10" in length with tips engineered to animate swim flies effectively rather than throw floating lines like traditional saltwater rods. Pair these with intermediate sinking lines—Airflo Sniper Four Season fast intermediate or SA Titan Full intermediate. Hand-tied leaders run 4-7 feet (shorter for less experienced anglers, longer for advanced casters) terminating in 15-16lb fluorocarbon, with Mike favoring Hatch's pike-resistant fluorocarbon tied to the fly with a loop knot. No swivels are necessary if the head is seated properly and straight, which eliminates line twist issues. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes and onX Fish Midwest for sponsoring this episode. Use artfly20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. 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