Joseph Jackson, author of It’s Only Fishing book, is here to talk about Alaska fishing by car. We hear about some of the less-known places you can add to your itinerary if you’re heading into the 49th state. We break down the species list, what to bring, best times and places to hit while road-tripping Alaska highways.
We also talk about his passion for writing. We find out why he likes to focus on the whys and not the how-tos when he writes. He tells us his favorite John Gierach quote and that one question he wants to ask John.
Alaska by Road with Joseph Jackson [Hit play below!]
11:00 – Alaska’s interior is a secluded small stream where you can catch world-class grayling. Anything North of the Alaska range is Alaska’s interior.
16:30 – Joe breaks down the places you can drive and the best time to target grayling, trout, and kings.
19:00 – Late August and early September is the perfect time to fish anywhere if you’re not focusing on any species and want to cast your rod on any water.
26:15 – Joe talks about the stuff you can do along Steese Highway. He talks about doing a little hunting too.
28:30 – July is the busiest fishing time of the year in Alaska.
32:30 – Joe noted Delta Junction as a beautiful place to be in. Also the Copper River Valley in Glennallen.
41:00 – Two important things to bring when road-tripping the Alaska highways: 2 extra tires and at least 20 gallons of gas.
44:20 – Joe’s first book, “It’s Only Fishing” was about being a road system angler.
53:10 – Joe noted one of John Gierach’s famous quotes, “You could say the same thing about fishing that they say about baseball… it takes an adult to play the game well but it takes a kid to think that it’s important”. JG was on the podcast in episode 407.
56:00 – Joe’s got a question for John Gierach… “What does he see as true success in writing?”
57:00 – We hear about what his next book will be about.
1:02:00 – Writing about Yakutat was one of the most challenging things for Joe and he tells us why.
Dalton Gendron from Country Financial is here to help you with tips on ensuring that your outdoor gear and family are covered with insurance.
We discover what type of insurance is commonly overlooked today and find out what you should be thinking about next time you chat with your agent. We get some tips on preventative actions you can think about to prepare for some crazy things that might happen in the future.
Let’s jump into this one and find out why Dalton wears a half helmet while cruising on his Harley Davidson.
Insurance Tips with Dalton Gendron. Hit play below!
(Read the Full Transcript at the bottom of this Blog Post)
Sponsors and Podcast Updates
Insurance Tips Show Notes with Dalton Gendron
2:33 – I ask Dalton if flooding is a major thing to consider in getting insurance.
3:34 – He gives tips on getting insurance for your properties including homes, boats, fishing rods, and things that are not traditionally covered by a policy in an event of a disaster.
5:47 – He shares a bit about his background and where his love for helping others came from.
8:23 – I ask him what makes Country Financial different from other insurance companies out there.
9:26 – He tells the big things that people should think about based on their location. These include earthquakes and floods which are not traditionally covered in policies.
11:22 – I ask him if they also deal with theft. He explains the comprehensive coverage on cars which can cover theft and accidents. The few items that have limitations on them such as firearms and jewelry. For these, they can do a scheduled personal property meaning they’ll insure it for the value of what it’s worth and replace it for that cost regardless of where it got stolen and where it got lost.
14:23 – Home and renters insurance give personality liability coverage everywhere in the world.
15:13 – He walks us through his session with a potential client.
17:04 – I tell a story about that time when my car was stolen.
18:11 – He gives us other resources or educational pieces on preventive measures.
20:40 – We talk about the increasing crime rate and recklessness in the present time.
22:19 – He shares the types of cases he has handled as an insurance agent.
23:19 – He talks about his ideal clients. He has a business partner that does financial planning as well on top of the insurance.
25:17 – He walks us through his and his partner’s process of discussing retirement plans with clients.
27:38 – He shares the process of switching policies and coverage.
30:20 – He shares his love for hiking which he usually does with his wife and their golden retrievers in the Gorge. He used to do snowboarding and drive his off-road vehicle in the snow and sand dunes. He also owns a ’95 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide.
32:08 – We talk about how to stay safe while riding a motorcycle. He also shares his ride with his buddies last summer down to Reno, Nevada. I bring up the 1969 film Easy Rider which was about two Harley-riding hippies who drove from L.A. to New Orleans.
Photo via: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064276/
37:19 – He says that the loud pipes in Harley Davidson bikes are partially for safety to make sure other people can hear the rider if they can’t see him.
37:58 – He shares more about that trip where they rode for 14 hours straight and camped overnight just north of Crater Lake.
Photo via: https://www.travelcraterlake.com
40:33 – We do the two-minute drill. I first ask him about the outdoor activities he’s been thinking to do for the next year or two. He has done skydiving a couple of times which he says was the best adrenaline rush he ever had.
His big goal this year is to go back into fishing, get a fishing license, and get back out on the river.
42:44 – He talks about the concept of a moratorium when something happens to an insured home or person.
43:23 – I give a shout-out to Karmic Outdoors which is for lost stuff such as outdoor gear.
Photo via: https://karmikoutdoors.com
44:08 – He tells about their upcoming trip to Canada in April. He’s also hoping to go to Hawaii at the end of the year which is his ultimate vacation goal.
That was Dalton with lots of tips and advice about insurance. It’s important to make sure you are properly protected in case of any unforeseen events. Dalton Gendron’s website is a great resource to learn more, but it’s also important to regularly chat with your insurance agent. They can provide you with personalized advice based on your specific needs and help you update your policy if needed.
Educating yourself about insurance is essential and can help provide you and your loved ones with financial security.
Lane Forrer takes us to Columbia and Ecuador as we talk about how to catch peacock bass on the fly. We hear about how he found himself setting up this program in this part of the world and how you can put together a trip to the jungle.
What’s the difference between catching a regular bass versus a peacock bass? Lane describes it all today. We also discover why Columbia is actually a great fly-fishing destination – tropical weather and Spanish-speaking species!
Peacock Bass on the Fly with Lane Forrer. Hit play below!
Capt. Brian Horsley from Outer Banks Fly Fishing is here to break down the North Carolina outer banks and the saltwater species he focuses on. We discover which runs have been up and down the region over the years. We find out which lines they use to dredge the bottom. Very interesting topic here. And we also find out how to catch red snappers and albies on the fly. If you love giant fish and occasional shark, then this episode is the one for you. Here we go. Brian Horsley from OBXflyfishing.com.
Outer Banks Fly Fishing with Brian Horsley. Hit play below!
Bruce Chard is back on the podcast today to take us to fly fishing Florida, one of the greatest saltwater destinations in the world.
We find out how to catch giant tarpon, big bonefish, and permit on the flats. We discover how to prepare for tailing fish. We also get some sight fishing tips. This is an all-around huge episode and a great one with Bruce.
Fly Fishing Florida with Bruce Chard. Hit play below!
11:05 – When he first started guiding in 1992, Florida Keys was also one of the top destinations for giant bonefish. He says this is not as prevalent as it used to be, but they have more species now than before.
Photo via: https://www.instagram.com/chardflyfishing/ (caption: Bonefish coming back nicely in the Keys!)
21:53 – Almost all the permit fly fishing tournaments were held in the Keys. He says that the guides in the Keys are technically advanced and devoted to their career.
23:12 – Permit is one of the hardest fish in the world to catch in the fly. He shares his outlook on permit fishing.
24:28 – Getting a permit to see the fly is more challenging than with the bone and tarpon because they’re pretty concentrated on looking down and most of the time they don’t allow you to get very close. The higher the odds you’re fishing for permit, the higher the odds you’re having a farther distance cast and distance shot.
Photo via: https://www.instagram.com/chardflyfishing/ (caption: Another happy client. Permit this time of year is excellent. 🎣🔥)
31:35 – He breaks down his process from picking up his fly when he fishes for permit. It depends on the angler’s ability to make the cast. He describes how to do the back cast to catch a permit.
39:18 – We dig into the three main factors to focus on when looking for fish –the shape of the fish, contrast, and movement. He also talks about what inexperienced anglers usually do which leads to wasted opportunities and not being able to catch anything.
53:15 – We dig into the grand slam. It’s catching a bonefish, permit, and tarpon all in one day.
Photo via: https://igfa.org/grand-slam-clubs/
56:35 – He breaks down the rod set up for those who want to hit the grand slam. He says most really good guides in the Keys have really good tackle, top-notch reels, and rods ready to go. They also have saltwater rods that clients can use.
57:13 – For those who want to bring their own stuff, a 9ft 8wt is the average overall bonefishing rod.
58:09 – He recommends a nine or 10wt for an average permit setup. But when it’s windy and they’re bonefishing, they use a 9wt.
58:53 – For tarpon fishing, they use an 11wt which is the heaviest rod that they use. A lot of times they use a 10wt even for big fish.
59:04 – The weight of the rod has to do with the weight of the line. And the weight of the line has to do with how big your fly is.
59:20 – If we put things into ratio and proportion of your rod and line size compared to the size of the fish, it doesn’t make any sense.
1:00:34 – We dig into flies. He mentions the Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp and the Ragin Craven fly. Both are good for bonefish, permit, and other flats species. He likes throwing shrimpy flies that allow his anglers to strip the fly and stay connected.
1:05:36 – He shares that time when he worked with Airflo. They used the same design from SA to make the Tropical Punch Fly Line. It also became a top-selling saltwater line for seven years.
That was Bruce Chard with tips on tweaking your back cast, giant tarpon, bonefish, permit, and the grand slam.
For those who are planning to fish the Florida Keys, contact them through their website. For sure you’ll learn a lot from Bruce and maybe you’ll be able to catch a grand slam.
Pro skateboarder and fly angler, David Gravette, takes us into his world of broken bones and what keeps him going strong.
We hear about my connection to skateboarding back as a youth and how I first connected with David and where our connection in fly fishing in the northwest comes from. We also find out how he dealt with a toxic storage mess under his house.
Western Fly Fishing with David Gravette. Hit play below!
(Read the Full Transcript at the bottom of this Blog Post)
Sponsors and Podcast Updates
Western Fly Fishing Show Notes with David Gravette
4:22 – David shares a story about his major shoulder surgery in 2017 and his hip dislocation and how fly fishing helped him recover from that and his depression.
13:13 – I ask him about his target species.
14:52 – He mentions KC Badger, angler and BMXer, who is one of the first dudes he ever fished with.
15:10 – He talks about his first Redington setup and his first rod which was his dad’s old fly fishing rod. He gives a tip on getting a good line for your setup.
17:50 – I tell about that time in grade school when I tried skateboarding. He shares his first memories of skating and his first time in a skate park when he was just 10 years old.
23:20 – He shares his perspective on skateboarding now versus that time before the internet became a huge thing which he considers the golden years of skateboarding.
25:38 – He says how fishing keeps him sane every time he recovers from an injury.
28:49 – He talks about that time when he went out to fly fish while having a pin sticking out of his foot.
33:09 – I ask him what fly fishing trips he wants to do.
35:06 – He shares his opinion about how skateboarding now became more focused on one’s ability and skills to market himself on social media.
40:07 – He mentions some fellow fly anglers whom he learned fly fishing from like KC Badger and Kayla Lockhart.
42:35 – He tells his preferred waters to fish in. We also talk about his steelhead trip in Seward, Alaska which he considers his best day of fishing.
Photo via: https://www.instagram.com/davidgravette/ with caption: 💯 Alaskan wild steelhead 💪 🙏 bout to get eaten by a bear so I never have to leave Alaska.. thank you so much @brandonstickel for amazing trip that’s only just begun!
01:29:48 – I ask him about his plan in the next five few years, and he shared this funny clip with The Illusion in Tosh.0.
01:32:35 – He tells the story of the oil spillage in their house which took four years to be fixed. It was the biggest residential contamination in Portland City history.
01:35:42 – I ask him about his skateboard tricks. He shares his trick that became his most significant mark on skateboarding.
01:38:18 – I ask about Thrasher Magazine. He tells his kayak of choice which is from Dagger.
Western Fly Fishing Conclusion with David Gravette
That was an incredible story from David Gravette! He’s really living the dream, combining his love of skateboarding and fly fishing.
If you’re looking for more of his amazing content, you can follow him on his socials and check out his skateboarding brands. You won’t be disappointed!
George Cook is back on the podcast today and takes a deep dive into swinging flies for kings. We get a rundown on some of the history around the Kanektok and Nushagak Rivers. We find out when you should be planning your trip if you want to target rainbows and chinooks in Alaska. George tells us his gear setup to up your Spey game and we also talk a little bit about his passion for hunting. George also talks about what he calls, “Pillow Water” and how to do a cadence cast.
Fishing for King Salmon in Alaska with George Cook. Hit play below!
07:30 – George will be at the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show on February 15-19, 2023. They will have a hunting boot booth there.
14:30 – They hooked 105 fish in 8 days on the Nushagak River last year. But none of those fish were over 18 pounds.
19:30 – George talks about doing a DIY float trip on the Kanektok River, swinging for chinooks, kings, and rainbows.
35:20 – June 15 to July 8 would be the period to mouse for rainbows and chinook. George recommends doing a guided trip if you want to target chinooks.
38:10 – Dave Duncan Sr and his sons have over 30 years of experience guiding in the Kanektok River. George also noted Alaska West who’s been at it for a long time.
44:00 – George went full Spey since 2010. He rarely uses the single-handers nowadays.
Do you know what a Littoral Zone is? Did you know it’s the most productive part of the lake? Phil Rowley takes us into stillwater fishing and explains what this new Littoral Zone Podcast is all about. He describes which is the best rod for stillwaters and why.
Phil gives us the step x step process to find fish in lakes. Click the button below to listen to the podcast and find out all of the answers to help you find fish on your next trip.
(Read the Full Transcript at the bottom of this Blog Post)
Sponsors and Podcast Updates
Littoral Zone Show Notes with Phil Rowley
01:33 – Phil explains what is the perfect stillwater fly rod to use. He recommends a rod between 5 and 7-weight, preferably 9.5 or 10 feet long. A longer rod will help with roll casting on the lake.
04:146 – We find out what is the best motor for stillwater fishing. Always use the most powerful electric motor you can find. Phil uses a 55 lbs Minn Kota motor. There is a photo of a motor below but not the exact model that Phil uses. Make sure to use a lithium battery to help with reducing weight and last much longer.
07:58 – Phil talks about how to find trout in stillwaters. Trout are cruisers in lakes and may live in one part of the lake for their entire life. Lakes can be intimidating because of their size.
09:55 – We cover the things you need to know to find fish: comfort, protection, food, and observation.
10:09 – Comfort is one major factor to consider when finding fish in terms of water temperature, weather, and seasonal changes. The warmer the water gets, the less oxygen it holds. 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit is the key temperature for trout in lakes. Water temperature also affects the food that fish eat.
12:24 – Lower a thermometer with a cord into the lake to find the 50 to 65-degree prime window.
12:40 – Weeds also give off oxygen so there will be more fish around weeds. Tributaries to lakes can also be good places to find cool water and fish during the summer months.
15:35 – Lakes go through seasonal changes. During the changes, it can affect where trout will be in the lake. You can find fish in shallow waters just after ice comes off when it is stratified. Different temperatures of water temperature will not mix.
17:31 – During the summer the lake will be mixed and fish may be in deeper waters especially as things get warmer.
19:08 – Wind can affect how you can find fish. Foam lines can be key places to find fish as well.
19:45 – The next factor is protection. These are things that give the trout confidence to come in and feed. Light, structure, vegetation, and depth are keys. Algae is one key factor. Rippled service helps fish to find comfort.
22:30 – Light is a key factor. Generally, fish are in shallow water during the morning and evening and deeper during the day.
🎣 This video is the first podcast interview we did with Phil.
23:07 – Structure is another factor in finding fish. Trout like bass love structure but they don’t hold on to points. They cruise edges and ledges. Drop-offs, points of land, and other transition zones are where fish will be.
23:58 – He discusses the three basic zones or areas of a lake. The shoreline area, shallow shoal area, and deep water zone. The shallow shoal area is the grocery store of the lake because it’s influenced by light which stimulates plant growth and provides oxygen for the fish.
27:47 – Use the land adjacent to the lake to show you what the slope of the underwater lake looks like. If the bank is at a steep angle into the lake then the slope of the river may be steep.
29:00 – Always think about transitions. Phil spends his time around these areas and a beaver lodge could be another great area to focus on.
29:58 – Bathymetric maps are a key to finding fish. This is a map with a series of lines that shows the depth of the water. Google maps can work great as well.
31:25 – Sounders are very helpful for finding fish. These are also known as fish finders but Phil calls them sounders because they help you find structure and not just fish. Look for changes in depth around structures. Phil likes the Hummingbird Helix 7.
33:15 – The third piece of finding trout is food. If you find the food, you will find the fish just like the grocery store for humans. Weed beds provide oxygen, protection, and the majority of the food.
Photo via: https://www.stillwaterflyfishingstore.com/products/throat-pump Throat pump that Phil uses
36:23 – We find out how to use a throat pump and why you should not squeeze water into the mouth. Phil talks about the best way to do it so you avoid pushing your sample away from you. White margarine containers can help to hold your sample. You can also discover feeding activity from a throat pump sample.
40:00 – Chironomids are the most widespread food source in lakes so it’s very important to understand these insects. The smaller the insect, the earlier it emerges in the season.
42:15 – The power of observation brings it all together. When you get to the lake, start by spending 15 minutes to turning over rocks and looking for what bugs are out hatching, or flying. An aquarium net can be very useful as well as spider webs.
44:45 – He mentions the two-fish rule. If a fish rolls once, take a look. If it rolls twice, you want to go over and investigate what’s going on. So, look for an activity.
45:37 – Pay attention to other anglers to find out if they are catching fish. Binoculars can help you see what’s going on. Find out if they are catching fish and what they are using.
Photo via: https://vortexoptics.com/razor-uhd-12×50-binocular.html Binoculars can help you see what other fishermen are using
48:38 – Phil notes DRP: Depth, Retrieve, Pattern. Do you have your fly at the right depth? Are you moving the fly at the right pace and not too fast? Lastly, think about your pattern.
50:10 – Phil loves the drogue which is part of the loch-style fishing.
53:00 – We cover what retrieves to use and when to slow or speed up your rate of retrieve. Vary your retrieve horizontally and vertically. Make sure to fan cast.
54:32 – The sweep line from RIO is one of Phil’s favorite lines for stillwater fishing.
Phil Rowley breaks down an hours worth of tips on finding fish on stillwaters for fly fishing. We find out what weather does to fish, what trolling motor to use, which fish finder is best and the top four things that will help you find fish.
This is the first time Phil hosted a show of the podcast and has knocked this one out of the park. You will be ready to hit the lake after this podcast episode. And if you can’t listen this blog post highlights the key points of the podcast. The power of observation and Phil’s tip will get you dialed in today.
Feel free to send Phil any other questions you have at flycraft@shaw.ca
Matt Draft is back on the podcast with an update on what he has been up to and some more rod building supplies and tips.
We find out how Matt built his business that doesn’t require any marketing. I also dig into some random questions that give us a feel for the how and why behind building a rod-building supplies business.
Rod Building Supplies with Matt Draft. Hit play below!
4:24 – He shares tips on restoring a bamboo rod and building one from scratch. More information on these can be found in the tutorials section on their website.
6:20 – I ask him how he figured out that restoring bamboo rods is the next step he wanted to take.
35:37 – He shares his gratitude to the rod-building community for being generous with information and materials when he was just starting out in the business.
41:01 – He talks about his goal for this year.
42:20 – He shares how he runs and promotes his business.
45:06 – We talk about what music he listens to while building rods. He mentions the Counting Crows.
It was great to hear from Matt again and his enthusiasm for rod-building is contagious. I’m definitely feeling motivated to finally build my own rod from the materials he sent me.
Check out their website for more rod-building supplies and tutorials!
Kynslee Scott is here with an update for swinging flies for trout. We find out which trout Spey setup she loves out of Montana and why the Polyleader is the key for big Montana rainbows and browns.
She takes us to the Klickitat River and how she’s been guiding there since 2015. She gives us a review of her experience in using G Loomis fly rods and OPST Skagit lines. We also break down the flies and materials selection for October Caddis in Montana.
Trout Spey Fly with Kynslee Scott. Hit play below!
30:45 – She’s been guiding the Klickitat River since 2015. They have a lodge there called, Flying L Lodge that’s been there since 1946. They also have Reds Fly Shop there.
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