Kenneth Andres from AFFTA is here to share the biggest fly fishing trade association event that brings together business to business brands in the fly fishing industry. We find out how Ken has been gearing up for AFFTA and IFTD for quite a while.
We also find out which other outdoor events and conferences you may want to attend this year if you are looking to expand your outreach.
Note: The 2021 IFTD Show has been cancelled due to COVID.
Click below and listen to the AFFTA Podcast with Ken Andres:
Ken Andres from the American Fly Fishing Trade Association is on the podcast today to shed light on IFTD and what you can do do help build your brand in the fly fishing space.
Ken has an amazing background in the outdoor space as he shares the story of some of the fishing events he remembers that have changed over the years.
Today, we jump right into the step x step of how you can easily get started tying wet flies. The videos that follow will walk you through the basics of tying a wet fly.
In the last Module 3, you should have worked through the basics of tying your first nymph fly pattern. Click here if you missed Module 3.
You should also have ordered and received your materials for this week’s fly – the Soft Hackle.
If you still have questions this week, you can connect with me directly here. Just let me know what you are struggling with.
Now we’re ready to jump into this weeks content.
We’ll be covering wet flies today as we focus on one of the best an easiest patterns of all, the soft hackle. We will also talk about using peacock, tying with floss, secondary tools.
I’ve also got two great bonus podcasts with the king of wet flies, Davy Wotton (See Chapter 5).
Table of Contents – Tying Wet Flies for Trout
Chapter 1: Review and Introduction to Module 4
Chapter 2: Securing Peacock
Chapter 3: Tying with Floss
Chapter 4: Fly Tying Tools
Chapter 5: Whip Finish Tool
Chapter 6: Davy Wotton Bonus Podcasts
Chapter 7: Action Item Video for Module 4
Chapter 8: Fly Materials for Next Weeks Fly
Chapter 9: Conclusion
Ch. 1 – Wet Flies for Trout – Review and Introduction
Last week you should have worked on tying the pheasant tail nymph. You should understand a little about adding weight, beads and flash.
The pheasant tail is one of the greatest nymphs in the world. There are many variations but you can’t go wrong with the basic fly you learned last week. Here’s a great video on tying another version of the P. Tail Nymph.
If you didn’t complete Week 3 yet, just click here and you can get caught up.
You should also have ordered and received your materials for this weeks fly – the Soft Hackle wet fly.
Today I’ll also cover the whip finish tool, using floss, secondary tools and a few other tips and tricks plus some bonus videos from outside of the Wet Fly Swing Universe.
Here’s what to do moving forward – Watch Videos 31 through 34 first. Then watch video 35 and follow along to tie the soft hackle.
Peacock is amazing material but it can be a little fragile at times after a few fish bite into it. There is a quick way to strengthen the peacock which I demonstrate in the video above.
You use a lead thread to twist into the peacock and then wrap your body material.
This adds a huge amount of support to the fly. We also talked about counter wrapping in a previous module.
Counter wrapping works well with copper wire but we won’t be using wire today. After watching the video you should understand a quick way to strengthen your boy material.
We glossed over this at the beginning because I wanted to show you how to do a whip finish with your hands as I noted above.
One thing I learned from my dad a long time ago is to start with the best tool of all, Your hands. If you find an actual tool that works better then try it out.
It saves time and money and clutter. But, I think some people will like to use the tool so I show you how in the video above.
In Chapter 7 we get into the good stuff and focus on tying the soft hackle from start to finish.
But first I wanted to share a couple of huge podcast episodes we had with one of the best wet fly fisherman in the world, Davie Wotton. Let’s take a listen……….
Ch. 6 – Davie Wotton Wet Fly Podcast Bonuses
I had the great privilege to interview Davie Wotton twice on the Wet Fly Swing Podcast. Take a listen to these episodes below:
Follow the step by step video above to tie the soft hackle. Click here if you have a major hangup so I can coach you through. We offer a second method for securing the peacock in this video using very thin copper wire. By counter wrapping the wire over the peacock hearl we secure it.
John Mauser from Mauser Fly Fishing is on the podcast to break down fly fishing for redfish and his story of building a fly rod company out of swansboro North Carolina.John has a really passionate story to share and one that really resonated with many in the fly fishing community.
John shares his story and how he jumped all in on the guiding and rod company, leaving his marine biology job in the dust. We find out when and how to target redfish with a focus on the North Carolina area.
Click below and listen to the Fly Fishing for Redfish Podcast with John Mauser:
We find out why and how John Mauser left a 15 year career for the full time leap into fly fishing with Mauser Fly Fishing guiding and building rods. We find out why John loves to build his own leader.
Scott Wilday from LidRig shares his perspective on some of the must-have fly fishing accessories you need for your next trip to the water. LidRig is one of the best nippers on the market and has an interesting feature that should attract you to their stuff.
Accessibility of the nippers is the big selling feature plus LidRig has a number of new products including a magnetic wrist band for the goods. We also dig into the top fly fishing accessories that you’ll need on a trip.
Click below to listen to the Fly Fishing Accessories Podcast with Lid Rig:
Fly Fishing Accessories Conclusion with Scott Wilday
Scott Wilday from LidRig is here to shares the story of how he has been able to go full time into LidRig.I describe how the LidRig magnetic clippers has become more intuitive and accessible.We find out how Fishpond and Orvis helped Scott get a headstart on his brand.
What is your favorite fly fishing accessory you don’t go fishing without? Leave a comment below or send me a DM on Instagram @wetflyswing
Javier Guevara is here today to break down fly fishing Ecuador with a focus on Arapaima. Javier also noted the Galapagos fishing trips they do in the ocean and beyond.
Click below and listen to Fly Fishing Ecuador with Javier Guevara:
[14:59] How long it takes to get to the Amazon Jungle
[17:47] How to cast and what people need to be ready for
– 25 to 30 feet
[18:22] The types of fly that works great
[19:46] The quick decision to make and what you should do when you get a bite
[21:40] Who are the guides and what are their roles
[23:30] Greg Collett was on the podcast to share his Ecuador experience
[24:02] The dangers of going into the jungle and what you need to prepare for
[26:19] How much it costs you for the whole trip with Ecuador Fly FIshing Tours (EFFT) and what are the inclusions
[28:03] Comparing Marlin and Arapaima in terms of strength
[32:03] Another amazing fish that you can catch in the lagoons
– Arowana
[36:00] The everyday routine when you go fishing
[37:03] What the weather’s like in the jungle and how do you stay comfortable out there
[38:57] What Ecuador Fly Fishing Tours recommend before coming into the jungle
[41:49] What you should never do if you want to keep your fingers
[43:30] Where it’s prohibited to fish for Paimas
[45:28] Greg Colette and the Indie Fly helps Ecuador communities
[46:01] How deforestation and industrialization affects the fishing lagoons, jungle species, and communities in Ecuador
[47:47] What Javier recommends for people who want to help conserve the Amazon Jungle
[48:55] How safe it is to travel to the Galápagos in terms of the Covid-19 situation
[50:01] More of the Galápagos’ amazing features and fishes
[54:06] Where Javier is now and why he’s there
[57:25] Javier explains why fishing in Ecuador is exceptional
[59:06] What Javier and the EFFT is excited about
You can find Javier at EcuadorFlyFishingTours.com
Conclusion with Javier Guavara
Javier Guavara shares the steps to getting to Ecuador to chase Arapaima, one of the largest and craziest fish in the jungle that breaths air and has bullet proof scales. This is a great podcast if you are ready for a huge adventure!
What is the #1 trip on your bucket list right now? Leave a comment below or send me a DM on Social Media!
James McBeath from Jackson Kayak is here to share the story of Jackson and how to choose a kayak for fly fishing and your next big adventure. Jackson has been a leader in the kayak space for many years and has a number of custom models designs for anglers.
James walks us through the best kayaks for the ocean and for the lake. We dig into the best boat for bass and the best boat for trout. James sheds light on the best kayak for standing and fishing vs the best for gear storage. This is your kayak fishing 101 podcast so let’s get into it. Click the play button and listen or read the full transcript below.
Click below and listen the Kayak for Fly Fishing Podcast with James McBeath:
James McBeath brings the good stuff today as he shares the best boats and accessories when choosing your next kayak. Jackson has a number of specialized boat that will meet your fishing needs whether in shore or off or rivers or stillwater.
How many fishing spots have you already fished and which of them is your favorite?
Today, we’re joined by David Van Wie, who’s widely known for writing a monthly column for the Maine Sportsman Magazine, publishing feature articles in Northern Woodlands Magazine and the Maine Sunday Telegram, and the co-author of The Confluence – a collection of essays, art and tall tales about fly fishing and friendship.
Click below and listen to the Famous Fly Fishing Rivers Podcast with David Van Wie:
(Read the Full Transcript at the Bottom of this Blog Post)
Sponsors and Podcast Updates
Fabled Fly Fishing Rivers
In this episode, David shares how he fished his way from Maine to Wisconsin and Michigan and back. He has fished 35 different places for six weeks, traveled over 5000 miles, and wrote about it day after day. David and I talked about the wonderful experiences he’s had and the places he’s been since he embarked on his remarkable journey. His story is unlike any fishing stories you’ve heard before!
David eventually turned this amazing journey into a book called, Storied Waters, which was inspired by one of his heroes, John Voelker a.k.a. Robert Traver.
Timestamps for this episode
[3:13] How David got into fly fishing and writing
[5:27] David wrote his first book, The Confluence with six college friends
[7:43] Why David decided to take a 5000 mile trip
[11:46] Remarkable experiences and challenges during the trip
[13:37] When David met Grace and Woody in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
[20:02] David talked more about the book and the places he fished
[23:32] Writers associated with the Bat n’ Kill
[28:41] What the Hudson River is like 50 years ago
[29:54] The difference between the Ausable and the AuSable River
[33:39] The question that put David on the spot
[44:10] The best place to get David’s book
[46:23] David’s take in general about the 6 week trip
You can find David at https://www.watchyourbackcast.com/
Storied Waters, published by Stackpole Books in 2019, is part travelogue, part literary history, part natural history and part fishing porn. The book recounts my epic six-week odyssey to visit fabled fly fishing destinations mentioned in literature, from Maine to Wisconsin and Michigan and back, with quotes and excerpts from dozens of writers and over 80 beautiful color photos. You can buy the book, in paperback or digital format, from your favorite bookstore or on-line retailer. Better yet, you can buy a signed copy directly from me by clicking here.
Here’s what they are saying about Storied Waters:
This book reminds me of George Tapply’s “invisible writing” in that when reading the book you don’t feel as if you are at home sitting in your favorite chair in your library or den. Instead you are having a conversation with the author as you travel together toward the next destination. The narrative created clear images in my mind of the waters and surroundings as well as the people he encountered. I felt I was sharing his adventure with him and felt the relief of finally arriving back home to familiar scenes and surroundings and of course loved ones whom were greatly missed over the previous six weeks. You feel richer for the experience.
“Storied Waters” has the added attraction of the “Where and How” side bars in nearly chapter which gives the readers an inside edge on what to expect and where to go for reliable information. This book is more than worth the price of admission. It’s on my annual reading list. – Steven Becker, Goodreads Review, March 2020
A rich and entertaining account of the author’s fly fishing odyssey across the northeast into the midwest, Storied Waters brings the history of many famous streams alive, transporting the reader to historical times and linking back to the present. Outstanding photography and illustrations of the famous authors capture the essence of the experience. The book will be of interest not only to fly fishers but also conservationists and fans of good travel writing.
– Kevin McJunkin, Amazon review
Storied Waters hits the mark! Van Wie’s detailed itinerary is the driving force to make this book work over his long, 6-week travel/meet/photograph/fish adventure. His visits to hallowed fishing spots of the likes of Robert Traver, Louise Dickinson Rich, Henry Thoreau and Dud Dean bring you right to their shorelines with fly rod in hand. It’s historical, sometimes humorous, filled with fishing advice and a fun read for any fly angler.
– HLW, Amazon review
Tracking the spirits of great US writers in the outdoor settings they wrote about, while casting a fly on the waters that they fished – now that’s my idea of a fine excuse to travel. This is a great read that captures the feel of such a trip, as the author recounts his 5,000 miles of tracing the legacy of American writers like Thoreau and Hemingway. His writing is friendly and intelligent, and his love of fly fishing and deep respect for nature shows through in every chapter. I enjoyed learning about the history and geology of places I had read about in stories like Hemingway’s Big Two-Hearted River, and felt like I got to know the current residents (human and fish) of those locations with a great guide.
– Pamela, Amazon review
Conclusion with David Van Wie
The journey of the Storied Waters began when David, along with his co-authors, wanted to reprint John Voelker’s classic passage “Testament of a Fisherman” in a chapter of their book, The Confluence, so they had to ask permission from the family who owns the copyright.
David reached out to Voelker’s daughter, Grace V. Wood, who generously allowed them to reprint the passage. Grace invited David to fish at Frenchman’s Pond, her father’s favorite – and famously secret – fishing spot near his (and her) home on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that appears in many of Voelker’s stories from the 1950s and 60s. So instead of flying to Michigan, David fished his way there from Maine and the rest is history.
James Park from Red Truck Fly Fishing is on the podcast today to take us through the steps to choosing a great fly rod and some of the companies and people who have influenced him as a fly rod company owner along the way.
We find out how his background with Leland Fly Fishing and Loop help to guide James’ path to quitting his day job to take a year long sabbatical traveling and fishing before taking on Red Truck Fly Fishing.
Click below to listen to the Red Truck Fly Fishing Podcast with James Park:
36:50 – Fiberglass Manifesto and Cameron Mortenson were on the podcast in episode 88 here. Cameron has been a big friend to what James has been doing with his fiberglass line.
37:00 – Shane Grey and Grey Wolf Rods has been another big influence for James.
1:08:50 – Episode 177 and the drift boat episode.
1:12:18 – Bill Graham presents and the Grateful Dead
WFS 207 – Anglers Coffee with Joe Monaghan – Fly Fishing Founders
Conclusion with Red Truck Fly Fishing
James Park from Red Truck Fly Fishing is here to take us through the process of understanding how to choose a fly rod for trout. We find out James transitioned away from Leland Fly Fishing and where they are taking Red Truck next.
We find out about the Red Truck rod action and how they are separating themselves from other big companies like Sage and other leaders. This is a really transparent episode with some hard questions that James does a great job at addressing.
Matt Snider is here to break down warm water fishing with a focus on fly fishing for Walleye.We find out how he first connected to the fly fishing space through Jackson hole like so many other guests we’ve connected with.
Matt is an expert on all warm water fish and today shares the strategy that he uses for all of these species. We also find out what Fish Explorer is all about and why he designed this app.
Click below and listen the Fly Fishing for Walleye Podcast with Matt Snider:
Matt Snider is on the podcast this week to shed some light on fly fishing for Walleye and how he marks the lake using satellite imagery.Matt is the founder of Fish explorer and a self proclaimed warm water fishing mad man.
Be ready in this one as Matt and I veer off on a few tangents along the way including some coffee talk. But it also packs a punch if you are ready to dig into walleye and find out why walleye anglers are so passionate.
Derek Deyoung is here to shed light on how he created one of the leading art creators focused on fly fishing.It’s been a life long passion for Derek so you’ll want to check out this episode to hear how he put it all together.
We dig into the behind the scenes of how he created some of his most popular art and the process to get there. Derek notes that having ADHD is actually a benefit for his artistic style and is something I deal with as well.
Click below and listen the Podcast with Derek DeYoung:
Derek Deyoung shares his passionate fishing art story of how he came to become a leader in the space. We find out some of his most popular are over the years and where he’s heading next with his work.
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