Podcast

There’s a point in fly fishing where casting stops being the hard part, and decision-making takes over. In this episode, Dave Stewart is joined by Nick Elcheson from Scott Lake Lodge to break down sight fishing Northern Pike in shallow water, where patience, positioning, and timing matter more than power. Nick explains why fly fishing for pike is essentially freshwater flats fishing, how seasonal water temperature controls fish location, and why waiting for the right fish often leads to better outcomes than covering water. You’ll learn how small decisions near the boat affect success, how to approach shallow bays, and what separates a missed opportunity from a clean eat when targeting big pike.

Today, we’re digging into how fly rods are really designed. Not the marketing side, but what really goes into the design, the testing, and...

Fly fishing in Southern California looks nothing like a mountain river—and that’s exactly why it works. In this episode, Frank Vargas breaks down how surf fly fishing actually functions, from reading tides and beach structure to understanding how species like perch, corbina, and leopard sharks use shallow water to feed and travel. Frank shares how incoming and negative tides reveal feeding lanes, why anglers often walk past productive water, and how sight fishing in the surf can feel more like targeting carp than blind casting waves. This conversation covers gear, etiquette, safety, and why slowing down and learning to see the beach is the key to success in one of the most overlooked fly fisheries in the country.

Episode Show Notes Most adventure rigs look great online. Fewer are built for real miles, real weather, and those long fishing days that end well...

Streamer season is officially here in the Ozarks, and this one is all about slowing things down and fishing with intention. January kicks off...

Fly fishing doesn’t fall apart because it’s too hard. It falls apart because there’s too much going on at once. Too many rods, too...

Most fly fishing gear is built for comfort. Some of it is built for performance. But very little of it is built with the...

This episode breaks entomology down into something you can actually use. Sawyer Finley, guide at Grand Teton Fly Fishing, explains how insects live, move,...

Episode Show Notes In this episode, I sat down with Nicolas Rivero to dig into Patagonia fly fishing. We covered the two-basin setup in Patagonia,...

Big Montana rivers can feel overwhelming, even for experienced anglers. In this episode, Alex from Montana Fly Fishing Lodge breaks down how he approaches iconic waters like the Yellowstone River, Bighorn River, and Stillwater River—and why many anglers struggle to find consistency on large freestone systems. We dig into practical fly fishing tactics, including dry-dropper setups, nymphing adjustments, streamer opportunities, and how to read water effectively from both the boat and the bank. Alex shares how he rotates rivers based on conditions, adapts throughout the day, and simplifies decisions on big water. This conversation is all about fishing smarter, staying flexible, and gaining confidence on Montana’s most famous rivers.