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.

Losing fish after a solid grab happens more than people talk about. You feel the eat, the rod loads up, maybe even a head...

Episode Show Notes If you’ve ever wondered what really keeps a world-class trout river healthy year after year, this Upper Missouri watershed conversation goes deep...

Episode Show Notes Fly fishing travel isn’t what it used to be. The easy trips are getting crowded, and the places that still feel untouched...

Duane Hada joins Chad Johnson for a thoughtful conversation on what actually creates trophy trout fisheries—and why stocking alone isn’t the answer. Duane breaks down the importance of catch-and-release regulations, managing pressure, and letting fish live long enough to reach their full potential. Drawing from rivers like the White River and the San Juan, he explains how conservation-first thinking shapes not only fish size, but the long-term health of entire fisheries. Beyond fishing, Duane opens up about his life as an artist and how creativity, patience, and observation carry over from the studio to the river. He talks about seeing fisheries as living “gardens,” the influence of Dave Whitlock on both his conservation mindset and artistic outlook, and why mentorship—on the water and off—matters just as much as catching fish. This episode is about legacy, restraint, and approaching both art and angling with intention.

Episode Show Notes Some fly-tying skills come quickly. Others only show up after thousands of flies, years behind the vise, and a lot of mistakes...

Episode Show Notes Musky fishing has a way of forcing you to evolve. You can put in the hours, make good casts, fish the right...

In today’s episode of In the Bucket podcast, Brian Niska is joined by Adrienne Comeau and Eric Leininger for a candid conversation on what really drives success in steelhead fishing. What starts with fly choice and presentation quickly shifts into a bigger discussion around uncertainty, experience, and how much control anglers actually have on the water. Eric shares a perspective shaped by years of guiding—that in certain conditions, especially when water temperatures are right, many of the details anglers focus on may not be as critical as they seem. Adrienne adds her experience from the river, highlighting the role of confidence, instinct, and pattern recognition, while also recognizing the randomness that shows up time and time again. Together, they unpack the balance between what we think we know and what remains unpredictable—and why that tension is part of what keeps steelhead fishing so compelling.

Picture this. You’re in Colorado with mountains in every direction, and the South Platte running just across the road. In this episode, I sit...

James Frakes and Jackson Birrell break down what they’re doing with the Salmonfly Project, a nonprofit focused on tracking aquatic insect populations across the...