Wet Fly Swing

What happens when a family helps shape the history of drift boats for nearly a century? In this episode, Jeff Helfrich joins us to share stories from the early days of McKenzie River drift boats, how his grandfather Prince Helfrich helped evolve whitewater boat design, and what it’s really like navigating technical rivers like the Middle Fork Salmon and Rogue River in wooden boats. We dig into the transition from plank boats to plywood, the origins of the McKenzie-style drift boat, and why certain whitewater rapids still give experienced guides butterflies. Jeff also shares incredible stories from the Frank Church Wilderness, including flash floods that created entirely new rapids overnight, how drift boats handle technical water, and why these wilderness river trips remain some of the most unique fly fishing experiences in the country.

Today, we're diving into the world of cool boat stuff with Rich Batcheller from Abstract Watercraft.

In this episode, we chat with Justin Waayenberg from Adipose Boatworks to delve into the groundbreaking world of resin infusion in drift boats, offering anglers the ultimate guide to navigating the transformative trends in boat durability and weight.y fishing journey to new heights, all while emphasizing conservation and the...

In this episode, we chat with Brownie Liles, a seasoned guide with over 25 years of experience and the innovative mind behind Blue Ridge Boatworks. Brownie takes us on a journey of drift boat building and the scenic rivers of East Tennessee, sharing insights into his unique designs crafted...

John's father always said that a river could teach you a lot about life – the patience of the current, the wisdom of the rocks, the joy of a successful cast. It's this ethos that resonates so deeply with John Stenersen, our guest today, who shares his journey from the idyllic streams of Idaho to the forefront of one of the most iconic drift boat manufacturers - ClackaCraft. We wade through tales of his formative years casting lines under his father's guidance, his tenure at Jimmy's Fly Shop, and the evolution of his role at ClackaCraft, which mirrors the company's ripple effect on the fishing world.

Mike Batcke, owner of StealthCraft Boats, shares his family story of running a boat company with a focus on drift boats, power boats, and rafts. We discover the advantages of a boat with a headlight and power anchor.

Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/224 Sponsor: Sawyer Oars: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sawyer Sponsor: Turtlebox Audio: https://www.wetflyswing.com/turtlebox Keith Webster is here from tornado anchors to describe how he made a unique and better anchor than what’s currently on the market.  We find out why a metal plate anchor works better than your typical pyramid style anchor for stopping your boat and for the environment.

https://www.wetflyswing.com/197 Sponsor: Sawyer Oars: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sawyer Sponsor: OPST: https://www.wetflyswing.com/opst Ray Heater, the founder of Ray’s River Dories, is on the podcast today to share the story of how he built one of the biggest wooden drift boat companies for over 30 years.  We find out why the 14 Rapid Robert is Ray’s favorite boat.

Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/196 Sponsor: Stonefly Nets: https://www.wetflyswing.com/turtlebox Jason Cajune shares the story of how he created one of the most unique drift boats in the world.  If you haven’t seen Cajune Boats you have to listen today.  We find out how Jason grew up in Glacier National Park working on boats with his family.

Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/192 Sponsor: Stonefly Nets: https://www.wetflyswing.com/stonefly Sponsor: Anglers Coffee: https://www.wetflyswing.com/anglers Scott Hogan, the lead man behind one of the best drift boat bottom coating companies in the business.  Scott describes how Wetlander is a super slick easy to apply product that will allow your boat to slide down the river bottom.

Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/187 I sat down with Justin Waayenberg from Adipose Boatworks to hear about the benefits of their Fiberglass boat and their river skiff compared to other materials and drift boats on the market.  We get a little nerdy on the build and dig into all things fiberglass boats and river skiffs.

Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/185 Derek Young from Sawyer Paddles and Oars describes the steps to choosing drift boat oars with a comparison between natural and composite. Derek describes the square top oar vs the smoker bandit and why you would go with either of these.