Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Show Notes: http://wetflyswing.com/977
Sponsors: http://wetflyswing.com/Sponsors
In this episode, we’re digging back into a conversation with Ed Engle, one of the longtime voices in fishing and tying small flies.
Ed has spent decades fishing technical trout water, and his approach is less about making things complicated and more about getting the fundamentals right.
We’re pulling out 14 of Ed’s best tips for fishing small flies, including why size comes before color, how close you should get to feeding trout, and why a longer leader isn’t always the answer.
You’ll also hear how Ed reads a trout’s position in the water before making a cast, why he wants an unweighted nymph somewhere in his rig, and how he uses movement when fishing small BWO nymphs.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why you shouldn’t fish a smaller fly than the trout require
Why simple patterns can be so effective in tiny sizes
Why Ed often sticks with a 9- to 10-foot leader instead of going extra long
How to adjust your hook set when presenting a dry fly downstream
How Ed swings small wet flies to rising trout
Why BWO nymphs don’t always need to be dead-drifted
How a weighted fly can help an unweighted nymph move naturally
What a trout’s vertical position tells you about whether it’s actively feeding
Why actually seeing your tiny dry fly matters
How to make your fly the first thing a trout sees
Why slack-line casts become so important on technical water
How the way a trout rises to your fly can tell you whether your presentation is right
Why Ed wants to get as close to a trout as possible without changing its behavior
Why matching the size of the natural is Ed’s #1 priority

Ed’s approach comes back to simplicity. When you find the natural insect, start by figuring out its size. Get that right first. If your fly also comes close in color and silhouette, even better but size is where Ed starts.
We’ll also hear why Ed believes small-fly fishing is ultimately about having as little as possible between you and the fish.
If you fish midges, BWOs, tricos, technical tailwaters, or selective rising trout, this episode gives you 14 ideas you can take straight to the water.

#976 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/976

Presented by: Fly Fish with me Utah, FishHound Expeditions, Drifthook Fly Fishing

Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Kara Knight is a steelhead angler, casting instructor, longtime lodge professional, and competitive caster based in British Columbia. We get into the Dean, Spey-O-Rama, steelhead conservation, casting practice, competition gear, and the lessons Kara has picked up from years spent around some of BC’s great steelhead rivers.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/976

975 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/975
Presented by: Gallatin River Lodge
Ask ten Montana anglers where to fish, and you’ll probably hear ten different answers. Every now and then, someone points you toward a stretch that still feels a little overlooked. Today, we’re heading into southwest Montana for some Gallatin River fly fishing with someone who has called Bozeman home for more than 30 years.
Ryan Kirt has lived in Bozeman for 32 years and has been connected with Gallatin River Lodge for more than a decade. He shares what makes the Gallatin different, from private-access fishing and wade fishing to late-summer terrestrials, streamers, and nymphs.
We also cover the best rods and flies for the Gallatin, how to build a three-day Montana fishing trip, and what makes Gallatin River Lodge a special base for exploring Southwest Montana.
Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/975

#974 Show Notes https://www.wetflyswing.com/974

Presented by: Drifthook, AVC Rig, Redd's Flies, Golden Fly Shop

In this episode, Chris takes us from that first Alaska salmon encounter to some of the biggest conservation efforts Trout Unlimited has worked on, including the Roadless Rule, Bristol Bay, the Klamath, Yankee Fork restoration, and Apache trout recovery. More than anything, the conservation shows why Trout Unlimited believes anglers can make a real difference when they speak up, stay involved, and protect the waters they care about.

Show Notes https://www.wetflyswing.com/974

#973 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/973
Presented by: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors
Jerry Darkes has spent decades chasing lake trout across the Great Lakes as a manufacturer’s rep, guide, instructor, travel host, and author. He shares his experience finding lake trout in shallow and deep water and tracking their seasonal movements.
We cover the history and recovery of lake trout in the Great Lakes, the evolution of fly lines and patterns, boat and shoreline strategies, retrieves, hook sets, and what it takes to land a 10- to 20-pound lake trout on the fly.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/973