Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

969 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/969
Presented by: Patagonia
Today's guest has spent years guiding trout anglers in Colorado, but these days he's measuring success by something bigger than just the fish that make it to the net.
Austin Campbell is a Colorado fly fishing guide, Patagonia ambassador, and founder and executive director of Community Fly Fishing. He shares his approach to the South Platte, fishing the Deckers section, finding trout on dry flies, and knowing when to leave the bobber behind.
We cover George Daniel and the Penn State fly fishing program, warm-water challenges during a tough Colorado season, and how Community Fly Fishing is creating zero-barrier opportunities in Colorado, Chicago, Atlanta, the Bahamas, and Belize.
Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/969

#968 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/968

Presented by: Stonefly Nets, Montana Fly Fishing Lodge, Togiak River Lodge, TroutRoutes

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

Pat Ehlers has been fly fishing since he was a kid exploring trout streams in Wisconsin's Upper Peninsula. Over the years, his curiosity expanded far beyond trout, leading him to become one of the leading voices in warmwater fly fishing and innovative fly design.

We dug into bass behavior, fly line selection, fly tying materials, electronics, and how lessons from conventional bass fishing continue to improve fly fishing techniques.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/968

967 Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/967
Presented by: Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho
The greatest fly patterns don’t just catch fish, they stand the test of time and become part of fly fishing history.
Fly tyer and author Al Ritt shares the stories behind his book, 25 Best Most Versatile Flies, and some of the most useful patterns in fly fishing. We explore classics including the Adams, Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear, Royal Wulff, and Clouser Minnow.
We explore Al's long history in fly tying, the East Idaho Fly Tying Expo, his own fly patterns, and his approach to teaching beginners and learning the techniques behind fly tying.
Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/967

#966 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/966
Presented by: TroutRoutes, FishHound Expeditions, Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho, Jackson Hole Fly Company.
In this episode, we speak with longtime fly-fishing author Skip Morris about his latest published book, Imposters, and a collection of essays that brings together fly patterns, fishing history, personal stories, and artwork by his wife, Carol Ann Morris. Skip also shares practical lessons from decades on the water, including his “turn-down trick” for presenting a fly to rising trout, why action and size can matter more than constantly changing patterns, and how classic dry flies and wet flies still have a place in today's fly box.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/966

http://wetflyswing.com/965
Sponsors: Sullivan Fly Rods, On DeMark Lodge, Redds Flies
Dave shares the story of his father, Doug Stewart, who recently passed away at 87. Doug was the person who introduced Dave to fly fishing, and his influence eventually helped lead to the creation of the Wet Fly Swing Podcast.
Doug’s own fly fishing story reaches back more than 70 years.
He first started fishing the Deschutes River with his father in the early 1950s, when seeing a dozen anglers on the river could make it feel crowded. He eventually became a longtime Deschutes guide, fly shop owner, fly tyer, rod builder, writer, and teacher who introduced countless people to fly fishing.
Doug was also the creator of the Max Canyon steelhead fly. He tells the story of sitting under the trees with Steve Dorn during a brutally hot day on the Deschutes. With fishing slowed down, they started tying flies to pass the time. Doug liked orange and black, put the colors together, and eventually refined the pattern that became the Max Canyon.
We also hear about the early days of Stewart’s Custom Tackle, which later became Stewart’s Fly Shop. Doug talks about building the business through word of mouth, teaching casting and fly tying, and watching A River Runs Through It bring a surge of new anglers into fly fishing.
But this episode goes well beyond the history of a fly shop or a famous steelhead pattern.
Doug shares stories from decades on the water, including hooking and releasing 58 steelhead with Jim Teeny during an incredible day of fishing, falling into the Deschutes while fighting a steelhead, encounters with bears in Alaska, and watching the fly fishing world change around him.
Teaching runs through much of Doug’s story. Before going full-time in fly fishing, he was a seventh and eighth grade teacher. He later brought that same mindset to the fly shop, guiding, casting lessons, fly tying classes, and the many anglers he helped along the way.
Dave also reflects on what that influence looks like today. Doug taught him to fish. Dave passed some of those lessons to friends, who then taught their own kids. That ripple effect may be one of Doug’s greatest legacies.
Near the end of their original conversation, Doug is asked what he would like to be remembered for. His answer comes back to the people: running the fly shop, teaching people to cast and tie flies, learning from others, and staying connected to the fly fishing community.
This episode is ultimately about more than fly fishing.
It’s about fathers, sons, teachers, friends, and the limited amount of time we get together.
If your dad, father figure, mentor, or fishing partner is still around, give them a call. And if you still have the chance to take another fishing trip together, don’t wait too long to make it happen.