Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#880 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/880
Presented By: San Juan Rodworks , On DeMark Lodge, Toyota Canada
Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors
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.
#880 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/880

#879 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/879    
Presented by: FishHound Expeditions 
In this episode, I'm joined by Orion Good, a Fishhound Expeditions guide who's quietly dialing in what actually works when the salmon don't show and the bead bite disappears. We dig into nymphing in Alaska trout nymphing, why the Duracell fly keeps producing when nothing else does, and how Orion locates fish in constantly changing systems.
If you've ever wondered how to stay effective in Alaska when conditions shift, this one's packed with real-world guide insight.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/879

#878b Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/878b      
Presented by: Mountain Waters Resort
When people think about Newfoundland fly fishing, Atlantic salmon usually steal the spotlight. But tucked into the same rivers and lakes are some of the hardest-fighting brook trout you'll ever see, including sea-run fish pushing three to five pounds.
In this episode, I sat down with Les Wentzell to walk through brook trout fishing. We dug into timing, locations, flies, wind tactics, and why a simple dead-drift can outfish flashy presentations.
If you're heading to Newfoundland for salmon, this episode opens the door to a second fishery that's right under your feet.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/878b

878 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/878
Presented by:  Smitty's Fly Box, Intrepid Camp Gear, Stonefly Nets,  Togiak River Lodge
 
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 why some rods last for decades while others fall apart.


Zac Dalton from St. Croix Rods is on the podcast today, and he walks us through how fly rods are designed from the ground up. 
 
We talk about rod action and why faster is not always better, what durability really means for anglers who fish hard, and how different actions change the way a rod fishes and casts. We also get into cork, handles, and we even touch on the conventional side toward the end.
 
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/878

#877 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/877
Presented By: San Juan Rodworks, FishHound Expeditions, Pescador on the Fly, TroutRoutes
Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors
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.
#877 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/877