After The Hatch: Fly Fishing Stories from Big Sky Country & Beyond

Every episode of After The Hatch starts on the water. This time, host Steve Hoovler spent Memorial Day weekend on the Firehole and Madison with John Juracek, the casting instructor, co-author of Fishing Yellowstone Hatches, and Steve's longtime mentor. When they sat down afterward, John made the case that observation is fishing. He explains how he reads weather, water temperature, and flows to decide where and when to fish, and what happens when a sudden runoff "shocks the system." He also explains why a basic knowledge of insects answers the eternal "what fly should I use?" question.

They also dig into how Yellowstone's hatches have shifted over 50 years, including the recent surge of PMDs and White Miller caddis on the Firehole and the much longer Drunella hatch on the Yellowstone. John shares his single best casting tip, explains why better casting opens up the park's uncrowded water, and gives a spirited defense of the 12-inch trout.

Every episode of After The Hatch starts on the water. This time, Steve spent a rainy PMD day on the Firehole with fly fishing legend Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies and co-founder of 1% for the Planet. When they sat down afterward, Craig talked through what 56 seasons in Yellowstone have taught him: sit and watch before you cast, recognize when trout are eating emergers instead of duns, and stay flexible when the hatch charts don't hold. He also tells the stories behind the Improved Sparkle Dun and the Pheasant Tail Sparkle Dun, and explains why he's moved from 4X down to 6X tippet.

The second half turns to conservation. Craig covers the Yellowstone cutthroat recovery, why the lake trout removal work is far from finished, how anglers can get involved, and why wild places and wild fish are worth fighting for.

Every episode of After The Hatch starts on the water. This time, Steve Hoovler spent a cold, snowy spring day on the Madison in the park with twin brothers Doug and Dan Daufel. They're Bozeman anglers, longtime fly tiers, and the builders behind Montana Brothers Rod Works. The fishing was slow that day, and when they sat down afterward the brothers said what most anglers won't: they should have moved sooner.

Most of the conversation is about what it means to be a "classically oriented" angler: hunting for feeding fish instead of blind fishing. The brothers make a strong case for slow-action rods, explaining how a rod that bends deep casts better at 20 to 40 feet, gives you better feel, and even fights fish more efficiently. They also explain why you should get close and plan as if you only get one cast. From their years as commercial tiers (90 dozen flies a week), they break down their design philosophy (flies that float well, are easy to see, and are easy to tie), the origins of their Improved X-Caddis, and why they now fish greased nymphs in the film during big mayfly hatches. They round it out with their must-have spring flies, the early park opener, fishing rested water away from crowds, and simple trip-planning advice for first-time visitors.

After the Hatch is a fly fishing documentary podcast about how experienced anglers observe, adapt, and make decisions on the water. Hosted by Steve Hoovler of Big Sky Anglers, each episode begins with a day of fishing alongside guides, local legends, and veteran anglers who have spent years learning the waters they fish. Afterward, the conversation continues off the water—digging into the decisions that shaped the day, the experiences that shaped them as anglers, and what they’ve learned through a lifetime of fishing. It’s not about secret spots or magic flies. It’s about experience, observation, and the lived-in perspective that helps great anglers continue to find great fishing season after season.

Season One takes us into Yellowstone National Park, where we fish with and learn from anglers who have spent decades exploring its rivers, streams, and lakes.

Subscribe Now, and join us After the Hatch.