In this conversation, Javier Fabrega discusses his passion for fly fishing and his involvement in the fishing community. He talks about the community events he organizes with Justin Anderson, where they train and teach people how to fly fish. Javier also shares his love for different types of fishing, including freshwater fishing for bass and saltwater fishing for bonefish and tarpon. He emphasizes the importance of conservation and fundraising to protect the places they love to fish. Javier also mentions his interest in photography and his Instagram account where he shares candid content related to fishing. The conversation revolves around the Flood Tide Festival, an event organized by Javier Fabrega and Justin Anderson. They discuss the origins of the festival and how it has grown over the years. They talk about the importance of networking and reaching out to potential sponsors and vendors. They also mention the various activities and attractions at the festival, including live podcasts, films, and raffle prizes. The event aims to bring together the fly fishing community and support local businesses. In this conversation, Javier Fabrega discusses various fishing experiences and the importance of community support. He highlights the different fishing opportunities in Northeast Florida, including chasing redfish on grass flats and tarpon off the beach. Javier emphasizes the need to network and build relationships within the fishing community to create successful events like Marsh Fest. He also mentions the importance of capitalizing on opportunities and learning from them, even if they don't go as planned. Takeaways

• Javier Fabrega organizes community events to train and teach people how to fly fish.
• He enjoys both freshwater and saltwater fishing, including bass fishing and fly fishing for bonefish and tarpon.
• Conservation and fundraising are important to protect the places they love to fish.
• Javier is also interested in photography and shares candid content related to fishing on his Instagram account. Finding a partner who is willing to put in the time and effort is crucial for organizing successful events.
• Networking and reaching out to people in the industry can lead to valuable partnerships and support.
• The Flood Tide Festival has attracted a wide range of vendors and sponsors, offering raffle prizes and merchandise.
• The festival is family-friendly and includes activities such as live podcasts and film screenings.
• The event aims to create a sense of community among fly fishing enthusiasts and support local businesses. Fishing in Northeast Florida offers a variety of species and unique experiences, such as chasing redfish on grass flats and tarpon off the beach.
• Building a strong network and community support is crucial for organizing successful fishing events.
• Opportunities should be seized, even if they don't go as planned, as they provide valuable learning experiences.
• Species like black drum and tarpon are often overlooked but offer exciting fishing opportunities.
• Engaging with different members of the community, including non-anglers, can lead to unexpected support and contributions.

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Bill Longstreet, a fly fishing guide on New York's Upper Delaware River, joins host Christian Bacasa to break down how he tackles the river's technical, picky trout with a dry-dropper nymph rig.

Bill explains why a downstream presentation and a well-executed reach cast are essential on the Upper Delaware, and how fishing a nymph under a dry fly indicator lets anglers work both the surface and subsurface at once. He covers picking water with broken, turbulent current, adjusting leader length and fly patterns when fish go quiet, and refining casting technique with moves like the tuck cast and a high rod tip. Bill also stresses investing in a quality fly line and practicing casting for a few minutes each day to sharpen accuracy on demanding water.

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Lance Kittel of Pesca Vita joins host Christian Bacasa to recap DIY bonefishing in Belize and topwater Golden Dorado fishing from a river cruiser in Argentina.

Lance breaks down Belize's diverse fishery and why choosing the right, often lighter, fly weight matters for saltwater success, along with tips for researching local shops and guides before a DIY trip. He also describes the explosive, chaotic take of Golden Dorado in Argentina, where poppers and streamers tied on durable materials hold up best, and where staying aboard a river cruiser opens up access to remote water. Lance closes with packing advice: bring gear you're confident fishing, travel light, and keep an "oh shit kit" in your carry-on in case luggage goes missing.

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PJ Dufour, a bamboo rod builder and handcrafted net maker, joins host Christian Bacasa to explain how heirloom bamboo fly rods are built and why they still matter to anglers today.

PJ talks about why bamboo rods are considered heirloom pieces and why finding a rod that matches your casting style matters more than price or brand name. He walks through the build process step by step: splitting and planing the bamboo, tempering the sugars, cutting the taper, gluing the hexagonal sections together, and cleaning up excess glue, along with how he inspects a rod's power fibers. PJ also flags a practical risk with rod holders, since heat and vibration can damage rods in transit, and encourages anglers to slow down and fully re-rig their gear before each trip.

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Jason Klass joins host Christian Bacasa to break down Tenkara, the telescopic, line-only method of fly fishing prized for close-quarters pocket water and a direct feel for the river.

Jason dispels the idea that Tenkara is only for beginners or kids, framing it instead as a self-imposed challenge many experienced anglers take on for a more direct connection to the water. He covers how telescopic Tenkara rods are built from graphite or a graphite-fiberglass blend in a range of lengths and flex patterns, and why softer, easier-casting rods suit beginners best. Jason also explains line setup, from tapered lines to level fluorocarbon and the knots used to connect line to rod, and notes that specialized rods exist for landing larger fish. He closes by encouraging anglers to approach Tenkara with a beginner's mindset and stay open to a method that strips fly fishing down to its essentials.

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Rick Nyles, owner of Sky Blue Outfitters in Pennsylvania, joins host Christian Bacasa to talk dry fly fishing on Penns Creek, one of the state's most storied spring creek fisheries.

Rick explains how Sky Blue Outfitters built specialized niches like wet fly fishing and blue lining for brook trout, and why Penns Creek stands out for its diverse hatches and shots at large trout. He breaks down how to locate fish by reading the water and rise type, and recommends a four or five weight, fast, stiff rod paired with a short leader for precise dry fly presentation. Rick also covers combining dry flies with a trailing nymph and using high-visibility streamers, and talks about the fishing opportunities that keep him on the water through retirement.

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James Johnson returns to break down Alaska's dry fly season with host Christian Bacasa, covering everything from king salmon to fall lake-run rainbows.

James walks through how his approach shifts by season in Alaska, from streamer fishing for kings to targeting lake-run rainbows in the fall, and highlights the species diversity that makes the state unique. He points out the advantages of fishing out of Nac-Nac Camp and shares a memorable outing at Katmai Trophy Lodge. James also stresses that physical fitness and endurance matter for the hiking and wading Alaska fishing demands, and that anglers do best when they keep moving, keep exploring new water, and aren't afraid to leave a spot that isn't producing.

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Alan Campbell, a fly fishing guide based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, joins host Christian Bacasa to talk smallmouth bass and pike tactics through the changing seasons.

Alan explains how he adjusts tactics by season, fishing slower water where smallmouth and pike stage to spawn in spring, then working topwater early in the morning during summer before shifting to deeper structure as the day warms. He shares specifics on reading the water, from log jams and eddies to points and islands, and recommends casting topwater flies at a 90-degree angle to the bank. Alan also covers using intermediate and full sink lines to keep flies in the strike zone and choosing the right rod weight for the target species and conditions.

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Steve Dalley of Dalley Ozark Fly Fisher joins host Christian Bacasa to break down summer fly fishing on Arkansas's White River Water System.

Steve details the seasonal hatches that define summer on the White River, including prolific caddis and sulfur activity, and compares dry fly fishing and nymphing approaches for different phases of the system. He also covers casting mechanics, explaining how aligning body position with the target and casting over the shoulder can improve accuracy and distance, plus why setting the hook straight up helps avoid pulling a fly out of a fish's mouth. Steve wraps up with tips on booking a guided trip and why summer is one of the best times to fish Arkansas.

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Mike Pease joins host Christian Bacasa to talk about the technical side of guiding and what it takes to become a fly fishing guide later in life.

Mike breaks down the lob cast and set technique, describing how a wrist flick used to flip the line works much like flipping a pancake, and explains how leading a fish during the fight keeps the angler in control. He also covers the role of the arch in the cast and leading the drift as key elements of effective nymph fishing. Mike closes with advice for aspiring guides, encouraging them to learn from experienced professionals and consider attending guide school.

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