Fly Fishing Journeys

It was a pleasure sitting down with Rodrigo Salles, a seasoned fly angler and one of the founders of Untamed Angling. Rodrigo brings us into the heart of the Amazon, where the rivers run wild and the fish are unique and beautiful. We explore his journey from Brazil to becoming one of the leading figures in the fly fishing world, his passion for conservation, and his journey working with many native communities in the Amazon. Rodrigo also gives us an insider’s perspective on targeting exotic species like Peacock Bass and Golden Dorado, offering tips and tales from his years on the water. Enjoy this deep dive into the heart of the Amazon and the world of exotic fly fishing.

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It was a pleasure to sit down with Lucas Bisset, the Executive Director of AFFTA, the America Fly Fishing Trade Association.  Being a passionate fly angler, I want to know this industry I love is healthy and vibrant.   That’s what drives Lucas and the entire team at AFFTA.  In this episode, we get to know Lucas and how AFFTA is ever changing and fine tuning how they can best serve the industry as whole through these changing times.  We also dive into a some his favorite fishing, Sheepshead and Redfish in the New Orleans area. Enjoy this fly fishing insiders look…

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If I’m not fly fishing or making fly fishing videos or content myself, one of the most enjoyable things for me to do is watching beautiful fly fishing movies from amazing producers.  That’s the core behind the Fly Fishing Film Tour, also known as F3T.  It was a real privilege for me to sit down with Charles Werb of Adventure Entertainment.  Among other things, Charles and his team are now running the Fly Fishing Film Tour. On a massive, world-wide showing tour, F3T delivers some of the best fly fishing films in the world. Charles was born in Australia and now resides in Dubai. From sailing yachts to exploring the poles, Charles is big time adventures and has a huge passion for these fly fishing films.

Check out adventureentertainment.com to follow what Charles and the team are up to and flyfilmtour.com to find a film showing near you.

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Lou DiGena is an accomplished fly tier from New Jersey.  He’s an extraordinary guy. We dive deep into fly tying, photography, digital media, and fine art. As I learned on this podcast, he is a professor of fine art and digital media at St John University.   

I don’t think either of us thought we were going down the art rabbit hole but that is the fun part of podcasts, learning about your guests as a person and their expertise. It clear Lou is an artist, both behind the vise, behind the lens and in various other art mediums.

He stresses the idea of observation both in art and on the water and how focused observation will make you a better fly tier and fly fisherman.  

We close with some of Lou’s best tips for improving your fly tying and his favorite flies, dry, nymph and streamer. Stay tuned…
flyandfin.blogspot.com/

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Eric Naguski is an author and guide from Boiling Springs, PA.  Central Pennsylvania fly fishing is something of fly fishing folk lore.  From the chalk streams to the spring creeks, many say this area has some of the most historic and best trout fishing in the country.  Rivers like the Letort, Spring Creek, Yellow Breaches, Big Spring and more.  You can feel the history and nostalgia just setting one wading boot in the cool waters of Penns Creek or Little J. 

In this podcast, I dive into the fishing and flies of this beautiful area with author, Eric Naguski.  In his book Favorite Flies for Pennsylvania, 50 Essential Patterns From Local Experts, Eric covers the meat and potatoes of the hatches and flies for fooling local trout.  The good news is most of these patterns are great for trout fishing around the world. With some of the key patterns, he offers a look back on the designer of the pattern as well as best fishing techniques. 

I love how Eric pays homage to some of the fishing legends of this area.  He’s not shy at saying he and so many of today’s fly fishing professionals are standing on the shoulders of greats like Vince Marinaro, Charlie Meck, Joe Humphries, and others.

There is so much here, and this is an episode you don’t want to miss.  Enjoy!
www.riseformsflyfishing.com

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Episode highlights

[03.11] Eric’s story – Starting the conversation, Eric talks about Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania, where he currently lives, and the forefathers of Cumberland Valley fly fishing.

[09.34] Streams – Eric talks about the specialty of the streams in Cumberland Valley.

[16.54] Pennsylvania – Eric explains why Pennsylvania remains a historic fly fishing area.

[20.45] Education – Eric’s academic background.

[26.13] Eric’s Career – Eric talks about his guiding career and his current role as an administrator in the Dauphin County Conservation District.

[29.48] Photography – Eric talks about the fun he had while doing photography for his book.

[34.55] Passion – The type of fishing Eric likes to do.

[36.47] Penns Creek – Eric explains why he likes to go fishing in Penns Creek, Pennsylvania.

Let’s face it, panfish, on the whole, are less glamorous than many of the other species we target with a fly rod.  Catching a sunfish or crappie, to some, may not be as cool as trout or a tarpon. But for so many of us, we started fishing and maybe even fly fishing, down at the local pond catching bluegill, bass, crappie and the like with bait, a spinning rod or maybe even a fly rod.  The fact is, targeting panfish can provide a super fun day on the water with a fly rod.  I mean, a good size crappie crushing a top-water bug is a ton of fun.  And panfish can prove to be a great species for introducing a friend to fly fishing. 

Bart Lombardo is an expert in this space. He is a leading authority for both creating and tying patterns specifically for panfish.  One pattern, The Triangle Bug, is a topwater bug and a killer pattern for bluegill, sunfish, and small bass.  I am excited to report, Bart has an amazing book in the works, Panfish On The Fly, and you can look for that in early 2025.

In this chat, we sit down and get to know Bart a bit, talk tips and tactics for Panfish on the Fly and have a few laughs.

www.panfishonthefly.com

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Episode Highlilghts

[05.00] Panfish – Starting the conversation, Bart talks about his upcoming book ‘Panfish on the Fly’ and the reason behind his focus on panfish.

[09.30] Bart’s story – Bart briefs us about his life working in law enforcement and how he started his guiding career.

[17.00] Patterns – Bart explains some good patterns for panfish fishing.

[20.36] Fishing rods – Bart’s rod recommendations for panfish.

[25.52] Sunfishes – Details about different species of the sunfish family are in Bart’s new book, ‘Panfish on the Fly.’

[30.00] Fishing opportunities – Bart explains why panfish fishing has more opportunities than trout fishing.

[34.20] Fish destinations – Bart explains how anyone can have a world-class fishing experience with panfish because of their availability. 

[39.00] Books – Bart explains why he thought to write a book on this area, specializing in panfish.

When you hear about the Susquehanna River, especially for smallmouth, you think about names like Lefty Kreh, Bob Clouser and Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides.  Brian has been mentored by Bob Clouser over the years and Bob was kind enough to offer a personal recommendation to have Brian on the podcast.  We dive into great tips and tactics to have more success with your smallmouth fishing.  With over 30 years of guiding experience, Brian shares the best equipment set up for smallmouth as well as fishing strategies and fly recommendations. Enjoy!

www.susqriverguides.com

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Episode Highlights

[04.13] Guiding – Starting the conversation, Brian explains why he loves guiding.

[12.25] Susquehanna River – Susquehanna River and fishing areas.

[20.26] Smallmouth fishing – Brian explains the best equipment, time, and other information regarding smallmouth fishing.

[25.00] Spawning season – Brian talks about fishing in spawning season and the equipment he uses.

[28.51] Summer fishing – Fish movements and things you need to know about summer fishing.

[36.39] Equipment – Brian explains how he provides equipment for his clients.

[39.50] The fall – Fish movements and the best equipment for fishing in the fall.

[49.06] Water temperature – Brian explains how his guiding time begins and ends according to the water temperature.

Luong Tam is yet another wonderful personality in the fly fishing industry. Whenever I see him, he always greets me with a warm smile and pleasant hello.  I return the kind gesture and let out a bold, TENKARA TANUKI. That’s obviously not his name but it’s his company and his brand.  He loves tenkara and he is a master tenkara rod designer. 

A tanuki is a small, Japanese racoon dog and a cartoon of this tanuki is his mascot.  Like his mascot, Luong has a playful spirit.  Don’t let this confuse you though, his tenkara rods are tools of precision and excellence. Frank Burr, the Golden Trout Dude, says the Tenkara Tanuki rods are the finest tenkara rods in the world, including the ones made in Japan.  That’s a bold statement.

You can check out these rods at The Fly Fishing Show stops or at: tenkaratanuki.com

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It’s always a privilege to connect people who are absolute experts in their field. That is what Phil Rowley is in the area of still water fly fishing.  The Orvis Guide To Still Water Trout has quickly become the top reference material on still water trout fishing. We dive deep into the tactics of how you can become a better still water fisherman.  With these great tips, you will feel more confident on your local trout pond or lake.  Additionally, Phil reveals some of the top destinations in the world to use your new skills to catch a trophy trout.

Over the years of visiting at all the fly fishing shows, I am honored to say that Phil has become a great friend. He epitomizes the friendly nature of the fly fishing community.  Whether it’s a quick conversation to say hello, or grabbing dinner or a drink, Phil’s light heart and humorous nature make him a blast to hang out with.  Plus, he’s a Boston Bruins fan, so he has great hockey acumen as well.

Episode Highlights

[04.31] Phil’s book – The Orvis Guide to Stillwater Trout Fishing, addresses all the essentials for aspiring stillwater fly fishermen to succeed while building a lifetime of experience.

[11.32] Kamloops region – Fishing experience in Kamloops, British Columbia.

[17.18] Rainbow trout – Phil talks about the Kamloops rainbow trout.

[22.07] The setup – Phil explains the setup for fishing in Kamloops.

[30.50] Recommendations – Phil’s recommendations on fly selections and patterns for fishing in Kamloops.

[35.43] Jurassic Lake – The original, premier fly-fishing lodge, Jurassic Lake, is situated on Strobel Lake, one of Southern Argentina’s most secluded and untamed regions.

[42.12] West Yellowstone – Stillwater fishing in the West Yellowstone area.

[48.00] The naked technique – Phil explains how the naked technique of fly fishing teaches patience and touch.

Rollin Schuster and Augusto Russell of Cross Current Insurance came highly recommended.  I have been very fortunate to be selective who I promote on the podcast.  Seeing the team at Cross Current Insurance as regular supporters of The Fly Fishing Shows and as leaders in community and non-profit support was what caught my attention.  Hearing recommendations from my guide friends about the quality of their insurance and as well as their service is what did it for me.  I originally met Rollin through his daughter, Abbie Schuster, who runs Kissmet Outfitters, a guide and fly shop in Martha’s Vineyard, MA. 

In this podcast, we get to know Rollin and Augusto, chat about the benefits of trip insurance and even find out about Augusto’s fishing origin story and how that fits in with a bamboo pole and a water buffalo.  You won’t want to miss it. Stay tuned. 

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