Southeastern Fly

Fish often hold where the current changes, and a point is one of the easiest places to find that change. This time, we break down what a point is, how to spot one, and why even a tiny gravel bar or a one-foot eddy can hold fish.

We walk through what to look for around a point: current seams, eddies, riffles, tail outs, and drop-offs into deeper water. We also talk about how to fish it, from clean dry fly drifts and good line management to varying your streamer retrieve. We cover how tailwater generation can change the way the same point fishes from one day to the next.

A point isn't automatically a good fishing spot, and it won't always hold fish. Observe before you cast, think strategically about where fish might be, and work the closest water first. Listen in, share the episode with your fishing partners, and leave us a positive review wherever you listen.

Key Highlights:

• What Is a Point: Gravel bars, rocks, and other structure that jut into the river change the current.
• Find the Seams: Fish often hold where fast and slow water meet.
• Check the Soft Water: Eddies behind a point can hold fish, even small ones.
• Look Beyond the Tip: Fish the seam beside the point and the deeper channel past it.
• Closest Water First: Don't walk out on the point or cast far before covering the near water.
• Present With Care: Clean drifts and good line management matter, especially with dry flies.
• Vary Your Streamer: Change the retrieve to find what triggers a response.
• Watch the Flows: Tailwater generation changes depth, current, and where fish sit.

Resources:

• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter
• YouTube

Produced by NOVA

What happens when you combine drift boat fishing with tarpon in the rivers of Panama? We sat down with Tyler Morris, founder of Drift Boat Tarpon Club, to hear how he turned an unconventional idea into a fly fishing operation.

Tyler shares his journey from guiding in Colorado to discovering a river full of tarpon in Panama. We discuss the challenges of shipping a drift boat overseas, the differences between fishing for tarpon in rivers and saltwater, and the techniques that make this fishery so interesting. Along the way, we learn about the opportunities for catching snook, the wildlife along the river, and what anglers can expect from a trip to Panama.

Tyler's story reminds us how far fly fishing can take us when we're willing to explore new waters and try something different. Whether you're a tarpon angler, a drift boat enthusiast, or simply curious about fishing in Panama, there's plenty to take away from this conversation.

Key Highlights:

• Tyler's journey from Colorado fly fishing guide to pursuing tarpon in Panama.
• The challenges of shipping a drift boat from the United States to Panama.
• How tarpon behave in river currents, eddies, and feeding lanes.
• Choosing flies and matching the shrimp and baitfish found throughout the river.
• Using intermediate lines, blind casting, and sight fishing techniques.
• Exploring the upper, middle, and lower sections of the Bayano River.
• Fishing for snook and other species alongside tarpon.
• What anglers can expect from the lodge, accommodations, and guided trips.
• Tyler shares the story of a giant rainbow trout that got away when he was a kid.

Resources:

• Drift Boat Tarpon Club
• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

The outdoors can be unpredictable, and even experienced anglers can find themselves in situations they never saw coming. In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we welcome back Captain Tony Welch and Cody Fisher, along with longtime outdoorsman Bo Holly, for another installment of Wisdom From the Guides. We're sharing real-life experiences that remind us why preparation, awareness, and good judgment matter every time we head out on the water.

From unexpected encounters with hornets to dangerous boating accidents and severe weather, our guests share stories that have changed how they approach the outdoors. We also discuss the importance of knowing when to call it a day, preparing for emergencies in remote areas, and learning from situations that don't go according to plan.

Whether we're fishing mountain streams, coastal waters, or big rivers, there's always something new to learn. These stories remind us that experience is valuable, but staying alert and being prepared can make all the difference.

Key Highlights:

• Hornets and yellow jackets can be some of the most unexpected dangers while fishing in the mountains.
• Captain Tony Welch shares a dramatic cold-water rescue involving a runaway boat.
• Bo Holly recounts a tragic hunting accident on the Mississippi River and the lessons learned.
• Lightning, strong winds, and falling trees can quickly turn a fishing trip into a dangerous situation.
• Being prepared for emergencies is especially important when fishing in areas without cell service.
• Cody shares what happened when he found himself locked out of his truck in a remote area.
• Sometimes knowing when to leave the water is the most important decision an angler can make.

Resources:

• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down with Daniel Roberts, a fly fishing and light tackle guide on Beaver Lake, Arkansas, to talk about freshwater striper fishing, fly design, and what fly anglers can learn from conventional fishing.

Daniel shares how understanding conventional techniques can make us better fly anglers, especially when it comes to movement, retrieves, and triggering reaction bites. We also dig into the seasonal food sources of landlocked stripers, choosing the right fly profile, and why slowing down or speeding up your retrieve can make such a difference.

We also hear about Daniel’s favorite places to eat around Beaver Lake and the story of a redfish tournament where plenty of fish were hooked, but the flooded grass made landing them another matter.

Daniel’s approach is a good reminder that some of our best fishing lessons can come from looking beyond the techniques we already know. Listen to the episode, share it with your fishing partners, and go fish!

Key Highlights:

• Staying open-minded about both fly and conventional fishing can make us more well-rounded anglers.
• Shad size and species change throughout the year, influencing fly size and profile.
• Daniel discusses Clousers, Lefty’s Deceivers, Pop Shads, Good Fridays, and other productive patterns.
• Changing retrieve speed, adding long pauses, and creating erratic movement can trigger fish.
• Intermediate lines and weightless patterns can keep a fly in the strike zone longer.
• Bigger stripers may hang outside or below actively feeding schools.
• Daniel shares ideas for using Ice Dub, translucent materials, and lessons from conventional lure design.
• Sharing information and learning from other anglers is an important part of the Beaver Lake fishing community.

Resources:

• Beaver Lake Fly Fishing
• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

As colder weather approaches, we’re getting ready for winter fly tying season. This time, we walk through the system we use to stock fly boxes, organize materials, and tie enough proven patterns to carry us through the year without constantly returning to the vise.

We also share details on the upcoming Borough Fly Fishing Meetup 2 in Murfreesboro, including guest tier Andrew Smalling from Fly South, who will be tying fall streamers.

Winter tying doesn’t have to mean producing every fly you’ll need for the entire year. The goal is to build a solid supply of the patterns you trust most, stay organized, and spend less time scrambling to tie flies between fishing trips.

And if you’re near Murfreesboro, join us for Borough Fly Fishing Meetup 2 at TailGate Brewery on Thursday, October 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. Come hang out, watch Andrew Smalling tie fall streamers, enjoy some pizza courtesy of Music City Trout Unlimited, and spend an evening with the local fly fishing community.

Key Highlights:

• Preparing for Winter: Plan the patterns and sizes you’ll need most.
• Tie 13 at a Time: A baker’s dozen gives you one extra fly.
• Buy Quality Materials: Better hooks and materials make a difference.
• Stick With Proven Patterns: Stock up first, experiment later.
• Keep Extra Thread: A backup spool can save a tying session.
• Tie in Batches: Prepping materials makes the process more efficient.
• Track Your Progress: Lining flies up shows how your tying improves.
• Stay Organized: Sort flies by pattern and size for easy restocking.

Resources:

• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode, we sit down with Jamie Hanna, Amy Snitko, Chaseline Waldrup, and Bella Orr from Knox Girls Who Fly Fish to talk about what it takes to build a fly fishing community from the ground up. In less than a year, the group has grown from a handful of women fishing together to a thriving community with regular meetups, fishing days, an active social media presence, and a growing email list.

We talk about the practical things that have helped them grow, including social media, word of mouth, local fly shop support, and creating events where people feel comfortable showing up even if they've never picked up a fly rod. We also get into fishing techniques, favorite waters, dream trips, local food stops, and a few painful stories about the fish that got away.

Key Highlights:

• Social media and word of mouth helped Knox Girls Who Fly Fish grow quickly while keeping the community personal and welcoming.
• Local fly shops have played a big part in connecting women with the group, hosting events, providing speakers, and helping spread the word.
• Meetups aren't always about fishing. Fly box nights, brewery gatherings, speakers, food, and casual conversations give new anglers an easier way to get involved.
• Creating a comfortable place to ask questions helps remove some of the intimidation that can come with learning fly fishing.
• Dry-dropper rigs are a group favorite, with plenty of discussion about changing fly size, tippet length, leader setup, and experimenting until you find what works.
• Bow-and-arrow casting, Euro nymphing, and Tenkara all make an appearance as the group shares some of the techniques they enjoy using on East Tennessee waters.
• The conversation travels from small plunge pools in the Smokies to tailwaters like the Clinch and Hiwassee, along with dream fishing destinations including New Zealand, Patagonia, Belize, Italy, and Alaska.
• We finish with local places to eat after a day on the water and stories about big trout that came painfully close to the net.
• Whether you're thinking about starting a fly fishing club, trying to breathe some new life into an existing group, or simply looking for more people to fish with, there are plenty of ideas here worth borrowing.
• Share this episode with your fishing partners and anyone interested in building a stronger fly fishing community. Be sure to follow Southeastern Fly, sign up for the newsletter, and go fish!

Resources:

• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we’re talking striper flies and how small design choices can affect the way a fly swims, sinks, and moves through the water. Think of this one as a striper fly primer, with a deeper technical conversation on striped bass coming in a future episode.

We break down hooks, weight placement, materials, and retrieves, with an emphasis on tying and fishing every fly with a purpose.

The biggest takeaway is to think intentionally about every part of the fly, from the hook and materials to the way you retrieve it. Build the fly for the water you’re fishing, stay connected during the retrieve, and be ready when a striper gives you a shot.

Key Highlights:

• How jig hooks and traditional J hooks create different movements in the water.
• Why weight at the front, middle, or rear of a fly changes how it sinks and swims.
• Use materials to solve a specific fishing problem rather than simply using what’s available.
• Keeping constant contact with the fly can make a major difference when fishing streamers.
• Focus on structure, rocks, stocking points, and slower water beside faster currents.

Resources:

• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Moroney of Infinite Outdoors to talk about planning a DIY fly fishing trip through the Rocky Mountain West. Michael draws from his experience as a guide, biologist, and fisheries manager to explain how water levels, river size, seasonal conditions, and familiar fly patterns can help anglers find success in unfamiliar water.

We also explore how Infinite Outdoors connects anglers with exclusive access to private rivers and streams across the West, giving them room to slow down, study the water, and enjoy a full day without the pressure of crowded public access.

Whether you are planning your first trip west or looking for a new way to experience familiar rivers, this conversation offers practical advice for building a comfortable, productive DIY fishing trip.

Key Highlights:

• Michael explains how river flows, seasonal conditions, and water levels should shape your starting rig.
• Familiar flies like pheasant tails, hare’s ears, San Juan worms, and Parachute Adams still work well out West.
• Infinite Outdoors gives anglers exclusive access to private fishing properties, along with maps, river flows, weather, and property details.
• Large, medium, and small rivers each require a different approach, from carefully working riffles to covering water with dry flies.
• David shares a memorable day on a private Colorado stream, while Michael tells the story of a massive brown trout that got away.

Resources:

• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter
• Infinite Outdoors

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we recap a recent trip to Upper East Tennessee with the Liars and Tyers. The trip included clear water, low flows, long leaders, dry-dropper rigs, and plenty of stories from more than two decades of fishing together.

We also look at the leader setup that became our go-to system for the trip. It was not the easiest rig to cast, but it helped us make delicate presentations without putting fly line over wary fish.

This trip was a reminder that good fishing does not always require complicated flies. Sometimes a simple midge, a long leader, and a precise drift are all it takes.

Key Highlights:

• We stop at Buc-ee’s, suffer through a bad Wendy’s meal, and navigate Knoxville traffic.
• A long mono leader helps us avoid spooking fish in clear water.
• Simple red midges produce most of the action.
• Clean, drag-free drifts outperform complicated fly patterns.
• Riffles and color changes consistently hold fish.
• Accurate casts and delicate presentations are essential.
• We share a reminder to respect other anglers and their water.
• We revisit a productive spot named more than 20 years ago.
• Low flows make rowing challenging, but the river becomes easier to read.

Resources:

• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

We sat down with Wade Hopper, Zach Morris, and Shane Stewart of Team Hog Wild to talk about musky fishing, fly fishing tournaments, and their win at the Kentucky River Musky Classic. From tough conditions and muddy ramps to clear creek mouths and early morning eats, this conversation is packed with stories, strategy, and hard-earned lessons from anglers who know what it means to put in the time for musky.

This episode is about more than chasing toothy fish. It is about teamwork, preparation, adaptability, and staying locked in when one good cast can change the whole day. Whether you fish for musky, smallmouth, trout, or anything in between, there are plenty of takeaways here for your own time on the water.

Key Highlights:

• Key Highlights:
• Focus on side profile, hard strips, and killing the fly at the right moment.
• The guys explain why musky tournaments are built on camaraderie as much as competition.
• Team Hog Wild shares how they won through tough water and changing conditions.
• Creek mouths, structure, stained water, and timing all shaped their approach.
• Learn how size, color, profile, and action affect musky eats.
• Each guest shares a fish story that still stings.

Resources:

• Kentucky River Musky Classic Instagram
• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA