Spooled

For Skwala founder Kevin Sloan, the answer starts much earlier than the finished garment. In a recent conversation with Brian, Kevin explains how Skwala's textile-first approach influences everything from material selection to product design—and why the company has taken a different path from traditional fly-fishing apparel brands.

Select episodes (including this one) are also available to ⁠⁠⁠⁠watch on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Spooled is the podcast of The Northern Angler Fly Shop in Traverse City, Michigan. The Northern Angler is here to help you get confident on the water and at the vise! We have a passion for teaching & want to be part of your next adventure.

🛒 Shop ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Northern Angler Website⁠⁠⁠⁠

📞 Give us a call: (231) 933-4730

✉️ Drop us a line: [email protected]

This spring, anglers watched Northern Michigan rivers rise to historic levels. Roads washed out, bridges sustained major damage, and the rivers we know so well changed drastically. Many anglers were left wondering what this meant for our rivers and fisheries — and whether things will ever be the same. In this episode of Spooled, Brian and Matt discuss the 2026 flooding and its ramifications for our fisheries.

Be sure to check out the accompanying article that includes links to flooding information and studies on how trout survive floods.

Matt and Brian discuss what makes fall steelhead in Michigan special, remember one of Brian's mentors, and give five tips for anglers chasing great lakes steelhead.

Hop in the boat for a day with Joe and Matt as they work to pattern bass in dropping temps.

Select episodes are also available to ⁠⁠⁠watch on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

📸 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

📖 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠

✉️ Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠email list⁠⁠⁠

Spooled is the podcast of The Northern Angler Fly Shop in Traverse City, Michigan. It is recorded and edited by Matt Hartman.

The Northern Angler is here to help you get confident on the water and at the vise! Located in Traverse City, Michigan, we have a passion for teaching & want to be part of your next adventure.

🛒 Shop ⁠⁠⁠The Northern Angler Website⁠⁠⁠

📞 Give us a call: (231) 933-4730

✉️ Drop us a line: [email protected]

☕️ ⁠⁠⁠Buy Matt a coffee⁠

Join Brian, Joe, and Matt as they catch up after a busy summer and start anticipating the opportunities of autumn.

Select episodes (including this one) are also available to ⁠⁠⁠watch on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

📸 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

📖 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠

✉️ Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠email list⁠⁠⁠

Spooled is the podcast of The Northern Angler Fly Shop in Traverse City, Michigan. It is recorded and edited by Matt Hartman.

The Northern Angler is here to help you get confident on the water and at the vise! Located in Traverse City, Michigan, we have a passion for teaching & want to be part of your next adventure.

🛒 Shop ⁠⁠⁠The Northern Angler Website⁠⁠⁠

📞 Give us a call: (231) 933-4730

✉️ Drop us a line: [email protected]

☕️ ⁠⁠⁠Buy Matt a coffee⁠

Brian and Matt spend a day on the water discussing kids in fly fishing. Ride along in the boat as they have some fun, catch some fish, and wonder if we're giving kids enough free time outdoors.

Brian takes the reins in this episode and welcomes his friend Jeff Topp to talk about what keeps him going back to Alaska after 29 years.

Jeff Topp works at Angler's Alibi on the Alagnak River as well as Mangled Fly in North West Michigan

Select episodes are also available to ⁠⁠⁠watch on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

📸 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

📖 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠

✉️ Sign up for our ⁠⁠⁠email list⁠⁠⁠

Spooled is the podcast of The Northern Angler Fly Shop in Traverse City, Michigan. It is recorded and edited by Matt Hartman.

The Northern Angler is here to help you get confident on the water and at the vise! Located in Traverse City, Michigan, we have a passion for teaching & want to be part of your next adventure.

🛒 Shop ⁠⁠⁠The Northern Angler Website⁠⁠⁠

📞 Give us a call: (231) 933-4730

✉️ Drop us a line: [email protected]

☕️ ⁠⁠⁠Buy Matt a coffee⁠

Matt and Marco spend a day on the water swinging flies for Great Lakes Steelhead. They break down the gear, the flies, and the presentations they use to chase these large, aggressive fish.

In listener questions they tackle click & paw reels and in hot takes we find out how each feels about using night vision goggles on the river.

Select episodes are also available to ⁠⁠watch on YouTube⁠⁠

📸 Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

📖 Follow us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

✉️ Sign up for our ⁠⁠email list⁠⁠

Spooled is the podcast of The Northern Angler Fly Shop in Traverse City, Michigan. It is recorded and edited by Matt Hartman.

The Northern Angler is here to help you get confident on the water and at the vise! Located in Traverse City, Michigan, we have a passion for teaching & want to be part of your next adventure.

🛒 Shop ⁠⁠The Northern Angler Website⁠⁠

📞 Give us a call: (231) 933-4730

✉️ Drop us a line: [email protected]

☕️ ⁠⁠Buy Matt a coffee⁠

Matt and Joe explore some of things that have improved their fishing over the years. In listener questions they discuss when it's time to replace a fly line and each has a hot take on whether welded loops are better than nail knots.

Select episodes are also available to ⁠watch on YouTube⁠

📸 Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠

📖 Follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠

✉️ Sign up for our ⁠email list⁠

Spooled is the podcast of The Northern Angler Fly Shop in Traverse City, Michigan. It is recorded and edited by Matt Hartman.

The Northern Angler is here to help you get confident on the water and at the vise! Located in Traverse City, Michigan, we have a passion for teaching & want to be part of your next adventure.

🛒 Shop ⁠The Northern Angler Website⁠

📞 Give us a call: (231) 933-4730

✉️ Drop us a line: [email protected]

☕️ ⁠Buy Matt a coffee⁠

Matt and Joe remember their trip south chasing carp with dry flies during the 2024 "Cicadapocalypse." As billions of these insects emerged in the Midwest, they loaded up their gear and headed towards the madness. Looking back they remember all the fun and goofy things that happened on an extremely unique fishing trip.

Select episodes are also available to ⁠watch on YouTube⁠

📸 Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠

📖 Follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠

✉️ Sign up for our ⁠email list⁠

Spooled is the podcast of The Northern Angler Fly Shop in Traverse City, Michigan. It is recorded and edited by Matt Hartman. ☕️ ⁠⁠Buy Matt a coffee⁠

The Northern Angler is here to help you get confident on the water and at the vise! Located in Traverse City, Michigan, we have a passion for teaching & want to be part of your next adventure.

🛒 Shop ⁠The Northern Angler Website⁠

📞 Give us a call: (231) 933-4730

✉️ Drop us a line: [email protected]