The Articulate Fly

Episode Overview

On this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Eric Hurst, the fly designer behind the Umpqua-produced Thrasher and Agent Scully streamers, fresh off his first season in Montana. It's a candid conversation about guiding burnout, building a name from scratch and designing streamers that actually swim. For serious streamer tiers and anglers weighing a move from Southeastern tailwaters to big Western trout water, Hurst's perspective is unusually raw and practical.

Hurst grew up bass fishing in Alabama and came to fly fishing self-taught, learning to tie largely from YouTube before spending close to a decade guiding out of Alpharetta Outfitters on the Georgia tailwaters around Atlanta, with days in Tennessee and North Carolina. Now working for Kelly Galloup at Galloup's Slide Inn in Montana, he explains why Western trout key on hatches far more exclusively than Southeastern fish, why he would rather fish a good caddis hatch than chase the salmonfly hype and why he has stepped away from guiding until he knows his new water well enough to be fully confident. The heart of the episode is streamer design: his profile-first philosophy, the Mike Schmidt "rule of halves" for building a tapered silhouette, pairing buoyant and sinking materials so the fly works with less input on the retrieve and a glue-free thread wrap, also from Schmidt, for securing articulation wire. He also shares how Umpqua came to him about the Thrasher and Agent Scully, previews his new Secret Shopper, walks through the materials currently on his bench and makes the case for Bobbin the Hood as the event every streamer tier should attend.

Key Takeaways

• How to build a tapered streamer profile with the "rule of halves," sizing each successive material at roughly half the length of the one behind it.
• Why pairing buoyant materials like deer hair with sinking materials like Laser Dub produces a fly that moves on its own and requires less work on the retrieve.
• How to secure articulation wire without glue using Mike Schmidt's back-and-forth thread wrap that tightens under tension like a Chinese finger trap.
• Why trout in Montana key on the hatch more exclusively than fish on Southeastern tailwaters like the South Holston, and what that means for an angler moving west.
• Why less is more at the vise, from trimming back a fly that already looks finished to pulling out long fibers rather than stacking materials.
• How handing new patterns to shop staff and clients gives a designer more objective field-testing feedback than fishing them personally.

Techniques & Gear Covered

The tying discussion centers on articulated streamers and swim flies, including Hurst's Thrasher, a swim fly tied weighted or unweighted, and the Agent Scully sculpin pattern, both produced by Umpqua in standard and mini sizes, with the newly added Secret Shopper to follow. He breaks down two techniques he learned from Mike Schmidt, the rule of halves and a glue-free thread wrap down the articulation wire, along with his recent move from two Hareline 3D beads to one for better swimming action. On the materials side he highlights Montana Fly Company's peppered chenille, used on Mike Schultz's Woodsman to build profile without holding water, and Kelly Galloup's Fish Feathers from MFC printed in rainbow, brown and speckled trout patterns. At the bench he ties on a black-and-gold Regal vise and brushes out fibers with a switchblade-style comb from Gatlinburg, Tennessee. For a deeper dive into swim fly mechanics, see BONUS - The Science of Streamers (Pt II): Kirk Klingensmith on Swim Flies.

Locations & Species

Hurst cut his teeth guiding trout on the Georgia tailwaters around Atlanta, with additional trips in Tennessee and North Carolina, before relocating to Montana for his first season on Western trout water. His biggest adjustment has been how selectively Montana trout key on hatches compared with Southeastern tailwater fish, even during strong sulphur hatches on the South Holston. He describes this year's Montana salmonfly hatch as hit or miss, fishing more like streamer fishing where you have to be in the right place at the right time, and says he would rather catch a good caddis hatch. His fishing roots go back to bluegill and bass in Alabama, which he still revisits to keep himself grounded.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is the rule of halves in streamer tying?

The rule of halves, which Hurst credits to Mike Schmidt, sizes each material at about half the length of the material tied in behind it. For example, a schlappen tail is followed by bucktail at half the tail's length, and the main body is half the length of the bucktail. The result is a fly that tapers naturally, and Hurst says you can see the improved profile when it swims.

How do you secure articulation wire on a streamer without glue?

Using a technique he learned from Mike Schmidt, Hurst wraps thread down the wire, back up halfway, down the full length and back up halfway again so the wraps behave like a Chinese finger trap: the harder the connection pulls, the tighter it gets. He stopped using glue on his articulation connections entirely after adopting the technique.

How is fly fishing for trout in Montana different from Southeastern tailwaters?

According to Hurst, Montana trout key on the hatch far more exclusively than fish back east. Southeastern tailwater trout will lock onto a strong sulphur hatch on the South Holston, but Western fish often want only what is hatching. He also found the salmonfly hatch less dependable than its reputation and prefers a strong caddis hatch for dry fly fishing.

How did Eric Hurst get his fly patterns picked up by Umpqua?

Umpqua reached out to Hurst first, while he was still tying purely for fun, and asked whether he had ever considered submitting patterns. He sent in the Thrasher, named for Georgia's state bird the brown thrasher as a nod to brown trout, and the Agent Scully, a sculpin pattern named as a nod to The X-Files. Both are now available in standard and mini sizes, the Secret Shopper is coming and he hopes to add micro versions.

What does it take to be a good fly fishing guide?

Hurst says a good guide has to love teaching and sharing, and that catching fish is secondary because no guide can make fish eat. He approaches every trip as a teacher who wants to fish through his clients, and he will not take anyone out on water he is not fully confident on. He also warns that giving everything to clients day after day takes a real mental toll.

Sponsors

Thanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.

Related Content

BONUS - The Science of Streamers (Pt II): Kirk Klingensmith on Swim Flies

BONUS - A Deep Dive into the Swingin' D: Techniques and Tips with Mike Schultz

S8, Ep 14 - Crafting Connections: Blane Chocklett on Fly Design and Conservation at Tie Fest

S7, Ep 9 - Inside The Chocklett Factory: New Fly Tying Products, Bobbin and More with Blane Chocklett

S8, Ep 64 - Streamer Strategies: Ellis Ward's Late Day Fishing Tips for East Tennessee

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Helpful Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:34 First Fishing Memories and Finding Fly Fishing

05:43 From Tailwater Angler to Guide

09:30 Building a Guiding Business and Finding His Style

12:48 Heading West and Starting Over

16:45 Montana Waters and the Joy of Guiding

21:04 Boat Lunches, Beers and Good Company

24:28 Finding His Way at the Vise

27:45 Tying Influences and the Pull of Streamers

31:26 Designing Streamers That Swim

34:08 The Stories Behind the Thrasher and Agent Scully

36:34 Tying Tips, Tools and New Materials

43:50 Winter Plans and Tying Events

Episode Overview

On this Southwest Virginia Fishing Report from The Articulate Fly, guide Matt Reilly of Matt Reilly Fly Fishing explains how to approach the opening weeks of fly fishing musky season and the final stretch of fall smallmouth fishing. Recorded as Southwest Virginia rivers recovered from heavy hurricane rain, the episode breaks down why October and early November musky fishing produces far more sightings than hookups and how to adjust when clear water makes fish spooky. Matt walks host Marvin Cash through his musky calendar, which starts with scattered trips in October before he commits fully in early November. He contrasts early-season conditions, defined by warmer and clearer water, with the colder and murkier water of January and February. Early-season muskies spread through good habitat and move more, producing plenty of curiosity follows, but clear water and sunny days can make them wary. His first adjustment is speed: fishing faster forces an aggressive fish to commit and leaves a follower more fired up by the time it reaches the boat. He also explains why this window suits anglers new to musky and those learning an unfamiliar river on their own. For smallmouth bass, Matt describes fall as a reversal of the spring pattern. He sizes up to 5- to 6-inch streamers, leads with swim flies before slowing down and fishing deeper and keeps topwater in play if flows drop again. Water temperatures in the 50s are generally productive unless a hard cold front has just knocked them down. The episode closes with an update on open musky dates from November through February.

Key Takeaways

• How to use retrieve speed to trigger spooky early-season muskies in clear water on sunny October days.
• Why October and early November musky trips typically produce many follows and sightings but few eats, and why that makes the window a strong introduction for anglers new to musky.
• When to cover more water for musky, since early-season fish spread through good habitat rather than stacking only in key spots.
• How to size up to 5- to 6-inch streamers for fall smallmouth and when to slow down and fish deeper if swim flies get refused.
• Why a hard cold front that drops water temperatures from the 60s into the low to mid 50s can shut down an otherwise good fall smallmouth bite.
• When topwater still makes sense for smallmouth late in the season, particularly if flows fall low again.

Techniques & Gear Covered

Musky tactics center on fast retrieves that make an aggressive fish commit away from the boat, with the logic that a fish that follows without eating arrives at the boat more keyed up and less focused on the angler. Matt also describes covering more water per day in the early season while still concentrating on high-percentage spots. For smallmouth, he favors 5- to 6-inch streamers and starts with swim flies, then slows the presentation and drops deeper in the water column when fish refuse to chase. Topwater remains an option if flows fall again, and big smallmouth regularly swipe at 8- to 10-inch musky flies on musky days, a clear sign of how hard large fish will chase a big meal in the fall.

Locations & Species

This report covers fly fishing Southwest Virginia rivers for musky and smallmouth bass during the October transition. Hurricane rain had raised flows after a low-water year, and Matt hopes the river holds more water this fall and winter than it did last season. Fall and winter musky fishing in Southwest Virginia runs from sporadic October trips into a full schedule from November through February, with early-season fish spread out in warmer and clearer water and late-season fish moving more deliberately in colder, lower visibility water. Fall smallmouth fishing mirrors the spring pattern in reverse, with big fish chasing large meals as the water cools and that window peaking sometime in November.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy is early-season musky fishing different from winter musky fishing?

Matt Reilly defines the early season (October into early November) by warmer and clearer water than the January and February late season. Fish are spread out and moving more, which produces lots of curiosity follows, but clear water can make them spooky. Later in the year the number of fish caught tends to stay about the same, but fish become more intentional in cold water and reduced visibility means anglers see fewer of them.

How do you get spooky muskies to eat in clear water?

Speed is Matt's first adjustment for spooky fish in clear water and on sunny October days. Fishing faster makes a fish work harder and forces an aggressive one to commit, ideally away from the boat. If it follows without eating, it should arrive at the boat more fired up and less concerned with the angler.

When is the best time for a beginner to try fly fishing for musky?

Matt points to October and early November, when anglers can move a huge number of fish, see plenty of follows and maybe get an eat or two. Those sightings give newcomers context for what they are doing and what the fish are doing. The same window works for anglers exploring an unfamiliar river on their own because fish are spread through good habitat.

What size streamers work for fall smallmouth?

Matt fishes bigger in fall than summer, typically 5- to 6-inch streamers, unless water gets extremely low. Cooling water makes big smallmouth willing to chase down a large meal, a trend that can peak sometime in November, and big fish will even swipe at 8- to 10-inch musky flies. He starts with swim flies and slows down and fishes deeper only if fish refuse them.

How does water temperature affect fall smallmouth fishing?

Water temperatures in the 50s are generally productive for fall smallmouth. The exception is a sudden drop: water in the low to mid 50s the day after a giant cold front, following temperatures in the 60s, usually fishes poorly. Matt describes the overall fall pattern as a reversal of what anglers see in spring.

Related Content

S8, Ep 68 - The Fall Transition: Matt Reilly's Insights on Bass Behavior and Bug Fishing Strategies

S7, Ep 90 - Transitioning Tactics: Matt Reilly on Targeting Smallmouth and Musky This Fall

S7, Ep 99 - Winter's Approach: Matt Reilly's Tips for Catching Musky in Low Water

S6, Ep 137 - Navigating Post-Hurricane Waters with Matt Reilly

S6, Ep 112 - Smallmouth Transitions and Musky Prep: Matt Reilly's Southwest VA Update

View all Southwest Virginia Fishing Reports with Matt Reilly

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Episode Overview

On this episode of The Articulate Fly's Casting Angles series, fly casting instructor Mac Brown of Mac Brown Fly Fish in Bryson City, North Carolina, joins host Marvin Cash to take apart one of fly fishing's most persistent misconceptions: that a faster rod is a better rod. With North Carolina's Delayed Harvest stocking running late and low fall flows limiting the fishing report, Mac and Marvin devote the conversation to rod action and why medium-action rods often outperform fast rods for casting, line control and fighting fish.

Mac frames the discussion around a simple principle — work equals force times distance — and explains how a medium action lengthens the casting stroke and widens the timing window, making it easier for new and intermediate casters to learn. He also emphasizes feel: the counterflex and rebound feedback a deeper-flexing rod sends to the hand, which is critical for presentation casts like the tuck cast and underpowered curve cast. Marvin adds that casting fiberglass smooths out a stroke, and Mac describes fishing his Epic glass rods for October caddis in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A story from the South Holston River tailwater illustrates the cost of mismatched tackle: a capable competition angler broke off fish after fish on light tippet with an ultra-fast rod, then fished until dark without a break-off after switching to an older Sage Light Line. The episode closes with practical ways to compare rod actions — side-by-side casting at a full-service fly shop, reading a rod's bend profile and test-casting during fly fishing show season — plus updates on Mac's remaining fall schools and his 2027 class and show schedule.

Key Takeaways

• Why medium-action rods make casting timing easier to learn, since a longer stroke under the work-equals-force-times-distance principle opens a wider timing window than a fast rod allows.
• How the counterflex and rebound feedback of a medium-action rod helps you develop presentation casts like the tuck cast and underpowered curve cast.
• Why an ultra-fast rod can cost you fish when fishing light tippet and small flies on a tailwater, and how a softer rod protects tippet during the fight.
• How to judge a rod's action without casting it by loading it against a held or tied-off line and noting whether the bend stays in the tip, reaches the middle or extends to the cork.
• How to compare actions objectively by casting fast, medium-fast and medium rods of the same length and line weight back to back at a fly shop or on the casting pond at a fly fishing show.
• Why casting a fiberglass rod can smooth out your stroke and improve your roll casting and fish-fighting feel.

Techniques & Gear Covered

The core of the episode is rod action: Mac and Marvin compare fast, medium-fast and medium-action rods across casting, mending, line control and fighting fish, with Mac explaining how the work-equals-force-times-distance relationship and counterflex and rebound feedback favor medium actions for most trout fishing. Presentation casts such as the tuck cast and underpowered curve cast serve as examples where rod feel matters most, and Marvin notes that slower rods make mending easier and help anglers lose fewer fish. Fiberglass gets its due through Mac's Epic glass rods, which he favors for fall dry fly fishing, while an older Sage Light Line rod is the hero of a tailwater story about protecting light tippet when fishing small midge patterns. Practical evaluation methods round out the gear discussion, from casting a lineup of 9-foot 5-weights in sequence and ranking them by feel to visually checking each rod's bend profile under load.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy isn't a faster fly rod always better?

Mac Brown calls "faster is better" one of the most common misconceptions he has encountered in his teaching career. A fast rod compresses the casting stroke into a very short timing window that is hard to control, while a medium action gives a longer stroke that new and intermediate casters can manage more easily. He also notes that many elite casters and lifelong instructors choose medium-action rods for their own fishing.

Why does rod feel matter for presentation casts?

A medium-action rod transmits counterflex and rebound feedback to the caster's hand, while a very fast rod releases its energy so quickly that the caster feels very little. That feedback is what helps anglers develop and refine presentation casts such as the tuck cast and underpowered curve cast. Mac's view is that the right tool for building that feel is almost always a medium action.

Why do anglers break off fish on tailwaters with fast rods?

A very fast rod gives little cushion when fighting fish on light tippet with small flies. Mac describes a skilled competition angler who broke off fish after fish one morning on the South Holston River tailwater with an ultra-fast rod, then fished until dark without another break-off after switching to an older Sage Light Line. The lesson is that the rod, not the angler, is often the reason fish are lost in light-tippet situations.

How can you tell a rod's action without casting it?

Have someone hold the end of the line or tie it off to a tree, then bend the rod and study the curve. Note whether the rod flexes only in the upper third near the tip, bends into the middle or loads all the way down toward the cork. Mac says a rod that bends only at the tip is probably the wrong choice for tailwater fishing with small flies.

What is the best way to compare fly rod actions before buying?

Cast several rods side by side. Marvin recommends pulling multiple rods of the same length and line weight — for example a fast, a medium-fast and a medium-action 9-foot 5-weight — off the rack at a full-service fly shop and ranking them by feel. If a shop isn't an option, fly fishing shows are an ideal alternative, since most manufacturers rig rods for test casting on the casting pond.

Related Content

S8, Ep 72 - Casting Essentials: Mac Brown's Guide to Power and Arc

S8, Ep 65 - Mastering the Roll Cast: Mac Brown's Essential Techniques for Challenging Waters

S8, Ep 45 - Casting Fundamentals: Mac Brown on the Art of the Reach Mend

S8, Ep 1 - Show Season Strategies: Mac Brown on Learning vs. Entertainment in Fly Fishing

View All Casting Angles Episodes with Mac Brown

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Episode Overview

This Central PA Fishing Report from The Articulate Fly, a fly fishing podcast, catches up with George Costa, manager of TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, for an early-fall look at trout conditions across the region. Falling leaves, wind and dropping flows made for a slower week, but rain in the forecast should freshen things up just as the streamer bite and the first redds of the season approach.

Costa explains how leaves turning and falling into the water, pushed along by steady wind, have made clean drifts difficult as flows ease toward the lower side. Nymphing has stayed consistent for anglers who can work their flies through the leaves, while dry fly action has been hit or miss despite caddis, olives and Isos on the water. A forecast half inch or more of rain on Sunday should deliver a welcome bump clearing out leaves, adding a bit of color and kicking the streamer bite into gear.

He also flags a key seasonal milestone. Early redds traditionally show up around the end of October, and Costa expects to see them within the next two weeks, especially on Spring Creek, where trout tend to start building redds on the earlier side. With great water all year and comfortable fall temperatures, he calls this a great time of year to get out.

Marvin and George close with TCO's busy fall and winter class calendar, including new classes at the Reading location plus fly tying and on-the-water classes in State College, along with fully stocked shops and State College hours.

Key Takeaways

• How to keep nymphing productive in early fall by working flies through the leaves that are fouling drifts on windy days.
• Why a half inch or more of rain can reset Central PA streams by bumping flows, flushing out leaves and adding the color that switches on the streamer bite.
• When to expect the first trout redds in Central PA, with Spring Creek typically leading the way ahead of the traditional late-October timing.
• Why dry fly fishing remains hit or miss right now even with caddis, olives and Isos on the water.
• How to find TCO Fly Shop's fall and winter fly tying and on-the-water classes in State College and elsewhere.

Techniques & Gear Covered

Nymphing carried this report, with George Costa noting that subsurface rigs have produced consistently for anglers who can get their flies down through the leaves drifting in Central PA streams. Streamer fishing is the technique to watch as fall progresses, with Costa expecting the streamer bite to pick up on calmer days and after Sunday's rain adds color and flushes out leaves. Dry fly fishing has been hit or miss, with caddis, olives and Isos present but few reports of strong surface action. No specific fly patterns or rigs were named in this report, but TCO Fly Shop's locations are fully stocked for the fall and winter season, and its fly tying classes offer a way to sharpen bench skills over the colder months.

Locations & Species

This report covers Central Pennsylvania trout water around State College, with Spring Creek singled out as the stream where early redds typically appear first. Early-fall conditions include falling leaves, windy days and flows easing toward the lower side, with a forecast half inch or more of rain expected to bump flows and add color. Early trout redds traditionally show up in Central PA around the end of October, and Costa expects them within the next two weeks on Spring Creek. For anglers looking for fall fly fishing strategies in Central PA, the approach is to nymph through the leaf litter now and be ready for a streamer bite as rain and cooler nights take hold.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do falling leaves affect fly fishing in Central PA during the fall?

Leaves turning and falling into the water, especially on windy days, make it difficult to get a good drift. George Costa says this contributed to a slower week on Central PA streams. Nymphs have still produced for anglers who can get their flies through the leaves.

What fly fishing methods are working best in Central PA in early fall?

Nymphing has been the most consistent method, as long as anglers can work through the leaves in the water. Dry fly action has been hit or miss even with caddis, olives and Isos around. Costa expects the streamer bite to start picking up soon, particularly on days that are not super windy.

How will fall rain change fly fishing conditions in Central PA?

With flows easing toward the lower side, Costa sees a forecast half inch or more of rain as a great little bump. The rain should clear out leaves, add a bit of color to the water and get the streamer bite going.

When do trout start building redds on Spring Creek?

Early redds traditionally appear in Central PA around the end of October. Costa expects to start seeing them within the next two weeks, especially on Spring Creek, where trout tend to build redds on the earlier side. Now is the time of year for anglers to start watching out for them.

How can anglers find TCO Fly Shop's fall and winter classes?

TCO lists its classes under the Education tab at tcoflyfishing.com. New classes were just posted for the Reading location, and the State College shop offers fly tying and on-the-water classes. The State College shop is open 9 to 6 Monday through Saturday and 9 to 3 on Sunday, and TCO's other shops keep similar hours.

Related Content

S8, Ep 71 - Fall Fishing Forecast: George Costa on Streamers, Hatches and Safety Tips

S7, Ep 94 - Rain Dance Revelations: George Costa on Central PA's Fishing Forecast

S7, Ep 89 - Fall Fishing Forecast: George Costa's Insights on Low Water and Seasonal Strategies

S7, Ep 86 - Navigating Fall Waters: George Costa's Tips for Low and Clear Conditions

View all Central Pennsylvania Fishing Reports with George Costa

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Episode Overview

In the final Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report of the season on The Articulate Fly, Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides explains how to keep putting smallmouth bass in the boat as Central Pennsylvania's rivers drop to low, crystal-clear fall levels. It's a timely fly fishing podcast segment for anyone chasing smallmouth late in the season, when the fish get stingy and every presentation mistake gets punished.

Two weeks after a healthy shot of rain, a nor'easter that came up the East Coast delivered far less precipitation than hoped, and both the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers are now dropping and gin clear. Brian breaks down why the fish are tough: a pattern of short stable spells broken by passing cold fronts and falling barometric pressure, combined with steadily dropping water that makes smallmouth easier to spook. His answer is constant adjustment, rotating patterns and downsized Clouser Minnows until something works, then changing again when the bite dies a mile or two downriver.

Marvin and Brian also dig into drift boat presentation for low, clear water: longer casts placed slightly upstream so the fly swings down and across ahead of ledges and drop-offs, keeping the boat steady and the oarlock "window" each angler should fish from the bow and stern to get a natural, drag-free drift without mending. Brian covers his color strategy for overcast versus bright days, why he's staying with floating lines as the river gets skinny and why tiny lead eyes beat bead chain for getting Clousers down without hanging up. The episode wraps with how to book spring 2027 smallmouth dates before Brian hits the winter show circuit.

Key Takeaways

• Why passing cold fronts and steadily dropping water make Pennsylvania smallmouth moody and why stable weather fishes better.
• How to cast longer and slightly upstream in low, clear water so your fly comes down and across a ledge or drop-off before the fish see the boat.
• How bow and stern anglers can each keep their casts inside an oarlock-defined window to get a drag-free drift at boat speed with no mending.
• When to switch to darker flies on overcast days and brighter, flashier flies on sunny days.
• How downsized Clouser Minnows with 1/50-ounce lead eyes on a floating line get to the fish without hanging up in skinny water.
• When to book spring smallmouth dates, since April and May fill first and Brian recommends reaching out before the end of December.

Techniques & Gear Covered

This report focuses on drift boat streamer tactics for smallmouth in low, clear fall water. Brian casts longer and slightly upstream to get ahead of ledges and drop-offs, letting the fly come down and across rather than landing on top of spooky fish. He assigns each angler a casting window, with the bow angler working from the oarlock forward and the stern angler from the oarlock back, and has them cast at roughly 45 degrees so the fly drifts at boat speed with no belly in the line and no need to mend. On gear, he's fishing floating lines exclusively and downsized Clouser Minnows tied with 1/50-ounce lead eyes, keeping the fly moving so it gets down without snagging. Fly color follows the light, with darker patterns on overcast days and brighter patterns with more flash on bright days, while boat discipline matters too: anglers should stay centered in the lean bars rather than drifting to the gunwale, since a listing or rocking boat pushes out waves that spook fish.

Locations & Species

Fly fishing the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers in Central Pennsylvania for smallmouth bass is the sole focus of this late-season report. Both rivers are dropping and crystal clear after a nor'easter delivered less rain than expected, to the point where Brian went from floating anywhere he wanted to bouncing off rocks within two weeks. Fall cold fronts and falling barometric pressure are making the fish fussy, so late-season smallmouth fishing in low, clear water calls for stealthy presentations, smaller flies and frequent pattern changes. Unless rain arrives, this marks the end of Brian's smallmouth season, with bookings already open for spring and summer 2027.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy are smallmouth bass hard to catch in low, clear water in the fall?

Brian Shumaker says it's a combination of weather and water. Smallmouth like stability, and fall cold fronts that drop the barometric pressure make them moody and fussy. At the same time, steadily dropping, crystal-clear water means the fish can see anglers and boats more easily and spook.

How should you cast to smallmouth in low, clear water?

Make longer casts and place them slightly upstream so the fly can get ahead of the ledge or drop-off and come down and across to the fish. Because smallmouth can see you more easily in clear water, putting the fly ahead of them rather than on top of them reduces spooking. Keep the boat steady while casting, since rocking pushes out waves that alert fish.

Where should the front and back anglers cast from a drift boat?

The bow angler should cast from the oarlock forward and avoid casting straight downstream, because the boat drifts toward the fly and it covers no new water. The stern angler should cast from the oarlock back and avoid casting upstream, which only drags the fly unnaturally. Casting at about 45 degrees within that window lets the fly drift at boat speed with no belly in the line and no need to mend.

What fly colors work best for smallmouth on cloudy versus sunny days?

Brian goes with darker flies on overcast or cloudy days. On bright days he switches to brighter colors with more flash. Beyond color, he rotates patterns and downsizes Clouser Minnows constantly, because a fly that works in one stretch may stop producing a mile or two downriver.

What fly line and fly weight should you use for smallmouth in low water?

Brian fishes floating lines exclusively as the river gets skinny. Instead of bead chain, he ties Clouser Minnows with 1/50-ounce lead eyes, which get the fly down where it needs to be. As long as you keep the fly moving, it won't hang up much in that kind of water.

Related Content

S8, Ep 69 - Navigating the Transition: Captain Brian Shumaker on Smallmouth Behavior and Fishing Techniques

S8, Ep 63 - Seasonal Shifts: Brian Shumaker's Smallmouth Strategies for Late Summer

S8, Ep 68 - The Fall Transition: Matt Reilly's Insights on Bass Behavior and Bug Fishing Strategies

S4, Ep 51 - SMALLIE REDUX: Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides

View all Pennsylvania Smallmouth Reports with Brian Shumaker

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Episode Overview

This award-winning episode of The Articulate Fly, which took 1st place in the 2026 Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) Excellence in Craft awards (Radio/Podcast: Conservation), features outdoorsman, conservationist and grassroots organizer Land Tawney on how hunters and anglers can protect America's public lands and waters. Recorded in Fall 2025, the conversation pairs Land's nearly 30 years of conservation advocacy with a candid assessment of what he calls the most serious threat to public lands he has seen in his career. Raised in Missoula, Montana, Land traces his conservation ethic to childhood float trips during the Big Hole River salmonfly hatch, his parents' work as full-time conservation lobbyists at the state legislature and mentors including fisheries biologist and author Jim Posewitz. He breaks down the three ingredients that helped grow Backcountry Hunters & Anglers to roughly 40,000 members across political lines (fun, an open path to volunteer leadership and standing for something) and explains how to coach empowered volunteers without breaking them. Land then introduces American Hunters and Anglers Action Network, a 501(c)(4) that can lobby without the limits placed on 501(c)(3) groups and engage directly in elections. He lays out a "dismantle, defund, divest" framework for current threats, from a proposed mine just south of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Ambler Road through Alaska's Brooks Range. Finally, he makes the case for responsible development and principled compromise, citing the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Montana's Blackfoot Valley as models. It is essential listening for any angler who wants a real voice in the future of the waters they fish.

Key Takeaways

• Why grassroots action is the most accessible way for busy anglers to influence conservation policy and how pressure from the field gives lobbyists leverage at the negotiating table in Washington, D.C.
• How fun events, an open path to volunteer leadership and a consistent stand for the resource helped Backcountry Hunters & Anglers build an unusually broad coalition of hunters and anglers.
• How to coach empowered volunteers after a misstep rather than holding them back, and why Land would rather rein in a running horse than coax one out of the barn.
• When to lean in on an issue, with maximum effort reserved for bedrock fights such as the sale of public lands and attacks on the Clean Water Act that affect everyone.
• Why the difference between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations determines who can lobby without limits and engage in elections, and how American Hunters and Anglers Action Network complements groups like Trout Unlimited.
• How to recognize the "dismantle, defund, divest" pattern behind current threats to public lands and waters, from agency staffing cuts to land sale proposals.

Locations & Species

Land's fishing roots run through southwest Montana, where float trips during the Big Hole River salmonfly hatch shaped his earliest memories and mentor Dale Burk's favorite pattern, the Golden Stone, proved its worth even when salmonflies were on the water; Marvin recalls hitting the same hatch on the upper Madison River with his young son. The conservation discussion spans the 640 million acres of public lands Americans own, with particular focus on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota, the caribou and salmon habitat of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the proposed 210-mile Ambler Road through Alaska's Brooks Range, which would cross 11 rivers and roughly 3,000 streams. Land points to Wyoming's oil and gas fields as a cautionary tale for mule deer and pronghorn migrations and to Montana's Blackfoot Valley as a model of collaborative compromise among timber companies, ranchers, hunters, anglers and recreationists. He also notes that roughly 70% of Montana's fishing access sites were funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a direct link between federal conservation policy and the places anglers actually fish.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is the difference between a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(4) conservation organization?

Land explains that 501(c)(3) groups such as Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Ducks Unlimited can devote only a limited portion of their budgets (he cites 20%) to grassroots and direct lobbying and cannot engage in electoral politics. A 501(c)(4) like American Hunters and Anglers Action Network can lobby full time and work to elect or unseat candidates based on their conservation records. Land sees the roles as complementary: the 501(c)(4) builds pressure from the grassroots so 501(c)(3) organizations can walk into the room and make the deals.

Why should anglers get involved in grassroots conservation advocacy?

Land argues that grassroots action is the easiest way for people with careers and limited time to make a difference, because it lets you "do what you can with what you got, where you are." Noise from the field is what gives lobbyists leverage in Washington, D.C., and, without that pushback, compromise and progress do not happen. His closing message is that hunters and anglers are either at the table or on the menu.

How did Backcountry Hunters & Anglers build such a broad coalition?

Land credits three ingredients. The first is making conservation fun through pint nights, brewfests, storytelling nights and film festivals, the second is letting any volunteer willing to contribute time and energy step into leadership without paying years of dues and the third is standing up for the resource every time in plain language. Combining youthful exuberance with the sage wisdom of longtime advocates attracted young and old members alike, and he also credits the talented volunteers and staff around him.

What are the biggest threats to public lands according to Land Tawney?

Land groups the threats into three categories: dismantling, defunding and divesting. Dismantling includes deep federal agency workforce cuts (which he estimates at about 25% of most agencies), a threatened reduction in force and efforts to open special places like the Boundary Waters and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to development. Defunding includes a proposed 35% cut to federal land management agencies, while divesting refers to public land sale proposals that were stripped from legislation but that Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair Mike Lee has said he is not done pursuing.

How can public lands be developed responsibly without sacrificing conservation?

Land stresses that he is not anti-development, citing Theodore Roosevelt's principle of managing resources for the most people over the longest time. He points to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a compromise that balanced North Slope development with protection, to phased oil and gas development that cleans up as it goes and to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which directs offshore oil and gas royalties to conservation and access nationwide. Modern selective timber harvest and the Blackfoot Valley collaborative show that compromise is a path forward rather than a dirty word.

Sponsors

Thanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use artfly20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.

Related Content

S8, Ep 66 - The Roadless Rule Debate: Chris Wood on Protecting America's Wild Spaces and What You Can Do

S7, Ep 105 - Changing the Narrative: Robbie Kroger's Mission with The Origins Foundation

S7, Ep 91 - The Chocklett Factory: I Have Been Everywhere, Man

S8, Ep 14 - Crafting Connections: Blane Chocklett on Fly Design and Conservation at Tie Fest

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Helpful Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction

07:02 The Importance of Grassroots Activism

11:02 Empowering the Next Generation

15:32 Building a Broad Coalition

17:45 Utilizing Digital Tools for Community

26:08 The Role of American Hunters and Anglers Action Network

33:14 Addressing Current Environmental Threats

43:52 Responsible Resource Management

53:24 Call to Action for Listeners

Episode Overview

On this Casting Angles episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash and Mac Brown, fly casting instructor at Mac Brown Fly Fish in Bryson City, North Carolina, unpack the biggest light bulb moment from Mac's recent casting mastery workshop: casting arc and applied power are inseparable, and many loop problems blamed on "too much power" are really a mismatch between the two. It is a practical lesson for any angler who wants cleaner loops at varying distances, and it arrives just as Western North Carolina anglers face a delayed start to the fall delayed harvest trout season.

Mac explains why the same length of line can either unroll cleanly or turn into a tuck cast depending on how much force is applied across a given arc. He stresses reading the pace of the cast and shares a verbal cadence of "slow, slow, slow, fast" for timing the back cast. He also offers a quick yard drill that pairs a very slow stroke with a very narrow arc to show how easily minimal power overwhelms a short casting path. Marvin adds a power calibration drill built around rod noise and backing off until the loop collapses.

The second half turns to conditions and news. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is pushing delayed harvest stocking back a month to early November and stocking fewer fish after a brutally hot and dry summer, a hatchery renovation and heat-related fish kills. Mac celebrates Team USA's first-ever adult men's team and individual gold medals at the world championships in Idaho, led by Michael Bradley of Cherokee, and previews his four-day fall school. Cooler nights and fresh rain are finally dropping water temperatures on Southern Appalachian trout streams such as Deep Creek.

Key Takeaways

• How to diagnose a tuck cast by reading the pace of the cast rather than assuming the problem is simply too much power.
• Why casting arc and applied power must be matched, so that a narrow arc needs far less effort than most anglers expect.
• How to use a "slow, slow, slow, fast" verbal cadence to time the back cast and stop rushing the stroke.
• How to find the minimum power for a symmetrical loop by backing off until the loop collapses and then adding just a touch of force back.
• Why a low frequency whoosh from the rod is an audible sign you are overpowering the cast.
• When to expect Western North Carolina delayed harvest stocking this fall and why a hot summer and hatchery setbacks pushed it to early November.

Techniques & Gear Covered

The core technique is matching casting arc to applied force: Mac uses the traditional clock face framework, such as a stroke from 10 o'clock to midnight, to show how excess force on a given arc produces a tuck cast instead of a line that simply unrolls. Marvin frames arc length as the runway for acceleration, noting that a longer stroke lets you build speed gradually and that overpowering the final pinky pull on a short runway produces a tuck. Mac's yard drill pairs a very slow forward stroke with a very narrow arc to form a tight loop, then widens the arc until effort and path match for a perfectly straight cast. Marvin's complementary drill uses the low frequency whoosh of the rod as feedback, backing power off until the loop collapses and then adding a smidge to establish a symmetrical foundation. Together the two drills put the caster in charge of both variables: the effort and the length of the path.

Locations & Species

Fall trout fishing in Western North Carolina starts later than usual this year, with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission delaying delayed harvest trout stocking by a month to the beginning of November and planning to stock fewer fish. The delay follows a brutally hot and dry summer, the closure of the Pisgah hatchery for a major renovation in late 2025 and fish kills at the Armstrong hatchery, where hot water on Armstrong Creek was made worse by tree cover lost to Hurricane Helene. Conditions for Southern Appalachian trout are improving, with four straight nights in the mid-40s, a three-inch rain after roughly two months without a significant one and noticeably cooler water on streams like Deep Creek. Marvin also notes that the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park has had plenty of water.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy does my fly line tuck on the back cast even when I'm not using much power?

According to Mac Brown, arc and power are so interrelated that a tuck is often a mismatch between the two rather than simply too much power. With a very narrow arc, even minimal effort can be too much and turn the loop into a tuck. Widening the arc to match the effort you are applying produces a straight cast that simply unrolls.

How do you know how much power a fly cast needs?

Marvin Cash's drill is to keep backing off the power until the loop collapses, then add back just a smidge of force. That point is the foundation for a symmetrical cast. A low frequency whooshing sound from the rod is a reliable sign that you are using too much power.

How should you time the back cast?

Mac recommends saying "slow, slow, slow, fast" out loud as you make the back cast, which reflects how long the stroke should take. If the cast is already over by the time you reach the first "slow," you have applied too much force too early. Watching the pace of the cast is the quickest way to see whether timing is the problem.

When does delayed harvest trout stocking start in Western North Carolina this fall?

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is delaying delayed harvest stocking by a month, so it will not begin until the beginning of November, and fewer fish will be stocked. The delay stems from a brutally hot and dry summer, the renovation of the Pisgah hatchery and heat-related fish kills at the Armstrong hatchery. Marvin suggests using the extra time for casting practice and skill work on the water.

Related Content

S7, Ep 80 - Foundations of Fly Casting: Mastering Variability and Adaptability with Mac Brown

S7, Ep 76 - From Repetition to Retention: The Path to Mastery in Fly Casting

S8, Ep 7 - Casting Foundations and Fishing Frameworks: Insights with Mac Brown

S8, Ep 67 - Elevate Your Cast: Mac Brown's Expert Tips on Haul Timing and Line Speed

S7, Ep 85 - Navigating Delayed Harvest: Mac Brown's Insights on Fall Fishing Tactics

View All Casting Angles Episodes with Mac Brown

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Episode Overview

George Costa, manager of TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, returns to The Articulate Fly for another Central PA Fishing Report as the region shifts firmly into fall. Recent rain has pushed creeks across Central Pennsylvania's limestone country well above seasonal flows and off-color, but George reports everything is on the drop and should be fishable again this weekend, with cool water temperatures keeping trout active and comfortable. Fall hatch activity is picking up, with Isos (Isonychia), tan caddis and October caddis all showing well, and George notes a recent streamer bite that produced trout already colored up for fall. He and host Marvin Cash also flag a practical safety reminder: Pennsylvania's fall hunting seasons open October 1st, so anglers fishing shared public waters such as Spring Creek Canyon on state game lands should wear blaze orange. Away from the water, George runs down what's happening at TCO's shops heading into the off-season, including end-of-summer clearance pricing on Simms, Grundens and Patagonia gear, and a full slate of fall and winter fly tying and on-the-water classes across TCO's locations. Among the highlights is a class taught by Allen Rupp, Dave Whitlock's legacy tyer, covering streamer tying and the NearNuff Sculpin pattern. The conversation offers a quick, practical snapshot for anglers planning trips to Central Pennsylvania's limestone streams this fall: current conditions, what's hatching, where the fish are biting and how to gear up.

Key Takeaways

• How to time a trip to Central PA limestone streams safely as high, off-color fall water drops back into shape this week.
• Why fall streamer fishing is heating up as cooling water temperatures push trout to feed aggressively ahead of the spawn.
• What to watch for on the hatch front, including Isos, tan caddis and October caddis activity as Central Pennsylvania moves deeper into fall.
• Why anglers should wear blaze orange on Pennsylvania state game lands like Spring Creek Canyon once hunting season opens October 1st.

Techniques & Gear Covered

George highlights a developing fall streamer bite on Central Pennsylvania's limestone streams, with trout already showing fall coloration as water temperatures cool. He also flags active Iso, tan caddis and October caddis hatch activity worth matching as conditions stabilize after recent high water. On the gear side, TCO Fly Shop is running end-of-summer clearance pricing on Simms, Grundens and Patagonia. TCO's fall and winter class schedule includes a streamer tying session and a NearNuff Sculpin class taught by Allen Rupp, Dave Whitlock's legacy tyer, alongside additional fly tying and on-the-water instruction across TCO's locations.

Locations & Species

This report centers on Central Pennsylvania's limestone stream country in and around State College, including public water on state game lands such as Spring Creek Canyon. Recent rain pushed local creeks well above seasonal flows and off-color, though George reports levels are dropping and the fishery should be fishable again this weekend. Trout are the focus of this fishery, and cooling water temperatures combined with fall hatch activity (Isos, tan caddis and October caddis) are setting up favorable conditions heading into peak fall streamer season. Anglers should expect high, off-color flows to continue to clear absent additional rain.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredAre Central Pennsylvania's limestone streams fishable right now?

Yes, but use caution. Recent rain pushed creeks well above seasonal flows and off-color, but George Costa reports water levels are dropping and the fishery should be fishable again this weekend heading into the following few weeks.

What fall hatches are active on Central PA streams right now?

George reports good numbers of Isos (Isonychia), tan caddis and October caddis beginning to show, all typical fall hatch activity for late September into early October in Central Pennsylvania.

Why is fall a good time for streamer fishing in Central PA?

As water temperatures cool, trout become more aggressive and begin coloring up ahead of the fall spawn. George reports a recent streamer bite already producing colored-up fish, with more good streamer water expected over the next few weeks.

Why should anglers wear orange on Pennsylvania state game lands this time of year?

Pennsylvania's fall hunting seasons, including deer and pheasant seasons, open October 1st. Anglers fishing shared public water such as Spring Creek Canyon should wear blaze orange to stay visible to hunters using the same game lands.

Where can anglers find fall and winter fly tying classes near State College, PA?

TCO Fly Shop runs a full schedule of tying and on-the-water classes at its State College shop, including a streamer class and a NearNuff Sculpin class taught by Allen Rupp, Dave Whitlock's legacy tyer. Full listings are at tcoflyfishing.com.

Related Content

S6, Ep 118 - Central PA Fall Fishing Report: George Costa's Tips and Tactics

S6, Ep 129 - TCO Fly Shop's George Costa Discusses Prime Fall Fishing Conditions

S7, Ep 49 - Rain, Hatches and Cicadas: A Central PA Fishing Update with George Costa

S7, Ep 70 - The Dog Days of Summer: Trico Tactics in Central PA with George Costa

View all Central Pennsylvania Fishing Reports with George Costa

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Episode Overview

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Michael Williams, owner and host of Nomadic Waters, to explain how anglers catch Amazon peacock bass on the fly and what makes a Brazilian jungle expedition work. Williams runs Orvis-endorsed trips on the Rio Negro, Rio da Lua and Rio Tatuagem, where guests chase Temensis and rare Vazzoleri peacock bass from Bass Tracker boats and floating cabins. It is a practical roadmap for trout and saltwater anglers weighing a first Amazon trip.

Williams traces his path from a shared fly rod with his sister and guiding in Colorado to humanitarian work in Brazil that grew into Nomadic Waters. He explains why an ambushing peacock bass demands a faster retrieve rather than a pause, how a partner-style doubles strategy lifted catch numbers 30 to 40 percent and why presentation and casting matter far more than fly choice. He also covers pacing yourself in equatorial heat, including the mandatory midday siesta that raised fish counts. Williams also explains how community partnerships and the nonprofit Parallel Resource reflect a philosophy of exploration without exploitation. Along the way, he addresses who thrives in the Amazon, from beginners to professional guides, and he explains why guests who arrive as self-declared experts are the hardest to help. For any angler asking who should book an Amazon trip and when to go, this conversation offers honest answers.

This re-broadcast of S7, Ep 2 (January 10, 2025) won First Place in the 2026 OWAA Excellence in Craft awards for Radio/Podcast Fishing.

Key Takeaways

• How to trigger a peacock bass strike by speeding up your fly as the fish charges out of structure instead of pausing the retrieve.
• How to raise your catch rate by fishing as partners so the second angler casts behind a hooked fish, a doubles strategy that lifted Nomadic Waters' numbers 30 to 40 percent.
• Why casting quality, presentation and a solid strip set matter far more than fly choice when a 12-pound peacock bass can shatter 40-pound leader on its first run.
• How to pace a hot equatorial fishing day by picking your shots and taking a midday siesta, a change that raised fish counts even with three fewer hours on the water.
• When to time an Amazon trip: the Rio Negro from mid-January through February (sometimes into March) as water falls, and the Rio da Lua and Rio Tatuagem from September through November.
• How to decide whether an Amazon expedition fits you, based on your appetite for exploration, your willingness to take coaching and your comfort with heat and long casting days.

Techniques & Gear Covered

Williams describes a boat-based, partner-style approach to peacock bass: casting to structure and lagoon edges from Bass Tracker boats on the larger rivers and john boats with casting platforms on the smaller ones, then speeding up the fly as a fish charges out of cover. Most eats come within about 20 feet of the rod tip, which lets anglers watch every strike and finish with a strip set. He stresses that peacock bass do not eat only big flies, that a 12-pound fish can shatter 40-pound leader on its first run and that a clean double haul and an efficient cast keep the rod rather than your shoulder doing the work. Nomadic Waters often targets schools of two-pound fish on day one, because they teach presentation, speed, depth and hook sets before anglers cast to larger fish. Gear mentions are light: six and seven weight rods with floating lines and ant or beetle patterns for matrinchã plus small spinning rods with bait for piranha off the back of the mothership.

Locations & Species

Nomadic Waters fishes three Brazilian Amazon rivers: the Rio Negro (a mothership with daily trips in Bass Trackers), the small, clear water Rio da Lua (float plane access and floating cabins) and the Rio Tatuagem (home to the rare Vazzoleri peacock bass). Target species are peacock bass, including 20-pound Temensis on the Rio da Lua, with piranha, red tail catfish and matrinchã as variety. A typical week on the Rio Negro puts about ten guests on roughly 1,200 landed fish. Seasonal timing follows the water, since the Rio Negro can rise or fall about 30 feet in a season: mid-January through February (sometimes into March) once levels start falling, September and October for the Rio da Lua and November for the Rio Tatuagem, with those two rivers resting about ten months of the year.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do you fish for peacock bass on the fly in the Amazon?

Cast to structure and lagoon edges where peacock bass ambush prey, and speed the fly up as a fish charges out of cover because stopping the retrieve makes it lose interest. Most eats happen within about 20 feet of the rod tip, so you see the strike and finish with a strip set. Nomadic Waters also fishes as partners: when one angler hooks a fish, the second casts behind it at the followers, and this doubles strategy raised catch numbers by 30 to 40 percent.

What skills do you need for an Amazon fly fishing trip?

Williams welcomes all experience levels, including beginners, and says the best guests are willing to explore, take direction and ask for help with things like a double haul. He ranks the cast and presentation far above the fly pattern, and he warns that a 12-pound peacock bass can shatter 40-pound leader on its first run. Anglers who want a sure thing are a weaker fit than those who enjoy discovery, and guests who arrive as self-described experts unwilling to take guidance are the hardest to help.

How do you handle the heat and physical demands of peacock bass fishing?

Pick your shots instead of casting at every fishy-looking spot, because tired anglers get sloppy, miss strikes and snag trees. Williams compares fly casting in the Amazon to a baseball pitcher's limited number of great pitches per game and teaches guests to let the rod do the work rather than the shoulder. Nomadic Waters schedules a mandatory midday siesta with lunch and air conditioning, then fishes the last couple of hours of light, and catch counts rose even though the fishing day is about three hours shorter.

When is the best time to fish the Amazon for peacock bass?

For Nomadic Waters, the Rio Negro season runs from mid-January through February and sometimes into March, timed for when the water has been falling for a couple of weeks and the fish have gone about three months without fishing pressure. The Rio da Lua fishes best in September and October and the Rio Tatuagem in November, and the season ends before Thanksgiving. Water level is the deciding factor, because the Rio Negro can change by about 30 feet in a season.

What does exploration without exploitation mean for a fishing operation in the Amazon?

Williams uses it as a core value filter for every decision, tied to Nomadic Waters' origins as a humanitarian group working with remote Amazon communities. A support vessel carries a medical clinic, a dental clinic and water filtration systems. Guests share community lunches with villages, and a separate nonprofit called Parallel Resource was created to support the work. He warns against well-meant help that does not last, citing a visiting group that placed braces on children in a village and never returned, so that the Nomadic Waters dentist later spent a day removing them from adults.

Related Content

S5, Ep 83 - A Fly Fishing Life with Jeff Currier

S6, Ep 132 - Fly Tying and Destination Travel with Tim Flagler

S5, Ep 111 - Gustavo Hiebaum of SET Fly Fishing

S8, Ep 20 - Behind the Scenes: Mark Melnyk's Adventure with The New Fly Fisher

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Follow Nomadic Waters on Facebook and Instagram.

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Helpful Episode Chapters

0:00:00 Introduction

0:06:10 The Guide Bug

0:14:19 Building Nomadic Waters

0:17:54 The Amazon Experience

0:28:46 Understanding Peacock Bass

0:34:58 Fishing Strategies Revealed

0:40:58 Unique Fishing Environments

0:51:44 Distinct Angling Experiences

0:59:36 Timing Your Trip

1:01:36 What Sets Us Apart

Episode Overview

On this Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report from The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides for an early fall conditions update as the smallmouth bite makes its seasonal shift from bugs to streamers. With surface temperatures dropping into the 60s ahead of an incoming rainy, cooler pattern, Shumaker explains why the region's smallmouth bass are moving off the shallow flats and staging in deeper pockets, and why the topwater bite has effectively shut down for now. The conversation centers on the tactical adjustments that come with this shoulder season transition: downsizing from a size 2 to a size 4 streamer, swapping an intermediate line for a floating line and nine-foot leader to slow the fly's descent, and building in a deliberate pause that triggers strikes. Shumaker also walks through proper streamer hook set mechanics, contrasting the trout set most anglers default to with the strip strike his smallmouth program demands, and explains how holding the rod at roughly a 45-degree angle off to the side keeps steady pressure on a hooked fish through the fight, which matters even more if barbless hooks are in play. Looking ahead, he outlines what an Indian summer warm-up could mean for a brief return of topwater action layered on top of an already dominant streamer bite.

Key Takeaways

• How to adjust streamer size and line choice as Pennsylvania smallmouth water temperatures drop into the fall shoulder season, downsizing to a size 4 streamer on a floating line and nine-foot leader for a slower presentation.
• Why building in deliberate pauses on the retrieve is critical to triggering strikes from bass that have shifted from a topwater bite to a slower, subsurface streamer bite.
• When to expect the smallmouth bite to shift decisively from topwater bugs to streamers as surface temperatures fall through the 60s and days shorten.
• How to execute a proper strip strike and why to hold the rod low and to the side at roughly a 45-degree angle to keep steady pressure on a hooked smallmouth through the fight.
• Why fishing barbless hooks requires maintaining constant line tension, since any slack lets a head shaking fish work the fly loose.
• When an Indian summer warm-up could bring bugs back into play alongside an already established streamer bite for the final weeks of the season.

Techniques & Gear Covered

Shumaker's fall program centers on downsizing streamers, dropping from a size 2 Clouser-style pattern to a size 4, fished on a floating line with a nine-foot leader instead of his usual intermediate setup to slow the fly's descent through the water column. The technique hinges on incorporating deliberate pauses into the retrieve. On the hook set, Shumaker teaches a strip strike with the rod held low, correcting anglers who default to a trout-style upward set that fails to bury the hook. Once a fish is on, he recommends fighting it with the rod at roughly a 45-degree angle off to the side rather than straight up, which keeps steady pressure on the fish and helps prevent it from throwing the hook, especially with barbless hooks that rely on tension rather than a barb to stay pinned. He also touches on a topwater approach for warmer stretches, working poppers slowly with a pop-and-dead-drift retrieve rather than constant motion.

Locations & Species

This Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report covers Captain Brian Shumaker's central Pennsylvania guide waters as they move through the early fall shoulder season. Surface temperatures have dropped into the 60s and are trending lower behind an incoming rainy, cooler weather pattern, pushing bass out of the shallows and into deeper pockets and slower moving water. The bug activity that defined the summer topwater bite has shut down with the falling temperatures, leaving streamers as the dominant presentation, though Shumaker notes that a stretch of Indian summer in the high 70s to low 80s could bring a brief return of topwater action.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhen does Pennsylvania smallmouth fishing shift from a topwater bite to a streamer bite in the fall?

The shift happens as surface water temperatures drop through the 70s into the 60s and the days grow noticeably shorter. Bug activity falls off as the weather cools, and smallmouth bass move out of the shallows into deeper pockets, making streamers the dominant and most productive presentation. A stretch of Indian summer with highs in the 70s or low 80s can bring a temporary return of topwater action alongside the streamer bite.

What streamer size and line setup works best for Pennsylvania smallmouth during the fall transition?

Downsizing is key: Shumaker moves from a size 2 to a size 4 Clouser-style streamer. Rather than his usual intermediate line, he fishes a floating line with a nine-foot leader, which produces a slower fly descent that better matches the fish's mood. Deliberate pauses on the retrieve, rather than a steady retrieve, are what typically draw the strike.

How do you properly set the hook on a smallmouth bass streamer strike?

Shumaker teaches a strip strike rather than the upward trout set many anglers default to, keeping the rod tip low through the hook set. He notes that trout-style sets fail to drive the hook home on a streamer eat, and that switching to a proper strip strike immediately improves hookup rates for anglers used to trout tactics.

What rod angle should you use after hooking a smallmouth on a streamer?

After the strip strike, Shumaker recommends bringing the rod to roughly a 45-degree angle off to the side rather than straight up, keeping it between high and low as the fight develops. This keeps steady pressure on the fish and lets the rod absorb the fight, reducing the chance the fish throws the hook, particularly when it jumps or turns toward the boat.

Why does fishing barbless hooks change how you fight a smallmouth bass?

With the barb pinched down, any slack in the line lets a head shaking fish work the fly loose, so Shumaker emphasizes keeping constant pressure on the fish throughout the fight rather than giving it any give. He pinches barbs both for angler safety and to reduce harm to the fish, but that choice makes disciplined rod angle and steady tension especially important for keeping fish buttoned up.

Related Content

S8, Ep 39 - High Water Strategies: Captain Brian Shumaker's Pennsylvania Smallmouth Insights

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