Troutbitten

Craig Matthews is one of the most prominent figures in fly fishing, with a career spanning half a century and an influence that is immeasurable. Making his home in Montana, Craig's fly shop, Blue Ribbon Flies, became an icon as he educated and helped generations of anglers find their way with a fly rod. Craig's many fly creations, like the Sparkle Dun and X-Caddis are in my fly box, and they're probably in yours. Craig also founded One Percent for the Planet, a collection of outdoor retailers, now approaching one-billion dollars donated to preserving and enhancing trout rivers across the country.

Craig has authored nine books, the latest of which is titled Pheasant Tail Simplicity. It is a wonderful book that details the mysteriously attractive nature of pheasant tail flies for trout, while also sharing stories and philosophies around a simple approach to this sometimes complicated game of fly fishing.

I'm pleased to present my interview with Craig Matthews . . .

Resources

BOOK: Pheasant Tail Simplicity
WEBSITE: One Percent for the Planet
PODCAST: Troutbitten | Why We Fish
READ: Troutbitten | Simplicity and Fishing 

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With this conversation, we're going back to spot burning. In Troutbitten Podcast Season 3, Episode 1, we talked through Secrets and Spot Burning ( March, 2022). And in that conversation we spent a lot of time on the first part — on what fishing secrets really are, whether they’re valuable, fun or just gatekeeping. (They’re valuable, by the way.) And we acknowledged that every angler has their own set of things they might want to be secretive about, whether that's patterns, tactics or . . . spots.

In our conversation from three years ago, it was interesting to me when I went back to listen, how much more fleshed out and nuanced my own opinions are now. Back then, I also felt the Troutbitten guys here were pretty much on the same page with everything. But now I’m not so sure. Because over time, not only have my own thoughts become more defined, I know the other guys here think differently as well.

So it’s time to revisit the hot button topic of spot burning. What’s the big deal? How does it hurt? When is it okay to name spots publicly? Is it alright if it’s part of a business? And are there different rules? 

Basically, it’s a wide, wide world out there. And things change quickly, so it might be helpful to talk about spot burning again.

My friends, Austin Dando, Josh Darling and Matt Grobe join me for a great conversation.

Resources

PODCAST: Troutbitten | Secrets and Spot Burning - S3, Ep1
READ: Troutbitten | The Secret
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Riverside - A Fisherman's Thoughts On Spot Burning
READ: Troutbitten | Respect the Spots, Man! A Fisherman's Thoughts On Friendship and Spot Burning

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We begin Season 17 with a conversation about fishing the 17 year periodical cicada this past summer. We talk about big flies, big water and big trout. 

For so many of us, it was the rarity of the event -- there’s no other chance for this kind of fishing, right here, in our home waters, for another seventeen years. That’s a big marker in time. Because when you look back that far, it seems like a whole different life. In truth, it’s was a whole different world all those years ago, without high speed internet on everybody’s phones.

Think about that. That’s how much changes in seventeen years. So you start to wonder what things will look like in 2042. Who will I be in seventeen years? And you kind of realize that you cannot repeat it again. It won’t be the same. Things will be different.

I think most of us see fishing as this thing we do — the trout are always there, the hatches come and go, and we’ll fish the Henrickson’s next year too. We’ll probably be out next weekend to catch a few more trout on streamers, and we’ll start below that big boulder on the outside bend. And for most of us, maybe each fishing trip doesn’t seem all that special.

For me, this seventeen year cicada has shown me how rare every moment is. How many more times will I fish with my Dad in the braids? Who knows. Will my sons and I ever get into trout like we did last spring, where we’re all together, and the fishing is fast and fun? Not with the boys at that age. That's a certainty. So as life passes and a trout stream seems to stay mostly the same, we change, our place in life changes, and our friends and family move on too.

Strange how an ugly two-inch bug can spark so much reflection and really, so much appreciation for . . . life. This day, yesterday and tomorrow.

My friends, Dr. Trevor Smith, Austin Dando, Josh Darling and Bill Dell join me for a great conversation.

Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Shirt Pocket Fishing
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Fish and Film - Post Cicada Blues

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A top-tier river trout is a beast. The inherent nature of a river, with the endless obstacles, rocks, tree parts, current breaks, high gradient runs and undercut banks challenges the angler at every bend. So when you finally hook up with a Whiskey, a new game begins. It’s a match up between trout and fisherman. Who will win that fight?

Bringing a trout to the net requires a series of accurate calculations, thoughtful moves and a good dose of luck. But with a few guiding principles and a bit of experience, you can minimize the luck required and get a good handle on the outcome. One of the best of those principles, is to keep 'em down . . .

Here's the Article

READ: Troutbitten | Fighting Big Fish -- Keep 'Em Down

Here's the Category

READ: Troutbitten | Category | Fighting Big Fish

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In Deep is a video podcast series for conversations that dive into the details of focused topics -- no fluff, just concentrated, sometimes technical talk from experienced anglers and industry professionals.

Our first In Deep guest is my friend, John Shaner. With a career spanning five decades, Shaner  has worked for influential companies like Hardy and Cortland, while connecting with seemingly every fishy angler in the industry. Shaner is widely regarded for his technical fly fishing skills and encyclopedic, historical knowledge of both traditional and modern tactics.

In this conversation, John Shaner and I go In Deep on dry fly leader design. John and I share a similar philosophy, with just a few individual twists on the overarching principals.

Sincere thanks to John Shaner, for a fantastic conversation.

Fish hard, friends.

Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Dry Fly Fishing -- The George Harvey Leader Design
VIDEO: Troutbitten | The Harvey Dry Leader -- Design, Adjustment and Fishing Tips

John Shaner's Favorite Dry Leader

48'' .019 Chameleon
36” .017 Chameleon
12" .015 Chameleon
8" .013 Chameleon
8" .012 Chameleon
8" .010 Chameleon
8" .009 Chameleon
12" .008 Nylon Tippet
12" .007 Nylon Tippet
12-18" .006 Nylon Tippet
36-60" .005 Nylon Tippet

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Here we are at the end of the Blue Liner's Bible series. And we saved this one for listener questions and some of our own stories. This episode ties up some loose ends and brings it all back home. Because, I think we ended up right where we started, realizing that small stream fishing leads us into everything there is to love about fishing, and maybe helping to teach us some of the most important lessons of all.

Wherever you are, wherever you fish, take some time to hike upstream into a narrow, shaded valley. You just might fall in love.

My friend, Austin Dando, joins me for a great conversation.

Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Favorite Small Stream Leader -- Formula, Reasons and Stories
VIDEO/ AUDIO: Riverside | Twelve Small Stream Casting Tips
READ: Troutbitten | Category | Small Stream Fishing
READ: Troutbitten | Tag | Small Stream Fishing
READ: Troutbitten | This Is the End
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Fish and Film - Mountain Water Memories
ARTICLE/VIDEO: Troutbitten | The River Doesn't Owe You Anything

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This one's about using streamers to find the biggest trout in the smallest waters. In previous episodes we worked though locating the right water for small streams. We've talked about dry fly tactics, nymph fishing and now, with episode five in this series, we’re ready to tackle streamer fishing on small streams.

Our job for this episode is to highlight the changes we make, or the different strategies we might have, for fishing streamers in small waters vs the bigger ones.

We also have a fair discussion about the realities of big trout in small waters.

My friend, Austin Dando, joins me for a great conversation.

Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Favorite Small Stream Leader -- Formula, Reasons and Stories
PODCAST: Troutbitten | Streamer Presentations Skills Series
READ: Troutbitten | Streamers on a the Mono Rig
READ: Troutbitten | Category | Fly Fishing the The Mono Rig
PODCAST: Troutbitten | Skills Series: Critical Nymphing Concepts
VIDEO/ AUDIO: Riverside | Twelve Small Stream Casting Tips
READ: Troutbitten | Category | Small Stream Fishing
READ: Troutbitten |  Tag | Small Stream Fishing
PODCAST: Troutbitten | What to Love About Small Stream Fishing - S7,Ep6
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Fish and Film - Mountain Water Memories

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In this fourth episode of the Blue Liner's Bible, we talk about nymphing on small waters. We discuss when and where we might turn to nymphs, and then we break down the adaptations for different styles.

We cover dry dropper, mostly as a nymphing tactic. Then we discuss indicator nymphing and tight line nymphing with a Mono Rig.

My friend, Austin Dando, joins me for an important look at the variety of nymphing tactics we use on small waters.

Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Favorite Small Stream Leader -- Formula, Reasons and Stories
PODCAST: Troutbitten | Dry Dropper Skills Series
READ: Troutbitten | Dry Dropper Skills Series
READ: Troutbitten | Category | Fly Fishing the The Mono Rig
PODCAST: Troutbitten | Skills Series: Critical Nymphing Concepts
VIDEO/ AUDIO: Riverside | Twelve Small Stream Casting Tips
READ: Troutbitten | Category | Small Stream Fishing
READ: Troutbitten |  Tag | Small Stream Fishing
PODCAST: Troutbitten | What to Love About Small Stream Fishing - S7,Ep6
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Fish and Film - Mountain Water Memories

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We’re here to break down small stream dry fly fishing. We’re tackling dry flies first in this series, because fishing dries on small water puts you in a great position, with the necessary skills, to fish the other disciplines of nymphs, streamers and wets.

In this episode, my friend, Austin Dando, and I walk through the gear, the approach, the casting, some philosophies and strategies for fishing dry flies on small streams. This topic is at the heart of the Blue Liner's Bible. It's a great conversation, with a few stories and a lot of information.

Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Favorite Small Stream Leader -- Formula, Reasons and Stories
VIDEO: Troutbitten | The Corner Cast - Why Rounding the Corner Might Be Better Than a Roll Cast
VIDEO: Troutbitten | The Lagging Curve Cast - Dead Drifts for Days
VIDEO/ AUDIO: Riverside | Twelve Small Stream Casting Tips
READ: Troutbitten | Category | Small Stream Fishing
READ: Troutbitten |  Tag | Small Stream Fishing
PODCAST: Troutbitten | What to Love About Small Stream Fishing - S7,Ep6
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Fish and Film - Mountain Water Memories

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We're back with Season 16, with episode two of the Blue Liner’s Bible. This one is all about finding the right water.

We mean this in two different ways. First, you need to find a small stream that has public access (or you have private permission). But the stream also needs cold water and a good population of trout (hopefully they’re wild trout).

That’s the first thing — find a good stream to fish. And honestly, that may not be as easy as it sounds.

If you do start to explore new territory and get into the small stream game, you’ll quickly understand what we mean, first hand, when we say that the exploration is part of the reward. The failure to find good water on one trip makes the next trip, where you find what becomes one of your favorite places in the world, even more special

So we’ll talk about that tonight — how to choose your next adventure. Identifying primary and secondary water, and kind of how to balance that risk vs reward.

Meaning, you could fish the small stream that everyone talks about in Montana or Pennsylvania, because you can be sure that trout are present in good numbers. But would you rather take the chance on the stream that no one mentions? It has all the variables you’re looking for in your research, and because it has no name, you can be sure no one else will be there

Understanding those variables and knowing good sources for research is part of our topic here tonight.

And then, the other part of finding good water is from an on-stream perspective. Once you’re there, what section should you choose? And even within that section, what water types should you target the most? Do you expect trout in the deep pools or the riffles, in the fast water, or the slow, shady, deep undercuts?

A lot goes into these choices as well. Much of it is seasonal. Some of it is about matching your tactics and your fly choices, and another part is just experience and instinct. Again, all of this stuff is why we love small stream fishing.

None of it is laid out for you. A good fly shop will not lead you to these places. And even a good friend, with the best intentions, may not have even half the intel that you really need for a good day of small stream fishing. Like we said last time, the small stream game is do-it-yourself in nature.

So, that’s what we have lined up. My friend, Austin Dando, joins me for a good look at finding the right small stream water.

Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Category | Small Stream Fishing
READ: Troutbitten |  Tag | Small Stream Fishing
PODCAST: Troutbitten | What to Love About Small Stream Fishing - S7,Ep6
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Home Waters

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