Show Notes: https://wetfyswing.com/896

Sponsors: wetflyswing.com/visitidaho

Some fly tying skills come quickly. Others only show up after thousands of flies, years behind the vise, and a lot of mistakes along the way. Proportions, thread control, and material handling are things you really can't shortcut.

In this episode, I sat down with Dave Allison to talk about fly tying travel, the expo circuit across the West, and the patterns he loves tying when people sit down across the table. We also dug into the East Idaho Fly Tying Expo, one of the best tying events in the country.

Dave shared some great insights into dry flies, Quigley patterns, Wally Wings, the Found Link, and the small tricks that make a big difference when you're tying or fishing these flies.

895 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/895

Presented by: Fly Fish with me Utah, Drifthook Fly Fishing, TroutRoutes

Picture this. You're in Colorado with mountains in every direction, and the South Platte running just across the road.

In this episode, I sit down with Jason Pickerill and Jacquie Mosher from Mountain River Lodge. We talk about how this place began as a historic motor lodge and how they've upgraded it into a true base camp for anglers, hikers, hunters, and groups exploring some of the best water in the state.

We also dig into the Dream Stream, Mueller State Park, shoulder seasons, and why fall in Colorado is hard to beat.

This is the home base for our upcoming Landon Mayer trip, and we still have a couple of spots open. If you're interested, send me an email and put "Landon Mayer" in the subject line, and I'll get you the details.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/895

#894 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/894

Presented by: AVC Rig, Montana Fly Fishing Lodge, Fish The Fly, Patagonia

Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors/

Long Island fly fishing isn't the first thing most people think of when they picture New York. Traffic, skyline, beaches maybe. But tucked behind all that is a network of spring creeks, salt marshes, kettle ponds, and over a thousand miles of shoreline that most anglers never see.

In this episode, I sat down with Paul McCain, owner of River Bay Outfitters — the only dedicated fly shop on Long Island. Paul's been building community, guiding anglers, and chasing everything from native brook trout to stripers for decades.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/894

Show Notes: Https://wetfyswing.com/893B

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Fly fishing doesn't fall apart because it's too difficult. It falls apart because most anglers treat it like random casting instead of controlled hunting. Too many flies. Too many casts. Not enough intention.

In this first episode of Hunting with a Fly, I sat down with Joe to break fly fishing down to its core principle: approach it like a hunter. Read water like terrain. Move with purpose. Cast only when it matters.

Joe's message is simple. The anglers who consistently catch fish aren't guessing — they're stalking, positioning, and presenting with intention.

Join the Bootcamp at: https://wetflyswing.com/bootcamp

In this episode, we break down the full lineup of the Fly Fishing Bootcamp, a 12-session, multi-day event designed to cover the complete range of modern fly fishing skills. From fly casting mechanics with Kalyn Hoggard and Marty McVey, to steelhead strategy with Jeff Liskay, dry fly precision with Bob Lindquist, modern nymphing with Norman Maktima, trout fly tying with Mike O'Brien, two-handed casting with Jeff Putnam, bass tactics with Brian DeLoach, entomology with The Salmonfly Project, streamer strategy with James Garrettson, stillwater systems with Phil Rowley, fly tying mastery with Davie McPhail, and panfish tactics with Bart Lombardo.

This episode walks through what each instructor brings to the table, why these skills matter together as a complete system, and how you can join live to be part of the conversation. If you're looking for structure, clarity, and a full-spectrum approach to the season ahead, this is where it starts.

#892 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/892

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Most anglers never think about where their flies actually come from or how an idea turns into something hanging on a fly shop wall. In this episode, Jesse Riding of Rainy's Flies takes us behind the scenes of commercial fly tying—from a small home operation started by his mother to one of the largest fly production companies in the world.

We dig into how flies are designed, how patterns move into large-scale production, and why materials like foam changed modern fly fishing forever. Jesse also shares insights on fly design royalties, innovation ethics, and what really determines quality when flies are tied across the globe.

#892 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/892

Show Notes: https://wetfyswing.com/891b

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Gary founded San Juan Rod Works in 2020 out of his garage. Today, he's moved into a dedicated showroom and education space in Rio Rancho, New Mexico — built around community, casting, and conservation.

This episode walks through how to actually choose a fly rod without overcomplicating it — starting with species, then flies, then casting style.

#891 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/891

Presented by: Patagonia, FishHound Expeditions, Fish The Fly, Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho

Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors/

Steelhead don't wait around long on the southern Oregon coast. They move with fresh water, travel tight to edges, and disappear as quickly as they show up. If you're thinking about Southern Oregon steelhead fishing, timing and water conditions matter more than hero casts.

In this episode, I sat down with James Sampsel of Humble Heron Fly Fishing to talk about winter steelhead on short coastal rivers, fall fish on the middle Rogue, and why Chinook on the swing isn't always the plan. James lives in Port Orford, guides year-round, and sees these rivers change daily. We covered storm timing, travel lanes, lighter sink tips, fall "Novembers," and even plein air painting between steelhead sessions.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/891

890 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/890

Presented by: Togiak River Lodge, Golden Fly Shop, On DeMark Lodge, Toyota Pacific

If you've ever swung a fly for steelhead and wondered where that pattern really came from, this one goes deep. In this episode, we dig into the history and evolution of Spey flies with John Shewey. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/890

#889 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/889

Presented by: Togiak River Lodge

Tim Sands is a fisheries management biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, focused on the Nushagak and Togiak districts of Bristol Bay. His primary job is managing commercial salmon fisheries — mostly sockeye — while also protecting Chinook, chum, pink, and coho moving through the system.

We covered how sonar counts guide daily decisions, what happens when too many salmon return, and why king salmon are struggling statewide.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/889