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Show Notes with Dave Hurley on Skinny Water Fishing
04:00 – Dave joined a community of fly fishermen who fished in the surf along the Pacific where they fished for Corbina, Surfperch, and Croaker species. Dave got really into fishing for Spotfin Croaker.
06:00 – Dave found out that a stonefly nymph pattern works great for Spotfin Croakers.
09:00 – Dave talks about getting his first boat.
17:50 – He talks about the time when he and his best friend fished sight fished for musky on the flats.
18:40 – His go-to is a 6-wt rod and occasional 7-wt.
19:30 – Dave now focuses on carp fishing and goes up to 10-wt. For leader, he goes up to 15-pound test, and sometimes 12 or 10-pound.
27:25 – Dave doesn’t really pay attention to water temperatures. He and his team are mostly sight fishing.
35:55 – We talk about casting. “Your short game is just as important as your long game”, Dave says.
39:25 – Dave’s favorite line is the SA Bass Bug Fly Line.
42:25 – Dave talks about how he improvises when he ties his flies, tying them differently each time. He also talks about the common materials he uses.
47:40 – Jeff’s go-to flies always have rubber.
49:00 – Dave talks about how being an artist affects his creativity in fishing.
51:00 – Dave talks about how he practices handling fish in a way that doesn’t hurt the fish. And also talks about how he tries in his own little ways to protect the waters he fishes.
(Read the Full Transcript at the bottom of this Blog Post)
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Show Notes with Justin Hays on Lodge At Palisades Creek
03:00 – Justin tells the story of how he transitioned from being a chef to being a fly fishing guide to managing a lodge.
06:50 – Justin talks about how partnering with Orvis has provided so much support to them in every aspect along the way. And he tells us how they won the Orvis Lodge of the Year Award.
08:20 – We talk about Yellowstone cutthroat decreasing in numbers and the rainbows increasing, almost being considered invasive. As a result, the Idaho Fishing Game made it legal to catch and kill rainbows, making it a controversial topic in Idaho. IFG even put a bounty on rainbows.
23:15 – Trivia: Henry’s Fork was originally called the North Fork.
27:40 – They divide the river into 5 sections. Each section is roughly 12 miles long. The 1st section has 5 access points. The 2nd and 3rd sections are the Canyon sections – Justin talks about the amazing campsites in these sections and how amazing it is to fish there. The 4th section begins in the town of Ririe. Read about these sections in detail here.
36:15 – Stonefly hatch lasts about 2 weeks. Justin talks about the Goldenstone hatch. In the summer they have a hopper season which ends in August. He also noted the Mutant Stonefly hatch – stoneflies that can’t fly. And then they have some Dunns as September progresses.
41:50 – “The trick to the Salmon fly thing is throwing a large dry fly on 2x underneath a bush or a tree and twitching out and try to mimic the real lifecycle of an adult Salmonfly…”, Justin explains in detail.
46:20 – Perdigons has been a game-changer for them in the last 2 years.
48:20 – Caddis fly hatch starts in mid-October.
48:55 – Pro tip for DIY anglers: “This river empties at 5 pm. You can have that river to yourself at 5 pm and it doesn’t get dark until 10 pm.”
52:30 – Justin is turning 55 this year. He started fishing in the Snake River when he was about 19 years old.
55:45 – We talk about river etiquette.
1:00:50 – Justin talks about how they won Orvis Fly Fishing Lodge of the Year.
1:06:55 – We noted that video by The New Fly Fisher highlighting the Lodge At Palisades Creek. Scroll down to watch the trailer. 👇🏻
1:07:20 – Their outfitting team mainly uses ClackaCraft Drift Boats. Justin talks about how they customized their boats and their great features.
1:11:30 – Justin recommends a 9-foot 6-wt rod.
1:13:13 – Justin noted a few restaurants and places around the area that has good food.
1:14:45 – Justin talks about Dick Cheney who’s also a passionate fly angler. He tells a crazy story of when Dick’s bodyguard suspected a civilian of being a threat and almost got shot.
Derek Darst is here to introduce us to the St. Joe River and some of his specialty fly patterns. We explore this lizard fly and some of his other unique flies as we look at his top flies for Idaho. We also learn where to look for Westslope cutthroat trout in his part of the world.
Fly Fishing the St. Joe River with Derek Darst. Hit play below!
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Fly Fishing the St. Joe River Show Notes with Derek Darst
3:21 – Derek tells us how he got into fly fishing. He spent a lot of his time backcountry fly fishing with his father, and at the age of 10, he started learning how to tie flies. He now offers flies online through Saint Maries Flies.
5:33 – We dig into the St. Joe River and Saint Maries River which he says has a good Westslope cutthroat population.
9:10 – We find out where to look for Westslope cutthroat trout.
15:05 – He recommends some must-have fly patterns to catch some Westslope cutthroat trout, such as stimulator, elk hair, caddises, and royal wolf. One of his favorites is the Turks tarantula with a red body or burnt orange colored body.
18:28 – He takes us through the year through the St. Joe River.
21:12 – We talk about Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. A lot of people visit this area for the lakes.
22:25 – He gives us the key to finding some bull trout. I mention our episode with Dave Blackburn where he talked a bit about the regulations on targeting bull trout.
29:21 – He sells Pat Cohen patterns on his website. Pat was one of his big influences in fly tying. He quit selling flies and dedicated his time to tattoo artistry through his Instagram @rusuperfly. We had him in the podcast on episode 107.
Photo via: https://www.instagram.com/rusuperfly/
30:20 – We dig into his fly tying. At first, he was self-taught, but then he bought some of Pat Cohen’s videos to learn about deer hair.
31:52 – The most common flies he ties are the poppers, divers, and frogs.
34:14 – He gets his deer hair from North American Trading in Strum, Wisconsin. He looks for the thickest and longest hair.
43:28 – We talk about Westslope cutthroats. There are also a few rainbows in St. Joe River.
46:27 – He recommends the Huckleberry Campground. People mostly camp during summer in around July and August.
47:08 – We do some random rapid-fire questions.
49:09 – He shares about that time when Luke Bryan visited their town to fish. He performed live in Spokane and at the 2:15 minute mark of the video, he signed a board with Derek’s flies on it and took the fly with him.
50:53 – He went to Florida, at Tampa Bay, a couple of months ago for a fishing trip.
Fly Fishing the St. Joe River Conclusion with Derek Darst
Overall, our episode with Derek Darst was a fascinating dive into the world of fly tying and fishing in Idaho. We got a firsthand look at his specialty fly patterns, including the impressive lizard fly, and gained valuable insights into where to find the elusive Westslope cutthroat trout.
If you’re a fly fishing enthusiast or just interested in the craft of fly tying, be sure to check out Derek’s work and explore the beautiful St. Joe River for yourself.
Patrick Berry takes us into Fly Fishers International and the resources you can utilize for fishing and conservation. We discover where locally you can get involved in sustaining your fishing and your fishery.
We also find out which top national issues they are working on this year and the history of how it all started for Patrick and FFI. This is not just your ordinary fishing chat — it’s an inspiring journey of passion, dedication, and making a difference.
Fly Fishers International with Patrick Berry. Hit play below!
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Fly Fishers International Show Notes with Patrick
03:00 – When it comes to conservation, names like Fly Fishers International and Trout Unlimited always come up. We’ve previously had Len Zickler on the show, and today we’re diving into an exciting update on FFI with Patrick Berry. But first, we hear about how Patrick got into fly fishing.
04:00 – Patrick’s earliest memories in life were of fish and fishing. He recalls a camping trip with his family, where his father made fishing rods out of sticks, strings, and safety pins as hooks while digging worms for bait.
08:20 – Patrick says conservation work is a common path for many fly fishers. He quotes the words of Lee Wulff, one of the founders of FFI, who famously said, “When you teach a person to fly fish, you have just created a conservationist.”
Photo via https://www.facebook.com/vtfishandwildlife
10:14 – After years of trout bumming after college, Patrick got a job in a fly shop with Jeff Currier. Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac inspired him to pursue environmental science. This marked the beginning of his remarkable conservation-focused career.
Photo via https://www.amazon.com/County-Almanac-Outdoor-Essays-Reflections/dp/0345345053
12:35 – After years in Montana, Patrick and his wife decided to return to Vermont, where he worked for the Vermont Natural Resources Council. He was later appointed head of Vermont’s Fish and Wildlife Department.
Fly Fishers International — Who Are They?
14:38 – Patrick Berry sees Fly Fishers International as an organization that is available to guide people on their fly fishing journey no matter what their skill level is, where they live, or what fish is their favorite to chase after.
Fly Fishers International started with a focus on conservation, education, and community in the 1960s, and they’ve stayed true to their roots.
15:00 – Fly Fishers International’s most significant strength area is high-quality fly fishing education. The Casting Instructor Certification at FFI is considered a premier casting instructor program worldwide.
18:00 – Patrick shares his perspective on pressing issues today, such as climate change and more. According to Patrick, climate change movements sometimes fall short of providing information on how an average person can help make a difference.
35:40 – Patrick lets us in on FFI’s conservation focus for the upcoming years. Their main goal is to keep providing conservation grants at the local level and collaborate closely with partners to tackle big-picture conservation challenges.
41:17 – We also touch on the significance of technology and the role of famous personalities in driving change.
46:17 – Since our upcoming event is centered around the Great Lakes, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to ask Patrick for his insights on the steelhead program in the region.
1:05:27 – Patrick is a music and podcast enthusiast, and he admits to having a dedicated playlist exclusively for The Avett Brothers’ songs. Additionally, Patrick is a big fan of the SmartLess Podcast, especially the episode featuring George Clooney.
Fly Fishers International Conclusion with Patrick Berry
And that’s a wrap of our conversation with Patrick Berry from Fly Fishers International. We got an inside look into his journey, his passion for conservation, and the important work FFI is doing.
(Read the Full Transcript at the bottom of this Blog Post)
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Show Notes with Jeff Liskay on Steelhead Alley
07:00 – You can check out all of the Great Lakes Dude’s podcast episodes at wetflyswing.com/gld
10:30 – Jeff talks about fishing for drums, carp, and gars. He tells us how water temperatures affect fishing and what fishing looks like between now and December.
The one and only Rick Kustich is ready to blow our minds today with all things modern spey fishing and some exciting updates, including his latest book. We’re diving deep into the spey game, uncovering the early players, and getting all the juicy details on how Rick works his magic with flies on the Lake Erie tributaries.
Rick and his crew will be our guides for the upcoming Steelhead Alley, so we’ll also get an exclusive sneak peek of what awaits us on this thrilling adventure.
Modern Spey Fishing with Rick Kustich. Hit play below!
(Read the Full Transcript at the bottom of this Blog Post)
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Modern Spey Fishing Show Notes with Rick Kustich
03:00 – It’s hard to believe it’s only been a short while since our last episode with Rick in January 2022. Today he brings us up to speed on his latest adventures and a brand new book on steelhead.
03:45 – Rick shares his insights on the unique steelhead experience in New York and what sets it apart from other Great Lakes locations.
05:38 – Rick Kustich aims to demystify spey fishing through his new book, Modern Spey Fishing. It covers everything from steelhead to trout and even smallmouth fishing, making it a valuable resource no matter your skill level.
08:39 – Rick paints a picture of what awaits us on our December trip to New York. According to Rick, New York’s unique advantage over Ohio is its access to tributaries on both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.
11:10 – Rick also provided a comprehensive rundown of the fishing techniques we’ll use at that time of the year.
12:36 – Rick and his crew, along with Nick Pionessa, will be our guides for the upcoming steelhead Alley. Additionally, Rick mentioned the potential participation of his good friend Vince Tobia from Cattaraugus Creek Outfitters as a third guide on the trip.
Q & A with Rick
13:06 – Our Instagram followers join the conversation with their questions for Rick, and he eagerly takes on the challenge.
What is the ideal water temperature for swinging for steelhead?
13:50 – The ideal water temperature for swinging for steelhead is between 42 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit. Rick says this temperature range is when the fish are most active. Additionally, Rick emphasizes that it’s not solely about the absolute temperature but instead having more stable temperatures, where sudden overnight drops are avoided, which helps keep the fish more active.
What is the Spey Nation Event?
18:44 – We delved into the topic of the Spey Nation event, originally a one-day spey clave started by Geoff Schaake, which had to be put on hold due to COVID. This time, Swing the Fly is bringing it back as a three-day event, scheduled from August 11 to August 13.
Photo via https://swingthefly.com/spey-nation/
19:40 – Last year, Rick and Topher Brown collaborated with Swing the Fly to offer spey casting classes on the Salmon River. This year, they plan to integrate those classes with the traditional format of the Spey Nation event.
How do you catch a fish on the fly in low clear water?
24:00 – When it comes to catching fish on the fly in low clear water, Rick suggests employing a stealthier approach. One effective strategy is to use a long monofilament or fluorocarbon leader and a weighted fly and cast the fly further away from the fly line.
What’s Rick Kustich’s gear choice?
39:14 – Rick Kustich prefers using rods 11 to 12 1/2 feet long, recommending brands like Scott Fly Rods, R.B. Meiser, and Echo. Additionally, Rick has collaborated with Simon Gawesworth and RIO for several years, and he mentions that Simon wrote the forward for his new book. Rick uses RIO’s Elite Skagit Max Launch.
What’s next for Rick?
47:13 – After putting in much effort to write Modern Spey Fishing, Rick looks forward to taking a break from books. However, he has big plans and hopes to write a book about trout someday.
How do you detect the strike and ensure you don’t miss a fish?
57:24 – Rick adopts a more passive approach when setting the hook, particularly for steelhead. In his book, he extensively discusses hook setting, recognizing it as a challenge many anglers face.
1:03:00 – We wrap up the conversation with Rick with his “desperate salmon story” in the York River. This tale is also featured in his book Reflections on the Water.
What an amazing episode with the legendary Rick Kustich! We’ve delved deep into modern spey fishing with Rick, and I hope you’re as ready as I am to try everything we discussed today.
Ralph Scherder is here to take us fishing Pennsylvania and break down traveling and fishing in the north part of PA. We’ll learn more about Route 6 and why you might be interested in taking a tour up there. We learn about Dark Skies Fly Fishing as well as a breakdown of some of the most well-known trout streams along this path.
Fishing Pennsylvania with Ralph Scherder. Hit play below!
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Fishing Pennsylvania Show Notes with Ralph Scherder
2:57 – Ralph began fly fishing when he was about 14 years old. From an early age, he knew he wanted to be a writer, so for the past six or seven years, he has been selling articles to fly fishing magazines such as American Fly Fishing.
4:12 – He grew up in Butler County. He spent so much time camping and fishing in Prouty, Pennsylvania, until he and his wife eventually decided to move to Coudersport, PA.
11:10 – His fishing technique in the Sinnemahoning Creek is constantly changing. He uses whatever works that day.
12:00 – His place is somewhat isolated, therefore there aren’t many fly shops there. Although he doesn’t have a physical store, he is the main fly seller in the area.
13:43 – We dig into PA Route 6. It’s a transcontinental highway that begins on the east coast near Boston and goes west to the California Coast. He names several of the well-known rivers and streams that may be found along Route 6, including Bowman Creek, Lackawaxen, and Lackawanna.
Photo via: https://paroute6.com
22:00 – The PA Route 6 Alliance preserves, enhances, and promotes the transportation heritage of the said transcontinental highway.
37:54 – We had Joe Humphreys on the podcast in episode 073.
39:45 – I ask him about another one of his pieces about the Oil Creek Region which he says is probably NorthWestern Pennsylvania’s best trout stream. It became the first fully functioning operating oil well in the world.
41:14 – He suggests his blog as a resource for individuals organizing a fishing vacation to Pennsylvania. It has a lot of details about the streams in the different areas. He suggests PA Route 6 and the Visitors Bureau for basic travel information.
45:34 – The spring creeks in Pennsylvania are the major hubs for fly fishing. However, he says that the streams can get pretty crowded year-round. He notes that there are also good fishing opportunities outside those areas.
47:21 – I ask him about the top places I pulled up when I search for fly fishing in Pennsylvania. Among these waters are the Youghiogheny, Susquehanna, and Little Juniata.
Fishing Pennsylvania Conclusion with Ralph Scherder
Our conversation with Ralph was a true delight for all fishing enthusiasts out there! We learned so much about the popular streams and rivers for fishing in Pennsylvania, as well as the hidden gems along Route 6. Ralph’s interview with fly fishing legend Joe Humphreys was truly inspiring, and we loved hearing about his experiences and adventures in the world of fly fishing. And let’s not forget about his fantastic blog, DarkSkiesFlyFishing.com, where he shares his passion and knowledge with fellow anglers.
We hope this episode has inspired you to grab your gear and hit the water, and we look forward to sharing more exciting stories with you soon!
04:00 – Most of the males in Monte’s family fly-fished – his grandfather, his uncle, and his dad. Monte caught his first Atlantic salmon with his uncle on Margaree River in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
08:30 – Monte tells the story of when he wrote his first fly fishing story about Ed Shenk from LeTort Spring Run that he sent to different magazine companies. He then got a letter from the Editor of Sporting Classics, Chuck Wexler offering to buy his story for $200. That was his turning point from going to business school to being a fly fishing writer.
12:00 – Monte also did a story about Andy Mill who’s like a Tigerwoods of Tarpon fly fishing tournament. Andy was on the podcast in episode 330. Andy gave him Tom Evan’s number so he could write a story about him. He also noted names of the world’s best fly anglers in the 70s and 80s.
19:20 – We talk about how Florida is being ruined nowadays and gets worst each year.
24:30 – Monte talks about the rockstars of the Homosassa club who were obsessed with tarpon fishing and made it possible for future generations to catch tarpon.
30:23 – The biggest tarpon ever caught was over 200 pounds on a 20-pound test which was caught by a non-regular guy who was just fishing with his dad. Tom Evans holds the record for the 16-pound test which was 190-pound tarpon. He also holds the record for the 12-pound which was 194-pound tarpon.
Photo Courtesy of IGFA.org
44:30 – We talk about Nick Saban who’s arguably the best college football of all time.
Wade Payne/AP Photo via Sport Illustrated
46:30 – Monte tells the story of when he got a phone call from Nick Saban agreeing to write a story about him. The story was then published in Forbes Magazine (2008) which also became the highest single issue of the magazine ever. Read that story here.
49:20 – Monte talks about his process of writing.
54:25 – We dig into his book, The Making of a Coach which was a story about Nick Saban’s life and incredible coaching career.
55:50 – We also noted his book, 4th & Goal: One Man’s Quest to Recapture His Dream which was about Joe Moglia’s legendary career transition from head football coach at Coastal Carolina University to the CEO of TD Ameritrade
56:55 – Monte is writing a new book about the water crisis in South West looking through the lens of Lake Mead.
58:30 – We talk about what makes John Gierach a great writer. Monte says “he’s a great lyricist” and explains why.
59:45 – We also noted Thomas McGuane. Monte tells us what makes McGuane’s writing special.
Photo courtesy of Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum
1:03:30 – Monte tells the story of when he went to Labrador with Yvon Chouinard and other anglers.
1:07:30 – I asked Monte the question “Are you a writer or a fly fisherman first?”.
Dan Pribanic is here today to take us to Chagrin River Outfitters, the Steelhead Alley area, and some fishing tips and tricks. We discover which strains of steelhead they are hitting up there in that part of Lake Eerie. We also get his take on single-hand versus two-handed rods and spey. We also dig into which other species he’s focusing on this year in his area.
Dan and his team are the big reason why our last trip to Ohio was so successful, so let’s find out exactly how they work the magic.
Chagrin River Outfitters with Dan Pribanic. Hit play below!
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Chagrin River Outfitters Show Notes with Dan Pribanic
2:25 – Dan tells how he got into fly fishing. He came from a big family with 10 siblings. His older brothers were involved in outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting, so they were the ones who influenced him to fish. His first fly-fishing experience was in central Pennsylvania.
3:54 – He grew up in Pittsburgh. There are a lot of great trout fishing and warm-water opportunities there.
5:01 – He shares the story of how he started Chagrin River Outfitters. Around 1999, he thought of going to law school. He worked in a law firm for a year with his brothers, who are attorneys, and that was when he realized that that was not the path he wanted to go down. He and his wife eventually opened the shop in 2006.
7:34 – Their shop is right on the Chagrin River, which is a great fishery. They cover the northeast Ohio area at a little bit of Pennsylvania at times.
8:20 – He takes us into their fishing program if somebody visits their shop around the summer. Steelhead is their number one species. They also have pretty good smallmouth and pike fishing in their local rivers.
12:03 – I ask his thoughts on the steelhead versus not steelhead thing that some people talk about.
14:29 – He talks about how they fish throughout the seasons, particularly the fly patterns and lines. A lot of fishing in their area involves floating Skagit heads and changing up the sink tips they’re running. He also describes his go-to rod for his home waters.
19:22 – We dig into smallmouth bass, which is native to their area. These species start coming in by the end of April.
22:48 – He also mentions some other species that they target throughout the year, such as carp, quillback, and gar.
26:44 – There are not a lot of other fly shops in their area, but he mentions the Backpackers shop, which is about an hour and 10 minutes drive from their shop.
27:18 – We dig into Steelhead Alley. They’re right in the middle of it. That area has been called the Steelhead Alley for a long time.
29:16 – He walks us through what their shop looks like throughout the year. He mentions some staff members who usually man the shop and provide guiding services.
31:24 – They focus on single-hand and two-handed rod fishing for steelhead. They also host six trips to the Bahamas and Belize yearly for bonefish and permit fishing. They tie steelhead flies and also sell some shop merchandise.
33:27 – He tells the story of the first time he met Jeff Liskay. He has known him since he opened his shop.
34:30 – They also offer single-hand casting classes in their shop.
35:21 – We dig into single-hand versus two-handed casting for steelhead.
36:15 – He mentions some fly patterns that work well for hitting steelhead. He also gives some fishing tips and tricks for catching steelhead, such as speeding up his fly.
42:31 – Most anglers start to fish for steelhead in September when it starts to rain a little bit and the temperature cools down. They also get a lot of guys in their shop who prepare for salmon fishing in Michigan and New York at that time of year.
45:35 – If you want to avoid the crowd, he recommends fishing at Steelhead Alley in December. He also likes fishing from late February to March. For those who are interested in our Steelhead School with Jeff Liskay, visit wetflyswing.com/SteelheadSchool.
47:58 – We throw him a question from one of our Instagram followers about tying droppers. For steelhead fishing, he ties up a bunch of droppers and rigs in advance and puts them in a little bag, which he says is a time saver.
51:24 – He never listens to a podcast, but he loves listening to music and reading books. He’s a huge fan of Gordon Lightfoot.
52:03 – He tells us a bit about his busy daily schedule.
53:06 – He talks about Cleveland, Ohio. It has a great food scene and nice fishing.
Chagrin River Outfitters Conclusion with Dan Pribanic
Chatting with Dan was an absolute blast! It’s so inspiring to hear from someone who’s truly passionate about their craft, and Dan’s knowledge and enthusiasm for fly fishing are contagious.
If you’re looking for an awesome fishing experience in Ohio, Chagrin River Outfitters is the place to be. And with so many exciting species to target this year, there’s never been a better time to cast a line in the beautiful waters of steelhead alley. Thanks for tuning in, and happy fishing!
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