Wet Fly Swing

Streamer season is officially here in the Ozarks, and this one is all about slowing things down and fishing with intention. January kicks off the most aggressive window of the year, especially for big browns and smallmouth, and today Chad Johnson is digging deep into how they approach it. He...

Duane Hada joins Chad Johnson for a thoughtful conversation on what actually creates trophy trout fisheries—and why stocking alone isn’t the answer. Duane breaks down the importance of catch-and-release regulations, managing pressure, and letting fish live long enough to reach their full potential. Drawing from rivers like the White River and the San Juan, he explains how conservation-first thinking shapes not only fish size, but the long-term health of entire fisheries. Beyond fishing, Duane opens up about his life as an artist and how creativity, patience, and observation carry over from the studio to the river. He talks about seeing fisheries as living “gardens,” the influence of Dave Whitlock on both his conservation mindset and artistic outlook, and why mentorship—on the water and off—matters just as much as catching fish. This episode is about legacy, restraint, and approaching both art and angling with intention.

Episode Show Notes When Kelly Galloup shows up, you know it’s about to get good. In this episode, Chad sits down with one of the most influential voices in modern streamer fishing for a deep dive into Best Streamer Strategies for Giant Trout, wild eats, and the stories that shaped...

Episode Show Notes This episode of CJ’s Reel Southern Podcast brings together two seasoned Arkansas guides, Morgan Guss of Diamond State Fly Co. and Matt Millner of Rising River Guides. They'll walk us through the White River’s changing seasons and the strategies that keep anglers successful year-round. Hit play to start...

In this episode of CJ’s Reel Southern Podcast, Chad Johnson sits down with Colorado guide, fly designer, and author Landon Mayer to dig deep into the art of hunting trophy trout. Landon shares how leeches became the centerpiece of his fly box, recounting the day a broken Slumpbuster pattern forever changed the way he approached big fish. The two swap stories about fishing together, the lessons passed down from mentors like Dave Whitlock, and the subtle craft of teaching casting fundamentals that can make or break a day on the water.

In this episode of CJ’s Reel Southern Podcast, Chad brings on his fishing crew — a mix of guides and friends he’s traveled and fished with for years. They share funny and crazy stories from the water, like breaking gear, getting stuck in shallow flats, and even mistaking big bonefish for sharks.

In episode #4 of CJ’s Reel Southern Podcast, Chad Johnson kicks things off with a July fishing report from the White and Norfolk Rivers, highlighting the sulfur hatch and prime hopper season. The transition from sulfur in the evening to hoppers during the day opens up a ton of topwater opportunities, while nymphing with girdle bugs and pheasant tails remains productive. Chad shares fly suggestions like the Fat Albert, Psycho Ant, PMX, and two-bit hookers—solid patterns for the Ozark summer bite. The brief segment wraps with Diamond State Fly Shop’s usual shoutout, plugging tying nights and their new podcast, Guide Talk.

In this episode of CJ's Reel Southern Podcast, Chad covers early summer fly fishing in the Ozarks. He starts with a quick June fishing report, highlighting the transition from caddis to sulfur on the White and Norfolk Rivers, and why high water during a sulfur hatch can make for surprisingly good dry fly action. Chad also touches on the opportunities for smallmouth bass and carp fishing during May and June, especially in the creeks and tributaries in the region.

Today on CJ's Reel Southern Podcast, we're going musky fishing in the Northwoods with guide Chris Willen. Chris breaks down how early-season smallmouth keep things interesting before musky season kicks off, and why northern muskies play a totally different game than their southern counterparts. We’re talking fly patterns that...

Welcome to the very first episode of CJ’s Reel Southern Podcast! This podcast is all about one thing—trophy fishing. Whether it’s brown trout, smallmouth, stripers, or even musky, we’re diving deep into the tactics, flies, and mindset it takes to target big fish. To kick things off, Chad Johnson is...