856 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/856B

Presented by: Pescador on the Fly

A fly rod that disappears in your pack but still fishes like your everyday rod sounds like a stretch. In this episode, we dig into why that idea actually works and why more anglers are turning to six-piece rods for travel, backup, and even daily use.

Jeff Ditsworth, founder of Pescador on the Fly, joins the show to break down how he rebuilt his rod lineup from the ground up. We talk about better blanks, tighter tolerances, and a new factory producing six-piece rods that feel just as smooth as a four-piece.

Jeff also shares stories from a recent trip to Austria, chasing wild brown trout in alpine creeks with a local guide who also happens to be the fish police.

If you travel with a carry-on, hike into water, or want a backup rod that doesn't feel like a compromise, this episode shows how six-piece fly rods fit into real fishing—from home waters to fly fishing in Austria.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/856B

#856 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/856

Presented By: FishHound Expeditions, Togiak River Lodge, Pescador on the Fly

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Steve Woit has spent years hunting down the stories behind fly-fishing's most influential figures — including Mary Orvis Marbury, whose Victorian-era writing documented flies and tiers before the modern industry existed. In this episode, Steve walks us through the research discipline behind Fly Fishing Treasures, his deep dive into letters, catalogs, photographs, and tackle provenance that reveal how anglers built a culture long before we arrived.

This conversation isn't about nostalgia — it's about protecting memory. Steve shows how writing, archiving, and conservation fundraising through donated tackle help safeguard fisheries and preserve the names and innovations that shaped our sport.

#856 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/856

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/855B

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.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/855B

#855 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/855

Presented by: San Juan Rodworks, On DeMark Lodge, Four Wheel Campers

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

If you've ever stood knee-deep in a Western river wondering whether a trout spey rod might change your whole approach, this conversation with Howard Cole will get your wheels turning. Howard's spent a lifetime shaping flies, shaping cast loops, and shaping anglers at JD High Country Outfitters — and he brings a river-smart perspective on everything from trout spey dry flies to yellow sally emergers. Trout spey tips show up often in this episode, and they sneak into almost every story he tells from the Snake to the South Fork.

By the end of this episode, you'll probably be digging through your fly box looking for your own emerger patterns — or maybe even picking up a short spey rod for the next drift.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/855

854 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/854

Presented by: Montana Fly Fishing Lodge, Intrepid Camp Gear, On DeMark Lodge, Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho

Today, we're sitting down with someone who has lived two deep lives, one on the PGA Tour and one on the flats of South Texas. Phil Blackmar spent years competing against the best golfers in the world, studying pressure, tempo, and how to stay calm when everything speeds up.

Now he brings that same understanding to fly fishing, especially sight fishing for redfish and trout.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/854

853 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/853b

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/smittys

Steve Smith breaks down the fundamentals of top trout flies, fly tying materials, and the patterns that continue to produce everywhere. We also get into how Smitty's Fly Box evolved, how he approaches local hatches, and why mastering proportions might be the most important part of tying a durable fly.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/853b

#853 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/853

Presented By: TroutRoutes, Smitty's Fly Box, Four Wheel Campers

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

James Garrettson of About Trout takes us deep into the San Juan tailwater—well beyond the Instagram version—to show what really makes this river a world-class streamer fishery. He breaks down how big trout behave in frog water, why depth and stalls matter more than speed, and how his team consistently targets fish over 30 inches.

James shares the story behind a true San Juan giant, talks streamer setups, flow windows, guide etiquette, and why he spends every free day exploring the same river he's guided for a decade. If you've ever wondered how to fish deep, slow, technical water for outsized browns, this episode is the blueprint.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/853