The Long Haul with The Articulate Fly

The Articulate Fly
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The Long Haul Fly Fishing Podcast with The Articulate Fly regularly releases interviews with national and regional personalities covering fly fishing, fly tying and fly fishing travel. If you love The Articulate Fly Fly Fishing Podcast interviews but would like to skip the fishing reports, The Long Haul is for you! To learn more or to check out The Articulate Fly Fly Fishing Podcast (interviews and fishing reports), visit www.thearticulatefly.com.

  1. 4d ago ·  Bonus

    Castability Unleashed: Mark Sedotti's Journey with the Sedotti Slammer

    Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Butcher Shop, host Marvin Cash sits down with Mark Sedotti, inventor of the Sedotti Slammer and one of the pioneers of weight-balanced streamer design, to trace nearly 35 years of big-fly development for striped bass and bluefish. Sedotti explains why a lead keel and the right amount of absorbed water can make an oversized streamer cast further and more accurately than a small one, overturning decades of conventional wisdom that heavy flies are harder to throw. Working from western Long Island Sound, where he first tied the Slammer to imitate adult menhaden up to 15 inches long, Sedotti walks through the evolution of his high-and-low bucktail tying method, the construction of a rectangular lead keel to stop wide-profile flies from rolling, and the concept of weight balancing that ties it all together. He also details how the Slammer found its way to Michigan's Manistee River in the early 1990s, where guide Russ Maddin nicknamed it the Screaming Jesus and helped ignite the modern big-streamer trout movement. The conversation covers rod and line selection for casting giant flies, including Sedotti's signature Sayonara sling casting technique, along with retrieve mechanics, leader setups, and where to source materials and commercially tied Slammers. Anglers chasing striped bass, bluefish or trophy trout with oversized streamers will come away with a working framework for why some big flies cast beautifully and others simply won't turn over. Key TakeawaysHow to weight balance a streamer so it casts smoothly regardless of its size, rather than dragging through the airWhy adding water-absorbing materials like bucktail can improve a big fly's castability instead of hurting itHow to build a rectangular lead keel from lead wire to stop a wide-profile fly from rolling in the waterWhen to size a streamer to match adult versus immature baitfish, since selective stripers and bluefish may refuse flies shorter than the natural forageHow the Sayonara sling casting technique adds effective rod length and line speed for longer distance with a single-handed rodWhy a long leader of eight to nine feet improves fly action and strike rates when streamer fishing for trout Techniques & Gear CoveredSedotti's core concept is weight balancing: adding just enough weight to a streamer to counteract wind resistance and drag during the cast, which he discovered by building a rectangular lead keel out of 0.030-0.035 lead wire to prevent wide-profile flies from rolling. His high-and-low bucktail tying method, refined with input from Bob Popovics on achieving a three-dimensional bunker profile, remains consistent across pattern sizes from three and a half to over 20 inches, with synthetic yak hair, bucktail and feather substitutes used as natural saddle hackle and schlappen became harder to source. For casting, he favors a fast-action 11-weight rod paired with either integrated sinking lines, shooting heads or a floating line for shallow presentations, and retrieves with long, fast strips followed by a pause where most strikes occur. Locations & SpeciesSedotti developed the Slammer in western Long Island Sound around Greenwich, Port Chester, and Rye, New York, targeting striped bass and bluefish keyed in on schools of menhaden, or bunker, ranging from three and a half to over 15 inches depending on the season. He later carried medium-sized versions of the fly to Michigan's Manistee River, where it proved effective on trout and helped spark the region's big-streamer trout culture, as well as to Montana's Beaverhead River for trout. Today, he fishes deep structure at Montauk and Southwest Ledge on Block Island for large striped bass, working the fly 35 to 45 feet down on sinking lines. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is weight balancing in streamer fly design, and why does it matter for castability?Weight balancing means adding enough weight to a fly to counteract the wind resistance created by its materials as it moves through the air during a cast. Mark Sedotti found that a properly weight-balanced fly, regardless of size, will false cast smoothly with a normal loop, while an unbalanced fly either drags or develops an uncontrollable loop. How do you build a keel to stop a wide-profile streamer from rolling?Sedotti wraps half-inch strips of lead wire in layers of five, stacking three levels to form a rectangular, raft-like keel along the underside of the hook shank. The exact method matters less than achieving the correct total weight for that specific fly to keep it weight balanced. Why can waterlogged flies actually cast better than dry ones?A dry fly with the same amount of bulky material is more wind resistant and harder to turn over, while a wet fly collapses and cuts through the air more easily. Sedotti found that the added weight from absorbed water often helps counteract that wind resistance, provided the fly isn't carrying so much water and weight that it becomes overloaded. What rod and line setup works best for casting large weight-balanced streamers?Sedotti prefers a fast-action 11-weight rod for big saltwater patterns, paired with either an integrated sinking line, a shooting head or a floating line depending on depth and structure. His Sayonara sling casting technique adds effective rod length and increases tip speed for longer casts with a single-handed rod. How did the Sedotti Slammer influence Michigan's big-streamer trout fishing?In the early 1990s, Sedotti brought a medium-sized Slammer to Michigan's Manistee River, where guide Russ Maddin was stunned by how aggressively trout attacked it and nicknamed it the Screaming Jesus. That introduction is widely credited with helping launch the modern big-streamer trout movement centered around Michigan's guiding community. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentBONUS: Tying the Circus Peanut: Streamer Secrets and Fishing Strategies with Russ Maddin BONUS: Mastering the Beast: A Deep Dive into Bob Popovics' Legendary Fly with Captain Ben Whalley BONUS: A Deep Dive into the Swingin' D: Techniques and Tips with Mike Schultz Connect with Our GuestFollow Mark on YouTube. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options. Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app. Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us. Helpful Episode Chapters0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:33 Designing the Original Slammer 0:06:43 Unlocking Castability 0:15:33 Perfecting the Profile 0:19:17 Synthetic Evolution 0:32:53 Michigan Streamer Breakthrough 0:47:15 Casting Big Flies Well 0:53:42 Lines and Leaders 0:56:35 Fishing the Retrieve 1:06:26 Final Thoughts on Weight Balance

    Castability Unleashed: Mark Sedotti's Journey with the Sedotti Slammer

  2. Jun 20

    The Legacy of Classic Flies: Allen Rupp's Insights on Timeless Patterns

    Episode OverviewThe Articulate Fly host Marvin Cash sits down with fly tying guru Allen Rupp, founder of Fly on the Water and Dave Whitlock's hand-selected legacy tier, for a deep dive into the classic fly patterns that built modern fly fishing. Rupp traces his fly tying education back to childhood phone calls with Bob Clouser, in-person mentorship from Lefty Kreh and George Harvey, and decades spent learning directly from Dave Whitlock, explaining why patterns like the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half, Lefty's Deceiver and Whitlock's Near Nuff Crayfish and Sculpin remain so effective that newer materials and techniques rarely improve on them. The conversation ranges from the upper Potomac River, where Rupp first learned to tie and fish, to saltwater destinations like the Seychelles and the Amazon, where his Semper Fli patterns are now requested by name by local guides. Rupp and Cash dig into why presentation matters more than fly choice (a lesson Rupp learned fishing a single hare's ear nymph for an entire year), how legends like Whitlock and Clouser relentlessly simplified their patterns rather than complicating them, where to source increasingly scarce natural materials like hand-plucked mallard flank and Cree hackle, and which adhesives belong on every serious tier's bench. Whether you fish for smallmouth bass, stripers, bonefish or golden dorado, this episode is a masterclass in why the old patterns still catch fish and what they can teach today's tiers about durability, simplicity and effective design. Key TakeawaysHow focusing on a single fly pattern for an entire season can teach anglers that presentation matters more than fly choice.Why classic patterns like the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half and Lefty's Deceiver remain more effective than many modern variations.How simplifying a fly pattern down to its essential materials often makes it more durable and more effective than adding complexity.Why choosing the right adhesive for a material (soft adhesive for soft materials, rigid adhesive for hard surfaces) prevents premature fly failure.When to source fly tying materials from non-fly shop retailers like craft and fabric stores.How filling Clouser Minnow thread wraps with resin in a triangle or heart shape creates a fly that is nearly weedless. Techniques & Gear CoveredRupp walks through the construction logic behind classic patterns including the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half, Lefty's Deceiver, the CK Baitfish, Chico's Bonefish Special, Lou Tabory's Snake Fly and Dave Whitlock's Near Nuff Crayfish and Sculpin, explaining how each pattern's simplicity contributes to its durability and fish-catching consistency. He details specific tying fixes including pre-treating deer hair eye cavities with Flexament before adding Goop and a final drop of Flexament to prevent eyes from popping off, and filling Clouser Minnow thread wraps with resin in a triangle or heart shape to create a snag-resistant profile. On adhesives, Rupp runs a bench of nine different products including Zap-A-Gap in two viscosities, Softex, Tuffleye and various other cements, matching soft adhesives to soft materials like deer hair and rigid adhesives to harder surfaces. For tools he favors Mark Petitjean bobbins for fine thread work and Renomed scissors for their durability and lifetime warranty, while sourcing scarce natural materials like Cree hackle, hand-plucked mallard flank and dry fly saddles from specialty sellers. Locations & SpeciesRupp's tying and fishing roots trace to the upper Potomac River and the Mid-Atlantic region of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, where he learned from guide Mark Kovach and crossed paths with Lefty Kreh and Bob Clouser at regional fly fishing shows. His classic patterns now see action well beyond home water, targeting smallmouth bass and trout in eastern rivers, striped bass at night from Virginia to Maine on Lou Tabory's Snake Fly, and trevally and golden dorado in destinations like the Seychelles and South America, where his Semper Fli pattern has become a guide favorite. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy do classic fly patterns like the Clouser Minnow and Lefty's Deceiver still outperform many modern variations?Allen Rupp explains that classic patterns endured because their originators relentlessly simplified them down to only the materials necessary for action and durability rather than adding complexity for visual appeal. Newer flies often look more elaborate but can introduce problems like tails that foul on the cast, while classics like the Deceiver (just bucktail, feathers and flash) remain reliably effective. How does fly choice compare to presentation in catching more fish?Rupp credits mentor Brad Yoder with the lesson that presentation matters far more than fly pattern, after fishing a single gold-ribbed hare's ear nymph exclusively for an entire year. He caught roughly the same number of fish as he had with pattern variety, reinforcing that learning to fish one fly in every water condition teaches more than chasing the next new pattern. What is the best adhesive to use on different fly tying materials?Rupp's rule, learned from Dave Whitlock, is to match a soft, flexible adhesive like Flexament to soft, flexible materials like deer hair and reserve rigid adhesives like Zap-A-Gap for harder surfaces. Using a rigid adhesive on a flexible material creates a stress point that cracks and fails after a few fish. Where can tiers find scarce natural materials like Cree hackle and quality mallard flank?Rupp sources hard-to-find feathers and fibers from a mix of specialty sellers, friends who hunt and hand-pluck birds, and even craft stores like Michaels and Joann Fabrics for items like glass beads, foam and embroidery materials. He notes that machine-plucked commercial mallard flank is often unusable for patterns requiring intact feather shape, making hand-plucked birds essential for some classic ties. What is swing nymphing and where did the technique originate?Swing nymphing is a technique Rupp developed independently as a teenager on the upper Potomac by adapting light jig presentations to a fly rod, only to later learn that Charlie Brooks had pioneered the same approach on the Yellowstone River decades earlier. Rupp covers the technique in an upcoming magazine article and credits Harry Murray's writing for connecting him to its origins. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS7, Ep 66 - Tales of a Fly Fishing Legend: Remembering Dave Whitlock BONUS - Mastering the Beast: A Deep Dive into Bob Popovics' Legendary Fly with Captain Ben Whalley S4, Ep 150 - FLY TYING REDUX: Soft Hackles with Allen McGee Connect with Our GuestFollow Allen on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options. Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app. Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us. Helpful Episode...

    The Legacy of Classic Flies: Allen Rupp's Insights on Timeless Patterns

  3. Jun 5

    Chasing Fish and Seasons: Josh Trammell's Guiding Adventures

    Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with Josh Trammell, Head Guide at Mad River Outfitters in Columbus, Ohio, for a candid look at what it takes to build and sustain a full-time, four-season guide career. Josh covers the Ohio multi-species fishing calendar — smallmouth bass, northern pike, steelhead and carp — along with seasonal guiding in Alaska and destination schools targeting musky and trophy trout. Josh traces his path from catching his first steelhead at age 11 on Elk Creek with Tim Hess — a swung fly — through early years shadowing the Steelhead Alley Outfitters crew of Greg Senyo, Nate Miller and Patrick Robinson, to becoming Head Guide at Mad River Outfitters and a seasonal guide at Naknek River Camp near King Salmon, Alaska. His guide year spans Ohio smallmouth through multiple simultaneous seasonal windows on Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers, northern pike during their late-winter pre-spawn, steelhead from November through freeze-up and summer Pacific salmon guiding in Alaska. Josh also discusses the January musky school he co-runs with Blane Chocklett and Virginia Trophy Guides in Roanoke, Virginia, spring trout trips to the White River in Arkansas and his growing enthusiasm for carp on the fly. Throughout, he shares practical, unvarnished advice for aspiring full-time guides on the financial realities, logistics and genuine passion required to make it work year-round. Key TakeawaysHow a young angler can break into guide work at reduced financial risk by starting early, staying local and leveraging mentor relationships before major life expenses accumulate.Why the four-season model — cycling through Ohio smallmouth, pike, steelhead, Alaska salmon and destination schools — insulates full-time guides from unpredictable weather far better than single-species operations.When Ohio smallmouth become the most technically versatile species to guide, spanning crayfish dead-drifts, big early-season streamers, scaled-down baitfish imitations and topwater presentations across multiple seasonal phases.Why calibrating each guide day to the individual client's skill level and genuine expectations — rather than chasing personal hero shots — is the real key to repeat business and a sustainable career.How carp on the fly delivers a saltwater-style sight-fishing experience on Ohio freshwater, with few presentations per day and a high premium on reading fish behavior before ever picking up the rod.Why partnering with a full-service fly shop like Mad River Outfitters gives clients a reliable gear and knowledge resource and meaningfully reduces administrative pressure on the guide. Techniques & Gear CoveredJosh guides across a wide technique spectrum that shifts with species and season. Ohio smallmouth receive dead-drifted crayfish patterns in low, clear conditions; big early-season streamers in high or stained water; scaled-down slim-profile baitfish imitations as flows drop through summer; and topwater presentations during the warmest stretches of the year. Steelhead on Steelhead Alley are targeted on both swung flies and indicator rigs, while northern pike receive focused attention during their January and February pre-spawn window — when Ohio weather cooperates. Carp fishing is an increasingly important part of Josh's warm-weather program, using a methodical visual approach borrowed directly from saltwater fly fishing: reading feeding behavior, waiting for clean shot opportunities and presenting deliberately to individual fish, often making no more than 10 to 15 casts in a full day. The annual musky school he leads with Blane Chocklett in Roanoke, Virginia, pairs a one-day tactical masterclass in predator fly techniques with four days of fishing on the water through Virginia Trophy Guides. Locations & SpeciesJosh's Ohio guiding program covers Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers in northeastern Ohio, targeting steelhead through the November to freeze-up window and northern pike during the late-winter pre-spawn period. Ohio's multi-phase smallmouth calendar — with pre-spawn, spawning and post-spawn fish available simultaneously across different tributaries in mid-spring — gives Josh an unusually diverse season that stretches from spring through early fall. Carp are pursued on Ohio's clearer flatwater fisheries using visual sight-fishing methods, providing a reliable warm-weather alternative when smallmouth and pike waters run high and off-color. For destination work, Josh guides Pacific salmon at Naknek River Camp on the drainage near King Salmon, Alaska through summer; pursues musky with Virginia Trophy Guides on rivers outside Roanoke each January; and leads spring trout trips targeting caddis and sulphur hatches on the White River near Flippin and Cotter, Arkansas. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do you break into a full-time fly fishing guide career?Josh emphasizes starting young when bills and financial obligations are minimal — shadowing established guides on both working trips and fun-fishing days, learning how programs are structured and how to rig for different conditions. Building genuine relationships within a regional guide community, as Josh did with the Steelhead Alley Outfitters crew, opens the doors to early opportunities. He cautions that anyone entering the guide game with significant financial obligations should plan carefully around Mother Nature's ability to cancel trips and budget realistically for the shoulder seasons. What does a full four-season guide year look like in Ohio?Starting in mid-spring, Josh runs Ohio smallmouth across multiple simultaneous seasonal windows on Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers, alongside pike fishing that extends through warm weather. He transitions to Alaska for Pacific salmon guiding through early October, returns for a brief Ohio window before steelhead season opens in November and then runs Steelhead Alley through December freeze-up. Winter brings the annual musky school in Roanoke, Virginia with Blane Chocklett; spring opens destination trout trips on the White River in Arkansas; and carp provide a flexible alternative when other fisheries are unfishable. Why are Ohio smallmouth such a compelling guide species?Unlike steelhead, which Josh describes as largely limited to swung or indicator-presented flies, Ohio smallmouth accommodate a wide range of techniques across multiple seasonal phases — from large early-season streamers in blown-out water to crayfish patterns in low, clear conditions to topwater presentations on summer flows. That tactical variety keeps guides and clients engaged across a far longer window than most single-species programs allow. The overlapping seasonal stages across different river systems also mean a thoughtful guide can almost always find smallmouth in a fishable phase somewhere in the region. What is the key to being a successful fishing guide?Josh argues that the most important skill is calibrating each day to the individual client's actual skill level and genuine expectations — not the guide's own benchmark for a good outing. A beginner who lands several smallmouth while mastering a 30- to 40-foot cast has had an excellent day by their measure, which may look very different from a guide's definition of success. Open communication between guide and client about what they actually want from the day smooths out the experience and builds the kind of relationship that generates return bookings. How does carp fishing on the fly compare to other species in Josh's program?Josh describes carp as the closest freshwater equivalent to saltwater sight fishing available in Ohio — standing, hunting, watching and waiting before making deliberate presentations to individual fish rather than covering water. On a productive day with 10 shots at fish, he may cast only 10 to 15 times total, making each presentation count. High-water years that push smallmouth and pike fisheries off-color or out of shape have accelerated his carp development, and he now relies on it as a consistent warm-weather alternative when other species aren't cooperating. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS6, Ep 97: Fly Fishing Wisdom and Industry Pet Peeves with Greg Senyo S7, Ep 40: Exploring the Carp Game: Techniques and Tales with Corey Haselhuhn of Schultz Outfitters S8, Ep 22: From The Chocklett Factory: Blane Chocklett on Community, Conservation and New Fly Releases S8, Ep 24: From Tattoo to Trout: Aaron Chine's Dual Passion for Art and Steelhead...

    Chasing Fish and Seasons: Josh Trammell's Guiding Adventures

  4. May 15

    Tying Tradition: Jason Taylor's Journey Through the Art of Fly Tying

    Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Jason Taylor — a Philadelphia-area fly tier, Tiers Row fixture at the Edison show and regular contributor to Masters of the Fly — for a wide-ranging conversation about fly tying philosophy, natural materials and the tradition of innovation rooted in Bob Popovics' work. On this fly fishing podcast episode, Taylor traces his journey from a 2008 Belize honeymoon that ignited his passion for the sport, to the early-2010s online forums — particularly Stripers Online — that connected him with a formative community of Northeast saltwater tiers including Popovics and David Nelson. Taylor shares the philosophy that drives every session at the vise: every feature in a fly must serve a purpose, and materials should be used as sparingly as possible to achieve it. The conversation digs into the enduring versatility of the hollow fleye platform — what Taylor calls "the Christmas tree" — its adaptability across materials and applications, and his own innovations including an ostrich herl hollow fleye variant and a Surf Candy adaptation with embedded foam for neutral buoyancy when targeting false albacore in calm, glassy conditions. Taylor also offers detailed guidance on selecting and handling bucktail and ostrich herl, shares tying tips rarely covered elsewhere, and takes listeners through the exotic and vintage natural materials currently occupying his tying bench. Key TakeawaysHow to apply Bob Popovics' "Christmas tree" principle to hollow fleye design — preserving the core profile shape while freely adapting materials, proportions and techniques.Why using less material than you think you need almost always produces a more castable, livelier fly.How to select bucktail for hollow fleyes by identifying soft, kinky fiber pulled from the middle half to two-thirds of the tail for the most predictable flare under thread pressure.Why a neutrally buoyant fly presentation — using embedded foam under a hard body paired with an intermediate line — consistently outperforms standard Surf Candy patterns when false albacore become selective in calm, flat-water conditions.How to stabilize thread wraps using brushable cyanoacrylate applied directly to the thread before making final wraps rather than to the hook or materials.Why grading ostrich herl by length, taper and barb density — rather than just overall plume size — is critical to achieving consistent movement in large saltwater patterns. Techniques & Gear CoveredThe episode centers on hollow fleye construction — specifically the bucktail collar technique Bob Popovics developed and Taylor has refined over more than a decade, including his personal adaptation of palmering ostrich herl down a mono or shank base to create a mobile, feather-forward variant. Taylor details his Surf Candy–based neutral buoyancy modification, incorporating foam beneath the hard body to maintain a suspending presentation throughout the retrieve — not just the first few strips — which he argues better matches the behavior of bait sitting still in calm, low-turbulence water when paired with an intermediate fly line. He also covers his evolution of the Semper Fli, replacing time-consuming palmered feather fronts with commercially available fly tying brushes for consistent, production-speed results without sacrificing profile. On the tools and materials side, Taylor explains his preference for monofilament thread for virtually all saltwater work (with gel-spun for mounting eyes), walks through his grading process for both bucktail and ostrich herl, and advocates for brushable cyanoacrylate applied to the thread to more durably secure the final wraps. He references Regal as his favored vise, Tuffleye (a blue-light–cured resin with origins in dental applications) as his preferred coating for albie and Surf Candy patterns, and monofilament as the default thread for nearly all non-dry fly work. Locations & SpeciesTaylor's saltwater fishing world centers on the Northeast coast — New Jersey beaches and jetty structure where he targets false albacore (albies) and striped bass. The neutral-buoyancy Surf Candy modification he developed addresses a specific condition: calm, glassy water where bait is suspended neutrally in the water column rather than being pushed and darting erratically, a situation that allows albies to scrutinize flies far more critically than in ripping current. The foam-infused body paired with an intermediate line creates the illusion of naturally suspended bait being dragged just below the surface — a presentation Taylor describes as reliably effective when albies appear finicky. Jetty fishing accounts for heavy fly loss in his program, which directly influences his bench work: efficient, repeatable tying at high quality is not just an aesthetic goal but a practical one. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is the "Christmas tree" principle and why has the hollow fleye remained relevant for decades?Taylor borrows this framing directly from Bob Popovics: the hollow fleye's core construction — bucktail tied in parallel to the shank and then pushed back on itself in a reverse tie to form an umbrella shape — creates a foundational profile that can be dressed up or stripped down infinitely. In its simplest form it ties in under five minutes and catches fish for anything; at the other extreme it accommodates exotic feather work, articulations and brush-based enhancements while retaining the original profile logic. Taylor's own ostrich herl variant illustrates how elastic the platform is: by palmering ostrich around a mono or shank base — orienting the material perpendicular to the base rather than parallel — he achieved a different movement profile while staying true enough to the Christmas tree shape that Popovics immediately recognized the technique as sound. That openness to adaptation was always the point: a baseline any tier could take and make their own. How do you select bucktail for hollow fleyes?Look for fibers that are soft, slightly kinky or wavy rather than pin-straight, and of medium hollowness. Taylor recommends pulling material from the middle half to two-thirds of the tail, where hair has enough hollow structure to flare predictably but enough density to stay controlled. He warns that the softest, most hollow base fibers can be too erratic for general hollow collar work and are better reserved for specific profile applications near the front of a fly. Why do false albacore seem to go finicky in calm, flat water?Taylor's answer is that this behavior isn't true selectivity — it's a physics mismatch. In ripping current or choppy conditions, bait is pushed around and moves erratically; a fly stripped through that same water fits right in. In flat, glassy conditions, suspended bait is genuinely neutrally buoyant and barely moving, and albies can see that a standard fly doesn't replicate that suspension. His foam-infused body maintains the neutrally buoyant presentation throughout the retrieve rather than sinking progressively as trapped air escapes, which he argues is the key to the pattern's effectiveness in those conditions. How should brushable cyanoacrylate be used correctly at the vise?The standard approach — applying glue directly to the hook shank or finished materials — can stiffen fibers and make delicate collars unpredictable. Taylor applies brushable super glue to the thread itself, just before making final securing wraps, which locks the thread without affecting material movement or positioning. This is especially useful when controlling sparse bucktail or fine feathers where a traditional coat would ruin the texture and action of a finished collar. Why does kinky or wavy bucktail produce a better hollow fleye than straight bucktail?Taylor explains that kinky, wavy bucktail creates an illusion of greater bulk and size than the amount of material actually on the hook warrants. Just as straightening curly hair reveals how much longer it truly is, the kinks and curves in wavy bucktail compress into a shorter measured length — meaning the fibers occupy more visual space on the hook than pin-straight hair of the same count would. For hollow fleyes, where the goal is achieving profile and the illusion of size with the least possible material, that optical magnification effect is a direct advantage. Straight bucktail, by contrast, gives you exactly what it is and nothing more. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS6, Ep 144: The Chocklett Factory: Conservation, New Products and a Legacy Remembered S8, Ep 14: Crafting Connections: Blane Chocklett on Fly Design and Conservation at Tie Fest S6, Ep 91: Predator Flies and Sparkle Boats: Steve Maldonado's Journey S7, Ep 66: Tales of a...

    Tying Tradition: Jason Taylor's Journey Through the Art of Fly Tying

  5. Apr 24 ·  Bonus

    Swine Design Secrets: Eli Berant Discusses the Optimus Swine

    Episode OverviewThe Butcher Shop goes deep on one of the Great Lakes predator fly world's most distinctive patterns in this conversation with Eli Berant, the Michigan-based fly designer and founder of Great Lakes Fly. Eli is the creator of the Optimus Swine — a reverse foam head-embedded, side-kicking musky streamer that has been turning heads and producing fish since around 2009. In this episode, host Marvin Cash walks Eli through the full arc of the pattern: the lake musky problem it was designed to solve, the unconventional decision to reverse a foam popper head to create a slower fall and a pronounced glide-bait wiggle, the material choices that define the fly's profile and movement and the step-by-step construction logic from spinner bait hook to laser dub head. The conversation covers the full Swine family — the original 8–9 inch version on a 6/0 Mustad, the scaled-down Swine Junior for river smallmouth and stripers, the fettuccine-foam Pot Belly Swine for subsurface river applications, and the articulated Maximus Swine and Maximus Swine Junior, which remain something of a "secret menu" offering. Eli also addresses color selection by region — from olive-and-pink for fired-up Tennessee muskies to the Wisconsin-proven Willen's Villain black-white-yellow combo and his own favorite Mardi Gras pattern — and breaks down his preferred line and leader systems for lake musky versus river smallmouth applications. Throughout, the discussion grounds fly design theory in direct, tactical fishing application. Key TakeawaysHow reversing a foam popper head toward the rear of the hook creates a slower fall rate and induces the Optimus Swine's distinctive side-to-side glide-bait action.Why proportionality in bucktail application — specifically how much material per section and how many sections — is the most common failure point for tiers attempting the Swine for the first time.How to tune the Pot Belly Swine's fettuccine foam piece by removing individual strips to achieve neutral balance and proper swim orientation before fishing.Why a jerk-strip retrieve with a sinking line (350–450 grain tip) is the preferred delivery system for lake musky, allowing the sink tip to hold depth while the fly kicks side to side on each pull.When to dial back retrieve aggression and employ a stutter-strip or extended pause with the Swine Junior, particularly during cold-water conditions when bass are holding and waiting.Why sharing newly discovered synthetic fly tying materials openly — rather than hoarding them — is essential to keeping those materials in production and available to the broader tying community. Techniques & Gear CoveredThe Optimus Swine is designed around a jerk-strip retrieve that drives its foam-induced side-to-side action, and Eli breaks down exactly how to execute it — stripping two feet with the line hand in alternating pulls, roughly like ripping a bag open. For lake musky, he runs a 10-weight with a 350–450 grain sinking tip, paired with a short 3–4 foot leader from loop to fly — a butt section of 40-pound to wire, finished with cross-lock snaps for fast fly changes. River smallmouth and striper applications drop to a 7- or 8-weight with a 200–350 grain tip depending on conditions. Construction-specific details are substantial: Mustad 32608 spinner bait hook (6/0 for the original), Rainy's Mini Me medium foam popper head reversed and goop-set with silicone adhesive, synthetic yak hair blended with flash for the tail, grizzly saddle feathers as flanks, Magnum Flashabou, everyday bucktail applied in top-and-bottom sections, laser dub for the head, and 1/2-inch eyes pressed and held in a two-touch goop cure process. Anadromous Fly Company tungsten carbide scissors get a specific callout as Eli's go-to cutting tool for heavy production tying. Locations & SpeciesThe Optimus Swine was developed specifically for lake musky, with Lake Saint Clair in Michigan serving as the primary proving ground — a relatively snag-free fishery that allows anglers to fish sinking lines freely across the water column. The pattern's documented multi-species versatility extends to Great Lakes migratory species, pike, lake trout, stripers on the East Coast and river smallmouth, including Eli's personal use of the Swine Junior on Lake Saint Clair for targeting large smallmouth by eliminating the smaller fish. Color selection is explicitly regional in the episode: olive-and-pink for fired-up Tennessee fish, pink-and-chartreuse or the Willen's Villain black-white-yellow for Wisconsin tannic water, and Mardi Gras (pink, chartreuse, black head) as a broadly effective pattern. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow does the reversed foam popper head make the Optimus Swine swim differently than other musky flies?Positioning the foam head toward the rear of the hook — rather than at the front — reduces the fly's sink rate compared to a traditional epoxy-head pattern and shifts the center of buoyancy rearward. This causes the fly to kick side to side with a pronounced glide-bait cadence on a jerk-strip retrieve, rather than simply pushing water or diving. The effect is amplified when fishing a sinking tip, which holds the running line low and forces the rear of the fly to tip upward and roll on each strip. What are the most common mistakes tiers make when tying the Optimus Swine?Eli identifies two primary failure points: applying bucktail in clumps that are too large, which destroys proportionality, and using too much laser dub in the head, which throws the silhouette out of balance. The fix for bucktail is learning to feel the correct bundle size — roughly the width of a toothpick at the pinch, the width of a popsicle stick at the ends — and building five top-and-bottom sections before reaching the laser dub head on the original Swine. Managing the laser dub means stacking it, pulling off loose fibers and removing material rather than adding more. How do you tune the Pot Belly Swine to swim correctly for river applications?Because the Pot Belly Swine uses fettuccine foam strips in place of the reversed popper head, Eli ties in more foam strips than needed — six to eight — and tells buyers they may need to remove one to four strips to get the fly to balance and swim true. The goal is first to eliminate any spin or tilt, then to dial in the side-to-side action. This is the same principle as Barry Reynolds's flash philosophy applied to buoyancy: put in more than you need because you can always remove it, but you can't add it once the fly is finished. What line and leader setup does Eli prefer for lake musky with the Optimus Swine?For open lake musky fishing on snag-light water, Eli runs a 10-weight with a Scientific Anglers sinking tip in the 350–450 grain range, specifically preferring striper-style lines with a long 26–28 foot tip section. Leaders are intentionally short — 3–4 feet total from loop to fly — built with a 2-foot 40-pound butt section going straight to wire, then a cross-lock snap at the fly. The short leader keeps the fly in the sink tip's depth zone and maximizes the kicking action on the jerk-strip retrieve. How should retrieve style change when downsizing to the Swine Junior for smallmouth or stripers?Moving to the smaller patterns calls for a less aggressive retrieve cadence overall, but Eli emphasizes breaking out of monotonous repetition — consciously varying the retrieve is as important as the base technique. Key adjustments include a stutter-strip (half-length pulls done twice in quick succession) and extended pauses, which become particularly effective in cold water when bass are holding and watching the fly. The foam piece in all Swine variants allows the fly to hang suspended during a pause without sinking, which is the primary trigger for following fish. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS1, Ep 2: The T-Bone: A Deep Dive with Blane Chocklett - The Butcher Shop BONUS: Shack Nasties and the Drunk & Disorderly: A Winter Chat with Tommy Lynch BONUS: Crafting The Nut Job: A Deep Dive with Brendan Ruch BONUS: A Deep Dive into the Swingin' D: Techniques and Tips with Mike Schultz S6, Ep 124: Fly Tying with Chase Smith Connect with Our GuestFollow Eli on a href="https://www.instagram.com/greatlakesfly/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    Swine Design Secrets: Eli Berant Discusses the Optimus Swine

  6. Apr 10 ·  Bonus

    From Tattoo to Trout: Aaron Chine's Dual Passion for Art and Steelhead Guiding

    Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with Aaron Chine, guide at Steelhead Alley Outfitters and accomplished visual artist based in Warren, Ohio, for a wide-ranging conversation about the intersection of fishing, guiding and fine art. Aaron came to fly fishing through Pennsylvania trout streams in his early teens and eventually found his way to Steelhead Alley through a mentorship network that includes Jeff Blood and Nate Miller, two of the fishery's most respected veterans. He joined Steelhead Alley Outfitters when Justin Schachilli and Patrick Robinson took over from Greg Senyo and has been guiding there ever since. The episode covers the full arc of Aaron's guiding career on Steelhead Alley, his philosophy on what makes a great guide and the seasonal rhythm of the Lake Erie tributary steelhead fishery from fall through early spring. On the art side, Aaron discusses his work in oil painting and murals — including a landmark 130-foot mural on the Scientific Anglers building in Midland, Michigan — his tattooing career at The Box Gallery and his perspective on the story and soul that human-made art carries in an age of AI-generated imagery. Upcoming Orvis collaborations round out the conversation. Key TakeawaysWhy finding migratory steelhead requires covering water aggressively rather than returning to yesterday's productive spotsHow the guide season on Steelhead Alley runs from fall through early spring, with November and March as peak periodsWhy showing clients a good time on the water — not just maximizing fish counts — defines long-term success as a guideHow using a grid method at large scale allows muralists to maintain proportion across massive public installationsWhy the story behind human-made art creates value and staying power that AI-generated imagery cannot replicateHow fishing and fine art intersect as sustainable parallel careers when neither alone provides full financial stability Techniques & Gear CoveredThis episode is more biographical than tactical, so the fishing content skews toward guiding philosophy and fishery structure rather than specific techniques or rigs. Aaron explains that steelhead on Steelhead Alley are migratory fish that move constantly, which means guides must put in the legwork to locate fish rather than relying on prior knowledge of productive lies — a discipline he credits largely to early mentors Jeff Blood and Nate Miller. He notes that tougher, more spread-out seasons demand even more aggressive water-covering to stay on fish. On the art side, Aaron discusses his medium in detail: he works primarily in oil on canvas, uses a grid-based scaling method for large murals and approaches large-scale work one block at a time to maintain proportion — the same technique taught in middle school art class, simply executed at 2-foot-by-2-foot scale. Scientific Anglers' signature red paint featured heavily in the SA building mural, which consumed 24 gallons of paint over seven days. Locations & SpeciesSteelhead Alley is the fishery at the center of this episode — specifically the Lake Erie tributaries along the Ohio-Pennsylvania-New York border, including Conneaut Creek and Cattaraugus Creek (the latter referenced in passing as Marvin's own experience fishing it with Jeff Blood). Steelhead are the primary target throughout the fall and spring seasons, with the fishery operating from roughly September or October through freeze-up in winter, and again through mid-April in spring. Aaron notes that conditions this season and last fall have featured more spread-out fish than peak years, reinforcing the fishery's migratory and weather-dependent nature. For summer fun fishing once the guiding season wraps, Aaron looks forward to smallmouth, pike and musky from a raft — a deliberately lower-pressure complement to the intensity of steelhead season. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow does the guide season on Steelhead Alley typically run?Aaron describes a two-peak season: fall, running from September or October through early December or freeze-up, with November as the prime window; and spring, with March as the busiest month and trips running through mid-April. January and February fishing is weather-dependent — this year, freeze-up shut it down entirely. Guides work essentially every day during peak periods. What's the key to being a successful steelhead guide?Aaron's answer centers on showing clients a good time rather than chasing maximum fish counts. He acknowledges that guides naturally want to put big numbers in the net, but argues that good clients primarily want to experience the fishery, learn to cast and run better drifts and enjoy time on the water — particularly in seasons when fish are spread out and harder to locate. Why does finding steelhead require so much mobile, aggressive water coverage?Because steelhead are migratory fish that move constantly, productive lies from one day can be completely empty the next. Aaron emphasizes putting miles on the boots and staying mobile, especially in lower-fish-density seasons. This is a foundational piece of Steelhead Alley guiding culture, reinforced by mentors like Jeff Blood and Nate Miller. How did Aaron approach painting the massive Scientific Anglers mural in Midland, Michigan?Aaron divided the 130-foot wall into 2-foot-by-2-foot grid squares and treated each block as its own self-contained piece, maintaining proportion across the full installation. He worked from sun-up to sundown for seven straight days to complete it before the 80th anniversary party. The project used 24 gallons of paint, including eight gallons of Scientific Anglers red for the background alone. How does Aaron think about the threat AI poses to visual artists working in the fishing and outdoor space?Aaron acknowledges that AI can produce visually competent imagery quickly and without paying an artist, but argues that it lacks the story and soul behind human-made work. He believes audiences — and fellow artists especially — can spot AI imagery immediately, and that the personal narrative connecting an artist to their work is ultimately what creates lasting value and authentic connection with buyers and fans. Related ContentS7, Ep 18 – License to Fish: The Intersection of Art and Angling with Cody Richardson of Cody's Fish S3, Ep 145 – All Things Steelhead Alley with Jeff Blood (Part I) S3, Ep 153 – All Things Steelhead Alley with Jeff Blood (Part II) S6, Ep 97 – Fly Fishing Wisdom and Industry Pet Peeves with Greg Senyo Connect with Our GuestFollow Aaron on Instagram. Follow The Box Gallery on Instagram. Follow Steelhead Alley Outfitters on Instagram. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck,...

    From Tattoo to Trout: Aaron Chine's Dual Passion for Art and Steelhead Guiding

  7. Mar 27 ·  Bonus

    Behind the Scenes: Mark Melnyk's Adventure with The New Fly Fisher

    Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Mark Melnyk, producer and owner of The New Fly Fisher, one of North America's most recognized fly fishing television series. If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to build and sustain a fly fishing media brand over 25 years — through network layoffs, a global pandemic and a rapidly shifting media landscape — this conversation delivers rare, unfiltered access to the people and decisions that shape the content anglers watch and learn from. Mark traces his serendipitous path from sports broadcasting at TSN and Animal Planet to hosting and eventually owning The New Fly Fisher, sharing the pivot moments, mentors and near-misses that defined his career. The conversation covers the show's core philosophy of education and conservation, the lean two-person production model that drives 26 episodes per year, and Mark's vision for expanding The New Fly Fisher into new international destinations — from the Dolomites of Northern Italy to the jungles of Colombia. He also offers an honest look at how the show has evolved its business model away from endemic fly fishing sponsorship, and what that shift has meant for the authenticity and reach of the content. Key TakeawaysHow a willingness to fish with anglers better than yourself — and to embrace the learning curve publicly — accelerates fly fishing skill development in ways no single mentor can replicate.Why The New Fly Fisher has remained rooted in education and conservation for 25 years, and how that consistency has become its most durable competitive advantage.How a lean two-person field crew — one host and one camera operator — allows The New Fly Fisher to deliver both high production value and the authentic, unscripted storytelling that viewers trust and respond to.Why dropping endemic fly fishing sponsorship in favor of gentle product placement opened doors that traditional sponsorship models had closed, while actually strengthening the show's credibility with viewers.How the post-pandemic surge in fly fishing interest has accelerated international distribution growth for fly fishing media, creating new revenue pathways that didn't exist before.When authenticity matters more than production perfection — and why the moments that go wrong on camera are often the most valuable teaching content in any episode. Techniques & Gear CoveredThis episode is a fly fishing industry and media interview rather than a technique-focused fishing episode, so the coverage centers on production methodology, storytelling craft and content strategy rather than specific fishing tactics or equipment. Mark discusses the full arc of The New Fly Fisher's production workflow — from pre-season travel scheduling through field logging, paper editing, voiceover, long-form cut, broadcast cut, audio post-production and network delivery — detailing how a 26-episode annual slate is managed across a team of editors, hosts, camera operators and post-production staff. He touches on the evolution of production technology, from $350,000 shoulder-mounted ENG cameras to GoPros and DJI OSMO rigs, and the democratizing effect drones have had on aerial cinematography for fishing content. Gear mentioned in the context of The New Fly Fisher's partnership with Orvis includes rods ranging from the Helios to the entry-level Clearwater, cited as examples of the show's non-prescriptive, multi-product approach to product placement. Tom Rosenbauer's involvement in producing Orvis Tips content in conjunction with The New Fly Fisher team is also discussed. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow did Mark Melnyk come to own The New Fly Fisher?Mark was brought on as a guest host by show founder Colin McKeown after a period of unemployment in traditional broadcasting. Over time he became a 50/50 partner, with full 100% ownership transferring in June 2024 — a process extended from two years to seven partly due to the COVID pandemic. McKeown passed away from terminal cancer approximately two months after the deal closed. What makes The New Fly Fisher different from other fly fishing television shows?The show has maintained an unwavering commitment to education and conservation since its inception, and refuses to treat any technique, fly or piece of gear as a proprietary secret. Mark emphasizes an open-book policy where real fishing days — including tangles, lost fish and equipment failures — are shown as they happen, creating content that viewers trust precisely because it reflects the reality of a day on the water. How does The New Fly Fisher approach sponsorship and monetization differently than most fishing shows?Rather than pursuing endemic fly fishing sponsorships that require product exclusivity, the show shifted to a gentle product placement model where gear appears naturally on screen without traditional paid endorsement deals. This approach, developed in conversation with Tom Rosenbauer and Simon Gawesworth, has expanded the show's appeal to a wider range of brands while eliminating the perception of bias that traditional fishing show sponsorships often create. What does the production process look like for a single episode of The New Fly Fisher?Each episode involves one day of travel, four to five days on the water and another travel day, followed by weeks of footage logging, paper editing, voiceover, editing, color correction, audio post-production and network delivery. Long-form YouTube versions are cut first, then trimmed to 23-minute broadcast versions. The full 26-episode season requires a tightly managed rolling production schedule with hard network delivery deadlines. What destinations and species is The New Fly Fisher targeting in upcoming seasons?This season's content includes episodes from Chilean Patagonia (brown and rainbow trout), Manitoba (northern pike), Saskatchewan (grayling, lake trout, arctic char), Newfoundland and Labrador (brook trout, Atlantic salmon) and the American West. Mark is also developing new content in Colombia targeting peacock bass, payara, arowana and saltwater pelagics, with future aspirations for Ireland, Scotland and the Dolomites of Northern Italy. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS8, Ep 6 – From Fly Tying to Foodie: Tim Flagler's Passion for Culinary Arts S6, Ep 132 – Fly Tying and Destination Travel with Tim Flagler S6, Ep 97 – Fly Fishing Wisdom and Industry Pet Peeves with Greg Senyo S6, Ep 147 – Tailwaters Fly Company: A New Haven for Fly Fishers in East Tennessee Connect with Our GuestFollow Mark on Instagram. Follow The New Fly Fisher on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube. Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options. Subscribe &...

    Behind the Scenes: Mark Melnyk's Adventure with The New Fly Fisher

  8. Feb 27 ·  Bonus

    Essential Patterns: Drew Price Talks Favorite Flies for Vermont

    Episode OverviewDrew Price of Master Class Angling returns to The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast to deliver a season debrief from Lake Champlain and discuss the release of his debut book, Favorite Flies for Vermont: 50 Essential Patterns from Local Experts (Stackpole Books). For anglers curious about multi-species fly fishing in the Northeast or the fly patterns that actually produce on Vermont's diverse waters, this episode covers both with depth and specificity. The 2025 season on Champlain was defined by record-low water levels — a rarity that revealed structure Drew had never seen and produced drone footage that will inform future guiding. Bowfin fishing was among the best he's seen in years, and November lake trout fishing exceeded expectations, reflecting growing demand for Laker guide trips. Drew brings that same multi-species perspective to the book, which covers 53 patterns ranging from pragmatic brook trout dries and blue-line streamer patterns to bowfin, gar and bass flies — including Drew's own glow-in-the-dark Clouser Minnow variation for lake trout and Chocklett-influenced bowfin patterns he's adapted for Champlain conditions. The conversation also covers the production process in candid detail: Drew's self-directed macro fly photography, his phone-interview approach to wrangling 50-plus tiers across Vermont and the editorial relationship with Jay Nichols at Stackpole. The historical dimension is a highlight — patterns like the Governor Aiken Bucktail, the Spirit of Pittsford Mills and a tribute to the late Rhey Plumley place Vermont's fly fishing culture in a lineage that goes back to Mary Orvis Marbury's early commercial tying work in Manchester. Key TakeawaysHow a record-low water year on Lake Champlain exposed bottom structure and shifted Drew's understanding of fish-holding spots in ways that will pay off for seasons to come.Why Vermont fly tiers skew pragmatic — tying quickly and in volume over aesthetics — and why beat-up flies often outfish perfect ones.How to properly attribute pattern variations to their originators, and why that intellectual honesty matters for the sport's tying culture.When to expect outstanding lake trout fishing on Lake Champlain, with November emerging as a peak window for fly rod Lakers.Why Lake Champlain's combination of world-class bass fishing, exceptional bowfin populations (including multiple IGFA tippet-class records) and 88 resident species makes it an underappreciated destination for fly anglers.How Tom Rosenbauer's CDC Rabbit's Foot Emerger became a standout pattern in the book, and what the story behind its development reveals about matching emerger behavior in the surface film. Techniques & Gear CoveredThe episode touches on a range of techniques tied to Champlain's multi-species fishery rather than a single tactical deep dive. Sight fishing in the shallows — push-pole work targeting bowfin, gar and carp — is central to Drew's guiding approach, and several flies in the book were designed specifically for those conditions. For lake trout, Drew discusses his glow-in-the-dark Clouser Minnow variation, a deep-November pattern that he describes as producing an unmistakable visual trigger as the fly returns to the boat in the dark. Variations on Blane Chocklett's patterns adapted for bowfin fishing also feature in the book, illustrating how Game Changer-platform thinking has crossed over into the warm-water exotic-species world. The book's fly photography (all shot by Drew himself using a macro setup he developed during the writing process) includes both hyper-realistic imitative patterns — like Thomas Ames's emerging caddis, designed to capture a specific stage of insect emergence — and intentionally rough, high-production guide flies built for Vermont's blue-line brook trout water. The trolling application of the Governor Aiken Bucktail for landlocked salmon rounds out the technique coverage, reflecting the lake's migratory salmonid fishery that intensifies in fall. Locations & SpeciesThe episode centers on Lake Champlain and the broader Vermont fly fishing ecosystem, with the lake positioned as a legitimate destination fishery for bass, bowfin, lake trout, pike, gar, carp and landlocked salmon — as well as brown trout and brook trout in the tributary streams. Drew notes that Champlain has ranked among the top five bass lakes in the country according to Bassmaster for three decades, and that it holds records across IGFA tippet classes for bowfin. The book also addresses Vermont's blue-line brook trout fishery, acknowledging the state's honest limitations as a trout destination (no super-consistent hatches, less predictable than Pennsylvania or Colorado tailwaters) while pointing readers to the wild brook trout corridors that define summer fly fishing in Vermont. Historically notable waters referenced include Furnace Brook in Pittsford — President Eisenhower's favorite trout stream — and the Northeast Kingdom, the setting for an archival photo tied to the Governor Aiken Bucktail chapter. November is flagged as a particularly productive window for lake trout on fly, with record-low 2025 water conditions adding context for why structure knowledge carries outsized importance on Champlain. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat made the 2025 fishing season on Lake Champlain unusual?The lake hit near-record low water levels in 2025, a sharp contrast to the high-water years immediately prior. The low water exposed bottom structure Drew had never seen, allowing him to understand exactly why fish hold in certain locations. Drone footage from the season is now part of his ongoing location research. What types of flies are featured in Favorite Flies for Vermont?The book covers 53 patterns, with roughly 40 trout flies and the remainder targeting warm-water and exotic species including bowfin, gar and bass. Patterns range from simple Tenkara-style CDC dries to hyper-realistic emerger caddis imitations from Thomas Ames. Several historically significant Vermont patterns are included, such as the Governor Aiken Bucktail and the Spirit of Pittsford Mills dry fly, with full attribution and historical context for each. How does Drew Price approach pattern attribution in his book?Drew is deliberate about crediting the originators of any pattern he's adapted, even when his modifications are significant. Variations on Blane Chocklett's warm-water patterns and a riff on Bob Clouser's minnow design for lake trout are both attributed explicitly in the text. He extends the same standard to historical patterns, tracing variations back through the tying lineage rather than presenting adaptations as entirely original work. When is the best time to fish for lake trout on Lake Champlain with a fly?November stands out as the peak window, based on Drew's guide experience. The season saw strong late-year Laker fishing and a notable uptick in guided Laker trip requests, which Drew describes as a welcome surprise. A glow-in-the-dark Clouser Minnow variation is his go-to pattern for night-time and low-light Laker sessions on the lake. Why does Drew Price consider Lake Champlain an underrated fly fishing destination?Champlain holds 88 species, roughly 30 of which are realistic fly rod targets — Drew has personally caught 15 different species in a single day on fly. The lake consistently ranks among the top five bass lakes in the U.S. and has produced IGFA tippet-class records for bowfin across nearly all classes. Despite those credentials, it remains well below the radar of most traveling fly anglers, which Drew is actively trying to change through the book and continued guiding. SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership. Related ContentS7, Ep 27 – Master Class Angling: The Art of Fishing Exotic Species with Drew Price S7, Ep 8 – Fly Tying Mastery: Tim Cammisa's New Book and Euro Nymphing Adventures S2, Ep 114 – All Things Game Changer with Blane Chocklett Connect with Our GuestFollow Master Class Angling on Instagram. Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, a...

    Essential Patterns: Drew Price Talks Favorite Flies for Vermont
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The Long Haul Fly Fishing Podcast with The Articulate Fly regularly releases interviews with national and regional personalities covering fly fishing, fly tying and fly fishing travel. If you love The Articulate Fly Fly Fishing Podcast interviews but would like to skip the fishing reports, The Long Haul is for you! To learn more or to check out The Articulate Fly Fly Fishing Podcast (interviews and fishing reports), visit www.thearticulatefly.com.

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