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The Articulate Fly: Daily Summaries Delivered
by The Articulate Fly
The Articulate Fly Fly Fishing Podcast regularly releases interviews with national and regional personalities covering fly fishing, fly tying and fly fishing travel. We also regularly release fishing reports for the novice and experienced fly angler. Whether you just loved a River Runs Through It or you are a streamer junkie, a dry fly addict, a swinger or a nymph head, we have you covered! To learn more, visit www.thearticulatefly.com.
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- 1 weeks ago1h 16m
S8, Ep 80: A Season in Patagonia: Steve Ramirez on Writing, Radical Empathy and Hope in Action
Episode OverviewOn this episode of The Articulate Fly, author Steve Ramirez returns to talk about why he writes and to introduce his fifth book, A Season in Patagonia: An Angler and Naturalist's Journey to a New World. Recorded on October 6th, the day the Kindle edition dropped, this fly fishing podcast conversation explores seeing, doing and the real cost of living with purpose.Marvin Cash frames the discussion around two practices: the practice of seeing and the practice of doing. Steve, a former U.S. Marine and Texas master peace officer who spent 35 years in criminal justice, counterterrorism and undercover work, a former college professor and the author of Fly Fisherman's The Seasonable Angler column, breaks seeing into noticing, radical empathy, learning and change. He explains why hope is an action verb, why he shares rather than complains and why he sold his firearms and pared down his possessions to fund the travel behind his books.The pair also cover community, technology as a tool, treating land as something we borrow and steward rather than own and how Steve sustains the emotional energy this work demands. For anglers, Steve makes the case for being a complete angler who reads the whole ecosystem, from Texas Hill Country white bass that run when the bluebonnets bloom to golden dorado in northern Argentina.The book retraces the conquistadors' path from the cliffs of Portugal through Mexico, the Sea of Cortez, the Yucatán, the Amazon and the Peruvian cloud forest to the southern tip of Patagonia, including a grueling canyon trek above Jurassic Lake. The hardcover releases November 3rd, with signed copies available through Bob White Studio.Key TakeawaysHow to practice deeper seeing on the water by noticing, perceiving with radical empathy and letting what you learn change how you fish and live.Why reading natural cues, such as the Texas Hill Country bluebonnet bloom signaling the white bass run, makes you a more complete angler than checking a chart.How small, concrete actions like planting natives and leaving leaf litter around trees for fireflies turn conservation concern into personal agency.Why responding instead of reacting (slow is smooth, smooth is fast) protects your energy and judgment in a reactive, online world.Why traveling as a traveler rather than a tourist, including taking deliberate non-fishing days, deepens destination trips from the Amazon to Patagonia.Why self-care and finding your tribe are essential to sustaining purpose-driven work over the long haul.Locations & SpeciesA Season in Patagonia follows a route from the cliffs of Portugal through Mexico, the Sea of Cortez and the Yucatán, across the Central American rainforest, through the Brazilian Amazon's Xingu watershed with Kayapó guides and the Peruvian cloud forest, into northern Argentina for golden dorado and on to the southern tip of Patagonia. Steve highlights springtime in southern Patagonia at Jurassic Lake, where a canyon trek up the river feeding the lake passed through wildflowers, guanacos and puma country. Closer to home, he points to the Texas Hill Country, where the spring bluebonnet bloom coincides with the white bass run. He also cites the vanished glaciers he walked beneath in the Peruvian Andes as context for why the book pairs fishing with conservation.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is A Season in Patagonia by Steve Ramirez about?It is Steve's fifth book, an angling and natural history journey that starts at a cliffside place in Portugal known as the End of the World and follows the conquistadors' path through Mexico, Central America and South America to the southern tip of Patagonia, which has its own End of the World. Along the way he fishes, travels with Indigenous guides and examines how the ways people treat each other and the land have shaped outcomes. He calls it the hardest book he has written, because he had to find hope himself before he could leave readers hopeful and ready to act. The hardcover is officially released November 3rd, with the Kindle edition already available.What does Steve Ramirez mean by the practice of seeing?He describes layers: noticing, perceiving through radical empathy (understanding rather than sympathy, extended even to fish, deer and
- 2 weeks ago5 min
S8, Ep 79: Fall Fishing Forecast: George Costa on Conditions, Caddis and Catching Fish
Episode OverviewOn this Central PA Fishing Report from The Articulate Fly, George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, breaks down what late-October trout fishing looks like as cold mornings set in and the spawn approaches. With overnight lows in the low 30s, low and clear water and little rain in the forecast, George explains why timing and patience matter more than ever right now. He also makes a strong case for leaving spawning trout and their redds alone as the season turns.George reports that the fishing has been okay but not great. A few caddis, olives and October caddis are still around, but dry fly action is thin and nymphing has been the most consistent approach. Falling leaves are making clean drifts a challenge, so anglers need to work the water methodically to find actively feeding fish. Streamers have been moving trout early and late, particularly from daybreak until roughly 8 or 9 a.m. while the sun is still low on the water, while the best nymphing window has shifted to roughly 1 to 4 p.m. once the water warms.The heart of this episode is spawning-season ethics. George expects redds to start appearing across Central PA within the next one to two weeks, with heavy spawning running from late October through December and redds still visible into January. He describes exactly what a redd looks like, explains why you should never wade through one even when no fish are present and calls out anglers who chase "Internet hero" photos of big trout pulled off spawning beds. The episode wraps with a look at TCO's fall fly tying classes, including next week's Brew and Bugs, and shop hours for serious anglers planning their next trip to State College.Key TakeawaysHow to identify a trout redd as a clean, polished-looking patch of gravel so you can avoid fishing to spawning fish or wading through eggs.Why big trout caught in the middle of a November day are often spawning fish that should be left alone rather than caught and photographed for social media.When to fish streamers in late fall, focusing on daybreak until about 8 or 9 a.m. while the sun is still low on the water.When to switch to nymphing on cold-morning days, targeting the roughly 1 to 4 p.m. window after the water warms.Why falling leaves and low, clear water demand a slower, more methodical approach to finding actively feeding trout.Why dry fly fishing with caddis is a low-percentage play in late October compared to subsurface tactics.Techniques & Gear CoveredNymphing is the primary producer in this report, with George pointing to the early-afternoon window after the water has warmed as the most productive time to fish subsurface. Streamer fishing remains effective in low-light periods, especially at first light before the sun gets high on the water, when trout are more willing to move to a fly than on bright, sunny days. Dry fly options are limited to lingering caddis, olives and a handful of October caddis, and George is candid that working a caddis all day is more about luck than a reliable strategy. He also flags that heavy leaf drop is making a clean drift difficult and recommends a deliberate, cover-the-water approach in low and clear conditions.Locations & SpeciesThis report covers trout streams across Central Pennsylvania from TCO Fly Shop's home base in State College. Late-fall conditions are low and clear with cold mornings in the low 30s, heavy leaf drop and little rain in the forecast, which George describes as typical for this time of year but a bit chillier than normal. The key seasonal factor is the trout spawn, with redds expected to appear within one to two weeks and heavy spawning activity running from late October through December. Anglers fly fishing Central PA for trout this fall should plan around afternoon feeding windows and give spawning areas a wide berth.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat does a trout redd look like?A redd is a small, clean patch of gravel and rocks that looks shiny and polished compared to the surrounding streambed. It is a trout spawning bed, so if fish are on it they are actively spawning and should be left alone. Even if no fish are present, you should not walk on a redd because it may hold trout eggs.When do trout spawn in Central Pennsylvania?According to George Costa, redds typically start appearing in late October, with heavy spawning running through November and December. Redds can still be seen into January. Anglers should avoid fishing to trout on redds and steer clear of spawning areas throughout this period.What is the best time of day to fly fish for trout in Central PA in late fall?With cold mornings in the low 30s, George recommends getting out a little later in the day for nymphing, with
- 3 weeks ago49 min
S8, Ep 78: From Bass to Big Sky: Eric Hurst on Boat Tunes, Big Flies and Keeping It Real
Episode OverviewOn this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Eric Hurst, the fly designer behind the Umpqua-produced Thrasher and Agent Scully streamers, fresh off his first season in Montana. It's a candid conversation about guiding burnout, building a name from scratch and designing streamers that actually swim. For serious streamer tiers and anglers weighing a move from Southeastern tailwaters to big Western trout water, Hurst's perspective is unusually raw and practical.Hurst grew up bass fishing in Alabama and came to fly fishing self-taught, learning to tie largely from YouTube before spending close to a decade guiding out of Alpharetta Outfitters on the Georgia tailwaters around Atlanta, with days in Tennessee and North Carolina. Now working for Kelly Galloup at Galloup's Slide Inn in Montana, he explains why Western trout key on hatches far more exclusively than Southeastern fish, why he would rather fish a good caddis hatch than chase the salmonfly hype and why he has stepped away from guiding until he knows his new water well enough to be fully confident. The heart of the episode is streamer design: his profile-first philosophy, the Mike Schmidt "rule of halves" for building a tapered silhouette, pairing buoyant and sinking materials so the fly works with less input on the retrieve and a glue-free thread wrap, also from Schmidt, for securing articulation wire. He also shares how Umpqua came to him about the Thrasher and Agent Scully, previews his new Secret Shopper, walks through the materials currently on his bench and makes the case for Bobbin the Hood as the event every streamer tier should attend.Key TakeawaysHow to build a tapered streamer profile with the "rule of halves," sizing each successive material at roughly half the length of the one behind it.Why pairing buoyant materials like deer hair with sinking materials like Laser Dub produces a fly that moves on its own and requires less work on the retrieve.How to secure articulation wire without glue using Mike Schmidt's back-and-forth thread wrap that tightens under tension like a Chinese finger trap.Why trout in Montana key on the hatch more exclusively than fish on Southeastern tailwaters like the South Holston, and what that means for an angler moving west.Why less is more at the vise, from trimming back a fly that already looks finished to pulling out long fibers rather than stacking materials.How handing new patterns to shop staff and clients gives a designer more objective field-testing feedback than fishing them personally.Techniques & Gear CoveredThe tying discussion centers on articulated streamers and swim flies, including Hurst's Thrasher, a swim fly tied weighted or unweighted, and the Agent Scully sculpin pattern, both produced by Umpqua in standard and mini sizes, with the newly added Secret Shopper to follow. He breaks down two techniques he learned from Mike Schmidt, the rule of halves and a glue-free thread wrap down the articulation wire, along with his recent move from two Hareline 3D beads to one for better swimming action. On the materials side he highlights Montana Fly Company's peppered chenille, used on Mike Schultz's Woodsman to build profile without holding water, and Kelly Galloup's Fish Feathers from MFC printed in rainbow, brown and speckled trout patterns. At the bench he ties on a black-and-gold Regal vise and brushes out fibers with a switchblade-style comb from Gatlinburg, Tennessee. For a deeper dive into swim fly mechanics, see BONUS - The Science of Streamers (Pt II): Kirk Klingensmith on Swim Flies.Locations & SpeciesHurst cut his teeth guiding trout on the Georgia tailwaters around Atlanta, with additional trips in Tennessee and North Carolina, before relocating to Montana for his first season on Western trout water. His biggest adjustment has been how selectively Montana trout key on hatches compared with Southeastern tailwater fish, even during strong sulphur hatches on the South Holston. He describes this year's Montana salmonfly hatch as hit or miss,
- 3 weeks ago8 min
S8, Ep 77: From Smallmouth to Musky: Matt Reilly's Guide to Southwest Virginia's Fall Fishing
Episode OverviewOn this Southwest Virginia Fishing Report from The Articulate Fly, guide Matt Reilly of Matt Reilly Fly Fishing explains how to approach the opening weeks of fly fishing musky season and the final stretch of fall smallmouth fishing. Recorded as Southwest Virginia rivers recovered from heavy hurricane rain, the episode breaks down why October and early November musky fishing produces far more sightings than hookups and how to adjust when clear water makes fish spooky. Matt walks host Marvin Cash through his musky calendar, which starts with scattered trips in October before he commits fully in early November. He contrasts early-season conditions, defined by warmer and clearer water, with the colder and murkier water of January and February. Early-season muskies spread through good habitat and move more, producing plenty of curiosity follows, but clear water and sunny days can make them wary. His first adjustment is speed: fishing faster forces an aggressive fish to commit and leaves a follower more fired up by the time it reaches the boat. He also explains why this window suits anglers new to musky and those learning an unfamiliar river on their own. For smallmouth bass, Matt describes fall as a reversal of the spring pattern. He sizes up to 5- to 6-inch streamers, leads with swim flies before slowing down and fishing deeper and keeps topwater in play if flows drop again. Water temperatures in the 50s are generally productive unless a hard cold front has just knocked them down. The episode closes with an update on open musky dates from November through February.Key TakeawaysHow to use retrieve speed to trigger spooky early-season muskies in clear water on sunny October days.Why October and early November musky trips typically produce many follows and sightings but few eats, and why that makes the window a strong introduction for anglers new to musky.When to cover more water for musky, since early-season fish spread through good habitat rather than stacking only in key spots.How to size up to 5- to 6-inch streamers for fall smallmouth and when to slow down and fish deeper if swim flies get refused.Why a hard cold front that drops water temperatures from the 60s into the low to mid 50s can shut down an otherwise good fall smallmouth bite.When topwater still makes sense for smallmouth late in the season, particularly if flows fall low again.Techniques & Gear CoveredMusky tactics center on fast retrieves that make an aggressive fish commit away from the boat, with the logic that a fish that follows without eating arrives at the boat more keyed up and less focused on the angler. Matt also describes covering more water per day in the early season while still concentrating on high-percentage spots. For smallmouth, he favors 5- to 6-inch streamers and starts with swim flies, then slows the presentation and drops deeper in the water column when fish refuse to chase. Topwater remains an option if flows fall again, and big smallmouth regularly swipe at 8- to 10-inch musky flies on musky days, a clear sign of how hard large fish will chase a big meal in the fall.Locations & SpeciesThis report covers fly fishing Southwest Virginia rivers for musky and smallmouth bass during the October transition. Hurricane rain had raised flows after a low-water year, and Matt hopes the river holds more water this fall and winter than it did last season. Fall and winter musky fishing in Southwest Virginia runs from sporadic October trips into a full schedule from November through February, with early-season fish spread out in warmer and clearer water and late-season fish moving more deliberately in colder, lower visibility water. Fall smallmouth fishing mirrors the spring pattern in reverse, with big fish chasing large meals as the water cools and that window peaking sometime in November.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy is early-season musky fishing different from winter musky fishing?Matt Reilly defines the early season (October into early November) by warmer and clearer water than the January and February late season. Fish are spread out and moving more, which produces lots of curiosity follows, but clear water can make them spooky. Later in the year the number of fish caught tends to stay about the same, but fish become more intentional in cold water and reduced visibility means anglers see fewer of them.How do you get spooky muskies to eat in clear water?Speed is Matt's first adjustment for spooky fish in clear water and on sunny October days. Fishing faster makes a fish work harder and forces an aggressive one to commit, ideally away fr
- 3 weeks ago11 min
S8, Ep 76: The Truth About Rod Action: Mac Brown's Guide to Better Casting Techniques
Episode OverviewOn this episode of The Articulate Fly's Casting Angles series, fly casting instructor Mac Brown of Mac Brown Fly Fish in Bryson City, North Carolina, joins host Marvin Cash to take apart one of fly fishing's most persistent misconceptions: that a faster rod is a better rod. With North Carolina's Delayed Harvest stocking running late and low fall flows limiting the fishing report, Mac and Marvin devote the conversation to rod action and why medium-action rods often outperform fast rods for casting, line control and fighting fish.Mac frames the discussion around a simple principle — work equals force times distance — and explains how a medium action lengthens the casting stroke and widens the timing window, making it easier for new and intermediate casters to learn. He also emphasizes feel: the counterflex and rebound feedback a deeper-flexing rod sends to the hand, which is critical for presentation casts like the tuck cast and underpowered curve cast. Marvin adds that casting fiberglass smooths out a stroke, and Mac describes fishing his Epic glass rods for October caddis in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.A story from the South Holston River tailwater illustrates the cost of mismatched tackle: a capable competition angler broke off fish after fish on light tippet with an ultra-fast rod, then fished until dark without a break-off after switching to an older Sage Light Line. The episode closes with practical ways to compare rod actions — side-by-side casting at a full-service fly shop, reading a rod's bend profile and test-casting during fly fishing show season — plus updates on Mac's remaining fall schools and his 2027 class and show schedule.Key TakeawaysWhy medium-action rods make casting timing easier to learn, since a longer stroke under the work-equals-force-times-distance principle opens a wider timing window than a fast rod allows.How the counterflex and rebound feedback of a medium-action rod helps you develop presentation casts like the tuck cast and underpowered curve cast.Why an ultra-fast rod can cost you fish when fishing light tippet and small flies on a tailwater, and how a softer rod protects tippet during the fight.How to judge a rod's action without casting it by loading it against a held or tied-off line and noting whether the bend stays in the tip, reaches the middle or extends to the cork.How to compare actions objectively by casting fast, medium-fast and medium rods of the same length and line weight back to back at a fly shop or on the casting pond at a fly fishing show.Why casting a fiberglass rod can smooth out your stroke and improve your roll casting and fish-fighting feel.Techniques & Gear CoveredThe core of the episode is rod action: Mac and Marvin compare fast, medium-fast and medium-action rods across casting, mending, line control and fighting fish, with Mac explaining how the work-equals-force-times-distance relationship and counterflex and rebound feedback favor medium actions for most trout fishing. Presentation casts such as the tuck cast and underpowered curve cast serve as examples where rod feel matters most, and Marvin notes that slower rods make mending easier and help anglers lose fewer fish. Fiberglass gets its due through Mac's Epic glass rods, which he favors for fall dry fly fishing, while an older Sage Light Line rod is the hero of a tailwater story about protecting light tippet when fishing small midge patterns. Practical evaluation methods round out the gear discussion, from casting a lineup of 9-foot 5-weights in sequence and ranking them by feel to visually checking each rod's bend profile under load.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy isn't a faster fly rod always better?Mac Brown calls "faster is better" one of the most common misconceptions he has encountered in his teaching career. A fast rod compresses the casting stroke into a very short timing window that is hard to control, while a medium action gives a longer stroke that new and intermediate casters can manage more easily. He also notes that many elite casters and lifelong instructors choose medium-action rods for their own fishing.Why does rod feel matter for presentation casts?A medium-action rod transmits counterflex and rebound feedback to the caster's hand, while a very fast rod releases its energy so quickly that the caster feels very little. That feedback is what helps anglers develop and refine presentation casts such as the tuck cast and underpowered curve cast. Mac's view is that the right tool for building that feel is almost always a medium action.Why do anglers break off fish on tailwaters with f
- Oct 9, 20263 min
S8, Ep 75: Autumn Angling Insights: George Costa's Tips for Central PA's Changing Waters
Episode OverviewThis Central PA Fishing Report from The Articulate Fly, a fly fishing podcast, catches up with George Costa, manager of TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, for an early-fall look at trout conditions across the region. Falling leaves, wind and dropping flows made for a slower week, but rain in the forecast should freshen things up just as the streamer bite and the first redds of the season approach.Costa explains how leaves turning and falling into the water, pushed along by steady wind, have made clean drifts difficult as flows ease toward the lower side. Nymphing has stayed consistent for anglers who can work their flies through the leaves, while dry fly action has been hit or miss despite caddis, olives and Isos on the water. A forecast half inch or more of rain on Sunday should deliver a welcome bump clearing out leaves, adding a bit of color and kicking the streamer bite into gear.He also flags a key seasonal milestone. Early redds traditionally show up around the end of October, and Costa expects to see them within the next two weeks, especially on Spring Creek, where trout tend to start building redds on the earlier side. With great water all year and comfortable fall temperatures, he calls this a great time of year to get out.Marvin and George close with TCO's busy fall and winter class calendar, including new classes at the Reading location plus fly tying and on-the-water classes in State College, along with fully stocked shops and State College hours.Key TakeawaysHow to keep nymphing productive in early fall by working flies through the leaves that are fouling drifts on windy days.Why a half inch or more of rain can reset Central PA streams by bumping flows, flushing out leaves and adding the color that switches on the streamer bite.When to expect the first trout redds in Central PA, with Spring Creek typically leading the way ahead of the traditional late-October timing.Why dry fly fishing remains hit or miss right now even with caddis, olives and Isos on the water.How to find TCO Fly Shop's fall and winter fly tying and on-the-water classes in State College and elsewhere.Techniques & Gear CoveredNymphing carried this report, with George Costa noting that subsurface rigs have produced consistently for anglers who can get their flies down through the leaves drifting in Central PA streams. Streamer fishing is the technique to watch as fall progresses, with Costa expecting the streamer bite to pick up on calmer days and after Sunday's rain adds color and flushes out leaves. Dry fly fishing has been hit or miss, with caddis, olives and Isos present but few reports of strong surface action. No specific fly patterns or rigs were named in this report, but TCO Fly Shop's locations are fully stocked for the fall and winter season, and its fly tying classes offer a way to sharpen bench skills over the colder months.Locations & SpeciesThis report covers Central Pennsylvania trout water around State College, with Spring Creek singled out as the stream where early redds typically appear first. Early-fall conditions include falling leaves, windy days and flows easing toward the lower side, with a forecast half inch or more of rain expected to bump flows and add color. Early trout redds traditionally show up in Central PA around the end of October, and Costa expects them within the next two weeks on Spring Creek. For anglers looking for fall fly fishing strategies in Central PA, the approach is to nymph through the leaf litter now and be ready for a streamer bite as rain and cooler nights take hold.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do falling leaves affect fly fishing in Central PA during the fall?Leaves turning and falling into the water, especially on windy days, make it difficult to get a good drift. George Costa says this contributed to a slower week on Central PA streams. Nymphs have still produced for anglers who can get their flies through the leaves.What fly fishing methods are working best in Central PA in early fall?Nymphing has been the most consistent method, as long as anglers can work through the leaves in the water. Dry fly action has been hit or miss even with caddis, olives and Isos around. Costa expects the streamer bite to start picking up soon, particularly on days that are not super windy.How will fall rain change fly fishing conditions in Central PA?With flows easing toward the lower side, Costa sees a forecast half inch or more of rain as a great little bump. The rain should clear out leaves, add a bit of color to the w
- Oct 7, 20269 min
S8, Ep 74: Pennsylvania Smallmouth Wrap-Up: Captain Brian Shumaker on Low Water and Stingy Fish
Episode OverviewIn the final Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report of the season on The Articulate Fly, Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides explains how to keep putting smallmouth bass in the boat as Central Pennsylvania's rivers drop to low, crystal-clear fall levels. It's a timely fly fishing podcast segment for anyone chasing smallmouth late in the season, when the fish get stingy and every presentation mistake gets punished.Two weeks after a healthy shot of rain, a nor'easter that came up the East Coast delivered far less precipitation than hoped, and both the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers are now dropping and gin clear. Brian breaks down why the fish are tough: a pattern of short stable spells broken by passing cold fronts and falling barometric pressure, combined with steadily dropping water that makes smallmouth easier to spook. His answer is constant adjustment, rotating patterns and downsized Clouser Minnows until something works, then changing again when the bite dies a mile or two downriver.Marvin and Brian also dig into drift boat presentation for low, clear water: longer casts placed slightly upstream so the fly swings down and across ahead of ledges and drop-offs, keeping the boat steady and the oarlock "window" each angler should fish from the bow and stern to get a natural, drag-free drift without mending. Brian covers his color strategy for overcast versus bright days, why he's staying with floating lines as the river gets skinny and why tiny lead eyes beat bead chain for getting Clousers down without hanging up. The episode wraps with how to book spring 2027 smallmouth dates before Brian hits the winter show circuit.Key TakeawaysWhy passing cold fronts and steadily dropping water make Pennsylvania smallmouth moody and why stable weather fishes better.How to cast longer and slightly upstream in low, clear water so your fly comes down and across a ledge or drop-off before the fish see the boat.How bow and stern anglers can each keep their casts inside an oarlock-defined window to get a drag-free drift at boat speed with no mending.When to switch to darker flies on overcast days and brighter, flashier flies on sunny days.How downsized Clouser Minnows with 1/50-ounce lead eyes on a floating line get to the fish without hanging up in skinny water.When to book spring smallmouth dates, since April and May fill first and Brian recommends reaching out before the end of December.Techniques & Gear CoveredThis report focuses on drift boat streamer tactics for smallmouth in low, clear fall water. Brian casts longer and slightly upstream to get ahead of ledges and drop-offs, letting the fly come down and across rather than landing on top of spooky fish. He assigns each angler a casting window, with the bow angler working from the oarlock forward and the stern angler from the oarlock back, and has them cast at roughly 45 degrees so the fly drifts at boat speed with no belly in the line and no need to mend. On gear, he's fishing floating lines exclusively and downsized Clouser Minnows tied with 1/50-ounce lead eyes, keeping the fly moving so it gets down without snagging. Fly color follows the light, with darker patterns on overcast days and brighter patterns with more flash on bright days, while boat discipline matters too: anglers should stay centered in the lean bars rather than drifting to the gunwale, since a listing or rocking boat pushes out waves that spook fish.Locations & SpeciesFly fishing the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers in Central Pennsylvania for smallmouth bass is the sole focus of this late-season report. Both rivers are dropping and crystal clear after a nor'easter delivered less rain than expected, to the point where Brian went from floating anywhere he wanted to bouncing off rocks within two weeks. Fall cold fronts and falling barometric pressure are making the fish fussy, so late-season smallmouth fishing in low, clear water calls for stealthy presentations, smaller flies and frequent pattern changes. Unless rain arrives, this marks the end of Brian's smallmouth season, with bookings already open for spring and summer 2027.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy are smallmouth bass hard to catch in low, clear water in the fall?Brian Shumaker says it's a combination of weather and water. Smallmouth like stability, and fall cold fronts that drop the barometric pressure make them moody and fussy. At the same time, steadily dropping, crystal-clear water means the fish can see anglers and boats more easily and spook.How should you cast to smallmouth in low, clear water?Make longer casts and place them slightly upstream so the fly can get ahead of the ledge or drop-off and come down and across to the fish. Because smallmo
- Oct 2, 202654 min
S8, Ep 73: REDUX: The Fight for Our Future: Land Tawney on Grassroots Advocacy and Public Lands
Episode OverviewThis award-winning episode of The Articulate Fly, which took 1st place in the 2026 Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) Excellence in Craft awards (Radio/Podcast: Conservation), features outdoorsman, conservationist and grassroots organizer Land Tawney on how hunters and anglers can protect America's public lands and waters. Recorded in Fall 2025, the conversation pairs Land's nearly 30 years of conservation advocacy with a candid assessment of what he calls the most serious threat to public lands he has seen in his career. Raised in Missoula, Montana, Land traces his conservation ethic to childhood float trips during the Big Hole River salmonfly hatch, his parents' work as full-time conservation lobbyists at the state legislature and mentors including fisheries biologist and author Jim Posewitz. He breaks down the three ingredients that helped grow Backcountry Hunters & Anglers to roughly 40,000 members across political lines (fun, an open path to volunteer leadership and standing for something) and explains how to coach empowered volunteers without breaking them. Land then introduces American Hunters and Anglers Action Network, a 501(c)(4) that can lobby without the limits placed on 501(c)(3) groups and engage directly in elections. He lays out a "dismantle, defund, divest" framework for current threats, from a proposed mine just south of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Ambler Road through Alaska's Brooks Range. Finally, he makes the case for responsible development and principled compromise, citing the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Montana's Blackfoot Valley as models. It is essential listening for any angler who wants a real voice in the future of the waters they fish.Key TakeawaysWhy grassroots action is the most accessible way for busy anglers to influence conservation policy and how pressure from the field gives lobbyists leverage at the negotiating table in Washington, D.C.How fun events, an open path to volunteer leadership and a consistent stand for the resource helped Backcountry Hunters & Anglers build an unusually broad coalition of hunters and anglers.How to coach empowered volunteers after a misstep rather than holding them back, and why Land would rather rein in a running horse than coax one out of the barn.When to lean in on an issue, with maximum effort reserved for bedrock fights such as the sale of public lands and attacks on the Clean Water Act that affect everyone.Why the difference between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations determines who can lobby without limits and engage in elections, and how American Hunters and Anglers Action Network complements groups like Trout Unlimited.How to recognize the "dismantle, defund, divest" pattern behind current threats to public lands and waters, from agency staffing cuts to land sale proposals.Locations & SpeciesLand's fishing roots run through southwest Montana, where float trips during the Big Hole River salmonfly hatch shaped his earliest memories and mentor Dale Burk's favorite pattern, the Golden Stone, proved its worth even when salmonflies were on the water; Marvin recalls hitting the same hatch on the upper Madison River with his young son. The conservation discussion spans the 640 million acres of public lands Americans own, with particular focus on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota, the caribou and salmon habitat of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the proposed 210-mile Ambler Road through Alaska's Brooks Range, which would cross 11 rivers and roughly 3,000 streams. Land points to Wyoming's oil and gas fields as a cautionary tale for mule deer and pronghorn migrations and to Montana's Blackfoot Valley as a model of collaborative compromise among timber companies, ranchers, hunters, anglers and recreationists. He also notes that roughly 70% of Montana's fishing access sites were funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a direct link between federal conservation policy and the places anglers actually fish.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is the difference between a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(4) conservation organization?Land explains that 501(c)(3) groups such as <a href="https://www.tu.org" rel="noope
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A podcast exploring aviation and ongoing pilot training through the journey of a student pilot learning to fly.
Hangar Flying with Smokehouse Pilots Club
Smokehouse Pilots
MeatEater Conservation
A podcast about outdoor news and conservation issues, featuring interviews with experts and hunters.
The Hunting Collective
Explores the ethics, conservation, and cultural values of modern hunting through conversations with prominent voices in the field.
The Erik Anders Lang Show: Golf - Travel - Comedy
Explores the reasons people play golf through candid conversations, personal reflections, and interviews with players, creators, and enthusiasts.
Fieldcraft Survival
Survival skills, preparedness tactics, gear reviews, and military-inspired training for self-reliance in the wild and urban environments.
The Aquarium Everything Podcast
Jeffrey Senske
About The Articulate Fly
The Articulate Fly Fly Fishing Podcast regularly releases interviews with national and regional personalities covering fly fishing, fly tying and fly fishing travel. We also regularly release fishing reports for the novice and experienced fly angler. Whether you just loved a River Runs Through It or you are a streamer junkie, a dry fly addict, a swinger or a nymph head, we have you covered! To learn more, visit www.thearticulatefly.com.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Articulate Fly daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Articulate Fly as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Articulate Fly podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Articulate Fly product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by The Articulate Fly.
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How often does The Articulate Fly release new episodes?
The Articulate Fly publishes every few days. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Articulate Fly cover?
The Articulate Fly covers topics including Leisure, Education, Sports, How To, Hobbies, Wilderness. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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