Master guide Kevin Feenstra reveals his proven techniques for targeting bass, musky, pike, and carp using baitfish patterns the fish love. Drawing from over two decades of guiding experience on Michigan's mighty Muskegon River, Kevin shares his expert strategies for reading water and presenting flies to these hard-hitting fish.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• You recently published Matching Warmwater Baitfish. What inspired you to write it and how did it come about?
• What makes baitfish patterns so effective for targeting predatory fish like smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskie, and others?
• How important is fly size when imitating baitfish for different predators?
• What are the key differences in how smallmouth and largemouth bass hunt baitfish?
• What are your go-to baitfish patterns for smallmouth bass, and how do they differ from those for largemouth?
• What are some effective retrieves when fishing baitfish patterns for bass?
• What makes muskie such a challenging species to catch on the fly?
• Can you explain the "figure eight" technique and when to use it when targeting muskie?
• What is your goto pattern for musky?
• What is your favorite throwback fly to convert muskie that follow but won't eat?
• What are some effective techniques for fishing baitfish flies in heavy cover or structure?
• How do water clarity and light conditions affect baitfish fly selection?
• Is there a searching baitfish pattern that you prefer to use when fishing new water?
• What are some key materials for tying realistic and effective baitfish imitations?
• What advice do you have for anglers looking to improve their success with baitfish imitations?

Rick Nyles started guiding in 1999 and has since grown his guide service to eight guides in Pennsylvania. His knowledge of Pennsylvania fisheries is deep and wide. Join us to talk about a few of the top Pennsylvania fisheries you want to add to your bucket list.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What books can you recommend that detail Pennsylvania waters?
• I'm coming to fish in Pennsylvania for the first time where should I go to maximize my trip?
• Where and when should I go to hit the Green Drake hatch?
• How do the state laws affect public access to the rivers and creeks?
• I want to swing wet flies to increase my fish numbers; where should I go to do this?
• What rivers or streams are the best for smallmouth bass fishing?
• What are the prime waters in the State College area?
• What's Penns Creek known for most?
• What are the top flies that you recommend for fishing Pennsylvania waters?
• What river would you fish in the Johnstone area?
• How do you get away from the crowds?
• What are the top rivers and creeks in Eastern Pennsylvania?
• What species of trout is Pennsylvania known most for?
• What are your tips for fishing the Lehigh River?

Anthony Carruesco, a professional guide in northern California, guides on the Lower and Upper Sacramento, the Klamath, Pit and McCloud rivers. These beautiful waters produce rainbows, browns and pacific steelhead. Whether you float or wade, want to fish nymphs, dries or streamers, you'll be right at home. Listen in and learn all about these rivers and how to hook up with what some people consider California's gold.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• When is the best time of year to fish northern California rivers?
• What rivers are the best for wade fishing?
• What is the difference between fishing the Upper and Lower Sacramento River?
• How do you rig up to nymph deep rivers?
• What suspension device was developed to fish these rivers?
• What river is considered the premier trout fishery in California?
• What river has the best stonefly hatches?
• What river has the best steelhead fishing?
• Where do you fish for rainbows and char?
• What are the most prolific hatches on these rivers?

Davy Wotton has caught a lot of big trout in the past 30 years and wet fly fishing in the traditional style is one of the biggest reasons for his success. Listen and find out about Davy's techniques and how to master them.

They’re fast, powerful, and one of the toughest fish to fool on a fly—roosterfish, or El Gallo. Join us as legendary angler Tom Boyd shares his decades-long pursuit of these magnificent predators in Costa Rica. From world-record catches to breakthrough tactics, Tom reveals what makes roosters so elusive, how to spot and hook them, and why landing one is considered the pinnacle of saltwater fly fishing. Don’t miss this chance to learn the secrets of chasing one of the ocean’s most extraordinary game fish!

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What makes roosterfish one of the most challenging saltwater fish to catch on a fly?
• How do their unique auditory and visual senses make them so difficult to fool?
• Can you explain the role of the dorsal comb and how roosterfish use it to hunt or herd baitfish?
• How does the behavior of roosters differ between calmer waters like Baja beaches and the rougher open Pacific waters of Costa Rica?
• Tell us about your very first encounter with a roosterfish on the Costa Rica/Nicaragua border—what did you see and how did it change your fishing path?
• Walk us through your 1998 catch in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo—the first large roosterfish taken on fly under IGFA rules. What made it possible that day?
• How did that world-record catch open doors for you, including your work with Crocodile Bay in Costa Rica?
• What role does structure—like reefs, points, or guano-covered cliffs—play in locating roosters?
• What do you look for in bird activity when scanning a beach for signs of roosterfish?
• What’s your preferred rod, reel, and line setup for roosterfish in Costa Rica?
• Tell us about the development of Boyd’s Wounded Baitfish fly. What made it so effective?
• How closely do you try to “match the hatch” when choosing fly colors and sizes for Costa Rica?
• What retrieves have you found most effective—steady strips, erratic jerks, or wounded-baitfish movements?
• What are your tips for setting the hook properly on roosterfish, given their tendency to spit flies?
• How do you recommend fighting a rooster—rod angles, pressure, and handling jumps?
• Roosterfish are listed as “data deficient” by the IUCN. What past and current research have you done that will help us to understand roosterfish better in Costa Rica and other parts of the world.

Alec Griffin was hooked on redfish his second day in New Orleans and was amazed at their ferocity when attacking a fly. He's been chasing them ever since. Learn Alec's secrets about hooking up with big redfish on a fly.

Dave Blackburn has been fishing and guiding the Kootenai River in Montana for over 25 years. If you want to know how to fish and where to fish on this great western trout river listen in and Dave will share his hard earned secrets.

Landon Mayer, a veteran instructor and professional guide, will help you analyze your past mistakes and learn how to adapt to a wide range of fishing conditions. He uses unorthodox solutions for common fly fishing problems but they are all designed to help you catch more fish. Join us and Landon will help you sharpen your skills.

Denis Isbister travels the world in search of fish but Pyramid Lake is on his home turf. Join us on this show where Denis will talk about how to get the trophy Lahontan cutthroat trout on the fly, which call Pyramid Lake their home.

Beau Beasley unveils the profound journey of veterans healing through fly fishing. Drawing from his book, Healing Waters, we explore heartfelt stories of recovery from the battlefield to the riverbank. Hear how the serenity of casting lines and the camaraderie among veterans nurture both body and soul, offering a powerful testament to the therapeutic wonders of nature. Don't miss this deeply moving episode—where every cast brings a step toward healing.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What is the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) organization, and how did it come about?
• How has it helped veterans recover from their experience in the service?
• Has there been recognition from physicians that PHWFF can have a positive impact on the lives of participants?
• How did your book Healing Waters come to be?
• What do you hope to accomplish with your book?
• What guidelines did you set for your interviews, and how did you decide to convey their stories?
• How many interviews did you do?
• Did you include all the interviews in your book?
• You chose to honor Brian Mancini at the beginning of your book. Who was Brian?
• Alvin Shell served in Iraq. What can you tell us about Alvin?
• Jessica Callihan was injured when she was very young. How did PHWFF help her?
• Jerry Mirron served with his companion dog in Vietnam. What was his experience?
• How can you learn more if you want to volunteer to help Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing?

Join us as Evan Bottcher reveals the secrets of the West Branch of the Ausable River, a legendary fly fishing destination. With a rich history of legendary anglers and diverse insect hatches, Evan shares expert tips and techniques honed since childhood. Perfect your skills and discover captivating stories in this not-to-miss show!

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What makes the West Branch of the Ausable River such a unique fly fishing destination?
• Can you tell us about the history of fly fishing on the West Branch and its significance in the region?
• How has the river's reputation among anglers evolved over the years?
• What is the overall health of the river's ecosystem and the quality of the water?
• What species of trout are most commonly found in the West Branch of the Ausable River?
• What is the best time of year to fly fish the West Branch, and how does the fishing change with the seasons?
• Are there any specific regulations anglers need to be aware of when fishing this river?
• What are the different sections of the river and how do vary in terms of fishing difficulty and trout density?
• What's best way to fish the areas that are difficult to wade?
• What role do local hatches play in planning a successful day of fishing on the river?
• What is your favorite hatch?
• Where and when are streamers likely to be effective on the Ausable?
• Is it true that many times larger flies produce better than those that match the hatch?
• What are some key strategies for fishing this river, especially for first-time anglers?
• Do you have any recommendations for targeting deeper pools versus shallower runs on the West Branch?
• Where an how do you sight fish for striped bass?
• How does the presence of large boulders and pocket water impact your approach to fishing specific sections of the river?

Eric Pettine starting fly fishing long before strike indicators entered the scene and developed his nymphing techniques based upon close attention to the habits of trout. Eric shares his secrets and details his shallow, medium depth and deep water techniques including leader, tippet, weight and fly selection.

Skip Morris, author of seventeen books on fly fishing, will guide us through the biology and how to fish the salmonfly and golden stonefly. Where, when and how will be covered in depth so the next time you have the opportunity you'll be well prepared to catch more fish.

Tenkara was introduced to the United States in 2009 and has become a rapidly growing method of fly fishing for many fly fishers. How has it evolved and what role does it play in today's fly fishing world? Listen to this podcast to hear Morgan Lyle catch us up on what's happened and share his secrets on how to catch more fish using tenkara methods.

Zach Lazzari worked as a professional guide for 10 years in places like Colorado, Montana, Alaska and Patagonia. If you’ve always wanted to know about what it’s like to be a guide tune in to this show. Zach will give you the inside scoop on getting your first job, living like a guide, the great times you will have and the not so great time you may have.