What happens when a man who’s fly fished for over fifty years, who’s graduated with a university degree in English, who’s published 19 print-and-paper books on fly-fishing topics with three publishers, decides to spend three years writing his first book of essays about his beloved sport? Can you imagine? Join us to learn how Skip came to write his latest book 500 Trout Streams and hear a few of his favorite stories.

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

• What was the first writing you got published?
• Do you make notes about your fishing trips to use later in your writing?
• Do you have a writing routine, if so what is it?
• What prompted the writing of 500 Trout Streams?
• What kind of research do you do and how long do you spend researching?
• Is there still a market for long-form print pieces?
• Did you really fish 500 trout streams?
• What is your favorite book on fly fishing by another writer?
• What authors do you look to for their writing skills and style?
• Will you be writing more essays in the future?

Mike Hogue, a professional fly tier and fly shop owner, has fished the Finger Lakes region of New York for over 25 years. The lakes, unique unto themselves in beauty, offer salmon, rainbow trout and lake trout all available on the fly. Listen in as Mike takes us on a tour of this unusual fishing destination and shares his secrets to success in fishing in this area.

• What finger lakes are the most important for fly fishing?
• Do you fish both the lakes, streams and tributaries?
• What species of fish can be targeted with a fly?
• What lake should you fish if you want to catch a Lake Trout on the fly?
• Are there migratory rainbow runs on all the lakes?
• What time of year do each of the migratory runs happen?
• Which lake has the famous Brown Drake hatch?
• What type of boat is the best to use on the lakes?
• What type and size of flies work best for the salmon?

Get ready to explore the shimmering world of bonefish with Ian Davis, author of A Passion for Bonefish. Ian shares insights from how to read a flat and choose the perfect fly to unlocking the secrets of tides, moon phases, and guide teamwork. Whether you’re dreaming of stalking the flats or planning your next saltwater trip, this show will fuel your obsession for one of fly fishing’s most electrifying and elusive species.

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

• What features of a bonefish’s anatomy make it such a challenging and thrilling fish to pursue on the fly?
• How do their sensory systems—especially eyesight—impact how we approach them as anglers?
• What types of flats and ecosystems do bonefish thrive in across different regions like the Bahamas or Belize?
• Can you walk us through the typical bonefish diet and how it may vary by location?
• What are some of the most consistently productive bonefish flies you've seen or used in different countries?
• Have any fly patterns surprised you in their effectiveness or versatility across different locations?
• How do wind conditions affect both casting and fish behavior on the flats?
• Are there any general rules anglers can follow to understand tidal movement and its impact?
• What makes the guide–angler relationship crucial in bonefishing success?
• What visual cues help an angler read the flats for likely bonefish hotspots?
• What behaviors should you look for when trying to distinguish feeding bonefish from cruising ones?
• What does a perfect bonefish fly presentation look like?
• Can you explain why strip-setting is so critical—and how it differs from trout setting?
• What’s the best way to land a bonefish safely for both the angler and the fish?

Dive into the exhilarating world of fly fishing for trophy striped bass in our next show with John Field! Join us as he shares the behaviors, preferred foods, and best fishing spots for these spectacular sportfish. Learn the flies and techniques that promise success. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned angler, don’t miss this thrilling discussion that could lead you to your next big catch!

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

• What do you consider a trophy striped bass?
• Can you explain the four major Atlantic stocks and their migrations?
• Are there similar migrations in California?
• What physical characteristics and sense of stripers do we, as fly fishers, need to know?
• What are the key factors that affect the movement of large fish?
• What are their primary food sources?
• Does the size of the fly help with hooking larger fish?
• Do you need to match your fly pattern the baitfish they are feeding on?
• What are a few of your go-to flies?
• What are your favorite top water patterns?
• What weight rods and types of lines do you recommend?
• What knots do you use in your setup?
• Are you more likely to catch a trophy striped bass from a boat or from shore?
• Where an how do you sight fish for striped bass?
• How do you present and retrieve your flies?
• What type of fight do the larger fish give and how do you fight them?
• What is the best way to handle a fish you've caught to ensure their survival?

Duane Redford will delves into what the top 10% of anglers are seeing and doing differently from the fly fishing masses, and how they are consistently putting fish in the net in every situation. Join us and learn from a master angler how to increase your odds of catching more trout.

Rob Streeter has a great love of fly fishing and its history. He has collected and assembled the life stories of some of the great fly fishers that fished the Adirondack mountains, including Ray Bergman, Lee Wulff, Perry Ehlers, and others. Join us and learn about the history of fly fishing in the Adirondacks and the people who fished its esteemed waters.

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

• What do you know about the early days of fly fishing in the Adirondacks?
• Who were the first fly fishers that were written about?
• What are your three go to flies of the Adirondacks?
• What streamers work best?
• Are the places to trout spey in the Adirondacks?
• Were these fly fishing greats concerned about conservation?
• Who was William Scripture Jr.?
• What contributions did Ray Bergman make to fly fishing?
• How did Lee Wulff combine his love flying with the fly fishing?
• What fly patterns was Lee Wulff famous for?
• Who was the creator of the Ausable Wulff fly?
• What challenges did Francis Betters overcome to continue fly fishing?
• Who was the most interesting person you wrote about?

Earl Waters has achieved over 300 grand slams in the salt for his clients and himself so he knows his stuff. Find out from Earl how to land a tarpon, permit and bonefish all in one day.

Rob Provost was one of the very first to introduce locals and the business/vacation traveler alike to the pursuit of Hawaiian bonefish on the fly. Listen in to learn about fly fishing for bonefish and how it differs from other places in the world.

When the sun goes down, big brown trout come out to hunt—and few flies trigger more violent takes than a well-fished mouse. In this episode, Michigan guide Tommy Lynch breaks down the art and science of fly fishing with mouse patterns. We cover mouse fly design, rods and lines, presentation tactics, reading water at night, and how to safely fish after dark. If you want to target your biggest trout on purpose, this episode delivers the playbook.

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

• What is it about mouse patterns that triggers such aggressive strikes from big brown trout at night?
• Are trout actually keying on real mice, or is it more about sound, silhouette, and disturbance?
• What time of year do you find mouse fishing to be most productive?
• Why do anglers target nighttime browns with mouse patterns, when subsurface steamers can be really effective at night and have much higher hook-up percentages?
• Are there particular geographic locations where nighttime mouse pattern fishing is most productive?
• What features do you look for in a great mouse fly—materials, buoyancy, tail, legs?
• Do you prefer foam, deer hair, or hybrid mouse patterns, and why?
• How does color matter at night—dark vs. light vs. natural tones?
• What’s your go-to retrieve when fishing a mouse pattern after dark?
• Do you prefer skating, waking, or subtle twitching—and when does each shine?
• What are the most common presentation mistakes anglers make with mouse flies?
• How do you “map” a piece of water during the day to fish it effectively at night?
• What rod, line, and leader setup do you recommend specifically for mouse fishing?
• What safety considerations should anglers think about before fishing at night?

Susan Thrasher is a professional guide and instructor in East Tennessee. She co-founded The Music City Fly Girls a “no drama” fly fishing club which is a bit different than most clubs you may have been part of. Join us to find out how they run their meetings, plan outings across North America and learn from their journeys. You just might get some great ideas for your club!

Bob Popovics is well known among salt water fly tiers to say the least and his designs are not only innovative but effective. The process of fly creation is a living, organic one and not a mechanical one for Bob, he doesn’t tie so much as he creates. If you’re looking for some tips on tying some great salt water patterns join us as we try to unravel Bob’s brain and get to the bottom of great fly creation.

Ed Engle specializes in tying and fishing small flies. Imitating small insects takes extra care and presenting those tiny flies, detecting the strikes and how to best play a trout on a small fly are all part of fishing small flies. Join us to learn Ed's secrets to accomplishing this.

Jon Olch has been fascinated with fishing the saltwater flats for almost 40 years. He’s caught just about every kind of fish on the flats but he’s obsessed with permit. He’s studied the permit inside and out and is one of the most knowledgeable permit fly fishers on the planet. Join us to learn more about fly fishing for one of the most challenging fish in the water.

Alabama is quickly becoming one of the most exciting and diverse fly fishing destinations in North America—and Matt Lewis is here to prove it. Join us as we uncover more than 50 hidden gems across the state, from Appalachian streams teeming with redeye bass to coastal marshes alive with trophy redfish. Whether you're chasing bass, bream, or saltwater giants, Alabama has it all. Don’t miss this eye-opening journey through one of fly fishing’s best-kept secrets!

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

• What inspired you to write Alabama’s Best Fly Fishing and showcase this state as a fly fishing destination?
• Many anglers overlook Alabama—why do you think it’s a hidden gem in the fly fishing world?
• Why is Alabama called "America's Amazon"?
• How would you describe the diversity of Alabama’s fisheries compared to other states in the South or across the country?
• Can you walk us through the typical bonefish diet and how it may vary by location?
• What makes the redeye bass so unique and special for fly anglers?
• What type of water do you find these fish?
• What are the best strategies and fly patterns for targeting redeye bass in Alabama streams?
• What other bass species are popular to target?
• Alabama is known for trophy striped bass—what are your go-to methods and flies for targeting them?
• What other species of fish are available to fly fish for?
• If you could only choose one place to fish which location would go to?
• What makes Alabama’s Gulf Coast marshes and estuaries special for fly anglers?
• What species are there to target in the marshes and estuaries?

Bill Butts has made temperate basses his specialty and freshwater stripers are one of his favorite targets. Learn Bill's secrets about finding, hooking up with and landing one of these freshwater trophies.