851 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/851

Presented by: FishHound Expeditions

For the last ten years, today's guest has been fly fishing the Alaska road system and guiding the south central river, Lower Willow, Upper Willow, the Canyon water, and Montana Creek. He's one of the guides behind our recent Alaskan hosted trip and has a head full of stories that only come from rowing in a place where anything can happen.

In this episode, you'll hear what it was like from Will's seat on the sticks during our trip, why the bite shifted every day, how he chooses between bugs, beads, and buggers, and plenty of stories from the river.

Will breaks down how to actively jig, swing, and animate the Duracell and other flies while nymphing, and how they get trout, grayling, and even salmon to eat.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/851

#850B Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/850B

Presented By: Intrepid Camp Gear

Sloan Hiatt, Manager at Intrepid Camp Gear, breaks down how his team designs rooftop tents and aluminum cargo boxes built for anglers, skiers, and backcountry travelers. He shares why Intrepid manufactures everything themselves instead of white-labeling, how they solved common space and durability problems, and what makes their gear stand out in the overlanding world.

We also get the story of Sloan's late-night bear encounter from a rooftop tent, plus a deep dive into his restored Land Cruisers, diesel swaps, and the 4x4 community that keeps these classic rigs alive. Whether you're camping, fishing, or chasing winter road trips, Sloan brings a builder's perspective shaped by miles of real-world use.

850B Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/850B

#850 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/850

Presented by: Drifthook Fly Fishing, Four Wheel Campers, Jackson Hole Fly Company, Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

When you spend enough time around steelhead guides, you start to notice something: the truly fishy ones never stop learning. That's exactly the vibe I get every time I'm on the river with Pat Beahen. The guy reads water like it's printed in large font, and he's got this river-smart intensity that makes you believe a fish could grab at any second.

This episode pulls together decades of Pat's life chasing steelhead across BC — from Whistler beginnings to long seasons on the Bulkley and the Dean. If you're a Great Lakes angler looking to level up your swung-fly game, this one's packed with insight.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/850

849 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/849

Presented by: Jackson Hole Fly Company, Drifthook Fly Fishing, Fish The Fly

Some stories follow you your whole life, and John MacLean grew up inside one of the most meaningful ones ever tied to fly fishing. In this episode, we look past the nostalgia and into the real heart of A River Runs Through It — the family, the grief, the responsibility, and the loss that shaped his father's writing.

John is a journalist and author of Home Waters, and the son of Norman MacLean. He's spent decades tracing the real events behind the book and the movie — the slow rise of the original printing, the truth of Paul's murder, the guilt Norman carried, and how writing became the only way to make sense of it all. This episode also follows John's own work, from fire investigations to his next book, marking fifty years of A River Runs Through It.

There's a lot here — family history, Montana stories, film moments, and the deeper current that still pulls at John today.


Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/849

#848 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/848

Presented By: Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho

Chris Smith takes us inside the world of Team USA Fly Fishing, breaking down the systems, strategies, and Euro nymphing methods that have elevated American competitive angling over the last decade. From his first accidental competition in 2009 to mentoring youth anglers and preparing for the Idaho World Championships, Chris shares how confidence flies, rod-angle depth control, beat management, and communication across teams fuel the "medal mentality."

He explains the difference between French and Spanish presentations, how Team USA refined its intel-sharing model, and why volunteers at Worlds get front-row seats to world-class fishing. Whether you're learning Euro nymphing for trout or want to understand how top anglers think under pressure, this is a rare look behind the curtain of elite competition.

#848 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/848

Show Notes: Https://wetfyswing.com/847B

Presented By: Mountain Waters Resort.

Sponsors:https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Atlantic Canada is home to some of the most storied salmon rivers in the world—and to one of the quiet powerhouses working behind the scenes to protect them. In this episode of the Wet Fly Swing Podcast, host Dave talks with Charline McCoy, executive director of the Foundation for Conservation of Atlantic Salmon (FCAS), about how a tiny team is helping safeguard Canada's wild Atlantic salmon across five provinces.

From replacing culverts and removing old dams to planting riparian trees and funding climate-focused research, Charline walks us through how FCAS has supported hundreds of conservation projects—and helped open up nearly 199 million square meters of salmon habitat. You'll also hear how warming rivers, shifting flows, and invasive species are changing the game for salmon, and why collaboration between governments, scientists, anglers, and local watershed groups has never been more important.

#847 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/847

Presented by: Drifthook Fly Fishing, Mountain Waters Resort, Togiak River Lodge, Smitty's Fly Box

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Marc Bale spent more than thirty years inside one of fly fishing's most influential companies. In this episode, he walks us through Far Bank history, the early Sage days, the rise of Rio, the Redington years, and the philosophies that kept everything from collapsing under its own growth.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/847

846 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/846

Presented by: Patagonia

If you've ever stood in a cold river and trusted your waders with your whole day, you know how much depends on them. This week, we unpack the story behind the Patagonia Swiftcurrent Waders, how they're built, why they matter, and what Patagonia is doing to make them better for both anglers and the planet.

Kate Hadeka and Nick Blixt join us to talk about how these waders are built, why they last, and what Patagonia is doing to make gear that's easier to repair, better for the planet, and still made for hard days on the water. We dig into the shift away from forever chemicals, how repairable panels actually work, and why durability is one of the biggest wins for conservation.

If you're curious what makes these waders different or where Patagonia is headed next, this conversation has plenty to chew on.


Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/846