In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we’re posted up on the banks of the Elk River, just over the hill from the Jack Daniel Distillery, swapping stories with our longtime friend Howard Brooks. Howard’s a Tennessee native, a former client turned guide, and one of those guys who somehow makes every day on the water feel richer than the last. We get into where his fishing life started, how guiding happened “purely by accident,” and why at 83 years old he’s still pulling on oars and loving every minute of it.

Key Highlights:

1. Howard’s first fish: hand-lining bluegills during a willow fly hatch on Chickamauga Lake.
2. Early fly gear memories: South Bend rods and old automatic reels.
3. Big trips that reignited it: Bahamas bonefish and Alaska trout.
4. How guiding started: a career change, a boat, and one two-boat trip that turned into a calling.
5. Why guiding isn’t “not fishing”: Howard feels like he’s fishing every minute.
6. The Elk before and after Tim’s Ford Dam: canoe trips, changing water, changing river.
7. What makes a great river lunch: know your anglers, keep it simple, or go all-out when it fits.
8. The fish that changed everything: a 738-pound blue marlin and a lifetime shift toward catch-and-release.
9. Advice to younger folks: get outside, learn nature, cut the screen time.
10. The three stages of an angler: numbers, size, then contentment.

Resources:

1. At The Rivers Edge
2. Visit southeasternfly.com
3. Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode, we settle in for a true wintertime river recap. Instead of a rigid outline, we walk through a couple of cold, windy days on the water and talk honestly about what worked, what didn’t, and why winter fishing can feel both slower and more rewarding at the same time. From experimenting with new streamer ideas to battling wind, current, and changing water conditions, this one is about time on the water, tinkering at the vise, and enjoying good company when the river is quieter.

Highlights of the Episode:

1. Winter days on the river and how cold, wind, and higher water shape fishing decisions
2. The role of confidence in fly selection, techniques, and presentation
3. Swinging streamers on floating lines during shad season and why fly action matters
4. Experimenting with and refining a Clouser-style minnow pattern over time
5. Reading water, structure, and current seams in changing winter conditions
6. Adapting on the fly while keeping a reliable baseline approach
7. Why winter fishing is often about patience, fewer crowds, and quality opportunities

Resources:

1. Visit southeasternfly.com
2. Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down with Bryson Storie to talk about fly fishing the Texas coast, focusing on the waters around Port O'Connor. A lot of anglers assume Texas saltwater is muddy and unfishable. Bryson explains why that couldn’t be further from the truth and breaks down the clear-water flats, diverse habitats, and fish behavior that make this area so special. We also drift into flies, food sources, guiding in Alaska, and the people who shape us along the way.

Highlights of the Episode:

1. How the Texas coast is structured and why Port O’Connor sits in a uniquely diverse stretch of water
2. The three main zones Bryson fishes: backcountry marshes, island systems, and outside bay shorelines
3. Why wind and bottom type affect water clarity more than rivers on the Texas coast
4. Sight fishing for redfish and other flats species, including black drum, sheepshead, trout, and jack crevalle
5. Simplifying fly selection by prioritizing presentation and weight over exact imitation
6. When sizing down flies makes a difference and why confidence in your fly matters
7. Lessons from guiding in Alaska and how those experiences carry over to saltwater fishing
8. Where to eat in and around Port O’Connor after a long day on the flats

Resources:

1. Visit brysonstorieflyfishing.com
2. Middle Tennessee Fly Fishers Club
3. Visit southeasternfly.com
4. Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA