In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we recap a recent trip to Upper East Tennessee with the Liars and Tyers. The trip included clear water, low flows, long leaders, dry-dropper rigs, and plenty of stories from more than two decades of fishing together.

We also look at the leader setup that became our go-to system for the trip. It was not the easiest rig to cast, but it helped us make delicate presentations without putting fly line over wary fish.

This trip was a reminder that good fishing does not always require complicated flies. Sometimes a simple midge, a long leader, and a precise drift are all it takes.

Key Highlights:

• We stop at Buc-ee’s, suffer through a bad Wendy’s meal, and navigate Knoxville traffic.
• A long mono leader helps us avoid spooking fish in clear water.
• Simple red midges produce most of the action.
• Clean, drag-free drifts outperform complicated fly patterns.
• Riffles and color changes consistently hold fish.
• Accurate casts and delicate presentations are essential.
• We share a reminder to respect other anglers and their water.
• We revisit a productive spot named more than 20 years ago.
• Low flows make rowing challenging, but the river becomes easier to read.

Resources:

• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

We sat down with Wade Hopper, Zach Morris, and Shane Stewart of Team Hog Wild to talk about musky fishing, fly fishing tournaments, and their win at the Kentucky River Musky Classic. From tough conditions and muddy ramps to clear creek mouths and early morning eats, this conversation is packed with stories, strategy, and hard-earned lessons from anglers who know what it means to put in the time for musky.

This episode is about more than chasing toothy fish. It is about teamwork, preparation, adaptability, and staying locked in when one good cast can change the whole day. Whether you fish for musky, smallmouth, trout, or anything in between, there are plenty of takeaways here for your own time on the water.

Key Highlights:

• Key Highlights:
• Focus on side profile, hard strips, and killing the fly at the right moment.
• The guys explain why musky tournaments are built on camaraderie as much as competition.
• Team Hog Wild shares how they won through tough water and changing conditions.
• Creek mouths, structure, stained water, and timing all shaped their approach.
• Learn how size, color, profile, and action affect musky eats.
• Each guest shares a fish story that still stings.

Resources:

• Kentucky River Musky Classic Instagram
• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we take a practical and lighthearted look at fly fishing etiquette, not just around other anglers, but with fishing partners, guides, and everyone sharing time on the water. From saltwater skiffs to drift boats, this episode is full of reminders that good etiquette often comes down to awareness, respect, and being a decent fishing companion.

At the heart of this episode is a simple reminder: be mindful. Whether you’re fishing the river, the lake, or the salt, your actions affect the people around you. Good etiquette keeps the day safer, smoother, and a whole lot more fun.

Key Highlights:

• Skiff Etiquette: We cover a few rules that should go without saying, including where not to stand, where not to cast, and why the push pole deserves a little respect.
• Understanding Boat Directions: When a guide calls out a fish at 12 o’clock, 8 o’clock, or anywhere else, knowing the “pointy end” of the boat matters. Clear communication can make or break a shot at a fish.
• Sharing the Casting Platform: Whether the fishing is fast or slow, we talk about why it’s important to trade time fairly with your fishing partner and keep the experience enjoyable for everyone.
• Helping From the Back of the Boat: If you’re not on the platform, you still have a job. Keep fly line clear, watch for snags, take pictures, and help your buddy get the best shot possible.
• Drift Boat Awareness: From hook sets to casting angles, we discuss how close quarters in a drift boat require anglers to stay aware of guides, partners, and flying flies.
• Music, Drinks, and River Manners: A little music or a cold beverage can be part of a great day, but only when everyone is on board. We talk about volume, moderation, and remembering that guides are working.

Resources:

• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

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In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down with David Knapp and Pat Tully from Trout Zone Anglers for a Wisdom From the Guides conversation all about fly fishing the Clinch River in Tennessee. This episode has been a long time coming, and we dive into the river’s unique structure, food sources, flows, fish behavior, and the small details that make the Clinch such a special tailwater.

The Clinch is a river that rewards time, observation, and patience. From low water midge fishing to high water nymph rigs, from deep ledges and weed beds to sneaky frog water along the edges, David and Pat share the kind of on-the-water knowledge that only comes from spending a lot of days rowing, wading, guiding, and learning.

Key Highlights:

• Two Confidence Flies: David and Pat both lean heavily on pheasant tails and midges, especially sulfur-style nymphs and micro tubing midges.
• Reading the River Bottom: The Clinch is full of shoals, ledges, weed beds, troughs, and midstream wood that can hold fish but also steal flies.
• Flows and Fishing Strategy: Low water, one generator, and two generators all fish differently, and each flow has its own challenges and advantages.
• Clinch River Food Sources: Midges, sulfurs, scuds, sow bugs, worms, snails, caddis, sculpins, and even small rainbow trout all play a role in the fishery.
• Overlooked Water: Frog water, shallow edges, and slow flats often hold fish that many anglers walk past or spook before noticing.
• Big Fish Stories: David and Pat share memorable stories about large brown trout, hard-fighting rainbows, and the ones that still keep them coming back.
• Local Stops: Pat shares a couple of favorite food stops near the river, including Valley Quick Pack and the restaurant near the weir area.

Resources:

• Trout Zone Anglers
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• Sign up for our newsletter

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In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we share the story behind the upcoming Murfreesboro Fly Fishing Meetup at Tailgate Brewery. What started as a simple idea to give local anglers a place to gather has turned into a joint effort with Music City TU, Southeastern Fly, and Tailgate Brewery.

The goal is simple: bring fly anglers together. No formal program, no big presentation, and no pressure. Just a chance to talk fishing, reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and welcome anyone interested in fly fishing.

Key Highlights:

• The Idea Behind the Meetup: We talk about why having a simple place and time to gather can help strengthen the local fly fishing community.
• Inspired by Others: Conversations with Knox Girls Who Fly Fish helped shape the idea and showed how small groups can grow when people feel welcome.
• Music City TU’s Involvement: John and Tom from Music City TU helped move the idea forward and are bringing pizza for the group.

Event Details: The meetup will be held Thursday, June 11 at 7:00 p.m. at Tailgate Brewery in Murfreesboro, located at 210 Stones River Mall.

Everyone Is Welcome: You do not have to be a TU member, a longtime listener, or an experienced angler. Just show up if you enjoy fly fishing or want to learn more.

Come by for a few minutes or stay awhile. We hope this becomes a relaxed way for people in the area to connect, share stories, and spend time with good people who love fly fishing.

Resources:

• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down with Zach Kaufman, one of the owners of Sawyer Paddles and Oars, for a conversation about fly fishing, river life, and the craft behind building oars. Zach brings decades of experience as a rafting guide, fishing guide, oarsman, and business owner, with much of his time spent on the Rogue, Klamath, and Umpqua rivers.

We talk through the history of Sawyer, how wooden and composite oars are built, and why the feel of a one-piece wood oar still matters to so many rowers. Zach also shares stories from Southern Oregon steelhead fishing, half-pounder runs, dam removals, river access, and the value of local knowledge when fishing unfamiliar water.

Key Highlights:

• The Sawyer Story: How Sawyer moved from paddles into oars.
• Wooden Oars: A look at the wood, shaping, and handwork behind each oar.
• The Feel of Water: Why one-piece wood oars create a strong connection to the river.
• Composite Options: How shafts, blades, and swing weight affect rowing.
• Southern Oregon Fisheries: Steelhead, salmon, half-pounders, and changing rivers.
• Local Intel: Why fly shops, guides, and time on the water matter.
• Fish That Got Away: Zach’s memorable stories of big fish lost.

Resources:

• Sawyer Paddles and Oars: paddlesandoars.com
• Sawyer Station: sawyerstation.com
• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we talk through one of the most overlooked parts of fly fishing success on the river: leaders and tippet. What seems like a small detail can have a major effect on turnover, presentation, drift, and ultimately whether or not fish eat.

We walk through practical tips for matching leader length to water clarity, choosing stronger tippet than most anglers think they can get away with, and avoiding common mistakes that hurt presentation. From dry flies and nymph rigs to streamers, this conversation is all about building a better leader system and understanding how each section works together.

Key Highlights:

• Matching leader length to conditions: In clear, slow water, longer leaders help keep fly line farther from the fish. In stained or faster water, shorter leaders are often all you need.
• Why heavier tippet often helps: We talk about how anglers often fish too light, which can create poor turnover, extra tangles, and longer fights that stress fish.
• Leader maintenance matters: Straightening your leader before fishing and replacing worn tippet can immediately improve presentation and drift.
• Micro swivels and tippet rings: We discuss a practical way to preserve your leader system, save money, and make changing tippet easier.
• Building better leader systems: From butt section stiffness to taper design, we explain how the right setup transfers energy and helps flies turn over more cleanly.

Resources:

• Episode 123, “Fishing Near Salida, Colorado”
• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down with Captain Mark Richardson of Ark Anglers to talk about fishing the Arkansas River around Salida, Colorado. Mark guides this water day in and day out, and in this conversation we cover the different sections of the river, seasonal conditions, floating productive water, and what makes the Arkansas River such a special fishery.

We also revisit a day we spent on the water together and talk through streamer fishing in slightly stained conditions. From river structure to fly choice and presentation, this episode offers practical insight for anglers planning a trip out West or simply wanting to learn how a guide breaks down a river.

A big takeaway from this conversation is that success on the Arkansas often comes down to reading conditions, adjusting your approach, and understanding how each section of river fishes differently.

Key Highlights:

• The Three Basins: Mark breaks down the upper, middle, and lower sections of the Arkansas River.
• Why the Lower Basin: We talk about why this stretch is one of Mark’s favorites to fish and float.
• Streamers in Colored Water: Slight stains can make streamer fishing much more effective.
• Retrieve Matters: Cadence, movement, and angle all play a role in getting eats.
• Confidence Flies: Mark shares a few of his go-to streamer patterns and colors.
• Adjusting Setups: We discuss when to change lines and presentations based on conditions.
• Watching Fish React: Observation and small changes can lead to better results.
• Beyond the River: Mark also talks about nearby high-country lake opportunities.

Resources:

• ArkAnglers in Salida, Colorado
• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA