by The Articulate Fly
The Long Haul Fly Fishing Podcast with The Articulate Fly regularly releases interviews with national and regional personalities covering fly fishing, fly tying and fly fishing travel. If you love The Articulate Fly Fly Fishing Podcast interviews but would like to skip the fishing reports, The Long Haul is for you! To learn more or to check out The Articulate Fly Fly Fishing Podcast (interviews and fishing reports), visit www.thearticulatefly.com.
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July 17, 2026
<h2>Episode Overview</h2><p>In this episode of The Butcher Shop, host <a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/people/marvin-cash/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marvin Cash</a> sits down with Mark Sedotti, inventor of the Sedotti Slammer and one of the pioneers of weight-balanced streamer design, to trace nearly 35 years of big-fly development for striped bass and bluefish. Sedotti explains why a lead keel and the right amount of absorbed water can make an oversized streamer cast further and more accurately than a small one, overturning decades of conventional wisdom that heavy flies are harder to throw.</p><p>Working from western Long Island Sound, where he first tied the Slammer to imitate adult menhaden up to 15 inches long, Sedotti walks through the evolution of his high-and-low bucktail tying method, the construction of a rectangular lead keel to stop wide-profile flies from rolling, and the concept of weight balancing that ties it all together. He also details how the Slammer found its way to Michigan's Manistee River in the early 1990s, where guide Russ Maddin nicknamed it the Screaming Jesus and helped ignite the modern big-streamer trout movement.</p><p>The conversation covers rod and line selection for casting giant flies, including Sedotti's signature Sayonara sling casting technique, along with retrieve mechanics, leader setups, and where to source materials and commercially tied Slammers. Anglers chasing striped bass, bluefish or trophy trout with oversized streamers will come away with a working framework for why some big flies cast beautifully and others simply won't turn over.</p><h2>Key Takeaways</h2><ul><li>How to weight balance a streamer so it casts smoothly regardless of its size, rather than dragging through the air</li><li>Why adding water-absorbing materials like bucktail can improve a big fly's castability instead of hurting it</li><li>How to build a rectangular lead keel from lead wire to stop a wide-profile fly from rolling in the water</li><li>When to size a streamer to match adult versus immature baitfish, since selective stripers and bluefish may refuse flies shorter than the natural forage</li><li>How the Sayonara sling casting technique adds effective rod length and line speed for longer distance with a single-handed rod</li><li>Why a long leader of eight to nine feet improves fly action and strike rates when streamer fishing for trout</li></ul><br/><h2>Techniques & Gear Covered</h2><p>Sedotti's core concept is weight balancing: adding just enough weight to a streamer to counteract wind resistance and drag during the cast, which he discovered by building a rectangular lead keel out of 0.030-0.035 lead wire to prevent wide-profile flies from rolling. His high-and-low bucktail tying method, refined with input from Bob Popovics on achieving a three-dimensional bunker profile, remains consistent across pattern sizes from three and a half to over 20 inches, with synthetic yak hair, bucktail and feather substitutes used as natural saddle hackle and schlappen became harder to source. For casting, he favors a fast-action 11-weight rod paired with either integrated sinking lines, shooting heads or a floating line for shallow presentations, and retrieves with long, fast strips followed by a pause where most strikes occur.</p><h2>Locations & Species</h2><p>Sedotti developed the Slammer in western Long Island Sound around Greenwich, Port Chester, and Rye, New York, targeting striped bass and bluefish keyed in on schools of menhaden, or bunker, ranging from three and a half to over 15 inches depending on the season. He later carried medium-sized versions of the fly to Michigan's Manistee River, where it proved effective on trout and helped spark the region's big-streamer trout culture, as well as to Montana's Beaverhead River for trout. Today, he fishes deep structure at Montauk and Southwest Ledge on Block Island for large striped bass, working the fly 35 to 45 feet down on sinking lines.</p><h2>FAQ / Key Questions Answered</h2><h3>What is weight balancing in streamer fly design, and why does it matter for castability?</h3><p>Weight balancing means adding enough weight to a fly to counteract the wind resistance created by its materials as it moves through the air during a cast. Mark Sedotti found that a properly weight-balanced fly, regardless of size, will false cast smoothly with a normal loop, while an unbalanced fly either drags or develops an uncontrollable loop.</p><h3>How do you build a keel to stop a wide-profile streamer from rolling?</h3><p>Sedotti wraps half-inch strips of lead wire in layers of five, stacking three levels to form a rectangular, raft-like keel along the underside of the hook shank. The exact method matters less than achieving the correct total weight for that specific fly to keep it weight balanced.</p><h3>Why can waterlogged flies actually cast better than dry ones?</h3><p>A dry fly with the same amount of bulky material is more wind resistant and harder to turn over, while a wet fly collapses and cuts through the air more easily. Sedotti found that the added weight from absorbed water often helps counteract that wind resistance, provided the fly isn't carrying so much water and weight that it becomes overloaded.</p><h3>What rod and line setup works best for casting large weight-balanced streamers?</h3><p>Sedotti prefers a fast-action 11-weight rod for big saltwater patterns, paired with either an integrated sinking line, a shooting head or a floating line depending on depth and structure. His Sayonara sling casting technique adds effective rod length and increases tip speed for longer casts with a single-handed rod.</p><h3>How did the Sedotti Slammer influence Michigan's big-streamer trout fishing?</h3><p>In the early 1990s, Sedotti brought a medium-sized Slammer to Michigan's Manistee River, where guide Russ Maddin was stunned by how aggressively trout attacked it and nicknamed it the Screaming Jesus. That introduction is widely credited with helping launch the modern big-streamer trout movement centered around Michigan's guiding community.</p><h2>Sponsors</h2><p>Thanks to <u><a href="https://maps.troutroutes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TroutRoutes</a></u> for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.</p><h2>Related Content</h2><p><a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/bonus-tying-the-circus-peanut-streamer-secrets-and-fishing-strategies-with-russ-maddin/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BONUS: Tying the Circus Peanut: Streamer Secrets and Fishing Strategies with Russ Maddin</a></p><p><a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/bonus-mastering-the-beast-a-deep-dive-into-bob-popovics-legendary-fly-with-captain-ben-whalley/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BONUS: Mastering the Beast: A Deep Dive into Bob Popovics' Legendary Fly with Captain Ben Whalley</a></p><p><a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/bonus-a-deep-dive-into-the-swingin-d-techniques-and-tips-with-mike-schultz-the-butcher-shop/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BONUS: A Deep Dive into the Swingin' D: Techniques and Tips with Mike Schultz</a></p><h2><strong>Connect with Our Guest</strong></h2><p>Follow Mark on <u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MarkSedotti" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a></u>.</p><h2>Follow the Show</h2><p>Follow <u><a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Articulate Fly</a></u> on <u><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thearticulatefly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></u>, <u><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thearticulatefly/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></u>, <u><a href="https://www.threads.com/@thearticulatefly?xmt=AQF0VLj314Z_G910nAh8-ilrIZiwr8fzr4tZBWxaNNqyvCY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Threads</a></u> and <u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/TheArticulateFly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a></u>.</p><p>Follow our <u><a href="https://thearticulatefly.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Substack newsletter</a></u> for episode updates, tips and resources.</p><h2><strong>Support the Show</strong></h2><p>Shop through our <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&language=en_US&linkCode=sl2&linkId=ea717321828075eabd3b608fd6895f82&tag=thearticulate-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amazon link</a></u> to support the podcast.</p><p>Join our <u><a href="https://www.patreon.com/thearticulatefly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Patreon community</a></u> to support the show.</p><p>If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our <u><a href="https://www.thearticulatefly.com/consulting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">consulting options</a></u>.</p><h2><strong>Subscribe & Advertise</strong></h2><p><u><a href="https://lnk.to/thearticulatefly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Subscribe</a></u> to the podcast in your favorite podcast app.</p><p>Think our community is a good fit for your brand? <u><a href="https://www.thearticulatefly.com/advertise" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Advertise</a></u> with us.</p><h2><strong>Helpful Episode Chapters</strong></h2><p>0:00:00 Introduction</p><p>0:02:33 Designing the Original Slammer</p><p>0:06:43 Unlocking Castability</p><p>0:15:33 Perfecting the Profile</p><p>0:19:17 Synthetic Evolution</p><p>0:32:53 Michigan Streamer Breakthrough</p><p>0:47:15 Casting Big Flies Well</p><p>0:53:42 Lines and Leaders</p><p>0:56:35 Fishing the Retrieve</p><p>1:06:26 Final Thoughts on Weight Balance</p>
June 20, 2026
<h2>Episode Overview</h2><p>The Articulate Fly host Marvin Cash sits down with fly tying guru Allen Rupp, founder of <a href="https://flyonthewater.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fly on the Water</a> and Dave Whitlock's hand-selected legacy tier, for a deep dive into the classic fly patterns that built modern fly fishing. Rupp traces his fly tying education back to childhood phone calls with Bob Clouser, in-person mentorship from Lefty Kreh and George Harvey, and decades spent learning directly from Dave Whitlock, explaining why patterns like the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half, Lefty's Deceiver and Whitlock's Near Nuff Crayfish and Sculpin remain so effective that newer materials and techniques rarely improve on them. The conversation ranges from the upper Potomac River, where Rupp first learned to tie and fish, to saltwater destinations like the Seychelles and the Amazon, where his Semper Fli patterns are now requested by name by local guides. Rupp and Cash dig into why presentation matters more than fly choice (a lesson Rupp learned fishing a single hare's ear nymph for an entire year), how legends like Whitlock and Clouser relentlessly simplified their patterns rather than complicating them, where to source increasingly scarce natural materials like hand-plucked mallard flank and Cree hackle, and which adhesives belong on every serious tier's bench. Whether you fish for smallmouth bass, stripers, bonefish or golden dorado, this episode is a masterclass in why the old patterns still catch fish and what they can teach today's tiers about durability, simplicity and effective design.</p><h2>Key Takeaways</h2><ul><li>How focusing on a single fly pattern for an entire season can teach anglers that presentation matters more than fly choice.</li><li>Why classic patterns like the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half and Lefty's Deceiver remain more effective than many modern variations.</li><li>How simplifying a fly pattern down to its essential materials often makes it more durable and more effective than adding complexity.</li><li>Why choosing the right adhesive for a material (soft adhesive for soft materials, rigid adhesive for hard surfaces) prevents premature fly failure.</li><li>When to source fly tying materials from non-fly shop retailers like craft and fabric stores.</li><li>How filling Clouser Minnow thread wraps with resin in a triangle or heart shape creates a fly that is nearly weedless.</li></ul><br/><h2>Techniques & Gear Covered</h2><p>Rupp walks through the construction logic behind classic patterns including the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half, Lefty's Deceiver, the CK Baitfish, Chico's Bonefish Special, Lou Tabory's Snake Fly and Dave Whitlock's Near Nuff Crayfish and Sculpin, explaining how each pattern's simplicity contributes to its durability and fish-catching consistency. He details specific tying fixes including pre-treating deer hair eye cavities with Flexament before adding Goop and a final drop of Flexament to prevent eyes from popping off, and filling Clouser Minnow thread wraps with resin in a triangle or heart shape to create a snag-resistant profile. On adhesives, Rupp runs a bench of nine different products including Zap-A-Gap in two viscosities, Softex, Tuffleye and various other cements, matching soft adhesives to soft materials like deer hair and rigid adhesives to harder surfaces. For tools he favors Mark Petitjean bobbins for fine thread work and Renomed scissors for their durability and lifetime warranty, while sourcing scarce natural materials like Cree hackle, hand-plucked mallard flank and dry fly saddles from specialty sellers.</p><h2>Locations & Species</h2><p>Rupp's tying and fishing roots trace to the upper Potomac River and the Mid-Atlantic region of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, where he learned from guide Mark Kovach and crossed paths with Lefty Kreh and Bob Clouser at regional fly fishing shows. His classic patterns now see action well beyond home water, targeting smallmouth bass and trout in eastern rivers, striped bass at night from Virginia to Maine on Lou Tabory's Snake Fly, and trevally and golden dorado in destinations like the Seychelles and South America, where his Semper Fli pattern has become a guide favorite.</p><h2>FAQ / Key Questions Answered</h2><h3>Why do classic fly patterns like the Clouser Minnow and Lefty's Deceiver still outperform many modern variations?</h3><p>Allen Rupp explains that classic patterns endured because their originators relentlessly simplified them down to only the materials necessary for action and durability rather than adding complexity for visual appeal. Newer flies often look more elaborate but can introduce problems like tails that foul on the cast, while classics like the Deceiver (just bucktail, feathers and flash) remain reliably effective.</p><h3>How does fly choice compare to presentation in catching more fish?</h3><p>Rupp credits mentor Brad Yoder with the lesson that presentation matters far more than fly pattern, after fishing a single gold-ribbed hare's ear nymph exclusively for an entire year. He caught roughly the same number of fish as he had with pattern variety, reinforcing that learning to fish one fly in every water condition teaches more than chasing the next new pattern.</p><h3>What is the best adhesive to use on different fly tying materials?</h3><p>Rupp's rule, learned from Dave Whitlock, is to match a soft, flexible adhesive like Flexament to soft, flexible materials like deer hair and reserve rigid adhesives like Zap-A-Gap for harder surfaces. Using a rigid adhesive on a flexible material creates a stress point that cracks and fails after a few fish.</p><h3>Where can tiers find scarce natural materials like Cree hackle and quality mallard flank?</h3><p>Rupp sources hard-to-find feathers and fibers from a mix of specialty sellers, friends who hunt and hand-pluck birds, and even craft stores like Michaels and Joann Fabrics for items like glass beads, foam and embroidery materials. He notes that machine-plucked commercial mallard flank is often unusable for patterns requiring intact feather shape, making hand-plucked birds essential for some classic ties.</p><h3>What is swing nymphing and where did the technique originate?</h3><p>Swing nymphing is a technique Rupp developed independently as a teenager on the upper Potomac by adapting light jig presentations to a fly rod, only to later learn that Charlie Brooks had pioneered the same approach on the Yellowstone River decades earlier. Rupp covers the technique in an upcoming magazine article and credits Harry Murray's writing for connecting him to its origins.</p><h2>Sponsors</h2><p>Thanks to <u><a href="https://maps.troutroutes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TroutRoutes</a></u> for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.</p><h2>Related Content</h2><p><a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/s7-ep-66-dave-whitlock-henry-cowen-allen-rupp/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">S7, Ep 66 - Tales of a Fly Fishing Legend: Remembering Dave Whitlock</a></p><p><a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/bonus-mastering-the-beast-a-deep-dive-into-bob-popovics-legendary-fly-with-captain-ben-whalley/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BONUS - Mastering the Beast: A Deep Dive into Bob Popovics' Legendary Fly with Captain Ben Whalley</a></p><p><a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/s4-ep-150-fly-tying-redux-soft-hackles-with-allen-mcgee/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">S4, Ep 150 - FLY TYING REDUX: Soft Hackles with Allen McGee</a></p><h2><strong>Connect with Our Guest</strong></h2><p>Follow Allen on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BespokeFlies/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/FlyOnThe_Water" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FlyOnTheWater" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.</p><h2>Follow the Show</h2><p>Follow <a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Articulate Fly</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thearticulatefly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thearticulatefly/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.threads.com/@thearticulatefly?xmt=AQF0VLj314Z_G910nAh8-ilrIZiwr8fzr4tZBWxaNNqyvCY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Threads</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/TheArticulateFly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.</p><p>Follow our <a href="https://thearticulatefly.substack.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Substack newsletter</a> for episode updates, tips and resources.</p><h2><strong>Support the Show</strong></h2><p>Shop through our <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&language=en_US&linkCode=sl2&linkId=ea717321828075eabd3b608fd6895f82&tag=thearticulate-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amazon link</a> to support the podcast.</p><p>Join our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/thearticulatefly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Patreon community</a> to support the show.</p><p>If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our <a href="https://www.thearticulatefly.com/consulting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">consulting options</a>.</p><h2><strong>Subscribe & Advertise</strong></h2><p><a href="https://lnk.to/thearticulatefly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> to the podcast in your favorite podcast app.</p><p>Think our community is a good fit for your brand? <a href="https://www.thearticulatefly.com/advertise" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Advertise</a> with us.</p><h2><strong>Helpful Episode...
June 5, 2026
<h2>Episode Overview</h2><p>In this episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host <a href="www.linkedin.com/in/marvinscash" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marvin Cash</a> sits down with Josh Trammell, Head Guide at <a href="https://www.madriveroutfitters.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mad River Outfitters</a> in Columbus, Ohio, for a candid look at what it takes to build and sustain a full-time, four-season guide career. Josh covers the Ohio multi-species fishing calendar — smallmouth bass, northern pike, steelhead and carp — along with seasonal guiding in Alaska and destination schools targeting musky and trophy trout.</p><p>Josh traces his path from catching his first steelhead at age 11 on Elk Creek with Tim Hess — a swung fly — through early years shadowing the Steelhead Alley Outfitters crew of Greg Senyo, Nate Miller and Patrick Robinson, to becoming Head Guide at <a href="https://www.madriveroutfitters.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mad River Outfitters</a> and a seasonal guide at <a href="https://naknekrivercamp.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Naknek River Camp</a> near King Salmon, Alaska. His guide year spans Ohio smallmouth through multiple simultaneous seasonal windows on Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers, northern pike during their late-winter pre-spawn, steelhead from November through freeze-up and summer Pacific salmon guiding in Alaska. Josh also discusses the January musky school he co-runs with Blane Chocklett and Virginia Trophy Guides in Roanoke, Virginia, spring trout trips to the White River in Arkansas and his growing enthusiasm for carp on the fly. Throughout, he shares practical, unvarnished advice for aspiring full-time guides on the financial realities, logistics and genuine passion required to make it work year-round.</p><h2>Key Takeaways</h2><ul><li>How a young angler can break into guide work at reduced financial risk by starting early, staying local and leveraging mentor relationships before major life expenses accumulate.</li><li>Why the four-season model — cycling through Ohio smallmouth, pike, steelhead, Alaska salmon and destination schools — insulates full-time guides from unpredictable weather far better than single-species operations.</li><li>When Ohio smallmouth become the most technically versatile species to guide, spanning crayfish dead-drifts, big early-season streamers, scaled-down baitfish imitations and topwater presentations across multiple seasonal phases.</li><li>Why calibrating each guide day to the individual client's skill level and genuine expectations — rather than chasing personal hero shots — is the real key to repeat business and a sustainable career.</li><li>How carp on the fly delivers a saltwater-style sight-fishing experience on Ohio freshwater, with few presentations per day and a high premium on reading fish behavior before ever picking up the rod.</li><li>Why partnering with a full-service fly shop like Mad River Outfitters gives clients a reliable gear and knowledge resource and meaningfully reduces administrative pressure on the guide.</li></ul><br/><h2>Techniques & Gear Covered</h2><p>Josh guides across a wide technique spectrum that shifts with species and season. Ohio smallmouth receive dead-drifted crayfish patterns in low, clear conditions; big early-season streamers in high or stained water; scaled-down slim-profile baitfish imitations as flows drop through summer; and topwater presentations during the warmest stretches of the year. Steelhead on Steelhead Alley are targeted on both swung flies and indicator rigs, while northern pike receive focused attention during their January and February pre-spawn window — when Ohio weather cooperates. Carp fishing is an increasingly important part of Josh's warm-weather program, using a methodical visual approach borrowed directly from saltwater fly fishing: reading feeding behavior, waiting for clean shot opportunities and presenting deliberately to individual fish, often making no more than 10 to 15 casts in a full day. The annual musky school he leads with Blane Chocklett in Roanoke, Virginia, pairs a one-day tactical masterclass in predator fly techniques with four days of fishing on the water through <a href="https://virginiatrophyguides.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Virginia Trophy Guides</a>.</p><h2>Locations & Species</h2><p>Josh's Ohio guiding program covers Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers in northeastern Ohio, targeting steelhead through the November to freeze-up window and northern pike during the late-winter pre-spawn period. Ohio's multi-phase smallmouth calendar — with pre-spawn, spawning and post-spawn fish available simultaneously across different tributaries in mid-spring — gives Josh an unusually diverse season that stretches from spring through early fall. Carp are pursued on Ohio's clearer flatwater fisheries using visual sight-fishing methods, providing a reliable warm-weather alternative when smallmouth and pike waters run high and off-color. For destination work, Josh guides Pacific salmon at Naknek River Camp on the drainage near King Salmon, Alaska through summer; pursues musky with Virginia Trophy Guides on rivers outside Roanoke each January; and leads spring trout trips targeting caddis and sulphur hatches on the White River near Flippin and Cotter, Arkansas.</p><h2>FAQ / Key Questions Answered</h2><h3>How do you break into a full-time fly fishing guide career?</h3><p>Josh emphasizes starting young when bills and financial obligations are minimal — shadowing established guides on both working trips and fun-fishing days, learning how programs are structured and how to rig for different conditions. Building genuine relationships within a regional guide community, as Josh did with the Steelhead Alley Outfitters crew, opens the doors to early opportunities. He cautions that anyone entering the guide game with significant financial obligations should plan carefully around Mother Nature's ability to cancel trips and budget realistically for the shoulder seasons.</p><h3>What does a full four-season guide year look like in Ohio?</h3><p>Starting in mid-spring, Josh runs Ohio smallmouth across multiple simultaneous seasonal windows on Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers, alongside pike fishing that extends through warm weather. He transitions to Alaska for Pacific salmon guiding through early October, returns for a brief Ohio window before steelhead season opens in November and then runs Steelhead Alley through December freeze-up. Winter brings the annual musky school in Roanoke, Virginia with Blane Chocklett; spring opens destination trout trips on the White River in Arkansas; and carp provide a flexible alternative when other fisheries are unfishable.</p><h3>Why are Ohio smallmouth such a compelling guide species?</h3><p>Unlike steelhead, which Josh describes as largely limited to swung or indicator-presented flies, Ohio smallmouth accommodate a wide range of techniques across multiple seasonal phases — from large early-season streamers in blown-out water to crayfish patterns in low, clear conditions to topwater presentations on summer flows. That tactical variety keeps guides and clients engaged across a far longer window than most single-species programs allow. The overlapping seasonal stages across different river systems also mean a thoughtful guide can almost always find smallmouth in a fishable phase somewhere in the region.</p><h3>What is the key to being a successful fishing guide?</h3><p>Josh argues that the most important skill is calibrating each day to the individual client's actual skill level and genuine expectations — not the guide's own benchmark for a good outing. A beginner who lands several smallmouth while mastering a 30- to 40-foot cast has had an excellent day by their measure, which may look very different from a guide's definition of success. Open communication between guide and client about what they actually want from the day smooths out the experience and builds the kind of relationship that generates return bookings.</p><h3>How does carp fishing on the fly compare to other species in Josh's program?</h3><p>Josh describes carp as the closest freshwater equivalent to saltwater sight fishing available in Ohio — standing, hunting, watching and waiting before making deliberate presentations to individual fish rather than covering water. On a productive day with 10 shots at fish, he may cast only 10 to 15 times total, making each presentation count. High-water years that push smallmouth and pike fisheries off-color or out of shape have accelerated his carp development, and he now relies on it as a consistent warm-weather alternative when other species aren't cooperating.</p><h2>Sponsors</h2><p>Thanks to <u><a href="https://maps.troutroutes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TroutRoutes</a></u> for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.</p><h2>Related Content</h2><p><a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/s6-ep-97-fly-fishing-wisdom-and-industry-pet-peeves-with-greg-senyo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">S6, Ep 97: Fly Fishing Wisdom and Industry Pet Peeves with Greg Senyo</a></p><p><a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/s7-ep-40-corey-haselhuhn-schultz-outfitters/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">S7, Ep 40: Exploring the Carp Game: Techniques and Tales with Corey Haselhuhn of Schultz Outfitters</a></p><p><a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/s8e22" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">S8, Ep 22: From The Chocklett Factory: Blane Chocklett on Community, Conservation and New Fly Releases</a></p><p><a href="https://fly-fishing-podcast.thearticulatefly.com/s8e24" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">S8, Ep 24: From Tattoo to Trout: Aaron Chine's Dual Passion for Art and Steelhead...
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Flylords
Cut & Retie
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The Long Haul Fly Fishing Podcast with The Articulate Fly regularly releases interviews with national and regional personalities covering fly fishing, fly tying and fly fishing travel. If you love The Articulate Fly Fly Fishing Podcast interviews but would like to skip the fishing reports, The Long Haul is for you!
To learn more or to check out The Articulate Fly Fly Fishing Podcast (interviews and fishing reports), visit www.thearticulatefly.com.
This podcast updates daily.
This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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