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Eight Reasons the Zebra Midge is the Perfect First Fly to Tie

Tying your own flies is a huge leap in the pursuit of becoming a great fly fisher. If you are just starting out, congratulations. Now that you have decided to start tying flies, you may be asking, “what fly should I learn to tie first?” The Zebra Midge is an outstanding answer for many reasons.

On August 9, 2019 • By Jason Shemchuk

Podcast

Western Spring Creek Tactics and How to Tie Flies Fast with Jan Axtell (Ep. 218)

In this episode we WadeOutThere with Jan Axtell, from Livingston Montana. Jan grew up in Wisconsin, and started fly fishing with a friend at sixteen years old. His first experience on the river was on a spring creek in the Driftless Region, which he continued to fish through high school and college. After school, Jan moved to Vermont and started guiding. He fished spring creeks in Vermont and Pennsylvania until a job opportunity took him to Livingston, Montana. By then, Jan’s love for spotting and stalking trout in spring creeks was deeply rooted, and even though Jan also guides on the Yellowstone River, and in Yellowstone National Park, his passion remains the challenging spring creeks in the Yellowstone Valley. Jan is also a commercial fly tier. We discuss finding success in casting through angles, spring creek observation and sight fishing tactics, how to tie flies fast, and fishing through the learning curve.

On October 16, 2024 • By Jason Shemchuk

WOT 213: Wyoming Trout Streams on Horseback and Building Community Through Casting for Recovery with Missy Sprouse

Podcast

Wyoming Trout Streams on Horseback and Building Community Through Casting for Recovery with Missy Sprouse (Ep. 213)

In this episode we WadeOutThere with Missy Sprouse, from Crowheart, Wyoming. Missy learned to fly fish in East Tennessee after meeting her husband. Together they moved to the remote Wind River Range of Wyoming to settle down and enjoy fishing and riding horses in the mountains. Missy is also a photographer and after falling in love with fly fishing, became excited about capturing the powerful experiences that women encounter through Casting for Recovery, an organization created to help women with breast cancer through fly fishing. Missy also served on the organization’s national board for eight years. We discuss fly fishing in the Wind River Mountains, the special experience of reaching your trout stream on horseback, and building lasting communities of ladies through Casting for Recovery.

On September 11, 2024 • By Jason Shemchuk

Photo from Sam Galt

Podcast

Streamer Tactics for Day and Night and Keeping an Open Mind with Sam Galt

"First thing's first. There's always exceptions." - Sam Galt

On April 13, 2023 • By Jason Shemchuk

Photo from Fishing the Good Fight

Podcast

Streamer Fishing on the North Platte River and the Importance of Community with Jennings Hester

Fly fishing brings with it the idea of solitude. Alone with your thoughts on the river. Just you and the fish. Many people fall in love with fly fishing because of that time away from everything else in their lives that clutters their brain. I admit, I seek that same state of mind in fly fishing. That focus and clarity that comes from wading through cold, flowing water and getting lost in the problem solving. That focus we find in fly fishing, when everything else disappears is special, but even in our solitude, we are part of a community of others who seek the same thing. And that makes the fly fishing community unique... and valuable.

On March 16, 2023 • By Jason Shemchuk

Photo from Taylor Joyce.

Podcast

WOT 72: The South Holston River and Including Newcomers with Taylor Joyce.

We've all been there. Sometimes it's hard to remember our beginnings in fly fishing. We can forget the things we take for granted. When I began fly fishing I was "dry or die" out of ignorance, not preference. The mechanics of fly line, leader, and tippet were foreign. Tactics were nowhere in my crosscheck. I wish I had learned so many things, so much faster. The importance of a natural drift. Getting my flies down while nymphing. When to switch flies, or just switch water. And so many other tools I have picked up and am still gathering. About the only thing I had going for me was reading water (thanks Pop). But that's part of the journey isn't it? Filling the toolbox. Still, being in that place, and seeking progress, made a kind word of advice from another angler that much more special.

On December 30, 2021 • By Jason Shemchuk

Fly Tying (Shady Flies)

Slotted Beadheads Saved My Midge Game

“We sure are losing a lot of beadheads Pop.”

On October 19, 2019 • By Jason Shemchuk

Podcast

Tying and Fishing Streamers as Physical Therapy with Christy McReynolds (Ep. 200)

In this episode we WadeOutThere with Christy McReynolds from Jonesborough, Tennessee. Christy grew up learning to fish with her father in the lakes and rivers of East Tennessee. In 2011, after a devastating car accident left Christy with a broken neck, Christy turned to fly fishing and fly tying to help regain mobility and strength in her hands and arms as well as build up strength in her neck.

On June 12, 2024 • By Jason Shemchuk

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