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

“Sometimes moving your feet is more important than putting more line out there.”

Jan Axtell

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.

“10% of anglers catch 90% of fish because they go fishing.”

Jan Axtell

You can listen to the show on the podcast player below or anywhere that you enjoy podcasts. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I enjoyed talking with Jason.

VR,
Jason

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Learn More

Nelson’s Guides and Flies.com
Hatchfinders Fly Shop
Instagram: @jandaxtell
READ: WADEOUTTHERE | Slow is Smooth.  Smooth is Fast.
READ: WADEOUTTHERE | Eight Reasons the Zebra Midge is the Perfect First Fly to Tie
READ: WADEOUTTHERE | River to Fly Strategy (R2FS) – A Fly Tying Process for the Beginner’s Success

Jason Shemchuk Art