Show Notes
Show Notes: http://wetflyswing.com/977 Sponsors: http://wetflyswing.com/Sponsors In this episode, we’re digging back into a conversation with Ed Engle, one of the longtime voices in fishing and tying small flies. Ed has spent decades fishing technical trout water, and his approach is less about making things complicated and more about getting the fundamentals right. We’re pulling out 14 of Ed’s best tips for fishing small flies, including why size comes before color, how close you should get to feeding trout, and why a longer leader isn’t always the answer. You’ll also hear how Ed reads a trout’s position in the water before making a cast, why he wants an unweighted nymph somewhere in his rig, and how he uses movement when fishing small BWO nymphs. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why you shouldn’t fish a smaller fly than the trout require Why simple patterns can be so effective in tiny sizes Why Ed often sticks with a 9- to 10-foot leader instead of going extra long How to adjust your hook set when presenting a dry fly downstream How Ed swings small wet flies to rising trout Why BWO nymphs don’t always need to be dead-drifted How a weighted fly can help an unweighted nymph move naturally What a trout’s vertical position tells you about whether it’s actively feeding Why actually seeing your tiny dry fly matters How to make your fly the first thing a trout sees Why slack-line casts become so important on technical water How the way a trout rises to your fly can tell you whether your presentation is right Why Ed wants to get as close to a trout as possible without changing its behavior Why matching the size of the natural is Ed’s #1 priority
Ed’s approach comes back to simplicity. When you find the natural insect, start by figuring out its size. Get that right first. If your fly also comes close in color and silhouette, even better but size is where Ed starts. We’ll also hear why Ed believes small-fly fishing is ultimately about having as little as possible between you and the fish. If you fish midges, BWOs, tricos, technical tailwaters, or selective rising trout, this episode gives you 14 ideas you can take straight to the water.
More from Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Listen to the Full Tommy Lynch episode here: https://www.wetflyswing.com/347 Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/teton https://www.wetflyswing.com/pescador Big brown trout don't always feed when conditions look good. Sometimes the best streamer fishing happens when rivers rise, water turns muddy, and other anglers head home. In this short solo episode of Wet Fly Swing, we're revisiting 15 streamer fishing tips from Tommy Lynch, one of the most popular guests from 2022. These tips come from episode 347, where Tommy shared his approach to targeting large brown trout and understanding what makes them chase a fly. We cover why low, stable barometric pressure matters, how to adjust your retrieve in clear versus muddy water, and why streamer movement can be more important than fly color. You'll hear how Tommy uses short, sharp strips to make streamers swim naturally, adjusts leader lengths for different rivers, and targets aggressive trout in shallow, fast water. We also get into his approach to following fish, missed strikes, and choosing the right fly line for the conditions. This is a quick breakdown of 15 practical tips you can take to the river on your next streamer trip. Whether you're fishing big tailwaters, smaller trout streams, or high, stained rivers, Tommy's ideas will give you a few things to test. And if you want the full conversation, head back to Wet Fly Swing episode 347 for the complete interview with Tommy Lynch.
#1003 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/1003
#1002 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/1002
#1001 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/1001
#1000 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/1000 Presented by: Stonefly Nets, On DeMark Lodge, Gallatin River Lodge, Blue Bonefish Lodge The night before we recorded, Ron Walp pulled an old baseball scorebook off his shelf and found my dad’s name inside. That’s where this story of Deschutes River history begins, with a connection that reaches back well beyond our fishing camps. For Episode 1,000 of the Wet Fly Swing Podcast, we’re joined by an old friend who has spent more than 50 years running the Deschutes. Ron shares stories about playing professional baseball, buying his first jet sled on a teacher’s salary, fishing the river before the dams, and getting to know my dad, Doug Stewart. We also get into the people who helped protect the lower river, the lesson that changed how Ron hooks steelhead, and the canyon mornings that keep bringing him back to a river that has shaped so much of his life. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/1000