986 | Trout Spey and the Art of the Swing with Steven Bird - Wet Flies, Reading Water, Leisenring Lift
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing PodcastShow Notes
#986 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/986 Presented by: Jackson Hole Fly Company, Yellowstone Teton Territory - Visit Idaho, Golden Fly Shop, TroutRoutes Nearly 90 years after Grand Coulee Dam cut these fish off from the ocean, Steven Bird still fishes Upper Columbia rainbows that act a whole lot like steelhead. Today, we’re getting into Trout Spey, wet flies, reading water, and the history behind this unique fishery. Steven is the author of Trout Spey and the Art of the Swing and associate editor at Swing the Fly. He shares what he’s learned from decades on the Upper Columbia, along with swinging soft hackles, fishing small spiders, and finding good swing water. We also cover dead-drifting Bombers, leader setups, the Leisenring Lift, and what has changed on Steven’s home water over the years. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/986
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