Fly Fishing for Shad on the Columbia & Willamette Rivers | Full Guide

Fall rain, coastal rivers, and aggressive trout willing to chase a fly—let’s talk sea-run cutthroat. In this episode of The Portland Fly Shop Podcast, Jason Osborn and Nick Wheeler break down fly fishing for sea-run cutthroat in Oregon Coast and Southwest Washington rivers. We focus on accessible, walk-and-wade fishing, sharing practical advice on when to go, where to look, and how to get these fish chasing your fly. We cover:• How fall rain, river levels, and migration affect your timing• Sea-run versus resident cutthroat and realistic size expectations• Rod choices, floating lines, and simple leader setups• Favorite flies, including Muddlers, Red Humpies, Micro Chubbies, and Hippie Stompers• Skating dry flies, swinging wet flies, and stripping streamers• Finding fish in deep pools, riffles, and runs• Why covering water and keeping your fly moving can make all the difference Jason likes natural colors. Nick reaches for bright flies. Both agree that movement matters—and watching a cutthroat chase down a skating dry fly is hard to beat. Whether you’re targeting your first sea-run or looking to improve your fall fishing, this episode will help you put together a plan. #SeaRunCutthroat #FlyFishing #PortlandFlyShop

In this episode of the Portland Fly Shop Podcast, we break down everything you need to know about fly fishing for Coho salmon throughout the Pacific Northwest. We cover where to find Coho, how to read the water, the best times and conditions to fish, and the tactics that consistently put fish in front of the fly. We also dive into rods, reels, lines, sink tips, leaders, and the fly patterns and colors we rely on throughout the season. Topics include: • Where to find Coho in rivers• How Coho behavior changes throughout the season• Stripping, swinging, and retrieving techniques• Choosing the right fly line and sink tip• Rod and reel setups• Leader and tippet recommendations• Productive Coho fly patterns, colors, and sizes• Water clarity, river levels, tides, and weather• How to locate traveling and holding fish• Common mistakes that cost anglers fish• PNW rivers and areas worth exploring• Tips for both new and experienced Coho anglers Whether you're chasing Oregon and Washington Coho for the first time or looking to improve your success, this episode is designed to be a complete starting point for putting more salmon on the fly. Presented by The Portland Fly Shop Podcast.

Planning a DIY fly fishing trip to West Yellowstone? This episode of The Portland Fly Shop Podcast is a complete guide to one of the most legendary trout fishing regions in the country.

Sink tips are one of the most misunderstood—and most important—parts of a spey system. In this technical episode, we break down sink tips for spey rods and explain how to fish them more efficiently. We cover the key differences between “T” material tips and traditional “Type” tips, how sink rates change with different tip lengths, and why faster sinking doesn’t always mean better depth or presentation. We also talk through the tips we personally prefer, when we choose them, and how those choices lead to more consistent, efficient fishing. This episode is geared toward anglers who want to understand why their system works—not just copy a setup. In this episode:

Portland Fly Shop Podcast: Swinging vs Nymphing for Steelhead In this episode, we dive into the art of steelhead fly fishing and break down two essential techniques: swinging vs nymphing. Whether you’re new to the river or looking to refine your approach, we cover: