719 | Flying with Ariel Tweto - Alaska, Bush Planes, Suicide Prevention
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Release Date: 02/14/2025
In the Bucket #21 | Steelhead Fishing and the Illusion of Control with Adrienne Comeau and Eric Leininger
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#918 Show Notes: Presented By: , , Sponsors: In today’s episode of In the Bucket podcast, Brian Niska is joined by Adrienne Comeau and Eric Leininger for a candid conversation on what really drives success in steelhead fishing. What starts with fly choice and presentation quickly shifts into a bigger discussion around uncertainty, experience, and how much control anglers actually have on the water. Eric shares a perspective shaped by years of guiding—that in certain conditions, especially when water temperatures are right, many of the details anglers focus on may not be as critical as...
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Steelhead and Chinook Spey Lessons with Floyd Carter: How to Stop Losing Fish
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
917B Show Notes: Presented by: Losing fish after a solid grab happens more than people talk about. You feel the eat, the rod loads up, maybe even a head shake, and then it’s just gone. Floyd Carter is back to break down what he’s been seeing all season, from the Olympic Peninsula to Togiak. They get into what an actual take feels like, when to stay patient, and when it’s time to hit it. They also dig into the loop vs drag debate, how small changes might keep fish pinned, and why even experienced anglers are still figuring this out in real time. If you’ve been losing fish and...
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917 | Big Updates: New Podcast Launch, Summer Bootcamp, and Trips Ahead
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#917 - In this short solo episode, Dave shares a spring check-in and gives you a look at everything happening behind the scenes at Wet Fly Swing right now. You’ll hear about the launch of a new show, Hunting with a Fly with Rick Kustich, plus updates on the growing podcast network including In the Bucket, The Great Lakes Dude, and The Littoral Zone. Dave also breaks down what’s coming next with the Fly Fishing Bootcamp this summer and how you can get access to live sessions and replays. He also talks about upcoming hosted trips across North America (with some new saltwater...
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Hunting with a Fly #2 | Rick Kustich’s Musky Fly Fishing Playbook
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Show Notes: Musky fishing has a way of forcing you to evolve. You can put in the hours, make good casts, fish the right water—and still feel like you’re just missing something. In this episode, we break down a true musky fly fishing playbook with Rick Kustich, built from years of refining what actually works. This isn’t theory. It’s a look at the exact adjustments Rick has made since writing his book—and how those changes have led to more consistency and more big fish. If you want to tighten up your approach and fish more efficiently, this one hits the key areas.
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How to Fish Big Bugs with Ken Burkholder (Traveled #43)
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#916 Show Notes: Presented by: Fishing big bugs isn’t just about throwing something large at the bank and hoping for an explosion. What really matters is precision, realism, and getting that fly exactly where it needs to be. In this episode, I sat down with Ken Burkholder to dig into the details that separate a decent drift from one that actually gets eaten. We get into fly design, fishing tight banks, and why small tweaks can make a big difference when fish are locked in. Ken brings decades of experience from the South Fork of the Snake, plus a deep background in fly design...
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915 | How a Music Producer Built a Fly Fishing Podcast from Scratch with Pablo Signori
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Show Notes: Presented by: , , A music producer doesn’t usually end up building a fly fishing podcast—but that’s exactly how Pablo Signori got started. What began as a side project during the pandemic turned into The Newb and the Knower, a show built around learning fly fishing from the ground up. Instead of positioning himself as an expert, Pablo leaned into being a beginner and documented the process in real time. That approach not only shaped the podcast but also opened the door to travel, deeper learning, and a completely new path in fly fishing.
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Driftless Fly Fishing Guide: Small Stream Secrets for Big Trout with John Van Vliet
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Show Notes: Presented by: There’s a stretch of the Midwest that a lot of anglers pass right by without ever realizing what’s tucked into it. Beneath the farmland and rolling roads of the region sits one of the most underrated trout fisheries in the country. In this episode, John Van Vliet breaks down why the Driftless has become such a special place for anglers who love small streams, spring creeks, and big wild trout. We get into the unique geology of the Driftless, why the region fishes so differently from freestone rivers, and how a creek that looks too small to hold fish...
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914 | The Salmonfly Project with James Frakes and Jackson Birrell
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
914 Show Notes: \ Presented by: , , James Frakes and Jackson Birrell break down what they’re doing with the Salmonfly Project, a nonprofit focused on tracking aquatic insect populations across the West. They talk about why bugs like salmonflies, stoneflies, and mayflies matter, and how they can show what’s really happening in a river. You’ll also hear how habitat, water quality, and insect life all connect, and what anglers can do to pay attention and get involved. They also touch on Bug Fest, coming up soon, where you can learn more and connect with the project in person....
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The Ultimate Leech Guide with Landon Mayer and Phil Rowley (Littoral Zone #24)
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
913 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/913 Presented by: Fly Fish with Me Utah, Togiak River Lodge, Golden Fly Shop We’re putting together the Ultimate Leech Guide with Landon Mayer and Phil Rowley. We break down when to use leeches, how to fish them, and why they work so consistently across different lakes. We also dig into presentation tactics, leader setups, and the leech life cycle so you can better understand what fish are keying on. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/913
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Tying Atlantic Salmon Flies and the Grainger Collection with Marvin Nolte (Traveled #42)
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#912 Show Notes: Presented by: In this episode on classic salmon fly tying, I sat down with Marvin Nolte, a guy who’s been at the vise since the 1970s and has tied over 2,000 classic Atlantic salmon flies. We get into what it really takes to tie these patterns, why most people don’t stick with it, and how a random Christmas gift turned into a decades-long obsession. We also dig into one of the wildest stories in fly tying, the massive Granger collection, and what it says about craftsmanship, patience, and going deep into the details. Show Notes: ...
info_outline#719 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/719
Presented by: FishHound Expeditions
In this episode, we take a unique journey into the world of bush flying in Alaska with Ariel Tweto—pilot, adventurer, and star of Flying Wild Alaska. Ariel shares what it was like growing up in a family of pilots, the thrill of her first appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, and even a memorable drink with Harrison Ford.
Beyond the adventures, we dive into a more serious topic—suicide prevention in Native Alaskan communities, a cause close to Ariel’s heart. From broken bones to big dreams, this episode is packed with stories of resilience, passion, and making the most of every moment.
Episode Chapters with Ariel Tweto
4:43 - Ariel shares that flying has been an integral part of her life since birth, as her entire family is deeply involved in aviation. Her grandfather was one of the first Native American pilots to start an airline, founding Ryan Air in Alaska. Both her parents and extended family are pilots, and she grew up flying regularly, even before she could walk or talk.
8:33 - Ariel shares the unexpected journey of how Flying Wild Alaska became a TV show.
15:23 - Ariel recalls her first solo flight as a terrifying experience. Reflecting on the experience, she acknowledges that being a pilot isn’t her true passion. Though she respects the family legacy, she realizes she doesn’t have the mindset needed for full-time flying.
17:35 - She shares some of the projects she worked on after Flying Wild Alaska including being a recurring guest on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and doing an episode on The Late Show with David Letterman. Currently, she co-hosts Native Shorts where she discusses short films created by Indigenous filmmakers from around the world.
19:41 - Ariel remains passionate about adventure and action sports, participating in extreme activities like mountain biking and surfing. She has suffered multiple injuries, including a broken collarbone from mountain biking, broken ribs, and a recent severe facial injury while surfing in Mexico.
21:41 - She tells how her parents inspired and encouraged her to explore which has been instrumental in shaping who she is today.
26:47 - Ariel has had a love for travel since childhood. One of her earliest experiences was a trip to Texas with her cheerleading coach, where she was fascinated by the cultural differences—frying an egg on the sidewalk and learning line dancing. Her curiosity grew when she joined Alaska’s travel basketball team in middle school, leading her to the UK.
30:35 - Ariel started a nonprofit called Popping Bubbles in 2014, inspired by her personal loss of a number of friends to suicide. The organization focuses on breaking people out of their comfort zones, encouraging them to explore new experiences, meet different people, and see the possibilities beyond their immediate environment.
35:39 - She reflects on her father’s deep passion for flying, emphasizing that no matter how many close calls he had—including a crash where he broke his neck—he never considered stopping. His happiest moments were in the sky, exploring new landing spots, and he had no plans to retire from flying as long as his body and vision allowed. Although he once said he would stop off-airport flying at 70, Ariel and her family believe he would have continued beyond that.
43:00 - She tells us about her running routine. Sometimes she runs for as little as 30 minutes, but on days like she had in Utah, she ran for three hours simply because of the beautiful surroundings
44:40 - Ariel is currently working on the animated TV show The Great North, which is now in its fifth season.
47:09 - Going back to suicide prevention, Ariel emphasizes the power of human connection in addressing depression. She believes that feeling seen and valued is essential, as isolation often leads to hopelessness.
53:18 - Ariel played point guard in basketball. Growing up in Alaska, her high school team often flew to different villages for games. She later played college basketball in Boston but quickly realized she preferred a warmer climate with mountains, leading her to move to California.
57:00 - Ariel is an avid podcast listener. Some of her favorites include SmartLess, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, and Oprah’s Super Soul Sundays. She particularly enjoys Mel Robbins for her practical, life-changing advice.
1:01:23 - She also enjoys music, with her current obsession being Xavier Rudd, an artist from New Zealand known for his nature-inspired music and didgeridoo playing.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/719