719 | Flying with Ariel Tweto - Alaska, Bush Planes, Suicide Prevention
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Release Date: 02/14/2025
Henry's Lake Stillwater School with Phil Rowley and Darren Huntsman (Traveled #47)
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#940 Show Notes: Presented by: Phil Rowley and Darren Huntsman share why Henry's Lake remains one of the premier stillwater fisheries in North America. More importantly, they explain how the techniques taught during the Henry's Lake Stillwater School can help anglers improve on lakes everywhere. Show Notes:
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939 | Sexyloops Founder Paul Arden on Fly Casting, Tight Loops, and Why Anglers Stop Improving
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#939 Show Notes: Presented By: , , , Sponsors: Paul Arden, founder of Sexyloops and one of the most respected fly casting instructors in the world, returns to the podcast to share lessons from more than three decades of teaching anglers how to cast more efficiently. From beginners learning loop control to experienced anglers searching for more distance and accuracy, Paul breaks down the fundamentals that separate average casters from great ones. The conversation covers fly casting plateaus, loop control, back-cast awareness, the 170 cast, double-haul mechanics, fly line selection, and...
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Why Less Gear Catches More Fish with Chris Teas and Jeff Ditsworth of Pescador on the Fly
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#938B Show Notes: Presented By: Sponsors: Chris Teas joins Jeff Ditsworth of Pescador on the Fly to share lessons learned from more than five decades of fly fishing around the world. From growing up fishing Wisconsin and Colorado waters to traveling across South America and beyond, Chris explains why experience has taught him to simplify gear, focus on presentation, and stop overcomplicating fly fishing. The conversation covers fly fishing travel mistakes, stolen gear, packable rods, Euro nymphing, guide tactics, and why Chris believes most anglers only need a handful of flies to catch fish...
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938 | Water Lines with Riverhorse Nakadate - Patagonia, Boundary Waters, and Stories from a Life on the Water
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
938 Show Notes: Presented by: If tomorrow were your last day on the planet, would you feel like you left enough out on the water? That question sits at the heart of this conversation with Riverhorse Nakadate and his new book, Water Lines. Riverhorse has spent decades exploring marshes, rivers, oceans, surf breaks, and wild places around the world. Today, he shares some of the stories, adventures, and lessons that came from a life spent following water wherever it leads. We're talking about the making of Water Lines, what it was like working with Patagonia to bring the book to life, and...
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Fly Fishing Eastern Idaho with Elden Berrett - East Idaho Fly Tying Expo, Salmon Fly Hatch (Traveled #46)
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
937B Show Notes: Presented by: , Fly fishing Eastern Idaho is all about timing. Hit the river during the right hatch, find the right feeding lane, and a good day can turn into one you'll remember for years. I sat down with Elden Berrett, a longtime eastern Idaho guide, fly designer, and tier who spent more than 25 years guiding on the South Fork Snake, Henry's Fork, Yellowstone waters, Hebgen Lake, and the Teton. We talked about the East Idaho Fly Tying Expo, some of his most productive fly patterns, the famous salmon fly hatch, and what he's learned from decades on some of the best...
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937 | Puget Sound Cutthroat Fishing with Blake Merwin from Gig Harbor Fly Shop
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#937 Show Notes: Presented by: , , , Sponsors: In this episode, I sat down with Blake Merwin from Gig Harbor Fly Shop to talk about Puget Sound cutthroat fishing, steelhead on the Olympic Peninsula, and the small details that separate productive days from frustrating ones. We dug into beach structure, tide movement, chum fry migrations, topwater opportunities, and why standing still is often the biggest mistake anglers make. Blake has spent decades guiding and exploring these waters. Along the way, he's developed a deep understanding of sea-run...
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936 | Fly Fishing Bozeman: Mike Pogoda’s Guide to Building the Ultimate Montana Trip
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#936 Show Notes Presented By: In this episode, we head to Montana with Mike Pogoda from Rising Trout Fly Fishing to break down how to properly plan a fly-fishing trip in one of the best trout destinations in the West. We dive into choosing between the Madison River, Yellowstone River, and Gallatin River, adapting during low water seasons, and making smarter on-the-go decisions so you’re not second guessing once you step into the river. Mike also shares insights from guiding these rivers every day and how local guides stay connected on river flows, hatches, and fish activity...
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The Drifthook Fly Selection System with Matt Bernhardt
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
935B Show Notes: Presented by: Every angler has heard it before: this fly always works, this is my confidence fly, you have to have this pattern in your box. But when you're standing on the river with hundreds of flies to choose from, how do you know what actually matters? Matt Bernhardt from Drifthook joins us to break down fly selection and share a simpler way to think about choosing flies. We also talk about what drives good fly selection, why size and silhouette often matter more than exact imitation, and the differences between beginner, intermediate, and advanced...
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935 | Brown Trout Fly Fishing in Finland with Jani Himanko from Kellankoski Lodge
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#935 Show Notes: Presented by: , , , Jani Himanko owns Kellankoski Lodge in central Finland, where anglers target native brown trout, grayling, pike, and other species in a low-pressure river system connected by lakes and rapids. The fishery is known for aggressive trout feeding behavior, migrating baitfish, and a unique streamer technique centered around the surfboard fly. This conversation digs into the technical side of streamer fishing, Finland’s trout culture, and how protected private water helped preserve giant native browns in their original range. Sponsors: ...
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934 | The Origins of Spey Casting and Deschutes River Steelhead with John Hazel of Deschutes Angler Fly Shop
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#934 Show Notes: Presented By: , , Sponsors: What does it really take to film fly fishing at the highest level? In this episode, Todd Moen of Catch Magazine joins us to share the story behind some of the most iconic fly fishing films ever created—from steelhead rivers in the Pacific Northwest to remote destinations across the globe. We dig into Todd’s early production days filming for Fly Fishing the World, surviving a plane crash in the Bahamas, and how he eventually built Catch Magazine into one of the most respected visual storytelling brands in fly fishing. Todd also...
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