Traveled #26 | The South Fork Lodge with Justin Adams - Salmon Flies, Snake River, Cutthroat
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Release Date: 03/15/2025
860 | Scandinavian Fly Fishing with Marcus Bohlin of Nam Products
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
860 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/860 Presented by: , , , Today, I sat down with Marcus Bohlin of Nam Products to talk through the things Scandinavian anglers think about differently. Rod length. True line weight. Leader diameter. Presentation. We get into why a 14-foot 7-weight can actually feel easier to fish on rivers like the Deschutes, how Baltic salmon behave compared to Atlantic salmon and steelhead, and why Sweden keeps coming up as a place more anglers should be paying attention to. We also dig into Nám’s leaders, why six-piece two-hand rods make more sense than...
info_outline
859 | World Championship Fly Casting, Sweden Atlantic Salmon, and Scandi Line System with Tellis Katsogiannos from Guideline
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Show Notes: Presented By: , , Tellis Katsogiannos has spent decades at the highest level of fly casting, earning world champion titles while helping shape how modern anglers think about efficiency, control, and simplicity. In this episode, Tellis shares how competitive casting sharpened his understanding of techniques, and how those lessons translate directly to real fishing situations. We also head to Sweden and Atlantic salmon water, where Scandi systems and Spey-style thinking demand precision over power. From line design at Guideline to teaching anglers how to improve without...
info_outline
Trout Fishing the Provo River in Utah with Mike O'Brien
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Show Notes: Https://wetfyswing.com/858 Sponsors:https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Fly fishing has a way of pulling you back when you need it most. And for Mike O’Brien, those quiet hours on the water turned into a full-on career shift, from financial services to guiding full-time in Utah. In this episode, we dig into what makes Utah such a sleeper fly fishing destination, why the Provo River is a legit year-round option, and the small tweaks that can turn a slow day into a “how is this even legal” kind of day. We also break down Mike’s go-to winter and shoulder-season setup: the bounce...
info_outline
858 | Fly Fishing Molokai with Josiah Ching of Bucks and Bones - Hawaiian Bonefish, Axis Deer
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#858 Show Notes: Presented by: , , , Sponsors: Josiah shares how subsistence fishing, military service, and conservation work brought him back home to build Bucks and Bones — a guiding program grounded in Hawaiian tradition, ecological responsibility, and world-class sight-fishing for big Hawaiian bonefish. Show Notes:
info_outline
857 | The Montana Fly Fishing Lodge with Lincoln Powers
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Show Notes: Https://wetfyswing.com/857 Sponsors:https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Most anglers think they know Montana trout fishing until they stumble into the rivers nobody’s talking about. No shuttle lines. No shoulder-to-shoulder boats. No mid-summer hoot owl closures shutting things down. Just cold water spilling off nearly 13,000-foot peaks and trout that still behave like trout. That’s exactly what we’re digging into on this episode of the Wet Fly Swing Podcast. I sat down with Lincoln Power of Montana Fly Fishing Lodge to talk about a pocket of Montana that still fishes like the...
info_outline
Six Piece Fly Rods and Fly Fishing Austria with Jeff Ditsworth of Pescador on the Fly
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
856 Show Notes: Presented by: A fly rod that disappears in your pack but still fishes like your everyday rod sounds like a stretch. In this episode, we dig into why that idea actually works and why more anglers are turning to six-piece rods for travel, backup, and even daily use. Jeff Ditsworth, founder of Pescador on the Fly, joins the show to break down how he rebuilt his rod lineup from the ground up. We talk about better blanks, tighter tolerances, and a new factory producing six-piece rods that feel just as smooth as a four-piece. Jeff also shares stories from a recent trip...
info_outline
856 | Mary Orvis Marbury, Fly Fishing Treasures, and Preserving Angling History with Steve Woit
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#856 Show Notes: Presented By: , , Sponsors: Steve Woit has spent years hunting down the stories behind fly-fishing’s most influential figures — including Mary Orvis Marbury, whose Victorian-era writing documented flies and tiers before the modern industry existed. In this episode, Steve walks us through the research discipline behind Fly Fishing Treasures, his deep dive into letters, catalogs, photographs, and tackle provenance that reveal how anglers built a culture long before we arrived. This conversation isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about protecting memory. Steve shows...
info_outline
Duane Hada on Growing Trophy Trout, Conservation, and Life as an Artist (CJ’s Reel Southern Podcast #9)
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Show Notes: Duane Hada joins Chad Johnson for a thoughtful conversation on what actually creates trophy trout fisheries—and why stocking alone isn’t the answer. Duane breaks down the importance of catch-and-release regulations, managing pressure, and letting fish live long enough to reach their full potential. Drawing from rivers like the White River and the San Juan, he explains how conservation-first thinking shapes not only fish size, but the long-term health of entire fisheries. Beyond fishing, Duane opens up about his life as an artist and how creativity, patience, and...
info_outline
855 | Trout Spey Tips for Dry Flies & Streamers with Howard Cole of JD High Country Outfitters
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#855 Show Notes: Presented by: , , Sponsors: If you’ve ever stood knee-deep in a Western river wondering whether a trout spey rod might change your whole approach, this conversation with Howard Cole will get your wheels turning. Howard’s spent a lifetime shaping flies, shaping cast loops, and shaping anglers at JD High Country Outfitters — and he brings a river-smart perspective on everything from trout spey dry flies to yellow sally emergers. Trout spey tips show up often in this episode, and they sneak into almost every story he tells from the Snake...
info_outline
854 | PGA Pro Phil Blackmar Applies Tour-Level Precision to Redfish Sight-Fishing
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
854 Show Notes: Presented by: , , , Today, we're sitting down with someone who has lived two deep lives, one on the PGA Tour and one on the flats of South Texas. Phil Blackmar spent years competing against the best golfers in the world, studying pressure, tempo, and how to stay calm when everything speeds up. Now he brings that same understanding to fly fishing, especially sight fishing for redfish and trout. Show Notes:
info_outline#731B Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/731B
Presented By: Yellowstone Teton Territory
The West is home to some incredible bug hatches, but only a few can match the size and intensity of the great salmon fly hatch. Today, we're diving into the magic of this hatch with Justin Adams of the South Fork Lodge.
We will talk about the Middle Fork, the Salmon River, and even the Grand Canyon. Find out how Justin puts a 90-degree bend in the leader to fish nymphs more effectively. Plus, he'll share the #1 thing he tells his clients and why fish on the South Fork have scuffed noses!
Episode Chapters with Justin Adams on the South Fork Lodge
04:54 - Justin started as a part-time guide while working for the Forest Service for 10 years. It was around 2018 when he went all in and started guiding over 100 days a season.
Fishing the South Fork
Justin says the South Fork is one of the best-known fisheries in the region. It holds a lot of fish per mile and can handle plenty of fishing pressure while still producing great days on the water. You can fish for cutthroat, brown trout, rainbows, and even hybrids called cutbows.
Seasons & Timing
Winter (December to February)
Fishing slows, but snowmobiling and skiing take over.
Ice fishing is possible on nearby reservoirs.
Spring (March to May)
High water from runoff, but big browns are on the move.
Worm patterns and big nymphs work best.
Summer (June to August)
The legendary Salmon Fly hatch happens around July 4th.
Dry flies dominate, with fish looking up for big bugs.
Fall (Sept–Oct)
Low water levels make for easier wading.
Brown trout start spawning, so target deep holes away from the beds.
Most anglers visit in July, especially around the 4th, when the salmon flies hatch.
Justin’s Go-To Set-Up for the South Fork
13:13 - Justin swears by a simple but deadly setup, which is the double Pat’s Rubber Legs or what they also call "two turds". He usually runs it under a mini bobber with a swivel setup, and if he needs more depth, he says he'll add a split shot.
Guides also swear by the Mic Drop, a simple olive-bodied fly with an orange collar. It looks like a zebra midge but could imitate just about anything. Sizes 16 to 20 work best, depending on the conditions.
https://youtu.be/QUK-if6brp0?si=CNuh5On4qwtoBGXQ
Rods
Justin swaps between 9 ft and 10 ft rods for nymphing. He uses the 10 ft rod (usually a 5-weight with a 6-weight line) for easier mending. Since they're mending all day, he says the extra length helps control the drift. It’s all about keeping the fly line behind the indicator for a slow, natural presentation.
Leader
Justin builds his leaders instead of using store-bought tapered ones. His setup uses a hinge system under the indicator, creating a 90-degree rig.
Why Fish on the South Fork Have Scuffed Noses
During the salmon fly hatch, the trout on the South Fork get aggressive. They’re actively picking them off the rocks instead of just waiting for bugs to land. Many fish end up with scuffed noses or even a bit of "road rash" from rubbing against the rocks while feeding.
The One Fly
The One Fly is a fly fishing competition and fundraiser on the South Fork and Upper Snake River. Anglers get just one fly. If they lose it, they’re out. Bigger fish earn more points, so strategy matters. The event brings in top anglers from all over, but local guides lead the way.
https://youtu.be/9ZxmTBHEqAs?si=04eovcZemagJD5h2
The Rainbros Tournament
Jimmy Kimmel and his crew fish every spring in their dry-fly-only competition. The rules are simple: Topwater fish are two points, subsurface is one, and a whitefish is a minus point. Michael Keaton, Jason Bateman, and Huey Lewis get in on it.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/731B