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Littoral Zone #16 | Fly Fishing Australian Lakes and Beyond with Tom Jarman

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Release Date: 03/24/2025

889 | Bristol Bay Salmon Management with Tim Sands of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game show art 889 | Bristol Bay Salmon Management with Tim Sands of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#889 Show Notes:     Presented by: Tim Sands is a fisheries management biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, focused on the Nushagak and Togiak districts of Bristol Bay. His primary job is managing commercial salmon fisheries — mostly sockeye — while also protecting Chinook, chum, pink, and coho moving through the system. We covered how sonar counts guide daily decisions, what happens when too many salmon return, and why king salmon are struggling statewide. Show Notes:         

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888 | Panfish on the Fly with Bart Lombardo show art 888 | Panfish on the Fly with Bart Lombardo

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

885 Show Notes:  Presented by: , ,  I sat down with Bart Lombardo from Panfish On The Fly to talk about bluegill, pumpkinseed, crappie, perch, and all the warmwater species that are often overlooked. We dig into why these fish are some of the best teachers in fly fishing, how they flatten the learning curve for new anglers, and why experienced anglers keep coming back to them.   Show Notes:  

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Seasonal Fly Fishing Across Eastern Idaho’s Most Iconic Rivers with Brian Berry from Scott Lake Lodge (Traveled #40) show art Seasonal Fly Fishing Across Eastern Idaho’s Most Iconic Rivers with Brian Berry from Scott Lake Lodge (Traveled #40)

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#887 Show Notes:  Presented By:   Not every trout river fishes the same, and eastern Idaho might be one of the best places to see that firsthand. In this Traveled episode, we head back to Teton Valley Lodge with Brian Berry to explore how the South Fork Snake, Henry’s Fork, and the Teton River each bring a completely different challenge depending on flows, seasons, and how you approach the water from a drift boat. Brian walks us through how fishing changes throughout the year—from winter nymphing and streamer tactics to the explosive Mother’s Day caddis hatch and summer...

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GLD #17 | Spey Casting Techniques with Tim Arsenault of Bridge Outfitters - Great Lakes Dude Podcast show art GLD #17 | Spey Casting Techniques with Tim Arsenault of Bridge Outfitters - Great Lakes Dude Podcast

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#886 Show Notes:     Presented by: , , Sponsors:   Some people fall into fly fishing. Others get pulled in hard and never really come back out. Tim Arsenault fits squarely in that second camp. From skipping school to chase salmon, to designing some of the most thoughtfully tuned Spey lines on the water, Tim’s journey is all about curiosity, obsession, and learning how things really work. In this episode, we dig deep into Spey casting techniques, steelhead rivers, line design, and what happens when you stop accepting off-the-shelf answers. Show Notes:      ...

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885 | Rethinking Bamboo Fly Rod Materials for Modern Rods with Peer Doering-Arjes show art 885 | Rethinking Bamboo Fly Rod Materials for Modern Rods with Peer Doering-Arjes

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

885 Show Notes: Presented by:  , , For more than a century, bamboo fly rods have been built from the same bamboo. It was accepted as tradition, rarely questioned, and almost never tested. Peer Doering-Arjes decided to test it. Instead of relying on history or feel, he approached bamboo like a scientific problem. He traveled through Vietnam and China, worked with botanists and universities, and ran controlled tests on hundreds of bamboo samples. He measured strength, flexibility, and durability the same way engineers test modern materials. What he found led to a different bamboo species...

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884 | How to Combine Tight Line Nymphing and Streamer Fishing with Brian DeLoach show art 884 | How to Combine Tight Line Nymphing and Streamer Fishing with Brian DeLoach

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#884 Show Notes: Presented By: , , , Sponsors: Progress in fly fishing often happens when you stop treating techniques as separate lanes and start combining them. In this episode, Brian DeLoach shares the hybrid system he’s developed by blending Euro nymphing principles with heavy jig-style streamer fishing to efficiently target predatory fish. Brian explains why stout leaders and heavier rods protect fish during the fight, why drift matters more than tippet visibility, and how changing retrieves—including dead drifts, jig motions, and active strips—can trigger aggressive eats. If...

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883 | New Zealand Fly Fishing and Patagonia Gear Testing with Simon Chu show art 883 | New Zealand Fly Fishing and Patagonia Gear Testing with Simon Chu

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#883 Show Notes:    Presented by: If you’ve ever wondered why some anglers seem to always be in the right spot at the right time, this episode digs straight into that idea. In this conversation with Simon Chu, we talk about New Zealand fly fishing, spring creeks in Montana, and why slowing down and walking often reveal what boat fishing hides. Simon spends his seasons split between hemispheres, guiding and testing gear in some of the most demanding conditions on the planet. We get into Patagonia waders, sight fishing big browns, and the mindset shift that comes from hunting...

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882 | Understanding Fly Line Design with Zach McKnight show art 882 | Understanding Fly Line Design with Zach McKnight

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Show Notes: Https://wetfyswing.com/882 Sponsors: , , and  Sponsors:https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Fly fishing has a way of making simple problems feel complicated. Your cast feels off, the presentation isn’t doing what you want, and suddenly you’re blaming everything in your hand. In this episode, we dig into understanding fly line design with Zach McKnight from Cortland Line, and it’s one of those conversations that can instantly clear the fog. Not by piling on more jargon, but by getting back to the one connection that quietly drives everything: rod to line to fly. We...

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882 | Hunting with a Fly Podcast - Fly Fishing for Apex Predators with Rick Kustich show art 882 | Hunting with a Fly Podcast - Fly Fishing for Apex Predators with Rick Kustich

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

882 Show Notes: Presented by: , , ,  What if the hardest fly fishing in the world is not about numbers, but about patience, restraint, and waiting all day for one real chance? That is the game today’s guest lives in. Rick Kustich is back on the podcast. Rick has spent decades chasing some of the toughest fish on the planet, from Great Lakes steelhead and giant muskie to Atlantic salmon and windswept rivers in Patagonia.  He breaks down why strategy matters more than repetition, how small adjustments change everything, and what it really takes to fish at the highest level. ...

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Howard Croston on Competition Mindset and Loch-Style Fishing for Stillwater Trout (Littoral Zone Podcast #22) show art Howard Croston on Competition Mindset and Loch-Style Fishing for Stillwater Trout (Littoral Zone Podcast #22)

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#881 Show Notes: Presented By: , , Sponsors: Stillwater fly fishing rewards anglers who focus on presentation, depth, and efficiency rather than constantly changing flies. In this episode, Phil Rowley sits down with England’s Howard Croston — former world champion, longtime England team member, Hardy product developer, and Fulling Mill fly designer — to unpack the tactical decisions that consistently put trout in the net. From reading unfamiliar lakes and understanding stocked fish behavior to leader diameter, drift control, and eliminating “myths” about fly color, Howard explains...

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Phil #735 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/735

Presented By:  Four Wheel Campers, Pescador on the Fly, Yellowstone Teton Territory

In this episode of The Littoral Zone with Phil Rowley, Tom Jarman, a top competitive fly angler and winner of the 2024 Australian Fly Fishing Championships, breaks down his best strategies, tactics, and flies for fishing Australian lakes and beyond. Episode Chapters with Tom Jarman on Fly Fishing Australian Lakes

Tom was born in Melbourne, Australia, but he spent part of his childhood in England, where he first picked up a fishing rod. When his family returned to Australia in 2000, his passion for the sport grew and he got into competitive fly fishing at 15. 

He later studied environmental science, while spending summers guiding in Tasmania. Now at 31, Tom has built a life around fly fishing—guiding, coaching, and sharing his knowledge with others.

Tom started his YouTube channel to showcase the incredible fishing in Victoria. His videos highlight both river and lake fishing.  Tom also designed a range of flies with FlyLife Magazine, built specifically for Australia’s unique fisheries.

The Shrek Fly 

Tom and Phil dive into the effectiveness of the Shrek fly. Designed by Joe Riley, this fly stands out with its metallic green and gold hues, mimicking Australia’s native baitfish. It’s so effective that even anglers from the U.S. have adapted it for their own waters.

Check out Tom’s video tutorial on How To Tie Shrek and see why this fly is a must-have in your box:

https://youtu.be/wsoHmpErZMI?si=vNAEzwNVU4UgLdjT

Key Tips from Competition Fishing

17:38 - Tom shares what he's learned from competitions that every angler can use:

Structure your day to maximize your chances of success.

Location is key. Fish aren’t everywhere, so focus on finding them.

Cover water fast. In a boat, you’d move quickly to locate fish. Apply this same mindset on the bank.

Fish key spots. Target windward shores, calm areas, drop-offs, weed beds, and rocky structures.

Don’t get stuck in one place too long, especially if the fish aren’t biting.

Gear Tips for Stillwater Fishing

Rod 

Tom swears by a 10-foot rod for Stillwater fishing. It gives him better casting control, helps manage flies near the boat, and allows for longer leaders. Here’s what he prefers:

10 ft 6 wt – Tom's all-around choice.

10 ft 7wt – Great for streamers and windy conditions.

10ft 8wt  – Helps cast farther in competitions.

Tom also likes stiffer rods in windy conditions for quicker hook sets. A strong rod means better control, especially when fish push farther out. 

 Leader

Tom keeps things simple when fishing subsurface. Instead of a tapered leader, he uses a level fluorocarbon leader for better contact with his flies. He also uses a beaded fly at the end to help the cast turn over, even in the wind.

When fishing dry flies, he switches to a tapered leader to transfer energy smoothly. He trims off the extra thick butt section and the non-tapered tip, then adds a tippet ring before tying on his tippet.
 

Show Notes:  https://wetflyswing.com/735