loader from loading.io

Choosing the Right Fly Rod with Gary Davis of San Juan Rod Works

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Release Date: 03/05/2026

Tying Atlantic Salmon Flies and the Grainger Collection with Marvin Nolte (Traveled #42) show art 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
911 | Ultimate Fly Fishing Travel Guide - Bahamas & Kamchatka with Will Blair show art 911 | Ultimate Fly Fishing Travel Guide - Bahamas & Kamchatka with Will Blair

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Show Notes: Presented by: , , and . Fly fishing travel isn’t what it used to be. The easy trips are getting crowded, and the places that still feel untouched take a little more effort to reach. In this episode, we get a real look at what that next level of travel looks like. Will Blair walks through two very different fisheries—the remote flats of the Bahamas and the wild rivers of Kamchatka—and explains how both are evolving right now. This is a full-on fly fishing travel guide, from logistics to species to what actually matters once you get there.

info_outline
How to Find Trout and Turn Refusals Into Eats: Guide Tips from the Provo River with Mike O'Brien show art How to Find Trout and Turn Refusals Into Eats: Guide Tips from the Provo River with Mike O'Brien

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Show Notes: Presented by:  Most anglers walk right past good water without even knowing it. In this episode, we’re digging into how to find trout and turn refusals into eats with Mike O'Brien. He shares how guides break down a river in the first few minutes and what they look for before making a single cast. We also get into why trout refuse flies that look perfect, and how small changes in your drift and position can turn those refusals into eats. Mike talks about reading trout behavior, spotting high percentage water, and making simple adjustments when things aren’t working. Show...

info_outline
910 | Alaska Steelhead Camp with Jonathan Farmer from Midnight Sun Custom Flies show art 910 | Alaska Steelhead Camp with Jonathan Farmer from Midnight Sun Custom Flies

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#910 Show Notes:   Presented by: , ,   Sponsors:     Jonathan Farmer from Midnight Sun Custom Flies shares how this camp blends the comfort of a lodge with the authenticity of a true Alaska steelhead camp. It’s built for anglers who want to fish hard, learn more, and experience Alaska in the fall. From swing techniques to river behavior to camp life, this one is packed with insight for anyone chasing chrome. Show Notes:      

info_outline
909 | The Ultimate Guide to Trout Food: Mayflies, Stoneflies & More with Maggie Heumann show art 909 | The Ultimate Guide to Trout Food: Mayflies, Stoneflies & More with Maggie Heumann

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#909  Show Notes: Sponsors: , , There’s a whole world of trout food drifting beneath the surface that most anglers never fully notice. Tiny insects, short-lived hatches, and subtle movements quietly control how trout feed and where they hold. In this episode, we dig into trout food — not just what they eat, but why it matters. Because once you start noticing bugs, the river starts making a whole lot more sense. Maggie Heumann from Trout Unlimited joins me to break down aquatic entomology in a way that actually connects to your time on the water.

info_outline
908 | Fishing Smaller Flies for Great Lakes Steelhead and Salmon with Alex Belonga show art 908 | Fishing Smaller Flies for Great Lakes Steelhead and Salmon with Alex Belonga

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

908 Show Notes: Presented by:  , , , Do you remember when intruders took over with big profiles and tons of flash? But what if the real edge is going smaller? In this episode, we’re digging into fishing smaller flies for Great Lakes steelhead and salmon, and what happens when you shift from bulk to balance and from heavy push to a more subtle presence. Alex Belonga breaks it down, from Temple Dogs to sparse hair wings, plus how presentation, movement, and fly design all play into getting more eats. 908 Show Notes:  

info_outline
907 | The Story Behind Fishpond and Modern Fly Fishing Gear with Johnny Le Coq show art 907 | The Story Behind Fishpond and Modern Fly Fishing Gear with Johnny Le Coq

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#907 Show Notes:   Presented by: , Sponsors:      What does it take to completely rethink how we carry gear on the water? In this episode, we dig into fly fishing innovation through the story of Fishpond and the mind behind it, Johnny Le Coq. From cassette tape cases to chest packs and carbon fiber nets, this one connects design, function, and purpose in a big way. We get into the early days of Fishpond, how disruption shaped the brand, and why conservation became just as important as the gear itself. Jonny also shares what he's focused on now, including a powerful citizen...

info_outline
906 | Scott Fly Rod Founder Larry Kenny on Design and Innovation show art 906 | Scott Fly Rod Founder Larry Kenny on Design and Innovation

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#906  Show Notes:  Presented By: , , , . Fly fishing has always evolved, but some moments change everything. From bamboo to fiberglass to graphite, each shift has redefined how anglers experience the water. In this episode, Larry Kenney shares what it was like to be at the center of one of the most important transitions in fly fishing history—the move to graphite fly rods. Larry, co-founder of Scott Fly Rods, takes us through the early days of rod building, the rise of graphite innovation, and the lessons he’s learned from decades in the industry. Along the way, he...

info_outline
904 | Upper Missouri Watershed Conservation with Josh Seckinger and David Stagliano from UMOWA show art 904 | Upper Missouri Watershed Conservation with Josh Seckinger and David Stagliano from UMOWA

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

#904 Show Notes:   Presented by: We dig into what’s happening on the Upper Missouri right now, from macroinvertebrate data to water management challenges. This episode with Josh Seckinger and David Stagliano from Upper Missouri Watershed Alliance (UMOWA) connects the dots between science, fishing, and long-term river health. Show Notes:       

info_outline
903 | Fishing the Trico Hatch and the Missouri River Dry Fly School with Craig & Warren DeMark show art 903 | Fishing the Trico Hatch and the Missouri River Dry Fly School with Craig & Warren DeMark

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

903 Show Notes: Presented by:   In this episode, Craig and Warren break down what really matters when you’re fishing the Missouri during peak dry fly season. We get into fishing the Trico hatch, how timing and rhythm often beat perfect fly choice, and what anglers miss when targeting rising fish. You’ll also hear about the Missouri River Dry Fly School at On DeMark Lodge. Find out what you can expect on the water, and how to apply the techniques you'll learn there anywhere you fish. 903 Show Notes:  

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/891b

Sponsors: San Juan Rodworks  

Gary founded San Juan Rod Works in 2020 out of his garage. Today, he’s moved into a dedicated showroom and education space in Rio Rancho, New Mexico — built around community, casting, and conservation.

This episode walks through how to actually choose a fly rod without overcomplicating it — starting with species, then flies, then casting style.