Littoral Zone #12 with Phil Rowley | What Trout See and Why it Matters with Jason Randall
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Release Date: 09/23/2024
952 | Will Godfrey Shares 80 Years of Fly Fishing History
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#952 Show Notes: Presented by: , , Sponsors: Will Godfrey has lived through nearly every major era of modern fly fishing. Along the way he built successful fly shops, guided legendary outdoor writers, traveled the world chasing trout and steelhead, and helped promote catch-and-release long before it became standard practice. This conversation is packed with stories that connect today's anglers to the people and places that built our sport. Show Notes:
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951 | Fly Fishing Texas: Mitch Kempe on Tailing Carp, Gar & Kayak Adventures
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#951 Show Notes: Presented by: Fly fishing in Texas offers anglers much more than bass and trout. In this episode, Mitch Kemp shares why rivers like the Brazos, Devils, and Pecos have become must-visit destinations for anglers looking to target carp, gar, and other warmwater species. Along the way, Mitch talks about building Fatty's on the Fly, planning overnight river trips, and the small adjustments that lead to more success on the water. Whether you're new to fly fishing in Texas or planning your next adventure, this episode is full of practical tips and memorable stories. Show...
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Pacific Lamprey in Alaska: Why this Ancient Fish Matters with Nate Cathcart
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#950B Show Notes: Presented by: Nate Cathcart leads research focused on Pacific lamprey across Alaska, working with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and partners to map habitat, understand migration patterns, and fill major knowledge gaps about this ancient fish. We also talk about how local communities, conservation groups, and anglers are helping collect data that could shape future management efforts. Show Notes:
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World Championship Lake Fly Fishing with Cody Burgdorff and Devin Olsen (Traveled #50)
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
950 Show Notes: Presented by: , Lake fly fishing is a different game. Finding trout in a river is one thing, but finding them in a thousand acres of open water is a whole different game. Cody Burgdorff and Devin Olsen of Team USA joined the show to talk about lake fly fishing, one of the most important and most misunderstood parts of competitive fly fishing. They broke down how they approach a brand new lake, how they work through the water column from shallow to deep, and how they systematically find trout when they have zero information to start with. They also got into...
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949 | From Pro Hockey to Trout: Fly Fishing Bow River Outfitters with Dana Lattery
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
949 Show Notes: Presented by: , , , Some of the biggest changes in life don't come with a plan. They happen after an injury, a setback, or a moment that forces you to look for a new purpose. In this episode, we're joined by Dana Lattery of Fly Fishing Bow River Outfitters, who shares how leaving professional hockey eventually led him to one of North America's great trout rivers. Show Notes:
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948 | Inside Thomas & Thomas: Connor Quigley on Fly Rod Design and Innovation
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
948 Show Notes: Presented By: In this episode, Connor shares the history of Thomas & Thomas, explains what gives a fly rod its "soul," and offers practical tips for choosing the right rod for trout, stripers, Atlantic salmon, pike, and more. Show Notes:
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From Filmmaker to Togiak River Lodge: Jordan Larsen's Alaska Fly Fishing Story
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#947B Show Notes: Presented by: Jordan Larsen joins us to share the behind-the-scenes story of Togiak River Lodge, one of the most remote fishing destinations in Bristol Bay. We talk about Chinook fishing, spey programs, conservation, mentorship, filmmaking, and the unlikely road that led Jordan and his brother Zack to ownership during one of the most uncertain periods in modern history. Show Notes:
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947 | Cast and Iron Camp Cooking and British Columbia Fly Fishing with Teddy Cosco
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
947 Show Notes: Presented by: , , , , You can learn a lot about a person by looking in their cooler at the end of a fishing trip. In this episode, we're digging into Cast and Iron Camp Cooking and British Columbia Fly Fishing with Teddy Cosco. Teddy is a steelhead angler, university professor, camp cook, and someone who has spent years exploring rivers across British Columbia, the Yukon, and beyond. We get into steelhead fishing, Spey casting, camp cooking, and why some of the best memories from a trip happen back at camp after the rods are put away. Teddy shares his system for preparing...
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946 | Fly Fishing for Giant Pike in Northern Saskatchewan with Mark Melnyk of The New Fly Fisher
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#946 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 common...
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945 | Carp Flats, Bonefish Trips, and Idaho Steelhead with Drew Evans from House of Fly
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#945 Show Notes: Presented By: , , Sponsors: Drew Evans of House of Fly returns to the podcast to share why carp may be one of the most underrated gamefish in fly fishing—and why they offer some of the best preparation for chasing bonefish, redfish, and other saltwater species. Drawing from years of experience fishing Idaho's rivers and traveling to the flats, Drew explains how sight fishing for carp builds the casting, presentation, and fish-spotting skills that translate almost anywhere in the world. The conversation also explores choosing the right fly line, matching rods to your...
info_outlineShow Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/662
Presented By: Stonefly Nets, TroutRoutes, Smitty's Fly Box
In today’s Littoral Zone episode, Phil chats with Jason Randall about what trout see and why it matters.
Jason has written four books, including his famous trout trilogy, which dives deep into how trout behave in their environment. While Jason's passion lies in rivers and streams, the research and knowledge he's amassed is equally beneficial to stillwater fly fishers.
]His understanding of how trout see is crucial information for all fly fishers, guiding both our pattern selection and presentation techniques, information that helps us consistently make the correct pattern and presentation choice.
Show Notes with Jason Randall on What Trout See and Why it Matters.
2:20 - Jason Randall graduated as a veterinarian and did postgraduate work in fish health and medicine. Although he considered a career in fisheries, he ultimately chose private practice.
4:16 - Jason started fly fishing around 40 years ago but got frustrated early on due to a lack of guidance. He took a break, then later tried again this time with the help of great mentors.
Jason says his passion really started during a trip to Colorado. A guide introduced him to a caddis hatch that transformed the river into a feeding frenzy of trout. Watching the stream come alive with caddis and rising fish was a game-changer for Jason.
08:21 - Jason says he was lucky to have some amazing mentors like George Kustin who guided him in fly fishing and taught him about wet flies and soft tackles. Lefty Kreh took Jason under his wing.
09:31 - Jason also works with Temple Fork Outfitters on rod design and prototype testing. This year, they introduced a new European Nymphing Rod called the Elevare, which won Best New Rod at ICAST 2024.
Books by Jason Randall
13:00 - Jason’s trout fishing trilogy started in 2012 with Jay Nichols from Stackpole Books. The trilogy covers:
Feeding Time: A Fly Fisher’s Guide to What, When and Where Trout Eat
Trout Sense: A Fly Fisher’s Guide to What Trout See, Hear, and Smell
Moving Water: A Fly Fisher’s Guide to Currents
Jason also wrote Nymph Masters, a collaborative effort featuring tips from top nymph anglers like Gary Borger and Lefty Kreh.
Trout Sense
17:00 - Trout begins life as prey, eating small organisms like plankton. As they grow, they become predators, feeding on insects, crustaceans, and even small fish or mammals.
They retain the wide-set eyes of prey for spotting threats and the sharp focus of predators for hunting. This makes them tricky to catch.
21:10 - Jason explains how light works differently underwater, which affects how trout see. Refraction, or the bending of light when it moves from air to water, can also trick us into thinking we're casting right over a fish, but we could be a few feet off.
26:08 - Jason dives into how color fades underwater, starting with red, and how different colors are absorbed at various depths. Fluorescent colors like chartreuse stand out the most and create a strong contrast, which trout notice.
29:18 - Unlike humans, a trout's pupils don’t adjust to light, and their eyes have a football-like shape that lets them see clearly both in front and to the side.
Search Image and How Trout Decide to Eat
42:11 - Trout uses a "search image" to figure out what’s food and what’s not. They focus on four things: size, shape (profile), movement, and color.
If a fish keeps ignoring your fly from far away, it’s probably the size or shape that’s off. But if they come close, and then turn away, Jason says that it may be a color-based refusal.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/662