707 | The So Fly Fishing Podcast with Mitch Duesling and Aldo Pescatore-Tardioli - Ontario, Belize, Northern Pike
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Release Date: 01/17/2025
927 | McKenzie Style Drift Boats, Whitewater Rapids, and the Middle Fork Salmon with Jeff Helfrich
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#927 Show Notes: Presented By: , , , Sponsors: What happens when a family helps shape the history of drift boats for nearly a century? In this episode, Jeff Helfrich joins us to share stories from the early days of McKenzie River drift boats, how his grandfather Prince Helfrich helped evolve whitewater boat design, and what it’s really like navigating technical rivers like the Middle Fork Salmon and Rogue River in wooden boats. We dig into the transition from plank boats to plywood, the origins of the McKenzie-style drift boat, and why certain whitewater rapids still give experienced...
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Dry Fly Fishing Montana with Sean McLendon from Montana Fly Fishing Lodge
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#926b Show Notes: Presented by: Sean McLendon guides out of Montana Fly Fishing near Absarokee, Montana, where anglers can fish everything from technical spring creeks to big freestone rivers like the Yellowstone and Stillwater. His specialty is small water fishing, especially the kind of creeks where stealth and presentation matter more than distance casting. Throughout this conversation, Sean shared practical strategies for approaching selective trout, fishing dry flies on small streams, and covering water efficiently without spooking fish. Show Notes:
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926 | Fly Fishing Stillwater Lakes in Canada with Greg Keenan from The Stillwater Edge
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#926 Show Notes: Presented by: , , Sponsors: Greg Keenan is back on the podcast to talk all things stillwater fly fishing, from early season ice-off opportunities to advanced presentations for selective trout. Greg guides and teaches on the lakes around British Columbia and has become one of the go-to voices in stillwater education through his schools and YouTube content. This conversation covers everything from reading lake structure and finding productive shoals to fishing chironomids, leeches, and naked line presentations more effectively. Show Notes: ...
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925 | A Look Back at 50 Years of the Henry’s Fork Anglers with Mike Lawson
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
925 Show Notes: Presented by: , , Today, we take a look back at 50 years of Henry’s Fork Anglers with Mike Lawson and some great stories from the early days of fly fishing on the Henry’s Fork. We talk about the rise of fly shops, graphite rods, matching the hatch, famous fly fishing writers, and how Henry’s Fork helped shape modern fly fishing as we know it today. Show Notes:
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924 | Remote Fly Fishing Adventures: Golden Dorado, Seychelles GTs, and Kamchatka Trout with Christiaan Pretorius
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#924 Show Notes: Presented By: , , , Some of the best water you’ll ever fish is the water most people never reach. In this episode, Christian Pretorius joins us to share stories from a life spent guiding and traveling across some of the wildest fisheries on the planet—from Seychelles GTs and Kamchatka rainbows to giant Golden Dorado deep in the Bolivian jungle. We dig into what makes remote fisheries so special, the tradeoffs between helicopter access and earning it on foot, and why the journey itself often matters just as much as the fish. Christian also shares lessons from decades of...
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923 | Susitna River Coalition’s Margaret Stern on Alaska Salmon, Free-Flowing Rivers, and Dam Threats
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#923 Show Notes: Presented By: Sponsors: How does one of the largest free-flowing rivers in the United States end up back on the table for major development projects? In this episode, Margaret Stern from the Susitna River Coalition returns to the podcast to share what’s happening right now across Alaska’s Susitna watershed—from a proposed hydroelectric dam to a massive access road that could permanently change the region. We talk about why the Susitna remains such a unique and accessible wild river system, how local communities are organizing around conservation, and why public...
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Devin Olsen and Jack Arnot on Competitive Dry Fly Fishing (Traveled #44)
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#922 Show Notes: Presented by: Dry fly fishing can look simple from the outside. Match the hatch, make a clean cast, and watch the eat. But once you dig into how top competitors approach it, you realize it's not about the fly nearly as much as everything around it. In this episode, I sat down with Devin Olsen and Jack Arnot to break down what they’re doing differently, especially with the Spanish dry fly system. This one gets into leader design, casting control, and why simplifying your flies might actually help you catch more fish. If you’ve ever struggled with drag,...
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922 | The Fight for West Susitna and Alaska Public Lands with Adam Cuthriell, Rachel James, and Ryan Astalos
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
922 Show Notes: Presented by: Today, we’re digging into what’s happening right now across Alaska, from the fight over West Susitna and Alaska public lands to bycatch, mining, and road development, and why it matters to anyone who cares about wild fish. I sat down with Rachel James and Ryan Astalos from SalmonState, along with Adam Cuthriell of Fishhound Expeditions. We talk about Bristol Bay, the proposed West Susitna Road, trawl bycatch, and how public lands decisions in Alaska ripple across the entire country. This one goes beyond fly fishing. It’s about protecting the future...
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921 | Airflo’s Gareth Jones on Competition Fly Fishing and Stillwater Systems
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#921 Show Notes: Presented By: , , , Sponsors: Why do some anglers seem to find fish instantly while others struggle all day on the same lake? In this episode, Gareth Jones, sales Director at Airflo Fishing, breaks down Stillwater fly fishing at a level most anglers never reach—from understanding exact sink rates to building repeatable systems that help locate fish quickly. We dig into countdown systems, retrieves, line densities, and how wind, depth, and presentation all work together. Gareth also shares competition-proven tactics for fishing teams of flies, controlling drift with a...
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920 | Fly Fishing Baja and Chasing Roosterfish with John Hunt from Moccasin Fly Club
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#920b Show Notes: Presented by: In this episode, I sat down with John Hunt from Moccasin Fly Club to dig into what these trips actually look like. We got into fly fishing Baja liveaboards, chasing trophy roosterfish, and the stuff most people don’t think about until it’s too late. If Baja has been on your radar, this one gives you a clear picture of what to expect and how to do it right. Show Notes:
info_outline#707 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/707
Presented by: Pescador on the Fly, FishHound Expeditions, Four Wheel Campers
Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors
In this episode, we are thrilled to have Mitch and Aldo, the dynamic duo behind the renowned So Fly Fishing podcast, one of Canada's top fly fishing shows.
Join us as Mitch and Aldo take us on a journey through Southern Ontario's stunning waters and beyond. They'll share captivating stories from their podcast, offering insights into their favorite trips and the incredible guests they've hosted. Whether you're planning your next big adventure or simply dreaming of the perfect fly fishing escape, Mitch and Aldo are here to provide inspiration and expert advice.
Episode Chapters with Mitch Duesling and Aldo Pescatore-Tardioli on the So Fly Fishing Podcast
1:28 - I had the pleasure to guest on their podcast in April last year about starting and sustaining a fly fishing podcast.
3:44 - We started our chat by getting into their creative journey in the podcasting space. Mitch reflects on the origins of their project, which began as an idea in 2015 and launched its first episode in January 2016. Mitch notes the rise of the creator culture, observing that even young family members aspire to be creators now.
Aldo recalls joining the podcast as a guest on an episode and later becoming a co-host. The team experienced a shift in their production schedule during the Covid lockdown, initially increasing their output to one episode per week due to having more free time. Eventually, they settled into a rhythm of releasing two episodes per month, which they find to be a balanced and sustainable approach.
6:52 - We talk about fishing in Ontario. Mitch and Aldo discuss how Ontario offers a wide range of fishing opportunities due to its large size and diverse ecosystems, from Southern Ontario to the far north. They note that while they have traveled globally, Ontario remains a prime fishing destination for them. Aldo mentions the multi-species fishing opportunities, including smallmouth bass, pike, and musky, particularly in Ottawa. He also remarks on the less populated areas of the province, which offer remote fishing experiences.
9:51 - Aldo shares that time when a listener's invitation led them to Texas for redfishing, highlighting the exciting and memorable experiences that result from this kind of trips. Both Mitch and Aldo emphasize the importance of being open to opportunities and seizing them when they arise.
13:29 - Mitch discusses the shift from audio-only content to video podcasts on YouTube. He notes that more people are engaging with their content on YouTube, likely due to the visual component that video offers. Despite this shift, creating video content presents challenges, such as ensuring guests have the necessary technology to participate visually.
16:00 - We discuss the excitement of having well-known guests on the show, particularly those outside the fly fishing community. They recount a near-success in booking actor Liam Neeson, who declined their invitation but showed interest initially. They dream of featuring other famous personalities, focusing solely on their fishing experiences rather than their celebrity status.
18:39 - I mention our episodes with Yvon Chouinard and Henry Winkler.
19:13 - The hosts discuss their experiences with receiving negative comments or "hate mail" after podcast episodes. Mitch and Aldo acknowledge that early on, they received criticism for swearing too much, which they have since reduced.
21:19 - Aldo and Mitch reveal how they plan and produce their episodes. They rely on a network of sponsors, fly shops, guides, and local connections to secure guests, aiming to maintain a balance between international content and local stories from Ontario.
24:25 - We ask them about their plans for this year. One of the highlights is a trip to Belize in February, where they'll be exploring Ambergris Caye and San Pedro with a mix of DIY adventures and guided tours. Another major milestone for the team is the upcoming 200th episode of their podcast, which they are thrilled about.
26:28 - They share about an annual event called the Southern Ontario Trout Opener Social in April. It serves as a fundraiser aiming to support local river conservation efforts. The event features a cocktail party setup with around 150 attendees, including tying competitions where participants can win a day with a guide. The event has been running for four years and was designed to attract both fishing enthusiasts and non-fishers.
30:25 - Our conversation discusses potential guests and episodes for this year. Aldo expresses a strong interest in having Andy Mill on the show. He admires Andy's work and has been an avid listener of the Mill House podcast, which captures the allure of saltwater fishing.
35:33 - We dig into Aldo's first time travelling to Belize. Mitch also shares his favorite fishing trip so far which was in a river in Northern Ontario because of the available fish species and wild life there.
45:14 - Aldo raises a concern about the potential apprehension of having earlier episodes of their podcast accessible to listeners, particularly if they might not reflect the current quality or style.
46:34 - They share their favorite podcasts. Mitch highlights "Design Matters" with Debbie Millman as his favorite podcast. He praised Debbie's interviewing style, noting her ability to keep conversations engaging and forward-moving.
Aldo recommends "Pivot" with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway. He explains that the podcast explores the intersection of business, technology, and everyday life. Aldo appreciates the hosts' approach, as they avoid talking down to listeners.
49:22 - Mitch shares the inspiration behind starting a podcast, highlighting his love for radio and conversation. His interest sparked from listening to "The Ricky Gervais Show," which he considers one of the best podcasts due to its humor and engaging content.
51:40 - We ask for the story about the title of their podcast, So Fly.
52:48 - We share a story about our family's recent trip to Anchorage, Alaska with the team of Fishhound Expeditions. We travelled in our amazing pop up camper from Four Wheel Campers.
56:17 - We ask some random questions like their go-to YouTube channel and podcast platform.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/707