Traveled #23 | Fly Fishing World Championships with Glade Gunther: Inside the Idaho Fly Fishing Event
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Release Date: 01/14/2025
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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#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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#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 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 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 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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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 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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#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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#880 Show Notes: Presented By: , , Sponsors: There’s a point in fly fishing where casting stops being the hard part, and decision-making takes over. In this episode, Dave Stewart is joined by Nick Elcheson from Scott Lake Lodge to break down sight fishing Northern Pike in shallow water, where patience, positioning, and timing matter more than power. Nick explains why fly fishing for pike is essentially freshwater flats fishing, how seasonal water temperature controls fish location, and why waiting for the right fish often leads to better outcomes than covering water. You’ll...
info_outlineShow Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/705B
In this episode, host Dave talks with Glade Gunther, a member of Team USA and the person in charge of organizing a major event in Fly Fishing, to share what’s planned and how people can join in the fun.
Dave and Glade will tell you all about the famous rivers in Idaho, how the event works, and even give some helpful fishing tips. Whether you want to watch the competition, volunteer, or just become a better fisher, this episode has everything you need to know!
1:09 - From casting simple spinners as a child to learning the art of fly fishing as a teenager, Glade Gunther's journey reflects the timeless appeal of fishing as both a personal pastime and a shared experience.
5:15 - Glade shares how today Fly Fishing Team USA continues to grow, selecting top anglers every two years based on a points system. Glade explains how recent changes have made it easier for people to participate, and how the team is now made up of the best 15 anglers in the country.
7:28 - After COVID paused competitions, Fly Fishing Team USA revamped its selection process by creating a regional system, dividing the U.S. into four sections. This made it easier for anglers to compete locally without extensive travel.
15:12 -Glade then proceed in sharing how Fly Fishing Team USA’s selection process allows anglers to compete in up to three regional events, counting their best two scores to account for luck and variability in conditions. Rankings from regional events are combined with points from interregional competitions to determine the top anglers.
30:52 - Glade emphasizes how the U.S. aims to minimize disruption and avoid conflicts with local anglers. With careful planning and support from state and federal agencies, the event will promote conservation, safe fishing practices, and a fun, competitive environment for participants.
36:33 - Glade describes their success in securing bids for organizing a fly fishing event and the subsequent planning efforts involved. They mention having a cabin in Island Park, Idaho, which lies within the renowned "golden triangle" of fly fishing, spanning Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.
43:03 - The youth fly fishing team recently achieved remarkable success at the World Championships in the Czech Republic, sweeping the podium with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes and securing the team gold medal.
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/705B