Littoral Zone #14 - How Lakes Work with Brian Chan and Phil Rowley
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Release Date: 01/20/2025
902 | Winter Steelhead Fishing Tips: Dax Messett on Swinging Flies, Tides, and Reading Water
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Show Notes: Presented By: , , . Steelhead fishing rewards patience, repetition, and time on the water. In this episode, Dax Messett shares practical winter steelhead fishing tips on reading water, fishing near tidewater, choosing the right setup, and making better swings on coastal rivers. We also get into the lower Rogue, the Klamath, leader strength, tide influence, and how to land fish cleanly without a net.
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901 | Montana Spring Creek Fly Fishing with Chase Glowacki from Montana Fly Fishing Lodge
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#901 Show Notes: Presented by: In this episode, Chase walks through Montana spring creek fly fishing — from the Yellowstone and Stillwater to spring creeks and the Shoshone. We dig into double-nymph rigs, streamer strategies, dry-dropper setups, and how fall fishing in Montana changes the whole game. If you’re planning a Montana trip or just want to fish smarter on big western rivers, this one is packed with ideas. Show Notes:
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901 | Jim McLennan on Bow River Fly Fishing Then and Now
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
901 Show Notes: Presented by: , , , In this episode, I sit down with Jim McLennan to explore Bow River fly fishing across generations. We talk about the shift from classic dry fly fishing to streamer fishing, increased boat traffic, and the challenges of managing a well-known tailwater fishery in Alberta. We also get into key hatches like golden stones, how dam operations impact river conditions, and how fly fishing techniques have evolved on the Bow River. Jim shares stories about legends like Lefty Kreh and Gary LaFontaine, along with insights from his books, including Blue Ribbon...
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The Science of Hatches: What the Salmonfly Project Is Teaching Anglers with James Frakes and Jackson Birrell
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Watch the full video: Take the Angler Survey: Support the Salmonfly Project: In this episode, we dig deep into one of the most important but often misunderstood parts of fly fishing: entomology, or the study of aquatic insects, and how it directly connects to success on the water. James Frakes and Jackson Birrell from the Salmonfly Project break this topic down in a way that makes it approachable, practical, and actually useful for anglers at any level. Instead of overwhelming you with scientific jargon or Latin names, they focus on what matters most: understanding bugs...
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Henry's Lake Fly Fishing with Darren Huntsman (Littoral Zone #23)
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
899 Show Notes: Presented by: , , Henry's Lake fly fishing has a reputation that stretches across North America. Big trout, shallow water, legendary hatches, and a history filled with anglers chasing trophy fish. In this episode, Phil Rowley sits down with Idaho native Darren Huntsman, a lifelong angler who has spent decades learning the nuances of this famous stillwater. Darren grew up fishing nearby rivers and lakes, eventually falling in love with Henry's Lake for the same reason many anglers do—the chance to chase truly big trout in a bug-rich, shallow lake that fishes differently from...
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Fly Fishing New Mexico with Trisha Valdez – Small Streams to Big Tailwaters
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Show Notes: Sponsor: Sponsors: Fly fishing in New Mexico offers an incredible range of water that many anglers overlook. From tiny mountain creeks hiding in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the famous San Juan River tailwater, the state delivers everything from technical dry fly fishing to big trout below dams. In this episode, I sat down with Trisha Valdez to talk about growing up around the Mora River, how she found fly fishing later in life, and why local rivers often shape us more than destination trips. Trisha also shares the story behind New Mexico Lady Anglers, the community she...
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898 | The Steelhead Swing System and the Fly Fishing Bootcamp with Jeff Liskay
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Watch the Video: http://wetflyswing.com/steelheadbootcamp Sponsors: https://www.wetflyswing.com/sponsors/ In this episode, Jeff Liskay breaks down the core ideas behind successful swung-fly steelhead fishing and why so many anglers struggle with it. Instead of focusing on gear or the perfect fly, Jeff explains that success starts with understanding where steelhead actually hold in a river. He shares lessons from decades of chasing steelhead across the Great Lakes, West Coast, and beyond, emphasizing how reading water, identifying structure, and recognizing current changes are the...
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897 | The Science of a Perfect Fly Cast with Ed Jaworowski
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
897 Show Notes: Presented by: , , In this episode, we dig into the science of a perfect fly cast with legendary casting instructor Ed Jaworowski. We talk about rod loading, loop control, timing, and the small mechanics that make a cast efficient and accurate. Ed also shares how he learned alongside Lefty Kreh, and why mastering these details can keep anglers improving for decades. Show Notes:
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Fly Tying Travel with Dave Allison at the East Idaho Fly Tying Expo(Traveled #41)
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Show Notes: Sponsors: Some fly tying skills come quickly. Others only show up after thousands of flies, years behind the vise, and a lot of mistakes along the way. Proportions, thread control, and material handling are things you really can’t shortcut. In this episode, I sat down with Dave Allison to talk about fly tying travel, the expo circuit across the West, and the patterns he loves tying when people sit down across the table. We also dug into the East Idaho Fly Tying Expo, one of the best tying events in the country. Dave shared some great insights into dry flies, Quigley...
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895 | Mountain River Lodge with Jason Pickerill and Jacquie Mosher
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
895 Show Notes: Presented by: , , Picture this. You’re in Colorado with mountains in every direction, and the South Platte running just across the road. In this episode, I sit down with Jason Pickerill and Jacquie Mosher from Mountain River Lodge. We talk about how this place began as a historic motor lodge and how they’ve upgraded it into a true base camp for anglers, hikers, hunters, and groups exploring some of the best water in the state. We also dig into the Dream Stream, Mueller State Park, shoulder seasons, and why fall in Colorado is hard to beat. This is the home...
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Presented By: TroutRoutes, On DeMark Lodge, Stonefly Nets, Grand Teton Fly Fishing
If you want to have more success fly fishing lakes, you need a good understanding of how lakes work—knowing how lakes work helps you get to the right spot at the right time, no matter the season.
You’ve probably heard the saying that 90% of the fish live in 10% of the water, and it’s true for lakes just like rivers and streams!
In this two-part series on how lakes work, Phil Rowley and Brian Chan break down everything you need to know about fishing lakes effectively.
About our Guest
Brian has spent over 30 years as a fisheries biologist for the provincial government, specializing in managing trout lakes in the interior regions of British Columbia. Over the years, he worked on hundreds of lakes, managing them, stocking them, setting regulations, and carrying out habitat protection and enhancement work.
Brian is also an ambassador for several fly fishing and boating companies, including Scientific Anglers, Sage Fly Rods, Islander Reels, Marlin Boats, Semperfli Fly Tying Materials, and Daiichi Hooks.
He is a passionate fly fisher and fly designer, and together with Phil, they’ve put their expertise to good use through their online fly shop.
Check out Brian and Phil's Stillwater Fly Fishing Store.
Episode Chapters with Brian Chan on How Lakes Work
Lakes aren’t all the same, and knowing how they work is key to becoming a better stillwater angler. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
Lake Productivity and pH
Three Lake Classifications
Different Zones in a Lake
Lake Productivity and pH
pH is a scale that measures how acidic or alkaline a lake is, with 1 being super acidic and 14 being super alkaline. The pH level affects the water chemistry, impacting how well the lake supports aquatic life, from insects to fish.
What’s the Ideal pH for Trout Lakes?
The best pH for trout lakes is between 8 and 9.2. This is the sweet spot for plant growth and lots of invertebrates, which are food for trout. If the pH exceeds 9.2, the water becomes too salty for trout, and it would not be easy for them to survive.
For example, lakes like Pyramid Lake have a pH above 9, which is perfect for Lahontan cutthroat trout but challenging for rainbow trout. The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning small changes in pH can make a big difference in fish survival.
Brian explains that pH levels in lakes aren’t always the same and can change over time due to several factors:
Spring snowmelt helps keep lakes balanced by flushing in nutrients, but the lake can get too salty without it.
Human activities like logging can change water flow and impact the lake’s chemistry.
Climate change is also a significant factor, as some areas aren’t getting the same snowmelt they used to, causing pH to rise.
Marl and Chara Shoal
How Lakes Work: Three Lake Classifications
Lakes can be divided into three categories: oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic. These classifications help us understand which lakes are better for fishing and support healthy fish populations.
Knowing the type of lake helps anglers figure out why one lake might be an excellent spot for big trout, and another might not be as productive.
Oligotrophic Lakes
Oligotrophic lakes are big, deep, and well-oxygenated, with lots of water flowing in and out. The flushing rate in these lakes is high, meaning the water changes quickly, so there isn’t much shallow water for plants to grow.
Because of this, these lakes have limited food sources for trout. Fish here mostly survive by eating other fish, not just insects.
Mesotrophic Lakes
Mesotrophic lakes are a step up from oligotrophic lakes in terms of productivity. They’re still large but a bit shallower, and they often have small rivers or creeks flowing in and out. The lake has a bit more shoal areas or littoral zones, so some plant life grows in those shallow water areas.
Eutrophic Lakes
Eutrophic lakes are the gold standard when it comes to trout fishing. They’re shallow, nutrient-rich, and full of life. These lakes are often less than 50-60 feet deep and have lots of shallow areas for plants to grow.
These lakes' flushing rate is slow, so they stay nutrient-rich for longer. Chironomid fishing is also incredible here due to the muddy bottoms.
Different Zones in a Lake
Lakes have different zones, and understanding them helps anglers know where to fish at various times of the year.
Littoral Zone
The littoral zone, or shoal area, is the shallow water at the lake's edge. This is where sunlight can penetrate to the bottom to create photosynthesis. It’s usually 7 to 8 meters deep.
The littoral zone is where all the vegetation grows and where trout and other fish species feed, particularly in the spring to early summer and again in the fall, right until freeze-up.
This is the zone where we spend the bulk of our fishing time—whether it's 5 feet of water or 22, 23 feet of water—this is the prime area.
Limnetic Zone
The limnetic zone is the open water area in the middle of the lake, just beyond the littoral zone. Here, sunlight still penetrates, but it doesn’t reach the bottom. This means there’s no vegetation growing like in the shallows, but it’s still a prime habitat for zooplankton, which trout love to eat.
Although this zone has less food diversity, the zooplankton and deep-water hatches make it an essential spot for fish. In the warmer months, fish move out of the shallow water and into the limnetic zone, where the oxygen levels are better and the water is cooler. This is when fishing techniques like using blob patterns can be incredibly effective.
Thermocline
The thermocline is a transition layer between the warm upper water and cooler deeper water. It’s usually a narrow band, about a meter in depth, where there's a sudden drop in temperature.
The thermocline keeps the colder water from mixing with the warmer water, which is why the deeper parts of the lake stay cool and oxygenated. Fish often move from the shallow waters to sit just above the thermocline, where they find cooler water and better oxygen levels, especially during hot summer months.
Profundal Zone
Beneath the thermocline in deeper lakes, there’s another zone called the hypolimnion, the cold, deep water layer. It's the bottom part of the lake that remains cool and doesn’t mix with the warmer upper waters
Remember, all lakes are different, but understanding lake structure makes your fishing day more successful and enjoyable!
Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/708