The Science of Hatches: What the Salmonfly Project Is Teaching Anglers with James Frakes and Jackson Birrell
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Release Date: 03/23/2026
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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894 | Long Island Fly Fishing with Paul McCain of River Bay Outfitters
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
#894 Show Notes: Presented by: , , , Sponsors: Long Island fly fishing isn’t the first thing most people think of when they picture New York. Traffic, skyline, beaches maybe. But tucked behind all that is a network of spring creeks, salt marshes, kettle ponds, and over a thousand miles of shoreline that most anglers never see. In this episode, I sat down with Paul McCain, owner of River Bay Outfitters — the only dedicated fly shop on Long Island. Paul’s been building community, guiding anglers, and chasing everything from native brook trout to stripers for decades....
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Hunting with a Fly #1 | Fly Fishing Like a Hunter with Joe Goodspeed
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Show Notes: Sponsors: Fly fishing doesn’t fall apart because it’s too difficult. It falls apart because most anglers treat it like random casting instead of controlled hunting. Too many flies. Too many casts. Not enough intention. In this first episode of Hunting with a Fly, I sat down with Joe to break fly fishing down to its core principle: approach it like a hunter. Read water like terrain. Move with purpose. Cast only when it matters. Joe’s message is simple. The anglers who consistently catch fish aren’t guessing — they’re stalking, positioning, and presenting with...
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893 | The Fly Fishing Bootcamp: Streamers, Euro Nymphing, Spey and more
Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast
Join the Bootcamp at: https://wetflyswing.com/bootcamp In this episode, we break down the full lineup of the Fly Fishing Bootcamp, a 12-session, multi-day event designed to cover the complete range of modern fly fishing skills. From fly casting mechanics with Kalyn Hoggard and Marty McVey, to steelhead strategy with Jeff Liskay, dry fly precision with Bob Lindquist, modern nymphing with Norman Maktima, trout fly tying with Mike O’Brien, two-handed casting with Jeff Putnam, bass tactics with Brian DeLoach, entomology with The Salmonfly Project, streamer strategy with James Garrettson,...
info_outlineWatch the full video: https://wetflyswing.com/salmonflyproject
Take the Angler Survey: https://salmonflyproject.org/survey/
Support the Salmonfly Project: https://salmonflyproject.org/donate/
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 well enough to make better decisions when fish are feeding.
Right from the start, the conversation shifts the way you think about “matching the hatch.” It’s not just about picking the right fly—it’s about understanding timing, behavior, and movement. When you start thinking not only like a fish, but also like the bug, everything begins to click.
Why Bugs Matter More Than You Think
One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that bugs are not just “fish food” they are the foundation of the entire river ecosystem.
Aquatic insects:
Feed trout and drive feeding behavior
Support birds and other wildlife
Help clean and maintain healthy rivers
Act as early warning signs for water quality
In fact, over 70% of freshwater species are insects, which puts into perspective just how important they are.
The guys emphasize that it’s not just about having a lot of bugs it’s about diversity.
Different species hatch at different times, creating consistent feeding opportunities for trout throughout the year. Without that diversity, fishing becomes less predictable and often less productive.
The Big 3: Mayflies, Stoneflies, and Caddisflies
To simplify things, they focus on the three major insect groups every angler should understand:
1. Mayflies
These are the classic “dry fly” bugs most anglers think of. They have a unique lifecycle that includes multiple fishable stages:
Nymph
Emerger
Dun (adult)
Spinner (final stage)
Because mayflies take a long time to emerge and sit in the surface film, trout feed on them gently those classic sipping rises.
A key insight:
Mayflies are often most vulnerable during emergence, making emerger and cripple patterns incredibly effective.
2. Stoneflies
Stoneflies behave very differently.
Instead of emerging mid-river, they:
Crawl to the banks
Hatch out of the water
Return to lay eggs by skittering or “splatting” on the surface
This creates a completely different feeding response from trout:
More aggressive, splashy eats
One of the most surprising takeaways:
During big hatches like salmonflies, fish may already be completely full from eating nymphs
That’s why sometimes fish ignore giant dry flies even when bugs are everywhere
3. Caddisflies
Caddis are fast, active, and incredibly abundant.
Their lifecycle includes:
Larva
Pupa (fast-rising stage)
Adult (moth-like)
Unlike mayflies, caddis emerge quickly and don’t sit long on the surface. This leads to:
Faster, more aggressive trout feeding (the classic “caddis rise”)
A big takeaway here:
Fishing wet flies or pupae is often more effective than dry flies during caddis activity
Understanding Behavior Over Identification
One of the most important themes in this episode is that you don’t need to memorize every bug species.
Instead, focus on:
What type of bug it is (mayfly, stonefly, caddis)
Where it lives (bottom, rocks, banks)
How it moves (slow drift vs fast swim vs skitter)
When it emerges
If you understand those basics, you can:
Anticipate feeding behavior instead of reacting to it
Hatch Timing and Strategy
The episode also dives into how hatches actually happen and how to fish them.
Key concepts:
Hatches are driven by water temperature and seasonal timing
Spinner falls are driven by air temperature
Bugs emerge in predictable windows (morning, midday, evening)
Some practical strategies:
Fish nymphs before the hatch begins
Switch to emergers right before activity
Match surface patterns only when fish are clearly feeding up top
They also highlight how:
Cloudy, humid weather often improves mayfly fishing
Sunny afternoons can be better for stoneflies
Evening and even nighttime can be prime for caddis
Real Science Meets Real Fishing
What makes this episode stand out is how the Salmonfly Project connects science directly to angling.
Their work includes:
Studying insect populations
Tracking environmental changes
Running angler-driven data collection
They explain how insects act as “canaries in the coal mine”s howing early signs of river health changes before fish populations decline.
This ties into a bigger message:
Understanding bugs makes you not just a better angler—but a better steward of the river
The Wild Side of Bugs
This episode also mixes in some unforgettable (and slightly crazy) insights:
Caddis larvae build underwater nets and fight over territory
Some stoneflies live underground and show up in people’s wells
Mayflies have been around longer than dinosaurs
Certain bugs can literally “chirp” underwater to compete
These moments highlight something important:
There’s an entire world happening beneath your feet that most anglers never see
The Big Takeaway
If there’s one idea to walk away with, it’s this:
You don’t need to know everything about bugs—
you just need to understand enough to predict what’s happening.
When you:
Recognize the type of insect
Understand its behavior
Match your presentation accordingly
You move from guessing…
to fishing with purpose.
Final Thoughts
This conversation is a reminder that fly fishing isn’t just about casting or gear it’s about awareness.
The anglers who consistently find success aren’t always using the fanciest flies—they’re the ones paying attention to:
What’s happening in the water
What stage the bugs are in
How trout are responding
And once you start seeing the river through that lens, everything changes.