The Articulate Fly

S8, Ep 44: The Legacy of Classic Flies: Allen Rupp's Insights on Timeless Patterns

Episode OverviewThe Articulate Fly host Marvin Cash sits down with fly tying guru Allen Rupp, founder of Fly on the Water and Dave Whitlock's hand-selected legacy tier, for a deep dive into the classic fly patterns that built modern fly fishing. Rupp traces his fly tying education back to childhood phone calls with Bob Clouser, in-person mentorship from Lefty Kreh and George Harvey, and decades spent learning directly from Dave Whitlock, explaining why patterns like the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half, Lefty's Deceiver and Whitlock's Near Nuff Crayfish and Sculpin remain so effective that newer materials and techniques rarely improve on them. The conversation ranges from the upper Potomac River, where Rupp first learned to tie and fish, to saltwater destinations like the Seychelles and the Amazon, where his Semper Fli patterns are now requested by name by local guides. Rupp and Cash dig into why presentation matters more than fly choice (a lesson Rupp learned fishing a single hare's ear nymph for an entire year), how legends like Whitlock and Clouser relentlessly simplified their patterns rather than complicating them, where to source increasingly scarce natural materials like hand-plucked mallard flank and Cree hackle, and which adhesives belong on every serious tier's bench. Whether you fish for smallmouth bass, stripers, bonefish or golden dorado, this episode is a masterclass in why the old patterns still catch fish and what they can teach today's tiers about durability, simplicity and effective design.Key TakeawaysHow focusing on a single fly pattern for an entire season can teach anglers that presentation matters more than fly choice.Why classic patterns like the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half and Lefty's Deceiver remain more effective than many modern variations.How simplifying a fly pattern down to its essential materials often makes it more durable and more effective than adding complexity.Why choosing the right adhesive for a material (soft adhesive for soft materials, rigid adhesive for hard surfaces) prevents premature fly failure.When to source fly tying materials from non-fly shop retailers like craft and fabric stores.How filling Clouser Minnow thread wraps with resin in a triangle or heart shape creates a fly that is nearly weedless.Techniques & Gear CoveredRupp walks through the construction logic behind classic patterns including the Clouser Minnow, the Half and Half, Lefty's Deceiver, the CK Baitfish, Chico's Bonefish Special, Lou Tabory's Snake Fly and Dave Whitlock's Near Nuff Crayfish and Sculpin, explaining how each pattern's simplicity contributes to its durability and fish-catching consistency. He details specific tying fixes including pre-treating deer hair eye cavities with Flexament before adding Goop and a final drop of Flexament to prevent eyes from popping off, and filling Clouser Minnow thread wraps with resin in a triangle or heart shape to create a snag-resistant profile. On adhesives, Rupp runs a bench of nine different products including Zap-A-Gap in two viscosities, Softex, Tuffleye and various other cements, matching soft adhesives to soft materials like deer hair and rigid adhesives to harder surfaces. For tools he favors Mark Petitjean bobbins for fine thread work and Renomed scissors for their durability and lifetime warranty, while sourcing scarce natural materials like Cree hackle, hand-plucked mallard flank and dry fly saddles from specialty sellers.Locations & SpeciesRupp's tying and fishing roots trace to the upper Potomac River and the Mid-Atlantic region of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, where he learned from guide Mark Kovach and crossed paths with Lefty Kreh and Bob Clouser at regional fly fishing shows. His classic patterns now see action well beyond home water, targeting smallmouth bass and trout in eastern rivers, striped bass at night from Virginia to Maine on Lou Tabory's Snake Fly, and trevally and golden dorado in destinations like the Seychelles and South America, where his Semper Fli pattern has become a guide favorite.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhy do classic fly patterns like the Clouser Minnow and Lefty's Deceiver still outperform many modern variations?Allen Rupp explains that classic patterns endured because their originators relentlessly simplified them down to only the materials necessary for action and durability rather than adding complexity for visual appeal. Newer flies often look more elaborate but can introduce problems like tails that foul on the cast, while classics like the Deceiver (just bucktail, feathers and flash) remain reliably effective.How does fly choice compare to presentation in catching more fish?Rupp credits mentor Brad Yoder with the lesson that presentation matters far more than fly pattern, after fishing a single gold-ribbed hare's ear nymph exclusively for an entire year. He caught roughly the same number of fish as he had with pattern variety, reinforcing that learning to fish one fly in every water condition teaches more than chasing the next new pattern.What is the best adhesive to use on different fly tying materials?Rupp's rule, learned from Dave Whitlock, is to match a soft, flexible adhesive like Flexament to soft, flexible materials like deer hair and reserve rigid adhesives like Zap-A-Gap for harder surfaces. Using a rigid adhesive on a flexible material creates a stress point that cracks and fails after a few fish.Where can tiers find scarce natural materials like Cree hackle and quality mallard flank?Rupp sources hard-to-find feathers and fibers from a mix of specialty sellers, friends who hunt and hand-pluck birds, and even craft stores like Michaels and Joann Fabrics for items like glass beads, foam and embroidery materials. He notes that machine-plucked commercial mallard flank is often unusable for patterns requiring intact feather shape, making hand-plucked birds essential for some classic ties.What is swing nymphing and where did the technique originate?Swing nymphing is a technique Rupp developed independently as a teenager on the upper Potomac by adapting light jig presentations to a fly rod, only to later learn that Charlie Brooks had pioneered the same approach on the Yellowstone River decades earlier. Rupp covers the technique in an upcoming magazine article and credits Harry Murray's writing for connecting him to its origins.SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.Related ContentS7, Ep 66 - Tales of a Fly Fishing Legend: Remembering Dave WhitlockBONUS - Mastering the Beast: A Deep Dive into Bob Popovics' Legendary Fly with Captain Ben WhalleyS4, Ep 150 - FLY TYING REDUX: Soft Hackles with Allen McGeeConnect with Our GuestFollow Allen on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources.Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast.Join our Patreon community to support the show.If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options.Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app.Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.Helpful Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction05:22 Early Mentors11:27 Classic Patterns14:36 Simple Still Works18:47 Lessons at the Vise24:50 Resourceful Materials33:49 Commercial Tying Insights44:28 Teaching the Craft

S8, Ep 43: Smallmouth Strategies and Seasonal Shifts: Captain Brian Shumaker's Pennsylvania Report

Episode OverviewIn this Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides for an early summer conditions update on the Susquehanna River system in central Pennsylvania. With late spawners still working through a post-spawn funk and a stretch of volatile weather keeping temperatures yo-yoing between the 70s and the low 90s, Shumaker explains why the region hasn't fully transitioned to topwater mode — and what that means tactically for anglers on the water right now. He walks through his two-rod, split-presentation approach: one angler working poppers toward the banks to prospect for fish looking up while the other fishes streamers, Clouser Minnows and crayfish patterns off the banks for fish holding deeper. If the topside bite isn't producing, both anglers go under and adjust from there. Shumaker flags the appearance of blue damsels as his primary visual cue that the bug bite is imminent — a reliable seasonal indicator that, combined with warming temperatures, signals the topwater game is close to locking in for the summer and early fall. Forage development is tracking normally despite an unusual spring: small baitfish are present in expected numbers and crayfish are progressing on schedule, suggesting the full summer pattern is assembling without disruption. Both Shumaker and Marvin agree that early July is typically when the topwater game solidifies and runs through the end of the season, making late summer and early fall a prime window for anglers looking to get on the Susquehanna with a guide.Key TakeawaysHow to use a two-rod split approach — one angler on topwater and one subsurface — to efficiently read fish mood and adjust during early summer transition conditions on the Susquehanna.Why the appearance of blue damsels is a reliable biological indicator that sustained topwater smallmouth fishing is imminent, even when temperatures haven't yet fully flipped.When to expect the topwater game to solidify on Pennsylvania smallmouth rivers, with early July typically marking the turning point for consistent popper fishing through the rest of the season.How to work bank structure simultaneously from topside and subsurface angles — poppers toward the banks, streamers and crayfish patterns perpendicular off the banks — to cover the full feeding zone.Why forage tracking matters early in the season, and what normally developing baitfish and crayfish populations signal about the summer bite ahead.Techniques & Gear CoveredShumaker's early summer approach centers on a simultaneous split-presentation strategy: one angler works topwater with poppers along the banks while the other fishes streamers, Clouser Minnows and crayfish patterns subsurface off the banks. The pairing functions as a real-time fish mood check — if the topside bite isn't firing, both anglers shift below the surface and dial in from there. Shimmering Minnow patterns are also in the subsurface rotation. Bank structure is the primary focus throughout, with poppers presented tight to cover and streamer or crayfish patterns cast perpendicular to probe fish holding off the bank.Locations & SpeciesThe episode covers the Susquehanna River system in central Pennsylvania, which forms the backbone of Captain Brian Shumaker's Susquehanna River Guides operation. Smallmouth bass are the sole target species, with the fishery sitting in a transitional early summer window as late spawners finish shaking off post-spawn lethargy and conditions trend toward the full bug-and-topwater season. Temperatures are running below average for the time of year — mornings in the mid-50s, daytime highs in the 70s — with additional rain in the forecast, conditions that have delayed the full topwater transition but kept the subsurface bite productive. Both baitfish and crayfish forage are developing on a normal seasonal schedule, a positive signal that the Susquehanna's mid-summer smallmouth pattern should build on pace.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow should I approach Pennsylvania smallmouth fishing during the early summer transition before topwater locks in?Shumaker recommends starting every outing with topwater to test whether fish are looking up, then shifting one or both anglers to subsurface presentations if the topside bite isn't firing. The split-rod approach — one angler on poppers, one on streamers or crayfish patterns — lets you gather mood data on the fish in real time without committing the whole boat to a single presentation.What does it mean when blue damsels start appearing on Pennsylvania smallmouth rivers?Blue damselfly activity is one of Shumaker's key biological indicators that the transition to sustained topwater fishing is imminent. Once damsels are showing, anglers can expect the bug-driven bite to ramp up, with the full insect-driven topwater game typically locking in by early July and continuing through the rest of the season.When is the best time of year to book a guided trip on the Susquehanna for smallmouth bass?While smallmouth are catchable throughout the warmer months, Shumaker and Marvin agree that late September and early October represent a particularly attractive window — fish are shade-seeking and the sun is brutal through July and August, but angler comfort improves meaningfully as temperatures cool heading into fall. Booking windows currently remain open in late July, August, September and October.Why is forage development tracking an important check early in the smallmouth season?An unusual spring can shift the timing of baitfish and crayfish cycles, which in turn affects when smallmouth transition between different feeding behaviors. Shumaker notes that forage on the Susquehanna is running on a normal seasonal progression — neither ahead nor behind — suggesting the full summer bite should build predictably even after a stretch of erratic weather.How do weather and water temperature swings affect the topwater bite on Pennsylvania smallmouth water?Cooling fronts that push temperatures back into the 70s after brief spells near 90 are enough to reset fish behavior and delay the sustained topwater bite. Precipitation that clouds the water adds another layer of suppression; under those conditions Shumaker defaults to subsurface presentations and waits for water to clear and temperatures to stabilize before committing heavily to poppers.Related ContentS8, Ep 39 - High Water Strategies: Captain Brian Shumaker's Pennsylvania Smallmouth InsightsS8, Ep 34 - Frog Patterns and Fishing Strategies: Brian Shumaker's Late Spring Smallmouth ReportS8, Ep 31 - Chasing Smallmouth: Brian Shumaker's Adaptations for Unpredictable Spring WeatherS6, Ep 41 - Smallmouth Secrets and Streamer Savvy with Brendan RuchConnect with Our GuestFollow Brian on Facebook and Instagram.Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources.Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast.Join our Patreon community to support the show.If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options.Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app.Think our community is a good fit for your brand? 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S8, Ep 42: Exploring Terrestrials and Summer Patterns: George Costa's Fishing Forecast

Episode OverviewIn this Central PA Fishing Report from The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash checks in with George Costa, manager at TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, for a timely early-summer conditions and hatch update. The season is at a pivotal transition: the dominant spring hatches are winding down, the summer hatch calendar is coming online and terrestrial season is officially starting — all critical intelligence for anglers planning Central PA trout outings over the weeks ahead.Costa delivers a full-picture conditions read. Water levels are running a touch below seasonal average, with recent rain bringing some temporary color and a slight rise. Temperatures have been stable but are beginning to creep into the mid-60s°F on brighter, hotter days, which makes temperature-checking a new essential habit for summer outing planning. The hatch situation is in transition: sulphurs are still producing but require evening commitment on sunny days, while Cahills, Isos, summer quills, caddis, size 16 Cornutas and scattered stoneflies fill out the summer hatch calendar. Cloudier days give anglers an earlier dry fly window, while bright days push the best action to last light. On the nymph front, the prescription shifts to smaller, more precise patterns — perdigons and small Walt's worms — as larger attractor-nymph approaches give way to a tighter subsurface game. Crucially, Costa signals that the greenie weenie hatch (inchworm fall) is officially underway, making this the moment to add inch worms, ants and beetles to the summer dry fly box. Shop news includes a topwater smallmouth tying class with Caleb Rebarchak at the State College location, the All Fins In tournament benefiting Clearwater Conservancy and a fly fishing festival at TCO's Boiling Springs shop in August.Key TakeawaysWhy the greenie weenie (inchworm fall) marks the start of terrestrial season in Central PA and why inch worms, ants and beetles should be in your box from here forward.How to shift your nymph game as the major spring hatches wrap up — smaller, more precise patterns like perdigons and Walt's worms become the go-to subsurface approach.When to start actively monitoring water temperatures as summer heats up, particularly on bright, sunny days when temps begin pushing into the mid-60s°F range.Why evenings are your best window for dry fly fishing on Central PA trout water as summer sets in, with cloudier days pushing hatch activity earlier in the day.How to approach the variable nature of summer hatches in Central PA, where a strong emergence one evening can be followed by minimal activity the next — making patience and water-reading essential.Techniques & Gear CoveredThe episode centers on the tactical adjustments required as Central PA enters its early-summer transition. With the major spring hatches largely behind them, George Costa recommends downsizing nymph presentations to smaller, more precise patterns — specifically perdigons and small Walt's worms — as fish dial in to the subtler subsurface fare that characterizes this period. On the dry fly front, the priority shifts to evening sessions targeting sulphurs, Cahills and Isos, with summer quills, caddis, size 16 Cornutas and scattered stoneflies filling out the hatch calendar for those willing to stay on the water late. Terrestrials take center stage starting now, with Costa specifically calling out the greenie weenie as the signal that the inchworm fall has begun, while also recommending ants and beetles as essential additions to the summer dry fly box as conditions warm into the heart of the terrestrial season.Locations & SpeciesCentral PA's limestone stream corridor around State College is the setting for this report, with TCO Fly Shop's State College location serving as the operational center for George Costa's conditions read. While no specific stream names are mentioned in this episode, the conditions, hatches and tactical advice apply broadly to the region's wild trout fisheries — the spring creeks and limestone runs that draw anglers from across the mid-Atlantic for their hatch diversity and technical dry fly fishing. The key seasonal context is the early-summer transition: water temperatures are beginning to creep toward the mid-60s°F on warmer days, which will become an increasingly important factor for trout welfare and fishing strategy as summer advances. FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat hatches are active in Central PA as summer gets underway?The major spring hatches are mostly wrapping up, but the calendar remains active. Sulphurs are still coming off in the evenings, with Cahills, Isos, caddis, summer quills, size 16 Cornutas and scattered stoneflies all in play as summer takes hold. George Costa notes that hatch activity can vary significantly day to day at this time of year — a strong emergence one evening can be followed by minimal activity the next — so working the water methodically and being in the right place at the right time is the primary strategy.When is the best time to fish dry flies on Central PA trout water in early summer?Evenings are the priority window for dry fly action during this period. On sunny or hot days, Costa advises anglers to stay late to catch the best hatch activity, particularly for sulphurs. Cloudier days push bug activity earlier in the day, giving anglers a longer productive window — so overcast conditions are worth capitalizing on when they arise.What nymph patterns work best as the big hatches wind down in Central PA?When the major hatches wrap up, Costa recommends shifting to smaller, more precise nymph patterns rather than larger attractor approaches. Perdigons and small Walt's worms are his go-to subsurface options for this period, matching the smaller aquatic fare that fish are keying on once the spring hatch season gives way to summer conditions.When does terrestrial season start in Central PA and what flies should I have ready?Costa signals that the greenie weenie hatch — the inchworm fall that marks the beginning of terrestrial season in Central PA — is underway now. Anglers should have greenie weenies in the box along with ants and beetles, and can expect those patterns to become increasingly productive as the warmer months set in. Costa frames this as one of the more reliable transitions of the summer season: once the greenie weenies start dropping, terrestrials will carry the dry fly game through the heat of summer.Related ContentS8, Ep 35: From Sulphurs to Drakes: George Costa's Essential Fishing Report for Central PAS8, Ep 30: Central PA Chronicles: George Costa's Guide to Spring Fishing Conditions and TechniquesS7, Ep 57: Cicada Mania: Central PA Fishing Insights with George CostaS7, Ep 70: The Dog Days of Summer: Trico Tactics in Central PA with George CostaConnect with Our GuestFollow TCO on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources.Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast.Join our Patreon community to support the show.If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options.Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app.Think our community is a good fit for your brand?

S8, Ep 41: Offbeat Seasons and Terrestrial Tactics: Mac Brown's Fishing Strategies

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly's Casting Angles series, host Marvin Cash and Mac Brown — owner of Mac Brown Fly Fish and Fly Fishing Guide School in western North Carolina — deliver a timely early summer conditions update for the Tuckaseegee and Nantahala drainages. With the 2026 season running approximately 60 days ahead of schedule, Mac and Marvin unpack what that means for trout anglers trying to calibrate their approach as delayed harvest season closes and technical summer fishing begins.Mac reports that terrestrial activity — inchworms, beetles and ants — is already in full force weeks ahead of its typical July–August window, a direct result of an unseasonable hatch progression that accelerated through spring. The duo walk through the mechanics behind this shift: as aquatic insect biomass declines after the spring hatch season, fish increasingly depend on land-based food sources. Mac's practical adjustment is to fish as though you're two months further into the year than the calendar says, a principle Marvin distills to "add 60 days to whatever date you get on the water."Observation emerges as a unifying theme, with Mac sharing a long-held pre-fishing ritual of reading spider webs and noting dace and creek chub activity as real-time indicators of what's in the system. Their earlier-than-normal presence in early June signals an accelerated biomass cycle and points anglers toward the low-food-chain mindset typical of later in the season.Key TakeawaysHow to recognize when the terrestrial game has turned on using field indicators like inchworm drops, beetles, ants and spider web checks before rigging up.Why applying a "60-days-ahead" mental calendar helps you select flies and tactics that match actual on-the-water conditions rather than the date.How dace and creek chub activity in western NC streams functions as a real-time biomass indicator, signaling the shift toward terrestrial and baitfish tactics.Why reduced aquatic insect biomass in summer demands the same patient, deliberate approach used in fall and winter when the drift is sparse.When to transition from hatch-matching to pure terrestrial presentation after the spring hatch cycle runs its course on freestone streams.Techniques & Gear CoveredThe core tactic is terrestrial fishing with patterns that match what's currently in the streamside canopy and terrestrial zone — inchworms, beetles and ants presented as dry fly or near-surface offerings. Mac and Marvin frame this as a biomass-aware strategy: when aquatic food sources thin out after the spring hatch cycle, fish shift to land-based prey, and tactical fly selection should follow. The episode also references the low-biomass presentation philosophy drawn from fall and winter nymphing — slow-water, deliberate drifts that work when food density is low. Underpinning all of it is Mac's emphasis on observation as a systematic pre-fishing discipline: reading spider webs near the water to identify trapped insects, and tracking baitfish species composition (dace, creek chub) as a proxy for how far the biomass clock has advanced. The approach Mac describes is less about pattern-matching a specific hatch and more about reading the full ecosystem before you ever make a cast.Locations & SpeciesThe episode is anchored in the freestone trout streams of western North Carolina, with specific reference to the Tuckaseegee River drainage and the Nantahala River — two of the region's primary trout fisheries. Mac also references the Great Smoky Mountains Park watershed and the Wesser Creek and Silver Mine Creek confluence on the Nantahala, where his early observation habits were formed during years at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. The primary target species is trout, but the conversation gives notable attention to dace and creek chub as ecological indicators — their appearance in fishable numbers during early June 2026 confirms a biomass cycle running roughly 60 days ahead of a normal season. Seasonal context is central: delayed harvest on the Nantahala and Tuckaseegee has just closed, and the transition to technical dry fly and terrestrial fishing is being compressed by an anomalous spring across the Eastern Seaboard.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do I know which terrestrial flies to use when traditional hatch charts don't apply?Mac advises going directly to streamside observation before rigging up. Look for inchworms dropping on silk threads from overhanging trees, beetles and ants in spider webs near the water, and match what you actually see rather than what the calendar says should be active. In 2026, that means fishing inchworm patterns and terrestrial beetles as early as June — flies that in a normal year wouldn't become primary until mid-July through September.Why does summer trout fishing require thinking about fall and winter tactics?As the spring hatch progression winds down, total aquatic insect biomass in the river drops sharply. Mac and Marvin explain that this low-biomass condition parallels what anglers encounter in fall and winter — fish aren't keying on active hatches so much as opportunistically taking what's available. Anglers who bring the patient, deliberate presentations of fall nymphing into their summer terrestrial game tend to see more consistent results than those who keep chasing hatch windows that have already passed.What does it mean that the 2026 season is running 60 days early, and how should anglers adjust?Mac and Marvin observe that hatches, terrestrial activity and baitfish biomass signals are appearing roughly two calendar months ahead of normal schedule. The practical advice: mentally add 60 days to whatever date you're fishing when selecting flies and tactics. If it's early June, fish as if it were early August — heavy terrestrial focus, lower-profile presentations and an expectation that dace and creek chub are already mixing into the catch alongside trout.How do dace and creek chub help you read western NC stream conditions?Mac explains that the presence of dace and creek chub in significant numbers is a reliable indicator of where the baitfish biomass cycle stands. In a normal year, you don't see these species actively competing in the catch until mid-July; their appearance in early June 2026 confirms the accelerated season. When they're catching alongside your trout in numbers, the system's food chain has progressed to a summer biomass profile — time to shift strategy accordingly.Related ContentS7, Ep 28 - Warming Waters and Active Fish: A Spring Fishing Update with Mac BrownS7, Ep 41 - Navigating High Water: Strategies for Success with Mac BrownS6, Ep 145 - Navigating Winter Waters: Unconventional Strategies with Mac BrownS6, Ep 130 - Casting in Color: Mac Brown's Fall Fly Fishing StrategiesConnect with Our GuestFollow Mac on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources.Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast.Join our Patreon community to support the show.If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options.Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app.Think our community is a good fit for your brand? 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S8, Ep 40: Chasing Fish and Seasons: Josh Trammell's Guiding Adventures

Episode OverviewIn this episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with Josh Trammell, Head Guide at Mad River Outfitters in Columbus, Ohio, for a candid look at what it takes to build and sustain a full-time, four-season guide career. Josh covers the Ohio multi-species fishing calendar — smallmouth bass, northern pike, steelhead and carp — along with seasonal guiding in Alaska and destination schools targeting musky and trophy trout.Josh traces his path from catching his first steelhead at age 11 on Elk Creek with Tim Hess — a swung fly — through early years shadowing the Steelhead Alley Outfitters crew of Greg Senyo, Nate Miller and Patrick Robinson, to becoming Head Guide at Mad River Outfitters and a seasonal guide at Naknek River Camp near King Salmon, Alaska. His guide year spans Ohio smallmouth through multiple simultaneous seasonal windows on Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers, northern pike during their late-winter pre-spawn, steelhead from November through freeze-up and summer Pacific salmon guiding in Alaska. Josh also discusses the January musky school he co-runs with Blane Chocklett and Virginia Trophy Guides in Roanoke, Virginia, spring trout trips to the White River in Arkansas and his growing enthusiasm for carp on the fly. Throughout, he shares practical, unvarnished advice for aspiring full-time guides on the financial realities, logistics and genuine passion required to make it work year-round.Key TakeawaysHow a young angler can break into guide work at reduced financial risk by starting early, staying local and leveraging mentor relationships before major life expenses accumulate.Why the four-season model — cycling through Ohio smallmouth, pike, steelhead, Alaska salmon and destination schools — insulates full-time guides from unpredictable weather far better than single-species operations.When Ohio smallmouth become the most technically versatile species to guide, spanning crayfish dead-drifts, big early-season streamers, scaled-down baitfish imitations and topwater presentations across multiple seasonal phases.Why calibrating each guide day to the individual client's skill level and genuine expectations — rather than chasing personal hero shots — is the real key to repeat business and a sustainable career.How carp on the fly delivers a saltwater-style sight-fishing experience on Ohio freshwater, with few presentations per day and a high premium on reading fish behavior before ever picking up the rod.Why partnering with a full-service fly shop like Mad River Outfitters gives clients a reliable gear and knowledge resource and meaningfully reduces administrative pressure on the guide.Techniques & Gear CoveredJosh guides across a wide technique spectrum that shifts with species and season. Ohio smallmouth receive dead-drifted crayfish patterns in low, clear conditions; big early-season streamers in high or stained water; scaled-down slim-profile baitfish imitations as flows drop through summer; and topwater presentations during the warmest stretches of the year. Steelhead on Steelhead Alley are targeted on both swung flies and indicator rigs, while northern pike receive focused attention during their January and February pre-spawn window — when Ohio weather cooperates. Carp fishing is an increasingly important part of Josh's warm-weather program, using a methodical visual approach borrowed directly from saltwater fly fishing: reading feeding behavior, waiting for clean shot opportunities and presenting deliberately to individual fish, often making no more than 10 to 15 casts in a full day. The annual musky school he leads with Blane Chocklett in Roanoke, Virginia, pairs a one-day tactical masterclass in predator fly techniques with four days of fishing on the water through Virginia Trophy Guides.Locations & SpeciesJosh's Ohio guiding program covers Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers in northeastern Ohio, targeting steelhead through the November to freeze-up window and northern pike during the late-winter pre-spawn period. Ohio's multi-phase smallmouth calendar — with pre-spawn, spawning and post-spawn fish available simultaneously across different tributaries in mid-spring — gives Josh an unusually diverse season that stretches from spring through early fall. Carp are pursued on Ohio's clearer flatwater fisheries using visual sight-fishing methods, providing a reliable warm-weather alternative when smallmouth and pike waters run high and off-color. For destination work, Josh guides Pacific salmon at Naknek River Camp on the drainage near King Salmon, Alaska through summer; pursues musky with Virginia Trophy Guides on rivers outside Roanoke each January; and leads spring trout trips targeting caddis and sulphur hatches on the White River near Flippin and Cotter, Arkansas.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do you break into a full-time fly fishing guide career?Josh emphasizes starting young when bills and financial obligations are minimal — shadowing established guides on both working trips and fun-fishing days, learning how programs are structured and how to rig for different conditions. Building genuine relationships within a regional guide community, as Josh did with the Steelhead Alley Outfitters crew, opens the doors to early opportunities. He cautions that anyone entering the guide game with significant financial obligations should plan carefully around Mother Nature's ability to cancel trips and budget realistically for the shoulder seasons.What does a full four-season guide year look like in Ohio?Starting in mid-spring, Josh runs Ohio smallmouth across multiple simultaneous seasonal windows on Lake Erie tributaries and inland rivers, alongside pike fishing that extends through warm weather. He transitions to Alaska for Pacific salmon guiding through early October, returns for a brief Ohio window before steelhead season opens in November and then runs Steelhead Alley through December freeze-up. Winter brings the annual musky school in Roanoke, Virginia with Blane Chocklett; spring opens destination trout trips on the White River in Arkansas; and carp provide a flexible alternative when other fisheries are unfishable.Why are Ohio smallmouth such a compelling guide species?Unlike steelhead, which Josh describes as largely limited to swung or indicator-presented flies, Ohio smallmouth accommodate a wide range of techniques across multiple seasonal phases — from large early-season streamers in blown-out water to crayfish patterns in low, clear conditions to topwater presentations on summer flows. That tactical variety keeps guides and clients engaged across a far longer window than most single-species programs allow. The overlapping seasonal stages across different river systems also mean a thoughtful guide can almost always find smallmouth in a fishable phase somewhere in the region.What is the key to being a successful fishing guide?Josh argues that the most important skill is calibrating each day to the individual client's actual skill level and genuine expectations — not the guide's own benchmark for a good outing. A beginner who lands several smallmouth while mastering a 30- to 40-foot cast has had an excellent day by their measure, which may look very different from a guide's definition of success. Open communication between guide and client about what they actually want from the day smooths out the experience and builds the kind of relationship that generates return bookings.How does carp fishing on the fly compare to other species in Josh's program?Josh describes carp as the closest freshwater equivalent to saltwater sight fishing available in Ohio — standing, hunting, watching and waiting before making deliberate presentations to individual fish rather than covering water. On a productive day with 10 shots at fish, he may cast only 10 to 15 times total, making each presentation count. High-water years that push smallmouth and pike fisheries off-color or out of shape have accelerated his carp development, and he now relies on it as a consistent warm-weather alternative when other species aren't cooperating.SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.Related ContentS6, Ep 97: Fly Fishing Wisdom and Industry Pet Peeves with Greg SenyoS7, Ep 40: Exploring the Carp Game: Techniques and Tales with Corey Haselhuhn of Schultz OutfittersS8, Ep 22: From The Chocklett Factory: Blane Chocklett on Community, Conservation and New Fly ReleasesS8, Ep 24: From Tattoo to Trout: Aaron Chine's Dual Passion for Art and Steelhead GuidingConnect with Our GuestFollow Josh on Instagram.Follow Mad River Outfitters on Instagram and YouTube.Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources.Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast.Join our Patreon community to support the show.If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options.Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app.Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.Helpful Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction02:26 Mentors and Early Guides05:04 Breaking Into Guiding09:51 A Season in Motion14:21 Alaska Versus Home Waters21:13 The Secret to Good Guiding24:50 Advice for New Guides