Spey fishing has evolved from being traditionally used for salmon and steelhead to a wider scope of species including inland trout, smallmouth bass, and even saltwater game fish. Rick Kustich discusses presentation techniques for both two-handed and single-handed approaches to spey as well as lines and heads. Join us and learn about spey techniques and methods, and how spey fishing could fit into your fly fishing future.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• Where and when did spey fishing start?
• How did you first decide to learn spey casting and how did you go about learning the various spey casts?
• Other than distance, please list the advantages of Spey casting vs one handed casts?
• Can these techniques be adopted to small waters and smaller fish. This seems to be a big water technique?
• For someone starting out with Spey Fishing and an experienced fly fisher, what would you recommend in terms of equipment?
• What are the basics of spey casting?
• What’s the difference between single-hand and two hand casting?
• How does trout spey differ from “conventional” spey?
• What are the differences between Spey fishing for trout and the traditional wet fly swing?
• Are there practical applications for spey casting when musky fishing?
• What technique would be best for casting in a pond that has no current?
• Can you use a spey rod to fish saltwater from a beach?
• In what circumstances if any, do you use a stripping basket? Are they useful in Spey fishing?
• What type of flies are commonly used for spey fishing?

Jeff is well-known and well-traveled. He hosts fly fishing trips worldwide and is well known for his presentations at the fly fishing shows, and his incredible artwork. He constantly travels and develops techniques for catching the most exotic fish imaginable in places where even the most avid adventurer refuses to go. His quest to catch 500 different species on the fly continues. Join us as Jeff shares some of his adventures in his quest and find out if he’s getting close to meeting his goal.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• How did you first become interested in fly fishing and what inspired you to embark on this quest to catch as many different species as possible?
• Do you have a specific goal?
• What is your current count?
• Which fish has so far been the most fun to catch?
• Which has been the hardest to catch?
• What has been the most challenging journey you’ve had to take to get to a fish?
• Which fish do you think will be the most challenging to catch?
• Which fish are you the most excited to catch?
• Can you share some insights or techniques that you've developed to increase your success rate when targeting various species?
• What fish are next on your list?
• 10 years from now, what’s your prediction on how fly fishing will change?
• How has your pursuit of diverse species affected your perspective on fly fishing and its role as both a sport and a means of connecting with nature?
• What advice would you give to other fly fishers who are interested in pursuing a similar quest to catch as many different species as possible?

Tim Jacobs is a guide and FFI Certified Casting Instructor who fishes both the warm waters of the midwest and the cold waters of the Rocky Mountains. Tim will be sharing tactics including rigs, techniques and fly patterns that you can use to catch more bass. panfish, pike, and other warmwater species. Join us and learn Tim's secrets to warmwater fly fishing.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• Where do you do most of your warmwater fishing?
• What does a fly fisher need to know about lakes to be productive?
• Is it more productive to fly fishing from a boat?
• How do you dissect an unknown lake?
• What types of rods and lines do you need for warmwater fly fishing?
• Where should you look for largemouth bass?
• What is your primary method for finding fish?
• What types of flies do you use for largemouth bass?
• When fishing rivers for smallmouth bass, how do you work the water?
• What's your go-to fly for smallmouth bass?
• Where do the pike hold in the water column?
• How do you rig up your leader and shock tippet for pike?
• What are your favorite types of flies for pike?
• Where is the best place to find pike?

Robert McConnell started fly fishing in Western Pennsylvania and later moved to Houston, Texas. He had to adapt and learn about fishing a whole new world from the city waterways to backcountry rivers and streams. Join us to learn about fishing warmwater species in southeast Texas including carp, spotted bass, largemouth bass, panfish and even prehistoric gar and bowfin.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What are the main areas to fish in the Houston area?
• How can you find out about public access?
• What species can you target Lake Conroe?
• What are the best ways to fish Lake Conroe?
• Is the West Fork San Jacinto River easy to wade fish?
• What species will you find in the West Fork San Jacinto River?
• How is the East Fork San Jacinto River different from the West Fork?
• Where is the best place to fish for carp?
• What type of flies do you use in most of these fisheries?
• Where do you go to get away from the crowds?
• What's the best way to fish Sheldon Lake?
• Which fisheries offer the best gar and bowfin fishing?
• What type of fishery is Brays Bayou?
• Is there good fishing in downtown Houston?

Rob Streeter has a great love of fly fishing and its history. He has collected and assembled the life stories of some of the great fly fishers that fished the Adirondack mountains, including Ray Bergman, Lee Wulff, Perry Ehlers, and others. Join us and learn about the history of fly fishing in the Adirondacks and the people who fished its esteemed waters.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What do you know about the early days of fly fishing in the Adirondacks?
• Who were the first fly fishers that were written about?
• What are your three go to flies of the Adirondacks?
• What streamers work best?
• Are the places to trout spey in the Adirondacks?
• Were these fly fishing greats concerned about conservation?
• Who was William Scripture Jr.?
• What contributions did Ray Bergman make to fly fishing?
• How did Lee Wulff combine his love flying with the fly fishing?
• What fly patterns was Lee Wulff famous for?
• Who was the creator of the Ausable Wulff fly?
• What challenges did Francis Betters overcome to continue fly fishing?
• Who was the most interesting person you wrote about?

The Pacific Coast offers fly fishers a wealth of angling opportunities from Alaska to the tip of Baja California. Scott Sadil's recent book Pacific Coast Flies & Fly Fishing covers many of the proven flies to use for trout, salmon, steelhead, and both inshore and bluewater species and how to fish them. Join us to learn about some of these popular fly patterns, their use, and a bit of history about how they came to be.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• How did your latest book Pacific Coast Flies & Fly Fishing come about?
• Do you primarily "match the hatch"?
• Do you fish with whatever works?
• What makes "Bird's BWO Emerger" work?
• Why does the "Vanilla Bugger" attract fish?
• What does "My Favorite Terrestrial" imitate?
• How did the "Green Butt Muddler" come about?
• Does the "Miracle Fly" really work miracles on steelhead?
• How can you be more productive fishing the surf?
• When do you decide to use the "Bullador" in the salt?
• Where do you use "Squid Me" to get the best results?
• Is the "Trilobite" a good fly for surf perch?

Kevin Howell has been guiding the rivers and streams of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee since the mid-1980's. Kevin considers the Davidson River, Tuckaseegee River, and many small mountain streams his home waters. Join us to talk about fly fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains and find out which flies Kevin favors for these waters.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What are the different types of fisheries in the Smoky Mountains?
• What fish species are available to fly fishers in the streams and rivers?
• What makes the area so favorable for trout?
• What are the top rivers to fish?
• What is the Davison River well known for?
• What's the best way to fish the Davidson?
• What hatches do you have on the Davidson?
• What are the best flies to use?
• What type of fishery is the Tuskaseegee River?
• What techniques do you use on the Tuskaseegee?
• What fly rods and lines do you recommend?
• If you could only pick five flies to put in your fly box, what would they be?
• What type of water do you find in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park?

Bob Mallard has fly fished and guided the Maine waters for over 40 years.  Maine has the most diverse fly fishing opportunities in New England and is a popular destination for anglers seeking trout, landlocked salmon, striped bass, and a host of other game fish. Join us and explore the rivers, streams, ponds and lakes of this magnificent state.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• How did you decide what waters to include in your book Fly Fishing Maine?
• What fish species are available to fly fishers in Maine?
• What are the top species fly fishers target?
• What are the top rivers to fish in Maine?
• What are the State Heritage Fish Waters?
• What waters qualify for fly fishing only?
• When is the black fly hatch most prevalent?
• What's causing the decline of landlocked salmon?
• Where do 90% of the native brook trout live?
• Is Artic Char the new "bucket list" fish?
• What fly rods and lines do you recommend?
• What is public access like to the rivers, lakes, and ponds?
• How are striped bass fairing in Maine?

Pat is a well known and respected professional guide in Colorado. He considers the Blue, South Platte, North Fork of the South Platte, Colorado and Williams Fork Rivers as his home waters and has spent many years fishing and guiding them. Join us to explore the "go to" flies you need for Colorado and how to effectively fish them.

Paul Weamer is a professional fly tier and licensed fishing guide in Yellowstone National Park. He considers Yellowstone as his home waters and has spent many years fishing them. Join us to explore the essential flies you need and how to effectively fish them in Yellowstone’s streams, rivers and lakes.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What fish species are available in the park?
• What efforts ar being made to remove non-native species?
• How had the recent flooding affected the fisheries?
• Have you had any close encounters with grizzly bears?
• How does your experience from the Upper Delaware translate to waters you fish in Yellowstone?
• How do you arrange your fly boxes?
• What are your favorite fly tying materials?
• Is there still a place for traditional patterns like Humpies, H&L Variants and Wulffs?
• What are some of your favorite flies for spring?
• What are some tips for fishing Yellowstone Lake for cutthroats?
• What are your favorite flies for the summer?
• What flies work best for fall conditions?
• Do you use soft hackle flies?
• What is the best way to present your fly?
• Do you use beads to get your flies deeper?