Phil Rowley is a master at fishing stillwaters for trout. Stillwaters are one of the most challenging opportunities for today's fly fisher. They offer a long active season with numerous hatches and presentation challenges. Fish grow big and fat and many fishers find this appeal hard to resist. But the transfer from rivers and streams is often difficult, especially if a prolonged trial-and-error approach is adopted. Listen in to hear Phil’s approach to Stillwater fly fishing and learn a few secrets along the way.

Geri Meyer has been guiding the Driftless Area since 2006. She was fascinated by the 13,000 miles of Driftless trout creeks many of which flow through over 5 million acres of public land in Wisconsin. The last ice age left the Driftless Area with fractured limestone and sandstone. Water percolates through this rock into the ground and is filtered, cooled, and given an excellent PH level. The water then comes out as springs and seeps and gives us the incredible and abundant trout fishing there. Listen in to discover the secrets of this one of kind fishery.

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

• Where is the Driftless Area?
• Why is it called the Driftless Area?
• What are most of the streams like?
• What species are the primary targets?
• Are the fish wild or stocked?
• What are the major hatches?
• What dry fly hatch is exciting to fish?
• What sections of Grey Reef are the most productive?
• What flies work best on these spring creeks?
• What strategies do you use to fish these streams?
• Is stealth important in your approach to these fish?
• Do you do more dry fly fishing or nymphing?
• What towns are the favored places to stay when fishing the Driftless Area?

Blake Jackson, a professional guide from Casper,  Wyoming, specializes in guiding his clients to Wyoming’s great fisheries, like the Miracle Mile, Grey Reef, Fremont Canyon, and local lakes. Whether it's trophy trout or spooky carp Blake knows where to go and how to get hooked up. Join us to learn about these incredible fisheries and how to fish them.

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

• What are the four major sections of the North Platte River?
• Is the area around Saratoga worth fishing?
• How did the Miracle Mile get its name?
• What spawn occurs on the Miracle Mile that brings up the big fish?
• What flies work best on the Miracle Mile?
• What section is fished most often in Fremont Canyon?
• What epic dry fly hatch is Fremont Canyon known for?
• What sections of Grey Reef are the most productive?
• What flies work best on Grey Reef and why?
• What strategies do you use to fish Grey Reef?
• What is the most common mistake most fly fishers make when fishing Grey Reef?
• Why has carp fishing in Wyoming exploded?
• Where is the best place to fish for carp in Wyoming?

Peter Stitcher is an aquatic biologist who knows what flies work best to imitate the stage of insects in their lifecycle. Are you ever confused about what file to use when? Join us to learn about the lifecycles of the most common insects we encounter on rivers and lakes and how to pick the perfect fly for the job.

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

• What are the three categories you use to describe flies?
• What is more important size, color or shape?
• Why are flies like the Red Dart and Blowtorch so effective?
• How do you organize your fly boxes?
• What is a life cycle and why is it important to understand?
• What are the life cycles for mayflies, caddisflies, midges and stoneflies?
• What stages of the life cycles are the most productive for fishing?
• What flies work best to imitate the different stages?
• What places do you look to see what insects are active?
• How would you imitate daphnia?
• Is fly selection just as important as drift depth and presentation?

Carol's photographs and paintings have not only appeared in most of her husband Skip's 21 fly-fishing and -tying books, but also on the covers and interior pages of such magazines and books as Grey's Sporting Journal, Fly Fisherman, Yale Angler's Journal, American Angler, Fly Fishing & Tying Journal, and America's Favorite Flies. Join us and learn how to take better photographs of the beautiful places you fish, your fishing buddies, fish and of course yourself.

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

• What don't my photos turn out the way I see them?
• What do you recommend for pocket-sized, waterproof, point and shoot camera?
• Can you take good photos with your phone?
• What do you do to protect your camera from water?
• Do you use polarizing or warming filters?
• How to keep from stressing out the fish?
• How can you get a good photo of your fish when you are alone?
• What makes a compelling photograph?
• What time of day makes for the best photographs?
• What is the rule of thirds and how can it make my photos better?
• How can I improve the photos I'm taking?

Bucky is the Founder and Executive Director of Fly Fishing Collaborative. The collaborative has been mobilizing the fly fishing community since 2013 to create sustainable solutions to stop poverty & human trafficking around the world. This non-profit helps communities build environmentally safe and sustainable aquaponics farms for orphanages and schools preventing kids from entering human trafficking. Join us to learn how these farms are built and how you might help the cause. Visit the Fly Fishing Collaborative website to learn more about what they do and how you can help.

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

• What is the mission of the Fly Fishing Collaborative?
• What motivated you to start FFC?
• What does FFC actually do?
• Why did you use fly fishing as a means to your fundraising?
• What are your methods of fundraising?
• What is aquaponics farming?
• Who builds the farms?
• What foods are harvested from the farms?
• How does building an aquaponics farm help stop poverty and human trafficking?
• What authors do you look to for their writing skills and style?
• How can the fly fishing community help your organization make difference?

What happens when a man who’s fly fished for over fifty years, who’s graduated with a university degree in English, who’s published 19 print-and-paper books on fly-fishing topics with three publishers, decides to spend three years writing his first book of essays about his beloved sport? Can you imagine? Join us to learn how Skip came to write his latest book 500 Trout Streams and hear a few of his favorite stories.

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

• What was the first writing you got published?
• Do you make notes about your fishing trips to use later in your writing?
• Do you have a writing routine, if so what is it?
• What prompted the writing of 500 Trout Streams?
• What kind of research do you do and how long do you spend researching?
• Is there still a market for long-form print pieces?
• Did you really fish 500 trout streams?
• What is your favorite book on fly fishing by another writer?
• What authors do you look to for their writing skills and style?
• Will you be writing more essays in the future?

Charles Leslie started guiding in Belize when he was 19 years old. He learned to fly fish from Lefty Kreh and over the past 50 years he's become a master of casting and fly presentation to permit, tarpon, bonefish and snook. Join us to learn Charlie's approach to fishing which is based on the tides, weather, migratory patterns and other conditions that ensure you have the best opportunity to land the fish of a lifetime. Learn more by visiting Charlie Leslie Fly Fishing.

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

• What are the differences in fishing Southern versus Northern Belize?
• What are the best times of year to fish Southern Belize?
• Do you need to be a good caster to fish for permit, bonefish, tarpon and snook?
• What's the secret to casting in the wind?
• Where are the best places to fish for bonefish?
• How do you present your flies to bonefish?
• Where are the best places to fish for snook?
• What are the best flies for snook?
• Where do you find migrating tarpon?
• What is the best way to fish gummy minnows for tarpon?
• When fishing for permit do you wade the flats or fish from the boat?
• What should you consider when presenting your fly to a permit?
• What's the secret to getting a good hook set with a permit?

Gill Mckean has been guiding on the world-famous Skeena River for more than 25 years. He’s guided a client to massive steelhead estimated at 34 pounds and has personally landed many in the 30-pound range. Join us to learn from Gill about this incredible fishery and of course how to land that steelhead of a lifetime.

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

• What is the best time of year to fish for steelhead?
• Are there other streams and rivers to fish in the area?
• What species are available besides steelhead?
• What style of flies do you prefer?
• Is the spey rod the most commonly used rod on the Skeena?
• What type of line do you use and what types of tips do you use?
• What's the difference between Skagit and Scandi heads?
• What is the most productive depth for getting strikes?
• What triggers the fish to strike?
• What is the secret to hooking up with a trophy steelhead?

Denny Rickards has been studying trout behavior in stillwaters for over 40 years. He's always learning new things about the aquatic life forms that trout eat and then develops strategies and techniques he can use to mimic their activity. Join us on this podcast to hear about Denny's latest new findings which will help you to catch more fish in stillwaters.

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

• What is the best time of day to fish stillwaters?
• How do you change your tactics throughout the day?
• Will you have more success if you fish from a kick boat or float tube than from shore?
• Are depth finders useful?
• Do you use UV materials in your flies?
• What are the three most important design aspect of flies?
• What type of line do you use and what types of tips do you use?
• What development stage of insects gets more strikes larva, pupa or adults?
• What is the best way to fish pupa?
• How do you determine what depth the fish are at?
• What is the most productive depth for getting strikes?
• If a fish follows your fly will it strike on a follow-up cast?