Explore every episode of the podcast Troutbitten
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everything About The Landing Net | 18 Oct 2026 | 01:08:59 | |
This one is all about fishing nets. We cover net types and sizes, handle length, bag depth and hoop width. We also discuss how each of us carries the net and how we access it quickly. Because if all of this is not well thought out, problems are sure to follow. The truth is, the net is one of the heaviest and most cumbersome pieces of gear we have out there. So for the frequent angler, these decisions about where to carry that weight and how to have the net ready for a quick draw and an easy return are fundamental to a smooth system. The net choice and how you carry it should not be an afterthought. In fact, you just might base other gear decisions around your net requirements. My friends Austin Dando, Bill Dell and Josh Darling join me for a good conversation about landing nets and carrying methods. ENTER YOUR EMAIL AT THE LINK BELOW TO GET $10 OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER WITH PONCHO Visit | |||
| Doing the Opposite | 11 Oct 2026 | 01:01:31 | |
My friends are here with me to begin season twenty-one with a conversation about doing the opposite. Because if you’re struggling out there on the water, if the net hasn’t been wet in a while and the trout seem to disagree with everything you suggest, then maybe you should do the opposite. To quote Jerry Seinfeld’s advice to George . . . “If every instinct you have is wrong, the opposite would have to be right.” My friends Austin Dando, Bill Dell, Josh Darling and Trevor Smith join me for a fun look at making decisions that can really change things. ENTER YOUR EMAIL AT THE LINK BELOW TO GET $10 OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER WITH PONCHO Visit | |||
| Fighting Big Fish #7 -- Everything All At Once | 06 Sep 2026 | 00:45:37 | |
For this season finale of our skills series on fighting fish we take questions and comments from the podcast audience. We cover the following: Resources CATEGORY: Troutbitten | Catch and Release Safely Visit | |||
| Fighting Big Fish #6 - The Last Ten Feet, and In the Net | 30 Aug 2026 | 00:51:14 | |
This podcast is all about the the end of the fight. Everything we’ve walked through in the previous episodes gets you to the point where the fish is within range and just about ready for the scoop. A lot can go wrong at the end of a fight, so there’s a lot that needs to be done right. We cover body, fish, net and rod positioning, all in relation to the river currents. We talk about when we get the net ready and what to do with it. We cover trapping the line with your trigger finger and what to do with the reel's drag. We also talk about when to scoop, what to scoop and where to scoop -- as in, the landing zone. And we go over net preferences too. Perhaps most importantly, we talk about the concept of spreading your wings at the end -- where the rod hand goes back and the net had reaches out, so the fish’s head comes to the top of the water, and the trout glides into your waiting net. Perfect, right? Yeah, we also talk about less than idea situations and address some mishaps -- how to deal with things when it all starts to fall apart. My friends Matt Grobe and Bill Dell join me for a thorough breakdown of the last ten feet. Here's the Episode List for Season 20 1. The Hook Set and What Comes First Resources CATEGORY: Troutbitten | Catch and Release Safely Visit | |||
| Fighting Big Fish #5 - Side Pressure! | 23 Aug 2026 | 00:57:38 | |
Side pressure puts real leverage on a fish. It's where control begins and power originates. All the other skills before this one set us up to maximize side pressure, with the right angles and a great plan for landing the trout of a lifetime. I think the opposite of side pressure is upward pressure, or pulling up with the rod tip, and we don't want to fight the fish at the surface. So while side pressure can keep the fish lower in the water column, upward pressure brings a trout to the top, often way too soon. So with a low rod angle, pulling to the side as much as possible, we force the trout to fight not just the current pushing downstream in its face, but also our constant pressure to the side. A trout wants to hold the current that it’s in, and by pulling sideways, the trout has to work against that pressure to stay in its current. And nothing wears a trout down quicker. My friends Matt Grobe and Bill Dell join me for a deep dive into real side pressure. Here's the Episode List for Season 20 1. The Hook Set and What Comes First Resources CATEGORY: Troutbitten | Catch and Release Safely Visit | |||
| Fighting Big Fish #4 -- Planning, Positioning and The Fighting Stance | 16 Aug 2026 | 00:38:52 | |
Landing a good trout is more about planning, quick thinking and good technique than luck. And in this episode, we talk about being ready for a big fish. With a little forethought and preparation, with even slight adjustments to body positioning, we put ourselves in the best position to show a picture of a lifetime rather than tell the story of another trout that got away. A few months ago I published a video to the Troutbitten YouTube channel with the title: The Casting, Drifting and Fighting Position — It’s all the Same. What we talk about in this episode, very much mirrors that last part of that video. We Cover These Key Concepts -- The Fighting stance (a Galloup idea) Here's the Episode List for Season 20 1. The Hookset and What Comes First My good friends, Matt Grobe and Bill Dell join me for this season. Resources CATEGORY: Troutbitten | Catch and Release Safely Visit Thanks to TroutRoutes: Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at Thanks to Skwala Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at | |||
| Fighting Big Fish #3 -- Fighting Them Fast, The Tug-of-War and Knowing the Strength of Your Tools | 09 Aug 2026 | 00:50:59 | |
This third part of our Troutbitten Skills Series is all about the guiding principle of fighting fish fast. We talk about how this mindset guides our decisions and our movements for all the other skills. Because we want to fight trout fast we use side pressure and we position ourselves for maximum leverage. We thing about current direction and fighting zones, all in an effort to fight a trout fast. Because the longer a trout is on the line, the more chance it has to get off. We also cover these key concepts: -- The tug-of-war. Either they pull or you pull. Here's the Episode List for Season 20 1. The Hookset and What Comes First My good friends, Matt Grobe and Bill Dell join me for this season. Resources CATEGORY: Troutbitten | Catch and Release Safely Visit Thanks to TroutRoutes: Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at Thanks to Skwala Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at | |||
| Fighting Big Fish #2 - Where to Fight Them | 02 Aug 2026 | 00:49:38 | |
Fighting trout in a river, creek or stream is all about the currents. So for this episode of our seven part skills series on fighting big fish, we talk about fighting fish upstream, downstream or across. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each angle? And what about current depth? Should we aim to fight the fish in the lower, middle or top part of the water column? And finally, we talk about the fighting zones in a river, meaning, what types of water are a safe choice for fighting the biggest trout of your life? We also go through a little more on the hooksets from last week, and we briefly discuss how much of this applies to the stillwater game and to other species. Here's the Episode List for Season 20 1. The Hookset and What Comes First My good friends, Matt Grobe and Bill Dell join me for this season. Resources CATEGORY: Troutbitten | Catch and Release Safely Visit Thanks to TroutRoutes: Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at Thanks to Skwala Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at | |||
| Fighting Big Fish #1 - The Hooks Set and What Comes First | 26 Jul 2026 | 00:57:12 | |
For Season 20 of the Troutbitten Podcast, we have seven episodes lined up for a Skills Series that's all about how to land the biggest fish of your life. Because, when you do hook the big one — that one you’ve been waiting for — a Whiskey, a Namer or the best fish of your life, you want the skills for fighting big fish with confidence. You want these habits to be engrained into your muscle memory, because you don't have time to think about this stuff when the biggest fish of your life shows up. Here's the Episode List for S20 1. The Hookset and What Comes First My good friends, Matt Grobe and Bill Dell join me for this season. Resources Category: Troutbitten | Catch and Release Safely Visit Thanks to TroutRoutes: Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at Thanks to Skwala Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at | |||
| Freewheelin' - Out of Town Guides, Wet Flies, Stocking Over Wilds . . . and More | 28 Jun 2026 | 01:14:16 | |
In this Season 19 finale of the Troutbitten Podcast, we tackle a grab bag of topics. We call these episodes the Freewheelin' Troutbitten. This one was unintentional. We had plans to cover a topic of fishing with friends vs fishing solo, but once we opened up some of the leftover topics surrounding the Grievances episode from last week, we just kinda got things rolling and let it go. Visit Thanks to TroutRoutes: Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at Thanks to Skwala Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at | |||
| The Airing of Grievances -- Five | 21 Jun 2026 | 01:11:31 | |
We’re here for our fifth annual Airing of Grievances episode. We do this every June, at the end of the spring seasons of the podcast. We do it to have some fun, and we do it because it’s helpful to call out the bad things and try to make them better. We also do this because Frank Costanza from Seinfeld once said . . . “I gotta lotta problems with you people, and now . . . you’re gonna here about it.” So we’re here to complain about things, to clear the air and to get things off our chests about the fly fishing industry. And that means just about everyone involved, from the big fly fishing companies and brands, to the start ups. From the fly shops to the guides that work for them. From the independent, part-time guide, to the die-hard angler, to the weekend warrior and to the fisherman who has become fly-fishing-curious in the last few months. Everyone. No exceptions. And that starts with our own self-grievances. After a few years of doing this and getting so many replies from other anglers with their own gripes, we decided to open up the grievances episode to YOU, the listeners. We did that for the first time last year, and this year we have more submissions than ever. So we’ve compiled a list of the most common grievances with the fly fishing industry. And no one is safe. Joining me are Austin Dando, Bill Dell, Trevor Smith and Matt Grobe. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | The Airing of Grievances -- One Visit Thanks to TroutRoutes: Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at Thanks to Skwala Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at | |||
| Learning From Other Species and Other Styles | 14 Jun 2026 | 01:09:11 | |
Here's a good talk about other styles and other species, and how using a spinning rod or baitcaster can open up your fishing world to a more complete set of skills and a better understanding of . . . fishing. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | The Versatile Angler - S3, Ep15 Visit | |||
| Tech Talk About Boots, Waders and More - In Deep with Kevin Sloan of Skwala | 07 Jun 2026 | 01:15:55 | |
Over the last few decades, fishing apparel has undergone a dramatic evolution. Today, we expect more than ever from our boots, waders, jackets, and shirts because we've grown accustomed to the advantages of purpose-built gear that's ready to deliver. Resources READ: Troutbitten | All the Things Visit | |||
| Fishing Angles - Upstream or Downstream? | 31 May 2026 | 01:08:52 | |
We’re here to talk about fishing angles. Are you wading upstream or down? And are you casting upstream or down? What’s your preference? Why do you make that decision? When, if ever does it change? And does your casting direction always follow your wading direction? Sometimes, these preferences seem regional, while other times it’s specifically about the tactic -- meaning that swinging wet flies, for example, suits a downstream approach best. But sometimes, angle choice seems more like tradition, and many anglers simply fish a certain way because their Dad did. Most of us at Troutbitten look at things objectively. We all went through a period of time where we tore everything down that we thought we knew and rebuilt the database from the ground up. We want to know what really works best. My good friends Matt Grobe and Bill Dell join me to answer these questions. Resources READ: Troutbitten | The Downstream Fisher Yields to the Upstream Fisher Visit | |||
| RIVERSIDE: Are Light Nymphs More Effective? Is Less Weight More Natural? | 27 May 2026 | 00:16:53 | |
What’s the nymph really doing under there? How is it affected by the currents? And is the attached tippet dragging the fly unnaturally across, over, up or out of the natural, one-seam drift that our picky trout are waiting for? The challenge of nymphing is mercifully balanced by the frequency at which trout feed on these bottom dwelling food forms. So even if we get one in ten drifts just right, the rate at which we might fool fish makes this maddening quest for perfection more than worth it. Simply put, nymphing is fun because it works — and because there’s always a way to make it work even better. Our nymphs require weight to get under the surface and down to the trout. And “how much weight” is a fundamental consideration — perhaps the primary factor — toward the goal of drifting nymphs naturally. If you’re into anything long enough, you’ll notice the trends. And you can watch dogged convictions shift, en masse. In an industry as niche as fly fishing for trout, the opinions of just a few influential anglers often shape the next metamorphosis. So it is with the nymphing game, as the current trend for lighter flies and lighter tackle has taken a strong foothold. But just a few years ago, the concept of anchor flies was driving weighty considerations in the opposite direction. (Just as many trout found the net, by the way.) As with most things, real success with nymphs lies somewhere toward the middle of these extremes, and persistent success comes from a combination of both. Resources Here's the full article: READ: Troutbitten | Are Light Nymphs More Effective? Is Less Weight More Natural? Here are supporting articles: READ: Troutbitten Drifting Light Nymphs Visit | |||
| Season 19 Intermission - Catching Up, Leader Sales, Book, Beer, Film Fest and More | 24 May 2026 | 00:40:52 | |
For our Season 19 Intermission, my wife, Becky, joins me to check in on what's going on in the Troutbitten world. We talk about the upcoming leader sale in the Troutbitten Shop (May 24th), the Troutbitten Film Festival, guide season, changes to the Troutbitten Beer with New Trail Brewing Company and the Mono Rig book status. Then my son, Aiden, joins me for a short conversation about spring fishing. Resources VIDEOS: Troutbitten | Fish and Film | Category Visit | |||
| Is There Really Anything to Figure Out? | 18 May 2026 | 01:00:53 | |
There’s something about fishing that leads us to believe that we can figure out what the fish want to eat that day — at that moment. Really, we want to believe that. And maybe it’s true often enough that trying to figure ‘em out . . . is a smart strategy. Resources READ: Troutbitten | Pattern vs Presentation - Trout Eat Anything, But Sometimes They Eat Another Thing Better Visit | |||
| Taking the Next Step | 11 May 2026 | 01:12:02 | |
How do you get deeper into the game? Is it a choice or just good fortune? We live a life on the water, and a couple of episodes ago we talked about burnout — how a lot of anglers dig in, fish hard, go all out for a few years, and then just fade away. That’s the end point for some people, but tonight we’re here to talk about the beginning. We want to consider the start of a fishing life, or more accurately, the start of a dedicated fishing life. Most people who become serious anglers have some fishing experiences for a while, and then for whatever reason, the whole thing just becomes . . . more. All of the Troutbitten crew that you already has made fishing our lives for a very long time. And we can give you our opinions and experiences on this whole thing. But for a newer, fresher perspective, we invited some friends who are a little younger in the game. Both of these guys fished off and on since they were kids, but something triggered them to go deeper. That’s process is more recent for them than it is for us, so we wanted to hear from them. Meet our good friends Anthony Marrazo and Andy McDonald, who join me with Austin Dando and Bill Dell. Resources READ: Troutbitten | Rivers and Friends Visit | |||
| The Big Lie of Dry Dropper | 04 May 2026 | 01:06:22 | |
Dry dropper is great. Just put a nymph under that dry fly and get the best of both worlds. Right? Not so fast . . . Resources READ: Troutbitten | Three Styles of Dry Dropper Visit | |||
| Burnout | 27 Apr 2026 | 01:05:02 | |
A life on the water is an everyday thing. When we’re not fishing, we’re thinking about it. We’re preparing for it. We’re learning about it. I text with friends almost daily about river conditions and hatches. I drive beside the river just to see it — even though that route takes a few extra minutes. We've all seen die hard anglers living their life on the water -- and then it just goes away. Rising and fading interests are part of human nature. But we've also met plenty of anglers who lament the fact that their waders have been gathering dust for two years. Burnout starts with the small things — sleeping in instead of getting out early, or skipping the evening spinner fall in favor of an earlier dinner. And then, almost without realizing it, you’ve missed a whole season because you made excuses about low water or crowded streams. I think burnout is involuntary. It creeps up and surprises people, but I don't think it has to. Fishing gets old because it becomes average, because some of the mystery or exploration is gone — maybe it becomes predictable. But all of that can be changed with a few intentional decisions, too. My good friends Bill Dell, Trevor Smith, Josh Darling, Austin Dando and Matt Grobe are here with me to talk about . . . burnout. Resources READ: Troutbitten | All the Things Visit | |||
| What About Luck? | 20 Apr 2026 | 01:05:48 | |
For Season 19 of the Troutbitten Podcast, we're adding the video component, with the same conversation on both the audio and video side. So you'll still find the audio version of the podcast on Apple, Spotify and every other platform, and now you'll find a video of the podcast conversation on the Troutbitten YouTube channel. The new video format is full of creative possibilities, and we're excited about the future of the podcast. Incidentally, podcasts will now publish on Mondays at 3:30 p.m. EST, instead of Sundays. (YouTube hates Sunday evenings.) Our conversation for episode one is all about luck. And we want to talk about how luck plays into things out there. Do we rely on it? Do we surrender to it? Do we look for it? From the beginning, luck and fishing were intertwined. It became part of our anglers’ lore. And while good luck has surely saved countless fishing trips, bad luck continues to doom the best laid plans of a fisherman. Great trout fishing is rarely the result of good luck. And if the experience was up to the fish and to fate, I’d hardly pick up a fishing rod. Success on the water is not a slot machine. It’s more like a game of poker, where you play the hand you’re given and try to fool your adversary. Sometimes the cards you’re holding almost guarantee success. Then the next day Mother Nature might deal you a hand, where pulling a couple of fish is a grand achievement. My good friends Trevor Smith, Josh Darling, Austin Dando and Matt Grobe join me to begin Season 19. Resources READ: Troutbitten | It's Not Luck Visit | |||
| Dry Fly Platforms - The Outliers and The Wrap Up - The Troutbitten Fly Box | 15 Mar 2026 | 01:10:19 | |
This Troutbitten Skills Series and these platforms are an effort to pass along the idea that fly selection doesn’t have to be regimented or complicated. Instead, see flies for what they have in common. Find their similarities rather than their differences. Choose the elements that matter most to you. Find the components of a fly that create enough of a distinction to be the keys to a platform, and build around that idea. I do think some things are undeniable, and almost every angler is going to classify a parachute the same way. That might be true for upright hackles and down wings too. But I’m sure you’ve noticed that the further we got into this season, the less specific each platform became. And again, that’s just because there are only so many things you can put on a dry fly and still have it be successful. Most of the more recent flies designed take their cues from what came before them. Honestly, I assume that will hold true going into the future too. My friends Bill Dell, Austin Dando and Matt Grobe join me for the conclusion of Season 18. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fly Tying - Essential Tools and More (S17 Ep9) Visit | |||
| Dry Fly Platforms - Hoppers, Stones and Foams - The Troutbitten Fly Box | 08 Mar 2026 | 01:28:02 | |
It's time for the big-meal dry fly platform: hoppers and stoneflies. When we open our fly boxes, we’re looking for a solution. If trout are sipping tiny olives in a soft tailout, we probably reach for the low-riding, vulnerable look of a Comparadun or a Parachute. And if we see trout slashing at hovering, skittering Grannoms in a riffle, we probably choose an Elk Hair Caddis or similar. But what do we pick when the trout food is bigger — when trout are eating hoppers, stoneflies, cicadas or other big bugs on the surface that are twenty times the size of a Blue Winged Olive? Those trout aren’t looking for snacks. They’re hunting for dinner — for the main course. And we need a platform or a style to match the moment. The hoppers and stoneflies platform is a major departure from the delicate mayfly imitations we’ve covered in this series. This platform isn't about perfectly matching the wing of a Hendrickson or the subtle flutter of an October Caddis. It’s about presenting a substantial, high-calorie meal that gets attention. Whether it’s a Golden stonefly clipping across the hoppy water of a bouldered run, or an unlucky grasshopper blown onto the surface from a grassy bank, these are not subtle bugs. They make a splash. They struggle. And in the best moments, they draw explosive strikes. With this platform, we substitute subtlety for buoyancy. Hackle is traded in for rubber legs, and dubbing is often replaced by closed-cell foam. In this episode, we break down this big-meal platform. We’ll look at a parts list, cover some pros and cons about material choices, and look at the particulars of the platform itself. My friend, Matt Grobe, joins me for a detailed look at another of our favorite dry fly platforms. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fly Tying - Essential Tools and More (S17 Ep9) Visit | |||
| Riverside: Find Fish, Feed Fish, Fight Fish - The Order of Everything | 06 Mar 2026 | 00:20:17 | |
In this Riverside episode, I share an article that I published a few years ago, title, The Order of Everything. I also share some Troutbitten updates about my upcoming book, about the Troutbitten Shop, about the live podcast on March 28th at New Trail Brewing Company and the Troutbitten film festival happening later this year, in October. There's an order to everything to keep this Troutbitten project moving forward, and the work of these first weeks of 2026 had me thinking about one of my favorite concepts for a day on the water . . . A lot goes into a good fishing trip. It’s a flexible framework of pieces and parts mixed in with a little fortuitous intuition. That first trout to the net is rarely luck. And when you start to lose count of how many fish have come to hand, you can be sure that luck has had very little to do with it. The overarching principles of how to catch a trout — the headers of the outline — are these:
For me, when the day is tough, if it’s lunchtime and I haven’t yet touched a fish, if I’m losing faith in my strategy and I’m wishing more than fishing, I often gather my wits around this checklist of five. Here's the full article: READ: Troutbitten | The Order of Everything The LIVE Podcast Also, Tickets are on sale for the Live Podcast on March 28th at New Trail Brewing in Williamsport, PA. Visit | |||
| Dry Fly Platforms - Emergers - The Troutbitten Fly Box | 01 Mar 2026 | 01:11:59 | |
A dry fly emerger is one that has part of the fly underneath the surface. It’s a highly effective form (meaning tout eat it) because it matches the most vulnerable state of things that trout see. In this episode we cover the dry fly platform of emergers. We look at what they are, how and why to use them and the differences in styles within this platform. We cover some history about how emerger design got to this point and what the future might hold. Once the emerger platform really caught on in the fly fishing world, I’d say it has almost replaced many of the traditional, more high riding patterns as the average flies in the average angler’s box. Maybe that’s just my perception, but there’s no doubt, emergers are more popular than ever, and new ideas and turns of thread keep pushing the concept further. My good friend, Austin Dando, joins me for a thorough look at another of our favorite dry fly platforms. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fly Tying - Essential Tools and More (S17 Ep9) Visit | |||
| Dry Fly Platforms - Down Wings - The Troutbitten Fly Box | 22 Feb 2026 | 01:08:27 | |
The down wing dry fly style is a perfect match for one of the most ubiquitous insects found in trout rivers across the planet: caddis. The down wing platform is also a first choice for matching many terrestrials, like moths and hoppers, and it finds it's way to stonefly patterns as well. But for this discussion, we cover the down wing and its progression into fly boxes, by looking at three standouts: the Elk Hair Caddis, the X-Caddis and the CDC & Elk. Because the arrival of each of these patterns brought forth major innovations to the world of dry flies. All three of these are down wings, but they are very different players on the water. The down wing, like all of these dry fly platforms, is a structural philosophy. There are reasons for having a wing that lays flat rather than stands up. The down wing is a canvas to be creative with. It starts with a wing that angles back. Then, materials used for the undercarriage dictate how the fly behaves on the surface, along with where, when and how we expect trout to respond. My good friend, Bill Dell, joins me for a thorough look at another of our favorite fly platforms. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fly Tying - Essential Tools and More (S17 Ep9) Visit | |||
| Dry Fly Platforms - Comparaduns - The Troutbitten Fly Box | 15 Feb 2026 | 01:06:16 | |
With its simple form of wing, body and tail, the Comparadun is another template for the dry fly angle -- another perfectly adaptable platform. When the Comparadun hit the scene in the 1970’s, it was a significant departure from the norm. Anglers recognized this, but more importantly, the trout recognized this. The Comparadun became a hatch matcher. It became the closer, because the Comparadun specialized in fooling selective trout, with perhaps the most realistic profile of a mayfly out there. The unique design of the Comparadun caught on quickly, because, once again, it solved problems on the water. And it's been fooling wise River trout ever since. In this episode, we go into detail about the Comparadun — a little history, a parts list, some tying tips, fishing situations and best times to choose a Comparadun. My good friend, Bill Dell, joins me for a thorough look into one of our favorite flies. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fly Tying - Essential Tools and More (S17 Ep9) Visit | |||
| Dry Fly Platforms - Parachutes - The Troutbitten Fly Box | 08 Feb 2026 | 00:54:15 | |
The parachute platform is our favorite style of dry fly and the favorite of many other anglers, because of its utility. Because it form is functional. Because it casts well, lands upright and keeps floating, even though heavy water. It fools picky trout and looks enough like an emerger and a spinner that you might get away with one fly, all the way through cycle. It's a great dry-dropper fly, it's easily adaptable. And perhaps its best quality . . . you can see the parachute post. For all of those reasons, the Parachute dry fly platform is close to perfection. My good friend, Austin Dando, joins me for a thorough look into the Parachute. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fly Tying - Essential Tools and More (S17 Ep9) Visit | |||
| Dry Fly Platforms - Upright Hackles - The Troutbitten Fly Box | 01 Feb 2026 | 01:10:14 | |
Season 18 is a unique look at dry fly styles, through the concept of platforms. By taking a fly shape, a form or a set of materials, we can adapt the elements like color, wing style, tailing material or hackle length to meet the moment. Within the fly platform, we vary its properties to the river conditions or to a specific hatch. In this seven part Skills Series for season 18, we cover these six dry fly platforms: 1: Upright Hackles This first episode looks at the platform of Upright Hackles. A classic Catskill style, like the Adams, is a perfect example of this platform. Both slimmer and beefier versions are common, each of which are adapted to prioritize the selectivity of the trout or the buoyancy of the fly against heavier currents. Upright Hackles are perhaps the most common dry fly style, and many popular patterns fit into this platform. In this episode, we look at the specifics for hook, tail, body, wing and hackle for our first platform in this Skills Series -- the Upright Hackle. This is a great breakdown and a fun conversation with my friend Austin Dando. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fly Tying - Essential Tools and More (S17 Ep9) Visit | |||
| Approaching the River | 21 Dec 2025 | 01:09:57 | |
We’re here to talk about approaching the river — approaching the trout — to put our boots in the best place, with a strategy for making the casts and catching fish. We focus so much on the drifting, on the presentation and the casting — on the technical aspects of getting all of those things just right — that it’s easy to overlook the skill that comes before all of that . . . And make no mistake, the approach is a skill. It’s about making a plan. It’s about choosing a piece of water and deciding at which angle we’ll make the cast. We consider all of it in this episode. We also look at some intangibles like bug life and light angles, like water levels and how we might mask our presence from the trout. Because scared trout don’t eat, and honestly, that has to be our first consideration. This is a great conversation with my friends Matt Grobe and Bill Dell. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | The Spooky Trout - What Scares Fish and How to Avoid Spooking Them Visit | |||
| Fly Tying -- Essential Tools and More | 15 Dec 2025 | 01:23:08 | |
Fly tying is more popular than ever. With the prevalence of high quality materials and excellent videos showing how to build flies, more fly anglers choose to tie their own patterns than ever before. All of us at Troutbitten have been tying our own flies from the beginning, so we each have preferences for the tools we use. That's what this podcast episode is all about. We discuss the essentials, like vise, scissors and a bobbin, along with some other tools and gear that each of us considers invaluable for tying materials to a hook. The tools come first. And the quality of those tools can either help or hinder the process. This conversation is a lot of fun. My friends, Bill Dell, Dr. Trevor Smith, Austin Dando, Josh Darling and Matt Grobe join me. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fly Tying and the Complete Angler - S5,Ep2 Visit | |||
| Fly Fishing Myths | 07 Dec 2025 | 01:16:53 | |
For this episode, we want to tackle a topic that’s been on our list for a long time — fly fishing myths and misunderstandings. We’re not here to argue about stuff or complain. We just want to acknowledge things that we hear repeated or we see in print or shown in videos — stuff that’s almost assumed as fact, when it’s often not true at all. We do think it’s important to try to clear the air about these myths and misunderstandings, because bad or incomplete information can really lead people down the wrong path. Or an angler might base many decisions about how they fish, where they fish, when they fish or what they fish for based, in part, upon these myths or these assumptions. Most of what we bring up is well engrained into the fly fishing field of knowledge. Basically, most of you out there listening will have heard nearly everything we bring up. Maybe too, you’ll have a different take on things, and some of these won’t be myths to you at all. That’s good. Because you really should trust yourself and your own time on the water more than anyone else. My friends, Bill Dell and Josh Darling join me for a great conversation. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | What To Trust - S5, Ep11 Visit | |||
| In Deep with Devin Olsen - Tight Line Tactics and Competition Influence | 30 Nov 2025 | 01:28:54 | |
Devin Olsen has had an immeasurable influence on the nymphing game. Having been embedded in the competition scene for two decades now, Devin knows competition nymphing form the inside. While reading Devin's book and watching his videos, it's obvious that he puts in the work. Instead of slavishly recycling the ideas of others, Devin is a unique thinker and a tireless tester on the water. I've always admired his work. I asked Devin to go in deep about competition nymphing styles, while specifically considering the rules and restrictions imposed on competitors. We consider whether those rules about flies and leader restrictions are helpful or hurtful for the common angler. This is a fantastic conversation. I'm pleased to present my interview with Devin Olsen . . . RESOURCES WEBSITE / FLY SHOP: Tactical Fly Fisher Visit | |||
| Troutbitten State of the Union, Fall 2025 - Catching Up With the Shop, Book, Videos, Events and More | 27 Nov 2025 | 00:43:29 | |
For our State of the Union 2025, my wife, Becky, joins me for a lighthearted look at what's going on in the Troutbitten world. We talk about the upcoming leader sale in the Troutbitten Shop (December 1). We talk about the book, the In Deep series, podcast plans, shop changes, a live podcast event, a Troutbitten Film Festival and the the New Trail Troutbitten beer. Becky and I also read a few listener comments. Resources VIDEO: Troutbitten | In Deep With John Shaner and Dry Fly Leader Design Visit | |||
| Have Mono Rig and Euro Nymphing Styles Gone Too Far? | 23 Nov 2025 | 01:20:40 | |
All of us at Troutbitten, along with so many anglers across the country, use a Mono Rig for most underwater presentations. The tight line advantage and the drift control possible for both nymphs and streamers is fun and effective. But a lot has changed . . . Five or ten years ago, most tight line anglers were using a Mono Rig leader build with a butt section thick enough to mimic the functions of a fly line. This is what we call a Troutbitten Standard Mono Rig, and it's a hybrid system. So with good casting form, the leader can push even the lightest flies around -- the line carries the flies. These days, the most popular leader builds have gone to the end of the line, with the thinnest possible tippets and even butt sections that are 5X diameter. These leaders require water haul casts with light flies and major adaptations in form that open up the age old question again -- "Is that even fly fishing?" Has it all gone too far? None of us care much about what you call the tactic. But more importantly, have Mono Rig leaders and tactics gone so far and become so common that these tools and these styles are actually hindering some anglers' growth? And does that really matter? These are the questions we tackle in this podcast episode. My friends, Austin Dando, Dr. Trevor Smith, Bill Dell and Matt Grobe and Josh Darling join me for a great conversation. Resources READ: Troutbitten | Category | The Mono Rig Visit | |||
| The Spawning Process of Trout | 16 Nov 2025 | 01:01:32 | |
The spawning process is arguably the most important event of a trout's life. The best trout in the system spawn every year. And as long term anglers, we should understand the process -- not only because we then know how to give trout their space, but because the process is a fascinating look at a fish that we spend so much time chasing. We do not advocate fishing for actively spawning trout. But in many watersheds, it's easy to stay away from the redds and give trout plenty of room by simply understanding the process. That's the focus of our conversation in this episode: where, when and how do trout spawn in a river? This podcast is a follow up to another that we published a few years ago, with Episode 2 of Season 9 -- Trout Fishing and the Spawn. My friends, Austin Dando, Bill Dell and Matt Grobe join me for a great conversation. Resources READ: Troutbitten | Redd Fish - Should we fish for trout through the spawn or stay home? Visit | |||
| What Flies Catch Big Trout? | 09 Nov 2025 | 01:09:20 | |
Sometimes, the goal is to catch the biggest trout in the river. In those times, what's the best fly to choose? In this conversation, we talk through big trout situations, and we focus on the flies. If you’re really targeting a big trout, when does a streamer seem like the best choice, and what qualities in that streamer help not just get a trout’s attention, but convince them to eat the fly? Likewise, when might a dry fly have the best chance at fooling a big fish? And when is a wet fly or nymph the best choice? Size, shape, weight, color, flash — whether it’s a dry fly, nymph, wet fly or streamer, what are the qualities of a pattern that we have confidence will interest bigger fish? My friends, Austin Dando, Dr. Trevor Smith, Bill Dell and Matt Grobe join me for a great conversation. Resources READ: Troutbitten | Category | Big Trout Visit | |||
| In Deep - Fishing Simply, With Craig Matthews | 02 Nov 2025 | 01:08:57 | |
Craig Matthews is one of the most prominent figures in fly fishing, with a career spanning half a century and an influence that is immeasurable. Making his home in Montana, Craig's fly shop, Blue Ribbon Flies, became an icon as he educated and helped generations of anglers find their way with a fly rod. Craig's many fly creations, like the Sparkle Dun and X-Caddis are in my fly box, and they're probably in yours. Craig also founded One Percent for the Planet, a collection of outdoor retailers, now approaching one-billion dollars donated to preserving and enhancing trout rivers across the country. Craig has authored nine books, the latest of which is titled Pheasant Tail Simplicity. It is a wonderful book that details the mysteriously attractive nature of pheasant tail flies for trout, while also sharing stories and philosophies around a simple approach to this sometimes complicated game of fly fishing. I'm pleased to present my interview with Craig Matthews . . . Resources BOOK: Pheasant Tail Simplicity Visit | |||
| Back to Spot Burning - Evolution? | 26 Oct 2025 | 01:22:38 | |
With this conversation, we're going back to spot burning. In Troutbitten Podcast Season 3, Episode 1, we talked through Secrets and Spot Burning ( March, 2022). And in that conversation we spent a lot of time on the first part — on what fishing secrets really are, whether they’re valuable, fun or just gatekeeping. (They’re valuable, by the way.) And we acknowledged that every angler has their own set of things they might want to be secretive about, whether that's patterns, tactics or . . . spots. In our conversation from three years ago, it was interesting to me when I went back to listen, how much more fleshed out and nuanced my own opinions are now. Back then, I also felt the Troutbitten guys here were pretty much on the same page with everything. But now I’m not so sure. Because over time, not only have my own thoughts become more defined, I know the other guys here think differently as well. So it’s time to revisit the hot button topic of spot burning. What’s the big deal? How does it hurt? When is it okay to name spots publicly? Is it alright if it’s part of a business? And are there different rules? Basically, it’s a wide, wide world out there. And things change quickly, so it might be helpful to talk about spot burning again. My friends, Austin Dando, Josh Darling and Matt Grobe join me for a great conversation. Resources PODCAST: Troutbitten | Secrets and Spot Burning - S3, Ep1 Visit | |||
| Big Flies for Big Trout - Cicada Wrap Up | 19 Oct 2025 | 01:17:45 | |
We begin Season 17 with a conversation about fishing the 17 year periodical cicada this past summer. We talk about big flies, big water and big trout. For so many of us, it was the rarity of the event -- there’s no other chance for this kind of fishing, right here, in our home waters, for another seventeen years. That’s a big marker in time. Because when you look back that far, it seems like a whole different life. In truth, it’s was a whole different world all those years ago, without high speed internet on everybody’s phones. Think about that. That’s how much changes in seventeen years. So you start to wonder what things will look like in 2042. Who will I be in seventeen years? And you kind of realize that you cannot repeat it again. It won’t be the same. Things will be different. I think most of us see fishing as this thing we do — the trout are always there, the hatches come and go, and we’ll fish the Henrickson’s next year too. We’ll probably be out next weekend to catch a few more trout on streamers, and we’ll start below that big boulder on the outside bend. And for most of us, maybe each fishing trip doesn’t seem all that special. For me, this seventeen year cicada has shown me how rare every moment is. How many more times will I fish with my Dad in the braids? Who knows. Will my sons and I ever get into trout like we did last spring, where we’re all together, and the fishing is fast and fun? Not with the boys at that age. That's a certainty. So as life passes and a trout stream seems to stay mostly the same, we change, our place in life changes, and our friends and family move on too. Strange how an ugly two-inch bug can spark so much reflection and really, so much appreciation for . . . life. This day, yesterday and tomorrow. My friends, Dr. Trevor Smith, Austin Dando, Josh Darling and Bill Dell join me for a great conversation. Resources READ: Troutbitten | Shirt Pocket Fishing Visit | |||
| Riverside -- Fighting Big Fish -- Keep 'Em Down | 16 Oct 2025 | 00:14:09 | |
A top-tier river trout is a beast. The inherent nature of a river, with the endless obstacles, rocks, tree parts, current breaks, high gradient runs and undercut banks challenges the angler at every bend. So when you finally hook up with a Whiskey, a new game begins. It’s a match up between trout and fisherman. Who will win that fight? Bringing a trout to the net requires a series of accurate calculations, thoughtful moves and a good dose of luck. But with a few guiding principles and a bit of experience, you can minimize the luck required and get a good handle on the outcome. One of the best of those principles, is to keep 'em down . . . Here's the Article READ: Troutbitten | Fighting Big Fish -- Keep 'Em Down READ: Troutbitten | Category | Fighting Big Fish Visit | |||
| In Deep -- Dry Fly Leader Design with John Shaner | 01 Oct 2025 | 01:22:26 | |
In Deep is a video podcast series for conversations that dive into the details of focused topics -- no fluff, just concentrated, sometimes technical talk from experienced anglers and industry professionals. Resources READ: Troutbitten | Dry Fly Fishing -- The George Harvey Leader Design John Shaner's Favorite Dry Leader 48'' .019 Chameleon Visit | |||
| The Blue Liner's Bible - Questions and Stories | 31 Aug 2025 | 01:16:52 | |
Here we are at the end of the Blue Liner's Bible series. And we saved this one for listener questions and some of our own stories. This episode ties up some loose ends and brings it all back home. Because, I think we ended up right where we started, realizing that small stream fishing leads us into everything there is to love about fishing, and maybe helping to teach us some of the most important lessons of all. Wherever you are, wherever you fish, take some time to hike upstream into a narrow, shaded valley. You just might fall in love. My friend, Austin Dando, joins me for a great conversation. Resources READ: Troutbitten | Favorite Small Stream Leader -- Formula, Reasons and Stories Visit | |||
| The Blue Liner's Bible -- Bigger Trout, and Streamers on Small Streams | 24 Aug 2025 | 01:01:52 | |
This one's about using streamers to find the biggest trout in the smallest waters. In previous episodes we worked though locating the right water for small streams. We've talked about dry fly tactics, nymph fishing and now, with episode five in this series, we’re ready to tackle streamer fishing on small streams. Our job for this episode is to highlight the changes we make, or the different strategies we might have, for fishing streamers in small waters vs the bigger ones. We also have a fair discussion about the realities of big trout in small waters. My friend, Austin Dando, joins me for a great conversation. Resources READ: Troutbitten | Favorite Small Stream Leader -- Formula, Reasons and Stories Visit | |||
| The Blue Liner's Bible -- Nymphs On Small Streams | 17 Aug 2025 | 00:53:21 | |
In this fourth episode of the Blue Liner's Bible, we talk about nymphing on small waters. We discuss when and where we might turn to nymphs, and then we break down the adaptations for different styles. We cover dry dropper, mostly as a nymphing tactic. Then we discuss indicator nymphing and tight line nymphing with a Mono Rig. My friend, Austin Dando, joins me for an important look at the variety of nymphing tactics we use on small waters. Resources READ: Troutbitten | Favorite Small Stream Leader -- Formula, Reasons and Stories Visit | |||
| The Blue Liner's Bible -- Dry Flies On Small Streams | 10 Aug 2025 | 00:57:10 | |
We’re here to break down small stream dry fly fishing. We’re tackling dry flies first in this series, because fishing dries on small water puts you in a great position, with the necessary skills, to fish the other disciplines of nymphs, streamers and wets. In this episode, my friend, Austin Dando, and I walk through the gear, the approach, the casting, some philosophies and strategies for fishing dry flies on small streams. This topic is at the heart of the Blue Liner's Bible. It's a great conversation, with a few stories and a lot of information. Resources READ: Troutbitten | Favorite Small Stream Leader -- Formula, Reasons and Stories Visit | |||
| The Blue Liner's Bible -- Finding the Right Water | 03 Aug 2025 | 01:00:15 | |
We're back with Season 16, with episode two of the Blue Liner’s Bible. This one is all about finding the right water. We mean this in two different ways. First, you need to find a small stream that has public access (or you have private permission). But the stream also needs cold water and a good population of trout (hopefully they’re wild trout). That’s the first thing — find a good stream to fish. And honestly, that may not be as easy as it sounds. If you do start to explore new territory and get into the small stream game, you’ll quickly understand what we mean, first hand, when we say that the exploration is part of the reward. The failure to find good water on one trip makes the next trip, where you find what becomes one of your favorite places in the world, even more special So we’ll talk about that tonight — how to choose your next adventure. Identifying primary and secondary water, and kind of how to balance that risk vs reward. Meaning, you could fish the small stream that everyone talks about in Montana or Pennsylvania, because you can be sure that trout are present in good numbers. But would you rather take the chance on the stream that no one mentions? It has all the variables you’re looking for in your research, and because it has no name, you can be sure no one else will be there Understanding those variables and knowing good sources for research is part of our topic here tonight. And then, the other part of finding good water is from an on-stream perspective. Once you’re there, what section should you choose? And even within that section, what water types should you target the most? Do you expect trout in the deep pools or the riffles, in the fast water, or the slow, shady, deep undercuts? A lot goes into these choices as well. Much of it is seasonal. Some of it is about matching your tactics and your fly choices, and another part is just experience and instinct. Again, all of this stuff is why we love small stream fishing. None of it is laid out for you. A good fly shop will not lead you to these places. And even a good friend, with the best intentions, may not have even half the intel that you really need for a good day of small stream fishing. Like we said last time, the small stream game is do-it-yourself in nature. So, that’s what we have lined up. My friend, Austin Dando, joins me for a good look at finding the right small stream water. Resources Visit | |||
| The Blue Liner's Bible --The Good and Bad of Small Stream Fishing | 27 Jul 2025 | 01:08:34 | |
With cold flows and eager trout, mountain water and small stream fishing can provide the perfect setup, the perfect escape, if you’re willing to put in the effort. There are some truly wonderful things about small stream fishing, and learning to work these waters teaches us everything we need to know about fishing any trout water. But the challenges can turn many people off as well. Visit | |||
| The Airing of Grievances -- Four | 22 Jun 2025 | 01:18:17 | |
Welcome to the fourth annual Airing of Grievances on the Troutbitten Podcast. Buckle up. Because it’s time to clear the air about a few things, to complain about some other things and get all the frustrations out in the open. Visit | |||
| Is Gen X the Greatest Fly Fishing Generation? | 15 Jun 2025 | 00:59:42 | |
We talk a lot about our frame of reference in fly fishing. Wherever you get into the game, a lot of your baseline is set by whatever is popular or widely accepted at that moment in time. My friend, Matt Mickey, recently argued that Gen X anglers are uniquely positioned, that this generation has experienced development and had a wide variety of influences that will never be duplicated. We’ve learned through every form of media. We grew up in a time where good information was sparse, and most of us are largely self-taught. So it makes me wonder, will that kind of experience ever happen again? Meaning, fifty years from now, when the twenty-somethings are seventy-something, will they have the same depth of experience? Sure, they’ll have time on the water, but will they be missing some important things? And if, let’s say, modern anglers new to the game are missing some things, is it possible to go back and get them? That's what this episode is all about. My friends, Trevor Smith and Matt Mickey join me for a great discussion. Resources READ: Troutbitten | How To Stay in the Fly Fishing Game for a Lifetime Visit | |||