Smallmouth Episodes

Episode Overview In this episode of The Butcher Shop fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with Brendan Ruch, the innovative tier behind the Nut Job, to explore every dimension of this game-changing swim fly pattern. From its accidental birth on Logjam Live to its current status as a go-to predator pattern for serious smallmouth and trout anglers, Brendan walks through the complete evolution of the fly. The conversation covers Central Pennsylvania waters where the pattern has proven...

Join Marvin Cash on The Articulate Fly fishing podcast for this Southwest Virginia Fishing Report with guide Matt Reilly of Matt Reilly Fly Fishing, where he breaks down late fall musky fishing tactics on the New River during challenging low water conditions. Matt shares essential techniques for clear water musky fishing, including stealth approaches with long casts, downsizing presentations and speed retrieval strategies that trigger strikes even when fish are boat-shy. The episode also deli...

Join The Articulate Fly fishing podcast for the season finale of The Ruch Report, where host Marvin Cash and Brendan Ruch deliver critical late fall fishing insights from Pennsylvania and Ohio. Ruch, a respected smallmouth bass guide and fly tier, breaks down the challenging low, clear water conditions dominating the region and explains how fish behavior shifts as topwater season ends. Despite late summer-like water levels continuing into fall, Ruch reveals a key pattern: smallmouth are group...

Join Marvin Cash on The Articulate Fly for this timely Southwest Virginia Fishing Report with guide Matt Reilly, covering the challenging transition period as fall conditions settle in. With water temperatures dropping into the low to mid-60s on the New River, Reilly shares honest insights about targeting large smallmouth bass during October's unpredictable conditions. Learn why big fish abandon their predictable summer spots this time of year and how effective strategies shift as the bug bit...

The Articulate Fly podcast delivers another essential Ruch Report featuring expert guide Brendan Ruch, who shares critical fall bass fishing strategies while navigating his new role with Megabass. In this timely episode, Ruch addresses the pivotal question of when to transition from topwater flies to ned rig techniques during fall fishing, revealing that low water conditions and extended warm weather are keeping topwater action alive well into autumn. Learn about the most effective ned rig...

The Articulate Fly brings you essential insights for navigating challenging fall smallmouth conditions with Southwest Virginia guide Matt Reilly. As low, clear water conditions continue with extended summer-like weather, Matt shares critical smallmouth bass fishing strategies that separate successful anglers from frustrated ones. Discover why stealth becomes paramount when targeting spooky fish in shallow, clear water, and learn specific techniques for minimizing unnecessary disturbances f...

Join Marvin Cash on The Articulate Fly for another insightful Ruch Report with Pennsylvania guide Brendan Ruch, who shares expert techniques for challenging summer fishing conditions. With waters running low and clear across PA, Ruch reveals why subtle surface presentations are outfishing aggressive popper techniques, demonstrating Matt Miles' proven method of creating slack movement that mimics injured insects without spooking selective fish. Learn specific cicada shimmy strategies that t...

The Articulate Fly podcast delivers essential Southwest Virginia fishing intelligence with guide Matt Reilly, who breaks down the critical decision-making process every angler faces when conditions refuse to cooperate. Reilly, an expert smallmouth fishing guide with years of regional experience, reveals how flash floods and yo-yo water levels have made this one of the most challenging topwater seasons in recent memory. Learn his systematic approach to reading stream flow data, water clarit...

Join Marvin Cash on The Articulate Fly fishing podcast for another essential Ruch Report with smallmouth bass guide Brendan Ruch, fresh from successful trips to Michigan waters with Schultz Outfitters and western Pennsylvania streams. Despite challenging mid-Atlantic conditions with high, dirty water disrupting traditional topwater fishing, Brendan shares proven strategies for adapting to stained water conditions using copper flash patterns, tan and olive brown crayfish imitations and downsiz...

Join The Articulate Fly fishing podcast as host Marvin Cash catches up with Southwest Virginia guide Matt Reilly for essential summer fishing insights when conditions get challenging. Matt shares his expert strategies for adapting to dirty water and high flow conditions that have disrupted typical topwater opportunities across the region. Learn how to modify your smallmouth bass fishing approach using streamer techniques, including Chuck Kraft's Critter Mite patterns and crayfish imitations t...

Join Marvin Cash on this tactical episode featuring smallmouth guide Brendan Ruch for another insightful Ruch Report. With high water keeping anglers off their home waters, Brendan shares his expertise on optimizing Lamson three-pack reel setups for serious smallmouth fishing, breaking down the perfect trio of fly lines for varying conditions. Learn how to match fly lines to your rod's action, discover why intermediate lines require seasonal swapping to avoid sticky summer performance and master...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash is back with Brendan Ruch for the latest Ruch Report. As summer heats up, Brendan shares his insights on adapting smallmouth strategies, particularly focusing on topwater techniques and the importance of scaling down baitfish sizes for summer flows. Listeners will learn about the effectiveness of using smaller, slim-profile baitfish flies and the benefits of experimenting with larger flies in faster water. Brendan emphasizes that anglers...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash reconnects with Brendan Ruch for another engaging Ruch Report. As he navigates the scenic mountains of West Virginia, Brendan shares his recent fishing experiences en route to pick up a new puppy. He discusses the surprising sight of fish on beds and the strategies that have been effective in the current high-water conditions. Listeners will gain insights into the types of flies that are working well, including olive and black patterns w...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash is back with Brendan Ruch for another exciting Ruch Report. Brendan shares his latest fishing adventures, recounting a rollercoaster day on the water filled with unpredictable weather and some impressive catches. The duo dives into the intricacies of fishing under changing conditions, discussing the various techniques and strategies that proved successful during Brendan's outing. As they prepare for an upcoming weather front, Brendan pro...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Corey Haselhuhn from Schultz Outfitters for an engaging conversation about the upcoming fishing season and the art of carp fishing on the fly. As the warm weather begins to take hold in Michigan, Corey shares his journey to Schultz Outfitters and reflects on his earliest fishing memories, including the thrill of catching his first northern pike. The duo dives deep into the world of carp, discussing the technical challenges...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash is back with Brendan Ruch for a new Ruch Report. The duo dives into the recent weather challenges in Pennsylvania, discussing how the heavy rains have impacted fishing but also set the stage for a promising post-spawn bite. Brendan shares his experiences from the past week, where he navigated through a mix of pre-spawn and post-spawn fish, revealing the unique conditions that led to some interesting fishing strategies. Listeners will gai...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash reunites with Brendan Ruch for the latest Ruch Report, filled with fishing tales and a touch of humor. Brendan shares his recent adventures on the river, including a successful day of fishing despite some unpredictable weather. The duo lightheartedly discusses everything from imaginary convenience store chimichangas to Easter treats, setting the stage for a fun and engaging conversation. As they dive deeper, Brendan reflects on the curre...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash catches up with Brendan Ruch for the latest Ruch Report. Despite sitting in a damp truck and facing some chilly weather, Brendan reflects on an exciting three weeks of fishing. He discusses the recent high water conditions and how they impact fish behavior, as well as the anticipated smallmouth spawn in the coming week or so. The duo dives into Brendan's successful outings with clients from Schultz Outfitters, where they enjoyed some fan...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash is back with Matt Reilly for the latest Southwest Virginia Fishing Report. Matt shares insights on the current pre-spawn smallmouth fishing, discussing the challenges posed by unpredictable weather and sustained winds that have been plaguing anglers since February. As they navigate the nuances of spring fishing conditions, Matt emphasizes the importance of understanding water temperatures and fish behavior during this critical time. The ...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash catches up with Blane Chocklett for an exciting update from The Chocklett Factory. Blane shares insights from a recent five-day smallmouth school he co-hosted with Mike Schultz, where they taught participants everything from fly tying to fishing techniques in challenging conditions. Despite the windy weather, the group enjoyed successful days on the water, catching impressive pre-spawn smallmouth. The conversation shifts to Blane's upcom...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash reconnects with Brendan Ruch for an engaging Ruch Report filled with insights on the current Pennsylvania smallmouth scene. Brendan shares his excitement about the pre-spawn bite, detailing the recent fishing frenzy in Pennsylvania and the strategies that led to success. He emphasizes the importance of lighter colored flies and specific materials that have proven effective in enticing bass. The conversation takes a light-hearted turn as ...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash teams up with Ellis Ward for an insightful East Tennessee Fishing Report. Fresh off the Kentucky River Musky Classic, Ellis shares tales from the tournament, including unexpected challenges and the thrill of fishing in less-than-ideal conditions. Despite the tough bite, he reflects on the camaraderie of the event and the potential for growth in future tournaments. The conversation shifts to the current state of fishing on the South Holst...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash reconnects with Matt Reilly for an insightful Southwest Virginia Fishing Report. As the weather begins to shift, Matt shares his experiences battling the windy conditions and high-pressure systems that have characterized recent fishing trips. Despite the challenges, he reveals that anglers have still managed to land some impressive catches, although the musky bite has been a mental game of patience and strategy. The conversation shifts a...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Blane Chocklett for an in-depth discussion about the latest innovations coming out of The Chocklett Factory. Blane shares his excitement about new products, including revolutionary 3D bug wings that promise to enhance the realism of fly patterns while eliminating common casting issues like line twist. From hellgrammite body parts to realistic crawfish claws, Blane dives into the details of how these new materials will chan...