Streamers Episodes

Episode Overview In this Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash reconnects with Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides for an early-June conditions check on the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers in Central Pennsylvania. Recent heavy rainfall pushed both systems well above normal — the Susquehanna approaching 12 feet, the Juniata topping 10 — and Brian breaks down how he's fishing the receding flows and what anglers can expect as the po...

Episode Overview In this Southwest Virginia Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with guide Matt Reilly of Matt Reilly Fly Fishing for a candid late-spring conditions update covering the post-spawn transition, dirty water tactics and the seasonal arc ahead. Recorded amid rising, stained flows on the New River and surrounding drainages — following months of below-average flows — the episode captures a moment when Southwest Virginia smallmouth fishin...

Episode Overview In this East Tennessee Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash checks in with guide Ellis Ward for an early-summer conditions update focused on the Watauga River tailwater. After a dry spring that kept anglers grinding through tough conditions, a stretch of rain and rising water has Ellis bullish on what's ahead: bigger flows, off-color water, and the full slate of techniques that make East Tennessee tailwaters unique. He covers the current Watauga generation sche...

Episode Overview In this episode of The Articulate Fly , host Marvin Cash sits down with Jason Taylor — a Philadelphia-area fly tier, Tiers Row fixture at the Edison show and regular contributor to Masters of the Fly — for a wide-ranging conversation about fly tying philosophy, natural materials and the tradition of innovation rooted in Bob Popovics' work. On this fly fishing podcast episode, Taylor traces his journey from a 2008 Belize honeymoon that ignited his passion for the sport, to the ea...

Episode Overview The Articulate Fly's Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report returns with Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides , delivering a timely mid-spring conditions update for the Susquehanna River system in Central Pennsylvania. This episode cuts straight to the practical challenge facing every Mid-Atlantic smallmouth angler right now: how to fish effectively when an extreme pattern of temperature swings — 80°F one day, back to the 50s by mid-week — is compressing and disrupting the...

Episode Overview The Butcher Shop goes deep on one of the Great Lakes predator fly world's most distinctive patterns in this conversation with Eli Berant, the Michigan-based fly designer and founder of Great Lakes Fly . Eli is the creator of the Optimus Swine — a reverse foam head-embedded, side-kicking musky streamer that has been turning heads and producing fish since around 2009. In this episode, host Marvin Cash walks Eli through the full arc of the pattern: the lake musky problem it was des...

Episode Overview In this episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with Aaron Chine, guide at Steelhead Alley Outfitters and accomplished visual artist based in Warren, Ohio, for a wide-ranging conversation about the intersection of fishing, guiding and fine art. Aaron came to fly fishing through Pennsylvania trout streams in his early teens and eventually found his way to Steelhead Alley through a mentorship network that includes Jeff Blood and Nate Miller, t...

Episode Overview In this Chocklett Factory episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with legendary fly designer and guide Blane Chocklett for a wide-ranging conversation covering two central topics: the mechanics and design philosophy behind Chocklett's support disc and spreader dam system , and the upcoming Lefty Kreh's Tie Fest conservation event in Vero Beach, Florida. Blane explains how his support discs — available in round and oval profiles ranging from...

Episode Overview East Tennessee guide Ellis Ward joins host Marvin Cash on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast for a late-winter fishing report covering the South Holston River and surrounding tailwaters. In this episode, Ellis breaks down how unpredictable dam generation schedules and fluctuating flows are the primary drivers of inconsistent fishing windows — more so than weather — and why that reality demands a fundamentally different mental approach from serious anglers. With BWO hatches f...

Episode Overview Mike Schultz joins The Butcher Shop to deliver a comprehensive deep dive into the Swingin' D, one of predator fly fishing's most effective swim patterns for targeting smallmouth bass in Michigan rivers. This detailed conversation traces the pattern's evolution from its early 2000s origins through modern 2.0 variations, exploring the critical role of Larry Dahlberg's diver head design in creating the fly's signature side-to-side action. Mike shares the problem he was solving—crea...

Episode Overview East Tennessee guide Ellis Ward delivers his first fishing report of 2026 on The Articulate Fly podcast, covering winter tactics for both post-spawn trout and low-water musky fishing. Ward breaks down strategic adaptations required for fishing extremely low and clear water conditions that have dominated the region through early January, affecting both tailwater trout fisheries and musky rivers like the French Broad. The episode emphasizes post-spawn trout streamer fishing opport...

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 de...

In this East Tennessee Fishing Report from The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash connects with guide Ellis Ward to discuss the seasonal transition from brown trout to prime musky fishing on the French Broad River. Ellis breaks down why December is a great time to chase musky in East Tennessee, explaining how low water conditions create unique presentation opportunities and how recent rain is settling the river into its winter patterns. With baby number three arriving this week, Ellis shares his s...

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 deliver...

Join Marvin Cash on The Articulate Fly fishing podcast for an East Tennessee Fishing Report with guide Ellis Ward, covering exceptional streamer fishing conditions on the South Holston River. Ward breaks down the perfect storm of factors creating explosive brown trout action: pre-spawn behavior, shad kills from dissolved oxygen events and ideal atmospheric conditions that produced multiple fish over 20 inches in single sessions. This fly fishing podcast delivers expert troubleshooting for angler...

Discover the Spiral Spook: Innovation in Topwater Fly Fishing Join Marvin Cash on The Butcher Shop fly fishing podcast as he interviews Chase Smith, inventor of the innovative Spiral Spook fly pattern. Chase bridges conventional and fly fishing by adapting the classic walk-the-dog action into a deadly topwater fly for bass and other predator species. Expert Design Insights from Chase Smith Chase shares his journey from conventional fishing to creating one of fly fishing's most unique topwater pa...

The Home Invader: A 30-Year Fly Fishing Legacy In this episode of The Butcher Shop, host Marvin Cash dives deep into one of fly fishing's most versatile streamer patterns with its creator, Doug McKnight. Calling in from Blacksmith Lodge in Punta Herrero, Mexico, Doug shares the complete story behind the Home Invader—from its origins on Pennsylvania spring creeks to its evolution into a deadly pattern for everything from Yellowstone brown trout to backcountry tarpon. Doug McKnight's Streamer Expe...

In this East Tennessee Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with guide Ellis Ward for timely fall fishing insights and essential drift boat etiquette. Ward breaks down why mouse patterns are producing exceptional results right now, explaining how recent field harvests push rodents to the water and trigger aggressive feeding windows even during bright moon phases. The conversation delivers practical drift boat etiquette for new boat owners, emphasizing communic...

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-styl...

In this episode of The Articulate Fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash sits down with Dave Huff, the driving force behind Whuff Rod Co. and founder of the Kentucky River Musky Classic tournament. Guest Expertise: From Custom Rod Builder to Industry Innovator Dave Huff brings a unique perspective to fly rod design through his background in industrial design and mentorship under legendary rod builder Mike Arnold from the Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers . What started as custom rod building in 2016 ...

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 trigger...

In this must-listen fly fishing podcast episode, host Marvin Cash welcomes back Blane Chocklett, the inventor of the revolutionary Game Changer platform, for another installment of The Chocklett Factory series. Expert Innovation: Blane Chocklett's Latest Breakthroughs Blane Chocklett, renowned fly designer, guide and author, reveals his most anticipated fly tying materials set to revolutionize the tying bench this fall and winter season. What You'll Learn: Cutting-Edge Tying Solutions Discover b...

Join The Butcher Shop podcast host Marvin Cash for an exclusive deep dive into fly line design and manufacturing with Josh Jenkins, R&D Manager at Scientific Anglers . Guest Expertise: Scientific Anglers R&D Leadership Josh Jenkins brings mechanical engineering expertise and years of hands-on experience developing fly lines for America's leading manufacturer. As SA's sole engineer, Jenkins oversees product development, manufacturing optimization and quality control for the company's entire line ...

Join The Articulate Fly fishing podcast host Marvin Cash for an essential East Tennessee Fishing Report with seasoned guide Ellis Ward, who delivers critical summer conditions updates for the Watauga River and the South Holston River. Ward breaks down how recent afternoon thunderstorms are impacting freestone rivers while highlighting exceptional streamer fishing and mousing opportunities during the current recreation release schedule. Learn the optimal timing strategies for navigating the Watau...