2 Guys and a River

Wade fishing is not like drift-boat fishing. In a drift boat, you cast to your left. You cast to your right. If you're with a guide, he or she tells you where to cast. However, if you wade-fish primarily, like we do, the learning curve has no end. Every outing contains lessons in what not to do. Occasionally, we get it right and catch a few fish. In this episode, we discuss some of the tactics we've learned or relearned in the past couple years.   Our Fly Fishing Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

The more you fish, the more your gear breaks down, the more you learn, and the more stories you have. In this episode, we discuss new gear, new (or really old) insights, and some crazy stories from the past couple years. What's that old line? If you're not growing, you're dying. Well, we're not dying.   Our Fly Fishing Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

The title of this episode is the tagline of our podcast. As we fish more, and the years pile up, our appreciation for the sport continues to grow. In this episode, we tell some stories that capture our love for fly fishing. We also add a lightning round at the end of this episode, so don't leave before we finish! It's good to be back! Our Fly Fishing Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

Expensive fly fishing gear won't improve your catch rate. And least not significantly. In this episode, we provide an overview of the common fly fishing brands as well as some of the essential clothing and gear for safety and comfort while you're on the river. It's not an extensive list, but it's a start as you prepare your holiday wish list.   Our Fly Fishing Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

Learning to cast is the first act of the beginner fly fisher. For natural athletes, casting is almost an extension of their arm. And soon the fly fisher is casting 80 to 100 feet with grace and beauty. For the rest of us, however, the long cast is a long obedience in the same direction. For example, the double haul cast may take years to perfect. In this episode, we celebrate the shorter cast - the one you'll use to catch more fish.   Our Fly Fishing Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

You can read about fly fishing. Watch videos. And listen to podcasts (this one, hopefully!).  To become even moderately competent, though, you need to "do" fly fishing. There are no shortcuts. You need days on the river when you don't catch a thing. In this episode, we identify five big buckets or categories that you need to master (or at least become moderately proficient at) to catch fish and enjoy the sport. Our Fly Fishing Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver  

Can you remember the first brook trout you caught? They're not the biggest fish in the river (except, perhaps, the ones you catch in Labrador), but the beauty and ease of catching a brook trout creates joy for even the most experienced fly fisher. This episode is not so much a how-to show as it is an "ode to brook trout fishing" episode. We're celebrating the wonder of brook trout and catching them on the fly.   Our Fly Fishing Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

Sophisticated fly fishers don't false cast, right? How many times have you heard someone say, “You won’t catch fish with your fly in the air. So, stop all the false casting"? Well, that's just plain wrong. Or at least only partially true. False casting is not just for beginners. It's for veterans as well. Recently, Hatch Magazine published an excellent article by Todd Tanner titled “The Truth about False Casting,” which identifies six good reasons for false casting. In this episode, we discuss each reason and apply it to specific situations while out on the river. Our Fly Fishing Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

There's nothing like a fisheries biologist to clear up a few myths about the trout in your favorite stream. In this episode, we interview Driftless fisheries biologist Kirk Olson, who is lucky enough to work in four of the top trout fishing counties in southwestern Wisconsin: Monroe, Vernon, La Crosse, and Crawford counties, with more than 1,300 classified miles of trout streams. We cover topics like the problem of brown trout eclipsing brook trout in many streams, perpetual leases, and what percentage of the fish population the river kills each year.   Our Fly Fishing Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

Later beats earlier. That is one of best nuggets of insight when considering a time to fish the rivers in the Yellowstone ecosystem in the fall. Less crowds. More solitude. The possibility of runners. And even a few late mornings with a BWO hatch. In this episode, we discuss our fall fly fishing wisdom from almost fifteen years of fishing in Montana. Our Fly Fishing Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver