The Articulate Fly

Episode Overview
This fly fishing podcast field report features George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, delivering the latest Central PA fishing conditions as spring hatches hit full stride. Recorded in mid-to-late April, the report captures a dynamic moment in the season — warm temperatures pushing hatches early, water levels running slightly below seasonal norms and sulphurs poised to come online within a week to ten days. George covers active hatches across Spring Creek, Penns Creek and Fishing Creek, including grannom caddis, Hendricksons, blue quills and olives. Nymphing has been the consistent producer, while afternoon dry fly windows have been excellent when hatches align. Water conditions are described as fishable and near-seasonal, with a weekend cooldown and potential precipitation on the way. George also touches on shop news, including two upcoming summer fishing tournaments — the All Fins In Tournament in June and the Bass Thumb Tournament targeting smallmouth on the Juniata and Susquehanna — along with guide and introductory class availability heading into the peak spring season.
Key Takeaways
How to time your dry fly fishing in Central PA right now — late morning through early afternoon has been the most productive window for dry fly action
Why grannom caddis remain fishable on Penns Creek and Fishing Creek while beginning to slow on Spring Creek
When to expect sulphurs — George projects the hatch will begin within the next one to two weeks based on last year's timing
How nymphing continues to be the reliable fallback when hatch activity is uneven or evening dries slow down
Why water levels, while slightly below seasonal norms, remain in fishable shape and could benefit from the weekend precipitation forecast

Techniques & Gear Covered
The report emphasizes two primary approaches: opportunistic dry fly fishing during the afternoon hatch window and nymphing as the consistent baseline producer across all major Central PA limestone streams. George notes that multiple hatches are overlapping — grannom caddis, Hendricksons, blue quills and olives — which rewards anglers who can read the hatch and match accordingly. No specific fly patterns, rigs or gear brands are called out by name in this report, keeping the advice hatch- and timing-focused rather than gear-prescriptive.
Locations & Species
Central Pennsylvania's limestone spring creeks are the focus of this report, with Spring Creek, Penns Creek and Fishing Creek named explicitly as primary destinations. The Juniata River and Susquehanna River receive a brief mention in the context of the summer Bass Thumb Tournament, pointing toward smallmouth bass as a warm-weather target species in the region. Wild trout on classic limestone spring creeks are the primary focus for the current spring season, with conditions described as slightly low but fishing well. A projected cooldown and potential precipitation over the upcoming weekend could modestly improve flows and extend the spring hatch window before summer conditions set in.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
How are the spring hatches fishing in Central PA right now?
Multiple hatches are active and fishing well across the region's major limestone streams. Grannom caddis are still going strong on Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and other waters, while Hendricksons, blue quills and olives are also present. The most productive window has been late morning through early afternoon, with evening dries running slower than peak.
When will the sulphur hatch start on Central PA limestone streams?
George Costa projects sulphurs will begin within the next week to ten days based on last year's timing, making this a critical transition moment for anglers planning spring trips to Penns Creek and the surrounding fisheries.
What is the best technique when hatches aren't fully on?
Nymphing has been consistently producing across all major Central PA streams regardless of hatch activity. When the dry fly window is slow — particularly in the evenings — nymphing with standard spring patterns has been the reliable fallback.
What are current water conditions like on Central PA streams?
Water levels are described as slightly below seasonal norms but still very fishable. A weekend cooldown and possible precipitation may help nudge flows back toward ideal, without posing any significant blowout risk.
Related Content
S8, Ep 4: Chilly Waters and Crafty Flies: A New Year Fishing Report with George Costa
S7, Ep 36: Central PA Fishing Report with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop
S7, Ep 57: Cicada Mania: Central PA Fishing Insights with George Costa
S6, Ep 48: Rain or Shine: Central PA's Fishing Report with TCO Fly Shop
S6, Ep 118: Central PA Fall Fishing Report: George Costa's Tips and Tactics
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Episode Overview
In this Casting Angles episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash and Master Casting Instructor Mac Brown of Mac Brown Fly Fish tackle the science behind low-water trout presentation — the kind of technical adjustment that separates consistent anglers from frustrated ones. With drought conditions pushing Western North Carolina rivers to July-like flows in early April, Marvin and Mac deliver a timely primer on two interconnected concepts: Snell's window (the physics governing what trout can see through the water's surface) and the Rule of Six (a practical formula for calculating your safe approach distance). The conversation covers how to apply the 2.25x depth multiplier to size a trout's window of vision and then use that measurement to determine the minimum casting distance before the fish has already seen you. Mac also breaks down the grid-the-water approach — systematically working small quadrants across the entire stream rather than repeatedly targeting the most obvious foam line — and explains why the biggest, most visible foam lines are often holding the smallest fish. Marvin adds presentation mechanics to round out the discussion: reach-cast technique to keep fly line out of the target current, dry dropper rigging with terrestrials for flat-water conditions, weighted dropper management and the rationale for casting well upstream of a target fish to give an unweighted nymph time to sink into the zone. Mac closes with an observation on declining spring hatches in the Smokies — midges and micro caddis dominating where March Browns and Hendricksons once defined the season.
Key Takeaways
How to calculate a trout's window of vision using the 2.25x depth multiplier so you can size your approach distance before spooking fish in low, clear water.
Why the Rule of Six (your height in the water in feet × 6 = minimum safe casting distance) becomes critical when summer-like flows arrive weeks ahead of schedule.
How gridding the water in small quadrants based on fish depth forces you to cover the entire stream rather than over-fishing the obvious foam line.
Why the largest foam lines in a run often hold the most small fish, and how to identify the compact, exclusive feeding lanes where big trout hold alone.
When to use a reach cast to place your fly line in slower adjacent current, eliminating drag and keeping line off the heads of fish you're targeting.
How casting well upstream with an unweighted or lightly weighted dropper gives the fly time to sink into the strike zone without a splash-down that spooks fish in flat, pressured water.

Techniques & Gear Covered
The episode centers on low-water presentation fundamentals: precise approach distances derived from Snell's window and the Rule of Six, systematic grid-casting across a run rather than casting to single obvious targets and the reach cast as a drag-reduction tool when fly line and target current are aligned. For rigs, Marvin and Mac discuss the dry dropper setup as the preferred configuration for flat, low-flow water — specifically terrestrials (beetles, ants, crickets, grasshoppers) as the dry fly indicator — paired with unweighted or lightly weighted dropper nymphs. Mac mentions that his guide trips have been running unweighted Pheasant Tails in sizes 16–18 given the near-absence of larger spring hatches, with size 20–32 midges and size 18 micro caddis making up the bulk of what's on the water. The conversation also touches on angler visibility and stealth — muted or camouflage clothing, avoiding bright colors, keeping the casting stroke in the horizontal plane rather than the vertical — as underappreciated factors that compound with technical presentation mechanics in clear, low conditions.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
How do you calculate how close you can approach a trout in low, clear water?
Multiply the fish's depth in feet by 2.25 to get the diameter of its surface window, then multiply your own height in the water in feet by six to determine your minimum safe approach distance from the edge of the trout's surface window. In smooth, slow water that figure generally sits between 30–40 feet; anything closer in clear conditions and the fish has likely already spotted you and is preparing to bolt.
Why does gridding the water produce more fish than casting to the best-looking foam line?
In shallow freestone water where fish are feeding in the kitchen — riffles six inches to a foot deep — the window of vision is tiny, so each quadrant of the run needs tighter two-foot spacing. The big, four-foot foam line usually holds a crowd of smaller fish competing for the same food; larger fish stake out smaller, exclusive feeding lanes where there's enough food for one fish and they can defend it. Systematically working the whole grid with a back-to-front, close-to-far progression exposes those secondary lies that most anglers skip.
When should you use a reach cast instead of a direct upstream presentation?
Use a reach cast any time your target current and the adjacent current containing your fly line are running at different speeds. Dropping the rod tip to one side after completing the cast positions the fly line in the slower adjacent current, preventing it from dragging the dry fly unnaturally and keeping it out of the surface window of the fish you are trying to catch.
How do you manage a weighted dropper nymph to avoid spooking fish in flat water?
Cast well upstream of the target fish rather than directly at it, using enough distance that a lightly weighted or unweighted fly has time to sink to the strike zone before it reaches the fish. Reducing weight is Mac's preferred solution on currently low Western NC water, which is why unweighted Pheasant Tails in sizes 16–18 are the primary dropper choice on his guide trips right now.
What are the realistic hatch expectations for Western North Carolina this spring?
Mac reports that the classic March Brown and Hendrickson hatches that defined Western NC spring fishing for decades are largely absent this year. He notes this decline has been a long-term trend, cautioning anglers against planning trips around guaranteed hatch windows that no longer reliably materialize.
Related Content
S8, Ep 21: Casting into Spring: Mac Brown Discusses Wild Trout Fishing and Upcoming Classes
S7, Ep 28: Warming Waters and Active Fish: A Spring Fishing Update with Mac Brown
S7, Ep 60: Mastering the Drift: Technical Trout Tactics for Summer Success with Mac Brown
S8, Ep 18: The Learning Curve: Mac Brown on Effective Teaching Methods
How a Trout Sees: The Rule of Six & Proven Tactics for Stalking Trout
How Trout See Underwater: Snell's Law & Angler Tips
Last Bite at the Apple: Trout Vision and Color
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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, two of the fishery's most respected veterans. He joined Steelhead Alley Outfitters when Justin Schachilli and Patrick Robinson took over from Greg Senyo and has been guiding there ever since. The episode covers the full arc of Aaron's guiding career on Steelhead Alley, his philosophy on what makes a great guide and the seasonal rhythm of the Lake Erie tributary steelhead fishery from fall through early spring. On the art side, Aaron discusses his work in oil painting and murals — including a landmark 130-foot mural on the Scientific Anglers building in Midland, Michigan — his tattooing career at The Box Gallery and his perspective on the story and soul that human-made art carries in an age of AI-generated imagery. Upcoming Orvis collaborations round out the conversation.
Key Takeaways
Why finding migratory steelhead requires covering water aggressively rather than returning to yesterday's productive spots
How the guide season on Steelhead Alley runs from fall through early spring, with November and March as peak periods
Why showing clients a good time on the water — not just maximizing fish counts — defines long-term success as a guide
How using a grid method at large scale allows muralists to maintain proportion across massive public installations
Why the story behind human-made art creates value and staying power that AI-generated imagery cannot replicate
How fishing and fine art intersect as sustainable parallel careers when neither alone provides full financial stability

Techniques & Gear Covered
This episode is more biographical than tactical, so the fishing content skews toward guiding philosophy and fishery structure rather than specific techniques or rigs. Aaron explains that steelhead on Steelhead Alley are migratory fish that move constantly, which means guides must put in the legwork to locate fish rather than relying on prior knowledge of productive lies — a discipline he credits largely to early mentors Jeff Blood and Nate Miller. He notes that tougher, more spread-out seasons demand even more aggressive water-covering to stay on fish. On the art side, Aaron discusses his medium in detail: he works primarily in oil on canvas, uses a grid-based scaling method for large murals and approaches large-scale work one block at a time to maintain proportion — the same technique taught in middle school art class, simply executed at 2-foot-by-2-foot scale. Scientific Anglers' signature red paint featured heavily in the SA building mural, which consumed 24 gallons of paint over seven days.
Locations & Species
Steelhead Alley is the fishery at the center of this episode — specifically the Lake Erie tributaries along the Ohio-Pennsylvania-New York border, including Conneaut Creek and Cattaraugus Creek (the latter referenced in passing as Marvin's own experience fishing it with Jeff Blood). Steelhead are the primary target throughout the fall and spring seasons, with the fishery operating from roughly September or October through freeze-up in winter, and again through mid-April in spring. Aaron notes that conditions this season and last fall have featured more spread-out fish than peak years, reinforcing the fishery's migratory and weather-dependent nature. For summer fun fishing once the guiding season wraps, Aaron looks forward to smallmouth, pike and musky from a raft — a deliberately lower-pressure complement to the intensity of steelhead season.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
How does the guide season on Steelhead Alley typically run?
Aaron describes a two-peak season: fall, running from September or October through early December or freeze-up, with November as the prime window; and spring, with March as the busiest month and trips running through mid-April. January and February fishing is weather-dependent — this year, freeze-up shut it down entirely. Guides work essentially every day during peak periods.
What's the key to being a successful steelhead guide?
Aaron's answer centers on showing clients a good time rather than chasing maximum fish counts. He acknowledges that guides naturally want to put big numbers in the net, but argues that good clients primarily want to experience the fishery, learn to cast and run better drifts and enjoy time on the water — particularly in seasons when fish are spread out and harder to locate.
Why does finding steelhead require so much mobile, aggressive water coverage?
Because steelhead are migratory fish that move constantly, productive lies from one day can be completely empty the next. Aaron emphasizes putting miles on the boots and staying mobile, especially in lower-fish-density seasons. This is a foundational piece of Steelhead Alley guiding culture, reinforced by mentors like Jeff Blood and Nate Miller.
How did Aaron approach painting the massive Scientific Anglers mural in Midland, Michigan?
Aaron divided the 130-foot wall into 2-foot-by-2-foot grid squares and treated each block as its own self-contained piece, maintaining proportion across the full installation. He worked from sun-up to sundown for seven straight days to complete it before the 80th anniversary party. The project used 24 gallons of paint, including eight gallons of Scientific Anglers red for the background alone.
How does Aaron think about the threat AI poses to visual artists working in the fishing and outdoor space?
Aaron acknowledges that AI can produce visually competent imagery quickly and without paying an artist, but argues that it lacks the story and soul behind human-made work. He believes audiences — and fellow artists especially — can spot AI imagery immediately, and that the personal narrative connecting an artist to their work is ultimately what creates lasting value and authentic connection with buyers and fans.
Related Content
S7, Ep 18 – License to Fish: The Intersection of Art and Angling with Cody Richardson of Cody's Fish
S3, Ep 145 – All Things Steelhead Alley with Jeff Blood (Part I)
S3, Ep 153 – All Things Steelhead Alley with Jeff Blood (Part II)
S6, Ep 97 – Fly Fishing Wisdom and Industry Pet Peeves with Greg Senyo
Connect with Our Guest
Follow Aaron on Instagram.
Follow The Box Gallery on Instagram.
Follow Steelhead Alley Outfitters on Instagram.
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Episode Overview
In this Southwest Virginia Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with guide Matt Reilly for a timely spring conditions update. With pre-spawn smallmouth season winding down under extreme drought pressure — flows running at roughly a fifth to a quarter of seasonal averages — Matt breaks down how he's adapting tactics on the water in real time. Rising water temperatures, driven by a stretch of days pushing into the upper 70s and near 80°F air temps, have forced the bite to shift well ahead of the typical photoperiod-driven spawn timeline. The result is a low, clear-water pattern that demands the kind of finesse approach more commonly associated with late summer than early spring. Matt details his pivot to smaller, slimmer, more natural-colored baitfish imitations — CK Baitfish, his buddy Roger's Rump Shaker and bigger Murdich Minnows — after watching the bite transition linearly away from the large 6–7 inch chartreuse-and-orange profiles that were working earlier. He also walks through his line and leader setup adjustments for clear, pressured conditions: a clear-tip intermediate seven-weight line with a leader running closer to seven feet. With the pre-spawn window for Matt closing around mid-April, this episode is essential listening for anglers planning pre-spawn smallmouth trips or trying to understand how low water conditions affect the spring streamer bite.
Key Takeaways
How to recognize when rising water temperatures are pulling smallmouth bass out of the pre-spawn window prematurely and why adapting quickly matters.
Why downsizing to smaller, slimmer, more natural-colored baitfish streamers outperforms big profile flies when Southwest Virginia rivers run low and clear.
How a clear-tip intermediate line paired with a longer (approximately seven-foot) leader helps generate strikes from wary pre-spawn smallmouth in bright, low-water conditions.
When to prioritize early and late windows during high-sun days on low, clear smallmouth rivers, mirroring the approach used for pressured trout.
Why water temperature is the leading indicator for pre-spawn smallmouth behavior, and how flows far below seasonal averages can affect the entire spring bite calendar.

Techniques & Gear Covered
Matt Reilly's approach to low, clear pre-spawn conditions centers on intermediate-line streamer fishing with a deliberate reduction in fly size and profile. He described fishing a seven-weight rod with a clear-tip intermediate line paired with a leader he's extended to roughly seven feet to add distance between the line tip and the fly. On the pattern side, Matt has landed on smaller baitfish imitations in the 4-inch range: the CK Baitfish, the Rump Shaker (a slimmer profile pattern from his friend Roger) and bigger Murdich Minnows are his current go-tos. He's deliberately stepped away from the larger 6–7 inch profiles in brighter chartreuse and orange that were effective earlier in the pre-spawn, confirming through daily observation that going bigger at this stage does more harm than good. Color selection has shifted toward more natural, subtle tones, with early-morning and late-evening windows providing the best action on sunny days — a strategy that mirrors pressured trout streamer fishing logic.
Locations & Species
This report covers Southwest Virginia's smallmouth rivers during the late pre-spawn period, with Matt fishing these waters daily as a full-time guide. No specific river names are discussed in this episode, but the conditions Matt describes — flows at roughly a fifth to a quarter of seasonal average, water temperatures sliding into the upper 50s and threatening to breach 60°F ahead of the photoperiod-driven spawn — apply broadly across the region's smallmouth fisheries. The target species is pre-spawn smallmouth bass, with Matt noting that the fish are still actively feeding on baitfish imitations despite compressed and technically demanding conditions. The seasonal context is critical: the window is narrowing fast, with Matt expecting the prime pre-spawn bite to close soon, and booking availability for this phase of the year is essentially gone.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
How do you adjust your streamer setup when Southwest Virginia smallmouth rivers run low and clear?
Matt drops to a seven-weight rod with a clear-tip intermediate line and extends his leader to approximately seven feet. The clear tip reduces line visibility, and the longer leader creates more separation between fly line and fly, both of which help generate strikes from wary fish in bright, pressured conditions.
What fly patterns and sizes work best for pre-spawn smallmouth in low, clear water?
Matt has shifted to smaller baitfish imitations in the 4-inch range — the CK Baitfish, the Rump Shaker and bigger Murdich Minnows — in more natural, subtle colors. He's moved away from the larger 6–7 inch chartreuse and orange profiles that worked earlier in the season, noting through daily observation that oversized flies are counterproductive once conditions tighten up.
How does water temperature affect pre-spawn smallmouth behavior in Southwest Virginia?
Water temperature is the primary driver. When temps push into the upper 50s and approach 60°F well ahead of the photoperiod that normally triggers spawning behavior, it disrupts the typical pre-spawn feeding pattern. A stretch of near-80°F air temps compresses the entire spring calendar, potentially ending the traditional pre-spawn bite earlier than normal.
When is the best time to fish for smallmouth in low, clear conditions?
Early morning and late evening are the most productive windows on sunny, bright days when rivers are running low and clear. Matt draws a direct parallel to trout streamer fishing, where high-sun midday conditions tend to shut down aggressive behavior on clear water.
What does extremely low flow — well below seasonal average — mean for pre-spawn smallmouth strategy?
Low flows force fish into tighter, more predictable holding water and demand a more cautious approach overall: smaller flies, more natural colors, quieter presentations and longer casts. Matt notes that fish are still catchable, but the angler has to commit to finesse tactics rather than the aggressive power-fishing approach that works when rivers are full and colored.
Related Content
S8, Ep 16 - The Seasonal Shift: Matt Reilly Discusses Spring Fishing Strategies in Southwest Virginia
S8, Ep 9 - Ice, Snow and Musky: Navigating Winter Fishing in Southwest Virginia
S7, Ep 19 - Weathering the Winds: March Fishing Insights and Pre-Spawn Strategies with Matt Reilly
S7, Ep 1 - Winter Fly Tying and Pre-Spawn Tips with Matt Reilly
S6, Ep 33 - Southwest Virginia Fishing Report with Matt Reilly
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Episode Overview
In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash reconnects with Blane Chocklett — tier, guide and founder of The Chocklett Factory — for a wide-ranging conversation covering conservation, product launches and what's ahead for one of fly fishing's most recognized innovators. Blane offers a firsthand recap of Tie Fest, the ASGA-backed conservation fundraiser held at Carter Andrews' property, where proceeds are funding a five-year jack crevalle acoustic tagging research program. He reflects on the community of guides, brands and fly fishing legends who showed up in honor of figures like Lefty Kreh, Bob Popovics and Flip Pallot, and confirms the event will return in 2027.
The conversation then pivots to one of the most eagerly anticipated product releases from The Chocklett Factory: the commercially tied Feather Changer. Blane walks through the design history of this Game Changer platform variant — including the pivotal conversation with Bob Popovics that sparked the fly's development — and explains why natural feathers give the Feather Changer a swimming action and water column behavior that synthetic materials can't replicate. He also previews cicada patterns timed to summer emergences, along with new shrimp patterns rounding out the 2026 lineup. Blane closes with a look at his upcoming travel calendar, including a smallmouth bass filming project for Fly Fisherman magazine in Pennsylvania, a conservation visit with On the Fly Outfitters in Brunswick, Georgia and planned trips to Baja and northern Saskatchewan for northern pike.
Key Takeaways
Why the Feather Changer occupies a unique position in the Game Changer platform by blending natural and synthetic materials to achieve a swimming action and water column depth that neither approach achieves on its own
How a bathtub test and a conversation with Bob Popovics directly led to the development of the Feather Changer as a solution to buoyancy problems with deer body hair Game Changers
Why the Feather Changer's profile versatility — mullet, sculpin, dace and beyond — makes it one of the most species-adaptable flies in the Game Changer lineup
How The Chocklett Factory's 2026 product rollout (Feather Changers, cicadas, shrimp patterns) is timed around spring and summer fishing and cicada emergences across the country
Why smallmouth bass deserve their place as a premier fly rod species and how decades of guiding them directly shaped many of the flies now central to the Game Changer platform
Why ASGA's jack crevalle acoustic tagging research program represents the kind of targeted, funded conservation work the fly fishing community is uniquely positioned to support

Techniques & Gear Covered
The episode is primarily a product and conservation update rather than a technique-focused installment, but Blane provides substantive insight into the design logic behind the Feather Changer. He explains how natural feathers interact with laminar flow differently than synthetic materials — diverting water in a way that creates exceptional movement without bulk and allows the fly to settle into the water column at depths that buoyant materials like deer body hair cannot reach. The Feather Changer is discussed in the context of pre-spawn smallmouth bass fishing in Pennsylvania rivers, where its realistic swimming profile and soft landing characteristics are particularly relevant. Blane also previews cicada patterns designed for surface fishing during both annual and periodic hatches, and shrimp patterns aimed at the saltwater and flats side of his expanding lineup. Brand mentions include Yeti, Patagonia, Costa, Scientific Anglers, TFO and Nautilus in the conservation context, and Schultz Outfitters is cited as an example of a shop that has built extensively on the Feather Changer platform for Midwest smallmouth.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
What makes the Feather Changer different from other Game Changer platform flies?
The Feather Changer uses natural feathers instead of synthetics to exploit laminar flow around the fly's body, producing an exceptional swimming action that includes movement without movement. Unlike more buoyant Game Changers, feathers allow the fly to settle deeper in the water column without added weight, solving the buoyancy problem that came with earlier deer body hair variants. The result is a fly that holds a realistic silhouette, lands softly and triggers strikes across a wide range of species.
How did the Feather Changer come to exist?
Blane traced the fly's origin to a conversation with Bob Popovics after a trip to Arkansas where deer body hair Game Changers were proving too buoyant. Popovics suggested natural feathers as a solution — mentioning the Semper Fli — and Blane tied the fly immediately, tested it in a bathtub, filmed the result and sent the video back to Popovics. From that exchange, the Feather Changer was born, blending the tradition of natural feather flies with the modern articulated Game Changer platform.
What new Chocklett Factory products are coming in 2026?
The headline release is the commercially tied Feather Changer, now available through The Chocklett Factory's online shop and dealer network after sourcing and quality challenges were resolved. Cicada patterns timed to summer annual and periodic emergences are also in the pipeline, alongside shrimp patterns for saltwater applications. Blane describes 2026 as a major year for the brand across all product categories.
What is Tie Fest and what conservation cause does it support?
Tie Fest is an annual saltwater fly fishing and conservation fundraiser organized through ASGA (American Saltwater Guides Association) and hosted at Carter Andrews' property. The event gathers guides, brands, tiers and industry figures to raise money for targeted research initiatives — in this cycle, a five-year jack crevalle acoustic tagging program in which individual tags cost $500 each. The event honors the legacies of Lefty Kreh, Bob Popovics, Flip Pallot and others, and is supported by brands including Yeti, Patagonia, Costa, Scientific Anglers, TFO and Nautilus.
Why does Blane consider smallmouth bass one of the most important species in fly fishing?
Blane argues that smallmouth bass were formative for many of fly fishing's greatest innovators — Lefty Kreh, Dave Whitlock, Bob Clouser — and that more than 30 years of guiding them on mid-Atlantic rivers directly produced many of the Game Changer platform's foundational designs, including the Craw, the Feather Changer and the Jerk Changer. He sees the upcoming Fly Fisherman magazine film project as an overdue recognition of smallmouth's place as one of the premier fly rod species, particularly for anglers throughout the mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Midwest.
Related Content
S7, Ep 73 - The Chocklett Factory: Sneak Peek at New Products
S7, Ep 61 - The Chocklett Factory Unleashed: New Flies and Other Goodies with Blane Chocklett
S6, Ep 144 - The Chocklett Factory: Conservation, New Products and a Legacy Remembered
S6, Ep 101 - The Chocklett Factory: Fly Fishing Travels, Conservation and New Ventures
S7, Ep 42 - Celebrating Legacy and Conservation with The Chocklett Factory
Connect with Our Guest
Follow Blane on Facebook and Instagram.
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