The Articulate Fly

Episode Overview
The Articulate Fly's Central PA Fishing Report returns with George Costa, manager at TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, delivering a timely early spring conditions update for central Pennsylvania's trout waters. This episode captures the region at a pivotal seasonal inflection point: after a long cold winter, rising water temperatures and the first notable olive hatches signal the transition from winter holding patterns to active spring feeding. Spring Creek, Penns Creek and the surrounding Centre County limestone streams are the focal waters, with wild trout as the primary target. George covers the full tactical picture for this particular window — the simultaneous emergence of blue-winged olives (sizes 18–22) and little black stoneflies, streamers in off-color rising water and the nymph game poised to accelerate through the coming months. Anglers will also find timely context on the grannom hatch timeline (late March into early April) and conditions outlook as a warming trend arrives on the heels of meaningful rainfall. George also previews upcoming classes at TCO and his impending Andros bonefish trip, providing a glimpse of the shop's spring momentum.
Key Takeaways
How to read rising, off-color spring water conditions in Central PA as a trigger for switching to streamers in search of larger fish.
Why small olives (sizes 18–22) and little black stoneflies (sizes 14–16) are the first dry fly opportunities worth targeting as winter transitions to spring.
When to expect the grannom hatch on Central PA limestone streams — historically the last week of March into the first week of April, water and air temps permitting.
How to structure your spring approach around three concurrent methods: dry flies during hatch windows, nymphing in the column as nymphs begin migrating, and streamers in stained water or on overcast days.
Why a warming trend following a rain event is one of the best short-term conditions setups for early spring trout activity in Central PA.

Techniques & Gear Covered
George outlines three productive approaches for this early spring window. Dry fly fishing with small olives (sizes 18–22) and little black stonefly patterns (sizes 14–16) is the headline, with fish actively rising once the warmth triggers hatch activity. Nymphing gets an extended emphasis — George notes that nymphs are beginning to move around, setting up what he expects will be a productive two-month run for subsurface presentations. Streamer fishing in off-color, elevated water is flagged as the big-fish opportunity of the moment, with George specifically recommending streamers on cloudier days when visibility is reduced. No specific fly brands or rod/reel gear is discussed beyond fly pattern sizing, keeping the focus on approach and conditions reading.
Locations & Species
The episode centers on Central Pennsylvania's limestone stream corridor — Spring Creek, Penns Creek and the broader Centre County watershed around State College. These are primarily wild brown trout fisheries, and the discussion assumes year-round catch-and-release water or designated regulated sections rather than stocked water. Conditions at recording time show streams rising with slight color following recent rainfall, with a warming trend (high 60s) forecast for the following week. The grannom hatch discussion also points toward Penns Creek as a traditional anchor for the late-March/early-April caddis emergence that serves as Central PA's equivalent of the iconic Mother's Day caddis events found on other Mid-Atlantic and Southern Appalachian tailwaters.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
What dry flies should I be fishing in Central PA during early spring?
Blue-winged olives in sizes 18–22 are the primary hatch driver right now, with little black stoneflies in sizes 14–16 providing additional topwater opportunity. George recommends keeping dries accessible as hatches are actively going off and fish are beginning to rise after a long winter.
When does the grannom hatch happen on Central PA streams?
George places the traditional grannom hatch in the last week of March through the first week of April, with timing dependent on water and air temperatures. He notes this event is still roughly two and a half to three weeks out from the time of recording, but characterizes it as right around the corner.
How should I adjust tactics when Central PA streams are running high and off-color?
Rising, off-color water is prime streamer water in Central PA, especially on overcast days. George recommends targeting bigger fish with streamer presentations in those conditions rather than dry fly or nymph presentations.
How long will the nymph bite be productive this spring?
George expects strong nymphing conditions to last through the next couple of months as insects ramp up activity and fish become increasingly aggressive after winter. Nymphs are beginning to move around in the column now, making this an excellent time to commit to subsurface presentations.
Is George's Andros bonefish trip relevant to the Central PA fishing audience?
While the bonefish trip is a brief aside, it provides useful context around saltwater fly fishing planning — specifically that wind is a constant variable in the Bahamas, and experienced anglers build their casting and guide communication strategies around that assumption rather than hoping for calm days.
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
S6, Ep 30 – Central Pennsylvania Fishing Report with TCO Fly Shop
S6, Ep 48 – Rain or Shine: Central PA's Fishing Report with TCO Fly Shop
S7, Ep 49 – Rain, Hatches and Cicadas: A Central PA Fishing Update with George Costa
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Episode Overview
This fly fishing podcast episode delivers a timely late-winter transition report from Southwest Virginia, covering the critical window when musky season winds down and pre-spawn smallmouth bass fishing kicks into gear. Host Marvin Cash reconnects with guide Matt Reilly of Matt Reilly Fly Fishing — a USCG-licensed captain and specialist in smallmouth, musky and other predatory game fish in the New River system — for a frank assessment of where conditions stand and what anglers should be targeting over the next several weeks. Recent snowmelt pushed water temperatures down, but a sustained stretch of warm days (highs in the 60s and 70s with some approaching 80°F) has temperatures climbing back through the mid-to-upper 40s, signaling that pre-spawn smallmouth are beginning to stage out of their winter holding water. Matt also previews his spring striper run program, opening dates on his guiding calendar, and his expanded mountain trout program through associated guides in southwest Virginia — a fishery he argues is underutilized by visiting anglers drawn instead to the Smokies or Virginia's tailwaters. For serious anglers planning a spring trip or looking to understand how temperature history shapes fish location in early season, this report is essential listening.
Key Takeaways
How water temperature history — not just current readings — dictates where pre-spawn smallmouth will be holding after warm early-season spikes followed by cold snaps.
When to start streamer fishing for pre-spawn smallmouth: once morning temps consistently hit 50°F, a mid-column baitfish presentation becomes reliable; mid-to-upper 40s can work with slow retrieves and long pauses.
Why fishing smallmouth through the winter gives you a positional advantage in early spring, since you can track fish as they move from deep winter holds to staging edges.
How to locate early pre-spawn fish: upper ends of winter pools, lower ends and tail-outs, spreading throughout the river once temps push past 50°F.
When to book spring guide dates proactively rather than waiting for newsletter announcements — late-notice cancellations open dates that never get widely publicized.
Why the southwest Virginia mountain trout fishery is an overlooked destination for visiting fly anglers focused on the Smokies or regional tailwaters.

Techniques & Gear Covered
The episode is technique-focused on early pre-spawn smallmouth streamer presentations. Matt details the adjustment between cold-water (mid-40s) and warming-water (upper 40s into 50s) approaches: in colder conditions he recommends a slower mid-column retrieve with extended pauses and suspension, explicitly advising against immediately defaulting to dumbbell-eyed patterns bouncing on the bottom. Once morning temps reach 50°F, he transitions confidently to a standard baitfish-profile streamer fished mid-column. The conversation also touches briefly on the striper run, which typically runs mid-April through mid-May and requires constant monitoring given how quickly fish can move through.
Locations & Species
The primary fishery discussed is the New River in southwest Virginia, with contextual references to the broader regional mountain trout waters of the same area. Target species include pre-spawn smallmouth bass (the dominant focus), musky (wrapping up the season with a couple of remaining guide trips), striped bass (spring run, mid-April to mid-May) and wild mountain trout in the higher-elevation tributaries and streams of the Mount Rogers area. Conditions at time of recording reflect post-snowmelt recovery, with water temps north of 40°F in most stretches and some reaching the upper 40s — the threshold Matt identifies as the beginning of productive pre-spawn streamer fishing. The episode also notes the absence of any cicada brood emergences in 2026 (the only such year in the next 13), which Matt acknowledges will simplify the spring guiding calendar compared to recent years.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
How do water temperatures affect pre-spawn smallmouth location on the New River?
In the mid-to-upper 40s, smallmouth are staging at the edges of their winter holding areas — look for them at the upper ends and tail-outs of winter pools. Once temps push past 50°F, fish spread throughout the river and become more actively feeding. Temperature history matters significantly: if fish have already experienced 52–53°F water during an early warm spell, they may have already moved even if a cold snap has pulled temps back down to the mid-40s.
What streamer presentation works best for pre-spawn smallmouth in cold water?
In the mid-40s, Matt favors a slow mid-column presentation with long pauses and extended suspension rather than bottom-bouncing dumbbell patterns or active retrieves. At 50°F and above, a standard baitfish-profile streamer fished mid-column is his go-to — at that temperature threshold he has enough confidence in the bite to commit fully to that style unless conditions clearly dictate otherwise.
When does the striper run typically happen in southwest and south central Virginia and how predictable is it?
Matt's striper program generally runs from mid-April through mid-May, but stripers can appear one day and be gone the next, making it a "wait and see" fishery that requires staying closely tuned to conditions. He monitors fish presence actively and adjusts guide bookings accordingly, making early contact with him the best way to position for a slot during the run.
Why is the southwest Virginia mountain trout fishery underutilized by visiting anglers?
Most visiting anglers traveling to the mid-Atlantic and Southern Appalachian region default to Tennessee's tailwaters or the Smoky Mountains, and don't end up in southwest Virginia even though the wild trout fishing there can be exceptional from late February through summer. Matt notes he's fielded consistent demand for these trips and has recently channeled that interest to associated guides who specialize in the mountain program — guides he describes as more skilled at it than himself.
How should anglers approach booking with a guide like Matt Reilly given limited availability?
Matt recommends direct outreach rather than waiting for newsletter announcements of open dates — by the time a cancellation makes it into a newsletter blast, competition for the slot is higher. Spring and summer prime-time top-water smallmouth dates tend to book first; fall dates (especially early October) are typically the last to fill and often have more flexibility.
Related Content
S8, Ep 2 – January Fishing Forecast: Weather Patterns and Musky Tips with Matt Reilly
S7, Ep 19 – Weathering the Winds: March Fishing Insights and Pre-Spawn Strategies with Matt Reilly
S7, Ep 99 – Winter's Approach: Matt Reilly's Tips for Catching Musky in Low Water
S6, Ep 33 – Southwest Virginia Fishing Report with Matt Reilly (Pre-Spawn Smallmouth)
S7, Ep 1 – Winter Fly Tying and Pre-Spawn Tips with Matt Reilly
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Follow Matt on Instagram.
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Episode Overview
In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Master Casting Instructor Mac Brown for another installment of Casting Angles — a wide-ranging conversation on the philosophy of continuous improvement in fly fishing and fly casting. Recorded just before the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show, the episode centers on one of the most practical yet underappreciated principles in skill development: approaching your craft with a beginner's mind, no matter how many years you've been on the water. Mac draws on feedback from students at recent west coast events — including anglers with 30 to 40 years of experience who received their first structured casting instruction — to illustrate how long-held assumptions can silently ceiling growth. The conversation touches on Mac's "four stages of learning" framework, the infinite circle of knowledge and the parallels between fly casting mastery and elite performance in any discipline. Practical spring fishing news also surfaces in the second half: listeners get actionable intel on early-season Quill Gordon dry fly hatches on wild Appalachian freestone streams, the ideal nymph sizing window as hatches begin (sizes 12–16) and emerging activity of little black stones and blue winged olives on Tennessee tailwaters. Mac and Marvin also preview their respective Lancaster show appearances and detail upcoming guide schools and casting classes at macbrownflyfish.com for anglers planning their spring season.
Key Takeaways
How adopting a beginner's mindset — staying open to new information regardless of experience level — is the single most reliable driver of improvement in fly casting and fishing.
Why intermediate anglers stagnate: the false belief that years of time on the water equates to skill development, which shuts down active learning before it can happen.
How Mac's four stages of learning framework maps the path from novice to expert, and why most anglers get stuck at stage two.
When Quill Gordon dry fly hatches arrive on wild Appalachian freestone streams, they represent one of the season's best dry fly windows because the adult floats for 15–20 minutes while hardening its wings.
Why early-season nymphs (sizes 12–14) are as large as they'll be all year, making this the optimal window to fish bigger nymph patterns before successive hatches progressively reduce insect size.
How structured instruction — rather than YouTube, books or show demos alone — accelerates skill acquisition in ways self-directed learning rarely can.

Techniques & Gear Covered
The episode is primarily instructional and conceptual rather than gear-heavy, but several practical fishing frameworks emerge. Mac references his own book Casting Angles — a fly casting handbook endorsed by the ACA and FFI — as the source material for the four stages of learning discussion, and directs listeners to the article on his website for a deeper read. The conversation touches on the comparative limitations of self-directed learning via YouTube and books versus structured in-person instruction, particularly for developing proper casting mechanics. On the dry fly fishing side, Mac recommends dry fly presentations targeting Quill Gordons on freestone streams in size 12, with the extended float window (15–20 minutes) making these hatches unusually productive for surface takes. Marvin notes that pairing size 14 and 16 nymphs during this same early-season window takes advantage of the year's largest nymph profiles before they diminish through the season. Mac also promotes two-day casting schools through macbrownflyfish.com as the highest-value instructional investment for anglers who want to advance their skills heading into spring.
Locations & Species
The episode references wild freestone streams in the Western North Carolina / Great Smoky Mountains region — Mac's home water around Bryson City — as the primary context for the early Quill Gordon hatch discussion, with these streams producing active trout as water temperatures begin to rise. Tennessee tailwaters are also noted as waters where little black stoneflies and blue winged olives are already appearing, signaling the beginning of productive surface-feeding windows. The target species throughout is wild trout, with Mac's commentary on Quill Gordon hatches specifically framed around waking large fish that have been dormant through winter. The seasonal framing is early spring, a transition period characterized by warming daytime temperatures, emerging hatches and increasingly active trout — one of the most productive dry fly windows of the year in the Southern Appalachians.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
How does a beginner's mindset improve fly casting and fishing skills?
Beginners enter instruction with no preconceptions to dismantle, which makes them highly receptive to new technique and feedback. Mac argues that anglers who believe they are already proficient — after years of fishing without formal instruction — unknowingly stop absorbing new information, effectively stalling their development at the intermediate stage.
What are the four stages of learning in fly casting?
Mac's framework progresses from stage one (open absorption of fundamentals) through stage two (recognizing a problem exists but not knowing how to fix it — where most intermediate anglers stall) to stages three and four, where skills become internalized and self-correcting. He recommends reading the full article on his website for a detailed breakdown of each stage.
When is the Quill Gordon hatch and why is it such a good dry fly opportunity?
The Quill Gordon is an early-season mayfly that emerges on wild Appalachian freestone streams, typically before most other major hatches of the year. The adults float on the surface for 15–20 minutes while hardening their wings — an unusually long window that gives trout ample time to key on them and gives anglers sustained dry fly fishing action. Size 12 patterns are appropriate at peak emergence.
Why should anglers fish larger nymph patterns in early spring?
Nymph size follows a seasonal arc: early in the year, aquatic insects are at or near maximum size before the first hatches reduce their populations and successive generations emerge progressively smaller. Sizes 14 and 16 are particularly effective in this early window, as they match the naturals more accurately than the smaller patterns that will dominate later in the season.
What does Mac Brown recommend for anglers who want to improve most efficiently?
Mac consistently points to in-person structured instruction — particularly his two-day casting school — as the highest-leverage investment for improvement. He contrasts this with YouTube and book-based learning, which lack the real-time feedback loop required to correct ingrained errors and build proper mechanics into muscle memory.
Related Content
S7, Ep 16 - Simplifying Complexity: Effective Teaching Strategies in Fly Fishing with Mac Brown
S7, Ep 20 - Practice Makes Perfect: Mac Brown on Mastering Casting Techniques
S7, Ep 28 - Warming Waters and Active Fish: A Spring Fishing Update with Mac Brown
S6, Ep 10 - Casting Angles with Mac Brown
S6, Ep 141 - Mastering Cold Weather Fly Fishing with Mac Brown
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Follow Mac on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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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 6mm to over 20mm — create the water diversion that drives the serpentine, side-to-side swimming action that defines Game Changer articulated flies. Rather than relying solely on fiber tips to generate movement, the supports actively redirect water flow around the body of the fly, producing a realistic fish-like swimming motion that passive designs cannot replicate. Blane also walks through the practical tying advantages: faster construction, easier material distribution, built-in profile tapering and greater fly longevity. The second half of the conversation turns to Lefty Kreh's Tie Fest, a conservation-focused event benefiting the American Saltwater Guides Association (ASGA), set for March 21 in Vero Beach at Carter Andrews's property. Blane shares the vision behind the event — honoring legends like Lefty Kreh and Bob Popovics while cultivating the next generation of anglers — and previews an intimate lineup that includes Andy Mill, Rob Fordyce, Hillary Hutcheson, Carter Andrews, Chase Smith and Fletcher Sams, among others.
Key Takeaways
How water diversion around the body of an articulated fly — not just fiber-tip movement — produces a true serpentine swimming action that triggers more strikes.
Why Chocklett support discs in graduated sizes (6mm through 20mm+) allow tiers to build precise, tapered profiles for different baitfish silhouettes without excess material.
How to choose between round disc supports (cylindrical/sucker profiles) and oval supports (taller, narrower bunker or shad profiles) to match specific forage.
Why the Lefty Kreh's Tie Fest model — small, intimate, conservation-focused — delivers meaningful angler access to fly fishing legends that larger industry shows cannot replicate.
How supporting ASGA through events like Tie Fest funds the fisheries science that policymakers need to protect saltwater species populations long term.

Techniques & Gear Covered
The core technical discussion centers on Chocklett's support disc and spreader dam system as a mechanism for achieving active water diversion and realistic swimming action in articulated flies. Blane explains that while Bobby Popovics' reverse-tie bucktail approach relied on fiber tips for passive movement, inserting support discs into the body of a Beast-style or Game Changer fly forces water to divert around the structure, initiating true left-to-right serpentine motion. The system uses two disc geometries — round supports for cylindrical profiles (suckers) and oval supports for taller, narrower silhouettes (bunker, shad) — in graduated sizes from 6mm to over 20mm, allowing tiers to stair-step profile width from tail to shoulder for a natural taper. Practically, the supports eliminate the need to reverse-tie bucktail and guess fiber length, dramatically simplifying the tying process while also extending fly longevity by preventing bucktail collapsing and thinning out over time. Materials referenced include bucktail, synthetic fibers and TFO rods (Blane is a TFO brand ambassador).
Locations & Species
The episode's fishing-specific travel content focuses on the Alabama Gulf Coast, which Blane describes as a highly underrated saltwater destination where clear Florida-influenced water meets the nutrient influence of the Mississippi Delta. He fished this area out of FlyWay Charters with guide Sam (based near the Community Fly Supply shop), targeting redfish, black drum, tripletail, jack crevalle and sheepshead. The Lefty Kreh's Tie Fest event at Vero Beach, Florida, adds another saltwater context — the Indian River Lagoon and Treasure Coast area known for tarpon, snook and permit, ecosystems that ASGA's conservation work is specifically designed to protect. The episode's conservation framing extends to the broader health of saltwater species populations across coastal fisheries, with Blane connecting healthy fisheries to the long-term viability of saltwater fly fishing as both a sport and a guiding profession.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
How do Chocklett support discs create a serpentine swimming action in articulated flies?
When a support disc is placed inside the body of an articulated fly, it forces water to divert around the structure rather than flowing straight through the fibers. That diversion initiates a side-to-side, serpentine movement that mimics the natural swimming motion of a baitfish — something fiber-tip movement alone cannot produce. The key mechanism is active water redirection, not passive fiber flutter.
What is the difference between round and oval Chocklett support discs?
Round supports create a cylindrical cross-section ideal for sucker or cigar-shaped baitfish profiles. Oval supports produce a taller, narrower shape suited to bunker, shad or other laterally-flattened forage. By selecting the appropriate geometry and stepping up through graduated sizes from tail to shoulder, tiers can build a precise taper that matches the specific baitfish they are trying to imitate.
How do support discs improve fly durability and ease of tying?
Traditional reverse-tie bucktail construction tends to collapse and thin out over time, degrading fly performance. Support discs maintain the shape and fiber position for the life of the fly. They also eliminate the need to reverse-tie and guess at fiber length, making even distribution around the hook much easier and faster — a meaningful benefit for tiers who don't spend hours at the bench every week.
What is Lefty Kreh's Tie Fest and why does it matter for fly fishing conservation?
Lefty Kreh's Tie Fest is an annual event — revived after Lefty Kreh's passing — held at Carter Andrews's property in Vero Beach, Florida, that combines a day-long outdoor festival with a benefit dinner. Proceeds support the American Saltwater Guides Association (ASGA), which funds fisheries science and advocacy needed to influence policy protecting saltwater species. Blane frames it as both a celebration of the sport's legends and an investment in its future.
What makes the Alabama Gulf Coast a worthwhile saltwater fly fishing destination?
The Alabama coastline sits at a confluence of clear, Florida-influenced water and the productive, nutrient-rich influence of the Mississippi Delta, producing diverse species opportunities in a relatively uncrowded setting. Target species include redfish, black drum, tripletail, jack crevalle and sheepshead across multiple seasons. Blane characterizes it as highly overlooked and a strong destination for anglers seeking variety outside of better-known Gulf and Atlantic coastal fisheries.
Related Content
S7, Ep 42 – Celebrating Legacy and Conservation with The Chocklett Factory
S7, Ep 61 – The Chocklett Factory Unleashed: New Flies and Other Goodies with Blane Chocklett
S7, Ep 73 – The Chocklett Factory: Sneak Peek at New Products
S6, Ep 144 – The Chocklett Factory: Conservation, New Products and a Legacy Remembered
S2, Ep 114 – All Things Game Changer with Blane Chocklett
Connect with Our Guest
Follow Blane on Facebook...

Episode Overview
Drew Price of Master Class Angling returns to The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast to deliver a season debrief from Lake Champlain and discuss the release of his debut book, Favorite Flies for Vermont: 50 Essential Patterns from Local Experts (Stackpole Books). For anglers curious about multi-species fly fishing in the Northeast or the fly patterns that actually produce on Vermont's diverse waters, this episode covers both with depth and specificity.
The 2025 season on Champlain was defined by record-low water levels — a rarity that revealed structure Drew had never seen and produced drone footage that will inform future guiding. Bowfin fishing was among the best he's seen in years, and November lake trout fishing exceeded expectations, reflecting growing demand for Laker guide trips. Drew brings that same multi-species perspective to the book, which covers 53 patterns ranging from pragmatic brook trout dries and blue-line streamer patterns to bowfin, gar and bass flies — including Drew's own glow-in-the-dark Clouser Minnow variation for lake trout and Chocklett-influenced bowfin patterns he's adapted for Champlain conditions. The conversation also covers the production process in candid detail: Drew's self-directed macro fly photography, his phone-interview approach to wrangling 50-plus tiers across Vermont and the editorial relationship with Jay Nichols at Stackpole. The historical dimension is a highlight — patterns like the Governor Aiken Bucktail, the Spirit of Pittsford Mills and a tribute to the late Rhey Plumley place Vermont's fly fishing culture in a lineage that goes back to Mary Orvis Marbury's early commercial tying work in Manchester.
Key Takeaways
How a record-low water year on Lake Champlain exposed bottom structure and shifted Drew's understanding of fish-holding spots in ways that will pay off for seasons to come.
Why Vermont fly tiers skew pragmatic — tying quickly and in volume over aesthetics — and why beat-up flies often outfish perfect ones.
How to properly attribute pattern variations to their originators, and why that intellectual honesty matters for the sport's tying culture.
When to expect outstanding lake trout fishing on Lake Champlain, with November emerging as a peak window for fly rod Lakers.
Why Lake Champlain's combination of world-class bass fishing, exceptional bowfin populations (including multiple IGFA tippet-class records) and 88 resident species makes it an underappreciated destination for fly anglers.
How Tom Rosenbauer's CDC Rabbit's Foot Emerger became a standout pattern in the book, and what the story behind its development reveals about matching emerger behavior in the surface film.

Techniques & Gear Covered
The episode touches on a range of techniques tied to Champlain's multi-species fishery rather than a single tactical deep dive. Sight fishing in the shallows — push-pole work targeting bowfin, gar and carp — is central to Drew's guiding approach, and several flies in the book were designed specifically for those conditions. For lake trout, Drew discusses his glow-in-the-dark Clouser Minnow variation, a deep-November pattern that he describes as producing an unmistakable visual trigger as the fly returns to the boat in the dark. Variations on Blane Chocklett's patterns adapted for bowfin fishing also feature in the book, illustrating how Game Changer-platform thinking has crossed over into the warm-water exotic-species world. The book's fly photography (all shot by Drew himself using a macro setup he developed during the writing process) includes both hyper-realistic imitative patterns — like Thomas Ames's emerging caddis, designed to capture a specific stage of insect emergence — and intentionally rough, high-production guide flies built for Vermont's blue-line brook trout water. The trolling application of the Governor Aiken Bucktail for landlocked salmon rounds out the technique coverage, reflecting the lake's migratory salmonid fishery that intensifies in fall.
Locations & Species
The episode centers on Lake Champlain and the broader Vermont fly fishing ecosystem, with the lake positioned as a legitimate destination fishery for bass, bowfin, lake trout, pike, gar, carp and landlocked salmon — as well as brown trout and brook trout in the tributary streams. Drew notes that Champlain has ranked among the top five bass lakes in the country according to Bassmaster for three decades, and that it holds records across IGFA tippet classes for bowfin. The book also addresses Vermont's blue-line brook trout fishery, acknowledging the state's honest limitations as a trout destination (no super-consistent hatches, less predictable than Pennsylvania or Colorado tailwaters) while pointing readers to the wild brook trout corridors that define summer fly fishing in Vermont. Historically notable waters referenced include Furnace Brook in Pittsford — President Eisenhower's favorite trout stream — and the Northeast Kingdom, the setting for an archival photo tied to the Governor Aiken Bucktail chapter. November is flagged as a particularly productive window for lake trout on fly, with record-low 2025 water conditions adding context for why structure knowledge carries outsized importance on Champlain.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
What made the 2025 fishing season on Lake Champlain unusual?
The lake hit near-record low water levels in 2025, a sharp contrast to the high-water years immediately prior. The low water exposed bottom structure Drew had never seen, allowing him to understand exactly why fish hold in certain locations. Drone footage from the season is now part of his ongoing location research.
What types of flies are featured in Favorite Flies for Vermont?
The book covers 53 patterns, with roughly 40 trout flies and the remainder targeting warm-water and exotic species including bowfin, gar and bass. Patterns range from simple Tenkara-style CDC dries to hyper-realistic emerger caddis imitations from Thomas Ames. Several historically significant Vermont patterns are included, such as the Governor Aiken Bucktail and the Spirit of Pittsford Mills dry fly, with full attribution and historical context for each.
How does Drew Price approach pattern attribution in his book?
Drew is deliberate about crediting the originators of any pattern he's adapted, even when his modifications are significant. Variations on Blane Chocklett's warm-water patterns and a riff on Bob Clouser's minnow design for lake trout are both attributed explicitly in the text. He extends the same standard to historical patterns, tracing variations back through the tying lineage rather than presenting adaptations as entirely original work.
When is the best time to fish for lake trout on Lake Champlain with a fly?
November stands out as the peak window, based on Drew's guide experience. The season saw strong late-year Laker fishing and a notable uptick in guided Laker trip requests, which Drew describes as a welcome surprise. A glow-in-the-dark Clouser Minnow variation is his go-to pattern for night-time and low-light Laker sessions on the lake.
Why does Drew Price consider Lake Champlain an underrated fly fishing destination?
Champlain holds 88 species, roughly 30 of which are realistic fly rod targets — Drew has personally caught 15 different species in a single day on fly. The lake consistently ranks among the top five bass lakes in the U.S. and has produced IGFA tippet-class records for bowfin across nearly all classes. Despite those credentials, it remains well below the radar of most traveling fly anglers, which Drew is actively trying to change through the book and continued guiding.
Sponsors
Thanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use ARTFLY20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.
Related Content
S7, Ep 27 – Master Class Angling: The Art of Fishing Exotic Species with Drew Price
S7, Ep 8 – Fly Tying Mastery: Tim Cammisa's New Book and Euro Nymphing Adventures
S2, Ep 114 – All Things Game Changer with Blane Chocklett
Connect with Our Guest
Follow Master Class Angling on Instagram.
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Follow The Articulate Fly on Facebook,