The Articulate Fly

The Articulate Fly Fly Fishing Podcast regularly releases interviews with national and regional personalities covering fly fishing, fly tying and fly fishing travel. We also regularly release fishing reports for the novice and experienced fly angler. Whether you just loved a River Runs Through It or you are a streamer junkie, a dry fly addict, a swinger or a nymph head, we have you covered! To learn more, visit www.thearticulatefly.com.

The Articulate Fly is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts The Articulate Fly, a education show with 0 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #72

  S8, Ep 72: Casting Essentials: Mac Brown's Guide to Power and Arc

  Sep 30, 202611 minS8

  Episode Overview On this Casting Angles episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash and Mac Brown, fly casting instructor at Mac Brown Fly Fish in Bryson City, North Carolina, unpack the biggest light bulb moment from Mac's recent casting mastery workshop: casting arc and applied power are inseparable, and many loop problems blamed on "too much power" are really a mismatch between the two. It is a practical lesson for any angler who wants cleaner loops at varying distances, and it arrives just as Western North Carolina anglers face a delayed start to the fall delayed harvest trout season. Mac explains why the same length of line can either unroll cleanly or turn into a tuck cast depending on how much force is applied across a given arc. He stresses reading the pace of the cast and shares a verbal cadence of "slow, slow, slow, fast" for timing the back cast. He also offers a quick yard drill that pairs a very slow stroke with a very narrow arc to show how easily minimal power overwhelms a short casting path. Marvin adds a power calibration drill built around rod noise and backing off until the loop collapses. The second half turns to conditions and news. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is pushing delayed harvest stocking back a month to early November and stocking fewer fish after a brutally hot and dry summer, a hatchery renovation and heat-related fish kills. Mac celebrates Team USA's first-ever adult men's team and individual gold medals at the world championships in Idaho, led by Michael Bradley of Cherokee, and previews his four-day fall school. Cooler nights and fresh rain are finally dropping water temperatures on Southern Appalachian trout streams such as Deep Creek. Key Takeaways How to diagnose a tuck cast by reading the pace of the cast rather than assuming the problem is simply too much power. Why casting arc and applied power must be matched, so that a narrow arc needs far less effort than most anglers expect. How to use a "slow, slow, slow, fast" verbal cadence to time the back cast and stop rushing the stroke. How to find the minimum power for a symmetrical loop by backing off until the loop collapses and then adding just a touch of force back. Why a low frequency whoosh from the rod is an audible sign you are overpowering the cast. When to expect Western North Carolina delayed harvest stocking this fall and why a hot summer and hatchery setbacks pushed it to early November. Techniques & Gear Covered The core technique is matching casting arc to applied force: Mac uses the traditional clock face framework, such as a stroke from 10 o'clock to midnight, to show how excess force on a given arc produces a tuck cast instead of a line that simply unrolls. Marvin frames arc length as the runway for acceleration, noting that a longer stroke lets you build speed gradually and that overpowering the final pinky pull on a short runway produces a tuck. Mac's yard drill pairs a very slow forward stroke with a very narrow arc to form a tight loop, then widens the arc until effort and path match for a perfectly straight cast. Marvin's complementary drill uses the low frequency whoosh of the rod as feedback, backing power off until the loop collapses and then adding a smidge to establish a symmetrical foundation. Together the two drills put the caster in charge of both variables: the effort and the length of the path. Locations & Species Fall trout fishing in Western North Carolina starts later than usual this year, with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission delaying delayed harvest trout stocking by a month to the beginning of November and planning to stock fewer fish. The delay follows a brutally hot and dry summer, the closure of the Pisgah hatchery for a major renovation in late 2025 and fish kills at the Armstrong hatchery, where hot water on Armstrong Creek was made worse by tree cover lost to Hurricane Helene. Conditions for Southern Appalachian trout are improving, with four straight nights in the mid-40s, a three-inch rain after roughly two months without a significant one and noticeably cooler water on streams like Deep Creek. Marvin also notes that the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park has had plenty of water. FAQ / Key Questions Answered Why does my fly line tuck on the back cast even when I'm not using much power? According to Mac Brown, arc and power are so interrelated that a tuck is often a mismatch between the two rather than simply too much power. With a very narrow arc, even minimal effort can be too much and turn the loop into a tuck. Widening the arc to match the effort you are applying produces a straight cast that simply unrolls. How do you know how much power a fly cast needs? Marvin Cash's drill is to keep backing off the power until the loop collapses, then add back just a smidge of force. That point is the foundation for a symmetrical cast. A low frequency whooshing sound from the rod is a reliable sign that you are using too much power. How should you time the back cast? Mac recommends saying "slow, slow, slow, fast" out loud as you make the back cast, which reflects how long the stroke should take. If the cast is already over by the time you reach the first "slow," you have applied too much force too early. Watching the pace of the cast is the quickest way to see whether timing is the problem. When does delayed harvest trout stocking start in Western North Carolina this fall? The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is delaying delayed harvest stocking by a month, so it will not begin until the beginning of November, and fewer fish will be stocked. The delay stems from a brutally hot and dry summer, the renovation of the Pisgah hatchery and heat-related fish kills at the Armstrong hatchery. Marvin suggests using the extra time for casting practice and skill work on the water. Related Content S7, Ep 80 - Foundations of Fly Casting: Mastering Variability and Adaptability with Mac Brown S7, Ep 76 - From Repetition to Retention: The Path to Mastery in Fly Casting S8, Ep 7 - Casting Foundations and Fishing Frameworks: Insights with Mac Brown S8, Ep 67 - Elevate Your Cast: Mac Brown's Expert Tips on Haul Timing and Line Speed S7, Ep 85 - Navigating Delayed Harvest: Mac Brown's Insights on Fall Fishing Tactics View All Casting Angles Episodes with Mac Brown Connect with Our Guest Follow Mac on  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter . Follow the Show Follow The Articulate Fly on Facebook , Instagram , Threads and YouTube . Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the Show Shop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options . Subscribe & Advertise Subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app. Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #71

  S8, Ep 71: Fall Fishing Forecast: George Costa on Streamers, Hatches and Safety Tips

  Sep 26, 20264 minS8

  Episode Overview George Costa, manager of TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, returns to The Articulate Fly for another Central PA Fishing Report as the region shifts firmly into fall. Recent rain has pushed creeks across Central Pennsylvania's limestone country well above seasonal flows and off-color, but George reports everything is on the drop and should be fishable again this weekend, with cool water temperatures keeping trout active and comfortable. Fall hatch activity is picking up, with Isos (Isonychia), tan caddis and October caddis all showing well, and George notes a recent streamer bite that produced trout already colored up for fall. He and host Marvin Cash also flag a practical safety reminder: Pennsylvania's fall hunting seasons open October 1st, so anglers fishing shared public waters such as Spring Creek Canyon on state game lands should wear blaze orange. Away from the water, George runs down what's happening at TCO's shops heading into the off-season, including end-of-summer clearance pricing on Simms, Grundens and Patagonia gear, and a full slate of fall and winter fly tying and on-the-water classes across TCO's locations. Among the highlights is a class taught by Allen Rupp , Dave Whitlock's legacy tyer, covering streamer tying and the NearNuff Sculpin pattern. The conversation offers a quick, practical snapshot for anglers planning trips to Central Pennsylvania's limestone streams this fall: current conditions, what's hatching, where the fish are biting and how to gear up. Key Takeaways How to time a trip to Central PA limestone streams safely as high, off-color fall water drops back into shape this week. Why fall streamer fishing is heating up as cooling water temperatures push trout to feed aggressively ahead of the spawn. What to watch for on the hatch front, including Isos, tan caddis and October caddis activity as Central Pennsylvania moves deeper into fall. Why anglers should wear blaze orange on Pennsylvania state game lands like Spring Creek Canyon once hunting season opens October 1st. Techniques & Gear Covered George highlights a developing fall streamer bite on Central Pennsylvania's limestone streams, with trout already showing fall coloration as water temperatures cool. He also flags active Iso, tan caddis and October caddis hatch activity worth matching as conditions stabilize after recent high water. On the gear side, TCO Fly Shop is running end-of-summer clearance pricing on Simms, Grundens and Patagonia. TCO's fall and winter class schedule includes a streamer tying session and a NearNuff Sculpin class taught by Allen Rupp , Dave Whitlock's legacy tyer, alongside additional fly tying and on-the-water instruction across TCO's locations. Locations & Species This report centers on Central Pennsylvania's limestone stream country in and around State College, including public water on state game lands such as Spring Creek Canyon. Recent rain pushed local creeks well above seasonal flows and off-color, though George reports levels are dropping and the fishery should be fishable again this weekend. Trout are the focus of this fishery, and cooling water temperatures combined with fall hatch activity (Isos, tan caddis and October caddis) are setting up favorable conditions heading into peak fall streamer season. Anglers should expect high, off-color flows to continue to clear absent additional rain. FAQ / Key Questions Answered Are Central Pennsylvania's limestone streams fishable right now? Yes, but use caution. Recent rain pushed creeks well above seasonal flows and off-color, but George Costa reports water levels are dropping and the fishery should be fishable again this weekend heading into the following few weeks. What fall hatches are active on Central PA streams right now? George reports good numbers of Isos (Isonychia), tan caddis and October caddis beginning to show, all typical fall hatch activity for late September into early October in Central Pennsylvania. Why is fall a good time for streamer fishing in Central PA? As water temperatures cool, trout become more aggressive and begin coloring up ahead of the fall spawn. George reports a recent streamer bite already producing colored-up fish, with more good streamer water expected over the next few weeks. Why should anglers wear orange on Pennsylvania state game lands this time of year? Pennsylvania's fall hunting seasons, including deer and pheasant seasons, open October 1st. Anglers fishing shared public water such as Spring Creek Canyon should wear blaze orange to stay visible to hunters using the same game lands. Where can anglers find fall and winter fly tying classes near State College, PA? TCO Fly Shop runs a full schedule of tying and on-the-water classes at its State College shop, including a streamer class and a NearNuff Sculpin class taught by Allen Rupp , Dave Whitlock's legacy tyer. Full listings are at tcoflyfishing.com . Related Content S6, Ep 118 - Central PA Fall Fishing Report: George Costa's Tips and Tactics S6, Ep 129 - TCO Fly Shop's George Costa Discusses Prime Fall Fishing Conditions S7, Ep 49 - Rain, Hatches and Cicadas: A Central PA Fishing Update with George Costa S7, Ep 70 - The Dog Days of Summer: Trico Tactics in Central PA with George Costa View all Central Pennsylvania Fishing Reports with George Costa Connect with Our Guest Follow TCO on  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter . Follow the Show Follow The Articulate Fly on Facebook , Instagram , Threads and YouTube . Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the Show Shop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options . Subscribe & Advertise Subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app. Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #70

  S8, Ep 70: REDUX: Nomadic Waters and the Allure of Amazonian Peacock Bass

  Sep 24, 20261h 15mS8

  Episode Overview In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Michael Williams, owner and host of Nomadic Waters , to explain how anglers catch Amazon peacock bass on the fly and what makes a Brazilian jungle expedition work. Williams runs Orvis-endorsed trips on the Rio Negro, Rio da Lua and Rio Tatuagem, where guests chase Temensis and rare Vazzoleri peacock bass from Bass Tracker boats and floating cabins. It is a practical roadmap for trout and saltwater anglers weighing a first Amazon trip. Williams traces his path from a shared fly rod with his sister and guiding in Colorado to humanitarian work in Brazil that grew into Nomadic Waters . He explains why an ambushing peacock bass demands a faster retrieve rather than a pause, how a partner-style doubles strategy lifted catch numbers 30 to 40 percent and why presentation and casting matter far more than fly choice. He also covers pacing yourself in equatorial heat, including the mandatory midday siesta that raised fish counts. Williams also explains how community partnerships and the nonprofit Parallel Resource reflect a philosophy of exploration without exploitation. Along the way, he addresses who thrives in the Amazon, from beginners to professional guides, and he explains why guests who arrive as self-declared experts are the hardest to help. For any angler asking who should book an Amazon trip and when to go, this conversation offers honest answers. This re-broadcast of S7, Ep 2 (January 10, 2025) won First Place in the 2026 OWAA Excellence in Craft awards for Radio/Podcast Fishing. Key Takeaways How to trigger a peacock bass strike by speeding up your fly as the fish charges out of structure instead of pausing the retrieve. How to raise your catch rate by fishing as partners so the second angler casts behind a hooked fish, a doubles strategy that lifted Nomadic Waters' numbers 30 to 40 percent. Why casting quality, presentation and a solid strip set matter far more than fly choice when a 12-pound peacock bass can shatter 40-pound leader on its first run. How to pace a hot equatorial fishing day by picking your shots and taking a midday siesta, a change that raised fish counts even with three fewer hours on the water. When to time an Amazon trip: the Rio Negro from mid-January through February (sometimes into March) as water falls, and the Rio da Lua and Rio Tatuagem from September through November. How to decide whether an Amazon expedition fits you, based on your appetite for exploration, your willingness to take coaching and your comfort with heat and long casting days. Techniques & Gear Covered Williams describes a boat-based, partner-style approach to peacock bass: casting to structure and lagoon edges from Bass Tracker boats on the larger rivers and john boats with casting platforms on the smaller ones, then speeding up the fly as a fish charges out of cover. Most eats come within about 20 feet of the rod tip, which lets anglers watch every strike and finish with a strip set. He stresses that peacock bass do not eat only big flies, that a 12-pound fish can shatter 40-pound leader on its first run and that a clean double haul and an efficient cast keep the rod rather than your shoulder doing the work. Nomadic Waters often targets schools of two-pound fish on day one, because they teach presentation, speed, depth and hook sets before anglers cast to larger fish. Gear mentions are light: six and seven weight rods with floating lines and ant or beetle patterns for matrinchã plus small spinning rods with bait for piranha off the back of the mothership. Locations & Species Nomadic Waters fishes three Brazilian Amazon rivers: the Rio Negro (a mothership with daily trips in Bass Trackers), the small, clear water Rio da Lua (float plane access and floating cabins) and the Rio Tatuagem (home to the rare Vazzoleri peacock bass). Target species are peacock bass, including 20-pound Temensis on the Rio da Lua, with piranha, red tail catfish and matrinchã as variety. A typical week on the Rio Negro puts about ten guests on roughly 1,200 landed fish. Seasonal timing follows the water, since the Rio Negro can rise or fall about 30 feet in a season: mid-January through February (sometimes into March) once levels start falling, September and October for the Rio da Lua and November for the Rio Tatuagem, with those two rivers resting about ten months of the year. FAQ / Key Questions Answered How do you fish for peacock bass on the fly in the Amazon? Cast to structure and lagoon edges where peacock bass ambush prey, and speed the fly up as a fish charges out of cover because stopping the retrieve makes it lose interest. Most eats happen within about 20 feet of the rod tip, so you see the strike and finish with a strip set. Nomadic Waters also fishes as partners: when one angler hooks a fish, the second casts behind it at the followers, and this doubles strategy raised catch numbers by 30 to 40 percent. What skills do you need for an Amazon fly fishing trip? Williams welcomes all experience levels, including beginners, and says the best guests are willing to explore, take direction and ask for help with things like a double haul. He ranks the cast and presentation far above the fly pattern, and he warns that a 12-pound peacock bass can shatter 40-pound leader on its first run. Anglers who want a sure thing are a weaker fit than those who enjoy discovery, and guests who arrive as self-described experts unwilling to take guidance are the hardest to help. How do you handle the heat and physical demands of peacock bass fishing? Pick your shots instead of casting at every fishy-looking spot, because tired anglers get sloppy, miss strikes and snag trees. Williams compares fly casting in the Amazon to a baseball pitcher's limited number of great pitches per game and teaches guests to let the rod do the work rather than the shoulder. Nomadic Waters schedules a mandatory midday siesta with lunch and air conditioning, then fishes the last couple of hours of light, and catch counts rose even though the fishing day is about three hours shorter. When is the best time to fish the Amazon for peacock bass? For Nomadic Waters , the Rio Negro season runs from mid-January through February and sometimes into March, timed for when the water has been falling for a couple of weeks and the fish have gone about three months without fishing pressure. The Rio da Lua fishes best in September and October and the Rio Tatuagem in November, and the season ends before Thanksgiving. Water level is the deciding factor, because the Rio Negro can change by about 30 feet in a season. What does exploration without exploitation mean for a fishing operation in the Amazon? Williams uses it as a core value filter for every decision, tied to Nomadic Waters ' origins as a humanitarian group working with remote Amazon communities. A support vessel carries a medical clinic, a dental clinic and water filtration systems. Guests share community lunches with villages, and a separate nonprofit called Parallel Resource was created to support the work. He warns against well-meant help that does not last, citing a visiting group that placed braces on children in a village and never returned, so that the Nomadic Waters dentist later spent a day removing them from adults. Related Content S5, Ep 83 - A Fly Fishing Life with Jeff Currier S6, Ep 132 - Fly Tying and Destination Travel with Tim Flagler S5, Ep 111 - Gustavo Hiebaum of SET Fly Fishing S8, Ep 20 - Behind the Scenes: Mark Melnyk's Adventure with The New Fly Fisher Connect with Our Guest Follow Nomadic Waters on Facebook and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nomadicwaters/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #69

  S8, Ep 69: Navigating the Transition: Captain Brian Shumaker on Smallmouth Behavior and Fishing Techniques

  Sep 23, 20268 minS8

  Episode Overview On this Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report from The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides for an early fall conditions update as the smallmouth bite makes its seasonal shift from bugs to streamers. With surface temperatures dropping into the 60s ahead of an incoming rainy, cooler pattern, Shumaker explains why the region's smallmouth bass are moving off the shallow flats and staging in deeper pockets, and why the topwater bite has effectively shut down for now. The conversation centers on the tactical adjustments that come with this shoulder season transition: downsizing from a size 2 to a size 4 streamer, swapping an intermediate line for a floating line and nine-foot leader to slow the fly's descent, and building in a deliberate pause that triggers strikes. Shumaker also walks through proper streamer hook set mechanics, contrasting the trout set most anglers default to with the strip strike his smallmouth program demands, and explains how holding the rod at roughly a 45-degree angle off to the side keeps steady pressure on a hooked fish through the fight, which matters even more if barbless hooks are in play. Looking ahead, he outlines what an Indian summer warm-up could mean for a brief return of topwater action layered on top of an already dominant streamer bite. Key Takeaways How to adjust streamer size and line choice as Pennsylvania smallmouth water temperatures drop into the fall shoulder season, downsizing to a size 4 streamer on a floating line and nine-foot leader for a slower presentation. Why building in deliberate pauses on the retrieve is critical to triggering strikes from bass that have shifted from a topwater bite to a slower, subsurface streamer bite. When to expect the smallmouth bite to shift decisively from topwater bugs to streamers as surface temperatures fall through the 60s and days shorten. How to execute a proper strip strike and why to hold the rod low and to the side at roughly a 45-degree angle to keep steady pressure on a hooked smallmouth through the fight. Why fishing barbless hooks requires maintaining constant line tension, since any slack lets a head shaking fish work the fly loose. When an Indian summer warm-up could bring bugs back into play alongside an already established streamer bite for the final weeks of the season. Techniques & Gear Covered Shumaker's fall program centers on downsizing streamers, dropping from a size 2 Clouser-style pattern to a size 4, fished on a floating line with a nine-foot leader instead of his usual intermediate setup to slow the fly's descent through the water column. The technique hinges on incorporating deliberate pauses into the retrieve. On the hook set, Shumaker teaches a strip strike with the rod held low, correcting anglers who default to a trout-style upward set that fails to bury the hook. Once a fish is on, he recommends fighting it with the rod at roughly a 45-degree angle off to the side rather than straight up, which keeps steady pressure on the fish and helps prevent it from throwing the hook, especially with barbless hooks that rely on tension rather than a barb to stay pinned. He also touches on a topwater approach for warmer stretches, working poppers slowly with a pop-and-dead-drift retrieve rather than constant motion. Locations & Species This Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report covers Captain Brian Shumaker's central Pennsylvania guide waters as they move through the early fall shoulder season. Surface temperatures have dropped into the 60s and are trending lower behind an incoming rainy, cooler weather pattern, pushing bass out of the shallows and into deeper pockets and slower moving water. The bug activity that defined the summer topwater bite has shut down with the falling temperatures, leaving streamers as the dominant presentation, though Shumaker notes that a stretch of Indian summer in the high 70s to low 80s could bring a brief return of topwater action. FAQ / Key Questions Answered When does Pennsylvania smallmouth fishing shift from a topwater bite to a streamer bite in the fall? The shift happens as surface water temperatures drop through the 70s into the 60s and the days grow noticeably shorter. Bug activity falls off as the weather cools, and smallmouth bass move out of the shallows into deeper pockets, making streamers the dominant and most productive presentation. A stretch of Indian summer with highs in the 70s or low 80s can bring a temporary return of topwater action alongside the streamer bite. What streamer size and line setup works best for Pennsylvania smallmouth during the fall transition? Downsizing is key: Shumaker moves from a size 2 to a size 4 Clouser-style streamer. Rather than his usual intermediate line, he fishes a floating line with a nine-foot leader, which produces a slower fly descent that better matches the fish's mood. Deliberate pauses on the retrieve, rather than a steady retrieve, are what typically draw the strike. How do you properly set the hook on a smallmouth bass streamer strike? Shumaker teaches a strip strike rather than the upward trout set many anglers default to, keeping the rod tip low through the hook set. He notes that trout-style sets fail to drive the hook home on a streamer eat, and that switching to a proper strip strike immediately improves hookup rates for anglers used to trout tactics. What rod angle should you use after hooking a smallmouth on a streamer? After the strip strike, Shumaker recommends bringing the rod to roughly a 45-degree angle off to the side rather than straight up, keeping it between high and low as the fight develops. This keeps steady pressure on the fish and lets the rod absorb the fight, reducing the chance the fish throws the hook, particularly when it jumps or turns toward the boat. Why does fishing barbless hooks change how you fight a smallmouth bass? With the barb pinched down, any slack in the line lets a head shaking fish work the fly loose, so Shumaker emphasizes keeping constant pressure on the fish throughout the fight rather than giving it any give. He pinches barbs both for angler safety and to reduce harm to the fish, but that choice makes disciplined rod angle and steady tension especially important for keeping fish buttoned up. Related Content S8, Ep 39 - High Water Strategies: Captain Brian Shumaker's Pennsylvania Smallmouth Insights S8, Ep 34 - Frog Patterns and Fishing Strategies: Brian Shumaker's Late Spring Smallmouth Report S8, Ep 31 - Chasing Smallmouth: Brian Shumaker's Adaptations for Unpredictable Spring Weather S8, Ep 27 - The Pre-Spawn Puzzle: Captain Brian Shumaker's Tips for Pennsylvania Smallmouth View all Pennsylvania Smallmouth Reports with Brian Shumaker Connect with Our Guest Follow Brian on Facebook and Instagram . Follow the Show Follow The Articulate Fly on Facebook , Instagram , Threads and YouTube . Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the Show Shop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options . Subscribe & Advertise Subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app. Think our community is a good fit for your brand? <a href="https://www.thearticulatefly.com/advertise" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #68

  S8, Ep 68: The Fall Transition: Matt Reilly's Insights on Bass Behavior and Bug Fishing Strategies

  Sep 18, 202612 minS8

  Episode Overview On this Southwest Virginia Fishing Report from The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with guide Matt Reilly of Matt Reilly Fly Fishing for a late summer update on the New River system. After weeks of stable weather, low water and daytime highs in the mid-80s to 90s have kept conditions consistent, though Reilly notes this year's annual cicada hatch has behaved differently than usual, peaking early and sporadically rather than settling into the typical seasonal pattern. Reilly explains that smallmouth bass are already showing the classic fall pattern of podding up into large schools, a shift that normally shows up later in September but appears to be arriving early this year. He walks through how to approach a pod of schooled-up bass methodically, since dense concentrations of fish create pockets of empty water elsewhere on the river, along with the double-edged nature of that competition: podded up fish can be more aggressive toward a fly, but spooking one can shut down an entire pod at once. Key Takeaways How to approach a school of podded up smallmouth bass methodically, since dense pods leave stretches of otherwise good habitat empty of fish. Why competition within a schooled group of bass can make fish more aggressive toward a fly, while also raising the risk that spooking one fish shuts down the entire pod. When to expect New River smallmouth to shift into fall schooling behavior. Why an inconsistent cicada hatch reduces how tightly smallmouth key on bank-oriented bug lies, pushing more fish toward mid-river holding water instead. When to plan a Southwest Virginia musky trip, since the season starts from early-to-mid November and runs into February on the New River system. Techniques & Gear Covered Reilly describes sight fishing low, clear New River water for smallmouth bass keyed on terrestrial activity, using a patient, methodical approach to cover water and locate schooled-up fish rather than blind casting likely spots. He details how a pod of bass concentrated around structure like a submerged log can produce competitive feeding, where fish race each other to a fly, but also how the same concentration means a single spooked fish can put the whole group down. Locations & Species The report centers on the New River system in Southwest Virginia, where low, warm late summer flows and consistent sunny weather have shaped both bug fishing for smallmouth bass and the approach to schooled-up fish. Smallmouth bass are the primary target discussed, with musky emerging as the seasonal focus starting in November. Reilly frames the current window as a seasonal hinge point, where the first hard frost or a tropical system moving through between early September and October could reshape both water levels and the terrestrial bite. FAQ / Key Questions Answered How is the cicada hatch behaving differently on the New River this year? Reilly describes this year's annual cicada emergence as weaker and earlier than typical, with the main foraging event peaking two to three weeks ahead of the typical seasonal window. Since that early spike, cicada activity along the river has been inconsistent, giving this season's bug fishing a different rhythm than prior years even though overall fishing has remained good. Why are Southwest Virginia smallmouth bass podded up into schools earlier than usual? Reilly attributes the early schooling behavior to a combination of low water and the natural shortening of days. Fish that normally hold in consistent individual summer spots are already grouping into pods of several to more than a dozen bass, a pattern he typically doesn't see until a little later in the season. How should anglers approach a pod of schooled-up smallmouth bass? Reilly recommends staying patient and methodical, since a large concentration of fish in one spot means there will be stretches of otherwise good looking water with no fish present. He also cautions that competition among schooled bass can make them more likely to strike, but that spooking a single fish in a tightly packed group can put the entire pod down at once. When does musky season start on the New River, and how far out is Reilly already booking? Reilly expects to shift his focus fully to musky fishing by early-to-mid November, with the season running through February. As of this recording, he is already booked through roughly November 9th, underscoring how far in advance anglers should plan a musky trip. What could disrupt the current stable fishing pattern before fall fully sets in? Reilly points to two wildcards: a hurricane or tropical system passing through between early September and October that could dramatically change water levels, and the first hard frost, which effectively ends the terrestrial-driven bug bite and signals the true seasonal turn toward musky fishing. Related Content S8, Ep 61 - Smallmouth Chronicles: Matt Reilly's Secrets to Success in SW Virginia S8, Ep 63 - Seasonal Shifts: Brian Shumaker's Smallmouth Strategies for Late Summer S8, Ep 64 - Streamer Strategies: Ellis Ward's Late Day Fishing Tips for East Tennessee View all Southwest Virginia Fishing Reports with Matt Reilly Connect with Our Guest Follow Matt on Instagram . Follow the Show Follow The Articulate Fly on Facebook , Instagram , Threads and YouTube . Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources. Support the Show Shop through our Amazon link to support the podcast. Join our Patreon community to support the show. If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options . Subscribe & Advertise Subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app. Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on The Articulate Fly. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.