In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down with Zach Kaufman, one of the owners of Sawyer Paddles and Oars, for a conversation about fly fishing, river life, and the craft behind building oars. Zach brings decades of experience as a rafting guide, fishing guide, oarsman, and business owner, with much of his time spent on the Rogue, Klamath, and Umpqua rivers.

We talk through the history of Sawyer, how wooden and composite oars are built, and why the feel of a one-piece wood oar still matters to so many rowers. Zach also shares stories from Southern Oregon steelhead fishing, half-pounder runs, dam removals, river access, and the value of local knowledge when fishing unfamiliar water.

Key Highlights:

• The Sawyer Story: How Sawyer moved from paddles into oars.
• Wooden Oars: A look at the wood, shaping, and handwork behind each oar.
• The Feel of Water: Why one-piece wood oars create a strong connection to the river.
• Composite Options: How shafts, blades, and swing weight affect rowing.
• Southern Oregon Fisheries: Steelhead, salmon, half-pounders, and changing rivers.
• Local Intel: Why fly shops, guides, and time on the water matter.
• Fish That Got Away: Zach’s memorable stories of big fish lost.

Resources:

• Sawyer Paddles and Oars: paddlesandoars.com
• Sawyer Station: sawyerstation.com
• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we talk through one of the most overlooked parts of fly fishing success on the river: leaders and tippet. What seems like a small detail can have a major effect on turnover, presentation, drift, and ultimately whether or not fish eat.

We walk through practical tips for matching leader length to water clarity, choosing stronger tippet than most anglers think they can get away with, and avoiding common mistakes that hurt presentation. From dry flies and nymph rigs to streamers, this conversation is all about building a better leader system and understanding how each section works together.

Key Highlights:

• Matching leader length to conditions: In clear, slow water, longer leaders help keep fly line farther from the fish. In stained or faster water, shorter leaders are often all you need.
• Why heavier tippet often helps: We talk about how anglers often fish too light, which can create poor turnover, extra tangles, and longer fights that stress fish.
• Leader maintenance matters: Straightening your leader before fishing and replacing worn tippet can immediately improve presentation and drift.
• Micro swivels and tippet rings: We discuss a practical way to preserve your leader system, save money, and make changing tippet easier.
• Building better leader systems: From butt section stiffness to taper design, we explain how the right setup transfers energy and helps flies turn over more cleanly.

Resources:

• Episode 123, “Fishing Near Salida, Colorado”
• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down with Captain Mark Richardson of Ark Anglers to talk about fishing the Arkansas River around Salida, Colorado. Mark guides this water day in and day out, and in this conversation we cover the different sections of the river, seasonal conditions, floating productive water, and what makes the Arkansas River such a special fishery.

We also revisit a day we spent on the water together and talk through streamer fishing in slightly stained conditions. From river structure to fly choice and presentation, this episode offers practical insight for anglers planning a trip out West or simply wanting to learn how a guide breaks down a river.

A big takeaway from this conversation is that success on the Arkansas often comes down to reading conditions, adjusting your approach, and understanding how each section of river fishes differently.

Key Highlights:

• The Three Basins: Mark breaks down the upper, middle, and lower sections of the Arkansas River.
• Why the Lower Basin: We talk about why this stretch is one of Mark’s favorites to fish and float.
• Streamers in Colored Water: Slight stains can make streamer fishing much more effective.
• Retrieve Matters: Cadence, movement, and angle all play a role in getting eats.
• Confidence Flies: Mark shares a few of his go-to streamer patterns and colors.
• Adjusting Setups: We discuss when to change lines and presentations based on conditions.
• Watching Fish React: Observation and small changes can lead to better results.
• Beyond the River: Mark also talks about nearby high-country lake opportunities.

Resources:

• ArkAnglers in Salida, Colorado
• Visit southeasternfly.com
• Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down on the banks of the Elk River in Tennessee and talk about something every fly angler eventually spends time doing during the winter months: tying flies. After spending time recently tying at Little River Outfitters and working through a few patterns at the vise, we decided to walk through some practical fly tying thoughts that can help both beginners and experienced tiers improve their flies.

Rather than focusing on a single pattern, we discuss general principles that apply across the board. From thread control and material selection to building better dry flies, nymphs, and streamers, the conversation centers around small adjustments that can make a big difference in how your flies look, hold up, and ultimately fish.

A big takeaway from this discussion is that nothing in fly tying is absolute. There are many different ways to approach tying, and improvement usually comes from experimenting, refining your technique, and learning what works best for you at the vise and on the water.

Key Highlights:

1. Thread Control Matters: Consistent tension and flat thread wraps help prevent materials from spinning and create a clean foundation for the fly.
2. Less Material Is Often Better: Sparse flies tend to look more natural in the water and often fish better than overdressed patterns.
3. Building a Clean Thread Base: A smooth underbody allows materials like chenille, ribbing, and wire to lay evenly and improve the overall appearance of the fly.
4. Dry Fly Balance and Proportion: Proper tail length, correct hackle size, and avoiding crowding the hook eye all help a dry fly float and fish the way it should.
5. Strategic Weighting for Nymphs: Adjusting where and how much weight is added can change how a fly sinks and fishes in different water conditions.
6. Reinforcing with Ribbing: Counter-wrapping wire over delicate materials improves durability and helps flies last through more fish.
7. Movement Over Bulk in Streamers: Choosing materials that breathe and pulse in the water can create more realistic action than simply adding more material.
8. Using Flash Carefully: A few strands can suggest the flash of baitfish without overpowering the pattern.

Resources:

1. Visit southeasternfly.com
2. Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we’re posted up on the banks of the Elk River, just over the hill from the Jack Daniel Distillery, swapping stories with our longtime friend Howard Brooks. Howard’s a Tennessee native, a former client turned guide, and one of those guys who somehow makes every day on the water feel richer than the last. We get into where his fishing life started, how guiding happened “purely by accident,” and why at 83 years old he’s still pulling on oars and loving every minute of it.

Key Highlights:

1. Howard’s first fish: hand-lining bluegills during a willow fly hatch on Chickamauga Lake.
2. Early fly gear memories: South Bend rods and old automatic reels.
3. Big trips that reignited it: Bahamas bonefish and Alaska trout.
4. How guiding started: a career change, a boat, and one two-boat trip that turned into a calling.
5. Why guiding isn’t “not fishing”: Howard feels like he’s fishing every minute.
6. The Elk before and after Tim’s Ford Dam: canoe trips, changing water, changing river.
7. What makes a great river lunch: know your anglers, keep it simple, or go all-out when it fits.
8. The fish that changed everything: a 738-pound blue marlin and a lifetime shift toward catch-and-release.
9. Advice to younger folks: get outside, learn nature, cut the screen time.
10. The three stages of an angler: numbers, size, then contentment.

Resources:

1. At The Rivers Edge
2. Visit southeasternfly.com
3. Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode, we settle in for a true wintertime river recap. Instead of a rigid outline, we walk through a couple of cold, windy days on the water and talk honestly about what worked, what didn’t, and why winter fishing can feel both slower and more rewarding at the same time. From experimenting with new streamer ideas to battling wind, current, and changing water conditions, this one is about time on the water, tinkering at the vise, and enjoying good company when the river is quieter.

Highlights of the Episode:

1. Winter days on the river and how cold, wind, and higher water shape fishing decisions
2. The role of confidence in fly selection, techniques, and presentation
3. Swinging streamers on floating lines during shad season and why fly action matters
4. Experimenting with and refining a Clouser-style minnow pattern over time
5. Reading water, structure, and current seams in changing winter conditions
6. Adapting on the fly while keeping a reliable baseline approach
7. Why winter fishing is often about patience, fewer crowds, and quality opportunities

Resources:

1. Visit southeasternfly.com
2. Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Southeastern Fly, we sit down with Bryson Storie to talk about fly fishing the Texas coast, focusing on the waters around Port O'Connor. A lot of anglers assume Texas saltwater is muddy and unfishable. Bryson explains why that couldn’t be further from the truth and breaks down the clear-water flats, diverse habitats, and fish behavior that make this area so special. We also drift into flies, food sources, guiding in Alaska, and the people who shape us along the way.

Highlights of the Episode:

1. How the Texas coast is structured and why Port O’Connor sits in a uniquely diverse stretch of water
2. The three main zones Bryson fishes: backcountry marshes, island systems, and outside bay shorelines
3. Why wind and bottom type affect water clarity more than rivers on the Texas coast
4. Sight fishing for redfish and other flats species, including black drum, sheepshead, trout, and jack crevalle
5. Simplifying fly selection by prioritizing presentation and weight over exact imitation
6. When sizing down flies makes a difference and why confidence in your fly matters
7. Lessons from guiding in Alaska and how those experiences carry over to saltwater fishing
8. Where to eat in and around Port O’Connor after a long day on the flats

Resources:

1. Visit brysonstorieflyfishing.com
2. Middle Tennessee Fly Fishers Club
3. Visit southeasternfly.com
4. Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA

In this episode, we slow things down and reflect on a question that feels simple at first but carries a lot of weight once you sit with it: what really is the best seat on the river? We take a thoughtful ride through seasons, boats, friendships, and family, looking at how our perspective changes over time and how fly fishing has a way of marking those changes if we pay attention.

This one is less about tactics and more about people. It’s about watching anglers grow, roles shift, and moments pass that don’t always announce themselves while they’re happening. The river keeps moving, and so do we.

Highlights of the Episode:

1. Exploring the question of what truly makes the best seat on the river, from drift boats to gravel bars to warming up in the truck on a cold day.
2. A guide’s perspective on why the front seat of a drift boat offers such a unique view of the water and the fishing unfolding ahead.
3. A long-running story of a father and son who fished together for years, gradually improving their skills and deepening their relationship on the river.
4. The subtle but meaningful moment when the son insists his dad take the front seat, signaling a shift in roles shaped by time and experience.
5. Reflections on aging, gratitude, and recognizing special moments before they quietly pass.
6. The transition to a third generation, with a grandson now riding in the front seat and carrying family memories forward.
7. A reminder that the best seat on the river isn’t fixed. Sometimes it’s the front, sometimes the back, and sometimes it’s simply being there at all.

Resources:

1. Visit southeasternfly.com
2. Sign up for our newsletter

Produced by NOVA