Wild Fish Wild Places- Behind the Scenes

Big Bass Baits and lure designing with Bill Siemantel. Legendary bait designer, author and educator Bill Siemantel has many patents and designs to his name as well as a part of the Big Bass Zone. Bill has dedicated his life to targeting big bass and teaching others how to think differently about chasing fish. Denis and Bill talk about designing lures, big fish tactics and how Bill got started when he was 15 on some of the most famous California lakes around. You want to learn about big bass this is a good one! 

Buoy 10 opener was on fire and Jarod from Yakima Bait and Cody Herman from Day One Outdoors put an epic beat down on the fish! Jarod and Denis discuss funny stories and detailed tactics used to produce an insane amount of salmon on this popular fishery. The details are what separates limits and Jarod talks about all of the details of what made them successful as well as tips and tactics for the newest of fishermen wanting to tackle this fishery. 

Dave Brown from Okuma and Fishlab Tackle joins Denis to discuss ICAST 2021 and all of the exciting new things happening in the industry including some new Wake Bait designs that are hitting hard. Denis and the WFWP crew were fishing and filming smallmouth and largemouth bass on these wake baits along with the new rattle toad baits last week! How to fish them and some of the reasons these baits are crushing fish, not to mention just how much fun they are when the fish attack them on the surface!  

ICAST was Happening this year, Business was strong and orders were being placed! It was a smaller overall turnout but it seemed to be for the better of businesses. Steve Chapman from Get Ur Fish On and Tacklewebs joins Denis to discuss new products, new companies, friends within the industry and everything fishing related. This is a great podcast for anyone interested in this side of our complex business. 

One of the most incredible fly fishing destinations and species, "The Silver King" the Giant Tarpon from the lower keys!!! Denis and Jarvis from Monic Fly lines discuss their amazing trip to the Bahia Honda Sporting Club on Cudjoe Key. The Highs and Lows that surround this type of fishing and how the tarpon on the flats are emotionally similar to bugling in a big bull elk. Denis tells the story of the fish that were landed and in this game even more so than most The ONE That got away! 

The WFWP team just returned home from one of the most remote and wild filming locations EVER! Acklins Island is home to 500 square miles of untouched flats fishing and the team explored as much as possible. Justin, Abe and Denis talk about the trip, gear and adventure on this amazing trip. Bonefish were plentiful and the Barracuda were savage! Have a listen and enjoy, if you love fly fishing you will love this podcast  

The WFWP crew is headed to one of the most famous bonefish locations in the world, Acklins Island, Bahamas. This is one of the most wild and remote areas in the Bahamas with hundreds of miles of untouched flats fishing. Denis talks with Ryan Davey owner of Salina point Angling Adventures to discuss what to expect next week when they arrive to fish. Bonefish, Permit, Cuda and possibly tarpon. They discuss the tides, wind, fishing style and everything needed to prepare for a successful trip.  

March and April are a Fly Fisherman's dream for fishing Pyramid Lake for Giant Cutthroats. Nico from the BearFish Alliance and Denis talk about all of the details that could be the difference in making those big number fish days happen. Nico gives out his recipe for his own beetles, streamers and jig head flies with some YAK! We also discuss spots in the lake to target fish with an interesting twist! If you love fly fishing for big trout this one is for you! 

The famous Situk River is a tough environment to fish for Steelhead! Jarod and Denis spent 7 days fishing and struggled with more conventional tactics for a couple days even getting skunked on day 2! Jarod and Denis walk through every detail, step by step dissecting every detail and the science behind what changed the game to eventually landing 16 steelhead the last day. 

Brian Oakland and Denis breakdown last weeks Steelhead fishing trip to the famous Situk River in Alaska with Yakutat Lodge. Fly fishing was a struggle but we break down the technical aspects, fish run, drifts and some great stories behind the scenes. Brian compares this river to other Steelhead rivers and how they fish so much different as well as gear used and lost ...  a lot of gear LOST! 

The only place in the world where you stand on a ladder to fly fish...Pyramid lake. Brian Oakland and Denis talk about fly fishing from ladders but from the other side of the lake. The WFWP crew shuttled their ladders across the lake to try and determine if the big fish are there and eating bugs or if the majority of the big fish are on the other side preparing to spawn. It was a tough couple days but the crew catches some fish and makes the most out of three days on the water. 

Fishing legend Buzz Ramsey and Denis discuss the incredibly tough Steelhead fishing this year and the upcoming forecasted High Volume run of coho salmon headed our way. We discuss Buzz's recent retirement, what he has been doing and some strategies targeting steelhead and Coho.  

Kris Urqhart, NDOW biologist joins Denis to discuss big Wipers and how they live in local reservoirs. The challenges of managing fisheries in the driest state in the country, conditions of our western reservoirs, fish planting forecast and life cycles of walleye, wipers, largemouth, whitebass, catfish and carp locally. The guys dive into depth with science and what to expect in the upcoming years for our local fishery.   

Steve Chapman from Fishing Florida Radio and Denis discuss the future of fishing, ICAST being officially open and what the industry is looking like as a whole. Denis and Steve also discuss the old days of getting a fishing radio show and TV show off the ground, the classic days of ICAST and how things have stayed the same but differ over the years. 

Abe Blair talks about his 18 pound Rainbow Trout as the light faded at the end of a long day. Jessica and Denis talk with Abe and tell stories of the outpost camp at Estancia Laguna Verde on Jurassic Lake that has recently been opened up. A different look and feel to the fishing as well as giant rainbow trout that haven't been touched. This is a fun episode with a ton of character. 

Jessica Isbister discusses growing up only fishing with marshmallows and worms as a kid, getting re-introduced to fishing and how it has changed her life. She talks about what it's like to be married to a fishing superstar who is referred to as the "Brad Pitt" of the fishing world LOL but seriously, what it is like fly fishing at Jurassic Lake, rainbows in Nevada and Pyramid Lake and the transition from Marshmallows and Worms to what she has accomplished today. 

Brad Stout one of the best big trout fishermen around talks about his Epic Trout, a recent switch to targeting trout on the fly and general tactics for specifically targeting the trout of a lifetime. 

Kamchatka Russia is on every fly fisherman's bucket list! Denis and Dreu got to experience the Two Yurt Float trip for a week of rainbow fishing they will never forget. 

Denis talks with Jarvis from Monic Fly Line about the science behind the fly lines, how they are building new species specific lines and tapers and targeting big fish. Plus a surprise visit from the owner Bob who just had a pivotal birthday who shares a Giant Brown Trout story from Tierra Del Fuego. 

Timmy Washington and Denis discuss fishing differences and similarities fly fishing and conventional fishing Pyramid Lake. How the two are related and differences, how learning one can help with the other. This along with some SoCal bass fishing tactics chasing that one giant bucket mouth.