Fly Fishing Consultant Podcast

The second part of Rob and Producer Jason's journey along the West Branch of the Delaware River. They drift for two days, traveling from Deposit to Balls Eddy, fish the evening hatch, then sleep in the back of their cars. Rob narrates his observations of the cold river and its environment as he takes in the sights around him. Trout are feeding, rise forms dimple the surface, and the duo cast imitations of caddis and mayflies to the rising fish throughout their trip. The first day features windy weather and  bad shore lunch. The second day sees calm wind currents, a reduction in anglers on the river, another dodgy lunch, and a beautiful sunset. The third day turns out to be a washout as a massive thunderstorm stalls over the mountains. Rob says goodbye to Jason and makes his way to New Jersey to meet up with his girlfriend and her cousins. He hadn’t anticipated spending the afternoon by the trout streams of the Garden State. Old Lady Forever [https://www.instagram.com/oldladyforever/?hl=en]Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Rob has been captivated by the West Branch of the Delaware River since last August when he fished there for the first time. He has been eager to return and this time, he plans to bring his raft and Producer Jason along. The first part of this adventure starts with Rob organizing the trip from home, communicating with Jason over the phone, and preparing his girlfriend for the journey. She’ll only be going partway and won’t be fishing. Rob and Caitlin make the drive from Northern Virginia to Bethlehem, PA, and then Rob follows Jason to Hancock, NY. They require two vehicles to navigate the river. Tune in as Rob outlines the trip, including packing his FlyCraft for it’s inaugural river float, along with the details shared between Rob and Jason. At this point they have no idea where they will eat, sleep, or put the boat in and take it out.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Writer Monte Burke joins Rob to talk about his experiences in fishing and literature. Rob has been an admirer of Monte’s work for many years, whether through his hardcover books, articles in Forbes, or features in outdoor magazines. Monte shares anecdotes from his writing journey, including tales about his mentors, hard-tail fish, and the guiding figures who have supported him throughout his career. His book, Lords of the Fly: Madness, Obsession and the Hunt for the World-Record Tarpon, was described by the Wall Street Journal as “wonderful…a lush, panoramic book. Monte’s latest book Rivers Always Reach the Sea: Angling Stories is now available.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Rob drove down to Fredericksburg, Virginia for some late-season shad fishing. After the shad depart, the striped bass, spotted gar, and northern snakehead make their appearance. After parking at Falmouth Beach, Rob strides across the sand to the primary river channel, where he galavants above and below the Route 1 bridge. This bridge signifies the tidal fall line on the Rappahannock River. Two weeks later, Rob asks Misty to join him for more escapades. Will the stunning weather help? Should Rob fish a single fly or tandem rig? These are the waters Rob fished during his college years in Fredericksburg in the late 1990s. Misty remarks that there are no elephants or tigers for Rob to be concerned about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Rob gave a talk about urban shad fishing on April 17, 2025. From the Maryland Chapter Trout Unlimited newsletter: Rob Snowhite is a highly regarded fly fishing guide who has been operating in urban and suburban waters around Washington DC for nearly thirty years. He is the host of The Fly Fishing Consultant Podcast, which is currently in its 16th year. Rob’s hand-tied flies are true masterpieces and have successfully caught fish around the globe. Join us Thursday April 17 for Rob's talk on all things urban shad fishing in the DC area. Rob will also have some of his shad flies available for purchase during the talk. Come early and bring a vise. We will be tying up some shad flies before the talk! robsnowhite.com shad headquarters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]