PODCAST: Know the River or Know Your Tactics? What Puts More Trout In the Net? (S15, Ep2)

by | Apr 28, 2025 | 2 comments

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Here’s a topic that starts with an interesting question: What puts more trout in the net? Is it knowing your water or knowing your tactics?

Of course, the easy answer is . . . both. Refine your skills and learn your rivers. Then put all of that together, and you have a great formula, not only for catching trout but for having a lot of fun.

The truth is, as frequent anglers we’re always involved in improving. It goes way beyond filling the fly box with new patterns. We know our deficiencies, and we’re working to fix them. We also know you can only really tackle one thing at a time. So if you’re out there fishing, or maybe even on the way to your next fishing trip, what are you working on? Really, what will put more fish in the net? Is it better to focus on the tactics and techniques, or is it better to learn the river itself? Basically, that means reading water better and finding fish.

So we’re looking forward to this discussion. It’s a good concept, and we all have some opinions.

My friends, Matt Grobe, Bill Dell and Austin Dando join me for a great discussion.

Listen with the player above, or . . .

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Season Fifteen of the Troutbitten Podcast continues next week. So look for episode three in your Troutbitten podcast feed.

Fish hard, friends.

 

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Enjoy the day.
Domenick Swentosky
T R O U T B I T T E N
domenick@troutbitten.com

 

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Domenick Swentosky

Central Pennsylvania

Hi. I’m a father of two young boys, a husband, author, fly fishing guide and a musician. I fish for wild brown trout in the cool limestone waters of Central Pennsylvania year round. This is my home, and I love it. Friends. Family. And the river.

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2 Comments

  1. Here’s a thought experiment. A superb angler fishes a river for the first time. An angler with questionable technical skills who has fished the same river for the past twenty years also fishes it. Who will catch more fish?

    Reply
  2. I was listening to this podcast as I drove home from the creek. The comments about “what the heck happened” hit home as it was one of those days.

    Reply

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Domenick Swentosky

Central Pennsylvania

Hi. I’m a father of two young boys, a husband, author, fly fishing guide and a musician. I fish for wild brown trout in the cool limestone waters of Central Pennsylvania year round. This is my home, and I love it. Friends. Family. And the river.

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