Troutbitten In Deep is available as a video on Troutbitten YouTube and in audio podcast format everywhere you find your podcasts.
Links to both formats are embedded below.
The Troutbitten In Deep Interview series is here! This project has been in development for about a year, and we’re excited to kick it off.
In Deep is a video podcast series for conversations that dive into the details of focused topics — no fluff, just concentrated, sometimes technical talk from experienced anglers and industry professionals.
You can find this conversation in both video and audio podcast form. (Links to both are below.)
These In Deep interviews are another extension of the Troutbitten Project, and we’ll mix these in with the full-crew format and the Skills Series format for the Troutbitten Project. This fall, we have Craig Matthews joining In Deep, and you’ll hear Devin Olsen sometime in November.
Our first In Deep guest is my friend, John Shaner. With a career spanning five decades, Shaner has worked for influential companies like Hardy and Cortland, while connecting with seemingly every fishy angler in the industry. Shaner is widely regarded for his technical fly fishing skills and encyclopedic, historical knowledge of both traditional and modern tactics.
In this conversation, John Shaner and I go In Deep on dry fly leader design. John and I share a similar philosophy, with just a few individual twists on the overarching principals.
Sincere thanks to John Shaner, for a fantastic conversation.
Fish hard, friends.
Resources
READ: Troutbitten | Dry Fly Fishing — The George Harvey Leader Design
VIDEO: Troutbitten | The Harvey Dry Leader — Design, Adjustment and Fishing Tips
John Shaner’s Favorite Dry Leader
48” .019 Chameleon
36” .017 Chameleon
12″ .015 Chameleon
8″ .013 Chameleon
8″ .012 Chameleon
8″ .010 Chameleon
8″ .009 Chameleon
12″ .008 Nylon Tippet
12″ .007 Nylon Tippet
12-18″ .006 Nylon Tippet
36-60″ .005 Nylon Tippet
Here’s the video . . .
Listen with the player above, or . . .
Find the Troutbitten podcast on any of these services:
— Apple Podcasts
— Spotify
— Google Podcasts
— Amazon Music
. . . and everywhere else where you listen to podcasts.
You can find the dedicated Troutbitten Podcast page at . . .
Also check out the Troutbitten YouTube channel, featuring the Troutbitten Tips series, Fish and Film, the Troutbitten Fly Box, Fly Fishing the Mono Rig, the Riverside series and now . . . the In Deep Interview series, all in their own playlists on Troutbitten YouTube.
Season Seventeen of the Troutbitten Podcast begins on October 19th. So look for it in your Troutbitten podcast feed.
Fish hard, friends.
** Donate ** If you enjoy this podcast, please consider a donation. Your support is what keeps this Troutbitten project funded. Scroll below to find the Donate Button. And thank you.
Enjoy the day.
Domenick Swentosky
T R O U T B I T T E N
domenick@troutbitten.com
You couldn’t have had a more enthusiastic and knowledgeable fly fishing expert than John. I’ve known John from the early 80’s when he worked in the local shop here in CNY. He helped us every year with the Trout Unlimited Fly Fishing School as one of our instructors. A wonderful ambassador to fly fishermen and a walking encyclopedia of everything fly fishing. I liked his approach to fly selection which he taught me many years ago…fish with the fly you have the most confidence in. Thank you for a wonderful podcast.
Great stuff there.
John is also known for his extensive knowledge of soft hackled flies.. maybe another podcast topic?
Pure gold!! I will be watching this over and over. I had not heard of John Shaner previously, so I am grateful for your sharing his wit and wisdom. Looking forward to what you have in store for the next edition of In Depth. Thanks Dom!
One of the best Troutbitten podcasts to date. Can’t wait for more of the “In-Deep” episodes! Thanks Dom!
THANKS
Hello Troutbitten folks!
Another great podcast.
Nymphing (or my previous inability to get nymphs to do what I wanted) brought me here. Since then, I’ve taken away much more than the mono-rig from y’all. Thank you so much!
I have two questions that I’d love to hear your feedback on…
I’ve been fishing some smaller water, and just closer-in to the fish I’m chasing in general than maybe is typical. My problem is that with longer leaders (like the Harvey or Shaner’s formula), the tip of my fly line is below my tip-top guide. When that’s the case, I really fight a losing fight to keep my line from not falling back to my reel. What can I do to keep this from happening? Any tips are appreciated.
My other question is also related to fishing close in (and stealth, in general). When I’m fishing calm and clear waters, I try (as I assume most do) to keep my presence minimal (well, really always…but I’m definitely thinking about it more when I can’t hear the water). This is easy enough, until I go to strip line off my reel. I’m curious why a lot of folks seem to love loud, click-pawl reels. They are LOUD! I see other folks, creeping around out there, and then ripping line off. Do people think that talking and other noise matters more than a sound that can be easily associated with fishing? (I’m really trying to talk myself into using my hand-me-down reel, cause I love everything ELSE about it)
Many thanks, keep up the good work!
Great listen! Any chance of you selling John’s dry fly formula? Thanks,
Thanks. No, probably not. But honestly, my favorite Harvey inspired formula is better. 😉
Cheers.
Dom
John’s leader formula is complex and just sourcing the multiple diameters is a formidable task. I just spent a chunk of time trying find a single source with no luck. And, Cameleon leaders appear for sale spec’d in lbs-strength, not diameters.
As far as I can find, nobody sells “John Shaner” Leaders. What to do?
Hi Joe,
John’s leader has just two extra sections. I don’t think it’s more complex.
What to do? Just tie up a Harvey leader and love you’re life. They’re also for sale here:
https://troutbitten.com/shop/product/troutbitten-george-harvey-dry-leader/
The Maxima website is a great place to buy Maxima Chameleon. Prices are good, inventory is always there, and they ship fast.
https://www.maximafishingline.com/
Have fun out there.
Dom