Mike Schultz joins The Butcher Shop to deliver a comprehensive deep dive into the Swingin' D, one of predator fly fishing's most effective swim patterns for targeting smallmouth bass in Michigan rivers. This detailed conversation traces the pattern's evolution from its early 2000s origins through modern 2.0 variations, exploring the critical role of Larry Dahlberg's diver head design in creating the fly's signature side-to-side action. Mike shares the problem he was solving—creating a fly that would hang and move horizontally rather than just vertically like traditional leech and crayfish patterns. He walks through material selection spanning over 15 years of refinement, from the original beads-and-wire construction to today's shank-based articulated designs. The discussion covers tactical presentation details including optimal water temperatures (45-50°F+), rod and intermediate line selection, retrieve cadences and the importance of fishing at proper angles to achieve maximum action. Mike also provides updates on Schultz Outfitters' new e-commerce platform and upcoming events including the fourth annual Bobbin the Hood.

1. How to achieve unpredictable horizontal swim action by properly selecting and seating Rainy's diver heads, which create side-to-side darting movement that mimics wounded baitfish when fished at 45-degree angles on intermediate lines.
2. Why the Swingin' D fills a critical gap in predator fly boxes by suspending in the strike zone and allowing precise depth control through strategic weighting with lead wraps or tungsten scud bodies balanced against the buoyant foam head.
3. When to fish the Swingin' D most effectively—peak performance occurs in 45-50°F+ water during late March through May when smallmouth are aggressive and feeding in shallow 2-4 foot zones.
4. How to construct durable 2.0 versions using The Chocklett Factory shanks, Senyo micro shank connections, Ahrex XO 774 rear hooks and Gamakatsu 2/0 worm hooks up front to prevent hook failures and maximize hookups.
5. Why proper head selection and orientation matters—wider heads with substantial collars produce aggressive side-to-side action for cold water while narrower heads swim tighter for warmer conditions.

Mike emphasizes the Swingin' D's effectiveness stems from proper presentation on intermediate lines using 7-8 weight rods like the G. Loomis IMX Pro V2 or his signature NRX+ Swim Fly. The fly excels when fished at 45-degree angles from a moving boat, using erratic strip-and-pause retrieves that allow the Dahlberg diver head to create horizontal darting action. Keeling techniques using .020-.030 lead wire or Hareline tungsten scud bodies balance the buoyant foam head to achieve desired depth penetration. Mike details construction using articulated shanks (The Chocklett Factory, Senyo micro shanks), Ahrex XO 774 universal curve rear hooks and Gamakatsu 2/0 worm hooks up front, incorporating materials like Senyo's Predator Wrap, Whiting hen saddles, mallard flank and Blane Chocklett's rattle boxes. Leaders run 4-7 feet terminating in 15-16lb fluorocarbon tied with loop knots to the fly with no swivels. The pattern's versatility allows customization through flash colors, head widths and weight placement to match conditions ranging from high spring flows to lower summer levels.

Casting instructor Mac Brown joins host Marvin Cash on The Articulate Fly for another Casting Angles conversation, this time focused on the upcoming Edison Fly Fishing Show and the casting education landscape. This episode offers serious fly anglers essential insights into proper casting fundamentals, debunking common myths about distance casting and the overemphasis on double hauling in favor of loop control and efficiency. Mac and Marvin discuss their collaborative teaching approach at major fly fishing shows including Marlborough and Edison, where Mac teaches alongside legends like Gary Borger and Glenda Powell. The conversation emphasizes foundational casting mechanics that can eliminate 85-90% of common casting problems, the critical importance of systems thinking in fly fishing and the distinction between efficient movement patterns versus exhausting casting movements. Whether you're preparing for saltwater fishing or simply want to cast more efficiently with less effort, this episode provides the framework for building a solid casting foundation that makes learning advanced techniques far easier.

1. How to eliminate up to 90% of your casting problems by mastering foundational mechanics rather than chasing advanced techniques like the double haul
2. Why loop control and loop efficiency are the true keys to distance casting, with proper technique often outperforming hauling attempts
3. When to prioritize learning line shooting and efficient loop formation over the overrated double haul
4. How to cast more efficiently by incorporating full arm movement instead of relying on wrist-only casting that leads to fatigue and other issues
5. Why having a systematic process framework prevents anglers from collecting unrelated data points from videos and demos that create more problems than solutions

This episode focuses entirely on casting fundamentals and educational methodology rather than specific gear. Mac and Marvin emphasize loop control, loop efficiency and proper line shooting as the foundation of effective casting. They discuss the importance of power, path and pause, full arm incorporation versus wrist casting and the efficiency of movement patterns. The conversation challenges the American obsession with double hauling, noting that proper roll casting technique can achieve greater distance than poor hauling attempts. For saltwater applications where most fish are caught at 55 feet and closer, mastering these fundamentals proves far more valuable than advanced techniques built on a weak foundation.

While this episode doesn't focus on specific fisheries or waters, Mac references saltwater fishing applications where understanding realistic casting distances matters most. The discussion acknowledges that the majority of saltwater fish are caught at 55 feet and closer, making efficient short to medium-range casting far more practical than extreme distance work. The conversation takes place in the context of major East Coast fly fishing shows (Marlborough, Massachusetts and Edison, New Jersey) where anglers from across the region gather to improve their skills. Mac's upcoming teaching schedule spans coast to coast, including stops at Bellevue and Lancaster, reflecting the national scope of casting education needs.

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash sits down with Tim Flagler to explore his lesser-known culinary journey and preview his extensive 2026 hosted travel schedule. While most fly fishers recognize Tim from his renowned tying videos and work at Tightline Productions, this conversation reveals his parallel passion for cooking and food that parallels his fly tying expertise. The discussion traces Tim's evolution from childhood family meals at the Jersey Shore through his mother's and grandmother's influence to his current fascination with Asian cooking techniques, particularly Japanese, Chinese and Thai cuisine. Tim shares cooking philosophy centered on sourcing quality ingredients, constant tasting during preparation and proper knife skills while detailing his upcoming 2026 adventures including golden dorado fishing on Argentina's Ibera Marsh, trophy brown trout on the Limay River, northern pike and bull trout in British Columbia's Northern Rockies and steelhead on Lake Erie. The conversation also touches on Tim's ongoing fly tying innovations focused on creating mottled, natural-looking patterns that better imitate the mottled appearance of living aquatic insects.

1. How Tim's family food traditions at the Jersey Shore mirror the collaborative, process-driven approach he brings to fly tying and teaching
2. Why sourcing the best possible ingredients and tasting constantly throughout preparation are the two most critical elements of successful cooking
3. How to book Tim's 2026 hosted trips to Argentina for golden dorado and trophy brown trout, British Columbia for northern pike and bull trout or Lake Erie for winter steelhead
4. How Tim is incorporating mottled, multi-colored patterns in his fly designs to better imitate the natural mottled appearance of living aquatic insects that signals protein to feeding trout

Tim discusses his ongoing fly tying evolution focused on creating mottled appearances in patterns rather than solid single colors, based on close observation and video documentation of living aquatic macroinvertebrates. He explains how blotches of different colors signal life and protein to feeding fish, making these techniques potentially more effective than traditional solid-colored flies. The conversation touches on trout spey casting as one of Tim's seminar topics at upcoming Fly Fishing Shows. Tim also draws parallels between cooking and fly tying, emphasizing that both crafts require quality materials, proper tools (sharp knives in cooking, quality hackle and partridge in tying) and understanding fundamental techniques before attempting complex work.

Tim's 2026 hosted travel schedule spans diverse fisheries across multiple continents targeting various species. In Argentina, he hosts trips to the Ibera Marsh for golden dorado, classic Patagonia rivers including the Chimehuin, Collon Cura and Limay for trout, and a six-day camping float on the Limay River targeting trophy brown trout. His North American destinations include Spruce Creek in Pennsylvania, the Kootenai River in northwest Montana for rainbows,...