The Articulate Fly

Episode OverviewIn this Casting Angles episode of The Articulate Fly, Master Casting Instructor Mac Brown of Mac Brown Fly Fish joins host Marvin Cash for a focused deep-dive into the reach mend — one of fly fishing's most foundational presentation tools, and one Mac argues has been quietly undervalued since Doug Swisher introduced it to American fly fishing in 1971. The conversation serves as both a how-to for beginners and a useful recalibration for intermediate anglers who have been fishing without it.Mac traces the technique to Swisher's landmark book Selective Trout, which he first read at age eight from his grandfather's copy and considers among the most significant contributions to the sport in the last hundred years. He breaks the reach mend down from first principles, distinguishing it clearly from the more complex reach cast: after the casting stroke is complete and the line is still in the air, the angler simply reaches the rod tip to the side, positioning the fly line upstream or downstream of the fly — a movement accessible to complete beginners that can transform a fleeting drift into a long, uninterrupted float with the fly line entirely out of the fish's window.Mac covers the reach mend across multiple real-world scenarios: cross-current presentations through mixed seams, straight upstream casts where the line would otherwise land across holding fish, and long downstream drifts on technical tailwaters. The episode also covers slipping line during a reach mend to extend presentation distance, and the drag-and-drop technique — casting well upstream and beyond a riser, lifting the rod tip to position the fly laterally, then tracking the rod downstream to drop the fly cleanly into the feeding lane. Marvin adds an important tactical counterpoint: a downstream mend can also be used to intentionally accelerate a streamer across a seam to trigger a reaction strike.Key TakeawaysHow a post-cast reach mend positions your fly line upstream and away from rising trout, turning a brief drift into a long, drag-free float that beginners can execute immediately after learning the conceptWhy the reach mend is fundamentally different from the reach cast — and why mastering the mend first removes the biggest barrier to consistent presentation for anglers at any levelWhen to slip line during a reach mend to extend presentation distance, without sacrificing accuracy or drag controlHow to execute the drag-and-drop technique — casting upstream and beyond a riser, lifting into position, then tracking the rod downstream — to drop a fly into a feeding lane without lining the fish or precision accuracyWhy a downstream mend can intentionally induce drag to accelerate a streamer across a current seam when you want to trigger a reaction strike rather than a drag-free driftTechniques &amp; Gear CoveredThe episode is devoted entirely to the reach mend and its related techniques, with Mac Brown providing a conceptual framework grounded in Swisher's Selective Trout and decades of guide school instruction. The core technique is the post-cast reach mend: after stopping the cast, and while the line is still unrolling, the angler reaches the rod tip to the upstream side to buy a drag-free window of time before the current grabs the fly line. This applies across presentation types — cross-stream casts through mixed currents, straight upstream casts where the line would otherwise fall on the fish, and long downstream presentations where only the fly should appear in the fish's window. Mac also covers the drag-and-drop approach, in which the angler lifts the fly line into position from an upstream-and-beyond cast, then tracks the rod downstream to lower the fly softly into the target lane without a direct presentation over the fish. Slipping line during the mend is discussed as a tool to extend reach. Marvin adds that the downstream mend inverts this logic for streamer fishing, using intentional drag to accelerate the fly across seams and trigger reaction strikes.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is a reach mend and how does it differ from a reach cast?A reach mend is a post-cast rod movement: after the casting stroke stops and the line is still unrolling in the air, the angler reaches the rod tip to the side — upstream or downstream — to position the fly line away from the target zone. The result is that only the fly (and not the line) enters the fish's window. In the case of an upstream reach mend, this technique also buys several seconds of drag-free drift before current tension catches up. A reach cast, by contrast, incorporates that lateral rod movement during the casting stroke itself, making it significantly more complex. Mac recommends learning the reach mend first because anyone — including complete beginners — can execute it immediately, and it delivers most of the same drag-control benefits.How do you execute a reach mend when fishing across mixed currents?In a cross-stream scenario with fast water between you and a slower holding lie, reach the rod tip upstream immediately after the cast stops — before the faster current grabs the fly line and creates drag. This buys enough time for the fly to drift naturally through the slow water without the line bellying downstream and pulling the fly across current.What is the drag-and-drop technique and when does it help for rising trout?The drag-and-drop lets you place a fly in a precise feeding lane without casting directly over the fish or precisely on target. You cast upstream and beyond the target, lift the fly line into lateral position, then track the rod downstream to lower the fly smoothly into the lane — all without the line or fly landing on top of the fish. This is especially useful during Sulphur and BWO hatches on tailwaters like the Watauga and South Holston, where fish are locked into tight feeding lanes and a fly dropped directly on the snout or with line overhead typically produces refusals or spooks. Mac notes that even a beginner can execute this with basic skills, and that you don't need the precision of an elite competition caster to make this technique work consistently.How does slipping line change the outcome of a reach mend?When you pinch the line during a reach mend, the fly lands closer than the initial cast would have carried it. When you slip line — releasing extra line during the mend — the fly travels further from you, extending presentation distance. Mac describes slipping line as the right tool when the holding lie or rising fish is farther out, allowing you to cover more water with the same mend without sacrificing drift quality.When should you mend downstream to induce drag rather than upstream to prevent it?A downstream mend is the right choice when you want to accelerate the fly, not slow it. Marvin notes that when fishing streamers across a current seam — particularly when you want the fly to zip past a rock, undercut bank, or holding spot — mending downstream puts intentional drag on the line, pulling the fly faster across the seam and triggering a reaction strike. This is the same basic principle as the upstream mend, just applied in reverse: instead of buying drift time, you're borrowing speed from the current.Related ContentS7, Ep 60 - Mastering the Drift: Technical Trout Tactics for Summer Success with Mac BrownS6, Ep 93 - Terrestrials, Drift and Teaching the Next Generation with Mac BrownS7, Ep 20 - Practice Makes Perfect: Mac Brown on Mastering Casting TechniquesS7, Ep 16 - Simplifying Complexity: Effective Teaching Strategies in Fly Fishing with Mac BrownS8, Ep 21 - Casting into Spring: Mac Brown Discusses Wild Trout Fishing and Upcoming ClassesConnect with Our GuestFollow Mac on&nbsp;Facebook,&nbsp;Instagram&nbsp;and&nbsp;Twitter.Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.Follow our <a href="https://thearticulatefly.substack.com" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Episode OverviewIn this Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides for an early summer conditions update on the Susquehanna River system in central Pennsylvania. With late spawners still working through a post-spawn funk and a stretch of volatile weather keeping temperatures yo-yoing between the 70s and the low 90s, Shumaker explains why the region hasn't fully transitioned to topwater mode — and what that means tactically for anglers on the water right now. He walks through his two-rod, split-presentation approach: one angler working poppers toward the banks to prospect for fish looking up while the other fishes streamers, Clouser Minnows and crayfish patterns off the banks for fish holding deeper. If the topside bite isn't producing, both anglers go under and adjust from there. Shumaker flags the appearance of blue damsels as his primary visual cue that the bug bite is imminent — a reliable seasonal indicator that, combined with warming temperatures, signals the topwater game is close to locking in for the summer and early fall. Forage development is tracking normally despite an unusual spring: small baitfish are present in expected numbers and crayfish are progressing on schedule, suggesting the full summer pattern is assembling without disruption. Both Shumaker and Marvin agree that early July is typically when the topwater game solidifies and runs through the end of the season, making late summer and early fall a prime window for anglers looking to get on the Susquehanna with a guide.Key TakeawaysHow to use a two-rod split approach — one angler on topwater and one subsurface — to efficiently read fish mood and adjust during early summer transition conditions on the Susquehanna.Why the appearance of blue damsels is a reliable biological indicator that sustained topwater smallmouth fishing is imminent, even when temperatures haven't yet fully flipped.When to expect the topwater game to solidify on Pennsylvania smallmouth rivers, with early July typically marking the turning point for consistent popper fishing through the rest of the season.How to work bank structure simultaneously from topside and subsurface angles — poppers toward the banks, streamers and crayfish patterns perpendicular off the banks — to cover the full feeding zone.Why forage tracking matters early in the season, and what normally developing baitfish and crayfish populations signal about the summer bite ahead.Techniques &amp; Gear CoveredShumaker's early summer approach centers on a simultaneous split-presentation strategy: one angler works topwater with poppers along the banks while the other fishes streamers, Clouser Minnows and crayfish patterns subsurface off the banks. The pairing functions as a real-time fish mood check — if the topside bite isn't firing, both anglers shift below the surface and dial in from there. Shimmering Minnow patterns are also in the subsurface rotation. Bank structure is the primary focus throughout, with poppers presented tight to cover and streamer or crayfish patterns cast perpendicular to probe fish holding off the bank.Locations &amp; SpeciesThe episode covers the Susquehanna River system in central Pennsylvania, which forms the backbone of Captain Brian Shumaker's Susquehanna River Guides operation. Smallmouth bass are the sole target species, with the fishery sitting in a transitional early summer window as late spawners finish shaking off post-spawn lethargy and conditions trend toward the full bug-and-topwater season. Temperatures are running below average for the time of year — mornings in the mid-50s, daytime highs in the 70s — with additional rain in the forecast, conditions that have delayed the full topwater transition but kept the subsurface bite productive. Both baitfish and crayfish forage are developing on a normal seasonal schedule, a positive signal that the Susquehanna's mid-summer smallmouth pattern should build on pace.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow should I approach Pennsylvania smallmouth fishing during the early summer transition before topwater locks in?Shumaker recommends starting every outing with topwater to test whether fish are looking up, then shifting one or both anglers to subsurface presentations if the topside bite isn't firing. The split-rod approach — one angler on poppers, one on streamers or crayfish patterns — lets you gather mood data on the fish in real time without committing the whole boat to a single presentation.What does it mean when blue damsels start appearing on Pennsylvania smallmouth rivers?Blue damselfly activity is one of Shumaker's key biological indicators that the transition to sustained topwater fishing is imminent. Once damsels are showing, anglers can expect the bug-driven bite to ramp up, with the full insect-driven topwater game typically locking in by early July and continuing through the rest of the season.When is the best time of year to book a guided trip on the Susquehanna for smallmouth bass?While smallmouth are catchable throughout the warmer months, Shumaker and Marvin agree that late September and early October represent a particularly attractive window — fish are shade-seeking and the sun is brutal through July and August, but angler comfort improves meaningfully as temperatures cool heading into fall. Booking windows currently remain open in late July, August, September and October.Why is forage development tracking an important check early in the smallmouth season?An unusual spring can shift the timing of baitfish and crayfish cycles, which in turn affects when smallmouth transition between different feeding behaviors. Shumaker notes that forage on the Susquehanna is running on a normal seasonal progression — neither ahead nor behind — suggesting the full summer bite should build predictably even after a stretch of erratic weather.How do weather and water temperature swings affect the topwater bite on Pennsylvania smallmouth water?Cooling fronts that push temperatures back into the 70s after brief spells near 90 are enough to reset fish behavior and delay the sustained topwater bite. Precipitation that clouds the water adds another layer of suppression; under those conditions Shumaker defaults to subsurface presentations and waits for water to clear and temperatures to stabilize before committing heavily to poppers.Related ContentS8, Ep 39 - High Water Strategies: Captain Brian Shumaker's Pennsylvania Smallmouth InsightsS8, Ep 34 - Frog Patterns and Fishing Strategies: Brian Shumaker's Late Spring Smallmouth ReportS8, Ep 31 - Chasing Smallmouth: Brian Shumaker's Adaptations for Unpredictable Spring WeatherS6, Ep 41 - Smallmouth Secrets and Streamer Savvy with Brendan RuchConnect with Our GuestFollow Brian on Facebook and Instagram.Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources.Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast.Join our Patreon community to support the show.If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options.Subscribe &amp; AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app.Think our community is a good fit for your brand? 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