Podcast appearances and mentions of john herzer

The days in the lives of fly fishing guides tend to bleed together and not until they sit down and ruminate do the juices begin to flow. Take John Herzer, owner of Blackfoot River Outfitters in Missoula, Montana. Herzer swore up and down that he didn't have any interesting stories to tell from his thirty-plus years as a river guide and impassioned backcountry hunter, but once we cornered him, John conjured a treasure trove of adventures from field and stream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final Crown of the Continent episode, we are chatting with an O.G. guide and outfitter of Missoula, John Herzer.  John has fished and guided the Dearborn River in nearly its entirety over the last thirty years.  The Dearborn is a gem within the Crown of the Continent Proposal and Herzer is here to share why protection of this watershed is so important.  Be sure to tune into our Montana Headwaters Legacy Act portion of the River Ramble, airing January 7, 2021. 

This week’s main topic is the Smith River in Montana, a near-wilderness river that requires a five-day float and is on many fly fishers’ wish lists. It is definitely on mine. To talk about fishing and floating the Smith, and a threat to its pristine ecosystem, my guests are John Herzer, a veteran of many decades of floating the Smith, and David Brooks, executive director on Montana Trout Unlimited. In the Fly Box this week you can enjoy the following tips and questions: Why do I see carp jumping at the base of a dam like salmon on their spawning run? What is an economical way to explore new rivers without always hiring a guide? Can I use braided leaders for carp? How can I do better when setting the hook on quick-striking brook trout? What is the best way to attach a leader to a fly line if you don’t have a welded loop on the end? How can I catch smallmouths lying in eight feet of water next to a large boulder? A listener tip on how to use a polarizing filter on an Iphone (or similar smartphone).

This week the main event is a chat with John Herzer, owner of Blackfoot River Outfitters and one of the savviest anglers and guides I know.  John talks about late fall and winter fishing in the Missoula area, although the solid tips he gives would work anywhere in the world when you encounter colder conditions.  Also in the Fly Box we discuss wet flies vs. nymphs and when to use them, single-handed steelhead rods that also work for bass and salt water, night fishing for rainbow trout (don’t), native fish species, and my brilliant career picking flies out of carpets.  

Join Western Big Game Hunting Guide Jay Scott as he talks with experienced fly fishing guide and outfitter John Herzer of Blackfoot River Outfitters about the fantastic fishing and waters near the Missoula, Montana Area including the Clark Fork, Bitterroot, Blackfoot and Rock Creek.  Other topics include: Streamer fishing techniques and strategies, flies and setups, hatches including the Skwala's and Salmon Flies and get the Spring and Summer 2015 forecast and much more! Download and Subscribe to "Jay Scott Outdoors Western Big Game Hunting and Fishing Podcast brought to you by goHUNT.com Insider" on iTunes or Podbean.  It's FREE! www.JayScottOutdoors.comwww.ColburnandScottOutfitters.comwww.GouldsTurkeyHunt.comJay Scott Outdoors facebookJay Scott Outdoors YouTube ChannelInstagram @JayScottOutdoorsFor more on our guest John Herzer of Blackfoot River OutfittersBlackfoot River Outfitters WebsiteBlackfoot River Outfitters facebookBlackfoot River Outfitters Instagram  

  Warning—this week’s podcast, besides the usual Fly Box questions, contains a blatant commercial plug.  I am often asked the difference between the original Helios and Helios 2 rods, and I think we have spelled it out pretty well in our marketing, but I figured a better way was to ask some of the best anglers and testers in the industry to articulate the differences they see between the two rods.  So you’ll hear interviews with people like Brian O’Keefe, Spencer Higa, Dave and Amelia Jensen, and John Herzer—but the real treat is to hear what the amazing Hank Patterson has to say about H2 rods.  I think you will enjoy all of these, but of course for the real truth don’t miss Hank’s interview.