Troutbitten Podcast By Domenick Swentosky cover art

Troutbitten

Troutbitten

By: Domenick Swentosky
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Life on the water. Troutbitten is a deep dive into fly fishing for wild trout in wild places. Author and guide, Domenick Swentosky, shares stories, tips, tactics and conversations with friends about fly fishing through the woods and water. Explore more. Fish hard. And discover fly fishing at Troutbitten.com — an extensive resource with 1500+ articles about trout, friends, family and the river.

© 2026 Troutbitten
Episodes
  • Burnout
    Apr 27 2026

    A life on the water is an everyday thing. When we’re not fishing, we’re thinking about it. We’re preparing for it. We’re learning about it. I text with friends almost daily about river conditions and hatches. I drive beside the river just to see it — even though that route takes a few extra minutes.

    We've all seen die hard anglers living their life on the water -- and then it just goes away. Rising and fading interests are part of human nature. But we've also met plenty of anglers who lament the fact that their waders have been gathering dust for two years.

    Burnout starts with the small things — sleeping in instead of getting out early, or skipping the evening spinner fall in favor of an earlier dinner. And then, almost without realizing it, you’ve missed a whole season because you made excuses about low water or crowded streams.

    I think burnout is involuntary. It creeps up and surprises people, but I don't think it has to. Fishing gets old because it becomes average, because some of the mystery or exploration is gone — maybe it becomes predictable. But all of that can be changed with a few intentional decisions, too.

    My good friends Bill Dell, Trevor Smith, Josh Darling, Austin Dando and Matt Grobe are here with me to talk about . . . burnout.

    Resources

    READ: Troutbitten | All the Things
    READ: Troutbitten | How to Stay in the Game for a Lifetime
    PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fishing Buddies S5, Ep12


    Visit

    Troutbitten Website

    Troutbitten Instagram

    Troutbitten YouTube

    Troutbitten Facebook

    Thanks to TroutRoutes:

    Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
    https://maps.troutroutes.com

    Thanks to Skwala

    Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
    https://skwalafishing.com/

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • What About Luck?
    Apr 20 2026

    For Season 19 of the Troutbitten Podcast, we're adding the video component, with the same conversation on both the audio and video side. So you'll still find the audio version of the podcast on Apple, Spotify and every other platform, and now you'll find a video of the podcast conversation on the Troutbitten YouTube channel.

    The new video format is full of creative possibilities, and we're excited about the future of the podcast.

    Incidentally, podcasts will now publish on Mondays at 3:30 p.m. EST, instead of Sundays. (YouTube hates Sunday evenings.)

    Our conversation for episode one is all about luck. And we want to talk about how luck plays into things out there. Do we rely on it? Do we surrender to it? Do we look for it?

    From the beginning, luck and fishing were intertwined. It became part of our anglers’ lore. And while good luck has surely saved countless fishing trips, bad luck continues to doom the best laid plans of a fisherman.

    Great trout fishing is rarely the result of good luck. And if the experience was up to the fish and to fate, I’d hardly pick up a fishing rod. Success on the water is not a slot machine. It’s more like a game of poker, where you play the hand you’re given and try to fool your adversary. Sometimes the cards you’re holding almost guarantee success. Then the next day Mother Nature might deal you a hand, where pulling a couple of fish is a grand achievement.

    My good friends Trevor Smith, Josh Darling, Austin Dando and Matt Grobe join me to begin Season 19.

    Resources

    READ: Troutbitten | It's Not Luck
    READ: Troutbitten | Waiting On Luck
    READ: Troutbitten | Fish It Anyway

    Visit

    Troutbitten Website

    Troutbitten Instagram

    Troutbitten YouTube

    Troutbitten Facebook

    Thanks to TroutRoutes:

    Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
    https://maps.troutroutes.com

    Thanks to Skwala

    Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
    https://skwalafishing.com/

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Dry Fly Platforms - The Outliers and The Wrap Up - The Troutbitten Fly Box
    Mar 15 2026

    This Troutbitten Skills Series and these platforms are an effort to pass along the idea that fly selection doesn’t have to be regimented or complicated. Instead, see flies for what they have in common. Find their similarities rather than their differences. Choose the elements that matter most to you. Find the components of a fly that create enough of a distinction to be the keys to a platform, and build around that idea.

    I do think some things are undeniable, and almost every angler is going to classify a parachute the same way. That might be true for upright hackles and down wings too.

    But I’m sure you’ve noticed that the further we got into this season, the less specific each platform became. And again, that’s just because there are only so many things you can put on a dry fly and still have it be successful.

    Most of the more recent flies designed take their cues from what came before them. Honestly, I assume that will hold true going into the future too.

    My friends Bill Dell, Austin Dando and Matt Grobe join me for the conclusion of Season 18.


    Resources

    PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fly Tying - Essential Tools and More (S17 Ep9)
    READ: Troutbitten | Pattern vs Presentation
    PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fishing Dry Flies - Dry Fly Skills Series (S12)


    Visit

    Troutbitten Website

    Troutbitten Instagram

    Troutbitten YouTube

    Troutbitten Facebook

    Thanks to TroutRoutes:

    Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
    https://maps.troutroutes.com

    Thanks to Skwala

    Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
    https://skwalafishing.com/

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 10 mins
All stars
Most relevant
The Troutbitten website is my goto for information on fly-fishing tactics. The podcast is usable, accessible, and fun. The conversations with Troutbitten crew feels like sitting around a campfire after a day on the river. The tips, tactics, and stories are always entertaining but more importantly have helped me become a better fly angler. I highly recommend the Troutbitten podcast and accompanying website.

If you love fly-fishing listen to this podcast

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