The thestillwateredge’s Podcast

How to Break Down a New Lake in 30 Minutes for More Trout

Showing up to a brand new lake can feel overwhelming but it doesn’t have to. In this episode of the Stillwater Edge Podcast, guide and educator Greg Keenan shares a proven 30-minute system for breaking down any stillwater quickly and effectively. Learn how to identify the three key zones of a lake (littoral, transitional, and deep), locate structure, and use smart rigging strategies to cover multiple depths. Discover how to fish fast with purpose, read lake clues, and find trout without wasting hours guessing.
Whether you’re fishing solo, with limited time, or just want to step up your stillwater game, this approach will help you fish smarter and catch more trout from the start.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How to identify the 3 key zones of a lake
Why the littoral zone is the #1 feeding area for trout
How to spot structure and intersecting habitats that hold fish
Rigging two rods to cover multiple depths at once
How to fish fast but with purpose to dial in trout locations
Key signs from the lake that tell you where the fish are feeding
Want More:Want more Stillwater fly fishing tips, guides, and resources? Subscribe to the channel and visit theStillwaterEdge.com for free PDFs, courses, and guided trip options.

Do Moon Phases Affect Trout? Fly Fishing the Lunar Cycle Explained

Intro:You’ve got the flies, the gear, and the perfect conditions yet the fishing is dead. The missing piece? It might just be the moon. In this episode, discover how lunar phases influence trout feeding windows and how to use them to your advantage.
Episode Description:Moon phases don’t just matter for tides they also shape trout behavior in stillwaters. In this episode of the Stillwater Edge Podcast, Greg Keenan breaks down the facts versus the fluff around lunar cycles. Learn why full moons often lead to slower daytime fishing, why new moons can be a hidden gem for hungry trout, and how moonrise and moonset create short but powerful feeding windows. If you want to stack the odds in your favor, understanding the moon could be your secret edge.
Key Topics Covered:
Why moon phases matter (even without tides)
Full moon myths and realities for daytime fishing
Why the new moon is overlooked but productive
How moonrise and moonset trigger short feeding bursts
Combining moon data with hatches and weather for the best results
Logging trips to spot lunar patterns in your fishing
Want More :Want more proven Stillwater tips and gear strategies? Subscribe to the Stillwater Edge Podcast and visit stillwateredge.com for free guides, resources, and guided trip options.

Seasonal Trout Behavior in Stillwaters Spring vs Fall

If you fish spring and fall the same way, you’re leaving trout on the table. In this episode, discover the five key differences in trout behavior that will help you adapt your approach and catch more fish year-round.
Episode Description:Trout may be the same species, but their behavior in spring and fall could not be more different. In this episode of the Stillwater Edge Podcast, Greg Keenan breaks down the five seasonal shifts every angler needs to understand: water temperature trends, food availability, depth and location, activity levels, and weather stability. Learn how to adjust your tactics so you’re not missing fish by using the wrong seasonal strategy. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been fishing stillwaters for years, these insights will sharpen your seasonal approach and get you dialed in faster.
Key Topics Covered:
Why warming vs cooling water temperatures change trout metabolism
The seasonal diet shift: chironomids and scuds vs minnows and leeches
How trout location and depth vary between spring and fall
Behavioral changes: scattered fish vs schooling and aggressive cruising
The role of weather stability and turnover in both seasons
Practical tips to adapt your fishing strategy for more consistent success
Want More SWE:Enjoyed this breakdown? Subscribe to the Stillwater Edge Podcast for more seasonal tactics, and visit stillwateredge.com for free guides, in-depth courses, and guided trip options.

Stillwater Leader Setup with Tippet Rings & Swivels

Episode Title:Stillwater Leader Setup with Tippet Rings & Swivels
Intro:Two tiny upgrades tippet rings and micro swivels can save leaders, reduce line twist, and keep your flies in the strike zone longer.
Episode Description:Most stillwater anglers focus on rods and lines but ignore the micro gear that makes everything work better. In this quick episode, Greg explains how tippet rings and micro swivels upgrade your leader system. You’ll learn how they extend leader life, simplify rigging, prevent line twist, and improve presentations under indicators and while stripping flies.
Key Topics Covered:
Why tippet rings save leaders and speed up fly changes
How micro swivels stop line twist and stabilize depth
The best leader layout for indicator fishing
Bonus tools every stillwater kit should have
CTA:Want more stillwater gear tips and rigging breakdowns? Subscribe to the podcast and visit stillwateredge.com for guides, courses, and guided trip options.

Barometric Pressure and Stillwater Trout Feeding Windows

Episode Description: When a hot bite dies for no clear reason, barometric pressure is often the culprit. In this quick tactical breakdown, Greg explains how high and low pressure systems change trout behavior and hatch timing, why fish sulk during fast drops, and the exact windows when feeding turns on again. You will get simple adjustments for tactics, flies, and retrieves so you can fish smarter through tough weather and capitalize when conditions bounce back.
Want More SWE: Want proven stillwater tactics gear guides and checklists Subscribe to the podcast and visit thestillwateredge.com for free resources courses and guided trip options

7 Major Bugs Trout Eat in Lakes and How to Fish Them

Episode Description: Trout follow a seasonal food calendar, and understanding it can transform your fishing success. In this episode of the Stillwater Edge podcast, Greg Keenan breaks down the primary food sources trout rely on in lakes—chironomids, daphnia, scuds, damsels, dragonflies, mayflies, and back swimmers. Learn when trout key in on each, how they feed, and the best fly fishing techniques to match the hatch. If you’ve ever struggled to connect the dots between bug life cycles and trout behavior, this episode gives you the blueprint.

Five Secrets of Fly Fishing w/ Scud Patterns

intro:
Scuds might be the most overlooked food source in stillwater fly fishing but they’re often the key to consistent success. In this episode, Greg Keenan breaks down exactly when, where, and how to fish scuds so you can start catching more trout. Episode Description: Scuds, also known as freshwater shrimp, are one of the most important year-round food sources for trout in stillwaters. In this episode of the Stillwater Edge Podcast, Greg explains why scuds matter, the best times and places to fish them, and the proven techniques that turn them into trout magnets. From throat sampling to choosing the right colors, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to boost your success on the water.
Key Takeaways Fast Points : Scuds are a year-round food source trout rely on for protein
Best fished in spring and fall when trout need energy most
Thrive in weedy, nutrient-rich lakes
Throat sampling helps confirm scud presence
Fish them tight to the weeds for best results
Floating line with an indicator works well for scuds
Vary retrieves to trigger more takes
Olive is the most reliable scud color
With the right setup, scud fishing is highly effective and fun
Want More SWE: Want more stillwater strategies and cheat sheets? Subscribe to the podcast and visit stillwateredge.com for free guides, gear breakdowns, and guided trip options.

Late Fall Hunting Targeting Big Pre Winter Trout

As temperatures drop and winter approaches, trout feed aggressively to bulk up. This late fall window can be one of your best opportunities to connect with trophy stillwater fish if you know where to look and what to use.

Fly Line Backing Explained: Why Every Stillwater Angler Needs It

Think backing doesn’t matter? Think again. When a big trout blitzes your fly and peels every inch of line, that bright spool of backing is either your best friend—or the reason you lose the fish of a lifetime. Most anglers overlook it. In this quick-hit episode, I’ll make sure you’re not one of them.
Intro:Welcome to the Stillwater Edge Podcast. I’m your host, Greg Keenan, and today we’re talking about something that rarely gets the attention it deserves—fly line backing. This might seem like a small detail, but backing plays a massive role in stillwater success, especially when you're fishing deep, fighting big fish, or swapping lines throughout your season. In under five minutes, I’ll show you exactly what kind of backing to use, how much you really need, how to spool it properly, and what setups work best for your goals. Let’s get to it.
What You’ll Learn:
What fly line backing actually does—and why it matters in stillwater
How much backing you really need for trout, pike, carp, and lake trout
The right way to spool backing tight and level (and avoid nasty tangles)
Dacron vs. Gel Spun backing: when to use each
Real-world situations where your backing saves the day (and your fish)
Quick Tips from This Episode:
For most stillwater trout setups, 75 to 100 yards of 20 lb Dacron is ideal
Use your reel specs to avoid overpacking or underfilling
Always spool tight and level to prevent line damage
Use loop-to-loop connections for quick fly line changes
Dacron is your go-to for reliability and cost—Gel Spun only if you need space
Outro:Next time you're setting up your reel, don’t skip over the backing—it’s not just filler, it’s your safety net when it counts. If this episode helped you rethink your setup, make sure to subscribe to the Stillwater Edge podcast, follow us on Instagram, and check out our latest tips and gear on YouTube. As always, I’ll see you out on the water.
 

The Overcasting Trap: Why It’s Costing You Fish

The Overcasting Trap: Why More Casting Isn’t More Effective
Hook:Feel like you're working hard on the water but coming up short on hookups? You might be sabotaging your own success with one of the most common bad habits in Stillwater fly fishing—overcasting. In this episode, I’ll break down exactly why it kills your results and the five simple changes that helped me fix it for good.
Intro:Welcome to the Stillwater Edge Podcast. I’m your host, Greg Keenan. With over 20 years on the water, I’ve learned one thing for sure—great anglers don’t just cast more, they cast smarter. And today we’re diving deep into a habit that quietly ruins countless days on the water: overcasting. Whether you’re new to stillwaters or a seasoned angler looking to level up, this episode will help you make every cast count.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why Overcasting Hurts Your Success:
It spooks nearby fish
It drains your physical and mental energy
It robs you of valuable feedback from each presentation
It causes you to cast past prime feeding zones
It creates the illusion of productivity while wasting time
Five Fixes to Fish Smarter, Not Harder:
Fan Cast Grid: Mentally break the water into pie slices and work each zone methodically
Observe After Each Cast: Let your fly settle and pay attention to what happens next
Count Down Your Fly: Give it time to reach feeding depth before retrieving
Change Retrieve Before Changing Location: Vary your animation before moving on
Set a Cast Limit Per Zone: Keep yourself honest and focused with a 3-cast rule
Outro:Overcasting isn’t a rookie mistake—it’s a habit many anglers develop without even realizing it. But with a few adjustments, you can break the cycle and start fishing with intention. If this episode gave you something to think about, make sure to follow, rate, and share the Stillwater Edge Podcast. Got your own overcasting fix or a question about this episode? Shoot me a message. I’m always here to help. Until next time, I’ll see you on the water.