WFS 454 – Bass on the Fly with Mark Middleton – Kayak Fishing, Events, and Family

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/454 Presented By: Dette Flies, Stonefly Nets, Bearvault, Togens Fly Shop Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Today we have a special guest, Mark, who is not only a talented angler and a Navy veteran but also turns out to be my long-lost cousin. So we start off the conversation by discussing our family connection. We talk about how he volunteers for Project Healing Waters by helping veterans by tie flies and fishing with them. Mark shares with us his experience being on a Navy ship and then delves into his love for kayak fishing. We also talk about the Kayak Fishing Northwest events in Oregon and Idaho and a walkthrough on how we can sign up for them. Mark then talks about how they get prepared for the KFNW tournament and breaks down his top 5 flies for smallmouth bass. We wrap up the episode by talking about my dad, Doug Stewart, and what he admires most about him. Show Notes with Mark Middleton 03:55 - Mark's stepfather was my dad's cousin. We talk about our family connection. 11:07 - We talk about how he was introduced to Project Healing Waters. Now he helps veterans tie flies and fish with them. 12:30 - We had Beau Beasley on the podcast where we talked about the new book that he was working on which has 40 powerful stories from veterans with traumatic pasts. We got emotional on that episode, it was really touching. 15:30 - Mark talks about his experience being on a Navy ship. 18:55 - Mark talks about kayak fishing. He's got a Hobie kayak he uses when fishing in big lakes. 22:55 - We talk about Kayak Fishing Northwest events in Oregon and Idaho and how you can sign up for them. 29:15 - We talk about how using a sounder or finder helps in Stillwater fishing. 31:15 - Mark talks about how they get prepared for the KFNW tournament. 38:30 - Mark breaks down his top 5 flies for smallmouth bass: 1. Simi Seal Leech 2. Baitfish Brush 3. Popper 4. Wooly Bugger 5. Damsel or any bug imitation 39:28 - We talk about fishing the Umpqua and the Payette Rivers. 42:50 - They have a training event coming up at KFNW that will be held in Henry Hagg Lake. You can check their schedule and sign up for the event here. 48:18 - Mark feels younger when he joins these tournaments and he gets to spend time with his son Mark Jr. 54:55 - We talk about my dad, Doug Stewart. Mark calls him every once in a while to check on him. Mark tells us what he admires most about my dad. 1:02:35 - Mark and his wife are going to Alaska in July. He noted a video that shows the exact trip that they're taking. Watch below. 1:06:25 - We noted my dad's book, The Practical Fly Fisher: Lessons Learned from a Lifetime of Fly Fishing. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/454