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Dave shares the story of his father, Doug Stewart, who recently passed away at 87. Doug was the person who introduced Dave to fly fishing, and his influence eventually helped lead to the creation of the Wet Fly Swing Podcast.
Doug’s own fly fishing story reaches back more than 70 years.
He first started fishing the Deschutes River with his father in the early 1950s, when seeing a dozen anglers on the river could make it feel crowded. He eventually became a longtime Deschutes guide, fly shop owner, fly tyer, rod builder, writer, and teacher who introduced countless people to fly fishing.
Doug was also the creator of the Max Canyon steelhead fly. He tells the story of sitting under the trees with Steve Dorn during a brutally hot day on the Deschutes. With fishing slowed down, they started tying flies to pass the time. Doug liked orange and black, put the colors together, and eventually refined the pattern that became the Max Canyon.
We also hear about the early days of Stewart’s Custom Tackle, which later became Stewart’s Fly Shop. Doug talks about building the business through word of mouth, teaching casting and fly tying, and watching A River Runs Through It bring a surge of new anglers into fly fishing.
But this episode goes well beyond the history of a fly shop or a famous steelhead pattern.
Doug shares stories from decades on the water, including hooking and releasing 58 steelhead with Jim Teeny during an incredible day of fishing, falling into the Deschutes while fighting a steelhead, encounters with bears in Alaska, and watching the fly fishing world change around him.
Teaching runs through much of Doug’s story. Before going full-time in fly fishing, he was a seventh and eighth grade teacher. He later brought that same mindset to the fly shop, guiding, casting lessons, fly tying classes, and the many anglers he helped along the way.
Dave also reflects on what that influence looks like today. Doug taught him to fish. Dave passed some of those lessons to friends, who then taught their own kids. That ripple effect may be one of Doug’s greatest legacies.
Near the end of their original conversation, Doug is asked what he would like to be remembered for. His answer comes back to the people: running the fly shop, teaching people to cast and tie flies, learning from others, and staying connected to the fly fishing community.
This episode is ultimately about more than fly fishing.
It’s about fathers, sons, teachers, friends, and the limited amount of time we get together.
If your dad, father figure, mentor, or fishing partner is still around, give them a call. And if you still have the chance to take another fishing trip together, don’t wait too long to make it happen.
