We are adding a new suite of experiences for the 2026 season over at the Wyoming Fishing Company and I’m excited to announce just one of them here! Join me in the Mountain West to target fish on the two-handed rod. Now offering Spey Clinics!

On the swing

I remember the first hook-up I ever felt on the swing. I was in my early teens and had been fly fishing for a number of years by that point. As many of you know, I grew up in the PNW and on a weekday afternoon while the majority of grown adults in southcentral Alaska were paying their dues to the man, my dad crouched behind me in the shin-high water of Crystaline Creek’s long gravel bar banks while instructing me on a new (to me) technique to target Cohos.  

He had gotten his hands on a 10.5ft, moderately tapered, 2-piece blank by Lamiglass and customized the furniture to accommodate an elongated fighting butt. With it, he taught me the limited amount he knew about Spey. He too was learning the technique and, in his professional capacity, he was being exposed to it more and more. The trickle down affected me directly on that late summer day and, as my line pulled taunt in the run, I vividly remember his stern but calm words; “Don’t set! Swing into it.”

With his reminder and guidance, I resisted the urge to aggressively yank the rod upwards and instead, rolled my hips and the 18” of cork that made up the casting grip simultaneously and deliberately in a downstream rotation – applying a constant and gradually more taunt pull against the fly’s trailing hook as the chrome buck turned his head – driving the needle point of the Gamakatsu hard into his upper jaw. 

I’ll never forget that fish, or the addiction it inflamed. 

Now, I make my home in the Rocky Mountain west and until recently, I had only worked with a swung fly through the deepest part of the winter months. I’ve written about my time on western waters targeting large fish with swung flies in my early article titled “Winter on the Swing.” Check it out when you get a free moment! Anywhoser, I’m fortunate enough to be included on the WFC roster and coincidentally, a few of the guys from our crew are pretty familiar with Spey as well – having spent time in the PNW in the past. We started playing with the idea of targeting trophy trout via the two-handed rod and what we found is that Salmon and Steelhead aren’t so different from a large carnivorous Browns. Though traditionally, Trout Spey has been the practice of swinging very light rods and miniature, shallow riding flies. Surely, there is a great purpose for this in particular waters however, we’ve found that hunting our bruisers in the same manner you would hunt big game freshwater species of the Cascades provides a more consistent pattern of interaction with the caliber of fish we preserve our efforts for in this outfit.

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The more we played with it, the more success we found and ultimately, we made the decision to commit to this thing. We geared up, hit the grind, grabbed some content and started offering this experience. This is an invitation to join the WFC crew and I! We are very excited to have this new experience to offer and I know you’ll love this method of take. Surely, it’s a new technique to learn – that is of its own branch of the sport entirely – and isn’t like any other method of fly fishing so, it’s to be expected that there will be a learning curve to overcome. That being said, much like all the other branches of this sport, Spey has its own specialness to it and, as you familiarize yourself with it, it tends to instill a confidence in an angler as an amiable benefit of it featuring long and satisfyingly smooth casts across large bodies of water. In alignment with that, the power of the type of fish who will eat a seductively swung fly is something notable and, you just can’t truly appreciate it until you feel them try to strip the rod from your hands. Once landed, a swung fly fish becomes only a portion of the reward when you realize that the journey to reach that point was the real treat.  

I encourage you to come try your hand at this. Learning it will prepare you for even greater things – some of which we will be announcing very soon.   

Trout Spey Beginner’s Clinic

For the 2026-2027 seasons, we are offering two separate experiences. Firstly, we will be working through the Spring, Fall and following Winter to provide a beginners clinic on the 3rd Saturday of every month. These clinics are designed specifically to get you familiar with spey techniques and methodology. The “from-the-ground up” approach featured in this course is more focused on the fundamentals and surrounding knowledge needed to begin in this branch of the sport. Fish become the secondary priority while we first cover the SSR (Step, Swing, Repeat) tactic of wading and covering water. From there, we’ll work on 2-3 basic but essential casting methods and then, we’ll cover swing and retrievals. The beginners course is meant to both literally and colloquially “get your feet wet” in the sport of swing fishing and wading. If you’re brand new to Spey, this clinic, if taken 2-3 times, will provide you with the basic knowledge and practice-of-method needed to move on to our advanced clinic.

Trout Spey Advanced Clinic

Now it’s time to put your new obsession to work. This is where the [hook’s] metal meets the [lip] meat. With your new arsenal of knowledge, it’s time to target fish in their natural feeding zones. This advanced clinic serves a dual purpose in both teaching you how the traditional big game spey techniques of the fabled PNW can be applied (with some moderate tuning) to targeting trophy trout and, it provides the opportunity for guided sport throughout the day. For those who are already familiar with Spey, this is an excellent jumping-on point, where you can take what you already know and combine it with a bit of new knowledge for this particular application. Depending on conditions and chosen venue, this trip will either be executed on foot or by using a boat to transport. This trip leans more on the side of a guided trip but also holds the benefits of a more exclusive interaction in learning, with only 1-2 people per guide assigned. This is where the real fun begins. Let’s get that drag smokin’! 

Summary

Spey/Swing is something that many of you have asked about over the years and, I’m hoping these clinics will provide an opportunity for some of you to jump into this exhilarating category of fly fishing. We’ve put quite a bit of effort into developing this program with an emphasis on helping anglers who are new to it get a good foot hold on the concepts and a meaningful start. I’d absolutely love to share this experience with you. If you’re interested in learning more about our program or, if you’d like to book with me personally, feel free to reach me using the form on my contact form below. I’m already looking forward to fishing with you.

Author’s Note:

Thanks for reading! I hope you’ll consider joining me on the trip you just read about! As an avid sportsman and international destination angling host, I search diligently for theaters and outfitters which offer authentically wild experiences that can’t be matched by conventional, mass volume, corporate travel companies. As I build this business, I will have many more offerings for you to consider but, I can’t do it without you. I appreciate every one of you and I look forward to capturing memories in truly wild places in our coordinated future. When I write about these places, I hope you’ll indulge in the experience with me, and together we can deliver a story for all to enjoy. I’m absolutely stoked to create our next tall tale; meant to entertain the tired mind and best served on a clear evening, with a warm fire and a strong whiskey.

All the photos and content featured in my tall tales are my own, unless expressly cited otherwise, and the unauthorized use or reproduction of them is strictly prohibited. That’s all for now, my friends. If you enjoyed this content and would like to see more like it, I can be found on Instagram by searching “Authentically Wild Out West” and on YouTube by searching the same phrase. Until the next campfire, stay safe out there and look after each other.

On another quick note: I’ve launched a new publication on Substack, specifically to showcase my serialized fiction and poetry! 

I hope you’ll join me there! Follow THIS LINK to have a look. 

Follow me into the wild! Read adventure updates:

ADVENTURE UPDATE: Para, Brazil – Amazon Jungle 2026 is a GO!

Adventure into the Jungle with me in September of 2026! I’m taking eight intrepid souls along with me as I fly into the heart of the Amazon jungle to pursue Surubi (Tiger Striped Catfish), Payara (Cachorra), Trairao (Giant Wolf Fish) and, Tucanare (Melaniae Peacock Bass) in crystal clear pocket water. I’ve partnered with Angling Frontiers to develop this once-in-a-lifetime excursion into the headwaters region of the Xingu river basin. This majestic arena has been closed to human presence for nearly 30 years – designated as a conservation district – however, it was just opened exclusively to my partners for guiding operations in the 2026 season. Don’t miss your opportnity to experience one of the last truly wild places on earth, where fish and wildlife have never seen a human. Spots are VERY limited so, reach out to me with any questions of to book! I’m looking forward to sharing in this adventure with you.

I’m going to be hosting even more trips, in more exotic and wild places in the future! Subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated on trip info as it becomes available!

Come Fish & Hunt in Wyoming With Me!

If you’ve been reading my tall tales and outdoor articles for a while, you have probably recognized that much of my writings revolve around anecdotes. I live these stories, here in one of the last truly wild places on Earth and now as a full-time guide, I’d like to extend an invitation to you: 

Come experience this prestigious place with me. 

You can do this by reaching out to Wyoming Fishing Company and exploring the many options we have available to accommodate your next fishing, waterfowl, upland bird, small game, or predator hunting adventure. We can facilitate small & large groups alike or offer a one-on-one guided experience. Come make some memories this season! I’m already looking forward to adventuring with you.

Fly Fishing, Conventional Fishing, Trolling Lakes, Waterfowl Field Hunts, Floating Blind Diver Duck Hunts, Rodent Fly Night Fishing, Coyote Hunts, Pheasant Hunts, Private Water Walk & Wade Trips, Ice Fishing… we are constantly adding new adventures to our Western Wyoming catalog so subscribe to my mailing list to stay updated on seasons and conditions!

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Have you registered for the 2026 SW WYO SUMMIT SLAM YET?

Apen Mountain, Wilkins Peak, & White Mountain. Can you conquer them all? My friends at Whiskey Goats host this incredibly fun opportunity to get your legs moving and experience some of Southwest Wyoming’s high desert beauty with a bit of an incentive. Firstly, head to the official Whiskey Goats website and use the “Summit Slam” tab to register for the 2026 season. Review all the helpful information and trail maps they’ve provided and be sure to stop into their store in downtown Rock Springs to gear up before heading out. Hit the trail and snap some photos of your adventure! You can share them via their Facebook group or Email them directly to the Whiskey Goats team. In exchange, you’ll recieve a FREE Summit Slam pin and stickers! Be sure to tell them Kurt sent you!

My Family and I will be knocking the winter layers off by participating in this event in 2026. Care to join us? I’ll send out an update prior to our trips & I’ll be sure to share our adventures here so subscribe below to keep in touch!

If you’re coming out to fish or hunt, don’t forget your license and stamp!

Don’t get caught between a rock and a hard place! Research first! The laws and policies surrounding our game, access, boating, and industry are a huge contributor to maintaining our plentiful resources. APPLY HERE for all your licenses and tag needs.