Join The Articulate Fly fishing podcast for the season finale of The Ruch Report, where host Marvin Cash and Brendan Ruch deliver critical late fall fishing insights from Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Ruch, a respected smallmouth bass guide and fly tier, breaks down the challenging low, clear water conditions dominating the region and explains how fish behavior shifts as topwater season ends. Despite late summer-like water levels continuing into fall, Ruch reveals a key pattern: smallmouth are grouping up, creating opportunities for multiple hookups in productive spots. He discusses the seasonal transition as cooler temperatures push the topwater bite into hibernation until spring, while teasing an upcoming deep dive into his innovative "Nut Job" pattern.
The episode concludes with the announcement of the season's giveaway winner and details on how anglers can book Ruch for pre-spawn smallmouth trips.
Whether you're planning fall outings or looking ahead to spring, this episode delivers actionable intelligence on adapting techniques to tough conditions and capitalizing on concentrated fish.
To learn more about Brendan, check out our interview.
Related Content
S6, Ep 41 - Smallmouth Secrets and Streamer Savvy with Brendan Ruch
S6, Ep 112 - Smallmouth Transitions and Musky Prep: Matt Reilly's Southwest VA Update
S6, Ep 83 - Hot Days and Clear Waters: Matt Reilly's Southwest Virginia Fishing Report
S7, Ep 36 - Central PA Fishing Report with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop
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Episode Transcript
Hey, folks, it's Marvin Cash,the host of the Articulate Fly. And
we're back with the final RuchReport of the season with the man
himself, Brendan Ruch.Brendan, how are you?
Oh, just doing well. How are you?
I'm getting there. Just tryingto stay out of trouble. Where are
you? Are you a PA or Ohio man?
(00:20):
This week I'm in Ohio. Youknow, just working.
There you go. Remote work hasits advantages. Thing's been on the
water. I hear it's kind of lowand clear, just like it is down here.
Yeah, pretty much. Like, I wasout for a few days last week, and
(00:42):
it just seems like summerconditions continuing, but fish are
a little bit more grouped up,so you'll catch one and have a few
followers and maybe haveanother opportunity in that spot.
But yeah, just prettydisappointing water levels after
having far too much month ofJune and some of July.
Yeah, and I would imagine too,because you've been a little bit
(01:04):
cooler than we are down here,that probably the bug thing is pretty
much a no go at this point, right?
Yeah, I. I think maybe a weekand a half ago, probably like there
was. It was a hot day and Iwas thinking maybe throw some bugs,
but it's kind of cooked rightnow. I don't think we're going to
get another warmup for a while.
Yeah, well, I don't. Yeah.When you say a while, you mean like
(01:26):
May?
Yeah, you know, just like thelength of the duration of winter.
Fair enough. And so, you know,since this is our last Roosh report
of the season, we're going tohave a drawing. And before I announce
the lucky winner, from all thefolks that send in questions, all
your adoring fans, by the way,you want to let folks know what they're
drawn for.
Yeah, it's a rouge angling hatand a hoodie.
(01:50):
Gotcha. Any tattoos? Anythinggood like that?
I don't have any gift cards oranything for tattoos at the moment.
Well, there you go. Well, thelucky winner is Jacob Morton in Ontario.
Yeah, it's kind of cool. Iprobably sent him some stickers probably
about a month or so ago. Andso, Jacob, I will hook you up with
Brendan and he will take careof you. And since folks won't hear
(02:13):
your voice for probably, Idon't know, maybe five or six months,
you want to let folks know,you know, one where they can find
you on Tuesday nights. But allof your fly fishing show activity,
and then probably mostimportantly from the guide part of
the world is how to get onyour boat for pre Spawn smallmouth.
Yeah. As far as getting intouch with me, Instagram's a pretty
(02:35):
good way to do that. Just atBrendan Roosh. I will be at Bob in
the Hood, which is at the endof January.
And.
Yeah, Tuesday nights, 8:35ish,log jam live. And we've. We've missed
a few weeks here just with mekind of settling into a new lifestyle.
(02:57):
But we will be back at somepoint soon.
There you go. And so you'renot going to be in Edison?
I don't think so. It's very,very far from where I am currently.
If that changes, I'll let you know.
I gotcha. So does that meanyou're going to go to the Midwest
Expo?
Probably not, I think. Yeah,probably not.
All right, fair enough. Well,listen, I know, you know, folks,
(03:20):
just stay tuned becauseprobably early in 2026, I'm going
to bring Bre in on the butchershop and we're going to take a deep
dive into the nut job. But youknow, folks, you know, you need to.
Don't call me that.
I didn't call you a nut job.I. But you know, folks, in the dead
of winter when you can't gofish, you're going to regret not
getting out this fall. So Iwould tell you, you owe it yourself
(03:41):
to get out there and catch afew. Tight lines, everybody. Tight
lines. Brendan.
Take care, guys. Thanks for afun season.
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