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I frequently get questions from listeners traveling to Europe, curious about fly fishing opportunities in Italy, France, Austria, and Switzerland. I've never fished there and don't have any answers, so I reached out to Miha Ivanc [40:52] of Kyrka River Lodge in Slovenia, who has fished all through the Alps. In the podcast you'll learn where to fish, what species to expect (like their native marbled trout), how to fish for them, and where to get permission to fish. It should be an eye-opener to most of us. In the Fly Box this week, we have some particularly interesting questions, including: Can I use flies for ice fishing? I mostly fish lakes and am having problems on streams. With long casts I get drag and with shorter casts I worry about spooking fish. What should I do? Can I work downstream with a streamer and then work back up through the same water with a dry dropper? Is there a risk in tippet material breaking down in sunlight when it is on a tippet holder exposed to the sun? I see people catching trout on worms but I can't seem to fool them on flies. What am I doing wrong and do you have any tips? Is it legal to raise jungle cock for feathers in the US, and is anyone doing it? A listener corrects me on a statement I made regarding using molted feathers from songbirds to tie flies. Do you have any tips for traveling to Chile to fish at Magic Waters? If I see water striders and small baitfish in a pool, does that mean there won't be any larger trout there? How much life can I expect from a leader I made myself? Can I tell the difference between wild and hatchery trout by looking at them? I can't seem to catch more than two trout from any one pool. What am I doing wrong? View the full article

Jessica Strickland [38:07] is Trout Unlimited's California Inland Trout director and is an expert on the historical and curent range of this rare trout species. Where do they live today as compared to their original range? Can you still fish for them, and do you need to hike for many miles or are they more acessible close to a trailhead? You'll learn the answer to these questions and many more in this interview. In the Fly Box this week we have some great questions, including: For Colorado and Oklahoma trout fishing, should I get a 5-weight, 4-weight, or 3-weight rod? Is there a rule for overlining a trout rod when it is longer than 9 feet? Can I Spey cast with a single-handed rod? The welded loop on my running line broke. What is the best way to make a new loop to attach it to my head? Do you have any tips for catching stocked rainbow trout after they have been in the river for a while? A great suggestion from a listener on how to educate other anglers from walking on trout redds. My felt soles have not been working well. Are there different grades of felt on wading boots? What are the guidelines for tipping a guide? When bushwacking should you carry your rod with the tip pointed forward or back? Can I leave the legs off small nymphs? I have trouble tying them in. Can I tie a small fly on a bigger hook? What are your tips for winter fishing in the Northeast? View the full article

Fishing deep with leeches and bloodworms is the only way to go once the water gets cold

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Brant Oswald [23:20] is a veteran guide, teacher, and fly shop operator with over 40 years in the business. He's one of the best spring creek anglers I know and guides on them almost every day, so I asked him to come up with some tips on better spring creek techniques. Even if you never fish spring creeks, his tips really apply to any slow or low water situations so these tips will be valuable to any trout angler. In the Fly Box this week, we have the usual great tips and questions, including: I have an old, heavy bamboo rod. I can't reel heavy enough to balance it. Is the balance between a rod and reel weight really that important? I am frustrated with fish eating my strike indicator. Should I tie a big egg pattern to act as a strike indicator? A suggestion for making a great cat toy out of old flies (with the hook cut off!) and a question about the use of cat hair in tying flies. What is the proper way to prevent drag? Should I mend my entire line or just the leader? A tip from a listener on how to keep fly line from wrapping around your rod tip. A tip from a listener on the best way to hang up your waders for the season. Why do waders often fail at the junction between the bootie and the upper? I just bought a drift boat and want to learn how to row. Should I hire a guide to take lessons on rowing? How do trout behave when the water gets higher and dirtier? View the full article

Absolutely. Gierach’s raw shenanigans and wit made fly fishing unique – his quotes will resonate in the boat and out of it.

We want to buy new furniture for our garden. Thinking of trying rattan. Are they any good? I mean, like the ones from https://www.gardencentreshopping.co.uk/. Any thoughts?

Wonder why this thread died. Anyone into gardening lately?

John Gierach’s impact on the fly-fishing world was immense, and it’s comforting to hear he was as genuine in person as he was in his writing.

Barry Ord Clarke is a real inspiration, especially with his international fly-tying insights. I’m interested in that tip about keeping the fly line from wrapping around the rod—such a common struggle

Kirk sounds like a great resource, especially for understanding the ups and downs of the industry. And the Fly Box has some interesting questions this week too! I’m especially curious about the one on keeping fly rods set up all season.

I get regular questions from people about getting a job in the fly-fishing industry, both in the podcast mailbox and in person at shows and store visits. It's a tough question and I don't have all the answers so I called upon my buddy Kirk Deeter [35:04], who as founding publisher of Angling Trade magazine and currently editor of Trout magazine, along with many other jobs in the industry, is the consummate fly-fishing insider. He talks about the joys and the pitfalls of looking for a job in this tiny niche. I think he has some great tips to share, whether you are a young kid looking for a first job or a seasoned veteran of another industry looking for a more rewarding career. In the Fly Box this week, we have some helpful tips, including: How should I treat CDC feathers I got from a friend who hunts waterfowl? A listener asks why people who write into the Fly Box don't just go out and try the things they are asking about. A spooky Halloween story from a listener How do I avoid a size 12 dry fly twisting on a 6X tippet? What is the best Orvis rod for hopper fishing on western rivers? Can I keep my fly rods set up all season? Do I need to wax the ferrules? How can I do a better job of hooking trout on a downstream cast? Am I missing something by not using tapered leaders when fishing for bass and panfish? If a 6X leader makes a size 12 fly twist, why don't we just use 1X and 2X leaders on all of our flies, down to a size 24? How can I get a single nymph down into deep, fast water without using split shot? Would a longer rod help keep my Clouser Minnows from hitting the rocks behind me on my back cast? I have a 5-weight rod and want to fish for bass, carp, and suckers. Should I get a 6-weight or a 7-weight rod? View the full article

Fortunately found someone who can work on it. Going that way for thanksgiving and will see what he can do

Great episode! Barry's take on fly patterns from both sides of the Atlantic must be really interesting. I love how they mix in different topics, like music and practical tips. The questions about gear and casting techniques are super relevant.

It’s awesome that you have an extra spool, but I can imagine how frustrating it must be with the original not locking.

Exciting stuff! Curious to see how these new trout will do in our waters.

You made the most of it!

It’s not always about the catch but the connections and moments spent in nature.

Barry Ord Clarke [50:21] is one of the world's most popular fly tiers, through his books, videos, and web site. Originally from the UK but living in Norway, Barry keeps his pulse on the world of fly tying on both sides of the Atlantic. He discusses the fly patterns developed in North America that Europeans have embraced, and also details the history of some well-known and lesser-known European patterns and techniques that you may not have heard about. It's a good way to get a broad overview of the international fly-tying community. In the Fly Box this week, we have a short interview with bassist Daniel Kimbro [37:18] on a music festival he is organizing for flood relief in East Tennessee, and also some great tips and questions, including: How do I keep my fly line from wrapping around my rod when I am tying on a new fly? A listener is looking to add a 7-weight rod for bass fishing and throwing trout streamers and looks for advice. Can I use a 6-weight sinking or sink-tip line on both my 5-weight and 7-weight rods? Do you know of any good fly-fishing books for a 6-year-old? And what is the best first saltwater fly-rod fish for kids? Is there a difference between Zonker strips and Rabbit strips? Why have I gotten occasional bite-offs from large brown trout? Do you have any tips for casting wiggle-tails? I have trouble casting them. Do you think eyes make a difference on pike flies? Can I legally keep songbird feathers that I find under my bird feeders? A tip for using toothpicks at the fly-tying bench. When tying a clinch knot, does it matter if you twist the fly or wind the tag end around the standing part? Any tips for the bow-and-arrow cast? How many more casts should you make in a small pocket if you miss a fish? Would it be unethical to target swarms of trout during spawning season? A listener gives a tip for tying a clinch knot at the bend of a hook to attach a dropper. If I move a trout on a streamer but do not connect, does it make sense to come back for that fish later in the day? View the full article

Those moments in nature, especially with the warm weather and good company, make for unforgettable experiences. Even if the catch wasn’t plentiful, it’s the camaraderie and the enjoyment of the outdoors that truly count. Cheers to more days like this and the friendships formed along the way!

did that today. was OK, I suspect that the upcoming cooler weather may put the chill on that. later in the afternoon today, the wind kinda got uncomfortable, although tolerable. Woulda been absolutely ok if the fish action was a bit better.

Just wondering if water temps are still warm enough for wet wading. Was out of the country for the last while and don't know if I should break out the waders or not.

Did you know you can catch trout and tarpon in the same trip, along with exotic jungle species? I didn't either, but Kevin Jackson [42:22] of Fly Fish Costa Rica shares with us the wide variety of fly fishing you can have in this diverse and well-preserved ecosystem. And also the rare wildlife you might see in this country that offers saltwater, jungle, and mountain trout fishing. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and hopefully answers that will help many of you solve the same problems in your fishing, including: I keep getting accused of "flossing" Pacific salmon when fly fishing for them but I see them aggressively take my flies. What are your thoughts on this? What purpose does dubbing serve on a dry fly? Does it add buoyancy? A listener thanks us for the podcast on knots and also on our support of policies to address climate change . I recently opened a box of my grandfather's tackle from 1944 that includes a bamboo rod, gut leaders, flies, and a silk fly line. Should I use them? What sort of performance should I expect from the new Orvis Superfine bamboo fly rod? What impact will the recent disastrous floods in North Carolina have on the future of fly fishing? I want to purchase a vintage Orvis bamboo fly rod. Would one be a reliable fishing tool? When I switch dry flies, should I be more concerned with size, pattern, or color? What can I do to prevent the unnatural curves in saltwater flies after they are used? My brother and I were using the same streamer in a slow-moving river. I caught a bunch of fish and he didn't but I was casting my streamer at a different angle to the current. Do you think this made the difference? View the full article

Sounds like Splake in our future

Message me your email ..i will send you the whole conversation