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Inside nearly every fly fisher is a budding writer, eager to share their passion with the world. I've done podcasts on how to write better fly-fishing stories in the past, and figured it was time to talk to an editor and publisher about how you can get your masterpiece published. Ross Purnell [32:15], editor and publisher of Fly Fisherman magazine, was happy to share his advice on this subject—and no one in the fly-fishing world has more experience in this topic than Ross. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great tips from listeners, some questions that I've answered before, and some fresh ones that I haven't, including: How do I deal with leaders that get knotted up when I am ready to use them? When you have fished a section of water, how long do you stay there, switching flies and techniques? Or do you move on? From a listener, a great fly and technique for catching yellow perch. A listener relays his approach for minimalist equipment when fishing close to home. What is your opinion using balsa wood for fly tying? My casting with a dry fly is OK, but I struggle with dry dropper and streamer rigs. What can I do? Do trout get "lost" after being landed in another part of a river? A listener adds some corrections to the proposed selling off of public lands. When fishing a double nymph rig, do you put the bigger fly above or below a smaller fly? How do I keep my dropper from slipping off my barbless dry fly? I don't like using separate droppers on the leader. If I mess up and tie a dry fly with oversized hackle and wings, will it matter? How many flies of a given pattern will you tie? What is the minimum number? Is there an easy way to get beads on a size 18 hook? View the full article

24" dude stretched the backing a few times

I've had a number of guests on the podcast teaching us about urban fly fishing and it will be an ongoing process because everyone has different takes on how to approach it. There is nothing better than a few hours of peace before or after work, without needing to drive for hours, and you can find it, even in the middle of our largest cities. My guest Greg DeMars [40:25] specializes in the urban fisheries around Dallas, Texas, but the tips he offers are valuable for any urban area throughout North America—and probably beyond. Urban fishing can be exciting and interesting and challenging—it's not just about trout or permit! In the Fly Box this week, I thought we had some unusually interesting questions, including: Will you ever have a podcast on targeting yellow perch on a fly rod? Is there any need for a "shorty" Euro line if I want to Euro nymph with my regular weight-forward line? Can't I just attach a very long leader? Are swimming holes "fish-free" zones or are they worth targeting in early season before the swimmers arrive? Where can I find Orvis BigEye hooks? When I fish in fast water I have problems shooting line because my excess line gets carried away by the current. I don't want to use a stripping basket. Is there another solution? I never use tippet, only leader material. Do I need special tippet? What knot would you recommend instead of the Perfection Loop? I have problems catching flying insects over a trout stream and my hat doesn't work. What would you suggest? How do you tell what fish are feeding on under the surface? Can you elaborate a bit on why you should make your first cast count? How important is that and how do I do it without making a few bad casts first? When tying nymphs, I have trouble getting CDC to wind evenly. And I don't like using a dubbing loop. Any tips on how to make my CDC flies look better? What tips or recommendations do you have for getting into fly tying? View the full article

Tried these guys, they no longer sell these boats or the parts, just left owners of their boats out to dry

https://classicaccessories.com/replacement-parts/fishing-and-boating

Anyone know where I can get the repair/spares kit for a classsic accessories Colorado pontoon boat

Apparently his friends got him out and did CPR. He is OK

Heard he was stuck under water a bit and left unconscious in an ambulance. Anyone hear anything?

I get a lot of questions about wader care, storage, and washing instructions. Fit can also affect how long waders last and how comfortable they are. Waders are one of our most expensive purchases, outside of a rod and reel, and in order to make them last longer we need to take good care of them, so they stay waterproof and comfortable. My guest this week is Natalie Cullum [27:14], Orvis product developer in charge of waders and technical outerwear. She knows all about the fabric used in waders, the technology involved in their construction, and how critical fit is in their comfort and durability. If you are looking for a new pair of waders this season, or if you want to make your current pair of waders last longer, this podcast is essential listening. In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting questions and tips form listeners, including: Is the Orvis Tippet Knot a suitable substitute for the blood knot? Do you think there is a chance that dry-fly purism will come back? Does a saltwater line cast worse in fresh water? Can you suggest a use for the fluffy material at the base of a Coq de Leon feather? Do you have any tips for dry flies in salt water? A listener suggests some kind of national organization to purchase public lands that are planned on being sold as part of the inflation reduction act. Will there be Orvis Pro Wading Boots in size 15? What is it that Tom brings on the water that most people might not have in their pack or vest? I keep catching landlocked salmon of the same size. Can you suggest a way to target the bigger ones? View the full article

Tic Smith [37:18] is head guide at Orvis-endorsed Southeastern Anglers and is a veteran guide with many decades of experience on southern tailwaters. Our discussion centers on his home river, the Hiwassee, but the tips and tricks he shares will be valuable on many other tailwaters. He talks tackle, flies, presentation, and most importantly reading the water from a drift boat. In the Fly Box this week we have some great trips and interesting questions from listeners, including: Can I re-use an old Depth Charge running line with a shooting head, and if so how should I connect it to my heads? Can I put my reel in the water when landing a fish? Would the 7-foot, 9-inch Superfine Graphite rod be a good one for redeye bass? Will it add to the fun factor? A listener has a question about getting around another angler while fishing public water surrounded by private land. A biologist answers a question from a previous podcast—where are all the baby carp? What is this Tenkara stuff all about? Can I use conventional flies on a Tenkara outfit? An anonymous listener please for listeners to contact their elected representatives regarding the defunding of the EPA's Office of Research Development. How do native brook trout get so high up in remote streams? I can catch fish in low gradient brown trout streams on nymphs and dries but streamers don't seem to work. Why? Will floods that have increased flows tenfold in a river have a deleterious effect on the trout population? Can you recommend a good long dry-fly leader that is knotless? Is it as good as a hand-tied leader? What kind of fly-fishing gear should I avoid using in salt water? View the full article

I have a set of Edge that I bought with my Koffler RMT. I like them but they show wear and I honestly don't have anything to really compare them. They are light and seem to transfer effort well/are efficient.

saskatchewan has been stocking Splake for a couple decades. Good results and a great eating fish.

Bahamas on a DIY paddleboard adventure. If you hold them at the right angle the blue shows up

Great pic. Where did you get too?

Banff’s famous grizzly, ‘The Boss,’ makes first appearance of spring One of Banff’s most well-known bears was spotted out and about this week, prompting a reminder from Parks Canada to be safe and aware while in the wild this spring and summer. https://apple.news/AYu1e4eGARla6dBrTTW48vg

great pic thanks for sharing envious

The search for some blue tails was a success

It's always interesting to find out that public figures can be as obsessed with fly fishing as we are. People like Harrison Ford, Jeff Daniels, Tucker Carlson, Bette Midler, Jimmy Kimmel, and Dick Cheney are all serious fly fishers. (And no, I don't have any of them on tap for my podcast). But Rahm Emanuel [37:25] is a dedicated listener to this podcast, and when I had a chance to interview him I took it. There is no politics in this podcast interview—just a fanatic fly fisher who talks about why he loves it, how he finds time in his busy life to go fly fishing, and what excites him the most about it. This was a lively and fun interview with a fair amount of good-natured ribbing. In the Fly Box this week I have no voice files to play (hint, hint) but lots of great e-mails with interesting questions and a few tips from listeners, including: A listener looks for advice on how to carry his fishing gear on a plane. How do I fish plunge pools? Why don't I catch anything in the deep spot below the waterfall? What rods do I need for fishing both small streams in Smoky Mountain streams and steelhead fishing in Ohio? A listener gives advice on the Orvis Dropper Rig Fly Box and why you need to check local regulations before you use a 3-fly rig. A listener relates a story of his great customer service experience Why did trout smash my size 20 dry fly but not connect? Will smallmouth bass and rainbow trout hold in the same water? What knots do you recommend for different presentations and why? What is the best way to get my fly under the mangroves without hanging up? View the full article

I get lots of questions about dubbing, which is a simple process that we sometimes complicate with hundreds of different blends and as many opinions on how to apply it. But it's an essential skill in fly tying, so Tim [35:18] and I spend a whole podcast exploring types of dubbing, when you would use them, and different methods of applying this essential material. Tim is always a fun guest and this one is no exception. In the Fly Box this week, we have a some great tips from listeners and of course plenty of questions, including: A great tip from a listener on how to estimate a fly line size using a kitchen scale. Does UV resin dry completely? Can I add head cement to the head of my Elk Hair Caddis? What is the protocol for tipping at a fly-fishing school? When you carry extra lines to the river, do you put them on extra spools or carry extra reels? And where do you put them? I have some 20-year-old tippet I was given. Should I use it? Do you have any recommendations for easily transferable materials that can be used for fry flies as well as streamers? A tip from a listener on how to safely carry a full-size camera when fishing. Where do baby carp hide? I never see them. Does adding split shot make it harder to hook fish? A tongue-in-cheek story about using songbird feathers on flies. I want to buy a house on a trout stream. What should I know before I do this? View the full article

My guest this week is country singer JD Clayton [35:35], a talented singer/songwriter and all-around nice guy who loves to fly fish for smallmouth bass in his native Ozarks. He fills me in on what their fishing is like, and why he loves this rural part of the country so much. In the Fly Box this week, I answer some questions and we have a couple tips from listeners, including: What are some guides to western aquatic insects you recommend? What wading boots do you recommend for hiking into remotes ponds and streams? What water temperatures are ideal for trout, and are there certain temperatures to expect hatches? What do you think the effect of dry summers and falls has on small trout streams in New England? What time of year is best for crayfish patterns, and how should I fish them in smaller streams? My large indicator dry flies keep falling over and landing upside-down. What do you think is causing this? What can I do to preserve and clean the cork handle on my fly rod? Great tips from a listener on a chair for tying flies and some lighting and magnification tips. How should I wash my waders? How can I determine the line weight of an old fly line with no identifying marks? View the full article

This week my guest Dave Zielinski [39:53], author of the comprehensive book Cicada Madness, tells us when and where you can encounter this year's brood of periodical cicadas—and if you can't make that event, he'll tell you how to find waters that host regular emergences of annual cicadas, which are not quite as large but can offer spectacular fishing if your timing is right. All kinds of fish go crazy over the giant bugs, from trout to bass to carp-- even gar and catfish. Learn how to fish these flies, and how to tie them in this highly informative and timely episode that will help you plan this year's cicada expedition. In the Fly Box this week, we have a good mix of interesting questions and tips from listeners, including: What are your thoughts on drop beads for saltwater flies? I am having problems with blood knots and leader sections ending up the right length. On which Orvis rods will overlining help? How can I get my fly deep enough to catch walleye on a fly? A listener has various questions about fishing for striped bass on Cape Cod. What line should I put on my new Orvis Superfine graphite? Two fly-tying tips and a first aid tip from a doctor. I am swinging 5 or 6 wet flies at the same time, all in line, and sometimes drop fish on the lower flies. How can I fix this? How can you catch fish that are nearly impossible to approach in low, clear water? Some great tips from a listener on how to stay warm when winter fishing. View the full article

If you ever want to let this stick go, I'd be interested. I have the 6/7/8 and I'd love to have it's big brother. cheers, brock

Crayfish are prey that most gamefish can't resist. They're high in calories, abundant, and relatively easy for bass, trout, and many other gamefish to capture. Yet most of us don't know much about their life cycle and behavior (myself included). Guide Jake Villwock [47:02] has spent his life studying these critters, which gives him important insight on the right fly patterns, but even more important how and when to fish them. You'll learn a lot on this podcast. In the Fly Box this week, there are lots of good questions and I hope my answers will help you in your fly-fishing journey. They include: I can't seem to get my fly deep enough in bass lakes with my floating line. Should I get a sinking line for my 8-weight and fish surface flies with my 5-weight? A listener asks for help from listeners in ways to lessen the pain of losing his beloved fishing dog I fished a river that has always been full of trout and didn't see a thing. What happened to the fish? Should I apply my dubbing with clockwise or counterclockwise twists? Can I tie my dropper onto the tag end of my improved clinch knot? What are your thoughts and comments on how long a trout stays spooked? Why do you prefer a sling pack and where do you put your net? Do resident brook trout in a river get pushed around by migrating steelhead? Do they still feed? I didn't catch any fish in high, cold water. What should I have done? What do you think about tying a loop in the end of my tippet and attaching flies with a girth hitch? Why don't people use landing nets for striped bass? I saw an anti-reverse fly reel on EBay. What do you think of them? View the full article

This episode was originally published on January 30th, 2021 This week, continuing our series of podcasts on winter fly fishing for trout, I interview George Daniel, author and guide. George is also an Orvis ambassador and field tester, and teaches fly fishing at Penn State. As you'll discover, there are many similarities with winter fishing in other parts of the country, along with some flies and techniques a bit more appropriate for the Northeast. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great tips and questions, including: Do you use touch dubbing, split thread dubbing, and composite loop dubbing techniques? I'm looking for a fly line to fish streamers for bass, trout, and panfish. Which line should I get? What leaders do I need for my Clearwater Trout Spey setup, for both Skagit and Scandi lines? What's your technique for catching largemouth bass, and what are your favorite flies? Why can't I get my dubbing noodle to behave? Which intermediate line should I get for fishing streamers and indicators in four to eight feet of water? A great tip on a method for wetting marabou and other materials without putting them in your mouth. I went fishing before a cold front and got skunked. I thought fishing was supposed to be good before a cold front. What line and leader and tippet would you use for trout in lakes in 15 feet of water? View the full article

This episode was originally published on January 14th, 2021. My guest this week is Rachael Leinweber [39:38], general manager of The Angler's Covey fly shop in Colorado Springs. One in a series of podcasts about winter fly-fishing tips, Rachael has some great ones for us, and it's been interesting to see how each guide we've talked to has a slightly different take on effective winter tactics. In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions and tips: Is there an easier way to balance a fly rod than buying a heavier reel? How can I get my parents to approve of my fly-fishing passion? View the full article