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I have been meaning to get Charlie Craven [37:41] of Charlie's Fly Box in Denver on the podcast for quite some time and we finally connected. Charlie talks about what new materials and tools excite him and also how to approach the topic of assembling essential materials for the beginning fly tier. We also explore some other topics as only a couple of geeky fly tiers can when given the chance. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips from listeners, including: I have been using a clear floating line for sight fishing for striped bass but noticed the fish sometimes shy away from the fly. Do you think this is because the clear line reflects too much sunlight? A tip from a listener on another way of taking fishing photos without risking losing your valuable smartphone in the water. My leader lands in a pile when I am casting. But you say that sometimes you want your leader to land in loose coils. Is it too much to expect my leader to fully straighten? Advice from bamboo rod guru Shawn Brillon on cleaning cork grips. I was using mouse flies at night and got strikes but could not connect. What did I do wrong? Is it true that you can shine a red flashlight at night to see your fly because the fish won't notice it? Is it worth it to go from a mid-priced fly-tying vise to a really expensive one? What do you get in a $500 vise? What is your take on using non-standard, "buggy" variations on standard fly proportions? Is the Double Davy Knot stronger than an Improved Clinch Knot? View the full article

Join me as we explore the fascinating world of early season olive hatches with expert fly fisherman Blake Katchur [35:42] of Front Range Anglers in Denver. No matter where you fish, you'll find this hatch any time from early March to early June. Discover effective tactics, fly patterns, and timing tips to enhance your fishing success during this prolific hatch. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more: Can I use my 7-weight fiberglass rod for bonefish in Belize? Why can I catch brook trout in smaller streams during the winter but not in a bigger river? If I leave off the trailing hook in articulated flies, how do I compensate for the lack of weight? Will it affect the swimming action of my flies? For Alaska silver salmon and big rainbows, should I get a 9-foot or 10-foot 8-weight Helios rod? And should I pick Helios D or F? Do the scents from resins and glues put off the fish? Is there anything that can cover up these scents? Are wings on dry flies absolutely necessary? Where did we get the "X" system we use for leader and tippet diameters? What do you have on your fly-tying bench that you can't do without? View the full article

AB licence Apr1 - Mar 31 for freshwater (covers all lake and streams). There is a regulation book which discuss catch limits, times you can fish, methods of fishing and where you can not fish. You will need a separate Federal licence to fish saltwater. Licence required from Age 16-65 I believe. You will be fined for fishing with no licence or breaking the rules discussed in the Alberta Fishing Regulations. Go to the Alberta RELM website to learn about getting a Wildlife Identification Number (WIN) and for purchasing a fishing licence https://albertaregulations.ca/fishingregs/ https://www.albertarelm.com/licensing.page https://mywildalberta.ca/

Recently, Tom took time to chat with Reid on the Orvis Hunting and Shooting Podcast about his 50 years at Orvis. If you're interested in hunting, shooting, or the great outdoors in general, consider subscribing to Reid's show, too! (Crosspost from the Orvis Hunting and Shooting Podcast) "Tom Rosenbauer, longtime Orvis employee, writer, and host of the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast, joins Reid for a wide-ranging conversation about his nearly 50 years with the company. They talk about the early days at Orvis, the great outdoor writers who shaped the culture around Manchester, Vermont, and how a lifelong fly fisherman found his way, occasionally, behind a shotgun. Along the way Tom shares stories, history, and a perspective on the outdoors that few people still carry." View the full article

The fly-fishing world is filled with incredible people who believe in the sport and what it does for the soul. Some are well known. Others work diligently behind the scenes. They are the people running CNC machines late at night, the engineers designing and building the gear, the marketing geniuses who create the memorable ads, videos and stories that bring it all to life. Ours is an industry teeming with talented people who believe as much in the spirit of fly fishing as the gear they create. Over the past few years, we’ve lost too many of them. We celebrated icons like Lefty Kreh, Flip Pallot and others, people who moved our sport forward and left a mark. We don’t often touch on the lives of those who played a significant role behind the scenes. People who may not have known that their work shaped fly-fishing culture. People like Joe Wolthuis. Joe was a beacon of compassion and kindness to many. He touched countless people through his creative genius, providing the inspiration to trade the magnetic noise of life for the silent solace of the water. He did this in his life and through the tools available to him in his role as the Marketing Manager of Scientific Anglers. If you’ve been on the water over the last decade, read a fly-fishing magazine, listened to a podcast, attended a film event, been to a show, or walked through the doors of your local fly shop, you’ve experienced his support and work. I’ve always been drawn to the people in the fly-fishing world. They are a salt-of-the-earth community with a shared passion for the pursuit of freedom that adventure provides, the beautiful places where fish live, and the need to conserve them. Joe embodied the spirit of the very best people in our community. Without question, the single most treasured gift the Bird family has been blessed with over these last twenty years are the friendships. This community is an industry, but it is best defined as a family where friendships run deep. I recall a dinner where we were introduced to Joe. The conversation was an instant connection over bed bugs, nerdy marketing data, metrics and demographics. And there was always laughter. That first dinner turned into countless dinners, lunches, phone calls, zooms and text messages. Sometimes work-related, most times not. One of my favorites was a dinner where Joe told us about an out-of-this-world “candy bar” he encountered on a trip to Canada. There was a joyous hope in the way he described this chocolate nectar he had discovered. He went on to explain that this particular candy bar was not available in Michigan. A few months later, as any friend would, I arrived for a lunch with Joe with a dozen Mr. Big bars. This would be the start of a long tradition. Joy can be found in the little things. When word of Joe’s arrival as Marketing Manager was announced, I called a mutual friend who knew him well. Of Joe, he said, “You are going to really like him.” Indeed, we did. The fly-fishing family is deeply saddened by the loss of our cherished brother. There is a place where rivers flow freely, where they run gin clear, where the fish are always eager, where peace is ever present, and where there is no last cast. Joe is there now. “Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.” ~ Norman Maclean Joe’s voice will continue to move quietly through the fly-fishing community he cared so deeply about. We will miss him immensely. Photo: Allen Crater The post On Candy Bars, Fly Fishing, and the People Who Shape Our Sport appeared first on Fly Fusion. View the full article

This episode was originally published on August 19th, 2021. This week's podcast guest is especially exciting to me as he is one of my literary heroes. John McPhee [24:10] is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author (Annals of the Former World), and in his numerous other books he has written about such diverse topics as nuclear energy, the merchant marine, basketball, Alaska, bark canoes, oranges, continental drift, flood control, tennis, farmer's markets, and many other eclectic topics. Whether or not you are interested in a subject, you can be sure you will be when you finish reading one of his books you will be fascinated. John has also been a staff writer for The New Yorker since the 1960s. In our interview, he talks about his two favorite fish to catch on the fly rod--the American shad (which he wrote an entire book about, The Founding Fish), and the chain pickerel, which he did not write a book about but did pen a short essay on in his collection of stories The Patch. (I doubt is anyone in the world who would count those two fish in combination as their favorites--but he is never conventional.) I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I enjoyed talking to him. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips: A reminder from a listener that I wrote an encyclopedia of fly fishing. Some great tips from a listener on using tippet rings. A question about what constitutes a watershed when concerned about transporting aquatic invasives. A suggestion from a listener on ways to offset your carbon footprint when taking fishing trips. Which is a better rod for fishing the surf and jetties--a traditional 9-foot 9-weight rod or a two-handed rod? Do you always recommend using a net? A listener calls me on the carpet for my flippant remark about manhandling carp. A great thought from a listener that sometimes taking photos of fish hinders the moment. View the full article

thanks in advance for any help

Hello, I’m planning to start fishing in the lakes and rivers near my area, but I’m confused about fishing license rules. Does one license cover all local waters, or does each lake or river require a separate license? Are there different licenses for freshwater versus saltwater fishing? Also, are there age-based exemptions for children or seniors? How long is a license valid, and what are the penalties for fishing without one? I’d really appreciate advice from people who fish regularly and any tips on how to get the correct license.

Those look awesome Silver Dr. Should be loads of fish on the end of your fly rod.

thanks for the information!

A Fishable Feast: Fly Fishing and Eating Your Way Around the World is more than a fly-fishing book. From crystal-clear trout streams to sunlit saltwater flats, untamed jungles and rushing mountain rivers, this beautifully crafted volume by acclaimed author Kirk Deeter and Matthew Supinski explores the cultures, cuisines, geography and history that make fly fishing such a rich and meaningful pursuit. Featuring a foreword by Tom Rosenbauer, the book blends storytelling, destination and culinary exploration into a global celebration of the angling life. As Kirk Deeter explains: A Fishable Feast serves up the sights, flavors and stories of the world’s most compelling fly-fishing destinations. It is a must-read for anglers with an appetite for travel and good food. The book’s release is imminent, and you can find it online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million. Or, you can order your signed copy here:kirkdeeter.com The post A Fishable Feast: Fly Fishing and Eating Your Way Around the World appeared first on Fly Fusion. View the full article

By Kirk Deeter Excerpt from the winter issue: “A seasoned guide is used to saying things like ‘tip up’ and ‘let ‘em run’ over and over again. And in most cases, that’s really solid advice, in so much as the goal is to avoid having the fish make a run and break you off. But the truth is that a 9-foot fly rod is a lever that helps the fish as much as it helps the angler. The 9 feet are for casting, mending, and so forth. But if you play a large fish running around the maypole, you’re playing with fire. The real tension, and the real force happens through the line itself. So, dipping the rod tip low after the hookup, and being contrarian—fish runs left, you pull right, fish runs right, you force left—is the way to tire any species of hooked fish sooner, and that’s what will up your odds of landing it and getting the photograph you want. That’s most especially true with any saltwater fish. You want to pull on them with the line itself and tire them out, and you simply cannot depend on any rod to do that work for you.” Subscribe or pick up the back issue for the full article. Photo: Faceless Fly Fishing The post Kirk Deeter’s Lesson on Fighting Fish appeared first on Fly Fusion. View the full article

By Derek Bird There’s a scene in “The Equalizer” starring Denzel Washington where his character, Robert McCall, is sitting in a late-night diner and he’s reading Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” A young lady looks over and sees McCall reading the novella and says, “He ever catch it? The fish.” McCall chuckles and says, “Yes.” She says, “Happy ending.” McCall replies, “Not exactly.” Then he explains that after he fights the fish, the old man ties it to the boat to bring it back to shore but sharks come and eat the giant marlin before he can get back to shore. The young lady replies, “What a waste…why didn’t he just let the fish go?” McCall responds, “The old man’s gotta be the old man. Fish gotta be the fish. Gotta be who you are in this world, right?” The Draw Wasn’t There This exchange happens in the first 15 minutes of the movie and acts as foreshadowing for McCall’s character. He initially appears to be a mild-mannered department store worker who shows up to work every day and does everything he can to make the lives of those around him better. As the plot progresses, he endeavors to be that person, but circumstances force him to be who he is at his core—an ordinary hero who can’t help but fight the wrong and the evil he sees around him. Gotta be who you are in this world, right? Watching this movie happened at an opportune time for me. Not because I’m an ordinary hero, but because I wasn’t fly fishing very much. I’d gone sporadically in the months prior, but I don’t fly fish sporadically. At first I attributed the blip to aging, but the thing is I’m not that old. I thought, maybe I just don’t enjoy it as much as I used to. The feeling of separation alarmed me a little. Even during the winter months, I get out at least once a week. Spring, summer and fall I’m out two or three times a week. But now, I was heading out once every two weeks or so. Worse yet, the draw wasn’t there. Losing Fish I’d felt the odd flicker of this before, but that always had to do with times in my life where I was experiencing exhaustion from stress and working too much. I easily diagnosed that, and the solution was always to work less and fly fish more. This time, however, I struggled to determine the root cause, but I knew it wasn’t that. A few weeks ago, I grabbed my gear from the garage and headed out to the river. I was driven by the need for fresh air more than the desire to fish. My mind wandered while I cast. When I hooked and landed trout, it felt more mechanical or ritualistic. Then on one drift, I hooked a summer-run steelhead. He jumped twice and I got a good look at all 5 pounds of his chrome side before the fly popped out the second time he landed. Too bad, I thought. I’ll get him in the next day or two. I headed out two days later and found him again, but this time when his mouth appeared behind my skated fly I set too soon. Shoot. I missed him a second time. I went out again a couple of days later but he didn’t appear. A few days after that I drove to a different stream. I got a few nice cutthroat and then I hooked another summer-run steelhead. This time I promised myself I wasn’t going to lose it. Which I didn’t until he was about 5 feet from me. I raised my rod and reached for my net. He turned, the fly popped, and I stood there watching as he swam away. Driving home that evening, I told myself I’ve got to get this figured out. I’m losing fish now because I’m not fully engaged in what I’m doing. Why was the act of fly fishing feeling like an otiose activity, like something I do, rather than the passion and connectedness I normally felt? Could it be I was just getting old? Had I done it too many times? Had it worn out? The Fish of a Lifetime The second lost summer-run steelhead finally provided me with the epiphany I needed. This unfamiliar feeling all started around the middle of March, and around that time I had my very own “The Old Man and the Sea” moment. Only, I’m not that old, my fish wasn’t a marlin and I was fishing freshwater. Ok, so maybe it wasn’t all that similar. Last March I was out in my boat with a friend fishing creek mouths on a remote lake. After traveling a number of kilometers up the lake, we found a nice drop-off near a stream and started to cast. It wasn’t long before we found trout. A few small rainbows at first, but as the wind gently pushed us along the steep drop-off, we started to see trout cruising in about 15 feet of water. We began to consistently catch cutthroat, with a few in the 18-inch range. A couple hours into the day, I cast in front of a group of cruising trout, let my line sink for a few seconds and then took a few quick strips. The water clarity allowed me a view of my streamer, so I watched it until it disappeared momentarily. I felt a hesitant tug and then the fly reappeared. I stripped the streamer again, and again the fly disappeared. I set the hook and felt a weight on the other end like I’d never felt before while targeting cutthroat. The fish peeled line then stopped. I reeled. The tug-of-war happened four or five times before I managed to lead the trout within view of the boat. The last 15 feet were the most difficult. He simply sat a few feet off the side of the boat about 10 feet down and dared me to pull harder on him. He sat there like he knew if I applied any more pressure, he’d simply break off. Seeing him was most difficult. He was by far the largest cutthroat I’d ever encountered, though I kept telling myself the water simply magnified his size. He couldn’t possibly be that large. His pressure on my line assured me he was. We engaged in the stalemate a few minutes longer, and then he moved an inch or two toward the boat letting me know he was ready for this to be over. My friend dipped the net in the water and I led him in. He measured 27 inches. I released him and watched until his green back faded to match the darkness of the water column. He was the cutthroat of my lifetime to that point and likely to the point where I take my last cast. Gotta Be Who You Are I fish for lots of different species, but cutthroat are the species I choose to target the most, and without knowing it, I chased that cutthroat my entire life. Then I caught it. I wonder if it’s similar to a professional athlete working all their lives to get the big contract, and then when they get it, they temporarily lose the edge they played with. Who knew accomplishing a lifelong goal comes with its own set of challenges? Regardless, I’m not the first to feel this. Hemingway’s old man, Santiago, felt this in the middle of his success. After going through a period of 84 days without catching a fish, he hooks into the biggest fish of his life and while he’s fighting it, he says, “Perhaps I should not have been a fisherman…but that was the thing that I was born for.” Yes, you gotta be who you are in this world. Photo: Arian Stevens The post The Old Man and Me appeared first on Fly Fusion. View the full article

By Skip Morris The Attractor-Fly Angle On the first count, that flies must always resemble the natural feed of fish, innocent elemental logic (so, teenage logic) was at work. That logic does add up: Want a fish to eat your fly? Make your fly look like what that fish eats. What I didn’t yet understand is that fish have little regard for logic or for fly fishers’ adamant beliefs; consequently, attractor flies really do work. Under the right circumstances (which I can only ever determine by trying one) attractor flies can far out-fish imitative flies, can be simply deadly. These right circumstances are, in my experience, fairly common. And one such deadly attractor is the elegant Alexandra. —Excerpted from the Summer 2025 issue of Fly Fusion. Morris makes the case clearly: sometimes suggestion, motion, and presence outperform strict imitation. When trout refuse the dead drift but continue to show, a swung wet can change everything. Here are six classic patterns, from bold attractors to quiet naturals, that deserve a place in your swing rotation. Alexandra Hook: Heavy wire, standard length (1X long preferred), sizes 14–8Thread: Black 6/0 or 8/0Body: Flat silver tinselWing: Peacock swordHackle: Black (or wine) hen-neck Why Fish It: A true attractor. Flash, contrast, and movement combine to provoke trout in a curious or aggressive mood. Cowdung Hook: Heavy wire, standard length (1X long preferred), sizes 16–10Thread: Black, brown, or oliveBody: Green or olive flossHackle: Brown hen-neckWings: Mottled oak turkey primary Why Fish It: Subtle and natural. Suggests green-bodied mayflies and works beautifully during olive activity. Hare’s Ear Wet Hook: Heavy wire, standard length (1X long preferred), sizes 16–10Rib: Oval gold tinselBody: Hare’s maskWings: Natural-gray duck-primary sections Why Fish It: Versatile and impressionistic. Covers a broad range of emerging mayflies and caddis. Leadwing Coachman Hook: Heavy wire, standard length (1X long preferred), sizes 16–8Body: Peacock herlHackle: Brown hen-neckWings: Natural-gray duck-primary sections Why Fish It: Dark and proven. Excellent during heavier mayfly or caddis emergences. Light Cahill Wet Hook: Heavy wire, standard length (1X long preferred), sizes 16–10Body: Cream fox or rabbit furHackle: Ginger hen-neckWing: Wood-duck fibers Why Fish It: A pale-winged swimmer that shines during PMD and Light Cahill hatches. Muddler Daddy (Davy Wotton) Hook: 2X long sizes 12–10 or 1X long size 10Body: Hare’s maskLegs: Knotted pheasant-tail fibersCollar/Head: Deer hair Why Fish It: A lively point fly with motion and presence. Particularly effective when swung at the tail of a team. The post Six Wet Flies to Swing with Confidence appeared first on Fly Fusion. View the full article

SITKA officially stepped into the world of fly fishing this month with the launch of SITKA Fish. Known for building system-driven hunting apparel, the well-known Bozeman-based brand is applying that same technical discipline to the water. The new gear launch centers on a focused lineup built around quality and the realities of fishing hard across a full season. The Crosscurrent Wading System anchors the collection. Constructed with four-layer GORE-TEX PRO construction, the waders deliver complete weather protection, next-level durability, and an ultra-dialed design for anglers. Available in both zip and non-zip configurations, they are built for those who spend serious time in moving water. The build specifically targets durability through repeated wet and dry cycles, one of the most common failure points in modern wader construction. The wading boots continue that systems approach. Interchangeable traction options allow anglers to adapt to varying river bottoms, while quick-drying construction addresses the issue of heavy, saturated footwear between sessions. The emphasis throughout the system is long-term performance in real-world conditions. SITKA’s long-anticipated entry into the fishing industry is centered on technical execution, with gear designed for anglers who prioritize quality, durability, and time on the water. sitkagear.com/fish The post SITKA Launches Fish Collection appeared first on Fly Fusion. View the full article

Abel Reels has released their first all-new reel since 2021’s Rove, and it marks their biggest push yet into high-capacity, large-arbor performance for fresh and saltwater. The SDX is their largest, fastest, and most advanced reel, designed for anglers chasing permit, tarpon, GT, steelhead, salmon, and bluewater species like tuna and marlin. It is not a casual upgrade. It is a purpose-built tool for moments when everything is on the line. The oversized arbor delivers the fastest retrieve in the Abel lineup, picking up an impressive 15.5 to 17.5 inches per turn. A newly designed larger handle improves grip and control during sustained fights, while the alternating stacked carbon and stainless-steel drag system provides smooth, locked-down stopping power. The sealed drag system and caged frame are engineered for extreme saltwater conditions, yet the reel maintains a lightweight feel thanks to its open-frame structure. It is available in either a ported or solid frame configuration. Another standout feature is customization. On the new Abel website, you can mix and match frame and spool finishes at no additional cost. Choose from Gloss Black, Deep Blue, Deep Green, or Platinum to build a reel that fits your style. The reel is offered in two sizes, 9/11 and 12/14. abelreels.com Photo: William Woodward The post Abel’s Most Advanced Reel Yet appeared first on Fly Fusion. View the full article

This episode was originally published on February 17th, 2023. This week is my guest Seth Berger [1:00:18], Fly Fishing Travel Specialist with Orvis Adventures. In his job, Seth visits Orvis-endorsed operations around the world and always packs his fishing gear, so he's a great resource for advising us how to travel with rods, waders, and flies—how to pack them, what to carry on, and pitfalls you should avoid. Seth also talks about what to pack, and items that are often forgotten or ignored by traveling anglers. Anyone who gets on a plane, whether it's a short hop or an international flight, will benefit from his knowledge. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and comment that run the gamut of the fly-fishing experience, including: A listener who recommends the mono rig method, which is different from the standard Euro nymphing setup. And tries to tell me 20lb. mono casts just as easily as fly line (I'm not buying it) Why not put a tippet ring on the end of a poly leader? I've used straight monofilament for a leader for bass and bream. Why do I need a tapered leader, and do I need tippet? When you fish two dry flies, what should the distance between them be? Do I need to learn entomology to pick flies? Is there any difference between picking flies for small streams vs. bigger rivers? What do you look for to help you choose a fly? Can I fish steelhead with my 9-foot 5-weight rod? Is it true that lighter lines cast better in the wind because they have less air resistance? Have you ever fished with just a bead on a hook? Some great suggestions from a listener on how to keep fly tying materials away from young children. I am coming from Korea to the US. Will I have problems brining flies and fly tying materials into the country? Have you ever tried wiggle nymphs? Why do Euro nymphers stand in the water and make short upstream casts while people with conventional lines try to fish as far away as possible? Why don't we see a lot of blue streamers? How deep can I effectively fish with a fly rod? How can I tie patterns with partridge feathers smaller than size 16? View the full article

This week I interview Quint Rogers [31:43], a fly fishing guide specializing in shoal bass fishing in Georgia. We discuss the unique characteristics of shoal bass, their habitat, life cycle, and the best fishing techniques to catch this rare freshwater bass, perfectly suited to the fly rod. Quint shares insights on seasonal patterns, fishing gear, and the river environments where shoal bass thrive. In the Fly Box this week we have these questions from listeners: How can I figure out which way to orient slotted beads on nymphs? Are six-piece travel rods any good? For small stream fishing, does it matter if I use a double taper or weight forward line? Is there any evidence to suggest which is the best way to attach droppers? Why does my leader always break at the tippet ring? Are there any alternatives to stripping baskets for beach fishing? How do you know when to replace a floating line? Can you do a podcast on how to train a dog to be a fishing companion? Why don't more saltwater guides use nets? What kind of games do I play when fly fishing? Where would you work if you didn't work for Orvis? View the full article

If you think mending is just lifting your rod and flipping it upstream—well sometimes it is—but there is so much more you can do with line mends to add slack in just the right places, and to deal with tricky currents. Mike Pease [30:41], Orvis-endorsed guide and great storyteller, gives us 10 tips for increasing the utility of your line mends. I learned a bunch of new tricks on this podcast and I am sure you will as well. There are some helpful tips from listeners and some questions that may answer things you have been curious about, including: When would you use a drop shot nymphing rig? Have you ever used a dry fly, nymph, and wet fly at the same time? I am debating about which Helios rod to buy. Should I get the 9 foot 5 weight or the 9-foot 5-inch version? Can I use the longer rod for wade fishing? A listener gives his version of a Euro rig for steelhead. Which 10-foot rod should I get for Lake Erie steelhead? Do you think tying a dropper to the bend of a hook is any hindrance to fish taking the upper fly? Sometimes when I hook a big fish it takes line right away and my tippet breaks. Do you think my drag is set too tight? How tight should I set my drag? A great tip from a listener on an easy way to remove split shot with a tool everyone carries. You say that trout can always see the tippet. If so, why would I ever want to use something as fine as 6X? View the full article

Hello. im doing school project. Im looking for someone catching rainbow bass in nicaraguan lake for a fee.

When is a trout a steelhead and when is it a rainbow? Are steelhead just rainbow trout that migrate to the ocean? Is it something in their genes or just random chance? And in a given population of rainbow trout, will only some of them migrate to the ocean? And according to a biologist, are the Great Lakes "steelhead" truly steelhead? My guest fisheries biologist Katie Kobayashi [32:13] has studied these fish down to the genetic level and has some exciting information on their life histories. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions that I think will be helpful to many of you, including: If I hook a trout in the back behind the dorsal fin, will it survive OK? And can I count this fish as "caught"? What is the most useful saltwater fly line for inshore species? For my smaller creeks in Pennsylvania, would an 8 ½ foot 4-weight or 7 1/2-foot 3-weight be better? Have you used articulated flies? Have you had success with them? Are there articulated subsurface flies other than streamers? I have an 8-weight rod for flats fishing in salt water and want a second rod for bigger stuff. Should I get a 9-weight or a 10-weight? For fishing in a Colorado tailwater, when should I use an indicator setup and when should I Euro-nymph? And when Euro nymphing, how can I get a tiny size 22 nymph down into the right zone? View the full article

thanks for the information!

My guest this week is Orvis-endorsed guide Joe Garza [32:54], a guide from JAG Fly Fishing, who explains the intricacies of still water trout fishing. He discusses common mistakes that anglers make, the importance of understanding food sources, and the need for patience in still water environments. Joe shares insights on matching fly profiles and colors to natural food, as well as effective techniques for using indicators. The conversation emphasizes the unique challenges of still water fishing compared to moving water, providing valuable tips for both novice and experienced anglers. He shares his extensive knowledge on fly fishing in still waters, focusing on techniques such as the hand twist retrieve, effective casting, and the importance of proper hook setting. He emphasizes the significance of maintaining tension in the line and understanding fish behavior, particularly in relation to external factors like weather and water temperature. In the Fly Box this week we have a lot of questions about tackle and winter reading, including: Is "Sinking Gel" for nymph fishing a waste of money? What is the difference between the 7'1/2 foot 3-weight Superfine Graphite and the 7 ½ foot 3-weight Superfine Glass rods? Is there a book you recommend on trout biology? Are there some books you recommend on learning about hatches? Can you explain the differences between your three books: Reading Trout Streams, Finding Trout, and Prospecting for Trout? How do manufacturers set the line recommendations for their fly reel models? I am 6-feet, 2 inches tall. Does that mean where most people would recommend a 10-foot rod that I should get a 9-foot rod? What three fly lines would you recommend for a wide variety of fish in fresh and salt water? What fly patterns do I need to imitate the gigantic Cantaria beetle in Chile? View the full article

My guest this week is philosophy professor and fly fisher Thi Nguyen [33:31], who has spent his career studying the psychology and the value of games to our mental well-being. He argues that fly fishing is not one game but an infinite number of games that can be played by rules that we invent to challenge ourselves. And you might even change your rules within a single day of fishing. This podcast and my discussions with him have changed the way I view and teach fly fishing and I hope the interview will be equally fascinating to you. The Fly Box this week has some interesting tips and questions. Perhaps not as thought-provoking but still interesting, and I hope helpful. Will a premium rod magnify my casting mistakes? Will my 4-weight Helios handle brown trout over 20 inches? Can you elaborate on why someone would want to use two indicators and how to set them up? Will my nymphs sink better with 12-pound fluorocarbon or with lighter tippet? I am confused by the differences in hook sizes recommended for various diameters of beads. They don't seem consistent. Can you help? A tip for using paper key tags to learn to identify various flies A tip for using parachute cord to eliminate the loss of small items Why do I see bugs under rocks in one part of a river and not in another? View the full article

Fly Fusion’s Editors’ Choice Awards celebrate the year’s most trusted, fish-ready gear, products that don’t just look good on the rack, but prove themselves day after day on the water. From smart storage to quick-access functionality, the best equipment is the kind that helps you fish more efficiently and keeps essentials right where you need them. This year’s Best Pack winner does exactly that, blending adaptability, thoughtful organization, and convenience into one streamlined carry system: the Patagonia Stealth Switch Pack. A creature of habit, I’ve been fishing with the same Patagonia sling pack for several years. Like its predecessor, the 9-liter Stealth Switch Pack is built for left- or right-shoulder wear and easily slides into an on-the-water fly-change station. The new one, however, also converts to a hip pack. Among the features are a net sleeve and embedded magnets on the pack front and shoulder strap that temporarily hold flies and nippers for quick fly changes. For pockets, the pack has one exterior-front zippered pocket, one zippered pocket on the shoulder strap, and four large stretch compartments in the pack interior. The Stealth Switch Pack also features a water bottle sleeve, corrosion-resistant zips, and numerous gear attachments and lash points. Patagonia.com © Photo Andrew Burr The post Editors’ Choice Awards – Best Pack appeared first on Fly Fusion. View the full article