Orvis

This episode was originally published on October 15th, 2023. Hal Herring [50:31] has been reporting on conservation issues in the American West for over 30 years for Field & Stream magazine as well as other publications. In this week's podcast, he explores the many complexities of trying to keep enough water in our rivers for both agriculture and trout populations, which has become an increasingly difficult juggling act. Hal also gently berates today's hunters and anglers about educating themselves on the science and the politics behind these issues. It's not enough to just complain about the lack of water—it's important to understand the issue before you can have a credible opinion. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great tips and questions, including: Do bamboo and fiberglass rods load differently than graphite rods? When you have a very limited time on a river, do you have a fishing method that gives you the most bang for your buck? Is there an alternative to the "chuck and duck" method for fishing for salmon and steelhead on Michigan rivers? If you are buying older fly tying material, what should you look for to make sure it has not been degraded? How would you adjust your fly selection for smallmouth bass throughout the season? Is rising or falling water better on a fluctuating tailwater? Can I use my 10-foot, 8-weight rod in the surf? If my Mop flies have fallen apart, can I easily add a new piece of mop material to the hook and bead? I am not a fly tier. Are two three-turn whip finishes better than a single 6-turn whip finish? A tip that textured lines in a long day of stripping flies can cut into your fingers Is the San Juan Shuffle ethical? Is a fast action 5-weight rod actually a 6-weight? I have been lipping bass for many years. Why do you say it's bad for the fish? View the full article

Chris Burkard [32:00], renowned action photographer, joins us to share his journey and insights into the world of fly fishing and extreme sports. His unique perspective on connecting with nature through photography and fishing offers a refreshing take on outdoor adventure. And along the way he offers some great tips on bikepacking with a fly rod. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more: I keep spooking the bigger trout in a small southern brook trout stream. What can I do to avoid spooking them? Is an 8-weight Encounter rod enough to handle Pacific salmon in Michigan? And how heavy a tippet should I use? I lost my biggest trout the other day after a long battle. What advice do you have for landing bigger fish? How can I get the eyes on my big predator flies from coming off after a few casts? What do you carry in your "eventuality kit" when taking trips? I saw sea trout jumping outside my office in Stockholm, but I couldn't catch them. What do you think they were doing? My buddies and I caught a bunch of fish on an experimental soft hackle that looked like nothing in nature. I thought you were always supposed to match the hatch. View the full article

In this episode, fisheries biologist Shawn Good [24:00] shares insights into the diverse and rewarding world of fish biology, including how fish populations are sampled, the impact of environmental factors, and the importance of habitat conservation. In this episode, Shawn discusses stream habitat connectivity, culvert design, fish migration, and the success of Lake Champlain's lake trout restoration program. He emphasizes the importance of habitat management and collaboration among agencies to protect aquatic ecosystems. In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting questions, tips, and suggestions, including: Why you should always stop into local fly shops when traveling Can I overline my rod by more than two line sizes? A tip from a listener on how to get custom colors on tying materials My fly rod section twists out of alignment constantly. How do I fix this? I have been catching shiners on my fly rod, but what flies should I use for catching some medium-sized bass? How do you know when to tie on a new piece of tippet? Do half size tippets make a difference? View the full article

Roadless Areas are some of the most important coldwater refuges for trout and salmon, and also prime spawning areas. Yet they are under threat because the Forst Service has proposed to eliminate them. Learn how you can quickly and easily voice your opinion and it WILL matter. And you need to do it in the next couple weeks. Chris Wood [43:52] is always a great guest and you'll learn more than just about this issue. For instance, you'll learn the difference between a Roadless Area and Wilderness Area and what you can and can't do on each type of public land. In the Fly Box this week, we have some questions and controversies, including: Why do I get knots along my whole leader and how can I eliminate them? I found a bunch of big brook trout at the mouth of a cold tributary and caught one of them. Was this ethical? I want to restrict myself to Adams, Pheasant Tails, and Woolly Buggers for a season. What do you think of this idea? A listener actually enjoys foul-hooking trout because they fight better. He thinks we all need to chill out about foul-hooking fish. What do you think of this? My creek gets super low and I can't get a cast over the fish. What can I do, and do you think a tightline technique would be better? I live in Washington State and have a 10-foot 8-weight rod for salmon and steelhead. Are there any other places I can use this rod in my area? The bass jumped all over a Senko Worm but I can't catch them on flies. Are there any bass flies that will work as well? What should I expect on my first float trip? How can I identify good water for swinging wet flies View the full article

Many flies cross boundaries and you shouldn't hesitate to experiment with flies designed for other species. Tarpon flies will catch striped bass, smallmouths, and trout. Squirmy Worms and Mop flies work for bass, carp, and even bonefish. Steelhead, shad, and carp take bonefish flies. The list goes on, and Tim [35:08] and Tom relate stories where the "wrong" fly has often saved the day. It's a fun discussion. In the Fly Box, my plea for phone calls has produced some great ones as well as the usual e-mails. Some of the questions and tips include: Is there any reason I can't cut the hook off a jig head and use that for drop shotting? A tip from a listener on a way to make guides in foreign countries very happy. Any pros or cons to fly lines made from PVC as opposed to other materials? Will a 5-weight rod work for light saltwater fishing? How do you fish for carp in a lake with no visibility? A comment on fishing etiquette. Why do the catfish in my river jump clear of the water? Which hook should I cut off my articulated streamers? A great tip from a listener on tying blood knots. View the full article

My guest this week is Orvis ambassador George Daniel [31:48], who is also a guide, an author, and teaches the Fly Fishing class at Penn State. George is always questioning fly-fishing tactics, and he has some new ideas that surprisingly contradict what he has written in the past. You'll learn about his new leader design, why he typically fishes only a single nymph, why he doesn't use tippet rings any more, and why he uses a loop knot for large dry flies. And much more, including some interesting new fly patterns. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips: With the increase in tungsten prices, will sinking lines be more expensive in the future? What do I need for a basic setup to begin steelhead fishing? A tip from a listener on a killer fly for catching bullhead A warning from a listener on his experience with flesh eating bacteria that he encountered on a fishing trip. A tip from a listener on using a bass bug taper for fishing large dry flies in the wind. In a tailwater that fluctuates daily, how do large changes in flow affect the trout and the insects? Why do I miss most of my hook sets when fishing dry flies? View the full article

What is the trout fishing like in Patagonia? Is it worth the time and expense? Is it truly the trip of a lifetime? And what should you expect on a trip to this magical place? Will you catch the biggest trout of your life? Is it really uncrowded? My guest this week is long-time lodge owner and guide Eduardo Barrueto [42:05] of Magic Waters in Chile, and he gives a great overview of what to expect on your first trout-fishing trip to Patagonia. In the Fly Box this week, we have some particularly interesting questions that I think will be of interest to many of you, including: How can I read the water, and what is the best depth for finding trout in a river? Should I use tippet rings for bonefish? I have trouble with my knots when making fluorocarbon leaders for bass. What do you suggest? Should I be setting the hook more often when indicator nymphing? Is it true that New England fly fishers work a stream more rapidly? How long should I stay in one spot? How do I keep my foam bodies on dry flies from wrapping around the hook shank? I have high grass along the banks of my favorite stream. Would I be better with a Tenkara rod or a Euro rod? Is there really a difference between the various natural furs for fly tying? Can I substitute? Is it possible to build a fly rod with an interchangeable section that transforms a 9-foot rod to a 10-footer? What are the pros and cons of using a rope fly for gar? View the full article

This episode was originally published on August 6th, 2021. This week my guest is Colby Trow [38:08] of Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, one of the best smallmouth bass anglers I know. Colby talks about successful techniques in catching these critters in late summer, when they can be harder to catch than earlier in the season. The good news is that it's one of the best times to catch them on a surface fly like a popper or hair bug, which is always the most fun. In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions and tips from listeners: A listener who makes the point that it's quicker to land trout on light tippets with a Euro rod. Can I fish carp flies with an indicator? Are treble hooks more harmful than single point barbless hooks? What do I do when trout take my hopper patterns deep? Should I leave the fly in them? I have trouble catching smallmouths in clear water. Any suggestions? Where do you store your leader between fishing trips? A tip from Sam, fishing manager at Orvis Houston, on catching redfish in dirty water. What are the advantages and disadvantages in using a pedestal vise as opposed to a C-clamp? How do I choose which size hair stacker to use? How can I fish size 18-22 nymphs in four feet of fast water? A suggestion for using 7 1/2-foot leaders in small streams in the Driftless Region. Can I put a 7-weight sinking line on my 5-weight rod? If I am catching trout in small mountain streams where the water is cold enough, do I need to worry about them moving downstream into warmer temperatures after I release them? How many phone calls and questions do you get per week? When I switch from Euro nymphing to my regular trout rod, I keep breaking off fish. Is this normal? View the full article

My guest this week is Peter Jenkins [28:08], owner of the Saltwater Edge in Rhode Island and chairman of the American Saltwater Guides Association. Peter is a lifelong striper addict and has also followed the plight of the striped bass and the many management plans that try to preserve this valuable resource. He talks about the history of striped bass populations, why they are in decline right now, and what can be done to get back to the "glory days" of the late 1990s. In the Fly Box this week, I try to answer the following questions: What are tipping guidelines for a fishing guide in Italy? Are big articulated streamers mostly for targeting trophy fish? I had three fish completely swallow my dry fly. Do you have any insights on why they do that sometimes? Is it wise to sometimes start with a small fly rather than a large one? If I only have a leader and tippet on the water, should I still mend? Is it OK to have drag if only the leader and tippet are on the water? I am going to Patagonia this year. Should I bring my own gear? They recommend 6 and 7-weight rods and I only have a 4-weight and 5-weight. Should I ask if I can tie my own knots? What flies do you recommend for bigmouth and smallmouth buffalo? My stream has lots of weed on the bottom, and my nymphs and streamers keep getting coated with weed. How can I fix this? View the full article

My guest this week is Orvis casting guru and fishing buddy Pete Kutzer [39:31], who makes a case for using trout Spey techniques not just for spring and fall streamer fishing but all summer long, swinging wet flies and soft hackles. Pete gets into exactly the right rod, line, leader, and tippet he uses, the fly patterns he prefers, and the techniques he uses for presenting the flies. He also gives us some great tips for two-handed casting in general—tough to do on a podcast, but they are helpful nonetheless. In the Fly Box this week we have some great questions and tips from listeners, including: When fishing foam dry flies on a dry dropper rig, my leader keeps twisting. How can I prevent this? What essential gear should I take when fishing from my raft? I keep spooking carp with my heavily weighted flies but I need them to get down. How can I fix this? A listener tells us about a very clever method he uses for drop-shotting with nymphs that allows him to change weights easily. I saw dozens of trout stacked up in the middle of a run feeding in bright sunlight. Why were they there? I am trying to fish a short, deep plunge pool where the trout are in four feet of water. How can I get my flies down to them? My rooster hackle keeps twisting. What can I do to prevent this? View the full article

With warm and lower water levels in many western rivers, there's no need to sit out those hoot owl regulations. Some of the reservoirs in the Rocky Mountains offer the same spectacular scenery as trout rivers, fewer people, and challenging fish that might get you into your backing. Orvis-Endorsed Guide of the Year Dustin White [36:42] shares his passion for carp fishing in Montana and gives us some solid tips for finding and catching them. In the Fly Box this week we have the following interesting questions and more: My cast keeps wrapping around my rod when doing the double haul. How can I fix this? What is the best way to approach a fly-fishing "personality" on the water? What should I do if I see someone violating fishing regulations? Is it ever appropriate to clear brush on a path to the river? What is the best way to evaluate a fly-fishing guide? Suggestions on a rod for fishing for sea bass. How should I approach a large pool with numerous fish rising. Should I work my way upstream or go to the biggest fish at the head of the pack? How can I find good redfish marshes using Google Earth? A listener suggests another instance of poor angling ethics—walking in front of an angler on the banks of a river. A recommendation for a good rod for fishing for smaller bass. View the full article

This episode was originally published on March 3rd, 2025. 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

I don't like to use the word etiquette as that implies rules and we should be able to fish however we want as long as it's legal. But there are traditions and guidelines for conduct on trout rivers that ensures that everyone has a good day on the water without infringing on the rights of others. And they do sometimes differ depending on whether you are floating or wading, and even form one river to the next depending on how crowded they are. Todd Tanner [34:22] offers a very thoughtful and interesting approach to this subject with lots of anecdotes on what he has seen on the many trout rivers he's fished in his lifetime. Do boomboxes and dogs belong on trout rivers? Listen to what Todd has to say on those topics. In the Fly Box this week we have these questions and more: What do you think about the AI in relation to fly fishing? Does the Orvis Wading Staff really self deploy? How do I fish high, clear water? What do the trout do under this condition? How do I know when I am fishing deep enough for salmon and steelhead? My graphite ferrule does not seat all the way. Is this OK? Which sinking line is best for bass fishing? Brass is 7% heavier than stainless steel. Why don't we use more brass for our nymphs given the scarcity of tungsten? A listener makes the case for the Helios D rods for trout fishing What do you think about the Hovering Leech pattern? Will this technique work in rivers? Do trout release stress hormones when we play them? Do chubs and trout feed in different places in trout streams? View the full article

The Northeast has some of the finest small-stream brook trout fishing in the world. A hike in the Green Mountains of Vermont, White Mountains of New Hampshire, Adirondack Mountains in New York, or the mountains of western Maine can get you to unspoiled brook trout waters with minimal to no fishing pressure. And these are wild, native fish and one of the most colorful fish in freshwater. Nick Yardley [35:18] is an experienced hiker and climber, and loves brook trout fishing as much as he loves Atlantic salmon and steelhead. He's got some great tips on getting there and what tackle and flies to use. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more: Tips on why the Orvis landing net is so great. Will we be seeing stainless steel beads to replace the expensive tungsten ones? Or is this fake news? Controversy: A listener suggests that if we don't have more "Fly Fishing Only" trout streams, the future of fly fishing is at stake (and Tom disagrees). Bass follow my fly but don't commit. What should I do? A listener asks for advice on whether to get a 3 or 4-weight rod for Colorado. I have trouble casting big Clouser Minnows and Meat Whistles. I think my leader is at fault. Can you help me correct this? I have a friend that does weird things on the river. What would you do? I have an intermediate line for bass fishing. I have had conflicting information on whether it will be useful or not. What do you think? Can I fish for winter flounder with a fly rod? View the full article

This episode was originally published on July 22nd, 2024. A couple months ago I did a podcast with Jason Randall [36:39] on trout vision, and it was so popular that I asked him to come back on the podcast to do one on a trout's sense of smell and hearing. Can trout hear your metal studs on the bottom when you wade, or the tip of your wading staff? Can they hear you talking? Can they smell your flies, and does it make sense to add scents to your fly? Can they smell hatches coming? I explore these and other topics with one of our foremost experts on what trout perceive in their environment. In the Fly Box this week, we have a great assortment of questions and tips from listeners, including: What could I tie with size 16 and 18 Keel Hooks? When working the same pool, should the nymph or streamer angler cover the pool first? Where should you park when you see a stretch of unposted land? A listener relates a fun story of his first carp on the fly What would make me choose the more expensive textured Pro fly line over the Smooth version? What is your rod, leader, and fly setup when fishing a small stream? Is there a difference between a dubbing loop and the split thread technique? Do Recons and Clearwaters go through the same process of improvements that Helios rods do? I saw a lot of bugs but no trout rising. Do you think they were overwhelmed by too much food? If trout in the East don't eat adult stoneflies much, why does the Chubby Chernobyl work so well? I find sunglasses in the evening a hindrance. What should I do to protect my eyes after the sun goes down? View the full article