Orvis

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

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

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

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

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

Tom is on a fishing trip this week. While on this trip he learned his friend and legendary fly-fishing author, John Gierach had passed away at 78. In his honor Tom asked me to post his last intervew with John from May of last year and to share this with all of you: "John Gierach was one of the finest voices in fly fishing. He passed away suddenly last week. Always humble and kind, his writing never reached into navel gazing but he just told great, honest, and funny stories and like all great writers he never wasted a word. I once had the pleasure of spending a week sharing a cabin with him in Labrador and he was exactly the man in person that he was in his writing. We will all miss him greatly." Here is the show descrption from May 19, 2023 Our climate is changing, and regardless of whether you think it's human caused or natural it is changing. If you don't believe that you need to get outside more. John Gierach [58:00], thoughtful guy that he is, wanted to tal.k about this subject and how he deals with changes that have happened in his lifetime, and what we can all do to deal with climate change and still enjoy fly fishing, because as he says "we still gotta live" and to some of us fly fishing is life. I n the Fly Box this week we have lots of questions, many of them quite basic but still fun to answer because you can always give them a new twist. What is the best rig to catch trout with worms? (I hope he meant worm flies and not real worms) What can I do to keep my Depth Charge line from tangling? I am moving to Texas and want one rod for inland bass and one for inshore saltwater. Is there one outfit that can do this? Am I better off buying one high-end rod or several lower priced rods if I fish in a variety of trout situations? Can you overline bamboo and fiberglass fly rods? I have a dog that likes to chase rocks and sticks. Any tips on how to train a dog to be a good fishing companion? Is there any way to tell a trout rise from a chub rise? I am confused by fly line numbers and hook numbers. Can you explain them? What do fish deep in a lake take my Pat's Rubber Legs fished quickly? What do the fish think it is? How do you fish your Rabbit's Foot Emerger patterns? What do I do with my rod when tying on a new fly or landing a fish? Is there a better knot than a clinch knot for tying on size 18 to 22 flies? My welded loop has cuts in it. What can I do to fix that? What kind of dry/dropper arrangement do you use when there is nothing visibly hatching? A good tip from a listener on walking the banks of your favorite rivers in low water to get a sense for the bottom structure. Can you tell the difference between a male and female trout by looking at the anal fin? View the full article

We keep hearing that fly fishing is good for your mental health. It gets you out in the natural world, involves problem solving, and keeps you active and moving throughout the day (unless you sit in a drift boat watching a bobber). But is it always good for your mind? Are there times when fly fishing can make your mood worse, and are there things you can do to make sure a day on the water is good for you? I discuss this, and play devil's advocate a bit, with Melissa Ceren [35:20], who is both a fly-fishing guide and a licensed therapist. We had a fun conversation and I hope you enjoy it. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions from listeners, including: If I break a section of a rod, why won't a section from a different rod fit it? Are the diameters different in different types of rods? Are there benefits to fishing nymphs without an indicator? When fishing, are you more likely to change the fly size up or down if the one you're using is not working? Am I missing some flexibility by not carrying two rods when wade fishing? What is the best way to fish for a trout that lives under a bridge? When I get a tangled mess I usually cut everything off and re-tie. Should I be carrying a safety pin to untangle my leader? I am having problems with drag when fishing straight upstream. Do you have any tips to help this? I keep foul-hooking small brook trout when using a dry dropper. Why does this happen and what can I do to avoid it? I accidentally dropped my fly box in the river. I don't see any rust on them, but should I throw all of them out? What is "attitude" when discussing the choice of dry flies? What is your current recommendation on the noise created by studded boots or metal wading staffs? I have gone on 8 saltwater fly-fishing trips and have been skunked on 6 of them. It's a combination of bad guides and bad weather. What can I do to avoid this? What is the best way of getting my fly off a branch if I don't want to wade in and spook the pool? View the full article

I have long enjoyed Robert Ketley's [31:06] column in California Fly Fisher magazine because he often delves deeply into aspects of fly fishing that we don't pay much attention to. And he's a tireless researcher. So when I noticed a deep dive he did on fly-fishing knots using a microscope I knew I had to get him on the podcast. You won't learn about which knot is best, but you will learn about why knots hold and why they break, how to tie a knot properly, and what happens when a knot gives way. In the Fly Box this week, we have some unusually good questions, including: Will the 10-foot 7-weight Helios D rod offer me enough tippet protection when using 5X for steelhead? My local wild trout stream has almost dried up this year. Where do the fish go, and how long until this stream can recover? When wading deep, when I pick up the line and cast I notice I make waves in the water. How can I eliminate this? When swinging wet flies in a tight stream I need to use a roll cast, but how do I make another roll cast after my flies complete their swing? I see fish on the bottom of a spring creek but I can't catch them using my tight line technique. What do you think I am doing wrong? I was scolded by an outfitter when I changed direction when fighting a big fish. He said it will wear a hole in their mouth and they will get off. Was I doing it wrong? Can I go from a 4X leader with a tippet ring to a 7X tippet? Will not having tapered sections in there be bad? I don't have much finger dexterity and have trouble saving my tippet scraps. Do you have any suggestions? A listener reminds us that in lakes in Maine that are listed as fly fishing only, it is illegal to troll a fly. When trolling a fly from my canoe, how can I get my fly deeper? Which be the best Helios rod for fishing the Henry's Fork? View the full article

Who owns the banks of a river? Who owns the bottom? Who owns the water that flows through a channel? And what defines whether a river is navigable or not? There are often no easy answer to theses questions, and much of it is determined on a state-by-state basis. Beau Beasley [35:27] has spent years looking at specific cases of access controversies, and some of you may not like what he says because he often comes down on the side of a landowner who prohibits access to a piece of river. But Beau looks at the facts and the law and approaches these issues in an objective manner. It's a fascinating discussion. In the Fly Box this week, we have some comments, a bunch of tips, and some tricky questions, including: Will I find steelhead in the same places I find resident rainbows? How much time do you spend swinging a run for steelhead before moving on? A listener makes a case for the positive cost/benefit ratio of fishing with a guide. How much can a fly rod bend before breaking? Do trout seem to have an affinity for one color of nymph over another? How long does a frightened fish stay spooked? And do hatchery fish differ from wild fish in this respect? If you use a barbless hook on a two nymph rig and attach the bottom fly to the bend, how do you alleviate the problem of losing the lower fly and tippet? Do you fish a streamer in the same way you would fish a spinning lure? How can I get smaller nymphs down into very deep, fast pockets in a river? What would I consider the best roll-casting rod Orvis makes? Do you have any tricks for hooking fish on a direct downstream presentation? View the full article

Panfish are easy to find and catch in the spring and early summer. But later in the season, not so much. Panfish are still around, but we need to look for them in different places and use modified techniques. Bart Lombardo [33:40] is an expert on all things panfish, and he gives us his secrets for finding and catching these delightful fly-rod targets as we approach late summer and fall. In the Fly Box this week, we have a healthy assortment of tips and questions from listeners, including: A suggestion from a listener on a way to spot small dry flies if you have trouble seeing them on the water Do you ever fish under bridges? Is it worth it? When tying in palmered hackle, what is the point in tying hackles in tip-first? What is your philosophy for selecting a dry fly when using a dry/dropper rig? I recently caught some nice fish on the edges of strong whirlpools. Have I been missing something, and what suggestions do you have for fishing this kind of water? If trout aren't actively feeding in higher water temperatures, what difference does it make if we stop fishing at 68 degrees? I fish two different streams and the fly size recommendations for each one is different. Why such a discrepancy? What knots do you suggest for tying a 65-pound fluoro shock tippet to a 20-pound class tippet for pike? Do you think construction a half mile upstream of a spot has scared all the trout away? Is it OK to move the fly when you mend? Is it OK to mend when fishing a dry fly? Should you come in from the top of the eye or from the bottom when tying a knot to your fly? I am only catching smaller smallmouth bass in a spot. How can I find the bigger ones? View the full article

What are the pleasures and pitfalls of running a successful fishing lodge? What's it really like behind the scenes? And how did a couple kids from New Hampshire end up running one of the most successful fishing and hunting lodges in Montana? (Hint—it wasn't due to trust funds or investment banker money). This week I interview Tim and Joanne Linehan [39:39], two of the nicest people on the planet and legends in the fly-fishing industry. Their story is a heartwarming success story of a lifelong partnership in love and life. And in the Fly Box this week we have some great questions and helpful tips, including: Do you have any tips for fishing really muddy water or is it just not worth it? Does a fish's sense of smell work better in warm water or cold water? A great story about a listener breaking off a big rainbow and then coming back later in the day, catching the fish, and getting his fly back. Any tips on a fly rod for a 6-year-old kid? I have been nymph fishing with a fluorocarbon leader. Should I switch to a nylon leader when dry-fly fishing? Do you have any tips for setting the hook when fishing dry flies? Should I use side pressure when playing Atlantic salmon? Can I use Water Shed on my floating fly line? Any tips on catching smallmouth buffalo on a fly? My line and leader won't go straight at the end of the cast and end up curling in on the cast. Any tips as to why this is happening? I'm taking my first saltwater fly-fishing trip. Will the Battenkill Disc reel give me enough retrieve speed? View the full article

Joe Bibbo [32:10] has a great back story and is a wonderful storyteller himself. He's done a lot of DIY fishing, mainly from his home in the East to the Rocky Mountains and has some great advice on where to go for information as you plan your trip. He also has some wonderful advice on what not to do, based on mistakes he's made over the years. I get many questions from listeners about DIY trips so I am sure this podcast will be a popular one. In the Fly Box this week, I had no phone calls to answer (hint, hint) but some good e-mail questions, including: I get conflicting advice on how close I can get to fish when tightline nymphing. Can you give me some guidelines on how close I can approach them? Any tricks for seeing small flies in low light? I bought some Stimulators and see they have wire wraps on them. Can I fish these as wet flies? I struggle to get a bite from river smallmouth bass in July and August and I could consistently catch them in spring. Any suggestions? How can I avoid creek chubs in a small weedy stream when I want to target the larger brown trout? Would it be a good idea to put a small length of sighter material between my fly line and my leader? Any tips for solo fishing from a raft? I have been wading with old neoprene waders and Crocs as wading shoes. Do you think I would benefit from modern waders and wading shoes? I live in Great Lakes steelhead country but sometimes want to avoid the crowds during the winter and fish for smaller trout in inland streams. Do you have any advice for late fall and winter fishing in these streams? View the full article

My guest this week is Lucas Bissett [38:42], executive director the AFFTA, the trade association for the fly-fishing industry. Lucas talks about the support they give to small, grass roots organizations for education and habitat protection—organizations that may not be able to apply for larger grants. One of their current projects, which we discuss in detail, is how ocean fish stocks will be managed due to the changes in migration patterns due to climate change. Lucas tells us that the federal organizations that set regulations for harvest and size lengths are very responsive to public input, so its something for which you can make a difference. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips, including: I was told the river we fished had lots of 15-inch fish but all we caught were fish up to 12 inches. Could the fish have been in the bottom of deep pools because of the warmer water? A tip from a listener, one I'm not completely sold on, for putting stick-on strike indicators on top of dry flies when using heavily weighted nymphs on droppers. How do you fish the famous Woolly Bugger in a small, slow moving, turbid stream? What two-handed rod should I use for fishing smallmouth bass? A listener asks for philosophical advice on whether to enjoy fishing for striped bass in Atlantic salmon rivers. A listener has been enjoying fishing for fallfish as trout streams warm and asks for a podcast on fishing for fallfish If you are fishing a tandem nymph rig and one fly is not working at all, should you switch out that fly? Do you change to a different fly line taper as you go up or down in line sizes? Why is there a cutter on tippet spools? Doesn't everyone carry snips? Does Tom have a succession plan for the podcast? View the full article

My guest this week is Lucas Bissett [38:42], executive director the AFFTA, the trade association for the fly-fishing industry. Lucas talks about the support they give to small, grass roots organizations for education and habitat protection—organizations that may not be able to apply for larger grants. One of their current projects, which we discuss in detail, is how ocean fish stocks will be managed due to the changes in migration patterns due to climate change. Lucas tells us that the federal organizations that set regulations for harvest and size lengths are very responsive to public input, so its something for which you can make a difference. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips, including: I was told the river we fished had lots of 15-inch fish but all we caught were fish up to 12 inches. Could the fish have been in the bottom of deep pools because of the warmer water? A tip from a listener, one I'm not completely sold on, for putting stick-on strike indicators on top of dry flies when using heavily weighted nymphs on droppers. How do you fish the famous Woolly Bugger in a small, slow moving, turbid stream? What two-handed rod should I use for fishing smallmouth bass? A listener asks for philosophical advice on whether to enjoy fishing for striped bass in Atlantic salmon rivers. A listener has been enjoying fishing for fallfish as trout streams warm and asks for a podcast on fishing for fallfish. If you are fishing a tandem nymph rig and one fly is not working at all, should you switch out that fly? Do you change to a different fly line taper as you go up or down in line sizes? Why is there a cutter on tippet spools? Doesn't everyone carry snips? Does Tom have a succession plan for the podcast? View the full article

I take guilty pleasure in hearing horror stories from guides about their worst clients or other crazy things that happen on the river. Orvis-Endorsed Guide of the Year for 2019 Chip Swanson [41:00] is a great storyteller and has had some wild and funny incidents on the river over the years. I think everyone will enjoy these stories but just a warning—although not R-rated, some of his stories mention sensitive body parts so if your kids listen to podcasts with you, you may want to preview them first. Nothing very raunchy but you have been warned! Rated PG-13. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips including: I fish a lake that is stocked with rainbows and has a small tributary stream. Do you think the rainbows will run up into it? Do you have any tips for being stealthy on a trout stream other than not stepping right into the water? Can I use a sinking Salmon Poly Leader for trout? When do you extend the butt section of your leader? I am using a switch rod for distance in warm water fishing and have tried all kinds of lines but am not happy with my casting. Do you have any tips? Any tips or tricks on how to travel; with waders and wading boots? I am concerned with my wet wading boots. Can trout smell us and should I worry about it? Do Zero-weight fly rods exist and what are they used for? A tip from a listener about learning to cast at all angles to your body without moving your feet. I fished a cold Colorado tailwater in the morning and a local angler told me I was on the water too early. Why? All the hoppers I see have green, brown, or black wings. So why do we put white wings on many of our hopper patterns? View the full article

There's no doubt that casting a size 6 weighted streamer is more difficult than a size 14 Parachute Adams. The physics are different, no way around it. But casting guru Pete Kutzer [37:17] has some tricks that he shares to make casting big streamers, nymph rigs, and poppers easier by adjusting your casting motions. This is a frequent question on the Fly Box so I figured there was a need for an entire podcast on the subject. In the Fly Box this week, surprisingly I did not have any questions on casting big flies. But I did have these tips and questions: I have been looking for brown trout redds on my favorite wild trout stream but have not seen any. When and where do they spawn? Does it make sense to look at my dry flies from underneath, getting the same view as the fish? I have discovered a way of projecting my flies on the ceiling to look at them. My fly line lands OK, but my leader and fly curl off to one side and don't go where I want them to. What am I doing wrong? Why do trout in my river prefer Golden Stonefly nymphs over the bigger Salmonfly patterns? How do I know where to place studs on my Orvis felt-soled wading boots? I fish dry droppers on small streams, but in really shallow streams my nymph keeps snagging on the bottom. Do you still fish dry /dropper on very shallow streams? What is a good foreign language to learn if you travel to fish internationally? Do trout in cold tailwaters migrate closer to the dam in summer? I fish a trout stream where the channel was recently put back into an old stream bed. How long will it take for insects and crayfish to repopulate this area? I kept missing strikes on a weedless Sneaky Pete. Do you think it was the weed guard, or was it just bluegills pecking at my fly? How do people get their car to the take-out when fishing from a raft? View the full article

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

Captain Drew Rodriguez [27:23] is the only Orvis-endorsed freshwater guide in Florida and specializes in largemouth and peacock bass in the canals near Miami and also the Everglades. In summer, peacocks are his main target as they just love hot weather, the hotter the better. He discusses how to find them, what flies to pick, and what tackle he recommends. They are a year-round target in the Miami area and, according to Captain Drew, a 30-fish day is a slow one. In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting questions and great tips from listeners, including: Can I fit my fly boxes, lunch, and a raincoat in the standard Orvis Sling Bag? A tip from a listener on how college fly-fishing clubs can get involved with the Trout Unlimited Five Rivers program A tip for taking notes on your phone to remind you of podcast questions A tip for using desiccant packages in your fly boxes Should I tether myself to my 7-year-old daughter when we are wading together? A tip from a listener on "urban blue lining". If I fall in, what steps should I take to dry out my gear? What would be a recommendation for a basic surf fishing outfit for the East Coast, Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America? How can I manage the fly line around my feet when it gets stuck on obstructions in the river? Why don't they make longer fiberglass rods? If I am catching more whitefish than trout, should I move? What is the best way to fish nymphs without an indicator? Is dry fly fishing on a lake better in calm or riffled water? A hot tip from a regular listener on a great fly pattern View the full article

Brandon Dale [43:32] is a licensed New York State guide who specializes in fishing, of all places, Central Park in the middle of The Big Apple. You may not be interested in fishing for carp in Central Park, but Brandon offers some valuable tips on carp fishing in murky water, and has developed some innovative techniques that all carp fanatics will want to learn. In the Fly Box this week, we have a wide variety of questions and tips from listeners, including: Any tips on finding places to fly fish close to home? A tip from a listener on how to get studs in wading boots to mount properly What about kapok dubbing and wing burners? What are your thoughts on using them? How can I fish a small mountain stream when it gets murky? Should I wear my wading jacket inside or outside of my waders? How should I read the water in rivers for bass? Is there an advantage to shorter rods when fishing for bass in rivers? I caught two rainbows that looked exactly the same. Could it have been the same fish? Do graphite rods get slower over time? What advice do you have for getting a fly rod for a 5-year-old? How do fish get rid of flies when you break them off? I fished a river and all I caught was creek chubs. Is that a good or bad sign, and is it worth going back to that river? I have problems when I cast bigger flies. What should I do to practice with big flies? Are prescription progressive polarized glasses worth the extra cost? View the full article

This episode was originally posted on March 10, 2022. Josh Nugent of Out Fly Fishing in Calgary has been doing a series of “Seven Deadly Sins” podcasts with me over the past couple of years and this one is chock full of great advice [38:38]. Josh is a very preceptive angler and thinks deeply about how flies behave in the water and how trout react to them, and in the interview we go off on a number of tangents—all interesting and all about nymph fishing—and all of them with great advice on how to make your indicator nymphing game more fun and productive. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great tips and questions from listeners, including: A terrific tip on why tying tube flies is a great way to get kids started What kind of other storage systems does Tom use around his roll-top desk? Where can I learn more about fly fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass? What do you suggest for preventing cutoffs by chain pickerel? Can I use sitka or axis deer, antelope, or goat hair for fly tying? A great tip on replacing wing cases on smaller nymphs with a drop of UV cure resin Should I use my leader straightener? Can I do longline French/Spanish nymphing with a two-handed rod? How can I locate pinhole leaks ion my waders? How do older series of rods compare to the modern ones? What is better about the more recent models? I know your higher-end rods are made in Vermont, but where do the components come from? Why do Americans shoot and kill birds? What is a good two-line rotation for streamer fishing in Michigan? I kept my fiberglass rod in a hot car and now I notice it has a kink in it. Could the hot car have been the reason? View the full article

Last week we looked at urban fly fishing in the Rockies. This week we venture into the American south with Orvis Atlanta fishing manager Devin Lancaster for an expert look at how to find and catch interesting fly-rod species within your own city limits by using a method he calls Blue Dotting. You'll need to listen to the podcast to find out exactly what that is. In the Fly Box this week, as usual we have some interesting questions and helpful tips, including: If I am fishing for smallmouth in a river that also hosts trout and the water temperature is 68 degrees, what should I do? How can I cast to smallmouth in a river where I have almost no back-cast room? In lakes with multiple species, when fishing from shore should I expect to find different types of fish at different times? I have difficulty setting the hook on trout with a "trout set" and do better with a strip set. Why is the 'trout set" recommended for trout? Do you have any tips on fly fishing for walleye? Why do some nymphs call for a partridge collar and other nymphs use a CDC collar? Is there any difference? A listener relates that the Ralph Cutter podcast on wading safety literally saved his life. Are all the new Helios models four times as accurate, or just the 905? Are there any dry flies tied with cork these days? How can I get my fly into a deep pool directly below a waterfall? What do you know about the old PM-10 and T-3 Orvis rods? Is a double or triple surgeon's loop better than a perfection loop in lighter tippets? Does hook shank shape affect hooking qualities? How can I swing wet flies in small streams? A great tip from a listener on wearing wool socks underneath neo socks when wet wading to avoid sand between your toes. Is a George Harvey leader the same as a braided leader? View the full article

It's no secret that the more popular trout rivers in the Rocky Mountains have gotten more crowded in the past few years. Yet there are so many species of fish that are fun with a fly rod, closer to home, and that live in places that are far less crowded. Davis James shares his experience with the "25 On the Fly" event, where anglers in the Front Range try to catch 25 different species of fish on the fly rod in two days (no one has ever done it). He share his tips for what species are available, how to find them, what tackle to use, and what fly patterns to try. We all need to embrace these wonderful fish to have fun closer to home and to take pressure off our more productive trout streams. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips from listeners, including: What percentage of the time do you use a dry dropper or double dry rig? What weight fly rod is best for panfish? And what flies should I use? How do we ensure our fly fishing traditions are passed on to the younger generation? How can I make my dry dropper rig drift tight to the opposite bank? Is fly fishing for carp popular in Europe? How do I organize and carry my wide assortment of trout flies? How does Tom do it? How can I fish for panfish and largemouth bass in an old gravel pit that drops off steeply? A great tip from a listener about how to tie a more durable egg pattern I was fishing a double dry rig for fish rising to small mayflies and my imitation was perfect but I didn't fool as many fish as I should have. What should I have done differently? I have trouble threading my tippet onto a small dry fly. Can I tie the tippet to the bend of the hook instead? View the full article

I get lots of questions about polarized sunglasses—how are they made, what exactly do they do, glass vs. plastic, what color lens should I pick, and do expensive ones really offer an advantage? And why can't I get clear polarized sunglasses for low light? My guest, Renato Cappuccitti [41:51], is an expert on polarized sunglasses and will answer your questions and mine about one of the most essential pieces of gear. In the Fly Box this week we have some thoughtful and interesting questions and comments, including: Why can't I get braided leaders any more? Can I just put a long level tippet on a braided leader? My brook trout stream does not seem to have any fish larger than five inches. Do you think there are any bigger ones in there? I was fishing a sulfur hatch and it started raining and the fish turned off completely. Why do you think this happened? How can I eliminate wind knots when fishing a dropper rig? My girlfriend has trouble stripping in fish. Do you have any tips for improving her coordination? What are the pros and cons of furled leaders? My floating line starts to sink after fishing for a while. Can I apply gel flotant to it? A listener reminds us that for many balance problems while fishing the best place for help is to find a licensed physical therapist My fly line broke eight feet from the tip. Can I still use it? How many leaders should I carry in my leader wallet? A listener reminds us that too often when wading we worry about dropping our rod or phone in the water at the expense of safety. An expert on UV cure adhesives gives advice on using the right wavelength of light and the correct amount of time and distance to use the light. If you have a 9-foot 5-weight and a 10-footer in the Helios models, what reason is there to have a 9-foot, 5-inch model? How can I avoid putting a set into my bamboo fly rod? How can I catch brook trout in high water? View the full article

What is a delayed harvest stream and how do the regulations work? Do you use different flies and methods for hatchery fish? How far do hatchery fish move and in which direction? You'll learn the answers to these questions and many more with Dustin Coffey [46:39], the winner of the 2024 Orvis Endorsed Guide of the Year award. In the podcast this week, as usual we have some interesting and thought-provoking questions, including: Does fly line color matter? Why don't my subtle baitfish patterns work in Patagonia? Can I use my big brown trout streamers for Atlantic salmon since they are related to brown trout? How deep do you insert studs when adding them to felt-soled waders? How do I get my streamers deeper when fishing for sea-run brook trout in rivers where weighted flies and sinking lines are not allowed? Is it acceptable if I troll from a kayak for striped bass, and what rod should I use? A listener writes in to tell us that the orange goo found in some rivers is a natural phenomenon What do I use for a practice streamer when casting on my lawn? Does the noise from my wading shoes and wading staff scare trout? Do trout live in streams with mucky bottoms? Any other casting methods besides the roll cast I can use on smaller streams? I fished over some rising trout with my nymph rig and didn't catch them. Should I have switched to a dry fly? How should I rig for pike? What are the pros and cons of using an 8 ½ foot rod vs. a 9-foot rod in Colorado tailwaters? When do you put down your rod and take photos? How can I get the cement off my hooks when I want to re-use the hooks from beat-up Clouser Minnows? View the full article