Orvis

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

This week my guest is artist Bob White [36:41], a beloved painter of fly-fishing and bird hunting scenes. Bob has illustrated John Gierach's magazine pieces for years and also illustrated the current version of The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide. Bob talks about making a career in the fly-fishing world, how he balances his painting life with his fishing life, tips for budding wildlife artists, and how his art affects his fly tying. In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions and tips from listeners: How do I encourage guiding operations to hire more female guides and people of color? I just bought a fly rod and am having trouble casting a 1/16 oz. spoon on it. What am I doing wrong in my casting? Should I go to a heavier lure? Since I will never cast 90 feet with my light fly rod, can I cut off some of the fly line to get more backing on my reel? People say there are no hatches on the streams I fish. So why am I catching trout on nymphs all the time? What part of my line should I stretch? If I am using a Skagit setup, should I stretch my head? And do you stretch cold-water lines any different from warm-water lines? And should I use a leader straightener tool? What resources can I use to figure out what parts of birds and animals I hunt should be saved for fly tying? And where can I learn the fundamentals of fly tying? A tip from a listener on the best gift you can buy yourself--virtual fly-casting lessons. Why do you want the trailing hook so far back on an Intruder fly? A tip on wearing Nitrile gloves over thin merino gloves for fishing The trout seemed to have disappeared from my river this winter. It runs into a lake. Do you think the fish have gone there? View the full article

My guest this week is Rachael Leinweber [39:38], general manager of The Angler's Covey fly shop in Colorado Springs. One in a series of podcasts about winter fly-fishing tips, Rachael has some great ones for us, and it's been interesting to see how each guide we've talked to has a slightly different take on effective winter tactics. In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions and tips: Is there an easier way to balance a fly rod than buying a heavier reel? How can I get my parents to approve of my fly-fishing passion? When fishing large streams, and making casts too long for a roll cast, how do you get your fly out without catching trees and bushes? Do ducks and muskrats and beavers spook trout? Will the techniques I have learned on my local tailwaters in Utah translate to freestone (non-tailwater) rivers in Wyoming? Can I use BigEye dry flies as sliding indicators on a dry-dropper rig? How can I tell a wild from a hatchery fish? Why did trout take my indicator and ignore my nymphs? A tip that sometimes catching a trout from a pool does not spook the rest of them. Why don't manufacturers put handles on both sides of a fly reel? View the full article

This week, we're continuing our series on winter fly fishing for trout. I interview Antonio Rodrigues [42:50] manager of Front Range Anglers in Boulder, Colorado, and he has a different take on winter fly fishing, and some different methods. I've found it fascinating to see how each guest approaches this differently and hope you pick up some tips as well. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips from listeners: What do you use for a fly box when surf fishing? I have not had good luck with guide trips and want to know what you recommend so I get a better trip next time. Are fly rods built on continuous blanks and then cut into sections, or is each section made separately? And are sections interchangeable from one rod to another? What is the purpose of adding flash to nymph patterns? A tip on using special flies for casting practice. What do I do about fishing places where lots of swimmers have been? Are wire bite guards worth it?Can I tie a 3X tippet to a 3mm tippet ring? Are all Orvis leader lengths built to the same basic taper or are they different? Another suggestion on where to donate flies you don't want. What uses do you have for magnets when fishing? What do I use huge streamer patterns like the Manbearpig for, and how should I fish them? View the full article

This week, we're continuing our series on winter fly fishing for trout. I interview Antonio Rodrigues [42:50] manager of Front Range Anglers in Boulder, Colorado, and he has a different take on winter fly fishing, and some different methods. I've found it fascinating to see how each guest approaches this differently and hope you pick up some tips as well. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips from listeners: What do you use for a fly box when surf fishing? I have not had good luck with guide trips and want to know what you recommend so I get a better trip next time. Are fly rods built on continuous blanks and then cut into sections, or is each section made separately? And are sections interchangeable from one rod to another? What is the purpose of adding flash to nymph patterns? A tip on using special flies for casting practice. What do I do about fishing places where lots of swimmers have been? Are wire bite guards worth it?Can I tie a 3X tippet to a 3mm tippet ring? Are all Orvis leader lengths built to the same basic taper or are they different? Another suggestion on where to donate flies you don't want. What uses do you have for magnets when fishing? What do I use huge streamer patterns like the Manbearpig for, and how should I fish them? View the full article

This week, it was my great pleasure to interview Nick Lyons, who I consider to be the godfather of modern fly-fishing books. Nick has edited and published books by some of our most famous fly anglers--Lee and Joan Wulff, Lefty Kreh, Dave Whitlock, and Swisher and Richards. He was also my first editor and I have so much to thank him for. Nick tells stories of the early days of fly-fishing books--his successes and failures and his journey through the past half-century of fly fishing. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions, including: When fishing an in-line dropper, I have problems with the dropper slipping off my upper hook. How can I fix this? I want to fish flies for sauger along the bottom. What type of fly should I use? My hunter friend has offered me some duck and goose feathers. What feathers should I ask him to keep? Any tips on catching stocked trout in a pond? What line would you recommend for trolling from a float tube? Why is trout fishing more productive in Montana than in North Carolina? Do you think those big "American-type" articulated streamers will work in Finland? What kind of stream fish can I catch with a fly rod in northern Alabama? A tip on finding trout at the mouth of cold-water feeder streams in summer. Are "planted" and "stocked" trout streams the same thing? And do stocked trout ever reproduce naturally? Can I attach backing to a welded loop with just a clinch knot? View the full article

This week, it was my great pleasure to interview Nick Lyons, who I consider to be the godfather of modern fly-fishing books. Nick has edited and published books by some of our most famous fly anglers--Lee and Joan Wulff, Lefty Kreh, Dave Whitlock, and Swisher and Richards. He was also my first editor and I have so much to thank him for. Nick tells stories of the early days of fly-fishing books--his successes and failures and his journey through the past half-century of fly fishing. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions, including: When fishing an in-line dropper, I have problems with the dropper slipping off my upper hook. How can I fix this? I want to fish flies for sauger along the bottom. What type of fly should I use? My hunter friend has offered me some duck and goose feathers. What feathers should I ask him to keep? Any tips on catching stocked trout in a pond? What line would you recommend for trolling from a float tube? Why is trout fishing more productive in Montana than in North Carolina? Do you think those big "American-type" articulated streamers will work in Finland? What kind of stream fish can I catch with a fly rod in northern Alabama? A tip on finding trout at the mouth of cold-water feeder streams in summer. Are "planted" and "stocked" trout streams the same thing? And do stocked trout ever reproduce naturally? Can I attach backing to a welded loop with just a clinch knot? View the full article

Continuing our exploration of winter trout fishing techniques, this week my guest is angler and photographer Timbre Pringle [40:08]. You have likely seen photos of Timbre or ones taken by her and her husband Darcy in Orvis catalogs and ads, as well as many of the fly-fishing magazines. She doesn't exactly fish in the far north as she fishes in Alberta, in southern Canada, but for most Americans any place in Canada seems like the far north. Timbre gives her tips for fishing her local river, the Bow, in the winter, but she offers tips that will work during the winter in any trout stream. In the Fly Box this week, listeners share the following questions, comments, and tips: I have been taken to task for telling people to never trust anglers who tell them to "never" or "always" do something, yet I tell people to always check their knots. A tip for carrying two rods in one case. Will a textured Orvis Pro Fly Line give me more distance? Where do you start making changes when things just aren't working? How do you estimate the depth of the water where you're going to fish your nymph? I saw a recommendation in a book for an 8-foot rod for 6/7 weight line for trout. Most other people in my river use 3-weights. What gives? Can I fish a dry fly on my 10-foot, 3-weight Recon rod? Are the flow levels I see online useful? How do I fish nymphs in a deep, slow plunge pool? Should I spit on my flies to get them to sink? What do you think about UV tying materials? View the full article

Continuing our exploration of winter trout fishing techniques, this week my guest is angler and photographer Timbre Pringle [40:08]. You have likely seen photos of Timbre or ones taken by her and her husband Darcy in Orvis catalogs and ads, as well as many of the fly-fishing magazines. She doesn't exactly fish in the far north as she fishes in Alberta, in southern Canada, but for most Americans any place in Canada seems like the far north. Timbre gives her tips for fishing her local river, the Bow, in the winter, but she offers tips that will work during the winter in any trout stream. In the Fly Box this week, listeners share the following questions, comments, and tips: I have been taken to task for telling people to never trust anglers who tell them to "never" or "always" do something, yet I tell people to always check their knots. A tip for carrying two rods in one case. Will a textured Orvis Pro Fly Line give me more distance? Where do you start making changes when things just aren't working? How do you estimate the depth of the water where you're going to fish your nymph? I saw a recommendation in a book for an 8-foot rod for 6/7 weight line for trout. Most other people in my river use 3-weights. What gives? Can I fish a dry fly on my 10-foot, 3-weight Recon rod? Are the flow levels I see online useful? How do I fish nymphs in a deep, slow plunge pool? Should I spit on my flies to get them to sink? What do you think about UV tying materials? View the full article

I've begun a series on winter trout fishing podcasts with various experts around the country. I think it will be interesting to see how their approaches compare, what flies and leaders they use, and how they keep their hands and feet warm. This week's guest is Tim Johnson [38:41], who you probably know more as an artist on Instagram or on the Orvis Artist Collab series of H3 rods. Tim is also a longtime guide and experienced angler and has spent many winter days on his home waters in Utah. He's also one of the best storytellers I know so I think you'll enjoy the interview. In the Fly Box this week, we have a great collection of questions and tips from listeners: How much difference is there between a 9-foot and 10-foot 8-weight rod, and which would be best for both steelhead and bass fishing form shore? Some people say always strip in a trout and others say always get a fish on the reel. Which method is correct? A tip on using a bicycle tire patch for fixing waders. How much damage will I do to a nymph hook if I bend it slightly? I got skunked on a spring creek when trout were jumping for adult midges. What should I do the next time I see this? Where can I go on the East Coast for some decent fishing but with lots of tourist attractions for my family? In a cutthroat stream I fish, the brown trout are invasive and I want to kill them. Is it true that brown trout are not very good for eating? A listener's take on the parallels between music and fly fishing. A listener's complaint about tasteless fly names. When should I use a parachute fly and when should I use a traditional hackled fly? View the full article

I've begun a series on winter trout fishing podcasts with various experts around the country. I think it will be interesting to see how their approaches compare, what flies and leaders they use, and how they keep their hands and feet warm. This week's guest is Tim Johnson [38:41], who you probably know more as an artist on Instagram or on the Orvis Artist Collab series of H3 rods. Tim is also a longtime guide and experienced angler and has spent many winter days on his home waters in Utah. He's also one of the best storytellers I know so I think you'll enjoy the interview. In the Fly Box this week, we have a great collection of questions and tips from listeners: How much difference is there between a 9-foot and 10-foot 8-weight rod, and which would be best for both steelhead and bass fishing form shore? Some people say always strip in a trout and others say always get a fish on the reel. Which method is correct? A tip on using a bicycle tire patch for fixing waders. How much damage will I do to a nymph hook if I bend it slightly? I got skunked on a spring creek when trout were jumping for adult midges. What should I do the next time I see this? Where can I go on the East Coast for some decent fishing but with lots of tourist attractions for my family? In a cutthroat stream I fish, the brown trout are invasive and I want to kill them. Is it true that brown trout are not very good for eating? A listener's take on the parallels between music and fly fishing. A listener's complaint about tasteless fly names. When should I use a parachute fly and when should I use a traditional hackled fly? View the full article

This week, my guest is Sav Sankaran [47:28], fishing manager at the Orvis store in Asheville. The subject is Late Fall and Winter trout fishing in the Southeast, and although Sav talks about his rivers specifically, there are many good tips for winter fishing anywhere in the world. You may have enjoyed Sav's bluegrass music on a recent Orvis Facebook Live event, and he's also the subject of an Orvis story on his special family holiday gatherings https://www.orvis.com/dinner-music. This podcast is just the beginning of a series I plan on doing on winter fishing throughout North America. With travel still restricted this winter, many of us will need to find fishing close to home, or at least within driving distance. We hope to make those outings more fun and enjoyable by giving you tips to make your time on the water a bit more successful. In the Fly Box this week, we'll explore some great tips and questions from listeners, including: Should I get a 10-foot 6-weight or 7-weight for steelhead fishing in the Great Lakes (using a tightline method)? Why do my hackles twist when I tie dry flies? How can I catch trout rising under heavy foam? A reminder from a listener that even though I said nylon tippet eventually breaks down, it takes a long time and anglers should never throw any kind of tippet in the water or on the banks. Do I need to tie those really fancy patterns I see to catch pike? How do I imitate gill plates on my streamers? How common are big blanket hatches? How important is it to make flies realistic? A couple great tips from a listener on organizing fly tying materials. Is it better to face the sun or have it at your back when approaching fish? Why do I keep losing trout when fishing streamers? Should I organize my trout fly boxes by size/weight or by insect type? What is the best wading combo for hiking into very cold alpine lakes? What type of intermediate line should I get for fishing cold alpine lakes? View the full article

This week, my guest is Sav Sankaran [47:28], fishing manager at the Orvis store in Asheville. The subject is Late Fall and Winter trout fishing in the Southeast, and although Sav talks about his rivers specifically, there are many good tips for winter fishing anywhere in the world. You may have enjoyed Sav's bluegrass music on a recent Orvis Facebook Live event, and he's also the subject of an Orvis story on his special family holiday gatherings https://www.orvis.com/dinner-music. This podcast is just the beginning of a series I plan on doing on winter fishing throughout North America. With travel still restricted this winter, many of us will need to find fishing close to home, or at least within driving distance. We hope to make those outings more fun and enjoyable by giving you tips to make your time on the water a bit more successful. In the Fly Box this week, we'll explore some great tips and questions from listeners, including: Should I get a 10-foot 6-weight or 7-weight for steelhead fishing in the Great Lakes (using a tightline method)? Why do my hackles twist when I tie dry flies? How can I catch trout rising under heavy foam? A reminder from a listener that even though I said nylon tippet eventually breaks down, it takes a long time and anglers should never throw any kind of tippet in the water or on the banks. Do I need to tie those really fancy patterns I see to catch pike? How do I imitate gill plates on my streamers? How common are big blanket hatches? How important is it to make flies realistic? A couple great tips from a listener on organizing fly tying materials. Is it better to face the sun or have it at your back when approaching fish? Why do I keep losing trout when fishing streamers? Should I organize my trout fly boxes by size/weight or by insect type? What is the best wading combo for hiking into very cold alpine lakes? What type of intermediate line should I get for fishing cold alpine lakes? View the full article

This week my guest is the great guide and fly tier Blane Chocklett [39:45]. We talk about his development of innovative fly patterns like the Gummy Minnow and Game Changer, but also about his philosophy of imitating baitfish and how to choose the right streamer depending on conditions. I know you streamer, musky, and saltwater junkies will learn a lot in this one. In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions and tips from listeners: How do I know what color combinations to use on my flies? Can I put a 225-grain sinking line on my 7-weight fiberglass rod? I have an 8 1/2 foot Clearwater 4 weight. What rod should I add to my arsenal for bass fishing? How can I catch those difficult carp on my local lake in Norway? What should I do with all the extra flies I tie? How do you know when a nymph should be tied on a curved hook? A great tip for organizing materials for single patterns by putting all of the materials in a tray. Trout are supposed to be in deep, slow pools in cold weather but I see them in riffles and pools. Why? Another great tip on organizing fly-tying materials using duct tape, ziplock bags, and a 3-ring binder What is the nest leader for small-stream fishing, when you are mostly casting just the leader? View the full article

This week my guest is the great guide and fly tier Blane Chocklett [39:45]. We talk about his development of innovative fly patterns like the Gummy Minnow and Game Changer, but also about his philosophy of imitating baitfish and how to choose the right streamer depending on conditions. I know you streamer, musky, and saltwater junkies will learn a lot in this one. In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions and tips from listeners: How do I know what color combinations to use on my flies? Can I put a 225-grain sinking line on my 7-weight fiberglass rod? I have an 8 1/2 foot Clearwater 4 weight. What rod should I add to my arsenal for bass fishing? How can I catch those difficult carp on my local lake in Norway? What should I do with all the extra flies I tie? How do you know when a nymph should be tied on a curved hook? A great tip for organizing materials for single patterns by putting all of the materials in a tray. Trout are supposed to be in deep, slow pools in cold weather but I see them in riffles and pools. Why? Another great tip on organizing fly-tying materials using duct tape, ziplock bags, and a 3-ring binder What is the nest leader for small-stream fishing, when you are mostly casting just the leader? View the full article

Many fly fishers have dreaded the thought of visiting their favorite trout streams after wildfires devasted many areas over the past few years. As threatening as they are to human lives and property, wildfires are not all that bad for trout stream ecosystems, as you'll discover after listening to this week's podcast. Becky Flitcroft [interview at 39:03], a fisheries biologist with the US Forest Service and an expert on disturbances to trout streams, presents some surprising results in the wake of fires. Not only are they not horribly destructive, they are actually beneficial in many cases. Should you visit a trout stream that was in a burned area next year? What will the future look like? Although every stream is different, Becky tells us what to expect over the coming years. In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions and tips: I have trouble seeing my dry flies on small streams. What patterns do you recommend, and how can I spot them better? Do you think it's necessary to replace nylon and fluorocarbon leaders each year? Can I extend the length of my 7 1/2 foot leaders to 9 or 12-feet by just adding tippet? Should I use my Clearwater Reel in salt water? Can I use shorter or longer hackles than the traditional length on my dry flies? What techniques would you recommend for fishing after dark during the winter? A good tip on how to practice specific techniques in fly tying. What would be a good rod for both salmon/steelhead rivers and bass lakes? How can I practice my fish-fighting technique in the off-season before I go salmon fishing? View the full article

Many fly fishers have dreaded the thought of visiting their favorite trout streams after wildfires devasted many areas over the past few years. As threatening as they are to human lives and property, wildfires are not all that bad for trout stream ecosystems, as you'll discover after listening to this week's podcast. Becky Flitcroft [interview at 39:03], a fisheries biologist with the US Forest Service and an expert on disturbances to trout streams, presents some surprising results in the wake of fires. Not only are they not horribly destructive, they are actually beneficial in many cases. Should you visit a trout stream that was in a burned area next year? What will the future look like? Although every stream is different, Becky tells us what to expect over the coming years. In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions and tips: I have trouble seeing my dry flies on small streams. What patterns do you recommend, and how can I spot them better? Do you think it's necessary to replace nylon and fluorocarbon leaders each year? Can I extend the length of my 7 1/2 foot leaders to 9 or 12-feet by just adding tippet? Should I use my Clearwater Reel in salt water? Can I use shorter or longer hackles than the traditional length on my dry flies? What techniques would you recommend for fishing after dark during the winter? A good tip on how to practice specific techniques in fly tying. What would be a good rod for both salmon/steelhead rivers and bass lakes? How can I practice my fish-fighting technique in the off-season before I go salmon fishing? View the full article

[This week's podcast is in two sections. This sections contains the interview with Brittany. The listener-questions section, or the Fly Box, is in part one.] This week, I have a very special guest for my interview--Brittany Howard, the frontwoman for the wildly popular band Alabama Shakes, who also has a new (2019) album out, "Jaime", a solo effort that explores a wide range of musical styles. Brittany has performed with Sir Paul McCartney and at the Obama White House, and her albums with the Alabama Shakes have won four Grammy Awards. Her first love is music, but her second love is fishing, and she is a passionate fly fisher. Unlike some celebrities who have taken up fly fishing because it's a "thing", Brittany has the soul of an angler and has been fishing all her life. She ties her own flies, modifies her kayak for fly fishing, and when she is on tour she always prioritizes sneaking away to do some fishing. She's the real deal and a great storyteller, and I know you'll enjoy her tales of fishing on the road and her encounters with gender and racial bias while fly fishing. And as a special treat at the end of the podcast, we've included one of my favorite songs, "Future People." We have some great questions, and some helpful tips from listeners, including: A suggestion from a listener on the benefit of bootfoot waders for cold weather fishing Can I catch shoal bass on a fly rod? My 8-weight rod is not quite up to the task of surf fishing. Can I put a 9-weight line on my rod? Why do some rods come with aluminum tubes and others with nylon-covered cases? A suggestion from a listener that maybe I missed the point when asked about how I organize my fly-tying materials. What is the best line for my 7-foot, 3-weight glass rod? A suggestion from a listener on why some anglers fishing a Euro technique for steelhead lose fish on the jump. Can I tie a Pat's Rubber Legs with dubbing instead of chenille? I got a bunch of pheasant feathers from a hunter friend in a plastic bag and they stink. Can I salvage them? Where should I half-hitch my bead head nymphs--behind the bead or in front of it? I decided to take the plunge and buy good quality hackle capes. I have brown, grizzly, light ginger, medium dun, and cream. What other colors might I need? Why are some wild trout streams with spawning fish open year-round and others closed? How do I avoid getting hooked on the river? How should I do the naked nymphing technique? View the full article

[This week's podcast is in two sections. This sections contains the interview with Brittany. The listener-questions section, or the Fly Box, is in part one.] This week, I have a very special guest for my interview--Brittany Howard, the frontwoman for the wildly popular band Alabama Shakes, who also has a new (2019) album out, "Jaime", a solo effort that explores a wide range of musical styles. Brittany has performed with Sir Paul McCartney and at the Obama White House, and her albums with the Alabama Shakes have won four Grammy Awards. Her first love is music, but her second love is fishing, and she is a passionate fly fisher. Unlike some celebrities who have taken up fly fishing because it's a "thing", Brittany has the soul of an angler and has been fishing all her life. She ties her own flies, modifies her kayak for fly fishing, and when she is on tour she always prioritizes sneaking away to do some fishing. She's the real deal and a great storyteller, and I know you'll enjoy her tales of fishing on the road and her encounters with gender and racial bias while fly fishing. And as a special treat at the end of the podcast, we've included one of my favorite songs, "Future People." We have some great questions, and some helpful tips from listeners, including: A suggestion from a listener on the benefit of bootfoot waders for cold weather fishing Can I catch shoal bass on a fly rod? My 8-weight rod is not quite up to the task of surf fishing. Can I put a 9-weight line on my rod? Why do some rods come with aluminum tubes and others with nylon-covered cases? A suggestion from a listener that maybe I missed the point when asked about how I organize my fly-tying materials. What is the best line for my 7-foot, 3-weight glass rod? A suggestion from a listener on why some anglers fishing a Euro technique for steelhead lose fish on the jump. Can I tie a Pat's Rubber Legs with dubbing instead of chenille? I got a bunch of pheasant feathers from a hunter friend in a plastic bag and they stink. Can I salvage them? Where should I half-hitch my bead head nymphs--behind the bead or in front of it? I decided to take the plunge and buy good quality hackle capes. I have brown, grizzly, light ginger, medium dun, and cream. What other colors might I need? Why are some wild trout streams with spawning fish open year-round and others closed? How do I avoid getting hooked on the river? How should I do the naked nymphing technique? View the full article

[This week's podcast is in two sections. This is the listener-questions section, or the Fly Box. The interview with Brittany Howard is in part two.] This week, I have a very special guest for my interview--Brittany Howard, the frontwoman for the wildly popular band Alabama Shakes, who also has a new (2019) album out, "Jaime", a solo effort that explores a wide range of musical styles. Brittany has performed with Sir Paul McCartney and at the Obama White House, and her albums with the Alabama Shakes have won four Grammy Awards. Her first love is music, but her second love is fishing, and she is a passionate fly fisher. Unlike some celebrities who have taken up fly fishing because it's a "thing", Brittany has the soul of an angler and has been fishing all her life. She ties her own flies, modifies her kayak for fly fishing, and when she is on tour she always prioritizes sneaking away to do some fishing. She's the real deal and a great storyteller, and I know you'll enjoy her tales of fishing on the road and her encounters with gender and racial bias while fly fishing. And as a special treat at the end of the podcast, we've included one of my favorite songs, "Future People." We have some great questions, and some helpful tips from listeners, including: A suggestion from a listener on the benefit of bootfoot waders for cold weather fishing Can I catch shoal bass on a fly rod? My 8-weight rod is not quite up to the task of surf fishing. Can I put a 9-weight line on my rod? Why do some rods come with aluminum tubes and others with nylon-covered cases? A suggestion from a listener that maybe I missed the point when asked about how I organize my fly-tying materials. What is the best line for my 7-foot, 3-weight glass rod? A suggestion from a listener on why some anglers fishing a Euro technique for steelhead lose fish on the jump. Can I tie a Pat's Rubber Legs with dubbing instead of chenille? I got a bunch of pheasant feathers from a hunter friend in a plastic bag and they stink. Can I salvage them? Where should I half-hitch my bead head nymphs--behind the bead or in front of it? I decided to take the plunge and buy good quality hackle capes. I have brown, grizzly, light ginger, medium dun, and cream. What other colors might I need? Why are some wild trout streams with spawning fish open year-round and others closed? How do I avoid getting hooked on the river? How should I do the naked nymphing technique? View the full article

[This week's podcast is in two sections. This is the listener-questions section, or the Fly Box. The interview with Brittany Howard is in part two.] This week, I have a very special guest for my interview--Brittany Howard, the frontwoman for the wildly popular band Alabama Shakes, who also has a new (2019) album out, "Jaime", a solo effort that explores a wide range of musical styles. Brittany has performed with Sir Paul McCartney and at the Obama White House, and her albums with the Alabama Shakes have won four Grammy Awards. Her first love is music, but her second love is fishing, and she is a passionate fly fisher. Unlike some celebrities who have taken up fly fishing because it's a "thing", Brittany has the soul of an angler and has been fishing all her life. She ties her own flies, modifies her kayak for fly fishing, and when she is on tour she always prioritizes sneaking away to do some fishing. She's the real deal and a great storyteller, and I know you'll enjoy her tales of fishing on the road and her encounters with gender and racial bias while fly fishing. And as a special treat at the end of the podcast, we've included one of my favorite songs, "Future People." We have some great questions, and some helpful tips from listeners, including: A suggestion from a listener on the benefit of bootfoot waders for cold weather fishing Can I catch shoal bass on a fly rod? My 8-weight rod is not quite up to the task of surf fishing. Can I put a 9-weight line on my rod? Why do some rods come with aluminum tubes and others with nylon-covered cases? A suggestion from a listener that maybe I missed the point when asked about how I organize my fly-tying materials. What is the best line for my 7-foot, 3-weight glass rod? A suggestion from a listener on why some anglers fishing a Euro technique for steelhead lose fish on the jump. Can I tie a Pat's Rubber Legs with dubbing instead of chenille? I got a bunch of pheasant feathers from a hunter friend in a plastic bag and they stink. Can I salvage them? Where should I half-hitch my bead head nymphs--behind the bead or in front of it? I decided to take the plunge and buy good quality hackle capes. I have brown, grizzly, light ginger, medium dun, and cream. What other colors might I need? Why are some wild trout streams with spawning fish open year-round and others closed? How do I avoid getting hooked on the river? How should I do the naked nymphing technique? View the full article

In this week's podcast, I interview Jess Westbrook, co-founder of The Mayfly Project. This organization, a winner of an Orvis Breaking Barriers award, brings the joys of fly fishing to foster kids through individual, one-on-one mentorship throughout the country. For obvious reasons their programs have been put on hold for this year (I was looking forward to being a mentor myself last spring), but the organization moves forward, making plans for a time when we can comfortably get together in person. Jess has some heartwarming stories to tell of past successes that will make you smile and feel good about the fly-fishing community. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and I hope my answers are helpful to you. They include: I recently got a new fly reel and when it's filled with line it's too tight. What can I do to solve this? A story from a listener on catching a channel catfish on a fly tied for swinging for trout--a Montana Intruder that he tied during one of our Monday live fly-tying sessions. Why do the eyes on my saltwater flies keep coming off? What feathers on grouse and woodcock can I use for fly tying? Can you recommend some books so I can learn more about how watersheds work? Why does my fly line keep catching itself on my forward cast and how can I fix it? Can I use weighted streamers to catch walleye? Why would a bunch of large trout be holding in slow, shallow water during a hatch? What is the best saltwater floating line for Northeast fly fishing? I have some fly materials with bugs in them. Would repeated thawing and freezing kill them? What is the difference between a sink tip and an intermediate fly line? Why does anyone ever use flies smaller than size 18? I can't see them on the water. Why do I keep losing steelhead when they jump? View the full article

In this week's podcast, I interview Jess Westbrook, co-founder of The Mayfly Project. This organization, a winner of an Orvis Breaking Barriers award, brings the joys of fly fishing to foster kids through individual, one-on-one mentorship throughout the country. For obvious reasons their programs have been put on hold for this year (I was looking forward to being a mentor myself last spring), but the organization moves forward, making plans for a time when we can comfortably get together in person. Jess has some heartwarming stories to tell of past successes that will make you smile and feel good about the fly-fishing community. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and I hope my answers are helpful to you. They include: I recently got a new fly reel and when it's filled with line it's too tight. What can I do to solve this? A story from a listener on catching a channel catfish on a fly tied for swinging for trout--a Montana Intruder that he tied during one of our Monday live fly-tying sessions. Why do the eyes on my saltwater flies keep coming off? What feathers on grouse and woodcock can I use for fly tying? Can you recommend some books so I can learn more about how watersheds work? Why does my fly line keep catching itself on my forward cast and how can I fix it? Can I use weighted streamers to catch walleye? Why would a bunch of large trout be holding in slow, shallow water during a hatch? What is the best saltwater floating line for Northeast fly fishing? I have some fly materials with bugs in them. Would repeated thawing and freezing kill them? What is the difference between a sink tip and an intermediate fly line? Why does anyone ever use flies smaller than size 18? I can't see them on the water. Why do I keep losing steelhead when they jump? View the full article

This week I interview Greg Vincent of Grand Bahama Island and co-owner of H2O Bonefishing [40:13]. Greg shares his tips for what distinguishes a great bonefisher from someone who just goes fishing for bonefish and permit. There's a big difference. Greg is the only person I know who has gotten a Super Grand Slam (bonefish, permit, tarpon, and snook) in just four casts. He also tells a great story and I am sure you'll thrill to his tales of chasing these fish on the flats. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips: I have a random assortment of grouse feathers from a hunter friend. What patterns can I tie with them? If there are only a few good holes in an area, how long should you fish a spot before letting another angler try their luck? I am a new fly fisher and have been fishing just with a tenkara rod and doing OK on panfish but not trout. What is a mistake that new fly fishers often make that prevents them from catching fish? I want to fish the Charles River in Boston and Long Island for saltwater species. What two rods should I get? How should I treat my waders if I move from one state to another? Have you ever made your own amadou? Havaard from Jazz and Fly Fishing wants to fish in Montana next May and wants advice on what town to base his travels out of. And is May a good time to fish in Montana? What leaders and tippets do I need for salmon in the Pacific Northwest? A great idea from a listener on using a streamer as an indicator when dead-drifting a nymph/streamer combo View the full article

This week I interview Greg Vincent of Grand Bahama Island and co-owner of H2O Bonefishing [40:13]. Greg shares his tips for what distinguishes a great bonefisher from someone who just goes fishing for bonefish and permit. There's a big difference. Greg is the only person I know who has gotten a Super Grand Slam (bonefish, permit, tarpon, and snook) in just four casts. He also tells a great story and I am sure you'll thrill to his tales of chasing these fish on the flats. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips: I have a random assortment of grouse feathers from a hunter friend. What patterns can I tie with them? If there are only a few good holes in an area, how long should you fish a spot before letting another angler try their luck? I am a new fly fisher and have been fishing just with a tenkara rod and doing OK on panfish but not trout. What is a mistake that new fly fishers often make that prevents them from catching fish? I want to fish the Charles River in Boston and Long Island for saltwater species. What two rods should I get? How should I treat my waders if I move from one state to another? Have you ever made your own amadou? Havaard from Jazz and Fly Fishing wants to fish in Montana next May and wants advice on what town to base his travels out of. And is May a good time to fish in Montana? What leaders and tippets do I need for salmon in the Pacific Northwest? A great idea from a listener on using a streamer as an indicator when dead-drifting a nymph/streamer combo View the full article