Orvis

This week, I have a special guest--the world's foremost authority on the life cycle of cicadas and the most knowledgeable person in the world on techniques for fishing this "hatch". I've had a lot of questions on this topic and I've finally found the person who can answer them [32.53]. In the Fly Box this week, we have a number of very interesting questions, including: Do you think fish decoys will work for attracting trout? Can you tell us about the new electric fly rod coming out of Japan? What is your technique for making a dubbing loop using a Bimini Twist knot? Can I use UV cure epoxy for dry flies? I found a dead possum in the road. Can I use this for dubbing, and how should I prepare the skin? A listener who thinks his tippet material is defective What is the correct way to tie a loop knot? Advice on fishing a couple rivers in Montana A question about swinging flies on New York's Salmon River Is what I have done tenkara fishing? Advice to a gentleman who wants to become a permit guide Are egg patterns and San Juan Worms considered bait fishing? View the full article

My guest this week is Cheech from Fly Fish Food [@36:00], a highly regarded tier and teacher whose videos are popular with serious fly tiers. He's an engaging character who knows fly materials inside and out. We talk fly material substitutions, particularly hook styles, and ramble on all sorts of things related to fly tying. I hope you find it as fun to listen to as I did to record it. In the Fly Box this week we have these questions and comments: What do I use for leader formulas? I am used to graphite; what should I expect from a short, delicate glass rod? Can I vary from the 60:20:20 formula if I tie my own leaders? A discussion of brook trout habitat and survival I broke four inches off my old Trident TLS rod. It's no longer under the 25-year guarantee as my dad bought it in a pawn shop. Is there any way I can still use it? What is a simple buggy nymph I can tie up, as a novice fly tier? Why is my casting more accurate with my short fiberglass rod than with my longer, heavier graphite rods? Do all fish behave the same? Can you recommend a good hatch guide for Tennessee? View the full article

This week my guest is Havard Stubo [@40:23] of Jazz and Fly Fishing. If you have not enjoyed one of their videos, it's a group of jazz musicians who also love fly fishing and decided to make some videos of their exploits. We think their films are quite entertaining and I think you'll appreciate their dry humor as a welcome respite from what you typically see in fly fishing films. Havard talks about fly fishing in Scandanavia, the relationship between jazz music and fly fishing (and tying) and other offbeat topics. In the Fly Box this week, it seems like we have a spate of basic equipment questions, so unless you need some advice on rod, reel, and line selection you may want to skip right to the interview. Some of the questions include: I am interested in a lighter fiberglass rod but I have noticed some manufacturers recommend two lines sizes, like a 3 or 4. Which one should I pick? I want to fish a Depth Charge line down to 20 feet with my 8-weight. Should I get a 250 grain or 300 grain line? If I want to fish 5 to 6 feet under the surface, should I get a sink-tip or intermediate sinking line? Any advice on hook sets and fighting fish for rookie anglers? What is the maximum size fly I can use on my Clearwater 9-foot 5-weight rod? In nymph fishing, should I be watching the line or waiting to feel the strike? What would be a good rod for backpacking into lakes? Which sink rate should I choose when I buy a poly leader? How do I tell if an old fly line that was given to me is still usable? Should I get a 5-weight Clearwater or a 6-weight Clearwater for fishing small streams and small bass ponds in Pennsylvania? Why don't I see fiberglass rods heavier than an 8-weight? What are your thoughts about fishing for bass when they are spawning? What do I think of pink flies? And how important is color anyway? What do you do when a fish takes you down to your last couple turns of backing? View the full article

Ever wanted to take a fishing trip to Montana (who doesn't)? For a first trip to the Rockies, generally I suggest people center in the greater Yellowstone area because of the vast amount of public land and great trout streams in that area, which includes portions of Wyoming and Idaho as well as Montana. This week I have enlisted a real expert on that area (not a tourist like me). Joe Moore [@48:55] is a longtime guide and owner of Big Sky Anglers located right in the middle of downtown West Yellowstone. Joe gives us some great tips on timing, tackle, and suggested rivers. Essential knowledge for your post-Covid road trip. Lots of great questions in the Fly Box this week, including: How much backing should I put on my 6-weight reel? Is there such a thing as too much backing? How do I get my significant other into fly fishing? How can I fish for freshwater stripers in deep, murky water? Can I use barbless hooks for bass, pike, and musky? What is the best method for taking water temperatures? How important is it that nymphs drift in the upright position? I am taking a high mountain backpacking trip and only want to take one rod. Should I take my 3-weight or my 5-weight? What is that little spring behind the jaws of my vise? Do "triggers" on fly patterns work? Do weed guard interfere with solid takes? Do jig hooks really hang up less often that standard weighted patterns? How can I repair a fly line with a cut in it? Do you know anyone who has switched from casting right-handed to casting left-handed? Why are triploid trout stocked? Can I use a sinking poly leader for striped bass fishing? View the full article

This week my guest is Henry Cowen [@49:05], author of the new book Fly-Fishing for Freshwater Striped Bass, which is really a complete guide to chasing these great gamefish. They get huge, they often feed in shallow water, and are just about the perfect fish to chase with a fly rod. You'll learn their seasons, how to present your fly, and what tackle and flies you'll need to chase them. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions from listeners, including: How do newer Orvis rods compare to older ones like the All-Rounder? Any tips for casting from a kayak? How do the Orvis Hydros and Pro lines compare? Their tapers look very different What do you think of Bob Wyatt's philosophy on trout in the book What Trout Want? What direction should I cast when fishing streams? Can all bead head patterns be tied with tungsten beads? Why are my head cements too thick? When looking for a new river to fish, what structure should I look for? A tip from a listener that sometimes beaver activity seems to attract trout. Does it matter which direction I twist my dubbing? How will the 17-year cicada affect fishing? Can I tie a piece of tippet to the main tippet above my lower fly with a clinch knot? Why do people always tie their heavier nymph on as the lower fly? I have better luck tying the heavier nymph above my smaller fly. Can I use the Palomar Knot to add a second fly above my lower fly without removing the lower fly? View the full article

In this week's podcast, we'll visit with the dynamic co-founder and president of Western Rivers Conservancy, Sue Doroff [34:50]. Over the past 30 years, Sue and her small, lean staff have protected nearly 400 miles of rivers with names like the Madison, Hoh, Klamath, and John Day--rivers beloved by fly fishers. If you've ever parked at Three Dollar Bridge on the Madison River, you can than the Western Rivers Conservancy for protecting that stretch of river from development and for maintaining public access. Find out about their unique special sauce and how they do this. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips from listeners: I know you should keep a fish upstream of you when fighting it. What do you do when fishing downstream? A warning and tip from a listener on the dangers of shelf ice in winter Should I use big articulated streamers like the Drunk & Disorderly for steelhead? Is a 9-foot 8-weight rod a good one for wading the beaches of Florida? I don't want to fish weighted flies and I don't want to fish more than one fly. How can I get a good dead drift with my wet flies and nymphs? I mainly tie steelhead flies, but for a trout fishing trip, is it more economical to buy or tie some dry flies? When fishing across several lines of current with a floating line, what technique should I use to get a good drift? How do you deal with casting an indicator rig when the indicator is set 6 feet or more above your flies? A great tip on tapering synthetic fibers when tying streamers. Should I use hemostats or small pliers for trout fishing? What are the pros and cons of bead chain vs. solid metal eyes? View the full article

Swing, hit, and miss--why did you not connect with that fish? Did it just miss your fly? Did you strike too soon? Did you strike too late? Or did the fish refuse your fly even though it looked like a take? Dave Jensen and I [@44:47] discuss how you can (maybe) tell why you didn't connect--and it may not always be your fault. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips from listeners, including: Why does my 7-foot, 4-weight rod make most things more difficult than my 9-foot, 8-weight rod? Can I use a float tube in a river? I have trouble getting my indicator or dry fly to flaot when fishing double tungsten nymphs. What can I do? Is there one fly rod I can use for trout, bass, and panfish? When fishing with unweighted leeches in a lake, the rainbow trout I catch keep getting off before I land them. What can I do? What are your expectations when you go winter fishing? Are traditional featherwing streamers as effective as more "modern" streamers? How close can I get to stripers breaking on the surface? Why do the dumbbell eyes on my Clousers keep breaking? When fishing with an indicator and sight fishing, how can you tell exactly where your fly is drifting? A great suggestion on labeling fly boxes and using reflective tape to help find lost ones. How do I tell if old fly lines are still good? Are cedar blocks a good alternative to mothballs for fly-tying materials? I need a 10-weight rod for an Alaska trip. Should I get the Clearwater or Recon and will the fly line I use in Alaska be OK for saltwater and pike fishing? I want one rod and one leader to do everything in my trout fishing. What do you recommend? View the full article

When Ernest Hemingway was a kid, he took great pride in catching trout on worms and jerking them out of small streams as quickly as he could. Later in life, he lived near excellent trout fishing in Sun Valley but didn't really like it much. He owned a lot of fly-fishing gear, but it didn't get much use. This week, I interview Hemingway Scholar Paul Hendrickson, author of the terrific book Hemingway's Boat, and we learn some interesting things about the man, including the sad story of why he finally gave up trout fishing for good, and how he influenced how we fight big fish on fly rods today. In the Fly Box this week, we have many interesting questions and tips, including: Am I missing out by not using split shot on my nymph rigs? I spot fish from one angle, and then when I move into better position to fish, I can't see them. What can I do? A tip on setting the hook based on current speed My parachute hackles keep coming out at the tip. What can I do to prevent this? An update from a young man whose parents did not approve of his fly-fishing habit Are there advantages or disadvantages in using glass beads for fly tying? How can I store longer pheasant tails and turkey feathers? Should I use moth balls on my tying materials? Do you see any disadvantages in using UV cure resin to attach slotted beads to hooks? What type of single-handed rods are best for Spey casting? A guide told me that stomach pumps are bad for fish. Do they really cause mortality in trout? Should I use a loop knot on small dry flies? When I try to do a dubbing loop, the materials wrap around the thread instead of getting trapped in it. How can I fix this? A tip on keeping hands and feet warm by keeping your core warmer. View the full article

You may not be able to fish without a jacket every day on the Arkansas tailwaters but some day it's a possibility. A nice change at this time of year. I talk with Jamie Rouse of Rouse Fly Fishing [42:53] on what kind of conditions he sees during the winter, what tactics and flies he uses, and how to avoid late-spawning fish. Makes me want to head south. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips: What can I do to make the flies I tie float like the ones I buy in the fly shop? Can you recommend any manufacturers of good quality barbless hooks? (Hint--it starts with an O) A tip for twisting chenille and hackle together for making a more durable Woolly Bugger Is it OK to remove a root ball in a river that is causing snags? Is it OK to remove small trees along the bank to get more back-cast room? Is it OK to shuffle downstream and then fish the chum line you create? Can I get a regional fishing license for multiple states? How do you train a dog to not run in the river and spoil the holes? Is there any etiquette for fishing with a dog? Is there a reason NOT to put mono weed guards on a fly? Do natural fly-tying materials have a shelf life? Why do you like a sling bag as opposed to a vest or chest pack? View the full article

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