The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

This episode was originally published on October 15th, 2023.

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

Chris Burkard [32:00], renowned action photographer, joins us to share his journey and insights into the world of fly fishing and extreme sports. His unique perspective on connecting with nature through photography and fishing offers a refreshing take on outdoor adventure. And along the way he offers some great tips on bikepacking with a fly rod. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more:

• I keep spooking the bigger trout in a small southern brook trout stream. What can I do to avoid spooking them?
• Is an 8-weight Encounter rod enough to handle Pacific salmon in Michigan? And how heavy a tippet should I use?
• I lost my biggest trout the other day after a long battle. What advice do you have for landing bigger fish?
• How can I get the eyes on my big predator flies from coming off after a few casts?
• What do you carry in your "eventuality kit" when taking trips?
• I saw sea trout jumping outside my office in Stockholm, but I couldn't catch them. What do you think they were doing?
• My buddies and I caught a bunch of fish on an experimental soft hackle that looked like nothing in nature. I thought you were always supposed to match the hatch.

In this episode, fisheries biologist Shawn Good [24:00] shares insights into the diverse and rewarding world of fish biology, including how fish populations are sampled, the impact of environmental factors, and the importance of habitat conservation. In this episode, Shawn discusses stream habitat connectivity, culvert design, fish migration, and the success of Lake Champlain's lake trout restoration program. He emphasizes the importance of habitat management and collaboration among agencies to protect aquatic ecosystems. In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting questions, tips, and suggestions, including:

• Why you should always stop into local fly shops when traveling
• Can I overline my rod by more than two line sizes?
• A tip from a listener on how to get custom colors on tying materials
• My fly rod section twists out of alignment constantly. How do I fix this?
• I have been catching shiners on my fly rod, but what flies should I use for catching some medium-sized bass?
• How do you know when to tie on a new piece of tippet?
• Do half size tippets make a difference?

Roadless Areas are some of the most important coldwater refuges for trout and salmon, and also prime spawning areas. Yet they are under threat because the Forst Service has proposed to eliminate them. Learn how you can quickly and easily voice your opinion and it WILL matter. And you need to do it in the next couple weeks. Chris Wood [43:52] is always a great guest and you'll learn more than just about this issue. For instance, you'll learn the difference between a Roadless Area and Wilderness Area and what you can and can't do on each type of public land.

In the Fly Box this week, we have some questions and controversies, including:

Why do I get knots along my whole leader and how can I eliminate them?

I found a bunch of big brook trout at the mouth of a cold tributary and caught one of them. Was this ethical?

I want to restrict myself to Adams, Pheasant Tails, and Woolly Buggers for a season. What do you think of this idea?

A listener actually enjoys foul-hooking trout because they fight better. He thinks we all need to chill out about foul-hooking fish. What do you think of this?

My creek gets super low and I can't get a cast over the fish. What can I do, and do you think a tightline technique would be better?

I live in Washington State and have a 10-foot 8-weight rod for salmon and steelhead. Are there any other places I can use this rod in my area?

The bass jumped all over a Senko Worm but I can't catch them on flies. Are there any bass flies that will work as well?

What should I expect on my first float trip?

How can I identify good water for swinging wet flies

Many flies cross boundaries and you shouldn't hesitate to experiment with flies designed for other species. Tarpon flies will catch striped bass, smallmouths, and trout. Squirmy Worms and Mop flies work for bass, carp, and even bonefish. Steelhead, shad, and carp take bonefish flies. The list goes on, and Tim [35:08] and Tom relate stories where the "wrong" fly has often saved the day. It's a fun discussion.

In the Fly Box, my plea for phone calls has produced some great ones as well as the usual e-mails. Some of the questions and tips include:

Is there any reason I can't cut the hook off a jig head and use that for drop shotting? A tip from a listener on a way to make guides in foreign countries very happy. Any pros or cons to fly lines made from PVC as opposed to other materials? Will a 5-weight rod work for light saltwater fishing? How do you fish for carp in a lake with no visibility? A comment on fishing etiquette. Why do the catfish in my river jump clear of the water? Which hook should I cut off my articulated streamers? A great tip from a listener on tying blood knots.

My guest this week is Orvis ambassador George Daniel [31:48], who is also a guide, an author, and teaches the Fly Fishing class at Penn State. George is always questioning fly-fishing tactics, and he has some new ideas that surprisingly contradict what he has written in the past. You'll learn about his new leader design, why he typically fishes only a single nymph, why he doesn't use tippet rings any more, and why he uses a loop knot for large dry flies. And much more, including some interesting new fly patterns.

In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips: With the increase in tungsten prices, will sinking lines be more expensive in the future? What do I need for a basic setup to begin steelhead fishing? A tip from a listener on a killer fly for catching bullhead A warning from a listener on his experience with flesh eating bacteria that he encountered on a fishing trip. A tip from a listener on using a bass bug taper for fishing large dry flies in the wind. In a tailwater that fluctuates daily, how do large changes in flow affect the trout and the insects? Why do I miss most of my hook sets when fishing dry flies?

What is the trout fishing like in Patagonia? Is it worth the time and expense? Is it truly the trip of a lifetime? And what should you expect on a trip to this magical place? Will you catch the biggest trout of your life? Is it really uncrowded? My guest this week is long-time lodge owner and guide Eduardo Barrueto [42:05] of Magic Waters in Chile, and he gives a great overview of what to expect on your first trout-fishing trip to Patagonia.

In the Fly Box this week, we have some particularly interesting questions that I think will be of interest to many of you, including: How can I read the water, and what is the best depth for finding trout in a river? Should I use tippet rings for bonefish? I have trouble with my knots when making fluorocarbon leaders for bass. What do you suggest? Should I be setting the hook more often when indicator nymphing? Is it true that New England fly fishers work a stream more rapidly? How long should I stay in one spot? How do I keep my foam bodies on dry flies from wrapping around the hook shank? I have high grass along the banks of my favorite stream. Would I be better with a Tenkara rod or a Euro rod? Is there really a difference between the various natural furs for fly tying? Can I substitute? Is it possible to build a fly rod with an interchangeable section that transforms a 9-foot rod to a 10-footer? What are the pros and cons of using a rope fly for gar?

This episode was originally published on August 6th, 2021.

This week my guest is Colby Trow [38:08] of Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, one of the best smallmouth bass anglers I know. Colby talks about successful techniques in catching these critters in late summer, when they can be harder to catch than earlier in the season. The good news is that it's one of the best times to catch them on a surface fly like a popper or hair bug, which is always the most fun.

In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions and tips from listeners:

A listener who makes the point that it's quicker to land trout on light tippets with a Euro rod.

Can I fish carp flies with an indicator?

Are treble hooks more harmful than single point barbless hooks?

What do I do when trout take my hopper patterns deep? Should I leave the fly in them?

I have trouble catching smallmouths in clear water. Any suggestions?

Where do you store your leader between fishing trips? A tip from Sam, fishing manager at Orvis Houston, on catching redfish in dirty water.

What are the advantages and disadvantages in using a pedestal vise as opposed to a C-clamp?

How do I choose which size hair stacker to use?

How can I fish size 18-22 nymphs in four feet of fast water?

A suggestion for using 7 1/2-foot leaders in small streams in the Driftless Region.

Can I put a 7-weight sinking line on my 5-weight rod?

If I am catching trout in small mountain streams where the water is cold enough, do I need to worry about them moving downstream into warmer temperatures after I release them?

How many phone calls and questions do you get per week?

When I switch from Euro nymphing to my regular trout rod, I keep breaking off fish. Is this normal?

My guest this week is Peter Jenkins [28:08], owner of the Saltwater Edge in Rhode Island and chairman of the American Saltwater Guides Association. Peter is a lifelong striper addict and has also followed the plight of the striped bass and the many management plans that try to preserve this valuable resource. He talks about the history of striped bass populations, why they are in decline right now, and what can be done to get back to the "glory days" of the late 1990s.

In the Fly Box this week, I try to answer the following questions: What are tipping guidelines for a fishing guide in Italy? Are big articulated streamers mostly for targeting trophy fish? I had three fish completely swallow my dry fly. Do you have any insights on why they do that sometimes? Is it wise to sometimes start with a small fly rather than a large one? If I only have a leader and tippet on the water, should I still mend? Is it OK to have drag if only the leader and tippet are on the water? I am going to Patagonia this year. Should I bring my own gear? They recommend 6 and 7-weight rods and I only have a 4-weight and 5-weight. Should I ask if I can tie my own knots? What flies do you recommend for bigmouth and smallmouth buffalo? My stream has lots of weed on the bottom, and my nymphs and streamers keep getting coated with weed. How can I fix this?

My guest this week is Orvis casting guru and fishing buddy Pete Kutzer [39:31], who makes a case for using trout Spey techniques not just for spring and fall streamer fishing but all summer long, swinging wet flies and soft hackles. Pete gets into exactly the right rod, line, leader, and tippet he uses, the fly patterns he prefers, and the techniques he uses for presenting the flies. He also gives us some great tips for two-handed casting in general—tough to do on a podcast, but they are helpful nonetheless.

In the Fly Box this week we have some great questions and tips from listeners, including: When fishing foam dry flies on a dry dropper rig, my leader keeps twisting. How can I prevent this? What essential gear should I take when fishing from my raft? I keep spooking carp with my heavily weighted flies but I need them to get down. How can I fix this? A listener tells us about a very clever method he uses for drop-shotting with nymphs that allows him to change weights easily. I saw dozens of trout stacked up in the middle of a run feeding in bright sunlight. Why were they there? I am trying to fish a short, deep plunge pool where the trout are in four feet of water. How can I get my flies down to them? My rooster hackle keeps twisting. What can I do to prevent this?