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

Crayfish are prey that most gamefish can't resist. They're high in calories, abundant, and relatively easy for bass, trout, and many other gamefish to capture. Yet most of us don't know much about their life cycle and behavior (myself included). Guide Jake Villwock [47:02] has spent his life studying these critters, which gives him important insight on the right fly patterns, but even more important how and when to fish them. You'll learn a lot on this podcast. In the Fly Box this week, there are lots of good questions and I hope my answers will help you in your fly-fishing journey. They include: I can't seem to get my fly deep enough in bass lakes with my floating line. Should I get a sinking line for my 8-weight and fish surface flies with my 5-weight? A listener asks for help from listeners in ways to lessen the pain of losing his beloved fishing dog I fished a river that has always been full of trout and didn't see a thing. What happened to the fish? Should I apply my dubbing with clockwise or counterclockwise twists? Can I tie my dropper onto the tag end of my improved clinch knot? What are your thoughts and comments on how long a trout stays spooked? Why do you prefer a sling pack and where do you put your net? Do resident brook trout in a river get pushed around by migrating steelhead? Do they still feed? I didn't catch any fish in high, cold water. What should I have done? What do you think about tying a loop in the end of my tippet and attaching flies with a girth hitch? Why don't people use landing nets for striped bass? I saw an anti-reverse fly reel on EBay. What do you think of them?

I don't like to use the word etiquette as that implies rules and we should be able to fish however we want as long as it's legal. But there are traditions and guidelines for conduct on trout rivers that ensures that everyone has a good day on the water without infringing on the rights of others. And they do sometimes differ depending on whether you are floating or wading, and even form one river to the next depending on how crowded they are. Todd Tanner [34:22] offers a very thoughtful and interesting approach to this subject with lots of anecdotes on what he has seen on the many trout rivers he's fished in his lifetime. Do boomboxes and dogs belong on trout rivers? Listen to what Todd has to say on those topics.

In the Fly Box this week we have these questions and more: What do you think about the AI in relation to fly fishing? Does the Orvis Wading Staff really self deploy? How do I fish high, clear water? What do the trout do under this condition? How do I know when I am fishing deep enough for salmon and steelhead? My graphite ferrule does not seat all the way. Is this OK? Which sinking line is best for bass fishing? Brass is 7% heavier than stainless steel. Why don't we use more brass for our nymphs given the scarcity of tungsten? A listener makes the case for the Helios D rods for trout fishing What do you think about the Hovering Leech pattern? Will this technique work in rivers? Do trout release stress hormones when we play them? Do chubs and trout feed in different places in trout streams?

The Northeast has some of the finest small-stream brook trout fishing in the world. A hike in the Green Mountains of Vermont, White Mountains of New Hampshire, Adirondack Mountains in New York, or the mountains of western Maine can get you to unspoiled brook trout waters with minimal to no fishing pressure. And these are wild, native fish and one of the most colorful fish in freshwater. Nick Yardley [35:18] is an experienced hiker and climber, and loves brook trout fishing as much as he loves Atlantic salmon and steelhead. He's got some great tips on getting there and what tackle and flies to use.

In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more: Tips on why the Orvis landing net is so great. Will we be seeing stainless steel beads to replace the expensive tungsten ones? Or is this fake news? Controversy: A listener suggests that if we don't have more "Fly Fishing Only" trout streams, the future of fly fishing is at stake (and Tom disagrees). Bass follow my fly but don't commit. What should I do? A listener asks for advice on whether to get a 3 or 4-weight rod for Colorado. I have trouble casting big Clouser Minnows and Meat Whistles. I think my leader is at fault. Can you help me correct this? I have a friend that does weird things on the river. What would you do? I have an intermediate line for bass fishing. I have had conflicting information on whether it will be useful or not. What do you think? Can I fish for winter flounder with a fly rod?

This episode was originally published on July 22nd, 2024.

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

This episode was originally published on June 23rd, 2025.

In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting requests, including many questions about leaders and tippet. What fly line should I use on my Helios 2 rod for dry-fly fishing? What can I do to prevent my tippet from kinking? What can you do when small stream trout refuse your fly? I have been using heavier tippet and seem to be doing just as well as with lighter tippet. What is your take on this? Is there a big difference between various brands of tippet material? Can I just add a tippet ring to my 9-foot 4X leader to make a nymph leader? Should the butt section of my nymph leader be made from fluorocarbon? What should I take on a multi-day fishing trip that I would not normally think of? Why am I foul-hooking so many trout and whitefish this year? What do you think of furled leaders? What rod should I get for my 8-year-old daughter? What rig should I start her out with? What do you think of Crocs as inexpensive wading shoes? What can you tell me about an older Orvis rod I purchased? How can I tighten the drag on an older spring-and-pawl fly reel? What is the deal with all these multi-fly rigs? Am I missing something by using a single fly? Do people fish for trout with poppers? Do I need sinking agents as well as flotants? At the end of my drift I stripped in a dry fly and got strikes. Should I change my setup and move my flies a bit?

This episode was originally published on May 19th, 2025.

Every week I get some iteration of this question: "I hooked three fish and lost all of them before I could get them to the net. What am I doing wrong?" Well, often you did nothing wrong and it was just bad luck. But there are steps you can take to make sure you land the fish you've hooked and Josh Nugent [36:46], a regular on my podcast and one of the most thoughtful anglers I know, presents us with his Seven Deadly Sins. There are lots of helpful nuggets in this one. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips: You say I can fish small streamers on my 5-weight rod. What do you mean by "small'? I am using the Albright knot for larger sections of my leader. What do you think? A tip from a listener on how not to launch small brookies into the bushes when you hook them. Why am I losing half of my fish when using barbless hooks? Is there any situation where you would use an Improved Clinch Knot as opposed to the regular Clinch Knot? A tip from a listener on how to tie big foam flies that won't land upside-down. How do you balance various passions, family, work, and still have the energy and time to get out on the water? How do you set up your emergers, and what is your go-to emerger fly? Where can I find split shot that does not contain lead? How do you feel about the relative perceived intelligence of hatchery fish as compared to wild fish?

Want to spend less time untangling knots and more time with your flies in the water? Do you want to connect on more of the strikes you get to your nymphs? Want to know the best way to cast indicator rigs? Orvis-endorsed guide Matt Squillante [28:56] shares his tips from years of teaching fly fishers how to fish indicator rigs, and he shares some solid advice on this method.

In the Fly Box this week, we have the questions and tips: I was fishing for panfish and had a big fish make a huge run but I lost it. Any guess as to what kind of fish it was? I really enjoyed using the poly leaders Orvis used to sell. Any suggestions for a substitute? I am having problems casting my new Superfine rod after using a Helios D. Any suggestions on improving my casting with it? A tip on using a waterproof marker to color your thread if it's not the right color for the head of your fly. How can I fish my nymphs in pools that are 6-to 8-feet deep? What is the correct terminology when describing the size of a piece of moving water? What do you think of using the "washing line" technique in streams? My Double Davy Knot causes my big dries to lay off to one side but the clinch knot doesn't. Do you know why this happens? I was using a fly clip and the leader came back with a pigtail after I broke off a fish. Does this happen often with fly clips? Is there a way to quickly tell a wild trout from a stocked trout?

My guest this week, Chris Steinbeck [25:15] of the Blue Quill Angler in Colorado, shares his strategies for dealing with what we expect will be low water and possibly water that is too warm for ethical trout fishing. This doesn't mean you have to forgo fly fishing! There are many options for continuing your trout fishing through the summer, plus loads of alternatives to trout that are amazing fun on the fly rod. Chris has some solid tips for enjoying the summer with your rod, and for treating the fish properly in low water. Although Chris concentrates on Colorado fisheries, his advice is solid for any part of the Rocky Mountains. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more: If I briefly hook a brown trout, do you think it's still worth trying for that fish? I have an old Orvis Bamboo rod left to me by my grandfather. Should I fish it, and if so how should I care for it? Is there a material you could wrap around a dry fly to make it float better? Which types of dubbing are best for dry flies? Can I use jig nymphs on a dry dropper setup? How can I strip "retired" flies of their dressing so I can re-use the hooks and beads? I fish a cold tailwater but have not seen or caught a trout. Why are there no trout in it?

My guests this week are Kirk Deeter and Matt Supinski [27:19], authors of the amazing new book A Fishable Feast. They talk about great meals they've experienced in lodges around the world, but also about what they actually pack for the day when they are fishing on their own. And then what to enjoy after a day of fishing—what to drink, what meals to prepare to celebrate a great day or console yourself after a lousy day. And they even wax poetic (at least Matt does) about what a day on the water really means. It's a fun discussion and I hope you enjoy it.

In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more: Should I put floatant on my CDC flies or should they ride below the surface? How will I get my flies deep enough now that tungsten beads are getting scarce and expensive? Should I get a moderate or fast-action rod for all-around fishing in Colorado? Can I use a surgeon's knot to connect nylon to fluorocarbon? I have been using tippet rings. How short can my shock tippet get before I need to replace it? Is the improved blood knot good for adding shock tippet? How do you know when a river's fish population is not worth your time? If I see trout swimming quickly, are they feeding when they do this? How much extra tippet do you carry when fishing?

Before you rule out this podcast because you don't live in southern California, you may want to listen to my interview with master saltwater fly fisher Al Quattrocchi [24:46] because he gives lots of great advice on fishing in the surf in general. You'll get tips on lines, leaders, approach, and how to find fish in the surf. So, whether you chase striped bass or redfish in the surf, I think you'll get some great tips here.

In the fly box this week, we have some great tips as well as interesting questions, including: How can I keep my dropper tag from tangling around the standing part of the tippet? How can I find out about etiquette on local rivers? A tip from a listener on fishing streamers with a Euro rig in low, clear water I am confused by fly casting instructions. Lefty Kreh recommended that we pretend our arm is on a shelf and then flick the wrist. Should I try casting this way? My local river is high but there are some ephemeral side channels. Do you think these are worth fishing? Is it true that tungsten beads will become expensive and hard to obtain? A tip from a listener on using a Magic Eraser for cleaning cork grips. I fish some tight, brushy rivers. Would it be better to get a trout Spey rod or a 10-foot 4-weight for fishing these streams?