Fly tying is more popular than ever. With the prevalence of high quality materials and excellent videos showing how to build flies, more fly anglers choose to tie their own patterns than ever before.

All of us at Troutbitten have been tying our own flies from the beginning, so we each have preferences for the tools we use. That's what this podcast episode is all about. We discuss the essentials, like vise, scissors and a bobbin, along with some other tools and gear that each of us considers invaluable for tying materials to a hook. 

The tools come first. And the quality of those tools can either help or hinder the process.

This conversation is a lot of fun. My friends, Bill Dell, Dr. Trevor Smith, Austin Dando, Josh Darling and Matt Grobe join me. 

Resources

PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fly Tying and the Complete Angler - S5,Ep2
READ: Troutbitten | Category | The Troutbitten Fly Box

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For this episode, we want to tackle a topic that’s been on our list for a long time — fly fishing myths and misunderstandings.

We’re not here to argue about stuff or complain. We just want to acknowledge things that we hear repeated or we see in print or shown in videos — stuff that’s almost assumed as fact, when it’s often not true at all.

We do think it’s important to try to clear the air about these myths and misunderstandings, because bad or incomplete information can really lead people down the wrong path. Or an angler might base many decisions about how they fish, where they fish, when they fish or what they fish for based, in part, upon these myths or these assumptions.

Most of what we bring up is well engrained into the fly fishing field of knowledge. Basically, most of you out there listening will have heard nearly everything we bring up. Maybe too, you’ll have a different take on things, and some of these won’t be myths to you at all. That’s good. Because you really should trust yourself and your own time on the water more than anyone else. 

My friends, Bill Dell and Josh Darling join me for a great conversation.

Resources

PODCAST: Troutbitten | What To Trust - S5, Ep11
READ: Troutbitten | What To Trust
READ: Troutbitten | Who Knows Better Than You?

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Devin Olsen has had an immeasurable influence on the nymphing game. Having been embedded in the competition scene for two decades now, Devin knows competition nymphing form the inside. While reading Devin's book and watching his videos, it's obvious that he puts in the work. Instead of slavishly recycling the ideas of others, Devin is a unique thinker and a tireless tester on the water. I've always admired his work.

I asked Devin to go in deep about competition nymphing styles, while specifically considering the rules and restrictions imposed on competitors. We consider whether those rules about flies and leader restrictions are helpful or hurtful for the common angler.

This is a fantastic conversation.

I'm pleased to present my interview with Devin Olsen . . .

RESOURCES

WEBSITE / FLY SHOP: Tactical Fly Fisher
BOOK: Tactical Fly Fisher
YOUTUBE: Tactical Fly Fisher
READ: Troutbitten | Series | What You're Missing by Following FIPS Competition Rules

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For our State of the Union 2025, my wife, Becky, joins me for a lighthearted look at what's going on in the Troutbitten world. We talk about the upcoming leader sale in the Troutbitten Shop (December 1). We talk about the book, the In Deep series, podcast plans, shop changes, a live podcast event, a Troutbitten Film Festival and the the New Trail Troutbitten beer.

Becky and I also read a few listener comments.

Resources

VIDEO: Troutbitten | In Deep With John Shaner and Dry Fly Leader Design
VIDEO: Troutbitten | In Deep - Fishing Simply, With Craig Matthews
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Beer and Friends -- Good Times and Good Stories with New Trail and Troutbitten
SHOP: Troutbitten | Category | Leaders

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Thanks to Skwala

Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
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All of us at Troutbitten, along with so many anglers across the country, use a Mono Rig for most underwater presentations. The tight line advantage and the drift control possible for both nymphs and streamers is fun and effective. But a lot has changed . . .

Five or ten years ago, most tight line anglers were using a Mono Rig leader build with a butt section thick enough to mimic the functions of a fly line. This is what we call a Troutbitten Standard Mono Rig, and it's a hybrid system. So with good casting form, the leader can push even the lightest flies around -- the line carries the flies. These days, the most popular leader builds have gone to the end of the line, with the thinnest possible tippets and even butt sections that are 5X diameter. These leaders require water haul casts with light flies and major adaptations in form that open up the age old question again -- "Is that even fly fishing?"

Has it all gone too far? None of us care much about what you call the tactic. But more importantly, have Mono Rig leaders and tactics gone so far and become so common that these tools and these styles are actually hindering some anglers' growth? And does that really matter? These are the questions we tackle in this podcast episode.

My friends, Austin Dando, Dr. Trevor Smith, Bill Dell and Matt Grobe and Josh Darling join me for a great conversation.

Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Category | The Mono Rig
PODCAST SERIES: Troutbitten | Tight Line Skills Series
READ: Troutbitten | The Mono Rig, and Why Fly Line Sucks
READ: Troutbitten | Design and Function of the Troutbitten Standard Mono Rig

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Thanks to TroutRoutes:

Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
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Thanks to Skwala

Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
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The spawning process is arguably the most important event of a trout's life. The best trout in the system spawn every year. And as long term anglers, we should understand the process -- not only because we then know how to give trout their space, but because the process is a fascinating look at a fish that we spend so much time chasing.

We do not advocate fishing for actively spawning trout. But in many watersheds, it's easy to stay away from the redds and give trout plenty of room by simply understanding the process. That's the focus of our conversation in this episode: where, when and how do trout spawn in a river? This podcast is a follow up to another that we published a few years ago, with Episode 2 of Season 9 -- Trout Fishing and the Spawn.

My friends, Austin Dando, Bill Dell and Matt Grobe join me for a great conversation.

Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Redd Fish - Should we fish for trout through the spawn or stay home?
PODCAST: Troutbitten | Trout Fishing and the Spawn.  S9, Ep2

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Sometimes, the goal is to catch the biggest trout in the river. In those times, what's the best fly to choose?

In this conversation, we talk through big trout situations, and we focus on the flies. If you’re really targeting a big trout, when does a streamer seem like the best choice, and what qualities in that streamer help not just get a trout’s attention, but convince them to eat the fly?

Likewise, when might a dry fly have the best chance at fooling a big fish? And when is a wet fly or nymph the best choice?

Size, shape, weight, color, flash — whether it’s a dry fly, nymph, wet fly or streamer, what are the qualities of a pattern that we have confidence will interest bigger fish?

My friends, Austin Dando, Dr. Trevor Smith, Bill Dell and Matt Grobe join me for a great conversation.

Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Category | Big Trout
PODCAST: Troutbitten | Why Do Some Rivers Hold Big Trout? S13, Ep7
READ: Troutbitten | Where to Find Big Trout - Big, Bigger, Biggest 

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Craig Matthews is one of the most prominent figures in fly fishing, with a career spanning half a century and an influence that is immeasurable. Making his home in Montana, Craig's fly shop, Blue Ribbon Flies, became an icon as he educated and helped generations of anglers find their way with a fly rod. Craig's many fly creations, like the Sparkle Dun and X-Caddis are in my fly box, and they're probably in yours. Craig also founded One Percent for the Planet, a collection of outdoor retailers, now approaching one-billion dollars donated to preserving and enhancing trout rivers across the country.

Craig has authored nine books, the latest of which is titled Pheasant Tail Simplicity. It is a wonderful book that details the mysteriously attractive nature of pheasant tail flies for trout, while also sharing stories and philosophies around a simple approach to this sometimes complicated game of fly fishing.

I'm pleased to present my interview with Craig Matthews . . .

Resources

BOOK: Pheasant Tail Simplicity
WEBSITE: One Percent for the Planet
PODCAST: Troutbitten | Why We Fish
READ: Troutbitten | Simplicity and Fishing 

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Thanks to TroutRoutes:

Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
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Thanks to Skwala

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With this conversation, we're going back to spot burning. In Troutbitten Podcast Season 3, Episode 1, we talked through Secrets and Spot Burning ( March, 2022). And in that conversation we spent a lot of time on the first part — on what fishing secrets really are, whether they’re valuable, fun or just gatekeeping. (They’re valuable, by the way.) And we acknowledged that every angler has their own set of things they might want to be secretive about, whether that's patterns, tactics or . . . spots.

In our conversation from three years ago, it was interesting to me when I went back to listen, how much more fleshed out and nuanced my own opinions are now. Back then, I also felt the Troutbitten guys here were pretty much on the same page with everything. But now I’m not so sure. Because over time, not only have my own thoughts become more defined, I know the other guys here think differently as well.

So it’s time to revisit the hot button topic of spot burning. What’s the big deal? How does it hurt? When is it okay to name spots publicly? Is it alright if it’s part of a business? And are there different rules? 

Basically, it’s a wide, wide world out there. And things change quickly, so it might be helpful to talk about spot burning again.

My friends, Austin Dando, Josh Darling and Matt Grobe join me for a great conversation.

Resources

PODCAST: Troutbitten | Secrets and Spot Burning - S3, Ep1
READ: Troutbitten | The Secret
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Riverside - A Fisherman's Thoughts On Spot Burning
READ: Troutbitten | Respect the Spots, Man! A Fisherman's Thoughts On Friendship and Spot Burning

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We begin Season 17 with a conversation about fishing the 17 year periodical cicada this past summer. We talk about big flies, big water and big trout. 

For so many of us, it was the rarity of the event -- there’s no other chance for this kind of fishing, right here, in our home waters, for another seventeen years. That’s a big marker in time. Because when you look back that far, it seems like a whole different life. In truth, it’s was a whole different world all those years ago, without high speed internet on everybody’s phones.

Think about that. That’s how much changes in seventeen years. So you start to wonder what things will look like in 2042. Who will I be in seventeen years? And you kind of realize that you cannot repeat it again. It won’t be the same. Things will be different.

I think most of us see fishing as this thing we do — the trout are always there, the hatches come and go, and we’ll fish the Henrickson’s next year too. We’ll probably be out next weekend to catch a few more trout on streamers, and we’ll start below that big boulder on the outside bend. And for most of us, maybe each fishing trip doesn’t seem all that special.

For me, this seventeen year cicada has shown me how rare every moment is. How many more times will I fish with my Dad in the braids? Who knows. Will my sons and I ever get into trout like we did last spring, where we’re all together, and the fishing is fast and fun? Not with the boys at that age. That's a certainty. So as life passes and a trout stream seems to stay mostly the same, we change, our place in life changes, and our friends and family move on too.

Strange how an ugly two-inch bug can spark so much reflection and really, so much appreciation for . . . life. This day, yesterday and tomorrow.

My friends, Dr. Trevor Smith, Austin Dando, Josh Darling and Bill Dell join me for a great conversation.

Resources

READ: Troutbitten | Shirt Pocket Fishing
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Fish and Film - Post Cicada Blues

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Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
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Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
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