Josh Miller [43:10] is a guide and has been a competitive angler and coach for years and he, like many young fly fishers, is an innovative angler who doesn't rely only on older methods of fly fishing but develops his own techniques based on how he wants his flies to drift.  This is a geeky one with some rambling, but I think Josh has some thought-provoking ideas that will get many of us thinking.   In the Fly Box we have some interesting questions and tips from listeners, including:   What model of an older Orvis rod do you still fish?   Do you have any tips from casting a Spey rod from the beach?   The head on a fly I tied unraveled.  Was it because I used Superglue and half hitches?   A tip from a listener on a product that will sharpen fly-tying scissors.   What conditions are best for fishing a bamboo rod?   Can I underline a fiberglass rod?   Can I cut the taper off an old WF5F line to make a lighter line for small streams?   How can I get my fly-tying thread to jump backward so I can tie in tricky materials?   What kind of setup do I need for catching snakeheads on a fly rod?   Why do smaller streams produce smaller trout and bigger rivers bigger fish?   What kind of PFD should I get for wearing under a fishing vest?   Why can't I find good brown and grizzly dry-fly hackle in size 12?   What do I need to do to switch between conventional nymphing and Euro nymphing?   Do most communities have fly-fishing clubs and how do I find them?   If I am going from a small stream to a lake, should I lengthen my butt section or lengthen my tippet?

A New Way of Fishing a Dry Dropper, with Josh Miller

This week, my guest is Orvis rod designer and my fishing buddy Shawn Combs [14:05], who uses the new Helios rods as an example of how a new rod series is developed.  What kind of input goes into a new rod design?  Why do we keep making new rod series?  How are they tested?  How many prototypes of a new rod are built before we decide on the final model?   The Fly Box is short this week because I've caught up with questions and am doing this before I leave for a couple weeks.  But they're good ones, including:   Do I need to set the hook in a different manner with a glass fly rod?   Is there something about the new Helios rods that is not covered on the web site and catalog copy?   Is there a place where I can still pick up a Helios 3 rod?   I am going to Cozumel and will be wade fishing from the beach.  What should I know in advance?   A listener gives some great tips on fly fishing for trout in Missouri

How Fly Rods Are Developed, with Shawn Combs

This week, my guest is educator and aquatic entomologist Anna Le [18:57], who introduces us to the amazing world of trout-stream invertebrates.  She tells us how to gauge the health of a river by looking at the bugs, and also how we can all be citizen scientists and alert the authorities when we see a decline of important indicator species.   In the Fly Box this week we have the usual mix of difficult and easy questions, plus tips,  including:   A great tip from a listener—don't try to fish while you are wading.   Can I put an 8-weight line on my 7-weight Pflueger Medalist reel?   A funny story from a listener on another way to break a fly rod   As I get older my eyesight and finger dexterity are not what they used to be.  Is there an easier knot for attaching flies to my tippet?   Why don't more people fish for chubs, and why are they considered a trash fish?   Do you have any recommended cicada patterns?   A listener who is also a toxicologist warns that not all fly-tying materials are harmless and gives tips on how to avoid undue exposure to them.   I have trouble tying tails on size 18 and smaller flies.  Do you have any tips?

The Amazing World of Trout Stream Bugs, with Anna Le

This week my guest is Charlie Schneider [45:30] from Cal Trout, a great organization that Orvis has supported over the years because they are really effective in protecting wild trout habitat.  Charlie talks about the many species and subspecies (or races depending on whether you are a lumper or a splitter) of wild trout found in California, some of are unique to California.   The incredibly diverse topography and geology (and proximity to the Pacific Ocean) contribute to this array of salmonids and it's fascinating to get an overview of them.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips, including:   Why do I have trouble Euro nymphing in slow pools when I have such good luck in faster water?   I catch steelhead from Lake Ontario tributaries during the colder months but I don't catch trout there during the summer.  Why?   I am having trouble casting a Euro rig.  What tips can you give me?   How can I wean myself off my spinning rod when it's so much more successful that my fly rod?   What are your thoughts on the Non-Slip Mono Loop for dry flies?   Have you ever tired the Australian Braid Knot as a replacement for the Bimini Twist?   Which is more important in choosing a line size—the size of the fish or the size of the fly?   Can trout spill over a dam into streams below?   Can you give me some tips on catching cutthroat trout?   How can I tell if there are trout in a small stream?   I am 17 and can't afford a hackle cape.  Is there any way to save money on a cape,  and what color would you recommend I start with?   Is it so bad if I want to keep a few wild trout to eat?  Why the big emphasis on catch and release?   What is that protrusion on the opposite side of the spool from a reel handle?  It can't be a counterweight.   If I have a medium-fast 5-weight rod, will a 6-weight line make it more of a medium action?   I lost 30-40 fish in the tail of a pool swinging flies.  What was I doing wrong?   How do you select deer hair for Comparadun wings?

California's Diverse Wild Trout Populations, with Charlie Schneider

My guest this week is Charity Rutter [39:50], a great friend and longtime guide in the Great Smoky Mountains.  She and her husband Ian have just finished a great book (I read the manuscript and loved it) and although it won't be available until April, you can pre-order it  here:  https://randrflyfishing.com/store/fly-fishing-guide-to-great-smoky-mountains-national-park/ Charity shares her secrets for making more out of your time on small waters, and although she concentrates on her area, she has fished small streams throughout North America and her tips will help you no matter where you fish.   In the Fly Box this week we have a nice assortment of questions and tips on fly fishing and fly tying, including:   Why do you hate hook keepers so much?   Is it true that you should not hook your fly onto your stripping guide?   A listener recounts his first experience with selling flies he tied himself.   A number of people chide me for not using a wading staff—yet.   Will it hurt my fly line if I stretch it first before fishing?   A listener gives some good advice on how to get out of a dangerous situation while wading, and how to prevent your waders from acting like a sea anchor.   A tip from a listener on how he deals with litter during a day of fishing and one on how he carries rods on the back seat of his vehicle.   A listener tells me how pleased he was with Orvis reel repair service.   Should I wear socks when wearing the new Pro Approach Hikers in salt water?   Can I Euro nymph in lakes and ponds?   A tip from a listener on making more durable peacock herl bodies.   Where should I put the heavy section of mono on a shock leader?   A listener shares a tip on playing darts during the winter to keep those casting muscles in shape   I used rubber soled wading shoes on slippery rocks and had poor traction.  Should I stud them or just get a pair of felt-soled boots?   In a remote lake with an inlet and outlet, will trout move into the outlet as well as the inlet?   How can I keep my dropper and tippet from slipping off my barbless hook when fishing with a dry dropper?  And what knot is best when attaching a dropper to a hook bend?   I have a 9-foot 5-weight rod and want a rod for fishing for panfish and streamers for trout.  What rod should I get next?    

Secrets of Small-Stream Trout Fishing, with Guide Charity Rutter

Lindsay Kocka [42:30] is a fly-fishing instructor, formally trained natural movement and strength coach, mobility specialist, yoga teacher, and mindfulness educator.  She taken her fishing experience and formal training to come up with a method to help us wade stronger and more confidently.  Regardless of your age, you'll benefit from this podcast, which will give you lots of tips on how to feel more comfortable and confident on the water.  You'll also learn about how to get your body and balance in better shape for your upcoming trips on the water.     In the Fly Box this week, we have an unusually large number of useful tips from listeners, as well as the usual questions for Tom, including:   Will my Clearwater fly lines be OK in salt water?   Why don't we use grain weights instead of the AFTMA number system for identifying the weights of trout fly lines like we do for double-handed rods?   The fly shops are always out of my favorite fly pattern, the Purple Haze.  I just want to tie those.  Should I start with a kit or should I just buy the materials I need for that fly pattern?   A tip from a listener on how to attach a fly so that it does not twist your leader   When you work a section of water, should you work the near seam or the far seam first?   A tip from a listener on how to replace the permanent loop on your fly line with a new one   A tip from a listener on how to remove burrs or grooves in your fly-tying bobbin   A tip from a listener on why you should save old waders, and how to use them to patch new ones.   A tip from a listener on why it is important to support your local fly shop   Tips from a blind fly fisher on methods he uses to enjoy fly fishing, and a couple tips from him on how to make threading a fly easier—something that all of us can benefit from.   Tips from a listener on practicing your fly casting from the position you'll most often be fishing from.   What is the etiquette when wading anglers and boaters cross paths on the water?   Why would someone pick a 91/2-foot or 9-foot, 5-inch rod over a 9-footer?   What tips do you have for casting a sinking leader?   Can I keep my rods set up in or on my car for extended periods?

How to Become a Better Wader, with Lindsay Kocka

All about Floating Fly Lines, with Josh Jenkins   What is the difference between freshwater and saltwater fly lines?  How about warmwater and cold-water lines?  How long do fly lines last?  How do you care for a fly line?  How do you clean a fly line?  Why do we have over-weighted fly lines?  These are questions I often get for the podcast, so I asked Josh Jenkins [49:28], head of R&D for Scientific Anglers, to answer these questions and more about floating fly lines.   In the Fly Box this week, as usual we have some great questions and helpful tips from listeners they want to share with you, including:   What is the best rod length, line size, and leader for brook trout?   Can I throw a small Woolly Bugger with my 3-weight rod or do I need a heavier rod?   Are there any fly-tying materials that could have a negative health impact?   Do you know of a source for those bags used to hold fly-tying materials?   What flies can I use ruffed grouse feathers on?   Should I use my heavier nymph as my point (lower) fly?   I am looking at an Amplitude Creek line for small streams but it states the line is one size heavier.  Will it spook the brook trout I am after?   How many flies do you lose every season, and how do you lose most of them?   How long should I expect a fly to last?   I love carp and bass fishing and have always been underwhelmed by trout fishing.  What am I missing?   Are 6-piece rods any good, and would you take one on a long trip?   I got some old feathers that are bug infested.  How can I clean them to make sure all the critters are gone?   A useful tip from a listener—to slow you down and help you observe a river better, don't string up your rod until you get to the river.   What do you do when you change species?  Do you have separate fly boxes for each?   When coming up with a new fly pattern, how do you decide hook style and thread type?   Tip for keeping young kids away from a fly-tying area—use a baby gate   What is the most versatile fly for catching bass, carp, and panfish?   I get seasick.  What is the best place to go bonefishing where I will find calm water?

All about Floating Fly Lines, with Josh Jenkins

Are there any tricks to spotting fish on saltwater flats, especially if it's your first time?  You may be disappointed to hear that there is no magic bullet and every place you fish will offer different species, water color, and depth.  But Jason Franklin [37:36] has a lifetime of experience helping his clients to spot bonefish and permit in the water, and he gives us some solid tips on how to develop this skill.   In the Fly Box this week, we have an unusual number of great tips from listeners, along with some questions Tom attempts to answer, including:   Will a 2-weight rod give me more enjoyment  than my 7 1/2-foot 3-weight when bluelining on my local streams?  How about a 10 foot two-weight?   What is the purpose of tying a tippet ring on the end of big dry flies?   Three great fly-tying and fishing  hacks from a listener   A listener describes how he fixed a bobbin that kept cutting thread using a fly-tying bead.   What hook sizes can I cast on my 5-weight when fishing for bass?  And would it help to put a 6-weight on my rod when casting larger flies?   What do you think of trying weedless carp flies for fish that are in pockets between weeds?   If I am tying various styles of streamers in a range of sizes, should I get a rooster cape?   Do I need to dry out my fly line before putting my reel away?   I want to try a tenkara rod but my fishing buddy says it's not fly fishing.  What do you think?   I could catch trout on Woolly Buggers but had trouble catching them on small midges.  What should I try in this tailwater the next time I go?   Three tips from a listener on getting success when tight-line nymphing.   Is it possible to get transcripts for the podcasts?   What is the process for experimentation with new fly patterns?   A listener adds another common way to break a fly rod   When you talk about leader length, do you include the tippet?

How to Spot Fish on Saltwater Flats, with Jason Franklin

This week's podcast is a recording of a live interview I did with Sue Doroff [48:56], co-founder and outgoing president of The Western Rivers Conservancy, which does amazing work throughout the West by buying valuable riparian land, making the surrounding habitat more natural and resilient, and enhancing public access to many of our important trout, salmon, and steelhead rivers.  You'll learn how Western Rivers finds these areas, the financial model for how they do this, and how most are eventually transferred into public ownership.  It's fascinating story of how a small organization punches well above its weight.   In the Fly Box this week, we have lots of questions and valuable tips from listeners, including:   How to use forceps to smooth down weighting wire How to easily reverse your tying thread using a dubbing needle How do I get deer hair to behave? Any tips for attaching eyes to Game Changers? Why can I catch trout from tiny streams on dry flies but not on nymphs? Advice on the differences between Helios and Recon rods How do I get into commercial fly tying? How far do stocked trout travel? Can I catch a carp on my 8 ½ foot 5 weight rod? Can I use split shot with streamers? Advice on a fiberglass rod for bass and panfish Do I need to adjust water type or tactics for browns vs. rainbows? A great tip from a listener on how to avoid losing beads and hooks under your tying table What should a non-angler do when going fishing with a fly fisher? How can I prevent losing fish on size 24 flies?  Should I keep the barbs on? Does how you tie a clinch knot have any bearing on how it rides in the water? A listener suggestion for another great writer of fly-fishing essays

Saving rivers, with Western Rivers Conservancy's Sue Doroff

How has fly-tying changed in the past 50 years?  It's changed a great deal in the time Tim Flagler [43:55] and I have been practicing it, and I often get questions from people about what has changed over the years.  Tim and I discuss the way information was shared, what hackle was like back then, innovations like beads and synthetic materials and chemically sharpened hooks, and advances in fly-tying tools.  Our main conclusion is that fly tiers today have never had it better, and it continues to evolve almost daily.   In the Fly Box this week, we have lots of rod questions and the usual queries that people can't seem to find an answer to anywhere else—and we're glad to help!  Some of this week's questions are:   I am taking a rod-building class and want to know what rod I should add to my quiver (and he details the rods he already owns) I have heard that Florida snook fishing is best from shore during the summer, but also that the season is closed.  Can I still target them and release them? What do you know about fly fishing in Bermuda? Can I put a 9-weight line on my Clearwater 908? What Mirage LT reel should I put on my 11-foot Blackout rod? Are there any introduced cutthroat populations in the eastern US? For fishing from a float tube for brook trout in Maine, should I get a 10-foot 3-weight or 4-weight rod? Would it be bad to wear tick repellent when fishing?  Will it harm aquatic life? Why do  reel manufacturers put the drag adjustment on the opposite side of the reel handle?  I find it cumbersome to adjust my drag. How will warm springs in my river affect bass behavior and feeding? What is the minimum length of rod you recommend for most trout streams, other than small streams? How do stocked spring creeks in Missouri compare to Colorado rivers? Where can my friends and I find a good fly-fishing coach? What clothing, equipment, and flies should I take for a bonefishing trip to the Turks & Caicos?  I am new to New England and have been frustrated with high water conditions.  What can I do to have more success in high water?

A Half Century of Fly-Tying Evolution, with Tim Flagler

We frequently discuss water temperature in regard to trout fishing but you seldom hear much about how water temperature affects popular fly-rod fish like bonefish, tarpon, permit, redfish, striped bass, and bluefish.  Yet the water on the flats can vary dramatically depending on local weather patterns and tides, which will in turn affect where the fish move to and how actively they feed.  Learn from Bonefish Tarpon Trust's science director Aaron Adams [51:35] (also a superb fly fisher) on the science of water temperature and saltwater species.   In the Fly Box this week we have a great selection of questions, tips, and rants from listeners, including:     Is it appropriate to tip a guide when he or she runs a group class at a fly shop?   What kind of footwear do you use when blue lining when you are wet wading?   Does monofilament have a shelf life?   Is a fiberglass rod a viable option for carp, bass, or bonefish?   Has Tom developed any new insights on carp fishing in 2023?   My sister harvested a moose.  What flies can I tie with moose hair?   I've often had good fishing before a thunderstorm but not after.  Is there any validity to this observation?   A mild rant from a listener who does not like to chat on the water with other anglers.  And a less mild rant about anglers who invade his space.   Can I turn my fly line around to the running line when I want to Euro nymph?   How have developments in fly fishing changed the productivity of fly fishing in the last 100 years?   Why am I not seeing many fish in rivers that run into reservoirs in the fall?   How can I tell the difference between my nymphs ticking the bottom and a strike?   A great tip from a listener on removing all of your backing and rinsing it at the end of a saltwater fly-fishing season.   Should knots ever break?   This fall I fished a river that was 18 to 24 inches deep and uniform without much structure.  I fished hard with various methods and didn't catch a thing.  How would you approach water like this?

How Water Temperature Affects Saltwater Flats Fish, with Aaron Adams

This show on winter fly-fishing was originally posted on 28 January, 2011. Before we had interviews, the Flybox, or even call-ins, it was just Sir Tom rambling into a microphone.  Don't forget there are hundreds of shows from our archives that are freelly available on your podcast reader and at howtoflyfish.orvis.com.

Backcast: Tom's Top-Ten Tips for Winter Fly Fishing

Careful observation, active instead of passive, is the hallmark of a good fly fisher.  They pick up patterns by observing exactly where in the river a fish came from , or how it behaved when feeding, or what weather patterns preceded a particularly successful day.  Head guide Cliff Weisse [46:15] of Three Rivers Ranch in Warm River, Idaho tells us some things many fly fishers don't pay enough attention to, and thus lose the ability to improve their skills.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips, including:   How many flies and leaders will I need for a single day of guided fishing in the Bahamas?  And what gear will I need that I would normally not take for a day of trout fishing?   If I catch a trout from a small pool, should I assume the rest of the fish in that pool are spooked?   When should I strip a fish in, and when should I get the line on the reel?   My buddy and I lost 100% of the trout we hooked one day.  WE normally land most of them.  What did we do wrong?   What flies will imitate shad, small rainbows, sculpins, and small brown trout?   I fish a piece of water with lots of swirling eddies and have trouble with a normal hard strike indicator.  What should I use instead?   How can I manage using multiple fly lines without buying a new reel or spool for each one?   Is it OK for a guide to give me an unsolicited lecture on etiquette even though I never crowd anyone?   If I only make casts at a maximum of 15 feet in a small stream, is there a special fly line I should be using?   I read somewhere that the author uses "gel flotant on all my flies".  Am I missing something?   How do you determine the shuck color on a Sparkle Dun?   A great tip from a listener about using a "backing barrel" on a sighter leader when you have trouble seeing it.   How can I avoid spooking smallmouth bass on a small, clear stream?

The Power of Observation in Fly Fishing, with Guide Cliff Weisse

Originally Posted on March 3rd, 2023 Back in 2008 when I first began this podcast I had two dreams—that I would have my two literary heros, John McPhee and Thomas McGuane as guests (they are both passionate fly fishers). I was lucky enough to record a podcast with John in August of 2021 and this week's podcast is with Tom McGuane [44:36], author of 20 highly regarded novels, screenplays, collections of short stories, and what is in my opinion the finest book of fly-fishing essays ever written, The Longest Silence. Most people who interview Tom want to talk about his crazy days in Key West in the 1970s, , fishing for tarpon with Jim Harrison, Guy de la Valdene, Jimmy Buffet, and other notable characters. However, in the podcast we talk about what he is doing now—his fascination with small-stream trout fishing, why he would rather wade than fish from a boat, his opinion on guides who yell at their clients, and how to grow old gracefully and still continue to fish with a fly rod. It was a real honor to chat with him and I know you'll enjoy this very special podcast. In the Fly Box this week, we have some wonderful and thought-provoking questions and tips form listeners, including: What is that white rod that Pete Kutzer uses in your casting videos? Is there a written history of Orvis? What is the best reel lubricant, and how should I maintain my cork drag surface? Can dumbbell eyes damage fly rods? If so, what should I do to keep flies tied with them from hitting my rod? Do trout eat those little black and brown stoneflies that hatch during the winter and early spring?  Can you explain when I would use weighted flies vs. split shot vs. poly leaders when fishing nymphs? Can you compare the relative advantages of the 10 1/2-foot 3-weight and the 11-foot 3-weight Blackout rod? I saw people catching fish on nymphs. I tried exactly the same patterns and didn't catch anything. Why? I have a reel that takes a 9-weight line. Can I get an extra spool and put it on my 7-weight rod?

Backcast: A Life in Fly fishing, with Tom McGuane

Todd Tanner [43:02] is a lifelong fly fisher and journalist and spent years as a guide on the Henry's Fork, one of the best (and toughest) dry-fly rivers in the world.  He also prefers not to fish nymphs.  Todd shares his 12 tips on improving your success with dry flies this week, and they are solid and helpful.   In the Fly Box this week, we have a great and varied selection of questions and tips from listeners, including:   I don't see any brook or brown trout in the usual places this fall.  Are they all upstream spawning?   Two great tips from a listener for beginning fly tiers.   Is a 10-foot 4-weight a good rod for both Euro nymphing and dry-fly fishing?   A great tip from a listener on how to prevent your dry fly from getting too soaked before retrieving it for the next cast.   A listener makes the point that watershed-level stream restoration is often not possible.   If my stream is stocked with rainbows, will I find them in other parts of the river system and will they survive?   Can I use a less expensive spool of fluorocarbon spinning line instead of the expensive stuff sold for fly fishing?   If I use only the tip of a CDC feather, can I use the remaining fibers for something else?   Kudos from a listener on a wonderful experience he had in the Orvis retail store in Atlanta   What kind of insects are most common in infertile streams?   Is there a reason Orvis makes a 10 ½ foot and 11-foot H3 rod and not a 10-footer?   A great rattlesnake story from a listener   I found a whole bunch of trout rising in a seam and tried everything but could not catch them.  I tried all kinds of dries and nymphs and changed my tippet and my angle of approach.  What do you think the fish were eating? 

Twelve Tips for Fishing Dry Flies, with Todd Tanner

I get frequent questions from listeners on what I would recommend they read in fly-fishing literature, as there is so much out there it's tough to sort through it to find what's worth reading.  Michael Checchio [38:10] is a retired journalist and investigative reporter and a student of fly-fishing books, so we spend some time discussing what he feels are must-reads (or maybe just interesting reads) in the vast river of what has been written about fly fishing. Here is Michael's list:   Fiction   A River Runs through It by Norman Maclean   "Big Two-Hearted River" by Ernest Hemingway (short story)   Ninety-Two in the Shade by Thomas McGuane   The River Why by David James Duncan   Non-fiction    The Longest Silence by Thomas McGuane   The Angler's Coast and Dark Waters by Russell Chatham   The Curtis Creek Manifesto by Sheridan Anderson   "Hat Creek" and "Deeds Among the Steelhead" by Bill Barich (magazine articles; may be tough to find)   The Spawning Run by William Humphrey   Trout Bum by John Gierach   "The Same River Twice" by David Quammen (published in Outside Magazine)   "A Sporting Life" by Jim Harrison (magazine article, may be tough to find)   My Story as Told by Water by David James Duncan   In the Fly Box this week, we have lots of questions and tips, including:   How do I know when to strip strike and when to trout strike?   Do I really need to go barbless on small dry-fly hooks?   How do I know what size material to use if I want to lengthen my leader?   A great tip from a listener on learning to cast with your "off" hand   A tip from a listener on wetting new tying materials befor you use them to see what color they will be   Why do I only see larger wild brown trout in one section of a river I fish?   How do I see my sighter in difficult lighting conditions?   If I am fishing for stocked rainbows and grayling, where should I place my grayling fly—on the bottom or on the dropper?   Should I use my 10-foot 7-weight Recon that I use for steelhead for streamer fishing from a boat for trout?   What is the main difference between a Helios D and Helios F rod when fishing for bonefish?   My bamboo ferrule only fits ¾ of the way to full engagement.  Is that OK?   Why do I see steelhead smolt in my river but never chinook salmon smolt?   Is there any way to get the bad smell off a bucktail?   Why don't people fish bucktails much these days?   Is there a way to tell a northern strain from a southern strain brook trout visually?

Must-Reads in Classic Fly-Fishing Literature, with Michael Checchio

My guest this week is Chris Jordan [41:13], a scientist with NOAA who specializes in habitat restoration.  His view is that, in our arrogance, we've gotten habitat restoration projects all wrong most of the time.  We think we can engineer river systems to conform with what we think they should be, but rivers are dynamic and mostly unpredictable and that, whenever possible, we need to look at watershed solutions—helping rivers do the job with a lighter hand but a larger scope. Follow this link to learn more:  https://www.restoringriverscapes.org   In the Fly Box this week we have a wide variety of interesting questions, including:   Should I bother fishing carp flats when the water temperature is in the 50s and air temperature is in the 30s?   Will brown trout live in warm water rivers some of the time?  Is it worth it to fish the mouths of cold-water tributaries for brown trout?   You always say that trout prefer to be in water that is two-to four-feet deep to feed.  Yet I have caught my largest trout in pools that are 10-to 15-feet deep.  I'm confused.   How does George Daniel attach his light nymphing leader to his fly line?   I fish small streams with a 10-foot, 4-weight Recon rod.  I worry about spooking trout when my rod casts a shadow over the pool I'm fishing.  Should I go with a shorter rod?   Some great suggestions from a listener about fishing with kids, and why we should make it more about building relationships and not always about catching fish.   I consistently foul-hook trout when fishing multiple flies.  Am I striking too soon or too late, or striking too hard?   If most people fish barbless flies, why don't manufacturers make more barbless hooks?   Do states only stock trout in specific locations due to allocated quantities, or are there environmental factors in play?   Can I use a 6-weight Bank Shot line on my 11-foot, 4-weight Euro rod to try two-handed casting?   I have a friend who ties all my flies.  What should I get him as a thank-you gift?   If I hook but lose a big lake-run rainbow, would it be possible to go back later in the day to try for it?   I have a small brook trout stream on my property.  Should I put some trees in the river to help the fish?   A listener suggests that although smallmouth bass don't need much habitat help from us, they grow slowly so handling them with care is important if you want a trophy smallmouth fishery.

We're "Fixing" Trout Streams All Wrong, With Chris Jordan

Besides breaking your fly rod in those boring old ways like car doors or ceiling fans, there are other, less obvious ways and most of them are preventable as well.  This week I chat with Charlie Robinton [49:00], rod repair expert on the Orvis Outfitter Team, and we'll explore other ways fly rods are broken—including some unusual ways they have been broken over the years, thanks to stories from our terrific rod repair team.  True, if you break an Orvis rod we can usually have it back to you in about five days—but a broken rod is still not a fun way to start (or end) a fishing trip.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some perplexing questions, tips from listeners, and some listeners who take exception to some of the things I've said in the past, including:   Where can I take my sons and granddaughter on Route 20 in Idaho where they can easily catch trout?   What is a good rod manufacturer?   A listener describes a perplexing day on a difficult river and analyzes his day and asks Tom if he agrees.   Do you take all of your fly boxes when you fish or do you determine what you will likely need for the day?  And where do you put your lunch, sunscreen, and raincoat?   Last year I had great luck for pre-spawn brown trout and this year I can't hook them.  Should I keep trying different streamer patterns?   A caution from a listener on serious reactions to UV resins   A suggestion from a listener on sliding beads down your leader if you want to make any nymph a bead head.   A listener says he has never had fly-tying threads weaken over time and disagrees with my suggestion that they can weaken after a few years.   Are beaded or non-beaded flies more successful?   How can I use adhesives to keep the dumbbell eyes on my Clouser Minnows from rotating?   You have said trout eyes are designed to look up.  When I catch trout they are always looking down.  Why?   You recommend using a throat pump.  But what good does it do you when you have already caught a fish?  And then you take their food away?   Does gel flotant on a hook have a negative effect?

15 Ways to Break a Fly Rod, with Charlie Robinton

My guest this week is the great George Daniel [42:00], who is always pushing the envelope, evolving and experimenting.  He tells us why he uses a 10-foot fly rod for nearly all of his trout fishing, even in smaller streams and he also introduces a new nymphing technique he has been experimenting with.   In the Fly Box this week, we have a great variety of questions and tips, including:   Can I use a poly leader in salt water for stripers?   Why do I find fewer and smaller fish in low water conditions later in the season?   How often do you find yourself adjusting indicator depth in medium and large rivers?   What should I do with the reject flies from my tying bench?   Is a bow-and-arrow cast stealthier than a roll cast in small streams?   I see large crayfish in a stream.  Why don't I see smaller crayfish?   Are fiberglass rods more sensitive than graphite rods?   Do creek chubs compete with brown trout?   What can I do to keep the wings on my parachute flies at 90 degrees once I start fishing them?   I found I could double haul better with some Orvis rods I tried than with entry level rods I have.  Is it simply the difference between a premium rod and my current lower level rods?   I keep breaking off coho salmon.  What could I be doing wrong?   Can I fish egg and worm patterns and streamers with my 7-foot, 4-weight rod?   A tip from a listener—if you want to find out where trout live in a particular river, observe them from a bridge.   Is there an organization devoted specifically to smallmouth bass?

A new nymph fishing technique and the under-rated 10-foot fly rod, with George Daniel

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?

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