The Orvis Fly-fishing Guide Podcast

I've long been fascinated by the way geology affects the character and richness of a trout stream, and I know other anglers are as well. My interview this week is with geology professor Dr. Nelson Ham [40:36], who has been studying the effects of both geology and historical land use practices on the character of our trout rivers. The discussion also goes into the value of ground water on how productive our rivers can be. I learned a lot in this interview and I know you will as well. In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting an unusual questions and comments, including: I have six Helios 3 rods and want to sell one. Which one should I sell? Do you think the affect of COVID on swelling the ranks of fly fishers will go down? I found an Orvis 1856 bamboo fly rod in the attic of my new house. Was it really built in 1856? A listener encourages me to keep making fun of various kinds of fly-fishing methods. In places I used to catch brook trout I am now only catching chubs. Do you think trout will re-inhabit

This week we take a trip Down Under to talk to guide Angus Reynolds [41:21] in Australia. Angus customarily guides trout anglers, but because of the recurring drought in Australia he has been pursuing alternate species and carp are one of his major targets. I thought we could learn some techniques to try on our North American carp, which are the same species, and Angus has some interesting tips on fishing a sunken dry fly for them. He also tells some great stories about catching Murray cod and eels on a fly rod! In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting questions and comments, including: Can I use my 11-foot, 3-weight Helios Blackout rod for trout Spey? If so, what grain weight should I use? When should I use jig hooks and slotted beads as opposed to regular nymph hooks and beads? Do you have some tips for Eastern stillwater trout fishing? Is it much different than what they do in the West? Is there a reasonable do-it-yourself repair kit for fly rods I can take into the field with me? Does UV resin a

Originally Released Jul 09, 2021 This week I am delighted to have biologist John McMillan back as my guest [46:00]. John gives us a detailed view on the affect of water temperature on a trout's metabolism, particularly at the upper end of their safe range. In this summer of low flows and high water temperatures nearly everywhere in North America, it's a critical topic. And as usual, John puts his critical eye on how we, as anglers, can mitigate these effects by changing our fishing behavior. John is never without optimism, and I think you'll enjoy his discussion and learn more about trout biology and how we can be more responsible anglers. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips from listeners: Why did my guide tell me to use heavier tippets? Why did she suggest this would put less stress on the fish? A suggestion from a listener on getting an old bamboo rod and refurbishing it to bring one back to life. What is the difference between hen and partridge? How do I know where to find tr

Anyone involved in the world of fly fishing knows that young people are getting involved at a rate greater than any time in its history. Why? What do they want out of fly fishing, why does it appeal to them, and what do they see as the future of fly fishing? This is Part two of a podcast series where I interview young people about these questions, and this week my guest is a college student, Lukas Draugelis [37:14], president of the University of Vermont Fly-fishing Club—a very vibrant organization. In the Fly Box this week we some great questions, as well as a bit of humor, including: I get my fly line, rod tip, net, and flies stuck in trees and bushes, sometimes at the same time. Does this happen to anyone else? How do bursts of rain and muggy days affect fly fishing? How about barometric pressure? I have never seen a good hatch on a river. What kinds of environmental cues trigger a hatch? What grain weight should I put on a fiberglass rod that calls for a 5/6 line? What does the term "boat rod" mean in fly

This week, my guest is Austin Boswell [37:57], owner and guide for Eastern Oregon River Outfitters. I wanted to talk to Austin because I'm doing a two-part series on why young people are suddenly getting into fly fishing after many years of it being mostly an older person's pastime. I got into fly fishing at a young age, but in those days all the fly fishers I knew were older, and today we're seeing a great influx of young people taking up the sport. Why? I don't have any answers so for the next two podcasts I am going to be interviewing two fly fishers under the age of 30 to find out why it is so intriguing to them. In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting questions and comments, including: I found my fly line wrapped over itself on my reel. How did that happen and how can I prevent it? My normally easy-to-approach brook trout have become really spooky in the low water of summer. Will they be easier once the water levels come back up? Is my fly line scaring them and what can I do? How long do felt

We all get occasional aches and pains from casting, or as we get older we worry about getting them. Dr. Jason Smith [51:14] is an expert in sports medicine and has worked with many professional athletes in developing routines from strengthening muscles and connective tissue. He has some great advice on avoiding casting injuries, types of therapy to alleviate the pain of these issues, and also some easy exercises to avoid injury in the future. Fly fishing is supposed to be fun and any way we can take the pain out of it is welcome advice. In the Fly Box this week, we have some controversy and some great questions, including: If I am fishing an articulated fly in a place where only a single hook is allowed by law, should I cut off the back hook or the front hook? I've tried night fishing without any success. What do you suggest? If I am using a dropshot rig in very deep, fast water, how many split shot is too many? A tip from a listener about a great suggestion for casting he got from George Daniel If I am fishi

Catch-and-release fishing for trout is not a conservation tool. It's a way to manage trout populations for larger fish, based mainly on sociological or even political pressures. Sometimes it doesn't even produce larger fish, and it can backfire when it inflames local anglers. Tim Traver [38:50], author of Lost in the Driftless, has spent years studying the effects of fishing regulations on both fish and human populations and I think your eyes will open to the limitations of regulations like "fly-fishing only" or "catch-and-release". In the Fly Box this week, we have lots of interesting questions and comments from listeners, including: What can I do to avoid crowds on a heavily pressured eastern trout stream? What is the best way to carry a net when using a sling bag? A listener has some great comments on why bamboo rods are so special. Why am I consistently breaking off large brown trout using 6X tippet? If I don't have a fishing backpack or vest, how can I carry a net? How can I fish very fast water effectiv

My guest this week is Sean Carey [48:31], drummer and keyboard player for the indie folk band Bon Iver, who also records solo work as S Carey. Sean has been fly fishing for many years, beginning when he was in high school, and we spend a lot of time discussing the concept of "growing where you were planted" or learning the pleasures of discovering fly fishing close to home. And of course we talk about how fly fishing has influenced his song writing, and also what the theoretical difference might be in the way a classically trained musician approaches fly fishing as opposed to the way a jazz musician might. At the end of the podcast is a special treat—a recording of his song "Yellowstone" (but no it's not a fishing song even though we all associate that area with fishing). In the Fly Box this week, we have a bunch of thought-provoking questions from listeners, including: If I can see a fish in the water, does that mean it can see me? Or does a trout's "window" work in reverse? What do you think of tying the dr

I get a lot of questions from listeners on how to get kids into fly fishing--what's the right rod outfit, what species to go after, how to structure (or not structure) a day on the water, what resources are available, and how to instill a sense of ethics and conservation in kids. My guest this week is an expert on the subject. Marsha Benovengo [40:20] is state chair of New Jersey Trout Unlimited, and this year she received the coveted Mortensen Award from TU for her volunteer service and dedication. She has a host of great tips for guiding kids through their fly-fishing education. In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting questions and tips from listeners, including: I noticed trout living in a polluted pond near a garnet quarry. Don't trout always live in completely pristine water? I have a kink in my fly line that I can't remove. Do you have any tips on getting it out? What do you do to help your feet after a day of wet wading? Can I travel with fly rods in a duffel bag? A tip from a listener on us

Want to know how a bamboo fly rod is made? How long it takes to make one? How many different hands touch an Orvis bamboo fly rod before you (and your children and grandchildren) become its lucky owner. And finally, what's so great about bamboo fly rods? How are they different from fiberglass and graphite, and what will they do for you on the water? This week I interview Orvis bamboo fly rod craftsman Shawn Brillon [45:09], who loves to talk bamboo rods as much as he enjoys making and fishing them. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips from listeners, including: I could catch rising trout in one part of a pool, but when I moved 50 meters upstream I couldn't catch any. What was going on? How do I determine the correct size leader if I am going from a single size 16 fly to a hopper or multiple nymph rig? What are your thoughts on weed guards on flies? I caught a dragonfly on my elk hair caddis. Am I the first? I hooked a trout in the corner of the mouth and even with a barbless hook it

My guest this week is Cameron Mortensen of The Fiberglass Manifesto [51:24]. Cam is one of the most knowledgeable anglers when it comes to fiberglass fly rods. I know a lot of listeners are curious about glass rods, and so we can to answer the questions: What is the history of fiberglass rods? How do modern ones compare to the older styles? What are the advantages of fiberglass rods? What are the drawbacks of fiberglass rods? What are the new 4-piece Orvis Superfine Glass rods like? If you've been curious about trying a fiberglass fly rod, I hope this podcast answers some of your questions. In the Fly Box this week, we have some thought-provoking questions, tips, and complaints, including: What are the benefits of a strip set, and what is happening at the end of the line? When should I use the strip set? Should I buy an 8-weight or a 9-weight for a combination of saltwater and largemouth bass? Why do largemouth bass follow my fly and not take it? Why don't people use duck-quill-wing wet flies anymore? A liste

This week, my guest is guide and author Matt Supinski [51:36], one of the most innovative thinkers in fly fishing with a long history in the business. The topic is selectivity, which Matt wrote an entire book about a few years ago. What is selectivity in fish feeding, is it always operating, why does it happen, and how can we use it to our advantage when fishing? It's a fascinating topic and one Matt and I explore in depth. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and comments, including: Do longer rods roll cast better than shorter ones? And do slower rods roll cast better? Can I use one of those yarn practice rods to fine tune my double haul? Why can I only find lead split shot? Isn't it bad for the environment? Who were your "media heroes" when growing up? Do the vibrations from car-top rod carriers damage rods? A listener takes me to task for suggesting people use a throat pump to see what trout are eating. Why do trout sometimes not respond to heavy hatches? The smallmouth bass in my local

This week, my guest is captain Drew Price [56:13], an expert on fishing large, multi-story, multi-species lakes. Drew has pioneered methods of catching unusual and fascinating freshwater fish like bowfin, gar, and freshwater drum. He also loves to fish for trout, bass, and carp but there are days on his home water, Lake Champlain, when those popular fish may not cooperate. And it's fun to fill your life list with new species, some of which may live in your own back yard. If you're looking for a new challenge, want to escape summer's crowded trout rivers--or if your rivers are too warm--learn about how you can fish large lakes for all kinds of cool fish. In the Fly Box this week, we have lots of thought-provoking questions, including: What should I pack for my trip to Alaska, and how should I pack my waders? Why did they use heaver stuff, like size 8 wet flies and 3X leaders, back in the 1930s through 1950s? Why am I missing brown and rainbow trout striking my leech pattern? Why am I missing small cutthroat tr

This week, my guest is Capt. Benny Blanco of Islamorada, in the Florida Keys [37:38]. Benny talks about his life in the Keys and about how he came to realize that the fishery on which he made his living was threatened--and how he learned to make a difference. The Everglades will never be completely pristine again, but with people like Benny involved, it can regain much of its former glory. And it's not only the Everglades. Restoration of the entire watershed will also help the world-class fisheries in Florida Bay, the health of the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries, and the drinking water supply of the 9 million people in South Florida. It's a study in best practices that people in any part of the world can learn from to protect their treasured resources. In the Fly Box this week we have some lighter topics: How long does it take for a fish to remove a hook that has been left in it? Is there much of a mortality rate? How do you fish with friends on a small stream? Great tips from a listener for making su

This week, my guest is longtime guide, fly shop owner, journalist, musician, and all-around great guy Jim McLennan [40:26]. Jim is a thoughtful fly fisher who always has solid tips on fly-fishing techniques, and this week we talk about mayfly spinners—their mysteries, how to identify when they are active, and how to target trout feeding on them. Mayfly spinner falls are some of the best opportunities to catch large trout on a dry fly because trout gorge on them and sometimes get stupid, so it pays to have some intelligence on taking advantage of these opportunities. And this is a timely podcast because in most parts of the country, we are about to get into the prime season for the tiny Trico spinners. In the Fly Box this week, we have some intriguing questions and tips from listeners, including: Why can I do to prevent my mono eyes from breaking on my tarpon flies? How do I clean my saltwater flies after a trip so they aren't all mangled? Can I use more than one subsurface fly with a dry-dropper rig? How can

You may have never heard of redeye bass or seen one. Yet they are a wonderful fly-rod fish. They live in spectacular, clear mountain streams and take a fly very well. They're mainly found in the deep South, particularly in Alabama, so they're a great fly-rod target in places where you would not ordinarily think of fly fishing. They're a native species that deserve more visibility from the fly-fishing community and my guest, Matthew Lewis [44:27], is perhaps the world expert on fly fishing for them. In the fly box this week, we have some interesting questions and great tips from listeners, including: What percentage of the time do trout in lakes feed on the surface? What is a go-to fly for late summer fishing on small streams? What can I do to prevent foul-hooking so many fish? And when I hook a trout in the belly, is it sure to die? Do oils from our hands harm trout? Do you have some general rules of thumb for how rain affects fly fishing? I am using wide gape hooks and missing a lot of small brook trout. Is

This week my guest is Paul Bruun [39:50], a legendary figure in fly fishing who has been involved with the fly-fishing world even longer than me. On Thursday, June 30th, he received the Izaak Walton Award from the American Museum of Fly fishing for a lifetime of contributions to our sport. Paul is a guide, writer, newspaperman, and he developed the famous South Fork Skiff, which has recently been resurrected and redesigned by the famous Adipose Boatworks Company in Montana. Paul is a wonderful storyteller and he tells us about what it was like to learn fly fishing in South Florida in the 1960s—not an easy task! In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and suggestions from listeners, including: I am too slow in striking to small mountain trout. Is there a way I can fix that? A listener alerts us to a water issue on an Oregon tailwater A listener is confused by the differences in pound test and diameter on leader butts and wants to know if there is a rule-of-thumb for the correct leader butt secti

My guest this week is Timbre Pringle of Faceless Fly Fishing  [46:26] and the topic is small stream fly fishing, particularly in the Rocky Mountains. Timbre has some great tips on fishing dries, dry dropper combos, and streamers in small streams, and the differences between the different species of trout in small streams. She also gives some great tips on avoiding encounters with bears, something that can be an issue when certain areas of the Rockies once you get away from the road. In the Fly Box this week, we have some seasonally appropriate questions and some good tips from listeners, including: Four good tips on storing tying materials from a listener When do you use a dubbing loop, and when do you use the standard noodle method instead? How do I avoid the numerous small steelhead parr on my local river? Why did I miss 20 fish in a row when fishing a dry fly during a caddis hatch? A listener takes issue with the advice of using heavier tippets to play fish quickly Do trout get full and not rise when there

My guest this week is Brian Grossenbacher [42:45], one of the finest fly-fishing still photographers in the world. You've seen his work on the cover of many magazines and in Orvis catalogs. (Brian and I recently collaborated on a book entitled, simply, Trout, with his images and my essays. ) Learn how Brian's career changed from being a full-time fishing guide to a professional photographer and glean some tips on how to go pro yourself—or at least improve the quality of your own images. Along the way, Brian tells a couple stories that had me in tears of laughter as I was recording this. In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting questions and great tips from listeners, including: What impact does bug spray have on fish and the tackle we use? My Elk Hair Caddis dry flies land on their sides. How can I prevent this? Should I grease my leader when fishing with a dry-dropper rig in fast water? I want to try carp fishing. Should I put my money into a better reel or a better rod? A tip from a listener on ho

My guest this week is well, me. I recorded a podcast and the file got corrupted and I couldn't get my guest back in time to do a makeover. So this week is just the Fly Box. In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting questions and tips, including: Do I absolutely need a full sinking line and a stripping basket to fish in the surf? Do you pinch the barbs on flies for all saltwater species? Will streamers and bucktails work throughout the summer? Can I go heavier than 6X on smaller flies to get fish in quicker and stress them less? Why do I catch many fish in a small stream and then see none on the next trip? Any advice on tips for setting the hook when using a long cast? Should I pursue traditional fly gear or just use Tenkara? Should I use a 6-weight for a light saltwater outfit? How can I get the hackle on my Parachute Adams to look better? When would someone replace a dry fly as an indicator with a standard indicator in small streams? What is the best way to attach 80 lb. shock tippet to a 20 lb. cla