The Amazing World of Trout Stream Bugs, with Anna Le

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?