Troutbitten

Every angler wants to fish somewhere new — someplace untouched. We want novel experiences. Something about trout fishing, about catch and release and about throwing flies, attracts the explorer. Long term anglers are most often the adventurers. They’re the pathfinders — the ones who find the qualities of solitude and peace more important than fishing big-name waters or catching a bunch of trout.And these days, one of the most common complaints heard among fishermen is about crowded waters. People say there are more anglers than ever and that you can’t get away from all the fishermen out there. But I think you can. And, In turn, one of the most common questions I receive is how to find the offbeat waters, where are the places that everyone doesn’t fish? Inevitably, people ask about these places because they want to see fewer anglers.That solitude on a trout stream is there if you truly want it. By putting in the time to learn your waters, you’ll find the under-fished areas.If you want space, if you want to find your own water, it’s there for you.Think about where and when. Consider the conditions. And learn to recognize the habits of anglers — because they are always predictable. Avoid every access with a clever name like Rainbow Riffle or Three Dollar Bridge. Sure, the fishing might be great, but these are not the places to find your space.And if you roll up to a popular access of a blue ribbon trout stream, if it’s noon on a Sunday, if it’s June with prime flows and sunny skies, then stop complaining about the cars and anglers.That’s your choice. It’s on you. And by making that choice, you’re now part of the predictable habits of anglers.We Cover the Following Are there really more anglers?The effects of weather on angler pressureHow the habits of anglers are predictablePopular water, unpopular spotsPopular waters, uncommon timesLesser known watersExploring, walkingResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Why Everyone Fishes the Same Water, and What to do About ItREAD: Troutbitten | Cover Water, Catch TroutREAD: Troutbitten | Explore | Learn | ReturnREAD: Troutbitten | Save the DiscoveryREAD: Troutbitten | One Thing at a TimeVisit:Troutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

This episode is about fly casting — why it matters more than anything, and how we can improve our accuracy and control over the system with just a few key adjustments.All  fly fishing styles require good casting skills. My friends and I fish a Mono Rig for most underwater presentations. But this tight line approach for nymphs and streamers falls apart without the ability to cast and manage a long leader, through the air, exactly like a fly line. I say it all the time about tight line and euro nymphing — it’s casting, not lobbing — at least, it should be. Lobbing can get things done for a while, but to get anywhere beyond the basics, or even to get under the bankside tree limbs, we need good casting form. So we build loops with a great casting stroke, and then place not just the fly where we want it, but the tippet and leader in the best position too. Ironically, it takes refined fly casting skill to cast a Mono Rig.All of us here fish long leaders and short ones. We choose a powerful Mono Rig for pushing nymphs and streamers around, and we cast dry flies with a fly line too. We fish a pure tight line with a single nymph, we fish dry dropper styles, yarn indys with short leaders and fly line, and streamers with sinking lines sometimes.All of it, every bit of it, requires the same casting fundamentals and the ability to control lengths of line in the air. And we must build casting loops with speed for the line to go anywhere.It’s fly fishing. So it starts with fly casting.We break down some of our best tips for fly casting that apply to beginners and advanced anglers alike. We go through the essentials and some advanced ideas that apply to all fly casting styles, from dry flies to nymphs to streamers. We Cover the FollowingCorrecting casting mistakes in the driftCradling the rod, and finding the balance pointSpeed. short, crisp motions and clean stopsTurnoverLimit false casting, but use it for purposeOval in the rod tip travelThe casting V (10 and 2)Distance disciplineDon’t reach ResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Fly CastingREAD: Troutbitten | Bob's Fly Casting WisdomREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Casting -- Squeeze ItREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Casting -- Acquire Your Target Before the PickupREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Casting -- Don't ReachVisit:Troutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

This episode is about exploring the water types of a river to find hungry trout. And we’re thinking beyond just fast water, slow water, riffles, runs and pools. Sure, recognizing the basic features of the stream you’re fishing is a great starting point. But this is Troutbitten, so you know we’re going to take things a bit further. We want to know more.And what matters most is where trout are feeding -- and why.Find feeding fish. When we’re on the water, it’s priority one. The rivers we fish are full of wild trout. They are everywhere. But just because trout are holding in a piece of water doesn’t mean they are feeding there. And, moment to moment, we’re searching for where trout are feeding in the river.We talk a lot about solving the daily puzzle, about the on-the-river mystery presented anew every time we wet our boots, and even every time we round the next bend. That mystery really begins with finding feeding fish. Where are the hungry ones? What event or condition has trout ready to feed, on the hunt, or eager to intercept an easy meal?Rivers are in a perpetual state of change, and the trout’s feeding patterns respond to those changes.There are a number of factors that encourage trout to move into and feed in certain types of water. While the real-world conditions and events are infinite, there are five major factors that influence where and how trout feed in a river. They are: water temperature, water levels and water clarity, hatches, bug and baitfish activity, light conditions, and spawning activity.And if we learn to recognize all of this, we have the keys to the puzzle.We Cover the FollowingListener question about leader changesTrout response to various water temperaturesTrout response to water levelsTrout response to water clarityHow trout respond to hatchesHow baitfish activity influences trout feedingHow the spawning activity of various species provides feeding opportunities for troutResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Find Feeding FishREAD: Troutbitten | Finding Bite WindowsREAD: Troutbitten | Where to Find Bigger TroutVisit:Troutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

Something electric happens when we hook into the fish of the day, the fish of the season or maybe the fish of a lifetime. Our hearts beat faster. The adrenaline pumps because the stakes are raised. This is the fish we’ve been waiting for, and we don’t want to lose the opportunity.And that feeling never fades. Across fishing styles and over the centuries, fishermen are captivated by these big-fish moments. And though the feeling never grows old, our ability to control our response and control the fish using the right moves with the rod, the reel and the line improves. With each loss, we learn the hard way. With each story about the one that got away, we replay our mistakes and plan to avoid the same errors next time.And as we wait, as we hunt for the next big trout, we practice these moves on the average trout. We form good habits for line recovery, for slack management, side pressure, optimal fighting angles and the all-important closing moves of the last ten feet.So, as much as we focus on the intricacies of fly selection, casting technique and drift speed, often, what we remember most is the moment when the biggest trout we’ve ever seen makes it to our net. It’s that conclusion — that happy ending that provides the capstone to so much of our journey.Fighting bigger fish is an equal-parts mix of preparation, instinct and luck. And at least a third of that formula, we’re in control of.In this episode, I’m joined by my fishing friends, Trevor Smith, Bill Dell, Austin Dando, Josh Darling and Matt Grobe.We Cover the FollowingThe largest trout we've ever lostForming good habits with smaller troutFighting fish upstreamWorking with a trout and not against itWhere in the water column to fight a troutKnowing the strength of your toolsSide pressureClosing the distance, and the last ten feetResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Fighting FishREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Big TroutREAD: Troutbitten | Fighting Fish -- The Last Ten FeedREAD: Troutbitten | Fighting Fish -- Work With a Trout and Not Against ItVisit:Troutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

One of the greatest attractions to fly fishing can also present one of the biggest barriers.It’s the bugs.The aquatic insects that make up the bulk of a trout’s food base are intriguing, but they’re also somewhat mysteriousThe advanced angler explores the nuances of these bugs. Some insects are good swimmers and emerge fast, so a presentation outside of a pure dead-drifted nymph might be the trigger that turns trout on. Likewise, understanding the life cycle of a mayfly helps us realize why seeking out and imitating the spinner stage is one of the best dry fly opportunities on the river.These are the kinds of things to know about trout bugs. This is why we follow the hatches. We pay attention and try to meet the trout on their own terms -- give them more of what they’re eating right now.Understanding everything we can about these bugs and how trout respond to them is a big piece of the puzzle that we’re trying to solve out there. And sometimes, it’s the keystone. Because at certain times, the bug life of a river is the central player in a trout’s daily life.In this episode, I’m joined by my fishing friends, Trevor Smith, Bill Dell, Austin Dando, Josh Darling and  Matt Grobe.We Cover the FollowingListener question about the sustainability of catch and releaseA walk-through of the major hatches throughout our seasonDifferences from east to west and moreHow mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies and midges differ in their availability to troutWhy spinner falls are such a great opportunityHow the hatches affect our strategy from top to bottomResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | You Don't Have to Match the HatchREAD: Troutbitten | The George Harvey Leader DesignREAD: Troutbitten | Are We Taking the Safety of Trout Too Far?READ: Troutbitten | In Defense of Catching and Counting Fish — Why numbers in the Net MatterVisit:Troutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

Casting, drifting, swinging and stripping -- everything else is downtime. As Paul said, “Brother, there are no flying fish in Montana” — or anywhere else, for that matter.Flies in the water — that’s where we want them. A trout at the end of the line. That’s what we’re aiming for. But there are seemingly endless tasks required for a fishing trip. And how we approach those chores really defines the way our day will go — simply because our fly is either in the water . . . or it’s not.How we prepare the night before, our system for carrying tippet, our strategy for choosing the next fly, and even what we do with the net after releasing a trout — what we do with our time on the water . . . matters. And all of us experience that nagging feeling that something is amiss, that so much more is possible, on those days when we know that we are inefficient.Fly fishing is for the pragmatist. Successful anglers see failure and make the changes to turn it around. And no matter what our natural tendencies — whether we’re a neat freak or a slob at home and at work, the river quickly teaches us that the only way forward is through efficiency. So every long term angler that I know becomes efficient, even if they weren’t born that way.In this episode, I’m joined tonight by my fishing friends, Trevor Smith, Bill Dell, Austin Dando and Matt Grobe.We Cover the FollowingFinding a system. Finding routines for everything.Vest/ Pack strategiesOrganizing gearPre-trip preparationLeader changesKnot tyingWading staffTraveling strategyDon't be late!Rod storageResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Find Your SystemREAD: Troutbitten | The Inefficiency of InexperienceREAD: Troutbitten | Look for the Changeout SpotsREAD: Troutbitten | What About the Wading Staff?READ: Troutbitten | Find Your RhythmVisit:Troutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

Season Three begins with a round-table discussion about fishermen's secrets and what happens when we give up the most sensitive of them -- spot burning.My full panel of fishing buddies is back for this third season: Austin Dando, Trevor Smith, Josh Darling, Bill Dell and now Matt Grobe. We kick off season three with one of the most contentious topics in fly fishing. Holding secrets is human nature. And some of us keep confidential our favorite flies, tactics and more. But when it comes to spots -- locations and where we fish -- discretion is a kindness that we lend to other anglers.Secrets are part of the legacy of fishing. Exploring and locating places that are special to each of us is part of what keeps us coming back. We like to think that we’ve discovered something that is uncommon or unknown. And we learn that sharing information with the wrong people or in the wrong way can easily destroy a secret by making the uncommon, common.As for spot burning, it’s bad because of what it does to other anglers.. Every piece of water is someone else’s sweetheart spot. So we refrain from naming names and locations out of respect for everyone else. And if you hear yourself saying, “It’s okay because everybody knows about that spot,” think again.That’s our take on it.We Cover the FollowingQuestion from a listener regarding knot tying tipsQuestion from a listener regarding the toughest skill in fly tyingTypes of secretsSecret fliesSecret tacticsWhat is spot burningThe negative impact of spot burningNuances of spot burningSharing without sharing too muchThe hypocrisy of secretsRemember, each of these podcasts is always supported by a companion article of the same topic.READ: Troutbitten | Podcast: Secrets and Spot Burning -- S3 Ep1ResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | The SecretREAD: Troutbitten | Respect the Spots! A Fisherman's Thoughts on Secrets and Spot BurningREAD: Troutbitten | Coffee and SecretsREAD: Troutbitten | Super Fly -- The Story of a Squirmie WormieSeason Three of the Troutbitten podcast continues with Episode 2 -- Inefficiencies That Waste Your Fishing Time. So look for that one in your Troutbitten podcast feed.Fish hard, friends.Visit:Troutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

Hello, friends.Season two of the Troutbitten podcast is finished, and season three begins soon. So in this off week, I have something a little special for you.Recently, I was a guest on the Wet Fly Swing podcast with Dave Stewart. So this is a feed drop of that episode in full. Dave runs a great show, and he’s been at it for a long time. I was happy to be a guest for the second time with Dave. And in this episode, we dig into a lot of streamer tactics, some nymphing techniques, and we have a good talk about what happens during the transition from winter into spring fishing.I hope you enjoy it. And if you do, go check out more at wetflyswing.com. With over 300 episodes in the bank, Dave talks with some of the most knowledgeable and entertaining fly fishers in the game. I’ve learned a lot from Dave’s podcast over the years.I hope you enjoy listening to my talk with Dave Stewart.So until next week . . . fish hard, friends. ** NOTE ** Season Three begins next week. We return to the Season One format of full-panel discussions covering all things fly fishing for trout. And we're looking forward to it. 

Season Two concludes with a round table discussion for answering the most common questions about tight line and euro nymphing skills. My full panel of friends, Austin, Bill, Trevor and Josh join me to get deep in the weeds of the tactics, to clear up misconceptions, and offer their own ideas.As Episode nine published, I realized there were many questions left to be answered. Daily, I received messages about a variety of techniques discussed in these nine essential skills. And the same themes cropped up. Anglers struggled with the same concepts. And those misunderstandings made their way to my inbox. It made sense to do one more podcast and answer these most popular, important questions.So here's your bonus round . . .We Cover the FollowingTuck casting in cover and using sidearm anglesTuck casting doesn't need to be verticalReading sighter for contact vs reading sighter for the strike zoneMore tips on finding the strike zoneForcing contact and using the extremesTippet length variabilityDeveloping accuracy with more speedRefining the castLeader diameter vs leader powerTips for fishing around structureRemember, each of these podcasts is supported by a companion article of the same topic. And you can find the full overview of the Nine Essential Skills for Tight line and Euro Nymphing here:READ: Troubitten | Bonus Round Q&A with Full Panel -- Tight Line Skills Series, #10RESOURCESREAD: Troutbitten | The Nine Essential Skills for Tight Line and Euro NymphingREAD: Troutbitten | Category | The Mono RigREAD: Troutbitten | Full the Mono Rig System -- All the  Variations, with Leader Formulas and AdjustmentsREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Fishing Strategies -- Tuck CastREAD: Troutbitten | Put More Juice in the CastREAD: Troutbitten | The Top Down ApproachREAD: Troutbitten | Over or Under -- Your Best Bet on Weight** NOTE ** Season Three begins in a coupe weeks. We return to the Season One format of full-panel discussion covering all things fly fishing for trout. And we're looking forward to it.Visit:Troutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

Here we are at the finish line. In this ninth installment of this Troutbitten Skills Series, my friend, Austin Dando, and I walk through some of the best tips for putting it all together. Because this set of skills, performed in order and flowing from one to the next, results in a great drift that starts and finishes in a convincing, trout-catching presentation.Here are those nine skills:Angle and ApproachTurnover and Tuck CastSticking the LandingRecovering SlackFinding ContactLocating the Strike ZoneGuiding the FliesThe StrikePutting it all TogetherEach of them now has its own podcast and its own article that lays out the tactics in detail.Tight line tactics are infinitely refinable. There is no end to how much better you can make the next drift. And if you get it perfect, then the next seam challenges you all over again. Contact and true control over the flies is a responsibility, and I’ve seen it overwhelm people at times. So, putting a number on the most basic skills and putting them in order makes things manageable. That is the purpose of this system -- this series -- of nine essential skills.We Cover the FollowingPractice by imaginingDon't be intimidatedTrusting the transitionsFinding the failuresFocusing on just oneSeeing successHow fast the middle steps happenWatching the entrance and the exit of the fliesJudging successResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | The Nine Essential Skills for Tight Line and Euro NymphingREAD: Troutbitten | Category | The Mono RigREAD: Troutbitten | Get a Good Drift, Then Move OnREAD: Troutbitten | What To TrustREAD: Troutbitten | Trout Like to Do What Their Friends Are DoingREAD: Troutbitten |Asking the Best Questions to Catch More TroutVisit:Troutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/