Troutbitten

Join the hosts as they explore critical nymphing concepts for successful fishing, mastering presentations, and understanding the strike zone. Delve into the choice between nymphs and dries, optimizing depth and distance for trout fishing, and exploring drop time and drift strategies in nymphing techniques.

For this final episode of Season Ten and of 2023, we wanted  to have some fun. In this episode we walk through a bunch of Troutbitten . . . terms, words, sayings, phrases . . . and talk about what all of this means. Let’s call it a Troutbitten glossary.If you’re lucky enough to have your own group of long-time fishing friends, then I’m sure you have your own phrases too — your own idioms and ways of talking about things. It’s all a lot of fun.Long-time listeners understand what it means when Austin says he could have caught a lot more trout — if he really wanted to. Most of you also understand what it means to play bartender for a friend, and you know how many inches a trout should be to fall under the Troutbitten classification, Whiskey.Our lingo is part of the Troutbitten culture. Here we go . . .ResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Category | HistoryPODCAST: Troutbitten | The One With Sloop, Stories with a Fishing Friend S7 Ep12PODCAST: Troutbitten | Fishing Buddies S5 Ep12VisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThank You to Pre-Roll Ad Sponsors:SkwalaandOrvis

Discussing common bad habits in fly fishing and their consequences, focusing on knot tying, drifts, and casting. Emphasizing the importance of organization in gear for efficiency. Exploring challenges faced by fly anglers and solutions. Mastering backhand casting techniques and fish fighting in thinner waters. Optimizing casting efficiency and using quality materials for better outcomes. Adapting to different water conditions and embracing precision in fly fishing.

This one is about taking photos and videos on the water, about camera gear, about keeping that gear safe but available, and even a few tips on taking a good fish selfie.Photography is something that we see most anglers get into, at least a little bit. I’ve often described the fish selfie as the grand compromise of catch and release fishing. We don’t kill the trout and take it home to show it off to friends anymore. But we do want to share some of the best trout and our most memorable situations on the river. So we take photos and videos.We plan for these trips, we look forward to them, we tie flies, we think about leaders, buy gear and read books about the region and the tactics. And when we finally get our boots in the water, we want to document these experiences — especially when the stars align and something remarkable happens.ResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Fishing With a CameraREAD: Troutbitten | All the ThingsPODCAST: Troutbitten | How to Handle a Trout, S1 Ep2READ: Troutbitten | Their Heart in Your HandsVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThank You to Pre-Roll Ad Sponsors:SkwalaandOrvis

Some favorite rivers meander and roll through stunning scenery and enchanting tracts of wilderness. And most trout fishermen quickly realize that the pursuit of wild trout takes them into some of the most beautiful valleys on earth.But some other favorite rivers run through towns or behind old factories. Maybe they’re paralleled by a highway or narrowly channeled by railroad tracks on either side. These places can be just as special, just as meaningful and treasured, for what they hold — for what they teach.All of our favorite rivers have made an impact on who we are as a person — not just as an angler. Because, for so many fishermen, a home water is precisely that — a home. A place to rest. A place to seek comfort and rejuvenation. These rivers are places to share with those we love . . . or to seek an adventure alone.Our favorite rivers are as integral to our experience as the rods, leaders, lines and tactics. They define our fishing, and they become part of our lives. In this episode, we share some history with these places and discuss what connects us to these moving waters.ResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | The SecretREAD: Troutbitten | Right HerePODCAST: Troutbitten | What to Love About Small Stream Fishing S7 Ep6PODCAST: Troutbitten | Secrets and Spot Burning S3 Ep1VIDEO: Troutbitten | The River Doesn't Owe You AnythingVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThank You to Pre-Roll Ad Sponsors:SkwalaandOrvis

Dive into the world of tight line leader styles and discover what makes each technique unique. From exploring the nuances of standard versus micro-thin mono rigs, to mastering the art of Euro nymphing, the discussion is rich with experienced insights. Learn how leader builds influence casting techniques and fishing success. Hear personal anecdotes that highlight the challenges and adaptability required for various environments. The conversation is packed with practical tips and a deep appreciation for minimalist design in fly fishing gear.

Here we are in the middle of season nine, and we’re doing something a little different. This is like an intermission between sets.My wife, Becky, is here, and we’ll catch up on a few Troutbitten things, like updates to the Recommended Gear page and the upcoming fall leader sale.I also have a listener email to share that really gets to the heart of what we all love about being out there on the water.And then, I  read one of my favorite Troutbitten stories from the archives. It’s titled, Coffee and Secrets,  and I think it strikes at a similar sentiment about the intangible motivations that keep us involved in a fishing life.ResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Recommended GearSHOP: Troutbitten | LeadersREAD: Troutbitten | Design and Function of the Troutbitten Standard Mono RigREAD: Troutbitten | Coffee and SecretsREAD: Troutbitten | Some Days are Diamonds, Some Days are RocksVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThank You to Pre-Roll Ad Sponsors:SkwalaandOrvis

Nymphing has transformed from a fallback option to a preferred method among anglers, offering intricate techniques that enhance the experience. The conversation dives into various nymphing styles like Euro and Mono Rig, highlighting their unique characteristics and benefits. Advanced tactics such as tight lining and high sticking are explored, emphasizing effective fly presentation and leader strategies. Historical influences, the growth of internet forums, and the interplay between tradition and innovation in fly fishing are also discussed, providing a rich perspective on the sport.

Sometimes, an angler's love for gear becomes more important than the fishing itself, until the goal becomes a bigger collection of fishing gear instead of a collection of good fishing experiences. We’ve all seen this out there. And sometimes we have to actively fight that urge to want the next thing or believe that our deficiencies on the river can be solved with more gear.The truth is, too much stuff gets in the way. Simplifying our approach, our fly selection and gear selection, usually wins. It can also make for a happier fisherman who feels like they know their tools and have confidence in their techniques.But, having a few extra rods and reels is good too. And researching, planning for and then buying your next piece of gear is a fun process that can be inspiring. It can motivate you to get back to the river quickly and put your new stuff to the test. All things in moderation, right?So part of our conversation in this episode is focused on the gear — the stuff you don’t need to have great days on the water, the stuff that might hold you back far more than help you out.But another part of this episode is less tangible. Because it’s not always what we buy and stash in a fishing pack that gets in the way. Because, over time, it’s too easy to focus on finding the perfect water. Or we can look too hard for ideal weather and fishing conditions. Even the pursuit of some miraculous presentation can get in the way of our enjoyment and our progress.For most anglers, our time on the water is often so limited that it’s easy to get wrapped up in all the daydreaming and planning, until gear acquisition syndrome creeps in. And then our time on the water is spent finding reasons that we need something else or the next thing.The truth is, your best approach is to take the modest gear you own, hit some of the closest trout water you can find, and fish it hard. That’s what wins. And that was this podcast conversation is about.ResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | All the ThingsREAD: Troutbitten | Patience vs PersistenceREAD: Troutbitten | Fish HardVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThank You to Pre-Roll Ad Sponsors:SkwalaandOrvis

How do we handle tough days? How can we turn it around and start catching fish? When the going gets tough, how do we fix it? What are the strategies? So, most things don’t turn out the way you had them planned. That’s life. But as you’re driving the dirt road toward your favorite trout water, thoughts and plans unfold in your mind. And while preparing for a destination trip, you expect success. Once you’re finally traveling halfway across the country to that river you’ve wanted to fish for decades, visions of the trout you’ll catch take over.Your hopes and dreams of what will end up in the net are a primary motivator. And, aside from the fish, you might even be enthusiastic about a new fly rod, a new pair of waders or maybe an experimental leader that you tied up.For all of this, and for the fishing itself, we expect success. We assume the positive. Because, as my friend Rich Alsippi loved to say, "the fisherman is eternally hopeful." Good anglers are optimists.Why? Because fishing is filled with so much failure that anyone who stays in the game learns to look on the bright side, to see beyond the fish count, to get past tangled tippet, broken reels, lost flies in a tree and soaking wet clothes from falling in — again.Things go bad out there. A trout river forces you into mistakes. And sometimes, the fishing is just tough. Trout don’t want to eat.So you try everything you planned for. You know what should work, and you’ve fished it. But when it doesn’t . . . what do you do?That’s what we’re here to talk about tonight . . .ResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | The Fisherman Is Eternally HopefulREAD: Troutbitten | The Best  Laid Plans of Fishermen often Go AwryREAD: Troutbitten | Fish HardVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThank You to Pre-Roll Ad Sponsors:SkwalaandOrvis