The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

Mary Orvis Marbury, daughter of Orvis founder Charles Orvis, is an important figure in the history of American fly fishing. She was the first person to catalog and standardize American fly patterns, but she led a sad and mysterious life. Historian Steve Woit [37:50] has written and expansive and spectacular book about Mary and the artifacts that helped her catalog flies and has also uncovered some little-known aspects of her life. If you are interested in how our fly-fishing traditions have developed you'll want to listen to my interview with Steve. Coming back to the present we have some great questions in the Fly Box that may help you on your endless fly-fishing learning experience: Can trout see tiny midges at night? Should I grease my leader? Will Mucilin hurt my bamboo rods? What should I do when a fish is hooked deep? What should I do if I inadvertently "high-hole" another angler? A great tip from a listener on how to travel through the woods with a nymph on a dropper. Is there a rule of thumb on how long to make a leader loop? Are there orthotics that can be used in wading boots? A tip from a listener on a great way to apply desiccant powder to dry flies. A tip from a listener on how to fly fish without stressing the fish. Why do other fish chase a hooked fish? I though snowshoe rabbit's foot would make my flies float higher. Why do you use it and how do you fish these flies? What is the best way to put a fly rod into a rod sock? 

Before you write this one off if you don't tie flies, although this is a podcast on a fly tying material, there is much more in this one. Like how to fish small flies and how to see those tiny flies on the water. But we do talk about one of the most amazing materials in fly tying—pheasant tail fibers. And it's not only for nymphs. Learn about why pheasant tail is such a magical material, how to tie a durable pheasant tail body, and how to use it on dry and wet flies as well as nymphs. Craig Matthews [42:22] is a legendary fly tier, guide, and conservationist and it is always valuable to catch his words of wisdom. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more: Do I have to sight-fish in saltwater, or can I just fish my flies around likely structures? Are "hot spots" as effective on dry flies as they are on nymphs? Have you used those new clear-tip lines from Scientific Anglers for trout, and what do you think of them? Why did I not catch trout on my first day on a river, yet clean up on fish two days later? A tip from a listener on how to not lose your wading belt. Can I fish streamers for smallmouth bass upstream like I do for trout? All the videos tell me to cast at a 45-degree downstream angle. For fishing for striped bass from shore, is a 9-foot or a 10-foot rod better? What type of leader do you recommend for swinging wet flies and soft hackles? Have you ever tried to make your own amadou? What fly box should I use for my tiny nymphs? What is the best way to remove materials from a fly to re-use the hook and bead? Is there any etiquette about wading an alpine lake?

Mike Ward [46:32], owner of Adipose Boat Works, recently tied Del Brown's lifetime permit count with 513 permit caught on a fly rod. On a bamboo fly rod! Now Mike would be the first one to say he may not be the world's best permit angler, but he has put in the time and energy to catch more than anyone else in history. And along the way he's learned some tips that we could all benefit from. I asked Mike to share his tips with us and he happily agreed. And, yes, Mike has also been skunked for days at a time when chasing permit so it happens to all of us. In the Fly Box this week, we introduce a new theme song and have some of the best questions of the year, including: I saw a couple cutthroats in a high lake spawning in August and none of the fish were rising, despite plenty of insects on the water. Would one spawning pair cause to whole lake to shut down like this? What are some tips for casts to use on small brushy streams? What are some tips for getting into saltwater fly fishing after a lifetime of trout fishing? What advice would you give to a young fly angler who wants to make a living in the fly-fishing world? Can you summarize when you might use a particular type of thread in fly tying? What can I do to prevent my fly line loop from cracking when I attach a leader directly to the loop with a clinch knot? Has your view of rod length for small streams changed over time? If I find a great pool on a small stream, how long should I rest it before going back? A week? A month? Next year? I have had some broken hooks from commercial fly patterns yet on my own flies they never do this. Are commercial flies tied on lesser quality hooks? And why do some hooks bend while others break? Do you recommend magnifiers for tying on small flies? My eye doctor says my close vision is fine but I still have problems. Should I replace my nylon tippet every year? Do fly shops make sure they rotate their tippet material so I don't buy older tippet?

This episode was originally published on August 14th, 2018 This week I have the pleasure of interviewing Jenny Mayrell-Woodruff [40:26]—the Orvis-endorsed Freshwater Guide of the Year for 2018. Jenny has recently relocated to Montana to run a lodge on Rock Creek and she took time out of her very busy schedule to share her knowledge of late summer terrestrial fishing. It’s an educational podcast and a timely one. In the Fly Box this week we explore a wide range of topics, as usual: How to transition from small trout streams to big rivers. Why do I keep missing fish when fishing mouse patterns at night? Can I use perfection loops in the middle of my leader to add droppers? What is the best way to touch up the blades of nippers? How do I make my fly attract trout by its entry into the water? What happens to Tricos when nighttime air temperatures don’t go below 70 degrees? Do tippet rings wear out? Can I use my Clearwater line for trout fishing? Do you measure the cast length from your body or from the rod tip? How do you prospect for trout in long, slow pools? What do you do if a big trout runs downstream and the water is too deep to wade below it?

  I know a lot of listeners are relatively new to the fly-fishing game, and so I asked Phil Monahan [30:31], editor of Midcurrent.com (who also helps people through this sometimes-steep learning curve) to share with us ten pitfalls you may want to avoid when learning the game. And I am willing to bet that even you experts out there make some of these mistakes every time you go out. I know I do. In the Fly Box this week, we have some basic and not-so-basic questions, including: What fly line can I use in the Bahamas and for fly fishing in the Northeast? Is the 'chuck and duck" method an ethical way to fish for Great Lakes salmon? Should I replace my old Power Matrix 905 with a newer model or should I invest in a 904 to have a more diverse quiver? I tie all of my juvenile tarpon flies on a size 2/0 hook. Should I invest in some smaller hooks? How long should I leave my dry fly in the water before pulling it out? How much tippet should I be going through? You say that fish can always see my tippet. So why is it necessary to go to a smaller tippet size? The tube in my New Zealand Strike Indicator always splits when I add yarn.  I am using 5X tippet. What am I doing wrong? When fishing with trout Spey, should I concentrate more on my casting or what fly pattern I am using? And what is your favorite fly for trout Spey? Are red and green lights any less impactful when night fishing? Are weighted streamers recommended for night fishing?

My guest this week is Scott Barmby [35:56], director of the Orvis Chesapeake Fly Fishing Schools, who educates us on threats to the Bay's population of striped bass, and also the many fly-fishing opportunities in the Bay. It's a vast ecosystem that I didn't know much about, so it was interesting to me and I am sure it will be to you. I think you'll learn some surprising things about this national treasure.   In the Fly Box this week, we have lots of comments and tips from listeners as well as questions, including: A listener reminds people of the importance of making your presence known on the river A listener gives some other tips for night fishing for trout and smallmouth bass. A listener reminds us that catch-and-release is a valuable tool in certain fisheries, for both management and economic reasons. Do you have any tips on keeping track of what leader you have on your line? Do you think trout that are close to a hiking path avoid that side of the river because they are constantly spooked? A listener wants to know which vintage Orvis reel he should put on a small stream rod. Can you give me some tips on keeping the deer hair on top of the hook shank when tying Sparkle Duns? After making a cast with tight line nymphing, how do I tell when my point fly is on the bottom? Is a 6-weight rod strong enough for Labrador brook trout? Do you know of any way to remove rust from a hook eye to prevent abrasion of the knot?

My guest this week is Joe Cermele [40:00], who you may know from his podcast "Cut and Retie", or from his work over the years at Field & Stream as a writer and videographer. Joe loves hunting big trout, and one of his favorite ways of fishing for them is night fishing with mouse flies. Joe is always fun and informative and I know you'll enjoy this one. In the Fly Box this week, we have some especially interesting questions, including: If I get a 10-foot 5-weight rod for nymph fishing and tight line fishing, will I sacrifice anything when I want to fish with dry flies or streamers? I keep breaking off large carp when they head for structure. Should I use something different than a surgeon's knot? Where do I find past live fly-tying videos and your tie-offs with Tim Flagler and Cheech? A listener who is also an aquatic toxicologist explains why smoke from fires may be deleterious to our rivers and lakes. What can I do to keep googly eyes from falling off my streamers? And do streamers even need eyes to be effective? Hiking the Appalachian Trail, should I take my 7 ½ foot 3-weight or 9-foot 5-weight? Why did a hybrid rainbow/cutthroat I played quickly turn belly-up? Do you think the fly-fishing culture should reflect more deeply on the morality of catch-and-release fishing? Do you have any suggestions for fishing hatches after dark? I typically high-stick with a dry fly and listen for the rise. When water warms up, do trout go into faster water to take advantage of the higher oxygen content?

This episode was originally aired on June 16th, 2023. OK, I lied. There aren't 15 tips. There are probably more and if you want to count them up you can e-mail me and correct my mistake. But I get a lot of questions about fishing emergers, and I thought a podcast on how to identify when fish are taking emergers and how to fish them would be welcome. Not only that, world-famous and beloved fishing guide and author Pat Dorsey [36:05] gives us his favorite fly patterns for fishing emergers including a couple secret ones. In the Fly Box this week, we have some thoughtful questions and a few tips from listeners, including: A great tip on casting with your non-dominant hand Will wildfire smoke affect trout populations? If I hear there are native brook trout in a stream, how do I find out where they are?  A nice tip on untangling snarls of fly line. Bigger brook trout started taking my nymphs on the swing instead of dead-drifted. How should I take advantage of this next time? How much of an incline in a small mountain stream can trout survive? A listener was disappointed in my podcast with John Gierach because we did not discuss how anglers can have a positive impact on climate change. Two listeners want to know what type of floating line to put on their Euro rods when they switch to dry flies. Why are some articulated streamers tied with the hook down and why are some tied with the hook up? I have a busy life. Am I missing opportunities by not tying my own flies? Brown trout are invasive in my cutthroat stream. Should I take them home to eat them, or just kill them and throw them up on the bank?  Is it ethical to back and fish a place on my own if a guide showed me the spot? I have heard if you cut the welded loop off a fly line you can't use it any more because it will absorb water. Is this true?    

My guest this week is one of fly fishing's best writers and storytellers Monte Burke [31:35], whose writing you may have seen in Garden & Gun, Forbes, or The Drake—or perhaps you've read his book, and one of my favorite fishing books, Lords of the Fly.  To discover who Monte, and many other people (including me) consider the finest fly-fishing guide who ever lived, you'll have to listen to the podcast.  You'll also learn about his new book of stories, Rivers Always Reach the Sea. In the Fly Box this week, we have some questions that I think will help many other fly fishers solve problems they may have, including: A listener informs us about the different grain weights in standard fly lines, and how there is a much bigger percentage difference in lighter lines than heavier ones. What do you think about hooks that get left in a fish's mouth? What would you look for in an ideal brook trout spot? How can I keep panfish from grabbing my carp flies? Is there an advantage to silicone fly boxes over ones with foam strips? If I practice casting with my 4-weight fiberglass rod, will that affect my casting on other rods? How do you use a dubbing loop and when do you use one? The solid metal eyes on my redfish flies sink too quickly. Should I use bead chain or plastic eyes instead? What is it about CDL feathers that make it worth using?

We've recently won a big battle for public lands, and my guest this week, Joel Pedersen [25:56] of Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, fills us in on what we've won and what we need to keep an eye on for the future. But the podcast is much more than that. Joel educates us on the differences between the major classes of public lands—National Forests, BLM land, National Parks, and Wilderness areas and just what uses are allowed on each—and who makes the decision on extractive industries in these vast tracts of land that WE as citizens and taxpayers own. In the Fly Box this week, as usual we have some great questions that might benefit your own fly fishing, including: I'm curious about who might be your successor on the podcast A listener informs us why he thinks a 4-weight rod is a better option for smaller streams than a 3-weight. Why do most of the hook eyes on flies orient horizontally? When would I want a fly with a vertically oriented eye? I have the Orvis Essential Trout Fly Selection. What else would I need for fishing the great Arkansas tailwaters this summer? Another listener asks if a 3-weight or 4-weight rod is better for small streams. When my indicator is bobbing along in riffles, does that action hurt my presentation? A good tip from a listener on how to get a stuck rod apart. What are the pros and cons of using a stand-up paddleboard for carp and pike fishing, and what brand do you recommend? I have not done well fishing as high water recedes. Is this typical?