The Orvis Fly-Fishing 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 these streams? A listener reminds me that organizations like Project Healing Waters promote the therapeutic value of fly fishing in young veterans. Do you think tube flies would be effective for golden dorado? If it's legal, how many flies do you think are too many on a single leader? When I fish a dry dropper, why do the smaller fish take my small Zebra Midge and the larger trout take a poke at my dry fly? What flies and gear are recommended for catching Atlantic mackerel on a fly? If I don't want to use head cement, is a double whip finish a good way to increase the durability of my flies? When I use a throat pump on trout, why do my samples sometimes come up empty?

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 attract trout? And are UV materials really attractive to trout? A listener from the UK says the whole idea of public water in North American blows his mind. He asks if it is really true that we can fish any river we want? A listener takes me to task for insinuating that people who use Euro nymphing techniques are only after racking up numbers of fish. What is the difference between graphite and fiberglass rods for small streams, and which is better? If I see a beaver on one end of a pond and an otter on the other, which one should I stay away from when fishing? A listener shares his experience of brown trout favoring one fly on his nymph rig and rainbow trout the other fly.

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 trout streams? What size should I tie my ants in? A new way of tying a clinch knot with heaver hooks is suggested by a listener Why, when fishing with a dry dropper, do I only catch browns on the nymph and only cutthroats on the dry? What do you suggest for catching pressured largemouths in summer? A belated Father's Day message Can I use the Euro nymphing method from a drift boat or float tube? Why am I having trouble mending at 30 feet with a dry dropper? When tying a Chubby Chernobyl, how do you get the legs to separate? When you see a large mammal like a beaver or otter in the river, is it time to move on? Why do I catch myself with my fly when casting? Is it OK to dry my waders and boots in the sun? How should I handle my gear for air travel? Why do I keep losing fish when using bead head flies? Does using a frog pattern change the flex of my rod? Why do Scandinavians hold their rods so high when playing a fish?

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 fishing? I fish a wild trout stream with numerous small fish with the biggest around 14 inches. How many and what size can I safely harvest? Any tips on how to make my first casts in a pool as good as the ones I may 15 minutes later when I am “warmed up”? How can I avoid foul hooking fish, and am I killing fish that I foul hook? What does a fish sound like when it is spooked? If I came fly fishing with you on small streams, what rod, leader, and flies would you be using? Is there a good way to make an adjustable dropper on a dry/dropper rig?

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 soles last? When did Orvis stop impregnating bamboo rods and why? A great quote on harvesting fish by blogger and author Bill Robichaud Is there a standard for reel foot sizing? Are the reel feet different in different-sized reels? What taper model are the various Recon models based on? Why do my Chubby Chernobyl flies not float well? Do trout eat woolly bear caterpillars? How do I cast an open loop when using indicators or dry droppers? Why do caddis flies and midges have a pupa stage and mayflies don't? How do I mix dubbings with different textures in a coffee grinder?

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 fishing two or three flies, is there any rule as to where I should place my heaviest fly? I only have a 5-weight and a 10-weight rod and I want to fish for bass. Can I use my 10-weight for bass fishing? It’s still hard to reconcile catch-and-release fishing for ecological reasons with a carbon footprint from cross-country trips. And I heard that there is at least an 11% mortality rate in catch-and-release fishing. Do trout eat whirligig beetles and water striders? And what do they tell me about a trout stream? How should I adjust my fishing tactics when it rains? I fish a catch-and-release pond with picky fish and heavy fishing pressure. If no one fished this pond for a year, would the trout get less selective? A listener takes me to task for saying I try to avoid fishing for stocked trout. And then asks me what I would do if I lived in an urban area where there were only put-and-take fisheries for trout. A listener is confused by the different sizes of aquatic insects and asks if the same ones hatch in different sizes. A physicist weighs in on how to stalk trout, knowing how the physics of refraction works. A listener gives me a list of the rods he owns and asks if there is something missing in his arsenal, especially for small streams.

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 effectively with a dry dropper rig? If most fish food is dull colored, why do we use so many wild colors in our flies? A listener makes some great points on why fishing close to home is desirable. A physicist weighs in on what a trout can see from underwater. Can I effectively Euro-nymph with my 9-foot, 5-inch Blackout rod? What are some good uses for squirrel tail in fly tying? What is everyone doing in the northeast for fly fishing during the drought?

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 dropper onto the eye of the dry fly instead of the bend when using a dry-dropper rig? Are those rock dams that people make in streams bad for trout? What is your opinion of Jack’s Knot? Will Tenkara fishing work on small, clear spring creeks? W hy does the Crackleback fly work? If I have a bunch of old reels with lines on them, can a fly shop tell me what size they are? What kind of additional flies and gear do I need when moving form smallmouth bass fishing to tailwater trout fishing? What do you do for protection in bear and cougar country? What is your preferred method for fishing a nymph under an indicator? I got an H3 rod as a gift and I don’t feel I am good enough to use it yet. What do you think about this? Shawn Brillon gives me the answers on four questions about bamboo rods as a follow-up to his recent podcast Would my 10-foot 7-weight rod be OK for bonefishing in the Turks and Caicos? Bass keep throwing my heavy cone-head streamers when they jump. Would keeping tension on them when they jump prevent this? How do you know what rod size to use? How do you know what tippet size to use?

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 using Lycra dive socks for wet wading How exactly do you check the balance on a fly rod? Does Tom ever get to fish anymore? How can I get more distance when surf fishing for snook? I am doing well using Euro-style jig flies with an indicator and a standard 9-foot 5-weight rod. Would I be even more successful with a Euro rod? And how do they fish dry flies with those 10-foot 3-weight rods? Should I attach my nymphs with a loop knot? How can I fish a high mountain lake with extensive weed beds? Would my 12-year-old son be better off with a double taper line than the weight-forward line he is currently using? A great story from a listener in Sweden who has a friend that has caught 100 species of fish native to Sweden, all on fly tackle. Will fishing my "cold water" Bank Shot line in warm water and air temperatures damage the line? How can I clean some peacock feathers I got from a friend? How can I keep my fly lower in the water column when swinging streamers for smallmouth bass? I have a small spring on my property and would like to see if it will hold trout. Should I dig it out and clean out all the willows around it?

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 bled and looked like it would die. Would it have been better if I left the fly in the fish? I have been fishing with an 8-weight shooting head outfit for striped bass and halibut. I want to catch corbina but I hear they are spooky. Do you think my 8-weight is too heavy? I keep seeing these large fish rising in a heavily pressured river but can't catch them on any multi-fly rig. What can I do to fool these fish? What do you do to stay in shape for fishing? What are the advantages of a big dry fly over a bobber? Does bead size really matter regarding attractiveness to trout? And is there a seasonality to what color beads you should use? I have been catching catfish on a fly. Does anyone else do this and is it a "thing" or is it bycatch? I went to Banff to fish and they required that all my tackle, including lines and leaders, could not have been used for 45 days and had to be cleaned and treated. What do you think about the potential for things like lines and leaders to transfer invasive species?