The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

Being a camera gear geek, I was delighted to interview Chris Niccolls  (interview starts at 47:16) of DP Review TV. (If you are also a camera geek, you probably read DP Review regularly.) Chis is a photography teacher as well as a video star, has worked in camera shops, and currently works in a fly shop in Calgary. In the interview, he gives some fantastic tips on how to take better fish and fishing pictures in both the video and still formats. He also suggests some brands and models of phones, cameras, and drones that he feels are best suited for fishing photography.  I know I learned a whole mess of new tricks for taking better fishing pictures, and I am sure you will, too. In the Fly Box, we cover plenty of topics that may help answer questions you have had about fly fishing: Should I get a 6½-foot or 7½-foot rod for small streams?  What weight line is best, and should I get a Double Taper or Weight Forward line? Do you carry a small seine with you when trout fishing? How many wind knots should I expect in a day of fishing? I fish for salmon and stripers.  Should I get a full-sinking or sinking-tip line in addition to my floating line? How do you travel with fly rods?  Do you carry them on or check them? Would a 12-foot, 6-inch two-handed rod be OK for both stripers and smallmouths? What do you think offly clips? Should I use nylon or Fluorocarbon tippets for dries and nymphs? I have lost my passion for fly fishing.  Does this ever happen to you? A suggestion from a listener on targeting white bass in Texas on their spawning runs If I only had one type of line for stripers, bass, and pike because of expense, what line should I buy? Do you have any suggestions for catching stocked trout when the spin guys are catching tons of them using corn as bait? Is there a big difference between the Battenkill IV Spey and Battenkill IV disc? Is there an advantage to using a rotary vise? How long does it take trout eggs to hatch?

I get frequent requests for suggestions on what fly-fishing literature to read during these long winter nights when you want to enjoy fly fishing but don’t want to snuggle up to something lighter.  I invited David Van Wie (interview starts at 45:10), author of the recently published book Storied Waters—subtitled “35 Fabled Fly Fishing Destinations and the Writers and Artists Who Made The Famous”—to share with me his favorite writers and books.  It is pretty much an eastern-oriented tour of these books, but don’t worry.  I have an idea for someone to do a similar podcast on western North America writers on a future podcast so stay tuned.  In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and suggestions from listeners—and one who slapped my hands: A listener who took me to task for encouraging another listener to try to introduce mayflies from one watershed into another.  Shame on me.  I didn’t think about also transferring other unwanted critters and I should have known better Can I use the same nymphs under an indicator that I use when Euro nymphing and vice versa? A suggestion from a listener about the great classes available at Orvis stores What are the pros and cons of indicator vs. non-indicator nymphing? What is your opinion on click-and-pawl fly reels? Does anyone rent waders?  I don’t want to pack them into my luggage. What gear do you carry when saltwater fly fishing that you would not carry on a trout stream? Can I attach droppers to a tippet ring? Why can’t I catch stocked trout when conventional anglers are yanking them in on Power Bait? I had a trout take my plastic strike indicator.  Does this ever happen to you? Does perfection matter when tying flies?  I have trouble tying a size 20 Purple Prince. Do midges migrate to Indiana during the winter? Why can’t I catch stocked trout on surface flies?

Tired of crowded trout streams?  Looking for a new fish to catch on a fly rod that will give you a tussle and challenge your skills?  Look no further than the white bass, which is a common fish in many parts of the US, from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi drainage and has even been introduced into some western lakes.  My friend Jim Weatherwax is a white bass fanatic (he also fishes for wipers in the same waters, which are a freshwater sterile hybrid of a white bass and a striped bass) and offers solid advice on where to find these great fish, what tackle to use, and best techniques to catch them.  Warmwater fish like this are great ways to spread out the fishing pressure that we all experience from time to time.   We have a long fly box this week, with lots of interesting questions and tips from listeners, including: What does it mean when a fly rod is rated for more than one line size, like 5/6? Should I use a full fluorocarbon leader when fishing with indicators? A suggestion on looking for blue cheeks and clean halos when trying to tell if a brown trout is wild. What is the difference between the new Recon 2 and the Helios 3 rods?  Should I buy a wading shoe one size larger than my shoe size when buying wading bots online? What do you think of using 2X short hooks for small nymphs? I am not able to catch fish on streamers during the winter in a tailwater.  What am I doing wrong? Are fluorescent hot spots on nymphs effective? Is it ethical to trim small tree branches in trout streams? Why do trout only take big attractor dry flies right after they land on the water? Are UV resins really effective? Why am I losing so many trout when fishing small nymphs?  Am I setting the hook wrong? Do you have some suggestions for catching American shad? Is it worth it to tie your own leaders?  And if I do, how can I attach them to my fly line without a loop-to-loop connection? Why do small brown trout attack huge streamers? Should I get a Helios 3 D or F version for fishing UK chalk streams? A suggestion for wearing nitrile gloves for winter fishing.

This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Orvis Executive Chairman of the Board, Perk Perkins, who spends a great deal of time chasing fish on saltwater flats and is one of the best technical anglers I know. Perk and I share a fascination for barracuda. They are one of the most exciting fish you can catch on the flats, but are often ignored in favor of bonefish, permit, and tarpon. But cudas offer one of the most explosive strikes in fly fishing, run and jump like maniacs, and are often on the flats when other species are hard to find. You just need to modify your leader and your technique a bit to catch them, and Perk shares some tips on cudas that run contrary to popular conceptions—including the idea that faster is not always better on your retrieve, and that small, slim flies can work as well as bulkier flies designed for barracuda. In the Fly Box this week, we have an assortment of questions and tips shared by listeners, including: A recommendation for a reliable carp fly A question about putting a 9-weight intermediate line on an 8-weight rod for wade fishing for striped bass A tip on modifying the Hare’s Ear Nymph A question about a simple dry/emerger that does not require hackle A suggestion for holding flies using the magnetic closure on some fly boxes A question about how to find winter hatches on trout streams A question about Euro nymphing using rods not designed for that purpose A question about the tip-flex rating on an older Orvis rod A question about hatches on alpine lakes just after ice-out. Are Helios 3 and Recon blanks made overseas? What is the best way to teach my 8-year-old son to cast? A suggestion for contacting local fly clubs for information when traveling to a new destination Are spin anglers less ethical than fly anglers regarding crowding on the river?

This week I have another podcast with John McMillan, as I have to confess I love talking to John about fishy stuff.  His knowledge and enthusiasm and passion are infectious and I think his interviews are always enlightening.  This week we talk about The Colors of Trout—can we tell anything from the coloration of trout about their life history?  Is there a good way to tell a hatchery form a wild fish?  What does it mean when trout carry parr marks into adulthood?  How quickly can trout change their coloration?  And are the spot patterns on trout like fingerprints?  Warning—we come up with more questions than answers and you may as well.   In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips: A way to get a dropper off a surgeon’s knot to stand at 90 degrees to the tippet A suggestion for an all-around rod for bass and Great Lakes steelhead How to carry a sinking line without lugging around a second rod Can I add 4X tippet to a 5X leader? What is the best way to dispose of tippet clippings? What is the difference between Euro, Tightline, Direct Contact, Spanish, Czech, and French Nymphing? Does it make sense to try a mouse fly during the winter? Do trout live in different places in freestone rivers than in tailwaters? Do mayflies live in warm waters? What is the best rod for an 8-year-old kid? What is the best way to thin UV Cure epoxy? If you see nymphs on the bottom, can you predict what adult insect to imitate?

There's no such thing as streamer season. That’s the rallying cry of Courtney Despos, director of education and guide for Trouts Fly Fishing in Denver.  Courtney is a self-professed streamer fanatic and she fishes them all season long, even in the dead of winter when most people are dragging nymphs along the bottom.  Courtney shares her tips on winter streamer fishing, showing us how you can be successful fishing these flies all year long—as well as her tips for keeping warm when winter fishing. In the Fly Box this week, we have the usual mashup of questions that range all over the place, including: When I am fishing a hopper/scud combination, why do I have trouble hooking fish on the hopper even though the trout appear to be taking it? A past fan of very fast rods details why she now enjoys rods with a more moderate action. A listener gives a detailed plan for killing carpet beetles in fly-tying materials Has anyone ever made a fly rod out of aluminum? When is the second season of the Orvis TV show going to launch? What are some good casting drills for the off season? A plea from a listener in Louisiana for fly tiers to use nutria fut What is a good entomology book for the Sierra region? What is your opinion on furled leaders? What are your thoughts on fluorocarbon?  What sizes should I carry? Further advice from a taxidermist on curing hides for fly tying I need some advice on fighting large trout in a tight stream A specialist in opthamology and visual sciences weighs in on dizziness after being in a drift boat Can I use my 9-foot 6-weight bass rod for trout? Why does the loop in my clear intermediate line keep cracking and what can I do to fix it? Do whitefish and trout live in the same places? Can I use my 9-foot 8-weight rod uplined to a 9-weight for trout in northern lower Michigan?

This week I interview one of my fly-fishing heroes, Joe Humphreys.  He’s been an innovative angler all his life (he was “Euro nymphing” before the Europeans) but even more impressive is his love of life and fly fishing, and his energy on the river in his ninth decade.  Joe talks about hot to stay young on the river, how to fish nymphs at night, and about the inspirational new film about his life called Live The Stream: The Story of Joe Humphrey.  It’s now available own and rent on the iTunes Store:  or Go to www.livethestreamfilm.com to buy the film on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Download and more platforms including: Prime Video, Google Play, Vimeo, and Youtube.  I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys the fly-fishing world and its history and traditions—and who wants to learn how to retain the enthusiasm of a 12-year old on the water.   Here are the important links:   Buy the film on LTS site: www.livethestreamfilm.com Buy/Rent on iTunes: https://apple.co/2Iw0fQj Nomadic Studio: www.thenomadic.com   In the Fly Box this week we have many interesting questions and suggestions: What is the best way to manage fly tying both at home and in the office? I broke my Tenkara rod when I got my fly snagged.  What is the safest way to try to retrieve a snagged fly when using this type of rod? Why won’t my clinch knots tighten properly? How can I get over my reluctance to fish emergers? A suggestion from a taxidermist on how to handle raw deer hides for fly tying. Do trout take Perdigons in unnatural colors out of curiosity or do you think they resemble food? What is an easy way to learn fly-fishing entomology? Why do the trout I take in mountain streams carry parr marks even into adulthood? What do I tell people who berate me for torturing fish? Are there circumstances when I should set my indicator shallower than 1 ½ times the water depth? I can’t seem to get away from the crowds no matter how far I drive.  What should I do? If I find lots of creek chubs in a stream, does that mean it won’t also hold trout? If you are not certain how to pair two streamers together, does it make sense to fish just one? Can I use split shot to get my nymphs deeper when Euro nymphing instead of tying my own flies with varied weights? Do you have some tips for casting a Depth Charge line? Do you have some suggestions on how to swing flies for Great Lakes steelhead?

This week I had a couple guests lined up but we had to reschedule, and because I have not done a new podcast in a few weeks because of my travel schedule I decided to tell a story. It’s from a magazine piece I did a number of years ago for the now-defunct magazine Fly Rod & Reel, and I have been toying with the idea of doing an audio book of my magazine stories over the years so I’m trying this to test the concept. The name of the story is “Creeped Out in Lordville” and it’s about all the decisions we have to make in the prime part of the season when fishing is good almost anywhere. It’s a departure from the usual podcast format of nuts-and-bolts advice so I hope you enjoy it. And not to fear, there is still a Fly Box section where I do offer advice on simple technique and tackle questions if that’s the kind of stuff you’re looking for. In the Fly Box this week, we have the questions and suggestions from readers: Some great professional advice on that recurring theme of lower back pain while fly fishing What are the practical benefits of smooth vs. textured lines in the new Orvis Pro Fly Lines? What do competitive anglers do for their own nymphing when not bound by competition rules? How do you fish for brown trout at night? What are times to avoid when trout fishing? Is air temperature, flow, or water temperature the most important consideration for trout fishing when the heat of summer is over? Why did a brown trout swim over to me and rub my ankles? Is there one rod I can use for both Midwest steelhead fishing and musky fishing? A suggestion that Bigeye Hooks have benefits beyond just easier threading Why does my nymph rig break at the surgeon’s knot instead of the clinch knot connection to the fly? What’s the best feather for palmering wet flies? What are some “go to” patterns for Euro nymphing? After I catch a fish, should I stay in the same pool or move on?

In today's podcast my guest is Shawn Combs, head of Orvis Rod & Tackle product development and Orvis rod and reel designer.  The topic is "16 Things I Wish I Knew About Trout Spey Before I Started".  If you have been thinking about trying to swing wet flies or small streamers for trout with a two-handed rod, also known as "Micro Spey", this will be a valuable lesson for you.  These are light two-handed rods, in line sizes 3 and 4, designed for covering larger waters.  It's especially effective in the fall, when trout are getting aggressive as the move into winter and brown and brook trout are migrating to their spawning grounds.  It's a fun and for many of us a new way to fish for trout.  In the Fly Box this week, here are some of the questions and suggestions from listeners: I know there are large trout in my river.  What kind of water do I look for and what else should I keep in mind when targeting these larger fish? I have been setting the hook on smallmouth bass by sweeping my rod parallel to the water.  Can you take a moment or two to discuss the pros and cons of various rod angles when setting the hook? How can I tell if my waders are leaking or if I am just sweating inside them? My wife and I had over 40 fish rise to our dry flies and only hooked a couple.  Any idea what was going on or how to land these fish? What, to you, is the essence of Atlantic salmon fishing? A tip from a listener on how to target flathead catfish on a fly If I take my nine weight switch rod to Florida, what line size should I use on it for fishing from the surf? A suggestion from a listener on another thing to be careful of regarding river etiquette. What is the best way to get unstuck when you hook your fly on an object? Do you have any recommendations on fishing crayfish patterns for smallmouth bass? When there is thick aquatic weed on a river, what do you suggest for nymphing techniques? Why am I suddenly beginning to hit my rod on my back cast? A suggestion from a listener on the benefits of multi-focal contact lenses.

This week my guest is noted steelhead angler and scientist John McMillen of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. John’s topic is The Secret Life of Steelhead, and his fascinating discussion of why they do what they do (and the challenges they face) held me in absolute fascination. I am sure you’ll feel the same. Besides being a lifelong steelhead angler (John was a tester on our new Mission Series of two-handed rods), john has spent hundreds of days snorkeling steelhead rivers observing them, and at one time he was fishing about 345 days a year. John has worked professionally for the US Forest Service, the Hoh Indian Tribe, the Wild Salmon Center, and recently for NOAA on the Elwha dam removal project. Despite his lifetime of studying the life history and ecology of steelhead, John remains an optimist on the future of steelhead and it gives us hope that someone who understands them so well feels they have a chance of survival. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and suggestions from listeners: How to clean waders with vodka! A tip on a simple tool for tying nail knots A suggestion for a quick change rig for catching barracuda when fishing for bonefish and permit Why am I having trouble hooking brown trout on terrestrials? What waders do you recommend for someone starting out? What safety precautions do you take on the water? When you first get to the river, how do you decide which nymphing technique to use? What regular fly line size works on the Practicaster? Is there a good way to mark large smallmouth bass so I can see if I am catching the same ones? Silver saltwater hooks don’t work well for me when I fish Clousers in salt water. Why? I have a box of old leaders that are between five and 20 years old. Should I use them? Can I fish for steelhead in Lake Ontario tributaries with a 9-foot 8-weight rod? Why do I see so many scarred fish in a particular river? What other presentations should I use in high, dirty water when streamers don’t work?