The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

I am betting that this week’s podcast will be one of the most popular of the year. Entitled “Rare, Unusual, and Under-Utilized Fly Tying Materials” it’s an interview with superb videographer and fly tier Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions. As typically happens with us, we go off on some crazy tangents but it’s all about fly tying and it gets a bit geeky. Which I have found that lots of our listeners enjoy. And if that’s not enough, the Fly Box covers carrying a second rod on the river, picking hackle capes, DT vs. WF lines (again!), fall-spawning rainbows, casting leaders with heavy flies and weight on them, midging trout during the winter, night-fishing tips, and fluoro vs. nylon for tippets.

We get many questions about tactical nymphs, tactical fishing, and tactical hooks. What do we mean by this? Listen this week as we talk to Jesse Haller, resident Orvis Tactical Master. We’ll be talking about tying tactical flies and using tactical hooks. And Jesse will give up his go-to fly patterns and tell us how to tie them. Also in the fly box this week we explore fly fishing for largemouths and smallmouths, swinging flies for big brown trout, winter fly fishing, how to measure leader sections, how to pick a trout net and how to use it, and whether “western” fly patterns can be used in the East.

In this podcast Stefan Woodruff, Orvis-endorsed guide with Ellensburg Anglers in Washington State, reveals (some of) his secrets to catching steelhead, plus an overview of ths steelhead opportunities in his state. Trout anglers will also enjoy his tips on fishing the Yakima River, tips that should work anywhere. In The Fly Box we range from tying gel-spun backing to fly line, how to fish with a friend and really fish together, what to do if you get snagged on a small stream, hooking fish on fiberglass rods, identifying jumping fish, what materials to save for fly tying from hunting trips, how to avoid drag when fishing to fish in a slow pocket on the other side of fast current. I also decline to give marital advice to one listener.

This podcast is an interview with an old friend and fishing buddy, Mike Connor of Bullsugar.org. Mike is a fishing guide whose livelihood has been threatened by the inaction and foot-dragging of politicians on the Lake Okeechobee/Everglades water issues, as Mike’s home waters are at the mouth of the St. Lucie River. We don’t like to talk politics in the podcast but unfortunately this issue, one of the biggest environmental issues in the United States, needs a political solution as the science has been completed, the funds have been approved by voters and Congress—but somehow not much has happened. Of course we also talk lots of fishing in this podcast, with a clarification on what the Tactical Fly and hook series is, why few flies are colored white, the five easiest but effective trout flies to tie, lots of discussion on head cements for fly tying, more on sight-fishing for trout, casting off to the side,—and other earth-shaking issues.

This week I interview Chuck Hawkins, one of the most experienced Great Lakes steelhead guides, who also travels the world in search of trout and other species when he’s not guiding steelheaders. As usual when talking to such an experienced guide, I discovered many cool tips and tricks I had never thought of. I’m sure you’ll find this podcast educational, whether you fish for steelhead in the Great Lakes or on the West Coast—or even if you fish for non-migratory trout with nymphs and streamers. Lots of these techniques translate well. In the Fly Box, we answer questions on deeply-hooked trout, straightening tippets, casting on grass, sight-fishing for trout, avoiding crowds, bite tippets for pike and pickerel, fishing in the middle of the day, and other little tidbits.

This week I have a delightful interview with the energetic Jen Ripple, publisher of Dun Magazine. She has some exciting news about her magazine that you’ll discover in the podcast. But the podcast is not about magazines, it’s about urban fly fishing, specifically Midwestern urban fly fishing. Jen is well versed on this subject, and I know you’ll enjoy some of her wild stories and you’ll learn a bunch about how to seek out these gems in the middle of heavy industry. Also in the Fly Box we discuss loops on fly lines, whether fly fishing is better than spin fishing, what to do with poorly tied flies from your earlier attempts, how to target big brook trout, how to avoid spooking trout, when it’s OK to reel your line-to-leader connection inside your guides, how to avoid foul-hooking fish—and lots of other tidbits.

This week’s podcast is on Great Lakes steelhead fishing, in particular the tributaries to Lake Erie. Damon Newpher, longtime Orvis-endorsed guide, gives us some advanced tips on some of the techniques he uses, which should work on all Great Lakes tribs. You’ll be surprised at some of the techniques he uses, including a dry dropper rig, nymph rigs, and of course his secrets for swinging flies. Also in the fly box this week we tackle questions like tips for fishing nymphs deep in weedy waters, drift boat anchors, how to cast a large fly on a relatively light rod, migrating trout, fishing near redds, weed guards on flies, cigarette smoke and trout, and the dreaded mop fly.

I’m just back from a wonderful trip to Cape Cod fishing for false albacore with my old friend Captain Tony Biski (http://www.orvis.com/p/monomoy-fly-fishing-capt-tony-biski-ma/8c91 ) and have been wanting to do a podcast with Peter Jenkins from The Saltwater Edge in Newport, Rhode Island. Since he’s an albie expert, it seemed like the perfect week to talk about these wonderful fish. Peter and I don’t agree on all aspects of albie fishing—but that’s what makes fly fishing interesting and fun. In the Fly Box, we have questions about snorkel observations of trout streams, suggestions on how to tie on a fly in fading light, a mystery about losing a potential monster trout, when to lose the shot and indicator when nymph fishing, a bunch of questions about what fly rod to pick, and the strongest backing-to-fly-line connection. Plus a touching story from a listener in the UK.

I always enjoy doing podcasts with Dan Frasier. He’s always upbeat, often very funny, and is one of the most insightful carp anglers I know. He’s also the author of The Orvis Beginner’s Guide to Carp Flies http://www.orvis.com/p/the-orvis-beginners-guide-to-carp-flies/2ef7 , which I think is a misleading title because his book is THE authority on carp flies and is a favorite with many expert carp anglers. Dan talks about how potentially the best carp fishing of the year lies ahead of us, something I was not aware of. I always thought carp fishing was best in the heat of summer, but you’ll discover in this podcast that you have a lot more to look forward to—and Dan will tell you how and why. And of course we have an installment of the Fly Box, covering such esoteric topics as fishing with dogs, trout in Mexico, jumping trout, sinking lines for trout, and how to fish a difficult tail of a pool.

Tom takes your questions in his first live show on Facebook!