The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

Recently, Tom took time to chat with Reid on the Orvis Hunting and Shooting Podcast about his 50 years at Orvis. If you're interested in hunting, shooting, or the great outdoors in general, consider subscribing to Reid's show, too!
(Crosspost from the Orvis Hunting and Shooting Podcast)
"Tom Rosenbauer, longtime Orvis employee, writer, and host of the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast, joins Reid for a wide-ranging conversation about his nearly 50 years with the company. They talk about the early days at Orvis, the great outdoor writers who shaped the culture around Manchester, Vermont, and how a lifelong fly fisherman found his way, occasionally, behind a shotgun. Along the way Tom shares stories, history, and a perspective on the outdoors that few people still carry."

This episode was originally published on August 19th, 2021.
This week's podcast guest is especially exciting to me as he is one of my literary heroes. John McPhee [24:10] is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author (Annals of the Former World), and in his numerous other books he has written about such diverse topics as nuclear energy, the merchant marine, basketball, Alaska, bark canoes, oranges, continental drift, flood control, tennis, farmer's markets, and many other eclectic topics. Whether or not you are interested in a subject, you can be sure you will be when you finish reading one of his books you will be fascinated. John has also been a staff writer for The New Yorker since the 1960s. In our interview, he talks about his two favorite fish to catch on the fly rod--the American shad (which he wrote an entire book about, The Founding Fish), and the chain pickerel, which he did not write a book about but did pen a short essay on in his collection of stories The Patch. (I doubt is anyone in the world who would count those two fish in combination as their favorites--but he is never conventional.) I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I enjoyed talking to him.
In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips:
A reminder from a listener that I wrote an encyclopedia of fly fishing.
Some great tips from a listener on using tippet rings.
A question about what constitutes a watershed when concerned about transporting aquatic invasives.
A suggestion from a listener on ways to offset your carbon footprint when taking fishing trips.
 Which is a better rod for fishing the surf and jetties--a traditional 9-foot 9-weight rod or a two-handed rod?
Do you always recommend using a net?
A listener calls me on the carpet for my flippant remark about manhandling carp.
A great thought from a listener that sometimes taking photos of fish hinders the moment.

This episode was originally published on February 17th, 2023.
This week is my guest Seth Berger [1:00:18], Fly Fishing Travel Specialist with Orvis Adventures. In his job, Seth visits Orvis-endorsed operations around the world and always packs his fishing gear, so he's a great resource for advising us how to travel with rods, waders, and flies—how to pack them, what to carry on, and pitfalls you should avoid. Seth also talks about what to pack, and items that are often forgotten or ignored by traveling anglers. Anyone who gets on a plane, whether it's a short hop or an international flight, will benefit from his knowledge.
In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and comment that run the gamut of the fly-fishing experience, including:
A listener who recommends the mono rig method, which is different from the standard Euro nymphing setup. And tries to tell me 20lb. mono casts just as easily as fly line (I'm not buying it)
Why not put a tippet ring on the end of a poly leader? I've used straight monofilament for a leader for bass and bream.
Why do I need a tapered leader, and do I need tippet?
When you fish two dry flies, what should the distance between them be?
Do I need to learn entomology to pick flies?
Is there any difference between picking flies for small streams vs. bigger rivers?
What do you look for to help you choose a fly?
Can I fish steelhead with my 9-foot 5-weight rod?
Is it true that lighter lines cast better in the wind because they have less air resistance?
Have you ever fished with just a bead on a hook?
Some great suggestions from a listener on how to keep fly tying materials away from young children.
I am coming from Korea to the US. Will I have problems brining flies and fly tying materials into the country?
Have you ever tried wiggle nymphs?
Why do Euro nymphers stand in the water and make short upstream casts while people with conventional lines try to fish as far away as possible?
Why don't we see a lot of blue streamers?
How deep can I effectively fish with a fly rod?
How can I tie patterns with partridge feathers smaller than size 16?

This week I interview Quint Rogers [31:43], a fly fishing guide specializing in shoal bass fishing in Georgia. We discuss the unique characteristics of shoal bass, their habitat, life cycle, and the best fishing techniques to catch this rare freshwater bass, perfectly suited to the fly rod. Quint shares insights on seasonal patterns, fishing gear, and the river environments where shoal bass thrive. 
In the Fly Box this week we have these questions from listeners:
How can I figure out which way to orient slotted beads on nymphs?
Are six-piece travel rods any good?
For small stream fishing, does it matter if I use a double taper or weight forward line?
Is there any evidence to suggest which is the best way to attach droppers?
Why does my leader always break at the tippet ring?
Are there any alternatives to stripping baskets for beach fishing?
How do you know when to replace a floating line?
Can you do a podcast on how to train a dog to be a fishing companion?
Why don't more saltwater guides use nets?
What kind of games do I play when fly fishing?
Where would you work if you didn't work for Orvis?

If you think mending is just lifting your rod and flipping it upstream—well sometimes it is—but there is so much more you can do with line mends to add slack in just the right places, and to deal with tricky currents. Mike Pease [30:41], Orvis-endorsed guide and great storyteller, gives us 10 tips for increasing the utility of your line mends. I learned a bunch of new tricks on this podcast and I am sure you will as well.
There are some helpful tips from listeners and some questions that may answer things you have been curious about, including:
When would you use a drop shot nymphing rig?
Have you ever used a dry fly, nymph, and wet fly at the same time?
I am debating about which Helios rod to buy. Should I get the 9 foot 5 weight or the 9-foot 5-inch version?  Can I use the longer rod for wade fishing?
A listener gives his version of a Euro rig for steelhead.
Which 10-foot rod should I get for Lake Erie steelhead?
Do you think tying a dropper to the bend of a hook is any hindrance to fish taking the upper fly?
Sometimes when I hook a big fish it takes line right away and my tippet breaks. Do you think my drag is set too tight?  How tight should I set my drag?
A great tip from a listener on an easy way to remove split shot with a tool everyone carries.
You say that trout can always see the tippet. If so, why would I ever want to use something as fine as 6X?