Fly Fishing for Steelhead and Salmon in Estuaries, with Reed Teuscher
You can catch salmon and steelhead on a fly in salt water before they enter rivers. The fish are bright and strong and may still be actively feeding but the problem is to find them in a big expanse of water. Reed Teuscher [41:01] of the Orvis Outfitters team tells us where to look for them, how to present the fly, what kinds of rods and lines you need—and of course what fly patterns seem to work best.  In the Fly Box this week we have these questions and more: How can I keep my dropper from twisting around the leader when Euro nymphing? What kinds of flies are banned and why? If I only fish a few days a year, how long will my fly lines last? Do guides tell Tom "set!" when he fishes with them? And do they tell him where to put his flies? Do brook trout feed less than brown trout during spawning season? Am I missing something by not building my own leaders? What does a 3-weight rod give me that my 4-weight won't? When you under-line a fly rod and increase your line speed, does that detract from your accuracy? On articulated flies with only a single hook, should I keep the hook in front or in back? I want to learn to fly fish next season. Should I buy a rod now and practice over the winter before taking an FF101 class? I had a frustrating day with spooky brown trout. I could not get 25 feet away from them without spooking them. How can I catch these trout? What fly patterns use micro mink Zonker strips?
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1:31:03
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1:31:03
What to do When you Encounter Lousy Fishing Conditions, with James Spica
It happens to all of us, and sometimes it seems like every time we take a fishing trip, conditions are less than ideal. Water too high, water too low, water temperature too warm or too cold. Dirty water. You know the litany. James Spica [34:18], writer and fishing manager of the Orvis store in Royal Oak, Michigan, has some great tips on what to do when you encounter these situations—where to fish, how to fish your fly, and some patterns he would never go anywhere in the world without that help him deal with adverse fishing conditions. James gives us tips for both freshwater and saltwater trips and I took a lot of my own notes on this one!  In the Fly Box this week, we have some great tips and interesting questions, including: Are all fly lines today one size heavy? Can I use my 5-weight line on my new 6-weight rod? A tip from a listener on the best way to carry multiple fly rigs to the river after constructing them at home. How can I start my roll cast to get a decent amount of line out when I have no back cast room? Can you skip a tippet size when adding a new tippet to a leader? Do you think adding a small piece of orange or white yarn to a standard dry fly for visibility impacts fishing? A tip from a listener on adding a lightly weighted nymph to his streamer rig when swinging flies. A tip from a listener on how to seal the thread when finishing small flies. I had trouble getting beads on some nymph hooks until I pinched the barb first. Does everybody do this? I recently saw some freshly stocked trout chasing each other in circles in a pool. Is this spawning behavior or something else? Do juvenile trout eat the same thing as adults? If I am only catching small fish should I try a different fly? What is your favorite flotant for keeping a dry fly on top?
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1:33:43
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1:33:43
Backcast: 16 Things I Wish I Knew About Trout Spey Before I Started, with Shawn Combs
This episode was originally published on October 11th, 2019. In today's podcast my guest is Shawn Combs, head of Orvis Rod & Tackle product development and Orvis rod and reel designer. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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. Â
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1:13:10
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1:13:10
Backcast: Top-Secret Steelhead Tips, with Stefan Woodruff
This podcast was originally published on December 28th, 2016. 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.
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1:27:17
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1:27:17
The 50-Year History of Orvis Graphite Fly Rods, with Tom Rosenbauer
This week my guest is—me [34:55].  I asked Reid Bryant of the Orvis Wingshooting Podcast to interview me because I have worked at Orvis for 49 of those 50 years and lived through the various stages of Orvis rods, plus I just spent the past two months writing a history of the Orvis graphite rods. You'll learn about some interesting things that went on during those times that have never before been published. Some of them are quite surprising. In the Fly Box this week, I answer these questions and more: What hatch makes large brown trout leap fully out of the water? Is there a hook sizing standard for fly-tying hooks? How can I hide the final whip finish on my bead head nymphs? What characteristics make for a good prospecting dry fly? What do you recommend for a fly-tying light? Can I use heaver hooks on my small nymphs? My lighter hooks keep getting straightened by large trout. Is there a database for fly fishing locations around the world? I travel a lot and like to fish various places. What rod should I travel with if I have no idea what I will fish for? What flies should I carry that will work anywhere in the world? What type of fly line should I put on older fiberglass and bamboo rods?
The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast provides weekly tips from acclaimed fly fishing author and lifelong fly fishing enthusiast, Tom Rosenbauer. Get the most from your time on the water!
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