The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast provides weekly tips from acclaimed fly fishing author and lifelong fly fishing enthusiast, Tom Rosenbauer. Get the most fr...
Backcast: More Winter Fishing Tips with Rachael Leinweber
This episode was originally published on January 14th, 2021. My guest this week is Rachael Leinweber [39:38], general manager of The Angler's Covey fly shop in Colorado Springs. One in a series of podcasts about winter fly-fishing tips, Rachael has some great ones for us, and it's been interesting to see how each guide we've talked to has a slightly different take on effective winter tactics. In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions and tips: Is there an easier way to balance a fly rod than buying a heavier reel? How can I get my parents to approve of my fly-fishing passion?
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1:09:40
Be Prepared for Medical Emergencies When Fly Fishing, with Mike Tayloe
My guest this week is Mike Tayloe [33:07], who is a fishing guide, EMT, and wilderness medicine trainer. Tayloe (he prefers this to Mike) has trained many Orvis-endorsed guides and lodges on emergencies that you'll encounter on the water. Basically, they're the same emergencies you'll find at home but without the ability to get a rescue squad or ambulance quickly. The bad news is that we can't give you training on wilderness medicine on a podcast. The good news is that Tayloe will tell us how to get training for these emergencies (an online course is not the recommended way to go) and how to put together your own first aid kit so that you are prepared to deal with common medical problems. He goes into great detail on what to include in your kit, and recommends places to either get a complete pre-made kit or where to buy the right components—and the best course is not to buy a cheap kit in a big box store. This podcast, with proper training and a good kit, could save your life or that of a fishing buddy. In the Fly Box this week, we have a number of questions that may answer questions you have had, such as: When should I use split shot as an "in-line" rig as opposed to the drop shot method? Is it better to use fewer big split shot or a number of smaller ones? What can I do with egg yarn other than make egg flies? Mayfly nymphs look flat. Why don't we use more flies with a flattened shape? Should I cast my streamers upstream, across-stream, or quartering down and swinging? Where should I look for striped bass along a marshy shoreline? How important is color on emerger flies. Most of the patterns I see imitate the color of the duns but shouldn't we be more concerned with the color of the nymph? Why are high-end fly rods more expensive than high-end conventional rods? When tying flies, should I tie every size in the right range or should I skip sizes?
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1:20:17
Ten tips on making your fishing writing better, with Dave Karczynski
Dave is one of the best young voices in fly fishing [38:14]. He's the real deal—he is a fishy guy and can handle a fly rod with the best of them, but he's also a teacher of writing at the college level and a published author. (His new book is terrific and the title is Calling After Water.) Dave gives us what I consider a mini master class on how to write about fly fishing so that your stories are engaging, concise, and fun. I know you will find many useful tips in this podcast. In the Fly Box this week, we have an assortment of great questions from listeners, including: What are the benefits of tube flies? Can I nymph fish for steelhead with a Spey rod? Is there a benefit from using UV fly-tying materials? What is the best way to attach pre-made droppers to my leader? Tippet ring, surgeon's knot, or blood knot? Why do people look down on swinging wet flies for trout? How can I fish a bigger river without wasting my time trying to fish it all? Is it better to go to a smaller streamer when fish are just bumping the fly? How can young people help to improve our environment?
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1:33:01
How Agriculture and Trout Unlimited Work Together, with Cameron Aker
Many of our trout waters run through agricultural areas. We need food and clean water and we'd like to fish for trout in these waters, but sometimes these things don't play well together. It's when all user groups get together and come up with solutions that we have the best of both worlds. Cameron Aker [39:29] is the Outreach Coordinator for the Driftless Region of Iowa, and in this week's podcast he tells us how farmers, landowners, Trout Unlimited, and various government agencies have worked together to manage the land for food production while protecting sensitive coldwater fisheries. You'll learn how they do this, who funds the work, and how you can look into starting a similar initiative in your area. In the Fly Box this week, we have the usual roundup of basic questions, good tips, and more advanced questions, including: How do I know when it's appropriate to use resin instead of head cement? I am very new to fly fishing and want to keep my initial fly selection simple. Do you think that's a good idea? Is it a good idea to tie a sacrificial mono loop at the end of my fly line to preserve the loop? What size dry flies do you use in the East for dry/dropper rigs? Are there more "vintage" Orvis reels that you still use? Are there notable distinctions between the various kinds of dubbing? I saw a single caddisfly on the snow recently. Is this unusual? I had something snap my 12-pound fluorocarbon tippet in a clean break while fishing in salt water. What could have caused this? What do you keep on your fly tying desk, other than the typical tools and materials? What should I bring for a traveling fly-tying kit? Great tips from a listener on how to lessen backache when tying flies. How do you target cold, high rivers?
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1:19:47
New Tips on Playing and Releasing Trout, with vs Jim McLennan
I often get questions about the proper way to play and release trout and I invited Jim McClennan [42:51] to talk about his tips and his philosophy on bring trout to hand. Jim has been a guide, fly shop owner, writer, and star of fishing films for as long as I have been in the business. He gives his tips on how to play trout quickly, how to land them, and shares a new trick I hadn't heard about for releasing fish without ever touching them with minimal stress to the fish. You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out this trick. In the Fly Box this week, we have some unusually great tips from listeners as well as some interesting questions, including: Is there a performance difference between a hand-tied knotted leader and a knotless leader? A tip from a listener on the best way to begin your life as a fly tier. Do trout lose the rods and cones in their eyes when they get to be about 17 inches long? Are there any colors you would avoid when fishing a Sparkle Minnow? As a beginning fly tier, what tools and materials should I get first? What is the effect of major floods on small brook trout streams? A great tip from a listener on exactly what type and size of nitrile gloves are best for winter fishing. Can you give us a history of Superfine Graphite rods, and what is the new release like? If I use a 12-foot leader with a 9-foot rod, how can I easily land fish? If my waders end up frozen, will that hurt them? How can I fish in a river where everyone else is fishing indicators? I don't like fishing indicators. Can I keep my fly rods in the trunk of my car over the winter? A listener has a hard time wrapping his head around the fact that trout can learn and that trout in rivers with a lot of fishing pressure have learned to avoid certain flies. Is there any scientific research on this topic?
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!