The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

My guest this week, Chris Steinbeck [25:15] of the Blue Quill Angler in Colorado, shares his strategies for dealing with what we expect will be low water and possibly water that is too warm for ethical trout fishing. This doesn't mean you have to forgo fly fishing! There are many options for continuing your trout fishing through the summer, plus loads of alternatives to trout that are amazing fun on the fly rod. Chris has some solid tips for enjoying the summer with your rod, and for treating the fish properly in low water. Although Chris concentrates on Colorado fisheries, his advice is solid for any part of the Rocky Mountains.

In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more:
If I briefly hook a brown trout, do you think it's still worth trying for that fish?
I have an old Orvis Bamboo rod left to me by my grandfather. Should I fish it, and if so how should I care for it?
Is there a material you could wrap around a dry fly to make it float better?
Which types of dubbing are best for dry flies?
Can I use jig nymphs on a dry dropper setup?
How can I strip "retired" flies of their dressing so I can re-use the hooks and beads?
I fish a cold tailwater but have not seen or caught a trout. Why are there no trout in it?

My guests this week are Kirk Deeter and Matt Supinski [27:19], authors of the amazing new book A Fishable Feast. They talk about great meals they've experienced in lodges around the world, but also about what they actually pack for the day when they are fishing on their own. And then what to enjoy after a day of fishing—what to drink, what meals to prepare to celebrate a great day or console yourself after a lousy day. And they even wax poetic (at least Matt does) about what a day on the water really means. It's a fun discussion and I hope you enjoy it.
In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more:
Should I put floatant on my CDC flies or should they ride below the surface?
How will I get my flies deep enough now that tungsten beads are getting scarce and expensive?
Should I get a moderate or fast-action rod for all-around fishing in Colorado?
Can I use a surgeon's knot to connect nylon to fluorocarbon? I have been using tippet rings.
How short can my shock tippet get before I need to replace it?
Is the improved blood knot good for adding shock tippet?
How do you know when a river's fish population is not worth your time?
If I see trout swimming quickly, are they feeding when they do this?
How much extra tippet do you carry when fishing?

Before you rule out this podcast because you don't live in southern California, you may want to listen to my interview with master saltwater fly fisher Al Quattrocchi [24:46] because he gives lots of great advice on fishing in the surf in general. You'll get tips on lines, leaders, approach, and how to find fish in the surf. So, whether you chase striped bass or redfish in the surf, I think you'll get some great tips here.
In the fly box this week, we have some great tips as well as interesting questions, including:
How can I keep my dropper tag from tangling around the standing part of the tippet?
How can I find out about etiquette on local rivers?
A tip from a listener on fishing streamers with a Euro rig in low, clear water
I am confused by fly casting instructions. Lefty Kreh recommended that we pretend our arm is on a shelf and then flick the wrist. Should I try casting this way?
My local river is high but there are some ephemeral side channels. Do you think these are worth fishing?
Is it true that tungsten beads will become expensive and hard to obtain?
A tip from a listener on using a Magic Eraser for cleaning cork grips.
I fish some tight, brushy rivers. Would it be better to get a trout Spey rod or a 10-foot 4-weight for fishing these streams?

Orvis-endorsed guide Alberto Rey [33:22] just completed a trip around the world, fishing and exploring on six continents—and he did it all with only two 6-piece Clearwater Rods and two reels and a handful of flies. He has some great stories and great tips for travelers from his experience and shares them with us.
 
In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips:
Should I be adding 4 feet of tippet to my 7 ½ foot leader for a dry dropper rig?

A tip from a listener about using pieces of pool noodle to store pre-make fly rigs

I saw a video where a guy fished four flies at once on droppers. How do you avoid tangles with this many flies on the leader?

If the new Recons are 20% stronger, if I want to get a 6-weight rod should I order a 5-weight?

A tip from a listener (with a caution from Tom) about using micro spikes for wading

How can I easily get the hook out of trout and still keep them in the water when they struggle?

I saw an otter on the river and got skunked. Do the fish vacate an area when an otter is around?

My knots keep slipping and fish were breaking off with various highly-regarded knots. What do you think happened?

How can I fish a big articulated streamer upstream without the fly fouling?

A tip from a listener on just slipping cones on the leader above a streamer to get them to sink faster.

My guest this week is guide and fly shop owner Taylor Edrington [34:16] of Royal Gorge Anglers in Colorado. His home river, the Arkansas, has an amazing hatch of these bugs, but they also hatch on trout streams throughout the country some time between Tax Day and Mother's Day (and often beyond). It's a great hatch but often tricky as trout will many times key on the emerging pupa and not the adult. But Taylor has some tricks to help us solve the puzzle.
In the Fly Box this week, we have some questions that I think will be helpful to many people, such as:
Can I fish streamers on bright days in a river without much insect life?
Can I use a reel meant for a 7- to 9-weight rod on my 6-weight rod?
When you are fishing with other people on mountain creeks, do you ever use two-way radios?
I have trouble fishing really large rivers. What should I look for in giant rivers?
Will carp in a trout stream harm the trout population?
Can I use a Perfection Loop in my backing to attach a fly line?
Why aren't there different leaders for each line size?
Some casting instructors tell you to move your arm back and forth and other tell you to never do that. Is there a correct way to cast?
Do you think a recent flood hurt the trout population in my river? I have not seen as many trout after the flood.
Do you carry a multi-tool when you go fishing?