The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

Matt Thornton [40:36] is founder and president of The Wilderness Calling, a nonprofit focused on conservation and protecting wild fish and places. He shares insights from their flagship study on steelhead ocean migration routes. They are using satellite tags to track these fish, marking a significant step in understanding their journeys. "We are the first people to have successfully deployed satellite tags on steelhead off of Oregon's north coast," Matt explains. This innovative approach aims to create a comprehensive map of their migration routes, helping to protect them along the way.
In the Fly Box this week, we have some great tips and questions, including:
A tip from a listener on why local fly fishing clubs are a great resource, especially for new anglers.
Can you explain Skagit casting to me?
I have trouble explaining where my friends should cast when I take them out on my raft. What am I doing wrong?
I had trouble during a heavy hatch connecting with fish.  What should I do when there ios a really heavy hatch?
Is it OK to use my headlamp when fishing after dark for trout?
Do you think I can use my 5-weight Clearwater for peacock bass in Florida canals?
I keep foul hooking fish when using a dry dropper. Any suggestions?
How do you land a big trout when you are fishing on your own and only have a net with a short handle?

This episode was originally published on November 25th, 2024.
Any kind of two-handed fishing is confusing for those of us who mostly fish with a single-handed rod. I asked the great Pete Kutzer [37:34] to simplify the selection of a rod, reel, line, leader, and tips for getting a start in swinging flies for trout and he then offers a number of tips for casting, attaching the leader, fly selection, and more. It's a great basic guide to getting started in this fun way to fish for trout.
 In the Fly Box, I thought we had some unusually interesting questions this week, including:
Will weed guards on my flies help me from catching on oyster bars?
If the tip of my hook gets bent over, should I try to put it back into shape?
Can I catch striped bass in New England in the winter?
What can you tell me about Orvis boron rods from the 1980s?
Can I get one rod for tarpon, bonefish, pike, muskie, giant trevally, triggerfish, snook, redfish, and dorado?
Why did you not mention the Davey Knot when you talked about knots a few weeks ago?
How can I keep my yarn indicators floating?
I am having trouble getting long downstream drifts with a dry fly. I keep moving the fly. What do you suggest?
I can't seem to catch any fish on scuds. When, where, and how should I fish them?
A tip from a listener on learning to fall safely.
Can I use a Skagit or Scandi line on my 10-foot 8-weight?

This episode was originally published on October 28th, 2024.
I get regular questions from people about getting a job in the fly-fishing industry, both in the podcast mailbox and in person at shows and store visits. It's a tough question and I don't have all the answers so I called upon my buddy Kirk Deeter [35:04], who as founding publisher of Angling Trade magazine and currently editor of Trout magazine, along with many other jobs in the industry, is the consummate fly-fishing insider. He talks about the joys and the pitfalls of looking for a job in this tiny niche. I think he has some great tips to share, whether you are a young kid looking for a first job or a seasoned veteran of another industry looking for a more rewarding career.
 
In the Fly Box this week, we have some helpful tips, including:
How should I treat CDC feathers I got from a friend who hunts waterfowl?
A listener asks why people who write into the Fly Box don't just go out and try the things they are asking about.
A spooky Halloween story from a listener
How do I avoid a size 12 dry fly twisting on a 6X tippet?
What is the best Orvis rod for hopper fishing on western rivers?
Can I keep my fly rods set up all season?  Do I need to wax the ferrules?
How can I do a better job of hooking trout on a downstream cast?
Am I missing something by not using tapered leaders when fishing for bass and panfish?
If a 6X leader makes a size 12 fly twist, why don't we just use 1X and 2X leaders on all of our flies, down to a size 24?
How can I get a single nymph down into deep, fast water without using split shot?
Would a longer rod help keep my Clouser Minnows from hitting the rocks behind me on my back cast?
I have a 5-weight rod and want to fish for bass, carp, and suckers.  Should I get a 6-weight or a 7-weight rod?

In this week's podcast, my guest John Arway [31:42] discusses the impact of stocking hatchery fish over wild trout populations, exploring scientific research, historical context, and management strategies to promote wild trout conservation. John was both a fish biologist and director of the PA Fish and Boat Commission so he has seen the issue from all angles.
In the Fly Box this week, we have an assortment of interesting questions, including:
What do you do with discarded pieces of tippet material?
What do you do with your rod when changing flies?
Is an intermediate line a good fly line for streamer fishing in Colorado?
How can I practice the roll cast without water?
Can I substitute another material for calf tail on my Crazy Charlie flies?
Are really short rods, around four feet long, any good? They used to be popular.
My black pheasant tail is so fragile, it's unusable for tying flies. Is that common? My other dyed pheasant tails are fine.
When hunting big brown trout in the fall, when would you choose a nymph and when would you choose a streamer?
I have a furled leader with no visible way to attach a tippet. What should I do?
Can I use my bonefish flies for carp?

In this week's podcast, Captain Roger Gendron [28:45] shares expert tips on fishing Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf Coast, covering seasonal patterns, target species like tarpon, redfish, and snook, and effective fly fishing techniques for each. Discover how to adapt your approach to different conditions and maximize your success in this prime fishing area.
In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions, including:
The hooks on my size 24 Trico patterns keeping bending. Can I tie these flies on stronger hooks with heavier wire?
I fished mouse flies and the fish went crazy over them but I couldn't keep them hooked. What am I doing wrong?
What do you suggest for a first fly rod to catch bass, carp, and panfish?
How would you approach finding trout on a remote river?
If we are just catching shad and suckers but not trout, are we fishing in the wrong places or not using the right flies?
In a small stream, how far upstream should I go to prevent "high holing" someone else?
I love small stream fishing and want to get a 7 ½ foot Superfine rod. Do you recommend the fiberglass or graphite version?
I lost a lot of big fish using size 22 nymphs. Do you have any advice on keeping them on the hook?
Does it matter if the wing cases on my jig nymphs are on the upper side or lower side of the fly?
I could see a bunch of fish in clear water and could not get them to take any kind of fly. What would you do in this situation?