The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

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Rating
4.8
from
1762 reviews
This podcast has
588 episodes
Language
Explicit
No
Date created
2008/04/17
Average duration
86 min.
Release period
8 days

Description

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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Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast podcast


How Fly Rods Are Developed, with Shawn Combs
2024/02/26
This week, my guest is Orvis rod designer and my fishing buddy Shawn Combs [14:05], who uses the new Helios rods as an example of how a new rod series is developed.  What kind of input goes into a new rod design?  Why do we keep making new rod series?  How are they tested?  How many prototypes of a new rod are built before we decide on the final model?   The Fly Box is short this week because I've caught up with questions and am doing this before I leave for a couple weeks.  But they're good ones, including: Do I need to set the hook in a different manner with a glass fly rod? Is there something about the new Helios rods that is not covered on the web site and catalog copy? Is there a place where I can still pick up a Helios 3 rod? I am going to Cozumel and will be wade fishing from the beach.  What should I know in advance? A listener gives some great tips on fly fishing for trout in Missouri
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The Amazing World of Trout Stream Bugs, with Anna Le
2024/02/19
This week, my guest is educator and aquatic entomologist Anna Le [18:57], who introduces us to the amazing world of trout-stream invertebrates.  She tells us how to gauge the health of a river by looking at the bugs, and also how we can all be citizen scientists and alert the authorities when we see a decline of important indicator species.   In the Fly Box this week we have the usual mix of difficult and easy questions, plus tips,  including: A great tip from a listener—don't try to fish while you are wading. Can I put an 8-weight line on my 7-weight Pflueger Medalist reel? A funny story from a listener on another way to break a fly rod As I get older my eyesight and finger dexterity are not what they used to be.  Is there an easier knot for attaching flies to my tippet? Why don't more people fish for chubs, and why are they considered a trash fish? Do you have any recommended cicada patterns? A listener who is also a toxicologist warns that not all fly-tying materials are harmless and gives tips on how to avoid undue exposure to them. I have trouble tying tails on size 18 and smaller flies.  Do you have any tips?
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California's Diverse Wild Trout Populations, with Charlie Schneider
2024/02/12
This week my guest is Charlie Schneider [45:30] from Cal Trout, a great organization that Orvis has supported over the years because they are really effective in protecting wild trout habitat.  Charlie talks about the many species and subspecies (or races depending on whether you are a lumper or a splitter) of wild trout found in California, some of are unique to California.   The incredibly diverse topography and geology (and proximity to the Pacific Ocean) contribute to this array of salmonids and it's fascinating to get an overview of them.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips, including: Why do I have trouble Euro nymphing in slow pools when I have such good luck in faster water? I catch steelhead from Lake Ontario tributaries during the colder months but I don't catch trout there during the summer.  Why? I am having trouble casting a Euro rig.  What tips can you give me? How can I wean myself off my spinning rod when it's so much more successful that my fly rod? What are your thoughts on the Non-Slip Mono Loop for dry flies? Have you ever tired the Australian Braid Knot as a replacement for the Bimini Twist? Which is more important in choosing a line size—the size of the fish or the size of the fly? Can trout spill over a dam into streams below? Can you give me some tips on catching cutthroat trout? How can I tell if there are trout in a small stream? I am 17 and can't afford a hackle cape.  Is there any way to save money on a cape,  and what color would you recommend I start with? Is it so bad if I want to keep a few wild trout to eat?  Why the big emphasis on catch and release? What is that protrusion on the opposite side of the spool from a reel handle?  It can't be a counterweight. If I have a medium-fast 5-weight rod, will a 6-weight line make it more of a medium action? I lost 30-40 fish in the tail of a pool swinging flies.  What was I doing wrong? How do you select deer hair for Comparadun wings?
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Secrets of Small-Stream Trout Fishing, with Guide Charity Rutter
2024/02/05
My guest this week is Charity Rutter [39:50], a great friend and longtime guide in the Great Smoky Mountains.  She and her husband Ian have just finished a great book (I read the manuscript and loved it) and although it won't be available until April, you can pre-order it  here:  https://randrflyfishing.com/store/fly-fishing-guide-to-great-smoky-mountains-national-park/ Charity shares her secrets for making more out of your time on small waters, and although she concentrates on her area, she has fished small streams throughout North America and her tips will help you no matter where you fish.   In the Fly Box this week we have a nice assortment of questions and tips on fly fishing and fly tying, including: Why do you hate hook keepers so much? Is it true that you should not hook your fly onto your stripping guide? A listener recounts his first experience with selling flies he tied himself. A number of people chide me for not using a wading staff—yet. Will it hurt my fly line if I stretch it first before fishing? A listener gives some good advice on how to get out of a dangerous situation while wading, and how to prevent your waders from acting like a sea anchor. A tip from a listener on how he deals with litter during a day of fishing and one on how he carries rods on the back seat of his vehicle. A listener tells me how pleased he was with Orvis reel repair service. Should I wear socks when wearing the new Pro Approach Hikers in salt water? Can I Euro nymph in lakes and ponds? A tip from a listener on making more durable peacock herl bodies. Where should I put the heavy section of mono on a shock leader? A listener shares a tip on playing darts during the winter to keep those casting muscles in shape I used rubber soled wading shoes on slippery rocks and had poor traction.  Should I stud them or just get a pair of felt-soled boots? In a remote lake with an inlet and outlet, will trout move into the outlet as well as the inlet? How can I keep my dropper and tippet from slipping off my barbless hook when fishing with a dry dropper?  And what knot is best when attaching a dropper to a hook bend? I have a 9-foot 5-weight rod and want a rod for fishing for panfish and streamers for trout.  What rod should I get next?  
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How to Become a Better Wader, with Lindsay Kocka
2024/01/29
Lindsay Kocka [42:30] is a fly-fishing instructor, formally trained natural movement and strength coach, mobility specialist, yoga teacher, and mindfulness educator.  She taken her fishing experience and formal training to come up with a method to help us wade stronger and more confidently.  Regardless of your age, you'll benefit from this podcast, which will give you lots of tips on how to feel more comfortable and confident on the water.  You'll also learn about how to get your body and balance in better shape for your upcoming trips on the water.     In the Fly Box this week, we have an unusually large number of useful tips from listeners, as well as the usual questions for Tom, including: Will my Clearwater fly lines be OK in salt water? Why don't we use grain weights instead of the AFTMA number system for identifying the weights of trout fly lines like we do for double-handed rods? The fly shops are always out of my favorite fly pattern, the Purple Haze.  I just want to tie those.  Should I start with a kit or should I just buy the materials I need for that fly pattern? A tip from a listener on how to attach a fly so that it does not twist your leader When you work a section of water, should you work the near seam or the far seam first? A tip from a listener on how to replace the permanent loop on your fly line with a new one A tip from a listener on how to remove burrs or grooves in your fly-tying bobbin A tip from a listener on why you should save old waders, and how to use them to patch new ones. A tip from a listener on why it is important to support your local fly shop Tips from a blind fly fisher on methods he uses to enjoy fly fishing, and a couple tips from him on how to make threading a fly easier—something that all of us can benefit from. Tips from a listener on practicing your fly casting from the position you'll most often be fishing from. What is the etiquette when wading anglers and boaters cross paths on the water? Why would someone pick a 91/2-foot or 9-foot, 5-inch rod over a 9-footer? What tips do you have for casting a sinking leader? Can I keep my rods set up in or on my car for extended periods?
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All about Floating Fly Lines, with Josh Jenkins
2024/01/22
All about Floating Fly Lines, with Josh Jenkins   What is the difference between freshwater and saltwater fly lines?  How about warmwater and cold-water lines?  How long do fly lines last?  How do you care for a fly line?  How do you clean a fly line?  Why do we have over-weighted fly lines?  These are questions I often get for the podcast, so I asked Josh Jenkins [49:28], head of R&D for Scientific Anglers, to answer these questions and more about floating fly lines.   In the Fly Box this week, as usual we have some great questions and helpful tips from listeners they want to share with you, including: What is the best rod length, line size, and leader for brook trout? Can I throw a small Woolly Bugger with my 3-weight rod or do I need a heavier rod? Are there any fly-tying materials that could have a negative health impact? Do you know of a source for those bags used to hold fly-tying materials? What flies can I use ruffed grouse feathers on? Should I use my heavier nymph as my point (lower) fly? I am looking at an Amplitude Creek line for small streams but it states the line is one size heavier.  Will it spook the brook trout I am after? How many flies do you lose every season, and how do you lose most of them? How long should I expect a fly to last? I love carp and bass fishing and have always been underwhelmed by trout fishing.  What am I missing? Are 6-piece rods any good, and would you take one on a long trip? I got some old feathers that are bug infested.  How can I clean them to make sure all the critters are gone? A useful tip from a listener—to slow you down and help you observe a river better, don't string up your rod until you get to the river. What do you do when you change species?  Do you have separate fly boxes for each? When coming up with a new fly pattern, how do you decide hook style and thread type? Tip for keeping young kids away from a fly-tying area—use a baby gate What is the most versatile fly for catching bass, carp, and panfish? I get seasick.  What is the best place to go bonefishing where I will find calm water?
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How to Spot Fish on Saltwater Flats, with Jason Franklin
2024/01/15
Are there any tricks to spotting fish on saltwater flats, especially if it's your first time?  You may be disappointed to hear that there is no magic bullet and every place you fish will offer different species, water color, and depth.  But Jason Franklin [37:36] has a lifetime of experience helping his clients to spot bonefish and permit in the water, and he gives us some solid tips on how to develop this skill.   In the Fly Box this week, we have an unusual number of great tips from listeners, along with some questions Tom attempts to answer, including: Will a 2-weight rod give me more enjoyment  than my 7 1/2-foot 3-weight when bluelining on my local streams?  How about a 10 foot two-weight? What is the purpose of tying a tippet ring on the end of big dry flies? Three great fly-tying and fishing  hacks from a listener A listener describes how he fixed a bobbin that kept cutting thread using a fly-tying bead. What hook sizes can I cast on my 5-weight when fishing for bass?  And would it help to put a 6-weight on my rod when casting larger flies? What do you think of trying weedless carp flies for fish that are in pockets between weeds? If I am tying various styles of streamers in a range of sizes, should I get a rooster cape? Do I need to dry out my fly line before putting my reel away? I want to try a tenkara rod but my fishing buddy says it's not fly fishing.  What do you think? I could catch trout on Woolly Buggers but had trouble catching them on small midges.  What should I try in this tailwater the next time I go? Three tips from a listener on getting success when tight-line nymphing. Is it possible to get transcripts for the podcasts? What is the process for experimentation with new fly patterns? A listener adds another common way to break a fly rod When you talk about leader length, do you include the tippet?
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Saving rivers, with Western Rivers Conservancy's Sue Doroff
2024/01/08
This week's podcast is a recording of a live interview I did with Sue Doroff [48:56], co-founder and outgoing president of The Western Rivers Conservancy, which does amazing work throughout the West by buying valuable riparian land, making the surrounding habitat more natural and resilient, and enhancing public access to many of our important trout, salmon, and steelhead rivers.  You'll learn how Western Rivers finds these areas, the financial model for how they do this, and how most are eventually transferred into public ownership.  It's fascinating story of how a small organization punches well above its weight.   In the Fly Box this week, we have lots of questions and valuable tips from listeners, including: How to use forceps to smooth down weighting wire How to easily reverse your tying thread using a dubbing needle How do I get deer hair to behave? Any tips for attaching eyes to Game Changers? Why can I catch trout from tiny streams on dry flies but not on nymphs? Advice on the differences between Helios and Recon rods How do I get into commercial fly tying? How far do stocked trout travel? Can I catch a carp on my 8 ½ foot 5 weight rod? Can I use split shot with streamers? Advice on a fiberglass rod for bass and panfish Do I need to adjust water type or tactics for browns vs. rainbows? A great tip from a listener on how to avoid losing beads and hooks under your tying table What should a non-angler do when going fishing with a fly fisher? How can I prevent losing fish on size 24 flies?  Should I keep the barbs on? Does how you tie a clinch knot have any bearing on how it rides in the water? A listener suggestion for another great writer of fly-fishing essays
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A Half Century of Fly-Tying Evolution, with Tim Flagler
2024/01/01
How has fly-tying changed in the past 50 years?  It's changed a great deal in the time Tim Flagler [43:55] and I have been practicing it, and I often get questions from people about what has changed over the years.  Tim and I discuss the way information was shared, what hackle was like back then, innovations like beads and synthetic materials and chemically sharpened hooks, and advances in fly-tying tools.  Our main conclusion is that fly tiers today have never had it better, and it continues to evolve almost daily.   In the Fly Box this week, we have lots of rod questions and the usual queries that people can't seem to find an answer to anywhere else—and we're glad to help!  Some of this week's questions are: I am taking a rod-building class and want to know what rod I should add to my quiver (and he details the rods he already owns) I have heard that Florida snook fishing is best from shore during the summer, but also that the season is closed.  Can I still target them and release them? What do you know about fly fishing in Bermuda? Can I put a 9-weight line on my Clearwater 908? What Mirage LT reel should I put on my 11-foot Blackout rod? Are there any introduced cutthroat populations in the eastern US? For fishing from a float tube for brook trout in Maine, should I get a 10-foot 3-weight or 4-weight rod? Would it be bad to wear tick repellent when fishing?  Will it harm aquatic life? Why do  reel manufacturers put the drag adjustment on the opposite side of the reel handle?  I find it cumbersome to adjust my drag. How will warm springs in my river affect bass behavior and feeding? What is the minimum length of rod you recommend for most trout streams, other than small streams? How do stocked spring creeks in Missouri compare to Colorado rivers? Where can my friends and I find a good fly-fishing coach? What clothing, equipment, and flies should I take for a bonefishing trip to the Turks & Caicos?  I am new to New England and have been frustrated with high water conditions.  What can I do to have more success in high water?
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How Water Temperature Affects Saltwater Flats Fish, with Aaron Adams
2023/12/18
We frequently discuss water temperature in regard to trout fishing but you seldom hear much about how water temperature affects popular fly-rod fish like bonefish, tarpon, permit, redfish, striped bass, and bluefish.  Yet the water on the flats can vary dramatically depending on local weather patterns and tides, which will in turn affect where the fish move to and how actively they feed.  Learn from Bonefish Tarpon Trust's science director Aaron Adams [51:35] (also a superb fly fisher) on the science of water temperature and saltwater species.   In the Fly Box this week we have a great selection of questions, tips, and rants from listeners, including:   Is it appropriate to tip a guide when he or she runs a group class at a fly shop? What kind of footwear do you use when blue lining when you are wet wading? Does monofilament have a shelf life? Is a fiberglass rod a viable option for carp, bass, or bonefish? Has Tom developed any new insights on carp fishing in 2023? My sister harvested a moose.  What flies can I tie with moose hair? I've often had good fishing before a thunderstorm but not after.  Is there any validity to this observation? A mild rant from a listener who does not like to chat on the water with other anglers.  And a less mild rant about anglers who invade his space. Can I turn my fly line around to the running line when I want to Euro nymph? How have developments in fly fishing changed the productivity of fly fishing in the last 100 years? Why am I not seeing many fish in rivers that run into reservoirs in the fall? How can I tell the difference between my nymphs ticking the bottom and a strike? A great tip from a listener on removing all of your backing and rinsing it at the end of a saltwater fly-fishing season. Should knots ever break? This fall I fished a river that was 18 to 24 inches deep and uniform without much structure.  I fished hard with various methods and didn't catch a thing.  How would you approach water like this?
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Backcast: Tom's Top-Ten Tips for Winter Fly Fishing
2023/12/10
This show on winter fly-fishing was originally posted on 28 January, 2011. Before we had interviews, the Flybox, or even call-ins, it was just Sir Tom rambling into a microphone.  Don't forget there are hundreds of shows from our archives that are freelly available on your podcast reader and at howtoflyfish.orvis.com.
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The Power of Observation in Fly Fishing, with Guide Cliff Weisse
2023/12/04
Careful observation, active instead of passive, is the hallmark of a good fly fisher.  They pick up patterns by observing exactly where in the river a fish came from , or how it behaved when feeding, or what weather patterns preceded a particularly successful day.  Head guide Cliff Weisse [46:15] of Three Rivers Ranch in Warm River, Idaho tells us some things many fly fishers don't pay enough attention to, and thus lose the ability to improve their skills.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips, including: How many flies and leaders will I need for a single day of guided fishing in the Bahamas?  And what gear will I need that I would normally not take for a day of trout fishing? If I catch a trout from a small pool, should I assume the rest of the fish in that pool are spooked? When should I strip a fish in, and when should I get the line on the reel? My buddy and I lost 100% of the trout we hooked one day.  WE normally land most of them.  What did we do wrong? What flies will imitate shad, small rainbows, sculpins, and small brown trout? I fish a piece of water with lots of swirling eddies and have trouble with a normal hard strike indicator.  What should I use instead? How can I manage using multiple fly lines without buying a new reel or spool for each one? Is it OK for a guide to give me an unsolicited lecture on etiquette even though I never crowd anyone? If I only make casts at a maximum of 15 feet in a small stream, is there a special fly line I should be using? I read somewhere that the author uses "gel flotant on all my flies".  Am I missing something? How do you determine the shuck color on a Sparkle Dun? A great tip from a listener about using a "backing barrel" on a sighter leader when you have trouble seeing it. How can I avoid spooking smallmouth bass on a small, clear stream?
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Podcast reviews

Read The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast podcast reviews


4.8 out of 5
1762 reviews
Ed Mack 2023/12/22
Like hiring a guide for an hour. Best fly fishing podcast ever.
Pretty exceptional. Great for all skill sets.
Brent Boxall 2023/10/22
One of the best fishing podcasts ever!
I've loved fishing all my life and finding this podcast was the next best thing. Tom Rosenbauer explains techniques with a great style making you a ...
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406 Zac 2023/08/14
SETH DC to DALLAS
Hey please get in contact with me! There is a magical place to trout fish within an hour and a half of Dallas. I grew up fishing there I’ll help you o...
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QbyLaxCoach 2023/08/13
Wealth of Information
Great resource, and the breadth of information is top notch.
Sum-1-? 2023/04/26
Holy grail
If you even dream of fly fishing, please start here. Up you learning curve and listen, learn from someone who has a ton of fishing experience and “No ...
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Doubting Husky Fan 2023/06/10
More Fishing Discussion with Leas Political Bias Please
I enjoy the fishing tips from the fly box. Too often this is overcrowded by Rosenbauer’s political perspective and tendency to correct folks tips tha...
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Thomas O71 2023/04/17
Fly fishing podcast
Almost 70 years old and look forward to weekly podcast especially the fly box with great ideas and information. Started with a bamboo rod and now use ...
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ItsLukeDude 2023/04/14
Relaxing and Informative for a Beginner
This podcast has been great for helping me navigate the overwhelming amount of information in the fly fishing world and gets me fired out to fish ever...
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Dang3r01 2023/04/07
Keep up the great show!
Love all the content, fly box to guests. Even if I am not particularly intrigued by the topic I learn a ton.
3puttAZ 2023/04/02
The Quintessential Podcast For Fly Fishing Enthusiasts
Entertaining, humorous, informative…this pod has it all. I highly recommend you tune in.
check all reviews on aple podcasts

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