The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

This episode was originally published on June 23rd, 2025. In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting requests, including many questions about leaders and tippet. What fly line should I use on my Helios 2 rod for dry-fly fishing? What can I do to prevent my tippet from kinking? What can you do when small stream trout refuse your fly? I have been using heavier tippet and seem to be doing just as well as with lighter tippet. What is your take on this? Is there a big difference between various brands of tippet material? Can I just add a tippet ring to my 9-foot 4X leader to make a nymph leader? Should the butt section of my nymph leader be made from fluorocarbon? What should I take on a multi-day fishing trip that I would not normally think of? Why am I foul-hooking so many trout and whitefish this year? What do you think of furled leaders? What rod should I get for my 8-year-old daughter? What rig should I start her out with? What do you think of Crocs as inexpensive wading shoes? What can you tell me about an older Orvis rod I purchased? How can I tighten the drag on an older spring-and-pawl fly reel? What is the deal with all these multi-fly rigs? Am I missing something by using a single fly? Do people fish for trout with poppers? Do I need sinking agents as well as flotants? At the end of my drift I stripped in a dry fly and got strikes. Should I change my setup and move my flies a bit?

Want to spend less time untangling knots and more time with your flies in the water? Do you want to connect on more of the strikes you get to your nymphs? Want to know the best way to cast indicator rigs? Orvis-endorsed guide Matt Squillante [28:56] shares his tips from years of teaching fly fishers how to fish indicator rigs, and he shares some solid advice on this method. In the Fly Box this week, we have the questions and tips: I was fishing for panfish and had a big fish make a huge run but I lost it. Any guess as to what kind of fish it was? I really enjoyed using the poly leaders Orvis used to sell. Any suggestions for a substitute? I am having problems casting my new Superfine rod after using a Helios D. Any suggestions on improving my casting with it? A tip on using a waterproof marker to color your thread if it's not the right color for the head of your fly. How can I fish my nymphs in pools that are 6-to 8-feet deep? What is the correct terminology when describing the size of a piece of moving water? What do you think of using the "washing line" technique in streams? My Double Davy Knot causes my big dries to lay off to one side but the clinch knot doesn't. Do you know why this happens? I was using a fly clip and the leader came back with a pigtail after I broke off a fish. Does this happen often with fly clips? Is there a way to quickly tell a wild trout from a stocked trout?

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?

This episode was originally published on February 17th, 2023. This week is my guest Seth Berger [1:00:18], Fly Fishing Travel Specialist with Orvis Adventures. In his job, Seth visits Orvis-endorsed operations around the world and always packs his fishing gear, so he's a great resource for advising us how to travel with rods, waders, and flies—how to pack them, what to carry on, and pitfalls you should avoid. Seth also talks about what to pack, and items that are often forgotten or ignored by traveling anglers. Anyone who gets on a plane, whether it's a short hop or an international flight, will benefit from his knowledge. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and comment that run the gamut of the fly-fishing experience, including: A listener who recommends the mono rig method, which is different from the standard Euro nymphing setup. And tries to tell me 20lb. mono casts just as easily as fly line (I'm not buying it) Why not put a tippet ring on the end of a poly leader? I've used straight monofilament for a leader for bass and bream. Why do I need a tapered leader, and do I need tippet? When you fish two dry flies, what should the distance between them be? Do I need to learn entomology to pick flies? Is there any difference between picking flies for small streams vs. bigger rivers? What do you look for to help you choose a fly? Can I fish steelhead with my 9-foot 5-weight rod? Is it true that lighter lines cast better in the wind because they have less air resistance? Have you ever fished with just a bead on a hook? Some great suggestions from a listener on how to keep fly tying materials away from young children. I am coming from Korea to the US. Will I have problems brining flies and fly tying materials into the country? Have you ever tried wiggle nymphs? Why do Euro nymphers stand in the water and make short upstream casts while people with conventional lines try to fish as far away as possible? Why don't we see a lot of blue streamers? How deep can I effectively fish with a fly rod? How can I tie patterns with partridge feathers smaller than size 16?

If you think mending is just lifting your rod and flipping it upstream—well sometimes it is—but there is so much more you can do with line mends to add slack in just the right places, and to deal with tricky currents. Mike Pease [30:41], Orvis-endorsed guide and great storyteller, gives us 10 tips for increasing the utility of your line mends. I learned a bunch of new tricks on this podcast and I am sure you will as well. There are some helpful tips from listeners and some questions that may answer things you have been curious about, including: When would you use a drop shot nymphing rig? Have you ever used a dry fly, nymph, and wet fly at the same time? I am debating about which Helios rod to buy. Should I get the 9 foot 5 weight or the 9-foot 5-inch version? Can I use the longer rod for wade fishing? A listener gives his version of a Euro rig for steelhead. Which 10-foot rod should I get for Lake Erie steelhead? Do you think tying a dropper to the bend of a hook is any hindrance to fish taking the upper fly? Sometimes when I hook a big fish it takes line right away and my tippet breaks. Do you think my drag is set too tight? How tight should I set my drag? A great tip from a listener on an easy way to remove split shot with a tool everyone carries. You say that trout can always see the tippet. If so, why would I ever want to use something as fine as 6X?

My guest this week is Orvis-endorsed guide Joe Garza [32:54], a guide from JAG Fly Fishing, who explains the intricacies of still water trout fishing. He discusses common mistakes that anglers make, the importance of understanding food sources, and the need for patience in still water environments. Joe shares insights on matching fly profiles and colors to natural food, as well as effective techniques for using indicators. The conversation emphasizes the unique challenges of still water fishing compared to moving water, providing valuable tips for both novice and experienced anglers. He shares his extensive knowledge on fly fishing in still waters, focusing on techniques such as the hand twist retrieve, effective casting, and the importance of proper hook setting. He emphasizes the significance of maintaining tension in the line and understanding fish behavior, particularly in relation to external factors like weather and water temperature. In the Fly Box this week we have a lot of questions about tackle and winter reading, including: Is "Sinking Gel" for nymph fishing a waste of money? What is the difference between the 7'1/2 foot 3-weight Superfine Graphite and the 7 ½ foot 3-weight Superfine Glass rods? Is there a book you recommend on trout biology? Are there some books you recommend on learning about hatches? Can you explain the differences between your three books: Reading Trout Streams, Finding Trout, and Prospecting for Trout? How do manufacturers set the line recommendations for their fly reel models? I am 6-feet, 2 inches tall. Does that mean where most people would recommend a 10-foot rod that I should get a 9-foot rod? What three fly lines would you recommend for a wide variety of fish in fresh and salt water? What fly patterns do I need to imitate the gigantic Cantaria beetle in Chile?

In this episode, my guest is Brian Slusser [32:13], an Orvis endorsed guide based in Truckee, California, who tells us about the nuances of winter streamer fishing. With over 29 years of guiding experience, Brian shares his insights on effective techniques for fishing during the colder months, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the unique conditions of winter. He discusses the significance of dressing appropriately for the cold, the best times to fish, and the types of setups and flies that work best in winter conditions. Brian also highlights the advantages of using streamers over traditional nymphs during this season, providing listeners with practical tips to enhance their winter fishing experience. In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions form listeners: What time of year should I go to the Florida Keys for tarpon? Do I need to get a warm-water fly line for tarpon? When fighting a tarpon, do I need to point my rod at them when they jump? What do you think of treble hooks for Atlantic salmon in Quebec? What are the crown jewels of your fly rod collection? Which two-handed outfit should I get for swinging flies for smallmouth bass? What is a good but relatively inexpensive reel for my 9-foot 5-weight trout rod? What should I do if I get stuck in deep muck when wading? I saw hundreds of trout in Alaska jumping into the air to catch tiny white flies and I could not catch them. What should I have done? I have a whole bunch of flies but I am relatively new and never know what size I am pulling out of my box. What can I do?

This episode was originally published on July 14th, 2023. I think most stream anglers are interested in foraging, since we're immersed in nature all day long and although we watch for fish and insects and birds, many of us don't pay attention to the plants. And there are many delicious plants along trout streams you can take home for dinner—most of which will be more nutritionally dense than what you buy in the store—and free. If you have done any foraging at all, you have probably read some of more of Sam Thayer's [40:38] books. In our household his books are the primary source. I was lucky enough to spend some time talking to Sam about why foraging along streams is especially good, and what we can expect to find there. In the Fly Box this week, we have no phone calls but some great questions via e-mail, including: Why do trout in small streams take flies more readily when the water is high? Where do you recommend I go trout fishing in the East in July when I visit this summer? A great story about a listener getting generous advice from a famous angler along a trout river. A tip for keeping rod sections together using clothespins. What is the best streamer reel, line, and leader for a 7-weight rod? What do you do when there is a very heavy hatch and almost too many natural insects? I am having trouble hooking fish using the hand-over-hand retrieve when striper fishing. What can I do to increase my hooking rate? What are three things a novice dry-fly angler should pay attention to? Do you ever tie up dry/dropper rigs at home prior to going fishing? Will my 8-weight be enough rod for fishing for striped bass from a boat? What are some tips on picking flies for striped bass fishing at night?