About this episode

This episode features Rick Mikesell discussing how to get started in carp fishing and answers various listener questions about fly fishing techniques and gear.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Tom Rosenbauer

Guest: Rick Mikesell

Topics covered

• carp fishing
• fly fishing techniques
• fishing gear
• tippet and leaders
• trout fishing
• fishing tips

Keywords

• carp fishing
• fly box
• tippet
• leaders
• trout
• fishing tips
• Helios 2 rod
• nymph leader
• multi-day fishing trip

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Orvis Company

More episodes of The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

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• How to Behave on a River, with Todd Tanner · July 7, 2026 · 1h 37m
• Bluelining for Brook Trout in the Northeast, with Nick Yardley · June 29, 2026 · 1h 15m
• Back Cast: What Trout Hear and Smell, with Jason Randall · June 23, 2026 · 1h 31m
• Back Cast: The Seven Deadly Sins of Playing and Landing Fish, with Josh Nugent · June 9, 2026 · 1h 37m
• How to Improve Your Indicator Nymphing, With Guide Matt Squillante · June 2, 2026 · 1h 24m

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