An All Fly-Box Episode

07/01/21 • 74 min

This week I have no guest interview but a ton of questions waiting in the podcast mailbox so I did an all-Fly Box podcast to catch up on questions. By popular demand, I've started to recommend some books on the podcast. This week I recommend my three favorite books on trout biology and natural history.

In the long Fly Box this week, we have these great questions and tips from listeners: A tip on putting a four-piece rod together A tip on where to park your rod when landing a fish Can I use my 9-foot, 5-weight rod for saltwater fishing in the Bay area? Do you think we are in danger of interfering with the natural spread of species, for instance by removing musky from lakes that were not there historically but have spread there naturally? Why do I keep breaking off large trout on a 3X tippet? A very generous offer from a listener to pay for a guide trip for a young listener (from a past show) who has taken 60 trips for trout and has not caught one yet. Should I use a sinking or intermediate line for stripers in the Bay area? Are there any casting techniques I should practice before throwing bigger flies in salt water? A tip from a listener (after getting a tip from me) on the proper way to insert Orvis studs in wading boots. A great tip from a listener on using yellow sticky pads to keep coiled leaders in place. While stripping in my coiled line gets tangled. How can I fix that? How long do you use a fly before changing? And when do you decide to move? Do you believe "Right to Roam" laws like they have in Scotland would be beneficial to Americans? How do you properly de-barb a hook? What midge patterns should I use in Wisconsin? What would a well-rounded fly rod quiver for the eastern United States look like? I keep bumping my rod guides when taking apart my rod. How can I fix that, and how can I fix a loose guide? A caller letting me know that a co-host on one of our live events mis-spoke about how to assemble a rod. I can catch fish on a Parachute Adams and swung wet flies in a small stream but can't catch them on nymphs. What am I doing wrong? A listener who fixed a problem with breaking 4X tippet tied to a size 6 hook makes a suggestion on some great products. I am curious to buy a bamboo or fiberglass rod. Where should I start? What fly-fishing magazines does Tom read?

Previous Episode

The Tailwaters of Missouri, with Carolyn Parker

This week, my guest is Carolyn Parker of River Run Outfitters in Branson, Missouri [51:39]. Carolyn is a 20-year veteran of guiding tailwaters and a recipient of the Orvis Endorsed Program's Lifetime Achievement Award. Her specialty is fishing tailwaters, and you'll learn a lot about how to deal with fluctuating water levels and how to fish a river that has mostly midges and crustaceans instead of mayflies and caddisflies.

In the Fly Box this week, we have lots of questions and some long-winded answers, including: Why don't more people use furled leaders? When you say "don't land your fly line on the fish", does that include your leader and tippet? Why do you recommend fishing worm patterns in high, dirty water? How can I land striped bass in the surf? For two-fly rigs under indicators, do most guides prefer the second fly "in-line" or on a separate tag? How do you rank various considerations when picking a fly? When you are on new water and don't know what bugs are around, how do you pick a fly? Is a 9-foot 7-weight a good rig for fishing bass and streamers for trout? Why do some rods like the Superfines have cork reel seat inserts? Why does my leader kink when I use the Dorsey indicator method? What would you do if rain started and the trout stopped feeding? What rod should I pick to start fly fishing in smaller streams in West Virginia? If I want to upgrade my rod collection to some higher-end models, how should I prioritize my choices? Are centipedes a threat to fly-tying materials? A suggestion for removing epoxy from the eyes of flies with micro drill bits (with a caution from Tom) Suggestions for fishing for striped bass on the rocky shoreline in Rhode Island Why does my dropper connection always break instead of my tippet-to-fly connection? Why can't I catch any trout?

Next Episode

How does water temp affect trout behavior? With John McMillan

This week I am delighted to have biologist John McMillan back as my guest. John gives us a detailed view on the affect of water temperature on a trout's metabolism, particularly at the upper end of their safe range. In this summer of low flows and high water temperatures nearly everywhere in North America, it's a critical topic. And as usual, John puts his critical eye on how we, as anglers, can mitigate these effects by changing our fishing behavior. John is never without optimism, and I think you'll enjoy his discussion and learn more about trout biology and how we can be more responsible anglers.

In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips from listeners: Why did my guide tell me to use heavier tippets? Why did she suggest this would put less stress on the fish? A suggestion from a listener on getting an old bamboo rod and refurbishing it to bring one back to life. What is the difference between hen and partridge? How do I know where to find trout streams? What size should I tie my ants in? A new way of tying a clinch knot with heaver hooks is suggested by a listener Why, when fishing with a dry dropper, do I only catch browns on the nymph and only cutthroats on the dry? What do you suggest for catching pressured largemouths in summer? A belated Father's Day message Can I use the Euro nymphing method from a drift boat or float tube? Why am I having trouble mending at 30 feet with a dry dropper? When tying a Chubby Chernobyl, how do you get the legs to separate? When you see a large mammal like a beaver or otter in the river, is it time to move on? Why do I catch myself with my fly when casting? Is it OK to dry my waders and boots in the sun? How should I handle my gear for air travel? Why do I keep losing fish when using bead head flies? Does using a frog pattern change the flex of my rod? Why do Scandinavians hold their rods so high when playing a fish?