Peter Laurelli [40:07] is a film-maker and fly fisher, and specializes in fly fishing from a paddleboard.  And not in just any place—Peter fly fishes off the northeast coast for striped bass and false albacore, and if you can fish from a paddleboard in these conditions you can do it anywhere.  Peter shares his tips on launching and landing a paddleboard, as well as tips for rigging a paddleboard for fly fishing, and of course approaching fish and playing and landing them.  If you want to see a sample of his fishing and filming in salt water you can see it here: Surf & Inshore Fly Fishing - SIFF18: Four Years For Life  It includes some spectacular drone footage of striped bass and false albacore schools feeding on baitfish. In the Fly Box this week we have some interesting questions, including the inevitable queries about what rod and reel to buy and how to handle issues with leaders.  Questions include: Can I replace the tippet ring I use in my leader setup with a Perfection or Surgeon's Loop? Can I use 6X or even 7X when hanging a size 14 nymph from a larger dry fly? Can you recommend a quality reel for the fiberglass rod I own that won't break the bank? What is your take on fishing tandem streamer setups? I'm planning on taking my first tarpon fishing trip to Florida in June.  Is a 10- or 11-weight rod suitable or do I need to go to a 12-weight? Can I use my Mirage LT IV for bonefish? I want a rod for midwest trout and bass.  Can you help me pick one? I typically modify my knotless leader back and forth.  But at what point should I replace my leader with a fresh one? What are your thoughts on glow-in-the-dark fly lines for striped bass at night? Which species does Tom always go barbless for, and which does he stick with a barbed hook? What is your take on the no-targeting regulation proposed for striped bass?

This episode was originally published on January 27th, 2022.

This week, my guest is Orvis casting guru Pete Kutzer [47:31], and we talk about casts for difficult trout. Often you don't need great casting skills or special casts to catch trout, but there are times when a little razzle-dazzle will make the difference. Pete talks about those situations and what to do--and he also introduces a new way of making a Bow-and -Arrow cast that was new to me. I think anyone can benefit from Pete's advice.

In the Fly Box this week, we have these great questions and tips from listeners:

What do you think about tying on eyeless hooks and making eyes out of silk bead cord?

What do you mean by the term "swinging flies"?

Can I target grass carp on a fly?

Can you ice fish with flies?

How do I fish a lake for trout from my kayak?

What do you think of the electric socks that are controlled by an app?

A great tip from a listener on avoiding spooking trout in small streams.

Can a figure-8 knot be used in fly fishing?

What do you recommend for a rod for fishing larger eastern rivers?

How can I correct a casting issue where my fly gets caught on my line-to-leader connection?

Do I need to buy a specific saltwater outfit for Belize or will my current steelhead rod work?

Do you recommend weed guards for fishing in Belize?

How much do brown trout move in the fall?

Do you think it's possible that a stocked tiger trout could have moved 30 miles from where it was stocked?

Can I overline my 3-weight rod by two line sizes for really short casts?

My wife has problems with glare on the water. Do you think there is something wrong with her eyes?

Which precautions should I take releasing trout in subzero weather?

This week's show is a Backcast episode from January 8th, 2021.

This week, we're continuing our series on winter fly fishing for trout.  I interview Antonio Rodrigues [42:50] manager of Front Range Anglers in Boulder, Colorado, and he has a different take on winter fly fishing, and some different methods.  I've found it fascinating to see how each guest approaches this differently and hope you pick up some tips as well.

In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips from listeners:

What do you use for a fly box when surf fishing?

I have not had good luck with guide trips and want to know what you recommend so I get a better trip next time.

Are fly rods built on continuous blanks and then cut into sections, or is each section made separately?  And are sections interchangeable from one rod to another?

What is the purpose of adding flash to nymph patterns?

A tip on using special flies for casting practice.

What do I do about fishing places where lots of swimmers have been?

Are wire bite guards worth it?Can I tie a 3X tippet to a 3mm tippet ring?

Are all Orvis leader lengths built to the same basic taper or are they different?

Another suggestion on where to donate flies you don't want.

What uses do you have for magnets when fishing?

What do I use huge streamer patterns like the Manbearpig for, and how should I fish them?

Originally posted February 5. 2012.

In the fly box this week, we talk about where fly tying materials come from, getting wet flies to swing deeper, fishing logs, and fishing small flies under water. In the main topic, we discuss different kinds of trout and how to fish for them--hatchery vs. wild, and pressured trout streams vs. remote trout streams. We've had some great suggestions for podcast topics lately so keep them coming

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?

I frequently get questions from listeners traveling to Europe, curious about fly fishing opportunities in Italy, France, Austria, and Switzerland. I've never fished there and don't have any answers, so I reached out to Miha Ivanc [40:52] of Krka River Lodge in Slovenia, who has fished all through the Alps. In the podcast you'll learn where to fish, what species to expect (like their native marbled trout), how to fish for them, and where to get permission to fish. It should be an eye-opener to most of us.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some particularly interesting questions, including:

• Can I use flies for ice fishing?
• I mostly fish lakes and am having problems on streams.  With long casts I get drag and with shorter casts I worry about spooking fish.  What should I do?
• Can I work downstream with a streamer and then work back up through the same water with a dry dropper?
• Is there a risk in tippet material breaking down in sunlight when it is on a tippet holder exposed to the sun?
• I see people catching trout on worms but I can't seem to fool them on flies.  What am I doing wrong and do you have any tips?
• Is it legal to raise jungle cock for feathers in the US, and is anyone doing it?
• A listener corrects me on a statement I made regarding using molted feathers from songbirds to tie flies.
• Do you have any tips for traveling to Chile to fish at Magic Waters?
• If I see water striders and small baitfish in a pool, does that mean there won't be any larger trout there?
• How much life can I expect from a leader I made myself?
• Can I tell the difference between wild and hatchery trout by looking at them?
• I can't seem to catch more than two trout from any one pool.  What am I doing wrong?

Jessica Strickland [38:07] is Trout Unlimited's California Inland Trout director and is an expert on the historical and curent range of this rare trout species. Where do they live today as compared to their original range? Can you still fish for them, and do you need to hike for many miles or are they more acessible close to a trailhead? You'll learn the answer to these questions and many more in this interview.

In the Fly Box this week we have some great questions, including:

For Colorado and Oklahoma trout fishing, should I get a 5-weight, 4-weight, or 3-weight rod?

Is there a rule for overlining a trout rod when it is longer than 9 feet?

Can I Spey cast with a single-handed rod?

The welded loop on my running line broke. What is the best way to make a new loop to attach it to my head?

Do you have any tips for catching stocked rainbow trout after they have been in the river for a while?

A great suggestion from a listener on how to educate other anglers from walking on trout redds.

My felt soles have not been working well. Are there different grades of felt on wading boots?

 What are the guidelines for tipping a guide?

When bushwacking should you carry your rod with the tip pointed forward or back? Can I leave the legs off small nymphs? I have trouble tying them in.

Can I tie a small fly on a bigger hook?

What are your tips for winter fishing in the Northeast?

Brant Oswald [23:20] is a veteran guide, teacher, and fly shop operator with over 40 years in the business.  He's one of the best spring creek anglers I know and guides on them almost every day, so I asked him to come up with some tips on better spring creek techniques.  Even if you never fish spring creeks, his tips really apply to any slow or low water situations so these tips will be valuable to any trout angler.   In the Fly Box this week, we have the usual great tips and questions, including:

• I have an old, heavy bamboo rod. I can't reel heavy enough to balance it. Is the balance between a rod and reel weight really that important?
• I am frustrated with fish eating my strike indicator. Should I tie a big egg pattern to act as a strike indicator?
• A suggestion for making a great cat toy out of old flies (with the hook cut off!) and a question about the use of cat hair in tying flies.
• What is the proper way to prevent drag? Should I mend my entire line or just the leader?
• A tip from a listener on how to keep fly line from wrapping around your rod tip.
• A tip from a listener on the best way to hang up your waders for the season.
• Why do waders often fail at the junction between the bootie and the upper?
• I just bought a drift boat and want to learn how to row. Should I hire a guide to take lessons on rowing?
• How do trout behave when the water gets higher and dirtier?

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?

 

Barry Ord Clarke [50:21] is one of the world's most popular fly tiers, through his books, videos, and web site.  Originally from the UK but living in Norway, Barry keeps his pulse on the world of fly tying on both sides of the Atlantic.  He discusses the fly patterns developed in North America that Europeans have embraced, and also details the history of some well-known and lesser-known European patterns and techniques that you may not have heard about.  It's a good way to get a broad overview of the international fly-tying community.   In the Fly Box this week, we have a short interview with bassist Daniel Kimbro [37:18] on a music festival he is organizing for flood relief in East Tennessee, and also some great tips and questions, including:

• How do I keep my fly line from wrapping around my rod when I am tying on a new fly?
• A listener is looking to add a 7-weight rod for bass fishing and throwing trout streamers and looks for advice.
• Can I use a 6-weight sinking or sink-tip line on both my 5-weight and 7-weight rods?
• Do you know of any good fly-fishing books for a 6-year-old?  And what is the best first saltwater fly-rod fish for kids?
• Is there a difference between Zonker strips and Rabbit strips?
• Why have I gotten occasional bite-offs from large brown trout?  
• Do you have any tips for casting wiggle-tails?  I have trouble casting them.
• Do you think eyes make a difference on pike flies?
• Can I legally keep songbird feathers that I find under my bird feeders?
• A tip for using toothpicks at the fly-tying bench.
• When tying a clinch knot, does it matter if you twist the fly or wind the tag end around the standing part?
• Any tips for the bow-and-arrow cast?
• How many more casts should you make in a small pocket if you miss a fish?
• Would it be unethical to target swarms of trout during spawning season?
• A listener gives a tip for tying a clinch knot at the bend of a hook to attach a dropper.
• If I move a trout on a streamer but do not connect, does it make sense to come back for that fish later in the day?

Did you know you can catch trout and tarpon in the same trip, along with exotic jungle species?  I didn't either, but Kevin Jackson [42:22] of Fly Fish Costa Rica shares with us the wide variety of fly fishing you can have in this diverse and well-preserved ecosystem. And also the rare wildlife you might see in this country that offers saltwater, jungle, and mountain trout fishing.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and hopefully answers that will help many of you solve the same problems in your fishing, including:

• I keep getting accused of "flossing" Pacific salmon when fly fishing for them but I see them aggressively take my flies.  What are your thoughts on this?
• What purpose does dubbing serve on a dry fly?  Does it add buoyancy?
• A listener thanks us for the podcast on knots and also on our support of policies to address climate change .
• I recently opened a box of my grandfather's tackle from 1944 that includes a bamboo rod, gut leaders, flies, and a silk fly line.  Should I use them?
• What sort of performance should I expect from the new Orvis Superfine bamboo fly rod?
• What impact will the recent disastrous floods in North Carolina have on the future of fly fishing?
• I want to purchase a vintage Orvis bamboo fly rod.  Would one be a reliable fishing tool?
• When I switch dry flies, should I be more concerned with size, pattern, or color?
• What can I do to prevent the unnatural curves in saltwater flies after they are used?
• My brother and I were using the same streamer in a slow-moving river.  I caught a bunch of fish and he didn't but I was casting my streamer at a different angle to the current.  Do you think this made the difference?