How to find great fly fishing close to home, with Greg DeMars
I've had a number of guests on the podcast teaching us about urban fly fishing and it will be an ongoing process because everyone has different takes on how to approach it. There is nothing better than a few hours of peace before or after work, without needing to drive for hours, and you can find it, even in the middle of our largest cities. My guest Greg DeMars [40:25] specializes in the urban fisheries around Dallas, Texas, but the tips he offers are valuable for any urban area throughout North America—and probably beyond. Urban fishing can be exciting and interesting and challenging—it's not just about trout or permit! In the Fly Box this week, I thought we had some unusually interesting questions, including: Will you ever have a podcast on targeting yellow perch on a fly rod? Is there any need for a "shorty" Euro line if I want to Euro nymph with my regular weight-forward line? Can't I just attach a very long leader? Are swimming holes "fish-free" zones or are they worth targeting in early season before the swimmers arrive? Where can I find Orvis BigEye hooks? When I fish in fast water I have problems shooting line because my excess line gets carried away by the current. I don't want to use a stripping basket. Is there another solution? I never use tippet, only leader material. Do I need special tippet? What knot would you recommend instead of the Perfection Loop? I have problems catching flying insects over a trout stream and my hat doesn't work. What would you suggest? How do you tell what fish are feeding on under the surface? Can you elaborate a bit on why you should make your first cast count? How important is that and how do I do it without making a few bad casts first? When tying nymphs, I have trouble getting CDC to wind evenly. And I don't like using a dubbing loop. Any tips on how to make my CDC flies look better? What tips or recommendations do you have for getting into fly tying?
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1:16:28
Best Practices for Wader Care and Fit, with Natalie Cullum
I get a lot of questions about wader care, storage, and washing instructions. Fit can also affect how long waders last and how comfortable they are. Waders are one of our most expensive purchases, outside of a rod and reel, and in order to make them last longer we need to take good care of them, so they stay waterproof and comfortable. My guest this week is Natalie Cullum [27:14], Orvis product developer in charge of waders and technical outerwear. She knows all about the fabric used in waders, the technology involved in their construction, and how critical fit is in their comfort and durability. If you are looking for a new pair of waders this season, or if you want to make your current pair of waders last longer, this podcast is essential listening. In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting questions and tips from listeners, including: Is the Orvis Tippet Knot a suitable substitute for the blood knot? Do you think there is a chance that dry-fly purism will come back? Does a saltwater line cast worse in fresh water? Can you suggest a use for the fluffy material at the base of a Coq de Leon feather? Do you have any tips for dry flies in salt water? A listener suggests some kind of national organization to purchase public lands that are planned on being sold as part of the inflation reduction act. Will there be Orvis Pro Wading Boots in size 15? What is it that Tom brings on the water that most people might not have in their pack or vest? I keep catching landlocked salmon of the same size. Can you suggest a way to target the bigger ones?
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1:04:00
Secrets of Southern Tailwaters, with Tic Smith
Tic Smith [37:18] is head guide at Orvis-endorsed Southeastern Anglers and is a veteran guide with many decades of experience on southern tailwaters. Our discussion centers on his home river, the Hiwassee, but the tips and tricks he shares will be valuable on many other tailwaters. He talks tackle, flies, presentation, and most importantly reading the water from a drift boat. In the Fly Box this week we have some great trips and interesting questions from listeners, including: Can I re-use an old Depth Charge running line with a shooting head, and if so how should I connect it to my heads? Can I put my reel in the water when landing a fish? Would the 7-foot, 9-inch Superfine Graphite rod be a good one for redeye bass? Will it add to the fun factor? A listener has a question about getting around another angler while fishing public water surrounded by private land. A biologist answers a question from a previous podcast—where are all the baby carp? What is this Tenkara stuff all about? Can I use conventional flies on a Tenkara outfit? An anonymous listener please for listeners to contact their elected representatives regarding the defunding of the EPA's Office of Research Development. How do native brook trout get so high up in remote streams? I can catch fish in low gradient brown trout streams on nymphs and dries but streamers don't seem to work. Why? Will floods that have increased flows tenfold in a river have a deleterious effect on the trout population? Can you recommend a good long dry-fly leader that is knotless? Is it as good as a hand-tied leader? What kind of fly-fishing gear should I avoid using in salt water?
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1:37:11
What Rahm Emanuel Loves About Fly Fishing
It's always interesting to find out that public figures can be as obsessed with fly fishing as we are. People like Harrison Ford, Jeff Daniels, Tucker Carlson, Bette Midler, Jimmy Kimmel, and Dick Cheney are all serious fly fishers. (And no, I don't have any of them on tap for my podcast). But Rahm Emanuel [37:25] is a dedicated listener to this podcast, and when I had a chance to interview him I took it. There is no politics in this podcast interview—just a fanatic fly fisher who talks about why he loves it, how he finds time in his busy life to go fly fishing, and what excites him the most about it. This was a lively and fun interview with a fair amount of good-natured ribbing. In the Fly Box this week I have no voice files to play (hint, hint) but lots of great e-mails with interesting questions and a few tips from listeners, including: A listener looks for advice on how to carry his fishing gear on a plane. How do I fish plunge pools? Why don't I catch anything in the deep spot below the waterfall? What rods do I need for fishing both small streams in Smoky Mountain streams and steelhead fishing in Ohio? A listener gives advice on the Orvis Dropper Rig Fly Box and why you need to check local regulations before you use a 3-fly rig. A listener relates a story of his great customer service experience Why did trout smash my size 20 dry fly but not connect? Will smallmouth bass and rainbow trout hold in the same water? What knots do you recommend for different presentations and why? What is the best way to get my fly under the mangroves without hanging up?
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1:19:57
All You Wanted to Know About Dubbing, with Tim Cammisa
I get lots of questions about dubbing, which is a simple process that we sometimes complicate with hundreds of different blends and as many opinions on how to apply it. But it's an essential skill in fly tying, so Tim [35:18] and I spend a whole podcast exploring types of dubbing, when you would use them, and different methods of applying this essential material. Tim is always a fun guest and this one is no exception. In the Fly Box this week, we have a some great tips from listeners and of course plenty of questions, including: A great tip from a listener on how to estimate a fly line size using a kitchen scale. Does UV resin dry completely? Can I add head cement to the head of my Elk Hair Caddis? What is the protocol for tipping at a fly-fishing school? When you carry extra lines to the river, do you put them on extra spools or carry extra reels? And where do you put them? I have some 20-year-old tippet I was given. Should I use it? Do you have any recommendations for easily transferable materials that can be used for fry flies as well as streamers? A tip from a listener on how to safely carry a full-size camera when fishing. Where do baby carp hide? I never see them. Does adding split shot make it harder to hook fish? A tongue-in-cheek story about using songbird feathers on flies. I want to buy a house on a trout stream. What should I know before I do this?
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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