The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast Tom Rosenbauer, The Orvis Company

It's no secret that the more popular trout rivers in the Rocky Mountains have gotten more crowded in the past few years.  Yet there are so many species of fish that are fun with a fly rod, closer to home, and that live in places that are far less crowded.  Davis James shares his experience with the "25 On the Fly" event, where anglers in the Front Range try to catch 25 different species of fish on the fly rod in two days (no one has ever done it).  He share his tips for what species are available, how to find them, what tackle to use, and what fly patterns to try.  We all need to embrace these wonderful fish to have fun closer to home and to take pressure off our more productive trout streams.
 
In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips from listeners, including:
What percentage of the time do you use a dry dropper or double dry rig?
What weight fly rod is best for panfish?  And what flies should I use?
How do we ensure our fly fishing traditions are passed on to the younger generation?
How can I make my dry dropper rig drift tight to the opposite bank?
Is fly fishing for carp popular in Europe?
How do I organize and carry my wide assortment of trout flies?  How does Tom do it?
How can I fish for panfish and largemouth bass in an old gravel pit that drops off steeply?
A great tip from a listener about how to tie a more durable egg pattern
I was fishing a double dry rig for fish rising to small mayflies and my imitation was perfect but I didn't fool as many fish as I should have.  What should I have done differently?
I have trouble threading my tippet onto a small dry fly.  Can I tie the tippet to the bend of the hook instead?

I get lots of questions about polarized sunglasses—how are they made, what exactly do they do, glass vs. plastic, what color lens should I pick, and do expensive ones really offer an advantage?  And why can't I get clear polarized sunglasses for low light?  My guest, Renato Cappuccitti [41:51], is an expert on polarized sunglasses and will answer your questions and mine about one of the most essential pieces of gear.
 
In the Fly Box this week we have some thoughtful and interesting questions and comments, including:
Why can't I get braided leaders any more?
Can I just put a long level tippet on a braided leader?
My brook trout stream does not seem to have any fish larger than five inches.  Do you think there are any bigger ones in there?
I was fishing a sulfur hatch and it started raining and the fish turned off completely.  Why do you think this happened?
How can I eliminate wind knots when fishing a dropper rig?
My girlfriend has trouble stripping in fish.  Do you have any tips for improving her coordination?
What are the pros and cons of furled leaders?
My floating line starts to sink after fishing for a while.  Can I apply gel flotant to it?
A listener reminds us that for many balance problems while fishing the best place for help is to find a licensed physical therapist
My fly line broke eight feet from the tip.  Can I still use it?
How many leaders should I carry in my leader wallet?
A listener reminds us that too often when wading we worry about dropping our rod or phone in the water at the expense of safety.
An expert on UV cure adhesives gives advice on using the right wavelength of light and the correct amount of time and distance to use the light.
If you have a 9-foot 5-weight and a 10-footer in the Helios models, what reason is there to have a 9-foot, 5-inch model?
How can I avoid putting a set into my bamboo fly rod?
How can I catch brook trout in high water?
 

 
What is a delayed harvest stream and how do the regulations work?  Do you use different flies and methods for hatchery fish?  How far do hatchery fish move and in which direction?  You'll learn the answers to these questions and many more with Dustin Coffey [46:39], the winner of the 2024 Orvis Endorsed Guide of the Year award.
 
In the podcast this week, as usual we have some interesting and thought-provoking questions, including:
Does fly line color matter?
Why don't my subtle baitfish patterns work in Patagonia?
Can I use my big brown trout streamers for Atlantic salmon since they are related to brown trout?
How deep do you insert studs when adding them to felt-soled waders?
How do I get my streamers deeper when fishing for sea-run brook trout in rivers where weighted flies and sinking lines are not allowed?
Is it acceptable if I troll from a kayak for striped bass, and what rod should I use?
A listener writes in to tell us that the orange goo found in some rivers is a natural phenomenon
What do I use for a practice streamer when casting on my lawn?
Does the noise from my wading shoes and wading staff scare trout?
Do trout live in streams with mucky bottoms?
Any other casting methods besides the roll cast I can use on smaller streams?
I fished over some rising trout with my nymph rig and didn't catch them.  Should I have switched to a dry fly?
How should I rig for pike?
What are the pros and cons of using an 8 ½ foot rod vs. a 9-foot rod in Colorado tailwaters?
When do you put down your rod and take photos?
How can I get the cement off my hooks when I want to re-use the hooks from beat-up Clouser Minnows?

Breckenridge Outfitters is this year's winner of the Orvis Endorsed Outfitter of the Year Award and Tim West [44:07] is the glue that holds this fabulous guide service together.  In the interview, Tim talks about how to decide which fly to tie on at the beginning of the day, or when you first approach the water.  Do you start with a streamer, a nymph, a wet fly, a dry fly, or some combination of them?  What clues should you observe to decide which one to try?
 
We have some fascinating questions this week in the fly box, questions I am sure many of you think about yourself, including:
Can you explain the difference between fast, medium, and slow fly rods?
I noticed a bright orange sludge-like material on the bottom of my stream.  Should I stay away from this one?
Do you think kayaks spook trout more than belly boats?
After a rod, reel, and line, what piece of gear should I consider next?
When tying to fill a fly box, should I tie one of each pattern or 4 or 5 of the same one?
Is there a disadvantage of using a perfection loop instead of a non-slip mono loop when tying on a streamer?
If I see a heron in a pool in a small stream, should I move on and avoid that pool?
Would it work to have a leader with a very long butt section, a short transition section, and a very long tippet?
Why do trout eat or reject an imitation of a midge pupa in a lake?
Do you think a 5-weight outfit is a good rod for taking to Alaska?
Why don't my marabou flies stay fluffy once they have been used?
A listener tip for tying a dropper to the bend of a hook.

 
Carp are difficult any time but around spawning time they can be extremely frustrating.  But they can be caught on a fly.  You need to know where to look and which fish to target.  Guide Rowan Lytle [44:38] has it dialed in, and if you always wanted to catch a carp on the fly you need to listen to this podcast.  Rowan, not yet 30 years old, has already caught 202 different species of fish on a fly rod, and some of them will surprise you.  But you'll need to listen to the podcast to find out what they are.
 
In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips from listeners, including:
 I tip for taming your line and leader when you don't use a hook keeper
How far do I hold my UV lamp form the fly when curing UV epoxy?
What do I do on my local lake when the Power Bait crowd out-fishes me?
How do I catch catfish on a fly rod?
Do you fish different caddis pupa patterns for cased vs. uncased caddis?
How do different holes in a river change throughout the season?
Should I fish dry flies and nymphs in a lake different from the way I fish them in streams?
Do weed guards on flies actually work in thick vegetation?
If we see mayflies about size 12 hatching in our lake, should we use a size 12 nymph or one smaller?
What is the difference between flow, thin, and thick UV resins and when should I use each one?
My size 20 grizzly hackle keeps breaking.  Do you have any tips for keeping tension and not breaking the stems?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying a complete outfit vs. separate components?
A tip from a listener on whether to use your wading staff upstream or downstream of your position.
I want to start tying flies.  What pattern would you recommend I start with?  
What are your favorite bass and bluegill flies?

 
My guest this week is Sarah Foster [54:15], executive director of The American Museum of Fly Fishing, on why she thinks learning about the history and traditions surrounding fly fishing are important and add to our enjoyment.  She talks about recent exhibits and acquisitions, and what is in store for the future of the museum.  It's a must-see for anyone visiting southern Vermont.
 
In the Fly Box this week, we have some especially interesting questions and tips from listeners, including:
Why do I keep getting strikes on nymphs while stripping them upstream like a streamer?
Is the throat of a pool a common place to find trout feeding?
At what temperature does a brown trout start to actively feed?
When I see a pod of rising trout, why can I only fool one fish even though the other ones continue to feed?
How do older Orvis bamboo fly rods compare to contemporary models?
I found eggs in holdover brown trout in the spring.  Were these fish that never found a mate?
I have trouble with rabbit's foot hair coming loose on my flies.  How do I secure it better?
If you only had one line for striped bass from shore, what line would you choose?
How much time before the incoming or outgoing tide should I fish for striped bass?
Can you explain exactly what a shock tippet is?
What is your "last fly" during the evening hatch when it gets tough to see?
Do polarized sunglasses lose their effectiveness over time?
A listener gives a tip for an easier way to tie a surgeon's knot
A listener gives a caution about fishing below sewage treatment plants after a major flood event
My 70-denier thread keeps breaking.  What could be the problem?
What feathers from a chicken are useful in fly tying?
I fish a 6-weight rod and want a different rod for smaller streams.  What should I pick?
I always use a wading staff.  Is the metal tip on the staff an alarm clock for trout, and have you ever put on a rubber tip to prevent this?