The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

My guest this week is guide and fly shop owner Taylor Edrington [34:16] of Royal Gorge Anglers in Colorado. His home river, the Arkansas, has an amazing hatch of these bugs, but they also hatch on trout streams throughout the country some time between Tax Day and Mother's Day (and often beyond). It's a great hatch but often tricky as trout will many times key on the emerging pupa and not the adult. But Taylor has some tricks to help us solve the puzzle.
In the Fly Box this week, we have some questions that I think will be helpful to many people, such as:
Can I fish streamers on bright days in a river without much insect life?
Can I use a reel meant for a 7- to 9-weight rod on my 6-weight rod?
When you are fishing with other people on mountain creeks, do you ever use two-way radios?
I have trouble fishing really large rivers. What should I look for in giant rivers?
Will carp in a trout stream harm the trout population?
Can I use a Perfection Loop in my backing to attach a fly line?
Why aren't there different leaders for each line size?
Some casting instructors tell you to move your arm back and forth and other tell you to never do that. Is there a correct way to cast?
Do you think a recent flood hurt the trout population in my river? I have not seen as many trout after the flood.
Do you carry a multi-tool when you go fishing?

My guest this week is Simon Perkins [1:11], president of The Orvis Company and a third-generation family member to run the company. You may have heard about some major changes in Orvis' business over the past couple years, and Simon relates both his emotional struggle with restructuring the company and also his optimism about a laser focus on Orvis' core values: Fly fishing, upland hunting, and protection of our natural resources. Why there will be a greater emphasis on independent fly shops. And also the greatly streamlined Orvis apparel offering and how that affected which Orvis retail stores remained open.

Many of our favorite places to fish for wild trout are located on Forest Service lands. My guest this week is Paul Hendricks [29:45], executive director of The Conservation Alliance, which is an outdoor industry organization dedicated to maintaining the health of our public lands. Some recent developments threaten the continuing operation of the US Forest Service, and Paul tells us what these proposed changes are--what we can do to help mitigate some drastic changes, and ensure that the dedicated people who help maintain many of the places we love to fish have the resources they need.
In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more:
How can I make a 6-foot leader for fishing for trout in small creeks?
I always get tangled when fishing with multiple flies but not with a single dry fly. What am I doing wrong?
Why do brook trout in the Shenandoah area appear to grow bigger than they do in most northeastern streams?
How can I fish subsurface flies for panfish in very weedy waters?
A listener relates yet another story of trout feeding at night when a bright light shines on them.
How do I strip strike? Do I wait until I feel the fish? Is there a difference between tightening with your rod as opposed to tightening with your hand?
When fishing small, unpressured streams for trout and smallmouth bass, how long should I wait in between trips to the same spot?
When floating down a chute in my kayak, fishing for smallmouth bass, I know most of them will be at the bottom of the chute. Should I just float down over them and try to fish for them, or should I portage around the shoot? How spooky are they to a boat floating over them?

Permit on a floating fly?  Don't you need to fish heavy flies that get right to the bottom, where permit feed? Sometimes, but over the past decade permit anglers have discovered that permit eat crabs on the surface, and if you've spent enough time on salt water you will see crabs swimming along the surface. Fishing floating crabs make a lot of sense as you'll learn when you listen to this podcast with film maker and permit angler RA Beattie [27:05].
In the Fly Box this week, we have some questions that might solve problems you have had, including:
I have trouble with my fly wallet, either losing flies or tearing out the fleece. Is this a matter of user error?
Should I apply flotant to foam flies and flies with deer and elk hair, or will they float by themselves?
Do jig nymphs harm smaller trout?
If I use large beads on my nymphs, will they inhibit hooking qualities?
I have trouble with my line tangling when striper fishing. Do you have any tips?
Do featherwing streamers offer any advantages?
Why do people fish streamers smaller that a size 10 and when is it best to use them?
The hooks on my bonefish flies keep breaking . Why is this happening?

Urban fly fishing is fun and presents some challenges—like bystanders getting in the way of back casts and sometimes fishing from a location high above the water. And it's essential to know how to fish around bridges as these are sometimes the best habitat for urban fish. Marc Fryt [38:33], whose new book The Guide to Urban Fly Fishing is a treasure trove of tips for exploring this exciting world.
In the Fly Box this week we have some interesting questions and tips, including:
Is there a place I can explore saltwater fly fishing on foot without a guide? I can't afford one right now.
When storing fly tying materials, what should I do to prevent damage? Will excessive heat or cold in a garage or attic affect them?
Do you have any tips for catching my first grayling in a lake?
How should I set the drag on my reel?
Are Orvis' mid-priced rods like the new Recons just blanks from older versions of premium rods or are they completely new designs?
A listener reports that he uses a light for trout fishing at night and it does not spook the fish.
Why do my loop knots keep breaking when streamer fishing?
Why do you cast with your right hand and then reel with the same hand?
What do you think of competition jig hooks that ride upside-down?
I have a Clearwater 10-foot 4-weight that I use for dry-fly fishing and want to try Euro nymphing with it. Should I get a new reel or spool with a separate line or just switch my leader?