Back Cast: Secrets of Small-Stream Trout Fishing, with Guide Charity Rutter
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
This episode was originally published on February 5th, 2024. My guest this week is Charity Rutter [39:50], a great friend and longtime guide in the Great Smoky Mountains. She and her husband Ian have just finished a great book (I read the manuscript and loved it) and although it won't be available until April, you can pre-order it here: https://randrflyfishing.com/store/fly-fishing-guide-to-great-smoky-mountains-national-park/ Charity shares her secrets for making more out of your time on small waters, and although she concentrates on her area, she has fished small streams...
info_outline
The Poetry of Fly Fishing
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
We're not talking about the poetry of a fly cast made by Pete Kutzer, but poetry about fly fishing, some of the well known poets who were fly fishers, and why the appeal of poetry and fly fishing have much in common. My guest, Andrew Grace [29:19], is a published poet and professor of English, and he'll read us some of his own work as well as from poets like Jim Harrison and Chris Dombrowski. It's a real departure from our usual subjects and I hope you enjoy it. In the Fly Box this week, we get more into our typical nitty-gritty subjects like: Is there a rule of thumb...
info_outline
The Seven Deadly Sins of Playing and Landing Fish, with Josh Nugent
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
Every week I get some iteration of this question: "I hooked three fish and lost all of them before I could get them to the net. What am I doing wrong?" Well, often you did nothing wrong and it was just bad luck. But there are steps you can take to make sure you land the fish you've hooked and Josh Nugent [36:46], a regular on my podcast and one of the most thoughtful anglers I know, presents us with his Seven Deadly Sins. There are lots of helpful nuggets in this one. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips: You say I can fish small streamers on my 5-weight rod....
info_outline
Fishing for Sea-Run Trout, with Krystjan from Fish Partner in Iceland
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
I get frequent questions on the fly box about fishing for sea trout, or sea-run brown trout. I've never caught one and have never fished for them, so I brought in an expert on the subject, Krystjan [35:21] from Fish Partner in Iceland, owner of the organization Orvis uses for its hosted trips (and I'm hosting one in July) to Iceland and a fanatic fly fisher. He talks about seasons, conditions, presentations, and of course fly patterns to catch these hard-fighting versions of the brown trout we know and love in our inland streams. In the Fly Box this week, we have a...
info_outline
How Do I Get My Fly-Fishing Writing Published? With Ross Purnell, Editor of Fly Fisherman Magazine
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
Inside nearly every fly fisher is a budding writer, eager to share their passion with the world. I've done podcasts on how to write better fly-fishing stories in the past, and figured it was time to talk to an editor and publisher about how you can get your masterpiece published. Ross Purnell [32:15], editor and publisher of Fly Fisherman magazine, was happy to share his advice on this subject—and no one in the fly-fishing world has more experience in this topic than Ross. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great tips from listeners, some questions that I've...
info_outline
How to find great fly fishing close to home, with Greg DeMars
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
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...
info_outline
Best Practices for Wader Care and Fit, with Natalie Cullum
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
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...
info_outline
Secrets of Southern Tailwaters, with Tic Smith
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
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...
info_outline
What Rahm Emanuel Loves About Fly Fishing
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
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...
info_outline
All You Wanted to Know About Dubbing, with Tim Cammisa
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
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...
info_outline
- 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?