The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
Episodes
Fly Tying Talk, with Charlie Craven
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I have been meaning to get Charlie Craven [37:41] of Charlie's Fly Box in Denver on the podcast for quite some time and we finally connected. Charlie ...
Secrets of the Best Early Season Mayfly Hatch, with Blake Katchur
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as we explore the fascinating world of early season olive hatches with expert fly fisherman Blake Katchur [35:42] of Front Range Anglers in De...
BONUS EPISODE: Tom Rosenbauer on 50 Years at Orvis, Great Outdoor Writers, and a Little Bird Hunting
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, Tom took time to chat with Reid on the Orvis Hunting and Shooting Podcast about his 50 years at Orvis. If you're interested in hunting, shoo...
Back Cast: John McPhee and his Favorite Fish
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally published on August 19th, 2021. This week's podcast guest is especially exciting to me as he is one of my literary heroes....
Back Cast: Traveling with Fly-Fishing Gear, with Seth Berger
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally published on February 17th, 2023. This week is my guest Seth Berger [1:00:18], Fly Fishing Travel Specialist with Orvis Ad...
Did You Know About Shoal Bass? With Quint Rogers
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week I interview Quint Rogers [31:43], a fly fishing guide specializing in shoal bass fishing in Georgia. We discuss the unique characteristics o...
10 Tips For Better Line Mending, With Mike Pease
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you think mending is just lifting your rod and flipping it upstream—well sometimes it is—but there is so much more you can do with line mends t...
Is it a Steelhead or a Rainbow? With Katie Kobayashi
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When is a trout a steelhead and when is it a rainbow? Are steelhead just rainbow trout that migrate to the ocean? Is it something in their genes or ...
Don't Make These 6 Mistakes in Stillwater Trout Fishing, with Joe Garza
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Orvis-endorsed guide Joe Garza [32:54], a guide from JAG Fly Fishing, who explains the intricacies of still water trout fishing....
Don't Play The Fly-Fishing Game By Someone Else's Rules, with Thi Nguyen
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is philosophy professor and fly fisher Thi Nguyen [33:31], who has spent his career studying the psychology and the value of games ...
Six Tips for Winter Streamer Fishing, with Brian Slusser
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, my guest is Brian Slusser [32:13], an Orvis endorsed guide based in Truckee, California, who tells us about the nuances of winter str...
Tips for Fly-Fishing Backpacking Trips, with Derek Bargaehr
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Want to get away from the crowds? Want a high mountain lake or stream all to yourself? The best way to do this is to take a backpacking trip, but yo...
Backcast: Foraging Along Trout Streams, with Sam Thayer
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally published on July 14th, 2023. I think most stream anglers are interested in foraging, since we're immersed in nature all d...
Backcast: Late Fall and Winter Nymphing, with Alex Waller
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally published on November 3rd, 2022. My guest this week is Alex Waller [41:36] from New Zealand. You've likely seen his great ...
Backcast: All About Bamboo Fly Rods, with Shawn Brillon
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally published on August 19th, 2022. Want to know how a bamboo fly rod is made? How long it takes to make one? How many differe...
Backcast: Fly Fishing from Canoes and Kayaks, with Ryan Lilly of Old Town Canoe
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally published on March 10th, 2023. Learn how to decide between a canoe and a kayak, what kind to get, and how to maneuver and ...
How to Take Great Fishing Pictures with Your Smartphone, with Chris Niccolls
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is photography expert and co-host of the Petapixel podcast Chris Niccolls [28:39]. Chris has access to nearly every kind of expensi...
What's Going on in Florida, with Captain Dan Andrews
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Captain Dan Andrews [37:51], co-founder and CEO of Captains for Clean Water, one of Orvis' most trusted conservation partners. O...
Hot Tips on Using Split Shot, with Dom Swentosky
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I am not a big fan of using split shot but after this interview with Dom Swentosky [36:41] of the Troutbitten blog and podcast, I'm going to use it a ...
How to Pick a Floating Trout Line, with Jesse Haller
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Confused about which floating trout line to pick when you need a new one? I'm not surprised as today there is a dizzying array of options and nearly e...
Fishing for Coastal Cutthroats, with Dylan Tomine
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I've had requests in the past for a podcast about chasing coastal cutthroats, so this week my guest is author, "retired" guide, and all-around thought...
Knotted Leaders, Furled Leaders, Braided Leaders—and Favorite Knots, with Brian Flechsig
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I've wanted to get Brian Flechsig of Mad River Outfitters [49:59] on the podcast for quite a while and we finally made it happen. Brian is the star of...
Fly Fishing for Steelhead and Salmon in Estuaries, with Reed Teuscher
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You can catch salmon and steelhead on a fly in salt water before they enter rivers. The fish are bright and strong and may still be actively feeding b...
What to do When you Encounter Lousy Fishing Conditions, with James Spica
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It happens to all of us, and sometimes it seems like every time we take a fishing trip, conditions are less than ideal. Water too high, water too low,...
Backcast: 16 Things I Wish I Knew About Trout Spey Before I Started, with Shawn Combs
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally published on October 11th, 2019. In today's podcast my guest is Shawn Combs, head of Orvis Rod & Tackle product developmen...
Backcast: Top-Secret Steelhead Tips, with Stefan Woodruff
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast was originally published on December 28th, 2016. In this podcast Stefan Woodruff, Orvis-endorsed guide with Ellensburg Anglers in Washing...
The 50-Year History of Orvis Graphite Fly Rods, with Tom Rosenbauer
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week my guest is—me [34:55]. I asked Reid Bryant of the Orvis Wingshooting Podcast to interview me because I have worked at Orvis for 49 of t...
All About Knotless Leaders and Line/Leader Connections, with Josh Jenkins
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Josh Jenkins [43:59] of Scientific Anglers and originally I wanted to interview him just on knotless leaders—their design, how...
The Mysterious Mary Orvis Marbury, with Historian Steve Woit
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Orvis Marbury, daughter of Orvis founder Charles Orvis, is an important figure in the history of American fly fishing. She was the first person t...
The Magic of Pheasant Tail, with Craig Mathews
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before you write this one off if you don't tie flies, although this is a podcast on a fly tying material, there is much more in this one. Like how to ...
Secrets of the World's Most Successful Permit Angler, with Mike Ward
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Ward [46:32], owner of Adipose Boat Works, recently tied Del Brown's lifetime permit count with 513 permit caught on a fly rod. On a bamboo fly r...
Backcast: Late Summer Terrestrials, with Jenny Mayrell-Woodruff
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally published on August 14th, 2018 This week I have the pleasure of interviewing Jenny Mayrell-Woodruff [40:26]—the Orvis-en...
Ten Mistakes to Avoid When Learning Fly Fishing, with Phil Monahan, Editor of Midcurrent.com
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I know a lot of listeners are relatively new to the fly-fishing game, and so I asked Phil Monahan [30:31], editor of Midcurrent.com (who also helps...
Fly Fishing in Chesapeake Bay, with Scott Barmby
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Scott Barmby [35:56], director of the Orvis Chesapeake Fly Fishing Schools, who educates us on threats to the Bay's population o...
Mousing at Night for Monster Brown Trout, with Joe Cermele
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Joe Cermele [40:00], who you may know from his podcast "Cut and Retie", or from his work over the years at Field & Stream as a w...
Back Cast: 15 Tips for Fishing Emergers, with Pat Dorsey
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally aired on June 16th, 2023. OK, I lied. There aren't 15 tips. There are probably more and if you want to count them up you c...
Who is the Finest Fishing Guide Who Ever Lived? With Monte Burke
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is one of fly fishing's best writers and storytellers Monte Burke [31:35], whose writing you may have seen in Garden & Gun, Forbes,...
All About Public Lands and a Major Win, with Joel Pedersen of TRCP
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've recently won a big battle for public lands, and my guest this week, Joel Pedersen [25:56] of Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, fills ...
Secrets of an Award-Winning Guide, with Antoine Bissieux
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Antoine Bissieux [38:28], Orvis-Endorsed Guide of the Year for 2025. Antoine, otherwise known as The French Fly Fisherman, reg...
How to Get Started in Carp Fishing, with Rick Mikesell
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I offer no apologies for being a carp evangelist. They live almost anywhere, they are here to stay (they were stocked in many places in North America ...
Back Cast: Twelve Tips for Fishing Dry Flies, with Todd Tanner
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally published on November 20th, 2023. Todd Tanner [43:02] is a lifelong fly fisher and journalist and spent years as a guide o...
Secrets of Trout Fishing in Spain, with Ivan Tarin
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many North Americans would love to catch brown trout in their native environment, and most of us think of the UK or France or Slovenia for wild, nativ...
Back Cast: Secrets of Small-Stream Trout Fishing, with Guide Charity Rutter
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Gr...
The Poetry of Fly Fishing
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 fisher...
The Seven Deadly Sins of Playing and Landing Fish, with Josh Nugent
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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?...
Fishing for Sea-Run Trout, with Krystjan from Fish Partner in Iceland
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, ...
How Do I Get My Fly-Fishing Writing Published? With Ross Purnell, Editor of Fly Fisherman Magazine
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
How to find great fly fishing close to home, with Greg DeMars
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Best Practices for Wader Care and Fit, with Natalie Cullum
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Secrets of Southern Tailwaters, with Tic Smith
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tic Smith [37:18] is head guide at Orvis-endorsed Southeastern Anglers and is a veteran guide with many decades of experience on southern tailwater...
What Rahm Emanuel Loves About Fly Fishing
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, Tuc...
All You Wanted to Know About Dubbing, with Tim Cammisa
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I get lots of questions about dubbing, which is a simple process that we sometimes complicate with hundreds of different blends and as many opinion...
Ozark Smallmouth Bass, with Country Singer JD Clayton
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is country singer JD Clayton [35:35], a talented singer/songwriter and all-around nice guy who loves to fly fish for smallmouth bas...
Get Ready for this Year's Cicada Hatch, with Dave Zielinski
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week my guest Dave Zielinski [39:53], author of the comprehensive book Cicada Madness, tells us when and where you can encounter this year's b...
All About Crayfish and How to Fish Their Imitations, with Jake Villwock
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Crayfish are prey that most gamefish can't resist. They're high in calories, abundant, and relatively easy for bass, trout, and many other gamefish...
Backcast: George Daniel on Winter Fly Fishing
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally published on January 30th, 2021 This week, continuing our series of podcasts on winter fly fishing for trout, I intervi...
Backcast: More Winter Fishing Tips with Rachael Leinweber
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally published on January 14th, 2021. My guest this week is Rachael Leinweber [39:38], general manager of The Angler's Covey...
Be Prepared for Medical Emergencies When Fly Fishing, with Mike Tayloe
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Mike Tayloe [33:07], who is a fishing guide, EMT, and wilderness medicine trainer. Tayloe (he prefers this to Mike) has tra...
Ten tips on making your fishing writing better, with Dave Karczynski
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dave is one of the best young voices in fly fishing [38:14]. He's the real deal—he is a fishy guy and can handle a fly rod with the best of them, bu...
How Agriculture and Trout Unlimited Work Together, with Cameron Aker
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many of our trout waters run through agricultural areas. We need food and clean water and we'd like to fish for trout in these waters, but sometime...
New Tips on Playing and Releasing Trout, with vs Jim McLennan
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I often get questions about the proper way to play and release trout and I invited Jim McClennan [42:51] to talk about his tips and his philosophy...
Creating New Trout Streams, with Chris Wood of Trout Unlimited
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Well, maybe we're not creating new trout streams, but we are creating waters that now support trout and cold, clean water by mitigating abandoned mine...
What You Get When You Upgrade Your Fly Rod, with Shawn Combs
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What benefits do you get when you upgrade from a $40 Big Box store rod to a Clearwater or Encounter? How much better is a Recon rod, and will you se...
How to Fly Fish from a Paddleboard, with Peter Laurelli
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 f...
Backcast: Casts for Difficult Trout
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 fo...
Backcast: Winter Fishing Tips from Boulder, with Antonio Rodrigues
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 A...
Backcast: Hatchery Trout vs Wild, Pressured vs Remote
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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, fi...
How to get Started in Trout Spey, with Pete Kutzer
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Fishing the Alps, with Miha Ivanc
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I frequently get questions from listeners traveling to Europe, curious about fly fishing opportunities in Italy, France, Austria, and Switzerland. I'v...
The Elusive Golden Trout, with Jessica Strickland
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 trou...
14 Tips for Spring Creek Fishing, with Brant Oswald
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 angler...
So, You Want a Job in the Fly-Fishing Industry? With Kirk Deeter
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 visi...
North American and European Fly Tying Cross Pollination, with Barry Ord Clarke
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Trout, Tarpon, and Other Critters in Costa Rica, with Kevin Jackson
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Fi...
Backcast: Fishing through climate change, with John Gierach
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tom is on a fishing trip this week. While on this trip he learned his friend and legendary fly-fishing author, John Gierach had passed away at 78. In ...
Is Fly Fishing Really Good for Your Mental Health? With Melissa Ceren
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We keep hearing that fly fishing is good for your mental health. It gets you out in the natural world, involves problem solving, and keeps you active ...
Secrets to Tying Good Fishing Knots, with Robert Ketley
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I have long enjoyed Robert Ketley's [31:06] column in California Fly Fisher magazine because he often delves deeply into aspects of fly fishing that ...
Who Owns the River, with Beau Beasley
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who owns the banks of a river? Who owns the bottom? Who owns the water that flows through a channel? And what defines whether a river is navigable o...
Secrets of Late-Season Panfishing, with Bart Lombardo
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Panfish are easy to find and catch in the spring and early summer. But later in the season, not so much. Panfish are still around, but we need to lo...
What's it like to run a fishing lodge? With Tim and Joanne Linehan
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are the pleasures and pitfalls of running a successful fishing lodge? What's it really like behind the scenes? And how did a couple kids fro...
How to Plan a DIY Fishing Trip, with Joe Bibbo
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Bibbo [32:10] has a great back story and is a wonderful storyteller himself. He's done a lot of DIY fishing, mainly from his home in the East t...
What fly-fishing's trade association does for conservation, with Lucas Bissett
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Lucas Bissett [38:42], executive director the AFFTA, the trade association for the fly-fishing industry. Lucas talks about th...
Wild and Crazy Stories from an Award-Winning Fly-Fishing Guide, with Chip Swanson
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I take guilty pleasure in hearing horror stories from guides about their worst clients or other crazy things that happen on the river. Orvis-Endo...
Tricks for Casting Big Flies, with Pete Kutzer
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's no doubt that casting a size 6 weighted streamer is more difficult than a size 14 Parachute Adams. The physics are different, no way around...
What Trout Hear and Smell, with Jason Randall
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A couple months ago I did a podcast with Jason Randall [36:39] on trout vision, and it was so popular that I asked him to come back on the podcast ...
Peacock Bass in South Florida, with Capt. Drew Rodriguez
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Captain Drew Rodriguez [27:23] is the only Orvis-endorsed freshwater guide in Florida and specializes in largemouth and peacock bass in the canals n...
Fly Fishing in Central Park, with Brandon Dale
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brandon Dale [43:32] is a licensed New York State guide who specializes in fishing, of all places, Central Park in the middle of The Big Apple. You...
Innovative Techniques from UK Stillwater Anglers
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I feel that European stillwater anglers are far more sophisticated in their approach to stillwater trout fishing and have studied it in more detail...
Backcast: 7 Deadly Sins of Nymph Fishing, with Josh Nugent
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was originally posted on March 10, 2022. Josh Nugent of Out Fly Fishing in Calgary has been doing a series of "Seven Deadly Sins" podcast...
The secrets of using the Blue Dot method for urban fly fishing, with Devin Lancaster
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last week we looked at urban fly fishing in the Rockies. This week we venture into the American south with Orvis Atlanta fishing manager Devin Lanca...
Fly-fishing for alternative species in the Rocky Mountains, with Davis James
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 speci...
All About Polarized Sunglasses, with Renato Cappuccitti of Bajio
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
How to Fish Delayed Harvest Trout Streams, with Award-Winning Guide Dustin Coffey
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
What's the First Fly to Tie On? With Award-Winning Outfitter Tim West
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 fabul...
Secrets of Carp Fishing Around Spawning Time, with Rowan Lytle
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Are Fly-Fishing Traditions and History Important? with Sarah Foster
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How to Test and Keep Your Balance When Wading, with Scott Ducharme
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scott [41:18] is an assistant professor of motor control and learning at Long Beach University, as well as a fly fisher and podcast listener. He has...
This Podcast May Save Your Life, with Ralph Cutter
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ralph Cutter [36:53] is an extremely perceptive, pragmatic angler with a lifetime of experience in white water, both fishing and in watercraft and wat...
How to Preserve Native Trout Species, with Ted Williams
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The use of the natural toxin rotenone to remove invasive, non-native species of trout to protect native species is a controversial topic. Does it real...
Tips for Early Season Trout-Fishing Success, with BJ Gerhart
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is guide BJ Gerhart [33:50], a longtime veteran guide at Three Rivers Ranch in Idaho and one of the savviest anglers I know. ...