The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
Episodes
How Trout See, with Jason Randall
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can trout see color? Can they see UV light? How does a trout's window on the outside world affect how they feed and how they notice predators like...
All About the Henry's Fork, with Brandon Hoffner
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Brandon Hoffner [35:55], executive director of the Henry's Fork Foundation, and the topic is the diverse habitat and trout-fishi...
Disturbing News on Montana's Smith River, with David Brooks
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Montana Supreme Court recently reversed a decision that would have blocked a copper mine on the headwaters of the Smith River. Where we thought ...
A New Way of Fishing a Dry Dropper, with Josh Miller
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Miller [43:10] is a guide and has been a competitive angler and coach for years and he, like many young fly fishers, is an innovative angler who ...
How Fly Rods Are Developed, with Shawn Combs
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is Orvis rod designer and my fishing buddy Shawn Combs [14:05], who uses the new Helios rods as an example of how a new rod series...
The Amazing World of Trout Stream Bugs, with Anna Le
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is educator and aquatic entomologist Anna Le [18:57], who introduces us to the amazing world of trout-stream invertebrates. She ...
California's Diverse Wild Trout Populations, with Charlie Schneider
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week my guest is Charlie Schneider [45:30] from Cal Trout, a great organization that Orvis has supported over the years because they are really e...
Secrets of Small-Stream Trout Fishing, with Guide Charity Rutter
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 fini...
How to Become a Better Wader, with Lindsay Kocka
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lindsay Kocka [42:30] is a fly-fishing instructor, formally trained natural movement and strength coach, mobility specialist, yoga teacher, and mindfu...
All about Floating Fly Lines, with Josh Jenkins
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
All about Floating Fly Lines, with Josh Jenkins What is the difference between freshwater and saltwater fly lines? How about warmwater and cold-w...
How to Spot Fish on Saltwater Flats, with Jason Franklin
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are there any tricks to spotting fish on saltwater flats, especially if it's your first time? You may be disappointed to hear that there is no magic...
Saving rivers, with Western Rivers Conservancy's Sue Doroff
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week's podcast is a recording of a live interview I did with Sue Doroff [48:56], co-founder and outgoing president of The Western Rivers Conse...
A Half Century of Fly-Tying Evolution, with Tim Flagler
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How has fly-tying changed in the past 50 years? It's changed a great deal in the time Tim Flagler [43:55] and I have been practicing it, and I often...
How Water Temperature Affects Saltwater Flats Fish, with Aaron Adams
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We frequently discuss water temperature in regard to trout fishing but you seldom hear much about how water temperature affects popular fly-rod fish l...
Backcast: Tom's Top-Ten Tips for Winter Fly Fishing
10 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This show on winter fly-fishing was originally posted on 28 January, 2011. Before we had interviews, the Flybox, or even call-ins, it was just Sir Tom...
The Power of Observation in Fly Fishing, with Guide Cliff Weisse
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Careful observation, active instead of passive, is the hallmark of a good fly fisher. They pick up patterns by observing exactly where in the river ...
Backcast: A Life in Fly fishing, with Tom McGuane
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Originally Posted on March 3rd, 2023 Back in 2008 when I first began this podcast I had two dreams—that I would have my two literary heros, John McP...
Twelve Tips for Fishing Dry Flies, with Todd Tanner
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Todd Tanner [43:02] is a lifelong fly fisher and journalist and spent years as a guide on the Henry's Fork, one of the best (and toughest) dry-fly riv...
Must-Reads in Classic Fly-Fishing Literature, with Michael Checchio
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I get frequent questions from listeners on what I would recommend they read in fly-fishing literature, as there is so much out there it's tough to sor...
We're "Fixing" Trout Streams All Wrong, With Chris Jordan
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Chris Jordan [41:13], a scientist with NOAA who specializes in habitat restoration. His view is that, in our arrogance, we've ...
15 Ways to Break a Fly Rod, with Charlie Robinton
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Besides breaking your fly rod in those boring old ways like car doors or ceiling fans, there are other, less obvious ways and most of them are prevent...
A new nymph fishing technique and the under-rated 10-foot fly rod, with George Daniel
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is the great George Daniel [42:00], who is always pushing the envelope, evolving and experimenting. He tells us why he uses a 10-...
Managing instream flows, with Hal Herring
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hal Herring [50:31] has been reporting on conservation issues in the American West for over 30 years for Field & Stream magazine as well as other pu...
Learning from Trout DNA, with Helen Neville
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Helen Neville [38:57] is Trout Unlimited's senior scientist and also an expert in trout genetics. In this interview, we talk about what scientists h...
Secrets of the Battenkill, with Doug Lyons
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Battenkill is an iconic and often frustrating trout stream. It's a gorgeous river with a healthy population of wild trout but it has had its ups...
Tips on fishing high alpine lakes, with George Hunker
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is long-time Orvis-endorsed guide George Hunker [49:26], who has won two awards (guide of the year and the coveted lifetime achiev...
Seven Deadly Sins of Pike Fishing, with Josh Nugent
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Northern pike are a fascinating and explosive fish to catch on a fly rod. There is not much that beats a big northern smashing a streamer close to ...
Tips for urban fly fishing, with James Spica
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You may have some amazing fly fishing right in your neighborhood even if you live in a big city. Urban fly fishing may not be pristine, but it ha...
Ten tips for summer smallmouth, with award-winning guide Matt Miles
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Matt Miles [55:11], 2023 Orvis Guide of the Year. Matt has extensive experience guiding for trout in the Rocky Mountains, but ...
Small stream bluelining in the Rockies, with Jeremie Prine
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Jeremie Prine [47:39], owner and head guide of Dunoir Fly Fishing Adventures of Dubois, Wyoming. He specializes in fishing sma...
Montana trout suffer mysterious disease, with Wade Fellin
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week my guest is guide and lodge owner Wade Fellin [45:48] of Big Hole River Lodge. Wade is on the vanguard of trout health in Montana, particula...
Foraging along trout streams, with Sam Thayer
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I think most stream anglers are interested in foraging, since we're immersed in nature all day long and although we watch for fish and insects and bir...
Fishing the Baja surf on foot with Scott Sadil
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Scott Sadil [41:39], author and Fly Fishing Editor of Gray's Sporting Journal, is a pioneer in fishing the surf in Baja, and in his many years of exp...
The insidious Nature of Neonic Pesticides, with Michael Miller
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Warning—this week's podcast with biologist Michael Miller [36:28] is not exactly uplifting, in fact it's downright depressing. I feel that neonic pe...
15 Tips for Fishing Emergers, with Pat Dorsey
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
OK, I lied. There aren't 15 tips. There are probably more and if you want to count them up you can e-mail me and correct my mistake. But I get a lot o...
The making of "Mending the Line", with Joshua Caldwell
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week my guest is Joshua Caldwell [32:30], director of the new movie (premiering in theaters today) "Mending the Line", about a combat veteran wit...
How to practice your fly casting, with Pete Kutzer
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The better your casting, the more and fun you'll have and the more relaxed you'll be on the water. Pete Kutzer [46:13] is one of the finest casting in...
Jacks are Better, with RA Beattie
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jacks are an under-rated gamefish and under-utilized resource. They take a fly aggressively, fight harder than most other saltwater gamefish, and are ...
Fishing through climate change, with John Gierach
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our climate is changing, and regardless of whether you think it's human caused or natural it is changing. If you don't believe that you need to get ou...
All about western caddisfly hatches, with M.E. Sorci
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A few weeks ago we did a podcast on eastern caddis hatches and I promised to get an expert on western hatches. ME Sorci [43:40] is a student of entomo...
How to swing soft hackle wets, with Steve Culton
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Swinging wet flies, specifically soft hackle flies, is an often misunderstood method of fishing and many people try it but give up when it doesn't see...
How to buy a trout stream, with Josh Kling -fixed-
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
No, I am not talking about buying a trout stream and locking it up in a private club. I am talking about buying a piece of a trout stream, fixing (bas...
Great things happening in the world of trout, with Chris Wood
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's some real positive news in the world of trout these days, from the mitigation of acid mine drainage in wild trout streams to replacement of pe...
15 Years Ago Today - Reading the Water
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hey folks! This is Jamie, I produce The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast with Tom Rosenbauer. Today is the 15th anniversary if the show and to celebrate we a...
The Future of Bristol Bay, with Nelli Williams
15 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Champions of clean water and an intact ecosystem have a lot to celebrate with our recent victory in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska. But this ruling ...
The Science behind the Everglades Storage Reservoir, with Steve Davis
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week begins a month of habitat/conservation podcasts as a celebration of Earth Month. We start the series off with Steve Davis [43:25], Chief Sci...
Great tips on canoe fishing, with Perk Perkins
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I did a podcast a few weeks ago that was billed as a canoe and kayak podcast but my guest and I spent a lot of time on Kayaks and not much on canoes. ...
All about the mono rig, with Dom Swentosky
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is Dom Swentosky of the Troutbitten blog [33:16], podcast, and guide service. If you have not seen his stuff it's definitely one o...
All about inflatable watercraft, with Mike Dolmage from NRS
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we delve into the confusing world of inflatable watercraft. There are so many styles to choose from, including SUPs, kayaks, and rafts. Whi...
Fly fishing from canoes and kayaks with Ryan Lilly of Old Town Canoe
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Learn how to decide between a canoe and a kayak, what kind to get, and how to maneuver and cast using these hard-sided watercraft (next week I'll be d...
A life in fly fishing, with Tom McGuane.
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Back in 2008 when I first began this podcast I had two dreams—that I would have my two literary heros, John McPhee and Thomas McGuane as guests (the...
The life cycle of caddisflies, with Thomas Ames
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we go into great detail about the life cycle of caddisflies and the various species found in the eastern United States. Tom Ames [33:05], a...
Traveling with fly-fishing gear, with Seth Berger
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week is my guest Seth Berger [1:00:18], Fly Fishing Travel Specialist with Orvis Adventures. In his job, Seth visits Orvis-endorsed operations ar...
Louisiana Redfish Secrets, with Capt. Pete Scafaru
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Capt. Pete Scafaru [32:53] is a new Orvis-endorsed guide in New Orleans (he's not new at guiding, just new to the Orvis program), and he shares his va...
Getting your kids into fly fishing, with Joshua Simmons
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is Joshua Simmons [44:00], who with his brother Caleb hosts the podcast "Dads on the Fly". (It's not just for dads, it's for moms ...
Winter fishing tips from an award-winning guide, with Chip Swanson
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, since we have not had any hard-core fishing podcasts in awhile, I thought I would give you all some tips on winter fly fishing with Chip Sw...
The Clean Water Act, with Tom Kiernan of American Rivers
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is Tom Kiernan [38:50], President and CEO of American Rivers, an organization Orvis supports and endorses highly for the world-cla...
Are mayflies in trouble? with Robert O'Harrow
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week my guest is award-winning investigative journalist Robert O'Harrow [44:45], who has been with the Washington Post for over 30 years. Last fa...
Tips on landing and netting fish, with Jesse Haller
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is Orvis product developer Jesse Haller [43:48], who besides being responsible for products like nets, wading shoes, and fishing p...
Tips for blue lining, with Ian Rutter
30 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ian Rutter [43:06] is a long-time guide in the Smokies and one of our top field testers. He specializes in small mountain creeks (as well as their loc...
Georgia's Native Brook Trout, with Sarah Baker
23 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week, Sarah Baker [35:40] is a woman who has a job most of us would envy—she studies and manages the populations of wild, native brook...
The Giant Trout of Pyramid Lake, with Mike Anderson
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Can you really catch giant cutthroat trout in the desert? Are they truly a native species? And do they really fish with ladders? You'll find out in my...
Seasons of the Striper, with Bill Sisson
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bill Sisson [27:29] is the founding editor of Angler's Journal magazine and his recently published book, Seasons of the Striper, is an elegant pictori...
All about Midges, with Rick Hafele
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I get a lot of questions about midges and their life cycle, so I thought I would invite a professional entomologist to give us an overview of these in...
Where flies come from. with Steve Carew
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Steve Carew [40:58] of Fulling Mill Flies. Steve is the guy who gets fly patterns from an original sample to those gorgeous flie...
Late Fall and Winter Nymphing, with Alex Waller
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Alex Waller [41:36] from New Zealand. You've likely seen his great videos on Orvisnews.com or on You Tube, in his channel Trippi...
Fishing and Conservation, with Garden & Gun's David DiBenedetto
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is Dave DiBenedetto, Editor-in-Chief of Garden & Gun Magazine, who is a lifelong fly fisher. If you read the magazine, you can ...
How Land-Use and Geology Affect Mountain Streams, with Dr. Nelson Ham
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I've long been fascinated by the way geology affects the character and richness of a trout stream, and I know other anglers are as well. My interview ...
Carp and Eel Down Under, with Angus Reynolds
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week we take a trip Down Under to talk to guide Angus Reynolds [41:21] in Australia. Angus customarily guides trout anglers, but because of the r...
Backcast episode: How does water temp affect trout behavior? With John McMillan
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Originally Released Jul 09, 2021 This week I am delighted to have biologist John McMillan back as my guest [46:00]. John gives us a detailed view on ...
Part two of Young People and Fly Fishing, with Lukas Draugelis
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Anyone involved in the world of fly fishing knows that young people are getting involved at a rate greater than any time in its history. Why? What do ...
Why Young People Fly Fish, Part 1, with Austin Boswell
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is Austin Boswell [37:57], owner and guide for Eastern Oregon River Outfitters. I wanted to talk to Austin because I'm doing a two...
Avoiding casting pains, with Dr. Jason Smith
17 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We all get occasional aches and pains from casting, or as we get older we worry about getting them. Dr. Jason Smith [51:14] is an expert in sports med...
When Catch-and-Release Doesn't Work, with Tim Traver
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Catch-and-release fishing for trout is not a conservation tool. It's a way to manage trout populations for larger fish, based mainly on sociological o...
Fishing close to home, with Bon Iver's Sean Carey
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Sean Carey [48:31], drummer and keyboard player for the indie folk band Bon Iver, who also records solo work as S Carey. Sean ha...
Getting Kids into Fly Fishing, with Marsha Benovengo
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I get a lot of questions from listeners on how to get kids into fly fishing--what's the right rod outfit, what species to go after, how to structure (...
All about bamboo fly rods, with Shawn Brillon
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Want to know how a bamboo fly rod is made? How long it takes to make one? How many different hands touch an Orvis bamboo fly rod before you (and your ...
All about fiberglass fly rods, with Cam Mortenson
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Cameron Mortensen of The Fiberglass Manifesto [51:24]. Cam is one of the most knowledgeable anglers when it comes to fiberglass ...
Selectivity in Fish Feeding Habits, with Matt Supinski
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is guide and author Matt Supinski [51:36], one of the most innovative thinkers in fly fishing with a long history in the business....
The Excitement of Multi-Species Lakes, with Captain Drew Price
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is captain Drew Price [56:13], an expert on fishing large, multi-story, multi-species lakes. Drew has pioneered methods of catchin...
How You Can Make a Difference in Your Fishery, with Capt. Benny Blanco
22 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is Capt. Benny Blanco of Islamorada, in the Florida Keys [37:38]. Benny talks about his life in the Keys and about how he came to ...
Tips for fishing mayfly spinners, with Jim McLennan
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is longtime guide, fly shop owner, journalist, musician, and all-around great guy Jim McLennan [40:26]. Jim is a thoughtful fly fi...
Fly Fishing for Redeye Bass, with Matthew Lewis
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You may have never heard of redeye bass or seen one. Yet they are a wonderful fly-rod fish. They live in spectacular, clear mountain streams and take ...
Fly-Fishing in the 1960's, with Paul Bruun
03 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week my guest is Paul Bruun [39:50], a legendary figure in fly fishing who has been involved with the fly-fishing world even longer than me. On T...
Rocky Mountain Small-Stream Fishing, with Timbre Pringle
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Timbre Pringle of Faceless Fly Fishing [46:26] and the topic is small stream fly fishing, particularly in the Rocky Mountains....
How to become a professional fly-fishing photographer, with Brian Grossenbacher
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is Brian Grossenbacher [42:45], one of the finest fly-fishing still photographers in the world. You've seen his work on the cover o...
Tom Answers Your Questions
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this week is well, me. I recorded a podcast and the file got corrupted and I couldn't get my guest back in time to do a makeover. So this wee...
Getting a friend into fly fishing, with Charlie Berens and Adam Greuel
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week's podcast is fun to listen to, even if you don't need any tips on how to get a friend into fly fishing. Charlie Berens is a talented writer ...
How Fly Rods are Designed, with Shawn Combs
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I get a lot of questions about how fly rods are designed and I think there are a number of misconceptions about where that new rod, like the Helios Bl...
Beavers and Trout, with Ben Goldfarb
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You may wonder why I've done a podcast about beavers. You may be greatly surprised by the beneficial interactions between beavers and trout habitat—...
The other pleasures of fly fishing, with Dylan Tomine
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I've been asked to touch more on the spirituality of fly fishing in my podcasts, and honestly I'm not very good at that. So I asked a thoughtful frien...
Fishing stillwaters from shore, with Thomas Larsen
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is Thomas Larsen [45:47] from the Orvis Outfitters team. Thomas is a stillwater expert and gives us some great tips on how to find...
Modifying Flies, with Tim Cammisa
08 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is author, You Tube personality, and author Tim Cammisa [34:00]. We have a spirited discussion on fly patterns—which of the most...
Good news from the Everglades, with Steve Davis
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is Steve Davis, chief scientists for the Everglades Foundation [49:31]. Steve gives us an update on the Everglades restoration pro...
The Seven Deadly Sins of Nymph Fishing, with Josh Nugent
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Nugent of Out Fly Fishing in Calgary has been doing a series of "Seven Deadly Sins" podcasts with me over the past couple of years and this one i...
Public Stream Access Update, with Land Tawney
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week my guest is Land Tawney [25:52], CEO of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and we discuss recent issues regarding public access on rivers in C...
Winter fly-fishing secrets, with Noelle Coley
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week my guest is Noelle Coley [41:25] of Blackfoot River Outfitters in Missoula, Montana. Noelle is a serious winter fly fisher, with experience ...
How to Find Your Own Small Stream, with Donna Smith
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Finding those tiny, unpressured trout streams is a delightful form of exploration. You won't find them on the internet or in books or magazine article...
The Native Fish Coalition, with Bob Mallard
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, my guest is the executive director of the Native Fish Coalition, Bob Mallard [42:09], who tells us why the organization was formed and what...
Talking Trout with Kirk Deeter
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have we gone too far with native species? with Kirk Deeter This week, my guest is Kirk Deeter, editor of Trout Magazine. Kirk is never one to shy away...