This week we have a few fly box items on what to do after your fly drags, landing net decisions, and how to get by in a boat with two fly lines and only one reel (my advice—don’t go there).  Our main topic this week is about the importance of local knowledge for any kind of fly-fishing trip and is titled “Ten reasons you need local knowledge”  It’s actually mostly reasons and also a few tips, but you all know I can’t count.

This week we have a great interview with Dan Frasier, fly-fishing editor of Carp Pro magazine on—guess what?  There are some terrific tips in this interview and here are a couple I had not heard of and will try on my next carp fishing trip.  I am sure you will find some as well.  In the Fly Box, we range from hooking shad to getting started in fly tying to picking the right leader length to fishing streamers in Europe.  And I’m also asked about my top 10 saltwater flies for fishing anywhere is the world, so I will list them here as well as mention them in the podcast

1.       Lefty’s Deceiver in chartreuse in size 1

2.       Lefty’s Deceiver in olive and white in size 1

3.       Clouser Minnow in original brown and white in size 4

4.       Clouser Minnow in chartreuse and white in size 4

5.       Gurgler (any color)

6.       Surf Candy in size 4

7.       Adams’ Bastard Crab in size 4

8.       Puglisi Peanut Butter in purple and black in size 1/0

9.       Simram in size 6

10.   Cowen’s Albie Anchovy

This week we explore the topic of whether you should fish upstream or down, not only what direction you should move but also which way you present your fly.  The podcast will tell you exactly which direction to fish every time you go out by using a simple formula (just kidding—did you really think it would be that easy?) 

In the fly box we answer questions about setting the hook (again), what length rod to use (again), adding tippets to knotless leaders (again), what to do about minnows sinking your dry flies (aha!  A new one and a fun one, too), and how to improve your roll cast by using a different line.  I keep answering those repeated topics because it seems they are universal questions and sometimes a different question or slant on a question may make it more clear to listeners.  Have fun!

This week there is a very special podcast offer that will save you money but you have to listen to find out and act before May 20.  We also have a great podcast from the pied piper of urban fly fishing in the DC area, Dan Davala.  He tells us all we need to know to catch shad, both hickory and American shad.  The fly box section features questions about polarized sunglasses, fishing high water in small streams, morning or evening fishing, when to fish Flashback nymphs, and a couple tips on setting the hook.  But before you listen get a pen and paper so you can write down that special offer code because it’s only fr podcast listeners and can’t be found anywhere else.

This week, based on my experience of getting skunked trout fishing, I thought I would give you 10 reasons for getting skunked.  I mainly concentrate on early season fishing—but these excuses are also good any time during the season! 

In the Fly Box section we talk about :

-over-lining fly rods,
-barbless hooks,
-laying fish on the grass to photograph them,
-matching leader with rod length,
-rod and blank weights,
-and some other fun stuff. 

Questions this week came from as far away as Australia and the UK, and as close as Connecticut.

Got a family member or friend you want to help get into fly fishing? Check out our video for FREE fly-fishing classes at your nearest Orvis store and many authorized dealers!

This week in the fly box we discuss:

·       How stocking affects wild trout

·       Sinking lines

·       Casting exercises

·       Gripping a fly rod

·       Tangles after dark

·       Tom’s 5 favorite places to fish and the top 5 on his bucket list

In the main podcast, we do an extensive discussion of leaders—leader types, materials, , and how to modify your leader at streamside.  It’s a good topic for a refresher as fishing season is upon us in most places—or almost upon us!

This week we have a full Fly Box (the only way to be at the beginning of the season!) and cover topics that range from how to store leaders to figuring out stream depths to safe handling of fish in cold water to fishing streamers with switch rods.  And lots more.  I even try to answer the question of whether I’d prefer to have 6 less expensive fly rods or three top-of-the-line ones.  That question caused me some soul-searching and I waffled a bit—but who cares what I’d do anyway?  To top it off, we have an inspirational interview with a 17-year-old fly fisher, Joey Maxim.  Make sure you listen to all of the interview, because the story gets more interesting as we talk.

This week’s podcast ends on a somber note with the passing of our good friend and mentor John Merwin, one of the greatest voices in fly fishing.  I think you’ll enjoy a few memories of John and the readings from a couple of his pieces.  But up front we have a very full fly box—lots of e-mails and phone calls on casting problems, fly tying problems and solutions, picking tackle, and fishing nymphs.

This week I concentrate on fly tying questions (except for a short sidetrack on stream smallmouths) because I love talking about fly tying—and Orvis is offering a 20% discount on fly tying materials for the month of February 2013.