This week I have a chat with Jonny King [41:00], one of the most creative and innovative fly tiers I know.  Patterns like the Kinky Muddler and Splitsville dry flies come from his creative mind.  I am always interested in where the idea for new patterns come from, how they are developed, and how they get evaluated.  Join me as we ramble and discuss his creative process.

In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips:

Where can I get a copy of your book on Small Stream fly fishing?
Can I leave my fishing gear in a very hot or very cold car? 
How can I fish the shoreline of a lake without getting caught in trees, and how far do I need to cast? 
Why do I keep breaking fish off on a strike? 
How can I include a shock absorber into my outfit?
I have an old bamboo rod in good shape.
Is it OK to fish with it, and how can I find out what line size it takes?
What do you recommend for wading boots if I do a lot of hiking?
I can cast OK with nymphs but I can't get my dry flies to lay out with a roll cast.  What am I doing wrong?
Where should I look to catch Pacific salmon in BC?
How do I handle spooky trout in small streams that hide under rocks?
How do I know for sure when trout are spawning?

This week, my interview is with Kip Veith [38:55], Orvis-endorsed guide and author of The Orvis Guide to Musky on the Fly, which has just been released.  Fresh from lots of research and in the middle of his season, Kip has some great tips for those of you who want to chase this giant freshwater predator--and fall is known as the best time to chase them with a fly rod.

In the Fly Box this week, we have lots of interesting questions and some great tips from listeners, including:

I have some flies I tied that I don't like and want to salvage the hooks to use again.  What's the best way to do this?

With big pike flies, I have trouble getting the fly moving on the first few false casts.  How can I do this easier?

My floating line is sinking.  What can I do to make it float, and if I can't make it better can I use the line for streamer fishing?

My yarn indicators won't float.  What am I doing wrong?

How do you do the Joe Humphreys Bow-and-Arrow Cast?How do I use a BIgEye dry fly as a sliding dropper?

I lubricate my clinch knots with Chapstick.  Why doesn't the knot hold?

My Dad raises chickens.  Do you think I can use some of their feathers for fly tying?

When do most anglers change their leaders?

A tip from a listener on preventing gel floatant from exploding when you change altitude.Can I go from 5X to 7X using a tippet ring?

A great tip from a listener on how to politely engage someone on the river who is using poor fish-handling technique.

How do you cut Body Wrap when making Game Changers? 

The issue of freshwater flow through the Everglades is an issue that Orvis has worked on for a number of years as one of our major conservation projects, and we've worked with some strong partners on the ground, like the Everglades Foundation, Captains for Clean Water, Now or Neverglades, and Bullsugar/Friends of the Everglades.  This week we have a double feature on this national treasure.  The first part of the podcast is with scientist Steve Davis of the Everglades Foundation [41:05], who discusses the recent progress and environmental conditions in the Everglades, in times of poor freshwater flow and healthy flows.  The second part of the podcast is with Orvis-endorsed guide Jason Sullivan [1:28:17], who spends nearly every day in the Everglades and depends on its health for his livelihood.  And yes, don't worry we talk fishing and what it's like fly fishing in the everglades--for tarpon, snook, redfish, and even tailing tripletail!
And in the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions to answer, including:

Can a clear fly line be made?

Why are cane fly rods so great?

If I can legally fish only one fly, how do I get my fly down to the fish when Euro nymphing?

How does a full moon affect fishing?

If a season for a species is closed, when is it OK to fish for them if I practice catch-and-release?

How does intellectual property work with fly patterns?

Is it worth it to pay to fish spring creeks?

Why can't I sharpen my hooks?

Is there any role in whimsy or "bluffing" when picking a fly pattern?

Can I use floatant on my Master Splinter fly?

Can I use unweighted streamers with a floating line?

I get frequent questions on targeting introduced Pacific salmon in the Great Lakes region, so I invited an expert [interview starts at 33:13] to give us guidance on where and when to fish for them, tackle to use, and recommended flies. Trent Jackson, fishing manager of Orvis Grand Rapids, is a lifelong Michigan resident and has been fishing for Great Lakes salmon and steelhead his entire life. He gives us a great overview of this fishery, and is a great example of the rich talent we offer in our retail stores.

In the Fly Box this week, we have a number of perceptive questions and suggestions from listeners, including:

Why do I have trouble hooking trout with a 10-foot, 3-weight rod when using unweighted flies?

Can I use the Hydros Salmon/Steelhead line for tightline fishing with a 20-foot leader?

If I have both smallmouth and stocked trout in my river this fall, how can I fish for both of them?

A listener takes me to task for killing fish for the table by "bashing them in the head with a rock", and gives us the preferred way to kill fish for the table, using a Japanese method called ikejime.

If I have a limited budget, should I spend more money on my waders or wading shoes?

Why did brook trout inhale my streamer one day and only chase it the next?

Once a running fish is on the reel, should I take my fingers off the line?

When you talk about a 9-foot leader, is the tippet included in that length? And should I tie a new tippet directly to my leader without modification?

This week I interview Dr. Aaron Adams [@38:29], chief scientist at Bonefish Tarpon Trust, and he explains some of the science behind proper fish handling techniques.  Although we talk primarily about bonefish and tarpon, I learned some surprising facts about the question:  "If a fish is hooked deeply, is it better to try to remove the hook or just cut the tippet?"  I'm not going to tell you the answer.  You'll need to listen to the podcast.

In the Fly Box this week, we have the following questions and tips from listeners:

Can you suggest  few trout flies that are reliable and relevant year-round?

Why do I have trouble hooking trout in small mountain streams?

What is the proper way to set the drag on a reel before you begin fishing?

How much tension is added to your tippet when you have the whole fly line out on a running fish?Why doesn't anyone talk about frogs and toads as trout prey?

Why does my Improved Clinch Knot keep failing?

Are neat flies more effective than scruffy ones?

A suggestion from a listener about using the "wrong" color thread to tie a better fly.

Where should I spend most of my budget when assembling a fly-tying setup?

A suggestion from a listener about using a bobbin threader to tie a nail knot.