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—I know I was after talking to Ben Goldfarb author of the book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, [43:26]. Beavers have a much more positive effect on trout streams besides just making deep pools, and they don’t present any problems to migrating fish. And, yes, we do talk about how to fish a beaver pond, and how to find a good one. I think all fly fishers and nature enthusiasts will learn something new in this podcast.

In the Fly Box this week, we have some interesting comments, questions, and tips, including:

The state stocks big rainbows in my wild brook trout stream. What are your thoughts on this issue?

I saw large trout jumping out of the water during a caddis hatch and could not catch any. What do you think they were doing?

What are the advantages of a double-taper over a weight-forward fly line?

A great story about how an injury caused a fly fisher to re-think priorities What size leader butt should I put on my saltwater lines?

And should I use the permanent loop in my fly line for big fish like tarpon?

How have Vermont trout streams fared after hurricane Irene?

If I pinch the barbs on my flies with forceps, am I legal in places that specify “barbless hooks only”?

A comment from a listener on how a generic description like “fly fisher” is also inclusive of people who identify as non-binary

A comment from a listener who believes that encouraging women to fly fish will cause our rivers to become too crowded.

A story from a listener who cautions us to be careful about sinkholes along the banks of trout streams.

A great tip for practicing your cast before a big trip.

What can I do to keep my large dry flies from twisting my leader?