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 preventable as well.  This week I chat with Charlie Robinton [49:00], rod repair expert on the Orvis Outfitter Team, and we'll explore other ways fly rods are broken—including some unusual ways they have been broken over the years, thanks to stories from our terrific rod repair team.  True, if you break an Orvis rod we can usually have it back to you in about five days—but a broken rod is still not a fun way to start (or end) a fishing trip.

 

In the Fly Box this week, we have some perplexing questions, tips from listeners, and some listeners who take exception to some of the things I've said in the past, including:

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-foot fly rod for nearly all of his trout fishing, even in smaller streams and he also introduces a new nymphing technique he has been experimenting with.

 

In the Fly Box this week, we have a great variety of questions and tips, including:

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 publications.  In this week's podcast, he explores the many complexities of trying to keep enough water in our rivers for both agriculture and trout populations, which has become an increasingly difficult juggling act.  Hal also gently berates today's hunters and anglers about educating themselves on the science and the politics behind these issues.  It's not enough to just complain about the lack of water—it's important to understand the issue before you can have a credible  opinion.

 

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

• Do bamboo and fiberglass rods load differently than graphite rods?
• When you have a very limited time on a river, do you have a fishing method that gives you the most bang for your buck?
• Is there an alternative to the "chuck and duck" method for fishing for salmon and steelhead on Michigan rivers?
• If you are buying older fly tying material, what should you look for to make sure it has not been degraded?
• How would you adjust your fly selection for smallmouth bass throughout the season?
• Is rising or falling water better on a fluctuating tailwater?
• Can I use my 10-foot, 8-weight rod in the surf?  
• If my Mop flies have fallen apart, can I easily add a new piece of mop material to the hook and bead?  I am not a fly tier.
• Are two three-turn whip finishes better than a single 6-turn whip finish?  
• A tip that textured lines in a long day of stripping flies can cut into your fingers
• Is the San Juan Shuffle ethical?
• Is a fast action 5-weight rod actually a 6-weight?
• I have been lipping bass for many years.  Why do you say it's bad for the fish?

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 have learned about trout evolution and relationships in the past decade.  They now have tools at their disposal that can tell them how closely two trout populations are related, how much hatchery trout have interbred with wild populations, and how various races and subspecies of trout have evolved.  You'll also learn how they extract this DNA and study it—but you had better review your high school or college genetics first because it gets a bit complex.

 

In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and a couple helpful tips from listeners, including:

• A listener from Germany relates a horrible experience he had with a guide
• Can I underline my Orvis bamboo fly rod?
• What do you think putting a strip of material on a leader as a "worm attractor"?
• A great tip from a listener of how to make a paddle and rod rest for a canoe
• A warning from a listener that the drop shot method of fishing nymphs is illegal in California—and possibly other places.
• A listener wants to know if he can effectively use the Euro nymph technique with a 10-foot, 5-weight rod
• What is the best way to get polarized glasses for someone who needs a strong prescription.  Do clip-ons work well?
• Should I lubricate the zipper on my Pro Zippered Waders?
• When fighting fish, is tippet size or rod weight the deciding factor?
• When by myself, how do I take a photo of a fish so that I can later judge its size?
• Why is fall fishing better?  Do trout feed heavily in anticipation of winter?
• What size leader and tippet should I use for carp, and should I use my 6-weight or 8-weight rod?
• I tie my tippet directly to my fly line for small stream brook trout.  What advantages will I have by going to a tapered leader?
• Do brook trout in a small meadow stream move throughout the season?