I've wanted to get Brian Flechsig of Mad River Outfitters [49:59] on the podcast for quite a while and we finally made it happen. Brian is the star of many great YouTube videos and he loves to get into the details of tackle rigging. He's a knotted leader expert and he explains his simple three-part system for tying saltwater and bass leaders. He also talks about his use of furled leaders and the now-extinct Orvis Braided Leaders. Brian and I also discuss our favorite knots and a philosophy for choosing your own knots—always a hot topic.   

In the Fly Box this week we have these questions and tips:
When does it make more sense to modify a fly instead of changing flies?
If you don't see any bug activity, can you still catch fish on dry flies?
Why would you ever use a strike indicator when you can use a dry dropper rig?
I live on a trout stream that hardly anyone else fishes. How long should I rest the river in between trips?  Will the fish move out if I fish it too hard?
I saw a bunch of dead and struggling rainbows in the shallows. What do you think caused this?
How can I get my Comparaduns to fan out when I tie them?
When wouldn't you substitute CDC, rabbit's foot, or a synthetic when tying Comparaduns?
What are your thoughts on winding foam around a hook to make flies float better?
What is your favorite cricket pattern?
If modern graphite rods are so stiff, why design a 5-weight rod that is really a 6-weight?
How should I orient my rod when I cast to make sure I take advantage of the spine properly?
I have heard that you should fish a small stream downstream so the fish doesn't see your fly line. Is this correct?
A tip from a listener on how to keep fly boxes dry when wading deep.
Do you ever take backpacking/fishing trips?

• How can I keep my dropper from twisting around the leader when Euro nymphing?
• What kinds of flies are banned and why?
• If I only fish a few days a year, how long will my fly lines last?
• Do guides tell Tom "set!" when he fishes with them? And do they tell him where to put his flies?
• Do brook trout feed less than brown trout during spawning season?
• Am I missing something by not building my own leaders?
• What does a 3-weight rod give me that my 4-weight won't?
• When you under-line a fly rod and increase your line speed, does that detract from your accuracy?
• On articulated flies with only a single hook, should I keep the hook in front or in back?
• I want to learn to fly fish next season. Should I buy a rod now and practice over the winter before taking an FF101 class?
• I had a frustrating day with spooky brown trout. I could not get 25 feet away from them without spooking them. How can I catch these trout?
• What fly patterns use micro mink Zonker strips?

• Are all fly lines today one size heavy? Can I use my 5-weight line on my new 6-weight rod?
• A tip from a listener on the best way to carry multiple fly rigs to the river after constructing them at home.
• How can I start my roll cast to get a decent amount of line out when I have no back cast room?
• Can you skip a tippet size when adding a new tippet to a leader?
• Do you think adding a small piece of orange or white yarn to a standard dry fly for visibility impacts fishing?
• A tip from a listener on adding a lightly weighted nymph to his streamer rig when swinging flies.
• A tip from a listener on how to seal the thread when finishing small flies.
• I had trouble getting beads on some nymph hooks until I pinched the barb first.  Does everybody do this?
• I recently saw some freshly stocked trout chasing each other in circles in a pool. Is this spawning behavior or something else?
• Do juvenile trout eat the same thing as adults? If I am only catching small fish should I try a different fly?
• What is your favorite flotant for keeping a dry fly on top?

This episode was originally published on October 11th, 2019.

In today's podcast my guest is Shawn Combs, head of Orvis Rod & Tackle product development and Orvis rod and reel designer.  The topic is "16 Things I Wish I Knew About Trout Spey Before I Started". If you have been thinking about trying to swing wet flies or small streamers for trout with a two-handed rod, also known as "Micro Spey", this will be a valuable lesson for you. These are light two-handed rods, in line sizes 3 and 4, designed for covering larger waters. It's especially effective in the fall, when trout are getting aggressive as the move into winter and brown and brook trout are migrating to their spawning grounds. It's a fun and for many of us a new way to fish for trout.

In the Fly Box this week, here are some of the questions and suggestions from listeners:

-I know there are large trout in my river.  What kind of water do I look for and what else should I keep in mind when targeting these larger fish?

-I have been setting the hook on smallmouth bass by sweeping my rod parallel to the water. Can you take a moment or two to discuss the pros and cons of various rod angles when setting the hook?

-How can I tell if my waders are leaking or if I am just sweating inside them?

-My wife and I had over 40 fish rise to our dry flies and only hooked a couple.  Any idea what was going on or how to land these fish?

-What, to you, is the essence of Atlantic salmon fishing?

-A tip from a listener on how to target flathead catfish on a fly

-If I take my nine weight switch rod to Florida, what line size should I use on it for fishing from the surf?

-A suggestion from a listener on another thing to be careful of regarding river etiquette.

-What is the best way to get unstuck when you hook your fly on an object?

-Do you have any recommendations on fishing crayfish patterns for smallmouth bass?

-When there is thick aquatic weed on a river, what do you suggest for nymphing techniques?

-Why am I suddenly beginning to hit my rod on my back cast?

-A suggestion from a listener on the benefits of multi-focal contact lenses.