This week I interview Quint Rogers [31:43], a fly fishing guide specializing in shoal bass fishing in Georgia. We discuss the unique characteristics of shoal bass, their habitat, life cycle, and the best fishing techniques to catch this rare freshwater bass, perfectly suited to the fly rod. Quint shares insights on seasonal patterns, fishing gear, and the river environments where shoal bass thrive. 

In the Fly Box this week we have these questions from listeners:
How can I figure out which way to orient slotted beads on nymphs?
Are six-piece travel rods any good?
For small stream fishing, does it matter if I use a double taper or weight forward line?
Is there any evidence to suggest which is the best way to attach droppers?
Why does my leader always break at the tippet ring?
Are there any alternatives to stripping baskets for beach fishing?
How do you know when to replace a floating line?
Can you do a podcast on how to train a dog to be a fishing companion?
Why don't more saltwater guides use nets?
What kind of games do I play when fly fishing?
Where would you work if you didn't work for Orvis?

If you think mending is just lifting your rod and flipping it upstream—well sometimes it is—but there is so much more you can do with line mends to add slack in just the right places, and to deal with tricky currents. Mike Pease [30:41], Orvis-endorsed guide and great storyteller, gives us 10 tips for increasing the utility of your line mends. I learned a bunch of new tricks on this podcast and I am sure you will as well.

There are some helpful tips from listeners and some questions that may answer things you have been curious about, including:
When would you use a drop shot nymphing rig?
Have you ever used a dry fly, nymph, and wet fly at the same time?
I am debating about which Helios rod to buy. Should I get the 9 foot 5 weight or the 9-foot 5-inch version?  Can I use the longer rod for wade fishing?
A listener gives his version of a Euro rig for steelhead.
Which 10-foot rod should I get for Lake Erie steelhead?
Do you think tying a dropper to the bend of a hook is any hindrance to fish taking the upper fly?
Sometimes when I hook a big fish it takes line right away and my tippet breaks. Do you think my drag is set too tight?  How tight should I set my drag?
A great tip from a listener on an easy way to remove split shot with a tool everyone carries.
You say that trout can always see the tippet. If so, why would I ever want to use something as fine as 6X? 

When is a trout a steelhead and when is it a rainbow? Are steelhead just rainbow trout that migrate to the ocean?  Is it something in their genes or just random chance? And in a given population of rainbow trout, will only some of them migrate to the ocean? And according to a biologist, are the Great Lakes "steelhead" truly steelhead? My guest fisheries biologist Katie Kobayashi [32:13] has studied these fish down to the genetic level and has some exciting information on their life histories.

In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions that I think will be helpful to many of you, including:
If I hook a trout in the back behind the dorsal fin, will it survive OK? And can I count this fish as "caught"?
What is the most useful saltwater fly line for inshore species?
For my smaller creeks in Pennsylvania, would an 8 ½ foot 4-weight or 7 1/2-foot 3-weight be better?
Have you used articulated flies? Have you had success with them? Are there articulated subsurface flies other than streamers?
I have an 8-weight rod for flats fishing in salt water and want a second rod for bigger stuff.  Should I get a 9-weight or a 10-weight?
For fishing in a Colorado tailwater, when should I use an indicator setup and when should I Euro-nymph? And when Euro nymphing, how can I get a tiny size 22 nymph down into the right zone?

My guest this week is Orvis-endorsed guide Joe Garza [32:54], a guide from JAG Fly Fishing, who explains the intricacies of still water trout fishing. He discusses common mistakes that anglers make, the importance of understanding food sources, and the need for patience in still water environments. Joe shares insights on matching fly profiles and colors to natural food, as well as effective techniques for using indicators. The conversation emphasizes the unique challenges of still water fishing compared to moving water, providing valuable tips for both novice and experienced anglers. He shares his extensive knowledge on fly fishing in still waters, focusing on techniques such as the hand twist retrieve, effective casting, and the importance of proper hook setting. He emphasizes the significance of maintaining tension in the line and understanding fish behavior, particularly in relation to external factors like weather and water temperature. 

In the Fly Box this week we have a lot of questions about tackle and winter reading, including:
Is "Sinking Gel" for nymph fishing a waste of money?
What is the difference between the 7'1/2 foot 3-weight Superfine Graphite and the 7 ½ foot 3-weight Superfine Glass rods?
Is there a book you recommend on trout biology?
Are there some books you recommend on learning about hatches?
Can you explain the differences between your three books:  Reading Trout Streams, Finding Trout, and Prospecting for Trout?
How do manufacturers set the line recommendations for their fly reel models?
I am 6-feet, 2 inches tall. Does that mean where most people would recommend a 10-foot rod that I should get a 9-foot rod?
What three fly lines would you recommend for a wide variety of fish in fresh and salt water?
What fly patterns do I need to imitate the gigantic Cantaria beetle in Chile?