Trout, Tarpon, and Other Critters in Costa Rica, with Kevin Jackson

Did you know you can catch trout and tarpon in the same trip, along with exotic jungle species?  I didn't either, but Kevin Jackson [42:22] of Fly Fish Costa Rica shares with us the wide variety of fly fishing you can have in this diverse and well-preserved ecosystem. And also the rare wildlife you might see in this country that offers saltwater, jungle, and mountain trout fishing.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and hopefully answers that will help many of you solve the same problems in your fishing, including: I keep getting accused of "flossing" Pacific salmon when fly fishing for them but I see them aggressively take my flies.  What are your thoughts on this? What purpose does dubbing serve on a dry fly?  Does it add buoyancy? A listener thanks us for the podcast on knots and also on our support of policies to address climate change . I recently opened a box of my grandfather's tackle from 1944 that includes a bamboo rod, gut leaders, flies, and a silk fly line.  Should I use them? What sort of performance should I expect from the new Orvis Superfine bamboo fly rod? What impact will the recent disastrous floods in North Carolina have on the future of fly fishing? I want to purchase a vintage Orvis bamboo fly rod.  Would one be a reliable fishing tool? When I switch dry flies, should I be more concerned with size, pattern, or color? What can I do to prevent the unnatural curves in saltwater flies after they are used? My brother and I were using the same streamer in a slow-moving river.  I caught a bunch of fish and he didn't but I was casting my streamer at a different angle to the current.  Do you think this made the difference? 

Tom is on a fishing trip this week. While on this trip he learned his friend and legendary fly-fishing author, John Gierach had passed away at 78. In his honor Tom asked me to post his last intervew with John from May of last year and to share this with all of you: "John Gierach was one of the finest voices in fly fishing. He passed away suddenly last week. Always humble and kind, his writing never reached into navel gazing but he just told great, honest, and funny stories and like all great writers he never wasted a word. I once had the pleasure of spending a week sharing a cabin with him in Labrador and he was exactly the man in person that he was in his writing. We will all miss him greatly." Here is the show descrption from May 19, 2023 Our climate is changing, and regardless of whether you think it's human caused or natural it is changing. If you don't believe that you need to get outside more. John Gierach [58:00], thoughtful guy that he is, wanted to tal.k about this subject and how he deals with changes that have happened in his lifetime, and what we can all do to deal with climate change and still enjoy fly fishing, because as he says "we still gotta live" and to some of us fly fishing is life. I n the Fly Box this week we have lots of questions, many of them quite basic but still fun to answer because you can always give them a new twist. What is the best rig to catch trout with worms? (I hope he meant worm flies and not real worms) What can I do to keep my Depth Charge line from tangling? I am moving to Texas and want one rod for inland bass and one for inshore saltwater. Is there one outfit that can do this? Am I better off buying one high-end rod or several lower priced rods if I fish in a variety of trout situations? Can you overline bamboo and fiberglass fly rods? I have a dog that likes to chase rocks and sticks. Any tips on how to train a dog to be a good fishing companion?  Is there any way to tell a trout rise from a chub rise? I am confused by fly line numbers and hook numbers. Can you explain them? What do fish deep in a lake take my Pat's Rubber Legs fished quickly? What do the fish think it is?  How do you fish your Rabbit's Foot Emerger patterns? What do I do with my rod when tying on a new fly or landing a fish? Is there a better knot than a clinch knot for tying on size 18 to 22 flies? My welded loop has cuts in it. What can I do to fix that? What kind of dry/dropper arrangement do you use when there is nothing visibly hatching? A good tip from a listener on walking the banks of your favorite rivers in low water to get a sense for the bottom structure. Can you tell the difference between a male and female trout by looking at the anal fin?    

We keep hearing that fly fishing is good for your mental health. It gets you out in the natural world, involves problem solving, and keeps you active and moving throughout the day (unless you sit in a drift boat watching a bobber). But is it always good for your mind? Are there times when fly fishing can make your mood worse, and are there things you can do to make sure a day on the water is good for you?  I discuss this, and play devil's advocate a bit, with Melissa Ceren [35:20], who is both a fly-fishing guide and a licensed therapist. We had a fun conversation and I hope you enjoy it.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions from listeners, including: If I break a section of a rod, why won't a section from a different rod fit it?  Are the diameters different in different types of rods? Are there benefits to fishing nymphs without an indicator? When fishing, are you more likely to change the fly size up or down if the one you're using is not working? Am I missing some flexibility by not carrying two rods when wade fishing? What is the best way to fish for a trout that lives under a bridge? When I get a tangled mess I usually cut everything off and re-tie.  Should I be carrying a safety pin to untangle my leader? I am having problems with drag when fishing straight upstream.  Do you have any tips to help this? I keep foul-hooking small brook trout when using a dry dropper.  Why does this happen and what can I do to avoid it? I accidentally dropped my fly box in the river.  I don't see any rust on them, but should I throw all of them out? What is "attitude" when discussing the choice of dry flies? What is your current recommendation on the noise created by studded boots or metal wading staffs? I have gone on 8 saltwater fly-fishing trips and have been skunked on 6 of them.  It's a combination of bad guides and bad weather.  What can I do to avoid this? What is the best way of getting my fly off a branch if I don't want to wade in and spook the pool?

I have long enjoyed Robert Ketley's [31:06] column in California Fly Fisher magazine because he often delves deeply into aspects of fly fishing that we don't pay much attention to. And he's a tireless researcher. So when I noticed a deep dive he did on fly-fishing knots using a microscope I knew I had to get him on the podcast. You won't learn about which knot is best, but you will learn about why knots hold and why they break, how to tie a knot properly, and what happens when a knot gives way.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some unusually good questions, including: Will the 10-foot 7-weight Helios D rod offer me enough tippet protection when using 5X for steelhead? My local wild trout stream has almost dried up this year.  Where do the fish go, and how long until this stream can recover? When wading deep, when I pick up the line and cast I notice I make waves in the water.  How can I eliminate this? When swinging wet flies in a tight stream I need to use a roll cast, but how do I make another roll cast after my flies complete their swing? I see fish on the bottom of a spring creek but I can't catch them using my tight line technique.  What do you think I am doing wrong? I was scolded by an outfitter when I changed direction when fighting a big fish.  He said it will wear a hole in their mouth and they will get off.  Was I doing it wrong? Can I go from a 4X leader with a tippet ring to a 7X tippet?  Will not having tapered sections in there be bad? I don't have much finger dexterity and have trouble saving my tippet scraps.  Do you have any suggestions? A listener reminds us that in lakes in Maine that are listed as fly fishing only, it is illegal to troll a fly. When trolling a fly from my canoe, how can I get my fly deeper? Which be the best Helios rod for fishing the Henry's Fork?

Who owns the banks of a river? Who owns the bottom? Who owns the water that flows through a channel?  And what defines whether a river is navigable or not? There are often no easy answer to theses questions, and much of it is determined on a state-by-state basis. Beau Beasley [35:27] has spent years looking at specific cases of access controversies, and some of you may not like what he says because he often comes down on the side of a landowner who prohibits access to a piece of river.  But Beau looks at the facts and the law and approaches these issues in an objective manner.  It's a fascinating discussion.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some comments, a bunch of tips, and some tricky questions, including:  Will I find steelhead in the same places I find resident rainbows? How much time do you spend swinging a run for steelhead before moving on? A listener makes a case for the positive cost/benefit ratio of fishing with a guide. How much can a fly rod bend before breaking? Do trout seem to have an affinity for one color of nymph over another? How long does a frightened fish stay spooked?  And do hatchery fish differ from wild fish in this respect? If you use a barbless hook on a two nymph rig and attach the bottom fly to the bend, how do you alleviate the problem of losing the lower fly and tippet? Do you fish a streamer in the same way you would fish a spinning lure? How can I get smaller nymphs down into very deep, fast pockets in a river? What would I consider the best roll-casting rod Orvis makes? Do you have any tricks for hooking fish on a direct downstream presentation?

Panfish are easy to find and catch in the spring and early summer. But later in the season, not so much.  Panfish are still around, but we need to look for them in different places and use modified techniques. Bart Lombardo [33:40] is an expert on all things panfish, and he gives us his secrets for finding and catching these delightful fly-rod targets as we approach late summer and fall.   In the Fly Box this week, we have a healthy assortment of tips and questions from listeners, including: A suggestion from a listener on a way to spot small dry flies if you have trouble seeing them on the water Do you ever fish under bridges?  Is it worth it? When tying in palmered hackle, what is the point in tying hackles in tip-first? What is your philosophy for selecting a dry fly when using a dry/dropper rig? I recently caught some nice fish on the edges of strong whirlpools.  Have I been missing something, and what suggestions do you have for fishing this kind of water? If trout aren't actively feeding in higher water temperatures, what difference does it make if we stop fishing at 68 degrees? I fish two different streams and the fly size recommendations for each one is different.  Why such a discrepancy? What knots do you suggest for tying a 65-pound fluoro shock tippet to a 20-pound class tippet for pike? Do you think construction a half mile upstream of a spot has scared all the trout away? Is it OK to move the fly when you mend?  Is it OK to mend when fishing a dry fly? Should you come in from the top of the eye or from the bottom when tying a knot to your fly? I am only catching smaller smallmouth bass in a spot.  How can I find the bigger ones?

What are the pleasures and pitfalls of running a successful fishing lodge?  What's it really like behind the scenes?  And how did a couple kids from New Hampshire end up running one of the most successful fishing and hunting lodges in Montana?  (Hint—it wasn't due to trust funds or investment banker money).  This week I interview Tim and Joanne Linehan [39:39], two of the nicest people on the planet and legends in the fly-fishing industry.  Their story is a heartwarming success story of a lifelong partnership in love and life. And in the Fly Box this week we have some great questions and helpful tips, including: Do you have any tips for fishing really muddy water or is it just not worth it? Does a fish's sense of smell work better in warm water or cold water? A great story about a listener breaking off a big rainbow and then coming back later in the day, catching the fish, and getting his fly back. Any tips on a fly rod for a 6-year-old kid? I have been nymph fishing with a fluorocarbon leader.  Should I switch to a nylon leader when dry-fly fishing? Do you have any tips for setting the hook when fishing dry flies? Should I use side pressure when playing Atlantic salmon? Can I use Water Shed on my floating fly line? Any tips on catching smallmouth buffalo on a fly? My line and leader won't go straight at the end of the cast and end up curling in on the cast.  Any tips as to why this is happening? I'm taking my first saltwater fly-fishing trip.  Will the Battenkill Disc reel give me enough retrieve speed?

Joe Bibbo [32:10] has a great back story and is a wonderful storyteller himself.  He's done a lot of DIY fishing, mainly from his home in the East to the Rocky Mountains and has some great advice on where to go for information as you plan your trip.  He also has some wonderful advice on what not to do, based on mistakes he's made over the years.  I get many questions from listeners about DIY trips so I am sure this podcast will be a popular one.   In the Fly Box this week, I had no phone calls to answer (hint, hint) but some good e-mail questions, including: I get conflicting advice on how close I can get to fish when tightline nymphing.  Can you give me some guidelines on how close I can approach them? Any tricks for seeing small flies in low light? I bought some Stimulators and see they have wire wraps on them.  Can I fish these as wet flies? I struggle to get a bite from river smallmouth bass in July and August and I could consistently catch them in spring.  Any suggestions? How can I avoid creek chubs in a small weedy stream when I want to target the larger brown trout? Would it be a good idea to put a small length of sighter material between my fly line and my leader? Any tips for solo fishing from a raft? I have been wading with old neoprene waders and Crocs as wading shoes.  Do you think I would benefit from modern waders and wading shoes? I live in Great Lakes steelhead country but sometimes want to avoid the crowds during the winter and fish for smaller trout in inland streams.  Do you have any advice for late fall and winter fishing in these streams?

My guest this week is Lucas Bissett [38:42], executive director the AFFTA, the trade association for the fly-fishing industry.  Lucas talks about the support they give to small, grass roots organizations for education and habitat protection—organizations that may not be able to apply for larger grants.  One of their current projects, which we discuss in detail, is how ocean fish stocks will be managed due to the changes in migration patterns due to climate change.  Lucas tells us that the federal organizations that set regulations for harvest and size lengths are very responsive to public input, so its something for which you can make a difference. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips, including: I was told the river we fished had lots of 15-inch fish but all we caught were fish up to 12 inches.  Could the fish have been in the bottom of deep pools because of the warmer water? A tip from a listener, one I'm not completely sold on, for putting stick-on strike indicators on top of dry flies when using heavily weighted nymphs on droppers. How do you fish the famous Woolly Bugger in a small, slow moving, turbid stream? What two-handed rod should I use for fishing smallmouth bass? A listener asks for philosophical advice on whether to enjoy fishing for striped bass in Atlantic salmon rivers. A listener has been enjoying fishing for fallfish as trout streams warm and asks for a podcast on fishing for fallfish If you are fishing a tandem nymph rig and one fly is not working at all, should you switch out that fly? Do you change to a different fly line taper as you go up or down in line sizes? Why is there a cutter on tippet spools?  Doesn't everyone carry snips? Does Tom have a succession plan for the podcast?

  I take guilty pleasure in hearing horror stories from guides about their worst clients or other crazy things that happen on the river.  Orvis-Endorsed Guide of the Year for 2019 Chip Swanson [41:00] is a great storyteller and has had some wild and funny incidents on the river over the years.  I think everyone will enjoy these stories but just a warning—although not R-rated, some of his stories mention sensitive body parts so if your kids listen to podcasts with you, you may want to preview them first.  Nothing very raunchy but you have been warned!  Rated PG-13. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips including: I fish a lake that is stocked with rainbows and has a small tributary stream.  Do you think the rainbows will run up into it? Do you have any tips for being stealthy on a trout stream other than not stepping right into the water? Can I use a sinking Salmon Poly Leader for trout? When do you extend the butt section of your leader? I am using a switch rod for distance in warm water fishing and have tried all kinds of lines but am not happy with my casting.  Do you have any tips? Any tips or tricks on how to travel; with waders and wading boots?  I am concerned with my wet wading boots. Can trout smell us and should I worry about it? Do Zero-weight fly rods exist and what are they used for? A tip from a listener about learning to cast at all angles to your body without moving your feet. I fished a cold Colorado tailwater in the morning and a local angler told me I was on the water too early.  Why? All the hoppers I see have green, brown, or black wings.  So why do we put white wings on many of our hopper patterns?