Fly Tying Talk, with Charlie Craven

I have been meaning to get Charlie Craven [37:41] of Charlie's Fly Box in Denver on the podcast for quite some time and we finally connected. Charlie talks about what new materials and tools excite him and also how to approach the topic of assembling essential materials for the beginning fly tier. We also explore some other topics as only a couple of geeky fly tiers can when given the chance. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips from listeners, including: I have been using a clear floating line for sight fishing for striped bass but noticed the fish sometimes shy away from the fly. Do you think this is because the clear line reflects too much sunlight? A tip from a listener on another way of taking fishing photos without risking losing your valuable smartphone in the water. My leader lands in a pile when I am casting. But you say that sometimes you want your leader to land in loose coils. Is it too much to expect my leader to fully straighten? Advice from bamboo rod guru Shawn Brillon on cleaning cork grips. I was using mouse flies at night and got strikes but could not connect. What did I do wrong? Is it true that you can shine a red flashlight at night to see your fly because the fish won't notice it? Is it worth it to go from a mid-priced fly-tying vise to a really expensive one? What do you get in a $500 vise? What is your take on using non-standard, "buggy" variations on standard fly proportions? Is the Double Davy Knot stronger than an Improved Clinch Knot?

Join me as we explore the fascinating world of early season olive hatches with expert fly fisherman Blake Katchur [35:42] of Anglers All in Denver. No matter where you fish, you'll find this hatch any time from early March to early June. Discover effective tactics, fly patterns, and timing tips to enhance your fishing success during this prolific hatch. In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more: Can I use my 7-weight fiberglass rod for bonefish in Belize? Why can I catch brook trout in smaller streams during the winter but not in a bigger river? If I leave off the trailing hook in articulated flies, how do I compensate for the lack of weight?  Will it affect the swimming action of my flies? For Alaska silver salmon and big rainbows, should I get a 9-foot or 10-foot 8-weight Helios rod?  And should I pick Helios D or F? Do the scents from resins and glues put off the fish?  Is there anything that can cover up these scents? Are wings on dry flies absolutely necessary? Where did we get the "X" system we use for leader and tippet diameters? What do you have on your fly-tying bench that you can't do without?

Recently, Tom took time to chat with Reid on the Orvis Hunting and Shooting Podcast about his 50 years at Orvis. If you're interested in hunting, shooting, or the great outdoors in general, consider subscribing to Reid's show, too! (Crosspost from the Orvis Hunting and Shooting Podcast) "Tom Rosenbauer, longtime Orvis employee, writer, and host of the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast, joins Reid for a wide-ranging conversation about his nearly 50 years with the company. They talk about the early days at Orvis, the great outdoor writers who shaped the culture around Manchester, Vermont, and how a lifelong fly fisherman found his way, occasionally, behind a shotgun. Along the way Tom shares stories, history, and a perspective on the outdoors that few people still carry."

This episode was originally published on August 19th, 2021. This week's podcast guest is especially exciting to me as he is one of my literary heroes. John McPhee [24:10] is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author (Annals of the Former World), and in his numerous other books he has written about such diverse topics as nuclear energy, the merchant marine, basketball, Alaska, bark canoes, oranges, continental drift, flood control, tennis, farmer's markets, and many other eclectic topics. Whether or not you are interested in a subject, you can be sure you will be when you finish reading one of his books you will be fascinated. John has also been a staff writer for The New Yorker since the 1960s. In our interview, he talks about his two favorite fish to catch on the fly rod--the American shad (which he wrote an entire book about, The Founding Fish), and the chain pickerel, which he did not write a book about but did pen a short essay on in his collection of stories The Patch. (I doubt is anyone in the world who would count those two fish in combination as their favorites--but he is never conventional.) I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I enjoyed talking to him. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and tips: A reminder from a listener that I wrote an encyclopedia of fly fishing. Some great tips from a listener on using tippet rings. A question about what constitutes a watershed when concerned about transporting aquatic invasives. A suggestion from a listener on ways to offset your carbon footprint when taking fishing trips.  Which is a better rod for fishing the surf and jetties--a traditional 9-foot 9-weight rod or a two-handed rod? Do you always recommend using a net? A listener calls me on the carpet for my flippant remark about manhandling carp. A great thought from a listener that sometimes taking photos of fish hinders the moment.

This episode was originally published on February 17th, 2023. This week is my guest Seth Berger [1:00:18], Fly Fishing Travel Specialist with Orvis Adventures. In his job, Seth visits Orvis-endorsed operations around the world and always packs his fishing gear, so he's a great resource for advising us how to travel with rods, waders, and flies—how to pack them, what to carry on, and pitfalls you should avoid. Seth also talks about what to pack, and items that are often forgotten or ignored by traveling anglers. Anyone who gets on a plane, whether it's a short hop or an international flight, will benefit from his knowledge. In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions and comment that run the gamut of the fly-fishing experience, including: A listener who recommends the mono rig method, which is different from the standard Euro nymphing setup. And tries to tell me 20lb. mono casts just as easily as fly line (I'm not buying it) Why not put a tippet ring on the end of a poly leader? I've used straight monofilament for a leader for bass and bream. Why do I need a tapered leader, and do I need tippet? When you fish two dry flies, what should the distance between them be? Do I need to learn entomology to pick flies? Is there any difference between picking flies for small streams vs. bigger rivers? What do you look for to help you choose a fly? Can I fish steelhead with my 9-foot 5-weight rod? Is it true that lighter lines cast better in the wind because they have less air resistance? Have you ever fished with just a bead on a hook? Some great suggestions from a listener on how to keep fly tying materials away from young children. I am coming from Korea to the US. Will I have problems brining flies and fly tying materials into the country? Have you ever tried wiggle nymphs? Why do Euro nymphers stand in the water and make short upstream casts while people with conventional lines try to fish as far away as possible? Why don't we see a lot of blue streamers? How deep can I effectively fish with a fly rod? How can I tie patterns with partridge feathers smaller than size 16?

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?

My guest this week is philosophy professor and fly fisher Thi Nguyen [33:31], who has spent his career studying the psychology and the value of games to our mental well-being. He argues that fly fishing is not one game but an infinite number of games that can be played by rules that we invent to challenge ourselves. And you might even change your rules within a single day of fishing. This podcast and my discussions with him have changed the way I view and teach fly fishing and I hope the interview will be equally fascinating to you. The Fly Box this week has some interesting tips and questions. Perhaps not as thought-provoking but still interesting, and I hope helpful. Will a premium rod magnify my casting mistakes? Will my 4-weight Helios handle brown trout over 20 inches? Can you elaborate on why someone would want to use two indicators and how to set them up? Will my nymphs sink better with 12-pound fluorocarbon or with lighter tippet? I am confused by the differences in hook sizes recommended for various diameters of beads. They don't seem consistent. Can you help? A tip for using paper key tags to learn to identify various flies A tip for using parachute cord to eliminate the loss of small items Why do I see bugs under rocks in one part of a river and not in another?