News On The Fly

Gierach on Zoom?  I don't know if I would have believed that he even has internet but here he is with Kirk Deeter of Angling Trade and artist Bob White with a great EarthX conversation that is worth your time.

Press PLAY and enjoy.

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I move into a new office (repurposed historic house) sometime near the end of the year and it's past time that I add a Paul Puckett print to the mix of pieces of fly fishing art that I have collected over the years.  He recently released a few new Limited Edition Prints that I'm looking over and figured that you'd like to take a peek as well.  It's going to be hard to choose just one.

Visit the Spo...

Having recently noticed some rust on a beloved shotgun, Reid revisits best practices on keeping your shotguns clean and in tip-top condition. Building on previous podcasts on the subject, Reid delineates . . .

The post Podcast: Reid’s Top Tips on Gun Cleaning, Care, and Maintenance appeared first on Orvis News.

This week, my interview is with Kip Veith [38:55], Orvis-endorsed guide and author of The Orvis Guide to Musky on the Fly, which has just been released.  Fresh from lots of research and in the middle of his season, Kip has some great tips for those of you who want to chase this giant freshwater predator--and fall is known as the best time to chase them with a fly rod.

In the Fly Box this week, we have lots of interesting questions and some great tips from listeners, including:

I have some flies I tied that I don't like and want to salvage the hooks to use again.  What's the best way to do this?

With big pike flies, I have trouble getting the fly moving on the first few false casts.  How can I do this easier?

My floating line is sinking.  What can I do to make it float, and if I can't make it better can I use the line for streamer fishing?

My yarn indicators won't float.  What am I doing wrong?

How do you do the Joe Humphreys Bow-and-Arrow Cast?How do I use a BIgEye dry fly as a sliding dropper?

I lubricate my clinch knots with Chapstick.  Why doesn't the knot hold?

My Dad raises chickens.  Do you think I can use some of their feathers for fly tying?

When do most anglers change their leaders?

A tip from a listener on preventing gel floatant from exploding when you change altitude.Can I go from 5X to 7X using a tippet ring?

A great tip from a listener on how to politely engage someone on the river who is using poor fish-handling technique.

How do you cut Body Wrap when making Game Changers? 

I seriously heart river smallmouth and this Dos Boat episode finds Meateater's Joe Cermele and Tim Landwehr of Tight Lines Fly Fishing Company on the Menominee River on the Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula of Michigan border for some angling hijinks and conservation talk.

Check out the MeatEater YouTube channel for a deep dive into all sorts of hunting and fishing videos.

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Last week, I returned from my third visit to El Pescador Lodge in northern Belize. Obviously this trip was under different circumstances than my previous ones, so I had to take additional precautions to get there: I was . . .

The post Photos and Story: 3 Days on the Flats of Belize appeared first on Orvis News.

Most fly fishers have seen photos or videos of the massive Lahontan cutthroat trout from Nevada’s Pyramid Lake, but there are dozens more populations, many of which are geographically isolated. This isolation leads to lowered . . .

The post Video: Using Science to Save a Trout Subspecies appeared first on Orvis News.

There is a lot at stake on November 3rd and I hope that you are doing your research on your local and state candidates.  What is their stance on public lands, conservation, and the environment?  Who has fueled their campaign coffers?  Who are they going to feel responsible to after being elected? 

Patagonia's latest film is a deep dive into the political fight for our public lands and...

Last September, we launched our latest Drive Off in the Range Rover County sweepstakes. The Grand Prize was a 1995 Range Rover Classic LWB in iconic Epsom Green, carefully restored to its original glory and finished with one-of-a . . .

The post Meet the Winner of a Classic Range Rover in Our Recent Sweepstakes appeared first on Orvis News.

When you’re not catching anything on a dry fly spot in the pool below a gravel shelf, it’s time to switch over to a nymph under an indicator. In this great video from Jensen Fly Fishing, Dave Jensen shows how he rigs the . . .

The post Video Pro Tips: How to Fish a Nymph Off a Gravel Shelf appeared first on Orvis News.

In part III of his series on Craft Fur, Tim demonstrates an ingenious method for creating tapered ends on a clump of Craft Fur. This allows you easily to create realistic-looking tails on streamer patterns. All you gotta do is split, flip . . .

The post Video: Tying with Craft Fur, Part III appeared first on Orvis News.

In part III of his series on Craft Fur, Tim demonstrates an ingenious method for creating tapered ends on a clump of Craft Fur. This allows you easily to create realistic-looking tails on streamer patterns. All you gotta do is split, flip . . .

The post Video: Tying with Craft Fur, Part III appeared first on Orvis News.

The flow of freshwater flow through the Everglades is an issue that Orvis has worked on for a number of years as one of our major conservation projects, and we’ve had some strong partners on the ground, such as the Everglades . . .

The post Podcast Double Feature: the Everglades from a guide’s and a scientist’s perspectives appeared first on Orvis News.

Welcome to another edition of the Orvis News Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival, in which we scour the Web for the best fly-fishing videos available. Today, we’ve got eleven cool videos that will take you from a Pennsylvania limestoner . . .

The post Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival 10.16.20 appeared first on Orvis News.

The issue of freshwater flow through the Everglades is an issue that Orvis has worked on for a number of years as one of our major conservation projects, and we've worked with some strong partners on the ground, like the Everglades Foundation, Captains for Clean Water, Now or Neverglades, and Bullsugar/Friends of the Everglades.  This week we have a double feature on this national treasure.  The first part of the podcast is with scientist Steve Davis of the Everglades Foundation [41:05], who discusses the recent progress and environmental conditions in the Everglades, in times of poor freshwater flow and healthy flows.  The second part of the podcast is with Orvis-endorsed guide Jason Sullivan [1:28:17], who spends nearly every day in the Everglades and depends on its health for his livelihood.  And yes, don't worry we talk fishing and what it's like fly fishing in the everglades--for tarpon, snook, redfish, and even tailing tripletail!
And in the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions to answer, including:

Can a clear fly line be made?

Why are cane fly rods so great?

If I can legally fish only one fly, how do I get my fly down to the fish when Euro nymphing?

How does a full moon affect fishing?

If a season for a species is closed, when is it OK to fish for them if I practice catch-and-release?

How does intellectual property work with fly patterns?

Is it worth it to pay to fish spring creeks?

Why can't I sharpen my hooks?

Is there any role in whimsy or "bluffing" when picking a fly pattern?

Can I use floatant on my Master Splinter fly?

Can I use unweighted streamers with a floating line?

Accustomed to interviewing people on the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast, Tom sits in the other chair and is interviewed by John McMillan, who has been on Tom’s podcast several times. (See here and here.) In this episode of the . . .

The post Listen: Tom Rosenbauer on the OP Fishing Podcast appeared first on Orvis News.

Our friend Ali Flota from El Pescador on Ambergris Caye in Belize reports that they had an excellent reopening week after the Belize government opened the international airport on October 1. She says that the travel felt very safe, . . .

The post Photo Essay: Belize is Back in Business! appeared first on Orvis News.

Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly trivia challenge, in which we test your knowledge of all things fly fishing and where you might learn a thing or two about this sport we love. This week, we’ve got a classic quiz, . . .

The post Take a Classic Phil Monahan Fly-Fishing Trivia Challenge 10.15.20 appeared first on Orvis News.

Wind is a normal occurrence and something that we expect when we’re poling and searching the flats. It’s loud, annoying, and distracting, and it most definitely makes communication between guide and angler more . . .

The post Photo and Story: Sticking to the Game Plan for Permit on Grand Bahama appeared first on Orvis News.

According to angler and fly tier Hunter Hoffler, the France Fly was developed years ago but got its name during practice for the 2012 World Youth Fly Fishing Championships in France. Folks were struggling to catch fish, . . .

The post Video: How to Tie the France Fly appeared first on Orvis News.

In part II of his series on Craft Fur, Tim shows you how he prepares a new “pelt,” and then goes on to show you how useful the underhairs can be. By saving the fuzzy stuff as dubbing, you can use it in several ways to make great . . .

The post Video: Tying with Craft Fur, Part II appeared first on Orvis News.

This year’s “20 Days in September” Photo Contest was another rousing success, generating thousands of great photos from anglers around the world. (Although anglers outside the U.S. aren’t eligible for the prizes, many still took . . .

The post Meet the Winners of Our 2020 “20 Days in September” Contest appeared first on Orvis News.

When you spot a rising trout, your first impulse may be to try to catch it immediately, but that’s not always the correct decision. In this great episode of “Master Class Monday” from Jensen Fly Fishing, Amelia Jensen shows you how . . .

The post Master Class Monday: How to Fish Up to a Rising Trout appeared first on Orvis News.

When we received the public notice from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) last Sunday evening that repair work to fix a leaking pipe at the Cannonsville dam would require the reservoir release to drop to 40 cfs on Monday and then to zero by Tuesday, we knew it was going to […]

The post Post Mortem on the Cannonsville Reservoir Shutdown appeared first on FUDR.

With fall comes "apple season" and if you're looking for something tasty, try your hand at making a Souffléed Apple Pancake for breakfast.  It'll likely be a big hit with the entire family.

This is also a good time to break out your favorite cast iron pan (the Smithey No. 10 is perfect for this) and we've started baking ours in the Traeger Pro 575 with great results.

The choice of what type of apple...

Someday...I'm doing this trip to Tsimane for Dorado.  It's on the short list for sure.

I'd bet that the Epic Bandit would be the perfect stick for these fish...

Visit the Tsimane website to check it out.  I'll bet that you'd like to go too.

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Welcome to another edition of the Orvis News Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival, in which we scour the Web for the best fly-fishing videos available. Frankly, this was not a great week for videos, so we have supplemented the . . .

The post Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival 10.09.20 appeared first on Orvis News.

I get frequent questions about targeting introduced Pacific salmon in the Great Lakes region, so I invited an expert to give us guidance on where and when to fish for them, tackle to use, and recommended flies. Trent Jackson, . . .

The post Podcast: How to Catch Great Lakes Pacific Salmon, with Trent Jackson appeared first on Orvis News.

I realize that this is being shared at the tail end of the upcoming due date but West Mountain Drifters and artist Ed Anderson have collaborated on a fun and educational coloring contest that wraps up this weekend.

There's still time to check out the Teach Kids Art Coloring Contestwebpage and download the coloring page. Get your children's entries in by Sunday, October 11th and winners will be...

This is still a fun Das Boat episode to watch and it's great to see my friend (and source for gallons of maple syrup each summer on my trip home) Koz link up with Janis of the MeatEater crew.

Ch...

I get frequent questions on targeting introduced Pacific salmon in the Great Lakes region, so I invited an expert [interview starts at 33:13] to give us guidance on where and when to fish for them, tackle to use, and recommended flies. Trent Jackson, fishing manager of Orvis Grand Rapids, is a lifelong Michigan resident and has been fishing for Great Lakes salmon and steelhead his entire life. He gives us a great overview of this fishery, and is a great example of the rich talent we offer in our retail stores.

In the Fly Box this week, we have a number of perceptive questions and suggestions from listeners, including:

Why do I have trouble hooking trout with a 10-foot, 3-weight rod when using unweighted flies?

Can I use the Hydros Salmon/Steelhead line for tightline fishing with a 20-foot leader?

If I have both smallmouth and stocked trout in my river this fall, how can I fish for both of them?

A listener takes me to task for killing fish for the table by "bashing them in the head with a rock", and gives us the preferred way to kill fish for the table, using a Japanese method called ikejime.

If I have a limited budget, should I spend more money on my waders or wading shoes?

Why did brook trout inhale my streamer one day and only chase it the next?

Once a running fish is on the reel, should I take my fingers off the line?

When you talk about a 9-foot leader, is the tippet included in that length? And should I tie a new tippet directly to my leader without modification?

There have been many exciting developments in the Upper Delaware River region this year that impact the river and our local communities. Attend FUDR’s annual “Water, Water, Everywhere” conference on October 14th where you will receive the latest information about what’s going on in the watershed! No travel required – we’re Zooming! Click Here for […]

The post Register Now for Water Water Everywhere! October 14th, 2020 appeared first on FUDR.

As part of this year’s “20 Days in September” Photo Contest, we introduced the Local Slam category, which asked entrants to submit at least 4 photos of different species caught during the month of September, using the . . .

The post Pick the Winner of our 2020 “Local Slam” Contest! appeared first on Orvis News.

Welcome to another edition of our (sorta-kinda) weekly trivia challenge, in which we test your knowledge of all things fly fishing and where you might learn a thing or two about this sport we love. This week, we’ve got ten brand-new . . .

The post Take an All-New Phil Monahan Fly-Fishing Trivia Challenge 10.08.20 appeared first on Orvis News.

Big trout love holding against undercut banks, which offer protection from predators and strong currents plus easy access to a steady supply of food. But catching these fish is not always easy. The keys are to take up the proper . . .

The post Video Pro Tips: How to Fish Undercut Banks appeared first on Orvis News.

Have you been intrigued by Spey fishing but aren’t really sure how using a two-handed rod differs from regular fly fishing? The folks at the Ashland Fly SHop in Oregon have launched a series of videos on Beginner Spey tactics . . .

The post Video Pro Tips: How to Get Started in Spey Fishing appeared first on Orvis News.

Walking your dog offers several benefits: It provides physical and mental stimulation, gives your dog chances to socialize, and provides many training opportunities. Walking your dog on a regular schedule provides an . . .

The post 5 Tips for Becoming a Better Dog Walker appeared first on Orvis News.

‘Tis the season for swinging flies to tempt salmon and steelhead throughout the country, whether you live in the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, or the Northeast. Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions recently spent time . . .

The post Video: How to Tie the Douglas Salmon Camp Swinger appeared first on Orvis News.

 I guess they like you when they build a meme about you...

I do remember and continue to be a fan of swinging soft hackles.  How about you?

Jump over to Instagram and follow @i_mostly_throw_meat.

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