Fly Fishing Experts Tell Their Secrets LIVE!

Steven Hawley, an environmental journalist, has revealed the ugly truth about dams. The estimated 800,000 dams in the world can’t be blamed for destroying the Earth’s entire biological inheritance, but they play an outsized role in that destruction. What started as an arguably good government project has drifted oceans away from that original virtuous intent. Join us to learn about the effect dams have had on our planet and what the future of dams can be in our warming world.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• You recently published "Cracked: The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World." What inspired you to write the book?
• How do you see the role of dams evolving in the context of global climate change?
• What are some innovative alternatives to dams for water management and power generation?
• Can you share a story from the book that particularly moved or motivated you?
• Detractors to dam removal cite the financial and environmental benefits of dams. Can you provide a counterpoint to these arguments?
• How do you propose we balance the human need for water and power with the ecological necessity to maintain free-flowing rivers?
• How do indigenous and local communities fit into the narrative around dams and their impact?
• Can you talk about a specific dam removal project that you cover in the book and its outcomes?
• Can you discuss specific examples where dam removal has led to noticeable improvements in fishing quality or fish biodiversity?
• In some cases, a dam removal would destroy fisheries as we know them. What are your thoughts on those situations?
• What are the most common misconceptions about dams?
• Is it possible to remove a dam like the Glen Canyon Dam?
• Are dams still being built in the United States?
• How do you see the dialogue around dams changing in the next decade?

Chester Allen has fished the migration run of the rainbow and brown trout from Montana’s Hebgen Lake into Yellowstone National Park’s Madison River during the fall for many years. Join us and learn about where to fish, what flies to use, and how to find the best water for very large trout!

Rick Wallace is a well-traveled Australian fly fisher who lived and fished the island of Hokkaido, Japan extensively for four years. Unknown to many fly fishers taimen, rainbow trout, char and salmon are all prime targets on the island of Hokkaido. Taimen can get as large as one meter! Listen in to learn more about this fishery and find out where, when and how to fish this northernmost island in Japan.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What fly fishing opportunities are there on the island?
• Where is the best place to stay on Hokkaido?
• What is the best time of year to fish on the island?
• Is the taimen found on Hokkaido similar to those in Mongolia?
• What is the best way to fish for taimen?
• What flies do you use for taimen?
• Where do you fish for rainbows and char?
• When is the best time to fish for salmon?

To hire local Japanese guides for fishing on Hokkaido visit Trout & King.

Mark Giacobba is a professional guide working the largest subtropical wilderness remaining in the United States today, the Everglades National Park. This truly diverse ecosystem ranges from the open prairies of the glades, cypress swamps, freshwater ponds, brackish bays, rivers, creeks, numerous grass flats and an endless maze of mangrove islands that extend all the way to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Listen in to hear how Mark makes sense of this vast fishery and the incredible fly fishing opportunities available there.

Tom, has worked in many capacities at Orvis from retail clerk to lead enthusiast and what’s always been true no matter what his position is that he’s a teacher. Tom has shared more about fly fishing than probably any other person in the sport. We are fortunate to have him again on the show to talk about finding trout. Join us on this show to learn about where to find trout in runs,. pocket water, riffles, and places you never thought to look.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• How did you start out on your fly fishing journey?
• How do trout feed?
• How far will a brown trout move in a typical day?
• What are the prime currents to fish?
• What cast do you use to avoid drag?
• What temperatures are optimal for feeding trout?
• How do you approach a new stream?
• When is the best time to fish riffles?
• What are the prime holding areas in runs?
• What type of hydro cusion to trout prefer?
• Where do fish hold in a pool or flat water?
• What is the best way to fish pocket water?
• When trout are not rising what tactics do you use to find fish?
• What matters most fly size, color or presentation?

Drew Chicone is one of the top saltwater fly tiers today. His innovative patterns and variations on old favorites catch fish and that's what it's all about. In his recent three volume set of fly tying books, Top Saltwater Flies, Drew provides his top patterns for bonefish, permit and tarpon. Join us to learn how Drew comes up with his designs and his specific techniques in tying flies that catch fish in the salt.

Josh Miller, a professional guide and Fly Fishing Team USA member, has put in the hours to become one of the best Euro nymphing experts working today. Listen in to learn how to choose the right rod, reel, and line. Identify essential fly patterns that work best and get detailed instructions on casting and presenting your flies.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What is Euro nymphing?
• What part do the Czech, Spanish, and French methods play into Euro nymphing?
• What are the situations in which you would choose Euro nymphing over other methods of fly fishing?
• What types of rods can be used?
• What do you consider to be the ideal rod?
• What role does the reel play when Euro nymphing?
• What type of line do you use?
• How do you construct your leaders?
• What types of sighters do you use?
• What are your go-to flies?
• What color beads do you use?
• Are most of your flies attractors, or are you trying to match the hatch?
• How do you present your flies?
• How do you get your flies to spend more time in the right zone?
• What is your "drift sequence"?

Skip Morris, author of seventeen books on fly fishing, will guide us through the biology and how to fish the salmonfly and golden stonefly. Where, when and how will be covered in depth so the next time you have the opportunity you'll be well prepared to catch more fish.

Dan Steere has moved towards a simpler easier to manage method of fly fishing. Let's face it you can't take all your gear on a backpacking trip and still have room for your food and tent. If you want to catch a wide variety of fish with simple, minimalist equipment that can fit into a daypack or backpack you'll want to listen to Dan's ideas and methods. Join us to see how you can get back to a simpler approach to fly fishing and enjoy it.

Spey fishing has evolved from being traditionally used for salmon and steelhead to a wider scope of species including inland trout, smallmouth bass, and even saltwater game fish. Rick Kustich discusses presentation techniques for both two-handed and single-handed approaches to spey as well as lines and heads. Join us and learn about spey techniques and methods, and how spey fishing could fit into your fly fishing future.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• Where and when did spey fishing start?
• How did you first decide to learn spey casting and how did you go about learning the various spey casts?
• Other than distance, please list the advantages of Spey casting vs one handed casts?
• Can these techniques be adopted to small waters and smaller fish. This seems to be a big water technique?
• For someone starting out with Spey Fishing and an experienced fly fisher, what would you recommend in terms of equipment?
• What are the basics of spey casting?
• What’s the difference between single-hand and two hand casting?
• How does trout spey differ from “conventional” spey?
• What are the differences between Spey fishing for trout and the traditional wet fly swing?
• Are there practical applications for spey casting when musky fishing?
• What technique would be best for casting in a pond that has no current?
• Can you use a spey rod to fish saltwater from a beach?
• In what circumstances if any, do you use a stripping basket? Are they useful in Spey fishing?
• What type of flies are commonly used for spey fishing?

Gary Borger explains the characteristics of moving water examining the three types of lies and how to identify and fish them from small streams to massive rivers. He also takes the mystery out of reading lakes and ocean flats.

Steve Kantner's book Fifty Women Who Fish is a collection of interviews with women who love to fish. Women are the fastest growing demographic in fly fishing and understanding their interest and joy of fishing is important to the industry. Join us on this podcast and learn why many of these women have made fly fishing an important part of their personal and professional life.

If you'd like to purchase Fifty Women Who Fish go to www.whywomenfish.com (not available on Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

Jeff Currier, a world traveling fly fisher, went to Sudan to fly fish. Where did he go? What did he fish for? What was his adventure like? Listen in and find out as we go on another Currier adventure.

Doug Rose, a professional guide in the famed Olympic Peninsula of Washington, takes us through the area from the rainforest and oyster country to the coast and backcountry. Chinook, chum, coho, pink and sockeye salmon are all available along with winter and summer steelhead, resident rainbows, coastal cutthroat and native char. It's like fly fishing heaven! Join us to learn where, how and when to fish this beautiful world-class fishery.

Jim Stenson has traveled the world to fish for many species. The "Holy Trinity," as some call them, are still three of the toughest fish to catch. Permit, steelhead, and Atlantic salmon can frustrate even the best fly fishers. Join us to hear Jim talk about some of his exciting and difficult adventures in search of these elusive fish.