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Magnificent Roosterfish: Unlocking the Secrets of El Gallo
Tom Boyd
Fly Fisher/Fly Tier/Author
They’re fast, powerful, and one of the toughest fish to fool on a fly—roosterfish, or El Gallo. Join us as legendary angler Tom Boyd shares his decades-long pursuit of these magnificent predators in Costa Rica. From world-record catches to breakthrough tactics, Tom reveals what makes roosters so elusive, how to spot and hook them, and why landing one is considered the pinnacle of saltwater fly fishing. Don’t miss this chance to learn the secrets of chasing one of the ocean’s most extraordinary game fish!
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What makes roosterfish one of the most challenging saltwater fish to catch on a fly?
- How do their unique auditory and visual senses make them so difficult to fool?
- Can you explain the role of the dorsal comb and how roosterfish use it to hunt or herd baitfish?
- How does the behavior of roosters differ between calmer waters like Baja beaches and the rougher open Pacific waters of Costa Rica?
- Tell us about your very first encounter with a roosterfish on the Costa Rica/Nicaragua border—what did you see and how did it change your fishing path?
- Walk us through your 1998 catch in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo—the first large roosterfish taken on fly under IGFA rules. What made it possible that day?
- How did that world-record catch open doors for you, including your work with Crocodile Bay in Costa Rica?
- What role does structure—like reefs, points, or guano-covered cliffs—play in locating roosters?
- What do you look for in bird activity when scanning a beach for signs of roosterfish?
- What’s your preferred rod, reel, and line setup for roosterfish in Costa Rica?
- Tell us about the development of Boyd’s Wounded Baitfish fly. What made it so effective?
- How closely do you try to “match the hatch” when choosing fly colors and sizes for Costa Rica?
- What retrieves have you found most effective—steady strips, erratic jerks, or wounded-baitfish movements?
- What are your tips for setting the hook properly on roosterfish, given their tendency to spit flies?
- How do you recommend fighting a rooster—rod angles, pressure, and handling jumps?
- Roosterfish are listed as “data deficient” by the IUCN. What past and current research have you done that will help us to understand roosterfish better in Costa Rica and other parts of the world.
More about Tom Boyd...
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Chasing Trout in the Chill - Beating the Cold and Catching More
Jason Randall
Fly Fisher/Fly Tier/Author
When the temperatures drop and most anglers hang up their waders, Jason Randall heads to the river. In this episode Jason reveals how to outsmart winter’s toughest conditions and find trout when the water turns icy. Learn how to locate warmwater seeps, choose the right flies for slow, cold currents, and keep yourself warm, safe, and successful all day long. Discover why winter may just be the most rewarding season to fish — if you know where to look and how to adapt.Ask Jason Randall your most important questions on fly fishing in cold weather...
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Fly Fishing BelizeJim Klug, photographer, guide and travel coordinator, takes us on a tour of Belize from the northern waters of Ambergris Caye, to the pristine waters of Turneffe Atoll, all the way south to Hopkins, Placencia and Puta Gorda. Join us to explore Belize!
Casting And Presentation Strategies For TroutJason was the "Shadow Caster" in the movie A River Runs Through It and knows about presentation skills. Listen to Jason talk about how we perceive trout and how trout perceive us, the predator/prey relationship and how we should present our flies to the trout.
Fly Tying Techniques You Can't Do WithoutCharlie Craven is one of the best fly tiers and fly tying instructors you'll run into. No matter how much you know or how long you've tied you'll be sure to learn a few more tips and techniques during this show.
South Platte River - The Ultimate ChallengePat Dorsey has been guiding fly fishers for more than 25 years and calls the South Platte River in Colorado his home waters. The South Platte River can be one of the most challenging world-class trout fisheries in America. Pat knows this water better than most any other guide. Listen to this podcast to hear his strategies and tactics for successfully fly fishing this outstanding water.
Ira Gruber's Atlantic Salmon FliesIra W. Gruber is known for the Atlantic salmon fishing techniques and 38 flies he developed over a lifetime of fishing on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick. Join us to hear from his grandson Ira D. Gruber the story of Ira's life as an angler and the stories about a few of his most famous flies.
What Fly for What Bug?Peter Stitcher is an aquatic biologist who knows what flies work best to imitate the stage of insects in their lifecycle. Are you ever confused about what file to use when? Join us to learn about the lifecycles of the most common insects we encounter on rivers and lakes and how to pick the perfect fly for the job.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What are the three categories you use to describe flies?
- What is more important size, color or shape?
- Why are flies like the Red Dart and Blowtorch so effective?
- How do you organize your fly boxes?
- What is a life cycle and why is it important to understand?
- What are the life cycles for mayflies, caddisflies, midges and stoneflies?
- What stages of the life cycles are the most productive for fishing?
- What flies work best to imitate the different stages?
- What places do you look to see what insects are active?
- How would you imitate daphnia?
- Is fly selection just as important as drift depth and presentation?
Midge SecretsRick Takahashi considers midges the most important year-round foods source for trout and they are in almost every stream and lake around the world. Listen in to learn about tying and fishing midges that will work no matter where live.
Guide FliesLandon Mayer spends hundreds of hours each year on the water guiding his clients to trophy trout. He doesn't have time to tie complex time-consuming patterns so he ties simple easy-to-tie fly patterns that get the job done, day in and day out. Join us to learn about Landon's top patterns and how he fishes them to catch trout around the world.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What makes a great guide fly?
- What's your thought process when designing your fly patterns?
- What materials do you consistently try to incorporate into your patterns?
- What suggestions do you have for paring down the number of flies you carry to the water?
- Do you have a core set of guide flies that you use year-round or do you have different selections for the different seasons?
- Do you have a secret pattern that is not in the book?
- Do you think adding UV or hot spots to a fly makes a difference?
- How do you prepare for your day on the water - rods, rigs, flies, presentations?
- What are your favorite techniques for stillwater?
- What methods do you use to get your flies to the right depth?
- What fly do you think is deadly that is not a guide fly?
- What do you do when a larger fish chases a smaller fish that you have hooked up?
- What fly do you go to most often to catch fish?
Fly Fishing the Gunnison RiverJason Booth has guided over 6,000 fly fishers down the Gunnison River over the past 23 years so he knows this river like the back of his hand, maybe better. Join us to learn about the secrets of the Gunnison River in Colorado - where to go and how to fish it.
Babine - World-Renowned Steelhead and Trout RiverThe Babine River in Britsh Columbia has long been known as one of the finest steelhead and trout rivers in the world. Pierce Clegg owned and operated the Babine Norlakes Trout Lodge for 30 years. His knowledge of the river is unmatched. Listen to this podcast to find out how the river used to be, how it is now and how it might be in the future. Is it still one of those fisheries you should have on your bucket list? Tune in and find out.
Fly Fishing Streams for Smallmouth BassHarry Murray has been fly fishing, guiding and teaching others about smallmouth bass most of his life. You'll find his practical approach to finding and hooking up with these exciting fish an enlightening experience. Listen in and learn his secrets.
Fly Fishing For Bonefish In The BahamasBrian O'Keefe has traveled to some of the wildest and most remote angling destinations in the world, including Bikini Atoll, Seychelles, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tonga, Cuba and Kashmir. He has also traveled to more accessible locations, such as the Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Chile, New Zealand, Christmas Island and more. He's fished for Bonefish just about everywhere so join us on this podcast and learn how to fish for these incredibly fast flats fish.
Skeena River - Steelhead DreamsGill Mckean has been guiding on the world-famous Skeena River for more than 25 years. He’s guided a client to massive steelhead estimated at 34 pounds and has personally landed many in the 30-pound range. Join us to learn from Gill about this incredible fishery and of course how to land that steelhead of a lifetime.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What is the best time of year to fish for steelhead?
- Are there other streams and rivers to fish in the area?
- What species are available besides steelhead?
- What style of flies do you prefer?
- Is the spey rod the most commonly used rod on the Skeena?
- What type of line do you use and what types of tips do you use?
- What's the difference between Skagit and Scandi heads?
- What is the most productive depth for getting strikes?
- What triggers the fish to strike?
- What is the secret to hooking up with a trophy steelhead?
Fly Fishing SudanJeff 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.
Casting, Mending, and Presentation for Difficult Angling SituationsThe challenge of fly fishing can increase dramatically when conditions become difficult. Whether it be due to weather, water, cover, hatches, distance, or a combination of those factors, when the angling gets tough, it pays to have a few tricks up your sleeve. Learn from Jason about ways to make difficult angling situations easier and more productive.
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