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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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BugsPaul Weamer, a professional guide and author, having fished both the eastern and western United States teaches us about the “Bugs”. Matching the hatch is always challenging but Paul knows how to simplify it so that you can quickly and easily identify the insects and pick the right fly to imitate them. Join us and learn entomology the easy way.
Chasing RecordsRobert Cunningham has been chasing world records for two decades and has many stories to tell. Listen in to find out about the rare successful record catches, but also on the far more frequent failed attempts and the angling lessons learned from each of them. Anyone who has ever dreamed of a world record catch as well as any angler seeking to improve his fish fighting skill and techniques will learn from these experiences and enjoy a good fish story or two in the process.
Fly Fishing Glacier National ParkRuss Schnieder has worked as a fishing, hiking and rafting guide in Glacier for more than 25 years. He will be sharing his intimate knowledge of this fly fisher’s paradise. Join us to learn about the park and how to enjoy all it offers to fly fishers.
Nymphing to Catch More FishMichael Gorman, a professional and savvy guide, has vast knowledge on one of the most effective methods of catching fish – nymphing. His well-tested techniques are effective on both trout and steelhead. Join us to pick Michael’s brain on all things nymphing.
Fly Fishing Tactics & Fly Designs for Henry's Fork Toughest TroutRene Harrop has fished the Henry's Fork for 56 years. His experience is unmatched on this challenging spring creek. Join us and learn about the fish, insects and fly fishing techniques for this incredible fishery.
Fly Fishing Trout Lakes: A Biologist's Point Of ViewBrian Chan, a professional fisheries biologist, has spent most of his life studying the insect life of trout lakes. Brian will share the secrets of what happens in that underwater world and how it will help you to catch more fish.
Using Fly Fishing to Help Stop Poverty & Human TraffickingBucky is the Founder and Executive Director of Fly Fishing Collaborative. The collaborative has been mobilizing the fly fishing community since 2013 to create sustainable solutions to stop poverty & human trafficking around the world. This non-profit helps communities build environmentally safe and sustainable aquaponics farms for orphanages and schools preventing kids from entering human trafficking. Join us to learn how these farms are built and how you might help the cause. Visit the Fly Fishing Collaborative website to learn more about what they do and how you can help.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What is the mission of the Fly Fishing Collaborative?
- What motivated you to start FFC?
- What does FFC actually do?
- Why did you use fly fishing as a means to your fundraising?
- What are your methods of fundraising?
- What is aquaponics farming?
- Who builds the farms?
- What foods are harvested from the farms?
- How does building an aquaponics farm help stop poverty and human trafficking?
- What authors do you look to for their writing skills and style?
- How can the fly fishing community help your organization make difference?
Casting SeawardSteve Ramirez has been traveling thousands of miles in pursuit of native gamefish in salt and brackish water habitats. Join us as Steve tells his stories of adventures in the salt that weave fish, people, and nature together and how humanity impacts the world in many ways.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What made you look seaward for your latest book?
- What is Casting Seaward about?
- How did you pick the places and people you want to fish with?
- Do you make notes on site (or en plen aire) or does the writing come from recollections at a later date?
- How do you view your purposeful work in writing about our natural world along with your personal journey?
- What as the most exciting experience you had?
- What experience was the most challenging?
- What species was the hardest to target?
- What experience did you learn the most about fishing?
- Which experience did have that helped you to grow the most personally?
- How do you think the coastal waters are doing?
- What factors are at issue with managing the striped bass and bluefish fisheries on the east coast?
- What can we do as fly fishers to help conserve and preserve?
Destination Travel - How to Get Your Money's WorthJim Klug has guided extensively in Montana, Colorado, New Mexico and Oregon, and has fished waters throughout the world, including the Bahamas, Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, Alaska, Canada, the US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, India, and more. If you want to learn about the best places to go, where you get the most bang for your buck and how to make do-it-yourself trips successful you'll want to listen the this show.
Wild Rivers of Northern New MexicoDoc Thompson, a professional guide for 15 years, has been taking fly fishers to where the fish are in the wild rivers of northern New Mexico including the Rio Grande, Cimmaron and the Rio Castilla. Listen in to learn about these unique fisheries and how to fish them.
Fly Fishing Central WyomingBlake Jackson, a professional guide from Casper, Wyoming, specializes in guiding his clients to Wyoming’s great fisheries, like the Miracle Mile, Grey Reef, Fremont Canyon, and local lakes. Whether it's trophy trout or spooky carp Blake knows where to go and how to get hooked up. Join us to learn about these incredible fisheries and how to fish them.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What are the four major sections of the North Platte River?
- Is the area around Saratoga worth fishing?
- How did the Miracle Mile get its name?
- What spawn occurs on the Miracle Mile that brings up the big fish?
- What flies work best on the Miracle Mile?
- What section is fished most often in Fremont Canyon?
- What epic dry fly hatch is Fremont Canyon known for?
- What sections of Grey Reef are the most productive?
- What flies work best on Grey Reef and why?
- What strategies do you use to fish Grey Reef?
- What is the most common mistake most fly fishers make when fishing Grey Reef?
- Why has carp fishing in Wyoming exploded?
- Where is the best place to fish for carp in Wyoming?
Redfish On The FlyJohn Kumiski has fished for redfish for over 20 years and has guided them for the past 10 years. John has researched redfish in great detail and shares his secrets on catching the big ones.
Tying & Fishing Small FliesEd Engle specializes in tying and fishing small flies. Imitating small insects takes extra care and presenting those tiny flies, detecting the strikes and how to best play a trout on a small fly are all part of fishing small flies. Join us to learn Ed's secrets to accomplishing this.
Cutthroat on the Upper Snake RiverPaul Bruun has fly fished and guided on the Upper Snake River for over 35 years. His understanding of his home waters and the native cutthroat trout are second to none. Listen in to learn about fly fishing this incredible water for an incredible fish.
Fly Fishing the Olympic PeninsulaDoug 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.
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