Covering fish from Trout to Tarpon, from tying flies to casting them - you'll find it all right here on Ask About Fly Fishing - the best fly fishing podcast for learning more about fly fishing.
Want to Catch More Fish? Just listen to any of our in-depth podcasts - we have over 428 shows in our Archive!
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...
Listen to the Show...
Fly Fishing Is More Than Euro Nymphing
Aaron Jasper
Fly Fisher/Guide/Fly Tier
Euro nymphing may dominate the rivers, but it’s only part of the story. Join Aaron Jasper as he reveals why being a versatile angler makes fly fishing more rewarding—and more productive. From lessons learned over 44 years on the water, to the balance between numbers and trophy fish, to his top five insights from 2025, Aaron shares wisdom that will help you catch more fish and deepen your love of the sport.Ask Aaron Jasper your most important questions on enjoyable and effective fly fishing...
Register for our free drawing.
More about Aaron Jasper...
Miss a Show? - Browse our Show Archive!
Over 428 Shows for you to listen to!
-
Terrestrials
Rick Takahashi considers terrestrials one of the world's most effective patterns. It's a broad category of food from land-dwelling insects to mice and they are in almost every stream and lake around the world. Listen in to learn about tying and fishing terrestrials that will work no matter where you fish.
Snook On A FlyNorm Zeigler an internationally known author and journalist literally wrote the book on snook. Norm has spent the last 18 years chasing and catching this elusive gamefish. Listen it to hear Norm share his secrets on snook.
Adaptive Fly Fishing: Strategies for Diverse Water TypesLance Egan has had a passion for fly fishing for close to three decades. After representing Fly Fishing Team USA in 13 world championships this guy has experienced just about every fishing situation one might encounter. Listen in to hear how Lance breaks down a river into distinct water types including pools, riffles, runs, pocket water, glides, bank-side lies, and eddies and learn his methods for hooking up effectively in each water type.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- How do you fight the wind and get nymphs down fast?
- What are your 'go to' tactics for productive summer fishing?
- When fishing a new river for the first time, what are the steps and observations you take to fish it?
- How do you improve your hookups when using dry flies?
- What water types are best fished using euro nymphing techniques?
- What type of vest or pack do you prefer?
- How do you rig up your net for each access?
- What are the options for fishing riffles?
- What is the best approach and presentation for fishing bank-side lies?
Williams Fork River - More Than A Buggy PlaceChris Wells has been a full-time professional guide for more than 20 years. One of his favorite rivers to guide on is the Williams Fork in central Colorado which he calls one of the "buggiest places" he knows. Yellow sallies, caddis, midges, baetis, tricos, stoneflies and red quills are more than abundant and the trout feed like crazy on them. Join us to learn about the Williams Fork River, why it's so special for Chris and how to fish it for the best results.
California's Best Fly FishingChip O'Brien, a professional guide in California for 18 years, provides us with a overview of California's wild-trout waters from Northern California to the Eastern Sierra.
Fly Fishing Yellowstone's BackcountryBruce Staples has unmatched fly fishing knowledge of the greater Yellowstone backcountry. He’s explored its rivers and lakes for over five decades and shares his knowledge with us on this show. Want to get away from the crowds? Join us and find out where and how to fish Yellowstone’s backcountry.
Building Bamboo Fly RodsRay Gould has been building bamboo fly rods since 1958. Join us to hear this master rod builder talk about the machines and tools necessary, selecting cane, creating precise tapers, step-by-step construction, finishing steps, and many more tips on building bamboo rods.
Fly Fishing the SurfLee Baermann has been fly fishing the surf for over 40 years. Lee guides us on California's southern coast finding beach structure, surf species, productive flies and fishing techniques. Join us and find out how get the best out of the surf.
Are You Making Mistakes Fly Fishing?Sara Low, a professional guide in New York, has seen just about every mistake her clients could possibly make. She'll help you with fly-fishing techniques and help you to break bad habits. Common issues include correctly approaching fish, improving fly selection, proper presentation, consistent and accurate casting, efficient hooking and landing of fish. Join us and learn how to correct those bad habits you might not even know about.
Strip-Set: Fly-Fishing Techniques, Tactics and Patterns for StreamersGeorge Daniel a professional guide and competitive fly fisher will take you on an exciting journey with streamers. He'll explain how to read the water, trout behavior, equipment, casting and night fishing as well as discuss some of the best streamer patterns being used today.
Big Redfish in the Louisiana BayousAlec Griffin was hooked on redfish his second day in New Orleans and was amazed at their ferocity when attacking a fly. He's been chasing them ever since. Learn Alec's secrets about hooking up with big redfish on a fly.
A Steelheader's WayLani Waller has pursued steelhead for over four decades and is considered one of the foremost experts on trophy British Columbia steelhead. Learn Lani's best techniques for catching steelhead on the fly.
Brook Trout: Conservation & FishingBob Mallard is an authority on brook trout and contributes to many of the conservation efforts that are in place today. Brook trout are native to the Eastern United States and were an important gamefish for early anglers. Listen to this podcast to hear about the history, conservation efforts, fly fishing techniques and where to find brook trout today.
A Passion for BonefishGet ready to explore the shimmering world of bonefish with Ian Davis, author of A Passion for Bonefish. Ian shares insights from how to read a flat and choose the perfect fly to unlocking the secrets of tides, moon phases, and guide teamwork. Whether you’re dreaming of stalking the flats or planning your next saltwater trip, this show will fuel your obsession for one of fly fishing’s most electrifying and elusive species.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What features of a bonefish’s anatomy make it such a challenging and thrilling fish to pursue on the fly?
- How do their sensory systems—especially eyesight—impact how we approach them as anglers?
- What types of flats and ecosystems do bonefish thrive in across different regions like the Bahamas or Belize?
- Can you walk us through the typical bonefish diet and how it may vary by location?
- What are some of the most consistently productive bonefish flies you've seen or used in different countries?
- Have any fly patterns surprised you in their effectiveness or versatility across different locations?
- How do wind conditions affect both casting and fish behavior on the flats?
- Are there any general rules anglers can follow to understand tidal movement and its impact?
- What makes the guide–angler relationship crucial in bonefishing success?
- What visual cues help an angler read the flats for likely bonefish hotspots?
- What behaviors should you look for when trying to distinguish feeding bonefish from cruising ones?
- What does a perfect bonefish fly presentation look like?
- Can you explain why strip-setting is so critical—and how it differs from trout setting?
- What’s the best way to land a bonefish safely for both the angler and the fish?
Fly Fishing Trout Lakes Part II: A Biologist's Point Of ViewBrian Chan is back for Part II of Fly Fishing Trout Lakes. We had so many questions for his intial show that we had to schedule a special extended edition to get through the questions. If you thought the first show was great wait until you see what we have in store for you in this one.
Learn more about fly fishing and listen to our podcasts by these top experts...
Copyright © 2025 Ask About Fly Fishing | As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases through links from this website.