Fly Fishing Experts Tell Their Secrets LIVE!

Kirk Johnson is the author of the true-crime adventure “The Feather Thief”. Intrigued by the theft of hundreds of rare bird specimens from the Tring museum in England, Kirk journeys into the underground world of fanatical fly tiers and plume peddlers looking for the truth behind why the theft took place and what happened to all the birds that were stolen. Join us and hear the story that has drawn so many readers to this great book.

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

• How did the heist go down?
• Who was Alfred Russel Wallace and what did he have to do with the heist?
• How did Edwin Rist get involved tying classic salmon flies?
• What was the value of the stolen birds?
• How were the stolen birds and feathers sold?
• Were the buyers of the stolen goods complicit?
• Did Rist have an accomplice?
• Was the heist planned?
• How did the judge rule when Rist when to court?
• Did Rist show any remorse about what he had done?
• Were the stolen birds ever recovered?

Chris Leonard has been guiding and teaching fly fishing in the Mammoth Lakes, California area since 2005. Mammoth Lakes is well known for its ski area but it also hosts some great fisheries. Hot Creek, the Owens River, the San Joaquin River, Rock Creek, Rush Creek and Crowley Lake are some of Chris's favorites. Listen in and learn about these eastern Sierra fisheries and how to best fish these waters.

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

• When is the best time of year to fish the Mammoth Lakes rivers, creeks and lakes?
• What is the difference between fishing the Upper and Lower Owens River?
• What river has Golden Trout in it?
• What makes Hot Creek so special?
• Is Tenkara a good system to use on these fisheries?
• What river is known for its hopper fishing?
• What river can you get a grand slam on?
• What's the best way to find fish in Crowley Lake?
• Can you fish Crowley Lake from a float tube?
• What flies work best on these waters?

Jon Olch has been fascinated with fishing the saltwater flats for almost 40 years. He’s caught just about every kind of fish on the flats but he’s obsessed with permit. He’s studied the permit inside and out and is one of the most knowledgeable permit fly fishers on the planet. Join us to learn more about fly fishing for one of the most challenging fish in the water.

Donna McDonald a professional guide and native of Montana has been actively involved with the reintroduction of grayling into the Ruby River. Join us and learn about this great fishery and fish.

Robert Younghanz, a.k.a The Bug Guy, is an internationally known Aquatic Entomologist, Fly Fishing Guide and Instructor.  Entomology plays a big part in being a successful fly fisher. Robert breaks down the different classes of insects that fly fishers are familiar with and helps you to identify and understand their life cycle. The more you know about how these bugs live and procreate the more fish you'll be bringing to the net.

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

• What is the life cycle of a mayfly?
• Why is the life cycle of and insect important to fly fishers?
• Do you need to have flies that imitate each stage of the life cycle?
• What are the most important orders of insects for fly fishers?
• What is the largest order of insects?
• What is the life cycle of a caddis?
• What is the difference between complete metamorphosis and incomplete metamorphosis ?
• What insects are most common in lakes?
• Where is the best place to seine a river for bugs?
• What is the best way to learn about insects for fishing?
• How do you organize your fly boxes?
• Do you have different fly boxes for different seasons?
• When nothing else is working what fly would you use?

Vince Wilcox has always had his own take on things and that applies to tying flies as well. Vince developed his own patterns for many of the common challenges fly fishers face when enticing trout and many of those became the commercial patterns you may be buying today including nymphs, dry flies and terrestrials. Join us to hear from Vince why he developed these patterns, why they are so effective and how to fish them.

Harry 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 carp is one of the hottest fishing challenges around; they're big, smart and are found almost everywhere. Join Brad Befus on this podcast as he exposes the secrets of fly fishing for carp and learn the strategies and techniques of catching these challenging fish.

Daniel Galhardo brought Tenkara fly fishing to North America and has introduced a new an exciting way to fly fish. Learn about the history and fishing in Japan that inspired him to create a company based on Tenkara. Daniel will also share how he started and built his business into the success it is today.

The 2006 Conclave of the Federation of Fly Fishers was held July 27-29 in Bozeman, Montana. Over 100 educational opportunities were presented including classroom presentations, on-stream sessions, and dryland casting instruction. Special live on-the-spot interviews were recorded at the main Conclave venue. Hear what is being accomplished by Project Healing Waters and Family Tyes. Find out how an active club like the Boise Valley Fly Fishers supports FFF. Hear Federation President Peter Van Gytenbeek's summary of the Conclave events.

Matt Snider says fly fishing for wipers is like hooking up with a strong saltwater fish only you're in freshwater. Learn Matt's techniques for finding and hooking up with this exciting fish.

Rick Nyles started guiding in 1999 and has since grown his guide service to eight guides in Pennsylvania. His knowledge of Pennsylvania fisheries is deep and wide. Join us to talk about a few of the top Pennsylvania fisheries you want to add to your bucket list.

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

• What books can you recommend that detail Pennsylvania waters?
• I'm coming to fish in Pennsylvania for the first time where should I go to maximize my trip?
• Where and when should I go to hit the Green Drake hatch?
• How do the state laws affect public access to the rivers and creeks?
• I want to swing wet flies to increase my fish numbers; where should I go to do this?
• What rivers or streams are the best for smallmouth bass fishing?
• What are the prime waters in the State College area?
• What's Penns Creek known for most?
• What are the top flies that you recommend for fishing Pennsylvania waters?
• What river would you fish in the Johnstone area?
• How do you get away from the crowds?
• What are the top rivers and creeks in Eastern Pennsylvania?
• What species of trout is Pennsylvania known most for?
• What are your tips for fishing the Lehigh River?

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?

Skip Morris is a full-time fly fishing author and speaker who has published 22 books and over 350 magazine articles on fly fishing and fly tying. Skip makes fly tying so simple anyone can do it. If you’re interested in fly tying but haven’t given it a try yet listen in and Skip will provide all the information you need to get started and to be successful.

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

• How did you get started tying flies?
• Is it more expensive to tie your own flies than to buy them?
• What tools do I absolutely need to get started tying flies?
• What should I look for in a good vise?
• What are the important features of a good bobbin?
• What are the basic materials needed to get started?
• What is the difference between the different brands of hooks?
• What is your go-to thread material?
• What sizes of thread should I get to begin with?
• What do the different grades of capes mean?
• Do you weight your flies or use other methods to get deeper?
• Do you think adding purple to a dry fly marks it fish better?
• What tips do you have for tying very small flies?

Dave Maynard fishes for carp where ever he can find them and many times it's under freeway viaducts or with a backdrop of skyscrapers rather than mountains. Join us to learn how to catch these hard to catch fish.