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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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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...
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Over 428 Shows for you to listen to!
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Tarpon On The WormBruce Chard, a professional guide the Florida Keys, takes us for a ride through the palolo worm hatch. This once a year event will get anyone's adrenaline pounding. Join us to find out where, when and how to fish this incredible event.
Finding TroutTom, 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?
St. Brandon's AtollJeff Currier’s pursuit of the yellow permit, 10 pound plus bonefish and the Picasso triggerfish puts him on the other side of the world on St. Brandon’s Atoll in the Indian Ocean. Who else would endure a 26-hour boat ride after 40 hours of flight travel to add a few more fish to his bucket list. Join us to learn about another “Monsoon” Currier adventure.
Fly Fishing for RedfishChico Fernandez shares a lifetime of experiences fly fishing for redfish. He'll cover all the essentials including rods, reels, rigs, casting techniques and flies. Join us and learn how to hook up with a redfish.
Top Ten Smallmouth Bass Flies and How to Fish ThemBrad Miller has fished smallmouth for over thirty years on some of the most hallowed waters in the Midwest and Canada. If you want to catch more smallmouth listen in as Brad goes through the top ten flies that have been written about, tested and voted upon by guides, experts and everyday anglers. He'll tell you what they are and how to fish them.
Fishing Wet Flies, Old School Still WorksBill Edrington knows what works and one of those things is fly fishing with wet flies for trout. If you haven't been using wet flies this show will be very enlightening and may change the way you fish in the future.
Long Island's Fly Fishing TreasuresPaul McCain guides out of his shop, River Bay Outfitters on Long Island. He fishes many types of water both fresh and salt and for many species of fish. Long Island has so much to offer it's difficult to know where to begin. Paul will guide us to some well known and not so well known places on Long Island and open your eyes to all that's possible. Join us and explore Long Island fly fishing.
Questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What are the prime areas for striped bass?
- Where can you fish the flats on Long Island?
- What is public access like for fishing the shoreline?
- Where do you find the larger striped bass?
- What are the four best flies for striped bass and bluefish?
- Where can you fish for trout and bass at the same time?
- What rivers are the best for trout fishing?
- What are kettle and mill ponds?
Federation of Fly Fishers 2006 ConclaveThe 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.
Fly Fishing for Largemouth BassHooking up with largemouth bass is exciting and definitely splashy. Ken Hanley will tell you exactly how to get them on a fly using special techniques and hot fly patterns.
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.
Bonefish in HawaiiRob Provost was one of the very first to introduce locals and the business/vacation traveler alike to the pursuit of Hawaiian bonefish on the fly. Listen in to learn about fly fishing for bonefish and how it differs from other places in the world.
The Most Common Nymph Fishing MistakesRick Hafele has made many nymphing mistakes over the years and also watched others do the same. Sometimes knowing what not to do can make the difference as well. Join us to sort it all out and clean up your nymphing.
Next Episode in the Works: Stay with Us!Hello, listeners! We wanted to give you a quick update: while we're still finalizing our next guest for the show, rest assured that we're working hard to bring you another exciting and insightful episode. Stay tuned for more details, and in the meantime, feel free to check out our past episodes or drop us a line with any topics you'd like to hear more about. Thanks for your continued support and patience!
Fly Fishing Adventures in BaghdadJoel Stewart found himself based in Camp Victory on the grounds of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's former Al Faw Palace. He fished numerous man-made lakes stocked by the former dictator with a variety of sport fish. Soon he was teaching others how to fly fish. Thus, the Baghdad School of Fly Fishing was born, an angling club that remained in existence for the remainder of the time American troops were in Iraq. Listen in to hear about the exotic fish Joel caught, how the Baghdad School of Fly Fishing was born and how it flourished during times of war.
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.
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