Denny Rickards has been studying trout behavior in stillwaters for over 40 years. He's always learning new things about the aquatic life forms that trout eat and then develops strategies and techniques he can use to mimic their activity. Join us on this podcast to hear about Denny's latest new findings which will help you to catch more fish in stillwaters.

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

• What is the best time of day to fish stillwaters?
• How do you change your tactics throughout the day?
• Will you have more success if you fish from a kick boat or float tube than from shore?
• Are depth finders useful?
• Do you use UV materials in your flies?
• What are the three most important design aspect of flies?
• What type of line do you use and what types of tips do you use?
• What development stage of insects gets more strikes larva, pupa or adults?
• What is the best way to fish pupa?
• How do you determine what depth the fish are at?
• What is the most productive depth for getting strikes?
• If a fish follows your fly will it strike on a follow-up cast?

Lael, a professional guide in Washington, lives and breathes steelhead fishing in the Olympic National Forest. A steelhead catch is something that will change you as a person during and for sure after the fight, whether you win or lose the first battle. Join us to learn Lael’s secrets to success for steelhead!

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

• What makes the Olympic National Forest so special?
• What differences are there between wild and hatchery steelhead?
• What is the best time of year to fish for steelhead?
• What are the differences between the types of rivers in the area?
• What are the differences between fishing with a single-handed rod and spey rod?
• What type of line do you use and what types of tips do you use?
• What are the ideal types of flies and what makes them stand out to the fish?
• What method works best for steelhead nymphing or swing flies?
• How is the take different between nymphs and streamers that you swing?
• What do you recommend for clothing when fishing in the winter?
• Do the moon phases and weather affect the steelhead bite?
• What is the health and status of Olympic National Forest steelhead?

Kip Vieth, a professional guide in Minnesota and winner of the 2017 Orvis Guide of the Year, loves fly fishing for Muskies. Muskies are finicky, to say the least. Known as the fish of ten thousand casts you can bet you'll have to work for yours. Kip will help us all learn more about Muskies including where they live, what they eat, what triggers them to bite, how to rig your terminal tackle for success, presentation strategies, and of course how to close the deal. Join us to learn Kip's secrets to success!

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

• Are muskies really the fish of 10,000 casts?
• What are the strength and weaknesses of fly fishing versus conventional fishing?
• What makes a rod a good muskie fly rod?
• What type of line do you use and what is your terminal tackle setup?
• What are the advantages of articulated flies?
• Do you need high flies for muskies?
• How do the primary lies change for muskies from summer to fall?
• If you get a follow but no bite what changes do you make?
• Do the moon phases affect the musky bite?
• Is sight fishing an effective method for muskies?
• When is the best time of day to target muskies?

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?

Anthony Carruesco, a professional guide in northern California, guides on the Lower and Upper Sacramento, the Klamath, Pit and McCloud rivers. These beautiful waters produce rainbows, browns and pacific steelhead. Whether you float or wade, want to fish nymphs, dries or streamers, you'll be right at home. Listen in and learn all about these rivers and how to hook up with what some people consider California's gold.

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

• When is the best time of year to fish northern California rivers?
• What rivers are the best for wade fishing?
• What is the difference between fishing the Upper and Lower Sacramento River?
• How do you rig up to nymph deep rivers?
• What suspension device was developed to fish these rivers?
• What river is considered the premier trout fishery in California?
• What river has the best stonefly hatches?
• What river has the best steelhead fishing?
• Where do you fish for rainbows and char?
• What are the most prolific hatches on these rivers?

Rick Wallace is a well-traveled Australian fly fisher who lived and fished the island of Hokkaido, Japan extensively for four years. Unknown to many fly fishers taimen, rainbow trout, char and salmon are all prime targets on the island of Hokkaido. Taimen can get as large as one meter! Listen in to learn more about this fishery and find out where, when and how to fish this northernmost island in Japan.

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

• What fly fishing opportunities are there on the island?
• Where is the best place to stay on Hokkaido?
• What is the best time of year to fish on the island?
• Is the taimen found on Hokkaido similar to those in Mongolia?
• What is the best way to fish for taimen?
• What flies do you use for taimen?
• Where do you fish for rainbows and char?
• When is the best time to fish for salmon?

To hire local Japanese guides for fishing on Hokkaido visit Trout & King.

Spencer Seim has been guiding in northern New Mexico since 1995 and calls the Cimarron River, Rio Grande, Costilla Creek, and Ute Creek his home waters. Listen in to hear where and when to come to this picture perfect area and find out how to best fish these mountain waters.

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

• What are the top three most scenic and productive trout streams in northern New Mexico?
• What is the best time of year to fish northern New Mexico?
• Where can you catch the native Rio Grande Cutthroat trout?
• What is Rio Costilla Creek best known for?
• What is the special hatch that occurs on the Cimmarron River?
• What river has an incredible trico hatch?
• What river is known for its awesome dry fly fishing?
• What is Spencer's connection to the book "The Feather Thief"?

Charlie Craven is a master fly tier and has figured out the best fly tying techniques for just about any challenge. His latest book Tying Streamers addresses the techniques used to tie both classic and modern streamer patterns. Charlie is always a great source for good tips on tying so join us to find out what he’s discovered about the best way to tie streamers.

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

• How do you make wooly buggers more durable?
• What is the best way to tie in a palmered hackle?
• Are articulated patterns more effective than non-articulated patterns?
• What are your favorite materials for tying streamers?
• What are the three most important triggers when tying streamers?
• Do you prefer streamers that are thick and dense or sparse and thin?
• How do you keep streamers from fouling?
• How do you choose a hook for your streamers?
• What are your considerations for choosing streamers for different water types?

Lance 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?