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Imposters - The Flies We Fish And The Fish They Catch
Skip Morris
Fly Fisher/Fly Tier/Author
Skip and Carol Ann Morris are well known in the fly fishing world and they have stories to tell... Their latest book Imposters takes us on a trip of colorful fly fishing experiences blending stories, insights, history and instruction all based on those imposters at the end of our lines. Join us on what will be a fun as well as enlightening episode as they share those experiences with us.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- How did the idea come about for you book Imposters and how did you decide to work together on it?
- The title of the book is Imposters. At the most basic level, what are we really asking a fish to believe when we put an artificial fly in front of it?
- Could you provide some insight into how flies which appear to represent nothing in nature seem to catch fish like crazy?
- Fly tiers can become obsessed with making a fly look exactly like the insect they're imitating. How much does anatomical accuracy really matter to the fish?
- The two of you checked the dimensions of your fly drawings with a draftsman's divider so the tails, wings, hackles, thoraxes, and other components would have correct proportions. Why was that level of accuracy important to you, and how difficult is it to draw a fly accurately enough that a fly tier could actually learn from the illustration?
- Do you find that when drawing a fly it forces you to notice details about its proportions, materials, or construction that even the person tying it might overlook?
- In "The Promise, the Beaver, and the Branch," an apparently insignificant piece of water turns out to be much better than you expected. What can that experience teach us about learning to read water without prejudging it?
- Your chapter-opening illustrations don't simply show flies; they often combine the fly with fish, insects, anglers, wildlife, or scenes from the essay. For example, the opening illustration for "The Promise, the Beaver, and the Branch" brings together the trout, beaver, insect, branch, and fly. How do you decide which elements of Skip's story should become the visual story?
- Carol Anne because you're illustrating something Skip knows intimately as both a tier and fisherman, what is the collaboration like? Does Skip ever look over your shoulder and say, "That hackle is too long," or do you have artistic veto power?
- I am a new fly tyer, what pattern is a good start for me for an imposter pattern?
- The Guest Box includes everything from chironomid pupae to Booby Flies and your Predator. Is it more useful for an angler to organize a fly box around specific insects or around how and where the flies will be fished?
- Carol Ann you've spent a lot of time fishing with Skip as well as illustrating his books. Has being an artist changed the way you observe things when you're on the water—the insects, fish, light, vegetation, or other details that the rest of us might walk right past?
- How should an angler change the fly and presentation when trout appear to be taking insects trapped in or just below the surface film?
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Fly Fishing the Legendary North Umpqua for Steelhead
Joe Howell
Fly Fisher, Fly Tier, Guide, Author
The North Umpqua is legendary among steelhead fly fishers—but success on this demanding river takes more than simply showing up with a fly rod. Former guide and author Joe W. Howell shares what you need to know to fish the North Umpqua with confidence. Discover how to read its distinctive water, choose productive flies and techniques, approach steelhead effectively, and adapt to changing river conditions. Along the way, Joe draws on years of experience to help you better understand—and appreciate—one of America’s most storied steelhead rivers.Ask Joe Howell your most important questions on fly fishing the North Umpqua for steelhead...
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Healing WatersBeau Beasley unveils the profound journey of veterans healing through fly fishing. Drawing from his book, Healing Waters, we explore heartfelt stories of recovery from the battlefield to the riverbank. Hear how the serenity of casting lines and the camaraderie among veterans nurture both body and soul, offering a powerful testament to the therapeutic wonders of nature. Don't miss this deeply moving episode—where every cast brings a step toward healing.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What is the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) organization, and how did it come about?
- How has it helped veterans recover from their experience in the service?
- Has there been recognition from physicians that PHWFF can have a positive impact on the lives of participants?
- How did your book Healing Waters come to be?
- What do you hope to accomplish with your book?
- What guidelines did you set for your interviews, and how did you decide to convey their stories?
- How many interviews did you do?
- Did you include all the interviews in your book?
- You chose to honor Brian Mancini at the beginning of your book. Who was Brian?
- Alvin Shell served in Iraq. What can you tell us about Alvin?
- Jessica Callihan was injured when she was very young. How did PHWFF help her?
- Jerry Mirron served with his companion dog in Vietnam. What was his experience?
- How can you learn more if you want to volunteer to help Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing?
Topwater to Bottom: Cracking the Code on Smallmouth BassSmallmouth bass aren’t just aggressive they’re strategic. Jake Villwock breaks down how to consistently catch more fish by targeting all three feeding zones: topwater, mid-column, and bottom. He reveals how modern fly design—from foam bugs to articulated baitfish and lifelike crayfish has transformed the game. Whether you’re chasing explosive surface eats or dialing in subsurface tactics, you’ll learn how to fish smarter, adapt faster, and unlock the full potential of smallmouth on the fly.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What first drew you to smallmouth bass on the fly, and what keeps you obsessed with them today?
- What are good weights of fly lines and leaders for both topwater and wet fly fishing for smallmouth?
- What size leader do you use?
- What are the biggest mistakes anglers make when fishing surface flies for bass?
- For anglers new to bass on the fly, what are the top three surface flies they should always carry?
- Your book mentions how modern topwater flies have evolved from bulky deer hair bugs to more refined foam and articulated patterns. What drove that evolution?
- What about a dropper off a popper suspended 18”-24”. What depth of water would that be successful
- What conditions create the perfect topwater smallmouth bite?
- How important is observation when determining what bass are feeding on at the surface—mayflies, frogs, damsels, baitfish, cicadas, and so on?
- What are your favorite retrieves for poppers, sliders, and waking flies?
- Moving into the mid-column zone, can you explain what a “swim fly” really is and why this style has become so effective?
- When fishing mid-column flies, how do you decide between floating, sink-tip, and intermediate lines?
- Crayfish patterns are a major focus in your book. What makes crayfish such an essential forage for bass?
- Do you use a lot of crayfish patterns, and what about sculpin patterns?
- Looking ahead, where do you think smallmouth fly design and tactics are headed over the next decade?
Tenkara TodayTenkara was introduced to the United States in 2009 and has become a rapidly growing method of fly fishing for many fly fishers. How has it evolved and what role does it play in today's fly fishing world? Listen to this podcast to hear Morgan Lyle catch us up on what's happened and share his secrets on how to catch more fish using tenkara methods.
Fly Fishing Pressured WatersFishing pressure is at an all-time high—but smart anglers adapt. In this episode we're joined by Nick Conklin and Collins Illich to break down advanced tactics for fooling highly educated fish on crowded waters. From strategy shifts to subtle presentations, this conversation delivers practical insights you can apply to pressured rivers anywhere.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- How do you define “pressured water,” and what are the earliest signs anglers should recognize?
- How has fishing pressure changed over the last decade on popular Western rivers?
- Can you share with us some of the things that should concern anglers with time management?
- When and where should we fish to avoid highly pressured waters?
- What role does timing—time of day or season—play in beating pressure?
- On a river like the South Platte, below Cheeseman Dam, it looks like the coming months will be a combination of low water (>100 CFS), crowds, and low temps/snow pack (hopefully!). Any recommendations around that specific set of factors?
- If you come across a run where you saw another angler fishing, how long should you wait to fish that run?
- How important is stealth compared to presentation on crowded rivers?
- When fishing pressured water, how do you decide between changing flies versus changing tactics?
- Is it better to add more flies as droppers when fishing for smart trout?
- Do you find that you need to downsize your flies for pressured waters?
- Do you change leader/tippet for pressured waters, and if so, what do you recommend?
- What habits separate consistently successful anglers from frustrated ones?
- With the pressure continuing to get stronger what changes do you see coming in the next 20 years that will change the way we fish today or our access to fisheries?
Fly Fishing the Truckee RiverMikey Wier has been guiding in the Lake Tahoe area for over 15 years and calls the Truckee River his home water. The Truckee River is a tailwater that flows from Lake Tahoe for 120 miles ending at Pyramid Lake, NV. Although this river is technically a tailwater, at times it flows like a freestone stream and at others it will fish like a Spring Creek. Listen in to learn Mikey’s secrets about fishing this challenging water.
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.
Fly Fishing Rocky Mountain National ParkSteve Schweitzer has spent the last 10 years researching and fly fishing Rocky Mountain National Park. He knows where to fish and how to fish it. If you're going to fly fish the park you'll want to listen to this show.
Fly Fishing the Gunnison RiverJason Booth has guided over 6,000 fly fishers down the Gunnison River over the past 23 years so he knows this river like the back of his hand, maybe better. Join us to learn about the secrets of the Gunnison River in Colorado - where to go and how to fish it.
Common Sense Fly FishingEric Sroup is a professional guide and he's determined to make his fly fishing clients successful on every trip. Listen in as Eric shares the same information he shares with his clients everyday on how to catch more trout - practical common sense techniques.
Kamchatka - Trout Fishing's Next FrontierRene Limeres a professional guide takes you to Kamchatka where there are still more fish than people. It may be the next and last frontier for fly fishers seeking huge trout and salmon. Join Rene and discover what it takes to land the big ones in Russia.
Fly Tying Made Clear and SimpleSkip 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?
Colorado's Roaring Fork RiverTim Heng has fished the Roaring Fork River in Colorado for 30 years. Learn all about fly fishing the Roaring Fork and the secrets of hooking up with the lunkers that call it home..
Fishing The Caddisfly For TroutBill Edrington has been fly fishing for over 40 years. He knows about the caddis fly as his home waters is the Arkansas River in Colorado known for one of the most intense spring caddis hatches in the United States. Listen in to this podcast to find out Bill's secrets on fishing this fly.
Tomorrow's Fly FishersFanny Krieger has been involved with fly fishing instruction for over 25 years. Listen in to find out how she unravels the mystery of fly fishing for children of all ages into a simple, easy to understand and fun adventure.
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.
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