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Salters: The Remarkable Return of Sea-Run Brook Trout
Tom Pero
Fly Fisher, Author, Publisher
Once found in coastal streams throughout New England, sea-run brook trout, known as “salters,” nearly disappeared as their fragile habitats were altered and degraded. Today, these remarkable native fish are making a comeback. Author Tom Pero takes us into the hidden world of salters, from their fascinating life history and migrations to the Cape Cod streams they call home. Join us as we explore what scientists have learned about these elusive trout and meet the dedicated riverkeepers whose decades of restoration work prove that, given a chance, wild trout and wild rivers can recover.The Hatch Code: Understanding Insects to Catch More Trout
Andy Kitchener
Fly Fisher, Fly Tier, Author, Observer
Why do trout ignore your fly when they're rising all around you? The answer may lie in understanding what they're eating and how they're feeding. Join Andy Kitchener, author of The Hatch Code: Trout Are Not Entomologists, as he reveals how practical entomology can transform your fly fishing. Discover how to recognize important insects, identify their life cycle stages, read trout rises, anticipate hatches, and choose the right flies and presentations. Learn to stop guessing, start observing, and catch more trout.
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Over 447 Shows for you to listen to!
- How to Get a Grand Slam in the Salt
Earl Waters has achieved over 300 grand slams in the salt for his clients and himself so he knows his stuff. Find out from Earl how to land a tarpon, permit and bonefish all in one day.
- Fly Fishing for Steelhead - Queen Charlotte Islands and the Dean River
Greg Thomas pursues wild steelhead in out of the way places, with a focus on British Columbia. Recently he's fished the Queen Charlotte Islands and the central British Columbia coast. In July he lucked into the best week in 10 years on the Dean River and had 17 fish to the beach in three days. Listen to Thomas' adventures and you'll learn how to reach these unique fisheries where 10-to 20-pound wild steelhead can be found, often in good numbers.
- Mighty Mouse To The Rescue!
Richard Pilatzke has been working diligently on dialing in his mouse game. Trout love them bass love them so what does it take to get the fish to attack. Is it in the fly pattern, the presentation or a combination of both? Listen in to this podcast to hear what Richard has learned so you can catch more fish on a mouse.
- Wet Fly Techniques for Big Trout
Davy Wotton has caught a lot of big trout in the past 30 years and wet fly fishing in the traditional style is one of the biggest reasons for his success. Listen and find out about Davy's techniques and how to master them.
- Wild Wipers on the Fly
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.
- Sight Fishing for Trout Revisited
Seeing trout is a learned skill and Landon Mayer has perfected it. Ed Engle thinks Landon maybe part osprey but I’m sure he’s got some heron in him too, either way, he can see fish and can teach you how to as well. Listen to this podcast and learn how to see more fish on your next trip.
- On The Bow
Bill Horn has chased bonefish, tarpon and permit for over 40 years in the Florida Keys, Bahamas, Hawaii and Mexico. He's been "On the Bow" too many times to count. Join us to hear Bill share his experiences, the good, bad and ugly of chasing these trophy fish in the salt. You might just pick up a tip or two you can use next time you are on the bow.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- Are the bonefish coming back in Florida?
- Do you have more success fishing for bonefish from a boat?
- Where do you find the larger bonefish?
- Are bonefish bigger in the Bahamas?
- What flies work best for bonefish?
- Are bonefish, permit and tarpon easier or harder to catch now than in the past?
- How do you present your flies to permit?
- What's the best way to set the hook on a permit?
- Is Florida still a "go-to" location for tarpon?
- Where can you find the larger migrating tarpon?
- Is the juvenile tarpon fishery still great?
- What flies are working best for tarpon through the seasons?
- Looking to the future how do you see the health of the flats fisheries and their fish?
- Magnificent Roosterfish: Unlocking the Secrets of El Gallo
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.
- Fly Fishing Small Streams
Tom Rosenbauer has mastered the strategies and techniques necessary to be productive on small streams. Listen in to learn his secrets.
- Fly Fishing Florida’s Largemouth Bass
Debbie Hanson, a professional guide in southwest Florida, specialized in getting her clients hooked up with Florida’s strain of largemouth bass. These bass are different than the strains in the north and many consider them the monsters of largemouth bass. Listen in to learn about these bass and how to hook up with what may be your trophy bass of a lifetime.
- What makes the Florida strain of largemouth bass different?
- What is the best place to fish for trophies in Florida?
- Does the Florida strain exist in other states?
- What are the factors that contribute to the growth of trophy-sized bass?
- Where do you look for the larger bass?
- What are the most effective flies to use for largemouth bass?
- How deep do you fish?
- What's the best time of day to fish?
- What fly did you catch your trophy largemouth on?
- Steelhead of the Dean River
April Vokey, a professional guide and fly fishing instructor, has been pursuing the elusive steelhead most of her life. The Dean River in British Columbia is world renowned for having some of the strongest fish in the world. Listen in to hear how April fishes this great river for one of the most challenging fish the steelhead.
- Fly Fishing for Trophy Striped Bass
Dive into the exhilarating world of fly fishing for trophy striped bass in our next show with John Field! Join us as he shares the behaviors, preferred foods, and best fishing spots for these spectacular sportfish. Learn the flies and techniques that promise success. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned angler, don’t miss this thrilling discussion that could lead you to your next big catch!
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What do you consider a trophy striped bass?
- Can you explain the four major Atlantic stocks and their migrations?
- Are there similar migrations in California?
- What physical characteristics and sense of stripers do we, as fly fishers, need to know?
- What are the key factors that affect the movement of large fish?
- What are their primary food sources?
- Does the size of the fly help with hooking larger fish?
- Do you need to match your fly pattern the baitfish they are feeding on?
- What are a few of your go-to flies?
- What are your favorite top water patterns?
- What weight rods and types of lines do you recommend?
- What knots do you use in your setup?
- Are you more likely to catch a trophy striped bass from a boat or from shore?
- Where an how do you sight fish for striped bass?
- How do you present and retrieve your flies?
- What type of fight do the larger fish give and how do you fight them?
- What is the best way to handle a fish you've caught to ensure their survival?
- Mammoth Lakes Fly Fishing
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?
- Lake Fishing with Damsels and Dragons
Richard Pilatzke an expert on rocky mountain lake fishing loves fishing with damsel and dragonflies. Learn Rich's techniques for tying and fishing these favorite morsels that fish devour.
- Rivers of Northern California
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?
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