Fly Fishing Podcasts Worth Listening To (Updated)

Are you planning on going somewhere this weekend? Somerset, perhaps?  There is absolutely no reason why you can’t be entertained while cruising down the freeway or even sitting in traffic. Three months back, I listed my top five fly fishing podcasts. I wanted to add some new episodes to the podcasts that I’ve previously suggested, as well as add a few new ones to which  I’ve subscribed.

Here are the new episodes that I think you’ll enjoy, Clicking on the picture takes you to the podcast website, and the name of the episode takes you to an iTunes page that highlights my selection. If you want my brief synopsis of the  podcast, click on the link in the paragraph above.

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Risen Fly: Rods, Reels, & Relationships

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. For so many anglers getting into fly fishing, a lot of invention goes into assembling everything that is needed in a somewhat expensive sport. Risen Fly, a company that has been selling rods, reels, and a number of other accessories since 2013, was birthed out of that exact necessity.

Ryan, the owner, got into fly fishing as a newlywed. “At that time, there wasn’t a lot of disposable income for my new addiction. I spent a lot of time on Craigslist, and it became clear that there was still the need for good quality gear that is affordable.” That was the genesis of creating a brand and selling his own fly tackle. He was considering his own situation as well as that of young anglers, those who want to give fly fishing a shot, and anyone who might be on a budget. Those same fly fishers, once they get more involved, realize the benefit of having a variety of gear. “Once you get into the sport, it isn’t unreasonable to need four or five rods and reels, and everything specialized that goes with them.”

Risen Fly started on eBay, where Ryan sold products like line and backing. Without much revenue, the money wasn’t there for advertising or a website. However, the success of those initial products allowed the company to move forward. A website was launched, along with the first series of reels. The Icthus reels are built out of fully machined aluminum with cork drags and sealed bearings. With features like those and prices around $150, the reels have been well received. Another line of reels, the larger Anakim, launched shortly thereafter.

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At the Marlborough Fly Fishing Show: Wrap Up

A perennial fixture of the fly fishing scene, the winter shows featuring vendors, tyers, and outfitters are highlights for anglers enduring the winter doldrums. With the premier expo holding events at seven locations across the country, and numerous other shows put on by sportsman’s groups and Trout Unlimited chapters, anglers from virtually anywhere can spend a day or weekend immersed in the culture of fly fishing.

I was able to attend the Fly Fishing Show at Marlborough, Massachusetts this year. Although it was barely 20 degrees outside, men, women, and children filled up the Royal Plaza Trade Center. I spent most of the day walking the hall, talking to exhibitors, and watching demonstrations.

From being in this community for a while, I’m aware that different anglers attend shows for different reasons. Personally, I love to meet and listen to people who are passionate about what they make/sell/do. History, anecdotes, and hands-on demonstrations communicate value more than flashy displays. The difference between a booth being popular or barren usually has to do with those staffing it, and I really respect and appreciate those who do it well.

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At the Marlborough Fly Fishing Show

 

Waiting for the gates to open...
Waiting for the gates to open…


 Today I’ll be attending the Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, Massachusetts. I’ve come prepared with a camera, a notebook, comfortable shoes, and enough money to get into only a little bit of trouble. I’m planning on spending the day seeing familiar faces, meeting new folks, and, well, buying stuff.

Next week I plan on writing about who and what was at the show, so be sure to check back in. The best way to see when that information goes live is to:

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Meanwhile, check out some of the articles and posts  listed on the right.

The Five People You Meet in Fly Shops

We’ve all been there before. Standing in front of the rod rack at our local fly shop, trying to justify another 5-weight, and you hear the voice. “Kids these days! With their sling packs and their Twitters… no wonder I can’t catch any fish!” The shop employee is nodding along, but at a rhythm that clearly demonstrates his well-honed skill to hear without listening. His thousand-yard stare is evident to everyone but the ranting grump.

After nearly two decades of formal, empirical anthropological research, I’ve developed an efficient classification system and taxonomy for the types of individuals one encounters in fly shops. As a former fly shop employee, an occasional customer, and a curious observer of awkward situations, I believe that I am uniquely qualified for such a study. I’d like to present my completely objective findings.

One quick note: I try to be as gender-inclusive as possible when I write, but here I’m using male pronouns. I’m sure I’ve noticed the following behaviors/traits in women, but honestly, in my mind these characters are all men. A braver author than I can write the “Annoying Lady Anglers” article.

The Gear Guy / The High Roller Is it new? He wants it. Will it be redundant? It doesn’t matter. No plans to fly fish for tuna? Well, you never do know when a 14-weight might come in handy.

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The Little Red River: Trout in the South

If your first taste of meat was a filet of Kobe beef at a high end Japanese steakhouse, there is a good chance that it might impact your opinion of every backyard sirloin for the foreseeable future. The first time I ever saw a trout river, the sheer number and size of the fish was ridiculous. For a while, every little creek back home was compared to the wide, cold, trout-filled waters of the Little Red River.

The southernmost of Arkansas’ major tailwater systems, the Little Red’s tributaries and forks meet up north of the village of Heber Springs to form Greers Ferry Lake. In 1959, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continued to tame the south’s waterways by damming up the Little Red for energy, flood control, and the economic benefits of recreation. Upon completion of the dam in 1962, President John F. Kennedy appeared at the dedication. It was to be his last significant public appearance before his assassination in Dallas the next month. The federal trout hatchery below the dam bears his name.

As is the case with any impoundment and tailwater, there are lengthy lists of pros and cons respective to its creation and existence. Generally speaking, if the new lake submerged one’s property or interests the reception was and is quite icy. The history of the Tennessee Valley Authority and other similar projects in the south is fascinating and worth being aware of. Culturally and anthropologically, the relationship between the government, the locals, and the physical environment is complex and often emotional.

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Fly Fishing with Snakes

I’m not afraid of snakes. What I’m not a fan of is their snaky-ness. Herpetologically speaking, this is the trait that snakes possess that allows them to surprise you. Rarely does one see a snake coming from a long distance off, as you would with a bison or a truck full of rural folk. The aforementioned disturbances announce their presence, and often their intentions, with snorting and general carrying on. Snakes might rattle. And that is only some of them.

If you fish, you’ve encountered a snake. Swimming through the water. Laying across the trail. Dangling from a tree. Curled up in the toe of your wading boots. Such are the joys/perils of being outside.

In every one of those circumstances, the snake catches you off guard: “What a wonderful day. This is a pleasant path. I love nature. Look at that, a length of hose all the way out… OHGEEZITSASNAKE!” Then, your heart is in your throat. If you’re over 65 or have a “condition,” you probably need to sit down at this point. What fun!

I’ve had some memorable snake experiences. Trigger warning: there are snakes in the stories about snakes I’m about to relay.

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Fly Fishing Films: the Full View

This winter, anglers across the country are buying tickets and filling venues to attend the International Fly Fishing Film Festival. Short films about arctic char, the Montauk coast, and how the internet is impacting fishing will be viewed by thousands at theaters, fly shops, and the Fly Fishing Show. A case could be made for today being   the golden age of fly fishing media.

But a few clicks on social media or fly fishing blogs will make it clear that it isn’t just the premier events that are tapping into the medium of video. The availability of iPhones, GoPros, and other electronics equipped with cameras has made cinematographers out of trout bums and catfish noodlers. Not every clip uploaded to Facebook or Vimeo is the caliber of the IF4 selections. However, the angler with a computer, tablet, or smartphone has a library of thousands upon thousands of fly fishing videos to watch at his or her leisure.

One of the most recent additions to this virtual collection came  from  William Knouse. Growing up in Pennsylvania’s Cumberland Valley, Knouse has had daily opportunities to fish some of the top notch spring creeks and freestone streams on the east coast. Furthermore, his grandfather sat on the banks of the LeTort and watched local fishermen like Vince Marinaro, Charles Fox, and Ed Shenk become nationally known anglers. Those stories, along with his own time on the stream, endeared Bill to the sport and the resource.

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Fly Fishing Guidebooks

If accumulating fly fishing books is a disease, amassing guidebooks is its most acute symptom.

From the ubiquitous Wilderness Adventure Press Flyfisher’s Guide Series to the locally printed spiral-bound booklets available at fly shops, any angler who is drawn to printed works on the sport knows about guidebooks. Even in an age where so much of the information contained in such works is available online, new editions and books are released annually.

Why is that? How can publishers continually profit by chronicling access points? Why is there such a draw to books filled with short anecdotes, hatch charts, and maps of varying levels of usability?

My theory is that their secret formula to success involves playing off of anglers’ 10% need for information and 90% desire for escapism. I’ve benefited significantly from some of the pertinent information in guidebooks, but mostly what they’ve done is whetted my appetite to get out and fish.

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Go West Young Fisherman

Like most teenagers, I had a number of posters up in my room. Along with Michael Jordan soaring towards a slam dunk and the Nirvana smiley-face, I had one from Sage fly rods. In lighting conditions that emulated sepia tones, an angler stood on the banks of a winding river. The water wove through a meadow as massive mountain peaks rose up in the background. Lying in bed at night, imagining myself in that scene was just as fantastical as being able to dunk a basketball.

Living in the east, accessing big, remote, wild water is the exception. There are rivers that meet two, or even all three of those qualifiers, but they are a precious few. Out west, the list of rivers that fit this bill is endless. At least that is the way it can seem to a young man used to mountain creeks and slow, warm water rivers.

It wasn’t a big destination trip that finally took me out west. My then-girlfriend’s, soon to be fiancé’s (now wife’s) family lives in Greeley, Colorado. They saw the aforementioned progression coming into focus, so off we went so I could visit the hinterland.

And I was given permission to bring a fly rod.

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