Why do some rivers hold big trout? This is a topic that has come up between all of us on long drives, around the tailgate, and on long walks along the riverbank. Why is it that some rivers just do not have any size to the fish, and then, maybe just the next valley over, not only is the average size larger, but the top tier fish is bigger too?

Continue reading PODCAST: Why Do Some Rivers Hold Big Trout? — S13, Ep7 at Troutbitten.

Tonight we’re here to talk about why we fish. It’s a simple question. Why do we commit so much of our free time and efforts, our thoughts and our daydreams . . . to fishing?

It’s the same natural pursuit that brought us all down to the water from the beginning.

Continue reading PODCAST: Why We Fish — S13, Ep6 at Troutbitten.

Should we always fish barbless? Maybe not. The answer isn’t that simple. So the Troutbitten guys are here for a conversation and a few thoughts about barbs on hooks.

Each one of us has fished for long enough that we’ve used both barbed and barbless flies. We’ve also used barbs on lures and bait hooks, because we all grew up fishing in different ways. Some anglers who jump right into the fly fishing game — especially for trout — are exposed to a another sentiment. So their reference points are different. And like anything else, what might seem almost outlandish to one person can seem like no big deal to another.

Continue reading PODCAST: Barbed Hooks or Barbless? Does It Really Matter? — S13, Ep5 at Troutbitten.

Every angler needs a set of flies to call their own. Among the thousands of patterns, options and choices out there, eventually, we sort out a handful of confidence flies.

Our faith in these flies gives us conviction when choosing them and tying the knot. We’ll fish THIS fly in THIS water. That’s what will catch the next trout. And if it doesn’t, then we’ll change something — maybe the water type, maybe the presentation, maybe the rig. Or maybe we’ll reach for the next confidence fly.

Continue reading PODCAST: Finding Your Confidence Flies — S13, Ep4 at Troutbitten.

In this podcast episode, the Troutbitten crew holds a philosophical discussion about ethics in fishing. It's not a list of concrete examples or rules. It's an interesting, thought provoking conversation.

Continue reading PODCAST: The Ethical Angler — What Does That Mean? — S13, Ep3 at Troutbitten.

The Troutbitten guys are here to talk about two flies. Why do we fish two dry flies, two streamers, wets or nymphs? Why don’t we? Why might we fish with just one fly instead? Multiple fly rigs are a common solution to fishing problems, but extra flies on the line can certainly create more issues than they solve.

Continue reading PODCAST: The One or Two Fly Debate, Across Fishing Styles — S13, Ep2 at Troutbitten.

Why do we catch trout in patches? Because when we get to the end of the day, we often look back to remember catching three trout in one spot, then nothing for a while. Maybe we missed two and landed five in another spot. We had three at the best undercut bank and another handful at the tailout . . . but in between, there were often long periods of inactivity. Why is that?

Continue reading PODCAST: Why Do We Catch Trout In Patches? — S13, Ep1 at Troutbitten.

For this final episode in the dry fly skills series, we work through some scenarios that anglers frequently encounter. Because, just like nymphing, fishing streamers and fishing wets, we fish dry flies for many different reasons and in many different ways.

Head Hunting, Fishing, Terrestrials, Small Stream Stuff, and Working a Hatch . . .

Continue reading PODCAST: Dry Fly Skills Series #7 — Fishing Dry Flies — S12, Ep7 at Troutbitten.

Watch for different rise forms and prepare for the hooks set. It’s all a lot of fun when you realize that good fishing isn’t luck. It’s attention to detail with an open mind and a willingness to dive into the mystery . . .

Continue reading PODCAST: Dry Fly Skills Series #6 — Rise Forms and Hook Sets — S12, Ep6 at Troutbitten.

The flies matter. But more than anything, it’s about matching the moment, the water type, the lifecycle of the bug - and even the wind conditions. For us, those conditions -- those situations -- dictate our next fly choice.

We don't guess on patterns. Instead, we think about things, develop a theory and test it with the next fly choice and (hopefully) a great presentation.

Continue reading PODCAST: Dry Fly Skills Series #5 — All About the Flies — S12, Ep5 at Troutbitten.