The Orvis Fly-Fishing Video Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Orvis Company
The Orvis Fly-Fishing Video Podcast brings you the best fly-fishing tutorials from Orvis and around the web. Also check out our Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide Podcast with Tom Rosenbauer!
In the sixth installment of their 10-part series on how to fish a spinner fall, Dave and Amelia Jensen demonstrate the best ways to approach trout feeding on spinners. Stealth is a must, but how you set up in relation to the available light is also important. You want to be able to see the rising fish and the bugs they're eating.
In the fifth installment of their 10-part series on how to fish a spinner fall, Dave and Amelia Jensen discuss casting techniques specific to presenting spinner patterns. Accuracy is key, so controlling your rod tip is important. Dave is also a big proponent of long leaders, which can be tough to cast quickly and accurately when the fish are close. Here, he demonstrates his technique for getting the fly off the water, making a single backcast, and then creating line speed for the presentation.
In the fourth part of their epic series on how to fish a spinner fall, Dave and Amelia Jensen discuss fly selection and why they prefer tandem-dry-fly rigs for spinner falls. They even tell you which kinds of patterns to pair together.
Dave and Amelia Jensen continue to walk you through every aspect of fishing a spinner fall, from gear choices to presentation to hook sets. Here, they help you to understand rise forms, so you know which fish are feeding on spinners, as well as which trout are the really big ones.
In the second part of their epic series on how to fish a spinner fall, Dave and Amelia Jensen explain what you'll need to make the most of a spinnerfall--from fishing gear to clothing to accessories.
In the first part of their epic series on how to fish a spinner fall, Dave and Amelia Jensen give a great overview. The visuals are simply stunning, and info is incredibly useful.
Long gravel runs often look like featureless water that doesn't offer a lot of structure to hold trout. In this week’s Master Class Monday video, however, Dave and Amelia Jensen explain how these stretches can provide great dry-fly fishing under the right conditions. These are not easy trout, though--you've got to make accurate, stealthy casts to avoid putting the fish down when they're feeding on top.
When you see a big trout rising to mayflies, your first impulse is to cast right away, but as Amelia Jensen of Jensen Fly Fishing explains, your best bet is to slow down, watch, and wait. “Your first cast needs to be your best cast,” she explains, or you risk putting the fish down.
When you are nymphing a run, don't pick up your drift just because your indicator is even with your position. Instead, feed line into the drift to cover the water below you. You may be surprised by what you find!
Dave Jensen explains how you can increase your odds of hitting the stonefly hatch just right, and he also talks about the best ways to fish through the hatch--from the early days of migrating nymphs through the magic of ovipositing females. Even if you fish stoneflies a lot, you're sure to learn something here, and the visuals are fantastic.
When you are fishing to a trout near the tailout of a pocket or small tool, you've got a presentation problem: the faster current of the tailout will pull on your line, causing the fly to drag. In many situations, that drag is enough to stop a trout from eating your fly.
In this great episode, Dave and Amelia Jensen demonstrate the best ways to avoid dragging flies. The first step involves stealth: you've got to get as close as you can. Then, you use your rod tip to keep as much of the line as possible off the water. The results speak for themselves.
Peter Kutzer of the ORVIS Fly Fishing School in Manchester Vermont demonstrates how to make three kinds of casts with a two-handed rod. Starting with a simple, static roll cast, he increases the amount of motion, moving to a dynamic roll cast, and then to the more advanced switch cast. As Peter move the line more, he is able to increase the line speed, which will enable you to cast farther and more accurately.
Watch these tips on fly-fishing for pike, then go listen to Tom Rosenbauer's interview with pike expert and guide Drew Price on the Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide Podcast!
A tailing loop is when the top leg of the casting loop falls below the bottom leg. This causes the two legs to cross, which is a recipe for disaster. Tailing loops are a common fly casting problem, but it doesn't take too much work to get your casting back on track. The main causes of tailing loops are overpowering, the forward cast, using too short a casting stroke, or trying too hard to "punch" the final cast for more distance.
In this great how-to video, Dave and Amelia Jensen, of Jensen Fly Fishing, demonstrate how they focus their attention and change depths and retrieves when they are prospecting for trout below below cliff wall deflections and rocks. Finding the right combination of location and tactics takes some experimenting, but the payoff is worth it.
Tightline or "Euro" nymphing is a very effective way to catch trout when fly fishing, and it works when other methods of fly fishing are not effective, like when trout are in deep water and not feeding aggressively. Dave Jensen shows how he utilizes this nymphing method, and explains how a beginner can quickly learn how to catch those trout that seem to be glued to the bottom.
A day on a trout stream does not always turn out like you plan it. Watch what Dave Jensen encounters on a trout stream, and how he modifies his flies to meet the challenge. It's always fun to improvise, and if you don't occasionally make a bold move when fly fishing you could be missing much of the fun.
We sometimes don't pay enough attention to sunlight and shade when fly fishing for trout. But as Dave Jensen shows using an example of a large cutthroat trout rising in a mountain river, your approach must take these conditions into account. This video will change the way you think about your approach on trout streams.
Most people have enough trouble fishing small dry flies without the added complication of gathering darkness. But trout often feed on small flies at dusk, and if you don't have any tricks up your sleeve you might miss out on some great dry-fly fishing for trout. Dave Jensen gives us some great tips on how to fish small flies.
In this great how-to video, Dave and Amelia Jensen show how they fish a rock garden with prospecting patterns. As you'll see, they work all seams, the cushions in front of rocks, and several other parts of the water.
Gravel shelves are some of the most likely places to find trout. Dave and Amelia Jensen show us the best way to find them and how to present your flies to these trout hotspots.
Dave Jensen explains how to present a fly to very spooky trout in low water, by casting your fly line across land or obstacles.
The raised cross-body fly cast is a great cast to get you into tight spots on a trout stream. It is not the easiest cast to master, but if done properly it will catch trout in places other anglers can't reach.
Dave Jensen shows just how tough it can be to land a big trout in water where there are large obstacles or woody debris. When your fighting a big trout, there are some ways to avoid letting a fish take you into an obstruction. Watch as Dave Jensen shows you how to deal with a bush rodeo.
Amelia Jensen shows great technique for catching big trout with a fly rod in small streams. It's not so much about what she says as what she does that teaches so much. Notice how she keeps her rod at a horizontal angle, and how she uses her entire body to fight the fish, moving quickly along the bank when needed. And netting technique is so important at the final moment. See how she gets the fish in just the right place in the current, waits for the right moment, and then nets the trout in one precise, deliberate move.
Most people think that trout feed behind sunken logs, brush, or willows, but smart fly anglers know a better place. Dave and Amelia Jensen are such anglers and luckily they're willing to tell us all thier hard won secrets.
Fishing with small dry flies in the #14 - #22 range can often test many anglers skills. Many times, especially in clear trout streams, a smaller dry fly with a long leader is more effective on spooky trout. A big plop on the water with a big dry fly will likely spook feeding trout. Dave and Amelia Jensen are back to show you how and why you should choose a smaller fly in some situations. Dont be afraid to tie on those #18 dries, test your eyesight and hold on tight when the strike comes.
ORVIS Fly Fishing Instructor Peter Kutzer explains why the double haul is useful for adding distance to the cast and taking pressure off your casting arm and wrist. He demonstrates exactly what you need to do for a successful double haul, from the right timing to the proper length of your haul.
The combination of a nymph and a dry fly as a dry/dropper rig is a common tactic. But did you ever think of fishing a dry/streamer combination? With a high-floating dry fly, you can fish a small streamer dead drift, and then when the flies begin to drag you can give the streamer some action to cover more water. Dave Jensen explains how to rig up and fly fish with this combination of flies.
There are times when conventional fly fishing techniques won't get your fly deep enough, especially in heavy water. This is the time to use a heavy jig-head streamer, combined with either a power taper floating line or a fast-sinking line like the depth charge. The object is to get your fly as quickly as possible into deep pools and runs where other fly-fishing methods just can't get your fly. Dave Jensen shows you how to do it--the method is not pretty but it is deadly on large brown and rainbow trout.
Want to make long casts but still struggling with the double-haul? Let ORVIS Fly Fishing School casting instructor Pete Kutzer show you how to throw a long line WITHOUT hauling. These tips will come in handy when using a double haul proves ineffective.
Pete Kutzer of the Manchester Vermont ORVIS Fly Fishing School is back to show you the best knot for attaching lighter tippet to a fly using a loop. If your tippet is under 20 pound test, this knot is easy to tie, secure, and strong.
World famous shark angler and conservationist Conway Bowman shows how he rigs his flies for giant mako sharks. The same rigging technique works well for smaller sharks, pike, muskie, and barracuda--any species where you need strong bite protection.
There are a few small changes to your casting stroke and your rod motion that can greatly increase the distance you can cast. It's not all about power when trying to cast a longer distance. So hold back on really trying to power your fly rod, and watch as Peter Kutzer explains how to get the most out of your cast.
George Daniel of LivingOnTheFly.Com shares a simple method of using a modified clinch knot to add droppers to your tippet.
Orvis product developer Jesse Haller describes the three factors that affect how fast your flies sink--fly weight, tippet diameter, and how the flies enter the water--and shows you exactly how to set up and cast to maximize the time your flies spend in the strike zone. These tips can help open up a different style of nymphing and increase your ability to catch fish in different water conditions.
Trout rising to insects do not always make a big splash. Sometimes the disturbances they make on the surface of a river are more subtle. Dave Jensen gives some very useful tips and how to spot trout feeding on the surface.
Ever have a day when you know trout are in a river but you can't interest them? Watch as Dave Jensen cycles through a number of options to try to figure out what kind of presentation will interest a trout that is not actively feeding. These tips will help you to get into fish on those tough days where nothing seems to be working, and Dave Jensen is an absolute pro at figuring out how to hook tough trout.
Big-game fly-fishing expert and ORVIS ambassador Conway Bowman shows an important tip when fighting big fish from a boat with a fly rod. It's a lot more about your entire body than just your arms, and he shows a tip for keeping pressure on fish so that they are landed quickly and safely.
Drag on a dry fly or nymph can be insidious when fly fishing. Sometimes it is barely visible to the fly fisher, either on a visible dry fly or on an indicator when nymph fishing. But it can be enough to cause a trout to refuse your fly. Learn how to recognize this tricky "micro-drag" and how to avoid it by changing your position or by making a different cast.
Trout are often found in shallow riffles. When they are in this kind of water, they are often easy to catch, but most fly fishers ignore these hot spots because they look too shallow. Trout move into riffles to feed, though, and often you'll be surprised to find large trout. They can be easily caught on dry flies and nymphs if you know where to look. Watch as ORVIS brings you Dave Jensen to show you exactly how to fish a variety riffles.
Did you know that one of the best pieces of trout-fishing equipment you can utilize is your feet? Just a simple change in position can make the difference between getting skunked and a great day on a trout stream, whether you're fishing with nymphs, streamers, or dry flies.
In this excellent video,Tim demonstrates his method for tying the Wood Special, which is fairly simple to create. The ways in which Tim prepares the feathers before tying them in really help to achieve a nice, clean silhouette, and it ensures that there aren’t a lot of fibers sticking out in odd directions.
Hooking a big trout in heavy cover is one thing; landing that trout on a fly rod adds another set of challenges. In our latest Master Class Monday video, there’s some amazing footage of a very large trout hooked in shallow, snag-filled water. Dave Jensen walks us through the process of making the right presentation and employing the right fighting strategies to land it. You’ll get some good tips in this one.
Trout often feed in tricky eddies on the other side of the current. Many fly fishers don't even notice these places, and those that do often have difficulties catching trout in them. Fish in these places can be tough to catch with dry flies or nymphs, and Dave Jensen gives us tips on how to fish these difficult spots in trout streams.
In this excellent video, Flagler walks us through the deceptively simple steps for creating the Brass Ass, which uses just three materials and a whole lot of UV-cure resin. The keys to creating an attractive, clean Ian’s Brass Ass are to get the wire wraps tight, position the cheeks correctly, and layer the resin. Flagler’s techniques shown here should be useful for creating many other flies, as well.
There are many ways to use dubbing to create bodies, thoraxes, and such on a fly, and each creates a different effect. Here, Tim demonstrates a technique called “touch dubbing,” which allows the individual hairs of the fur to splay wildly, resulting in a really buggy effect. The keys are to properly prepare the dubbing, use the right wax, and add the dubbing a pinch at a time.
You won't find numerous trout feeding every time you fish a trout stream, but when many fish are feeding there are ways to find the one that is more likely to take. Dave Jensen gives us some clues of finding the trout most likely to eat your fly, and It's a great fly-fishing lesson to learn.
Fall is a time when many anglers get excited about casting big, meaty flies to trout that are gorging before the long winter. Here’s a very useful video from Sean Visintainer of Washington’s Silver Bow Fly Shop, in which he explains basic streamer-fishing tactics for fall.
This is a great time of year to fine-tune your fly-fishing terrestrial game. In this week’s Master Class Monday, Dave and Amelia Jensen share some tips on making a realistic, subtle presentation with ants, beetles, and hoppers. It’s one of the most exciting forms of dry-fly fishing for trout.
Fishing streamers is not always casting large flies in deep water and heavy cover with a sinking fly line. Sometimes streamer flies are effective in shallow riffles and edges, especially when you use smaller flies and a floating line. Dave Jensen walks you through how to go about using a short line to prospect a riffle with your streamer.
Conway Bowman shows how to catch largemouth bass in "bad neighborhoods"--using sinking lines to get down to where bass may be hiding. Catching bass in rocks and downed trees when they are in deeper water does not mean you have to resort to spin tackle. It's all about covering water and making brave, accurate casts.
In both lakes and rivers, Trout will sometimes cruise the water to feed rather than hold in one area and wait for food to come to them. While this is a difficult situation, it can also be very rewarding and visual. Follow with Dave and Amelia Jensen as they describe the tactics and tips for helping you to make the best of this special scenario. While this can sometimes be a tough situation to fool a trout, patience and methodical fishing can pay of hugely!
Drifting nymphs in the middle of the water column can be very tricky to dial in. Trout often feed in the middle of the column as insects hatch rather than deep along the bottom. Even when there are insects hatching, fish will feed just below the surface on nymphs and emergers. Dave Jensen explains how to fish a nymph mid-depth and why this is an extremely valuable and useful skill for any trout fisherman to have in thier arsenal.
For 16 year-old Joey Maxim, the way back to life after a near fatal car accident started with a fly rod in his hand.
Fly fishing can often be spectacular when the water is slightly dirty, so don’t give up just because conditions aren’t crystal clear. In this great video, Dave Jensen gives us some solid tips on how to find trout when you think the water is too dirty to see them clearly. There are some very perceptive tips on finding trout in rivers, some of which you may have never thought of or heard about. So when rains bring rivers up and you lose clarity, have some confidence that you still may be able to spot feeding trout.
Learn how the host of the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast, Tom Rosenbauer loads up for the river. You may not want to carry as much as he does, but you can see how one experienced fly angler loads his sling bag, and what kind of stuff he carries when trout fishing.
Back in June, a group of nineteen Orvis Associates took part in the 27th annual Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club Fly Rod Striped Bass Catch & Release Tournament. The group ranged from expert anglers–say, Tom Rosenbauer and Pete Kutzer–to some who are relatively new to the sport, and all had a great time. Everybody hooked fish, but the real value of the trip was the time spent together, sharing the passion for fly fishing and the outdoors.
Sometimes the conditions of the water you are fishing and the feeding habits of the trout dictate that you need to present nymphs in a different way. In this segment, Dave Jensen explains when to fish subsurface without an indicator and the tactics for rigging your leader to do so. Using an indicator or dropper dry fly set up can make detecting strikes with your fly rod easier, but the skills learned through no indicator nymphing will help broaden your fly fishing skills, and ultimately lead to more fish caught.
Fly selection can be tricky at times, but there are certain clues that can be used to help inform your nymph choice.The placement and use of split shot or weighted flies is also a huge part of becoming a proficient nymph fisherman. Host Dave Jensen explains the thought process of selecting your nymph based on water conditions, prevalence of a visible hatch, the habits of feeding trout.
Sometimes the conditions of the water you are fishing and the feeding habits of the trout dictate that you need to present nymphs in a different way. In this segment, Dave Jensen explains when to fish subsurface without an indicator and the tactics for rigging your leader to do so. Using an indicator or dropper dry fly set up can make detecting strikes with your fly rod easier, but the skills learned through no indicator nymphing will help broaden your fly fishing skills, and ultimately lead to more fish caught.
The best trout are often in places where other anglers don’t even attempt to make a cast. In this video, Dave Jensen shows you how to cast in heavy brush, using the steeple cast and also a modification of this useful fly cast.