Mary Orvis Marbury, daughter of Orvis founder Charles Orvis, is an important figure in the history of American fly fishing. She was the first person to catalog and standardize American fly patterns, but she led a sad and mysterious life. Historian Steve Woit [37:50] has written and expansive and spectacular book about Mary and the artifacts that helped her catalog flies and has also uncovered some little-known aspects of her life. If you are interested in how our fly-fishing traditions have developed you'll want to listen to my interview with Steve.

Coming back to the present we have some great questions in the Fly Box that may help you on your endless fly-fishing learning experience:
Can trout see tiny midges at night?
Should I grease my leader?
Will Mucilin hurt my bamboo rods?
What should I do when a fish is hooked deep?
What should I do if I inadvertently "high-hole" another angler?
A great tip from a listener on how to travel through the woods with a nymph on a dropper.
Is there a rule of thumb on how long to make a leader loop?
Are there orthotics that can be used in wading boots?
A tip from a listener on a great way to apply desiccant powder to dry flies.
A tip from a listener on how to fly fish without stressing the fish.
Why do other fish chase a hooked fish?
I though snowshoe rabbit's foot would make my flies float higher. Why do you use it and how do you fish these flies?
What is the best way to put a fly rod into a rod sock?

Before you write this one off if you don't tie flies, although this is a podcast on a fly tying material, there is much more in this one. Like how to fish small flies and how to see those tiny flies on the water. But we do talk about one of the most amazing materials in fly tying—pheasant tail fibers. And it's not only for nymphs. Learn about why pheasant tail is such a magical material, how to tie a durable pheasant tail body, and how to use it on dry and wet flies as well as nymphs. Craig Matthews [42:22] is a legendary fly tier, guide, and conservationist and it is always valuable to catch his words of wisdom.

In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and more:
Do I have to sight-fish in saltwater, or can I just fish my flies around likely structures?
Are "hot spots" as effective on dry flies as they are on nymphs?
Have you used those new clear-tip lines from Scientific Anglers for trout, and what do you think of them?
Why did I not catch trout on my first day on a river, yet clean up on fish two days later?
A tip from a listener on how to not lose your wading belt.
Can I fish streamers for smallmouth bass upstream like I do for trout? All the videos tell me to cast at a 45-degree downstream angle.
For fishing for striped bass from shore, is a 9-foot or a 10-foot rod better?
What type of leader do you recommend for swinging wet flies and soft hackles?
Have you ever tried to make your own amadou?
What fly box should I use for my tiny nymphs?
What is the best way to remove materials from a fly to re-use the hook and bead?
Is there any etiquette about wading an alpine lake?

Mike Ward [46:32], owner of Adipose Boat Works, recently tied Del Brown's lifetime permit count with 513 permit caught on a fly rod. On a bamboo fly rod! Now Mike would be the first one to say he may not be the world's best permit angler, but he has put in the time and energy to catch more than anyone else in history. And along the way he's learned some tips that we could all benefit from. I asked Mike to share his tips with us and he happily agreed. And, yes, Mike has also been skunked for days at a time when chasing permit so it happens to all of us.

In the Fly Box this week, we introduce a new theme song and have some of the best questions of the year, including:
I saw a couple cutthroats in a high lake spawning in August and none of the fish were rising, despite plenty of insects on the water. Would one spawning pair cause to whole lake to shut down like this?
What are some tips for casts to use on small brushy streams?
What are some tips for getting into saltwater fly fishing after a lifetime of trout fishing?
What advice would you give to a young fly angler who wants to make a living in the fly-fishing world?
Can you summarize when you might use a particular type of thread in fly tying?
What can I do to prevent my fly line loop from cracking when I attach a leader directly to the loop with a clinch knot?
Has your view of rod length for small streams changed over time?
If I find a great pool on a small stream, how long should I rest it before going back? A week? A month? Next year?
I have had some broken hooks from commercial fly patterns yet on my own flies they never do this. Are commercial flies tied on lesser quality hooks? And why do some hooks bend while others break?
Do you recommend magnifiers for tying on small flies? My eye doctor says my close vision is fine but I still have problems.
Should I replace my nylon tippet every year? Do fly shops make sure they rotate their tippet material so I don't buy older tippet?