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?

This episode was originally published on August 14th, 2018

This week I have the pleasure of interviewing Jenny Mayrell-Woodruff [40:26]—the Orvis-endorsed Freshwater Guide of the Year for 2018. Jenny has recently relocated to Montana to run a lodge on Rock Creek and she took time out of her very busy schedule to share her knowledge of late summer terrestrial fishing. It’s an educational podcast and a timely one.

In the Fly Box this week we explore a wide range of topics, as usual:

How to transition from small trout streams to big rivers.

Why do I keep missing fish when fishing mouse patterns at night?

Can I use perfection loops in the middle of my leader to add droppers?

What is the best way to touch up the blades of nippers?

How do I make my fly attract trout by its entry into the water?

What happens to Tricos when nighttime air temperatures don’t go below 70 degrees?

Do tippet rings wear out?

Can I use my Clearwater line for trout fishing?

Do you measure the cast length from your body or from the rod tip?

How do you prospect for trout in long, slow pools?

What do you do if a big trout runs downstream and the water is too deep to wade below it?

I know a lot of listeners are relatively new to the fly-fishing game, and so I asked Phil Monahan [30:31], editor of Midcurrent.com (who also helps people through this sometimes-steep learning curve) to share with us ten pitfalls you may want to avoid when learning the game. And I am willing to bet that even you experts out there make some of these mistakes every time you go out. I know I do.

In the Fly Box this week, we have some basic and not-so-basic questions, including:
What fly line can I use in the Bahamas and for fly fishing in the Northeast?
Is the 'chuck and duck" method an ethical way to fish for Great Lakes salmon?
Should I replace my old Power Matrix 905 with a newer model or should I invest in a 904 to have a more diverse quiver?
I tie all of my juvenile tarpon flies on a size 2/0 hook. Should I invest in some smaller hooks?
How long should I leave my dry fly in the water before pulling it out?
How much tippet should I be going through?
You say that fish can always see my tippet. So why is it necessary to go to a smaller tippet size?
The tube in my New Zealand Strike Indicator always splits when I add yarn. I am using 5X tippet. What am I doing wrong?
When fishing with trout Spey, should I concentrate more on my casting or what fly pattern I am using? And what is your favorite fly for trout Spey?
Are red and green lights any less impactful when night fishing?
Are weighted streamers recommended for night fishing?