Reno Fly Shop Podcast

Welcome to the 2025 State of the Truckee River with Sam Sedillo from the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Sam discusses the results of this year's biological sampling of the Truckee River, with detailed data from six locations representing four watershed zones that NDOW has monitored for years. If you're new to this annual episode, here's what you need to know: NDOW conducts fall fish surveys at six transects—these sample locations are chosen for their unique characteristics like gradient, habitat type, and position in the watershed. This year's results are encouraging. The Truckee River is in very good shape, maintaining or improving across several key metrics compared to 2024. Sam attributes this to our abundant water in 2024 combined with effective water management. While there's still room for improvement, it's exciting to see the Truckee River healthy and thriving. Detailed data, graphs, and images are available in the show notes at renoflyshop.com. So settle in for an in-depth conversation on all things Truckee River with Sam Sedillo.

Welcome to season 6 of the Reno Fly Shop Podcast. We felt it fitting to start it off with the 2020 State of the Truckee River with Travis Hawks from the Nevada Department of Wildlife. This is our 6th State of the Truckee episode presenting the results of the NDOW annual sampling of the Truckee River fishery. We started these recordings (2016) in the middle of a multi year drought and as you will hear in this recording the Truckee River has made a miraculous recovery. Fish populations and composition in many locations are as good or better than ever sampled. As Travis presents, Mother Nature had a great hand in this recovery. We have been fortunate to have several average to above average winters in a row and natural runoff with reservoir releases have kept water in the river almost year around. Travis with a Truckee River Brown Trout In this year's recording we were able to cover the 2020 sampling results rather quickly and thoroughly, which left us some time to discuss general topics of the condition in the Truckee River watershed. We dive into many topics. One being, the recent episode on this podcast that covered the USFWS efforts to recover/restore the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout into the Truckee River. Travis gets the opportunity to present his opinions on these topics and respond to several of the possible management scenarios that were presented in that episode. I have provided a button to listen to that episode here if you haven't had the chance. EP056: Helen Neville and Mary Peacock – LCT Recovery – Challenges and Opportunities It is important to note that while Travis and I discuss our opinions of several management scenarios that were presented in Episode 56. These opinions reflect only the approach and management strategies presented for the Truckee River watershed. Management scenarios that might be challenging or problematic in a river the size of the Truckee are appropriate and can be very effective in other watersheds. We hope that care and responsible review be given to those and all fishery management options. Travis sampling the success of adaptive management strategies on the Truckee River Show Notes and Data: Salmonid Fish/Mile   Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Average 2020 138.1 426.2 875 372 452.83 2019     1509.3 526.2 1017.75 2018 22.5 224.1 607.8 170.4 256.2 2017 5.8 75.8 78.4 86.5 61.7 2016 60.8 97.7 27.9 204.0 97.6 2013 121.0 429.0 969.8 767.9 572.0 2012 130.7 373.7 1450.3 1162.2 779.2 TRUCKEE RIVER Wild Rainbow Trout Distribution 2020     by Zone Total Rainbow Wild Rainbow Percent Wild Percent Juvenile of Wild Zone 2 21 21 100.0% 9.5% Zone 3 77 77 100.0% 31.2% Zone 4 99 98 99.0% 30.6% Zone 5 89 71 79.8% 22.5% All Zones 286 267 93.4% 27.0% EP053: Travis Hawks – 2019 State of the Truckee River EP047: Travis Hawks – 2018 State of the Truckee River EP037: Travis Hawks – 2017 State of the Truckee River EP026: Travis Hawks – 2016 State of the Truckee River   Want our next Podcast, Blog Post and Fishing Report delivered to your Inbox?  I agree to have my personal information transfered to MailChimp ( more information )   Finally, in celebration of starting our sixth season of the Reno Fly Shop Podcast and in a way to show our appreciation to all of the listeners we have offered a coupon code for listeners of this podcast. For on month in our online store enter HAWKS2020 at checkout and receive 10% off anything that you purchase. This will only be good for month or until we release our next episode. So have fun and we hope you enjoy these episodes.

Christmas (Kiritimati) Island has been considered one of the best flats fishing locations since it was first explored in the 1970s. It has allowed countless anglers to cut their teeth fly fishing for bonefish, trevally and triggerfish. The chance to visit this destination once is on every anglers bucket list. Imagine having the chance to fish Christmas Island, not only once, but every year for the last 20 years. And not just for a week but the entire month of January. Sound impossible? Let me introduce you to one of the nicest guys to walk the flats of Christmas Island, Rob Ramsay. Rob began fly fishing Christmas Island in the 1990s and once he wrapped his head around the fishery and the quirks that make it truly unique he began organizing trips for his friends and family. As the word quickly spread through immediate group the sphere of anglers began to increase and soon Rob had the month of January planned out. THE ULTIMATE ATOLL – Dylan Rose, Fly Water Travel Every trip that arrives into Cassidy International Airport has a person that is assigned as the host. The host typically facilitates guests preparation for the trip, their arrival and smooths wrinkles as they move through the week. The ability of a host to do this well once is commendable. To do this for 4 weeks in a row is unbelievable. To do this every year for almost years earns the unique designation of SuperHost. Click here for more info on our April 14-21, 2021 trip to Christmas Island In today's world it is common to have the sentiment of "been there, done that" and move onto the next adventure. I find Rob's stories and appreciation of Christmas Island so authentic that I could listen to them for hours. From his first trip and then through the years Rob allowed Christmas Island and the great people that live there touch him deeply. You will hear Rob download some amazing nuggets of info and experiences of why he has earned and wears the moniker of SuperHost. Rob recaps the history of fly fishing on Christmas Island, his own personal experiences and how he is still pushing the boundaries of what anglers experience on his trips. Rob shares his experiences of success and failure and we get to discuss some of the common myths and narratives surrounding Christmas Island and what it takes to chase the fish there with a fly rod. Having hosted trips over the past 5 years I thought I was developing a pretty good understanding of the destination. At the end of our conversation not only did I realize I, excitingly, have a long way to go to understanding Christmas Island. But this recording made me as excited to visit as I was before my very first trip. I hope you get stoked on this great saltwater destination and think hard about visiting for your first time or revisiting one of the most unique saltwater fly fishing destinations in the world. I hope you enjoy SHOW NOTES: April 14-21, 2021 Christmas Island trip hosted by Jim Litchfield and the Reno Fly Shop Tide Info for Christmas Island (spend some time with this to dial in your dates) Rob's Bio: Born into a fishy family in the East San Francisco Bay area. Outings to family in Nevada City/Grass Valley included fishing the many forks of the Yuba River. My Grandparent visits included Clear Lake bass excursions and a Great  Uncle had a cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains that was awesome for winter steelhead on the San Lorenzo  River. Keenly supported by my Father and family. I was hooked. All of this late 50's early 60's exposure provided a firm foundation for my love of this sport. I spent the late 60's and early 70's going to college in Southern Oregon and tried to talk my fiance into getting married at an old fish hatchery in the Ft.  Klamath area. We ended up at Lake Tahoe. Destination travel fishing started in the early 80's to Alaska . Late 80's through current times added saltwater venues to most of the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera and the Gulf side, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Seychelles atolls, St. Brandon's atoll in Mauritius and my favorite Christmas Island. Alaska's March-Oct fishing season has had me as a resident since completing my cabin in 2008. Santa Cruz Mountains and Bishop is my residence in late Fall through Winter. Small late Fall stream fishing for resident browns and Goldens can be epic . San Lorenzo River kicks into gear Dec1. Christmas Island is all of January. Feb is prep time for Alaska. ……………….repeat. New and vintage fiberglass rods have been added to my freshwater excursions over the past few years and have added another twist to this sport for me.

Dr. Helen Neville, Senior Scientist with Trout Unlimited, and Dr. Mary Peacock, professor of Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno, have been instrumental in the efforts to protect and recover the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout to its historic range. While both specialize in the genetic sequencing of LCT, Helen's and Mary's research have differed in that their recent focus has been on the stream form and lake form, respectively. Much of our conversation focuses on the Truckee River watershed and the complex issues that must be considered in the recovery of the LCT in a significantly altered landscape. This recording covers some challenging topics that are difficult to unpack. One thing that is agreed upon is that humans have significantly altered the landscape within the Truckee River watershed from its headwaters in the Sierra Nevada to the terminus in Pyramid Lake. Altered to a degree that is not recoverable.  These issues are tough, complex and, at times, emotionally charged. We discuss several of the issues and some of the management scenarios the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are considering for the Truckee River. While nothing has been formally proposed or planned for implementation it is important that we stay informed and involved in the process to contribute to what the Truckee River will look like in the future. Enjoy this very informative conversation with Helen and Mary. Dr. Helen Neville, PhD., has been with Trout Unlimited since 2006, mostly recently as TU's Senior Scientist. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Brown University, a Master's degree in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution from the University of California, San Diego, and her Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno. She specializes in applying genetic tools to improve our understanding of the ecology and conservation needs of salmon and trout.  She fell in love with Lahontan cutthroat trout when she had a wonderful opportunity to study them in the Marys River in eastern NV for her dissertation two decades ago, and has since maintained a focus on providing science to inform the conservation of this amazing trout. Dr. Mary Peacock, PhD., is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her field of research is Conservation Biology specifically Conservation Genetics primarily on desert fishes, but students and she also work on pikas, plants and amphibians. Conservation Genetics uses molecular genetic markers and techniques to identify and track individuals across space and time and examines the impact of human land use on persistence and viability of wild populations. Mary has a large research program on the federally listed Lahontan cutthroat trout that she has been working on since 1995. Her laboratory is involved in the genetic monitoring of wild populations as well as the Pilot Peak strain that is currently being raised at the USFWS Lahontan National Fish Hatchery. The Pilot Peak strain was native to Pyramid Lake and Lake Tahoe prior to the loss of these populations in the 1940s, but was rediscovered and brought into hatchery production for restoration into its historic lake habitat. Show Notes: Historic maximum limit of Lake Lahontan Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (sources USFWS) Research by Helen Neville and Mary Peacock The Lahontan Basin Evolutionary Lineage of Cutthroat Trout Return of a giant: DNA from archival museum samples helps to identify a unique cutthroat trout lineage formerly thought to be extinct Monitoring Demographic and Genetic Responses of a Threatened Inland Trout to Habitat Reconnection [optinform]

"The biggest surprise for the new carp angler is that carp don't always live in ugly places." - John Bartlett, @johnmontanacarp 16 years ago, John Bartlett started to chase carp on the fly… As a lifelong trout angler, John grew up using light rods and fine tippet around Montana and the Pacific Northwest but as things began to evolve in his life he had to adapt if he was going to get to fly fish.  He began to explore and establish an option for fly fishing closer to home to allow spending time with his growing family. Today, he still chases the occasional trout and goes on annual trips to the Louisiana coast for red fish and black drum, but the fishery he found close to home 16 years ago occupies the majority of his fly fishing adventures. Check out our article on Tips and Tricks for Carp on the Fly (by clicking the image) As you will hear John explain, carp at first simply satisfied the craving of catching fish on a fly, but as John became more experienced and adept at finding larger fish he began to truly appreciate the challenge, nuance and the details of what it takes to catch a trophy carp on a fly rod.  John's willingness to share this experience has led to a strong reputation in the Carp community and a social media presence. In this recording John shares some of this hard earned experience, as well as, his 4 rules to catch carp on the fly. John's The Hybrid Fly Pattern He takes the time to explain how carp's adaptability to habitat and their environment have allowed for a vast global distribution are why carp are now one of the most popular game fish in the world. He believes that there is likely a carp within a mile of where most listeners are enjoying this episode.  And from this experience John shares that where there is a carp there is a carp to be caught. When not chasing carp you might find John playing pickleball with his wife and enjoying time with family around his home state of Oregon.  I hope you have some fun with this informative conversation with one of the most experienced carp fly fisherman out there. Show Notes: Finding John on Instagram @johnmontanacarp John's 4 Rules for Carp on the Fly Know the local carp forage. Don't cast until you can see their head. You have to make the carp move to your fly. To catch more carp, cast less often. European carp fishing techniques in America Wiki - Carp Fishing Fly Fishing for Carp in Lake Michigan Fly Fishing for Carp on the Columbia River, Oregon

Today's podcast episode is one that I have thought about doing for a while.  It finally came down to the 1,000th time I heard shop staff stress to a customer how important a fly line is to overall casting performance that I went ahead and recorded this episode with Brad Befus, the president of Scientific Anglers.  If you have spent any time here in the shop you will undoubtedly heard us stress the importance of considering the line when purchasing a new rod/reel setup. It is the component part that most likely is the least expensive in the whole rig and/but will have the greatest single impact on overall performance. Everyday shop staff stress to customers the importance of understanding what and where you will fish most often and steer you to a fly line that will fit the most likely scenarios and your intended purpose.  Temperature, casting styles, fly size and weight all play into the selection and as you will hear from Brad in this episode it is easy and important to arrive at the right line for your needs. This conversation starts with getting to know Brad's background and history and then quickly gets into the nuts and bolts of what makes a fly line perform and how listeners can better understand how they will impact your cast. A highlight for me in this recording is when Brad breaks down each component part of a fly line's geometry and how it contributes to overall casting performance. Brad Befus has been flyfishing and fly tying for more than 35 years. He has spent his life in the fly fishing industry as a fly shop employee/owner, destination host, fly tyer, author, most recently as a manufacturer's Sales Director for nearly two decades. He is an accomplished freshwater and saltwater angler who holds several I.G.F.A. flyrod world records and has fished many destinations worldwide. Brad is an innovative fly tier with many of his patterns being produced and sold by Umpqua Feather Merchants through their "Fly Designer Program". His flies have appeared in books and articles, as well as the University of Idaho Prichards Art Gallery and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Brad is the co-author of "Carp on the Fly" a flyrodders guide to carp and "Basic Techniques for Successful Fly Tying". He has contributed articles and images to many of the flyfishing periodicals. Brad currently resides in Midland, Michigan with his wife Lisa and their four children where he is the President of Scientific Anglers.

"It is amazing how the Truckee River has responded since 2015 in its recovery from damaging drought. Now in 2019 we are at or near top conditions ever recorded." -Travis Hawks, Senior Fishery Biologist, NDOW     Five years ago Travis Hawks and I got together to catch up and discuss how the Truckee River was faring in the middle of one of the worst droughts ever witnessed. Travis and I have known each other for years and as a result we could be candid and open about what Travis observed during NDOW's annual Fall biological sampling.  In 2015 Travis' data demonstrated that there were entire sections of the Truckee River seemingly devoid of fish. For that matter, there was a good part of 2015 when there were entire sections Truckee River that were devoid of WATER… That conversation wasn't very upbeat. Coincidentally, 2015 was also the year that I started this podcast and while our chat was less than cheery it was really good information and I felt it would make a good episode. Never quite knowing how content will be recei ved, I was surprised by the response.  Feedback was completely opposite of the data that year. People listened, shared, cared and gave us feedback. This response reinforced, to Travis and I, that we were not alone in being concerned for this great fishery and that many of us collectively wished for the end to the drought. Fortuitously that was the bottom of the barrel in terms of the drought and it started the Truckee River's recovery to what is now probably the best biologic condition every measured. So here we are in 2019, recording our fifth State of the Truckee River and the Truckee River couldn't be more different than it was in 2015. Sections that in 2015 were devoid of fish have over 1,000 fish per mile and an amazing population of wild trout in self sustaining populations. So while not quite yet a tradition Travis and I do look forward to recording these episodes each year. I hope that you have had the chance to listen to the previous ones and can celebrate the condition our beloved Truckee River is in right now. In today's episode, like previous episodes, Travis covers the Truckee River reach-by-reach and reviews the results of the NDOW Fall biologic surveys. This covers the Truckee River from the California/Nevada state line downstream to the reservation boundary. As I have shared in previous episodes with Travis, I really appreciate Travis' time and effort to prepare and share this information. I am not sure there is another wildlife agency that is so transparent and forthcoming with their collected data. I believe this transparency reinforces that NDOW cares and is taking proactive steps to manage, protect and enhance the Truckee River and it's fishery. So settle in and get ready for a great episode, jam packed with data and discussion on our great Truckee River. 2019-2020 Nevada Fishing Regulations Nevada Dept. of Wildlife Volunteer Opportunities Previous episodes of the State of the Truckee River with Travis Hawks 2015 STATE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER PODCAST 2016 STATE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER PODCAST 2017 STATE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER PODCAST 2018 STATE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER PODCAST

"When creating GOOD content you can not plan too much" -Gilbert Rowley Hey everyone, welcome to the Reno Fly Shop Podcast. I am excited to bring you these episodes to keep you informed on what is happening in the fly fishing world and to introduce you to the people that are creating positive impacts and steering it forward. While fly fishing is romantically interative and experiential. Most of our world is digital from this audio podcast to email to YouTube and much of the information we get about fly fishing when we aren't on the water is from this digital world. We have the opportunity like never before to consume information and content (good and bad) like we are drinking from a firehose. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to sit down with today's guest, Gilbert Rowley. Gilbert's entry into fly fishing followed a somewhat traditional trajectory. Angler, competitive angler and guide. Along this path, like many of us, Gilbert began to take pictures to document his experiences. The same camera that he used for pictures he began to record video. These videos went from days on the water to YouTube tying tutorials. As his interest and skills developed Gilbert expanded his focus and now, I believe, is one of the leaders in creation of fly fishing videos content we get to enjoy. His portfolio expanded into to full feature length instructional videos, Modern Nymphing and Modern Nymphing Elevated, that have literally changed the game for many of us and opened our eyes to the tactics and techniques of European style nymphing Gilbert, ever busy, hasn't stopped there. He is an annual contributor to the IF4 world tour and is the co-director/creator/talent for the super fun Buffet Series on YouTube. You will hear Gilbert's perspective on what he feel goes into good and great video content. He gives us amateurs an idea on how to plan, create and shoot good video for social media and online platforms. He also shares the responsibility he feels to protect, conserve and have sensitivity for the places, wildlife and people he includes in his productions. I took a lot away from our conversation together. I hope you enjoy this discussion with Gilbert Rowley. Show Notes: Here are links to the different edits/films Gilbert and I spoke about quite a bit. Bio: Gilbert Rowley is a professional filmmaker that specializes in the fly fishing industry, and is the owner of Capture Adventure Media. Among his accomplishments in film production include five official selections into the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (2016 through 2019), and the recent critically acclaimed instructional films Modern Nymphing and Modern Nymphing Elevated. Last year his conservation-minded adventure film Confluentus won "Best Freshwater Fishing Video" in the 2018 Drake Magazine Fly Fishing Video Awards. Additionally in 2018 & 2019 Gilbert worked as the Director of Photography for Fly Fusion Magazine while continuing to grow his own production company. Capture Adventure Media has continued to find success in the outdoor industry and has done work for many of the industries largest companies and personalities. Outside of filmmaking Gilbert graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelors Degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Science, and has continued to promote conservation and wise stewardship practices with his various films and fishing adventures. In addition to this adventurous lifestyle, his most cherished time comes while being with his wife and four children.

  I feel the most grounded and at the most peace when I am on the water." -Capt. Chuck Ragan I am excited to bring you today's guest, Chuck Ragan. It was difficult to find time to sit with Chuck due to his very busy schedule as a fly fishing guide and professional musician. As we tried to put this episode together we traded many phone and text messages. It was always fun to find out where he was at the time and the spots varied from Europe, Asia to all over the U.S as he was touring with his band Hot Water Music. We didn't give up and when we did get together to record this episode Chuck was comfortably sitting on his front porch in Grass Valley, California with his family nearby. Chuck spends a lot of time guiding anglers on Central Valley rivers, lakes and reservoirs and the California Delta. In these fisheries he will chase bass, striper, shad, trout and steelhead. When not on the water Chuck is out touring with his band Hot Water Music currently celebrating their 25th anniversary world tour.  In this episode we cover Chuck's background in fly fishing, music and how he spends his time both on and off of the water. You will become acutely aware of is interest and commitment to Cast Hope a non-profit organization that puts kids on the water fly fishing with guides all over the state of California. I hope you enjoy this episode. Show Notes: Chuck Ragan Fly Fishing: Chuck's guide service focuses on Sacramento Valley Rivers, lakes and reservoirs in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Range and The California Delta chasing bass, striper, shad, trout and steelhead. Contact him today at [email protected] Cast Hope: Cast Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization looking to provide kids with the gift of the outdoors. As an organization it is our desire to bring kids and mentors together outside through the sport of fly fishing. California Bass Union: CBU is a collaboration of Guides and Anglers working together to Develop, Share, and Grow fly fishing for bass species year-round in the State of California.

We are excited to introduce you to today's episode which is the first installment of a new series we are presenting in partnership with Fly Water Travel. We will feature a new destination every few months for the next year. During each episode we will present information and exciting details about fly fishing destinations around the world by chatting with the guides and outfitters that make these trips possible. We will introduce you to world famous destinations in freshwater and saltwater, domestic and international. We hope to pull back the curtain by sitting with the colorful people that make these fly fishing destinations possible for all of us. I hope you enjoy and take some time to check out the show notes at renoflyshop.com and learn about more about these amazing destinations. Today's guests are David and Dillon Renton that make up half of the Renton River Adventures. Renton River Adventures is a family run, fly-fishing outfitter based out of Bend, Oregon. David and Debbie Renton, along with their sons Dillon and Knut, make up the team and work together throughout the year to provide you many different fly-fishing opportunities and destinations.  In this episode I got to chat with David and Dillon about their history of living, fly fishing and guiding the Deschutes River. You will hear their passion and appreciation in the voices and stories of this famous river. They breakdown the seasons on the lower Deschutes. Where they describe how you can chase rainbow trout all summer starting with huge Salmonflies on the surface in May and June, into July when summer hatches make great trout fishing throughout the long warm days. In mid July the anadromous summer Steelhead begin to move into the system from the Columbia River and swinging flies with two handers can provide absolutely life changing experiences with a fly rod. Click here to Find more about Booking a float trip with the Renton's this summer on the Lower Deschutes River Combine great fishing with first class camping and the chance to sleep under starry summer skies and you have the chance to make lifelong memories.       I hope you enjoy this conversation with David and Dillon Renton and take a hard look at your calendar and find a time to book a Deschutes River trip this summer. There is a link in today's show notes that will help you find out more information about floating the Deschutes with David and Dillon. Follow the link to a great summer trip on the lower Deschutes with the Renton Family. Click here to Find more about Booking a float trip with the Renton's this summer on the Lower Deschutes River Ways to contact David and Dillon Renton and the Renton River Adventures Facebook: Renton River Adventures Instagram: Dillon and David Renton Website: Renton River Adventures To book a trip this summer: Lower Deschutes River Float Trips Renton River Adventures operates fly-fishing float trips on the Lower Deschutes under a special use permit issued by the BLM. 

Look before you step. Look before you fish." – Landon Mayer, Mastering the Short Game Today's guest, Landon Mayer, like many successful people, is many things all at once. He is a guide, an author, fly designer, he is a film maker, and a loving committed husband and parent. And like many successful people this hectic schedule fuels his desire to create than to consume. He doesn't have to move about the country presenting and instructing at shows and to clubs on fly fishing and fly tying. Nor does he have to travel around the world to create a new instructional video, magazine article or book for us to enjoy. But we are lucky and better anglers because he does. It helps that Landon is gifted with what seems like an endless energy source and a burning curiosity to make himself and everyone around him better at what they are doing. One of Landon's recent projects was to create a video for novice and expert fly anglers called Mastering the Short Game. This video pulls back the curtain on years of his experience guiding clients and fly fishing around the world. Landon strongly believes that the majority of trout that you will catch will be within 20' of you. And with the right approach and tactics you will begin to put more numbers and bigger fish into the net. Landon and his team have put together amazing content and information for us to appreciate this successful approach. You will begin to understand things that you might have been exposed to but lacked the context of fully grasping. This video will break these concepts down in a way that you will most likely, like many of us, want to watch over and over. In this episode Landon and I are able to breakdown many of the topics that he presents in Mastering the Short Game and how these can work on some your local water. We also get to discuss his perspective on Pyramid Lake and why he feels it is such and amazing opportunity to catch a trophy trout. As always please leave any comments or questions you have on our social media platforms. We will read and respond to every one of them. Show Notes: Purchase your own copy of the video Mastering the Short Game from renoflyshop.com by clicking this link   Contact info or ways to follow Landon: Email: landonmayerflyfishing.com Website: Landon Mayer Fly Fishing . com Instagram: @landonmayerflyfishing Facebook: Landon Mayer Another of Landon's recent projects that we discuss is the book The Hunt for Giant Trout: 25 Best Places to Catch a Trophy. Pick up your copy here.

Can a fish change an anglers life?  In December 2012, in a Louisiana swamp, a Redfish changed Meredith McCord's.  That day, Meredith broke an IGFA World Record for 16 pound tippet, with landing a 32.6 pound Redfish (Red Drum). What Meredith didn't fully comprehend at the time was that this fish would be the start of her being thrown into the fly fishing world as an television celebrity, iconic angler, adventurer and world record pursuer. That fish was the first of what has now become over 160 world records and counting. Meredith's world record pursuits have taken her around the world and established her as an ambassador of fly fishing.  Her contribution to fly fishing has not stopped at world records. She has hosted television shows with Lefty Kreh and Tom Brokaw. She has brought guests to international destinations around the globe and has become an ambassador to some of the largest manufactures in fly fishing today. And through all of this she hasn't lost a bit of her enthusiasm and appreciation of fly fishing.  During this episode you can hear her excitement and pure joy to what she gets to do. Her pursuit of world records has not been an isolated selfish pursuit for self promotion but an opportunity to grow within the sport and within herself to become a better angler and better person. During this recording Meredith shares how she physically, mentally and technically prepares to catch a world record and how best to document the catch to submit to IGFA for consideration as a new world record. She discusses "soft records" and how she thinks some of the records at Pyramid Lake are ripe for picking off and she is looking forward to giving it a go herself at Pyramid Lake. I hope you enjoy this wide ranging discussion with Meredith McCord. Show Notes: International Game Fish Association IGFA World Records Rules IGFA Fly Fishing specific information rules A list of IGFA World Records for Cutthroat trout   Here is an instructional video on how to tie up your own IGFA leader Contact info for Meredith McCord www.meredithmccord.com Meredith's email address Meredith on Instagram Meredith on Facebook

"In 2018 the USFWS stocked 36,000 LCT and NDOW stocked 5,000 Rainbow Trout. Of the 747 sampled salmonids in the 2018 Fall Survey only 6 were hatchery trout." -Travis Hawks, Fishery Biologist, Nevada Department of Wildlife It is amazing that this is the 4th annual episode of the State of the Truckee River with NDOW Fishery Biologist, Travis Hawks. As you will hear in today's episode the Truckee River has made quite a recovery from those years following prolonged drought and now things are looking much better than Travis shared in our first couple of episodes. In today's episode, like previous episodes, Travis covers the Truckee River reach-by-reach and reviews the results of the NDOW Fall biologic surveys. This covers the Truckee River from the California/Nevada state boundary downstream to the reservation boundary. You will hear Travis discuss the river's response far exceeding his expectations with the concentrations and distribution of all the different salmonid species. Brown Trout were the stars of the 2018 class with an amazing jump in total populations. Travis believes this is in large part due to great Fall water conditions the last two years.   As I have shared in previous episodes with Travis I can't express enough my appreciation for his time and effort to prepare and share this information. I am not sure there is another wildlife agency that is so transparent and forthcoming with their information. What this means for us is that we can be assured that NDOW cares and is taking proactive steps to manage, protect and enhance the Truckee River and it's fishery. So settle in and get ready for a great episode, jam packed with data and discussion on our great Truckee River.   2015 STATE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER PODCAST 2016 STATE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER PODCAST 2017 STATE OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER PODCAST

"Fly presentation trumps fly selection everytime" - Phil Rowley Get ready for our first Reno Fly Shop Podcast Classic. A couple of years ago I recorded and released an episode with Canadian stillwater expert Phil Rowley.  I had the chance to chat with Phil about the history of balanced flies and his contribution to the evolution of one of the fly patterns that has turned a new page in fly fishing stillwaters.  Additionally Phil shares how to fish Booby flies and when and why he thinks these are such a killer pattern. You will hear Phil share how he most often sets up his leader rigs and then generously offer up the leader formula that he has fine tuned to fishing stillwaters under an indicator, without an indicator and the really creative formula "the Washing Line" setup.  These leaders can be used for Chironomids, Balanced flies and Booby Flies (even in combination). The Balanced Leech and Booby Fly weren't developed at Pyramid Lake but since their introductions there a few years ago they have been two of the most popular and effective patterns for huge Lahonton Cutthroat Trout. These are consistently two of the most popular Pyramid Lake patterns every year at the Reno Fly Shop. As we discuss in this podcast the Balanced Leech's effectiveness is that it can be delivered and held right in the strike zone for cruising trout. Add in some (often present) wind chop and waves to create movement under an indicator and you are offering a fly that the fish simply can't ignore. If you end up fishing a balanced fly in a multi fly rig we suggest that the balanced leech be at the terminal end of the leader.  This will allow the fly to suspend in the intended horizontal position. The Booby Fly is a UK stillwater pattern that really has to be fished to be appreciated. Best described as an attractor pattern it certainly doesn't look like any naturally occurring in nature. But honestly who cares when this fly works so well. We have the widest selection of Booby Fly variations available anywhere at the Reno Fly Shop. Check out all of the available Booby Flies in our online store. Make a point of visiting or following Phil on-line at, www.flycraftangling.com or www.stillwaterflyfishingstore.com and through his social media channels, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

"The ocean is in my DNA and sets the rhythm of my life." -Conway Bowman Today's guest, Captain Conway Bowman, can best be described as a Waterman. A person whose life is heavily influenced and actually defined by water and watery environments. He fly fishes, surfs, spearfishes, body surfs and let's his life be defined by the rhythm of the ocean. Conway grew up in San Diego, California and was enjoying the outdoors with his father and family at a very young age. His family would vacation in central Idaho and that is where Conway was first exposed to fly fishing. Young Conway brought that experience back to San Diego and being far from any trout fishery focussed his attention on the ocean which was just outside his backdoor. This attention to the Ocean and flyfishing began to define who and what Conway is. About 20 years ago he was able to focus his lifelong interests in the Ocean and fly fishing into chasing Mako Shark on the fly. Now, 20 years later he is still chasing Mako, guiding and putting clients on the largest fish they have ever caught and in this process often changing their lives. I had the chance to fish with Conway in July 2018 and it was unlike any fly fishing exerience I have had before. I believe fly fishing for Mako Shark with Conway can best be desribed as being Mellow and Intense at the same time. Our day fishing with Conway was just three of us on the water in his 24 foot bay boat and surrounded by the vast Pacific Ocean. Time went by as we drifted in current and spread the chum slick which acted as a dinner bell for the Ocean life. As we settled in we saw blue whale, sea birds, jellyfish, Bonita and Yellowfin Tuna, alone, well worth the effort to be on the water. However, soon the shark show up and we got ready to have our shot. Things at this point for us were still on the Mellow side of the scale. Conway's demeanor and personality suggested that we didn''t need to rush or move fast while picking up the 14 weight fly rod and casting what looked like a feathery wet sock at a 100 pound Mako Shark. Not until the Mako circled, charged, dove and then ambushed the fly from below did the scale quickly tip to Intense . And then it got really intense really fast.   Mako Shark are known for going absolutely berzerk when hooked and it is not uncommon to have them jump 10, 20 even 30 feet out of the water. This is not a jump out of the water and flop onto their side sort of behavior. This is the launching out of water like a ballistic missile then flipping head over tail before landing. In today's episode Conway and I get to recap our day fishing together and dive much deeper into what makes Conway tick. How he describes himself as having the Ocean be part of his DNA and that the rhythm of it defines the rhythm of his life. We also discuss Mako Shark and what makes them a unique fish at-large and what makes them special to chase on a fly rod. I hope you enjoy. Contacting Conway Bowman: Conway's website: www.conwaybowman.com Conway on Instagram Conway on Facebook  

"Once you can commit to learning the stillwater game it can be as rewarding as learning any other type of fly fishing technique. Plus you can often find water uncrowded with great fly fishing conditions." -Devin Olsen As promised during Episode 41. We sat down again with Devin Olsen and this time got the chance to dive into some topics that might be out of the range of what you think of when you think of Devin. Specifically fly fishing lakes and stillwater. Devin Olsen - source: tacticalflyfisher.com While Devin, might best be known for his popular films Modern Nymphing -Euro Inspired Techniques and Modern Nymphing - Elevated where he and his partner Lance Egan breakdown european style nymphing techniques on moving water. Devin also fishes lakes and stillwaters with passion and enthusiasm that I surprised me. During this recording I found it interesting that when Devin is out on his own he will choose to fish a lake before moving water. This is largely driven by the challenge fly fishing lake provides but also because of uncrowded water and really big fish. Like many of us Devin didn't start out fly fishing lakes but began to spend more time on stillwater through his exposure and desire to do well at fly fishing competitions. As his experience grew he began to grow and learn many of the nuances of effectively fly fishing lakes.  This appreciatiation and confidence developed into where he now spends as much time, if not more, on stillwater as moving water. High Alpine Lakes are a great alternative to crowded summer rivers Lakes and reservoirs are just about everywhere and during late Summer and into Fall they offer great alternatives to crowded rivers and streams. It was great to hear many of the great tactics Devin has developed are so translatable to others waters. As you will hear Devin express over and over. If you commit to developing stillwater experience and tactics you will most likely begin to appreciate and often prefer the many facets of flyfishing lakes. Devin's committment pays off. source: tacticalflyfisher.com Devin covers both Loch and Bankside styles and how he is approaches them differently. Devin strongly believes suggestive fly patterns are consistently more effective than imitative patterns and that the Humungous is a great fly to search unfamiliar waters. Humongous Fly Pattern This pattern that has very similar to characteristics to a pattern that was developed by a great regional fly fisher, Jay Fair. The Wiggle Tail has caught many eastern sierra trout. Jay Fair's Wiggle Tail At the time of this recording Devin was preparing for representing the USA at the Fly Fishing World Championships in Trentino Italy. The lake portion of this competition will be Cornisello Lake. As Devin explains this will be a very important part of the competition and where he hopes Team USA will make theie presence known. It is limited to a bankside venue and Devin shares what might be his best approach to a lake he has not been able to find too much about. Cornisello Lake, Italy   Contact info for Devin Olsen Devin's email : [email protected] Instagram: @tacticalflyfisher Facebook: @tacticalflyfisher and @DevinOlsen Website: www.tacticalflyfisher.com Music generously provided by: Frog and Toad - frogandtoadmusic.com Song: Fullers Crossing off of the self-titled album Frog and Toad - Brad Jones wrote this song about a log toll bridge over the Truckee River built by Charles Fuller, in 1859. The bridge's location eventually became a community hub and commercial center for the surrounding area. The City of Reno was founded around the bridge's location in 1868.

"Work hard, have humility and appreciate what you learn." -Jeff Currier Golden Maseer, India Jeff Currier has been fly fishing the world for over forty years. Jeff's adventures to more than sixty countries on six continents has resulted in more than 400 species of fish caught on a fly. This is an amazing feat by any standard and one that would be tough to match unless one would be willing to dedicate their life to fly fishing and adventure travel as Jeff has. How does he do it? Rather simple if you listen closely to Jeff. Bring a sense of humor, enthusiasm, humility and plenty of curiousity and the rest will fall into place. Golden Dorado, Tsimane, Bolivia Along the way, Jeff has been in the fly fishing industry for over thirty years. He began behind the counter at a fly shop in Jackson, Wyoming. He has taught the basics of fly fishing and guided anglers all over the Yellowstone area and throughout the world in both fresh and saltwater. He is presently on the Professional Advisory Staff for R.L Winston Rod Co., Bauer Reels, Simms Fishing Products, Scientific Anglers, Costa, Yeti, Kate's Real Food, and Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures. Jeff has met thousands of anglers from novice to advanced. His greatest joy is to help folks catch fish by supplying simple advice. Wyoming Brown Trout Show Notes: Jeff shared that St. Brandon's Atoll is the antipode of his hometown, Victor Idaho. Do you know where your hometowns antipode is? Check out antipodesmap.com Jeff's Yellow Permit from St. Brandon's     Jeff's article on  Self Promotion (source: JeffCurrier.com)     Nile Perch (source: jeffcurrier.com) Nile Perch, Lake Nasser Egypt, April 2007   Scientific Anglers Titan Taper SA has designed the Wavelength Titan for when you have an all-encompassing need to throw big flies for big fish. Loads quickly and delivers the biggest flies to the furthest targets Excellent turnover due to short, powerful head and short front taper Ideal line for boat or wade fishing Textured surface shoots further and with less memory For temperate climates Braided multifilament core SA Titan Taper geometry Music generously provided by: Frog and Toad  frogandtoadmusic.com Song: Fullers Crossing off of the self-titled album Frog and Toad - Brad Jones wrote this song about a log toll bridge over the Truckee River built by Charles Fuller, in 1859. The bridge's location eventually became a community hub and commercial center for the surrounding area. The City of Reno was founded around the bridge's location in 1868. The Reno Fly Shop is less that 1/2 mile from the bridge's original location.      

"I love the fact that I can go out and learn something new each and every time on the water" -Ernie Gulley Today's guest is a stillwater icon of the eastern Sierra and a master of Crowley Lake. Ernie Gulley has been fishing and now guiding Crowley Lake for many many years. His enthusiasm, committment and generosity to share his knowledge and tradecraft is unique and refreshing in a popular fishery like Crowley Lake. We cover everything from the seasonal changes of Crowley to the trouts food source and how he has applied his vast knowledge of that fishery to other stillwaters like Pyramid Lake and Lake Davis. source: http://stevenojai.tripod.com/crowley.htm Ernie was born in southern California, and started fishing with his Dad as soon as he could walk. At age seven, Ernie and his family moved to New Orleans where he learned how to fish Lake Pontchartrain for speckled trout and other saltwater species.  Later he moved back to SoCal and began fishing Lake Crowley, Bridgeport Reservoir and many lakes in Utah, Idaho and Nevada. (Ernie currently resides in Riverside with his wife Shannon and their two children, Logan, age 13 and Aidan, age 10.) Ernie and his wife In 1997, Ernie's curiosity about fly fishing began and a true love affair was born. This love affair blossomed and he never looked back.  Ernie was mentored by Bob Slamal, one of Ernie's legends in the fly fishing industry, and he also joined many local fly fishing clubs to learn as much as he could about fly fishing.  In 2007, Ernie won the "Double Haul in the Fall" tournament at Lake Crowley, now his home waters for guiding; this is where he has won both individual and team division titles. Happy Client and a Rainbow Ernie is currently a professional fly fishing guide in southern California and the eastern Sierra and is known as one of the Sierra's premier stillwater guides. Even when he is finished guiding for the day, you will find him back out on the water until sunset, always exploring, testing, observing, analyzing and putting in the extra time and effort to master his craft.  His philosophy is simple: you can always learn something new every time you are on the water. Happy Client and a Cutthroat Ernie is a "Pro Ambassador" for the Hardy Fly Fishing Company and the Cortland Line Company, among others.  He takes great pride in sharing his knowledge of fly fishing and his great passion is teaching stillwater fly fishing tactics. You can learn more about Ernie and his guiding by going to: Website:  www.erniegulley.com Instagram:  @erniegulleyflyfishing Twitter:   @erniegulley Facebook:   Ernie Gulley and Ernie Gulley Fly Fishing Guide Service Email:  [email protected] Show Notes: This is episode is packed full of information that Ernie generously shares. As we covered in the episode Ernie was willing to share his leader setups that he uses with his clients and from paid speaking engagements around the western U.S. Please take a look and if you are interested enough to download for your use please thank Ernie directly and let him know where you picked up these diagrams. Knowing the life cycle of the insects you use while fly fishing is not only enjoyable but can help you make a choice on fly, location and depth to fish.  Here is a great graphic outlining the life cycle of Chironomid (midge). Music generously provided by: Frog and Toad - frogandtoadmusic.com Song: Fullers Crossing off of the self-titled album Frog and Toad - Brad Jones wrote this song about a log toll bridge over the Truckee River built by Charles Fuller, in 1859. The bridge's location eventually became a community hub and commercial center for the surrounding area. The City of Reno was founded around the bridge's location in 1868.

"To really understand Euro Style Nymphing the angler has to dive in and believe it will work." -Devin Olsen  After a bit of a break it is exciting to be back in the saddle and putting out podcast episodes for your enjoyment. During this break we have been very busy around the shop supporting many of your adventures on the water and working on some new and exciting projects that we will get to announce soon. Here at the Reno Fly Shop we have fully embraced the technical approach of European Style Nymphing (ESN) for fly fishing our local rivers. It is an amazing techique that really allows us to have a level of sensitivity with our flies that we haven't been able to find with other techniques. Plus advancements and availability of good quality gear that before often had to be chased down from European sources is making it that much more enjoyable and accessible. We are also really lucky that experts in ESN are willing to share their experience, knowledge and passion to better understand the many variables and nuances of this effective technique. In today's episode I had the chance to sit down with Devin Olsen. Devin is the co-producer and co-host of Modern Nymphing, Elevated the much anticipated sequel to the very popular movie Modern Nymphing, European Inspired Techniques.  Devin also runs tacticalflyfisher.com which has become an important source of ESN inspired gear and equipment for the competitive angler. Devin, much like his partner and previous podcast guest Lance Egan (Episode 27), shares information without hesitation. In this recording we get to really dig into the weeds on many of the tactics and techniques I have wondered about. Plus through this wide ranging conversation we cover reading water, hiding from trout using natural features, fly selection, when and when not to use it added weight, and squeezing the most fish out of each section of water. We covered so much ground and spent so much time working through details we lost track of time. Not wanting to make these episodes too long. I asked and Devin generously agreed to come back for a second episode later this summer. Devin will squeeze us in between his summer guide season, U.S. Team Trials and hopefully representing the U.S.A at the next World Championship in Trentino, Italy on the Sarca and Noce Rivers and Cornisello Lake. I hope you enjoy this wide ranging conversation with Devin and take a moment to check us out on Facebook at the Reno Fly Shop Podcast Group. There you will find more discussions of this and other episodes. In the group later this summer I will open the opportunity for you to submit questions to Devin and or myself prior getting back together so we can get them answered while recording the next episode. Please check it out and provide any feedback or questions in the Facebook group. SHOW NOTES Devin's blog post ROD LENGTH AND REACH: A TRIGONOMETRY PERSPECTIVE from tacticalflyfisher.com DVDs of Modern Nymphing, European Inspired Techniques are available in the shop now and DVD copies of Modern Nymphing - Elevated will be available soon. Both are available digitally on Vimeo with these links Modern Nymphing -European Inspired Techniques Modern Nymphing - Elevated ESN inspired episodes on the Reno Fly Shop Podcast EP018: George Daniel - Dynamic Nymphing Techniques, Approach and Equipment EP027: Lance Egan - European Style Nymphing, The Rainbow Warrior and Modern Nymphing EP036: George Daniel - Stream Tactics, Techniques and Blanding Styles to Catch More Trout Modern Nymphing Elevated - Beyond the Basics from Capture Adventure Media on Vimeo. Producers of the Modern Nymphing film series: Devin Olsen Lance Egan Gilber Rowley

"I get a special satisfaction out of creating a fly, fishing it and finding out it works really well." -Ken Morrish Today's guest, Ken Morrish, has wored within the fly fishing industry for the past 30 years and has contributed more than we might ever fully undestand. Kenny has designed many functional and effective fly patterns for trout and steelhead and his photographic contributions have inspired not only fly fisherman but non anglers as well. Kenny started out as guide in Alaska, Oregon, and California and has, quite simply, done it all. He has taught fly fishing, managed fly shops, and is widely known as a fly designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants. He has come up with patterns like the Morrish Hopper, the Morrish Mouse and the Anato-May amongst many others. Kenny's writing and photography has appeared in magazines like Outside, Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod and Reel and Northwest Fly Fishing and many other popular publications. Ken's images have also appeared in dozens of books including Lani Waller's A Steelheader's Way. In 1999 Ken started Fly Water Travel, a fly fishing travel company specializing in international angling destinations. Ken runs the company with his business partner Brian Gies and serves as their, primary photographer and catalog copywriter. Ken is also a dedicated environmentalist who primary focus is on the cold water fisheries of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Ken lives in Ashland Oregon with his wife Mia and his children Max and Lilli. Show Notes: Kenny's flies we discussed on the episode. Morrish Hopper Morrish Mouse v1.0 Morrish Pick Pocket Morrish Anato-May Reno Fly Shop's hosted trip to Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Kiribati - April 16-25, 2018 Call for more details or send an email to [email protected] Bonefish from Kiritimati Links to more information about the trip: Fly Fishing Christmas Island with Fly Water Travel Great article on Fly Fishing Christmas Island from Dylan Rose, Fly Water Travel Reno Fly Shop's hosted trip to Agua Negra, Tsimane, Bolivia - September 9-16 Call for more details or send an email to [email protected] Golden Dorado Links to more information on the trip: Tsimane Lodge Web Page Fly Fishing Tsimane, Bolivia - an article by Ken Morrish 2016 Tsimane Brochure Tsimane Bolivia  

"Fly fishing and art are the two perfect ways to go through life. There are limitless opportunities for learning and pushing yourself." -Sarah Landström If describing a hard charging angler, grad student in the fine arts and conservationist doesn't automatically sync in your minds eye then get ready for this episodes guest. Sarah Landström is all of those things and more. Originating in Michigan Sarah migrated to Helena, Montana in search of the refreshing air and a change of scenery. Once there she was exposed to two things somewhat simultaneously that changed her life, fly fishing and her natural talent as a painter and fine artist. It didn't take Sarah long to direct her focus to combine these two interests and they have led her all over the country chasing fish, creating fine art and forwarding conservation issues to protect the critical environments she enjoys so much. Along the way she solicited a mentorship with none other than the famous fly fishing artist Derek DeYoung. Derek was able to show Sarah ropes of excelling in the fly fishing industry and channeling her energies into a much wider audience. Sarah now calls San Francisco home while spending time as a Masters of Fine Art candidate at The California College of the Arts and part time work as staff at Lost Coast Outfitters a great independent fly shop in the City. She gains much of her current artistic inspiration from frequent road trips up the California coast for steelhead, high in the Sierras for wild trout and the desert to visit Pyramid Lake. Sarah's bio on her website: Sarah Landström is an energetic 23 year old artist who studied classical painting at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is currently a Masters of Fine Art candidate at The California College of the Arts. Sarah's practice heavily revolves around her development as a conservationist and angler. Moving from Alaskan rivers to rural Ireland, Sarah has collected and expressed her experiences through referential palettes and subject matter in large scale paintings. Because these delicate landscapes are easily influenced by ill-equipped policy and greed, Sarah hopes her work will encourage her audience to educate themselves on local waters and the environmental pressures they face. Show Notes: Sarah's Website Sarah on Instagram Information Heenan Lake

"As the users of these wild natural systems, we have to be careful not to love them to death" -Dr. Sudeep Chandra, Univ. of Nevada, Reno Today's guest is as dynamic, complex and adaptable as the water he researches and enjoys. Dr. Sudeep Chandra has many research interests and academic strengths. And in my opinion, one of his super powers is the ability to breakdown really complex issues and topics so we can understand and appreciate them as much as he does. His ability to explain physical and biological processes and have them relate to the rivers and lakes we fly fish is a treat I hope you all enjoy. Sudeep's research into the Taimen of Mongolia has allowed him to have a even greater appreciation to the unique setting of Pyramid Lake and the LCT that live there. Sudeep is an Associate Professor of Limnology and Conservation Ecology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He serves as Director of the University's new initiative the Global Water Center: Solutions for Sustainability. Sudeep also currently serves as the co-director of the Graduate Program in Hydrologic Sciences which I am a proud alma mater. We try to demystify some of the questions and topics that come up frequently around the shop, such as, why does Pyramid Lake "turnover" and what happens to it's biology when it does. Also we talk about impacts to Pyramid Lake, the Truckee River and other western Great Basin lakes as a result of prolonged drought and less frequent but more substantial flood events. Finally we touch upon Sudeep's research interests in Mongolia where he studies the world largest trout the Taimen (Hucho Taimen) and their similarity to the LCT of Pyramid Lake.   He has received awards for his efforts including: American Fisheries Society's CA-NV Award of Excellence, the Tahoe-Baikal Institute Alumni of the Year, University of Nevada's College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources Teacher of the Year, and his favorite, the Mad Hatter's Award from the Graduate Program in Hydrologic Sciences.   In 2003, he was awarded his 1st international research funding from the Trust for Mutual Understanding and the National Geographic Society to investigate the impacts of mining activities in the Lake Baikal watershed in Russia and Mongolia. As you will hear in this episode this has lead Sudeep and his team to utilize unconventional scientific research techniques in collecting Taimen data in Mongolia and to coordinate with Mongolian tribes to prioritize conservation and habitat protections. This work led to the development of a project funded by the Global Environment Fund and World Bank to use faith-based initiatives and scientific approaches to conserve the world's largest trout, the Taimen, in Mongolia. Sudeep loves to engage laypersons and professionals, students, policy makers, and concerned citizens in the importance of using science based information to protect and restore aquatic resources. He feels like there is much more to give in life, and will continue to work to help his fellow humans and the environment in which they inhabit.  Show Notes: Links to resources we discussed: Global Water Center Castle Lake Environmental Research and Education Program Graduate Program in Hydrologic Sciences Graduate Program in Ecology Evolution and Conservation Biology Sudeep's work using drone's with Taimen research. https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2017/fly-fishing-mongolia Sudeep's mini-documentary on Summit Lake and LCT management.

"The situation couldn't be better for the Truckee River to make not only a full recovery from the drought but to improve to conditions that have never been seen before." -Travis Hawks, Biologist, NDOW Fly fishing is equal parts art and science. It is beautiful and creative and a technical understanding of physical and biological processes informs us to help make the best decisions we can. While we at the Reno Fly Shop and this podcast can't make you more creative or appreciate the endless beauty around you, we can inform you of the complex environment we inhabit for recreation. That is why I look forward each year to sit down with Travis Hawks of the Nevada Department of Wildlife to find out just how the Truckee River and all of the fish that reside in it are fairing. Within our 2017 State of the Truckee River episode with Travis Hawks from the Nevada Department of Wildlife you will hear a snapshot of what the biologic conditions were like over 2017. Following the wettest year on record. You will listen to Travis layout what it takes to sample the biologic resources, categorize the information and attempt to report the annual data. In doing so, Travis will draw upon his and NDOW's growing database to interpret trends that are occurring to fish population, densities and how the river is responding to ever-changing flow conditions. Travis explains that data is simply data and has it's limitations. He combines his scientific education with his personal experience fly fishing the Truckee River to draw some conclusions that are surprisingly optimistic given the historic drought we have just experienced. Travis and I really enjoy putting this information together and presenting it to all of the listeners. In my experience it is very rare to have a managing agency as transparent as NDOW is being with their annual survey results. Also the ability Travis has in communicating this information for all of us to understand is nothing short of a community service and both he and NDOW should be commended. I hope you all enjoy what has come to be a bit of the Shop's holiday tradition in preparing and presenting this episode. And in the spirit of the holiday's you might give it some thought to "pay it forward" and sign up for some volunteer opportunities with NDOW. Here is a link to follow. NDOW VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP DATA WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE  

"There is often a time and place in 'real-world' situations to move beyond defined and dictated techniques. To begin to blend and meld different approaches in the current unique situation. " -George Daniel George Daniel's experience and knowledge of fly fishing on it's own is amazing but what truly sets him apart is his uncanny ability to communicate that knowledge to people that have a variety of different experience levels and interest in fly fishing. I can't imagine anyone that spends any time with George won't come away impacted by his burning curiosity and his own interest in continually getting better at fly fishing. In this episode, George and I get the chance to break down his approach to streamer fishing, his experience in applying different tactics and techniques to different waters and how he blends different styles of fly fishing into a modern and refreshing approach to throwing streamers. I found it somewhat surprising how he will blend styles which I more associate with European Style Nymphing while using streamer flies. He is not opposed to dead drifting a streamer through a seam or pocket water. As well, he is not opposed to vary his use of weighted flies and fly lines in different scenarios. Click this to recieve notifications of future podcasts As you will hear he has spent a fair amount of time on our local rivers and is not unfamiliar with how challenging the Truckee River can be but has experienced first hand the rewards that are available to the angler that is willing to put in the work. I hope you enjoy this episode with George Show Notes: Click here for Episode 18 where George and I chat about ESN and Dynamic Nymphing. George's Approach to Adjusting to Challenging Conditions when fishing streamers Adjust weight to adjust the depth of the fly Modify retrieve speed to change the behavior of the streamer Change the fly color The Versileader is one of the most underutilized tool in the fly anglers Streamer game. Follow George on his social media channels: Instagram @gdflyfish55 Facebook George Daniel (LivinontheFly) Website LivinontheFly.com Keep track of all our blog posts, fishing reports and new podcast episodes by signing up for our mailing list. Reno Fly Shop Mailing List Link

"Freshwater inflow plus nutrients makes for really great conditions to grow Lahonton Cutthroat Trout" - Nancy Vucinich, Senior Fishery Biologist, Pyramid Lake Fisheries Nancy Vucinich was last on the podcast about a year ago and what a year it has been. Nancy has had to deal with huge wildfires that have impacted where she lives, works and recreates. And then came the winter of 2016-17 where Pyramid Lake has seen a historic increase in lake level and a dramatic change in water chemistry. Nancy and I got to sit down in the offices of the Pyramid Lake Fisheries and discuss many of these changes and the impacts she has observed in the short term and how she believes the lake will respond in the longer term. Nancy and I were able to discuss water chemistry and how a alkaline terminal lake like Pyramid Lake can change with a big volume of freshwater. The changes start with positive impacts to the population of zooplankton. This is the foundation of the lakes foodweb. More zooplankton results in increases in abundance and availability of almost all aquatic species in the lake, especially the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. If you get the chance to share this episode with friends please do so on the links/buttons below and if you would like to check out discussion of this and other podcast episodes please check out our Facebook Group, Reno Fly Shop Podcast Group. This is a shorter episode then we have done recently but with the short length comes a fairly dense discussion of Pyramid Lake.  I hope you enjoy. Show notes: Here is a link to Nancy's previous episode. We discuss the articles Mike Anderson prepared last year on the the different periods during the Pyramid Lake Season. Early | Middle | Late Information Nancy and I discuss:

"The more you limit yourself in tactics and techiques the less fun you are letting yourself have." - Cheech "You can't change the color of wire and call a pattern uniquely yours, most if not all new patterns are building upon the patterns that have come before it." - Curtis Curtis and Cheech never really "started" Fly Fish Food, it seemed to grow through their efforts and interests in tying top quality flies and finding out new and creative ways to feed fish. Pretty soon they began uploading videos to their Fly Fish Food Channel on YouTube which quickly became one of the most popular sources of fly tying tutorials. As more subscribers began to ask for materials they decided to create an online store  and the their latest evolution is having a brick and mortar store in northern Utah. All along they have maintained their friendship, their love of fly fishing and their passion of tying flies. Cheech and Curtis have maintained a level of transparency in sharing information that seems to be unique in fly fishing. As you will hear Curtis strongly believes that all boats will rise on a tide. He wants to share his knowledge and experience as many have shared with him with the hope that we all get a bit better, catch a few more fish and have a lot more fun. And share they do. Over 350 YouTube videos, fly tying tutorials and a big social media presence they give away information on a daily basis. This is a cool glimpse into the guys that put together some of the most watched tying videos on YouTube and in my opinion have contributed significantly to making fly tying "cool" to beginner and experienced tiers. They have also contributed a crazy amount of proven and effective fly patterns that are now commercially available through Fulling Mill and here at the Reno Fly Shop. We cover a bunch of ground from Curtis' favorite patterns to Cheech "nerding" out on hackle and sharing us the history of one of his signature patterns the Cheech Leech.   We also talk about a bunch of patterns through the episode. I kept track and have provided links to each of the fly patterns YouTube Tutorial. Flies we discussed in this episode in no particular order: Aero Baetis M3 Baetis Moodah Poodah Project Cidada Project Hopper Cheech Leech Belly Scratcher Minnow Articulated Trout Slider EZ Jig Chimera Complex Twist Bugger Flugen Zombie Slum Hopper Grumpy Frumpy  

The last time Matt "Gilligan" Koles was on the podcast we chatted about what to do during a drought on the Truckee River. We thought it was fitting to get back together to talk about what it was like making it through the winter of 2017 living in Hirschdale along the banks of the Truckee River and most importantly how the system has responded to historic flows and a remaking of the river channel. Matt with his very successful guide service, Gilligan's Guide Service, really never missed a beat during the high flows and actually Matt at times surprised himself when catching trout during high off colored water situations. Gilligan also shares how he fished the high water, what flies he uses and some of the tactics he found most successful. It is no surprise to many that follow his blog and his Instagram account that he can put clients on fish but it might be a surprise how he does it consistently and how me also has his challenges. I hope you enjoy this second episode with Matt and can take away from it both his and my enthusiasm and belief that the Truckee River is in great shape following this historic winter and that we are going to have an epic season and several years to come! I hope you enjoy! A couple of Gilligan's favorite summer fly patterns on the Trkee River are the Skipper Stone and the G6 Caddis. Get ready for this summer season by grabbing some for your fly box by swinging by the shop. Skipper Stone G6 Caddis

"The 2017 winter will impact Pyramid Lake in 3 main ways, 1) balance chemistry, 2) deliver nutrients and 3) boost bug life." -Mike Anderson Mike Anderson is a guide, shop staff and instructor at the Reno Fly Shop.  As a native Nevadan he has grown up fly fishing Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River. Mike spends many days each year at Pyramid Lake fishing, guiding, tying specialty flies and observing this amazing resource he is lucky to call his "backyard". Call the Reno Fly Shop today to book at trip and experience this world class fishery. Happy Client Mike is a frequent contributor to the blog and fishing reports here at the Reno Fly Shop and has prepared some great descriptions of the three distinct periods of the Pyramid Lake fly fishing season. Here are links to the articles describing the different sections of the Pyramid Lake season. Early | Middle | Late In today's episode we get to recap the 2016-17 season where Mike spent a bunch of days fishing and guiding clients. Mike shares his thoughts on the impacts the high water will have on the fly fishing at Pyramid Lake in the immediate and longer term and how he is transitioning to what is shaping up to be a great summer season on the Truckee River for fly fishing and him guiding clients. Article by Andrew Richter on fishing big water on the Truckee River

"The USFWS will engage all members of the community in making choices to manage LCT in the Truckee River" - Tim Loux, USFWS Welcome to episode 31 of the Reno Fly Shop Podcast. Leading up to this episode several listeners and customers around the shop have asked to find out more information about the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout of Pyramid Lake. I reached out to what I would consider a difinitive source for biological information related to the Pilot Peak strain, Tim Loux a Senior Fishery Biologist at the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex. This is the hatchery located on the Truckee River and the source for all Pilot Peak LCT into Pyramid Lake.   Tim Loux grew up fishing the Tahoe/Truckee area, and as a kid decided to pursue a career in fisheries. He attended Feather River Junior College, and transferred to Montana State University where he earned a Bachelor's of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management. After college Tim accepted a position with the US Fish Wildlife Service, in the Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office and in 2002 had the chance to work on Spring Run Chinook. Fish Operations at Marble Bluff Dam on the Truckee River After 4 years of salmon work, Tim accepted a position with the USFWS Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex to work on Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) and Cui-ui. Currently, Tim is a Senior Fishery Biologist with the Complex; he manages the Marble Bluff Fish Passage and Research Station, leads the recovery effort for LCT in Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River, and is the National Fish Passage Coordinator for Nevada and the Eastern Sierra.   Floy Tags Contact info for Tim and Supporting Information: Tim Loux email USFWS Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex Truckee Watershed LCT Recovery Plan Genetic Variations in the LCT The Return of a Lake-dwelling Giant Editorial Note: From personal and professional experience the topics that we discuss in this episode will have signficant and permanent impacts to the Truckee River and the fish populations as we have become to know them.  Dam removal/modification and the recovery of Lahonton Cutthroat Trout will forever change the Truckee River landscape. These issues are being addressed now by federal and local governments.  These efforts will move forward and we as anglers, concerned citizens and river enthusiasts must pay attention and get/stay involved if we want our voices heard. It is my opinion that the decisions being made for management of the biological resources of the Truckee River now and in the near future will have permanent impacts on the watershed.  Please get involved and stay involved. This will be a marathon effort, not a sprint. Please check with all of us here at the Reno Fly Shop for up-to-date information as it comes available. Thanks, Jim Litchfield.

"It isn't the experienced seasoned angler that says 'okay, now I will guide'. It is the enthusiastic passionate angler that makes the leap into the life of a fly fishing guide."  -Dec Hogan If you've ever met Dec Hogan you know that his love and passion for steelhead fly fishing is a constant part of his life and completely interwoven with chasing steelhead with two-handed fly rods. Dec is a master of all facets of the sport: two- handed casting, reading water, presenting flies, fly tying etc. Lucky for us he is also equally a master at teaching all of these facets. An accomplished writer and exquisite photographer, Hogan has penned numerous articles for many of the America's leading fly fishing publications and is the author of the highly acclaimed, must have fly fishing book, A Passion for Steelhead. Dec was a fulltime steelhead guide from 1989 to 2003 guiding fly anglers on the beautiful Pacific Northwest waters of the Skagit, Sauk, Skykomish, Grande Ronde, and Deschutes Rivers. Like many guides of his generation, Hogan also did 5-seasons guiding the famed Bristol Bay region of Alaska. He is a pioneer of two-handed casting in North America and continues to be a highly sought after spey casting instructor. As if one dream job weren't enough Hogan's had two: Dec has retired from guiding and is now a full time firefighter and EMT in Utah. Dec's schedule at the fire department allows him the time to stay active in his fishing career. In addition to teaching casting clinics, Dec works closely as a rod and line designer for Echo and Airflo. Dec and I were able to cover a lot of ground in today's episode. We attempt to demystify two hand casting, make sense of choosing a line for your two handed rod and what we are going to cover in the Clinics Dec is going to teach here at the Reno Fly Shop. Listen to this episode for details on the upcoming clinics Dec is going to teach a few lucky participants and information about the Happy Hour event April 7 we are going to host here at the shop where you can come down hangout, meet and talk about everything fly fishing with Dec Hogan. So let's dive on into todays episode with Dec Hogan I hope you enjoy.

"So often fly fishing is defined by the last story someone hears, when it should defined by their own personal experience." -Kelly Galloup Kelly Galloup (photo: slideinn.com) Here is the second part of my conversation with Kelly. The original recording was just too good to edit and cut up just to make it a manageable size. In this episode we get to find out Kelly's thoughts on synthetic vs. natural tying material and how a trout likes to eats it's food.  You might be a bit surprised.  If you have questions or comments please check out our new group on Facebook, The Reno Fly Shop Podcast Group, is where there has been some good discussions about previous episodes and you can often ask questions with the episodes guest responding in person. Check it out. Kelly started his fly fishing career at the age of 13, tying flies for the local tackle shop in Michigan. Kelly has over forty nationally recognized fly patterns and is still developing more today. He started guiding at the age of 16 and is still guiding to this day some 30 years later from his lodge The Slide Inn on the banks of the Madison River in Montana. Kelly has written two books Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout and Cripples and Spinners. Kelly has been published in nearly every major fly fishing periodical in the country and is now one of the Editors at Large for Fly Fisherman magazine. Kelly was also one of the hosts of Fly Fish TV on the Outdoor Life Network. In 2004 Kelly was nominated and received the Living Legend award by the Federation of Flyfishers. Here is a link to part 1 - Episode 28 with Kelly. I hope you enjoy. Kelly's Pearl Necklace Streamer

"If you want to catch big trout you should, stalk more and cast less." -Kelly Galloup Kelly Galloup (photo: slideinn.com) Before I get into the introduction of today's episode I wanted to bring to your attention a new way you can follow and interact with the Reno Fly Shop Podcast.  I have started the Reno Fly Shop Podcast Group on Facebook.  IN this group you will find a place to ask questions of me, the guests on the podcast and other listeners.  So far we have had a lot of discussion come up with some great information shared. In this episode of the Reno Fly Shop Podcast I sit down with Kelly Galloup. Kelly is well known in the fly fishing industry for his fly patterns, his shop, the Slide Inn, on the banks of the Madison River and very strong opinions on fly fishing topics and beyond. Kelly started his fly fishing career at the age of 13, tying flies for the local tackle shop in Michigan. Kelly has over forty nationally recognized fly patterns and is still developing more today. He started guiding at the age of 16 and is still guiding to this day some 30 years later. Kelly has written two books Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout and Cripples and Spinners. Kelly has been published in nearly every major fly fishing periodical in the country and is now one of the Editors at Large for Fly Fisherman magazine. Kelly was also one of the hosts of Fly Fish TV on the Outdoor Life Network. In 2004 Kelly was nominated and received the Living Legend award by the Federation of Flyfishers. Kelly and I cover a bunch of topics. Including trends he has seen in the fly fishing world, egos of fly fisherman and the why and how articulated streamers became a thing. This was a very long conversation. I have decided to break it up into two different episodes.  Here is Part I, it sort of starts right up so get ready here we go. I hope you enjoy. Sex Dungeon natural (photo: slideinn.com)

"Simply stated, trout eat nymphs more than any other type of food source and European Style Nymphing is the most effective way to fish nymphs" - Lance Egan   Lance Egan is a self described fly fishing junkie. He has fly fishing since the age of 12 and has had the opportunity to travel the world representing the U.S.A. as a competitive angler and fly fishing ambassador.  Through his vast experience he has also become a professional fly tyer, guide and film maker. With good friends Devin Olsen and Gilbert Rowley, Lance recently finished a definitive project on European Style Nymphing (ESN), Modern Nymphing. Lance and his crew filmed this entire video on public water in three western States.  They wanted to provide an instructional video that represented the water and conditions so many of us experience day to day and not a simulated "fish farm" that can be found on private waters.   The truth is they wanted to show us all ESN techniques in conditions we fish. Conditions that are often difficult and where the "struggle is real". What they have done is created a modern, up-to-date and definitive edit for all casual and serious disciples of catching trout on a fly. This video will revolutionize your nymphing game.  The video can be downloaded digitally now using this link. We will have hard copies of this DVD as soon as they are available in January 2017.  SHOW NOTES: In today's episode Lance and I discuss a pile of topics. Here are some supplemental links to support better understanding of some of them.  As always if you have a questions shoot me an email at [email protected] or swing by the shop and we can help. 2015-16 California Fishing Regulations - "It is unlawful to use any weight directly attached below a hook" - Section 2 subparagraph 4 (page 15 of attached). Looks like drop shot nymphing is prohibited in the state of California   Rainbow Warrior GTI Caddis - One of my favorites on the Truckee River   Devin's Website TacticalFlyFisher.com Gilbert Rowley's Capture Adventure Media on YouTube  

"The Truckee River with its year around fishing, huge trout and lake-run cutthroat will soon be second to none as a western trout fishery" - Travis Hawks, NDOW Fishery Biologist Travis Hawks grew up in Gardnerville, Nevada, acquiring a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Nevada, Reno and during that time worked seasonally for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). Immediately after college he started permanently with NDOW at the Mason Valley Fish Hatchery and after a year he became a fisheries biologist located in Humboldt County, Nevada. After 6 years he transferred to the western portion of the state to be closer to the Truckee River, the Sierra Nevada and family. Travis is an avid outdoorsman. He spends his free time fly fishing, archery hunting big game, hunting waterfowl and upland birds or chasing lions when there is enough snow. I hope that my episodes with Travis become an annual event when he can summarize the results of the annual Fall fish surveys on the Truckee River. A sort of State of the Truckee River from the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Travis shares data results on this years survey. We are still recovering from the impacts of the drought a few years ago but the refreshing news is the apparent resiliency of the Truckee River and how the trout are responding. One of the exciting things that we discuss is the idea and very real possibility that we will have lake-run trout venturing out of Pyramid Lake and into the Truckee River to spawn. With a little help they will have access up almost 25 miles of the Truckee River. As this continues to evolve and develop NDOW and the US Fish and Wildlife Service would like to see the giant LCT of Pyramid Lake access the Reno/Sparks area. Can you imagine swinging flies for 20 pound trout in the Truckee River? Show Notes: Travis and I discussed many topics related to Truckee River, fishery management scenarios and the trout that we love. Travis, it turns out, is also a fan of the podcast and references several previous episodes. These episodes are summarized here if you want to go back and listen again (or for the first time...) EP011: Kim Tisdale and Travis Hawks – Truckee River Conditions, NDOW River Management and Fishing Conditions EP006: Nancy Vucinich - Pyramid Lake Fisheries Program and the new 2015-16 Regulations EP019: Ralph Cutter - Trout behavior, Snorkeling with Trout and much much more... EP022: Dave Stanley - Truckee River, Pyramid Lake and our Local Lake Fishing EP024: Mike Curtis - Head Guide at the Reno Fly Shop, Fall and Winter on the Truckee River and his come back after a bit of a break  

"The expanse, variety of fish and diversity of water of fly fishing in the California Delta is like no other place in the country." -Captain Maury Hatch, Fly Fishing Guide, First Hatch Guide Service One of the common threads you will hear in our posts and many other anglers that live in our area is how lucky we are to have the amount of water to fly fish that we do.  In the Reno/Tahoe area with the Big Truckee, Little Truckee, Pyramid Lake and not to mention the eastern Sierra we have more than what many would consider our fair share of fly fishing water.  Captain Maury with a striped friend. If we are willing to do a short drive we then have the chance to fly fish the steelhead and salmon rivers of the Western Sierra and coastal rivers and the topic of today's podcast California Delta. A Happy Client Because of it's sheer enormity it often doesn't get the attention and recognition it deserves.  Every single Steelhead, Salmon, Shad and Striped Bass must pass through the Delta to get to their ancestral spawning grounds. In today's episode we chat Captain Maury Hatch. Maury is one of the few dedicated fly fishing guides in Delta for Striped, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. I have had the opportunity to fish on Maury's boat and let me tell you there isn't a harder working guide for his clients out there.  Maury has been fly fishing the western United States and Mexico for 30+ years.  After honing his skills with trout, he hooked his first striped bass in 1995, and has been chasing, catching, and releasing stripers ever since.  As a Captain, he guides both out of the San Joaquin Delta in a center console bay boat in the fall and spring, and then on a jet sled on the Feather and the American Rivers in the summer for Stripers, Small Mouth and Shad.  All trips include top of the line equipment as well as custom tied flies. He is an ambassador level pro staffer for the following products: Costa sunglasses, Simms clothing, Sage rods, RIO lines and Galvan reels.   Contact Info for Captain Maury Hatch First Hatch Guide Service Phone:  (916) 716-3474  

"It took me years to realize how gently a huge Truckee River trout can eat a nymph." -Mike Curtis, Head Guide at the Reno Fly Shop Today we get to chat with the Reno Fly Shop Head Guide, Mike Curtis. Mike guides full time through the shop and has spent over 7 years guiding up and down the eastern Sierra both moving and still water. Mike Curtis' day off on the Truckee River. (photo Bailie Thys)  Being raised in the Reno/Tahoe area, Mike knows our local rivers like a good friend and his favorite river to guide, float, and fish during the Winter is the Nevada side of the Truckee River. The Truckee holds a special place in Mike's heart. It has not only helped him become a confident and successful fly fishing guide but it has also allowed him to recuperate and recover from a life threatening experience. Mike has been a common contributor to Sierra Fly Fisherman Magazine, a photographer for Jan Nemec's book Fly Fishing Guide to Nevada and creative and successful innovator of fly patterns for our local waters. Mike and a happy client this past summer. Mike has developed the guiding and teaching skills to work with the first time fly fisherman to the experienced angler who is looking to try and land the Truckee River trout which often produces experiences of a lifetime. Mike Curtis doing what Mike does (2016) In today's episode we get to hear Mike share what it is like to get back into fly fishing after taking a break, how much he enjoys putting guests on fish and why he is so excited about Fall and Winter fishing on the Truckee River. Check out www.renoflyshop.com for the up t0 date fishing reports, gear arriving in the store and upcoming events and classes. Also check out our social media sites on Instagram and Facebook where Mike Curtis and Mike Anderson, both guides at the Reno Fly Shop, are providing up to date stream side and lake side video fishing reports.  It doesn't get any more real then these reports without going out there yourself. Enjoy!

"The two most important characteristics of a fly rod are Action and Power" -Tim Rajeff Today's guest is none other that Tim Rajeff. Tim is a fly rod designer, instructor, national and world casting champion and owner of Rajeff Sports. Based out of Vancouver Washington Rajeff manufactures ECHO Fly Rods and distributes AirFlo Fly Lines in North America. We get to chat with Tim while he was at Katherine's vacation home. This was a rare moment out of a very busy schedule when Tim could sit down and share his thoughts on trends in the fly fishing world, casting a fly line over 100 mph and some amazing new fly rods from ECHO. After spending his youth fishing and casting in California and Oregon, Tim's fishing career took a turn when he took a job working for the Fenwick Fly Fishing School in Montana during 1973. In 1985 he made the trek north and began guiding in Alaska, eventually moving on to develop and build the first fishing camps on Russia's Kola Peninsula, 60 miles above the Arctic Circle. He spent six years managing these camps before returning to the states in 1994. Upon his return he began working for a premium domestic rod manufacturer, where he worked as head of the engineering department and the Fly Brand Manager. He worked there until 2001 and along the way learned every aspect of fly rod design and manufacturing. Tim is also a co founder of the Fish Need Water Initiative that we highlighted in Episode 17 with Tyler Allen. The two rods we highlight in today's episode will be available very soon here in the shop and we will have some demos for you to try out.  We are really excited about the One Hand Spey (OHS) and especially the Boost Beach which we were able to check out at this summers casting competition, Caffeinated Casting. As always I really appreciate you taking the time to listen, provide feedback on the podcasts and support at the Reno Fly Shop.  Hope you enjoy my conversation with Tim Rajeff.

"The Truckee River chose for itself to have really big fish over many fish" - Dave Stanley In this episode of the Reno Fly Shop Podcast I sit down with Dave Stanley who I consider to be emblematic with fly fishing, certainly in Reno/Tahoe and the eastern Sierras but also in much farther and greater impacts. Dave and Kate wishing they had their ladders in Mexico Dave has significantly contributed fly fishing technique, fly design, locations to fish and approaches to fly fishing moving and still water. What I believe is one of his greatest contributions is his laid back generous style to the fly fishing community. So often things can become segmented and compartmentalized. Dave breaks down those barriers with generosity and humor. Dave is equal parts angler, hunter, musician, father and friend. Through retail, guiding, teaching and often simply sharing great insight and perspective Dave can be credited with providing the access and opportunity for hundreds of us to fly fish today.  I am certainly stoked to consider myself one of those lucky anglers that were able to learn from Dave's experience, good nature and generosity. Since stepping away from the Shop in 2010 Dave has still guided and fished the Truckee River and our area lakes.  Dave also continues to pursue his well known passion for waterfowl hunting and guiding each and every season. Dave doing what Dave does I got to sit down with Dave to discuss the history and trends of fly fishing in our area from his perspective.  He shares why fly fishing in our area lakes and reservoirs is one of the best kept secrets out there, why anglers have gravitated to fishing moving water versus stillwater and how he approaches fly fishing Pyramid Lake. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

"Fly presentation trumps fly selection everytime" - Phil Rowley Get ready for our second episode with Phil Rowley.  In this episode of the Reno Fly Shop Podcast Phil discusses the history of balanced flies and his contribution to the evolution of one of the fly patterns that have turned a new page in fly fishing stillwaters.  This can't be more obvious than at Pyramid Lake one of our home waters. Download the Phil Rowley Stillwater Leader Formulas here. The Balanced Leech has been one of the most popular and effective patterns since it's introduction a few years ago. It was one of the most popular Pyramid Lake patterns last year in the Reno Fly Shop.  As we discuss in this podcast it's effectiveness is that it can be delivered and held right in the strike zone for cruising trout.  Add in some (often present) wind chop and waves to create movement under an indicator and you are offering a fly that the fish simply can't ignore. Balanced Leeches (P.Rowley) As we dicussed in Episode 20 with Phil we offer up the leader formula that Phil has fine tuned to fishing stillwater under an indicator.  This leader can be used for Chironomids and or Balanced flies (even in combination). If you end up fishing a balanced fly in a multi fly rig we suggest that the balanced fly be at the terminal end of the leader.  This will allow the fly to suspend in the intended horizontal orientation. Phil goes on to discuss his approach and tactics when fishing these patterns and shares that they are not limited to stillwaters or leech patterns.  He ties this style for rivers and streams as well as to represent various aquatic insects. Balanced PT - Size 14 (P.Rowley)   Balanced Micro Leech - Size14 (P.Rowley) If you are interested in any of these balanced fly patterns please contact the shop and we will be happy to mail you them right away. Enjoy! Information on some of Phil's hosted travel can be found here. Silver Bullets on the Fly - Wild Coho at Rugged Point Lodge - Fall 2016 Fall School at Stoney Lake Lodge - Fall 2016 Lago Strobel (Jurassic Lake) - Spring 2017 Make a point of visiting or following Phil on-line at, www.flycraftangling.com or www.stillwaterflyfishingstore.com and through his social media channels, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

"The best thing you can do when traveling to a new fly fishing destination is to hand your rod to the guide and say 'show me'" ~Denis Isbister, host Wild Fish Wild Places Denis Isbister has a dream job.  Putting together Wild Fish Wild Places for the World Fishing Network Denis gets to travel the world fly fishing for some of the most exotic fish to eat a fly.  His travels have taken him to mosquito infested tundra and narco infested jungles.  With a small crew and hosted guests Denis takes adventures to the next level. Even as Denis travels the world he dreams of getting back to Nevada and the giant trout of Pyramid Lake. In Episode 14 I sat down with Denis to see what it is really like to live with the job we all think we want.  Denis shares hilarious tales of his adventures, what he does when a film crew gets skunks and how to check a boat onto a commercial airline... Denis with a Peacock Bass in Colombia If this sounds like too much fun to miss, Denis has a few spots open on his trips this year.  You and a friend can find out what it like to get VIP treatment from lodges and guides in far flung locations while filming a television show. Golden Dorado in Argentina Let us know what you think of this podcast and all of our podcasts by emailing us at [email protected].  We really look forward to your feedback and suggestions on future guests. Show Notes: Here are a list of sponsors Denis gets to call partners.  You will see he leans heavily towards local companies as we do too.  We also have product from each of these companies in the shop today. Glacier Glove - At Glacier Glove, we live to be outside. Whether we are in the sun, wind, rain or snow, we constantly want to experience all Mother Nature has to offer. We spend as much time as possible outdoors and found that we enjoy it most when we are comfortable. We strive to find new ways to protect you without sacrificing dexterity. We seek out the best materials, best practices and undying passion to be outside. This mission goes into every product design. Adam's Built Fishing - At Adamsbuilt Fishing we remember when fishing was just good old fashioned fun, and our goal is to help you "remember" too. Reel Lifestyle - REEL Lifestyle was created as an expressive avenue to encompass everything fishing and the love for the outdoors! Whether it's river, lake or ocean, we are all a part of the REEL Lifestyle Wild Fish Wild Places on the World Fishing Network - Wild Fish Wild Places television program takes fishing to a new extreme by bringing the viewer around the world with characters at every stop.

Nick Jackson is a true fly fishing trout bum.  Born in Park City, Nick was exposed at a young age to fly fishing in Alaska on a guided trip.  That trip proved to be life changing.  Nick at once wanted to be a fly fishing guide and spend his time chasing fish all over the world. Nick has been guiding full time for several years now and has been splitting his time between Alaska, Chile, Central America and Utah.  Recently after a guided trip to Pyramid Lake he abandoned the summer to summer migrations to spend his winters chasing the world's largest cutthroat trout. Nick spends time guiding at Pyramid Lake, working at the Reno Fly Shop and teaching clinics at the Lake.  I got to sit down with Nick and chat about his fly fishing experience, why he has chosen Pyramid Lake and what sort of techniques and setups he likes while fishing the Lake.

Leslie Ajari grew up in Truckee, California and was introduced to fly fishing by her father at a very early age.  She and her brother cut their teeth fly fishing the Truckee River, Little Truckee River and local lakes and she hasn't stopped yet. She guides over 100 trips a year on northern California rivers like the Trinity, Fall, Pit and Hat Creek.  Here true passion lies in spey casting to Fall and Winter Steelhead on the Trinity, Klamath, Deschutes and a bunch of the coastal California and Oregon rivers. Leslie and I got to chat during one of her recent trips home to visit family.  We chatted about Winter Steelheading, Spey Camps on the Klamath River and why she loves to guide new and experienced anglers into the world of spey casting for steelhead. Let us know what you think of this podcast and all of our podcasts by emailing us at [email protected].  We really look forward to your feedback and suggestions on future guests.

I sat down with Kim Tisdale and Travis Hawks, both fishery biologists with NDOW, to discuss the survey results, their take on the 2015 drought and how NDOW adapted their management approach to our western rivers. We even got to discuss how the fishing is going to be this Spring/Summer.