"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.

We will have hard copies of this DVD as soon as they are available in January 2017.

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 jim@renoflyshop.com 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. 

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.

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.

 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

Let us know what you think of this podcast and all of our podcasts by emailing us at podcast@renoflyshop.com.  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 podcast@renoflyshop.com.  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.