2 Guys and a River

Nymph fishing is arguably the most productive way to catch more fish and bigger fish. We use the word “arguably” because slinging streamers is a close second. In this interview with fly fishing guide Glen Zarboni, we discuss what makes a great fly fishing guide as well as euro-nymphing – a unique style of nymph … Continue reading "S3:E14 Fly Fishing Guide Glen Zarboni on Nymph Fishing" The post S3...

Fall fly fishing is here. Truthfully, it’s our favorite time of year to fish. The transition from summer to fall to winter means Friday night lights, elk bugling, and cool nights. The browns stack up in the redds, in October, and the streamer bite is on many mornings. Click on “The Mystique of Fall Fly … Continue reading "S3:E13 The Mystique of Fall Fly Fishing" The post S3:E13 The Mystique of Fal...

Fly fishing grizzly country should evoke a small amount of anxiety. Surprising a sow at her cubs while making your way along the trail to get to the river is no way to begin the day. In this episode, we discuss the 50-year-old events of the night of the grizzlies in Glacier National Park and … Continue reading "S3:E12 Fly Fishing Grizzly Country" The post S3:E12 Fly Fishing Grizzly Country appeare...

Little Jordan is a tiny stream that flows through a junky farmyard in southeastern Minnesota. We had our doubts about fishing the stream. We had read about the Little Jordan in Bob Trevis’ Fly-Fishing for Trout in Southeastern Minnesota … a Troutchaser’s Guide. His description of the farmyard – and the great brook trout fishing … Continue reading "S3:E11 One Fine Morning on the Little Jordan" The...

Dead zones are those seasons of the year and times of the day when fishing will be unproductive. It’s important to know that as a new fly fisher. If you spend your first few times on the river during a fly fishing dead zone, you might think fishing is harder than it really is. In … Continue reading "S3:E10 Fishing the Dead Zones" The post S3:E10 Fishing the Dead Zones appeared first on 2 Guys and...

Colorado high country makes for an amazing backdrop for a day on the river. We each take at least one trip to Colorado each year to fly fish, and the creeks and lakes we fish typically are in the Colorado high country. Most recently Dave was in Colorado fishing with one of Steve’s brothers, and … Continue reading "S3:E9 Fishing the Colorado High Country" The post S3:E9 Fishing the Colorado High Co...

Wisel Creek is a gorgeous spring creek fishery with a tragic past. On August 6, 1866, a flash flood destroyed a community, killing 16 men, women and children in Preble Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota. Today, it’s hard to imagine that this quiet creek could flood anything. On a whim, after a no-fish day on another … Continue reading "S3:E8 One Fine Evening on Wisel Creek" The post S3:E8 One Fi...

Fly fishing persistence is necessary if you want to catch fish. Wind, rain, cold, snow – fly fishers know the truism that the worst weather is often the best for fishing. There are times to persist. Make another cast. Walk another mile. Change up your rig one more time. And then there are times to … Continue reading "S3:E7 Fly Fishing Persistence and When to Quit" The post S3:E7 Fly Fishing Persis...

Getting ready to fly fish is slower for some than it is for others. Some of you jump out of the truck, don your waders in an instant, rig up, and are on your way. Others are more methodical (read: slow) as they get ready to fly fish. Steve is slow. Dave is slow but … Continue reading "S3:E6 Getting Ready to Fly Fish" The post S3:E6 Getting Ready to Fly Fish appeared first on 2 Guys and A River .

Fly fishing culture is what you experience every time you walk into a fly shop. The shop monkey speaks a different language – mending, nymphs, attractors, hare’s ear, streamers, mid-flex, and thousands of other strange words. Fly fishing culture also creates a wonderful esprit de corp among others who have taken up the sport. In … Continue reading "S3:E5 Blogger Matthew Lourdeau on Fly Fishing Cul...

Fly fishing alone may be the norm for many fly fishers. Not everyone has a buddy. And even if you do, you’ll want, on some days, to head to the river by yourself. In this episode, we discuss the solitude that goes with fly fishing alone, its benefits, and some of its challenges. Click now … Continue reading "S3:E4 The Art of Fly Fishing Alone" The post S3:E4 The Art of Fly Fishing Alone appeared f...

Summer fly fishing can be hit or miss. Summer is here, and in this episode, we list the joys and woes of summer fly fishing. One joy of summer fishing is wet wading – less clothes. One woe is the family vacation. Click now to listen to “Summer Fly Fishing Joys and Woes.” http://podcasts-1.feedpress.co/10651/S3%20E3%20Summer%20Fly%20Fishing%20Joys%20and%20Woes_mixdown.mp3 Listen … Continue reading...

Fly casting is the first skill that newbies learn. Every Trout Unlimited chapter and every fly shop offers classes. Yet, until a fly fisher hits the river, it’s all academic. There it gets messy. There may be precious little room for one’s back cast or the only approach to the run is at an awkward … Continue reading "S3:E2 7 Tips for Better Fly Casting" The post S3:E2 7 Tips for Better Fly Casting...

Fathers and a love for the outdoors – a few of us had fathers who opened our eyes to the big world of the outdoors. In this episode, we recall the role our fathers played in giving us a love for fly fishing and hunting. Steve’s father, who has been gone for many years, instilled … Continue reading "S3:E1 Fly Fishing, Fathers and a Love for the Outdoors" The post S3:E1 Fly Fishing, Fathers and a Lo...

It has been two years. We’re now at 104 fly fishing podcast episodes. In this 104th episode, the finale of our second year, we reflect on the past year and tease out some insights and lessons from the journey. This is not our day job. It’s our avocation, and we are looking forward to another … Continue reading "S2:E52 Lessons from 104 Fly Fishing Podcast Episodes" The post S2:E52 Lessons from 104...

Fly fishing lies are everywhere. Well, maybe not downright lies. Maybe half truths. And maybe they’re not everywhere. In this episode, we identify five fly fishing lies (or half truths) and then wax eloquently about what we think the real truth is. One of the fly fishing categories that we discuss is “Biggest Gear Lie.” … Continue reading "S2:E51 Fly Fishing Lies and Half Truths" The post S2:E51 F...

Hiring fly fishing guides is core to how we improve our craft. It’s not cheap, and we do it sparingly (about once a year), but we have found great value in learning from the experts. Click now to listen to “Our Top 7 Lessons from Hiring Fly Fishing Guides.” http://podcasts-1.feedpress.co/10651/S2%20E50%207%20Lessons%20Learned%20from%20Guides_mixdown.mp3 Listen now to “Our Top … Continue reading "S...

Two-fly combos are a staple for many fly fishers. Whether fishing nymphs or dries, rigging up with two flies (the top fly and the dropper or trailer) often increases the odds of success. This is especially true when fishing nymphs in the spring or fall spawning season. We often will tie on an egg pattern … Continue reading "S2:E49 Our Favorite Two Fly Combos" The post S2:E49 Our Favorite Two Fly C...

Canfield Creek is a gorgeous spring creek fishery in southeastern Minnesota. We love fly fishing in the area, because there seems to be less pressure on the creeks than there is in southwestern Wisconsin, which is also part of what is called the Driftless. We live in the Chicago area, so it’s a bit of … Continue reading "S2:E48 One Fine Day on Canfield Creek" The post S2:E48 One Fine Day on Canfie...

Trying to net your son’s first big brown – and causing him to lose the fish – may require psychotherapy for him later in life. We all have a fly fishing net, and we probably use it more or less, depending on the size of fish or where we fish. In this episode on how … Continue reading "S2:E47 Fly Fishing Net Gains and Losses" The post S2:E47 Fly Fishing Net Gains and Losses appeared first on 2 Guys...

Unlimited fly fishing sounds too good to be true. No doubt, most of us would love an extra couple days each year on the river. But if you had the chance to do unlimited fly fishing would you? The topic raises some great questions about the role of leisure and when it moves from joy … Continue reading "S2:E46 The Limits of Unlimited Fly Fishing" The post S2:E46 The Limits of Unlimited Fly Fishing a...

Dangerous moments are not always recognized fully in the moment. Several years ago while we fished the Wyoming Bighorn, the temperature dropped 25 degrees in a two-hour period. We drifted the Bighorn while stopping to wet-wade periodically. At the mid-point of the drift, however, we were shivering, unprepared for precipitous drop in temperature. In addition … Continue reading "S2:E45 Our 5 Most Da...

Fly fishing proverbs are everywhere. In conversations at the fly shop. In stories after a big day on the river. And in books from our sport’s great fly fishing legends. In this fun episode, we lift ten fly fishing proverbs from the sayings of some of our great fly fishers and regale each other with … Continue reading "S2:E44 10 Fly Fishing Proverbs for the Soul" The post S2:E44 10 Fly Fishing Prov...

Casting upstream is the default mode for newer fly fishers. It’s how we are taught: stand in the river or on the bank near the bottom of the run, and cast upstream. And then mend your line as it drifts in the current. That’s certainly one approach. But there are other ways to catch fish … Continue reading "S2:E43 Casting Upstream or Downstream?" The post S2:E43 Casting Upstream or Downstream? appe...

Fishing emergers during a hatch is not the first thing to come to mind for newer fly fishers. Yet, it can be productive. In this episode, we discuss four reasons to throw on an emerger pattern when a hatch is in full swing. Listen now to “Fishing Emergers During a Hatch” Great Stuff from Our … Continue reading "S2:E42 Fishing Emergers During a Hatch" The post S2:E42 Fishing Emergers During a Hatch...