The MEND Fly Fishing Podcast

High school teacher Ryan Burch describes a year‑long solo journey to catch a fish in each of the lower 48 states, four months in and 10,000 miles traveled so far. He shares stories from the road—camping, local fly shops, standout fisheries like Henry’s Lake and the Madison, and close calls such as a tense encounter in Wisconsin. The episode covers gear and rig details, memorable people...

Casual group podcast. Joe Rotter and Jason Harwood host Chris Waddle to discuss tightline nymphing, competitive angling, and the learning curve from backyard casting to mini-comps. They share personal fishing stories, gear choices, and why tightline techniques reveal more trout in close, pressured water. Key takeaways include reading water and beats, changing depth before flies, maintaining contac...

Joe Rotter ties a simple, fast nymph and walks through why he ties flies on short notice—how pattern choice supports fishing style, materials to use, and keeping flies light and effective. He also explains how tying your own flies increases focus and success on the water. The episode also covers fishing techniques that produced recent success: mono yarn tightline indicators for technical cur...

Joe Rotter goes solo and covers a week of fishing highlights: a long-running blue-winged olive hatch, precise small-dry fly tactics with ultralight rods, and tips for slow hook sets. He also talks about jig streamers, a strong worm bite after rain, new Gray Watermaster Kodiaks at Red's, and the value of vintage and modern Sage rods. Listeners get practical gear notes (sink-tip and single-fly rigs,...

Joe Rotter and Hayden Williams chat riverside about fishing this week and focus on the technical aspects of fishing the BWO hatch this past week.  Tips and BS. Good stuff.    Connect with Red's : Website: https://www.redsflyfishing.com YouTube Channel: Red's Fly Shop - YouTube Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redsflyshop/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redsflyshop  Email: staff@redsflyshop...

Joe and Eric trade hunting stories, river reports and tactics after a big cold snap brought bigger trout and lively blue-winged olive hatches. They cover stonefly and streamer action, tightline nymphing with Protagon-style flies, and the value of a two-rod system for opportunistic dry-fly eating fish. Plus: upcoming events (women's rendezvous and Fly Fishing Film Tour), practical gear tips on glov...

Joe and Shop Manager Bob deliver short, practical fall fishing advice for DIY anglers: observe the river and other fishermen, favor small BWO patterns (sizes 18–20), use yarn indicators and shorter nymph rigs, and avoid over-deep setups. Pre-rig rods and keep flies, tippet and tools organized so you can fish efficiently. The episode also shares shuttle‑peeping and wade vs. float tips, steelh...

Joe Rotter hosts Russ Miller, 12-time Team USA Fly Fishing Competitor and currently working for Umpqua Feather Merchants. Years ago Russ politely humbled Joe and showed him how effectively a Euro Nymph system cand be in the right hands. It was a revolution. These two chat a bunch about fishing, euro nymphing, and share a few stories from their individual journeys.  Connect with Red's : Website: ht...

Joe Rotter hosts a solo episode unpacking a recent guided day on the low, clear Yakima River and previewing the October caddis hatch. He talks through the morning bite, how fish move deeper during the day, and why timing and stealth matter in fall trout fishing. Practical takeaways include testing flies on lighter tippet (6X) to check effectiveness, running a New Zealand‑style yarn indicator and t...

Joe Rotter and Patrick Kilby chat about how and why to tie your own flies. They share some history, stories, and some really good tips for someone dusting off the vice or starting from scratch.  Connect with Red's : Website: https://www.redsflyfishing.com YouTube Channel: Red's Fly Shop - YouTube Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redsflyshop/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redsflyshop  Emai...

Joe Rotter interviews guide Tom Larimer about fishing the Deschutes: his background guiding Alaska to the Deschutes, why the river is unique (wade-only access), and detailed, practical tips for trout anglers — observing water, working deep banks, managing micro-drag and mend timing, yarn and foam indicators, rod/line recommendations, and rigs to maximize success. Connect with Red's : Website...

Hosted a longtime bowhunter and new friend, Brian Barney of Eastman's Elevated on the Pod today. Brian is well known as a bowhunter, writer, and content creator but he's a die hard fly fisherman as well. He share some great tips on streamer fishing, boating, and general DIY angling. Joe and Brian chat about the parallels between hunting and fly fishing and share lots of tips and tricks along the w...

Find NEW water! Joe Rotter and Erik Johnsen of TroutRoutes and OnX maps chat about how to use this awesome app to find new water and use your time more efficiently. It's a great tool and it is one of the most important tools in the modern angler's arsenal.  Connect with Red's : Website: https://www.redsflyfishing.com YouTube Channel: Red's Fly Shop - YouTube Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/re...

Joe Rotter chats with guide Steve Burns about transitioning to fall fishing: dealing with smoky skies, adjusting tippet and flies for clearer, cooler water, and techniques from yarn indicators to small streamers. They share guiding tips for new anglers, spay-casting advice, and stories from the Sierras to Alaska. Listeners get practical takeaways on leader and tippet choices, how to read fish beha...

Joe Rotter and guide Skyler Lancaster break down practical, easy-to-use tips for fall trout fishing: managing slack and mends, choosing indicator depth, when to use unweighted nymphs with split shot, and how to set the hook for streamers. They also cover wading strategy and scouting, tightline nymphing basics, simple fly-tying ideas (like a plain sculpin), and seasonal tactics for October caddis a...

Joe Rotter sits riverside with Hayden Williams for a wide-ranging Tuesday's Tippets: a salmon trip full of pinks, smoking fish, and a near-Chinook hook-up leads into an in-depth look at swung flies and trout spey. Hayden shares why he loves the swing, his early two-handed rod story, and the inspirations behind his "War Pig" sculpin pattern. The episode delivers practical, actionable advice —...

Joe Rotter and guide Steve Joyce break down practical, easy-to-use fishing tips for the fall transition — from skateable crane-fly techniques and trout spey basics to carp, bass and redfish strategies. They discuss flip-flop flows on the Yakima, gear and leader choices, where to focus your casts, and how to make the most of tough days to become a better angler.   Connect with Red's : We...

Welcome to the MEND podcast! Dive into a sponsor-free, ad-free fishing experience as we continue with our series, Tuesday's Tippets. In this episode, our host explores the world of fly fishing with one of the Pacific Northwest's most renowned guides, Leif Kvinsland from Red's Fly Shop. Discover captivating stories, expert tips on mastering fly fishing techniques, and witness the profound evolution...

Join host Joe Rotter for a new edition of the MEND podcast from Red's Fly Shop, where the only promise is uninterrupted, ad-free discussions. This episode kicks off the 'Tuesday's Tippets' series, where Joe, along with Red's staff member and travel manager, Eric Nickum, dive into effective and relevant fishing tips for the current season. Listen in as Eric shares his journey into the fly fishing w...

Join Joe Rotter from Red's Fly Shop as he takes you on a journey through his fishing escapades of the spring and summer. In this episode of the MEND podcast, Joe shares his adventures, from bass fishing with his sons on a secret river to enjoying quality family times on the water. Discover the nuances of different fishing techniques, including streamer fishing for bass and the benefits of tight li...

In this episode, we sit down with Patrick Kilby of RIO Flies to dive into the art and science of fly design. Patrick shares his approach to creating innovative patterns, the rigorous testing process he uses to ensure they perform on the water, and the key attributes that make a fly truly effective. We also explore what it takes to balance form and function in fly design and discuss how RIO Flies c...

Join Joe Rotter of Red's for an exciting episode of the MEND podcast, recorded from a remote location in Buenos Aires after a thrilling trout fishing trip in Argentina's Chebut province. Over six days, Joe explores diverse fisheries, fishing everything from lakes to rivers and spring creeks, focusing uniquely on the gear that powered his adventure. Without diving into exhaustive reviews, Joe share...

Join host Joe Rotter from Reds for a solo episode packed with fishing updates, exciting events, and tips for both seasoned and new anglers. With no ads to interrupt, Joe keeps it real as he covers the joys of winter fishing, the benefits of a guided trip, and exclusive lodge deals for fishing and hunting enthusiasts. Discover the ins and outs of the Tightline Rendezvous event on March 15th, featur...

Welcome to the MEND podcast, where we dive into the world of fly fishing without flashy intros or sponsorships. In this episode, join host Joe Rotter and his pro staffers, Danny Robles and Hayden, as they share their experiences from the annual company retreat at the Snake and Grand Ronde rivers. Despite facing unlucky fishing conditions, the team relishes the opportunity to hone their fly fishing...

Join us for an exciting episode as we dive into the world of spey fishing with expert Steve 'Bogey' Bogardus. Discover the latest trends and techniques in fly fishing, from the popular egg pattern to the innovative jig streamers, and learn how Bogey sneaks in fishing breaks while managing fulfillment at Reds Fly Shop. We take you behind the scenes at Reds to explore our efficient e-commerce system...