Just like every other craft, a fly fisher must occasionally return to the basics of the art and skill of fly fishing. In this episode, we identify several key elements of fly fishing that we've had to relearn or remember. Just like writing or playing a sport, the veterans return to the essential skills again and again. Our Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

Steve spent some time in Alaska this summer, breaking his fly rod, catching a few rainbows, and netting a silver. Listen in as Dave interviews Steve about his Alaskan fly fishing experience while on a trip to visit family. Some things about fishing are always true, no matter where you fish: Some days are diamonds, some days are stone.   Our Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

Steve screaming after almost stepping on a rattlesnake, Dave in his underwear, and buying bear spray at closing time - these and other crazy fly fishing stories make our last trip to Montana memorable. This is not a practical episode. Hopefully, it makes you recall some crazy memories of your own from a recent trip.   Kindle Version of Our Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

Every fly fishing trip can't be the best ever. Nor can every day on the river exceed your expectations. We recently had an "okay" fly fishing trip to Montana, if measured by the number of fish we caught. We caught fish, no doubt, but what made the trip memorable was the entire experience.   Kindle Version of Our Book for Beginners The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

Make your fly fishing more simple. And thus more enjoyable. When first starting out, most of us feel overwhelmed with the many types of fly rods, sizes of flies, tippet weights, leader lengths, casting techniques, how long the tippet should be, and where to put the split shot when fishing nymphs. There's a lot to learn! But over time, it's important to simplify the sport as much as possible. In this episode, we discuss how we've tried to make fly fishing more enjoyable by simplifying our experience.   Our Book for New Fly Fishers The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists: Life is short, catch more fish Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

Fly fishing high mountain lakes requires a modicum of thought and preparation. In some ways, a "hike and fish" means packing lots of water, the right rod and flies, a rain jacket, and the right mindset. We don't fish a lot of high mountain lakes ... but when we do, we try to keep a few basics in mind.   Our Book for New Fly Fishers The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists: Life is short, catch more fish Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver

It's the dog days of summer, and hopefully you are slinging some grasshopper patterns or other terrestrials to catch fish on the surface. In this episode, we've identified four buckets of dry fly patterns for summer fly fishing. We also offer up our three must-have dry fly patterns for this wonderful season. Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver Our Book for New Fly Fishers The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists: Life is short, catch more fish

Fly fishing with the summer crowds seems inevitable, if you plan to get out this summer. Warm weather and vacations bring out even more fly fishers to your favorite stream. In this episode, we offer several strategies to avoid the summer crowds, find a bit of solitude, and, hopefully, catch a few fish. Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver Our Book for New Fly Fishers The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists: Life is short, catch more fish

Quitters never win. And winners never quit. That's true. And it's also not true. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to quit your favorite stream, creek, or stretch of river. In this episode, we wax not so eloquently on when it's time to walk away from what has been your favorite fishing spot. It may not be forever. But doing so may push you to find new water to fish.   Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver Our Book for New Fly Fishers The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists: Life is short, catch more fish

Fly fishers who sling streamers tend to catch bigger fish. There's no scientific evidence to support this, of course, other than our anecdotal evidence. But we've had some terrific days on the river casting bigger flies that we fish on an active retrieve. In this episode, we provide an overview of our streamer fishing experience and provide some basic tips to getting started.   Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver Our Book for New Fly Fishers The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists: Life is short, catch more fish

Most fly fishers despise driving up to where they expect to fish for the day and see three trucks alongside the creek. In this episode, we discuss our basic approach to fishing the four seasons. We try as much as possible to fish the edges of winter, spring, summer, and fall. There are fewer fly fishers, the hotel rates are cheaper, and the fishing can be spectacular.   Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver Our Book for New Fly Fishers The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists: Life is short, catch more fish

Fly fishing spring creeks often demands more finesse than fishing freestone rivers. The water temperature is more consistent in spring creeks, and the food more ubiquitous. If you want to catch fish in a spring creek, your tackle must be lighter, and you need to be more stealthy.   Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver Our Book for New Fly Fishers https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Fishers-Book-Lists-short/dp/0985265574/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2W46R935JLSAG&keywords=the+fly+fisher%27s+book+of+lists&qid=1679517792&sprefix=%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-1

Catching fish is the reward of fly fishing. And we both love and expect to catch fish every time we head out to the river. But there are some other perks of fly fishing. And in this episode, we list several, including "experiencing the nonsecular" parts of life, eating at small-town cafes, and the conversations about the great themes of life.   Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver Our Book for New Fly Fishers https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Fishers-Book-Lists-short/dp/0985265574/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2W46R935JLSAG&keywords=the+fly+fisher%27s+book+of+lists&qid=1679517792&sprefix=%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-1

It takes a village to raise a fly fisher. In this episode, we admit once again to our persistent mediocrity as fly fishers. We give credit, however, to whatever skills we have to friends, guides, and others we've observed through the years. We offer up a handful of insights, including how to use the tip of your rod while streamer fishing and monitoring how deep your nymph is by observing the speed of your strike indicator.   Website https://2guysandariver.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/2guysandariver/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2guysandariver Our Book for New Fly Fishers https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Fishers-Book-Lists-short/dp/0985265574/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2W46R935JLSAG&keywords=the+fly+fisher%27s+book+of+lists&qid=1679517792&sprefix=%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-1

Fly fishing the Yellowstone River late in the fall is a risk. If the weather suddenly turns right before your fly fishing trip, the roads in the Park may close. Or perhaps if the weather has been too balmy - the trout may not be rising. And since the main hatches and the hoppers have been … Continue reading "Episode 262: Three Magical Days Fly Fishing the Yellowstone River" The post Episode 262: Three Magical Days Fly Fishing the Yellowstone River appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Pickle Ball is not in our future. We continue to fly fish for a variety of reasons, including the sheer delight of spending a few hours on the river trying to convince trout that what we’re presenting is real. This is our first episode in a while, and we’re excited to back in the publishing … Continue reading "Episode 261: Why We Continue to Fly Fish" The post Episode 261: Why We Continue to Fly Fish appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

The Yellowstone Flood of 2022 is not yet over, and already it is the most catastrophic flooding event of the Yellowstone River in recorded history. Major flooding on the Yellowstone River and its tributaries wiped out stretches of highway in Yellowstone National Park and in Paradise Valley to the north. Three inches of rain which … Continue reading "Episode 260: Dave Kumlien on the Yellowstone Flooding and Its Effect on Fishing" The post Episode 260: Dave Kumlien on the Yellowstone Flooding and Its Effect on Fishing appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fly fishing with lighter rods makes sense only if the conditions are right. In recent years, each of us has purchased a lighter rod for smaller creeks. In this episode, we relay pluses and minuses of Fly Fishing with Lighter Rods LISTEN NOW TO “FLY FISHING WITH LIGHTER RODS” Great Stuff from Our Listeners Is … Continue reading "Episode 259: Fly Fishing with Lighter Rods" The post Episode 259: Fly Fishing with Lighter Rods appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Our fall fly fishing trip to Montana was one of the best on record. The previous year was a bust. In fact, we wondered if we should even return to Montana in the fall, whether our honey holes and favorite rivers were only memories. In Lessons from Our Fall Fly Fishing Trip to Montana, we … Continue reading "Episode 258: Lessons from Our Fall Fly Fishing Trip to Montana" The post Episode 258: Lessons from Our Fall Fly Fishing Trip to Montana appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

John Maclean’s Home Waters is a memoir of his father, Norman Maclean, the author of “A River Runs Through It.” In this memoir, John reflects on his growing up as the grandson and son of two characters in the novella and movie. In Home Waters, we discuss what resonated with us about John’s unique perspective … Continue reading "Episode 257: Reflections on John Maclean’s Home Waters" The post Episode 257: Reflections on John Maclean’s Home Waters appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.