[Interview starts at 38:00]
This week, I interview Mark Melnyk, host and producer of The New Fly Fisher TV show and the co-producer of The Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing Season 2. We tell some stories about what it’s like filming a show and share some nasty tricks we played on cameramen over the past year. The Orvis show premieres this week on World Fishing Network, but shows will also premiere for the next 13 weeks every Sunday on The Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing You Tube Channel. (Click here to see the schedule for the whole season.) Season 2 will also appear on PBS and on Amazon Prime later in the year, once we have all the shows completed.
In the Fly Box, we have a couple good tips from listeners (actually adding information to topics previously discussed on podcasts) including more detail on polarized lenses and why tilting your head helps, and also some additional information on keeping your muscles and joints in shape when fishing.
We also have these questions:
- Should I wait to buy a first fly rod now, or should I wait until I can go to an Orvis FF101 class once the stores re-open?
- What suggestions do you have to help me tie on those size 20 and smaller flies?
- I need up to 8 false casts to cast 60 feet. What am I doing wrong?
- I enjoyed watching you tie a Clouser Minnow. How should I fish this fly for smallmouth bass in a river?
- Why is it not OK to trim hackle on dry flies?
- What data would you add to a streamside journal?
- Do you think personal hygiene affects the sense of smell of trout?
- Once I start traveling again I want to try some saltwater species. Which ones should I target on my trip?
If you don’t see the “Play” button above, click here to listen.
Tom,
First of all, love the podcast!
A recent podcast had a question presented to the fly box asking why Orvis didn’t sell a water testing kit. You answer by noting that the kind of testing equipment needed was expensive and that for credible data collection it needs to be done by using specify methods and needs to be overseen by qualified scientist, etc… I agree. But noted it was great that a fly fishing angler is interested this important stuff.
Thinking about that, I wanted to add that it is possible for anyone interested, to be a part of that idea, being a citizen scientist if you will, through Trout Unlimited. My local chapter here in Wisconsin (CWTU) has a group of volunteers call the River Keepers, they are about 75 strong (TU members and non members). They break into teams of 3 or 4 to monitor specific sites on local streams. These River Keepers are currently monitoring about 40 sites one day a month from May through October. I believe this has been going on well over a decade, maybe 2 decades now. They coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and input all the collected data into their database for future use. At these designated sites they record: temperature, flow rate, dissolved oxygen, water clarity, macro invertebrate (bugs) identification and habitat assessment. This data has helped over the years determine stream work projects as well as monitoring success of past work projects.
So, I would encourage anyone interested in this to check with their local TU chapter and see if they have a River Keeper group or perhaps start one if they don’t.
And again Tom, keep you the great work!