North American and European Fly Tying Cross Pollination, with Barry Ord Clarke

The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast

Barry Ord Clarke [50:21] is one of the world's most popular fly tiers, through his books, videos, and web site. Originally from the UK but living in Norway, Barry keeps his pulse on the world of fly tying on both sides of the Atlantic. He discusses the fly patterns developed in North America that Europeans have embraced, and also details the history of some well-known and lesser-known European patterns and techniques that you may not have heard about. It's a good way to get a broad overview of the international fly-tying community. In the Fly Box this week, we have a short interview with bassist Daniel Kimbro [37:18] on a music festival he is organizing for flood relief in East Tennessee, and also some great tips and questions, including:

• How do I keep my fly line from wrapping around my rod when I am tying on a new fly?
• A listener is looking to add a 7-weight rod for bass fishing and throwing trout streamers and looks for advice.
• Can I use a 6-weight sinking or sink-tip line on both my 5-weight and 7-weight rods?
• Do you know of any good fly-fishing books for a 6-year-old? And what is the best first saltwater fly-rod fish for kids?
• Is there a difference between Zonker strips and Rabbit strips?
• Why have I gotten occasional bite-offs from large brown trout?
• Do you have any tips for casting wiggle-tails? I have trouble casting them.
• Do you think eyes make a difference on pike flies?
• Can I legally keep songbird feathers that I find under my bird feeders?
• A tip for using toothpicks at the fly-tying bench.
• When tying a clinch knot, does it matter if you twist the fly or wind the tag end around the standing part?
• Any tips for the bow-and-arrow cast?
• How many more casts should you make in a small pocket if you miss a fish?
• Would it be unethical to target swarms of trout during spawning season?
• A listener gives a tip for tying a clinch knot at the bend of a hook to attach a dropper.
• If I move a trout on a streamer but do not connect, does it make sense to come back for that fish later in the day?