The MEND Fly Fishing Podcast

Dec 11

A group of Reds Fly Shop staff and industry friends head to the Snake River and Grand Ronde for steelhead swinging, Hell’s Canyon chucker hunting, jet-boat runs, and a chaotic poker tournament. The episode covers gear and casting tips, favorite flies and setups, memorable catches and mishaps, and invites listeners to the Reds Rendezvous on May 2nd. Connect with Red's : Email: staff@redsflyshop.com Phone: (509) 933-2300 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redsflyshop/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redsflyshop Shop Online: https://www.redsflyfishing.com

Nov 29

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 he’s met, lessons learned from guides, and the highs and lows of long‑term travel and fishing. Follow his project on Instagram at @TalesOfThe48 and expect more adventures through the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Nov 25

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 contact with your nymphs, practical competition rules and strategies, and tips to get over the beginner hump with tightline nymphing.

Nov 19

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 currents, jigging chartreuse mop flies and leech-style patterns in slow edges, short-line evening nymph rigs, and practical takeaways from guided trips and outings. Tight Line Indicator Rig: https://youtu.be/gjWVUndhwTQ?si=7aj9v6XDoe1ow0G5

Nov 6

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, New Zealand indicators), tying tips for squirmy worms, and advice for spotting and targeting pods of feeding fish during hatches.

Oct 30

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.com Phone: (509) 933-2300

Oct 16

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 gloves and layering, and quick advice on picking flies in person for the best results. 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.com Phone: (509) 933-2300

Oct 7

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, steelhead trip anecdotes, the value of humility and experimentation, and recommends soft hackles and focused strategies for October low-water fishing. 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.com Phone: (509) 933-2300