How to Take Great Fishing Pictures with Your Smartphone, with Chris Niccolls

How to Take Great Fishing Pictures with Your Smartphone, with Chris Niccolls

Author: Tom Rosenbauer, The Orvis Company December 1, 2025 Duration: 1:25:22

My guest this week is photography expert and co-host of the Petapixel podcast Chris Niccolls [28:39]. Chris has access to nearly every kind of expensive camera in the world because he evaluates photo equipment for his day job. But when he is fishing, guess what he takes most of his photographs and videos with?  You guessed it—his iPhone. Chris shares tips on how to set up your shot, how to get a photograph and still have minimal fish handling, and what settings to use on your phone. He also gives great tips on setting up the scene so that your photos are better than just grip & grin snapshots.

In the Fly Box this week, we have these questions and tips:
You say Orvis fly rods are true to line weight but you say you use a line that is a half-size heavy. Why?
With a fly line that is rated for colder water, is it OK to use it for the occasional largemouth bass fishing trip in warmer water?
A tip from a listener on how to get an estimate of a fish's length and weight using AI.
A tip from a listener on great places to fish close to Chicago.
Can I get a rod that is suitable for carp and for large salmon in the Great Lakes?
How can I target suckers on a fly rod?
Would a leader with a long stiff butt and abrupt taper be a good one for fishing big Chubbies in western rivers?
What do you think of double taper leaders?
What are some fly fishing books form the 1960s and earlier that are still worth reading?
A great tip from a listener on using hockey laces for wading boots.
A tip from a listener on a hot fly to use in the Driftless Region during the winter.
Is there a trick for fly casting in rough seas?


For anyone who’s ever felt the tug of a line or wondered about the quiet rhythm of a river, The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast is a steady companion. Host Tom Rosenbauer, a well-known author and the voice behind this series for The Orvis Company, doesn’t just offer tips; he shares a lifetime of curiosity spent on the water. Each week, the conversation unfolds like a guidebook coming to life, covering the tangible skills and the subtle philosophies that define fly-fishing. You’ll hear practical advice on technique and gear, certainly, but also deeper discussions about conservation, reading different waters, and understanding fish behavior. It’s that blend of straightforward education and reflective storytelling that makes this podcast unique. Whether you’re planning your first cast or have decades of experience, the aim is the same: to make your hours by the stream more thoughtful and rewarding. Tune in for a mix of solo episodes from Tom and interviews with other anglers, all grounded in a genuine passion for the sport and the wilderness it depends on. This is more than a series of lessons; it’s an ongoing dialogue for anyone who finds solace and challenge in fly-fishing.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Did You Know About Shoal Bass? With Quint Rogers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:31
This week I interview Quint Rogers [31:43], a fly fishing guide specializing in shoal bass fishing in Georgia. We discuss the unique characteristics of shoal bass, their habitat, life cycle, and the best fishing techniqu…
10 Tips For Better Line Mending, With Mike Pease [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:11
If you think mending is just lifting your rod and flipping it upstream—well sometimes it is—but there is so much more you can do with line mends to add slack in just the right places, and to deal with tricky currents. Mi…
Is it a Steelhead or a Rainbow? With Katie Kobayashi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:33
When is a trout a steelhead and when is it a rainbow? Are steelhead just rainbow trout that migrate to the ocean? Is it something in their genes or just random chance? And in a given population of rainbow trout, will onl…
Six Tips for Winter Streamer Fishing, with Brian Slusser [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:39
In this episode, my guest is Brian Slusser [32:13], an Orvis endorsed guide based in Truckee, California, who tells us about the nuances of winter streamer fishing. With over 29 years of guiding experience, Brian shares…
Tips for Fly-Fishing Backpacking Trips, with Derek Bargaehr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:15
Want to get away from the crowds? Want a high mountain lake or stream all to yourself? The best way to do this is to take a backpacking trip, but you need to prepare more than you would for a car trip or a trip to a lodg…
Backcast: Foraging Along Trout Streams, with Sam Thayer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:50
This episode was originally published on July 14th, 2023. I think most stream anglers are interested in foraging, since we're immersed in nature all day long and although we watch for fish and insects and birds, many of…
Backcast: All About Bamboo Fly Rods, with Shawn Brillon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:45
This episode was originally published on August 19th, 2022. Want to know how a bamboo fly rod is made? How long it takes to make one? How many different hands touch an Orvis bamboo fly rod before you (and your children a…