Is it a Steelhead or a Rainbow? With Katie Kobayashi

Is it a Steelhead or a Rainbow? With Katie Kobayashi

Author: Tom Rosenbauer, The Orvis Company February 11, 2026 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 only some of them migrate to the ocean? And according to a biologist, are the Great Lakes "steelhead" truly steelhead? My guest fisheries biologist Katie Kobayashi [32:13] has studied these fish down to the genetic level and has some exciting information on their life histories.

In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions that I think will be helpful to many of you, including:
If I hook a trout in the back behind the dorsal fin, will it survive OK? And can I count this fish as "caught"?
What is the most useful saltwater fly line for inshore species?
For my smaller creeks in Pennsylvania, would an 8 ½ foot 4-weight or 7 1/2-foot 3-weight be better?
Have you used articulated flies? Have you had success with them? Are there articulated subsurface flies other than streamers?
I have an 8-weight rod for flats fishing in salt water and want a second rod for bigger stuff.  Should I get a 9-weight or a 10-weight?
For fishing in a Colorado tailwater, when should I use an indicator setup and when should I Euro-nymph? And when Euro nymphing, how can I get a tiny size 22 nymph down into the right zone?


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: 100

The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast
Podcast Episodes
How to Improve Your Indicator Nymphing, With Guide Matt Squillante [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:53
Want to spend less time untangling knots and more time with your flies in the water? Do you want to connect on more of the strikes you get to your nymphs? Want to know the best way to cast indicator rigs? Orvis-endorsed…
Summer Outlook For the Rockies, with Chris Steinbeck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:54
My guest this week, Chris Steinbeck [25:15] of the Blue Quill Angler in Colorado, shares his strategies for dealing with what we expect will be low water and possibly water that is too warm for ethical trout fishing. Thi…
Chasing the Elusive Corbina in the Surf, with Al Quattrocchi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:17
Before you rule out this podcast because you don't live in southern California, you may want to listen to my interview with master saltwater fly fisher Al Quattrocchi [24:46] because he gives lots of great advice on fish…
Travel Tips From Around the World, with Alberto Rey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:25
Orvis-endorsed guide Alberto Rey [33:22] just completed a trip around the world, fishing and exploring on six continents—and he did it all with only two 6-piece Clearwater Rods and two reels and a handful of flies. He ha…
Secrets of the Mother's Day Caddis, with Taylor Edrington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:48
My guest this week is guide and fly shop owner Taylor Edrington [34:16] of Royal Gorge Anglers in Colorado. His home river, the Arkansas, has an amazing hatch of these bugs, but they also hatch on trout streams throughou…
Orvis' Return to Roots, with Simon Perkins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:02
My guest this week is Simon Perkins [1:11], president of The Orvis Company and a third-generation family member to run the company. You may have heard about some major changes in Orvis' business over the past couple year…
The US Forest Service Needs Your Help, with Paul Hendricks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:53
Many of our favorite places to fish for wild trout are located on Forest Service lands. My guest this week is Paul Hendricks [29:45], executive director of The Conservation Alliance, which is an outdoor industry organiza…
How To Catch Permit On Top, with RA Beattie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:27
Permit on a floating fly? Don't you need to fish heavy flies that get right to the bottom, where permit feed? Sometimes, but over the past decade permit anglers have discovered that permit eat crabs on the surface, and i…
Tips for Urban Fly Fishing, with Marc Fryt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:17
Urban fly fishing is fun and presents some challenges—like bystanders getting in the way of back casts and sometimes fishing from a location high above the water. And it's essential to know how to fish around bridges as…