Secrets of Southern Tailwaters, with Tic Smith

Secrets of Southern Tailwaters, with Tic Smith

Author: Tom Rosenbauer, The Orvis Company April 17, 2025 Duration: 1:37:11
 
Tic Smith [37:18] is head guide at Orvis-endorsed Southeastern Anglers and is a veteran guide with many decades of experience on southern tailwaters. Our discussion centers on his home river, the Hiwassee, but the tips and tricks he shares will be valuable on many other tailwaters.  He talks tackle, flies, presentation, and most importantly reading the water from a drift boat.
 
In the Fly Box this week we have some great trips and interesting questions from listeners, including:
  • Can I re-use an old Depth Charge running line with a shooting head, and if so how should I connect it to my heads?
  • Can I put my reel in the water when landing a fish?
  • Would the 7-foot, 9-inch Superfine Graphite rod be a good one for redeye bass?  Will it add to the fun factor?
  • A listener has a question about getting around another angler while fishing public water surrounded by private land.
  • A biologist answers a question from a previous podcast—where are all the baby carp?
  • What is this Tenkara stuff all about? Can I use conventional flies on a Tenkara outfit?
  • An anonymous listener please for listeners to contact their elected representatives regarding the defunding of the EPA's Office of Research Development.
  • How do native brook trout get so high up in remote streams?  
  • I can catch fish in low gradient brown trout streams on nymphs and dries but streamers don't seem to work. Why?
  • Will floods that have increased flows tenfold in a river have a deleterious effect on the trout population?
  • Can you recommend a good long dry-fly leader that is knotless?  Is it as good as a hand-tied leader?
  • What kind of fly-fishing gear should I avoid using in salt water?

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
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Duration: 1:23:53
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Duration: 1:04:17
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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…
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Duration: 1:31:48
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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…