The MEND Fly Fishing Podcast

Episode 83 - Tuesday’s Tippets w/ Eric Nickum Fresh Off the Water

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 

Episode 82 - Tuesday's Tippets with Shop Manager Bob

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 

Episode 81 - Russ Miller. The Guy That Showed Me How to Nymph Fish

Joe Rotter hosts Russ Miller, 12-time Team USA Fly Fishing Competitor and currently working for Umpqua Feather Merchants. Years ago Russ politely humbled Joe and showed him how effectively a Euro Nymph system cand be in the right hands. It was a revolution. These two chat a bunch about fishing, euro nymphing, and share a few stories from their individual journeys. 
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 

Episode 80 - Tuesday's Tippets - Back to the OG NZ, 6X Bug Testing, and Fat Octobers

Joe Rotter hosts a solo episode unpacking a recent guided day on the low, clear Yakima River and previewing the October caddis hatch. He talks through the morning bite, how fish move deeper during the day, and why timing and stealth matter in fall trout fishing.
Practical takeaways include testing flies on lighter tippet (6X) to check effectiveness, running a New Zealand‑style yarn indicator and the indicator tool, rig setups (leader lengths, Frenchie and tungsten mop flies), rod/tippet choices, and proper catch‑and‑release handling.
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 

Episode 79 - Why Do I Tie Flies? w/ Patrick Kilby of RIO

Joe Rotter and Patrick Kilby chat about how and why to tie your own flies. They share some history, stories, and some really good tips for someone dusting off the vice or starting from scratch. 
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 

Episode 78 - Deschutes River Skills with Tom Larimer

Joe Rotter interviews guide Tom Larimer about fishing the Deschutes: his background guiding Alaska to the Deschutes, why the river is unique (wade-only access), and detailed, practical tips for trout anglers — observing water, working deep banks, managing micro-drag and mend timing, yarn and foam indicators, rod/line recommendations, and rigs to maximize success.
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 

Episode 77 - Bowhunting Meets Fly Fishing with Brian Barney of Eastman's Elevated

Hosted a longtime bowhunter and new friend, Brian Barney of Eastman's Elevated on the Pod today. Brian is well known as a bowhunter, writer, and content creator but he's a die hard fly fisherman as well. He share some great tips on streamer fishing, boating, and general DIY angling.
Joe and Brian chat about the parallels between hunting and fly fishing and share lots of tips and tricks along the way. For more bowhunting content, be sure to subscribe to Brian's Podcast, Eastman's Elevated.
Enjoy the show! 
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 

Episode 76 - Trout Scouting with OnX and TroutRoutes // How to Find NEW Water!

Find NEW water! Joe Rotter and Erik Johnsen of TroutRoutes and OnX maps chat about how to use this awesome app to find new water and use your time more efficiently. It's a great tool and it is one of the most important tools in the modern angler's arsenal. 
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 

Episode 75 - Tuesday's Tippets with Steve Burns // Golden Trout, Steelhead, and Old Waders

Joe Rotter chats with guide Steve Burns about transitioning to fall fishing: dealing with smoky skies, adjusting tippet and flies for clearer, cooler water, and techniques from yarn indicators to small streamers. They share guiding tips for new anglers, spay-casting advice, and stories from the Sierras to Alaska.
Listeners get practical takeaways on leader and tippet choices, how to read fish behavior through drift and presentation, and when to switch strategies to find fish as the season changes.
 
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 

Episode 74 - Tactical Mends and Reading Water: Skyler’s Guide to Catching More Trout

Joe Rotter and guide Skyler Lancaster break down practical, easy-to-use tips for fall trout fishing: managing slack and mends, choosing indicator depth, when to use unweighted nymphs with split shot, and how to set the hook for streamers.
They also cover wading strategy and scouting, tightline nymphing basics, simple fly-tying ideas (like a plain sculpin), and seasonal tactics for October caddis and mop flies to help anglers catch more fish.
 
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