The MEND Fly Fishing Podcast

Episode 87 - Tightline Transformation: From Garage Casting to Competition Beats

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.

Episode 86 - Tying Flies Morning of My Guide Trip. Jig, Drift, Hook: Yarn Indicators, Mop Flies, and Practical Fly Tips

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
 

Episode 85 - Blue-Winged Olive Bonanza: Small-Flies, Big Fish

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.

Episode 84 - Tuesday's Tippets with Greasy Bugs Hayden

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 

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