103 Comments
Apr 7, 2021Liked by David Coggins

David - First, the podcast has been especially excellent the last few episodes. Thanks for continuing to put out such a good hour every week.

I was in Big Sky/Bozeman back in March and was blown away by the Western Cafe. Do you have favorite restaurants/bars/cafes to get the latest conditions, swap tales tell, and/or have a frosty beverage after a day on the water? Montana or otherwise...

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As a man of rules, I was surprised to read your position on brown oxfords. As someone indoctrinated in the London City uniform of navy suit, black shoes, white shirt, I cannot contemplate any alternative. (BTW I love your conversations with Michael)

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David, I pre-ordered the Optimist and eagerly await my copy.

A bit of a philosophical question today: As fly fishing seems to be having a surge in popularity these last couple of years, is it better for the sport to see as many new anglers as we can get, or should we be jealously guarding our passions?

Recently the hunting & fishing platform Meateater published a controversial opinion piece critical of the R3 movement (recruit, retain, reactivate) in the hunting world, which seeks to get as many hunters as possible participating in the sport on the premise that more participants equals more conservation funds and more access. The flip side, of course, is that more people using a resource can deplete that resource.

I've noticed that I have to drive much further into the Driftless from Minneapolis to beat the crowds these days, and many favorite spots are unfishable on the weekends. That being said, I will always take a friend who asks to learn, and more fly anglers mean more success for my favorite fly shops.

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David, any tips for fly fishing with a guide? How to avoid the awkwardness? Anything you've found to make it a good relationship?

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What’s your strategy for dealing with rain and wind at the same time?

I don’t like hoods, but they keep the rain out and they won’t blow away in the wind like a big hat or an umbrella would (I have a toggle jacket that works well).

P.S. I preordered the book! I don’t know a damn thing about fishing, but I’d like to, and I love the outdoors so I’m looking forward to it.

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Congratulations on your latest book! I'm the proud owner of a new Stetson Stratoliner hat. Now I'm wondering how best to travel with it on an airplane. Keeping it in my lap doesn't seem practical for very long, nor does stowing it away in the overhead bin. Any tips?

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Which cultural tribe do you foresee dominating fly fishing/the fly fishing industry 10 years from now? I.e. if the old Gilligan hat gent is on his way out, who fills that void? Will there be a trout bum/bro type crowd? Perhaps a more outdoors/hunting oriented crowd? - is FF style/fashion going to precede and lead the way?

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Best resources to learn nuance in fly fishing for someone who didn’t grow up doing it. Pretty decent with the basics already. Thank you!

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Hi David, I live in a pretty good fly fishing area in Western NC, I’m about 5 minutes away from the Tuckasegee river. I don’t fish near as much as I’d like to but each time I go out I always see people kitted out to the max... chest high waders in knee high water, wading pole, huge vests that have every conceivable tool and fly possible. I’m more interested in the less is more approach and I’m curious in your, “I’m only fishing for an afternoon” gear list. I know location and time of year would play a factor here, so let’s say it’s mid April, 3pm, and you have the rest of the day to yourself.

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David, would appreciate your thoughts on knit ties. I have several, many even from reputable brands seem to have, almost a crease, down the middle.

Is that common? How do you get ride of it? Do you?

Favorite colors for knit outside of the standard navy?

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When nymphing, if it’s something you choose to do, indicator or dry dropper? My eye sight isn’t great so I struggle with using a dry as a strike indicator- but using cork or a Thingamabobber feels wrong.

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It's a Friday evening in April and you are sitting in your apartment in Brooklyn watching tightlines YouTube videos and you are desperate to go trout fishing on Saturday (yes, even though it will be crowded everywhere). Where do you drive?

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Very excited about the book. Especialy the audio version's afterward... Spent last year getting obsessed about fly fishing. Drove across the country listening to John Gierach audiobooks and the Orvis podcast and mostly not catching fish.

I like my 6wt set up. But what should be my next set up?

I am in Sonoma County, California and am planning trips up to the Shasta region, Yosemite, Tahoe, etc. Would like to get home to to upstate and fish there again. My gut says something a little smaller for the smaller creeks and brooks.

Thanks again for all the fun things to listen to (I do enjoy CD and read during the pandemic.

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Heading to Whitefish, MT in July for a week. Will be camping and hiking in Glacier for 3 days, but any tips on places to bend a rod? Beginner fly fisherman here (by beginner I mean I took a two day course and practice casting occasionally), but I've been a spinfisherman my whole life

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Any idea how to get a copy of The Optimist in Spain/Europe? I ordered my copy already but I want to gift one to my brother in Barcelona....no luck on Amazon.es. Thanks!

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I preordered my copy and cannot wait to read it. I really liked the unofficial commandments, especially the one about beer tasting better after catching a fish.

My question is to ask for your permission/blessing to quote you in our fly fishing club’s manifesto?

I’ve been tasked with writing it and would love to quote you. Once we get a New Amsterdam Fly Anglers hat made I’ll be sure to send you one!

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