Tips for urban fly fishing, with James Spica

  You may have some amazing fly fishing right in your neighborhood even if you live in a big city.  Urban fly fishing may not be pristine, but it has its own charms and moments of excitement, and you don't need to drive for hours to get to it.  James Spica [46:05], fishing manager of Orvis Royal Oak, gives us good tips on finding this kind of fishing in your area, what species you might encounter, and some tips for making the most of your experience.   In the Fly Box this week, we have some great questions as usual, including:

• Are there any fly-tying materials made from plant fibers?
• Are trout equally susceptible to stress in low water temperatures as they are in high water temperatures?
• What is the best way to dye bucktails?
• What feathers should I keep for tying from ducks I harvest?
• What is the difference between the Blackout 8-weight rod and the Helios 3 8-weight rods?
• What's a good rod for small stream brook trout fishing?
• Do you need to open your casting loops with leaders over 13 feet long?
• In a Pile Cast, will the line and leader butt hit the water before the tippet and fly?
• Is it OK to put my rod and reel in the water when landing a fish?
• What can we do about the flood damage in Vermont?  What will the fishing be like in the near future?
• What is the most effective way to interact with the people in a fly shop when looking for information?
• Why can't I get white Woolly Buggers to work in my river?  I hear people have good luck with them.
• What's a good rod for smallmouth and smaller stream steelhead fishing?
• Does underlining a rod help for longer casts?
• What is a short heavy rod, like the old 7'11" Recon rod for 8-weight, used for?