Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Fly Guides Podcast

This week we spoke with Marc Barnwell about what it has been like to guide in Colorado for the last 20 years and how the sport and the state have changed over the course of that time. We talk about fishing the Gore, The Eagle, The Colorado and a host of other places. We also talked about what it was like to survive a summer of guiding in Colorado when most places had voluntary closures starting at noon each day. Hope you enjoy this one as much as we did.

@marcbarnwellphotography

www.marcbarnwell.com

What happens when life throws an unimaginable curveball? In this week's episode, we speak with Steve Francisco, who found that fly fishing was his way to pivot after just such a moment. This is a really amazing conversation for those of us in the middle of life, wondering what the next chapter might look like. We hope you enjoy today's conversation as much as we did.

https://www.franciscoflyfishing.com

On this week's episode, we talk with New Mexico guide Aaron Juarros about his guiding life in Taos. We discussed art, fly fishing, and the beauty of the New Mexican landscape. We had a great discussion, and as always, it made Scott and me want to pack up the truck and head down to the Land of Enchantment. We hope you love this one as much as we did!

www.ziafly.com

Of course we love to talk Fly Fishing and guiding on the podcast, but when a guest comes along who discusses how meaningful the sport is to him, it's time to take a pause an have a listen. Chris Hanson suffered from Transient Global Amnesia, and our discussion is a powerful one about how fly fishing brought him back. It's a stunning discussion and his story is powerful. We also venture into his bourbon enterprise. This is an incredible story and we were fortunate to have the chance to help tell it with Chris. Hope you enjoy!

butterybrownspirits.com

https://youtu.be/5DPeZm4IwHM?si=hgfHtg9SbGaJqARO

Some of these episodes are too hard to believe! This week we speak with Matt Thornton of The Wilderness Calling, who is RF tracking salmon and Steelhead in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to find out where these incredible species migrate to. It's a wide-ranging conversation about Matt's background in music and fly fishing and how guiding made him into a conservationist.

Today, we talk about the good that fly fishing can accomplish for the world! We talk with Heather Harkavy of Fish For Change; An organization that exists to "empower young people to become global citizens through experiential learning. Our one-week international fly fishing camps for high school and college-aged students blend cultural exchange and environmental stewardship. Our goal is to use fishing as a platform to build empathetic, curious, passionate, and confident young adults. 40% of our students join us on financial need-based scholarships thanks to our donor community. We also partner with local communities, inviting at least one local student each week to join as a guide apprentice - creating authentic connections, mentorship, and friendships that span cultures." It is an awesome conversation about how a sport we all love so much is helping change the youth of the world. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

https://www.fishforchange.org 

We have had the privilege of interviewing over 75 guides in our three years of doing the show. It's been one of the great pleasures of our lives. We never dreamed that when we started this, we would have the chance to talk to a fly-fishing czar from the kingdom of Bhutan, or a world-renowned guide in Chile, or find new and up-and-coming people from all over the world who have found their peace and joy in the sport of Fly Fishing — but we have, and it has truly been incredible. To hear the stories of people who are passionately pursuing the guide life has been inspirational and thoroughly rewarding. 

This past weekend, I had the chance to fish with one of the guides we interviewed in season 3. Scott and I joke every time we finish an episode about how much we want to go fishing with the guide we just spoke with. In many ways, it’s a running theme on the show that we would love to quit our jobs and just be on the water every chance we get. But life and work get in the way of being out there as often as we might hope. But the planets aligned this past weekend when I took a trip to Greenville, South Carolina, to visit my youngest son at his college. We were there to watch his swim meet, but I reached out to John Conits, our first guide from the Deep South, and asked if we could take him up on the offer to go fishing together. 

In this week's episode, we speak with John Ashley from Palapas Ventana on Mexico's Baja Peninsula. This is a fantastic conversation about the aquarium of the world and the amazing fishing in this special spot. We talked about how Baja is like California from 100 years ago, and how the slow pace of life is completely refreshing for those of us coming from the fast-paced world of the United States. Listen and enjoy this adventure, south of the border!

https://www.palapasventana.com

Today, we talk with Rob Aitken about the North Carolina mountains and his journey to guiding! We also touch on the Maggie Valley Fly Fishing festival that happens over Memorial Day weekend. This is a great conversation about what fly fishing means to a community and how a young person discovers their passion for the sport. We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we did! Here are a few links if you want to check out the event or go fishing with any of their amazing team of guides!

https://www.maggievalleyflyshop.com

The sport of fly fishing is often accused of being an "old man's" sport. But this week's episode will turn that misconception on its head. We had the privilege of speaking with Emory Stanton about his fly-fishing club in Grand Junction, Colorado, and how his ambition to meet new fly-fishing enthusiasts has grown into one of the school's largest clubs. You will feel really encouraged when you listen to his passion and excitement for the sport. From finding sponsors for gear to getting people who have never fished before out to experience this beautiful sport, Emory is helping the sport continue — and frankly, in better hands than those of us who are older could have imagined.

We are back in the Smoky Mountains again this week with Maggie Valley Fly Fishing's head guide, Taylory Farfour. We talk about her love of the region, the amazing fishing, and what it is like to be a guide as a woman in what is often a man's world. We loved this conversation! Taylor was fun and thoughtful and would be a blast to fish with. We hope you enjoy today's episode!

Lost in our vault was a special episode with Captain Johnny Mainero. We talk about chasing fish on the South Carolina coast and what it's like to enjoy this special fishery. We loved our conversation with Johnny and are so thankful that we were able to find this episode that had been lost to technology. If you are interested in finding out more about fishing with Johnny, head to his website:

www.fishingblackwater.com

or follow him on Instagram: @fishblackwater

On this week's special episode, we speak with Diego Salas from Chile. He was in a coffee shop in Peru when we caught up with him and he told us about all the great fishing he has in Chile. You are going to love this episode - Both Scott and Aaron were ready to pack up and head south as soon as this was over.

The Driftless is an amazing part of the world - in the last few decades, this once sleepy part of Wisconsin has become a fly fishing Mecca. Guide PJ Smith fell in love with it years ago and has made a life of guiding and teaching people about the waters of the Driftless since. It's near and dear to both him and his wife, and they have carved out a space for guiding and fishing in one of America's best fishing spots.

Hope you enjoy the show!

PJguideservice.com

In this week's episode we talk to Tim Huckaby about his guiding experience in the high Sierras behind Mt. Whitney. This is an incredibly fun discussion about a rare fish and a beautiful part of America. Tim is a great conversationalist and has a fantastic demeanor! He found us through a connection at Palapas Ventana and from the start of this one, we are off to the races. Hope you enjoy this one!

timhuckaby.com

The Bow River is an incredible fishery in Alberta, Canada. This week, we talk with Guide Luke Russell about this amazing place. The Bow holds a special place in Aaron's heart because he attended college in Calgary and lived there for 3 years, making it a home away from home. This is a really fun episode about a river that has become a legend in its own right. We hope you love this one as much as we did.

@flyOven_inc

https://www.davebrownoutfitters.com/alberta/bow-river-fly-fishing-guides/

Today, we speak with Speyco Reel founder and creator, Tim Pantzlaff. We try each season to bring you a manufacturer who is doing great things with their products. Tim started creating his reels to bring an affordable, classic reel to the market. We loved our discussion with Tim about everything from making and manufacturing in the United States to the love of fly fishing itself. We know you are going to love this conversation too!

speycoreels.com

When Ian Silver messaged us on Instagram about fly fishing in Arizona, we were super curious. Was there really fly fishing in such a harsh place? As we talked, we learned how precious water is in the West, especially in the desert, and how those limited resources put serious pressure on the river. This is a fascinating conversation about a young guide trying to make his way in the red rock hills of Arizona.

https://www.dirtyverdeoutfitters.com

Our Yankee friends can't be left out for a whole season! Today, we talk with Logan Messina about fly fishing in Maine. This is probably the oldest and most legendary fishery in the United States, so hearing about it is incredibly special - especially because Logan Messina is a major advocate for life in the grand state of Maine. We hope you love today's episode!

As Logan writes on his website: "I am so thankful that I get to do what I do, and if you are interested in a day of fishing in Maine, I would love to take you out on the water! Over the years, I have grown to know the ins and outs of many rivers and ponds throughout the Rangeley area, as well as the Kennebec River and the West Branch of the Penobscot. These waters have so much to offer, but this area is known for being the last stronghold for native brook trout in the continental U.S., which is a special thing. I am so honored to be able to fish for these amazing, rare creatures, among so many other beautiful species. I hope you will be able to join me sometime!"

https://www.troutaboutitflyfishing.com

27 years ago, a group of friends stumbled into a fishing trip that would change the course of their friendship and the rest of their lives. Coming this fall, a documentary about a disappearing element of the American male life: friendship.

Scott and Aaron walk you through how a late-night stop on the Tongue River in Wyoming led to a lifetime of friendship and fly fishing all over the American West.

Coming this fall

There are always a few conversations each season that leave us pretty speechless - today's episode is one of those. We venture all the way across the Pacific to speak with Harry Crossley of Japanese Fly Fishing Adventures. He is on the island of Hokkaido, and his story is incredible. From a London banking bro to a peaceful life in Japan fishing for beautiful trout, I am certain you will love this conversation!

www.japanesefishingadventures.com

It might be the worst kept secret on the Fly Guides, that Scott and I love great food. Today we had the chance to speak with Sébastien from Foodie In The Wild. He is a professional chef and fly fishing guide in Quebec. This is a wonderful episode about his love for cooking, foraging and making a fantastic experience for his clients. Sébastien is based near Mont Treblant and is surrounded by some of the most incredible wilderness in Canada. Enjoy another fantastic episode.

https://www.foodieinthewild.com

This week, Scott talked to Emily Keener and Sophia Smith from Taos Women Fly Fishing. They are an organization in New Mexico who are helping introduce women to the amazing sport of Fly Fishing. This is a great conversation about why their work is so important, and how the growth of this sport, in a demographic that has traditionally been excluded, is so positive and helpful. Have a listen and give them a follow on Instagram!

@taoswomenflyfish

Cotter, Arkansas guide, Brennon Garret, takes us on a journey down the world-famous White River. We had a wide-ranging discussion about how unique the Ozarks are and why the White River has gained the notoriety it has. Brennon is a fantastic conversationalist and is currently working on expanding his guide services into Texas and fishing for Reds - we hope you enjoyed this one as much as we did.

www.wanderingflyoutfitters.com

@papacatfish (Instagram)

Today we speak with Michael Stack, owner and guide for Fishtales Outfitting. Michael lives in Sheridan, Montana in the heart of flyfishing in the west. In this episode we talk about his journey to guiding and creating Fishtales Outfitters. We talk about the Big Hole, the Jefferson and the Beaverhead among just a few. Michael has an incredible story, and how he pivoted from injury to outfitter is really special. Have a listen and we hope you ejoy this episode as much as we did!

If you want to know more about Fishtales check out their website:

https://mtfishtales.com

On today's episode we talk to Trent Storer - Owner & Head Guide of Back of Beyond Fly Fishing.

Trent has grown up fishing the King River on their family farm in Whitfield and with a love for fishing and the Victorian High Country has gone on to explore all of the rivers the Whitfield and Mansfield area has to offer. We discuss the trout fishing of southern Austrialia as well as Trent's pursuit of Murray Cod - a freshwater species that is agressive and powerful. You are going to love this episode!

https://backofbeyondflyfishing.com

info@backofbeyondflyfishing.com

Luke Annear from Freshwater Flats joins us on the program today to talk about flats fishing for carp in Wisconsin. This is an incredible conversation with a fisherman and scientist who loves catching these freshwater fish that replicate a saltwater experience. Luke has been stalking these fish for years and brings his experience and knowledge to the program. We hope you enjoy this wild and interesting converation about a unique niche in fly fishing.

https://www.freshwaterflats.com/guiding

https://www.instagram.com/freshwaterflats

In today's episode, we speak with young guide Sydney Luiz. She is a young woman who guides with Unicoi Outfitters in the North Georgia Mountains. I found this area on a trip last fall, and stood amazed at the river that bordered our Bavarian Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia. I had to find out how the fishing was, and so I found Sydney Luiz via Instagram. We had a great conversation about being a young guide, her calling to fly fishing, and what it's like to be a woman in a sport mostly dominated by men. If you want to fish with this great young lady, make a request at:

https://www.unicoioutfitters.com

@sydluiz (Instagram)

Dave Davis specializes in teaching vacationers how to fly fish the Carolina waters. He works the sound by stalking and wading for Redfish and other ocean species. We had another great conversation about a unique niche in the fly fishing space. We loved his idea of allowing dads on vacation to get a few hours of escape to do something they love and still be with their friends and family.

Learn more about Dave and his program at his website:

https://ogflyfishobx.com/

After a quick trip into Greenville, my curiosity about the waters and landscape went into overdrive. One night, doomscrolling at the hotel, I ran across John's profile and knew we had to get him on the show. This is a great discussion about the Smoky Mountains and the wide array of rivers within, as John says, a good "cup of coffee." The South continues to grow on me as a place of intrigue for fly fishing, so we wanted to spend some time finding out just what it is that makes this place so special to so many anglers.

https://www.haresearflyfishing.com/

Kara is back for Season 3! This time we talk Argentina, Chile, Montana, the troubles of a terrible snow pack in the west, and a host of other fun topics. As always, Kara is a robust conversationalist and one of our favorites to talk to. She was also just nominated as one of the top 20 guides in the nation by USA Today. You can vote for her to win the contest.

https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-fly-fishing-guide/

Enjoy the show!

Despite my absolute fumbling of the intro, our conversation with Jeff Lattig of Living Water Guides from Montana was another fantastic one. This time, we talk about the Missouri River outside of Helena, Montana, and the largest river of the Great Plains. We had a great time visiting with Jeff about his journey from the East Coast to Big Sky Country. His love of the Mo is really apparent. We hope you love this conversation as much as we did. If you ever want to fish with Jeff in the Land of the Giants, check out his website below:

livingwaterguide.com

Today, we talk with François Bietry from France, who was just finishing up his season in Patagonia. This was a special conversation with someone who adores the sport of Fly Fishing and has made a life centered around it. François had just come off the water and hadn't even had time to take his waders off before we jumped into the conversation. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!

https://linktr.ee/francois_fly_fishing

In today's episode, we speak with Ben Pike of Northern Newfoundland about his guiding business and the waters of this remote Canadian province. Ben is a wonderful person to visit with, and we had the chance to learn about local shore lunches of Moose Meat and berries, and his hospitality. Ben loves his home waters and is an incredible advocate for the fishery.

1.709.638.4457

@newfoundland_river_zombie on Instagram

We kick off Season 3 with Trent Jones from Glenwood Springs Outdoors. He is also the director of Fly Life Media on Instagram and Facebook. We had a great conversation about his journey to the Western Slope of Colorado and fishing the Roaring Fork, Colorado, and other great waters on that side of the hills. Season 3 is off to a great start! Please review and share with friends!

https://www.glenwoodspringsoutdoors.com

https://www.flylifeproductions.com

As we prepare for season 3 of the show, we wanted to bring a special episode to you with our friend Ryan Johnston from Cast Hope. He has written a great new book called "Reel Salty," and the stories and conversations in this one were too good to save until the start of the season.

Hope you enjoy it, and we will see you starting in March for season 3 of the Fly Guides Podcast!

If you are interested in Ryan's book, here's a quick link.

https://www.rjsflytrips.com/reel-salty-book/

Another amazing episode - this time with Reid Parker, who is with Current Culture Fly in Richmond, VA. We talk about the amazing species that he is targeting, including Striped Bass, Long Nose Gar, and the Bowfin. Another amazing conversation!

https://currentculturefly.com

In todays episode we speak with Omar Gade of Denmark Fishing Lodge about fly fishing in Denmark. It is an amazing episode where we talk about this incredibly unique fishery where you can catch sea run trout on a dry fly in the ocean. You won't want to miss this one!

https://denmarkfishinglodge.com

We have quite a show for you this morning! We speak with Simon from Afloat Adventure in Colombia about the amazing opportunities that await in the jungles and oceans of an overlooked country. You won't want to miss his tales of fly fishing for peacock bass, vampire fish, and Tuna. It's a great episode, so have a listen!

This week, we speak with George Souhlaris, a guide for Bristol Bay Lodge in Alaska. This wide-ranging conversation is truly a walk through memory lane and a life of fishing and adventure. Enjoy the show.

Today's episode is amazing! Conway Bowman is a guide in San Diego who has made a career out of pursuing Mako Sharks in the Pacific Ocean off the shore of California. This is a fascinating conversation about pioneering the pursuit of a game fish in the sport of fly fishing. Enjoy the show!

Jack Mister is a guide on the Kenai River in Alaska. While the waters have changed over the years Jack describes the absolute beauty and prolific fishery that this wild water in Alaska is. Jack has a great sense of humor and would be a blast on the water to fish with. You can hear how the years of Alaska living have made him into a seasoned veteran on one of the most iconic rivers of all time. Enjoy the show!

What do fly fishing and world-class cooking have in common? Meet Joshua Schwartz. A former member of the French Laundry team and a fishing guide who learned how to combine both his love of fly fishing and cooking together. A fabulous conversation that covers why so many of us love this sport and see the connected artistry between life events and the water. Enjoy the episode!

Another amazing episode for you today. Hunter Derrick is someone we were connected with through Ryan Johnston at Cast Hope. Hunter is a guide on the upper Maddison at the Slide Inn with Kelly Galloup. This is an amazing story of transformation from a troubled high schooler to a world-class fly fishing guide. This was an incredibly touching story of how someone doing good for others can change the trajectory of a person's life. You will love listening to Hunter and finding out how life on the waters gave him hope and a career.

www.slideinn.com

follow Hunter on Instagram @hdflyfishing

You won't want to miss this one! We talk about fly fishing in Iceland with Sindri Hlíðar Jónsson, the owner and operator of www.fishpartner.com He talks about the amazing world of Icelandic fishing and the different species and terrain they are fishing in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Follow Sindri at any of the following!

https://www.instagram.com/fishpartner/

https://www.instagram.com/sindrihlidar/
https://www.facebook.com/fishpartnericeland

Today, we are thrilled to have Brita Fordice on the show. She is a guide from Washington State who, through her love for tying flys, has become a product development designer and fly-tying creator for Rio products. Our conversation ranges from fishing for sea run bull trout to how learning to tie flys at the age of 10 with crow feathers and dog fur dubbing led her to a life of fly fishing and a chance to influence the sport she loves. Enjoy the conversation!

Today, we have one of our first conversations with a saltwater guide. James "Docky" Smith is a flats guide in the Bahamas. He has 30 years of guiding under his belt and has a passion and love for Long Island, Bahamas that is infectious. We hope you enjoy the show!

This morning, we speak with Evan Keene of Hatch Finders Outfitters from Livingston, Montana. Evan guides on the Yellowstone River and the waters of the Paradise Valley in Montana. Evan recently acquired Hatch Finders with his business partner and they are building a business doing something they love. Enjoy the show!

We have Isaiah Smith back on the show to talk about the upcoming season on the Colorado, his pursuit of his captain's license in New Orleans, and how the river has been fishing since we last spoke. Enjoy the episode!

We speak with Tom Ream from Thermopolis, Wyoming, today about a lesser-known section of the Bighorn River. Tom is a fly shop owner and family man who decided to give up the oil field life for one on the river. Enjoy the show!