I love the whole Appalachian area. The greenery, abundance of wild game, outdoor activities, all of it. I moved away from there but that doesn't mean I don't miss it. One thing I never had the chance to do was catch trout in the Appalachian Mountains though. My guest, Arran, has gotten really good at it though. To top it off, he fishes Tenkara style!

https://www.instagram.com/appalachian_af/

Catching panfish in the early spring can be fun and frustrating at the same time. Here are a few tips we have picked up over the years.

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/solving-spring-panfish/156264
https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/prespawn-bluegills-in-spring/153374
https://www.instagram.com/chiefcrappieraider/

Every year, untold numbers of children go missing. Most are found but over the years, some mysterious disappearances have occurred in some of our favorite places. National Parks.
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1563/cold-cases.htm
https://vocal.media/criminal/strange-disappearances-in-national-parks
https://chameleontruecrimestories.com/the-missing-children-of-yosemite-national-park-876e5bf1349

Patrick and Al have both been on the podcast and are avid anglers. Al has mostly fished for bass but recently has taken an interest in multi-species angling, including carp. Patrick has been a long time admirer of carp and I thought it would be a good idea to get these two together and have a discussion about one of the most under appreciated fish in the water.
https://www.instagram.com/newagealchemist/
https://www.instagram.com/urbananglersusa/
https://carpslam.org/

Our first Halloween episode of 2021 focuses on a strange phenomenon experienced by those of us that push our bodies to the absolute limits.

Everyone has this vision in their mind of a mountain man. This rugged individual who can live damn near anywhere as long as he can catch some sort of wild game. The old man covered in bear furs and only comes to the rendezvous. Jeremy sat down with us to dispel some of those stereotypes and give us the real run down on Mountain Men.
https://wyomuseum.wyo.gov/
https://www.instagram.com/wyomingstatemuseum/

Martin is an avid outdoorsman and loves sharing his passion with anyone that will listen. After some persuasion from his wife, he decided to start a podcast called Papa Bear Hikes. He pumps out multiple episodes a week and has on an amazing array of guests. Check him out on Spotify, iTunes or any other major platform.
https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/

American Trails is a national, nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail interests. Our website, AmericanTrails.org, is one of the world's largest online resources for trails and greenways.

We support local, regional, and long-distance trails and greenways, whether they be in backcountry, rural, or urban areas. Our goal is to support America's trails by finding common ground and promoting cooperation among all trail interests. Since our formation in 1988 we've been involved in everything from training trails advocates to increasing accessible trail opportunities for persons with disabilities.

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanTrails.org
https://www.americantrails.org/
https://www.instagram.com/americantrails/

Brandon followed us on Instagram and said if we ever needed a guest he'd love to come on. Well, be careful what you wish for...

Brad needed information about deer hunting in Kentucky but was having a hard time getting information from the standard social media platforms. So he decided to take matters into his own hands and create an app and social media platform just for outdoor minded people. GoWild is a place where outdoor enthusiast can share information, stories and success without fear of having posts removed (like you see in other social media platforms).
https://timetogowild.com/

Brian and Jon got together on Instagram and began a friendship centered around fishing. They quickly realized they had a lot in common and decided, to hell with it, lets start a fishing podcast. And just like that, The Working Class Fishing Podcast was born. They are breaking down barriers and giving people information as well as encouragement to get out there and wet a line.
https://www.instagram.com/workingclassfishing/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/working-class-fishing/id1571845074

Leo is a unique individual. From his humble beginnings through his extensive college education one thing has always stood out. He loves to fish. We mean LOVES it. He started his own YouTube channel as a way to educate others and it has turned into a full time job. Join us as we talk about life listing, microfishing and a whole host of other fishing topics
https://www.youtube.com/user/extremephillyfishing
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/extremephillyfishing/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ExtremePhillyFishing

Martin released his book "Switching Gears" and I wanted to have him on the show to talk about it. It was a lot of fun and the book is excellent.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09R3H8BB1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CVGM1C1RA72DDM165FS9

https://www.papabearhikes.com/

Sean and I hadn’t talked for a little while. We decided to catch up on things and discuss some topics that have been on our mind. This is completely unedited because I’m on vacation and away from the studio. We’ll be back next week with a regular episode for you!

https://www.instagram.com/the.archer.steph/
https://stephanierustad.com/blog-2/

Stephanie started archery at a young age and has never looked back. She has turned this passion into a career and teaches archery to new hunters. We sat down to talk about what archery hunting means to her, her accomplishments and some tips for beginning hunters.

Evan popped up on my Instagram feed one day and he seemed like he was having the time of his life in Wisconsin. He was catching fish of all types and sizes on an almost daily basis. Then I listened to an episode of the Mindful Endeavors Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindfulendeavors/id1537007262) with him and realized that fishing was more than just fun for him. It was a form of therapy. On today's episode we talk about growing up fishing, overcoming anxiety and helping others.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edc.outdoors/

Crawfishing is their passion. At Team Crayster they catch bigger crawfish and they catch them more often. They want to help you experience that too! Mike spent some time teaching me the ways of the crawdad and his experiences with them.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/CraysterYouTube
IG: https://www.instagram.com/procrayster/
www.procrayster.com

Endurance sports can help personally and professionally as they teach people how to take on adversity, handle challenges, combat stress, and, what’s more, have fun.

I can say, with confidence, that none of the 12 Hike team has that endurance sports build or mentality, we are deeply impressed with people that do. Talking with people like Jennifer gives you a better understanding of what it takes to push yourself to the absolute limit and then push a little harder.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jenstrongmccon/
https://jenniferstrongmccon.com/

Men's mental health is an often overlooked, if not ignored, aspect of human life. Men have been conditioned through evolution to be tough, emotionless providers that never show weakness. As a result, men suffer in silence often neglecting their own mental health until they can bear no more. At Fishing the Good Fight, Jennings realized men needed help. So he is organizing all men's retreats onto the streams of Colorado so men can get together and discuss their mental health issues amongst the natural beauty of Colorado.

www.fishingthegoodfight.org
FB and IG: Fishing the Good Fight

Fly fishing is hard. It takes practice, patience and lots of learned knowledge. It is difficult for me to get out there and mix it up (while being judged) by the anglers all around me. Erin experienced all of this first hand, not because of lack of experience but because she was a girl. She knew that other women had to feel the same way and decided to help women enter the world of fly fishing by running an all women's angling group. We talk about a lot of stuff and it was a blast!

IG: bigfootwrangler
-OR-
coloradowomenonthefly

After years of dropping big bucks (literally and figuratively) on outdoor gear Tanner decided it was time to find a better way. So he started his own company, Mtn Reign. His passion and knowledge of the outdoors has allowed him to acquire and sell only the best hunting gear at the best prices. We've teamed up with them for the month and if you order, use promo code "12Hike" and get 10% off your entire order.

www.mtnreign.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mtnreign/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/mtnreignofficial

Liz is Badger Run’s founder. She has been devoted to wildlife rehabilitation for over 30 years. Ever since at the tender age of 16 when she discovered that most veterinarians won’t touch wildlife and how much injured creatures need advocates and care givers. Her first experience in wildlife rehab was a mockingbird with a broken wing brought to her by a customer for the pet shop she was working in. Learning to bind that wing and seeing the bird fly out her front door and back into the wild ignited her passion for helping wildlife and shaped the rest of her life.

http://www.badgerrun.org/
https://www.facebook.com/BadgerRunWildlifeRehab/?ref=page_internal

I grew up hunting the foothills of Appalachia. Since I've moved away I realize how formative those early years of hunting were for me. One game species that always eluded me was turkey. Today, I am talking to Mark from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to hopefully figure out what mistakes I was making when chasing these goofy and majestic birds.

ohiodnr.gov - For more information on hunting/fishing in the Buckeye State.

When I get something in my mind, there's rarely any changing my mind. This is a family trait I can do nothing about. So when I saw a guy 3d printing his own lures, I knew it was something I had to do. Little did I know that I quickly got in over my head. Thankfully, there are people like Bill around that are willing to talk about, help and share the information they have gathered through trial and error.

https://www.instagram.com/gs.outdoors/
https://www.youtube.com/c/GulfStreamOutdoors

Turkey fascinate me. They are both wily and stupid at the same time. I've never been able to figure them out. That is doubly true now that I am trying to hunt a completely different bird here in the Rocky Mountains. So I reached out to Brian from Colorado Parks and Wildlife for a little help. We talk species characteristics, tactics and getting people involved in hunting.

cpw.state.co.us for more information on hunting/fishing here in Colorado

When you think of majestic American birds, I would imagine a turkey comes pretty low on that list. However, the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) thinks this bird is important for a number of reasons and has dedicated it's existence to educating people about this bird. Pete sat down to discuss a wide range of topics including conservation, mentorship and breaking down the misconceptions about hunters.

nwtf.org
https://www.facebook.com/THENWTF
https://www.instagram.com/official_nwtf/

Part of our mission here at 12 Hike is to educate people about the opportunities this great country has to get outside and explore nature. So we are going to attempt to work our way across the country highlighting state and national parks from the east to the west. Our first stop is in southern Florida at Everglades National Park. Antonia was kind enough to talk to us about what makes the Everglades unique and some of the special problems associated with preserving a pristine wetland.

https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm

Urban angling isn't something a lot of people do. Personally, the last thing I think about when I'm at the park with my kids is "Man, I bet there are huge carp in there.". But that is exactly what Patrick thinks. He grew tired of the long commutes to reach cherished trout streams and began targeting species and waters much closer to his home. This has led to a respect and passion for a fish that is often overlooked.

http://urbananglersusa.com/
https://www.instagram.com/urbananglersusa/

I read an article in In-Fisherman that was discussing the decline of panfish numbers in Minnesota. Particularly, the decline of larger sized panfish. A contributor to the article was Dave Weitzel of the Minnesota DNR. He has been conducting research into why the decline is happening and how best to remedy the situation.

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/managing-for-big-bluegills/382986
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fisheries/index.html

Brad has spent his whole life fishing. From his early days learning from the In Fisherman gang to honing his craft via a degree from CSU, Brad has built the kind of fishing resume any angler would be envious of. We talk about all of that plus catching fish here in Colorado.

FB: Brad Petersen Outdoors
Website: www.bradpetersen.me

Dan is a pro Crappie angler and TTI/Blakemore sponsored angler. He has years of experience chasing one of the tastiest game fish in the water. He is also the publisher of "Crappie Now", an online (and free) crappie publication with tips from all the leading crappie anglers in the country.

https://crappienow.com/magazine/
http://www.ddoutdoor.com/?fbclid=IwAR1_qB8mv9ieOH-pe_wimi8xN86iF5fhNlOIxqfhNmVM8raCRikFrRaiwSE
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/dan.dannenmueller.92
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/crappie.dan/
YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/user/DDOutdoor

https://www.instagram.com/newagealchemist/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnY46P4oAuc2emXCm8AJLZA

Al created a podcast called "Mindful Endeavors". He focuses on mental health topics and how nature can play into improving mental health.

Have you ever thought to yourself "Boy, I'd like to walk around this scary underground mine and see what's in there."? I know I haven't, but Frank here has and he has turned it into a YouTube Channel called "Exploring Abandoned Mines". Listen to us talk about why he does it, how he got started and what his plans for the future are!

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtFNKt_IKBpalOWXuIreW7Q
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1925046341068974
IG: mineexplorer1

https://www.traviskrausestudios.com/
Email: travis@traviskrausestudios.com
FB: Travis Krause
IG: traviskrausestudios

Nature is beautiful. Travis realizes and understands this and has devoted his time toward capturing that beauty. Not through the lens of a camera but from the tips of a paintbrush. We talk about his artistic journey, importance of nature and how to keep youth engaged in outdoor recreation.

Skip and Zack have learned how to catch catfish and an incredible rate. Last year they treated me to the most productive day of catfishing I've eve had. They were kind enough to stop by and discuss tactics, rigs and a whole lot more.

https://www.youtube.com/c/ClearviewOutdoors/featured

Max was tired of buying inferior lures. So he decided to make his own. Just a few short years later his lures are now being sold in Scheels outdoor stores in the Northern Colorado Area.

Visit Max on Instagram @cougarbaitsllc. Send him a message with the lures you want with the promo code 12hhike and he is going to give you 10% off your entire order.

Jaime and Elena grew up around outdoor activities but didn't really get involved in hunting and fishing until a little later in life. Now they are outdoor enthusiasts that can't get enough of bugling elk, chasing tom turkeys, sitting in duck blinds and hovering over ice holes hooking huge trout. They want to share that enthusiasm with other women and help them get outdoors. So they started Rocky Mountain Sportswomen, an organization dedicated to teaching and empowering women to get outdoors!

https://www.rockymountainsportswomen.com/
https://www.facebook.com/rockymountainsportswomen/?ref=page_internal
https://www.instagram.com/rockymountainsportswomen/

As the United States grew, so did the railroads. It used to be the fastest and most efficient form of shipping goods from the East Coast to the West. However, like everything else, technology found a more efficient way. As overland shipping with trucks became better railroads began to shut down. Instead of just letting these rails go to waste, a concerted effort is being made to turn them into beautiful multi-use areas for us to enjoy!

https://www.railstotrails.org/
https://instagram.com/railstotrails?igshid=1nnx0dt52p5j5
https://www.facebook.com/railstotrails/

Outdoor Mentors is an organization based in Wichita, KS. The Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors Program is designed to match children with mentors who want to share an interest in our outdoor heritage and will include promoting the enjoyment, understanding, protection, and restoration of our natural ecosystems. Brittany was nice enough to sit down and talk with us about how Outdoor Mentors is giving youth the opportunity to experience the outdoors!

Visit https://www.outdoormentors.org/ to see how you can become a hunting mentor!

Hannah loves the outdoors. She also loves teaching. So, it is only natural that she would combine the two. Hannah decided she wanted to start and alternative learning platform that taught children all the basics and have the added bonus of getting them involved in outdoor activity.

Kelsey grew up in the outdoors in Montana but knew there were women that didn't. She wanted to help other women get outdoors and feel safe while doing so. Jen wanted to help women experience the beautiful state of Colorado. Instead of starting her own women's outdoor group, she contacted Kelsey and started her own Wild Women Outdoors chapter right here in Colorado.

https://www.wildwomenoutdoors.com/

What sort of people would build a 1300 foot long snake made of dirt? Why would someone do that? How did they do it? Those are all questions that we discuss with Beth from Serpent Mound in Adams County Ohio.

Sarah wanted to be a Marine Biologist. But after a summer internship on Lake Erie, she realized that was were she belonged. Since that summer, she has went on to become the Ohio Clean Marinas Program Manager. Ohio Clean Marinas is a program dedicated to assisting Ohio marinas implement eco friendly practices that reduce the amount of trash and pollution that enters the precious waters of Ohio.

In 2013 I bought my first ever kayak. It was a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120. I still have it and anyone would have a hard time convincing me that there is a better kayak out there. I was fortunate enough to sit down and spend some time with Adam and talk about the company that makes the best kayaks on the market and what the future holds for kayaking.

Brian and I went to high school together. Naturally we split ways after graduation. We were acquaintances in high school and I had no idea he was a hunter. Moreover, I had no idea he likes to use freaking falcons to hunt with. Brian is an interesting, intelligent guy and learned quite a bit about using falcons to chase down small game.

Nick is an interesting guy. He uses Tenkara Rods/flies to catch high alpine trout, has his own brand of fly, takes awesome high country hikes and is getting ready to take a 6 month trip on the PCT. So, yeah, I had to have him on the show.

https://www.instagram.com/norcaltenkara/

Quinn was an avid outdoor adventure. Rock Climbing, mountain biking, you name it and she did it. However, after a climbing accident her world became drastically different. That didn't stop her from doing what she loves though.

A former customer of mine commented on a FB post we made about Bigfoot. Upon further inquiry, I discovered him and a friend are avid Bigfoot believers. There is no better way to end the month of October than with a good Bigfoot story!

Lanita Witt, Suzanne Willow and their daughter Brooke were looking for 40 acres of rural property on a sparkling day on December 31, 1984. They had selected the Ashland school district as their new home-to-be, and had a realtor's map in hand as they drove up a snowy Shale City Rd. Driving toward the mapped parcel, they looked down into a beautiful valley with a big barn and little house under 4 feet of snow, and thought about the family that lives there summers. They visited the mapped parcel, and three others, and went back to the view of the valley at sunset. They went back again twice the next day ... and noticed a small 'For Sale' sign at the base of Shale City Rd. Tuesday, January 2, 1985, they were in the realtor's office before returning to Napa, California, and found that the parcel for sale was the valley they had all fallen in love with, and that it was 440 acres! Magic was definitely afoot. Two weeks later an offer to buy had come in on the property; they returned to Ashland, skied into the valley with the big barn and the little house, and put in their own offer. The rest, as they say, is history.

In the last of the Halloween spooky stories series, Zach takes us to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains where he talks about the ghost of a murdered woman and a Cherokee legend called Spearfinger.