The February Room A Fly Fishing Podcast (Justin Karnopp)

The Bitterroot River is one of the country's premiere fisheries and the lifeblood of one of Montana's most picturesque valleys. A rich tradition of agriculture, community, and recreation all rely on clear, clean flows and a healthy riparian area. The Bitter Root Water Forum is dedicated to restoring private and public lands to enhance habitat throughout the watershed and continue the legacy of responsible multi-use. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Can you learn fundamental leadership principles through fly fishing”? Authors John Childress and Christian Bacasa tapped notable figureheads in the fly fishing industry to answer this question, and discovered a resounding, “YES”! The end result, “Fly Fishing for Leadership”, is a book that interweaves lessons learned on the water with business, government, and everyday life. Childress explains the motivation for this volume and highlights the importance of choosing great partners in life and in fishing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who among us hasn't lost a spectacular fish they wish they could have back? I can recall every vivid detail of every brief encounter, from the final leap of the steelhead that spat my fly from across the river to the largemouth that suspended in air, then hocked the diving frog like a loogie. As a young man exploring one of Central Oregon's notoriously challenging streams, the unexpected took me on a downstream sprint only to leave me defeated, out of breathe and pining for another crack at the fish of a lifetime. Will this be a story of redemption or another melancholy chapter in the ageless tale of the one that got away? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brady, Jordan, Woods...Lieverst? While the latter may not have a shoe deal, in the world of competitive fly fishing, Jason Lieverst has reached the apex of his game, serving as captain of two international teams during his prestigious career. Jason shares insight into the realm of "Czech" nymphing (which, we'll find out, may have originated in a different European nation.) As the co-proprietor of Master Nymph (rods), Nymphmaster (fly tying materials) and Master Nymph Academy, Lieverst is dedicated to fine-tuning the art of Euro-nymphing and sharing his deep knowledge with fellow anglers. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the spirit of the spooky season, we track down an eccentric angler who shares hair-raising encounters from the woods and waters of the Wolverine State. Hang onto your ciders as James Lady waxes on his freaky experiences, including recordings of unexplainable vocalizations and video/photo evidence of strange beings...including another Michigan native, Kid Rock! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The family that plays together stays together. Just ask the The Nordquists. Three generations of this fishy outfit congregate annually on rivers and streams to reconnect and after 20-plus years, the Nordquists have collected a treasure chest of memories, good and well…? Erick and John Nordquist are the clan safe keepers and open up the vault to our host, recalling broken legs, rattlesnakes, and that time a train fell into the river. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On August 21st, 2022, Nick Rinn was fishing for clues in California's Prosser Reservoir when his sonar device detected an anomaly. Rinn's macabre discovery would bring closure to the family of missing teenager Kiely Rodni...and change his life forever. It's been a wild ride for Nick, who in the span of a few days, went from anonymous electrician to national hero. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the heels of a fishing excursion to Mexico, Michael Reid received an invite that no self-respecting guy with an angling problem could refuse. His very understanding wife obliged, and Michael hustled to the Outer Banks in pursuit of a bluefin tuna blitz, led by a captain known simply as "Creature". What transpired would reset the record book for tuna on the fly and heave an otherwise taciturn fisherman into the spotlight.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adventure is all around us. Just ask Chris Taylor. Once Taylor decided to really explore the waters surrounding his hometown, he discovered a treasure trove of flyfishing opportunities right under his nose; carp, pike, shad, goliath trout, to name a few. Colorado Springs offers up all the menu options this fly fishing version of a localvore can chew. Chris inspires us to take a closer look at the back forty and shares the most memorable experiences drawn from exploring his home waters, like the time he knocked a very surprised animal out of the air with a streamer pattern. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're not being facetious when we say that sargassum is a serious threat to our shallow seas and could factor into your spring break plans. So what is it? Sargassum is a naturally occurring algae, a seaweed, that serves valuable ecological functions. But, over a decade ago, it began to show up in unnatural ways and the problem is getting worse. This year sargassum showed up early and often along the beaches of the Riviera Maya from Cancun to Belize, and in Florida and the Bahamas. This January, 2023, has already set a record for all previous January months. Worse, the amount of sargassum waiting offshore at this time of year is four times that of normal. We take a deep dive into this growing environmental concern by interviewing citizens and scientists to determine how and why sargassum blooms are occurring, how this is affecting anglers and wildlife, and what the future might hold? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Battered, bruised, and begging for more, Lauren returns from her first roosterfishing adventure in Baja! The stoke level is atmospheric as she shares insight into the pre-trip preparations that made all the difference in organizing and executing a successful saltwater adventure with her friends. No Lauren story is complete without a bad accent and we have one of those for you too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Never underestimate the resourcefulness of a hungry young angler with an idea! Meet Matt Devlin, a former fishing guide turned filmmaker. When Matt and his buddy first conceived the notion of producing a fishing film on a shoestring budget, they circumvented the expense of purchasing a camera buy "renting" one from a box store with a 10-day return policy. From these meager beginnings, a new career and a film tour were born! Tune in as Matt shares his personal odyssey through fly fishing to become the Founder and Director of the Montana Fishing Film Festival. https://www.mtfishingfilmfest.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spearfish, South Dakota was the site of a fly fishing kidnapping-mystery. On an idyllic afternoon in the nearby Black Hills, philanthropic fly angler, Marcus Bevier, found himself in the crosshairs of what turned out to be a case of mistaken stocking foot identity. Marcus was just out trying to hassle a few trout in his home waters when the day turned into the fly fishing equivalent of the Shawshank Redemption. Well, that may be a bit of an exaggeration…. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Raised by Mainers with a nose for outdoor mishap, Nick Halle managed to survive his hazardous upbringing and find his footing in Montana. Halle now serves as Trout Unlimited's Volunteer Operation's Coordinator and part-time fly fishing guide, a career split that equates to a considerable amount of time on the water and access to the latest fisheries research. As such, Nick is well qualified to opine on the relationship between pike and trout in the rivers of Western Montana. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My love for wildness, via adventures that have tested my mental and physical faculties, has blossomed throughout my life. Like a ponderosa pine, it begin as a seed, planted by my father, along the banks of one of the most challenging fisheries I have ever known. Though I somewhat resented it then, I’ve come to admire my dad’s approach. He never made the outdoors easy. I think he was trying to teach some life lessons and instill a philosophy. If fishing and hunting are a challenge, we’ll keep coming back for more and learn to appreciate all the aspects. Is there a better gift a parent can bestow to their children? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Judging from the advertisements, alcohol and fly fishing go hand in hand. What's a proper lodge brochure or gear catalog without an image of the crew blowing the froth off a few at day's end? But here in the real world the party can lead to lifelong problems. Rather than acting as the catalyst, Reeling in Recovery maintains that flyfishing can be the inhibitor to drug and alcohol abuse. Board President Andy Weiner introduces this organization as a safe space for those struggling with dependency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauren and Ashley arrived in the Florida Keys with little expectations and a boat-load of pent up angst. This was to be their first ever attempt at tarpon-on-the-fly. They had been warned of the challenges of pursuing the Silver King and few of their friends gave them much of a chance of actually landing on a tarpon on their initial foray. However, they had an ace-in-the-hole; A dedicated guide with the knowledge and patience to introduce beginners into the world of tarpon fly fishing. His name is Zach Stells. SHOW NOTES: @captzachstells 305-986-3211 WWW.CAPTZACHSTELLS.COM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine working your way up in a highly competitive field, only to be handed your walking papers after becoming a parent? As a new mother, this was reality for fishing guide Katie Fiedler Anderson. Rather than lament this rejection, she turned obstacle into opportunity and launched her own business alongside her husband, Cooper. Katie's approach to the everyday challenges of working mom's serves as inspiration and her story is showcased in a highly-acclaimed documentary making the rounds on the Fly Fishing Film Tour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a fella' in Helena who once lassoed a fish in Alaska. He followed this feat with an improbable stunt involving a bull trout in Montana. His name is John Smigaj and no, he's not the fly fishing version of Evil Kneivel, but the CEO and Co-Founder of Trxstle, a designer and manufacturer of innovative outdoor gear and apparel for fly anglers and mountain bikers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Upper Clark Fork watershed has been on the receiving end of mining activities in Butte for a generation and a huge effort has been underway to return this river to the pristine trout stream that it once was, and could be again. Casey Hackathorn is the Upper Clark Fork Program Manager for Trout Unlimited, and he and many others are dedicated to the restoration of coldwater habitat within one of the country’s largest Superfund sites. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A $49 fly rod combo opened the door to a whole new world for Texas bass angler, Jon Morris. Upon return from active duty, Morris was somewhat adrift, and stumbled upon fly fishing at this pivotal point in his life. Within a year, Jon would be consumed by the sport, tying flies commercially, attaining his guide license, launching a fishing podcast, and pursuing the state gar on-the-fly record. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Montana attracts her fair share of midwesterners. Those adventurous souls who crave a little more wildness and ruggedness than the flatlands have to offer in the long term. In his early twenties, Dan Crockett left Kansas for the rivers of Colorado, eventually carving out a niche for himself as a conservation-based writer in Missoula. 33 years later, Crockett is retiring from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and his position as editor of Bugle. Before, after, and during those three decades, Dan skirted peril on multiple hunts, excursions and fronts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With his world spinning out of control, Max Kelsey channeled his emotions into a fly box he dubbed, "The Box of Pain". The flies, created during his darkest days of separation and alcohol use, were born of loneliness, depression, and despair, but blossomed into a feathery collection of hope. These flies helped Max to "Be the Bug" and this mantra became his rallying cry in the march towards a better life. Through fly fishing and fatherhood, Max, a craftsman and bluegill fanatic from Bemidji, MN, now embraces a sober lifestyle and bravely shares his arduous journey. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If fly fishing is his mistress, Andrew Weiner's true love is books. This California-based angler makes his living selling books and saw a niche for a children's fable centered around fly fishing. Weiner paired with highly talented illustrator, April Chu, and the end result was "Down by the River", a charming story that follows three generations of a family out on a fly fishing adventure.  Andrew has a few of his own family fishing stories to share, including the time he and his dad encountered some beastly redfish!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hour was late in a one-star motel room in Idaho. Huddled around a wobbly table, the three of us stared into our half-empty beers. Our buddy Mike G., who had spent many years guiding and boating the wild rivers of the American Southwest, was prompted to share...“have you guys ever heard the legend of La Llorona”? This is one of the most terrifying ghost stories we have ever heard on our fly fishing podcast. Listeners beware. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know the risk of picking up hitchhikers, but we may be transporting nefarious passengers without even knowing it. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are non-native plants and animals that have the potential to due lasting harm to our watersheds. Fisheries across the country have been permanently damaged by these critters, several of which have been traced back to maritime mishaps in the Great Lakes region. Across Montana and the Upper Midwest, fisheries and recreational managers are aligned with concerned citizens to prevent further spread of these noxious invaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"A fisherman in a monkey suit walks into a bar"... This isn't the lead-up to a punch line, but an actual retelling of events from our guest, Michael Gibson. A former fly fishing guide and outdoor television producer, Michael is the Idaho Field Coordinator for Trout Unlimited and a champion for coldwater fisheries and public access. Plus, he's a helluva' good story teller, but may need to find some new fishing buddies.... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guide Brett Wedeking was staring at the familiar problem of “how to check off my fly fishing life-list”. So, he formulated a solution that began on his home waters of Puget Sound, establishing a loyal client base. Then he formed relationships with some of the world’s premier lodges and outfitters. Now Brett’s business, Tailout Anglers, hosts adventures across the globe. It’ not as easy as it sounds but all things are possible at the intersection of hard work and luck…just pray there’s not an elk standing there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behemoth browns rarely dole out second chances but in a rare display of recurrence, guide Scott Nechay fed a mammoth fish in the exact same spot on four consecutive days. On another less- awesome occasion, a hothead client, in a fit of fly fishing-induced rage, smashed Scott's high modulus rod and was sent packing. One thing about guiding-its always interesting, and Chef Nechay makes his days all the more so by preparing first class meals for his guests on rivers across Montana and Wyoming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You never know who is going to end up in your guide boat? When we had the pleasure of fishing with Tim Quinton, we invited him to join us on the podcast. To say Quinton has led a rather adventurous life would be a monumental understatement. A former “Coastie”, Tim was aboard several vessels featured on “Deadliest Catch” while stationed in the salmon fishing hub of Kodiak, Alaska. He’s sailed with the US Navy on missions to the Middle East and worked in the Pentagon. As it turns out, we had crossed paths before while he was working as a guide on Oregon’s Deschutes River. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are currently in a renaissance period in terms of fly design. Fly tyers are advancing the balance between fly movement and castability. This is particularly true for streamer patterns, resulting in a higher percentage of hookups on those really hard to come by fish like big browns and muskies. Dan Soltau is one such fly innovator and the name of his shop, the Dirty Water Fly Company, smells like the pursuit of big fish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing "Tributaries", a series of snippets from our most memorable outdoor adventures, narrated by our hosts. Every so often, the universe abides and bestows anglers who wade forth with a transcendent experience. When the morning began with a Don Williams lick on a Homer radio station, our spidey senses began to tingle. What followed was a day on an Alaskan River that we certainly didn't expect and that can never be duplicated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know the old adage "If you want to get to know a guy, sit down over a Kinky Muddler"...we did just that with Tom Latourelle of Bespoke Bugs. A former custom furniture maker, Latourelle's background as a craftsman is evident in the design, shape, and movement of the flies that he creates for his clients. Tom was kind enough to invite us over to his house for a one-on-one glue sniffing session as he spins a technical baitfish patterns for Baja. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our first "vessel of freedom" was a used aluminum Willie boat dad bought off a guy in 1984. She served our family, friends, and clients for 30 years on adventures throughout the PNW. Between the gunnels, we tallied a catalog of euphoric experiences that spawned into lasting memories. However, the story of our old drift boat would've never been told had things gone just a little more sideways on her early voyages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This bachelor party took place a long way from Sin City, but the riverbank lit up like the Strip as Brandon Dwyer and friends approached the boat ramp with trepidation....unpredictability is inherent in adventures in wild places but Dwyer will assume the risk for the "opportunity for a singular focus". When he's not focused on family and career, the Montana native devotes his remaining time to the Westslope Chapter of TU, a legion of volunteers at work enhancing and protecting Southwest Montana's precious coldwater fisheries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trumpeter-turned fly fishing guide-turned golf professional, Mike Barber, dives deep into the abyss to recover a few pearls for this long-overdue discussion. The stories flow like grog in a steelhead camp as Barber recants adventures in guiding on the rivers of Oregon and touring with a fly rod and a funk band. Mike graciously lends his services as a facts-checker to our podcast, to set the record straight on a few past discrepancies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An unconventional upbringing, including stints in Argentina and Venezuela, set Ray Penny on the path to a life of adventure and service. Following a career in the fly fishing industry, Penny joined the Marines, and returned to civilian life looking for his next mission. That turned out to be the resurrection of G&H Decoys, the last of the American-made manufacturers. A father of six, family comes first, and with kin in Puerto Rico, Ray is able to visit relatives and pursue his passion for tarpon via kayak and fly rod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He's starred on the both the big and little screens in many fly fishing productions, but what would Frank Smethurst do when his fishing problem led to a near-death experience aboard a decrepit boat? He decided to make some major changes to his life, toning back his travel significantly and spending more time at home with his wife and daughter. Then, in a twist of irony,  he was enlisted to work on another production. The premise? Traveling around the country in a decrepit boat with the crew from Meateater. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steelhead anglers tend to be obsessive. Case in point, Oregon fisherman, Scott Crosby. Scott has been a student of fly design since he first moved to the south coast's hallowed rivers over 15 years ago. Crosby's search for the right composition and proportion of materials is an endless one. He shares some valuable insight, including a game-changing twist on one of the most popular winter steelhead fly patterns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are an estimated 84,000 dams across the country that serve a variety of purposes, from hydropower to flood control. Dams also serve as barriers to passage for native fish species, while creating habitat for illegally introduced and invasive fish. Our indigenous fish populations need our help. Enter Whooshh Innovations, a Seattle-based company with a high-tech solution to the fish passage problem. From the folks that brought us the “Salmon Cannon”, Vince Bryan, CEO, introduces the “Whooshh Passage Portal.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is a V Lam and a Shoal Cut? We've always wondered what these terms actually mean in association with our favorite oars and Derek Young is the guy to ask. As Northern US Territory Manager for Sawyer Oars, Derek answers these questions and shares his many years of experience working with this Oregon-based oar and paddle manufacturing company. A lifelong river enthusiast, Derek relates the time that the Young family arrived at the takeout to discover a mystery couple walking the banks naked, but that wasn't the biggest surprise... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The dream of many fly fishing guides, hell, of, is to winter in the Caribbean and summer in Rockies. Vail, Colorado-based guide, Jesse Colten, came to the village of Xcalak, Mexico for the permit fishing, but stayed for the hospitality. Jesse now the owner of The Xflats, a lodge and guide service specializing in flats fishing adventures. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your dream of fishing for rainbows in Russia has taken you down a Google-rabbit hole, you’ve likely encountered the name, “Will Blair”. Blair is an American pioneer of Kamchatka trout fishing, operating remote outfitting businesses in Russia since the 1990’s. If explorations of uncharted trout streams via Russian military helicopters weren’t enough, Will’s penchant for fly fishing solitude has led him to the remote reaches of the Bahamian islands with his latest venture. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Landwehr describes fly fishing as "a lifelong sport with an incredible community". Through his 21 years as owner of Tight Lines Fly Fishing CO in De Pere, Wisconsin, Tim has learned many facets of this endless pursuit and weathered storms alongside his loyal clientele with whom he has shared his home waters and hosted many adventures in the Amazonian jungle. After 21 years in the industry, Tim is finally of age and ready to party-Cheers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We like to think of outdoor recreation as an investment in our own well-being. The guys at Chasing Tides act as sort of account advisors. In order to maximize profits, this crew of watermen advises on products they've found to make access to the outdoors more efficient for professionals and parents. The inspiration for this venture was their own backyard, the diverse fisheries of Virginia that provide salt, streams, and solace from the daily grind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

December 1, 2021 was a most unusual day. Throughout Montana, record high temperatures were eclipsed by double-digits and the state’s most-storied trout fishery, the Madison River, slowed to a trickle. So, just what the hell happened at Hebgen Dam? Billy Pfeiffer, TU Montana’s Outreach Coordinator, was at ground zero “The Day the Madison Nearly Dried.” Pfeiffer gets down to the brass tacks regarding the dam malfunction and the ensuing community effort to save stranded fish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In terms of allure, steelhead and permit rank atop the list for many of the most hopelessly-addicted fishing bums; these two species have ruined many a promising career. The trick is, to mold a job and lifestyle around the pursuit, and Damien Nurre has excelled at this! Following a long stint as a guide/outfitter on Oregon's legendary Deschutes, Nurre's foray into the realm of saltwater fly fishing got off to an auspicious start, when he landed a two permit-Grand Slam before lunch. Now firmly rooted as the manager of the legendary Blue Horizon Lodge, Damien has set his sights on a new and lofty goal-to spend an entire year in his flip flops.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steelhead returns in the Columbia Basin are the lowest ever recorded resulting in unprecedented fishing closures on some of the most hallowed waters in fly fishing. The fate of a bellwether species of incalculable cultural, financial, and environmental importance hangs in the balance. Now more than ever, these fish need advocates, like Josh Mills. As a Board Member of the Wild Steelhead Coalition and Development Coordinator for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Josh is deeply engaged in the fight to save these enigmatic fish. After all, steelhead are responsible for cherished memories with his mega-fishy dad. Mills dives deep into the steelhead life cycle and shares a behavior that we've never heard before. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Solo fishing trips are inherently unpredictable and Bryan Huskey has a knack for putting himself in predicaments in wild places. Throughout a lifetime spent exploring the west on hunting and fishing excursions, Bryan has encountered plenty of interesting characters and developed a knack for storytelling across multiple media platforms. A gifted photographer, videographer and passionate conservationist. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett Edstrom and his buddies arrived at the landing to discover an unusually high concentration of out-of-state plates. Turns out, this entourage was lead by a prominent figure in the world of social media. Downriver, Edstrom bore witness to a poor display of fish handling in favor of potential "likes". Though there was no law prohibiting their methods, the court of public opinion would likely have ruled against them. Rather than act as judge, jury, or executioner, Brett and friends extended an olive branch when the crew came under duress but walked away with a bad taste in their mouths. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steelhead guide and international booking agent, Brad Staples, shares his global adventures and perspective on guiding over his four decade-career in the fishing industry. When not operating his jet boat guide service on the Lower Deschutes during the summer steelhead season, Brad spends his "off-season" hosting expeditions for peacock bass in the Amazon jungle, golden dorado in Argentina, GT's/bonefish in Christmas Island, and tarpon in the Yucatan as a booking agent for Fishing with Larry. Talk about a wealth of knowledge! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fed by innumerous tributaries from the surrounding Cabinet, Flathead, Rocky and Selkirk mountains, the mighty Kootenai River bores its way through mountainous terrain in Northwest Montana. For nearly 30 years, Tim and Joanne Linehan have been exploring this massive watershed and providing premium fly fishing and hunting excursions to their clientele. This country teems with adventure and Tim shares some memorable experiences as one of Montana’s most renowned guide/outfitters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back! Has it only been a year since our mysterious absence? The rumors have abounded that we were kidnapped by bottom trawlers or became a pickleball power couple, but truth is, we've just been busy with life...and a little fishing. While Lauren was working and holding down the fort, Justin used the respite to search for an Oregon dinosaur. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As anglers, most of us would do anything for the chance to catch a fish of a lifetime, even if that means going to a country by ourselves and following a guide into an isolated jungle. Our ambition to catch that "notorious" fish can make us blind to the potential dangers around us. Steelhead guide, Dax Messett is no exception to that. Although Dax has aspirations to catch fish around the world, his true passion is to swing the fly for steelhead in his hometown of Medford, Oregon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the premier of the TFR Video Series, we drop the kids at school, skip work, shirk household chores and set course for a local trout stream in hopes of extending the summer hopper season just one more day! Watch this on thefebruaryroom.com or subscribe to our YOUTUBE channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Curious about gar? We were, so we tapped one of the leading authorities on this prehistoric apex predator. Aggressively hunted by bow fishers and mistreated by some anglers, the gar can’t seem to get any respect, but Dr. Ryan King serves as an advocate for this misunderstood group of species. A Professor of Biology and Director of Aquatic Ecology at Baylor University, King’s career path began following his first fly fishing experience on Oregon’s Deschutes River. King holds the Texas catch and release flyrod records for longnose (59", length only) and alligator (40.7 lbs) gars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Western Montana is steeped in fly fishing history and at the epicenter lies the Maclean family, of “A River Runs Through It Fame”. John Maclean, son of Norman, is an accomplished author in his own right and relates the inspiration for this latest book. What began as a recount of a tangle with a monumental rainbow trout morphed into a book, and “Home Waters” was born. John shares his own insight into a childhood spent at a cherished family cabin and the Blackfoot River that is forever linked to his family’s history. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Children in the foster program cope with innumerable challenges and difficult upbringings. The Mayfly Project is dedicated to providing these kids respite from the stressors of their daily lives by introducing them to fly fishing. Executive Director Jess Westbrook and Lead Mentor Rebecca Granillo have been instrumental in growing the Mayfly Project into a nationwide organization aimed at developing lifelong fly enthusiasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you're a fly angler or not, you've likely seen the work of Chris Santella in bookstores, gift shops, or in the waiting room.  As the author of the "Fifty Places Before You Die" series, Chris found a niche in the highly competitive and extremely difficult world of freelance writing, providing Chris with the means to pen countless fly fishing stories and pursue his passion for music along with his band, "Catch and Release". Most importantly, there is time for family and fishing. Thoughts of steelhead are never far from Santella's mind, and the imperiled state of anadromous fish in his home waters of the Pacific Northwest weigh heavily. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a region near-and-dear to our hearts, sits a fly shop and guide service. Here, memories are made for anglers the world-over. The Hayward Fly Fishing Company has been at the forefront of techniques and tackle for pursuit of the ultimate freshwater gamefish, musky, since 2004. Longtime guide and new proprietor, Stu Neville, shares some of his most memorable musky moments and reveals his affinity for another resident widely considered to be the hardest-fighting freshwater quarry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In baseball, a "5 Tool Athlete" can hit, field, run, throw, and hit for power. Brian O'Keefe is the fly fishing version of a 5 Tool Athlete, he can fish, cast, run a boat, take amazing photos, and tell great fishing stories. Brian has made fly fishing his life's work, and used his skills with a rod and camera to traverse the globe and fill fly fishing magazines, books, and short films with his imagery and persona. We are thrilled to have him in the February Room and since laughter is the best medicine, prepare for a heavy dose from a true 5 Tool Athlete! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hollywood A-listers declined, so for our 100th episode, we looked across the studio and began reminiscing on the glory days of our respective careers in outdoor television. Lauren's duties included midnight dungeon logging, while Justin strapped a device resembling a medieval torture device to his chest in the name of crystal-clear audio. We saw plenty of the good, bad, and ugly in our years as editors/producers, but worked with plenty of talented people that have remained lifelong friends...wouldn't change a thing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The problem with this podcast, like working at Baskin Robbins, is that we're constantly being introduced to new flavors of fly fishing that we yearn to sample. When we first heard of "The Crash", our smallmouth senses began to tingle and we went straight to the source for insight into a remarkable feeding frenzy that occurs on Wisconsin's namesake river. Kyle Zempel of Black Earth Angling Co. abides and explains "The Crash" and other fishing opportunities that we now have to go add to our North Woods itinerary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Chris Dombrowski is at it again, sharing the firsthand perspective of a seasoned river guide in his unique, poetic style. Dombrowski's latest release, "The River You Touch", has been described as "a love song to the rivers of Montana." We're such big fans of this love song that we invited Chris back on to discuss his new book and reflect on the challenges and rewards of fatherhood and life in Montana. As Jim Harrison said, "in a life properly lived, you're a river", and Dombrowski seems intent on heeding this suggestion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A parent's worst nightmare nearly came true for Scott Carver, inspiring him to reevaluate river safety. Specifically, the resources available to river users relative to location, weather, and stream flows. The end result from this aha moment was the On Water App, a comprehensive platform of all river data of interest to anglers, boaters, paddlers, and river users. With the launch of this app, the days of drawing directions to secluded boat ramps on bar napkin may well be over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While we're pretty sure that Houston won't be hosting the Fly Fishing World Championships anytime soon, you'd be surprised how many fishing opportunities there are in the "Bayou City." Author Robert McConnell explores the possibilities and provides the beta in his new guide book, Fly Fishing Houston and Southeastern Texas. Turns out, theres a bounty of fly rod challenge hiding in plain sight in the city's canals, backwaters, and streams...you just need to think outside the trout box. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can't swing a dead cat in the Murray Bar in Livingston, Montana without hitting a fly fishing guide or an artist. The odds of even taking out two proverbial birds with one feline are pretty good, as many local ghillies row by day and paint by night. Don Rogers, a former "knot-untangler" himself, saw the obvious need for a retail venue featuring unique wares created by local craftsmen and opened up a pop-up shop in downtown Livingston. On the heels of a drought-stricken fishing season in Montana, Don relates a trip to the Yucatan with an unbelievable outcome. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the only female angler at a legendary permit lodge in the Yucatan, Peg Miskin showed the fellas "how it was done" by landing not one, but two, permit on her first attempt at this notoriously difficult species. Perhaps her instant success was simply a matter of karma? If anyone has built up a reservoir of positive energy, its Peg. As the Event Manager of Cast One for Hope, Miskin devotes her time to organizing the flagship fundraising event for Casting for Recovery. CFR's mission is to enhance the lives of women with breast cancer by connecting them to each other and nature through the therapeutic sport of fly fishing. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While navigating the shark-infested waters of mental health, psychologist and fly angler, Nathaan Demers, and his team created a unique platform, "Man Therapy", aimed at providing a resource for men experiencing depression, anxiety, and anger at a critical time in our society. Befitting a man who has spearfished in the literal shark-infested waters of Fiji.  https://mantherapy.org/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In preparation for this interview, we clicked the link to "Mending the Line" on the laptop. A captivating series of events unfolded in the opening scene. Then we were transported to a fly shop in Montana. Instantly, the hook was buried and it required the patience of a spring creek angler to hit "pause"...this was one of those cinematic events better experienced on the silver screen! We are honored to be joined by Director Joshua Caldwell and Writer Stephen Camelio for a behind the scenes look at the filmmaking process from brainstorming to the box office. Starring Sinqua Walls, Brian Cox, Perry Mattfeld and Wes Studi, "Mending the Line" hits theaters June 9th and takes viewers on the tumultuous journey of a marine wounded in Afghanistan, his ensuing struggles with the traumatic aftermath and the discovery of fly fishing's therapeutic virtues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout a lifetime spent in the fly fishing industry, Pete Vandergrift of Cheeky Fishing has adopted a set of rules to qualify the value of fishing memories. The parameters are pretty simple: go outside your comfort zone, overcome obstacles...and save the big one for your Dad! It's not always the biggest, baddest catch (though those don't hurt) that land a fish into his personal Top 5 Fishing Memories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"To fish or not to fish? That is the question weighing heavily on the mind of Zack Williams, magazine editor of Backcountry Journal and Swing the Fly. With so few fish in the river systems of the Pacific Northwest, Zack ponders the personal decision to step away from the steelhead he loves and recounts the wanderings of a fly fishing vagabond from Patagonia to the Olympic Peninsula." --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do Kenny G, Motley Crue, Devo, and a 1000 days of angling have in common? Answer....Ron Kaye! The dirt on this former music agent is a newfound infatuation with life-on-the-fly. Ron's adventures took him from Argentina to Tasmania in his quest to fish for a thousand days, a goal that was nearly cut short when "Mr. K" had a close shave with a lighting bolt on a Central Oregon lake. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sierra-based angler, Abe Blair has carved out a pretty nice little niche for himself. His vast river guiding experience, coupled with his renowned ability to capture landscape and wildlife, has taken him around the globe toting rod, reel, and camera. Blair is a partner in a gallery in Lake Tahoe, where his eye for color, light, and nature is on full display. And oh yeah, he's the co-host of a fly fishing TV show as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learning to cast cack-handed is pretty easy, you simply start out that way. Just ask Tom Johanson. This Kiwi adventure-angler suffered a shoulder injury prior to his initial introduction to river fly fishing and did what any teenage "fisho" would do, learned to throw southpaw. Now many years removed from that pitfall, Tom is all healed up and hard at it, designing, testing, and re-testing gear for the family business, Composite Developments. Tom spits some serious local knowledge on the endless fishing opportunities available in his homeland, the genesis of a rod brand that revolutionized fishing travel, and the time he took advantage of his buddy's hangovers to catch a mega gamefish. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout Texas, inconspicuous fisheries attract a growing legion of flyrodders. Recognizing this trend, school teacher William Stewart, owner/operator of Brazos on the Fly, decided to dip his toe into the guiding waters. From his first full year in business, Stewart attracted local clientele and introduced them to the joys of casting flies to the river's bass, carp, and panfish. Will introduces us to the Brazos and a local narrative that became an engrossing book and flew equally under the radar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meateater Fishing Editor, Sam Lungren, was reared in the watery wonderland of Puget Sound. A childhood spent pursuing salmon, steelhead, and ling cod blossomed into a lifestyle centered around the outdoors and a career in outdoor media. Now a Montana resident, Sam still has salt in his veins and shares some of his recent adventures pursuing bonefish, tarpon, and those pesky permit in Belize. As an outdoor journalist, Sam has intimate knowledge of many issues concerning sportsmen, including the latest proposal to remove the dams on Idaho's Snake River before runs of native anadromous fish disappear.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Mike Beagle and friends realized that the old-growth headwaters of Southern Oregon's Elk River were not under full federal protection, they enlisted the services of a local coalition of foresters and fisher-people. The end-game was the designation of the Copper Salmon Wilderness and the protection of critical spawning grounds for the river's wild salmon and steelhead. As if this feat of conservation-strength weren't enough, Mike was one of the founding members of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers...just don't ask him to take a photo of your catch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tucked away in a sleepy town near Glacier National Park is one of the industry's leading distributors of commercially tied fly patterns, Montana Fly Company. Fly shops and anglers the world over have come to rely on MFC's ingenuity, creativity, consistency, and quality. National Sales Manager, Jake Chutz, is an integral part of the operation and like most MFC employees, got his start as a fishing guide. Jake shares his trials and tribulations from Montana to Tierra Del Fuego, like the time he nearly knocked himself unconscious with an errant cast. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The allure of a feeding frenzy can be too much for an angler to take, and many of us have done it...aimed a reach-cast at the forbidden fruit. For Henry Cowen, the decision to bend the rules drew a prompt response from authorities in a menacing gunboat who had little sense of humor...or they weren't anglers. Guide, fly tyer and author of the recently released "Flyfishing for Freshwater Striped Bass", Henry shares this and other exploits accrued from a lifetime of fly fishing shenanigans. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are fortunate to have our base of operations in Missoula, where authors, fly fishing guides, poets, and professors are as common as evening caddis events, or, in the case of Chris Dombrowski, all of these vocations rolled into one personality. Despite publishing several books and countless magazine articles, Chris still retains a few stories yet-untold from a life spent exploring watery realms throughout Michigan, Montana, and the Bahamas. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does this sound like a blurb on a paperback? "Promising Wall Street broker, Eddie O', shirks the champagne and caviar lifestyle and moves to Montana to pursue his dream of becoming a ski bum and fishing guide." This is the real-life story of Eddie Olwell, owner of Fishs Eddy O Outfitters, who, to the chagrin of his parents, found the allure of dry fly fishing and deep powder more magnetic than the glitz and glamour of The Big Apple. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pennsylvania makes the short list of the country's best fishing states. From legendary trout streams like the Delaware, Letort Run, and Spring Creek, to fabled smallmouth fisheries such as the Susquehanna, PA offers something for everyone. For a full-frontal assessment of angling opportunities in the Keystone State, we tap into the experience and expertise of Rick Nyles, owner of Skyblue Outfitters. Since 1999, Rick and his staff of elite guides have provided services across the state...so you can bet your bippy he has some fishing stories to share. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"How do we get these rods in angler's hands?" That was the question Marty asked, when, circa 1980, one of his fishing buddies began building rods out of a clandestine material designed for incognito aircraft. Not only was the SR-71 born, but the fishing world changed forever with the introduction of carbon fiber, aka, graphite, as the fundamental material in rod blanks. For our 20th episode, we have the great pleasure of speaking with Marty Johanson, founder of Composite Developments. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine owning 360,000 acres of private trout water...that's right, 360,000!!! Well, Chilean angling pioneer, Cristian Dufflocq, along with his brother, wake up to this dream daily, in a fly fishing paradise called Estancia de los Rios. In this episode, Cristian takes you to this Patagonian wonderland, reflects on the memorable people he has fished with over his career, and recalls the monster fish that got away! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At just 7 years old, Jessica Haydahl trekked off into her backyard, disposable camera in hand, determined to capture the natural world around her. Many years later, her interest in photography would mesh with her intimate knowledge of ice hockey and launch a career as an NHL photographer. Born the daughter of a Norwegian fisherman, Jessica's love of angling spurred a highly successful transition into the highly competitive, and mostly male-dominated, world of fishing photography. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did you celebrate your last birthday? Did you try to catch an Alaskan salmon for each year that you've been on this earth? That's what Greg Munther did. If you live in the Northern Rockies and hunt and fish, you've likely heard of Munther, and we are very fortunate to have this revered traditional outdoorsman and conservationist in The February Room! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Cook exemplifies the term "intrepid angler". Though Dave calls Montana home, the salt courses through his veins. His passion is DIY fishing and he has channeled his vast experience into "Skinny Waters", a travel business catering to the growing do-it-yourself crowd. Cook shares some adventures in wanderlust and his favorite fly for Christmas island bonefish. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Missoula OG (original guide), Jay Dixon sits down with our host and reflects on his 30-year career as a guide and outfitter. Dixon's Outdoor Adventures, as the name implies, is more than a guide service, as Jay tends to push the boundaries on his Montana escapades. Over three decades of running wild rivers, there have been more than a few harrowing incidents that he and his clients have managed to escape! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our premiere, we catch Justin Karnopp, owner of CD Fishing USA, tying a creepy pike fly. Justin recounts a couple of harrowing guide-tales from the Blackfoot and Deschutes rivers. Tune in and remember to go fishing! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Jenny West of Go West Outfitters, a lifelong angler and entrepreneur born on the banks of the Bitterroot River. Jenny shares her journey through 20 years of guiding and outfitting on Western Montana's most dynamic watershed, adventures in Christmas Island, and the time they caught an epic trout when everyone else stayed home. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He's graced fly fishing catalogs, appeared on TV shows, became one of the most-renowned guides on Montana's Missouri River, but you won't find him anywhere on social media! Owner of Rise Outfitters, Peter Skidmore, shares insight into guiding/outfitting, the difference between the two, and the time he @#$% in a movie star's loo! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

These are trying times for Oregon's mighty Deschutes River. Multiple environmental factors threaten the river's native redband rainbows, steelhead, and salmon. Now more than ever, this watershed needs warriors to stand up and fight for her. Meet Elke Kirk, a First Nation's fly fishing guide who uses his platform to educate anglers on the importance of protecting and enhancing the river that has sustained his people since time immemorial. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We finally got Bill Owens to talk! A 20-year veteran of outdoor television, Bill has traveled and filmed throughout the globe and shares a few encounters with unmanned boats, bears, celebrities, and sticks in the eye...oh my. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hip hop/rap artist, David Alexander has lived a wild life and his adventures in the outdoors are no exception. Tune in as David (aka The Dirtball and former band member of the Kottonmouth Kings) remembers noodling catfish, poaching the campwater, and the time his buddy accidentally hooked way more than he bargained for! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are two kinds of fishing guides in this world-those who have lost their boat, and those who will. Meet a card-carrying member of the former club, Jon (Bon) Hazlett, a steelhead angler and world-renowned spey caster/instructor from Medford, Oregon. Jon has seen some ridiculous events transpire over his long career as a steelhead guide...the tug is the drug! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While on a DIY foray to Mexico for permit, via bicycle, George Hill stumbled into the right bar and found the right guy pouring drinks...a bartender with a boat and an eye for the whereabouts of these elusive fish. George Hill has an eye too, for seeing the intricacies of the natural world, and the elusive fish he loves to pursue, and expressing this with oil on canvas. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've all been there. Rendezvoused well before dawn, assessed the situation, reconfigured at the jumping-off-point....but here's where the story diverges from the norm...the Law arrives and suddenly, you're party to a crime scene-enlisted to play the role of superhero. This is the story of Drake Perry, an angler who would prefer to mind his own business and explore the unusual waters of the Ohio River valley. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Michigan native and longtime Montana outfitter, Josh Lauer. Josh has spent 20 years guiding and exploring the Big Sky. Lauer shares one of his favorite patterns for the spring Skwala hatch and some close encounters with Montana wildlife. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lauren-karnopp3/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices