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Jim Bartschi, President and chief rod designer of Scott Fly Rods, explains why the price of fly rods has outstripped inflation in the years since 2000. Material costs, costs of labor, and above all warranties are explained in this contribution to the discussion on The Itinerant Angler Board. |
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Patricia Edel is the owner of the Blue Fly Guide Service in King Salmon, Alaska. Listen to her highly entertaining interview about the quirks of life in King Salmon; from $10 milk, to bears with pink paws, to the huge runs of salmon and enormous native rainbows.
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Gar, shoal bass and striper, with Kent Edmonds. As one of Georgia's best known guides, Kent Edmonds and his methods of fishing are frequent topics of conversation in southeastern chat rooms and fly shops. Listen in as he describes Georgia and Florida's unique shoal bass (perfect for fly fishing) as well as tactics for more extravagant species like longnose gar!
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Paul Puckett is a well-known face among southeastern anglers and patrons of the Fish Hawk fly shop in Atlanta. Soon he'll be even better known nation-wide for his artwork, which ranges from near photorealistic depictions of angler catches to unique etching designs more commonly seen in 19th century texts. In his many travels, he's picked up quite a few interesting stories, too -- like the time he sold Dick Cheney a fishing license. Don't miss this exciting new podcast.
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Derek DeYoung is arguably the hottest young painter working in the outdoor world right now. Tune in to understand his philosophy, his market, and why he just loves to paint trout. Check out his work at canvasfish.com!
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Mack Martin and David Diaz, both master-certified fly casting instructors, take me through the certified casting instructor test, and explain the nature of the FFF program. Why do we have certified instructors in the first place? Isn't this all just a merit badge for show-offs? Tune in to find out! Mack Martin is an owner and the current head of the Atlanta Fly Fishing School, while David Diaz is a member of the FFF Board of Governors. |
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Few people of any stripe start their own businesses in their mid-twenties, but next to none go about it quite like April Vokey. Unconventional in the extreme, the rare woman in a man's world, April has overcome everything from institutional prejudice to a car accident which nearly ended her fishing career - by taking her foot. Through it all, April not only maintained an upbeat attitude; she took it to a whole different plane. "Damn right you can wear mascara," April tells her fellow female anglers. "You wear it to the grocery store; why can't you wear it to the river? Why would you have to look like a boy to fish like one?" Why indeed? Don't miss this extremely unique voice - for her insights into angling, into steelhead, and into perseverance. This week: new music from Dana Falconberry! |
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Head guide, champion caster, woman in a man's world: any of these could describe Rachel Finn and yet none would be sufficient. Only one term encompasses Rachel as she sees herself: fisherman. Listen to Rachel's insightful and unique perspective on guiding and teaching both men and women as one of the only (and the best) female guides in the country. |
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A special surprise this week: an all-music podcast! Don't miss ten of my favorite artists from the history of The Itinerant Angler Podcast, including Old Crow Medicine Show, the Wailin' Jennys, Eliza Gilkyson, Runaway Planet and more!
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James Prosek: national bestselling author at 19, publisher of more than ten acclaimed works of art and fiction, on success, working in the publishing industry, and the passions of a unique mind. |
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Nick Lyons is the founder of the Lyons Press, a longtime columnist in Fly Fisherman magazine, and a true literary luminary of the sport of fly fishing. Listen to his intelligent and insightful commentary on the nature of publishing fly fishing books, the lasting impact of Norman Maclean's great work, and the search for his successor. |
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Tom Pero, Editor of Fish & Fly Magazine, and Richard Hewitt, owner of FishandFly.com, discuss the breaking news of the merger between their companies, what this means for subscribers, and the editorial direction of the new venture. Season Four kicks off with this breaking news story (and what breaking news story would be complete without red, purple, even yellow bikinis). Intrigued? Stay tuned. |
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Cortland Line Company, Sage, Ross Reels, Redington, Orvis, Costa Del Mar and G. Loomis share their upcoming products for 2009, LIVE from the Fly Tackle Retailer Show! Don't miss this, the third episode of three in the Retailer Show extravaganza, brought to you by The Itinerant Angler, American Angler Magazine, and Midcurrent Fly Fishing! |
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Patagonia, Cloudveil, Rio Products, TFO and Fishpond share their upcoming products for 2009, LIVE from the Fly Tackle Retailer Show! Don't miss this, the second episode of three in the Retailer Show extravaganza, brought to you by The Itinerant Angler, American Angler Magazine, and Midcurrent Fly Fishing! |
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Today, LIVE from the Fly Fishing Retailer Show in Denver, Colorado, learn about the new products for 2009 from Simms, Scientific Anglers, Scott Fly Rods, Dr. Slick, and Tibor! Starting today and continuing tomorrow, Monday September 15, and the next day, Tuesday September 16, at 12:00PM Eastern, hear from many of the major manufacturers in their own words. Don't miss this Retailer Show extravaganza, brought to you by The Itinerant Angler, American Angler Magazine, and Midcurrent Fly Fishing! |
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Outdoor monolith Patagonia is world-renowned for its environmental ethic, its engineering drive... and its high prices. Listen to Bill Klyn, head product designer for Patagonia's fly fishing division, explain exactly what your dollars go to when you buy a Patagonia product - from innovative recycling efforts to the leave-no-trace ethos that defined the company from its very humble beginnings and continues to shape its products today. |
"You sort of have to learn to enjoy the experience vicariously through others. It doesn't matter who catches the fish as long as somebody does." |
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Ian Crabtree is, in many ways, a coldwater version of previous guest Capt. Will Benson. Listen to his astute observations on the culture of guiding in Alaska, what it's like behind the scenes at a remote salmon lodge, and what impact anglers' take has on the fishery. Don't miss this rare opportunity to get inside the head of a top Alaskan fishing guide - you may find yourself behaving differently on your next guided trip as a result. Also, don't miss the special announcement regarding the upcoming show(s) from the Fly Fishing Retailer Show. |
"You pay a disproportionally large amount of money to get that last bit of performance." |
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| Tim Rajeff has truly lived a life of flyfishing. From his childhood tagging along to San Francisco's Golden Gate Angling Club with his big brother, world champion Steve Rajeff, to his work distributing Airflo's unique fly lines, to the creation of Rajeff Sports and Echo Fly Rods, Tim Rajeff never seems to slow down. Tune in for a look inside the international competitive casting circuit of the 1980s and for a primer on the complexities of fly line manufacture. Then learn what makes a world champion tick; and how much fun it is to beat him at his own game. |
"There is no cut and sew manufacturer in the United States who could keep up with the demand and scheduling we have with Fishpond." |
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| Johnny Le Coq has been a successful businessman (and photographer) all his life. Still, who could expect a small accessories company--you know, the ones which crop up each year like daffodils, only to wither as fast as they came--to not only survive the turmoils of fly fishing's small market, but to become what one rep called "the company I'd give my left [censored] to land?" Listen in as Johnny's design genius peeks through the cracks of his modesty while he unveils one of fly-fishing's hottest brands. |
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| Greg Lilly is the founder and (again) owner of Healing Waters Lodge. He also runs the "Think Like a Guide" series of on-the-water schools out of his location in Twin Bridges, Montana. Come along as Greg discusses guide etiquette, tipping, and how to fish like the guides. Special thanks this week to the sponsors and entrants involved in the Itinerant Angler Photo Contest. My appreciation goes out to Scientific Anglers, Scott Fly Rods, Temple Fork Outfitters, Mark Schafer of the Steelhead Shop, and most especially, Joel Thompson of the Rock Creek Cattle Company for donating a stay in his personal cabin as a grand prize. Joel got left out of the thanks on the show and I wanted him to know how much I appreciate his contribution. |
"And that was Redington..." |
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| Jim Murphy founded Redington and Albright Tackle, and today is President of Hardy North America. Listen to his insightful and uncommonly candid commentary on foreign manufacture, outsourcing, and fly-fishing product design and distribution. Don't miss the unveiling of a timeless classic coming back to Hardy's lineup for 2009. |
"It's freezin'! It wrinkles ya." |
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| Kelly Galloup is the inventor--or at least the compiler--of modern trophy trout streamer fishing. Listen in as he gives what amounts to a masterclass in his unique sinking line/articulated streamer techniques for "mature" trout; you know, the ones over twenty-five inches! As you might expect from the inventor of the "Sex Dungeon" and "T and A" flies, he's a great interview. |
"Permit fishing is... intensely visual." |
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| One of the hottest young guides in the Florida Keys right now is Captain Will Benson (though he won't claim the title). Also known for his submissions to The Drake's annual fly fishing video contest, Benson exudes experience. Listen as Will gives an inside look at guide culture in the most competitive saltwater fly fishery on the planet; how to book a guide (early--in life!), when to go for permit, tarpon, or bones, and what is really going on inside your guide's head while you're flailing away on the deck. |
"Roosterfish are the Elizabeth Hurley of fish." |
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| Best known for his appearance in Felt Soul Media's hit fly-fishing movie Running Down the Man, Frank Smethurst is one of the few anglers qualified to represent the up-and-coming sector of fly fishing in any environment. Whether he's on the scorching beaches of Baja or in an Ohio river that once quite literally caught fire, Frank conveys the sense that he's just one of your fishing buddies. (Even if he would probably be the most-talented, widest-traveled, and best-groomed of your buddies). Frank's next project is hosting Trout Unlimited's upcoming television series, On the Rise on the Outdoor Channel, starting April 10. (Don't miss the excellent trailer for the show!) |
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| Tibor Nemeth is the commercial photographer responsible for the award-winning Simms Catalog. Come along for this unique look at our sport through the lens of a really talented outsider. |
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| Charles Jardine is one of the world's great experts; his breadth of knowledge ranges from the chalk streams of England to the four corners of the United States. Don't miss his insightful and well-informed commentary on the rise of angling tradition, the 'rules' Americans inherited from the UK, and modern-day uses for some pretty old fly fishing technology. |
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| Davy Wotton's road from his homeland of Wales to the rugged shores of Arkansas' White River has been long and winding. Along the way, he's fished with some of the best anglers in the world, in some of the best places in the world. He is unquestionably one of the most innovative anglers of his generation and a sage when it comes to the intricacies of the South's finest tailwater. |
"It smelled like dead fish!" |
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| Barry and Cathy Beck are synonymous with excellence in fly fishing photography. As some of the most successful trip hosts in the industry, they've experienced their fair share of exciting travel experiences, too. Listen in as they reveal a few of their secrets, tell a few hair-raising tales, and display so clearly why they're frequently called "the nicest people in fly fishing." |
"It spewed up a whole possum!" |
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| Peter Morse is Australia's Fly-Fishing Superman; as the former host of one of the only primetime fly fishing TV shows to ever run worldwide and an expert on most of the fishing opportunities in the Indo-Pacific, Peter's built up a cache of stories unequalled by any. Don't miss his entertaining and elucidating discussions about the four species of bonefish, the jaw-dropping power of the New Guinea Bass, and the amazing temperate species of the Australian mainland! |
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| Ed Engle is one of Colorado's most famous (and expert) anglers and guides. As a frequent contributor to American Angler magazine and the author of "Splitting Cane," Ed is in a rare position to enjoy unfettered access to some of the most exclusive locations. Nevertheless, he calls the South Platte his home water. Don't miss his comments on dealing with crowds, searching for big trout on little flies, and getting away from it all in the high mountain streams. |
"I called it the Exploding Fish." |
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| Ted Leeson is an instructor of writing at Oregon State University and a magazine writer for Field and Stream and Fly Rod and Reel. Come along as he explains the nuances of fly-fishing writing, how it has changed, and how it could be improved. |
"It's become both famous and infamous depending on who you talk to." |
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| Jason Borger has lived fly-fishing's version of the star-crossed life. As the son of Gary Borger, Jason grew up fishing around the world in some of the most appealing places imaginable. Though he could have taken it all for granted, he never lost his love of fishing and, especially, fly-casting; a fact which paid off handsomely when Robert Redford came calling with a little job for Jason: stunt-doubling for Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It. |
"We're giving all the yaks haircuts!" |
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| The Angling Exploration Group is many things, but timid isn't one of them. From Patagonia to New Zealand, Iceland to (now) Mongolia, these young fishermen, world-travelers, and even (in fly-fishing circles, anyway) revolutionaries, are perfectly prepared to drop a bomb on the staid angling public. But never let it be said that theirs is also the slacker culture: few anglers are willing to roll square into the mouth of the unknown, and none of them do it in such an entertaining fashion. Join the AEG crew live this week from the Mongolian steppes, where they are targeting lenok trout and elusive, massive taimen. |
K.C. Walsh tests the G4 Pro wader. |
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| Join Simms President and Owner K.C. Walsh as he sits down for a thorough explanation of the difference between Gore-Tex and other breathable fabrics, the balancing act involved in designing the world's most expensive waders, and the fight to cut costs whereever possible.
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"Mervin Thomas make a man look small." |
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| Come along with your host Zach Matthews as he explores Grand Bahama island for bonefish. Special thanks to Mervin Thomas and the Deep Water Cay Club!
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"Advertisers aren't interested in an intelligent readership; they're interested in a docile readership." |
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| James Babb is the long-time fishing columnist and now editor of Gray's Sporting Journal - unquestionably the finest literary outdoor magazine in print. Come along for his insightful comments on the trajectory of sport and literature, as well as the effects of ad men on publishing. Special thanks this week to Paul Puckett and Catch and Release Paintings!
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"I can't give you a dollar figure, but I can tell you it's not even that much per day..." |
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| Scott Fly Rods may well be the last all-American fly rod company. Listen close as President Jim Bartschi lifts the curtain on outsourcing in this even-handed and fair, but uncommonly candid interview. Hang on through the end of the show, when Jim reveals Scott's newest lineup of rods for 2008, including updates to the Classic series as well as a whole new line of highest-performance rods! Have suggestions for interviews on The Itinerant Angler Podcast? Want to announce a new product line on the show? Contact me at ZachMatthews@gmail.com.
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"Hands down, the most badass looking fish I've ever seen." |
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| When Jim Klug left Scientific Anglers to found his own fly fishing travel company, he knew that "fly fishing needed another travel company about as bad as it needed another reel manufacturer." So he took his operation, Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, in a new direction, hiring unknown guides rather than celebrities and booking the world at all its various levels of comfort. Listen in as Jim describes international bank robberies, deaths on flights, and the best fishing on the planet.
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"Obviously, don't go chasing the sheep." |
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| Simon Chu is the man-on-the-scene, the local contact for Britain-based FlyOdyssey, a fly-fishing travel company, in the Kiwi land (even further) Down Under. Listen in as Simon gives us the skinny on New Zealand trout and "saltfly" fishing, and don't miss his ideas for a personal tour of the country. Also, don't miss our new partnership with MidCurrent Fly Fishing, fly fishing's number one online news and information resource. We're very happy to have this partnership.
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The true false albacore. |
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| Buzz Bryson has (frequently) been titled "the nicest man in fly-fishing," and you'll know why after hearing this interview. As the author of Fly Rod and Reel magazine's long-running (but tragically discontinued) "Ask Professor Buzz" column and a frequent contributor to that magazine, Buzz has had the opportunity to fish with some of fly-fishing's greats, and in some of fly-fishing's great places. This week he takes us to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with stories of one of the sport's most notorious tackle-busters: the false albacore. Stay tuned for a special announcement following this week's show.
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"I'm not I, Claudius, here." |
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| Dave Klausmeyer, editor of Fly Tyer, shows all the cards when it comes to getting your fly patterns published. Along the way, he discusses the looming threat of bird flu, the rise of synthetic materials, and his own favorite flies. What's in Dave's Box? Coachman Wet
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Dr. Behnke's amazing book is available from Amazon.com. |
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| Dr. Robert Behnke is one of the (and maybe just the) world's foremost authorities on trout and salmon species. Listen to his down-to-earth explanations of the creation of cutthroat trout, the salvation of the Greenback and Lahontan cutthroat subspecies, and a little fish called onchonychus clarki behnkeii. Stay tuned for another edition of the Streamside Essay (at long last). This time join me along with Ian Crabtree on North Carolina's Davidson River in a driving rainstorm.
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"Naw, Georgia O'Keeffe spelled her name with two F's." |
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| Brian O'Keefe has been many things in his life--professional ski instructor, professional photographer, fly fisherman, and world traveler--but above all, he's been excellent. Few anglers have achieved the level of skill Brian takes for granted, whether in fishing or photography. Listen carefully, because in this uncommonly generous interview, Brian gives a lot of advice to the budding professional photographer, and it's the kind of advice money can't buy. Along the way he'll take us from New Zealand to the India/Pakistan border, where an armed confrontation ends as all should: with someone buying a beer! Next week: Dr. Robert Behnke, author of "Trout and Salmon of North America" and the namesake of the iconic onchornychus clarki behnkeii--the Snake River Fine-Spotted Cutthroat Trout . |
Dan with a nice Australian Queenie |
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| Dan Blanton is one of the world's top authorities on striped bass and saltwater fishing. Tune in for a thorough-going introduction into the intricacies of shooting head casting and fishing for world record-class striper. Don't miss Dan's reminiscences on visiting Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria, as well as his story of the kind of luck karma will bring you when you participate in a friendly fundraiser to protect your local fishery. Next week: don't miss Brian O'Keefe, on Kashmiri trout fishing opportunities, New Zealand before Middle Earth, and how to become a professional fly fishing photographer the long way! |
"Them nuns were mean!" |
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| Ted Juracsik's life can only be properly described with one word: epic. Like Odysseus cast adrift from a country in ruins, Ted wandered Europe's Cold War refugee camps before finding his way to New York City. Listen to his remarkable journey from Hungarian-speaking soccer player and tool and die machinist all the way to one of our country's top fly reel designers, told in his own distinctive voice. Special thanks this week to Marianne Papa and the Tibor Reel Company for their extensive help and cooperation. Next week: don't miss Dan Blanton, on California striped bass and the wild and wooly fisheries of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Down Under! |
The man himself. |
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| Last week's guest was one of a few, but this week's is all on his own. The name Lefty Kreh has become literally synonymous with the expert fly fisher. From his early days as a general outdoor writer to his life-spanning career as a professional at almost everything he does (photographer, marksman, writer, fisherman), Lefty is an inspiration to us all. Listen as he recounts his career in post-War biological warfare manufacture, demonstration marksmanship, and fly rod design. Stick around for Lefty's most exciting fish - the Niugini Bass - and his many memorable stories. Next Week - "Ted Juracsik, Hungarian Revolutionary!" |
(But need it really be so long?) |
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| Few anglers in the history of the sport have achieved mastery over their chosen specialty on the level of Simon Gawesworth. From the origins of the method in Scotland to the bleeding edge in the Pacific Northwest, spey casting has come a long way. Listen as Simon takes you through the burgeoning world of spey fishing; new spey casters may want to write this down: S-K-A-G-I-T. Next week: Don't miss our mystery guest! |
Saltwater-class fish in sight of downtown! |
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| Let's face it: for Mid-American anglers, all those saltwater magazines are nothing more than a big bait and switch. From reading articles about massive "silver torpedos," most anglers sadly turn to anemic and washed out stocker-sized rainbow trout. If you're an angler in flyover country, Bill Butts has the answer to your problems. Tune in and listen close, because Bill's going to give you what you always wanted: a real fish on the line. |
Is this rod a musical instrument? |
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| In 1960, no one clamored for rods made by Glenn Brackett, Tom Morgan, or Mike Clark, but today those makers command top dollar for their exquisite bamboo creations. For Bernard Ramanauskas, this is 1961: if you haven't heard his name yet, you're one of an ever-diminishing number. At 36, Ramanauskas has achieved what some well-regarded luminaries never do--his creation, Eden Cane, became so well respected that he was offered the chance to Lazarus a major bamboo studio: Scott Cane. The new SC rods he developed draw heavily from techniques pioneered at Eden Cane, putting other makers on notice. Listen carefully as Bernard gives us a masterclass in the finer points of bamboo fly rod design--you may want to grab a pen and paper! |
"Don't tell my parents!" |
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| Larry Kenney describes 1960s San Francisco, when he had a bird's eye view of the founding of the Scott Fly Rod Company and the early development of graphite rods. Don't miss his unique perspective on the surprising San Francisco, California roots of fly fishing, and the many ways the company scene has changed over the last fifty years. His comments on fiberglass rods will have you reaching - yet again - for the wallet. |
Totem Animal? |
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| The members of the Angling Exploration Group have made it their mission to provide fly fishing's stodgier establishment with a much-needed shot in the rear. Whether they're pummeling rented Jeeps in Patagonia or trout bumming their way across Reykjavik, these young documentarians and explorers make desk-bound anglers everywhere jealous, though as you'll hear, it's not all tall blondes and warm campsites... |
Bo-ga, Bo-ga, Bo-ga! |
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| Conway Bowman, bluewater captain and flyfishing adventurer extraordinaire, brings us first hand accounts of landing boat-jumping, hand-chomping, kayak-charging mako shark on the fly. Our most exciting episode yet! |
Giant Browns under a Million Feet! |
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| Steve Moore, head fishery biologist of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, gives us insight into Park management, bringing back the brookie, and some surprisingly large brown trout! |
Kickin' Season Two off right! |
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| Phil Monahan, editor of American
Angler magazine and all around good guy, gives us an inside look at
the publishing side of flyfishing, as well as relates a few stories from
his guiding days in Yellowstone
and Alaska. |
Scott Graham with one of his enormous 'poons. |
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| Captain Scott Graham wows
us this week with his tales of 200 pound Texas tarpon, as well as provides
us with information on tracking tarpon and the Tarpon
Tomorrow conservation organization. For more information, or to book
Capt. Graham, check out www.flyfishingtexas.com. |
An Edwards "Quad" is one of the more desirable pre-War rods. |
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Sante Giuliani provides a lively and interesting interview this week on the subject of bamboo fly rods, his personal rehabilitation thanks to cane, as well as some useful recommendations on current and past makers of bamboo rods for the fisherman and collector to consider. |
Marshall Cutchin was one of the first wave of flyfishing guides in the Florida Keys. |
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This week's guest is Marshall Cutchin, editor of MidCurrent Fly Fishing
and one of the first wave of guides in the Florida Keys. Marshall discusses
the thrill of tarpon fishing and the impact of twenty-five years of angling
on some of the sport's most hallowed waters. |
Bruce Richards built the lines used in Robert Redford's "A River Runs Through It." |
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We've got a good one for you this week: 3M/Scientific Anglers chief line designer and all around guru Bruce Richards. Bruce discusses fly line manufacture, the Sage Casting Analyzer, and why all those new rods are so darn stiff. |
Temple Fork Outfitters is the pre-eminent Far East manufacturer of fly rods, proving that rods can come from abroad and compete one to one with domestic sticks. |
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This week I interview TFO President and founder Rick Pope on foreign manufacturing of fly rods, his experiences with Lefty Kreh and other fly fishing celebrity consultants, and the technology in the pipeline for future TFO products. He also sets me straight about a few misconceptions that may open your eyes on the flyfishing industry. |
Arkansas guide and personality John Wilson strikes a pose. |
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The third episode of The Itinerant Angler Podcast features renowned Arkansas guide and big fish fisherman John Wilson, who discusses not only Arkansas' amazing White River system, but also distance casting and the tournament experience, both in the United States and abroad. Following John's interview, I'll bring you another audiolog, this time from the Bald River Canyon and the Holston River of East Tennessee. |
Tennessee Guide Mike Anderson with a large brown. |
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Our second episode of The Itinerant Angler Podcast features an interview with Tennessee guide Mike Anderson. Mike discusses his innovative boat-based trout fishing techniques, including using large streamers and Kelly Galloup's jerk-strip retrieve. Mike also fills us in on some lesser known - but excellent - water in the middle of the flyover South. After Mike's interview, I'll treat you to a brief audiolog of a typical winter day of trout fishing with myself, Zach Matthews, and Caesar Stair.
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Arkansas Guide John Wilson with a Little Red River Brown |
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Well, you've done it again: you've stumbled on to yet another branch of the growing Itinerant Angler media archive. This archive features podcasts about flyfishing subjects, hosted by me, The Itinerant Angler editor Zach Matthews. Our first podcast accompanies an online Flash presentation on the subject of improving your flyfishing pictures. I hope you'll enjoy it.
Check back in future weeks for episodes including interviews with local guides, industry professionals, and ordinary fishermen on specific water. You might even find some roving travellogues in here. Once again, welcome!
