What does it really take to turn a passion for fly fishing into a profession? Montana guide and outfitter Coleman Savage shares his journey from fly-shop jobs to guiding—and how Guiding for the Future helped accelerate his growth. Discover why becoming a great guide requires far more than catching fish, and how knowledge of river ecology, conservation, water rights, stewardship, client relationships, and professionalism can transform a guide’s career and their connection to the waters they depend on. Join us to learn about his journey.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• How did your early experiences in Virginia and the Bahamas shape your connection to fishing and eventually lead you toward becoming a professional guide?
• Before guiding became your profession, when did you first begin thinking, “I could actually make a living doing this?”
• You worked several fly-shop jobs before you began guiding in 2021. What did working in fly shops teach you that helped prepare you for guiding?
• When you got started, did you have another job, or did you go all in on guiding?
• What was your first season as a professional fly fishing guide really like, and what surprised you most about the job?
• Many anglers probably imagine guiding as spending every day fishing. How different is the reality of being a guide from what people imagine it to be?
• When you were starting out, who were the guides or mentors who helped you most, and what did you learn from watching experienced professionals work with clients?
• How long did it take before you began feeling like a competent professional guide rather than simply a good angler taking people fishing?
• Do most guides prefer that clients bring their own rods, reels, and flies, or use guide-provided equipment?
• You discovered Guiding for the Future through the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana. What caught your attention about the program, and why did you decide to participate so early in your guiding career?
• Before Guiding for the Future, how much did you think about subjects such as river ecology, hydrology, water rights, conservation law, and the history behind public waterways?
• If someone listening to us today is a good fly fisher who is thinking about becoming a guide, what should they understand before deciding to make that leap?

Connecticut’s Farmington River offers outstanding year-round trout fishing—but consistently catching its trout requires understanding the river, its hatches, and how fish respond to changing conditions. Steve Culton joins us to share his hard-earned knowledge of this celebrated fishery. We’ll explore where and when to fish, seasonal strategies, important hatches, productive flies, and techniques ranging from dry flies and nymphs to wet flies and streamers. Whether it’s your first trip or your fiftieth, Steve will help you fish the Farmington more effectively.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• How did the Farmington evolve from what it was 75 years ago into the blue-ribbon trout fishery we know today?
• How did the construction of the Hogback and Colebrook dams change the Farmington, and why was the creation of this tailwater so important to its trout fishery?
• How did the Wild and Scenic designation come about, and what does that protection mean for the river and for anglers today?
• What makes the Farmington different from other major trout rivers in New England?
• Can you give us a tour of the river from the dam downstream and explain how the character of the river changes along the way?
• Is the Farmington wade friendly?
• What are different management areas and sections, and what does a visiting angler need to understand about each one?
• If I only had two or three days to fish the Farmington, which portions of the river would you suggest I concentrate on to experience what makes this fishery special?
• The Farmington contains pools, riffles, runs, pocket water, braids and side channels. Which types of water tend to be overlooked, and where might anglers be walking past good trout?
• How does the Still River influence the Farmington's temperature, flows, hatches and fishing as you move downstream?
• The Farmington receives considerable fishing pressure. How should an angler adjust where, when and how they fish when the popular areas are crowded?
• If you had to identify the most important hatches that a first-time Farmington angler should know, which ones would make your list?
• If you were putting together a basic Farmington fly box for someone visiting the river, what flies and sizes would you consider essential?
• When you're fishing dry flies to selective fish, what presentation mistakes do you see anglers make most often?
• When are wet flies particularly effective on the Farmington, and how do you fish a team of wets during a hatch?

The North Umpqua is legendary among steelhead fly fishers—but success on this demanding river takes more than simply showing up with a fly rod. Former guide and author Joe W. Howell shares what you need to know to fish the North Umpqua with confidence. Discover how to read its distinctive water, choose productive flies and techniques, approach steelhead effectively, and adapt to changing river conditions. Along the way, Joe draws on years of experience to help you better understand—and appreciate—one of America’s most storied steelhead rivers.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• Your relationship with the North Umpqua began during family trout-fishing trips.  What do you remember about those first encounters with the river?
• When did you begin your fascination with steelhead?
• How did you learn more about steelhead, the river and fly fishing for them?
• Why did the North Umpqua become one of America’s most historically important steelhead fly-fishing rivers?
• What were some of the pioneers that fished the river and what influence did those early anglers have on the traditions that continue today?
• Many pools were named during the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s, but the origins of some names have been lost. Why was preserving these names—and the stories connected to them—one of your primary reasons for writing the book?
• What area became the center of the river’s early fishing camps. What made this particular section so attractive to pioneering steelhead anglers?
• The North Umpqua has a reputation for being a difficult steelhead river. What are the three biggest challenges a first-time angler must learn to overcome?
• Because this is primarily a volcanic bedrock river rather than a gravel-bottom river, where should anglers look for holding steelhead?
• For someone making a first trip, what time of year offers the best combination of fish, manageable conditions, and opportunities to learn the river?
• How does your approach change from the early summer fishing of June and July to the lower, warmer water of August and early fall?
• During late summer, why are first light, the arrival of shade, and the final light of evening often more important than the particular fly being used?
• If you were assembling separate North Umpqua fly boxes for summer and winter, which patterns, colors, and sizes would you consider essential?
• The Camp Water includes legendary names such as Glory, the Mott Water, Kitchen, Boat Pool, Station, Hayden’s Run, Sawtooth, Millionaire, and Surveyor. If an angler had only one day to explore this historic section, how would you help them prioritize those pools?

Skip and Carol Ann Morris are well known in the fly fishing world and they have stories to tell... Their latest book Imposters takes us on a trip of colorful fly fishing experiences blending stories, insights, history and instruction all based on those imposters at the end of our lines. Join us on what will be a fun as well as enlightening episode as they share those experiences with us.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• How did the idea come about for you book Imposters and how did you decide to work together on it?
• The title of the book is Imposters. At the most basic level, what are we really asking a fish to believe when we put an artificial fly in front of it?
• Could you provide some insight into how flies which appear to represent nothing in nature seem to catch fish like crazy?
• Fly tiers can become obsessed with making a fly look exactly like the insect they're imitating. How much does anatomical accuracy really matter to the fish?
• The two of you checked the dimensions of your fly drawings with a draftsman's divider so the tails, wings, hackles, thoraxes, and other components would have correct proportions. Why was that level of accuracy important to you, and how difficult is it to draw a fly accurately enough that a fly tier could actually learn from the illustration?
• Do you find that when drawing a fly it forces you to notice details about its proportions, materials, or construction that even the person tying it might overlook?
• In "The Promise, the Beaver, and the Branch," an apparently insignificant piece of water turns out to be much better than you expected. What can that experience teach us about learning to read water without prejudging it?
• Your chapter-opening illustrations don't simply show flies; they often combine the fly with fish, insects, anglers, wildlife, or scenes from the essay. For example, the opening illustration for "The Promise, the Beaver, and the Branch" brings together the trout, beaver, insect, branch, and fly. How do you decide which elements of Skip's story should become the visual story?
• Carol Anne because you're illustrating something Skip knows intimately as both a tier and fisherman, what is the collaboration like? Does Skip ever look over your shoulder and say, "That hackle is too long," or do you have artistic veto power?
• I am a new fly tyer, what pattern is a good start for me for an imposter pattern?
• The Guest Box includes everything from chironomid pupae to Booby Flies and your Predator. Is it more useful for an angler to organize a fly box around specific insects or around how and where the flies will be fished?
• Carol Ann you've spent a lot of time fishing with Skip as well as illustrating his books. Has being an artist changed the way you observe things when you're on the water—the insects, fish, light, vegetation, or other details that the rest of us might walk right past?
• How should an angler change the fly and presentation when trout appear to be taking insects trapped in or just below the surface film?

Steve Ramirez explores the rivers, jungles, mountains, and windswept landscapes of Central and South America featured in A Season in Patagonia. From tarpon in Mexico and peacock bass in the Amazon to the legendary trout waters of Patagonia, Steve shares unforgettable encounters with remarkable people, diverse cultures, extraordinary wildlife, and world-class fisheries. Discover how travel, fly fishing, and a deep connection to nature can transform not only the way you fish—but also the way you see the world.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• Can you describe your book A Season in Patagonia?
• Can you give a more in-depth explanation of the book’s title and how it relates to the envisioned global trilogy of outdoor, nature, and fly-fishing literature?
• Was there a particular moment during your travels when you realized this book was becoming something much bigger than another fishing adventure?
• Of all the countries you visited, which surprised you the most, and why?
• The book opens in the Yucatán pursuing juvenile tarpon. Why did you choose Mexico as the beginning of this book, and what did that first destination set in motion for the rest of your travels?
• Your days in Campeche weren't just about tarpon—they were about immersing yourself in the culture. What was one encounter with the local people that changed the way you viewed Mexico?
• The Brazilian Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Was there a moment when you realized you were in an ecosystem unlike anywhere else you've ever fished?
• You caught peacock bass, searched for wolf fish, encountered electric eels, stingrays, and piranhas. Which Amazon species fascinated you the most—not necessarily as a game fish, but as a remarkable creature?
• The Amazon can feel both magical and intimidating. What moments reminded you that you were a visitor in one of the wildest places left on Earth?
• Patagonia has almost mythical status among fly anglers. What aspects of Patagonia actually exceeded the legends?
• Patagonia is famous for its wind. How does an angler learn to fish with the wind instead of fighting it?
• You spent time with people from very different cultures. What common qualities did great fishing guides seem to share regardless of where they lived?
• When listeners finish reading A Season in Patagonia, what do you hope inspires them first—to book a trip, to pick up a fly rod, or simply to spend more time paying attention to the natural world?

What is it about bonefish that inspires anglers to travel thousands of miles, endure endless flights, and return to the flats year after year? Frank Foster shares unforgettable stories, legendary guides, hard-earned lessons, and the adventures that fueled nearly four decades of chasing the elusive "grey ghost" from the Bahamas and Cuba to the Seychelles and beyond, Whether you're a seasoned flats angler or dreaming of your first bonefish trip, this episode will inspire your next adventure.

Listen in as Greg Vinci provides an unforgettable fly fishing road trip across California as we explore the waters featured in his book, The Complete Guide to California Fly Fishing. From the rugged Southern Cascades to coastal streams and the legendary rivers and lakes of the Sierra’s west and east slopes, Greg shares the destinations, tactics, hatches, and hidden gems every fly angler should know. Whether you’re planning your next adventure or simply love California trout water, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

What happens when world-class fly fishing meets unforgettable cuisine? Listen in while globetrotting fly fishing guide and chef Matthew Supinski explores the intersection of rivers, culture, and the table. We’ll journey from legendary trout streams to coastal waters around the globe—discovering how food, place, and angling traditions intertwine. If you’ve ever dreamed of chasing fish by day and savoring local flavors by night, this conversation will awaken your appetite for adventure.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What inspired you to combine fly fishing, travel, and culinary experiences into A Fishable Feast?
• Of all the destinations in the book, which country surprised you the most both as an angler and as a food lover?
• How do you decide whether a destination is truly “fishable feast” worthy?
• Do you have any advice (or hard-learned tips) for traveling with a proper set of knives, spices, or other cooking tools? Especially when on a destination trip?
• What's good advice for those fishing overseas or traveling to new locations, and having a plan for the cuisine?
• YWhich destination in the book offers the most underrated fly fishing experience?
• Which location offered the most technically challenging fly fishing?
• What are the biggest mistakes anglers make when planning international fly fishing trips?
• How has global fly fishing travel changed over the last couple of decades?
• Where did the recipes in your book come from?
• Were there any destinations where the cuisine taught you something important about the local fishery or ecosystem?
• Which destination in the book offers the best balance of accessibility, great fishing, and incredible food?
• If you could revisit one destination from the book tomorrow for both the fishing and the food, where would you go and why?

Smallmouth bass aren’t just aggressive they’re strategic. Jake Villwock breaks down how to consistently catch more fish by targeting all three feeding zones: topwater, mid-column, and bottom. He reveals how modern fly design—from foam bugs to articulated baitfish and lifelike crayfish has transformed the game. Whether you’re chasing explosive surface eats or dialing in subsurface tactics, you’ll learn how to fish smarter, adapt faster, and unlock the full potential of smallmouth on the fly.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What first drew you to smallmouth bass on the fly, and what keeps you obsessed with them today?
• What are good weights of fly lines and leaders for both topwater and wet fly fishing for smallmouth?
• What size leader do you use?
• What are the biggest mistakes anglers make when fishing surface flies for bass?
• For anglers new to bass on the fly, what are the top three surface flies they should always carry?
• Your book mentions how modern topwater flies have evolved from bulky deer hair bugs to more refined foam and articulated patterns. What drove that evolution?
• What about a dropper off a popper suspended 18”-24”. What depth of water would that be successful
• What conditions create the perfect topwater smallmouth bite?
• How important is observation when determining what bass are feeding on at the surface—mayflies, frogs, damsels, baitfish, cicadas, and so on?
• What are your favorite retrieves for poppers, sliders, and waking flies?
• Moving into the mid-column zone, can you explain what a “swim fly” really is and why this style has become so effective?
• When fishing mid-column flies, how do you decide between floating, sink-tip, and intermediate lines?
• Crayfish patterns are a major focus in your book. What makes crayfish such an essential forage for bass?
• Do you use a lot of crayfish patterns, and what about sculpin patterns?
• Looking ahead, where do you think smallmouth fly design and tactics are headed over the next decade?

What does it take to turn a simple camping trip into an unforgettable fly fishing adventure? Robert Streeter shares lessons from years on the road—from tent camping in remote waters to traveling in an Airstream in search of the next great fishery. Learn how to discover prime destinations, plan your trips, and create DIY fly fishing experiences that fit your lifestyle. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or an Alaska expedition, this conversation will inspire you to hit the road and find your own adventure.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What inspired you to take your first true fly fishing road trip, and how did it shape future adventures?
• What defines a “successful” fly fishing road trip in your mind?
• What do you think most anglers get wrong when planning their first DIY road trip?
• What are the first three things someone should figure out before leaving home?
• How far in advance should anglers realistically plan a major trip like Alaska?
• You’ve gone from tents to an Airstream—how did that evolution change your trips?
• For someone starting out, how do they decide between tent camping, truck camping, or RV travel?
• What’s your process for finding productive water in unfamiliar areas?
• When you arrive at a new destination, what’s your first move as an angler?
• How can a guided day improve the rest of a DIY trip?
• What’s your strategy for staying organized with gear, flies, and equipment on the road?
• How do you plan overnight stays, especially in remote areas?
• What fly rods do you take for each type of fishing?
• Looking back on all your trips, what’s one lesson that consistently leads to a better, more memorable adventure?