Dr. Peter Moyle was recognized by Fly Fisherman Magazine as the 2020 Conservationist of the Year for his lifetime of conservation work in California and in watersheds across the West. Peter's forward-thinking and get it done attitude has saved and restored fisheries across California including McCloud River, Putah Creek, the San Joaquin River and the Klamath River. Listen in to find out how Peter identifies and works through the issues associated with saving and restoring these fine fisheries.

Questions asked and answered during the interview:

• How were you able to preserve the McCloud river for future generations?
• How did you bring Putah Creek back to life?
• What are the challenges now that Putah Creek has been restored?
• What has been done to encourage Stripers and Salmon to run up the San Joaquin River?
• What is the status of the Smelt in the Delta estuaries?
• What key action was taken to preserve the Klamath River?
• How can conservation groups attract younger members?
• What problems do you face when dams come down?

Kristen Mustad, the owner of Nautilus Reels, has brought his company to the forefront of the fly fishing industry. His innovations drive the market and stand out above the crowd. Listen in to hear how he built his company, designs and tests his reels and consistently strives for excellence.

Questions asked and answered during the interview:

• How did you get started in the fly fishing reel business?
• What made you decide to reinvent the company?
• How did you differentiate your self in the beginning days?
• What were the biggest design breakthroughs you had?
• What reel model do you consider the most versatile?
• How do you test your reels?
• Why do large arbor reels make more sense?
• What qualifications do your people have that make the reels?
• Where do you see Nautilus in the future of the industry?

Lee Hartman, a professional guide and conservationist, will take us on a journey through the natural and unnatural history of the Delaware River. Many consider the Delaware the best wild trout fishery east of the Mississippi but it hasn’t been easy to keep it that way. Learn why it’s so important to protect this coldwater fishery and look forward to Lee sharing a few tips along the way about how to be successful fishing this great river.

• What species are native to the Delaware River?
• What part of the river is the best for trout fishing?
• When is the best time to fish for shad?
• When did the Delaware become a true trout river?
• Is it best to fish the river from a boat or wading?
• Where do you find the brown trout most often?
• What insect hatches can you expect on the river?
• What is a "Delaware River Fox"?
• What is being done to preserve the river as a world-class trout fishery?

Mike Hogue, a professional fly tier and fly shop owner, has fished the Finger Lakes region of New York for over 25 years. The lakes, unique unto themselves in beauty, offer salmon, rainbow trout and lake trout all available on the fly. Listen in as Mike takes us on a tour of this unusual fishing destination and shares his secrets to success in fishing in this area.

• What finger lakes are the most important for fly fishing?
• Do you fish both the lakes, streams and tributaries?
• What species of fish can be targeted with a fly?
• What lake should you fish if you want to catch a Lake Trout on the fly?
• Are there migratory rainbow runs on all the lakes?
• What time of year do each of the migratory runs happen?
• Which lake has the famous Brown Drake hatch?
• What type of boat is the best to use on the lakes?
• What type and size of flies work best for the salmon?

Debbie Hanson, a professional guide in southwest Florida, specialized in getting her clients hooked up with Florida’s strain of largemouth bass. These bass are different than the strains in the north and many consider them the monsters of largemouth bass. Listen in to learn about these bass and how to hook up with what may be your trophy bass of a lifetime.

• What makes the Florida strain of largemouth bass different?
• What is the best place to fish for trophies in Florida?
• Does the Florida strain exist in other states?
• What are the factors that contribute to the growth of trophy-sized bass?
• Where do you look for the larger bass?
• What are the most effective flies to use for largemouth bass?
• How deep do you fish?
• What's the best time of day to fish?
• What fly did you catch your trophy largemouth on?

John Dietsch, a stuntman for Brad Pitt and fly fishing coordinator for the film A River Runs Through It,  talks about our connection to the outdoors through the prism of fly fishing and investigates its transformative and healing powers. Join us and explore your connection.

Questions asked and answered during the interview:

• How did you get started in fly fishing movie production?
• Who was your mentor?
• What tasks did you have as Department Head of Fly Fishing for A River Runs Through It?
• Who did the shadowcasting in the film?
• Where did the idea come from for the final fishing scene?
• How did you get the fish to rise for the fly?
• Why were you chosen as Brad Pit's stunt double?
• How did working on this film change your life and what fly fishing means to you?
• How does the river speak to you?

Enrico Puglisi’s flies and fly tying materials continue to have a groundbreaking impact on the future of saltwater and freshwater fly fishing. His unique hand-tied flies are recognized around the world. Listen in and learn how Enrico designs his flies and how he creates the one of a kind materials he uses to match specific baitfish and to catch fish.

Questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What inspired you to start creating specialized fly tying materials?
• What was the first material you created?
• How many different fibers do you have?
• What are your different fibers best used for?
• What's your best tip for making working with fibers easier?
• Why are Trigger Fibers so deadly?
• What material shouldn't you add to saltwater flies?
• What three types of threads do you use when tying your flies?
• Why did you create the line of brushes and what are they best used for?
• What is the biggest mistake most tiers make when tying saltwater patterns?

Paul McCain guides out of his shop, River Bay Outfitters on Long Island. He fishes many types of water both fresh and salt and for many species of fish. Long Island has so much to offer it's difficult to know where to begin. Paul will guide us to some well known and not so well known places on Long Island and open your eyes to all that's possible. Join us and explore Long Island fly fishing.

Questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What are the prime areas for striped bass?
• Where can you fish the flats on Long Island?
• What is public access like for fishing the shoreline?
• Where do you find the larger striped bass?
• What are the four best flies for striped bass and bluefish?
• Where can you fish for trout and bass at the same time?
• What rivers are the best for trout fishing?
• What are kettle and mill ponds?

Matt McCannel, a professional guide, introduces us to the tailwaters of the Uncompahgre River (Paco). On the western slope of the Colorado Rockies, this tailwater yields incredible trophy browns and rainbow. Browns exceeding the 20-pound mark lurk in the shadows of boulders and stumps. Join us as Matt guides us down the river and shares his secrets to catching these monster fish.

Questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What's the best time of year to catch the trophy browns and rainbows?
• How do you find the trophy fish?
• What type of water do they inhabit?
• Do they attack streamers?
• What do they eat?
• What are the top three fly patterns that attract the big fish?
• Does Euro nymphing work for these fish?
• How accurate does your presentation have to be to get good takes?

Check out this video: Matt McCannel Sight Fishing Paco's Trophy Trout

Captain Codty Pierce, a professional fly fishing guide, grew up on the southwest coast of Florida and knows the waters there better than most. His target in the winter when the waters cool are sheepshead also known as convict fish because of their vivid stripes. Sheepshead have developed a reputation that rivals permit, they are hard to catch on a fly but are super exciting because you are sight fishing to tailing fish on shallow oyster beds and can see the take. Join us to learn Codty's techniques for hooking up with these challenging fish.

Questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What is the average size of a sheepshead?
• Where do you find sheepshead?
• What type of water do they inhabit?
• What's the best time of year to catch the larger sheepshead?
• What do they eat?
• What fly patterns work best?
• How should you present your flies to get good takes?