The Open Fly Podcast

Chuck Ragan joins us to talk about his life as a professional musican and his budding professional guide career.

Sam from Free the Snake interrupts our useless banter to explain the growing momentum of the movement to remove the lower Snake River dams.  

Hilary jump starts her career as a tv star by partaking in shameless self promotion to our hard-earned audience. We stumble through an interview to get a few useful soundbites. We also talk about whitefish choking on bones, angry dragons, and how it’s just good to be out.

We talk mullets, living in a van down by the river, and getting the damn kids

to be interested in fisheries conservation.  We make an attempt at redemption

after our previous show with sound issues.

In an Open Fly first:  We talk about the lack of rain in WA.  The entire west coast

is in a drought, and it’s having a profound affect on fisheries.  We dust off the

recording equipment, battle some less than stellar performance from said 

equipment, and put gether an important show for all who partake in outdoor

recreation in the West.

Few people, fly fishermen or otherwise, have traveled like Jef Currier.  Hear a

bit about his adventures around the world catching fish that most people

don’t even know exist!

In an Open Fly first:  Rob Kramarz talks to us while staying on his game

guiding a client in to some finnicky barracuda.  He still managed to give

us one of our favorite interviews yet!  He passionately explains fishing

in the Florida Keys for permit, tarpon, bonefish, barracuda and square

groupers.  You won’t find a more authentic podcast interview. That 

we know of at least....

Jess McGlothlin of Fire Girl Photography tells her story of finding her unique 

niche in the fly fishing industry, then we bring on the founders of the

Upper Missouri Waterkeepers to talk about getting their new organization

off the ground!

We once again try diplomacy on the show.  We made the decision to allow Canadians on the show once again to see how that went.  End result:  A solid show with funny accents.

After our usual drivel and banter, Russ Schnitzer tells an enthusiastic tale of the conceptualization and production of his new film, "Wild Fish Works."

Shane Anderson, our first guest on show 1 and maker of the currently

touring film “Wild Reverence,” joins us to tell about life after the film’s

completion and its impact on the general public and fishing community.

We also talk to two guides from Washington’s Methow River Valley

to tell the story of a guide comunity banding together to overcome

this summer’s natural disasters that have severely impacted

the fishery and surrounding habitats.

Peter Vandergrift comes on to tell us of his journey from Alaska guide, to Montana guide, to the fly fishing industry business world.  Conservation this week dives deeper in to the Bristol Bay issues, and how the seafood industry is affected.

We are joined by Truckee guide Doug Oulette, as well as Donald Zimmerman from "Catch Snap Release" to talk about hoot owl closures on trout streams.  A topic that any trout angler should know about.

Kyle and Bil from Sportsmen for Browns Canyon come on for a great

interview talking about one of Colorado’s most significant recreational

areas.  Learn about the fishing, rafting, and hunting opportunities

that are being fought for in the Arkansas River drainage.

Media company Blood Knots joins us to talk about their new conservation focused steelhead film, "Our Two Hands."  Then, Paul Conklin tells us about guiding successfully on one of the most popular destination fisheries on the continent.

We hear from Save our Smith about saving the Smith River in Montana from a proposed copper mine.  Then we go to the extreme other side of the planet to hear about fly fishing some of the world's most remote streams in the Himalayas.

We talk to Brandon Hoffner of the Henry's Fork Foundation, and author Chris Hunt about finding a balance between having enough voices to preserve the resource, and hitting the point of having too much attention.  

We discuss the importance of native fish in Oregon from the perspective of
The Native Fish Society, and from guide Jeff Hickman.  From the recent isues
native fish have faced, to how anglers, river stewards, and users of the resource
have come together to give Oregon’s ESA listed fish a fighting chance.

Jasper Lament Ph.D joins us to tell about the Nature Trust of B.C. and
all the good work they’re doing.  There is a lot to be learned from their focused
approach!  Then, Joe Willauer comes on the air to tell about the realities of
guiding.  From his start just out of high school, and his growth in the following
years, Joe has quite the journey to tell about!

Scott Hed from The Sportsmans Allians for Alaska joins us to give the up to date on the Pebble Mine issue in Alaska's Bristol Bay.  Then, Adam Franceschini, whose guiding operations span the entirety of North America, including Bristol Bay, tells us why Bristol Bay is now considered "home"for him.

We also talk about some other things.