The River Rambler

This week I'm speaking with Frank Day and we talk about his fascination with nature from childhood, the many wonders of sculpin, his time in Japan, guiding, gyotaku prints, moody fish, the Alaskan tundra, fish camouflage, sonar, evolutionary adaptations, and so much more.

This week I'm talking with Michael Papais. We have a great chat about family camping trips, Great Lake small mouth, information overload in spey, tying in hand and materials, beer, kids, winter water, knots, moderating the Spey Pages, and so much more.

This week I'm speaking with David Mcllvaney. We had a great discussion about Prime Ministers and canoes, aesthetic stimulation, working in Southeast Asia, cabin life and Mexico, discovering fly fishing at 50, Iceland, writing, squirrels and muskies, super tasters, and rodent viking funerals.

Today I'm talking with Wes Telyea of Snoqualmie Rod Company and we have a fantastic and broad conversation. We talk about him fishing as a kid and his grandfather, rod building, being a part of an ecosystem, cougars(not that kind), career changes, recreating the X-Files with your niece, and so much more.

I got the chance to talk to Kevin Feenstra this week and we had a great talk. Listen in as we discuss fishing as a kid, jumping into spey rods and steelhead, fly tying and sculpin, the Muskegon, photography, dogs and kids, his books, and the ever important winter heating.

The River Rambler is back after a Hawiian hiatus and this week I'm joined by Barret Aimes. We talk Tre-Fin Foods and how they started, fishing with his family from a young age, guiding in college, tarpon and saltwater, brook trout, Kamchatka, the benefit of teams, rod building, his time in Sweden, and meeting Tom Dorsey in high school.

This week I got the chance to talk with Rob Beckius of Two Hand Hardware. We chat about fishing with his dad from a young age, setting the hook and trout tendenciews, being an engineer, casting, my absurd nighttime habits, problem solving with magnets and 3D printing, rafting, hovercrafts, the importance of sharing information, and alternative uses for tennis balls.

On this week's episode I'm joined by long time listener, first time caller, Dave Zielinski. We talk all about his new book "Cicada Madness," Jenny Cream Ale, learning to fly fish, loss, saltwater and snook, learning spey, how he got into building boats, stackable canoes, fly preferences, devotion to one type of fishing, crocodiles and many other predators, and so much more.

The River Rambler is welcoming in the new year with a visit with Kevin Cayouette. We talk about guiding at Camp Bonaventure, the fishing/chef cross section, his salmon addiction, boats and boat repair, ice fishing, the dynamics of canoe fishing, dog talk, quiet winters, fishing with kids, and maple syrup.

Hopefully the last episode of the year can bring you some extra cheer in your post holiday stuppor. I'm talking with Kirk Gilchrist of Tightline Films this week. We discuss his entrance to fly fishing as a kid, how fishing has been intertwined with his life, learning film and the beginning of Tightline Films, not know what "Monk" is, interupting dogs, his time in the Maldives, and Bruce Kruk.

This week I'm speaking with Dax and Leslie Ajari Messett. We get talking about how they met and their paths to fly fishing, glamping with incinerating toilets, the responsibility of conservation, guiding, dam removal, boats, fly tying(w/ visual aids on a podcast), free candy, Florida, and Nám.

I'm back from a turkey fueled break and I'm joined by Jacob Zirkle. We talk about growing up in Alaska, his fishing start, soccer, guiding and starting his own business, kids and family, learning spey, rods and the Asquith, and of course dog talk.

I'm talking with Tom McCoy on this week's episode of The River Rambler. We get to the important stuff right away talking about bourbon, and then move on to lighter subjects such as strawberry picking, dog & horse training, getting into fly fishing, learing spey, in river facial piercings, the fly fishing Caddy Shack, fishing with the Isle of Misfit Toys, and so much more.

This week I'm speaking with Fly Fishing Hall of Fame member, Will Godfrey. We talk about fishing buddies, fly naming conventions, fishing with his dad, a brown trout named Geronimo, becoming a guide, starting a business, the evolution of rods, becoming a steelheader, auctioneering, and so much more.

This week I'm joined again by Bryan Stinson of Riverwise Anglers. We discuss our last visit, guiding, coho, two raincoat days, home brewing, many soups, heavy tips and low water, winter fishing and leech patterns, and irish stouts.

This week I'm speaking with Jeff Putnam. We chat about his early start to fishing and his schoolhood fishing mentor, skipping school, guiding and teaching, picking up spey casting, adjusting to teaching different generations, Steve Godshall and rod collecting, casting video analysis, and the art of napping.

This week I got the chance to speak with Matthew Sloat. He lets us know about growing up in western Alaska, the differences from California, resident Rainbows and Steelhead, hatcheries' effects on the food web, "The Blob," the never ending learning of fly fishing, tagging steelhead in kamchatka, and the massive taimen.

This week i'm talking to Michael Garrigan. We discuss "The River Wye," secret cigarettes and his slow pull to fishing, dogs, becoming a teacher, writing, poetry and painting, sharing your work, carp, alone time in the wilderness, Yellowstone, some dog-based interuptions and antics, and listen to some of his fantastic poetry.

I first fished the North Umpqua a dozen years ago, and I was way late to the game. It’s been a river iconic in the steelhead community for at least a century, from before Zane Grey, to Frank and Jeannie Moore, to the present moment. And the situation in the present moment is unbelievable. After reading about it in emails and social media, I lined up a visit with Jim McCarthy of Water Watch of Oregon and Kirk Blaine of The Steamboaters and Native Fish Society. If you were upset by the social media posts, listen to the conversation, and get really mad. Then act. Sign the Native Fish Society petition, and then go ahead and write your state representatives and the governor, and ODFW. And call. And let them know that in the face of innumerable challenges to the survival of wild steelhead, a public and valuable resource that brings incalculable financial benefit to Douglas County, we are watching a small, select group bypass all meaningful regulation and oversight for their own benefit. Senators, ODFW, and the Governors contact is listed below. Jim and Kirk both volunteered their contact information for any additional information or any possible help someone can offer.Petition- https://nativefishsociety.org/action-alerts/ask-you-state-and-federal-representatives-to-stand-up-for-the-north-umpqua-riverhttps://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/directory/contact_us.asp (https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/directory/contact_us.asp)https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/senate/Pages/SenatorsAll.aspx (https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/senate/Pages/SenatorsAll.aspx)https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspxjim@waterwatch.orgkirk@nativefishsociety.org (mailto:kirk@nativefishsociety.org)

Another Tuesday means another River Rambler and this week I'm joined by Tom Mahan. We talk about growing up with a backyard fishing spot, firefighting, learning the many forms of spey, guiding, different fishing ideologies, Alaska's chinook and rainbows, jiujitsu and martial arts mindsets, muddlers and Swedish Fish.