Fly Fishing Consultant Podcast

Lawyer by trade and angler at heart, Mark Weeks joins the show to share his journey from a Western upbringing to practicing law in New York City, and ultimately becoming a tournament-winning tarpon bum and novelist in the Florida Keys. Rob and Mark dive into his latest book, Poontown—a story following five teams over five days during the Sabalo Cup Invitational in the Tequesta Isles. Rob and Mark further discuss how the Keys have evolved over the decades, urban fly fishing in New York, essential flats boat gear choices like fishing gloves and socks, and how jumping your first tarpon completely alters your life trajectory. Rob would like for Mark to recorded a second podcast and discuss fly fishing in Japan.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into a captivating conversation sparked at the Maryland Fly Fishing Show between Rob and master rod builder Jerry Kustich. As Jerry sat behind his stunning, handcrafted bamboo rods, a troubling observation emerged: young anglers just aren't looking at bamboo anymore. And it isn't a question of price—modern fly fishers drop serious cash on high-end gear, so why are these classic works of art being left behind? Months after that fateful meetup, Rob breaks down his thoughts on why bamboo is losing its grip on the next generation and what it means for the future of fly fishing heritage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob initially discovered Jim Faust's tale while listening to National Public Radio. He reached out to Jim to learn more about his story of grief and fishing. Jim, an avid fly fisherman, tragically lost his son Adam to an accidental overdose in 2024. We learn about Adam's final day and Jim's journey following the loss of his child. An evening spent fishing and reflecting inspired Jim to establish a non-profit organization named Adam’s Parachute, which aims to provide the healing advantages of fly fishing to those battling addiction and seeking recovery. In Jim's own words, “Adam passed his parachute to another. Now, we continue his mission to offer hope and healing to those who need it.” Rob and Jim cover a wide range of topics, from dry fly hatches to life after death, from zero-weight rods to messages from beyond, as well as substance use disorders and tailwater fishing. Produced by Jason Reif Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rick Nyles is the owner of Sky Blue Outfitters, recognized as the most extensive fly-fishing guide service in Pennsylvania. He shares with Rob the story of how he became passionate about fishing, ultimately transforming that passion into a thriving guiding and hosted travel business. Rather than reading about fly fishing or watching tutorials online, Rick prefers to fish and learn while he fishes. Take notes as he explains techniques such as nymphing above the bottom, how to properly set the hook, and when to implement a figure-eight retrieve with a northern pike. Additionally, Rick offers a distinctive material that allows for quick and simple wings on a caddis fly imitation. Rob discovers insights on regional cheesesteaks in Pennsylvania, reasons why clients should prepay for hosted trips, the evolution of the Upper Delaware over time, and which five-weight rod offers the best value for your money. See if you can keep track of all the rivers, streams, and lakes that Rick has fished. Can you count all of the guides that works for Rick? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Clapp of Hook Setter's Union checks in from Connecticut. He is an enthusiastic fly tyer motivated by the fly tying innovators from the mid-west who developed and refined current articulated streamers. He targets a range of species from saltwater stripers to inland smallmouth bass and western trout. Rob and Jeremy engage in an intriguing discussion about fly fishing and fly tying, dyeing materials, streamer design, and the need for standardization of bucktails for commercial sale. Jeremy shares the challenges and experiences of dealing with a bucktail jam, his methods of sourcing rare natural fly tying materials including penguins to skunks, and his fondness for hen hackle. We discover how and why Jeremy made the decision to start dyeing his own tying materials. He explains his ideal conditions for fishing with streamers the gear he uses. Jeremy will motivate you to dye your fly tying materials. We’d love to hear how they turn out.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices