Mill House Podcast

Boots Allen is a third-generation fly-fishing guide, tournament angler, writer, fly designer, and one of the longtime stewards of the rivers around Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Born and raised in the valley, Boots grew up immersed in a family whose name is woven into the history of fly fishing in the region. His grandfather, Leonard “Boots” Allen, was one of the early guides and outfitters in Jackson Hole, securing permits to guide the waters of the Greater Yellowstone area in the 1940s. His father, Joe Allen, continued that tradition and became known for his innovative fly patterns, including the famous Double Humpy. Boots began guiding alongside his father and uncle while still in high school. More than three decades later, he has spent hundreds of days each year on the water, guiding throughout Wyoming and Idaho while pursuing trout and other species around the world. His travels have taken him from the Snake River to Argentina, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, British Columbia, Belize, the Bahamas, and beyond. His accomplishments on the water are equally impressive. Boots is a three-time high-scoring guide in the Jackson Hole One-Fly Contest and received the prestigious Carmichael-Cohen Memorial Guide Award in 2007. He has also become a respected fly designer, developing patterns for Umpqua Feather Merchants and Orvis, while writing extensively about the sport. He is the author of four books, including Snake River Fly Fishing, Modern Trout Fishing, Snake River Flies, and Finding Trout in All Conditions. Perhaps most interestingly, Boots once appeared headed toward a career in academia, earning advanced degrees and pursuing work in community development and tourism. Instead, he ultimately chose the river. Today, he continues the Allen family legacy while writing, teaching, guiding, creating flies, and sharing the knowledge accumulated through a lifetime on the water. For Boots Allen, fishing isn't simply a profession passed down through three generations. It is a family history, a craft, and a way of life.

Baker Bishop is an avid fly fisherman, surfer, husband, father, and mentor whose life has been shaped by a lifelong connection to the water. He picked up a fly rod at just ten years old, taught by his mother, who passed down the skills, traditions, and passion she had learned from her grandfather—a bamboo-rod builder and lifelong angler. What began as a childhood passion has grown into a way of life. In the mid-2000s, Baker began fishing some of the biggest tarpon tournaments in the Florida Keys alongside renowned guides Kris Suplee, Brian Helms, Robert Klein, and eventually Craig Brewer & Alonzo Sotillo. In 2009 and 2010, Baker and guide Brian Helms won the Golden Fly Tarpon Tournament, establishing him as a formidable competitor among the country’s top tarpon anglers. Baker also served as chairman of the Don Hawley Tarpon Tournament for six years before stepping down in 2024. Baker’s journey, however, extends far beyond the water. After overcoming addiction, he developed a deep appreciation for health, happiness, and living with purpose. Today, that perspective shapes the way he approaches life, family, fishing, and the people he mentors. For Baker, time on the water is about more than the pursuit of fish—it is about connection, gratitude, challenge, and being fully present. Whether chasing tarpon across the flats, spending time with his family, or helping another person find their way, Baker brings a perspective forged through both triumph and adversity. His story is ultimately one of passion, resilience, and the pursuit of a life well lived.

Rudy Babikian is an accomplished fly fisherman, adventurer, and co-founder of Los Locos, a premier fly-fishing destination in Magdalena Bay, Mexico. Originally from Maine, Rudy cut his teeth in the Northeast chasing giant striped bass from shore—often putting himself in precarious situations in pursuit of the biggest fish. Those early experiences helped shape the adventurous, risk-taking approach that would define his fishing life. In 2013, Rudy moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he became an obsessive trophy-trout hunter. It was there that he met George VanDercook, and the two quickly bonded over their shared desire to push beyond conventional fishing and pursue bigger fish in more challenging ways. That shared obsession eventually took them to Mexico, where they began exploring Magdalena Bay in a small Boston Whaler. Their willingness to venture miles offshore in pursuit of striped marlin earned them the nickname “Los Locos”—the crazy ones—from local fishermen. What began as an adventurous fishing trip ultimately grew into one of the world's most unique fly-fishing destinations. Rudy's fishing life is filled with stories of risk, persistence, and occasionally questionable judgment. He recounts many of those wild adventures—including his near-death experiences pursuing striped bass. These stories offer a glimpse into the mindset that made Los Locos possible: an unrelenting desire to find bigger fish, go farther, and see what lies beyond the edge of the map.

Landon Mayer is a Colorado fly-fishing guide, fly designer, author, and educator known for his expertise in hunting and sight-fishing large, selective trout. Based on the South Platte River, Landon has spent decades studying trout behavior, water dynamics, and the subtle details that separate a good presentation from a great one. He has built a reputation for pursuing difficult fish in technical water, particularly large trout that demand precision, patience, and a deep understanding of their environment. His approach combines careful observation with highly refined tactics, from reading water and spotting fish to choosing the right fly and making the perfect presentation. Landon is also the author of five books and has contributed countless articles to fly-fishing magazines and publications. Through his writing, guiding, fly design, and teaching, he has helped anglers around the world become more effective and thoughtful on the water. But among all of his accomplishments, what Landon is most proud of may be Clean the Dream, an annual community cleanup along the Dream Stream stretch of the South Platte River. The event brings anglers and members of the community together to care for and protect one of Colorado's most treasured fisheries. For Landon, it’s a chance to give back to the waters that have given so much to all of us. Whether he's behind the vise, teaching on the river, writing, or chasing a trophy trout, Landon's passion goes beyond simply catching fish. It's about understanding the river, sharing that knowledge with others, and leaving the places he loves better than he found them.

On today’s podcast, we answer a wide range of listener-submitted questions, including whether top-of-the-line rods are really worth it, how far you actually need to cast, advice for aspiring fishing guides, and how our tarpon season has gone so far. Along the way, we cover plenty of other topics and share stories, insights, and practical tips from the water. These Q&A episodes are always fun for us to record, so if you enjoy them, let us know and we’ll definitely keep doing more! Have a question you’d like us to answer in a future episode? Email us at [email protected] or send us a DM on social. Hope you enjoy!