Over the course of their nearly 40-year friendship, Yvon Chouinard and Craig Mathews have had a significant influence on both the culture and activity of flyfishing. Their most recent collaboration is Pheasant Tail Simplicity, a new book coauthored with their friend Mauro Mazzo. The book is part technical treatise, part fly tying manual and part philosophy. Either way, it's well worth a read for anyone interested in flyfishing with a slightly more minimalist point of view. For this conversation I met up with Yvon and Craig in Dillon, MT, a day after their book release event at Montana State University in Bozeman, which took place in a standing room only amphitheater on campus. We chatted about the book, of course, but I also had the opportunity to learn a bit more about their background, including how they met and what they feel they've learned from each other in nearly 40 years of friendship. Sidechannels is sponsored by Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing. If you're enjoying the podcast, consider becoming a subscriber to The Flyfish Journal.
Chase and Aimee Bartee began making films together when they lived in New England, publishing them under the moniker Tight Loops Fly (or simply Tight Loops, depending on where you're looking). Their full length film Big Landwon best adventure at the fly fishing film awards in 2019, and for the past several years they've been working on a series called For Wild's Sake, which offers in-depth looks at various wild trout species from all corners of the United States. On top of their various film projects, Aimee is a dedicated editorial photographer, and Chase is a writer and fine artist known for his exquisitely detailed watercolors of various fish species. Several years ago, the Bartees moved into their Vanagon full-time, and a few years ago made the switch to tricked out expedition rig. After a spring and summer of whirlwind travels that brought them to Greenland, Japan and Mongolia, we were fortunate to catch them at the Bozeman Public Library, of all places. In this episode, we talk about their travels, the challenges of creating art on the road, bear problems in Japan, and what was the final straw in their decision to sell their Vanagon. Become a subscriber to The Flyfish Journal for more flyfishing culture, adventure and art. Sidechannels is sponsored by: Decked: Get Decked and Get After It Patagonia Fly Fishing: Dependable Gear Built to Connect with Wild Fish
Will Rice is a freelance writer and podcaster who began his career with the Denver Post in 2003, under the mentorship of acclaimed hook-and-bullet writer Charlie Meyers. His early, travel-focused writing brought him face-to-face with what would become a long-term project: the disappearance of Bahamian flyfishing guide Stanley Bain. In 2018, Rice began hosting Down the Path, a podcast that investigated the disappearance of an angler in Mexico. A second season soon followed, looking into the tragic death of a flyfishing guide and his client in Belize, and Rice eventually returned to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Bain for the third season of the podcast in 2023. In this episode we chat with Will about his beginnings in journalism, and his decision to start pursuing certain stories in podcast form. Will also shares some thoughts on the frustrations of permit angling, and tells us about the "tequila stuntman." Thanks to our sponsors: Decked—Get Decked and Get After It Patagonia Fly Fishing—Built to Connect with Wild Fish Visit The Flyfish Journal to become a subscriber today.
This is Part Two of our conversation with filmmaker, Navy veteran, youth advocate and conservationist Chad Brown. As the founder of a couple of non-profits—Soul River Inc. and Love is King—Brown has helped provide a pathway for youth, veterans and others to build a connection to what, in some ways, is one of the last frontiers in North America, the Arctic and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. His work over the past couple of years with Love is King has focused specifically on that area, and on providing an opportunity for creatives and other BIPOC leaders to experience the refuge and the issues facing it through a kind of immersive experience with the Gwich'in Nation. In this second half of our conversation, we talk about Chad's beginnings in design, as well as his work as a photographer and filmmaker. After getting into the Pratt Institute with an application letter written on the back of a fast food bag, Chad went on to work for clients including Phat Farm. More recently, his film "Inward" about Atlanta artist Michi Meko was selected for a number of festivals. To learn more about Chad Brown's conservation work and his documentary filmmaking and photography, visit loveisking.org and chadocreative.com. Thanks to our sponsors: Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.
Chad Brown is a filmmaker, a veteran, and an advocate for youth and for wild spaces; he's also the founder of a couple of non-profits—Soul River Inc. and Love is King—which have provided a pathway for youth, veterans and others to build a connection to what, in some ways, is one of the last frontiers in North America, the Arctic and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. His work over the past couple of years with Love is King has focused specifically on that area, and on providing an opportunity for creatives and other BIPOC leaders to experience the refuge and the issues facing it through a kind of immersive experience with the Gwich'in Nation. We met Chad at his home near Portland, OR, and ended up having a long chat. Having just returned from the Arctic, Chad was getting ready to head back up there soon. In this first part of our conversation with Chad, we chat about his various projects in Alaska, as well as his introduction to flyfishing—something that happened, in some ways, just in the nick of time for him and which helped him overcome some significant personal struggles. To learn more about Chad Brown's conservation work and his documentary filmmaking and photography, visit loveisking.org and chadocreative.com. Visit www.theflyfishjournal.com to become a subscriber and gain access to our expanding digital archive and web store deals. Thanks to Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing for making this episode possible.
A few years back, Kristen Bufe realized that there might be a better way to teach people how to cast a fly rod. As the instructor tossed around odd metaphors ("Imagine throwing a dart." "Imagine flicking paint off a brush.") Bufe could see the disconnect on students' faces. So she decided to do something about it. Fast forward a few years, and you can find her dispensing casting and fishing wisdom through Instagram (@troutpsychology) and guiding clients from her home base in central Washington state through Streamside Coven Co., her "unconventional, irreverent, revolutionary, woman-owned" guide company. Drawing on her background in behavior analysis and a deep and abiding love for doing things her own way, Bufe offers an alternative to traditional casting and flyfishing instruction, along with lots of little parties celebrating flyfishing's small victories along the way. In this episode we chat with Kristen Bufe about her childhood and background outside Detroit, her chance introduction to behavior analysis at a college party, and where she gets her sense of humor. Thanks to our sponsors: Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.
When author Peter Heller was a kid, playgrounds weren't really his thing. Instead, it was the bushes and trees around the playground that he found himself drawn to time and again. For anyone who has read his books, this tracks. In Heller's writing, the natural world looms just as large as any of his carefully wrought characters—whether that's Hig in The Dog Stars, or Jess in his most recent novel, Burn. In this episode, Part Two of our conversation with Peter, we talk about his move to fiction at the age of 50, his introduction to flyfishing, and how the natural world informs his work. You can find Part One of our conversation with Peter Heller here. Thanks to our sponsors: Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.
When author Peter Heller was a kid, playgrounds weren't really his thing. Instead, it was the bushes and trees around the playground that he found himself drawn to time and again. For anyone who has read his books, this tracks. In Heller's writing, the natural world looms just as large as any of his carefully wrought characters—whether that's Hig in The Dog Stars, or Jess in his most recent novel, Burn. We joined Heller at his home in Denver, overlooking Colorado's Front Range, for what turned out to be a long, invigorating conversation. In this first part of our conversation, we talk about his beginnings as a writer, his early work for Outdoor and other publications, and what made him finally decide to sit down and write a novel at the age of 50. Stay tuned for Part Two of our conversation with Peter Heller, coming soon. Thanks to our sponsors: Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing
Travis Rummel started Felt Soul Media in 2005 with Ben Knight, a decision they described as a "pretty scary plunge into self-employment," but one which they never questioned. Their first film, "The Hatch," established them as a ground-breaking voice in outdoor media and, in some ways, marked the beginning of a new genre of flyfishing film. More films—and plenty of accolades—followed. Rummel's partnership with Knight brought us such seminal films as "Damnation," "Red Gold," "120 Days," "Running Down the Man" and "A Thousand Casts." Their work for Patagonia, Yeti and other brands has defined flyfishing culture. These days, Rummel continues to forge ahead with his creative vision, producing character focused stories filled with heart, technical know-how and arresting imagery. We sat down with Rummel this spring at his home in Colorado for a chat about his filmmaking beginnings, the challenges of filming flyfishing, and how he keeps up with his mountain-biking wife (spoiler alert: it's an e-bike). Thanks to our sponsors: Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.
Dave Gravette knows a thing or two about injuries. As a professional skateboarder for the past 20 years, he's had his fair share. In fact, it was during a recovery from shoulder surgery several years ago that he took up flyfishing as a way to pass the time off his board. Since then, Gravette has been hooked, seeking out any and every opportunity he can to chase fish, from steelhead to carp to bluegill, and everything in between. If it has fins and will eat a fly, Dave Gravette will try to catch it. From a young age, Gravette was the kind of kid who liked to test boundaries. It's no surprise that he eventually found his way to skateboarding, turning pro as a teenager and racking up clips and photo spreads early on. Today, his signature boards for Creature usually include some combination of fishy art with strong "herbal" inclinations. Dave Gravette is the type of person who gets himself into ridiculous situations--lucky for us he lives to tell the tale. In this episode we get a few of those stories, as well as a look at what it means to be a professional skateboarder and Gravette's Top-10 (or so) tips for catching suckers on a slow day of steelheading. Thanks to our sponsors: Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.
David James Duncan is one of those people who need no introduction, but we've got one anyway. Duncan's first novel, The River Why, was published by the Sierra Club in 1983, becoming a cult classic within the flyfishing world and beyond. Nearly 10 years would pass before the publication of his second novel, The Brothers K, and more than 30 would elapse until the publication of his third and most recent novel, the epic Sun House published by Little, Brown in 2023. In between novels, Duncan published four books of essays and stories; he had a part in the making of films like "Damnation" and "Trout Grass;" and, through it all, he's fought passionately for the environment and against unfettered extraction and bankrupt spirituality. Duncan was kind enough to invite Jason and Copi to his home outside Missoula this spring where they sat in his living room amidst the curios of a literary life, stacks of books, and complete and not-so-complete manuscripts waiting to see the light of day. We talked about flyfishing, of course, but we also talked about spiritual integrity, writing, coming of age and the work still in store for him. At 72, the guy has no plans to slow down, and the literary community is fortunate for that. Watch "Upstream: An Evening with Author David James Duncan" from the Mckenzie River Trust. Thanks to our sponsors: Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.
Kyle Schaefer is a guide, fishing lodge owner and saltwater fisheries advocate based out of York, ME. After cutting his teeth as a guide on the trout streams of the West, Schaefer made his way back east and ventured onto the striper flats of southern Maine, where a good portion of his guiding energy during the season is spent poling clients and sight-casting to striped bass from a flats skiff. Today, Schaefer is a member of the American Saltwater Guides Association, where he serves as a member of the board representing the state of Maine. He has written on conservation issues—including a story about striped bass conservation for The Flyfish Journal—and in 2024 he testified before congress in support of saltwater fisheries on the east coast. In Fall 2021, Schaefer opened Soul Fly Lodge in the Bahamas' Berry Islands. With Soul Fly Lodge, Schaefer has combined his passion for conservation and stewardship with his entrepeneurial drive, striving to create a space known not only for its fine fishing, but known as well for a commitment to the environment and for a deep sense of community and connectedness. In this episode, we chat about Schaefer's beginnings as a guide, his deep sense of awe for the flats guides of the Berry Islands, and how he finds the balance between running a business while staying true to his conservation and stewardship ideals. Visit https://www.theflyfishjournal.com/product/subscription/ to subscribe to The Flyfish Journal.
Dylan Tomine is an author, filmmaker, Patagonia Ambassador and diehard conservationist. His first book, Closer to the Ground (Patagonia Books, 2012), is an exploration of "an outdoor family's year on the water, in the woods and at the table." In 2022, Tomine published Headwaters: The Adventures, Obsession, and Evolution of a Fly Fisherman, a collection of previously-published and new work, also with Patagonia Books. Tomine's film work highlights the plight of wild salmon and steelhead. DamNation provided an unforgiving look at the history of dams in the United States and grassroots efforts to remove dams that obstruct anadromous fish passage. Artifishal turned the lens on a century's worth of fish hatchery practices and the detrimental effects they've had on wild salmon and steelhead populations. In this episode, Tomine talks about the importance of family in his life and work, how and when he finds time to work on his current project—a novel, his love-affair with British Columbia steelhead, and why he's so damned frustrated with the whole carp thing. This episode is sponsored by Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing. Subscribe to The Flyfish Journal to get 116 pages of pure flyfishing stoke delivered straight to your mailbox four times each year.
Hilary Hutcheson is a guide, outfitter, writer, filmmaker, conservationist and whitewater rafting fiend who also happens to own a fly shop—Lary's Fly and Supply—in Columbia Falls, MT. As a guide and outfitter, Hilary introduces anglers and adventurers to her beautiful corner of northwest Montana just outside Glacier National Park. As a conservationist and board member with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Protect Our Winters and the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, Hilary fights to protect the fish and wild places that her mental well-being and livelihood depend on. Hilary has writteen extensively on flyfishing and conservation and produced a number of films on a variety of subjects. Most recently, she co-directed "The Tengu Club," which tells the story of a group of Japanese-American anglers and the salmon derby they organized in Seattle upon returning from internment camps after World War II. In this episode, we talk about Hilary's beginninigs as a whitewater rafting guide, her past as a news anchor during the meth epidemic in Portland, OR, and the importance of connectedness when it comes to discussing the health and conservation of our fisheries and wild spaces. Subscribe to The Flyfish Journal at https://www.theflyfishjournal.com/product/subscription/. Sidechannels is made possible with support from Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.
Shane Anderson is a former professional skier turned filmmaker whose documentaries—including "Wild Reverence," "Guardians of the River" and "A River's Last Chance"—have received numerous awards. Anderson won a Northwest Emmy for "The Lost Salmon" in 2023. For the past few years, Anderson and the crew at Swiftwater Films have been documenting the largest river restoration in US history--the removal of four dams on the Klamath River. In this episode Anderson talks about the monumental task of documenting the dam removal, the importance of impact in his filmmaking, and how he finds balance in the midst of a work-life whirlwind. To support Anderson and Swiftwater Films' work documenting the Klamath River restoration, visit https://www.redfordcenter.org/films/undamming-klamath/ to make a tax-deductible donation. Subscribe to The Flyfish Journal at https://www.theflyfishjournal.com/product/subscription/. Sidechannels is made possible with support from Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.
Brita Fordice cut her flyfishing teeth on the rivers, lakes and shorelines of the Puget Sound region of Washington state. As a product developer, she plays a big part in the development, design and testing of RIO's wide selection of flies—including her personal favorites, squid and shrimp patterns. In the episode, we chat about her days chasing carp (without fly rods) for bounties in eastern Washington, the mentors who helped refine her tying techniques, the ins and outs of fly design and development, and her newest hobby: giving her husband tattoos. To learn more about Fordice and her work, check out "Seeing a Pattern," our profile of her in Issue 14.1. Visit https://www.theflyfishjournal.com/product/subscription/ to subscribe to The Flyfish Journal and get it in your mailbox four times per year. Thanks to our sponsors: Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.
In the introduction to The Flyfish Journal's gallery of Jeremy Koreski's photography in issue 6.1, Colin Wiseman wrote: "Jeremy Koreski is a son of the ocean." It sounds hyperbolic, until you start flipping through the images, or scrolling through the work available on Jeremy's website, or—ideally—viewing his work at his one of his galleries in Tofino or Vancouver, British Columbia. Water is a major player, almost always present in some form. Sometimes he's in it, sometimes he far above it. Koreski has worked with Patagonia, YETI, Quicksilver and Vans, among many others—meaning you've likely seen plenty of his images. His list of editorial contributions is equally long, including, in addition to The Flyfish Journal, work for The Surfer's Journal, Conde Nast, Outside Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, and ESPN. In 2015, he published This is Nowhere, a coffee-table tome organized around elemental subjects: Water, Wind, Earth, Fire, and The Unknown. He's had a gallery in Tofino, BC, since 2015, and recently opened a new space in Vancouver, BC, called the Wild Space gallery. Subscribe to The Flyfish Journal at www.theflyfishjournal.com/product/subscription/ Sidechannels is supported by Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.
When Kate and Justin Crump started Frigate Travel together, they had a couple simple goals: Provide a top-notch fishing experience for their clients, and free up some time for their own adventures during the off-seasons. With more than a decade as two of the most sought after steelhead guides on the Oregon coast, and with an ever-deepening connection to Bristol Bay, AK, they've had no problem sticking with #1, but as any outfitter or lodge operator knows, free time is an ever-vanishing commodity. In this episode, we chat about their progression from being seasonal guides in Alaska and Oregon to becoming full-on outfitters bringing to life a new generation of fishing lodge on Alaska's Naknek River and Tillamook Bay, OR. Their committment to the people and places that make their endeavors possible is admirable and instructive. Sidechannels is sponsored by Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing. Visit https://www.theflyfishjournal.com/product/subscription/ to subscribe to The Flyfish Journal.
Since 2009 The Flyfish Journal has been flyfishing's independent voice for culture, people, art and adventure—owned by flyfishers and produced near the water. Featuring 116 pages of global photography, profiles of individuals who define the culture, national and international travel and adventure, and iconic voices, the Journal is published four times each year on archival paper in a format that is at home on your coffee-table. Like our print publication, Sidechannels will feature culture, adventure, art and conservation, through thought-provoking, in-person interviews with flyfishing's most compelling individuals. Our first season of eight episodes is brought to you by Decked. With a Decked system, your waders, rods and reels, packs and camping equipment can be carefully stored in a system that includes storage cases that fit perfectly in Decked's weatherproof drawers, with options for both double- and single-drawer setups depending on the size of your truck bed. It's made in the USA, and it will get you on the water faster when you no longer have to dig through a muddle of gear in the back of your rig to find your reel. So, Get Decked, and Get after it. Find out which system best fits your rig at www.decked.com. Shipping is always free. Visit theflyfishjournal.com/sidechannels to learn more, and subscribe on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Don't miss the release of episode one, coming Tuesday, June 4.