The February Room A Fly Fishing Podcast

Do you count yourself among the rank and file of weekend warriors? Are you more interested in how your fly or lure appears to the eyes of the fish than how your appearance is perceived by other anglers? Is fishing still a youthful enterprise that recalls the carefree days of bobbers, earthworms, and quality time with family and friends? If you answered "yes" to any or all of these questions, then lend an ear to the Working Class Fishing Podcast. We turn the tables on show hosts Jon Morris and Brian Keechle on a deep dive into an insightful and entertaining podcast based on the premise that fishing should be available to anyone and everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To WATCH the whole story unfold, head to our YouTube Channel, @thefebruaryroom and enjoy our adventures with Mark Wackler of AK Fishology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In preparation for this interview, we clicked the link to "Mending the Line" on the laptop. A captivating series of events unfolded in the opening scene. Then we were transported to a fly shop in Montana. Instantly, the hook was buried and it required the patience of a spring creek angler to hit "pause"...this was one of those cinematic events better experienced on the silver screen! We are honored to be joined by Director Joshua Caldwell and Writer Stephen Camelio for a behind the scenes look at the filmmaking process from brainstorming to the box office. Starring Sinqua Walls, Brian Cox, Perry Mattfeld and Wes Studi, "Mending the Line" hits theaters June 9th and takes viewers on the tumultuous journey of a marine wounded in Afghanistan, his ensuing struggles with the traumatic aftermath and the discovery of fly fishing's therapeutic virtues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know the risk of picking up hitchhikers, but we may be transporting nefarious passengers without even knowing it. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are non-native plants and animals that have the potential to due lasting harm to our watersheds. Fisheries across the country have been permanently damaged by these critters, several of which have been traced back to maritime mishaps in the Great Lakes region. Across Montana and the Upper Midwest, fisheries and recreational managers are aligned with concerned citizens to prevent further spread of these noxious invaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Battered, bruised, and begging for more, Lauren returns from her first roosterfishing adventure in Baja! The stoke level is atmospheric as she shares insight into the pre-trip preparations that made all the difference in organizing and executing a successful saltwater adventure with her friends. No Lauren story is complete without a bad accent and we have one of those for you too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know the old adage "If you want to get to know a guy, sit down over a Kinky Muddler"...we did just that with Tom Latourelle of Bespoke Bugs. A former custom furniture maker, Latourelle's background as a craftsman is evident in the design, shape, and movement of the flies that he creates for his clients. Tom was kind enough to invite us over to his house for a one-on-one glue sniffing session as he spins a technical baitfish patterns for Baja. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the premier of the TFR Video Series, we drop the kids at school, skip work, shirk household chores and set course for a local trout stream in hopes of extending the summer hopper season just one more day! Watch this on thefebruaryroom.com or subscribe to our YOUTUBE channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our first "vessel of freedom" was a used aluminum Willie boat dad bought off a guy in 1984. She served our family, friends, and clients for 30 years on adventures throughout the PNW. Between the gunnels, we tallied a catalog of euphoric experiences that spawned into lasting memories. However, the story of our old drift boat would've never been told had things gone just a little more sideways on her early voyages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brace yourself for inspiration!!! Meet Lydia and Lil D from Fly Girl Global, a worldwide network of young ladies united by their love of fly fishing. These angler-advocates advance the sport via international zoom meetings to tie flies, swap fishing stories, and organize efforts to clean up waterways across the globe. Thanks to Fly Girl Global, flyfishing’s future is so bright, we gotta’ wear shades! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Come March, a gathering of Missoula-based fishing guides resembles a scene from "Night of the Living Dead". Montana winters can grind a guide down, but Jason Brininstool has managed to keep a smile on his face. Jason flees for the tropics to work as a PADI Scuba Instructor or hosts trip to far flung destinations like Cuba and Columbia. Jason's positive attitude has attracted a cadre of loyal clients who trust him with adventures far beyond the rivers of Western Montana. This has made his off-season all the more interesting and one particular foray to Xcalak, Mexico formed a forever-memory and serves as a reminder to never judge a guide by their boat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The problem with this podcast, like working at Baskin Robbins, is that we're constantly being introduced to new flavors of fly fishing that we yearn to sample. When we first heard of "The Crash", our smallmouth senses began to tingle and we went straight to the source for insight into a remarkable feeding frenzy that occurs on Wisconsin's namesake river. Kyle Zempel of Black Earth Angling Co. abides and explains "The Crash" and other fishing opportunities that we now have to go add to our North Woods itinerary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many would-be female fly anglers, the pathway to the river is barricaded by dollar signs. The perception alone, that entry into fly fishing costs thousands in gear, inhibits many working moms, their children, and students from dipping into the budget to splurge on a new hobby. Enter Julia Mitchell and Temma Roby. These big-hearted friends founded "Rising to the Fly" in an effort to break this perception and remove the financial barrier to the sport. Whether in need of waders, rod, or a float tube, Rising to the Fly is a resource for all women who aspire to fly fish but can't justify the costs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the big show! Host, Lauren Karnopp sits with the Fly Fishing Film Tour crew, Cooper Nash and John Zynda, at the historical Wilma Theatre. The three discuss life on the road, fishing adventures, why you shouldn't put out a campfire with diesel, and the inspirational films that will most likely hit a theatre near you. Grab your popcorn, sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We grab a paddle and dig into the language and circumstances surrounding Senate Bill 497, which caused a bit of a riffle among the angling and public access crowd here in Montana. Co-captained by Jason Brininstool, fly fishing guide, David Brooks, Executive Director of Montana TU and Land Tawney, President of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, we’re led down a rocky run on a Class 5 case of modern Montana politics.  https://montanatu.org/legislature/ https://www.backcountryhunters.org/montana Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're not being facetious when we say that sargassum is a serious threat to our shallow seas and could factor into your spring break plans. So what is it? Sargassum is a naturally occurring algae, a seaweed, that serves valuable ecological functions. But, over a decade ago, it began to show up in unnatural ways and the problem is getting worse. This year sargassum showed up early and often along the beaches of the Riviera Maya from Cancun to Belize, and in Florida and the Bahamas. This January, 2023, has already set a record for all previous January months. Worse, the amount of sargassum waiting offshore at this time of year is four times that of normal. We take a deep dive into this growing environmental concern by interviewing citizens and scientists to determine how and why sargassum blooms are occurring, how this is affecting anglers and wildlife, and what the future might hold? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who among us hasn't lost a spectacular fish they wish they could have back? I can recall every vivid detail of every brief encounter, from the final leap of the steelhead that spat my fly from across the river to the largemouth that suspended in air, then hocked the diving frog like a loogie. As a young man exploring one of Central Oregon's notoriously challenging streams, the unexpected took me on a downstream sprint only to leave me defeated, out of breathe and pining for another crack at the fish of a lifetime. Will this be a story of redemption or another melancholy chapter in the ageless tale of the one that got away? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On August 21st, 2022, Nick Rinn was fishing for clues in California's Prosser Reservoir when his sonar device detected an anomaly. Rinn's macabre discovery would bring closure to the family of missing teenager Kiely Rodni...and change his life forever. It's been a wild ride for Nick, who in the span of a few days, went from anonymous electrician to national hero. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While we're pretty sure that Houston won't be hosting the Fly Fishing World Championships anytime soon, you'd be surprised how many fishing opportunities there are in the "Bayou City." Author Robert McConnell explores the possibilities and provides the beta in his new guide book, Fly Fishing Houston and Southeastern Texas. Turns out, theres a bounty of fly rod challenge hiding in plain sight in the city's canals, backwaters, and streams...you just need to think outside the trout box. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Judging from the advertisements, alcohol and fly fishing go hand in hand. What's a proper lodge brochure or gear catalog without an image of the crew blowing the froth off a few at day's end? But here in the real world the party can lead to lifelong problems. Rather than acting as the catalyst, Reeling in Recovery maintains that flyfishing can be the inhibitor to drug and alcohol abuse. Board President Andy Weiner introduces this organization as a safe space for those struggling with dependency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On a rare interlude from globe-trotting, we tracked down filmmaker Natalie Rhea. This director, writer, producer, cinematographer, photographer and brand strategist captures the outdoor and western lifestyle for brands such as Swarovski, Tecovas, Traeger and Yeti, to name a few. But the creativity and work ethic doesn’t end there as we discover the lighter side of Rhea through her comedic and musical exploits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices