Fish Untamed

Amy McDonnell is a backpacker and a neuroscientist at the University of Utah. Specifically, Amy studies the effects of time in nature on the brain. In this episode, we discuss how various time spans spent in nature affect the brain, the benefits people self-report after spending time outside, whether directly interacting with nature (for example, fishing) has a more pronounced effect than other ki...

Ashley Peters is an angler, conservation communicator, and board member for the Outdoor Writers Association of America. In this episode, we discuss her work on a trail crew in Alaska, how to communicate the importance of conservation effectively, how to avoid the doom and gloom often associated with conservation work, how she has had to adapt her outdoor pursuits in light of a chronic illness diag...

Rick Kustich is the Great Lakes Editor for Swing the Fly and an avid angler of both steelhead and muskies. In this episode, we talk about fishing for both species in New York, including how steelhead in New York compare to the other Great Lakes tributaries, what to do when the muskies aren’t biting, how Rick uses an overhand cast with a two-handed rod, and much more. Swing the Fly: link Instagram:...

Shawn has been a guest on the show many times. Last time he was on, we joked about doing an episode about aging as a backpacker. He’s back today to do just that. There is relatively little fishing talk in this episode, since most of the hardship of getting old relates to getting to the fishing spot, not the fishing itself. We discuss changes he’s noticed as he has gotten older, gear considerations...

Danny Frank is the owner of Colorado Trout Hunters and guides in and around the Front Range of Colorado. In this episode, we talk about the specifics of fishing spring runoff, including timing of the runoff, daily fluctuations, freestones vs. tailwaters, reading water, fly selection, presentation, and much more. Personal Instagram: @deltatroutforce  Business Instagram: @coloradotrouthunters Waypoi...

Steve Veals did something very few anglers have likely ever done: he fished every day for 365 days straight. In this episode, Steve tells me about how the idea came to be, what his stipulations were, the challenges and surprises he encountered along the way, and what his life has been like since finishing the challenge. Website: www.stephenveals.com Instagram: @steve_the_cholo Waypoint TV Learn mo...

Janet George is a retired CPW wildlife biologist and now on the board of the CO Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. In the past few years, Janet has been fishing her way through much of northern CO. In addition to several other personal “projects,” Janet has fished every lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. In this episode, we talk about how she came to start these goals, what she experien...

Mia Sheppard is an angler, hunter, and snowboarder. She is owner/guide at Little Creek Outfitters and Juniper River Adventures on the Deschutes River. In this episode, we talk about fishing the Deschutes, avoiding burnout in guiding and fishing, starting a new program in Alaska, getting into hunting, and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Little Creek Outfitters site: link Mia’s In...

Kurt Finlayson is a former member of Fly Fishing Team USA and avid angler. These days, he mostly focuses on his own personal fishing projects, in which he sets goals for catching different sets of species. In this episode, we talk about how he got started in competition fishing, transitioning out of that professional role, and the fish projects he makes for himself, including his desert project, C...

Jen Ripple first joined me on the show way back in episode 19. I was thrilled to have her back on to catch up on what she has been up to. In this episode, we talk about her transition from DUN Magazine to DUN Outdoors, a more comprehensive women’s outdoor media space, as well as her new role working with Hardy and Greys and what it’s been like getting acquainted with more traditional and historied...

Howard Croston is a full-time fly rod designer for the world-famous brands, Hardy and Greys and also the England World Team Captain. In this episode, we talk about competition fly fishing, what he does day-to-day as a rod designer, how high-end rods and reels differ from low-end rods and reels, how different rods require different designs, and some considerations for material, length, and action w...

Amanda Willshire is a full-time metal artist and part-time guide in Colorado. She has also competed in the Ladies Tarpon Tournament in Florida and recently got back from fishing in Brazil. In this episode, we talk about her metal fish art, fishing for tarpon in Florida, fishing experiences and mishaps in South America, and much more. Instagram: @awdart Website: link Waypoint TV Learn more about yo...

James Garrettson owns About Trout, an outfitter specializing in the San Juan River of northern New Mexico. In this episode, we talk about the San Juan as a whole, the different sections of river, seasonality, flies, species present, and the pros and cons of Euro nymphing. Website: link Instagram: @about.trout Youtube: link Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the annual episode where Mel and I go through our fishing goals from the past year and talk about what we have in store for the upcoming year. In this episode, we switched things up a bit. As a new mom, Mel didn’t have as much time as she’d hoped to get out on the water, so in place of some of the goals she was not able to finish, she talked me through what it was like taking an infant fis...

Dave Zielinski loves following the cicada hatches around the eastern U.S. and is the author of Cicada Madness, which covers all things pertaining to fly fishing during these exciting emergences. In this episode, we cover the life histories of cicadas, the differences between annual and periodical cicadas, how to plan a fishing trip to coincide with the emergence, how to actually find the bugs once...

Joe Croteau is a pivotal person in my life. He is the person who got me into fly fishing many years ago, hiring me at his fly shop before I really knew what I was doing. He knows fishing around Rocky Mountain National Park better than most. He recently released a guide book, Fly Fishing and Guiding in Rocky Mountain National Park. In this episode, we talk all about fishing in the park, including s...

Terry Wickstrom is the host of Terry Wickstrom Outdoors on 104.3 The Fan in Denver and has spent decades in outdoor radio, television, and print media. In this episode, we talk about ice fishing in Colorado, how Terry got started in the outdoor industry, the state of outdoor media, traditional radio vs. modern media, getting young people into the outdoors, and much more. Terry Wickstrom Outdoors:...

Michael Broome first appeared on Fish Untamed in episode 131 to talk about completing the Wyoming Cutt Slam. Since then, he has completed both the Utah Cutt Slam and the first tier of the Western Native Trout Challenge. In this episode, we talk about his recent trip out west completing these challenges, lessons he learned along the way, and much more. Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices....

Andrew Todd is a regular on the show, also appearing in episode 1 and episode 121. He is the creator of the Rocky Mountain Flyathlon and the nonprofit Running Rivers. This past summer, Andrew and I completed an Ültroüt (Andrew) and Troutwoman (me) together, and Andrew also completed a Lucifish run a few months later. In this episode, we catch up on how things went and lessons we learned along the...

Graham Mott has been fly fishing for decades and has a lifetime of fun stories from the water. He recently released a book, “Hooked by Fly Fishing: Feel-Good Stories of Family and Friends, Life Lessons, Mishaps, and Mayhem.” In this episode, he tells me some of his favorite stories of fly fishing over the years, including being guided by a couple of outlaws in Alaska and hooking what he thought wa...

Shawn Larson is a friend and multi-repeat guest on the show (episode 63 and 67), and Paul Vertrees is also returning to the show after appearing in episode 118. Paul and Shawn have been adventuring together all summer, and in this episode, we catch up on what they’ve been up to, including recent trips in the Driftless Area and the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Paul: Blog: Tenkara Tracks YouTube:...

Zig Peacock is the President of the Weber Basin Anglers chapter of Trout Unlimited and a (as of the release date of this episode) four-time completer of the Utah Cutt Slam. In this episode, we talk about his responsibilities as President of his Trout Unlimited chapter, what it’s like fishing with his two crazy Labs, and his experiences completing multiple Utah Cutt Slams over the years. Youtube: @...

Gabriella Hoffman is a freelance outdoor writer, host of the District of Conservation Podcast, and works in conservation policy. In this episode, we talk about her journey getting introduced to fly fishing, her work in conservation and podcasting, and how various states have managed the right to hunt and fish. Instagram: @Gabriella_Hoffman Facebook: /TheGabbyHoffman X: @Gabby_Hoffman Waypoint TV L...

Cody McLaughlin is an Alaskan angler and salmon advocate. He recently released a new project, Salmon Wars, that focuses on threats to salmon and what can be done to mitigate population declines. In this episode, we discuss his attempts to complete state fish slams, the threats facing Alaskan salmon, why robust salmon populations matter, and what people can do to help. Salmon Wars: link Trout Strea...

McKenna Hulslander is an avid backcountry angler and the owner of Outcast Adventures, an outfitter dedicated to getting women out into the backcountry to fish, raft, and explore the beautiful Montana wilderness. In this episode, McKenna and I talk about how women’s backcountry trips differ from co-ed trips, what she has learned working with anglers of all skill levels, the gear she uses when she’s...