Fin & Fire with Jeff Mishler

Tuning a compound bow is essential for ultimate accuracy. Knowing how to tune your bow can mean the difference between a successful hunt and a clean miss or lost animal.  It is our responsibility as hunters to take the variables we can control out of the equation, and it starts with a well tuned bow. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Kellen Morgan takes me through the steps of cho...

George is the only hunter to kill a Mule Deer in every state they reside.  That is a testament to the man's commitment to deer hunting.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, George and I swap deer hunting stories, discuss techniques, caliber choices and surprise outcomes from a lifetime of pursuing deer. 

Fred Walasavage is committed to a lifestyle of hunting and fishing because staying connected to our hunting heritage is his purpose. I sit with Fred at his cabin in Oregon and we connect on many levels while sharing stories of a lifetime spent chasing elk and turkeys.  We talk about hunting strategies, volunteerism, and the the future of hunting in a changing cultural landscape.

Garrett Lesko ties beautiful and intricate fly patterns, but more than that, he represents a generation of passionate fly tyers using social media to stay connect to an audience while building enthusiasm with his work. I met Garrett at the 2024 Northwest Fly Tyer and Fly fishing Expo in Albany, Oregon where we go deep into his origin story and share some common ground spent around a fly tying vice...

Modern Spey Line design can be attributed to a few open minded thinkers and Al Buhr is one of them.  His approach to describing the mechanics of the fly cast is rooted in the messages from his mentors.  Jim Green and Joan Wulff play a huge role in the ethos of Al Buhr.  And as he says in the Podcast, "I'm happy that I get to talk about my heroes."

Scott O'Donnell is an industry name. His decades of experience guiding clients for trout and steelhead bring perspective to a career of commitment and sacrifice. It's hard work to create opportunities for clients on a daily basis. But the lifestyle has its rewards. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, I sit with Scott at my place on the Oregon Coast and we drink some whisky while sha...

Jason Koertge might be the most honest voice in the world of outdoor advertising.  If you hunt and fish and buy outdoor products, you know Jason's work.  His thumb print can be found on brands throughout the world we know. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Jason and I share some stories but go deep into the reality of creating authentic content in a world of quick hit messaging an...

There are many aspects to choosing, training and working a bird hunting dog.  It all begins and ends with the dog.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler I sit with Tim Curry, a dog trainer with 20 years of bird dog training experience and we dive into the often debated techniques a trainer and owner should implement in the process of creating a well-rounded and competent hunting compa...

Tim Rawlins is the content creator for the YouTube Channel, The Line Speed Jedi.  He has produced over 500 videos featuring spey casting in its many forms.  Not one to take himself too seriously, his light hearted, self deprecating humor creates content that is fun to watch and very educational. You see him make mistakes and work towards the solutions. That is something we can all relate to. He is...

Steve Rajeff has won more all-around fly casting tournaments than anyone in the history of the game.  He has been called the best amateur athlete of all time. His dedication to a life of fly fishing has produced immeasurable contributions to the culture we love. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, I sit with Steve in his home in SW Washington and dig into the past of the man who sho...

If you fly fish for steelhead you probably know of John Shewey's work and contribution to the culture.  Not only is he a great storyteller and communicator, but his passion for the outdoors is apparent in the tales he shares about decades of pursuit. We lived parallel lives in different parts of the state as we perfected our craft. This podcast represents a full circle connection that is long over...

Shared passions can produce great outcomes.  In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler I sit with Kate and Justin Crump in their lodge on the Oregon Coast and dive into their story.  I discover what makes their recipe a success and what the future holds for The Lodge at 58 North and their Oregon programs. 

Sage Fly Rods are known as a high design, high line speed, high technology product. In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler I sit with Peter Knox, an engineer and fly rod designer for Sage and dive into the essence of a fly rod.  We also visit his journey to this point in life and learn that a local kid with a passion can realize his dream.  

For the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, protecting everything related to healthy elk populations involves so much more than focusing on just the regal bull elk. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, I chat with Mark Holyoak, Communication Director for the RMEF at their headquarters in Missoula, Montana about the successes of the organization and why it is so effective at maintaining a...

Launching a top-of-the-line fly fishing apparel brand into a market known for quality products is the kind of challenge Kevin Sloan has faced for decades. As a founder of the brands Sitka and MeatEater, Kevin has unique insights and experiences from his successful past and presents a vision for his new venture, Skwala Fishing. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler I sit with Kevin in B...

In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler I dive into the challenges of water management in the State of Oregon and discover that it boils down to the relationships between the landowners and the state agencies. In Oregon, Spencer works at the epicenter of these relationships.  He's also a prolific hunter/angler and we trade stories about our pursuits of the elusive Blacktail bucks of west...

A solid work ethic produces results.  Jeff Hickman is an example of this.  From humble beginnings to his role today as a father, husband, lodge owner, outfitter, property owner and conservationist, Jeff's story is an inspiration for anyone considering a life or career immersed in the world of fly fishing. 

Big Game hunting seasons often change but when they go from an over the counter tag to a controlled hunt, the hunting public is often left with many questions. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler I sit down with Justin Dion from ODFW, Game Department and ask some tough questions about why my favorite units to hunt elk have moved to a controlled hunt and whether or not those managemen...

After 30 years of sharing rivers and life experiences, Guido and I sit down for a deeper discussion focused on his evolution as an angler and the commitment he made to saving wild salmon and steelhead.  In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler I ask Guido tough questions about the future of conservation and how the Wild Salmon Center is preparing for it.

For 25 years The Drake Magazine has created a voice for the everyday fly angler. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Tom tells the story of how The Drake evolved, his personal journey to this moment, and how young writers can create works destined for publication.  Along the way, we also discover that we in fact went to the same junior high in a small Oregon town many years ago.  

If you chase steelhead with a two handed rod you should know who Rich Zellman is.  His Keep It Simple mantra makes him more effective at finding and catching steelhead on a river often called the most difficult river in the world to find success.  I sit down with Rich near his favorite waters and dig deep into the man and his passion to help you catch the steelhead of your lifetime. 

Simon Gawesworth is known as one of the nicest people in the world of outdoor recreation, and one of the best instructors.  A lifetime of teaching people how to flycast has created a perspective and humility we could all learn from.  If you need to improve your skills, an hour with Simon might be the best money spent.  This episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler digs into the spirit of the man...

What does it take for a product to go from idea to something real that you use in your daily life? In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, Nick and I discuss the product development process.  His direct experience with the largest brands has produced a rare level of experience and insight and hopefully a road map for anyone considering a change in careers or pursuing one in the outdoor...

As an outfitter, how do you know that the guide you are hiring is competent. As a guide, how can you know that the outfitter who wants to hire you  operates a reputable business? In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, I sit with Austin Bridges of Guidesourceoutdoors.com and we discuss their business plan to ensure that Guides, Outfitters and the public hiring their services have the be...

Picking a trout rod is a very personal experience and no two anglers experience a particular fly rod the same way. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Adam and I go deep into trout rods, trout fishing, lines, flies....we nerd out a bit on trout fishing and share our experiences with the R.L. Winston Rod Company.  Winston fly rods have a "feel", and the Winston Feel drives this conve...