Fin & Fire with Jeff Mishler

Zack Williams takes time from his busy schedule to sit with me at the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Rendezvous in Missoula and tell me his story:  A kid obsessed with fishing, inspired by mentors, finds his place in the world of like minded anglers and innovators using two handed rods to pursue steelhead.  But Zack excels and becomes one of the best casters of our time.

Jeff Currier has caught over 440 species of fish with a fly rod.  His life work is helping you become a better angler.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Jeff shares his story of how he came to this work, what drives his passion, and what it's like to compete in the World Fly Fishing Championship, and win.

John Larison is one of my favorite authors. He's also and exceptional hunter and angler.  In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, John and I sit down in my home on the Oregon Coast.  A world filled with fly fishing, bow hunting and writing is our common ground but his discipline and commitment to his craft continue to produce strong works of art. How does he do it?  Sit back and enjoy t...

John Barklow trains the military to stay alive in adverse conditions.  Decades of work in wilderness survival gives John the unique perspective of someone who can say, "been there, done that".  In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler we share wilderness experiences and discuss the psychology of preparedness.  Just because you have the gear doesn't necessarily mean you know how or when to...

Ed Ward does not do Podcasts. Except for this one.  In January of 2023, Ed and I return to the Skagit River and reconnect 15 years after the release of one of the best selling fly fishing DVDs of all time, Skagit Master Volume One.  This Podcast might surprise you.  Ed's thoughts on fishing, casting and the Intruder have evolved, and over a glass or two of whisky, we go deep into our shared experi...

Dave Pinczkowski, fly tyer, angler and old sage has influenced a generation of steelheaders.  In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, I sit down with Dave during a recent trip to the Skagit River to talk about his life and influences. There are few anglers who possess a soul so deep as Dave's and it's apparent as he shares stories during his one and only podcast. 

There are few people who have caught more tidewater salmon with a fly than Joe Sugura.  In this episode of Fin And Fire with Jeff Mishler, Joe and I share stories from our common past while trying to avoid breaking the one rule of tidewater salmon angling with a fly, and that is, that we don't talk about tidewater salmon angling with a fly. If you are curious about this mysterious fishery and its...

Brandon manages the hunt by reservation program for ODFW.  If you are interested in accessing new areas previously restricted as private lands in Oregon, this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, Brandon and I discuss the implementation of a software program that simplifies the process of reserving hunting opportunities in our state, the growth of the program, and it's future.  We also talk...

If you love to hunt Pheasants and the lands where they live, this episode of Find and Fire with Jeff Mishler is for you.  I sit down with CEO and President of Pheasants Forever, Howard Vincent and share stories from the field, the work of Pheasants Forever, and the future of our ecosystems under the watchful eyes of stakeholders and collaborating organizations. 

Tom and I met one evening while pondering a really nice piece of steelhead water. During the process of figuring out the Skagit Line craze, Tom and I shared ideas, cut some fly lines, drank some whisky and caught a few steelhead. This episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler goes deep into the weeds...If you are crazy about spey rods, steelhead fishing, Skagit lines and the lifestyle that comes w...

If you've ever considered a career working as a Manufacturer's Rep, the story of George Cook would be a very good study.  In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, I start at the beginning, and uncover the man, the myth, the legend, and in the process discover that George has set a record in the hunting world, one that few have ever considered, let alone achieved.  

James Rowe works hard to take rifle accuracy to the next level.  He is a part of a group of precision shooters who fine tune their gear for ultimate accuracy. He is an engineer at Nosler in Redmond Oregon. I sit down with him at his home and discover some secrets to true rifle accuracy.

Dave Smith of DSD--Dave Smith Decoys--knows how to hunt geese.  In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Dave and I go deep into the world of waterfowling and discuss calling, blinds, dogs, hunting with friends and of course, decoys. It is a long conversation so bring some whisky, and join us.

What is it like to work as a full time fishing guide and live the grind that comes with it? What is it like to spend half the year in Alaska, the other half in the woods of Michigan? I sit down with Robbie at Blue Fly B&B in King Salmon and discuss how he got his job and  whether his expectations were met when the dream became a reality. 

Running a fishing lodge in Alaska is challenging. Running a fishing lodge in Alaska during the pandemic is more so. Catching COVID and surviving in the process...well that makes for a good conversation. I sit down with my good friend Patricia Edel, owner of Blue Fly B&B and dive into the reality of living full time in King Salmon, Alaska. It takes commitment and a strong sense of independence.  An...

Have you ever considered making a drastic change in your life to create the life you always dreamed of.  Rob Perkin used the downtime in the pandemic to make that change.  He built the boat, by hand, got a captain's license and then set out to explore the near shore coastal environs of the pacific ocean with the intent of sharing his knowledge through a growing guide business. This conversation go...

If you like to hunt, fish and live an outdoor lifestyle, cooking what you harvest, preparing meals from the bounty is a bonus to the experience, and an enjoyable process. Hank Shaw is at the epicenter of the movement to utilize the entire animal and present creative, delicious meals. With multiple published books under his belt, I dive into the nuts and bolts of how to improve the process of cooki...

Whatever you think of the business of fly fishing there is no doubt that April Vokey has made a profound impression.  As an artist, entrepreneur, podcast host, TV celebrity and all around ambassador for the sport, April is a busy woman.  In this episode of Fin and Fire, we sit down for a continuation of a conversation we started years before when we sat around a fire and shared life stories.

Public Lands represent a portal to adventure for most of us. Maintaining access to public lands is the mission of Back Country Hunters and Anglers and Land Tawney, President and CEO, is at the helm of that effort. In this first episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, I learn that not only do Land and I share concerns about the future of public lands access, but that we share many life experienc...