The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast

Season 6 Finale: More Than Fly Fishing As Season 6 comes to a close, Ross reflects on the incredible growth of the Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast and the community that has formed around it. From hopper fishing and backpacking to wilderness philosophy and personal growth, this season has been about far more than simply catching trout.  The episode looks back at the lessons, stories, and listener...

Finding fishable water has never been the hard part. Finding the right water—and knowing how to access it—is where things get complicated. In this episode, Ross sits down with Erik Johnsen of TroutRoutes to talk about the evolution of digital mapping for fly anglers, the challenges of building a trout-specific navigation tool, and how better information can open the door to more exploration and mo...

What makes outdoor gear actually good ? And what happens when the people designing it are the same people out there beating it up in wild places? In this episode, Ross sits down with Eric Bender , lead equipment designer at Kifaru International , to talk about what goes into building gear for serious backcountry use and why so much of the fly fishing world still misses the mark. From packs, shelte...

Recorded from a tent somewhere in the Colorado backcountry, this first installment of Field Notes is an experiment in bringing the podcast out of the studio and into the places that inspire it. After a day spent exploring a rugged mountain creek full of small brook trout, deadfall, steep canyon walls, and hard-earned water, Ross reflects on why we return to wild places in the first place.  This ep...

Backpacking opens the door to some of the most rewarding experiences in fly fishing, but it also requires a different level of preparation, self-reliance, and planning than a simple day trip. In this episode, Ross breaks down the backpacking system he uses for overnight and multi-day backcountry fly fishing trips. From shelters, sleep systems, food, water, and camp gear to safety equipment, fishin...

This season’s installment of Complaint Corner takes aim at one of the most persistent—and annoying—mentalities in fly fishing: the obsession with big fish at the expense of everything else. Ross dives into the culture of the “Big Fish Bro,” the angler who treats fly fishing as a scoreboard, measures success exclusively in inches, and seems more interested in trophies, comparisons, and social media...

After a close encounter with a rattlesnake in a remote canyon, Ross reflects on something bigger than fishing: why we’re really drawn to wild places in the first place. This episode explores the difference between beauty and consequence—between simply enjoying nature and willingly stepping into environments that demand competence, awareness, preparation, and respect. From wilderness, risk, and mor...

At some point, every serious backcountry angler runs into the same question: when does a fishing trip stop being a day trip and become an overnighter? In this episode, Ross breaks down the thought process behind deciding when it’s time to camp, backpack, or prepare to spend the night outside. From mileage, elevation gain, and fishing time to weather, navigation problems, physical limits, and unfor...

Summer means one thing: it’s time to throw big bugs. In this episode, Ross dives deep into the world of terrestrial fly fishing—grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and the explosive eats that make them one of the most addictive ways to catch trout. From favorite patterns and simple fly design to rigging hopper-droppers and understanding where these insects actually fit into the ecosystem, this is a full...

What if the most “normal” way of fishing isn’t actually the best way? In this episode, Ross makes the case for ditching waders and embracing wet wading as the default approach for backcountry fly fishing. From the simple definition—getting in the water without a barrier between you and it—to the deeper philosophy behind it, this is a full breakdown of why wet wading changes the way you move, fish,...

The best days on the water don’t start at the river—they start at home. In this episode, Ross breaks down the power of building systems and routines that make your fishing simpler, more efficient, and far less prone to failure. From preseason prep to dialing in your gear, pack, and process, this is about removing friction before it ever has a chance to show up on the water. Because missed opportun...

Season 6 of the BCFF Podcast begins with a reminder: you don’t have to go far to find something wild. In this episode, Ross explores the idea of frontier water —those overlooked stretches of river and hidden pockets of backcountry that exist just beyond the edges of well-known fisheries, and sometimes even just outside of town. These are places that don’t give themselves up easily. They require ef...

Season 5 of The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast comes to a close with a look at how far the show has come—and where it’s headed next. In this final episode of the season, Ross reflects on the growth of the podcast, the wide range of topics covered throughout Season 5, and the community that’s formed around thoughtful conversations about fly fishing, wilderness, stewardship, and outdoor life. It’s...

When disaster hits, the damage doesn’t stop at roads and homes—it tears through rivers, streams, and the communities that depend on them. In this episode, Ross sits down with Jared Dubin and Miguel Huerta of The Beacon Network , a small, community-based nonprofit doing critical recovery work along the South Toe River in North Carolina following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. The conversation...

Some places change you—not because they’re comfortable or accessible, but because they demand something from you. Deep in Mongolia’s backcountry, far from roads, towns, and certainty, those places still exist. In this episode, Ross sits down with Peter Fong , head guide with Mongolia River Outfitters , the team that made Ross's life-altering expedition into one of the wildest landscapes on Ea...

In this episode, Ross sits down with Allen Law of Western Rivers Conservancy to talk about one of the most effective—and often overlooked—approaches to protecting wild rivers in the American West. Western Rivers Conservancy works to permanently protect rivers by acquiring them and then handing them back to the public in various ways. Allen explains how this model works, why it’s so powerful, and h...

Not every guide deserves the title. In this season’s installment of Complaint Corner , Ross takes aim at a growing problem in fly fishing: guides who don’t really know the craft, don’t respect the resource, and treat the river like an amusement park ride instead of a living place that deserves care and humility. This episode isn’t about ego or gatekeeping—it’s about standards. About the difference...

Fly fishing doesn’t need a dozen different knots to be effective. In fact, most anglers can do everything they need on the water with just a small handful—if they actually know how and when to use them. In this episode, Ross breaks down the core knots every fly angler should have dialed, why these knots work, and where they fit into real-world backcountry fishing scenarios. This isn’t about memori...

Every angler knows the feeling—those days when the river goes quiet, the fish disappear, and nothing you do seems to change it. Slow days on the water can mess with your head if you let them, but they don’t have to break you. In this episode, Ross dives into the art of getting through the tough days: how to interpret what the river is telling you, how to manage the mental side of a slow bite, and...

The cold isn’t just a condition—it’s a mindset. When the temps drop and the rivers turn steel-gray, most anglers call it quits. But if you know how to prepare yourself mentally, winter becomes one of the most rewarding seasons of the year. This episode dives into the mental game behind fishing through the harshest months—how to stay focused, stay sharp, and stay out there when everyone else goes h...

Fly fishing gives us more than fish. It gives us quiet. It gives us space. It gives us a way to breathe in a world that never stops moving. And in this Thanksgiving episode, Ross reflects on the gratitude we owe to the waters that keep us steady, the wild places that make us feel alive, and the moments of peace that only a river can provide. This isn’t a gear episode or a tactics breakdown. It’s a...

There’s a moment every angler reaches when the flies in the shop just don’t cut it anymore. Maybe it’s a pattern that never quite works the way it should. Maybe it’s that tiny backcountry creek where trout eat everything except what’s commercially tied. Or maybe it’s just the urge to create something that’s yours. In this episode, Ross delivers a full fly-tying sermon—part philosophy, part instruc...

It might not be glamorous, but it sure as hell catches fish. In this episode, Ross takes a deep dive into indicator nymphing —the most misunderstood, underrated, and effective technique in all of fly fishing. From foam to yarn to Air Locks and beyond, he breaks down the pros and cons of different indicator types, how to rig them, and when (and when not) to use them. This episode is packed with pra...

The wild doesn’t stay wild on its own. In this opening episode of Season 5, Ross returns from Mongolia—where he chased the legendary taimen on some of the most remote water on Earth—and reflects on what he found there. Among endless stretches of untouched country, a massive new highway project is cutting its way through the steppe, a reminder that even the most isolated landscapes are not beyond t...

Season 4 of The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast comes to a close, but the conversation doesn’t stop here. In this final episode, Ross reflects on the BCFF Podcast journey so far—and turns to one of the most important conservation issues facing our public lands today: the proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule . The Roadless Rule protects more than 58 million acres of America’s wildest country, safeg...