The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast

As summer gives way to fall, backcountry anglers face one of the trickiest transitions of the year: turnover season. Weather gets funky, waters cool, insect activity changes, and spawning begins to influence behavior. In this episode of The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast , Ross unpacks how to approach this narrow edge season. He explains how (and where) to plan your trips, the extra gear you need...

Some places are so wild and remote they feel almost untouched. In northern British Columbia, just outside the vast Muskwa-Kechika Management Area , that kind of wilderness still exists. And it’s here that Urs and Daniel Schildnecht built Northern Rockies Adventures —a lodge and outfitting business that brings anglers and adventurers into some of the most rugged and spectacular country on the conti...

The backcountry demands more from both anglers and their equipment. When every ounce matters and every mile is earned, the right gear can make the difference between a long, grueling slog and a trip you’ll never forget. In this episode, Ross sits down with brothers Patrick and Daniel Bauman of Colter Backcountry , where two brothers with a passion for the outdoors are designing fly fishing gear bu...

There’s a voice inside you that knows when something isn’t right. Sometimes it whispers. Sometimes it roars. The key is learning to listen. In this episode, Ross sits down with security expert and former FBI agent James Hamilton from Hamilton Security Group for a deep dive into the nature of intuition—what it is, where it comes from, and why it might be the most important tool you have in the back...

Backcountry fly fishing is about mastery—learning the water, the fish, and the environment. It’s about exploration, achievement, and growth. It’s about earning your fish and your spots, not having them handed to you. In the second edition of Complaint Corner , Ross takes on the problem of spot burning—how it harms pristine places, ruins the fishing experience, and robs anglers of one of the best p...

There’s no better way to learn what not to do than by pointing and laughing at someone else’s mistakes. Lucky for you, Ross has a whole wall full of them—and he’s not shy about handing out free lessons. In this episode, Ross pulls three stories straight from his personal Wall of Shame: times he ignored his own advice, made dumb choices in the backcountry, and came this close to earning a Darwin Aw...

We all love to get out there as often as we can. But some days, you’re just not supposed to be in the wild. Some days, the mountain says No . This episode is all about those moments—the ones where something inside you whispers, “Not today, friend.”  Whether you're off physically, stuck in your own head, riding out an emotional storm, or just feeling that deep-down pull to turn back, learning...

Alright, you've picked the perfect high-alpine lake, found the perfect weather window, nailed your timing, and made the hike. What the hell do you do now? In this episode, Ross walks you through how to make it happen on high-alpine lakes, which can be among the toughest places in the world to fly fish if you're not prepared. If you're not sure what gear you need, wonder which patter...

If you love backcountry fly fishing, chances are you love hiking to high-alpine lakes. But as stunning as these remote waters are—tucked away in rugged mountain ranges—they can be unpredictable and frustrating if you don’t time your trips right. In this episode, Ross breaks down how to plan and time your next hike to a high-alpine lake, sharing practical tools, tips, and advice to help you stay sa...

The wild is unpredictable. That's why we love it. But when you're catching fish out in the sticks by yourself, you have to make peace with the fact that no one is coming to bail you out. That means you have to practice self-reliance, and that starts with having the stuff you need (or might need) if things go sideways.  In this episode, Ross talks about the importance of being prepared fo...

Welcome back, friends. It's officially time for Season 4 of the BCFF Podcast. In this episode, published right on the cusp of prime backcountry fly fishing season, Ross breaks out his tweed jacket to talk about the philosophy of why we go to hard places to catch fish.  Spoiler alert: It ain't really about the fish at all. ------ If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to foll...

Well, it happened. DC politics have collided with our time in the woods, and that means we've gotta talk about it (even if we'd rather not). In this special-- and urgent --episode, Ross talks about a provision in the U.S. Senate GOP's budget reconciliation bill that would mandate the sale of millions of acres of federal land--the same land we use to hike, camp, and fly fish.  You ca...

Alright, friends, we've come to the end of Season 3. We hope you've enjoyed this season and come away with a bunch of helpful information. It's been incredible to watch the growth of the BCFF Podcast and to speak to so many of you about your own fly fishing stories. THANK YOU for listening, for taking the time to send your thoughts, and for being part of this crazy backcountry fly f...

If you're like Ross, you could probably spend your entire life exploring the waters in your home state and still never come close to seeing them all. But we live on a big planet full of interesting fish that will eat a fly in wild places, and sometimes you want to get out and see something radically different--think float plane trips in the Northern Rockies, stalking GTs off the coast of Afri...

We are fortunate to live in an age where technology can help support our backcountry adventures and keep us safe and connected while we're in the wild.  This week we take a deep dive into safety technology with Rehan Nana, who for outdoor tech giant Garmin. Rehan walks us through Garmin's history, technological solutions, and how electronics can help keep you safe in the wilderness. If y...

Runoff has arrived, and while we have talked about the science and safety of high-water season, we have yet to talk about the other important thing: How to keep fishing during this tough season. In this episode, Ross walks you through three ways (with some extras for good measure) to keep your rod bent while you wait for the streams to settle down and the high-alpine lakes to ice off. No need to s...

Higher flows, stained water, warmer weather... We all know what that means: Runoff cometh. In this episode, Brandon Forbes from the United States Geological Survey joins us to talk about the science of streamflow and runoff. USGS is an incredibly important agency that handles everything from earthquakes to volcanoes to flood prediction. And because of the thousands of stream-monitoring stations th...

It's time for a brief intermission in Season 3 of The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast. And what better way could there be to use that intermission than to complain a little about the stuff that annoys us about fly fishing? This is our first Complaint Corner episode--and likely the first of many. This week's topic? The infamous, the dastardly, the downright rude, the incorrigible high-hol...

We all love geeking out about bugs. We started talking a bit about insects and hatches last week. This week, we're taking a deep dive into filling up your dry box for spring fly fishing--patterns, tying tips, bug nerdery, and more.  Get ready to break out that vise, friends. Dry-fly season is upon us.  If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feelin...

After the weird 'tweener season of March, winter is FINALLY over. April brings warmer weather, warmer water, a whole bunch of bugs, and a return to the promised land for fly anglers--especially fly anglers who have been itching to get back into the bush after a winter of being stuck on the tailwaters.  In this episode, Ross walks you through fly fishing in April--getting back on the freestone...

Alright, we've covered hiking in tough spring conditions and how to fly fish through the early weeks of spring. But what do you need to have a safe, comfortable, successful day on the water when you get there?  In this episode, Ross walks you through his wading system for the spring, including his preferred gear and tips to keep you safe and comfy in rapidly changing conditions. If you'r...

If you think spring makes fly fishing challenging, you should see what it does to your favorite hiking trails. In this episode, Ross walks you through what you should expect on those early spring trails and how you can make sure that tough conditions don't stop you from reaching your favorite backcountry water. One note: Ross recorded this episode while fighting off a chest cold, so he sounds...

March is the tweener season. It's kind of winter, kind of spring, and all complications all the time.  In this episode, Ross walks you through how he fly fishes through the most complicated month of the year--finding water, bringing the right gear, and putting fish in the net even when conditions don't want to cooperate.  We know you're itching to get back out there, but don't...

We're back, baby! This is the official kickoff of Season 3 of The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast, which is all about fly fishing through the spring months and working our way back into the serious wilderness we all love so much. In this episode, Ross provides a taste of what to expect in Season 3 and an overview of the challenges you ought to be thinking about as you prepare to hit the water...

Well, folks, we've reached the end of Season 2. We hope you've enjoyed this season and been able to use the information to get out on the winter water and slay some trout.  We'll be back with Season 3, which will be all about spring fly fishing in the backcountry, in mid-March. Until then, don't forget to leave us a five-star review on your podcast platform of choice. And feel...