The Destination Angler Podcast

Episode 174 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – July 2, 2026.   Our destination is fly fishing North America and the world — through the lens of one of its most influential voices. Joining me is Kirk Deeter, Editor-in-Chief of Trout Magazine and VP of Angling at Trout Unlimited, for a wide-ranging conversation spanning conservation, storytelling, and bucket-list destinations. In this e...

Episode 173 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – June 18, 2026.   Thanks to  Redd's Flies  for supporting the show Our destination is the legendary Madison River, one of Montana's most iconic trout fisheries.   Joining me is 27-year guiding veteran, Alice Owsley—owner of Riverside Anglers, West Yellowstone, Montana. The Madison is where big Western water meets technical fishing, where 9...

Episode 172 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – June 5, 2026.   Our destination is the Battenkill River — one of New England's most iconic freestone stream, where wild brown and brook trout test even the most patient anglers. Joining me is Doug Lyons, author of The Fly Fishing Guide to the Battenkill , conservationist, and self-described "professional recreationist" who has fished this...

 Episode 171 of the Destination Angler Podcast– May 21, 2026 Our destination is the Green River below Fontenelle Dam — perhaps the last major undiscovered trophy trout stream in the lower 48 states. Tucked inside the Seedskiddie National Wildlife Refuge in the middle of Wyoming's Red Desert, this high desert tailwater is a lush ribbon of life most traveling anglers have never heard of — and that's...

Episode 170 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – May 7, 2026 Few fly fishing destinations on the planet can match the raw beauty, solitude, and authentic culture of  Northern Patagonia, Argentina — and in this episode of the Destination Angler Podcast, host Steve Haigh pulls back the curtain on one of its best-kept secrets. Steve sits down with Luciano Alba (Lucho), founder of Dream Wat...

Episode 169 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – April 23, 2026 Our destination is the legendary spring creeks of the Driftless Area—where miles and miles clear cold water, aggressive trout, and an open to the public culture make this truly a one-of-a-kind destination.   Author and expert fly anglers, John van Vliet and Catherine Smith break it all down—where to look, what to throw, whe...

Episode 168 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – April 9, 2026 In Part 2 of our two-part episode, our destination is Yellowstone Country with angling legend Craig Mathews. We dive into his new book, Pheasant Tail Simplicity , and why fewer flies might make you a better angler. Plus, winter tactics, the story behind the Sparkle Dun, and stories involving Keith Richards, Tom Broaw, Yvon C...

Episode 167 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – March 26, 2026  In Part 1 of a two-part episode, our destination is Yellowstone National Park's Firehole River—a strange world of geysers and fumaroles, grizzlies and bison, and trout, along with the Gibbon and the Upper Madison.   With angler, fly designer, author, and 1% for the Planet Co-Founder, Craig Matthews who shares expert fly fi...

Episode 166 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – March 12, 2026 How do you pull off a DIY fly fishing trip to Alaska ?     Our destination is the Alaskan backcountry with author, expert fly angler, and adventurer, Oliver Ancans, who for the last 10 years has been fly fishing   the state on a budget.   Oliver s hares his tips on how to discover those lesser-known watersheds, going light...

Episode 165 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – February 26, 2026 Imagine a summer where the camper van becomes home, and the hatch chart dictates where you sleep?   Our destination is the American West with John and Karen Kreft, of Riverkeeper Flies, who share their hatch-driven philosophy, their top-producing dry fly patterns, and what they've learned from life on the road — designin...

Episode 164 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – February 12, 2026 Today our destination is the Big Hole River in southwest Montana — a place trout anglers have revered for generations and home to the last native Arctic grayling in the Lower 48. But is this storied fishery at a crossroads? Trout numbers are lower than they've been in decades, even as anglers still find good fish. So wha...

Episode 163 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – January 29, 2026 Our destination is the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia—steep, green, and loaded with incredible trout water if you know where to look. We're blue-lining small mountain streams with Mark Taylor , Eastern Communications Director for Trout Unlimited and one of the most respected outdoor writers in the country. Virginia migh...

Episode 162 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – January 15, 2026 Our destination is the Upper Connecticut River—a remote tailwater in far northern New Hampshire that delivers outstanding fly fishing with remarkably light pressure. In this episode, I'm joined by veteran guide Bill Bernhardt, a 20-year Orvis-endorsed guide and co-owner of Points North Outfitters in Pittsburg, NH. Bill ex...

Episode 161 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – January 1, 2026. Our destination is the Rangeley region of Maine — home to three world-famous rivers steeped in history and known for giant brook trout: the Rapid, the Kennebago, and the Magalloway.   But how are they actually fishing today? And do they still live up to the hype? Joining me is fisheries ecologist and lifelong Mainer Greg...

Episode 160 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – Dec 18, 2025 Today Our destination is the Upper Delaware River, a legendary tailwater often called the crown jewel of the East. This tailwater system is known for clear, cold water all year long and highly selective wild brown and rainbow trout – a graduate school for fly anglers where precise presentation and light tippets are the rule....

Episode 159 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – Dec 4, 2025 Our destination is Alaska's Brooks Range with fisheries ecologist Kevin Fraley. We explore this wild and remote landscape, Arctic species like Dolly Varden and sheefish, and the conservation fight over the Ambler Road project.   Kevin shares adventures of bear charges, moose encounters, extended solo packrafting trips, and sce...

Episode 158 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – Nov 19, 2025 Our destination is the legendary South Island of New Zealand – world famous for trophy trout, technical fly fishing, and friendly people – with 40-year Kiwi guide and conservationist Tony Entwistle.   Tony shares the unvarnished truth about NZ today and offers sage advice on important questions like how selective are NZ trout...

Our destination is wild Alaska and wondrous Argentina, two of the world's premier fly-fishing frontiers. For most anglers, a trip like this is once in a lifetime—so which do you choose?  To help us decide, we've brought together two men who know these waters well. Bob White is a renowned sporting artist, author, and former guide who for 40 years has led anglers from Alaska to Patagonia. Joining hi...

Our destination is the legendary Penns Creek in central Pennsylvania—Part 2—with Team USA world champion angler and guide Tess Weigand .   Tess unleashes a flood of hard-won tips from years of guiding and competing to help you crack the code on one of the most technical trout streams in the East. We dive into the chaos of the Green Drake hatch , Tess's go-to fly patterns, how to handle the crowds,...

Our destination today isn't a river — it's the very ground beneath our wading boots.   Across the West, efforts have resurfaced to sell off or weaken protections for our public lands — the same lands that hold America's greatest trout streams and wild places.      Joining me is Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. Today, we talk about the fight to protect our public lands — what's at...

Our Destination is Part 1 of a 2-part series on the legendary Penns Creek in central Pennsylvania with Team USA world champion competition angler and guide, Tess Weigand. Tucked into the Pennsylvania woods, Penns Creek is hallowed water— it's PA longest limestone-creek, a bug-factory, and home to some of the most educated trout in the East.    Tess is a founding member of the women's Team USA and...

Our destination is Canada's Lake Superior Marine Conservation Area for giant coaster brook trout—3,800 square miles of crystal-clear water and steep, rocky drop-offs hiding the biggest brook trout on earth.    Joining me is author, guide, and Great Lakes expert Jerry Darkes, who gives us a whirlwind tour of fly fishing the Great Lakes and a deep dive into where, how, and when to find these genetic...

Our destination is Big Pine Creek in the remote "Dark Skies" region of Pennsylvania.   Joining me is expert fly angler, Ethan Albright, a reformed diesel mechanic who traded wrenches for fly rods and is now head guide at Slate Run Tackle Shop. Ethan gives us the low down on the numerous creeks and rivers in the area and shares stories of black bears and rattlesnakes, stargazing and remote living,...

Our destination is the hidden fly fishing paradise of Tasmania— that far-flung island at the bottom of the world with beautiful lakes and trout that can top 20 pounds – with industry icon and fly fishing legend, Jack Dennis.  Jack opened one of the most iconic fly shops in America in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.   He's produced best-selling books and videos, helped launch Team USA Fly Fishing, and co-fo...

Our destination is the legendary Missouri River near Craig, Montana, one of the most technically challenging rivers in the West.   Joining me is guide, author, photographer, Marine Corps vet, and adjunct professor, Micah Fields, who unpacks his playbook for dry-fly headhunting, the quirks of Holter dam, and the art of reading a river that fishes like a giant spring creek.   Plus, hear about Montan...