The Destination Angler Podcast

Our destination is Part 2 of the Gallatin River with competition angler and guide, Brian Kimmel, Bozeman, Montana.  Ever wonder what it was like to grow up in Montana before interstates and the fly-fishing boom?   Brian spent his childhood in Billings living the sportsman's life with his brother and his dad fishing the great rivers of SW Montana.  In this episode, you'll hear stories of bears, the...

Our destination is the Gallatin River with competition angler and guide, Brian Kimmel, Bozeman, Montana.  Starting in Yellowstone Park, the Gallatin flows 100 miles through some of the most gorgeous alpine meadows, canyons, valleys, and farmland on the planet.  Here you'll find high trout populations, incredible hatches, and great public access.    Brian has been guiding this river for 25 years an...

Our destination is the famed Deschutes River in central Oregon with Elke and Alysia Littleleaf, Littleleaf Guide Service.  Considered one of the premier fisheries in the Pacific Northwest, the Deschutes is the largest spring-fed river in America, famed for incredible insect hatches, dense trout populations, and fast growth rates.  Elke and Alysia are from the Warm Springs Wasco reservation and may...

Our destination is the Yakima River in central Washington with fly fishing guide, outfitter, and instructor Joe Rotter, Reds Fly Shop, Ellensburg, WA.  The Yakima has it all--big western hatches, wild fish that fight like steelhead, beautiful scenery, and cold water all summer long.   It's a technical fishery that requires casts to teacup-sized targets.  Joe gives a master class on technical fly f...

Our destination is Northern California and the beautiful and lush McCloud River, home of the most widely distributed trout in the world, the McCloud Rainbow, and the birthplace of tight line nymphing.  With expert guide and fly angler, Greg Kennedy, Fish Kennedy Brothers.  Designated a wild and scenic river, the McCloud is a remote and magical place.   Greg covers top hatches, flies and techniques...

Today our destination is the Rio Chama in Northern New Mexico with author, guide, and fly shop owner, Taylor Streit, Taos Fly Shop.  Wild and remote, the Chama is a great summer hike-in fishery with freestone and tailwater sections where anglers can get away from the crowds.   Taylor gives a stem-to-stern rundown of the Chama and regales us with tales of commune living in the 1960s, eating jackrab...

Today our destination is the world-famous Upper Delaware River and our guest is expert fly angler and guide, Bruce Miller, with the Delaware River Club.  Just a few hours from New York City, the Upper Delaware is considered one of the best technical dry fly fisheries in the country.    Bruce began fishing the Delaware in the 1970's and bought his first drift boat 1985.  He is now a self-described...

Our destination is the famed Madison River in Southwest Montana with veteran outfitter, Dave Kumlien, founder of Montana Troutfitters.  Southwest Montana is chock full of world-class water and the Madison River just may be the crown jewel.  Designated a Blue-Ribbon trout stream, the Madison has it all--large trout and high fish counts, prolific hatches and incredible scenery, and of course the fam...

Our destination is Silver Creek in central Idaho with expert fly angler and author, Matt Miller, and biologist, Erika Phillips, with The Nature Conservancy.  The Nature Conservancy operates an 881-acre open-to-the-public preserve on Silver Creek, one of the West's most iconic spring creeks.  It's a magical place with crystal clear water, cloud-like hatches, and beautiful scenery, and yet many angl...

Our destination is the South Island of New Zealand where gin-clear water, pristine scenery, and giant trout are reality.  Mike leads 4x4, hiking, and helicopter trips deep into the backcountry and gives a full rundown on the fly-fishing opportunities on the South Island, including the famous mouse hatch, their unique stream etiquette rules, and a master class on how to land giant trout on thin tip...

Our destination is the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park with outfitter and expert fly angler, Shane McClaflin, Sunrise Pack Station.  Shane has been guiding anglers into the backcountry for 30 years and shares stories of John Colter and Blackfeet Indians, mules and grizzly bears, and wolves eating fly rod cases, plus top backcountry fishing spots, must-have fly patterns, and an update on t...

And today our destination is the Missouri Ozarks, and our guest is expert fly angler, guide, speaker, and passionate conversationist, Ryan Walker with Ozarks Smallmouth Fly Company.   The Ozarks cover a vast area of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas and are known for an abundance of springs, wild rivers, waterfalls, lakes, caverns, and … Smallmouth!  Ryan gives us the rundown on top streams...

Our destination is the famed Two Hearted River in Michigan's wild and remote Upper Peninsula with Brad Petzke, Rivers North Guide Service.  The "UP" is a fly angler's paradise with spring and fall salmon and steelhead, lake run browns, resident brook and brown trout, and even Atlantic Salmon.  Looking for solitude?  Brad dials us into the Two Hearted River, made famous by Ernest Hemingway, and sha...

Our destination is Part 2 with the one and only Tom Rosenbauer, Chief Marketing Enthusiast for Orvis. Tom shares more tips on fly fishing Vermont for backcountry brookies and his life as an author, teacher, and fly-fishing evangelist.  Plus, some great inside stories about his humble beginnings at Orvis and how people like Leigh Perkins (past CEO of Orvis) and others never gave up on him.  Bonus: ...

Part 1 of our 2-part interview with Tom Rosenbauer, Chief Marketing Enthusiast, with the Orvis Company who covers small stream fishing in his home state of Vermont.  Vermont is literally covered in wild brook trout and is a fly anglers' paradise.  Hear about fly selection, rods, tippets, and other great tips from the master himself.  Bonus:  what NOT to carry into the backcountry so you can move f...

Our destination is the world-famous Metolius River in Central Oregon with expert fly angler, fly tier, and blogger, John Kreft, with Riverkeeper Flies.  The Metolius is considered one of the most challenging streams in the West.  Designated a Wild & Scenic river, it winds its way through the Deschutes National Forrest where prolific hatches and wary trout await the venturing angler.  It's a spring...

In a bit of a departure from the normal format, our destination is the Wet Fly Swing podcast with Dave Stewart featuring, Steve Haigh, host of the Destination Angler.   Dave goes behind the scenes with how Steve got into fishing, why he started the podcast, and some interesting adventures along the way.  Hope you enjoy the show. With Host, Steve Haigh The Wet Fly Swing Podcast https://wetflyswing....

Our destination is beautiful Shenandoah National Park for mountain Brook trout with 60-year fly fishing veteran, Harry Murray, Murray's Fly Shop, Edinburg VA.   Virginia has over 3,500 miles of trout streams, and the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding mountains are loaded with brook trout.  With 79,000 acres of protected wilderness area, prolific hatches, and dozens and dozens of steams to choose f...

Our destination is Livingston, Montana for Part II on Nelson's Spring Creek with expert anglers, guides, and ranchers, Jacquie and Tucker Nelson.  Nelson's offers an exceptional fly-angling experience in the heart of Paradise Valley, one of the West's most iconic destinations.  In this episode, Jacquie and Tucker take us into the world of the ranching life, bear encounters, pet deer, thoughts on p...

Our destination is Livingston, Montana, and Nelson's Spring Creek with expert anglers, guides, and ranchers, Jacquie and Tucker Nelson.  Nelson's offers an uncrowded and intimate experience in the heart of Paradise Valley, one of the West's most iconic destinations.  Here you will find abundant trout, prolific hatches, and need I say educated fish.  No question, anglers need to bring their A-game....

Our destination is the middle Texas coast for trophy Redfish with expert guides and fly anglers, Steve Branch & Joe Sneed, Bay Flats Lodge.  Bay Flats Lodge is an all-inclusive hunting and fishing lodge on San Antonio Bay.  What was started in 1998 with a doublewide trailer on a dry patch of ground is now one of the largest fishing lodges on the Texas coast.  Wild and remote, the middle Texas coas...

Our destination is Jackson, Wyoming, and the famed Snake River.  And our guests are two industry icons and world-renown fly tiers, Scott Sanchez and Howard Cole, JD High Country Outfitters.  If you could pick a perfect spot to open a fly shop, Jackson Hole just might just be at top of the list. The number and variety of fly fishing opportunities in this area are astounding, not to mention the scen...

Our destination is De Pere, Wisconsin, and the Menominee River with Tim Landwehr of Tight Lines Fly Fishing Co.  In case you didn't know, the warm water game is exploding, and the Menominee River in Northern Wisconsin may just be the best smallmouth bass fishery you've never heard of.  Unless of course, you're from Wisconsin, where it's pretty much legendary.  Tim and his crew have pioneered weste...

Our destination is Flaming Gorge near Dutch John, Utah, and the incredible alpine lakes and streams that blanket the high country with guest, expert fly angler, guide, and videographer Ryan Kelly, known on social media as the @GreenRiverFlyFisher.  Few anglers know about the hundreds of alpine lakes and streams in this area, yet for those anglers willing to do a little hiking, the opportunities ar...

Our destination is the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland and our guest is expert guide and fly angler, David Hartlin, of David  Hartlin Guiding.   Few gamefish species have attracted the attention of the Atlantic Salmon which are known through the ages for their enormous strength and acrobatics. Lee Wulff established his Atlantic Salmon Fishing camp in this area in the 1930's and today, ove...