The DrakeCast - A Flyfishing Podcast

In 1996, after several summers of guiding in Alaska and Yellowstone National Park, Phil Monahan landed his dream job as an editor at Outdoor Life. But by the time he arrived, the magazine was a shadow of it's former self. Over the next three decades, Phil's successive jobs would mirror the transition in the way people consume fly fishing information. Today on The Drakecast,we're going to hear Phil...

We’re hard at work putting the finishing touches on the Winter 2025 / 2026 issue of The Drake, which should hit shelves in the new year, so today, we’re rereleasing an old episode of the podcast. It features Jeremy Wade, the host of Animal Planet’s TV show “River Monsters” giving a speech about the vulnerability of our world’s freshwater fisheries. Though Jeremy Wade gave this presentation 2017, e...

For those of you who subscribe to the Drake Magazine, you'll notice it's been a while since we've heard anything about Clyde, the magazine's 1974 Mercury Marquis that travels the country. This car invites mishaps, cops, and adoration from anyone who sees him. But where has he been, and what's he been up to? Today on the podcast, we speak with writer John Agricola to check in on Clyde and hear abou...

In this episode of The DrakeCast we head to the backwaters of the Mississippi River to attempt a northwoods cast and blast, chasing a dinner of pike and squirrel from my newly refinished Gheenoe. As a committed catch and release angler, this was a new and somewhat uncomfortable experience for me. Later on, we're joined by outdoors writer Patrick Durkin to contextualize our mission and talk about t...

In this episode of The DrakeCast, we sit down with Drake Magazine founder and editor, Tom Bie, to talk through the Fall 2025 issue of the magazine. We'll provide some background information on the stories we ran, why we ran them, and hear contributor Mike Fitzgerald read his essay that we both thought was fantastic. The Fall 25 Issue should be on fly shop and newsstand shelves across the country....

In this episode we hear author and Alaskan flyfishing guide George Rogers read his story "The Pink Ranchers" and learn about the hidden threats that Alaskan hatcheries pose to our country's last great wild fishery.

In this episode of The DrakeCast we return to The Lodge at 58* North for the second half of a week of fishing Alaska’s Bristol Bay. In between fishing for pike, rainbows, and king salmon, we'll hear about the troubles facing the region's fisheries.

In this episode of The DrakeCast we head to The Lodge at 58* North for a week of fishing Alaska’s Bristol Bay. In between chasing trout, char, grayling and salmon, we chat with the people who add to this already remarkable place.

In this episode, we'll spend a day on the water with my friend Israel as he searches for his first musky. Along the way, we will chat with a journalist about the early years of fishing in Wisconsin's Northwoods and take a field trip to learn about the role trains played in the Badger State's fishing history.

In 2021, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources completed the removal of a derelict dam from The Dowagiac River, reconnecting the waterway for the first time in over 120 years. What happens when the status quo is thrown out the window and we're forced to confront change? This episode is about how the people, the water way, and the fish have adapted. Make sure to visit our website, drakemag.c...

In May of 2025 I found myself in a boat with a trout guy in search of warmwater fish. In this episode of The DrakeCast we throw poppers with Erik Johnsen, the community marketing manager at TroutRoutes, and discuss whether or not he is ruining flyfishing. Many thanks to Patagonia and their improved Swiftcurrent waders for helping make this possible. We'll be back in two weeks with another episode.

Across the country in late June and early July, mulberry trees fruit, producing tasty berries enjoyed by humans, birds, and squirrels alike. You’ll often see evidence of this on sidewalks in suburban neighborhoods stained purple by the fallen berries. But if these mulberry trees are hanging over water, fish are able to enjoy the fruits of their bounty as well. On today's episode we join guide Luke...

Welcome to Part 2 of the Patagonia Swiftcurrent miniseries. Today, we speak with Alex Gonsiewski about a fishing trip that did not go as planned. Alex is a flyfishing guide in Oregon, where he targets trout and summer steelhead on the Deschutes River, summer steelhead on the John Day, and winter steelhead on the North Oregon coast. Between rainbow runs, Alex hosts angling trips around the world. H...

Cold & Clear by John Larison originally appeared in the Winter 2016 issue of The Drake Magazine and to this day, it is one of best stories about steelheading we've ever run. Today, we bring you the author reading his story. After the reading, we'll hear an interview with John from 2019. This episode is made possible thanks to generous support from the team at Patagonia, who are celebrating the lau...

A year ago today, May 25, 2022, a fire started in the middle of the Bolivian jungle, burning down a lodge in one of the most sought-after fishing destinations in the world. To tell that story, we have Drake magazine founder, Tom Bie. To get more stories like this pick up a copy of The Drake at your local fly shop or subscribe at drakemag.com. This episode was made possible by generous support from...

Today we have a story from the Winter 2022/23 issue of The Drake Magazine called “Numbers Game,” that basically asks the question, do I need to catch more fish? The author, Stephen Sautner, does a better job answering that question than I have heard in a long time. To continue this discussion and many others, get your hands on the latest issue of The Drake Magazine either on our website, drakemag....

Today, with the help of Drake magazine editor and founder, Tom Bie, we’ll be walking through what you can find in the Fall 2022 issue of the Drake. If you’re hearing this, it means you should be able to buy it at your local fly shop or on our website, drakemag.com. Many thanks to Scott Fly Rods and The Eleven Experience for making this episode possible, and a big thanks to all of the advertisers i...

This week we have a couple old episodes that we’ve smashed together. They’re both about the Mississippi River, and they’re both about family and fishing on 11/11, Armistice Day, Veterans Day, which is when this episode is being released. If you’re listening on 11/11, I’m currently down on the Mississippi, probably not catching fish. Many thanks to our sponsors The Eleven Experience (https://eleven...

A few months ago a family friend gave me a taxidermied brown trout that had been mounted in the 80s. When I went to the friend’s house to get the story behind the fish I somehow left with the rod and reel that had caught it, plus a whole lot more. This episode is the story of that fish, the rod, and the anglers that came before us. Music for this episode was written and recorded by Russell Pederse...

Today, with the help of Drake magazine editor and founder, Tom Bie, we’ll be walking through what you can expect from the coming Fall 2021 issue of the Drake. If you’re hearing this, it means you should be able to buy it at your local fly shop or on our website, Drakemag.com. Many thanks to Scott Fly Rods, The Eleven Experience, and Howler Brothers for making this episode possible, and a big thank...

As you’ll see in the title, this is a continuation of the Steelhead miniseries that started years ago - Chapter 3 to be exact. And while I recognize that the vast majority of anglers will never set foot in a native steelhead watershed, I’m harping on this issue because I think these fish are a bit of a canary in the coal mine for fisheries, and the world as a whole. I’m worried that their health i...

When the idea for this podcast was first tossed around, we knew we wanted it to be an extension of the Drake Magazine - and one of the ways we envisioned doing so was by having magazine contributors read their stories. In this episode Andy Harris reads his essay “The Club,” which appeared in the Spring 2021 Issue of the Drake Magazine. The story is about a young man fishing private water forty yea...

It’s been a while, but as of right now, despite the fact that no one was asking for it, The DrakeCast is back for a little bit. We’ve got six episodes slated for release between now and the end of 2021. The first of these episodes (which also happens to be the second of the Steelhead Miniseries) is a story of the fine line between exploration and exploitation. 70 miles west of Juneau is the minusc...

In this episode of the DrakeCast we meet two characters with similar pasts who have ended up in very different places. They both love steelhead, but in very different ways. We'll also hear from Trout Unlimited Steelhead Biologist John McMillan as we attempt to understand how we can prevent loving these fish to death.

Hurricane Dorian carved a scar through the soul of the Bahamas. Hear about this bonefish paradise before, during, and after the storm. In this episode we profile a lifelong Bahamian guide, talk to a lodge owner about the current state of the island and its inhabitants and learn how you can help either from the comfort of your fly tying station or with a click on the ol' gram. Many thanks to Rob Ne...