The Fly Culture Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Episode 264 with Peter Arfield I catch up with Peter to talk about a wide range of subjects that he answers in his own, inimitable and humorous way. He talls me about how he first started fishing the Wye in Derbyshire and the lessons he learnt while observing the trout in the clear water. We talk casting and why he decided to take a qualification and the impact it had on his fishi...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 263 - Alex Brown on Fishing, The Mountains and Van Life In the latest episode, I speak with Alex Brown from his home high in the Pyrenees about fishing in the area, how it ties in perfectly with his camper van and how he ended up in Spain. We look at how a camper van can work perfectly with fly fishing and I make a confession about my plans for 2025 that may see me going t...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 262 - James Gilbraith - Anarchy Pie It's become a nice little Christmas tradition where I catch up with writer and fly angler James Gilbraith about the state of the fishing world. We look at seasons past, present and look to the future too. I talk with him about fly selection, fishing clubs why fishing should be fun. He also reads a section from one of his books that...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 261 - Zoe Dupuy on Trout, Grayling and Bonefish In this episode I welcome Zoe Dupuy along to the podcast. We look at Zoe's journey from Scotland to Hampshire and her love for both sailing and fishing. We explore the similarities between the sailing and fishing communities, the challenges of accessing prime fishing locations in Hampshire and introducing friends to the...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 260 - From Wales to Siberia and Beyond with Robin Smith In this episode of the podcast, I speak  with award-winning documentary director of photography Robin Smith.  We discuss Robin's journey from life in London to rural living in the lower Wye Valley, his experiences with fly fishing, the iconic River Wye and the Monnow, as well as the challenges of balancing family...

Send us Fan Mail I welcome Steve Cullen back for this episode to discuss the evolving landscape of fly fishing.  We explore innovations in rod design, the importance of camaraderie in fishing, and the impact of social media on anglers' perceptions and behaviours.  We also touch on ethical considerations in fishing and the changing dynamics of fishing photography, emphasising the need for resp...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 258 - Aaron Day from Vintage Fishing Tackle In this episode, I talk with Aaron Day from Vintage Fishing Tackle about his journey from training to be a butcher to a business owner in the fishing tackle industry along with everything in between.  We discuss Aaron's fly fishing career from fishing a stream in Kent to reservoir fishing near his home in Northampton. I lear...

Send us Fan Mail I felt the need to spend some time standing in a river.  I'm joined by my dog and look at what it means to have him along, the compromises you might have to make but how you can easily make it work. I talk about the set-up I use, how I make it work and how I might adapt it as the day progresses. It doesn't have to be complicated and I put everything to the test using som...

Send us Fan Mail I welcome James Harrold along to this episode where he shares his experiences of owning and running a trout fishery, the challenges faced, and the entrepreneurial spirit required to adapt and thrive in the fishing industry.  He tells me about the transition from moving away from trout to coarse fishing, the emotional impact of closing the trout fishery and why he had to do it. His...

Send us Fan Mail I met Ben on a river recently. I was taken by his great skill as I watched him work his way along the water. I asked him along to the podcast to find out a little more about his fishing career and to pick up some tips too. We ended up discussing a lot of topics that are both thought provoking and interesting. Ben talks with great depth and clarity and I'm pleased we have some...

Send us Fan Mail I make the drive over to visit Charles Innis at the Half Moon Inn, Sheepwash in Devon. We talk about his relationship with the inn that goes back to the 1950s when his family took it on as a fishing hotel. He tells me about his love for the Torridge, looking after guests and running the inn with his brother. Charles is honest about the good and the not so good times and how a news...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Wayne McGee, a fishing guide and lodge owner in Alaska.  Wayne shares his journey from a childhood passion for fishing to operating a fishing lodge in the pristine wilderness of Alaska.  He discusses the various species of fish available and the challenges of running a remote lodge.  Wayne also reflects on the importance of family in the business and...

Send us Fan Mail I made a promise to myself never to fish competitively after trying it over 25 years ago. This changed when I entered a friendly competition run by my friends Jethro and Rodney from Fluffchuckers. The event was run at Chew Valley Lake and the idea was to try and catch as many species as possible. I'm joined by author and Fly Culture contributor, Ben Jailler, who was captain o...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Trevor Hayman, a seasoned fly fishing guide, to discuss various aspects of fly fishing, particularly on Chalk Streams.  We explore the challenges of the current fishing season, the intricacies of hatch patterns, and Trevor's guiding philosophy.  The conversation delves into the psychology of guiding and the journey to becoming a guide...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Fly Culture podcast,  Pete engages in a captivating conversation with Richard Miller, exploring his extensive fishing experiences, the evolution of fishing hotels, and the current state of river hatches.  Richard shares his journey from fishing small streams in Dorset to targeting sea trout and salmon, highlighting memorable moments at the Half Moon Hotel. ...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Barry Ord Clarke about his journey in fly fishing and tying, the balance between passion and profession, and the evolution of fly fishing culture.  We discuss Barry's new book, 'The Featherbender's Advanced Fly Tying Techniques', which combines print and digital resources to enhance the learning experience for fly tiers.  Our conve...

Send us Fan Mail Tim Schulz, a fishing guide and author, talks with me abut his experiences fishing in Michigan and Montana along with his latest book 'A Cast Away in Montana' We talk about the diverse fishing opportunities in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, including trout, salmon, and steelhead. Tim shares his love for fishing with dry flies to rising trout and the thrill of sight fis...

Send us Fan Mail Join me and my friend John Aplin for a days fishing on a chalkstream in Dorset. This is a tiny stream where landing your fly in some tricky areas is a fun challenge.  The bow and arrow cast is the easiest way to get your fly in the right spot. Careful wading, a slow approach and you might be in the game. This was a fun days fishing that passed far too quickly as John and I talk ab...

Send us Fan Mail Alex Redhat, a Ukrainian living in Germany, shares his passion for fly fishing and his experiences fishing for various species.  He discusses how he got into fly fishing and the different types of fish he targets, including trout, grayling, pike, carp, and asp.  He tells me about his fishing experiences in Germany and Poland, as well as his involvement in the Ukrainian fly fishing...

Send us Fan Mail Our community is small and tightly knit. We might not have met everyone but we still share the same common passion for fly fishing. We lost our friend Kris Kent recently and many of us were deeply affected by it.  The day after the funeral Adrian Grose-Hodge and I headed to the river as we felt we wanted to catch a fish for Kris. The sun was shining, the water low and clear and no...

Send us Fan Mail Join me and my friends Jim Williams and Warren McCarthy for a day on the river. As ever, I turn up early and do some fishing alone before I sit down and talk with Jim about why he stepped away from fishing for a few years but is now back enjoying it once more.  Warren joins us a little later after we managed to drag him out from his busy rod building schedule. Does it work having...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Fly Culture podcast, I speak with Jo Stephenson, an experienced angler and fly tyer.  We discuss Jo's appearance at the recent Game Fair, the current state of fly fishing, and her transition from lure fishing to fly fishing.  Jo shares her favourite techniques for pike fishing and talks about her passion for fly tying and tells me about her experiences...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I catch up with Bob Wyatt who tells me about his recent fishing trips to New Zealand and the rivers he fishes near his home in Scotland. We look at the changing fishing landscape in New Zealand along with the impact of tourism on local rivers, and the decline in water quality due to industrial dairy farming.  Bob also talks about his recent project of fishing with...

Send us Fan Mail Alex Thrift talks to me about his love of fly fishing and the importance of simplicity in the sport.  He shares his experiences fishing in Wales and North Sweden, as well as his favourite rivers, including the Usk and the Monnow.  Alex also talks about the significance of fishing friends and how they have influenced his journey as a fly fisherman.  He emphasises the joy of using a...

Send us Fan Mail The walk was a long one but worth it to get to a special little stream. I've a new cap, some dry flies and a rod I'm looking forward to christening. I'm joined by my friend Warren and as ever, we talk fishing and so much more. He also tells me about his new fly fishing venture that involves building great value glass rods and refurbishing old cane rods so that they...