Fish Untamed

Jeff Johnson is a guide, fly tier, and cofounder of Identafly, an AI-based fly identification app. In this episode, we talk about whether new flies are actually still being designed, what’s important when trying to match a fly to a bug, how important matching the hatch actually is, how to make your fly stand out from the millions of real insects on the water, some useful features in the Identafly app, and much more. IdentaFly is available on Apple and Android Platforms Website: IdentaFly.app Facebook: /IdentaFly Instagram: @IdentaFly Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Mundhenke is a State Naturalist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Chair with the South Carolina Native Fish Coalition, and leads multiple programs through the state to get new anglers introduced to their plentiful fisheries. In this episode, Will fills me in on the Bartram’s bass, a beautiful bass native to South Carolina. We also talk about the Black Bass Slam, a challenge to catch all four species of bass in the state, which is a great opportunity to see the diverse habitats that support fishing around South Carolina. A note from Will regarding his use of the terms “spotted bass” and “Alabama bass” in the episode: "According to the South Carolina Hunting and Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide, the four black bass species in the state officially include the Spotted Bass. However, the agency is conducting genetic research to determine whether or not this is in fact an Alabama Bass instead of the previously named Spotted Bass." Instagram: @rangerwillgarrett Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bryon Powell is an ultra-runner, Vice President of Running Rivers, founder and former editor-in-chief of iRunFar.com, and the most decorated Flyathlete out there. In this episode, Bryon shares how we went from strictly a runner to a runner and angler, and how he fish-slapped one of the hardest trail races in the country: the Hardrock 100. We also talk about his trip to Alaska, during which he did a DIY packrafting trip down the Togiak River. Instagram: @bryon_powell Facebook: /bryon.powell Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/1408349 Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ian Rutter is a guide, artist, and Smoky Mountain angler. Though he used to guide on tailwaters, he now focuses exclusively on wild Smoky Mountain brook trout. In this episode, we talk about how he got into guiding and art, what it’s like fishing the Smokies, how these brook trout differ from other brook trout, and much more. Outfitter Website: https://www.randrflyfishing.com Art Website: https://www.ianrutterart.com Outfitter Facebook: /RandRFlyFishing Outfitter Instagram: @RandRFlyFishing Art Facebook: /IanRutterArt Art Instagram: @IanRutterArt Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rowell Guevarra is a veteran and is more involved in helping the fly fishing community than anyone I’ve ever met. He is an EAFF Guide, PHWFF Assistant Program Lead, TMP Lead Mentor Advisor, OARS Foundation board member and guide, and AL Native Fish Coalition board member. In this episode, we talk about his work across various nonprofits, how he was introduced to fishing through PHWFF, fishing for the Tallapoosa bass, and much more. Facebook: /rowell.on.the.river IG: @rowell.on.the.river East Alabama Fly Fishing: www.eastalabamaflyfishing.com OARS Foundation: www.oarsf.org Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing: https://projecthealingwaters.org/ The Mayfly Project: https://themayflyproject.com/ Native Fishing Coalition: https://nativefishcoalition.org/ Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the annual episode I do with my pal, Mel, where we look back on the previous year and look forward to the year ahead. We talk about whether we completed our goals and what our upcoming goals are. In this episode, Mel also talks about her DIY trip to Alaska where she and her husband rented a vehicle and caught trout, salmon, and char on easy-to-access rivers without a bush plane. Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Todd was the very first guest I had on the show, back on episode 1. He is the creator of the Rocky Mountain Flyathlon, one of my favorite events every year, and its overarching nonprofit, Running Rivers. Andrew is a running, fishing, and beer-drinking enthusiast, and he is using these interests to raise money for native fish conservation. In this episode, we talk about ongoing conservation efforts being funded by the organization, as well as many of the “side projects” created by Running Rivers including the Fastest Known Fish, the Troutman series of runs, Fishslapping, and the upcoming Nascarp race. Running Rivers: https://runningrivers.org Instagram: @flyathlon Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Matt Lewis is a redeye bass expert, both as an academic and as an angler. He describes redeye bass as what you would get if you crossed a brook trout and a smallmouth bass, with the aggression of a bass but the habitat of a trout. In this episode, we discuss the recent decision to break redeye bass into five distinct species, what differentiates the species, where they’re found, the appropriate gear for targeting them, the threats they’re facing, and much more. Website: link Instagram: @redeyebassflyfishing Email: redeyebassflyfishing@gmail.com Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Kaider first came on the show (episode 95) to talk about fly fishing for pike. Now he is back to walk me through fishing for salmon in the Great Lakes, specifically king and coho salmon in Wisconsin. In addition to the gear, flies, and techniques needed for these species, he also throws in their other migratory species: lake-run browns and steelhead. We cover seasonality, bluelining some of the smaller tributaries, why fish eat when they’re not feeding, and much more. In the Flow Fly Fishing Website: link Email: intheflowflyfishing@gmail.com Personal Instagram: @zivio51 Guide Service Instagram: @intheflowflyfishing Personal Facebook: link Guide Service Facebook: link Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Vertrees is a guide at Royal Gorge Anglers in Cañon City, CO. He specializes in leading backcountry trips, often overnight, and using lightweight tenkara gear. In this episode, we discuss thriving vs. surviving while on remote trips, the myth that tenkara is only for small fish, how to handle larger fish on a tenkara rod, the pros and cons of using tenkara vs. western fly fishing gear, and much more. Blog: Tenkara Tracks YouTube: link Instagram: @tenkaratracks Facebook: /TenkaraTracks/ Email: paul@royalgorgeanglers.com Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Liskay is the owner and operator of Great Lakes Flyfishing. Jeff has experience chasing many lesser-thought-of species on a fly, such as walleye, gar, and catfish. In this episode, we focus mostly on walleye, covering Jeff’s strategies for targeting them in the Great Lakes. Afterward, we also discuss how he changes his techniques to instead target channel catfish. Instagram: @greatlakesdude or @greatlakesflyfishingllc TikTok: @jeffliskay @greatlakesflyfishing Facebook: /greatlakesflyfishingllc or /jeff.liskay Website: link GIPHY Stickers: Groovy Great Lakes Flyfishing Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bob Mallard is the Executive Director of the Native Fish Coalition (NFC), a nonprofit dedicated to restoring and protecting native fish. In this episode, we talk about the origin of NFC, the work they do, what does and doesn’t work for fish conservation, the value of native species, and much more. Email: Info@NativeFishCoalition.org Website: link Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Pribanic is the owner of Chagrin River Outfitters in northeastern Ohio. They have an abundance of species nearby, including steelhead, smallmouth bass, pike, musky, and walleye. In this episode, we discuss what it’s like to open and run a fly shop, steelhead fishing in the Great Lakes tributaries, and how to target the various other species they have nearby. Website: link Facebook: /ChagrinRiverOutfitters Instagram: @chagrin_river_outfitters Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Muelrath has taken many trips to Labrador over the years, but his favorite species to catch there are undoubtedly the giant brook trout that call the lakes in Labrador home. In this episode, he tells me about some of his trips, what it’s like to fish for such remote brook trout, the gear and techniques required, and much more. Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Rosenbauer is the author of over 20 fly fishing books, host of the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast, Chief Enthusiast at Orvis, and one of the biggest names in the fly fishing world today. In this episode, Tom and I talk about how he got started in fly fishing, what it’s like to watch a trout stream go through seasonal cycles, beaver activity on his home stream, what gets him excited about fishing these days, making homemade chocolate, and much more. Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast: Apple Podcasts The Orvis Learning Center: link Instagram @rosenbauert Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Stewart hosts the Wet Fly Swing Podcast and was generous enough to invite me on his show. He was also a guest on episode 96 of Fish Untamed. In this episode, I get to be on the other side of the microphone as Dave and I chat about backcountry fishing, ethical harvest, and some of the nitty-gritty details of running a podcast. Wet Fly Swing website: link Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Palmer Henson is a regular guest on the show, also appearing on episodes 3 and 62 to talk about his ongoing Georgia brook trout project. In this episode, he updates me on where the project currently stands and also fills me in on his recent Troutman completion in Wyoming. Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Merritt is a diehard alpine angler who spends most of his summers high in the backcountry fishing alpine lakes. When he’s not chasing cutthroats, he’s scouring the internet, books, and reports to find his next spot. In this episode, we talk about the resources he uses to plan his backcountry adventures, what he loves about the remote alpine setting, the gear he brings, and how to be a good steward of the resource. Instagram: @thedirewulff Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie Mazzia and I met at the Flyathlon many years ago and became fast friends. She is much more of a runner than I, and she recently completed her first Troutwoman, which included 26.2 miles of running, 3000 feet of elevation gain, four species of fish, and a 12% beer in under 12 hours. In this episode, she told me the story of her Troutwoman completion, how she prepared for it, and what she usually brings on her fishing trail runs. Instagram: @vail_buckeye Twitter: @vailrd Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benny Piekarz is a guide and the General Manager of Colorado Angling Company. Benny and I met at a lodge in Belize and found out we were from the same neck of the woods. He has guided in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, and he also works as a private chef and carpenter. In this episode, we talk about his time in Belize, fishing around the Vail Valley, and some of his memorable experiences working around the West. Website: link Colorado Angling Website: link Ben’s Instagram: @bennypieks Colorado Angling Instagram: @colorado_angling_company Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices