Spey

What if the hardest fly fishing in the world is not about numbers, but about patience, restraint, and waiting all day for one real...

Losing fish after a solid grab happens more than people talk about. You feel the eat, the rod loads up, maybe even a head...

Episode Show Notes Mia Sheppard has spent decades guiding and outfitting across the Pacific Northwest through Little Creek Outfitters. From steelhead rivers like the Deschutes...

What happens when you take fly fishing beyond your home water and start chasing it across the world? In this episode, we sit down with Emilie Björkman and Ted Logart from Loop to talk about Wild Fish, Wild Places, a global series focused on travel, culture, and conservation. They share how the project came together, how they choose destinations, and what they’ve learned filming in places like Montana, Sweden, Iceland, and New Zealand. We also dig into the real challenges behind the scenes, why conservation issues are often global, and how anglers can take simple steps to make an impact right at home.

In this episode, Tom Petry and Jorden Susewitz of Film The Hunt share their experience at Togiak River Lodge, where a filmmaking project turned into a deep dive into spey fishing, Alaska wilderness, and the people who make the lodge special. What started as a content trip documenting the Larsen family's journey quickly became something more as both Tom and Jorden picked up spey rods for the first time and discovered the addictive pull of swinging flies. We dig into filmmaking in remote locations, learning to cast a two-handed rod, the challenges of capturing outdoor adventures on camera, and why Alaska has a way of changing your perspective. Whether you're interested in spey fishing, storytelling, photography, or simply experiencing wild places, this episode offers a unique look behind the scenes.

John Hazel, longtime owner of Deschutes Angler Fly Shop, joins the podcast to share the story behind the early days of Spey casting on the West Coast and the innovations that helped shape modern steelhead fishing. Drawing from decades of experience on the Deschutes River, John talks about the development of two-handed rods, the evolution of Skagit and Scandi systems, and his work with companies like Sage, Loomis, and Burkheimer during the formative years of modern Spey fishing. We also dig into Deschutes steelhead tactics, skating flies, salmonfly hatch strategies, and the small details that separate successful anglers from the rest. Whether you're interested in Spey casting history, steelhead fishing, or learning from one of the sport's pioneers, this episode is packed with practical advice and stories from a lifetime on the water.