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 ep…

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 T…

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 possi…

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 o…

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 ep…

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 …

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…

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…

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 e…

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 w…

Ok folks, welcome back to the drakecast. This week, we have a different sort of episode for ya. Rather than taking a dive into some controversial topic, we're going to feature Dave Zoby reading his essay “Mosquitos & Char” which appeared in the Winter 2019 Issue of the Drake Magazine. You may remember his voice from the bonus episode “Dancing with …

This episode of the DrakeCast takes a deep dive into the seedy underworld of a fishy religion in the Ozarks. Think Deliverance but with john boats instead of canoes. And at the center of this aquatic orthodox are two deities: the almighty streamer and the holy brown trout. But these aren’t your typical streamers or browns. They’re way bigger, and a…

After a brief hiatus, The DrakeCast is back. This episode aims to answer one question: How did a band of fishing and surfing bums living in Virginia create an iconic Texan brand? To help tell this story we'll be assisted by musician and Howler Brothers cofounder, Andy Stepanian. Along the way, we'll also get to hear some of his music. Stick around.…

Today, we’re joined by Ben Sittig (IG: @carelessethiopian) to talk about how we interact with fish engaged in pre-coital preparations; if we’re going to interrupt trout as they get ready to get busy; whether or not we f* with a fish about to f*. And at the end, we have a pretty big announcement regarding the future of this podcast. So stick aro…

This episode of the DrakeCast tracks the effects of several natural disasters that have struck the Eastern United States in the past few years. After starting with the Sevier Country Fire that ripped through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we move further south to North Carolina where we'll hear how folks are faring after Hurricane Florence le…

Head up to the wilds of Kodiak Island to follow fishing guide Tyler Steffens as he battles bears, noseeums, and low water in search of the coveted Silver Salmon.This episode of the DrakeCast is made possible by our longtime sponsors Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures and Scott Fly Rods. We couldn't do this without them. We're also supported by Deli F…

In this episode we head back to the clear blue waters of Grand Bahama in search of the ghost of the flats. If you tuned in last week, you know that we encountered a few bonefish, and many people credit the health of the fishery to the health of the habitat on Grand Bahama. But the ideal that the Bahamas has somehow managed to achieve didn’t happen …

In today's audio story, we scan the flats of Grand Bahama in search of a single species: Bonefish. Listen to veteran East End Lodge guide Cecil Leathan pole experienced angler Bjorn Stromsness (of the Bonefish on the Brain blog) as they tell the tales of their first bonefishes and find many more.Many thanks to our sponsors for making this episode p…

In this episode of the DrakeCast we float down Wisconsin's Chippewa River in search of Midwestern, river-dwelling smallmouth bass. But what do you do if the fish just aren’t biting like they normally do? While searching for answers, we hit the water with Lucky Porter, a guide who makes a living on these fish, learn a few tips, and just thoroughly e…

Today, we row our way out into Fletchers Cove on Washington DC's Potomac River in search of the the illusive American Shad. While we’re out there, we’ll hear about the historic importance of this fishery, the odds it has faced over the past 5 centuries, and what this fish, and this place represent in our country and our sport. Now, I know the the s…

This episode is a two-fer. We'll start just south of LA where we meet Captain Vaughn Podmore. Under his knowledgeable direction, we head into Long Beach Harbor in search of celebrities and various types of ocean-dwelling bass. From there, we head further south to San Diego where Captain Alex Cady shows us what the southwestern-most city in the cont…

Last week, in Episode #41 of The DrakeCast, we went through the contents of the Summer 2018 Issue of The Drake Magazine. But we ran a little short on time and weren’t able to fit in a reading by one of the contributing authors, Dave Zoby. In addition to teaching composition, Wyoming Literature, Poetry, and Creative Non-fiction at Casper College in …

Roughly a week ago the Summer 2018 issue of the Drake Magazine hit fly shop shelves and mailboxes across the country. This episode, like others that have come before, is going to take a brief peak into the pages of the magazine (in audio form of course). But seeing as this issue marks the 20th Anniversary of The Drake, we're going to do things a bi…

In this episode of The DrakeCast we traverse the mountains of North Georgia in search of the southern-most population of wild, native brook trout in the world. But while we’re at it, we’ll also take a trip to another fishery just down the road that claims a host world class trout. However, there is a big difference between these two places and the …

Before Chuck Ragan was a musician (Hot Water Music) or a father or a fishing guide (crflyfishing.com), he was a son. We’ll hear about the highs and lows of Chuck’s relationship with his father, and how Chuck has managed to achieve his parental, piscatorial, and Pavoratti-esque trifecta. Throughout this episode we’ll be serenaded by music from Chuck…

Head on down to South Carolina with us in search of striped bass. While we were down there we thought about eating a couple of them until we learned a few disturbing facts...This episode is made possible thanks to generous support from Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures, Scott Fly Rods, and the Appalachian Mountain Club's Maine Wilderness Lodges.htt…

Mosquito Lagoon sits on Florida's East Coast and is known as the redfish capitol of the world. We made a visit to these hallowed waters to see what all the hubbub is about. While poling around the brackish waters in search of tails, we found a much more interesting, disturbing tale of neglect, destruction, and a fishery on the edge. By the end, we'…

The idea for this story initially came up about a year ago when I (and 400,000 other people), stumbled across the movie "120 Days." The film follows David Mangum as he spends a third of his year chasing Tarpon. Just a few weeks after seeing the movie, I was on a boat outside of Vero Beach blowing shot after shot at rolling tarpon. This experience f…

In the previous episodes of the podcast we introduced the Road Trip Miniseries. In chapter 1 we met the road crew for the 2018 Fly Fishing Film Tour and revisited their stops between Boulder, Colorado and Washington State. Chapter 2 focused on the steelhead of Oregon and Michigan. In this episode we bring you the final chapter: from Green Bay, Wisc…

In the previous episode of the podcast we started a new miniseries that we're calling The Road Trip. In chapter 1 we met the road crew for the 2018 Fly Fishing Film Tour and revisited their stops between Boulder, Colorado and Washington State. In this episode we bring you the next chapter, which is exclusively focused on steelhead. Follow the crew …

In this episode of The DrakeCast we hear about the first few weeks of the Fly Fishing Film Tour's trip across the country. With the help of Paul Nicoletti and Rex Messing, listeners travel with the crew from Boulder, Colorado to Portland, Oregon. Along the way, we'll revisit our time on the Big Horn River, the Missouri at Craig, a few days on the M…

Way back in June of 2017 we released the first episode of The DrakeCast, which featured the musician Sean Carey. He told us about his living room tours across the country that were more or less an excuse for him to fish with his best friends (you can find that episode here: http://www.drakemag.com/drakecast/1774-the-drakecast.html). This episode ta…

Here is what you can expect from the Spring Issue of The Drake: Wisconsin smallies, Montana cutties, Bolivian dorado, Idaho damselflies, Utah tailwaters, Massachusetts Stripers, Alaska Steelhead, defeated pipelines, permit while pregnant, Maine's Androscoggin, Darcy Bacha's photography, Clyde hits the Gulf, Telluride festavarian, dirtbagging in Dub…

Nearly six years ago a video popped up on Youtube featuring the ramblings of the self-proclaimed expert flyfishing guide, Hank Patterson. The video asserted the existence of “cuttyrainbrowns,” misquoted Norman Maclean, and emphasized the importance of hearing the snap in your cast. As the movie made its rounds on the blogs and social media of the t…

This episode of The DrakeCast takes a deeper dive into the topic we covered in the last episode; #28 Big & Horny in Montana.Right after that story hit the interwebs, we received a call from someone who felt that their side of the argument hadn't been given proper intelligence. This person was Ken Grant who belongs to the Friends of Bighorn Lake, wh…

Montana’s Bighorn River is known throughout the world as a blue-ribbon trout stream. The fishery below Yellowtail Dam holds some of the most robust tour-per-mile numbers in the nation. But in the last decade, the river has changed. There’s more water, skinnier fish, and some say it’s just not the way it used to be. This episode of The DrakeCast tak…

Last week, we had a chance to catch up with Tim Evans. He's a salesman that lives in Casper, Wyoming but you most likely to know him as the man behind the Fish on the Brain podcast. We got out with Tim to throw bobbers at wary trout on a Front Range tailwater. As soon as we realized the fish weren't interested in our flies we put our rods down and …

A few weeks ago, I found myself in Duluth, Minnesota and the forecast was rather dicey. As you probably know, it’s pretty darn difficult to flyfish when it’s -20 degrees outside. But with the help of veteran guide Lucky Porter and photographer Hansi Johnson, we were able to make a day out on the frozen water with our eight weights and musky flies.I…

Carp aren't native to the US, but at this point, they're here to stay. This episode follows the meteoric rise of the nation's number one trashfish and how folks with flyrods began targetting them. During this story we'll hear the musical stylings of the carp loving crew that makes up the string band, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades.Many thanks to Yellow…

In this episode of The DrakeCast, we get a quick preview of the Winter 2017 issue of the Drake Magazine. Right off the bat we hear Drake Editor, Tom Bie, tell us about his favorite parts of the recently released issue.Later on, author and frequent Drake contributor Dave Karczynski tells us about two books that he just published, the first of which …

This week we head to the rivers of Northern Wisconsin in search of the illusive River Nazi. While blindly casting for these toothy critters, we talk to a few folks about the history of musky fishing and how anglers began targeting these fish with flies.Many thanks to Steve Wisner of Eau Claire Anglers, Larry Mann of Hayward Flyfishing Company, Tim …

In the early 1970s, Don Wisner learned how to flyfish. It was around this time that his life began to parallel a certain flyfishing story. When Don's son, Stephen, came of age, the two spent hours together fishing the brook trout streams of Western Wisconsin. As the men grew in both age and skill, their interests took them in separate directions - …

This week, we have a story of tradition and remembrance, and it’s actually connected to an episode that we put out a few months ago called Dresses & Can Cans. If you haven’t heard this story, definitely pause right now, go back in the feed, find episode #12, listen to it. At it’s core, it’s the story of this woman named Patti and how the wilderness…

This week's episode of The DrakeCast features another flyfishing podcast that has recently hit the airwaves. Jason Rolfe is a guide at Emerald Water Anglers in Washington State, but when he's not on the water he's sitting in front of legendary flyfishing writers asking them about their history with the sport. He has coupled these interviews with li…

A lot of people claim social media has killed flyfishing. But has it? In this episode of The DrakeCast we chat with parties on both sides of the divide as we suss out the positive and negative impacts social media has had on flyfishing. The backbone of this episode traces the experience of an Idaho fishing guide as well as the growth of a flyfishin…

In episode #7 of The DrakeCast, we heard about the threatened Menominee River on the border between Michigan's UP and Wisconsin. This river had unfortunately found itself on American River's list of the ten most endangered rivers in the United States.In this episode, we look at the unfortunate body of water that occupies the number one spot on that…

Jeremy Wade, host of Animal Planet's "River Monsters," is one of the more famous fisherfolks in the industry today. I personally always saw the guy as a globe-trotting Brit who believes every fish in the water wants to kill you. Well, it turns out that Jeremy Wade is much more than that. In this episode of The DrakeCast, Wade fully embraces his fea…

This week we travel back to the United States. In the first part of the episode, we visit a fishy hideout in the suburbs of Denver. It's there that we meet Peter Stitcher, the owner of Ascent Fly Fishing. He shows us his secret stash and reveals a few fishy tips that should help us all catch a few more trouts. We then take Peter's ideas and head in…

Sorry for the delay folks, but The DrakeCast is back! In this episode we continue our EuroTrip to yet another island with great fishing - Iceland. Once again, we'd be targeting Atlantic salmon, but we'd also spend some time chasing wild native browns and sea run arctic char. After my time in the Faroe Islands, I hopped on a ferry to Eastern Iceland…