Bob Hodson left Southern California at age 19.  He took a caretaker job at a remote hunting lodge, surrounded by the wildness of a 1970's Alaska. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Bob and I discuss his well lived life while maintaining a solid family unit and the endless pursuit of critters with a fly rod. 

The guy's at Fin and Fire asked me to sit with them in the wake of my interviews with Andy Mill and Tom McGuane.  This episode of Fin and Fire featuring yours truly, puts me in the hot seat to answer the burning questions that the staff at the shop have been dying to ask. 

Tom McGuane invited me to come to Florida and hang out for a few days early in the Tarpon season.  Eventually, this conversation evolved. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler I get to ask the questions I've always wanted to ask, and he shares sincerely his thoughts on inspiration, technique, processes and yes, angling. 

Pursuing tarpon with a fly rod presents an opportunity for the angler to test the limits of their gear and mental capacity.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler I chat with Andy Mill and discuss the psychological requirements of steelhead and tarpon fishing while unlocking differences in the respective technical approaches. 

Preparing for wilderness conditions as a chef presents challenges compounded by three things: the number of days in the wild, and the number of people you're cooking for and the weather.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Colby and I break down the processes of planning for adversity.  If you cook outdoors on extended trips, this conversation is relevant.

Spencer Beebe is the world renowned founder of Eco Trust, an organization that combines conservation with culture and resource utilization as the driving engine for his work. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, I sit with Spencer in his Portland home and listen to stories of a life well lived during his efforts to save the last great places. Spencer is the man responsible for initiating the protection of the lower Sandy River in Oregon, Silver Creek in Idaho and the Kitlope River ecosystem in Canada, among MANY others. 

Each winter Fin and Fire host a fly tying challenge at the shop in Redmond, Oregon. This episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler features short interviews with a few participants, past winners, the event organizer and this year's winner.  It's day of community and culture focused on the creative act of putting feathers and thread on a hook.

What makes one steelhead fly more effective that the other? Does size and color matter?  Is there a silver bullet yet to be discovered? In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Jeff Hickman and I pick apart the steelheader's main concern: Should I change my fly? 

Some of us tie our flies, others buy them.  Either way, you need a fly at the end of the line. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Patrick Kilby of Rio Flies and I discuss tying, designing and fishing various patterns throughout our angling experiences and the industry of fly sales. We also share experiences in our quest to improve the quality of our offerings.  

The 2025-2026 Upland season is winding down. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, I revisit my favorite clips from past episodes focused on the processes of hunting upland birds: gun dog training, the gear we use, and the ethics inherent in our hunting experience. If you love hunting upland birds or are curious about the processes, sit back and enjoy.