Fly Fishing Consultant Podcast

Rob loads up the Xterra and heads north to New Jersey for the 2026 Army—Navy Fly Fishing Competition. For more background on the event, check out Rob’s earlier interview with Bill Asdal. Rob originally planned to observe the competition and document the experience through his podcast, but Bill had other plans and invited him to serve as a judge.

Join Rob as he prepares for a weekend of fishing, podcasting, and an approaching nor’easter. In Part One, Rob and his girlfriend make their way through Maryland and Pennsylvania before arriving in New Jersey to explore the competition venue along the Raritan River. Insects are hatching, storm clouds are gathering, and temperatures are falling. Before dinner, Rob manages to get a little fishing in, sits down with the West Point Midshipmen for an interview, and records the first of what will be many speeches throughout the weekend.

Produced by Jason Reif

Rob's Etsy

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Rob first crossed paths with Lydia at the 2026 Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival, where he was immediately drawn to her exquisitely detailed, micro-scale fly patterns. Seriously tiny stuff. Intrigued by her craftsmanship, he set out to uncover and share her unique journey.

Despite being relatively new to fly tying, Lydia has quickly established herself as both an instructor and commercial tier, dedicating her craft to patterns designed and created by women. Their conversation explores the distinct techniques of left-handed fly tying, the impact of low-water conditions in Colorado, the unparalleled thrill of fooling a fish on a self-tied pattern, and the daily rhythm of life in the Colorado Springs area.

Produced by Jason Reif

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Never leave home without a fly rod.

In this episode, Rob hits the Mid Atlantic and East Coast with a fly rod in hand and a microphone rolling to capture the soundscape of summer.

Proving that life's unpredictability is the ultimate excuse to wet a line, Rob explores opportunistic waters rather than planned destination fisheries—stopping wherever water meets a chance to fish. Driving your girlfriend's mom to visit her sister in Myrtle Beach? Bring a fly rod. What if a former client moves to town and wants to chat about guiding locally? Walk around a lake carrying a fly rod. Get the picture? Tag along for several unique adventures, including three ocean trips, two mountain escapes, and a stop right in the heart of Washington, D.C.

South Carolina had the best sandwiches.

Immerse yourself in the full sensory experience of the summer season, from coastal winds, fireworks, and birdsong to the crunch of gravel underfoot and the rush of moving waters.

Produced by Jason Reif

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Lawyer by trade and angler at heart, Mark Weeks joins the show to share his journey from a Western upbringing to practicing law in New York City, and ultimately becoming a tournament-winning tarpon bum and novelist in the Florida Keys. Rob and Mark dive into his latest book, Poontown—a story following five teams over five days during the Sabalo Cup Invitational in the Tequesta Isles.

Rob and Mark further discuss how the Keys have evolved over the decades, urban fly fishing in New York, essential flats boat gear choices like fishing gloves and socks, and how jumping your first tarpon completely alters your life trajectory. Rob would like for Mark to recorded a second podcast and discuss fly fishing in Japan. 

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In this episode, we dive into a captivating conversation sparked at the Maryland Fly Fishing Show between Rob and master rod builder Jerry Kustich. As Jerry sat behind his stunning, handcrafted bamboo rods, a troubling observation emerged: young anglers just aren't looking at bamboo anymore. And it isn't a question of price—modern fly fishers drop serious cash on high-end gear, so why are these classic works of art being left behind? Months after that fateful meetup, Rob breaks down his thoughts on why bamboo is losing its grip on the next generation and what it means for the future of fly fishing heritage.

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Rob initially discovered Jim Faust's tale while listening to National Public Radio. He reached out to Jim to learn more about his story of grief and fishing. Jim, an avid fly fisherman, tragically lost his son Adam to an accidental overdose in 2024. We learn about Adam's final day and Jim's journey following the loss of his child. An evening spent fishing and reflecting inspired Jim to establish a non-profit organization named Adam’s Parachute, which aims to provide the healing advantages of fly fishing to those battling addiction and seeking recovery. In Jim's own words, “Adam passed his parachute to another. Now, we continue his mission to offer hope and healing to those who need it.” Rob and Jim cover a wide range of topics, from dry fly hatches to life after death, from zero-weight rods to messages from beyond, as well as substance use disorders and tailwater fishing.

Produced by Jason Reif

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Rick Nyles is the owner of Sky Blue Outfitters, recognized as the most extensive fly-fishing guide service in Pennsylvania. He shares with Rob the story of how he became passionate about fishing, ultimately transforming that passion into a thriving guiding and hosted travel business. Rather than reading about fly fishing or watching tutorials online, Rick prefers to fish and learn while he fishes. Take notes as he explains techniques such as nymphing above the bottom, how to properly set the hook, and when to implement a figure-eight retrieve with a northern pike. Additionally, Rick offers a distinctive material that allows for quick and simple wings on a caddis fly imitation. Rob discovers insights on regional cheesesteaks in Pennsylvania, reasons why clients should prepay for hosted trips, the evolution of the Upper Delaware over time, and which five-weight rod offers the best value for your money. See if you can keep track of all the rivers, streams, and lakes that Rick has fished. Can you count all of the guides that works for Rick?

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Jeremy Clapp of Hook Setter's Union checks in from Connecticut. He is an enthusiastic fly tyer motivated by the fly tying innovators from the mid-west who developed and refined current articulated streamers. He targets a range of species from saltwater stripers to inland smallmouth bass and western trout. Rob and Jeremy engage in an intriguing discussion about fly fishing and fly tying, dyeing materials, streamer design, and the need for standardization of bucktails for commercial sale.

Jeremy shares the challenges and experiences of dealing with a bucktail jam, his methods of sourcing rare natural fly tying materials including penguins to skunks, and his fondness for hen hackle. We discover how and why Jeremy made the decision to start dyeing his own tying materials. He explains his ideal conditions for fishing with streamers the gear he uses. Jeremy will motivate you to dye your fly tying materials. We’d love to hear how they turn out.

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Rob first met Shane in 2013 on New York's Salmon River during Shane's inaugural trip to the river. Rob helped Shane in catching his first steelhead, which was roughly the same size as Shane at that time, as he barely fit into the small-sized waders he wore. To learn more about Shane's history, of snorkeling with salmonids you can listen to his prior interview from October 2022. Shane possesses extensive knowledge about bull trout, more than any of us, which is why he is our featured guest this week. 

We reconnect with Shane in Alaska, where he and his girlfriend live in some type of mobile home. He is guiding this summer while his girlfriend works as a waitress in town. Shane delves into the science, myth, and lore surrounding bull trout, sharing essential tips on how to catch them and where to find them.

Pay close attention to the section about the immense effort, dedication, and energy it takes to locate a giant bull trout. Perhaps Rob was fortunate during that road trip to Idaho when he was dropped off at an unnamed Idaho stream and encountered these apex predators for the first time. You’ll discover how bull trout habitats transform with elevation, along with the treasures Shane has found while snorkeling. This might inspire you to pick up a mask and snorkel and explore your favorite stream yourself.

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Rob interviews Chris Williams from the Gulf Coast Classic. The Gulf Coast Council of Fly Fishers International organized their 4th annual Gulf Coast Classic fly fishing festival on May 1-2, 2026, at the Learning Campus of Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. A unique fishing area that offers tarpon fishing on foot on one side of the park and bluegill on foot on the other. We discover how Chris launched a tournament from the ground up, involving participants ranging from non-profits to fly tyers and casting instructors.

You’ll learn about the various freshwater and saltwater species found in the tournament's nearby waters, along with past catches and this year's results and where the participants have traveled from. Chris discusses the intense heat of the Gulf Coast, local sandwich favorites, his passion for fishing, and much more.

Produced by Jason Reif.

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