Rob and Caitlin head north to Maine for a getaway in Kennebunkport. Their host for the week is Jake, the owner of Garden Street Bowl. Rob intends to catch stripers, while Caitlin is eager for fresh seafood. This episode features wild tales, including stowaway coyotes, unusual thrift shop discoveries, and seagull on the menu. Rob interviews various individuals he encounters along the way, discusses the pros and cons of food options, enjoys the scenic beach views, and searches for a particular birch beer. He explains how striped bass behave consistently along the east coast, how they follow schools of bait and respond to weather changes, and the best times and places to catch them. This summer in Maine has seen little rainfall, a hurricane from a few years back changed the beach landscape, and the water temperatures are higher than usual.

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Rob makes his way back to the remnants of the lodge where he was employed from 2002 to 2003. This lodge, established in 1954, was situated on a spring-fed artificial lake. The lake was stocked with fish in the 1950s, and trout were introduced in 2002. Rob managed the Orvis fly shop and served as a guide on both the lake and the tailwater.

The local community surrounding the lake was not particularly welcoming to the new lodge owners and viewed them as interlopers Just as the lodge was gearing up for its grand opening in the summer of 2003, it was tragically set ablaze by arsonists.

Caitlin’s friend has access to the lake through the Mountain Lake Club. While the ladies relaxed under a beach umbrella, Rob fished in his old favorite spots. He experimented with a range of flies that he didn’t have before the lodge met its unfortunate end. Tune in as Rob shares tales from his recent fishing trip, reminisces about the past, and discusses the Washington Post article covering the fire.

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For the last thirty years, Rob has admired the writings of Nick Lyons. He considers Nick to be one of the top guests on his podcast; without the impact of Nick's work, this podcast wouldn't have come to life. Nick joins Rob to talk about his experiences in fishing and his late friend Ed Van Put’s posthumous book, A Flyfisher's Revelations.

Ed passed away in 2024. He wrote several books focused on the history of the Catskills and fishing. He meticulously documented his fishing experiences over thirty years, noting what he caught, the timing, weather conditions, fly patterns, and more, which serve as the foundation for this book. Ed discusses his straightforward approach to fly fishing, how to effectively present well-tied flies to a trout that’s rising, the history of classic trout flies, and much more. The press release for the book mentions: 

A FLYFISHER'S REVELATIONS is a captivating and provocative practical memoir, long awaited by legions of the author's fans. Ed has been a passionate and highly successful fly-fisherman and conservationist for more than half a century. Now, drawing on decades of carefully kept diaries and journals, his book is both the chronicle of a life devoted to fly-fishing and a unique sharing of detailed tips, tactics, strategies, and personal anecdotes that reveal why he has earned the reputation for unparalleled successes. He tells which flies have produced most effectively; how to choose and tie flies that work best; when and how to fish the dry or wet fly, nymph, midge, or streamer; the importance of approach and presentation. There is a special chapter on the Adams, his favorite fly and one on which he has taken more than 70% of the trout he caught on a dry fly. He also offers insight into the beauty, humility, and quiet rewards of a life spent in the embrace of nature and the pursuit of wild trout. 

This book is an essential read for all fly-fishers, novice and advanced.

Rob intends to visit Nick in person before the end of summer, making a stop in Livingston Manor to fish in Ed’s beloved waters.

Produced by Jason Reif.

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Rob has been captivated by the West Branch of the Delaware River since last August when he fished there for the first time. He has been eager to return and this time, he plans to bring his raft and Producer Jason along. The first part of this adventure starts with Rob organizing the trip from home, communicating with Jason over the phone, and preparing his girlfriend for the journey. She’ll only be going partway and won’t be fishing. Rob and Caitlin make the drive from Northern Virginia to Bethlehem, PA, and then Rob follows Jason to Hancock, NY. They require two vehicles to navigate the river. Tune in as Rob outlines the trip, including packing his FlyCraft for it’s inaugural river float, along with the details shared between Rob and Jason. At this point they have no idea where they will eat, sleep, or put the boat in and take it out. 

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Rob first learned about the Wild Trout Trust when he interviewed British musician Craig Joiner. Craig's website states £1 from all sales of his latest album ‘ A Kind of Calm’ will be donated to the 'Wild Trout Trust'.

Rob contacted Wild Trout and found Shaun Leonard. Shaun has a degree in marine biology and pollution. He was Head of Fishery Studies at Sparsholt College until 2009 when he became the director at the Wild Trout Trust.

 Rob and Shaun discuss all things being fish nerds, growing up watching the Cousteau documenters, and seeking peace on the water. Shaun shares stories about non-native signal crayfish, natural history of British Isles fishes and the physical geography that currently makes this land islands.

The mission of the Wild Trout Trust states they are a river conservation charity focused on improving habitat for wild brown trout. As excellent indicators of river health, improving the habitat of these iconic fish benefits an enormous range of other freshwater wildlife.

They specialize in restoring rivers and empowering others to do the same. They deliver habitat improvement projects across the United Kingdom and Ireland, and provide expert advice to their partners, landowners, and communities.

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The second part of Rob and Producer Jason's journey along the West Branch of the Delaware River. They drift for two days, traveling from Deposit to Balls Eddy, fish the evening hatch, then sleep in the back of their cars. Rob narrates his observations of the cold river and its environment as he takes in the sights around him. Trout are feeding, rise forms dimple the surface, and the duo cast imitations of caddis and mayflies to the rising fish throughout their trip. The first day features windy weather and  bad shore lunch. The second day sees calm wind currents, a reduction in anglers on the river, another dodgy lunch, and a beautiful sunset. The third day turns out to be a washout as a massive thunderstorm stalls over the mountains. Rob says goodbye to Jason and makes his way to New Jersey to meet up with his girlfriend and her cousins. He hadn’t anticipated spending the afternoon by the trout streams of the Garden State.

Old Lady Forever Instagram

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Writer Monte Burke joins Rob to talk about his experiences in fishing and literature. Rob has been an admirer of Monte’s work for many years, whether through his hardcover books, articles in Forbes, or features in outdoor magazines. Monte shares anecdotes from his writing journey, including tales about his mentors, hard-tail fish, and the guiding figures who have supported him throughout his career.

His book, Lords of the Fly: Madness, Obsession and the Hunt for the World-Record Tarpon, was described by the Wall Street Journal as “wonderful…a lush, panoramic book. Monte’s latest book Rivers Always Reach the Sea: Angling Stories is now available. 

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Rob drove down to Fredericksburg, Virginia for some late-season shad fishing. After the shad depart, the striped bass, spotted gar, and northern snakehead make their appearance. After parking at Falmouth Beach, Rob strides across the sand to the primary river channel, where he galavants above and below the Route 1 bridge. This bridge signifies the tidal fall line on the Rappahannock River. Two weeks later, Rob asks Misty to join him for more escapades. Will the stunning weather help? Should Rob fish a single fly or tandem rig? These are the waters Rob fished during his college years in Fredericksburg in the late 1990s. Misty remarks that there are no elephants or tigers for Rob to be concerned about.

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Rob gave a talk about urban shad fishing on April 17, 2025.

From the Maryland Chapter Trout Unlimited newsletter:

Rob Snowhite is a highly regarded fly fishing guide who has been operating in urban and suburban waters around Washington DC for nearly thirty years. He is the host of The Fly Fishing Consultant Podcast, which is currently in its 16th year. Rob’s hand-tied flies are true masterpieces and have successfully caught fish around the globe.

Join us Thursday April 17 for Rob's talk on all things urban shad fishing in the DC area. Rob will also have some of his shad flies available for purchase during the talk.

Come early and bring a vise. We will be tying up some shad flies before the talk!

robsnowhite.com shad headquarters

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Peter Kaminsky joins Rob to talk about his experiences with travel, cuisine, and the great outdoors. Currently, Peter is in Argentina, where he is in search of golden dorado and the finest steak in the southern hemisphere. Rob and Peter delve into the philosophy of catch and release in fly fishing, the delicate yet forceful strike of a dry fly, and the incredible fishing opportunities near New York City. In the latter part of the interview, they discuss Peter's latest book.

Produced by Jason Reif

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