Kyle Schaefer is a guide, fishing lodge owner and saltwater fisheries advocate based out of York, ME. After cutting his teeth as a guide on the trout streams of the West, Schaefer made his way back east and ventured onto the striper flats of southern Maine, where a good portion of his guiding energy during the season is spent poling clients and sight-casting to striped bass from a flats skiff.

Today, Schaefer is a member of the American Saltwater Guides Association, where he serves as a member of the board representing the state of Maine. He has written on conservation issues—including a story about striped bass conservation for The Flyfish Journal—and in 2024 he testified before congress in support of saltwater fisheries on the east coast.

In Fall 2021, Schaefer opened Soul Fly Lodge in the Bahamas' Berry Islands. With Soul Fly Lodge, Schaefer has combined his passion for conservation and stewardship with his entrepeneurial drive, striving to create a space known not only for its fine fishing, but known as well for a commitment to the environment and for a deep sense of community and connectedness.

In this episode, we chat about Schaefer's beginnings as a guide, his deep sense of awe for the flats guides of the Berry Islands, and how he finds the balance between running a business while staying true to his conservation and stewardship ideals.

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