Mill House Podcast

Dr. Gordy Hill is one of the most remarkable men I’ve ever met! He was literally a pioneer in both the medical and fly fishing world. He was the 6th surgeon to perform hip replacements and at one time had done more hip replacement surgeries than anyone. He was nominated for a Nobel prize in medicine when he and Dr. Roger Haugen figured out how to successfully process a patients own blood for an infusion. This was monumental at the time because of the aids crisis.

Gordy was not one of the first, but the first person to run his skiff behind Big Pine.

His life in fishing was as large as his medical career. He was a global fisherman who captured a variety of great fish including large swordfish and marlin, and still holds a 15 pound world record bonefish caught in the Bahamas.

Joe Brooks and his father, Pop Hill, were his mentors. His early tackle consisted of silk fly lines and gut leaders. He loved fishing alone and stood on the engine cowling to pole his skiff.

Yes, Dr. Gordy Hill is one of our sports living legends, and at 91 (next month) he still has a memory bank sharper than a steak knife! We hope you all enjoy this one!

I’ve always had great affection for being in John Donnell’s presence. When I first met him over 30 years ago he was affable with a heart felt care for how well he was received... It’s important for him to be liked and loved he is, by all. Many of us came to know John though Flip’s “Walker's Cay Chronicles,” as he was a guest on the show more than any other.

When I asked Flip about his good friend, he said that John’s greatest trait was that he’s reliable - “He’d jump onto the table to give you a kidney if needed....”

Whether poling an edge for hefty tarpon, pushing the shallow flats of Louisiana for 40 pound redfish or pulling the trigger of a shotgun, Donnell was born a child of the outdoors, destined to roll through life with the wind in his face chasing big stuff.

John has seen the great evolution of the the Florida Keys, from its prolific fishery to the halcyon years of drug running. On today's podcast, our friend relives his vivid, adrenaline filled life.

Thank you John for your honesty, and willingness to tell your story with us...

Justin Rea has had a remarkable life on the water. His mother, Beryl, was a fishing guide in Bishop, California when she handed her three year old son a fly rod. Little did she know that gift would pay huge dividends over the next 48 years. 

At age 31, Justin moved to the Keys and started to chase bigger and faster animals than what swam in the local creeks and small rivers of Bishop. Justin would become one of the best guides in the Lower Keys. His proving grounds were the high profile flats where massive tarpon and permit swim. His high praise were wins in the most coveted permit tournament in the world, “The Del Brown!” Having won it four times and finishing second three times, you wouldn't be wrong calling him one of the best in the world at his craft.

His efforts and vision were bigger than the trophies on his wall. His heart would lead him to a platform of conservation. He was influential in conjunction with the Lower Keys Guides Association in successfully removing barracuda from the cross hairs of the local commercial fishing fleet. He and his wife, Lauren, were visionaries in starting the catch and release Cuda Bowl, where today it’s a highly praised tournament to win. And more recently in 2019, he and his son Ryan won the prestigious Key West Slam Tournament.

We have fished with Justin over the years and have experienced some of our greatest moments on the water with him. His diving, spear fishing, and kite boarding bring his spectrum with the ocean full circle. This man is not one demential. It doesn’t matter what the species or activity is, he is full throttle into everything he does.

Justin may seem laid back and very mellow to many people but on the inside he is full of vigor and passionate about his beliefs. We are honored to call Justin a great friend and so glad he came on the podcast. Thanks buddy!

Brad Waitman is the owner and operator of the Igiugig Lodge that sits on the bank of Lake Iliamna, located in the Bristol Bay Area of Alaska. In my mind, it’s the greatest fishing lodge i’ve ever visited. It is world class not only because of its access to some of the world’s extensive, legendary fishing, but because of Brad’s work ethics and the quality of his prideful lodge. Here’s the beauty, he hosts only 6 guests a week and serves food that’ll challenge any restaurant in the lower 48, a dream come true for anyone looking for perfection on and off the water!

Waitman was raised in San Mateo, California. As a young teen a local fishing club, Anglers Emporium, took him under their wing and helped him with the skills needed to become a great angler. At 15 he was hired to row rivers and set up camps for outfitter, Galand Haas, who eventually persuaded Waitman to chase his dreams in Alaska.

At the tender age of 20, just out of the Marines, Brad flew to Anchorage and became what he was destined to become, an Alaskan bush pilot/guide. Ron Hayes, the legendary hunting and fishing outfitter, immediately became his mentor. He pushed Waitman hard demanding the impossible and the young magic man responded beautifully. The fish were in his blood but soon to follow were monster Moose, Caribou, and 57 Brown Bears! Hayes was a perfect councilor for the young man who was new to Alaska. Now, 37 years later with a successful lodge, the time to hunt has been depleted.

I first met Brad when he was guiding for Kirk Gay at his lodge, Valhalla. Kirk would eventually become his father in-law. I was there filming for my TV show at the time, “Sportsman's Journal.” The two of us had a blast! Flying everywhere and catching all the great fish Alaska was offering at the time, monster rainbows, silver salmon, and grayling.

Alaska is unique, raw and wild, and to experience it with someone you connect with is a dream come true.

The long and short of it, 21 years later we’re still hanging and fishing together.

We all love a good story and Brad Waitman’s is compelling.

We hope you enjoy it!

Over the course of the 17 years that I fished tarpon tournaments in the Florida Keys the man to beat was always Rob Fordyce and who ever was on his bow... Tarpon tournament fly fishing is a team event with an angler and guide. The teams with a strong guide and a strong angler were always tough, but some guides have the ability to just find more fish than other guides and inspire, teach, and calm an angler to be better than he is. Rob Fordyce is that Guide. I always feared great guides more that great anglers and we all knew Fordyce was going to be there at the buzzer. And he was!

If you look deeper into his DNA you’ll understand his genius. First, this man is an athlete. He played baseball and was drafted by the Mariners before an injury forced him onto the water full time. His mentors were hall of famers Al Pflueger Jr. and Flip Pallot. Self guided, he won The Met Master Angler award when he was just 17. The youngest ever.

Over the last four decades he has finished in the top three 58 times in tarpon tournaments. That number was 57 when we interviewed Rob, but he recently won the prestigious Don Hawley tournament for the seventh time. His preeminent success has found him as the most decorated tarpon guide to ever poll a skiff.

He also hosts the popular television show "The Seahunter."

When he’s not on the water, he’s in the woods somewhere hunting or in the gym benching 400lbs. The man is an animal....

Personally, I can relate very closely to all this, and we’ve been close because of it. We spoke of one day fishing an event together for years and it finally happened in 2015. I am honored to say that my last tournament victory was with Rob by my side calling the shots...

Hal Chittum has been pushing the boundaries of greatness his entire life. Everything he’s ever engaged with he’s exerted limitless focus with an innate ability to understand the exacting process it took to succeed. I was first exposed to this when I entered his Islamorada store in the early 90’s and wanted to buy everything I saw. It was a fly fisherman’s wonderland! The door and handles of my tackle room now are a direct replica of his. His stores were incomparable.

I’ve spoken to Stu Apte about Hal and the two tarpon world records they caught on six pound test on the same day. One was on conventional plug and the other was an 82 pound 8 ounce fly record that stood for decades.

I didn’t meet Hal for the longest time, but everywhere I went his footprints were on the trail I walked. Homosassa, tournaments, records, and the boat I always wanted and finally bought, a Hell’s Bay, from Hal!

Chittum did all those things at a very profound level, but it was his boat building that made a historical, indelible change in the game of how we chase fish. His newest vessel of Chittum Skiffs is the most sophisticated, scientifically designed boat ever built....

On today's podcast Hal uncovers his labyrinth fishing life which leads us to his latest stage of brilliance, Chittum skiffs!

In 1959 at 11 years of age, Tom Greene caught his first snook and never looked back. Throughout the 60's and 70's, every bridge from Jupiter to Miami was stacked with big snook on the right tide, and when he could - Tom Greene was there. He was the bridge gargoyle watching the shadow line for hours. Over time he became one of the most prolific snook fisherman in South Florida. Every snook fisherman knew the name Tom Greene.

Tom not only loved to fish, but had a great passion for tackle stores where he'd spend most of his life when not fishing. He worked in one for 17 years prior the 43 years he owned and managed the world famous Custom Rod and Reel in Lighthouse Point, FL. His love for sharing knowledge, tips, and tricks to any customer was infectious. You could not go into his store without spending hundreds of dollars. He got people excited and energized for their next fishing trip. Throughout that time, he built one of the greatest reel collections in the world!

On today's podcast, Tom Greene recalls the hallowed years of monster snook and other things close to his heart!

Tim Borski is radically distinctive and without equal in many ways. His presence and demeanor commands attention in a low key wonderful way, his humor is flawless, always finding its mark. His attention to detail strays until the stars are in align then his genius awakens.

For all the years I’ve known Tim, he’s chased his passions with outstanding success. He’s written for and has been profiled by national magazines. He’s a small fishing town icon that’s known in the world of fishing & hunting.

He’s not only an award winning artist that crafts images on canvases, but his birds and fish are creations of an eye that sees the world in a very different way. His warblers demand you to look closer and see every grain of its existence, his fish are bold and brash, outstandingly unique to all fish art you’ve ever seen.

He’s not an introvert, but likes to be alone or with his son fishing. He’s one of the best fisherman on the planet. His flies are of his own design and are commercially sold. And as a Ophiophilist, he loves big snakes! So too does his son, Joseph who runs his own skiff, ties his own bugs and catches as many fish as most professional guides and top anglers.

On todays podcast we have a welcome diversion and jump into the exceptionally different life of the beloved Tim Borski.

In 1964, in the small Florida Keys fishing village of Islamorada, a tournament was born, The Gold Cup, which would become the most prestigious fly rod Tarpon tournament in the world. All the great fly guides and anglers made it the most prized possession they could attain in their fishing. Over the next 57 years the names on the perpetual trophy were the famed celebrities of the sport. Ted Williams, Billy Pate, Steve Huff, Jimmy Albright, Harry Speer, Glen Flute.... and the late Jim Brewer. The efforts made to win were exceptional. The creativity changed and evolved the sport quickly. Fly designs, hooks, Lines, boats, push poles, everything was looked at as how to better their game to win the Gold Cup.

I mentioned Captain Jim Brewer, after his win 1974 his passion to win was life changing. The following year he and good friend Bill Hagley went up in a small plane looking for fish they would target in the upcoming Gold Cup. Circling low and slow over a famed tarpon basin, they fell through the planes lift and crashed into the ocean and perished...

Jim left behind two young boys Steve and Craig. At 14, Craig struggled as anyone would, but eventually found his way chasing his father’s legacy of becoming a Gold Cup Champion. Thirty six years later in 2010, he and angler Thane Morgan had their names etched upon the perpetual trophy. They were the first father and son to win the super bowl of saltwater fly fishing...

As a guide Craig found great success along the way winning other big events, but what sets him apart from his tournament wins is his wonderful way about him! He’s effervescent, tall, loving, funny, loud, pure, truthful and caring. As a young man he was Islamorada’s son and brother and now a hero to Islamorada and everyone who knows Craig Brewer!

Richard Stanczyk has had a large life as a captain, angler, and business owner. His impact is nothing shy of remarkable. His relationship with Swordfish was a game changer. At one time everyone thought these denizens of the deep could only be targeted in the dead of night. Richard helped evolve this quarry so they could be successfully caught while the sun is high in the sky. Today Richard’s son, Nick, aboard his boat “Broad Minded” is arguably the best sword-fisherman on the planet.

As much as Richard loved to drop lines into the deep for these monsters, his passion for big bonefish is just as rich. Stanczyk had great foresight as well - after purchasing the Famed Bud N’ Mary’s Marina in 1978 and grew it to where it docks over 50 boats today. Legendary in every way, Richard shares his enormous life from Bills to Bones, his family, and his iconic marina. Hope you all enjoy his story…