Smart To Fish Wild

I am incredibly honored to be joined on this episode by my friend, Erick Mida. In what is easily one of the most honest, transparent, and powerful conversations we’ve ever had on the show, Erick opens up about how the pristine waters of fly fishing became a vessel for deep personal healing and family redemption.

Erick shares his moving backstory—from how the movie A River Runs Through It sparked a 29-year obsession, to navigating a complicated relationship with his father, to the dark road of back injuries and an OxyContin addiction that culminated in a life-threatening overdose in 2016. But the beauty of Erick’s story is where he is today. He shares how cheap tent camping and casting lines in Oklahoma with his boys helped mend the trauma he caused, allowed him to finally forgive himself, and taught him the ultimate lesson: that fly fishing is never truly about counting fish—it’s about connection, mentorship, and relationship.

We also dive into his exciting upcoming bucket-list trips to Arkansas, Bozeman, and Costa Rica (including splash casting for Machaca!). Erick's wife has a brilliant saying that ""comparison is the thief of joy,"" and this conversation is a beautiful reminder to celebrate your own unique journey.

Smart To Fish Wild: Hosted by Mark Candler, Smart To Fish Wild explores the intersection of outdoor adventure, impactful leadership, and financial strategy. We interview founders, CEOs, and pioneers who are changing the world through their passion for the outdoors.

Connect with us:

Website: www.maiawealth.com

Instagram: @mark.candler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-b-candler-mba-cltc/

Mark Candler / Silver Oak Wealth Planning: www.SilverOakColorado.com

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#ErickMaida #SmartToFishWild #MarkCandler #addictionrecovery #flyfishingtherapy #familyreconciliation #mentorship #mentalhealthintheoutdoors #forgiveness #Arkansastroutfishing

What does it take to fool a trophy brown trout? According to my guest, serial entrepreneur and inventor Steve Johnson, it takes a sniper mindset. In this episode of Smart To Fish Wild, I sit down with Steve to explore his fascinating journey of bringing a hunter's stealth mentality directly to the water.

From the wild story behind patenting his famous triple-barrel shotgun and founding iconic camouflage brands like Mothwing, to his latest ventures with the Stonehenge hybrid fund and a professional connection app called Catch of a Lifetime, Steve maps out how the "art of deception" in nature mirrors the exact strategies needed to win big in business. Listen to the full conversation here.

Smart To Fish Wild: Hosted by Mark Candler, Smart To Fish Wild explores the intersection of outdoor adventure, impactful leadership, and financial strategy. We interview founders, CEOs, and pioneers who are changing the world through their passion for the outdoors.

Connect with us:

Website: www.maiawealth.com

Instagram: @mark.candler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-b-candler-mba-cltc/

Mark Candler / Silver Oak Wealth Planning: www.SilverOakColorado.com

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#SteveJohnson #StonehengeFund #serialentrepreneur #flyfishing #tacticalflyfishing #camouflageapparel #outdoorbusiness #patentinnovation #SmartToFishWild #MarkCandler #SilverOakWealthPlanning

In this week's episode, I sit down with Ryan Nunn, a member of Bitterroot Trout Unlimited, for an incredibly honest conversation about patience, ego, and what the river teaches us when we're willing to listen.

Ryan shares his journey from being a complete beginner in Southern California to navigating high-stakes conservation battles in Montana.

Smart To Fish Wild: Hosted by Mark Candler, Smart To Fish Wild explores the intersection of outdoor adventure, impactful leadership, and financial strategy. We interview founders, CEOs, and pioneers who are changing the world through their passion for the outdoors.

Connect with us:

Website: www.maiawealth.com

Instagram: @mark.candler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-b-candler-mba-cltc/

Mark Candler / Silver Oak Wealth Planning: www.SilverOakColorado.com

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#RyanNunn #BitterrootTroutUnlimited #flyfishing #riverconservation #SheepCreekMine #Montanafishing #outdoorcommunity #patienceandhumility #SmartToFishWild #MarkCandler #SilverOakWealthPlanning

In this episode of the Smart to Fish Wild Podcast, I sit down with Carter Lyles, Director of Marketing at Yellow Dog Fly Fishing. Carter shares his incredible full-circle journey from a struggling high school sophomore who fell in love with saltwater fishing in Belize to calling the company’s owner from a high school math class to now celebrating a decade of helping lead the business.

We dive deep into the cross currents of passion, business, and belief, mapping out what it takes to scale a brand without ever settling for ""good enough"".

Smart To Fish Wild: Hosted by Mark Candler, Smart To Fish Wild explores the intersection of outdoor adventure, impactful leadership, and financial strategy. We interview founders, CEOs, and pioneers who are changing the world through their passion for the outdoors.

Connect with us:

Website: www.maiawealth.com

Instagram: @mark.candler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-b-candler-mba-cltc/

Mark Candler / Silver Oak Wealth Planning: www.SilverOakColorado.com

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#CarterLyles #YellowDogFlyFishing #flyfishing #outdoorindustry #highperformance #mentorship #conservationfunding #businessstrategy #SmartToFishWild #MarkCandler #SilverOakWealthPlanning

In this episode of the Smart to Fish Wild Podcast, I sit down with Brad Zink, Career Ownership Coach and Owner of The Entrepreneurial Source, to explore the powerful intersection of lifelong outdoor passion, entrepreneurship, and active conservation.

From a 54-year legacy of casting flies on the rivers of Southwestern Montana to successfully hunting permit and tarpon in the tropical waters of Belize, Brad shares how breaking away from the traditional corporate W-2 mindset allowed him to build a self-sufficient business he can run from anywhere—whether that's from a rowboat in Bozeman or a beach pier in Placencia.

Smart To Fish Wild: Hosted by Mark Candler, Smart To Fish Wild explores the intersection of outdoor adventure, impactful leadership, and financial strategy. We interview founders, CEOs, and pioneers who are changing the world through their passion for the outdoors.

Connect with us:

Website: www.maiawealth.com

Instagram: @mark.candler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-b-candler-mba-cltc/

Mark Candler / Silver Oak Wealth Planning: www.SilverOakColorado.com

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#BradZink #TheEntrepreneurialSource #Flyfishing #Careerownershipcoaching #Entrepreneurship #Outdoorconservation #Belizeflyfishing #Montanaflyfishing #SmartToFishWild #MarkCandler #SilverOakWealthPlanning

In this episode of the Smart to Fish Wild Podcast, I sit down with Andy Weiner—Director of the Indie Bookstore Channel at Ingram, award-winning author of Down by the River, and Board President of Reeling in Serenity—to explore the therapeutic power of nature, the journey of publishing a children’s book, and the profound intersection of fly fishing and addiction recovery.

From his early days picking up a fly rod 30 years ago in the Eastern Sierra to accidentally landing his first major trout on Montana's historic Rock Creek, Andy shares how the sport quickly became an essential pillar of his mental health. We also dive into his creative process, the dynamic behind his award-winning children's book, and the incredibly moving story of how he connected with the late Becca Sue Klein to help build a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting sobriety through free fly fishing retreats.

Smart To Fish Wild: Hosted by Mark Candler, Smart To Fish Wild explores the intersection of outdoor adventure, impactful leadership, and financial strategy. We interview founders, CEOs, and pioneers who are changing the world through their passion for the outdoors.

Connect with us:

Website: www.maiawealth.com

Instagram: @mark.candler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-b-candler-mba-cltc/

Mark Candler / Silver Oak Wealth Planning: www.SilverOakColorado.com

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#AndyWeiner #IngramContentGroup #ReelingInSerenity #outdoorrecovery #nonprofitleadership #childrensliterature #flyfishing #conservation #SmartToFishWild #MarkCandler #SilverOakWealthPlanning

In this episode of the Smart to Fish Wild Podcast, I sit down with Bob Ekman, owner and operator of Grass Lake Lodge in Big Rapids, Michigan, and Clearwater Shores in Smith Lake, Alabama. Bob shares his incredible journey from a 10-year-old boy folding towels at a Michigan motel to serving as the Vice President of Franchise Sales for IHG, managing country music entertainment venues in Nashville, and ultimately curating legacy properties for families to connect.

From his ""baptism by fire"" introduction to fly fishing in Montana to the deeply personal touches he builds into his short-term rental properties, Bob explains how genuine human connection is the ultimate secret to success in both business and life.

Smart To Fish Wild: Hosted by Mark Candler, Smart To Fish Wild explores the intersection of outdoor adventure, impactful leadership, and financial strategy. We interview founders, CEOs, and pioneers who are changing the world through their passion for the outdoors.

Connect with us:

Website: www.maiawealth.com

Instagram: @mark.candler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-b-candler-mba-cltc/

Mark Candler / Silver Oak Wealth Planning: www.SilverOakColorado.com

Subscribe for more stories of adventure and impact!

#BobEkman #GrassLakeLodge #ClearwaterShores #Hospitalityindustry #Shorttermrentals #Flyfishingadventures #Familylegacy #Stepparenting #SmartToFishWild #MarkCandler #SilverOakWealthPlanning

In this episode of the Smart to Fish Wild Podcast, I sit down with Karin Miller, Owner and Founder of Zen Tenkara, to explore how the elegant simplicity of fixed-line fly fishing can transform frustration into pure childhood joy.

From her early days as a ""reluctant angler"" overwhelmed by reels and technical jargon to building the oldest independently owned Tenkara company in the US, Karin shares how a 10-second gear setup completely shifted her trajectory on the water.

Smart To Fish Wild: Hosted by Mark Candler, Smart To Fish Wild explores the intersection of outdoor adventure, impactful leadership, and financial strategy. We interview founders, CEOs, and pioneers who are changing the world through their passion for the outdoors.

Connect with us:

Website: www.maiawealth.com

Instagram: @mark.candler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-b-candler-mba-cltc/

Mark Candler / Silver Oak Wealth Planning: www.SilverOakColorado.com

Subscribe for more stories of adventure and impact!

#KarinMiller #ZenTenkara #flyfishing #Tenkarafishing #outdoorrecreation #womenownedbusiness #conservationthroughfishing #mindfulnessinnature #SmartToFishWild #MarkCandler #SilverOakWealthPlanning

In this episode of the Smart to Fish Wild Podcast, I sit down with U.S. Coast Guard Captain Ryan Van Fleet, owner of Good Karma Sport Fishing. Ryan shares one of the most astonishingly resilient stories you will ever hear. After being simultaneously laid off from high-level corporate tracks with his wife Melinda, the duo gutted their 401ks, moved to the Florida Keys with a single storage pod, and built a massive sportfishing empire entirely from scratch.

From managing pharmaceutical labs to hunting bedbugs at night just to survive the recession, Ryan charts his rise to pioneering small-craft ocean side charters and launching highly successful online communities.

Smart To Fish Wild: Hosted by Mark Candler, Smart To Fish Wild explores the intersection of outdoor adventure, impactful leadership, and financial strategy. We interview founders, CEOs, and pioneers who are changing the world through their passion for the outdoors.

Connect with us:

Website: www.maiawealth.com

Instagram: @mark.candler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-b-candler-mba-cltc/

Mark Candler / Silver Oak Wealth Planning: www.SilverOakColorado.com

Subscribe for more stories of adventure and impact!

#RyanVanFleet #GoodKarmaSportFishing #FloridaKeyscharterfishing #extremecareerpivots #businessautomation #mahimahimigration #fisheriesmanagement #GoodKarmaprivatecommunity #SmartToFishWild #MarkCandler #SilverOakWealthPlanning

In this episode of the Smart to Fish Wild Podcast, I sit down with Tim Romano—co-founder of Flylab, managing editor of Angling Trade Magazine, and owner of Small Craft Sales—to explore the evolving landscape of media, the transition to subscription-based content platforms, and the deep, non-negotiable obligation anglers have to conservation.

From discovering fly fishing entirely on his own at age 14 to editing photography for The Flyfish Journal and navigating the modern realities of youth sports schedules, Tim shares a masterclass on reinventing yourself in an industry you love.

Smart To Fish Wild: Hosted by Mark Candler, Smart To Fish Wild explores the intersection of outdoor adventure, impactful leadership, and financial strategy. We interview founders, CEOs, and pioneers who are changing the world through their passion for the outdoors.

Connect with us:

Website: www.maiawealth.com

Instagram: @mark.candler

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-b-candler-mba-cltc/

Mark Candler / Silver Oak Wealth Planning: www.SilverOakColorado.com

Subscribe for more stories of adventure and impact!

#TimRomano #Flylab #AnglingTrade #SmallCraftSales #flyfishingmedia #Substackpublishing #outdoorconservation #TroutUnlimited #SmartToFishWild #MarkCandler #SilverOakWealthPlanning