Episode 96: Steve Herter - The Purist

Steve Herter is one of the most passionate people I’ve ever meet. Humorous, smart, adventurous, ingenious… Herter checks all the boxes. I’ve been in the elk woods with him and watched him empty the Yampa river with flies only Steve could design and tie. He is world class with everything he engages with. He has led one of the most varied and successful lives of an outdoorsman I know. Aside from developing three of the top ten lodges in North America from the ground up; Elk Trout Lodge, Elk Creek Lodge and Seven Lakes Lodge, he was instrumental in positioning lodge projects in Patagonia and Argentina. He also worked with Orvis Fly Fishing schools and product development with Flies.

Steve designed and helped stream improvement projects, one on the White River and Storm Mountain Ranch in Steamboat Springs, CO. He also spent a great part of his life chasing rooster fish on the beaches of Mexico, but what sets Herter apart from all others is his world class ability to design and tie incredibly small trout flies; midges. No hopper dropper, no nymphs, nothing will ever be tied on his leader he can’t see floating. But it’s not just dry fly fishing, it's midge fishing. Flies so small you have to tie them with microscopes.This is an art form, and Steve is a master at it.

Also, he’s had hard luck with his health and most recently a stroke…. in spite of it all, he has remained as vibrant as anyone I know!

On today's podcast we dive into the incredible life of an old friend. We hope you enjoy!