After the weird 'tweener season of March, winter is FINALLY over. April brings warmer weather, warmer water, a whole bunch of bugs, and a return to the promised land for fly anglers--especially fly anglers who have been itching to get back into the bush after a winter of being stuck on the tailwaters. 

In this episode, Ross walks you through fly fishing in April--getting back on the freestones we all love so much, insect hatches, fly patterns, fishing tactics, and more. It's time to get back out there, my friends, and we've got you covered. 

Alright, we've covered hiking in tough spring conditions and how to fly fish through the early weeks of spring. But what do you need to have a safe, comfortable, successful day on the water when you get there? 

In this episode, Ross walks you through his wading system for the spring, including his preferred gear and tips to keep you safe and comfy in rapidly changing conditions.

If you think spring makes fly fishing challenging, you should see what it does to your favorite hiking trails.

In this episode, Ross walks you through what you should expect on those early spring trails and how you can make sure that tough conditions don't stop you from reaching your favorite backcountry water.

One note: Ross recorded this episode while fighting off a chest cold, so he sounds like Kermit the Frog. Sorry, but if being sick won't keep him from fishing, it certainly won't stop him from doing the podcast. The show must go one, or something. 

March is the tweener season. It's kind of winter, kind of spring, and all complications all the time. 

In this episode, Ross walks you through how he fly fishes through the most complicated month of the year--finding water, bringing the right gear, and putting fish in the net even when conditions don't want to cooperate. 

We know you're itching to get back out there, but don't go unprepared!

We're back, baby! This is the official kickoff of Season 3 of The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast, which is all about fly fishing through the spring months and working our way back into the serious wilderness we all love so much.

In this episode, Ross provides a taste of what to expect in Season 3 and an overview of the challenges you ought to be thinking about as you prepare to hit the water in (sometimes) warmer weather. 

We're excited to be back at it. Drop us a line if you have questions or thoughts!

Well, folks, we've reached the end of Season 2. We hope you've enjoyed this season and been able to use the information to get out on the winter water and slay some trout. 

We'll be back with Season 3, which will be all about spring fly fishing in the backcountry, in mid-March. Until then, don't forget to leave us a five-star review on your podcast platform of choice. And feel free to drop us a line on Facebook or Instagram--Ross loves hearing from you.

Stay warm out there, friends. We'll see you back here soon!

We've spent the entirety of Season 2 talking about winter fly fishing. Now, as we close out the season, it's time to look forward to warmer months--and to start planning your next adventures. 

In this episode, Ross is joined by Ron Belak, author of Fly Fishing Colorado's Backcountry, The Fishing Guide to 800 High Lakes in Colorado, and many dozens of articles across various publications. In addition to being one of Ross's personal heroes, Ron is a well-recognized authority on backcountry fly fishing and a true expert on what it takes to prepare and plan for successful spring trips to high-alpine lakes and other destinations.

We're grateful to have had Ron on the show, and we hope that his insights will help get you excited for your next season of adventures. We'll see you back here for Season 3!

We were supposed to have one more interview this season, but it didn't work out. So, instead, Ross decided to just geek out over the joys of fly-tying and tell everyone what he's got in his winter fly box. Why not, right? 

If you're a bug nerd, a tying enthusiast, or just someone looking for a shortlist of go-to patterns that you should be using in the winter (or really any other time), this one's for you. 

You ate too much and exercised too little this holiday season. You know it, and we know it. But the fact that you aren't hiking as often and indulging in a few extra calories over the winter doesn't mean you have to let yourself fall out of hiking shape.

In this episode, Ross is joined by Cameron Davis, personal trainer and owner of RockStar Fitness in Castle Rock, Colorado. Cameron and Ross talk about how to stay in shape over the winter, work on your physical weak points, and make sure you're ready for the big hikes needed to access pristine backcountry waters when spring rolls back around. 

If you hike, snowshoe, snowmobile, cross-country ski, or do anything else in deep snow to reach your favorite backcountry fishing destinations in the winter or spring, you need to be thinking about avalanches. And the truth is that a lot of fly fishers (including Ross) don't know as much about these cold killers as they should. 

This week's episode features an interview with world-renowned avalanche expert Bruce Tremper, who quite literally wrote the book on avalanche safety in the United States. Bruce helps us better understand avalanches, their causes, and how to avoid them in the backcountry. 

This is a must-listen before you hit those snowy mountain trails.