The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast

Some people just shouldn't be allowed outside without adult supervision.

It's time for another installment of Complaint Corner on the Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast, and this time, Ross is taking aim at a particularly irritating species: the outdoor ding-dong. You know the type. The people who somehow manage to make the outdoors a little less enjoyable for everyone else, usually through some combination of laziness, obliviousness, and a complete disregard for basic etiquette.

From littering on mountain trails to wandering through strangers' campsites, blasting music in the wilderness, refusing to yield to uphill hikers, and cutting switchbacks, we're covering some of the outdoor behaviors that drive Ross absolutely nuts. Along the way, we'll hear about a nine-mile hike that turned into an impromptu trash cleanup, an unexpected religious procession through a backcountry campsite, and the apparently controversial idea that nobody else wants to listen to your Bluetooth speaker.

But underneath all the complaining is a pretty simple point: sharing wild places requires a little consideration for the people, animals, and environments around us. Most of these problems are completely avoidable, and being a decent outdoorsperson really isn't that complicated.

So grab your headphones, prepare to feel either vindicated or personally attacked, and join us for another round of Complaint Corner. Because the outdoors belong to all of us, and we'd all enjoy them a hell of a lot more if people would just stop being ding-dongs.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

There's a difference between visiting a wild place and actually knowing it.

In this episode, Ross explores one of his favorite approaches to backcountry fly fishing: incremental exploration. Rather than constantly chasing new destinations, incremental exploration is about returning to the same rivers, canyons, and wilderness areas over months or even years, gradually pushing farther, discovering new water, and developing a deeper understanding of the places we love.

Drawing on nearly a decade spent exploring one remote Colorado canyon, Ross discusses how individual trips build on one another, how familiarity opens the door to new adventures, and why some of the most rewarding discoveries happen in places you've already visited dozens of times. He also breaks down his four-step approach to exploration: planning, scouting, pushing, and logging, including how he uses tools like TroutRoutes and onX to identify access points, evaluate terrain, and uncover new opportunities.

But incremental exploration is about more than finding untouched water or catching more fish. It's about building relationships with wild places, developing the competence and confidence to explore them more deeply, and discovering that familiarity doesn't have to diminish adventure. Sometimes it makes the experience even more meaningful.

Because the goal isn't always to find somewhere new. Sometimes it's to discover how much you still don't know about a place you thought you knew.

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Want to try a free month of TroutRoutes Pro? Use this link: https://qrco.de/bh36IJ

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

Fly fishing has a nymphing problem.

In this episode, Ross takes on one of the most persistent pieces of conventional wisdom in fly fishing: because trout eat most of their food underwater, anglers should spend most of their time nymphing. It sounds logical. It also misses a much bigger part of how trout actually behave—and can keep anglers locked into one style of fishing when plenty of other options are available. 

From water temperature and insect activity to dry-dropper rigs and the different parts of the water column trout are paying attention to, this episode is about learning to read conditions instead of blindly following rules. Ross also breaks down his approach to nymph selection, why he thinks anglers dramatically overcomplicate their fly boxes, and why size, color, and weight often matter more than finding the perfect pattern.  

Nymphs absolutely have a place in fly fishing. You just don't have to spend your entire life staring at an indicator because somebody told you that's where 90% of the fish are eating.

Pay attention to the water. Pay attention to the conditions. Fish however the hell you want.

And remember: you don't have to nymph if you don't want to nymph.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

Eventually, there are no more summers.

In this episode, Ross reflects on impermanence, mortality, and the uncomfortable reality that none of us knows how many seasons we have left to fish, explore, hike mountains, or spend time in the wild places we love. After losing much of this summer to the demands of life, he began thinking about something even harder: you don't get that time back, and eventually, every one of us will catch our last fish, explore our last blue line, and experience our last season. 

But this isn't an episode about being afraid of the end. It's about allowing the reality of impermanence to change the way we experience the present. The places we fish aren't suddenly valuable because we know we may never return. The value was always there. Sometimes we simply need to remember that there isn't necessarily another trip, another year, or another summer waiting for us. 

So climb the mountain. Explore the blue line. Learn to tie the flies. Take your kids fishing. Fish with your dad. Backpack with your partner. Go see the lake you've been staring at on a map for the last ten years. And when you get there, slow down long enough to understand how lucky you are to be there at all. 

Because one day, there are no more summers.

Make this one count.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

The high alpine season is short. And sometimes we're just not ready for it to end.

In this episode, Ross breaks down the unique challenges of chasing trout above treeline as summer gives way to fall. From rapidly changing weather and the possibility of early snow to shorter days, colder nights, and increasingly narrow margins for error, late-season alpine trips require a different level of planning, preparation, and judgment than the same trip might demand only a few weeks earlier. 

But the changing season affects more than the hike. Ross also digs into how falling temperatures change alpine lakes and trout behavior, why fish become harder to find as the water cools, and how to identify the parts of a lake most likely to remain productive. That means paying attention to sunlight, drop-offs, wind, moving water, and the structure of the lake rather than simply cycling through flies and hoping something works. 

Most importantly, this episode is about recognizing when the opportunity you're chasing is no longer worth the risk. There will always be another stream, another lake, another season—and eventually, part of being a competent backcountry angler is knowing when it's time to come down from the mountains. 

Because nature doesn't care how badly you wanted one more alpine trip.

Sometimes you just have to know when the season is over.

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Want to try a free month of TroutRoutes Pro? Use this link: https://qrco.de/bh36IJ

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

You can carry all the right gear and still make a catastrophically bad decision.

In this episode, Ross tells the story of encountering a father and his two adult sons lost deep in a Colorado wilderness area, miles from where they thought they were, without navigation, adequate water, filters, or much of anything else they would need if something went wrong. It raises a bigger question: what does it actually mean to be prepared for the backcountry?  

The answer isn't just gear or technical skill. It's judgment. It's understanding your abilities, knowing the environment you're entering, listening when something tells you a decision might be wrong, and having the humility to turn around when necessary. Because you can have the best equipment and all the training in the world and still get yourself into serious trouble by making one stupid decision. 

Ross also turns the lesson on himself, reflecting on a recent trip where he ignored his own intuition and pushed harder than he should have after weeks away from the backcountry. That experience ultimately led him to abandon his biggest planned trip of the year, not because he couldn't do it, but because wisdom meant recognizing that this wasn't the year to try. 

The wilderness rewards preparation, experience, and confidence. But sometimes the most important outdoor skill is knowing when to say no.

Don't be stupid. Stay wise. And make sure you come home.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

Sometimes life just decides you don't get to go fishing.

Season 7 begins with a conversation about what happens when work, family, moving, injuries, emergencies, and everything else life throws at us keep us away from the places we need most. After spending nearly six weeks off the water, Ross reflects on what it feels like to become disconnected from something that isn't merely recreation, but an important source of peace, perspective, and connection with ourselves.

This episode explores why time outside matters, why we have to be relentlessly intentional about protecting it, and how to stay connected to fly fishing and the outdoors during seasons when getting out simply isn't possible. From tying flies and dialing in gear to planning future trips and simply finding ways to get outside, there are still ways to keep that connection alive.

Most importantly, it's about gratitude. Our ability to hike, fish, explore, and disappear into wild places isn't guaranteed forever. Sometimes being forced away from them is exactly what reminds us how much they matter.

Because when you spend too long moving from one confined space to another, it's surprisingly easy to get lost inside.

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Want to try a free month of TroutRoutes Pro? Use this link: https://qrco.de/bh36IJ

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

Season 6 Finale: More Than Fly Fishing

As Season 6 comes to a close, Ross reflects on the incredible growth of the Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast and the community that has formed around it. From hopper fishing and backpacking to wilderness philosophy and personal growth, this season has been about far more than simply catching trout. 

The episode looks back at the lessons, stories, and listener experiences that defined the season—including first alpine lake trips, first solo camps, and first steps into the backcountry. More than anything, it's a reminder that backcountry fly fishing isn't just about becoming a better angler. It's about becoming a more resilient, self-reliant, and confident person. 

Ross also shares what's next for the podcast, including upcoming adventures, Season 7, and the possibility of carefully chosen partnerships with companies that genuinely support the values of the show. Through it all, one thing remains unchanged: the commitment to authenticity, stewardship, and helping people build meaningful relationships with wild places. 

Thank you for another incredible season.

We'll see you back on the trail—and back here soon for Season 7.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

Finding fishable water has never been the hard part. Finding the right water—and knowing how to access it—is where things get complicated.

In this episode, Ross sits down with Erik Johnsen of TroutRoutes to talk about the evolution of digital mapping for fly anglers, the challenges of building a trout-specific navigation tool, and how better information can open the door to more exploration and more confidence on the water. 

The conversation covers everything from the unique trout culture of Wisconsin’s Driftless region to the broader challenge of helping anglers understand public access, stream classifications, species data, river miles, and backcountry navigation. Ross and Erik also dive into one of fly fishing’s most divisive topics: spot burning, gatekeeping, and the balance between protecting special places and helping anglers discover the incredible public water available across the country. 

This is a conversation about maps—but it’s really about opportunity, access, and the work it still takes to earn fish, even when the information is right in front of you.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

What makes outdoor gear actually good? And what happens when the people designing it are the same people out there beating it up in wild places?

In this episode, Ross sits down with Eric Bender, lead equipment designer at Kifaru International, to talk about what goes into building gear for serious backcountry use and why so much of the fly fishing world still misses the mark. From packs, shelters, and load systems to chest rigs, sidearm carry, and the importance of durability over gimmicks, this is a deep dive into the intersection of design, function, and wilderness use. 

Eric shares the story behind Kifaru, how his own life in the outdoors shaped his approach to product design, and why truly good gear should disappear into the background and simply do its job when things get hard. The conversation also explores the growing overlap between hunting, backpacking, and backcountry fly fishing and why more companies are beginning to recognize that serious anglers need equipment built for more than just standing next to the road. 

If you’ve ever cursed a zipper, broken a pack, or wondered why outdoor gear so often feels like it was designed by people who don’t actually use it, this one’s for you.

Because in the backcountry, gear isn’t just gear. It’s part of whether the whole thing works.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/