The Struggle Is Reel

Ep. 52

Zach is back in his splint with his split-open knuckle, and he keeps falling asleep whenever he sits down.

Matt is recording from a friend's house because he forgot it was his idea to pod that night. Eric then tells a long story about a brutal run of steelhead guiding days. Matt tells a story about the conference he went to where he stole a high end lunch. They finish with trip plans for the winter.

Ep.51

In this episode, the group gives Adrian Cortez a shoutout as a listener who genuinely loves the show and treats it like therapy.Eric goes off on an internet personality, Andrew Wilson, arguing that smugness matters more than the actual takes because it makes the guy unbearable to watch.Zach tells a steelhead story about a client who got knucklebased on a huge fish and broke off 12-pound line when the fish finally lit up.Zach also shares a rare “same fly, same fish” moment when he landed a steelhead with his own fly still stuck in the fish’s mouth from two days earlier.The crew argues river etiquette around who gets first shot at a run, especially when multiple guides show up to the same spot on the same day.Eric recounts a situation where another guide floated in, anchored too close, and tried to fish directly through water Eric was already working with clients.A listener question leads into the ethics line between swinging a fly with a bead versus bead fishing, and where each of the guys draws that boundary.The back half becomes a technical spey-casting discussion about anchor placement, D loop shape, downstream angles, and why people often “cut the corner” too early.Matt and Zach compare different ways to cue anglers, including where to set the anchor, when to begin elevation, and how shorter modern heads changed the timing of the cast.Eric sums up his teaching philosophy: slow down, keep the rod moving, and if the cast works and you’re not blowing the anchor, do that.

Ep. 50

In this motherfucking economy Matt Thornton, Eric, and Zach cover a wide-ranging shop-and-river conversation that jumps from steelhead fishing updates to guide-life logistics, gear etiquette, podcasting, and a few deeply questionable side quests. It’s mostly a three-way hang, but the fishing talk is real: winter steelhead conditions, skater presentation, boat choices, and the weird politics of shared water all make the cut.

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Ep. 48

This episode is a loose, funny catch-up with Eric, Zach, and Matt centered on recent steelhead trips, a knuckle injury, and the kind of river stories that only happen when a camera crew shows up. It mixes practical guide talk, trip logistics, and a few real-deal moments about resilience, community, and keeping a season moving.We discuss the chaos of filming with a home-studio setup, Zach’s knife injury and ER visit, and a string of river stories that include missed fish, a first steelhead on the swing, and a baby deer rescue. The crew also covers upcoming fundraising work, new merch ideas, and the reality of trying to guide and podcast during a very long, very tired season.

Ep: 47

Ep. 46

Ep. 45

Steelhead, pattern recognition, and accepting what you can’t controlEric, Zach, and Matt spend most of this episode unpacking the weird psychology of steelhead fishing, especially how much of it comes down to patience, consistency, and accepting randomness. They also compare steelhead to other species, talk through a memorable last-minute catch for a friend, and wrap with travel updates, a guide-shack tattoo story, and a quick check-in on upcoming episodes.

Ep. 44

Ep. 44

Steelhead Sight Fishing, Guide Logistics, and Why Last Minute Bookings FailEric, Matt, and Zach kick off with a loose, very real guide-room conversation before getting into the meat of the week: sight fishing steelhead in low, clear water, what fish actually do when they track a fly, and how different the experience is when you can finally see the eat. They also dig into guide culture, client expectations, last minute booking headaches, and a few hard-earned lessons from Alaska and big-water rainbows.Key topics

• In this episode, Eric, Matt, and Zach talk through the difference between downtime and burnout, and how lack of recovery time can make guiding feel relentless.
• Zach shares a standout week on the Sandy River, including sight fishing steelhead, swinging flies, and learning from seeing fish behavior in clear water.
• The crew compares fast versus slow coverage of runs, and why some anglers prefer to search water quickly while others want to slow down and inspect every seam.
• Matt vents about last minute trip requests and why booking a guide at the eleventh hour usually means worse outcomes for everyone.
• Eric and Matt discuss guide etiquette and language, including why “you’re welcome” matters and why “my pleasure” feels wrong in this context.
• Zach breaks down a memorable steelhead day with a Chilean guest who had been guiding in Patagonia since he was 16 and was unusually good on the water.
• The group talks through steelhead follows, refusals, boiled fish on skaters, and how many takes happen right at the end when the fish turns and commits.
• Matt explains his current setup on the knick-knack for big rainbows, including dredging, gear bobbers, heavy weights, and why the experience is not always “proper fly fishing.”
• They cover the realities of Alaska-style fishing logistics, where travel time, weather, and client expectations all affect what kind of fishing day is possible.
• Eric closes with a simple Seth Rogen line about persistence: if you do not quit, you might make it; if you do quit, you definitely will not.

• Book guide trips early, especially for summer and high-demand water.
• Match client expectations to the fishery before the day starts.
• If you guide or fish around hooks often, practice the mono trick on something harmless before you need it for real.
• Pay attention to fish behavior on clear water days, especially how steelhead track, turn, and commit at the last second.
• If weather is bad, be ready to pivot instead of forcing the original plan.

Timestamps(00:00) Cold open, show chatter, and easing into the day

Ep.43