In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I'm recapping an awesome weekend in Charleston, SC at Cast & Drafts — one of the coolest fly fishing and craft beer spots around. From cold beers and great conversations to meeting new faces in the fly fishing community, this trip was one for the books. I break down the highlights from the weekend, the people I met, and why events like this are so important for growing the sport and building community.

After the recap, I jump into listener-submitted questions, covering a wide range of fly fishing topics including tactics, gear, trip planning, finding new water, fly selection, and more. This Q&A segment brings some great discussion and practical advice for anglers of all experience levels.

Whether you're looking for fishing tips, community updates, or just some good fly fishing storytelling, this episode has something for you.

In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, Ryan sits down with Kevin from East Cape Boats to talk boat design, shallow-water performance, and how decades of building skiffs have shaped one of the most respected brands on the flats.

Kevin shares the story behind how East Cape Boats got started, the original mission of the company, and how his perspective on boat building has evolved over more than 20 years in the industry. The conversation breaks down the differences between East Cape's various skiffs, including how hull design impacts shallow draft, stability, and overall angler experience.

They dive deep into how East Cape boats handle rougher conditions, especially larger platforms like the Vantage and EVO hulls, and how those models have progressed over time — including a full-circle moment discussing one of the early Vantage hulls built for Ryan's former high school fishing club.

Kevin also shares his personal favorite boat in the current lineup and gives an inside look at a new drift boat project East Cape has been developing for trout anglers. Being a Western North Carolina native, Kevin talks about testing boats on local rivers and how freshwater fisheries are influencing future designs.

The episode wraps with a look ahead at what's coming next from East Cape Boats, a curated Trout Tunes playlist, and final thanks and plugs.

Whether you're a flats angler, backcountry explorer, or a trout fisherman curious about crossover boat design, this episode is packed with insight straight from the source.

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In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, Ryan sits down with Nigel, founder of Sea Suite, to explore the powerful intersection of outdoor adventure, mental clarity, and business growth.

Nigel shares where his fishing journey began, when he first picked up a fly rod, and how time on the water ultimately inspired him to build a business centered around clarity, leadership, and intentional thinking. The conversation breaks down what Sea Suite is, who it's for, and why blending fly fishing, surfing, and strategic business work creates breakthroughs that traditional boardroom settings often can't.

Ryan and Nigel dive into what a typical Sea Suite day looks like—from early mornings on the water to focused strategic work in the afternoon—and how those experiences are tailored for both seasoned executives and people newer to fly fishing or surfing. They also discuss balancing structured planning with the unpredictability of nature, the concept of "flow," and real moments where participants experienced clarity-changing breakthroughs.

The episode wraps with a deeper look at how fly fishing positively impacts mental health and decision-making, where Nigel sees Sea Suite headed in the coming years, five songs for the Trout Tunes Playlist, and final plugs.

FREE MONTH OF TROUT ROUTES PRO⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, Ryan sits down with Sam, the founder of Space Coast Flies and Community Fly Supply, to talk about building fly fishing community from the ground up.

Sam shares where his fishing journey began, when he made the jump to fly fishing, and how that passion eventually turned into not one—but two—fly fishing brands. We dig into the origin stories behind Space Coast Flies and Community Fly Supply, the inspiration for opening a brick-and-mortar fly shop in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and what it takes to grow a fly shop that truly puts community first.

We also get into fly tying and sourcing, customer-favorite patterns, hosting fly-tying nights and casting clinics, and how events help grow the sport at a local level. Sam opens up about the challenges and surprises of moving from an online brand to a physical shop, his vision for the future, and advice for anyone dreaming of starting their own fly shop or fly design brand.

We wrap things up with five songs for the Trout Wrangler Playlist, plus final plugs and shoutouts.

If you're passionate about fly fishing, small business, and building authentic outdoor communities—this one's for you.

FREE MONTH OF TROUT ROUTES PRO

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@Spacecoastflies

@CommunityFlySupply

⁠https://www.spacecoastflies.com/⁠

On this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, we're joined by Erik, a key part of the team behind Trout Routes and OnX, to talk about the intersection of fly fishing, technology, and access.

We start with Erik's personal fishing journey — where it all began, how he got into fly fishing, and what ultimately led him down a path that blends time on the water with digital mapping tools anglers rely on every day.

Erik breaks down what Trout Routes is for anglers who may not be familiar with the app, including how it helps fishermen find legal access, understand stream classifications, and plan trips more efficiently. We also dig into what led him to work with Trout Routes and OnX, and how those platforms complement each other.

From there, we talk features — Erik shares his favorite tools inside Trout Routes, the features he personally uses the most, and a real-world moment where having Trout Routes Pro made a major difference on the water.

We also look ahead to the future, discussing whether there's anything exciting or "crazy" coming down the pipeline in 2026, and explore the idea of offline navigation when cell service and Apple Maps fail — something every angler has experienced at least once.

As always, we wrap things up with five songs for the Trout Tunes Playlist, followed by final thanks and plugs.

Trout Wrangler Podcast, Trout Routes, Trout Routes Pro, OnX, fly fishing apps, fly fishing access, public fishing access, fly fishing technology, trout fishing podcast, fly fishing podcast, digital mapping fishing

FREE MONTH OF TROUT ROUTES PRO

⁠https://troutroutes.onelink.me/NvfJ/6au6z3i3⁠

@ErikJohnsen

@TroutRoutes

On this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, we sit down with Randall, a professional bass angler who's spent most of his career behind a spinning rod and baitcaster — but has added a fly rod to the mix.

We kick things off with Randall's fishing background and what originally motivated him to start fly fishing after a successful career in professional bass fishing. He reflects on the tournaments he's won, the pageantry and pressure of the Bassmaster Classic, and what it's like competing at the highest level of the sport.

Randal breaks down the tournament trails he's fishing this year, why he chose them, and how balancing tournament fishing with running a charter business has shaped his approach on the water. We also get into one of our shared opinions — why Lake Norman might just be one of the least favorite lakes to fish, despite living so close to it.

From there, we shift gears to charter fishing on Florida's Gulf Coast. Randall talks about the flats boat he'll be running this season, what makes the Port St. Joe fishery so unique, and how it differs from other areas along the panhandle.

We wrap up with some fun hypotheticals and stories — including Randall's two-minute crash course for a brand-new fly angler on the bow, his favorite Florida species to target on fly, memorable client trips, and a few wild guiding stories. As always, we finish with five songs for the Trout Tunes Playlist, followed by final thanks and plugs.

@RandallTharp

https://randytharp.com/

On today's episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, we sit down with Simon Valencia, one of the minds behind Current Culture Fly, to talk fly fishing, teaching, community, and life on the bay.

We start with Simon's fishing journey — where it began, when he transitioned to a fly rod, and how living in multiple places with very different fisheries helped shape his approach to fly fishing. From there, Simon breaks down his current home waters, explaining what makes his part of the bay unique and why it offers such a special fishery.

We dive into the inspiration behind Current Culture Fly, its mission, and the community Simon and his crew are building in Richmond and beyond. Simon shares how they balance introducing total beginners to fly fishing while still pushing experienced anglers to grow and refine their skills.

Teaching is a major focus of this episode — from Simon's key casting fundamentals for first-time anglers to stories from the water, including memorable trips, wild experiences, and guiding interesting clients. We also talk about the current state of the striped bass fishery, how it compares to New England, and what concerns anglers should be paying attention to.

We wrap things up with five songs for the Trout Tunes Playlist, followed by final thanks and plugs.

On today's episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, we sit down to talk about the journey into fly fishing and the exciting process of opening a brick-and-mortar fly shop in Philadelphia.

We start with how our guest first got into fishing, when the transition to a fly rod happened, and what originally sparked the idea of opening their own fly shop. From there, we dive into plans for potentially setting up shop right in downtown Philly and how location plays a role in accessibility, community, and growth. A big focus of this episode is community — how the shop plans to highlight local fly tyers, involve the surrounding angling scene, and create a space that feels welcoming and inclusive. We also talk about what the shop aims to offer that other fly shops in the area don't, and what excites them most about owning and operating a physical fly fishing storefront.

We wrap things up with five picks for the Trout Tunes Playlist, followed by final thanks and plugs

On today's episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, we welcome Louis back to the show for a return appearance to talk boat builds, custom skiffs, and what life has looked like since his last time on the podcast. We kick things off by catching up on how business has been going and breaking down several new boats Louis has sold and built since we last spoke, including some unique setups and standout modifications. Louis walks us through the process of building a bass boat version of a skiff, what made that project different, and whether he's had a chance to fish it with the owner yet. We spend time digging into the Bird of Prey build — what makes that boat special, the thinking behind running dual micro Power-Poles, and why smaller anchors sometimes make more sense than the biggest options available. Louis also shares some of the wildest customization requests he's seen recently. Outside of the shop, we talk about whether he's had time to get back on the water himself, what fishing has looked like lately, and we wrap things up with Louis' five picks for the Trout Tunes Playlist. @Macuch_Craft on instagram https://www.macuchcraft.com/