Since COVID-19 first appeared in Wuhan, China in December of 2019, the effects on this new coronavirus on global economies and the travel industry have been dramatic. Many of those that travel the world to fish want to know how this event is actually impacting travel logistics, our ability to fish, and the destinations we love so much. To address this situation, we’ve sat down with Gary Leinen and Kimberly Franke - two people who are experts in their fields.

Gary’s impressive career in the public health sector includes 30 years of global USAID epidemiology work related to disease outbreaks throughout Africa and the Philippines. Gary is also a member of the Global Health Council and, in our view, one of the top authorities to discuss the current COVID-19 issue. In the first part of this episode, Gary helps us gain clarity on the current state of global travel and how this event may impact near-future access to the destinations we love. In part two of this episode, Kimberly Franke - the founder and owner of Kanna Travel - talks us through the realities of travel insurance and how the current situation is impacting and changing trip coverage policies. Whether planning a trip for the future or traveling to fish in the weeks or months ahead, this is an episode that you will not want to miss.

- View all podcast episodes by going to the WAYPOINTS podcast page
- Discover your next fly fishing adventure by going to the Yellow Dog website

Waypoints is brought to you by Patagonia
To bring their gear to life, Patagonia is motivated by relentless curiosity and a passion for the wild. They evaluate hundreds of materials, build dozens of prototypes and spend seasons punishing them in the world’s most extreme conditions. The work is the guide, and Patagonia never tires of exploring, learning and improving.

Built with innovative materials, intuitive features and a refined fit, their Swiftcurrent® Waders are a better wader experience. Repatterned for bulk reduction, reduced seam stress, increased maneuverability and improved repairability, they move better in and out of the water, carry gear more efficiently and keep tools handy. They’re made from recycled materials without intentionally added PFAS—toxic “forever chemicals.

- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check out our YouTube Page
- View the official Yellow Dog website

...

With over forty years of fly fishing the world, Jeff Currier has quite possibly fished more countries (60 and counting) and caught more species (over 400 and counting) with a fly rod than any person alive. Jeff is constantly traveling and developing new techniques for catching the most exotic fish imaginable in places where even the most avid adventurers are at times hesitant to go! As an active lecturer, published author, accomplished artist, IGFA World Record holder, and the subject of numerous films, articles, and media projects, Jeff is a fly fishing personality that is as entertaining and educational as he is legitimate. He is an incredibly reliable source of information and inspiration, the most senior member of the Yellow Dog Ambassador team, and a close friend. And while Jeff can boast one of the most impressive resumes around, he remains one of the most authentic and humble people in the industry – always willing to take his accomplishments one step further by passing on what he has learned. Kicking-off Season 2 of Waypoints is an episode that scratches the surface of a life deeply devoted to fly fishing the world: a sit-down that is packed with numerous tips and great fishing stories from around the world.

- View all podcast episodes by going to the WAYPOINTS podcast page
- Discover your next fly fishing adventure by going to the Yellow Dog website

Waypoints is brought to you by Patagonia
To bring their gear to life, Patagonia is motivated by relentless curiosity and a passion for the wild. They evaluate hundreds of materials, build dozens of prototypes and spend seasons punishing them in the world’s most extreme conditions. The work is the guide, and Patagonia never tires of exploring, learning and improving.

Built with innovative materials, intuitive features and a refined fit, their Swiftcurrent® Waders are a better wader experience. Repatterned for bulk reduction, reduced seam stress, increased maneuverability and improved repairability, they move better in and out of the water, carry gear more efficiently and keep tools handy. They’re made from recycled materials without intentionally added PFAS—toxic “forever chemicals.

- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check out our YouTube Page
- View the official Yellow Dog website

...

Will Blair is one of the godfathers of fly fishing in Kamchatka. Since 1997, Will has helped pioneer some of the top fisheries on the Kamchatka Peninsula, developing and offering what is arguably one of the best rainbow trout fishing experiences found anywhere on the planet. Yellow Dog is proud to partner with Will and his remote Two Yurt and Ozernaya programs, along with the incredibly-unique “Rainbows from Above” customized fly-out program. Because Will knows this mysterious and wild area like no one else, we tracked him down with a long list of questions in-hand. We discuss the factors that make a trip to Kamchatka so special, what gear to bring, the seasonality of the fisheries, species, travel logistics, and the stories you might tell upon returning from one of the greatest rainbow trout destinations in the world. If you’ve ever thought about a trip to Kamchatka, then you will certainly enjoy this exciting episode: the Season 1 finale of the Waypoints Podcast.

- View all podcast episodes by going to the WAYPOINTS podcast page
- Discover your next fly fishing adventure by going to the Yellow Dog website

Waypoints is brought to you by Patagonia
To bring their gear to life, Patagonia is motivated by relentless curiosity and a passion for the wild. They evaluate hundreds of materials, build dozens of prototypes and spend seasons punishing them in the world’s most extreme conditions. The work is the guide, and Patagonia never tires of exploring, learning and improving.

Built with innovative materials, intuitive features and a refined fit, their Swiftcurrent® Waders are a better wader experience. Repatterned for bulk reduction, reduced seam stress, increased maneuverability and improved repairability, they move better in and out of the water, carry gear more efficiently and keep tools handy. They’re made from recycled materials without intentionally added PFAS—toxic “forever chemicals.

- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check out our YouTube Page
- View the official Yellow Dog website

...

Jim Bartschi is the President and head rod designer at Scott Fly Rods in Montrose, Colorado. With close to 30 years at Scott, Jim has devoted his entire career to the fly fishing industry - building and testing some of the finest rods on the planet. Jim served for two terms as a board member of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) before being re-elected in 2018 to a third term. In 2019 he became the organization’s Chairman. Jim is one of the most hard-working, straightforward, and innovative individuals that we know, and this episode in one of our all-time favorites. Bartschi and Waypoints host Jim Klug discuss fly rod design and recommendations for the traveling angler, the differences between US-made fly rods and imported rods, whether lifetime rod warranties are a good thing, why fly rods break, the current role of retailers in our sport, the state of travel and destination angling in today’s world, and much more.

- View all podcast episodes by going to the WAYPOINTS podcast page
- Discover your next fly fishing adventure by going to the Yellow Dog website

Waypoints is brought to you by Patagonia
To bring their gear to life, Patagonia is motivated by relentless curiosity and a passion for the wild. They evaluate hundreds of materials, build dozens of prototypes and spend seasons punishing them in the world’s most extreme conditions. The work is the guide, and Patagonia never tires of exploring, learning and improving.

Built with innovative materials, intuitive features and a refined fit, their Swiftcurrent® Waders are a better wader experience. Repatterned for bulk reduction, reduced seam stress, increased maneuverability and improved repairability, they move better in and out of the water, carry gear more efficiently and keep tools handy. They’re made from recycled materials without intentionally added PFAS—toxic “forever chemicals.

- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check out our YouTube Page
- View the official Yellow Dog website

...

This episode of Waypoints features Charlie Conn, an accomplished international angler, explorer, guide and conservationist. After graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota (1994) with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Charlie moved to Livingston, Montana to work for Dan Bailey’s Fly Shop. He first started guiding in Mongolia in 1998 and has been guiding and working there ever since. With 22 years spent chasing taimen all over Mongolia, Charlie has learned a thing or two about these amazing fish, and in this episode he talks techniques, tackle, reading water, and seasons. He also shares some amazing stories from his years spent in Mongolia as well as some of his secrets for a great taimen adventure.

In 2010, Charlie was the driving force behind the creation of the Taimen Fund – a project that was started by the Tributary Fund. As a seasoned guide in Mongolia, he was inspired to help protect taxmen and address the challenges taimen face in Mongolian waters. The Taimen Fund became a stand-alone, non-profit organization in September 2013, and Charlie has served as the organization’s Executive Director since the very beginning.

- View all podcast episodes by going to the WAYPOINTS podcast page
- Discover your next fly fishing adventure by going to the Yellow Dog website

Waypoints is brought to you by Patagonia
To bring their gear to life, Patagonia is motivated by relentless curiosity and a passion for the wild. They evaluate hundreds of materials, build dozens of prototypes and spend seasons punishing them in the world’s most extreme conditions. The work is the guide, and Patagonia never tires of exploring, learning and improving.

Built with innovative materials, intuitive features and a refined fit, their Swiftcurrent® Waders are a better wader experience. Repatterned for bulk reduction, reduced seam stress, increased maneuverability and improved repairability, they move better in and out of the water, carry gear more efficiently and keep tools handy. They’re made from recycled materials without intentionally added PFAS—toxic “forever chemicals.

- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check out our YouTube Page
- View the official Yellow Dog website

...

Writer, architect, explorer and founder of Untamed Angling are only a few of the titles held by Argentinian dorado aficionado, Marcelo Pérez. Marcelo learned to fly fish on the Paraná watershed at an early age, and has since developed his passion for golden dorado by exploring, establishing and writing about new destinations in the Bolivian jungle and throughout South America. In 2001, Marcelo founded Untamed Angling with the launch of La Zona project in northern Argentina. He then went on to establish destinations that included Far End Rivers in Argentina and Desroches Fly Fishing Adventures in the Seychelles before launching the Tsimane Lodge operations in Bolivia in 2005. In this episode of Waypoints, Jim sits down with Marcelo to discuss his life of adventure and talk about the seasons, gear, preparation, travel logistics and insider information for Bolivian golden dorado.

- View all podcast episodes by going to the WAYPOINTS podcast page
- Discover your next fly fishing adventure by going to the Yellow Dog website

Waypoints is brought to you by Patagonia
To bring their gear to life, Patagonia is motivated by relentless curiosity and a passion for the wild. They evaluate hundreds of materials, build dozens of prototypes and spend seasons punishing them in the world’s most extreme conditions. The work is the guide, and Patagonia never tires of exploring, learning and improving.

Built with innovative materials, intuitive features and a refined fit, their Swiftcurrent® Waders are a better wader experience. Repatterned for bulk reduction, reduced seam stress, increased maneuverability and improved repairability, they move better in and out of the water, carry gear more efficiently and keep tools handy. They’re made from recycled materials without intentionally added PFAS—toxic “forever chemicals.

- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check out our YouTube Page
- View the official Yellow Dog website

...

Tom Bie is the founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of The Drake Magazine, fly fishing’s grassroots journal that over the past 22 years has become a powerhouse in the industry. After working as past editor for Powder, Skiing, and Paddler magazines, Tom started the Drake in 1998 while living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In this episode, Jim and Tom discuss travel writing, our sport’s literary pioneers and legends, and the impact of modern social and print media on the sport of fly fishing and the natural resources we depend on. On a deeper level, Tom reflects on why we’re drawn to fishing and how our travel and adventure stories are written about, shared and enjoyed.

- View all podcast episodes by going to the WAYPOINTS podcast page
- Discover your next fly fishing adventure by going to the Yellow Dog website

Waypoints is brought to you by Patagonia
To bring their gear to life, Patagonia is motivated by relentless curiosity and a passion for the wild. They evaluate hundreds of materials, build dozens of prototypes and spend seasons punishing them in the world’s most extreme conditions. The work is the guide, and Patagonia never tires of exploring, learning and improving.

Built with innovative materials, intuitive features and a refined fit, their Swiftcurrent® Waders are a better wader experience. Repatterned for bulk reduction, reduced seam stress, increased maneuverability and improved repairability, they move better in and out of the water, carry gear more efficiently and keep tools handy. They’re made from recycled materials without intentionally added PFAS—toxic “forever chemicals.

- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check out our YouTube Page
- View the official Yellow Dog website

...

Acrobatic queenfish, manmade reefs, massive skyscrapers and indoor ski areas are only a few of the things that make Dubai one of the most unusual destinations in the world of fly fishing. Nick Bowles, founder and owner of Dubai’s first fly fishing operation and outfitting business, Ocean Active Fly, walks us through his journey of establishing fly fishing in the UAE. Nick also discusses adventures in Oman and Yemen in pursuit of three different species of permit, milkfish, GT’s and many other unique species. A stop-over in Dubai en route to other Indian Ocean destination has become an essential add-on trip for anglers looking for something completely “different,” and Nick and his team are the very best at what they do. This episode with Nick provides listeners with great stories of fishing in the Middle East and inside information to consider Dubai as part of their next angling adventure.

- View all podcast episodes by going to the WAYPOINTS podcast page
- Discover your next fly fishing adventure by going to the Yellow Dog website

Waypoints is brought to you by Patagonia
To bring their gear to life, Patagonia is motivated by relentless curiosity and a passion for the wild. They evaluate hundreds of materials, build dozens of prototypes and spend seasons punishing them in the world’s most extreme conditions. The work is the guide, and Patagonia never tires of exploring, learning and improving.

Built with innovative materials, intuitive features and a refined fit, their Swiftcurrent® Waders are a better wader experience. Repatterned for bulk reduction, reduced seam stress, increased maneuverability and improved repairability, they move better in and out of the water, carry gear more efficiently and keep tools handy. They’re made from recycled materials without intentionally added PFAS—toxic “forever chemicals.

- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check out our YouTube Page
- View the official Yellow Dog website

...

Since 2004, South Africans Rob Scott and Keith Clover have been pioneering some of the most exciting fishing opportunities in Africa, opening and establishing fisheries in Tanzania, Cameroon, Gabon, Lesotho, Sudan and of course South Africa. As the founders of “Tourette Fishing” (recently re-named and rebranded as “African Waters”), they have done more to promote adventure fishing opportunities throughout Africa than anyone. Over the years they’ve built a dedicated team of professional guides and opened numerous locations focused on sound fishery management protocols, community projects, and stringent conservation practices. Rob and Keith sat down with Jim to talk tigerfishing, the history of their operations, and why Africa is the “next frontier” for adventure angling and travel.

- View all podcast episodes by going to the WAYPOINTS podcast page
- Discover your next fly fishing adventure by going to the Yellow Dog website

Waypoints is brought to you by Patagonia
To bring their gear to life, Patagonia is motivated by relentless curiosity and a passion for the wild. They evaluate hundreds of materials, build dozens of prototypes and spend seasons punishing them in the world’s most extreme conditions. The work is the guide, and Patagonia never tires of exploring, learning and improving.

Built with innovative materials, intuitive features and a refined fit, their Swiftcurrent® Waders are a better wader experience. Repatterned for bulk reduction, reduced seam stress, increased maneuverability and improved repairability, they move better in and out of the water, carry gear more efficiently and keep tools handy. They’re made from recycled materials without intentionally added PFAS—toxic “forever chemicals.

- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check out our YouTube Page
- View the official Yellow Dog website

...

Tucker Ladd is the owner of Trouts Fly Fishing, a Denver, Colorado-based fly shop and outfitting service. Tucker has spent his entire professional career in the fly fishing industry, where he has worked as a fishing guide, fly shop employee, and now a shop owner with two locations. In 2005, Tucker’s dream of owning a fly shop was realized when he purchased Trouts, the same fly shop where he had learned to fish as a young man. Over the past 15 years, Tucker has grown Trouts into the industry-leading fly shop that it is today. In this episode, Tucker and Jim discuss key pieces of gear for traveling the world, packing and purchasing tips and techniques, flies, pre-trip preparation, the best travel luggage, common gear and packing mistakes to avoid, and more.

- View all podcast episodes by going to the WAYPOINTS podcast page
- Discover your next fly fishing adventure by going to the Yellow Dog website

Waypoints is brought to you by Patagonia
To bring their gear to life, Patagonia is motivated by relentless curiosity and a passion for the wild. They evaluate hundreds of materials, build dozens of prototypes and spend seasons punishing them in the world’s most extreme conditions. The work is the guide, and Patagonia never tires of exploring, learning and improving.

Built with innovative materials, intuitive features and a refined fit, their Swiftcurrent® Waders are a better wader experience. Repatterned for bulk reduction, reduced seam stress, increased maneuverability and improved repairability, they move better in and out of the water, carry gear more efficiently and keep tools handy. They’re made from recycled materials without intentionally added PFAS—toxic “forever chemicals.

- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check out our YouTube Page
- View the official Yellow Dog website

...