Captains Collective Fishing Podcast

In part two of the Back to School mini-series, I sit down with Austin Orr of Elevate Fly Casting to talk about casting as a real craft, not just something you “figure out” by spending time on the water. Austin is a full-time casting instructor and certified instructor through Fly Fishers International. We get into what beginners need to feel first, why most casters try too hard, how instruction should be built one piece at a time, and what it takes to prepare for real fishing situations where the shot matters. This conversation covers casting triage, loop control, double hauling, fishing under pressure, saltwater sight-casting, how often to practice, what to do if you cannot afford instruction, and why the work should happen before you step onto the bow with a guide calling out fish. Learn more about becoming Fit for Pursuit, and take the Hone Health Quiz HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first episode of our Back to School series, Hunter sits down with Chase Hancock to talk about Fit for Pursuit: what it means to stay healthy, capable, and ready for the life you actually want to live. They cover Chase’s Ironman, Hunter’s own health momentum shift, why outdoor travel can be more physically demanding than people realize, what anglers should focus on first, and how tools like biomarker testing, training, recovery, and better habits can help you keep showing up on the water and at home. Take the Hone Health Test Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this short episode, Hunter shares a special hosted trip opportunity with Josh Schwartz of Travel Creel in Maine, August 24-29. The trip is built around chasing striped bass along the Maine coast, but the full experience is the point: good water, good meals, a strong crew, and a few days spent enjoying one of the best places in the country to travel and fish. To learn more, view the trip brochure here:⁠https://www.travelcreel.com/2026-maine-brochure⁠ To ask questions or save your spot, contact Josh at [email protected] or call/text (707) 299-8047. Learn more about hosted travel with Captains Collective and the Drifter Fish Club:⁠ www.drifterfishclub.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded during a Drifter Trip to Los Locos, this episode features a late-night conversation with legendary guide Arno Matthee. We talk about milkfish, giant trevally, pirate encounters, mothership expeditions, and the lessons learned from exploring fisheries with no roadmap. It’s a conversation about curiosity, patience, and why a successful day on the water isn’t about numbers—but about the feeling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, we decided to do things a little differently. Instead of scrolling through another massive online retailer, we teamed up with our friends at Strike Zone Fishing in Jacksonville, Florida — one of the best local tackle shops in the South — to put together a holiday guide built around real-life use, local connection, and good gear that lasts. In this podcast, Chase Hancock and Hunter Leavine break down some of our favorite products of the year — everything from stocking stuffers and fly kits to gear we’ve tested on Drifter trips across the world. We’ve spent a lot of time in the field (and on the water) putting this stuff through the wringer, and these are the things that actually made the cut. Watch the full video, check out our full product list at captains collective.com, and remember: the best gifts can’t be wrapped — they’re the memories you make with the people you love on the water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Hunter sits down with Louisiana guide Ty Hibbs to talk about life in the marsh — raising kids in Cajun country, fighting for local fisheries, and what it means to stay rooted in the place you love. From shrimp boils and haunted car washes to the Jack Project and the next generation of conservation, Ty shares his heart for family, community, and the Louisiana coast. This conversation is full of humor, honesty, and perspective — a reminder that sometimes the best measure of success isn’t the size of the fish, but the legacy you leave behind. Brought to you by Skinny Water Culture, YETI, Turtlebox Audio, Purpose Built Optics, My Captain, and The Drifter Fish Club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices