Ted Diedrich

About this episode

Ted Diedrich shares his journey of resilience and healing through fly fishing after experiencing profound loss.

In this episode, Dana sits down with Ted — a 74-year-old fly fisherman whose life has been shaped by grit, devotion, loss, and the quiet restoration found in wild places. Raised in Trail, BC and later building a life in Vancouver as a doorman and arborist, Ted found the love of his life in his late 30s and dove headfirst into bird hunting and dog training. His days were full — trailing dogs, chasing roosters, and eventually spending countless hours fly fishing the lakes around Kamloops. One of the best pieces of advice he ever received? “If you can’t cast further, move your boat.” A lesson that would prove bigger than fishing. After retiring, Ted and his wife moved to Alberta to be closer to their daughter. Shortly after the move, his wife was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. For four years, life narrowed to hospital rooms, chemo drives, and caregiving. The river disappeared. The seasons blurred. After her passing, Ted faced the silence many men don’t talk about. But through community and the steady pull of the Bow River, he found his way back. Back to current. Back to rhythm. Back to life. This conversation starts with bird dogs and trout, but it becomes something…

People in this episode

Host: Dana Lattery

Guest: Ted Diedrich

Topics covered

• resilience
• grief
• fly fishing
• community
• loss
• personal growth

Keywords

• fly fishing
• resilience
• grief
• bird hunting
• community
• personal growth
• Bow River

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Trail, BC, Vancouver, Alberta, Kamloops