Into the Backing

A listener named Ben recently sent in a great question about one of the most debated topics in fly fishing: line weights. He shared his own experience of buying a high-end 5-weight rod, only to find out a year later that it performed best with a heavier line—essentially making it a 6-weight setup. His frustration? The industry’s blurred definitions and the confusion it causes for anglers trying to match rods and lines correctly. To dig into this topic, I invited three experts who know rods and lines better than just about anyone—Tim Rajeff, Jeff Wagner, and Simon Gawesworth. In this episode, we break down the line weight system and discuss why manufacturers push the boundaries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Into the Backing, we tackle a complex and polarizing issue: native fish vs. introduced fish. That phrase has always sounded odd to me, so I figured there must be more to the controversy. As it turns out, much of the online debate stems from miscommunication and assumptions about region-specific fisheries that are close to our hearts. Sometimes, though, it’s a clash of science, philosophy, and policy. I sit down with Bob Mallard from the Native Fish Coalition, writer Kirk Deeter, fluvial geomorphologist Dr. Doug Thompson, and journalist Tom Bie to explore why this divide exists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It can be a tricky task trying to balance fly fishing and ethical marketing. And while it’s nothing new, the conversation has never been quite as polarising as it is when it involves influencers. Right, wrong, or otherwise, there’s a stigma around this new-age marketing tactic that pops up in comment sections and tackle shops around the world. In this episode of Into the Backing, I sit down with Kirk Deeter, Tom Larimer and Bridget Fabel to weigh out why there’s so much contention around the topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s hard to ignore the contention that follows any conversation about fishing on redds. In this episode of Into the Backing, I sit down with Dr. Andy Danylchuk, photographer Adam Barker, and Howard Horton from Colorado Parks and Wildlife to see if we could get to the bottom of why it’s frowned upon. We discuss the science behind fishing on redds, why it isn’t illegal in many parts of North America, and why the topic is such a hot one for the fly fishing community. Be sure to listen until the end and let us know your thoughts on the Anchored Outdoors Facebook and Instagram pages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month’s episode has been brewing since the conception of the Anchored podcast in 2014. Over the last six years, we’ve discussed various concerns about the impact of hatchery fish in wild systems. Every time such an episode airs, it stimulates debate between "pro-hatchery" and "anti-hatchery" anglers. So, for years I've been asking hatchery advocates to give me the name of someone they wanted to hear from. The name they gave me was biologist Ian Courter. I'd arranged to meet with Ian, as well as the Wild Fish Conservancy’s Dr. Nick Gayeski and past Anchored guest and biologist John McMillan earlier this year. Flights were booked and conference rooms scheduled before Covid inevitably pushed this episode back. While we couldn’t get Nick on the call, John and Ian agreed to sit down for the first time to publicly share their viewpoints. Outline of this Episode [2:55] What is a hatchery fish? [7:11] Why do people take such an extreme stance on this issue? [26:44] What would Nick Gayeski say about the issue? [28:49] How much money do hatchery fish cost? [33:23] Scientists have done a poor job of studying the different ways that hatcheries are managed [38:44] Lack of differing life histories affects the hatchery fish population [52:03] What about the Montana example? [1:03:02] We need big experiments to collect data [1:10:43] When hatcheries are used for a few years they can jumpstart a fishery [1:22:28] What can be done to solve these problems? If you haven’t already, check out my new website www.anchoredoutdoors.com There you’ll find all of your favourite Anchored guests and free exclusive content that you won’t find anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today our round table guests include Master caster Peter Morse, professional photographer and avid angler David Anderson, and guide and entrepreneur Josh Hutchins. On this episode, we explore whether there is such a thing as too easy when it comes to fishing. We also consider the definition of fly fishing and discuss our opinions on whether fishing is a sport. Join us for this stimulating conversation between friends and fishing experts. If you haven’t already, check out our new website www.anchoredoutdoors.com There you’ll find all of your favourite Anchored guests and free exclusive content that you won’t find anywhere else. Outline of This Episode [1:15] Is there such a thing as too easy in fishing? [9:15] It all comes down to individual preference [13:55] Are you fishing to eat or fishing for sport [19:48] Nowadays there is a faster progression [26:06] Why is there a controversy? [34:02] Is fly fishing a sport? [43:22] We all like easy [45:55] Does easy equal boring? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices