The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast

What makes outdoor gear actually good? And what happens when the people designing it are the same people out there beating it up in wild places? In this episode, Ross sits down with Eric Bender, lead equipment designer at Kifaru International, to talk about what goes into building gear for serious backcountry use and why so much of the fly fishing world still misses the mark. From packs, shelters, and load systems to chest rigs, sidearm carry, and the importance of durability over gimmicks, t...

Backpacking opens the door to some of the most rewarding experiences in fly fishing, but it also requires a different level of preparation, self-reliance, and planning than a simple day trip. In this episode, Ross breaks down the backpacking system he uses for overnight and multi-day backcountry fly fishing trips. From shelters, sleep systems, food, water, and camp gear to safety equipment, fishing tackle, and wildlife considerations, this is a practical look at how to pack efficiently while ...

After a close encounter with a rattlesnake in a remote canyon, Ross reflects on something bigger than fishing: why we’re really drawn to wild places in the first place. This episode explores the difference between beauty and consequence—between simply enjoying nature and willingly stepping into environments that demand competence, awareness, preparation, and respect. From wilderness, risk, and mortality to self-reliance, personal growth, and the honesty that exists in places indifferent to hu...

Summer means one thing: it’s time to throw big bugs. In this episode, Ross dives deep into the world of terrestrial fly fishing—grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and the explosive eats that make them one of the most addictive ways to catch trout. From favorite patterns and simple fly design to rigging hopper-droppers and understanding where these insects actually fit into the ecosystem, this is a full breakdown of how and why terrestrials work. Ross explains why trout treat these bugs like high-ca...

The best days on the water don’t start at the river—they start at home. In this episode, Ross breaks down the power of building systems and routines that make your fishing simpler, more efficient, and far less prone to failure. From preseason prep to dialing in your gear, pack, and process, this is about removing friction before it ever has a chance to show up on the water. Because missed opportunities, wasted time, and avoidable mistakes usually aren’t bad luck—they’re the result of weak sys...

Season 5 of The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast comes to a close with a look at how far the show has come—and where it’s headed next. In this final episode of the season, Ross reflects on the growth of the podcast, the wide range of topics covered throughout Season 5, and the community that’s formed around thoughtful conversations about fly fishing, wilderness, stewardship, and outdoor life. It’s also a candid discussion about what’s changing behind the scenes, including potential shifts in s...

Some places change you—not because they’re comfortable or accessible, but because they demand something from you. Deep in Mongolia’s backcountry, far from roads, towns, and certainty, those places still exist. In this episode, Ross sits down with Peter Fong, head guide with Mongolia River Outfitters, the team that made Ross's life-altering expedition into one of the wildest landscapes on Earth possible. Driving deep into the steppe and living on the land in one of the most remote (and cold) p...

Not every guide deserves the title. In this season’s installment of Complaint Corner, Ross takes aim at a growing problem in fly fishing: guides who don’t really know the craft, don’t respect the resource, and treat the river like an amusement park ride instead of a living place that deserves care and humility. This episode isn’t about ego or gatekeeping—it’s about standards. About the difference between guiding and simply putting people on fish. About what happens when profit comes before st...

Every angler knows the feeling—those days when the river goes quiet, the fish disappear, and nothing you do seems to change it. Slow days on the water can mess with your head if you let them, but they don’t have to break you. In this episode, Ross dives into the art of getting through the tough days: how to interpret what the river is telling you, how to manage the mental side of a slow bite, and how to stay productive even when the fishing isn’t. From reading conditions with clarity to shift...

Fly fishing gives us more than fish. It gives us quiet. It gives us space. It gives us a way to breathe in a world that never stops moving. And in this Thanksgiving episode, Ross reflects on the gratitude we owe to the waters that keep us steady, the wild places that make us feel alive, and the moments of peace that only a river can provide. This isn’t a gear episode or a tactics breakdown. It’s a meditation on what this sport means. Ross also explores the responsibility that comes with grati...

It might not be glamorous, but it sure as hell catches fish. In this episode, Ross takes a deep dive into indicator nymphing—the most misunderstood, underrated, and effective technique in all of fly fishing. From foam to yarn to Air Locks and beyond, he breaks down the pros and cons of different indicator types, how to rig them, and when (and when not) to use them. This episode is packed with practical insights to make you more effective on the water—and maybe help you see “bobber fishing” in...

Season 4 of The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast comes to a close, but the conversation doesn’t stop here. In this final episode, Ross reflects on the BCFF Podcast journey so far—and turns to one of the most important conservation issues facing our public lands today: the proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule. The Roadless Rule protects more than 58 million acres of America’s wildest country, safeguarding fish habitat, clean water, and the kind of backcountry that makes this podcast possible. I...

Some places are so wild and remote they feel almost untouched. In northern British Columbia, just outside the vast Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, that kind of wilderness still exists. And it’s here that Urs and Daniel Schildnecht built Northern Rockies Adventures—a lodge and outfitting business that brings anglers and adventurers into some of the most rugged and spectacular country on the continent. In this episode, Ross sits down with Urs and Daniel after spending days flying by float plane...