Tired of overcrowded water? In love with catching wild fish in wild places? Addicted to exploration? Awed by the rugged beauty of nature? Then this is the podcast for you. We aim to build a library that covers everything related to fly fishing in the backcountry--tactics, flies, gear, survival skills, hiking, weather, outdoor hazards, navigation, camping, ecology, and much more. Whether you're a hardcore backcountry fly fisher or a newbie interested in getting out there, we've got something for you. Come join us in the pursuit of trout and solitude.
Season 6 Finale: More Than Fly Fishing As Season 6 comes to a close, Ross reflects on the incredible growth of the Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast and the community that has formed around it. From hopper fishing and backpacking to wilderness philosophy and personal growth, this season has been about far more than simply catching trout. The episode looks back at the lessons, stories, and listener experiences that defined the season—including first alpine lake trips, first solo camps, and first steps into the backcountry. More than anything, it's a reminder that backcountry fly fishing isn't just about becoming a better angler. It's about becoming a more resilient, self-reliant, and confident person. Ross also shares what's next for the podcast, including upcoming adventures, Season 7, and the possibility of carefully chosen partnerships with companies that genuinely support the values of the show. Through it all, one thing remains unchanged: the commitment to authenticity, stewardship, and helping people build meaningful relationships with wild places. Thank you for another incredible season. We'll see you back on the trail—and back here soon for Season 7. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Finding New Water: A Conversation with TroutRoutes
Finding fishable water has never been the hard part. Finding the right water—and knowing how to access it—is where things get complicated. In this episode, Ross sits down with Erik Johnsen of TroutRoutes to talk about the evolution of digital mapping for fly anglers, the challenges of building a trout-specific navigation tool, and how better information can open the door to more exploration and more confidence on the water. The conversation covers everything from the unique trout culture of Wisconsin’s Driftless region to the broader challenge of helping anglers understand public access, stream classifications, species data, river miles, and backcountry navigation. Ross and Erik also dive into one of fly fishing’s most divisive topics: spot burning, gatekeeping, and the balance between protecting special places and helping anglers discover the incredible public water available across the country. This is a conversation about maps—but it’s really about opportunity, access, and the work it still takes to earn fish, even when the information is right in front of you. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Built for the Backcountry - A Conversation with Eric Bender of Kifaru
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, this is a deep dive into the intersection of design, function, and wilderness use. Eric shares the story behind Kifaru, how his own life in the outdoors shaped his approach to product design, and why truly good gear should disappear into the background and simply do its job when things get hard. The conversation also explores the growing overlap between hunting, backpacking, and backcountry fly fishing and why more companies are beginning to recognize that serious anglers need equipment built for more than just standing next to the road. If you’ve ever cursed a zipper, broken a pack, or wondered why outdoor gear so often feels like it was designed by people who don’t actually use it, this one’s for you. Because in the backcountry, gear isn’t just gear. It’s part of whether the whole thing works. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Field Notes - Building Relationships with Wild Places
Recorded from a tent somewhere in the Colorado backcountry, this first installment of Field Notes is an experiment in bringing the podcast out of the studio and into the places that inspire it. After a day spent exploring a rugged mountain creek full of small brook trout, deadfall, steep canyon walls, and hard-earned water, Ross reflects on why we return to wild places in the first place. This episode explores the idea that backcountry fly fishing is about more than checking boxes, collecting destinations, or adding new waters to a list. Instead, it's about building relationships with landscapes—learning their character, understanding their challenges, and allowing them to become part of our personal stories. From memory and meaning to connection and place, this is a quieter, more reflective conversation about why some streams stay with us long after we've left them behind. Because we're not just collecting places. We're building relationships with them. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
What I Carry: Backpacking Essentials for Backcountry Fly Fishing
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 still remaining comfortable, prepared, and safe in remote environments. The conversation also explores why backpacking is about more than simply reaching remote water. Whether you're accessing places that can't be reached in a day or choosing to spend the night for the deeper connection that comes with living in a landscape rather than merely visiting it, backpacking changes the way you experience wild places. This episode isn't about ultralight gear lists or shaving ounces. It's about building a system that works, understanding the tradeoffs between weight and preparedness, and carrying what you need to move confidently through the backcountry. Because when you're miles from the trailhead, everything you need is on your back—and that's part of what makes it meaningful. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Complaint Corner - Big Fish Bros
This season’s installment of Complaint Corner takes aim at one of the most persistent—and annoying—mentalities in fly fishing: the obsession with big fish at the expense of everything else. Ross dives into the culture of the “Big Fish Bro,” the angler who treats fly fishing as a scoreboard, measures success exclusively in inches, and seems more interested in trophies, comparisons, and social media validation than the places, fish, and experiences that make the sport meaningful in the first place. The conversation explores the difference between wild fish and managed fisheries, the role of artificiality in modern trout fishing, and why some of the most rewarding experiences in fly fishing have absolutely nothing to do with the size of the fish at the end of your line. Fair warning: this one is spicy. If you think the point of fly fishing is simply catching the biggest trout possible, you may not enjoy this episode. If you think the point is something deeper, pull up a chair. Because sometimes an eight-inch trout in a wild place is worth more than a twenty-inch trout anywhere else. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Beauty, Confrontation, and Judgment: The Honesty of Consequence in the Backcountry
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 human comfort, this is a deeper conversation about what the backcountry gives us that modern life often cannot. This isn’t an episode about catching fish. It’s about confrontation, judgment, growth, and the search for something real in a world increasingly designed to soften every edge. Because sometimes the wilderness isn’t asking whether you can catch trout. It’s asking who you are when nothing else is there to protect you from consequence. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
When Does a Trip Become an Overnighter?
At some point, every serious backcountry angler runs into the same question: when does a fishing trip stop being a day trip and become an overnighter? In this episode, Ross breaks down the thought process behind deciding when it’s time to camp, backpack, or prepare to spend the night outside. From mileage, elevation gain, and fishing time to weather, navigation problems, physical limits, and unforeseen emergencies, this is a practical look at the factors that can turn a simple outing into something much bigger. This episode is also about more than logistics. It’s about what happens when you fully immerse yourself in wild places instead of just visiting them for a few hours. Camping and backpacking force a different kind of self-reliance, awareness, and connection to the outdoors—and in many cases, they’re the gateway to truly remote water and experiences that can’t be reached any other way. Ross also discusses preparedness, risk management, and why every backcountry angler should carry at least basic overnight gear, even on a “simple” day trip. Because the outdoors doesn’t care what your plans were. Sometimes the best trips become overnights by choice. Sometimes they become overnights because nature made the decision for you. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Get to the Hoppa - The Art of Fishing Terrestrials
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-calorie “steak dinners,” why the strikes are so violent, and why some of the biggest fish in the river will move for a hopper when they won’t move for anything else. The episode also covers presentation, storytelling, and the importance of putting these flies where they naturally make sense—because trout may not be rocket scientists, but they know when something feels right. Whether you tie your own foam bugs or just want an excuse to throw giant dry flies all summer, this one’s all about one of the most fun and effective ways to fish. Tie on a hopper. Things are about to get violent. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
I Hate Waders (and So Should You) - Wet Wading the Backcountry
What if the most “normal” way of fishing isn’t actually the best way? In this episode, Ross makes the case for ditching waders and embracing wet wading as the default approach for backcountry fly fishing. From the simple definition—getting in the water without a barrier between you and it—to the deeper philosophy behind it, this is a full breakdown of why wet wading changes the way you move, fish, and experience the outdoors. Waders are hot, restrictive, heavy, and clunky—especially when you’re hiking miles into the backcountry. But more than that, they create distance between you and the environment. Wet wading strips that away. It’s lighter, simpler, and far more connected. Ross walks through when it makes sense to wet wade (and when it doesn’t), how to do it safely, and the full system that makes it work—from pants and socks to boots, pack setup, and how to transition in and out of the water without turning your day into a mess. Because getting wet is the point, but staying comfortable and efficient still matters. This isn’t about being hardcore. It’s about being practical. And in the backcountry, simplicity almost always wins. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Systems and Efficiencies - The Power of Routine
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 systems. This episode is a practical look at how to streamline your approach, reduce decision fatigue, and maximize the time that actually matters: your time on the water. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s consistency—and the kind of preparation that lets you fish with confidence when it counts. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Frontier Water: The Wild Still Close to Home
Season 6 of the BCFF Podcast begins with a reminder: you don’t have to go far to find something wild. In this episode, Ross explores the idea of frontier water —those overlooked stretches of river and hidden pockets of backcountry that exist just beyond the edges of well-known fisheries, and sometimes even just outside of town. These are places that don’t give themselves up easily. They require effort, curiosity, and a willingness to step off the path—but for those who do, the reward is solitude, beauty, and fish that feel earned. This episode also reflects on what makes The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast different. It’s not just about tactics or numbers. It’s about connection to nature. About real experiences in real places. About the kind of time outside that strips things down and gives something back. Frontier water isn’t a location. It’s a mindset. And it’s closer than you think. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Season 5 Finale: Looking Back, Looking Ahead
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 season structure, the addition of video content, and how the show can continue to evolve without losing what makes it grounded and authentic. Looking forward, Ross lays out a roadmap for the future: a deeper focus on outdoor skills beyond fishing—like backpacking, camping, and time spent living well in wild places—along with the possibility of ethical, transparent partnerships with gear brands he personally uses and trusts. There’s also a discussion of potential hosted trips and other ways to bring the community together off the screen and out into the field. Season 5 may be ending, but this is very much a beginning. We’ll be back in early April with Season 6. Thank you for listening—and for being part of what this has become. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Rebuilding After the Storm: A Conversation with The Beacon Network in North Carolina
When disaster hits, the damage doesn’t stop at roads and homes—it tears through rivers, streams, and the communities that depend on them. In this episode, Ross sits down with Jared Dubin and Miguel Huerta of The Beacon Network , a small, community-based nonprofit doing critical recovery work along the South Toe River in North Carolina following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. The conversation explores what recovery actually looks like on the ground—navigating a complicated political environment, coordinating volunteers and resources, and staying focused on long-term watershed health rather than quick fixes. Jared and Miguel share why restoring damaged streams matters, not just for fish and ecosystems, but for the people who live alongside them. This episode is also a call to service. It’s about how anglers and outdoor communities can show up when the waters they love are damaged—and why stewardship doesn’t end when the storm passes. If you care about rivers, resilience, and being useful when it matters most, this is an episode worth listening to. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
At the Edge of the Steppe: A Conversation with Peter Fong at Mongolia River Outfitters
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) places on the planet, this was a trip that reshaped how Ross thinks about wilderness, risk, and what it means to truly earn an experience. Peter shares what it takes to guide in this incredible place, the history and spirituality of Mongolia's ancient taimen rivers, and the importance of protecting places like these for coming generations. The conversation explores humility, preparation, cultural respect, and the responsibility that comes with bringing anglers into landscapes that are still largely untouched. This episode isn’t just about fishing—it’s about transformation, perspective, and the rare privilege of stepping into places that still play by their own rules. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Protecting the West's Last Best Rivers with Western Rivers Conservancy
In this episode, Ross sits down with Allen Law of Western Rivers Conservancy to talk about one of the most effective—and often overlooked—approaches to protecting wild rivers in the American West. Western Rivers Conservancy works to permanently protect rivers by acquiring them and then handing them back to the public in various ways. Allen explains how this model works, why it’s so powerful, and how it differs from traditional conservation strategies that rely solely on regulation or advocacy. The conversation dives into what it really takes to keep rivers wild in the face of development pressure, fragmentation, and changing land use. From success stories to ongoing challenges, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at conservation that produces real, lasting results. If you care about wild water, public access, and the future of fly fishing in the West, this is an episode worth your time. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
Complaint Corner - Guide, Not God
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 stewardship, and when wild places are reduced to content, numbers, and tips. It’s a frank conversation about responsibility, competence, and respect—both for the sport and for the landscapes that make it possible. Fair warning: this one’s spicy. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
It's Knot that Complicated: The Only Knots You Need
Fly fishing doesn’t need a dozen different knots to be effective. In fact, most anglers can do everything they need on the water with just a small handful—if they actually know how and when to use them. In this episode, Ross breaks down the core knots every fly angler should have dialed, why these knots work, and where they fit into real-world backcountry fishing scenarios. This isn’t about memorizing an encyclopedia of knots—it’s about simplicity, confidence, and efficiency when it matters most. Whether you’re new to fly fishing or just tired of overthinking your rig, this episode strips things back to the essentials and helps you spend less time fumbling with line and more time fishing. Because on the river, it’s really not that complicated. Links to Knot Tutorials: Davy Knot: https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/davy-knot Uni Knot: https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/uni-knot Perfection Loop:https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/perfection-loop Jam Knot (Reynolds): See Mastering Pike on the Fly, by Barry Reynolds ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
The Tough Days: Understanding and Salvaging Hard Days on the Water
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 shifting your expectations, using the time to sharpen other skills, or simply learning to appreciate the day for what it is, this episode is about finding gratitude and purpose when the fishing tests you most. Because in the backcountry, not every day is lights-out—and that’s exactly what makes the good ones matter. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
The Psychology of the Cold
The cold isn’t just a condition—it’s a mindset. When the temps drop and the rivers turn steel-gray, most anglers call it quits. But if you know how to prepare yourself mentally, winter becomes one of the most rewarding seasons of the year. This episode dives into the mental game behind fishing through the harshest months—how to stay focused, stay sharp, and stay out there when everyone else goes home. Available now on all major podcast platforms. ----- If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform. Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/
