Trout Wrangler Podcast Season 2 Ep.78: Watauga River/ Boone Recap and Listener Q/A
Release Date: 02/25/2026
Trout Wrangler Podcast
Get a FREE month of TroutRoutes Pro Get FREE shipping with Cordina Eyewear Use code: RYS_FLIESCLT In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I sit down with Sage from The Lady Fly Club to talk about building community and creating space for women in fly fishing. Sage shares how The Lady Fly Club got started, the inspiration behind creating a space specifically for women in the sport, and the people and experiences that helped shape the vision early on. We dive into the core mission of the organization and how it continues to grow both locally and nationally. We talk about the...
info_outlineTrout Wrangler Podcast
In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I sit down with Lowcountry D — better known to many as the “old dude on Instagram” — to talk about the story behind the personality and a lifetime spent around fly fishing. We dive into his background in the sport, including his time living and working at a campground in Alaska, where he spent his summers fishing as much as possible under long days of nearly endless daylight. He shares what that lifestyle looked like, the realities of being up there, and how those experiences shaped him as an angler. We also get into life after Alaska —...
info_outlineTrout Wrangler Podcast
In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I sit down with fly angler and content creator Pete Kaple, the voice behind Skiff Wanderer, to talk about storytelling, travel, and life built around chasing fish. Pete shares how he first got into fly fishing and the moments and fisheries that truly hooked him on the sport. We dive into his approach to creating content, what makes a fishing story resonate beyond just catching fish, and how he’s built a unique voice in the fly-fishing space. We also talk about the places that have stood out most throughout his travels, bucket-list destinations...
info_outlineTrout Wrangler Podcast
In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I sit down with Chase from Xcalak on the Fly to talk about one of the most unique and remote saltwater fly-fishing destinations in the world — Xcalak. We dive into how Xcalak on the Fly came to life and the inspiration behind building a lodge focused on giving anglers a true, unplugged experience in a world-class fishery. Chase also shares the story behind Casa Paraiso and how it became the heart of the entire operation. We break down what a typical all-inclusive fishing day looks like, from early mornings on the water to evenings back at the...
info_outlineTrout Wrangler Podcast
In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I sit down with Evan from SweetWater Brewing Company to talk about the intersection of craft beer, outdoor culture, and conservation. Evan gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how SweetWater got started and how the brand built such a strong connection to the outdoors — especially within the fishing and fly-fishing communities. We dive into how water, conservation, and time outside became core pillars of the company’s identity. We also get into the story behind SweetWater 420 Fest, including how the idea originally came about, what makes it...
info_outlineTrout Wrangler Podcast
In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I sit down with Heather Harkavy to talk about using fly fishing as a tool for education, conservation, and meaningful impact. Heather shares how she first got into fly fishing and the journey that led her to building a career centered around the sport, youth education, and conservation work. We dive into the origin story of Fish for Change, and the inspiration behind creating a program that goes far beyond just catching fish. We talk about the core philosophy behind Fish for Change, what a typical trip looks like for students, and how cultural...
info_outlineTrout Wrangler Podcast
In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I sit down with photographer and fly angler Mac Elliot to talk about building a career at the intersection of fly fishing and visual storytelling. Mac shares how growing up on the Texas coast helped shape his connection to the outdoors and ultimately influenced both his fishing and photography. We dive into how photography evolved from a hobby into a full-time pursuit, along with the early inspirations that helped guide his creative direction. We also get into the technical side of things — how different environments impact the way he shoots,...
info_outlineTrout Wrangler Podcast
In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I sit down with Neil from Biscayne Boat Works to talk all things technical skiffs, boat design, and building high-performance flats boats. Neil shares the story behind how Biscayne Boat Works got started and what inspired him to begin building skiffs specifically designed for serious anglers chasing fish in shallow water. We dive into early influences on hull design, what goes into creating a skiff that performs at a high level, and how they balance shallow-water capability, ride quality, and fishability. We also get into the full design process...
info_outlineTrout Wrangler Podcast
In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I sit down with Julia Parrish to talk about one of the most exciting events growing in the saltwater fly fishing world — the MW Lady Red Tournament. Julia shares how she first got started in fishing and the journey that eventually led her to creating a tournament specifically designed to bring more women into the competitive side of the sport. We dive into the inspiration behind launching the MW Lady Red Tournament, the original mission behind the event, and how that vision has grown as more anglers and supporters have joined the community....
info_outlineTrout Wrangler Podcast
In this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, I sit down with fly angler and outdoor photographer Erick Dent to talk about the intersection of fly fishing, photography, and storytelling. Erick shares how growing up on the Gulf Coast of Florida shaped him as an angler and how those early experiences on the water eventually turned into a deeper passion for both fishing and creative work. We talk about the moment when fishing became more than just a hobby and how his journey led him toward documenting the sport through photography. We also dive into the growing fly-fishing scene in Charleston,...
info_outline