#70 A Week in Bristol Bay, Part 1

For those of you who subscribe to the Drake Magazine, you'll notice it's been a while since we've heard anything about Clyde, the magazine's 1974 Mercury Marquis that travels the country. This car invites mishaps, cops, and adoration from anyone who sees him. But where has he been, and what's he been up to? Today on the podcast, we speak with writer John Agricola to check in on Clyde and hear about his latest adventures.

In this episode of The DrakeCast we head to the backwaters of the Mississippi River to attempt a northwoods cast and blast, chasing a dinner of pike and squirrel from my newly refinished Gheenoe. As a committed catch and release angler, this was a new and somewhat uncomfortable experience for me. Later on, we're joined by outdoors writer Patrick Durkin to contextualize our mission and talk about the fluctuations in hunting and angling participation over the years.

In this episode of The DrakeCast, we sit down with Drake Magazine founder and editor, Tom Bie, to talk through the Fall 2025 issue of the magazine. We'll provide some background information on the stories we ran, why we ran them, and hear contributor Mike Fitzgerald read his essay that we both thought was fantastic. The Fall 25 Issue should be on fly shop and newsstand shelves across the country. If you’re a subscriber, feel free to follow along with the print issue. If you’re not yet a subscriber, you can sign up online at Drakemag.com. Its $38 for the year.

In this episode we hear author and Alaskan flyfishing guide George Rogers read his story "The Pink Ranchers" and learn about the hidden threats that Alaskan hatcheries pose to our country's last great wild fishery.

In this episode of The DrakeCast we return to The Lodge at 58* North for the second half of a week of fishing Alaska’s Bristol Bay. In between fishing for pike, rainbows, and king salmon, we'll hear about the troubles facing the region's fisheries.

In this episode of The DrakeCast we head to The Lodge at 58* North for a week of fishing Alaska’s Bristol Bay. In between chasing trout, char, grayling and salmon, we chat with the people who add to this already remarkable place.

In this episode, we'll spend a day on the water with my friend Israel as he searches for his first musky. Along the way, we will chat with a journalist about the early years of fishing in Wisconsin's Northwoods and take a field trip to learn about the role trains played in the Badger State's fishing history.

In 2021, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources completed the removal of a derelict dam from The Dowagiac River, reconnecting the waterway for the first time in over 120 years. What happens when the status quo is thrown out the window and we're forced to confront change? This episode is about how the people, the water way, and the fish have adapted. Make sure to visit our website, drakemag.com to subscribe to the magazine as well as to see images of the dam removal process. Many thanks to this week's sponsors, Windstar Enterprises (windstarsolutions.com) and The Lodge at 58* North (thelodgeat58north.com).

In May of 2025 I found myself in a boat with a trout guy in search of warmwater fish. In this episode of The DrakeCast we throw poppers with Erik Johnsen, the community marketing manager at TroutRoutes, and discuss whether or not he is ruining flyfishing. Many thanks to Patagonia and their improved Swiftcurrent waders for helping make this possible. We'll be back in two weeks with another episode.

Across the country in late June and early July, mulberry trees fruit, producing tasty berries enjoyed by humans, birds, and squirrels alike. You’ll often see evidence of this on sidewalks in suburban neighborhoods stained purple by the fallen berries. But if these mulberry trees are hanging over water, fish are able to enjoy the fruits of their bounty as well. On today's episode we join guide Luke Annear of Freshwater Flats on an unnamed river in Southern Wisconsin in the search of carp and catfish. If you've ever wanted to catch a carp on the fly, and particularly on a mulberry fly, you can find Luke Annear on Instagram @freshwaterflats or on his website www.freshwaterflats.com. Many thanks to Patagonia and their improved Swiftcurrent waders for helping make this possible. We'll be back in two weeks with another episode.