Episode 71 Featuring Dax Messett--NAM Rods, Head of USA Sales and Development

In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler I meet up with Dave Pinczkowski on the banks of the Deschutes River during his once in a lifetime, month-long, west coast steelhead adventure. After a few days of fishing together we share some stories and in the process I learn how to fish for sturgeon and catfish with a swinging fly. 

In this episode of Fin And Fire with Jeff Mishler, I share stories with Ken Morrish, a life long angler, fly designer, destination travel professional and international angler seeking the next great adventure. Ken Morrish of Fly Water Travel lays bare the ideas behind his fly designs and motivation to connect you with your next great adventure.

Amy Eichner is a category manager for Benchmade Knives.  In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler we discuss the inspiration and motivation to create this new line of knives. The Water line meets the needs of those seeking a quality knife for a lifestyle spent on the water.

Besides creating some of the most beautiful and effective steelhead flies, Charles St. Pierre seeks the culture of angling for one reason...the people.  In this episode of Fin And Fire with Jeff Mishler, Charles and I talk about flies, presentation, and our gear, but by the end of our conversation it's clear that Charles is in it for the Vibe.

Introducing a new clothing brand into a crowded fishing market takes courage.  But it also requires a quality product filling a specific need. Poncho Outdoors has provided an answer to the question: Why do fishing shirts have to fit like a garbage bag? In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Dexter Levandoski presents Poncho and the answer to that question. They don't.

Our access to public lands remains in the crosshairs of new policy proposals in Washington DC.  These lands are our lands. They make the USA unique. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Steve Kandell and Corey Fisher from Trout Unlimited explain the most recent challenges we face and how to work on the ground to guarantee perpetual access for all. 

Introducing a new line of fly rods into a crowded, competitive market is a bold move.  NAM Rods are a recent addition.  In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Dax Messett, head of USA Sales and Development, discusses the array of models offered, the motivation behind the brand, and the qualities of each model in the lineup. NAM rods, available and finandfire.com, present something for everyone. 

Jon Hazlett was a curious young man during the early days of the Sandy River Spey Clave.  Now, he's a featured instructor.  His journey to this point makes for a great conversation. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Jon and I take a break from the clave activities and share stories to discover common ground. 

Dec Hogan was part of a triad which influenced and defined steelhead fishing with a two handed rod as we know it today. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Dec and I sit down for a chat during the 2025 Sandy River Spey and take a long "trip down memory lane" as Dec says, and rekindle a friendship 25 years in the making. 

Mia and Marty Sheppard are outfitters in Oregon and run a number of permits on various rivers. This allows them to diversify their programs and take advantage of prime time so their clients get the best possible experience.  In this episode of Fin And Fire with Jeff Mishler, Marty and I talk about his life path, the challenges of running the business, reconnecting with the spey community at the spey clave and the story behind his first bighorn sheep hunt.