Ep 156: Hunting Muskies and Swinging for Steelhead, with Rick Kustich

Ashley Peters is an angler, conservation communicator, and board member for the Outdoor Writers Association of America. In this episode, we discuss her work on a trail crew in Alaska, how to communicate the importance of conservation effectively, how to avoid the doom and gloom often associated with conservation work, how she has had to adapt her outdoor pursuits in light of a chronic illness diagnosis, and her upcoming trip to the Boundary Waters. OWAA Instagram: @owaa_official OWAA Facebook: /OWAAonline/ OWAA Website: OWAA.org  Substack: link Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rick Kustich is the Great Lakes Editor for Swing the Fly and an avid angler of both steelhead and muskies. In this episode, we talk about fishing for both species in New York, including how steelhead in New York compare to the other Great Lakes tributaries, what to do when the muskies aren’t biting, how Rick uses an overhand cast with a two-handed rod, and much more. Swing the Fly: link Instagram: @rickkustich Website: rickkustich.com Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn has been a guest on the show many times. Last time he was on, we joked about doing an episode about aging as a backpacker. He’s back today to do just that. There is relatively little fishing talk in this episode, since most of the hardship of getting old relates to getting to the fishing spot, not the fishing itself. We discuss changes he’s noticed as he has gotten older, gear considerations, injuries, recovery, preparation for the season, and much more. Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danny Frank is the owner of Colorado Trout Hunters and guides in and around the Front Range of Colorado. In this episode, we talk about the specifics of fishing spring runoff, including timing of the runoff, daily fluctuations, freestones vs. tailwaters, reading water, fly selection, presentation, and much more. Personal Instagram: @deltatroutforce  Business Instagram: @coloradotrouthunters Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Veals did something very few anglers have likely ever done: he fished every day for 365 days straight. In this episode, Steve tells me about how the idea came to be, what his stipulations were, the challenges and surprises he encountered along the way, and what his life has been like since finishing the challenge. Website: www.stephenveals.com Instagram: @steve_the_cholo Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Janet George is a retired CPW wildlife biologist and now on the board of the CO Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. In the past few years, Janet has been fishing her way through much of northern CO. In addition to several other personal “projects,” Janet has fished every lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. In this episode, we talk about how she came to start these goals, what she experienced along the way, and what’s next for her. Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mia Sheppard is an angler, hunter, and snowboarder. She is owner/guide at Little Creek Outfitters and Juniper River Adventures on the Deschutes River. In this episode, we talk about fishing the Deschutes, avoiding burnout in guiding and fishing, starting a new program in Alaska, getting into hunting, and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Little Creek Outfitters site: link Mia’s Instagram: @miasriverkitchen Little Creek Outfitters Instagram: @littlecreekoutfitters Facebook: /mialittlecreekoutfitters/ Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kurt Finlayson is a former member of Fly Fishing Team USA and avid angler. These days, he mostly focuses on his own personal fishing projects, in which he sets goals for catching different sets of species. In this episode, we talk about how he got started in competition fishing, transitioning out of that professional role, and the fish projects he makes for himself, including his desert project, Colorado cutthroat project, and much more. Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jen Ripple first joined me on the show way back in episode 19. I was thrilled to have her back on to catch up on what she has been up to. In this episode, we talk about her transition from DUN Magazine to DUN Outdoors, a more comprehensive women’s outdoor media space, as well as her new role working with Hardy and Greys and what it’s been like getting acquainted with more traditional and historied fly fishing equipment. We also talk about a few trips she has coming up for Guadalupe bass and trout in New Zealand. Website: link Instagram: @Jen_ripple Instagram: @DUNMagazine Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Howard Croston is a full-time fly rod designer for the world-famous brands, Hardy and Greys and also the England World Team Captain. In this episode, we talk about competition fly fishing, what he does day-to-day as a rod designer, how high-end rods and reels differ from low-end rods and reels, how different rods require different designs, and some considerations for material, length, and action when buying a new fly rod. Instagram: @howard_croston_fly_fisher_ Facebook: /Howard Croston Fly Fishing  Hardy: link Greys: link Waypoint TV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices