Episode 85 Featuring Jeff Hickman---Steelhead flies, Breaking Down The Essentials

Pursuing tarpon with a fly rod presents an opportunity for the angler to test the limits of their gear and mental capacity.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler I chat with Andy Mill and discuss the psychological requirements of steelhead and tarpon fishing while unlocking differences in the respective technical approaches. 

Preparing for wilderness conditions as a chef presents challenges compounded by three things: the number of days in the wild, and the number of people you're cooking for and the weather.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Colby and I break down the processes of planning for adversity.  If you cook outdoors on extended trips, this conversation is relevant.

Spencer Beebe is the world renowned founder of Eco Trust, an organization that combines conservation with culture and resource utilization as the driving engine for his work. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, I sit with Spencer in his Portland home and listen to stories of a life well lived during his efforts to save the last great places. Spencer is the man responsible for initiating the protection of the lower Sandy River in Oregon, Silver Creek in Idaho and the Kitlope River ecosystem in Canada, among MANY others. 

Each winter Fin and Fire host a fly tying challenge at the shop in Redmond, Oregon. This episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler features short interviews with a few participants, past winners, the event organizer and this year's winner.  It's day of community and culture focused on the creative act of putting feathers and thread on a hook.

What makes one steelhead fly more effective that the other? Does size and color matter?  Is there a silver bullet yet to be discovered? In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Jeff Hickman and I pick apart the steelheader's main concern: Should I change my fly? 

Some of us tie our flies, others buy them.  Either way, you need a fly at the end of the line. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Patrick Kilby of Rio Flies and I discuss tying, designing and fishing various patterns throughout our angling experiences and the industry of fly sales. We also share experiences in our quest to improve the quality of our offerings.  

The 2025-2026 Upland season is winding down. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, I revisit my favorite clips from past episodes focused on the processes of hunting upland birds: gun dog training, the gear we use, and the ethics inherent in our hunting experience. If you love hunting upland birds or are curious about the processes, sit back and enjoy. 

Chris O'Donnell is a well versed man.  As a fly shop owner, fishing guide, outfitter and family man, he is committed to his clients and his business. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Chris and I about talk winter and summer steelhead---  lines, flies, rods, seasons, jet boats and whether a popper is a skater, or a skater is a waker...Yup, we dork out a bit. This is a great primer for your upcoming winter steelhead trip.

If you love duck hunting, particularly hunting mallards over decoys, this episode is for you. In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, Mike Callian and I discuss duck blind construction, the new DSD line of mallard decoys, and how to effectively deploy them for maximum success.  

Tom Larimer has dedicated his career to fly fishing.  In his new role as North American Sales Director for Farbank, he has access to some of the best products in the industry.  In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Tom and I discuss his new position and go deep into winter trout techniques utilizing all of the tools in his chest.