The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast

Not every backcountry fishing adventure starts with a pair of hiking boots. Sometimes, the best way to reach remote water is to hop in a boat and float your way into places that would be difficult, or downright impossible, to access on foot.

This week on the Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast, Ross sits down with Rich Batcheller, founder of Abstract Watercraft, to explore a side of backcountry fly fishing that doesn't get nearly as much attention on the show: fishing from boats.

Rich has spent decades fishing the rivers of the Pacific Northwest, from chasing...

Fall fly fishing is a different animal. The days are shorter, the water is colder, the fish are less predictable, and the techniques that worked beautifully a few weeks ago might suddenly stop producing. And when you've hiked several miles into a remote canyon, discovering that you brought the wrong equipment can make for a pretty frustrating day.

In this episode of the Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast, Ross takes a deep dive into one of the most important and frequently overlooked aspects of shoulder-season fishing: choosing the right fly rods.

We'll talk about why Ross...

Spend enough time fly fishing, and you're bound to encounter some interesting characters. Some are friendly, some are helpful, some are completely clueless, and some make you wonder how they've managed to survive this long without somebody throwing them into the river.

In this episode of the Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast, Ross breaks down five familiar types of anglers you're likely to encounter on the water: the Noob, the Pro, Frustrated Freddy, the Asshole, and the Old-Timer. From beginners desperately searching for a little guidance to self-proclaimed experts who know everything about fishing except how to catch...

Some people just shouldn't be allowed outside without adult supervision.

It's time for another installment of Complaint Corner on the Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast, and this time, Ross is taking aim at a particularly irritating species: the outdoor ding-dong. You know the type. The people who somehow manage to make the outdoors a little less enjoyable for everyone else, usually through some combination of laziness, obliviousness, and a complete disregard for basic etiquette.

From littering on mountain trails to wandering through strangers' campsites, blasting music in the wilderness, refusing to yield to uphill hikers, and...

There's a difference between visiting a wild place and actually knowing it.

In this episode, Ross explores one of his favorite approaches to backcountry fly fishing: incremental exploration. Rather than constantly chasing new destinations, incremental exploration is about returning to the same rivers, canyons, and wilderness areas over months or even years, gradually pushing farther, discovering new water, and developing a deeper understanding of the places we love.

Drawing on nearly a decade spent exploring one remote Colorado canyon, Ross discusses how individual trips build on one another, how familiarity opens the door to new...

Fly fishing has a nymphing problem.

In this episode, Ross takes on one of the most persistent pieces of conventional wisdom in fly fishing: because trout eat most of their food underwater, anglers should spend most of their time nymphing. It sounds logical. It also misses a much bigger part of how trout actually behave—and can keep anglers locked into one style of fishing when plenty of other options are available. 

From water temperature and insect activity to dry-dropper rigs and the different parts of the water column trout are paying attention to, this epi...

Eventually, there are no more summers.

In this episode, Ross reflects on impermanence, mortality, and the uncomfortable reality that none of us knows how many seasons we have left to fish, explore, hike mountains, or spend time in the wild places we love. After losing much of this summer to the demands of life, he began thinking about something even harder: you don't get that time back, and eventually, every one of us will catch our last fish, explore our last blue line, and experience our last season. 

But this isn't an episode about being a...

The high alpine season is short. And sometimes we're just not ready for it to end.

In this episode, Ross breaks down the unique challenges of chasing trout above treeline as summer gives way to fall. From rapidly changing weather and the possibility of early snow to shorter days, colder nights, and increasingly narrow margins for error, late-season alpine trips require a different level of planning, preparation, and judgment than the same trip might demand only a few weeks earlier. 

But the changing season affects more than the hike. Ross also digs into how falling t...

You can carry all the right gear and still make a catastrophically bad decision.

In this episode, Ross tells the story of encountering a father and his two adult sons lost deep in a Colorado wilderness area, miles from where they thought they were, without navigation, adequate water, filters, or much of anything else they would need if something went wrong. It raises a bigger question: what does it actually mean to be prepared for the backcountry?  

The answer isn't just gear or technical skill. It's judgment. It's understanding your abilities, knowing the environment you're e...

Sometimes life just decides you don't get to go fishing.

Season 7 begins with a conversation about what happens when work, family, moving, injuries, emergencies, and everything else life throws at us keep us away from the places we need most. After spending nearly six weeks off the water, Ross reflects on what it feels like to become disconnected from something that isn't merely recreation, but an important source of peace, perspective, and connection with ourselves.

This episode explores why time outside matters, why we have to be relentlessly intentional about protecting it, and how to...

Season 6 Finale: More Than Fly Fishing

As Season 6 comes to a close, Ross reflects on the incredible growth of the Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast and the community that has formed around it. From hopper fishing and backpacking to wilderness philosophy and personal growth, this season has been about far more than simply catching trout. 

The episode looks back at the lessons, stories, and listener experiences that defined the season—including first alpine lake trips, first solo camps, and first steps into the backcountry. More than anything, it's a reminder that backcountry fly fishing isn't just abo...

Finding fishable water has never been the hard part. Finding the right water—and knowing how to access it—is where things get complicated.

In this episode, Ross sits down with Erik Johnsen of TroutRoutes to talk about the evolution of digital mapping for fly anglers, the challenges of building a trout-specific navigation tool, and how better information can open the door to more exploration and more confidence on the water. 

The conversation covers everything from the unique trout culture of Wisconsin’s Driftless region to the broader challenge of helping anglers...

What makes outdoor gear actually good? And what happens when the people designing it are the same people out there beating it up in wild places?

In this episode, Ross sits down with Eric Bender, lead equipment designer at Kifaru International, to talk about what goes into building gear for serious backcountry use and why so much of the fly fishing world still misses the mark. From packs, shelters, and load systems to chest rigs, sidearm carry, and the importance of durability over gimmicks, this is a deep dive into the intersection of...

Recorded from a tent somewhere in the Colorado backcountry, this first installment of Field Notes is an experiment in bringing the podcast out of the studio and into the places that inspire it. After a day spent exploring a rugged mountain creek full of small brook trout, deadfall, steep canyon walls, and hard-earned water, Ross reflects on why we return to wild places in the first place. 

This episode explores the idea that backcountry fly fishing is about more than checking boxes, collecting destinations, or adding new waters to a list. Instead, it's about building relationships with l...

Backpacking opens the door to some of the most rewarding experiences in fly fishing, but it also requires a different level of preparation, self-reliance, and planning than a simple day trip.

In this episode, Ross breaks down the backpacking system he uses for overnight and multi-day backcountry fly fishing trips. From shelters, sleep systems, food, water, and camp gear to safety equipment, fishing tackle, and wildlife considerations, this is a practical look at how to pack efficiently while still remaining comfortable, prepared, and safe in remote environments. 

The conversation also explores why backpacking is about m...

This season’s installment of Complaint Corner takes aim at one of the most persistent—and annoying—mentalities in fly fishing: the obsession with big fish at the expense of everything else.

Ross dives into the culture of the “Big Fish Bro,” the angler who treats fly fishing as a scoreboard, measures success exclusively in inches, and seems more interested in trophies, comparisons, and social media validation than the places, fish, and experiences that make the sport meaningful in the first place.

The conversation explores the difference between wild fish and managed fisheries, the role of artifici...

After a close encounter with a rattlesnake in a remote canyon, Ross reflects on something bigger than fishing: why we’re really drawn to wild places in the first place.

This episode explores the difference between beauty and consequence—between simply enjoying nature and willingly stepping into environments that demand competence, awareness, preparation, and respect. From wilderness, risk, and mortality to self-reliance, personal growth, and the honesty that exists in places indifferent to human comfort, this is a deeper conversation about what the backcountry gives us that modern life often cannot.

This isn’t an episod...

At some point, every serious backcountry angler runs into the same question: when does a fishing trip stop being a day trip and become an overnighter?

In this episode, Ross breaks down the thought process behind deciding when it’s time to camp, backpack, or prepare to spend the night outside. From mileage, elevation gain, and fishing time to weather, navigation problems, physical limits, and unforeseen emergencies, this is a practical look at the factors that can turn a simple outing into something much bigger.

This episode is also about more than logistics. It’s abou...

Summer means one thing: it’s time to throw big bugs.

In this episode, Ross dives deep into the world of terrestrial fly fishing—grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and the explosive eats that make them one of the most addictive ways to catch trout. From favorite patterns and simple fly design to rigging hopper-droppers and understanding where these insects actually fit into the ecosystem, this is a full breakdown of how and why terrestrials work.

Ross explains why trout treat these bugs like high-calorie “steak dinners,” why the strikes are so violent, and why some of the bigg...

What if the most “normal” way of fishing isn’t actually the best way?

In this episode, Ross makes the case for ditching waders and embracing wet wading as the default approach for backcountry fly fishing. From the simple definition—getting in the water without a barrier between you and it—to the deeper philosophy behind it, this is a full breakdown of why wet wading changes the way you move, fish, and experience the outdoors.

Waders are hot, restrictive, heavy, and clunky—especially when you’re hiking miles into the backcountry. But more than that, they cre...

The best days on the water don’t start at the river—they start at home.

In this episode, Ross breaks down the power of building systems and routines that make your fishing simpler, more efficient, and far less prone to failure. From preseason prep to dialing in your gear, pack, and process, this is about removing friction before it ever has a chance to show up on the water.

Because missed opportunities, wasted time, and avoidable mistakes usually aren’t bad luck—they’re the result of weak systems.

This episode is a practica...

Season 6 of the BCFF Podcast begins with a reminder: you don’t have to go far to find something wild.

In this episode, Ross explores the idea of frontier water—those overlooked stretches of river and hidden pockets of backcountry that exist just beyond the edges of well-known fisheries, and sometimes even just outside of town. These are places that don’t give themselves up easily. They require effort, curiosity, and a willingness to step off the path—but for those who do, the reward is solitude, beauty, and fish that feel earned.

This epi...

Season 5 of The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast comes to a close with a look at how far the show has come—and where it’s headed next.

In this final episode of the season, Ross reflects on the growth of the podcast, the wide range of topics covered throughout Season 5, and the community that’s formed around thoughtful conversations about fly fishing, wilderness, stewardship, and outdoor life. It’s also a candid discussion about what’s changing behind the scenes, including potential shifts in season structure, the addition of video content, and how the show can contin...

When disaster hits, the damage doesn’t stop at roads and homes—it tears through rivers, streams, and the communities that depend on them.

In this episode, Ross sits down with Jared Dubin and Miguel Huerta of The Beacon Network, a small, community-based nonprofit doing critical recovery work along the South Toe River in North Carolina following the devastation of Hurricane Helene.

The conversation explores what recovery actually looks like on the ground—navigating a complicated political environment, coordinating volunteers and resources, and staying focused on long-term watershed health rather than quick fixes. Jared and Miguel...

Some places change you—not because they’re comfortable or accessible, but because they demand something from you. Deep in Mongolia’s backcountry, far from roads, towns, and certainty, those places still exist.

In this episode, Ross sits down with Peter Fong, head guide with Mongolia River Outfitters, the team that made Ross's life-altering expedition into one of the wildest landscapes on Earth possible. Driving deep into the steppe and living on the land in one of the most remote (and cold) places on the planet, this was a trip that reshaped how Ross t...

In this episode, Ross sits down with Allen Law of Western Rivers Conservancy to talk about one of the most effective—and often overlooked—approaches to protecting wild rivers in the American West.

Western Rivers Conservancy works to permanently protect rivers by acquiring them and then handing them back to the public in various ways. Allen explains how this model works, why it’s so powerful, and how it differs from traditional conservation strategies that rely solely on regulation or advocacy.

The conversation dives into what it really takes to keep rivers wild in the face o...

Not every guide deserves the title.

In this season’s installment of Complaint Corner, Ross takes aim at a growing problem in fly fishing: guides who don’t really know the craft, don’t respect the resource, and treat the river like an amusement park ride instead of a living place that deserves care and humility.

This episode isn’t about ego or gatekeeping—it’s about standards. About the difference between guiding and simply putting people on fish. About what happens when profit comes before stewardship, and when wild places are reduced to content, numbers, and...

Fly fishing doesn’t need a dozen different knots to be effective. In fact, most anglers can do everything they need on the water with just a small handful—if they actually know how and when to use them.

In this episode, Ross breaks down the core knots every fly angler should have dialed, why these knots work, and where they fit into real-world backcountry fishing scenarios. This isn’t about memorizing an encyclopedia of knots—it’s about simplicity, confidence, and efficiency when it matters most.

Whether you’re new to fly fishing or just tired o...

Every angler knows the feeling—those days when the river goes quiet, the fish disappear, and nothing you do seems to change it. Slow days on the water can mess with your head if you let them, but they don’t have to break you.

In this episode, Ross dives into the art of getting through the tough days: how to interpret what the river is telling you, how to manage the mental side of a slow bite, and how to stay productive even when the fishing isn’t. From reading conditions with clarity to shifting your expect...

The cold isn’t just a condition—it’s a mindset.

When the temps drop and the rivers turn steel-gray, most anglers call it quits. But if you know how to prepare yourself mentally, winter becomes one of the most rewarding seasons of the year.

This episode dives into the mental game behind fishing through the harshest months—how to stay focused, stay sharp, and stay out there when everyone else goes home.

Available now on all major podcast platforms.

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