Fin & Fire with Jeff Mishler

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.  

Heather Hodson is on a mission to change society's assumptions and stereotypes about fishing by inviting everyone into the fold. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Heather and I discuss her angling past and efforts to change the world, one angler at a time.

A knife in your pocket is a personal thing.  It's a tool.  It's your persona. If it's a Benchmade knife it's also your legacy; it's going to be around a lot longer than you will be.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler I sit with John O'Connor, head of sales at Benchmade Knife Company and we discuss the brand, the market and how these quality knives remain in high demand. 

Dave Dozer and Olivia Elia share a workspace, ideas and their passion for cane, but the finished products possess their respective fingerprints. Distinction in this timeless trade comes naturally when you are passionate about the craft and embrace the fact that each rod requires about 100 hours of work. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler Dave and Olivia share their stories and offer insight into the Bamboo Rod making process.  

Madi loves to hunt.  Rifle, Bow, doesn't matter. What does matter to her is that the hunter practices often and understands the limitations of equipment and skills. She has many trophy experiences, but prefers to  procure protein for her family and friends over chasing horns. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Madi and I share hunting stories and discuss rifle shooting techniques. Then the podcast takes a turn and we discover our mutual love of calling and hunting Bull elk during the rut, with a bow.

Kelly Warren is the Western Oregon regional Biologist for Ducks Unlimited. Kelly often works with local land owners to cooperatively design and develop thriving habitats for all wetland species. In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler we talk about the processes of teamwork required to transform acres into productive wildlife habitat.  We also share some duck hunting stories and a couple of hunting tips. 

In this rapid fire episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler I sit with participants of the annual Flash Tying Challenge, a friendly tying competition with a crazy twist. The day was filled with great conversation and creative approaches to the past time we love. 

Marena Gray is the manager of The Custom Shop at The Meating Place in Hillsboro, Oregon.  She breaks down thousands of animals each season and offers some solid advice for hunters if they want to get quality meat back from the butcher. It all starts with what you do in the field.  

Calling mallards effectively requires practice, observations skills and creativity.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Mike and I sit down at DSD headquarters and dive deep into the process of improving your duck calling.  This podcast is much more than just another "How-To" lesson.  In fact, we break some molds and myths around the entire process of talking to ducks.

Where did our Chinook Salmon go?  The disappearance of this keystone species is a pressing issue affecting cultures and economies within the entire Pacific Rim. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, I chat with Dr. Will Atlas of the Wild Salmon Center, a man with his thumb on the pulse of the issue.  Will explains our current situation with salmon populations and what needs to change for them to recover.  

Bruce Kruk is the go-to expert for Swing the Fly Magazine when it comes to Spey Casting Techniques. His local waters are perfectly set up for utilizing the long line. In the this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Bruce and I discuss the subtle differences between casting shorter Skagit style lines and more traditional Spey set ups.  As Bruce says, "long lines don't lie".

Matt Davis is following his passion.  He loves to hunt and create the best American made upland gear available today. In this episode of Fin And Fire with Jeff Mishler I discover what makes Matt tick.  Where do his ideas come from? What does a day in the life look like?  Final Rise is a quality line of products and Matt tells his story while we share a common love for chasing upland birds.

What makes one boat manufacturer stand out from the others?  Two things come to mind.  On-the-water performance and customer service. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Joe Koffler dives into the details of his family business and the commitment of offer a quality product with the option to customize the details. 

Jim Akenson spent his entire wildlife biologist career living in the Bob Marshall Wilderness studying the ecosystem and the role of predators.  He is at the epicenter of the Oregon Wolf Management Plan. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler I sit with Jim at his home in Enterprise, Oregon and dive deep into the controversy of wolves on the landscape, the role of hunters and how to sustain a culture of passionate active participants in an outdoor lifestyle.  

Once Big Horn Sheep were all but exterminated in Oregon, restoring the population was more of a challenge than anyone imagined, for a number of reasons.  In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Vic Coggins takes me through his 47 year career with the State of Oregon and the processes involved to maintain a sustainable population of this iconic Big Game animal.

For Todd Moen, a lifetime of chasing anglers around the globe with a camera on his back and a passion for editing, created a library of the best fly fishing films available.  He's committed to this lifestyle. His success is proof of his talents.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, I sit with Todd in his Oregon home and talk fly fishing, best trips, worst trips and share our thoughts on movie making techniques.  I love this podcast. 

Jon Covich has been committed to the fly fishing industry for decades. Besides representing some of the industry's top brands, Jon is a travel liaison for Fly Water Travel. Exotic destinations are his specialty.  In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, Jon and I discuss his the arc of his career and his favorite international destinations. 

Ted Fry is Raptor Archery and Raptor Archery is a reputable source for quality traditional archery gear. Ted's lifetime of outdoor experience fuels his passion to create traditional gear and teach others the joys we experience in the woods while carrying a bow. This long conversation is filled with life stories and discussions about the sport we love. It is one of my favorite podcasts.

Levi Day loves to hunt and fish.  He has shaped his life around those two activities. And after two decades of teaching, Levi took a job with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.  Levi Day is committed to bringing young professionals into a field needing fresh, qualified and committed personnel. A membership base is critical to sustain support, but so is a passionate research and management community. 

It's never too late to improve your outdoor skills and in this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, shooting instructor Eric White takes me through the process of correct gun fit, gun mount, sight picture, stance, foot placement, establishing lead and trigger pull. And in the process, I realize I have been practicing what I thought were good fundamentals, incorrectly.  And that your instinct and reflexes play an important role in shooting success.

Derek DeYoung's view of the world he paints is manifested through vibrant color pairings, accentuated features, and a viewpoint pushing the realms of a first person perspective. In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, Derek and I discuss his professional path and processes to create his highly sought, vibrant work.

If you want to be the best angler possible, you should understand fly line design. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, I sit down with Chris Walker at the Rio Products factory and go deep into the process of designing modern fly lines and broach the subject of the holy grail of all lines.  

To succeed in the industry of fly fishing, Brian believes one must be open to change when presented with options. In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, Brian and I sit down at his home in Idaho and revisit a lifetime of opportunities and experiences  that helped create his, "life well lived". 

When you pick up a Burkheimer and cast it, there's a quality that's hard to describe but otherwise known as "The Burkheimer Feel".  In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, Kerry and I sit in his rod finishing room in Washougal Washington and continue a conversation we started 20 years ago. The secrets to building a Burkheimer might surprise you. 

Tuning a compound bow is essential for ultimate accuracy. Knowing how to tune your bow can mean the difference between a successful hunt and a clean miss or lost animal.  It is our responsibility as hunters to take the variables we can control out of the equation, and it starts with a well tuned bow. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Kellen Morgan takes me through the steps of choosing the right bow and the processes he applies to make sure that in the heat of the moment, the bow in the hand of the hunter is not a variable.

George is the only hunter to kill a Mule Deer in every state they reside.  That is a testament to the man's commitment to deer hunting.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, George and I swap deer hunting stories, discuss techniques, caliber choices and surprise outcomes from a lifetime of pursuing deer. 

Fred Walasavage is committed to a lifestyle of hunting and fishing because staying connected to our hunting heritage is his purpose. I sit with Fred at his cabin in Oregon and we connect on many levels while sharing stories of a lifetime spent chasing elk and turkeys.  We talk about hunting strategies, volunteerism, and the the future of hunting in a changing cultural landscape.

Garrett Lesko ties beautiful and intricate fly patterns, but more than that, he represents a generation of passionate fly tyers using social media to stay connect to an audience while building enthusiasm with his work. I met Garrett at the 2024 Northwest Fly Tyer and Fly fishing Expo in Albany, Oregon where we go deep into his origin story and share some common ground spent around a fly tying vice.

Modern Spey Line design can be attributed to a few open minded thinkers and Al Buhr is one of them.  His approach to describing the mechanics of the fly cast is rooted in the messages from his mentors.  Jim Green and Joan Wulff play a huge role in the ethos of Al Buhr.  And as he says in the Podcast, "I'm happy that I get to talk about my heroes."

Scott O'Donnell is an industry name. His decades of experience guiding clients for trout and steelhead bring perspective to a career of commitment and sacrifice. It's hard work to create opportunities for clients on a daily basis. But the lifestyle has its rewards. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, I sit with Scott at my place on the Oregon Coast and we drink some whisky while sharing perspectives of how it use to be, and how it is today.  Get ready for a conversation that goes long into the night.

Jason Koertge might be the most honest voice in the world of outdoor advertising.  If you hunt and fish and buy outdoor products, you know Jason's work.  His thumb print can be found on brands throughout the world we know. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Jason and I share some stories but go deep into the reality of creating authentic content in a world of quick hit messaging and less than real ideas.

There are many aspects to choosing, training and working a bird hunting dog.  It all begins and ends with the dog.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler I sit with Tim Curry, a dog trainer with 20 years of bird dog training experience and we dive into the often debated techniques a trainer and owner should implement in the process of creating a well-rounded and competent hunting companion.

Tim Rawlins is the content creator for the YouTube Channel, The Line Speed Jedi.  He has produced over 500 videos featuring spey casting in its many forms.  Not one to take himself too seriously, his light hearted, self deprecating humor creates content that is fun to watch and very educational. You see him make mistakes and work towards the solutions. That is something we can all relate to. He is passionate about learning, and it is contagious.

Steve Rajeff has won more all-around fly casting tournaments than anyone in the history of the game.  He has been called the best amateur athlete of all time. His dedication to a life of fly fishing has produced immeasurable contributions to the culture we love. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, I sit with Steve in his home in SW Washington and dig into the past of the man who showed the world what was possible with a fly rod.

If you fly fish for steelhead you probably know of John Shewey's work and contribution to the culture.  Not only is he a great storyteller and communicator, but his passion for the outdoors is apparent in the tales he shares about decades of pursuit. We lived parallel lives in different parts of the state as we perfected our craft. This podcast represents a full circle connection that is long overdue.  

Shared passions can produce great outcomes.  In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler I sit with Kate and Justin Crump in their lodge on the Oregon Coast and dive into their story.  I discover what makes their recipe a success and what the future holds for The Lodge at 58 North and their Oregon programs. 

Sage Fly Rods are known as a high design, high line speed, high technology product. In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler I sit with Peter Knox, an engineer and fly rod designer for Sage and dive into the essence of a fly rod.  We also visit his journey to this point in life and learn that a local kid with a passion can realize his dream.  

For the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, protecting everything related to healthy elk populations involves so much more than focusing on just the regal bull elk. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, I chat with Mark Holyoak, Communication Director for the RMEF at their headquarters in Missoula, Montana about the successes of the organization and why it is so effective at maintaining a huge membership.  I also ask questions related to a previous podcast with ODFW about controlled hunts and where the RMEF finds common ground with government agencies. 

Launching a top-of-the-line fly fishing apparel brand into a market known for quality products is the kind of challenge Kevin Sloan has faced for decades. As a founder of the brands Sitka and MeatEater, Kevin has unique insights and experiences from his successful past and presents a vision for his new venture, Skwala Fishing. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler I sit with Kevin in Bozeman Montana and go deep into the design and branding of a quality product.

In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler I dive into the challenges of water management in the State of Oregon and discover that it boils down to the relationships between the landowners and the state agencies. In Oregon, Spencer works at the epicenter of these relationships.  He's also a prolific hunter/angler and we trade stories about our pursuits of the elusive Blacktail bucks of western Oregon. 

A solid work ethic produces results.  Jeff Hickman is an example of this.  From humble beginnings to his role today as a father, husband, lodge owner, outfitter, property owner and conservationist, Jeff's story is an inspiration for anyone considering a life or career immersed in the world of fly fishing. 

Big Game hunting seasons often change but when they go from an over the counter tag to a controlled hunt, the hunting public is often left with many questions. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler I sit down with Justin Dion from ODFW, Game Department and ask some tough questions about why my favorite units to hunt elk have moved to a controlled hunt and whether or not those management changes make a difference. In the process, I learn that if I took more advantage of the application process, my overall hunting experience would most likely improve. 

After 30 years of sharing rivers and life experiences, Guido and I sit down for a deeper discussion focused on his evolution as an angler and the commitment he made to saving wild salmon and steelhead.  In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler I ask Guido tough questions about the future of conservation and how the Wild Salmon Center is preparing for it.

For 25 years The Drake Magazine has created a voice for the everyday fly angler. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Tom tells the story of how The Drake evolved, his personal journey to this moment, and how young writers can create works destined for publication.  Along the way, we also discover that we in fact went to the same junior high in a small Oregon town many years ago.  

If you chase steelhead with a two handed rod you should know who Rich Zellman is.  His Keep It Simple mantra makes him more effective at finding and catching steelhead on a river often called the most difficult river in the world to find success.  I sit down with Rich near his favorite waters and dig deep into the man and his passion to help you catch the steelhead of your lifetime. 

Simon Gawesworth is known as one of the nicest people in the world of outdoor recreation, and one of the best instructors.  A lifetime of teaching people how to flycast has created a perspective and humility we could all learn from.  If you need to improve your skills, an hour with Simon might be the best money spent.  This episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler digs into the spirit of the man and his commitment to our sport.

What does it take for a product to go from idea to something real that you use in your daily life? In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, Nick and I discuss the product development process.  His direct experience with the largest brands has produced a rare level of experience and insight and hopefully a road map for anyone considering a change in careers or pursuing one in the outdoor products industry. Along the way, we find that our lives are again, parallel in many ways. 

As an outfitter, how do you know that the guide you are hiring is competent. As a guide, how can you know that the outfitter who wants to hire you  operates a reputable business? In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, I sit with Austin Bridges of Guidesourceoutdoors.com and we discuss their business plan to ensure that Guides, Outfitters and the public hiring their services have the best experience possible.  Think Indeed for the outdoor industry. Along the way, we tell some pretty funny hunting stories as well. 

Picking a trout rod is a very personal experience and no two anglers experience a particular fly rod the same way. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Adam and I go deep into trout rods, trout fishing, lines, flies....we nerd out a bit on trout fishing and share our experiences with the R.L. Winston Rod Company.  Winston fly rods have a "feel", and the Winston Feel drives this conversation. 

Zack Williams takes time from his busy schedule to sit with me at the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Rendezvous in Missoula and tell me his story:  A kid obsessed with fishing, inspired by mentors, finds his place in the world of like minded anglers and innovators using two handed rods to pursue steelhead.  But Zack excels and becomes one of the best casters of our time.