The Feather Mechanic Fly Fishing

In this episode we chat to Texan-based fly angler and author Robert McConnell. Robert spends a lot of his time fly fishing in and around the Houston metropolitan area. Fly fishing has become a diverse sport with the list of species taken on by fly around the world, growing daily. Robert talks to us about his fly fishing journey, and exploring the urban fishing found right under his nose.

In this podcast we chat to Steve Cooper, the owner of UK based "Cockshill Flytying". Originally a science teacher, Steve is a greta example of what happens when you allow your feather fetish to go rogue on you. He is the only man I know who can skin an English partridge in 72 seconds...

Tom Sutcliffe is a gentle giant in the South African flyfishing landscape. Few local flyfishermen have had the impact on the sport that Tom has. In many ways Tom has been a mentor to me. His greatest legacy I believe is the people he has helped. He is kind, humble and witty as hell. In the episode we talk to him about his journey in flyfishing, his love of art, and his way with a pen.

In this podcast we chat to Gerhard Potgieter about this father, the late great "Sage" Potgieter. Oom Sage as he was fondly known, was in all likelihood, South Africa's very first bamboo rod builder. We chat to Gerhard about his father's approach to rod building and celebrate the life and times of this local fly-fishing legend.  Language note - Afrikaans

In this episode we chat to Trevor Sithole about how he grew up in rural KwaZulu Natal, but has now become a jet-setting fishing guide. This is his remarkable story...

Platon Trakoshis has been intrigued with catching Berg River Carp ever since his wife lured him to the beautiful hamlet of Paarl. Berg River Carp are no pushovers and require skill. We chat to Platon about his love affair with these fish, growing up in Zimbabwe, and his passion for fishing for fringe species.

Jimmy Eagleton has never been conventional. The first day he looked into the eyes of a sand shark, it had him at “hello”. Since then he has perfected the art of hooking sand sharks (guitar fish) solidly in the mouth. Not bothered by boundaries, Jimmy takes us on a journey, explaining how he figures fish out...  

Wayne Luallen is a dynamic and insightful fly tyer, who is haunted by detail. There are few fly tyers alive who have thought longer, harder and more intensely about tying than Wayne has. In this episode we take a trip through Wayne's mind. We talk to him about his journey as a fly tyer, and discuss the benefits of being driven by the detail. 

Tudor Caradoc-Davies is editor of The Mission fly fishing magazine, a publication dedicated to the art, culture and spiritual awareness that fly fishing brings. He talks to us about how " The Mission" was born, how fly fishing cultivates environmental awareness and how ignorance can at times be bliss. https://themissionflymag.com

Ed Truter is the David Livingstone of fly fishing. He is haunted by wild places that house even wilder fish. In this episode, Ed talks to us about the Nile perch of West Africa, the role we can play in saving the planet, and why he feels so many fishermen are blind.  Insta: edwardtruter

Evan D Brant from Pennsylvania, is part of a long line of  hackle breeders who grow old school Catskill style hackle. In this episode Evan teaches us how to tackle hackle. We find out about Evan inheriting Charlie Collins' bloodlines and learn more about what goes into breeding the perfect hackle. Insta: sidelinghillhackle

LeRoy Botha is a certified Grunter addict, musician, artist and feather magician. He is charismatic, creative and isn't afraid of working outside the proverbial box. In this episode, he talks to us about hunting the grunt, the Instagram obsession with pretty flies that fish hate and tying the perfect deer hair fly.  Instagram: leroy_botha

Tim Rolston is South Africa's pre-eminent small stream fly fishing guide, an author, FFI master casting instructor, and the brain behind “the Fishing Gene”, a blog dedicated to the art, culture and science of fly fishing. In this episode Tim talks to us about the importance of having an inquiring mind, why it's always about presentation and why his flybox looks like crap. https://paracaddis.wordpress.com