Emerging

Brian O'Keefe recounts his five-decade journey as a fly fisherman, photographer, and writer — from early film cameras to modern iPhone photography, and from local rivers to remote saltwater destinations.

The episode mixes some of Brians best stories, from guiding Ted Williams in Alaska, to exploring deep in the jungle looking for bass, we go over it all!

Thomas is a good friend of Emerging and the OT manager of the infamous St. Peter’s Fly Shop in Fort Collins, Colorado. In this episode, we talk about shop life and what it’s like being part of a fly shop that plays a major role in its local fishing community. We dig into the day to day rhythm of working in a shop, connecting with anglers of all experience levels, and how a shop becomes more than just a place to buy gear.

We also cover Thomas’s 5 Rivers journey and his involvement with the CSU Fl...

Hunter Levine is the host of the highly respected Captains Collective podcast, where he’s spent years sharing stories, lessons, and wisdom from captains and outdoorsmen across the country. Known for his thoughtful interview style and time spent on the road chasing conversations, Hunter has built a show that goes far beyond fishing, focusing on craftsmanship, curiosity, and the people behind the passions.

In this episode, we hop on the mics together to talk about our podcasting experiences, swap stories from the road, and highlight some of Hunter’s favorite past guests. If you enjoy behind-the-scenes podcast talk...

The Braker Bros are favorite filmmakers in the fly fishing world. Based out of Fort Collins, Colorado, brothers Andrew and Eric Braker have taken the initiative to create films that conserve. Their motto says it all: “Using outdoor storytelling to spark sustainable change.”

Every Braker Bros film centers around a compelling story, and many of those stories support causes far bigger than the screen. From AI-powered trout identification to mountain lion conservation, these guys are always pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas.

Tune in to hear about their film projects, fishing adventures, film tour experiences, why...

Heather grew up in South Florida fly fishing with her Dad from a very young age. She always knew she wanted to follow a career bringing together more young people in the sport. Throughout her time at Florida State University, Heather worked with fishing lodges and brands which really sparked a desire to find a career in fly fishing, hospitality, and youth education. She even started the 5Rivers club there! 

After college, Heather helped found an organization called Fish for Change. F4C empowers young people to become global citizens through experiential education. They host one week i...

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust's mission is to conserve bonefish, tarpon, and permit—the species, their habitats and the larger fisheries they comprise. BTT pursues this mission through science-based conservation, education, and advocacy across Florida, The Bahamas, Belize and Mexico, as well as in coastal states from Texas to Virginia. Learn more at: www.BTT.org.

Our Guest Isabel is originally from Middlebury, Vermont, Isabel grew up in a family of environmentalists and fly anglers spending summers in Twin Bridges, Montana. After graduating with a literary studies degree from the New School in New York, New York, she...

Alec Griswold is a co-owner of Soul Fly Lodge and Executive Director of Elevate Youth Boston. In this podcast Alec talks about his passion for change, and excitement when it comes to sharing what he loves most. Fishing, people, and access to the outdoors is what he strives to protect!

Captain Frank Praznik is a national treasure. We took a deep dive in to his nuanced past in the fly fishing (and beauty) industry, from founding a fly shop to ruling the hackle market for some not so fishy reasons. Now, Frank is one of Louisiana's finest redfish guides and is poling the flats every day reeling in monster reds. 

Listen in to hear all about it! 

Carter Abramson joins Emerging to talk about his path from leading the Five Rivers Club at Colorado State to working in social media and community marketing at Simms Fishing Products. We get into the chaos and charm of college fishing trips, his love for discovery and fishing, and the unexpected moments that pushed him deeper into the industry.

Carter breaks down what his job at Simms really looks like—organic marketing, events, community engagement, and the team effort behind the brand’s social presence. He also gives a behind-the-scenes look at Simms’ Grateful Dead partnership, from the San Fr...

Jon “JK” Kłaczkiewicz is the founder of Fish Camp and has over 20 years of experience in high-impact filmmaking and branded content. JK is a passionate and motivated media professional with a proven track record of leading and executing film, commercial, and marketing projects from development to distribution, while managing resources, budgets, crews, and talent.

As a director and producer, he has created dozens of films and campaigns that have won awards, reached millions of viewers, and inspired action. His credits include the critically acclaimed snowboard epic, “The Fourth Phase” for Red Bull Media House, the impact...

In this episode of Emerging, we sit down with Bennett Kittleson, a 5 Rivers student whose time with the CU Fly Fishing Club has opened the door to a role with Flylords. Bennett talks about what drew him into the industry, the excitement of capturing authentic fly-fishing moments online, and the places he hopes the sport will take him next.

His enthusiasm for community, storytelling, and chasing new water makes this a fun look at someone building a life around the outdoors.

 
• Flylords internship and social media
• CU Boulder Fly Fishing Club 
• Dry fly fish...

Craig Mathews has done it all - guide, author, conservationist, and one of the most respected names in modern fly fishing. Founder of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone and author of Pheasant Tail Simplicity: Recipes and Techniques for Successful Fly Fishing, Craig has built a life around clean waters and honest fly design. In this episode, we dive into his latest book, some of his trout fishing techniques, and many of his past story's from his journey! 

At the 2025 Western Rendezvous, we were joined by Jason Faerman and Lincoln Key from Yakoda Supply, a proud supporter of Trout Unlimited’s 5 Rivers program. Yakoda was fired up to join the podcast and share their story! From Funky P Flies to their signature purple hip packs, Yakoda continues to stand out by doing things differently.

Tune in to hear how Yakoda was born, what the name means, and how Jason and Lincoln are inspiring others to give back and keep fly fishing creative, intentional, and just a little bit funky.

Tyler is the current president of the University of Wyoming Fly Fishing Club and a lifelong lover of the great outdoors. His main passion lies in studying and protecting the lands we all cherish and recreate on. In this episode, Tyler walks us through his master’s research on biodegradable fishing products and how they fit into the fly fishing world. From durability and popularity to awareness and adoption, Tyler dove deep to explore whether and how fishing line can or should be changed for the better.

Colby Acuff is one of country music’s most inspiring new voices, breaking through with a style defined by passionate and honest songwriting. He blends his love for the outdoors with the soul of country music—whether it’s fly fishing on a quiet stream or duck hunting at sunrise, Colby’s songs create the perfect soundtrack for anyone who feels at home outside.

His latest project, the YouTube series Fin and Feather, takes that connection even further. Traveling across the country, Colby shines a light on guides and natural resources that often go overlooked, celebrating not just the...

At the 2025 western rendezvous, around 85 college students went to the Yampa river to plant trees! Listen in to learn about the event, tree planting, and some awesome conservation happening in northern Colorado!

The annual TU Costa 5 Rivers Ambassadors Summit is, simply put, the greatest event a college angler can attend. This past August, eight club leaders from across the country gathered on the Wind River Reservation to celebrate the core values of 5 Rivers: community, conservation, and fly fishing.

5 rivers coordinator, and past Emerging host, Cliff Watson joins in this episode to fill us in on all the details from the 2025 summit, and share some more exciting news for the upcoming semester including merch, rendezvouses, and fundraising opportunities! 

In this episode we sit down with Johann, executive director of the Indifly Foundation. Our conversation explores the incredible people, places, and potential impact that community-driven conservation holds for the world. While Johann’s work spans globally, we focused on the Wind River Reservation project and the TU Costa 5 Rivers Ambassadors Summit.

Please spend some time researching Indifly and consider supporting them at the links below:

Indifly  

Instagram  

More! 

Joe Gugino has been making his way in the fly fishing world for years. From serving on Trout Unlimited’s headwaters board to his time as Costa Sunglasses’ Community & Conservation partnership Manager, Joe’s passion for connection and sustainability runs deep. Now, he's onto his next big chapter with the launch of Agave Co, a mission-driven creative agency he co-founded alongside longtime collaborators Hannah Trotter and Matt Shilling. Together, this all-star team is helping brands in the fishing and outdoor industries align with values that matter—conservation, authenticity, and community.

In this episode of Emerging, Joe gives us a beh...

Cheech needs no introduction within the fly fishing community. He's a teacher, fly shop owner, personality, and great dude. We caught up at the Denver Fly Fishing Show and had a great little chat, tune it for his great fishing advise!

Kurt Upham has been mentoring host Joe Tardif for years now in all things outdoors. He's a master of ticks and mosquitos along with the dangers that come with being in the woods with them. In this episode we go over how to stay safe and knowledgeable about the dangerous critters crawling around you! In between the ticks and mosquitoes enjoy some hunting memories we've shared along the way.

From the medical industry to a fly fishing lodge, the crew at 4 Corners Lodge brings true passion to everything they do. Marvin, Arturo, and Chuck are committed to offering a unique, responsible, and stewardly experience for both their guests and the land. With offerings like tagging teams, safari-style fly fishing expeditions, and world class dining, this is more than just a lodge. It is an adventure. If you’re looking to fish Costa Rica, there is no better place to start!

Instagram: @4cornerscr

Website: https://4cornerscostarica.com/

Joshua and Samantha Schwartz have built a unique fly fishing experience that’s different from most. Using their passion and past experiences, the two have settled into this business and work every day to perfect their craft. Samantha runs the back-of-house operations, while Josh uses his kitchen and fishing to run the front and satisfy every guest that walks in the door.

Tune in to hear about the Travel Creel product, some destination fishing tips and tricks, Josh’s French Laundry secrets, and how the couple blends hospitality, adventure, and culinary skill into every trip. Plus, don’t miss...

In this short episode, we sit down with Son Tao a true master of fly tying whose intricate work and dedication have earned him a devoted following across social media. Son shares his journey from passionate hobbyist to respected leader in the fly-tying community. He also offers valuable insights on staying confident and creative as an artist, plus a few of his favorite tips and tricks to elevate your own craft.

Joe Fitzgerald is a recent 5 Rivers alum who's had a packed year post-grad, traveling across North America filming and photographing some of the best fishing the continent has to offer. Most recently, he's been on the road with the Fly Fishing Film Tour as a content creator, documenting their long haul from stop to stop.

Before that, Joe was busy working on a film called "The Kids Are Alright," which highlights the TU Costa 5 Rivers Ambassador Summit and the next generation of anglers and conservationists.

In this episode, we catch up with Joe about everything...

Made by angles, for anglers. Born in a fishing cabin in Iceland, Himbrimi Gin was first crafted to keep cold hands warm on the river. Now available in multiple countries, Himbrimi remains true to its roots donating 5% of all profits to nature conservation efforts in Iceland as "a gesture of gratitude". Once you’ve got a bottle in hand, take a look at the label decorated with trout, flies, and the iconic loon. 

Listen in to hear about the distillery process, the fly fishing connection, and more!

Find Himbrimi here  

What began as simple, raw fishing clips with “Dad” has grown into a full blown lifestyle for the Iorg family. Now traveling the country with professional filmmakers, they’re taking fly fishing to the next level- blending adventure, family, and cinematic storytelling. 

In this episode of Emerging, we sit down with Eli, Axel, and Isla to talk fly fishing, filmmaking, and what it means to live life the way it should be. This was their first podcast appearance so there was a lot to talk about. Eli shared stories of his past fishing in Alabama, Isla shared with us...

In this episode of Emerging, we sit down with Ellen Bogucki—5 Rivers Club President, former Fish for Change participant, and now intern. Ellen shares powerful stories from her time with Fish for Change, an organization dedicated to uniting youth from around the world through fly fishing, conservation, and community. From unforgettable moments on the water to the lessons learned about leadership and connection, this episode explores how one program can change lives for year and years.

Thank you to Trout Unlimited and Costa Sunglasses for making the Emerging Podcast and the TU Costa 5 Rivers program pos...

In this short episode of Emerging we check in with an old friend Parker Cahill who has recently dove into a new endeavor with trout unlimited. Parker Cahill is a true TU success story. From growing up in a local Trout Unlimited chapter to becoming a leader in the CSU 5 Rivers club, he’s now making an impact as a project manager in Steamboat Springs. In this short episode, we dive into Parker’s journey, his love for the outdoors, and how he landed his current role.

The mission of Casting for Recovery is to support women who have been affected by breast cancer. CFR hosts wellness retreats centered around fly fishing to help women connect with each other, with nature, and with themselves—through shared experiences that promote healing and recovery. For the second year in a row, TU Costa 5 Rivers has partnered with CFR to raise thousands of dollars in support of this mission. This episode explores some of those efforts and includes a personal perspective from CFR alumna Kara Armano. 

Kara Armano is a great example of what Casting for Recovery is a...

In this episode of Emerging, we take a deep dive into the outdoor apparel industry. Our guest, Joe Basta, is the co-founder of a revolutionary company based in Fort Collins, Colorado. After years of pursuing various entrepreneurial ventures, Joe and his wife, Mellisa, founded Tellus with a mission to make a meaningful impact. While many companies today pledge 1% for the planet, Tellus goes a step further—donating 100% of its profits to The Nature Conservancy, supporting the protection of land and oceans both near and far from Fort Collins. 

Thank you to Trout Unlimited and C...

Rick Takahashi is one of, if not the best fly tier in the game. Rick was “born to fish” as he says. Whether you know it or not Rick has probably influenced the life of any fly fisher. It may not be direct, but many of our favorite fly patters were either created by him or inspired by his skills. In this episode, we discussed what makes fishing and flies so interesting to Rick, and he gives us his best advice on how to become a better fly tier and angler. 

To find some of Ricks work look...

Los Locos started as a one-time trip for a couple of friends and has since grown into a worldwide operation. Acting as a catalyst for change in local communities, Los Locos provides incredible experiences, lifelong memories, and lasting impacts on everyone involved. In this short episode, we talk about why these guys do what they do, as well as a lot about Magdalena Bay, the original Los Locos operation. Mag Bay holds incredible fishing, specifically for Marlin. Los Locos marlin fishing is “the ultimate pelagic fishing program” 

To see more from Los Locos check out their Instagram @loslo...

 Joseph Berney, now with Fly Lords has a history behind the mic. As an undergrad student at UGA he had the idea to start Emerging. With Berney behind the mic he spoke with some amazing guests in the industry and provided a great first season of Emerging. Now he finds himself spending time with the team at Fly Lords. In his role with them he serves as the brand partnerships director for not just Fly Lords, but also Split Reed with Fiska Media. 

In this episode of Emerging we take a look behind the scenes of your fa...

Young anglers are essential to conservation. Trout Unlimited is the premier group that engages this "headwaters" group of anglers. In this episode, we are joined by TU staff and expedition participants to learn more about how TU Expeditions are engaging high school and college aged students in leadership, conservation, teambuilding, and fly fishing. 

To check out more information on this years upcoming expeditions head over to THIS link. Or check out @tuteens + @Tucosta5rivers instagrams!

This episode dives deep into the relentless advocacy efforts of Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited, as he works to pass the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Mines Act (Good Sam Law). With 23 years of dedication, this groundbreaking legislation is set to become a cornerstone of Trout Unlimited’s mission for the next generation. The episode explores not only the details of the Good Sam Law but also the challenges and strategies involved in lobbying for conservation in Washington, D.C. Chris shares firsthand accounts of standing on the Senate floor, navigating the impact of lawmakers on en...

Hurricane Helene struck in late September, taking an unexpected path through the southeastern US and hitting communities of western North Carolina hard. In this Emerging episode, Wylie Kendall (Lees-McRae) and Graem Hargrove (App State), presidents of their colleges’ fly fishing clubs and members of TU Costa 5 Rivers, discuss shifting from the usual fall trout fishing to organizing river cleanups with local communities to address post-hurricane destruction. Even though the storm has passed there is still a lot of work to be done to return rivers and communities back to normal. To understand a little more about what the storm lo...

Ranga Perera is a master of flavor. Whether he is on his home rivers of Montana or incredible destinations around the world, Ranga is known to be catching and cooking incredible meals riverside. Aside from carrying him around the world, His passions for cooking have given him a platform to preach his values: Community, diversity, and advocacy are what Ranga is all about.  

In this exclusive episode of the Emerging Podcast, we sit down for a 1-on-1 talk about Ranga’s emergence, his masterful Flavor on the Fly series with Flylords, and a shared passion for food and...

Karin Miller is the owner/CEO of Zen Tenkara: the only female owned rod company in the world. She is often out chasing exotic fish and pushing the boundaries of what most think is possible with a tenkara rod. In this exclusive episode of The Emerging Podcast she talks about her fishing experiences, the science behind tenkara, and about the diversity of the fly fishing community. Tenkara is just another tool to use to get involved more with fly fishing, conservation, and community. Listen in to learn more! 

Thank you to Trout Unlimited and Costa Sung...

Tune in for an introduction to the 5 Rivers team and a look at what’s on the horizon for college anglers. In this episode we sat down with Libby Glaser, Franklin Tate and Joe Gugino to discuss the history and future of the 5 Rivers program. 

If you have a question for us write us a message or send us a voice recording to 5rivers@tu.org. Follow us @tucosta5rivers on Instagram so you never miss an episode.

Fill out our Emerging Podcast Survey by May 31st 2023 to be entered to win a pair of Cos...

Joe Gugino is the Conservation & Community Partnerships Manager at Costa Sunglasses. Today he talks about what Costa is and what they represent. They have many conservation initiatives and film projects.  We talk about how Costa is partnered with the TU 5 Rivers program as well as many others. Joe also shares some stories about saltwater fly fishing and the cool species he catches. 

 As we're finishing up this season of Emerging we are asking for some feedback on our show. If you fill the survey out by May 31st you will be entered to win a pair of Costa...

This is a special episode! It features guest hosts from the UW- Stevens Point fly fishing club, Paige, Riley and Eli. We talked with multiple guests from the Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo. 5 Rivers had the opportunity to have a booth at the expo in St. Paul Minnesota this March.  We got to connect with young emerging anglers as well as people in the fly fishing industry. We talked to Gustavo Hiebaum, founder of SET fly fishing in Argentina, Jim Anderson with Project Healing Waters, artist Stanley Leonard, Monta Hayner with The Driftless Fly Fishing Co, Lance Prado owner o...

Ellen Cander is a postdoctoral associate in the Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Science department at the University of Minnesota (UMN), Twin Cities, where she completed her Ph.D. She earned her Ph.D. in Conservation Science with a focus on Wildlife Ecology and Management. She grew up in Idaho Falls, ID fishing, hiking, skiing, and hunting. She especially enjoyed fly fishing in the south fork of the Snake and the high mountain lakes. Her research focuses on understanding the scavenger species that visit hunter d gut piles around the different biomes of Minnesota. She currently lives in St. Paul...

Jake Jubach is the TU Costa 5 Rivers Community Engagement Intern. Jake recently graduated from Wilmington College in Ohio and is going to veterinary school at Mississippi State in June. He helps run the fly.fishing platform which is the main social media page for 5 Rivers clubs. He engages with clubs nationwide helping them organize events and share their stories. In this episode, we’ll hear some fun fishing and veterinary stories from Jake and what he's done with 5 Rivers. 

Keep updated with other 5 Rivers events on our Instagram @tucosta5rivers 

The Wright Brothers Theme...

Melissa Wagner is Lanesboro’s Area Fisheries Supervisor. Today we talked about her work with DNR fisheries in the driftless region of Minnesota. They do habitat work on quite a few trout streams in southeastern Minnesota. We will cover how project planning works and what information is collected for fish stocking. We will also talk about how the DNR works with Trout Unlimited.  

If you enjoy our podcast, we would love it if you left us a review on Spotify or Apple, since that helps other people find our podcast. 

For more information check...

Maggie Heumann is Trout Unlimted’s manager of volunteer operations. Maggie works with TU chapters and organizes educational opportunities around the nation. She has always been fascinated with insects and started as an entomologist. With her passion for insects and the outdoors, she loves fly fishing. Out west she is lucky enough to fish rivers in Yellowstone. Maggie also co-founded Artemis Sportswoman which facilitates women hunting and fishing events all around the nation. Tune in to hear about Maggie’s journey from studying poultry and insects, co-founding Artemis Sportswomen and working for TU.  

Check out the links below...

Carl Haensel is a fly fishing guide in northeastern Minnesota and the Brule area of northern Wisconsin. He and his wife Jade are the owners of Namebini guiding service. Carl is also a writer, photographer, and educator. Carl is involved with the local Gitche Gumee TU Chapter and is the Northern Minnesota Vice Chair of TU. Carl shares his experiences in the fly-fishing industry and gives some good fishing tips. We also hear about the upcoming Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo in March.  

Follow Carl on Instagram @namebini  

Check out the links bellow to learn more...

Jamie Vaughan is Trout Unlimited’s Great Lakes engagement coordinator. As a regional engagement coordinator, Jamie works on habitat conservation projects, coordinates volunteer engagement, leads STREAM Girls events for local youth, and much more! There is so much awesome work going on in the Great Lakes region from culvert construction to tree plantings. Get involved with your local TU chapter to learn about volunteer opportunities and conservation projects! 

One of the best ways to follow TU’s work in the Great Lakes is on Instagram @troutunlimedgreatlakes  

 
Check out the links below for resources...

Larry Dahlberg is the inventor of Flashabou, the creator of the Dahlberg Diver and Mr. Whiggley and the inspiration for thousands of anglers worldwide. His TV show The Hunt for Big Fish aired for nearly 20 years and captivated audiences from every corner of the industry. His knowledge about the sport is unmatched and we all can learn a great deal from him. In this conversation we talked about his new Costa film with Blane Chocklett The Ties that Bind, how he approaches the sport of fishing, and much more. Here is a link to the film, be sure to c...

Jim is the Chair and Corinne is the Vice Chair of AFFTA, the American Fly Fishing Trade Association. Their goal is to guide the sustainable growth of the fly fishing industry through trade development and stewardship. AFFTA is also the incredible organization that puts together IFTD and we are so grateful to them for doing all the organizing. 

This is our last episode from IFTD and we hope you enjoyed this miniseries. Thank you to Costa sunglasses, Trout Unlimited and Simms fishing products for making this podcast possible. 

Paula Schearer is a guide in Alberta Canada on the Bow River and the surrounding mountain streams. During this quick conversation we talked about the life of a full time guide, fishing in Alberta and much more. We hope you enjoy this episode, stay tuned for one more from IFTD. Check out Paula on Instagram @paulashearer  or at her website here.

Finns West provides wilderness first aid courses & medical solutions for the angling and hunting community. Mike Tayloe is the man behind this awesome company and he is our guest today. We talked about what Finns West does, how Mike became passionate about first aid/rescue and much more. Check out Finns West at their website to learn more about this great company and how you can be better prepared in the outdoors.

Joseph Berney @joseph_berney_ hosted the first season of Emerging and we are delighted to have him back. He currently works with Flylords, one of the largest employers of 5 Rivers students! Thanks to Jared Zissu (5 Rivers alum) for starting such an incredible company and bringing so many 5 Rivers students to the team. Be sure to check out all the great projects they are working on @flylords on Instagram or at their website.

We hope you enjoy this very relaxed and fun episode. Thanks to Joseph for getting this podcast stared, we are all so excited to see wh...

Captain Benny Blanco A.K.A "The Voice of Florida Bay" is a full time fishing guide and a champion of Everglades restoration. He works closely with the organization Captains for Clean Water and in this conversation he gives us an update on Floridas fight for clean water. Check out Benny on Instagram @captbennyblanco and learn more about Captains for Clean Water here.

We recorded an episode with the Captains crew last season! If you are interested in a more in depth look at the organization, check out the episode here. 

Riversmith makes the River Quiver, the coolest vehicle rod holder on the market. Mike O is a CU Boulder alum and a past officer of the 5 Rivers club at CU. He is now the head of sales at Riversmith and is helping the Boulder based company reach new heights.

We hope you enjoy this quick episode with Mike and be sure to check out Riversmith at https://riversmith.com

Joe Gugino is the conservation and community partnerships manager at Costa sunglasses, and a darn good one! Without him, the 5 Rivers program, Kick Plastic, the Untangled collection and all the other awesome projects Costa funds would not be possible. Here is the first Protect Purpose Report by Costa, which will tell you all about the incredible work they do.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Joe! Stay tuned for more IFTD conversations coming soon.

In this miniseries of Emerging, we will be publishing a series of short episodes from our recent trip to Salt Lake City for IFTD (International Fly Tackle Dealer). IFTD is a trade show put on by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association and it brings together the best in the fly fishing industry. We sat with a few different industry experts and are excited to share the conversations with you! For the first episode, we've got Libby Glaser, coordinator of the TU Costa 5 Rivers program. 

We hope you enjoy this miniseries, stay tuned for more episodes coming s...

In this second part of our series on the Lower Snake River, we are talking with Asa Menlove and Shiva Rajbhandari of the Youth Salmon Protectors. Asa started the organization and Shiva is behind the wheel as the group is thriving. The Youth Salmon Protectors are a coalition of young people in the PNW and beyond dedicated to saving wild Columbia River salmon and steelhead. We talked about why the Lower Snake River dams need to be removed, what this issue stands for in a larger sense and how other young people can succeed with their own conservation goals...

This is an exciting episode because it is the first of a two part series about the Lower Snake River and the four dams preventing wild salmon and steelhead from living in their natural habitat. The Snake River is currently seeing its worst return of salmon and steelhead in over 200 years and the time to take action is now. Removal of the four dams on the Lower Snake is the only option left and Eric Crawford of TU explains it perfectly in this episode. We talked about why the dams need to be removed, how this will be done...

On this episode of Emerging, Libby and I talked to Hannah Leonard of Sporting Lead Free. Sporting Lead-Free is a non-political, educational initiative working to reduce inadvertent lead consumption by wildlife and people through the voluntary choice of lead-free ammunition and tackle. Hannah is the outreach coordinator for this awesome organization and she has some incredible stories and passion for this issue. Be sure to check out the episode to learn more! 

Here are the links we mentioned in the show... 

Sporting Lead Free overview video 

Resources page to find lead free alternatives 

If you are hoping to increase youth engagement in your local TU chapter or want to get more beginners into your club, this episode is definitely for you! On this episode of Emerging, Libby and I talked to Andrew Reichardt from the National Capital Chapter of Trout Unlimited. This is one of the oldest TU chapters and has some incredible history. One of the coolest aspects of this history is their recent initiative to increase youth engagement in Trout Unlimited. They have a great film called TUrnaround coming out soon so keep your eyes out for that. Here is...

For this episode of Emerging, Libby and I chatted with Jess Westbrook and Kaitlin Barnhart of The Mayfly Project. The Mayfly Project is a 501(c)(3) national organization that uses fly fishing as a catalyst to mentor and support children in foster care. We discussed what they do and how you can help! Check out the links below to get connected with them. 

The Mayfly Project website

Project locations

Dr. Wallace Nichols

We hope you enjoy the show! If you have any questions, topics we should discuss, or peo...

On this episode of Emerging we sat down with Nick Halle the Volunteer Operations Coordinator for Trout Unlimited. He lives up in Missoula Montana so we discussed the recent crisis on the Madison River, his work with TU, fishing out West and much more. 

As discussed in the show, here is the link to an article Nick wrote about the Madison River crisis. Also, this link will connect you with your local TU chapter. 

We hope you enjoyed the show! If you have any questions, topics we should discuss or people you want to hear fr...

Well, 2021 was quite the year. It was an honor to start up this podcast and bring on some amazing guests for you this past year. I will be forever grateful to all of you listeners and to 5 Rivers. Stay tuned for Season 2 starting up in August with your new host, Cliff Watson. It's been quite the ride.

- Joseph 

For this episode of Emerging, we got a chance to chat with Simms CEO, Casey Sheahan, about Simms, conservation, and a little about fishing. As always, the music is by the Wright Brothers. 

For this episode, we got a chance to talk with Ben Sittig, aka, Huge Fly Fisherman. Ben is a great dude and we had a great conversation about everything Huge. Make sure to check Ben out on Instagram and Youtube to follow him on his adventures. As always the music is brought to you by the Wright Brothers. 

We were joined by Capt. Chris Whittman from Captains for Clean Water to talk about the ongoing water crisis in Florida. Since this episode was recorded, the disaster at Piney Point has occurred. We urge you to take a look at Captains for Clean Water's resources about the disaster and continue to educate yourself on the issues in Florida. As always, the great music is by the Wright Brothers. 

We had the great privilege of having Simon and Charley Perkins from Orvis. We talked about their upbringing surrounded by the outdoors, conservation, and what the future of fly fishing is going to look like. 

For this episode we got a chance to talk with Nat Gillispee from the US Forest Service about his job, a little about public lands, and some conservation issues pressing our public lands.  

For this episode we got a chance to talk with one of our 5 Rivers alumni, Eeland Stribling, about his 5 Rivers experience, what it is like being a biologist, and a little about stand up comedy.  

With the upcoming release of the F3T we wanted to talk with our friend Rachel Brinkley who is featured in an upcoming film. Rachel has been doing some amazing research on the salmon populations in Idaho we know you will find interesting. Make sure to go buy tickets to the film tour! 

For those who have been living under a rock, the Fly Fishing Film Tour is by far one of the best events the Fly Fishing community has. We got a chance to talk with Paul Nicoletti and Nick Jones from the Fly Fishing Film Tour to speak with us about this years premiere and the expanding 5 Rivers + F3T partnership. Tickets are on sale now! 

For this Episode we had Corrine and Garrison Doctor from Rep Your Water on with us. We talked about a whole lot of rad topics you are gonna enjoy with a couple of fishing stories along the way. 

On this episode of Emerging we talked with one of our alumni, Heather Harkavy about Fish For Change as well as her experience in the 5 Rivers Program. Music as always is by the amazing Wright Brothers.

A quick little update from Andrew and I this week. The Holidays are crazy and we hope everyone gets time to spend it with some family. We are giving away costa sunglasses to people who give us feedback about the podcast so go do that! 

In this episode of Emerging we got the chance to talk with 5 Rivers Student Matteo Moretti. Matteo has had some incredible experiences through 5 Rivers by going on the Odessey and taking over his club as President. Matteo provides great insight into what being a 5 Rivers student is like and what we can look forward to for the future of fly fishing. 

For our fifth episode we talked to 5 Rivers alumni and the founder of Flylords, Jared Zissu. We talked to Jared about his experience with 5 Rivers, starting Flylords, and some solid advice for anyone wanting to try to work in the Fly Fishing industry. 

Jay Johnson and Justin Carf from Pig Farm Inc join us to talk about all things mega *(you know). You're gonna love this episode where we talk about magic, Pig Farm Inc, and the growing the fly fishing community. If you like the music make sure you go check out The Wright Brothers wherever you get your music.

Trent Brown from Little Blackfoot Outfitters and Jeff Lattig joined us to talk about fishing in Montana, what it is like being a guide and outfitter, and the current conservation issues facing the fisheries in Montana. As always the music is by the Wright Brothers and you should go check them out on any music platform. 

One of the most pressing conservation issues facing our public lands and wild salmon right now is the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska. We sat down with Meghan Barker and Eric Booton from TU Alaska to talk about Pebble Mine and Public Lands. If you like the intro and outro music go check out The Wright Brothers. 

For the inaugural episode of Emerging presented by Simms Fishing, we sat down with Chris Wood, Trout Unlimited CEO, to talk about the 5 Rivers program and how this podcast will be a great resource for the young angler and conservationist community. If you like the intro and outro tunes check out the Wright Brothers on Apple Music or Spotify.