Fly Fishing Consultant Podcast

Part two of this three-part series covering the 2026 Army–Navy Fly Fishing Competition finds a sleep deprived Rob up early on Saturday morning, braving a Nor’easter. As he navigates the country roads in search of a quick, hot breakfast, storm debris from fallen trees line his route. There was no way to avoid the branches so you’ll hear Rob driving over them.

The day’s events kick off in the old barn, where volunteersserve breakfast and Bart Lombardo reviews the rules and judging guidelines. Rob initially plans to ride out the storm's incessant wind and rain and observe the competition from a chair on shore, but he soon realizes the contestants could use an extra hand. He jumps into action, documenting cadets and midshipmen as they battle the challenging conditions to catch the most fish and land the biggest fish in Rob’s assigned beat, with just 30 minutes to fish each section.

After the competition, everyone gathers back in the barn to warm up, enjoy a volunteer-provided lunch, including award winning chili, and weigh in the day’s catches. Rob captures the excitement of the fishing finals before heading out to wet a line himself. But just when things seem to be winding down and fish are chasing his flies disaster strikes—Rob drops his microphone into the water (not the firsts time), bringing this episode to an unexpected end!

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Rob loads up the Xterra and heads north to New Jersey for the 2026 Army—Navy Fly Fishing Competition. For more background on the event, check out Rob’s earlier interview with Bill Asdal. Rob originally planned to observe the competition and document the experience through his podcast, but Bill had other plans and invited him to serve as a judge.

Join Rob as he prepares for a weekend of fishing, podcasting, and an approaching nor’easter. In Part One, Rob and his girlfriend make their way through Maryland and Pennsylvania before arriving in New Jersey to explore the competition venue along the Raritan River. Insects are hatching, storm clouds are gathering, and temperatures are falling. Before dinner, Rob manages to get a little fishing in, sits down with the West Point Midshipmen for an interview, and records the first of what will be many speeches throughout the weekend.

Produced by Jason Reif

Rob'sEtsy

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Rob first crossed paths with Lydia at the 2026 Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival, where he was immediately drawn to her exquisitely detailed, micro-scale fly patterns. Seriously tiny stuff. Intrigued by her craftsmanship, he set out to uncover and share her unique journey.

Despite being relatively new to fly tying, Lydia has quickly established herself as both an instructor and commercial tier, dedicating her craft to patterns designed and created by women. Their conversation explores the distinct techniques of left-handed fly tying, the impact of low-water conditions in Colorado, the unparalleled thrill of fooling a fish on a self-tied pattern, and the daily rhythm of life in the Colorado Springs area.

Produced by Jason Reif

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Never leave home without a fly rod.

In this episode, Rob hits the Mid Atlantic and East Coast with a fly rod in hand and a microphone rolling to capture the soundscape of summer.

Proving that life's unpredictability is the ultimate excuse to wet a line, Rob explores opportunistic waters rather than planned destination fisheries—stopping wherever water meets a chance to fish. Driving your girlfriend's mom to visit her sister in Myrtle Beach? Bring a fly rod. What if a former client moves to town and wants to chat about guiding locally? Walk around a lake carrying a fly rod. Get the picture? Tag along for several unique adventures, including three ocean trips, two mountain escapes, and a stop right in the heart of Washington, D.C.

South Carolina had the best sandwiches.

Immerse yourself in the full sensory experience of the summer season, from coastal winds, fireworks, and birdsong to the crunch of gravel underfoot and the rush of moving waters.

Produced by Jason Reif

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Lawyer by trade and angler at heart, Mark Weeks joins the show to share his journey from a Western upbringing to practicing law in New York City, and ultimately becoming a tournament-winning tarpon bum and novelist in the Florida Keys. Rob and Mark dive into his latest book, Poontown—a story following five teams over five days during the Sabalo Cup Invitational in the Tequesta Isles.

Rob and Mark further discuss how the Keys have evolved over the decades, urban fly fishing in New York, essential flats boat gear choices like fishing gloves and socks, and how jumping your first tarpon completely alters your life trajectory. Rob would like for Mark to recorded a second podcast and discuss fly fishing in Japan.

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In this episode, we dive into a captivating conversation sparked at the Maryland Fly Fishing Showbetween Rob and master rod builder Jerry Kustich. As Jerry sat behind his stunning, handcrafted bamboo rods, a troubling observation emerged: young anglers just aren't looking at bamboo anymore. And it isn't a question of price—modern fly fishers drop serious cash on high-end gear, so why are these classic works of art being left behind? Months after that fateful meetup, Rob breaks down his thoughts on why bamboo is losing its grip on the next generation and what it means for the future of fly fishing heritage.

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Rob initially discovered Jim Faust's tale while listening to National Public Radio. He reached out to Jim to learn more about his story of grief and fishing. Jim, an avid fly fisherman, tragically lost his son Adam to an accidental overdose in 2024. We learn about Adam's final day and Jim's journey following the loss of his child. An evening spent fishing and reflecting inspired Jim to establish a non-profit organization named Adam’s Parachute, which aims to provide the healing advantages of fly fishing to those battling addiction and seeking recovery. In Jim's own words, “Adam passed his parachute to another. Now, we continue his mission to offer hope and healing to those who need it.” Rob and Jim cover a wide range of topics, from dry fly hatches to life after death, from zero-weight rods to messages from beyond, as well as substance use disorders and tailwater fishing.

Produced by Jason Reif

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Rick Nyles is the owner of Sky Blue Outfitters, recognized as the most extensive fly-fishing guide service in Pennsylvania. He shares with Rob the story of how he became passionate about fishing, ultimately transforming that passion into a thriving guiding and hosted travel business. Rather than reading about fly fishing or watching tutorials online, Rick prefers to fish and learn while he fishes. Take notes as he explains techniques such as nymphing above the bottom, how to properly set the hook, and when to implement a figure-eight retrieve with a northern pike. Additionally, Rick offers a distinctive material that allows for quick and simple wings on a caddis fly imitation. Rob discovers insights on regional cheesesteaks in Pennsylvania, reasons why clients should prepay for hosted trips, the evolution of the Upper Delaware over time, and which five-weight rod offers the best value for your money. See if you can keep track of all the rivers, streams, and lakes that Rick has fished. Can you count all of the guides that works for Rick?

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Jeremy Clapp of Hook Setter's Union checks in from Connecticut. He is an enthusiastic fly tyer motivated by the fly tying innovators from the mid-west who developed and refined current articulated streamers. He targets a range of species from saltwater stripers to inland smallmouth bass and western trout. Rob and Jeremy engage in an intriguing discussion about fly fishing and fly tying, dyeing materials, streamer design, and the need for standardization of bucktails for commercial sale.

Jeremy shares the challenges and experiences of dealing with a bucktail jam, his methods of sourcing rare natural fly tying materials including penguins to skunks, and his fondness for hen hackle. We discover how and why Jeremy made the decision to start dyeing his own tying materials. He explains his ideal conditions for fishing with streamers the gear he uses. Jeremy will motivate you to dye your fly tying materials. We’d love to hear how they turn out.

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Rob first met Shane in 2013 on New York's Salmon River during Shane's inaugural trip to the river. Rob helped Shane in catching his first steelhead, which was roughly the same size as Shane at that time, as he barely fit into the small-sized waders he wore. To learn more about Shane's history, of snorkeling with salmonids you can listen to his prior interview from October 2022. Shane possesses extensive knowledge about bull trout, more than any of us, which is why he is our featured guest this week.

We reconnect with Shane in Alaska, where he and his girlfriend live in some type of mobile home. He is guiding this summer while his girlfriend works as a waitress in town. Shane delves into the science, myth, and lore surrounding bull trout, sharing essential tips on how to catch them and where to find them.

Pay close attention to the section about the immense effort, dedication, and energy it takes to locate a giant bull trout. Perhaps Rob was fortunate during that road trip to Idaho when he was dropped off at an unnamed Idaho stream and encountered these apex predators for the first time. You’ll discover how bull trout habitats transform with elevation, along with the treasures Shane has found while snorkeling. This might inspire you to pick up a mask and snorkel and explore your favorite stream yourself.

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Rob interviews Chris Williams from the Gulf Coast Classic. The Gulf Coast Council of Fly Fishers International organized their 4th annual Gulf Coast Classic fly fishing festival on May 1-2, 2026, at the Learning Campus of Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. A unique fishing area that offers tarpon fishing on foot on one side of the park and bluegill on foot on the other. We discover how Chris launched a tournament from the ground up, involving participants ranging from non-profits to fly tyers and casting instructors.

You’ll learn about the various freshwater and saltwater species found in the tournament's nearby waters, along with past catches and this year's results and where the participants have traveled from. Chris discusses the intense heat of the Gulf Coast, local sandwich favorites, his passion for fishing, and much more.

Produced by Jason Reif.

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Rob gave a presentation at the May 2026 gathering of The Potomac Patuxent Chapterof Trout Unlimited. His topic centered around slow water foam flies intended for summer predators. He emphasized how ultraviolet rays from the sun can deteriorate your flies, covering various types of foam, the food sources for fish during summer, the appearance and presentation of flies, the importance of using droppers in summer fishing, and finally, he shared his favorite slow water flies for the summer season. Among these flies are the gutless frog, scorpion bug, splat rat, night monkey, Chernobyl ant, fish skull popper heads, cicadas, and crickets.

Rob detailed how these flies should be constructed and used to effectively to attract predators in calm and shallow waters during the summer months. Two key points to remember are to retrieve your flies slowly and avoid moving them over long distances.

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Produced by Jason Reif

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In this episode, Rob discusses the recent emergence of the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in the mid-Atlantic region of North America. The lanternflies, in every stage of their life cycle, look very different from any insects found in northern Virginia, where Rob lives. He will elaborate on how the adult's striking red hind wing is unlike any colors in his local surroundings and why he considers them to be the dumbest of all creatures. He will delve into the insect's classification, share intriguing facts about them, describe their physical traits, feeding habits, reproduction, his personal observations, and how he crafted a fly to mimic the adults. Rob challenges the notion that local species won't prey on lanternflies because they do not recognize them as a food source. These unusual insects have already invaded Northern Virginia and are on their way to you. Don't waste your efforts trying to crush them when they arrive; it won't prevent their spread.

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James Andrew Holt unexpectedly passed away in April 2026. He was highly inteligent, witty, crass, and always there when you needed him. Rob and Andrew were the closest of fishing buddies. Even though they had not been in contact for several months due to Rob taking a step back from their friendship, he is still heartbroken. He had a passion for gourmet food and a particular love for Scotch Whisky (His father was from Glasgow) having once served as the Macallan Ambassador for the Washington DC area. Andrew dedicated his time to Frogman Outdoors and Project Healing Waters. He enjoyed all types of fishing, whether it was conventional, bait, or fly fishing, and from freshwater to saltwater, warm water to cold water. His fast car was always stocked with fishing equipment, and his home was overflowing with tackle. Rods or surfboards in the corners.

Andrew was a first responder at the Pentagon on 9/11 and at Ground Zero on 9/12. After the traumas of 9/11, Andrew faced a challenging life. He battled post-traumatic stress and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his mid-thirties. He lived life to the fullest and was perpetually ready for another drink, focusing on the present without much contemplation of the future. Drinking took over his life which was something Rob has never experienced with such a close friend. His challenging life eventually took its toll, leading to struggles in his final years. Rob shares some stories that highlight Andrew's uniqueness. From the whisky glass he kept in his wading jacket to the incident when Rob's Xterra was towed (he said to park anywhere). Here are a few anecdotes that illustrate why Andrew was one of a kind and why Rob cherished their friendship and kept him around for so long. With his luck, England will win the World Cup this year and he’ll miss it. He'll be missed.

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Mike Komara’s mission is to share the skills and techniques learned over a decade of competing and fishing across the globe. He grew up as a competitive angler starting on the USA youth team where he was mentored by greats like George Daniel and Joe Humphreys. Mike still competes but on the senior level and is the one now teaching the younger anglers. He is currently booked as a guide. If you hire him, wear quality glass lens polarized sunglasses. Mike and Rob discuss the current price of tungsten beads, how he splits his time between Pennsylvania and New Zealand, and the trout to giant eel that he catches. Mike checks in with Rob after a day of guiding. We learn he is just as passionate about musky fishing as he is with trout. Mike also starts fishing during the interview and you’ll have to wait to hear what happens. Spoiler, he drops his phone in the river.

Produced by Jason Reif

Intro music: Goldrush

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This marks Rob's inaugural visit to the Maryland Fly Fishing Show. For various reasons, he has faced scheduling conflicts with the event for several years. Rob doesn't frequently travel to Towson. When he was younger, his father brought him here to purchase lacrosse balls. Finding lacrosse gear and fly fishing supplies was quite challenging in the late 80s. After a brief stroll from the parking garage to the building, Rob ascends a few flights of stairs to reach the venue. In the lobby, he spots Ralph Valle and his family selling tickets. Rob gets his hand stamped and makes his way into the show. Tables are arranged along the walls, and large rectangular tables fill the central area. The lighting is low, and the scent of vintage fly tackle fills the atmosphere. Listen as Rob conducts interviews with fly tiers of various ages, guides, and vendors of custom dyed feathers and furs. There are items for sale ranging from skunk pelts and penguin feathers to dyed marabou and pheasant tails.

Rob stops for a burger on his way home.

Rob's 2024 interview with Ralph Valle.

Produced by Jason Reif

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Rob makes his way back to The Fly Fishing Show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. With a microphone in hand, he strolls through the venue to uncover the stories of both attendees and exhibitors. His attention is drawn to the fly tying section of the event. We discover insights about local anglers from Pennsylvania, the tiny flies they prefer, and the bodies of water they fish in. Rob and Caitlin encountered Joe Humphreys and even had a book signed by him. You never know who Rob might run into. These are their narratives. If you haven't visited the Lancaster show before, this episode might inspire you to check it out. Hopefully next year you will find Rob behind one of the fly tying tables.

Produced by Jason Reif.

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Malinda Barna has been the proprietor of her own fly shop along the banks of the Salmon River in New York for a longer time than Rob has been wetting his line there. This distinctive shop is filled with vibrant fly tying materials. Her fly shop attracts anglers from around the globe. Situated on the banks of a world-renowned river, this episode reveals how Malinda acquired the shop and managed it for many years alongside her partner Bobby. Malinda shares anecdotes about her fishing spots during the off-season, explains her decision to stop selling bobbers for fly fishing, and discusses how to navigate the unique microclimate near Lake Ontario. A regular customer named Morris stops by while shopping and provides us with a wealth of valuable insights.

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This episode brings us to Roanoke, Virginia, the Star City Of The South, where shop owner and guide, Jay Waide, tells us.his story. We get to know the history and location of the fly shop, its wide range of customers, and some great nearby fishing spots. Jay talks about everything related to fishing in the southwest corner of Virginia, from blue lining brook trout in little streams to jet boating tailwaters for muskie.

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Rob initially encountered Andrew at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival several years ago. At that time, Andrew was likely in middle school, displaying a remarkable passion for fishing as a young boy. He was precocious and downright fishy. He tied his own flies. Throughout his teenage years, he dedicated his mornings and afternoons to fishing at the Falmouth Flats beneath the Rte. 1 Bridge in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the same spot where Rob learned to fly fish for stripers while going to college up the street. A few years down the line, Andrew crossed paths with an Alaskan lodge owner during one of the Virginia Fly Fishing Shows, which ultimately led him to Alaska after graduating high school. We reconnect with him now residing in Puerto Rico to learn about his journey.

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