I'm back from a turkey fueled break and I'm joined by Jacob Zirkle. We talk about growing up in Alaska, his fishing start, soccer, guiding and starting his own business, kids and family, learning spey, rods and the Asquith, and of course dog talk.

I'm talking with Tom McCoy on this week's episode of The River Rambler. We get to the important stuff right away talking about bourbon, and then move on to lighter subjects such as strawberry picking, dog & horse training, getting into fly fishing, learing spey, in river facial piercings, the fly fishing Caddy Shack, fishing with the Isle of Misfit Toys, and so much more.

This week I'm speaking with Fly Fishing Hall of Fame member, Will Godfrey. We talk about fishing buddies, fly naming conventions, fishing with his dad, a brown trout named Geronimo, becoming a guide, starting a business, the evolution of rods, becoming a steelheader, auctioneering, and so much more.

This week I'm joined again by Bryan Stinson of Riverwise Anglers. We discuss our last visit, guiding, coho, two raincoat days, home brewing, many soups, heavy tips and low water, winter fishing and leech patterns, and irish stouts.

This week I'm speaking with Jeff Putnam. We chat about his early start to fishing and his schoolhood fishing mentor, skipping school, guiding and teaching, picking up spey casting, adjusting to teaching different generations, Steve Godshall and rod collecting, casting video analysis, and the art of napping.

This week I got the chance to speak with Matthew Sloat. He lets us know about growing up in western Alaska, the differences from California, resident Rainbows and Steelhead, hatcheries' effects on the food web, "The Blob," the never ending learning of fly fishing, tagging steelhead in kamchatka, and the massive taimen.

This week i'm talking to Michael Garrigan. We discuss "The River Wye," secret cigarettes and his slow pull to fishing, dogs, becoming a teacher, writing, poetry and painting, sharing your work, carp, alone time in the wilderness, Yellowstone, some dog-based interuptions and antics, and listen to some of his fantastic poetry.

I first fished the North Umpqua a dozen years ago, and I was way late to the game. It’s been a river iconic in the steelhead community for at least a century, from before Zane Grey, to Frank and Jeannie Moore, to the present moment. And the situation in the present moment is unbelievable. After reading about it in emails and social media, I lined up a visit with Jim McCarthy of Water Watch of Oregon and Kirk Blaine of The Steamboaters and Native Fish Society. If you were upset by the social media posts, listen to the conversation, and get really mad. Then act. Sign the Native Fish Society petition, and then go ahead and write your state representatives and the governor, and ODFW. And call. And let them know that in the face of innumerable challenges to the survival of wild steelhead, a public and valuable resource that brings incalculable financial benefit to Douglas County, we are watching a small, select group bypass all meaningful regulation and oversight for their own benefit. Senators, ODFW, and the Governors contact is listed below. Jim and Kirk both volunteered their contact information for any additional information or any possible help someone can offer. Petition- https://nativefishsociety.org/action-alerts/ask-you-state-and-federal-representatives-to-stand-up-for-the-north-umpqua-river https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/directory/contact_us.asp (https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/directory/contact_us.asp) https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/senate/Pages/SenatorsAll.aspx (https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/senate/Pages/SenatorsAll.aspx) https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx jim@waterwatch.org kirk@nativefishsociety.org (mailto:kirk@nativefishsociety.org)

Another Tuesday means another River Rambler and this week I'm joined by Tom Mahan. We talk about growing up with a backyard fishing spot, firefighting, learning the many forms of spey, guiding, different fishing ideologies, Alaska's chinook and rainbows, jiujitsu and martial arts mindsets, muddlers and Swedish Fish.

On this week's episode I'm talking to Mike Kohler. We discuss his time fishing as a whipper snapper, accents, lobstering, getting into steelhead, dogs and kids, his introduction to spey, striper fishing, the benefits of night fishing, photography, observation and learning, and marine predators.