Season 5 of The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast comes to a close with a look at how far the show has come—and where it’s headed next.

In this final episode of the season, Ross reflects on the growth of the podcast, the wide range of topics covered throughout Season 5, and the community that’s formed around thoughtful conversations about fly fishing, wilderness, stewardship, and outdoor life. It’s also a candid discussion about what’s changing behind the scenes, including potential shifts in season structure, the addition of video content, and how the show can continue to evolve without losing what makes it grounded and authentic.

Looking forward, Ross lays out a roadmap for the future: a deeper focus on outdoor skills beyond fishing—like backpacking, camping, and time spent living well in wild places—along with the possibility of ethical, transparent partnerships with gear brands he personally uses and trusts. There’s also a discussion of potential hosted trips and other ways to bring the community together off the screen and out into the field.

Season 5 may be ending, but this is very much a beginning. We’ll be back in early April with Season 6.

Thank you for listening—and for being part of what this has become.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com

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When disaster hits, the damage doesn’t stop at roads and homes—it tears through rivers, streams, and the communities that depend on them.

In this episode, Ross sits down with Jared Dubin and Miguel Huerta of The Beacon Network, a small, community-based nonprofit doing critical recovery work along the South Toe River in North Carolina following the devastation of Hurricane Helene.

The conversation explores what recovery actually looks like on the ground—navigating a complicated political environment, coordinating volunteers and resources, and staying focused on long-term watershed health rather than quick fixes. Jared and Miguel share why restoring damaged streams matters, not just for fish and ecosystems, but for the people who live alongside them.

This episode is also a call to service. It’s about how anglers and outdoor communities can show up when the waters they love are damaged—and why stewardship doesn’t end when the storm passes.

If you care about rivers, resilience, and being useful when it matters most, this is an episode worth listening to.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

Some places change you—not because they’re comfortable or accessible, but because they demand something from you. Deep in Mongolia’s backcountry, far from roads, towns, and certainty, those places still exist.

In this episode, Ross sits down with Peter Fong, head guide with Mongolia River Outfitters, the team that made Ross's life-altering expedition into one of the wildest landscapes on Earth possible. Driving deep into the steppe and living on the land in one of the most remote (and cold) places on the planet, this was a trip that reshaped how Ross thinks about wilderness, risk, and what it means to truly earn an experience.

Peter shares what it takes to guide in this incredible place, the history and spirituality of Mongolia's ancient taimen rivers, and the importance of protecting places like these for coming generations. The conversation explores humility, preparation, cultural respect, and the responsibility that comes with bringing anglers into landscapes that are still largely untouched.

This episode isn’t just about fishing—it’s about transformation, perspective, and the rare privilege of stepping into places that still play by their own rules.

If you'd like to learn more about going to Mongolia, email Peter at pwfong@gmail.com.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

In this episode, Ross sits down with Allen Law of Western Rivers Conservancy to talk about one of the most effective—and often overlooked—approaches to protecting wild rivers in the American West.

Western Rivers Conservancy works to permanently protect rivers by acquiring them and then handing them back to the public in various ways. Allen explains how this model works, why it’s so powerful, and how it differs from traditional conservation strategies that rely solely on regulation or advocacy.

The conversation dives into what it really takes to keep rivers wild in the face of development pressure, fragmentation, and changing land use. From success stories to ongoing challenges, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at conservation that produces real, lasting results.

If you care about wild water, public access, and the future of fly fishing in the West, this is an episode worth your time.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

Not every guide deserves the title.

In this season’s installment of Complaint Corner, Ross takes aim at a growing problem in fly fishing: guides who don’t really know the craft, don’t respect the resource, and treat the river like an amusement park ride instead of a living place that deserves care and humility.

This episode isn’t about ego or gatekeeping—it’s about standards. About the difference between guiding and simply putting people on fish. About what happens when profit comes before stewardship, and when wild places are reduced to content, numbers, and tips.

It’s a frank conversation about responsibility, competence, and respect—both for the sport and for the landscapes that make it possible.

Fair warning: this one’s spicy.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

Fly fishing doesn’t need a dozen different knots to be effective. In fact, most anglers can do everything they need on the water with just a small handful—if they actually know how and when to use them.

In this episode, Ross breaks down the core knots every fly angler should have dialed, why these knots work, and where they fit into real-world backcountry fishing scenarios. This isn’t about memorizing an encyclopedia of knots—it’s about simplicity, confidence, and efficiency when it matters most.

Whether you’re new to fly fishing or just tired of overthinking your rig, this episode strips things back to the essentials and helps you spend less time fumbling with line and more time fishing.

Because on the river, it’s really not that complicated.

Links to Knot Tutorials:

Davy Knot: https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/davy-knot

Uni Knot: https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/uni-knot

Perfection Loop:https://www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/perfection-loop

Jam Knot (Reynolds): See Mastering Pike on the Fly, by Barry Reynolds

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

Every angler knows the feeling—those days when the river goes quiet, the fish disappear, and nothing you do seems to change it. Slow days on the water can mess with your head if you let them, but they don’t have to break you.

In this episode, Ross dives into the art of getting through the tough days: how to interpret what the river is telling you, how to manage the mental side of a slow bite, and how to stay productive even when the fishing isn’t. From reading conditions with clarity to shifting your expectations, using the time to sharpen other skills, or simply learning to appreciate the day for what it is, this episode is about finding gratitude and purpose when the fishing tests you most.

Because in the backcountry, not every day is lights-out—and that’s exactly what makes the good ones matter.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/

The cold isn’t just a condition—it’s a mindset.

When the temps drop and the rivers turn steel-gray, most anglers call it quits. But if you know how to prepare yourself mentally, winter becomes one of the most rewarding seasons of the year.

This episode dives into the mental game behind fishing through the harshest months—how to stay focused, stay sharp, and stay out there when everyone else goes home.

Available now on all major podcast platforms.

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If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to follow us and (if you're feeling gracious) leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast platform.

Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email Ross at backcountryflyfishingpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry_flyfishing_podcast/