The Destination Angler Podcast Steve Haigh: Fisherman and Podcaster

Our destination is the beautiful Stillwater River with expert guide and outfitter, Chris Fleck, Stillwater Anglers, Nye Montana.  Often overlooked, the Stillwater is one of Montana’s best kept secrets and is anything but still.   Here anglers will find challenging whitewater, boulder fields, prolific hatches, and some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Montana.  Best of all, the Stillwater is a haven for anglers looking for solitude.
Chris caught the fly fishing bug early as a kid in Wyoming.  He traveled the world serving 23 years in the Marine corp and now makes his living on the waters around Nye.  Today Chris shares his secrets of the Stillwater along with the nearby Boulder River, Rosebud, Rock Creek, even Patagonia along with top hatches and fly patterns, high water techniques, and how to fish the elusive nocturnal stonefly.    Stick around to the end for a great story of a giant brown trout, plus local hotspots.  Listen in and beat the crowds with Chris on the Stillwater!
 
With host, Steve Haigh
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Destination Angler on YouTube
Pictures from the Flathead
@DestinationAnglerPodcast on Facebook and Instagram Contact Chris:
chris@stillwateranglers.com Facebook and Instagram:  @stillwateranglers Please check out our Sponsors:
TroutRoutes
The number one fishing app, helping trout anglers avoid the crowds and explore new public water. Download it and receive 20% off using Destination20 promo code in the app store today!
Facebook @troutinsights Instagram @TroutRoutes   
Adamsbuilt Fishing
THE trusted source for quality fly fishing gear, built to last at an affordable price. Waders, Nets, Outerwear.
Facebook & Instagram @Adamsbuilt
Angler’s Coffee
Elevating the coffee experience for the fly-fishing community & anglers everywhere with small-batch coffee delivered to your doorstep. 
Facebook & Instagram @anglerscoffeeco   
Got Fishing
Crafting world Class fly-fishing adventures specially designed to your level of experience and budget.  
Facebook @GotFishingAdventures Instagram @GotFishing
Destination Angler Podcast: 
Website ·       YouTube
Instagram & Facebook  @DestinationAnglerPodcast Comments & Suggestions:  host, Steve Haigh, email shaigh@DestinationAnglerPodcast.com
Available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recorded April 11, 2024.  Episode 121

Get ready for an exhilarating adventure on the wild and scenic Flathead River in Northern Montana with expert fly angler and industry icon, Hilary Hutcheson!  Originating in some of the most breathtaking and remote scenery in the west, the Flathead offers high-adrenaline whitewater fly fishing and crystal-clear waters teeming with native westslope cutthroat trout who love to look up.
Hilary, who started guiding as a teenager, has a fascinating journey from television news anchor in Portland to guiding on the Flathead and Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Owner of Lary's Fly & Supply in Columbia Falls, Montana, she’s a key industry player, serving on multiple boards, testifying on Capitol Hill, and winning awards as a filmmaker, journalist, and contributing editor for Fly Fisherman Magazine.
Brace yourself for stories of Bonecrusher rapids, grizzly bears, and a client with a superhuman bladder, plus Hilary’s guide training philosophy and Capitol Hill testimony. Stick around to the end for a sneak peek at her new movie. Grab your helmet—this ride is going to be wild!
With host, Steve Haigh
Be the first to know about new episodes.  Become a subscriber
Destination Angler on YouTube
Pictures from the Flathead
@DestinationAnglerPodcast on Facebook and Instagram Contact Hilary:
Glacier Anglers Lary’s Fly & Supply Instagram @outsidehilary  or @Larysfly Facebook @larysfly Please check out our Sponsors:
Got Fishing
Crafting world-class fly-fishing adventures specially designed to your level of experience and budget.  
Facebook @GotFishingAdventures Instagram @GotFishing
TroutRoutes
The number one fishing app, helping trout anglers avoid the crowds and explore new public water. Download it and receive 20% off using Destination20 promo code in the app store today!
Facebook @troutinsights Instagram @TroutRoutes   
Adamsbuilt Fishing
THE trusted source for quality fly fishing gear, built to last at an affordable price. Waders, Nets, Outerwear.
Facebook & Instagram @Adamsbuilt
Angler’s Coffee
Elevating the coffee experience for the fly-fishing community & anglers everywhere with small-batch coffee delivered to your doorstep. 
Facebook & Instagram @anglerscoffeeco   
Destination Angler Podcast: 
Website ·       YouTube
Instagram & Facebook  @DestinationAnglerPodcast Comments & Suggestions:  host, Steve Haigh, email shaigh@DestinationAnglerPodcast.com
Available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recorded March 29, 2024.  Episode 120

Our destination is the world-famous Grey Reef on the North Platte River with Blake Jackson, co-owner of the Ugly Bug Fly Shop, Casper Wyoming.  Grey Reef is one of the great tail waters of the west, offering a 70-mile western fly fishing experience with oversized, football-shaped wild trout, and plenty of solitude where 50 fish days are common. 
Blake grew up in Wyoming doing what Wyoming kids do – hunting, fishing, and playing sports.  After college, he quickly realized a fly-fishing guide could not afford to live in Bozeman and returned to Wyoming, where he now co-owns the fly shop.
Today, we explore the Reef, Miracle Mile, and Fremon Canyon and the conservation story behind the trophy fly fishing here, plus slow-it-down streamer techniques, local fly patterns, stories from Mongolia, Wyoming elk hunting, naked customers, and why you need to cast to the center of the stream.   
With host, Steve Haigh
Be the first to know about new episodes.  Become a subscriber
Destination Angler on YouTube
Pictures from Grey Reef
@DestinationAnglerPodcast on Facebook and Instagram Contact Blake:
https://uglybugflyshop.crazyrainbow.net/ Instagram @uglybugflyshop Facebook @Theuglybugflyshop YouTube:  @uglybugflyshop Please check out our Sponsors:
Angler’s Coffee
Elevating the coffee experience for the fly-fishing community & anglers everywhere with small-batch coffee delivered to your doorstep. 
Facebook & Instagram @anglerscoffeeco   
Got Fishing
Crafting world Class fly-fishing adventures specially designed to your level of experience and budget.  
Facebook @GotFishingAdventures Instagram @GotFishing
TroutRoutes
The number one fishing app, helping trout anglers avoid the crowds and explore new public water. Download it and receive 20% off using Destination20 promo code in the app store today!
Facebook @troutinsights Instagram @TroutRoutes   
Adamsbuilt Fishing
THE trusted source for quality fly fishing gear, built to last at an affordable price. Waders, Nets, Outerwear.
Facebook & Instagram @Adamsbuilt
Destination Angler Podcast: 
Website ·       YouTube
New podcast!  Destination Angler ADVENTURES Podcast    Instagram & Facebook  @DestinationAnglerPodcast Comments & Suggestions:  host, Steve Haigh, email shaigh@DestinationAnglerPodcast.com
Available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recorded March 13, 2024.  Episode 119

Our destination is Mongolia, the land of Genghis Khan, in search of the legendary Taimen, the world's largest trout species, with Michael Caranci from Mongolia River Outfitters. Visiting Mongolia feels like stepping back in time.  About the size of Texas, it’s the least densely populated country in the world. Here, Taimen thrive in its pristine rivers growing over 50 inches.
Michael first visited Mongolia in 2015 and fell in love with its people, culture, and fly fishing, and has returned ever since.  A published writer with over 20 years’ experience managing fly fishing lodges, Michael shares insights on Taimen, their diet, habitats, and how to go after them, fly rod in hand. We also delve into Mongolian culture and the unique experiences it offers. If you are looking for an adrenaline-fueled adventure, this episode is for you.
With host, Steve Haigh
Be the first to know about new episodes.  Become a subscriber
Destination Angler on YouTube
Pictures from Mongolia
@DestinationAnglerPodcast on Facebook and Instagram Contact Michael:
www.mongoliarivers.com www.fishmongolia.com Instagram @fishmongolia Facebook @Fish Mongolia Please check out our Sponsors:
Adamsbuilt Fishing
THE trusted source for quality fly fishing gear, built to last at an affordable price. Waders, Nets, Outerwear.
Facebook & Instagram @Adamsbuilt
Angler’s Coffee
Elevating the coffee experience for the fly-fishing community & anglers everywhere with small-batch coffee delivered to your doorstep. 
Facebook & Instagram @anglerscoffeeco   
Got Fishing
Crafting world Class fly-fishing adventures specially designed to your level of experience and budget.  
Facebook @GotFishingAdventures Instagram @GotFishing
TroutRoutes
The number one fishing app, helping trout anglers avoid the crowds and explore new public water. Download it for free using Destination20 promo code in the app store today!
Facebook @troutinsights Instagram @TroutRoutes   
Destination Angler Podcast: 
Website ·       YouTube
New podcast!  Destination Angler ADVENTURES Podcast    Instagram & Facebook  @DestinationAnglerPodcast Comments & Suggestions:  host, Steve Haigh, email shaigh@DestinationAnglerPodcast.com
Available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recorded March 8, 2024.  Episode 118
 

Our destination is the revered Youghiogheny River in Southwestern Pennsylvania with expert fly angler, Rob Walters, head guide for Laurel Highlands Guide Service.   Once polluted from abandon mines, the “Yawk” as it’s called, has undergone a remarkable transformation into a world-class tailwater with a reputation for big trout and tremendous hatches.
Rob grew up in Delaware fly fishing on local trout streams and stripers in the surf. In 2005, he moved to Pittsburgh and traded in the salt life for the mountain life of Western PA and has been guiding and fly fishing the Yawk ever since.  
Today Rob dials us in to the quality trout waters in the 11 mile middle section, tips on matching streamers to water types and temperature, pike on the fly in the UK, and some great stories of trout so big they straighten your hook.  
With host, Steve Haigh
Be the first to know about new episodes.  Become a subscriber
Destination Angler on YouTube
Pictures from the Yawk
@DestinationAnglerPodcast on Facebook and Instagram Contact Rob:
https://laurelhighlandsguideservices.com/    |   412-715-8461  |  rob@laurelhighlandsguideservices.com Instagram & Facebook @laurelhighlandsguideservices Please check out our Sponsors:
TroutRoutes
The number one fishing app, helping trout anglers avoid the crowds and explore new public water. Download it for free in the app store today!
Facebook @troutinsights Instagram @TroutRoutes   
Adamsbuilt Fishing
THE trusted source for quality fly fishing gear, built to last at an affordable price. Waders, Nets, Outerwear.
Facebook & Instagram @Adamsbuilt
Angler’s Coffee
Elevating the coffee experience for the fly-fishing community & anglers everywhere with small-batch coffee delivered to your doorstep. 
Facebook & Instagram @anglerscoffeeco   
Got Fishing
Crafting world Class fly-fishing adventures specially designed to your level of experience and budget.  
Facebook @GotFishingAdventures Instagram @GotFishing
Destination Angler Podcast: 
Website ·       YouTube
New podcast!  Destination Angler ADVENTURES Podcast    Instagram & Facebook  @DestinationAnglerPodcast Comments & Suggestions:  host, Steve Haigh, email shaigh@DestinationAnglerPodcast.com
Available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recorded Feb 22, 2024.  Episode 117

Our destination is the Thorofare Region of Yellowstone National Park, considered the most remote spot in the lower 48, with expert fly angler, guide, and author, Paul Weamer, Coordinator of the Yellowstone Fly Fishing Volunteer Program.  Paul and a group of 14 researchers ventured deep into the Thorofare to discover if the efforts to reduce the lake trout population in Yellowstone Lake are positively impacting cutthroat populations.  The answer may surprise you.     
Paul is a contributing writer for Fly Fisherman Magazine and has written seven books on fly fishing including Favorite Flies for Yellowstone National Park: 50 Essential Patterns from Local Experts. Today he shares his epic adventure in the Thorofare through quicksand and mudholes, blown downs and swamps, not to mention the challenges of traveling over 140 miles on horseback.  Would he do it again?  Let’s find out!
With host, Steve Haigh
Be the first to know about new episodes.  Become a subscriber
Destination Angler on YouTube
Pictures from the Thorofare
@DestinationAnglerPodcast on Facebook and Instagram Contact Paul:
https://www.weamerflyfishing.com/ | weamerflyfishing@gmail.com Facebook   ·        Yellowstone Volunteer Fly Fishing Program |  Volunteerflyfishing@yellowstone.org
Please check out our Sponsors:
Got Fishing
Crafting world Class fly-fishing adventures specially designed to your level of experience and budget.  
Facebook @GotFishingAdventures Instagram @GotFishing
TroutRoutes
The number one fishing app, helping trout anglers avoid the crowds and explore new public water. Download it for free in the app store today!
Facebook @troutinsights Instagram @TroutRoutes   
Adamsbuilt Fishing
THE trusted source for quality fly fishing gear, built to last at an affordable price. Waders, Nets, Outerwear.
Facebook & Instagram @Adamsbuilt
Angler’s Coffee
Elevating the coffee experience for the fly-fishing community & anglers everywhere with small-batch coffee delivered to your doorstep. 
Facebook & Instagram @anglerscoffeeco   
Destination Angler Podcast: 
Website ·       YouTube
New podcast!  Destination Angler ADVENTURES Podcast    Instagram & Facebook  @DestinationAnglerPodcast Comments & Suggestions:  host, Steve Haigh, email shaigh@DestinationAnglerPodcast.com
Available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recorded April 4, 2024.  Episode 116