The Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast

Ross Izard
  • 4.9 (46)
  • Wilderness
  • Updated Weekly

Tired of overcrowded water? In love with catching wild fish in wild places? Addicted to exploration? Awed by the rugged beauty of nature? Then this is the podcast for you.We aim to build a library that covers everything related to fly fishing in the backcountry--tactics, flies, gear, survival skills, hiking, weather, outdoor hazards, navigation, camping, ecology, and much more.Whether you're a hardcore backcountry fly fisher or a newbie interested in getting out there, we've got something for you. Come join us in the pursuit of trout and solitude.

  1. 14h ago

    No More Summers

    Eventually, there are no more summers. In this episode, Ross reflects on impermanence, mortality, and the uncomfortable reality that none of us knows how many seasons we have left to fish, explore, hike mountains, or spend time in the wild places we love. After losing much of this summer to the demands of life, he began thinking about something even harder: you don't get that time back, and eventually, every one of us will catch our last fish, explore our last blue line, and experience our last season.  But this isn't an episode about being afraid of the end. It's about allowing the reality of impermanence to change the way we experience the present. The places we fish aren't suddenly valuable because we know we may never return. The value was always there. Sometimes we simply need to remember that there isn't necessarily another trip, another year, or another summer waiting for us.  So climb the mountain. Explore the blue line. Learn to tie the flies. Take your kids fishing. Fish with your dad. Backpack with your partner. Go see the lake you've been staring at on a map for the last ten years. And when you get there, slow down long enough to understand how lucky you are to be there at all.  Because one day, there are no more summers. Make this one count. ----- 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/

  2. Sep 18

    One More Alpine Trip: Late-Season Fishing Above Treeline

    The high alpine season is short. And sometimes we're just not ready for it to end. In this episode, Ross breaks down the unique challenges of chasing trout above treeline as summer gives way to fall. From rapidly changing weather and the possibility of early snow to shorter days, colder nights, and increasingly narrow margins for error, late-season alpine trips require a different level of planning, preparation, and judgment than the same trip might demand only a few weeks earlier.  But the changing season affects more than the hike. Ross also digs into how falling temperatures change alpine lakes and trout behavior, why fish become harder to find as the water cools, and how to identify the parts of a lake most likely to remain productive. That means paying attention to sunlight, drop-offs, wind, moving water, and the structure of the lake rather than simply cycling through flies and hoping something works.  Most importantly, this episode is about recognizing when the opportunity you're chasing is no longer worth the risk. There will always be another stream, another lake, another season—and eventually, part of being a competent backcountry angler is knowing when it's time to come down from the mountains.  Because nature doesn't care how badly you wanted one more alpine trip. Sometimes you just have to know when the season is over. ----- 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/

  3. Sep 11

    Don't Be Stupid: Wisdom and Judgment in the Backcountry

    You can carry all the right gear and still make a catastrophically bad decision. In this episode, Ross tells the story of encountering a father and his two adult sons lost deep in a Colorado wilderness area, miles from where they thought they were, without navigation, adequate water, filters, or much of anything else they would need if something went wrong. It raises a bigger question: what does it actually mean to be prepared for the backcountry?   The answer isn't just gear or technical skill. It's judgment. It's understanding your abilities, knowing the environment you're entering, listening when something tells you a decision might be wrong, and having the humility to turn around when necessary. Because you can have the best equipment and all the training in the world and still get yourself into serious trouble by making one stupid decision.  Ross also turns the lesson on himself, reflecting on a recent trip where he ignored his own intuition and pushed harder than he should have after weeks away from the backcountry. That experience ultimately led him to abandon his biggest planned trip of the year, not because he couldn't do it, but because wisdom meant recognizing that this wasn't the year to try.  The wilderness rewards preparation, experience, and confidence. But sometimes the most important outdoor skill is knowing when to say no. Don't be stupid. Stay wise. And make sure you come home. ----- 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/

  4. Sep 4

    Getting Lost Inside - Finding Your Way Back to the Water

    Sometimes life just decides you don't get to go fishing. Season 7 begins with a conversation about what happens when work, family, moving, injuries, emergencies, and everything else life throws at us keep us away from the places we need most. After spending nearly six weeks off the water, Ross reflects on what it feels like to become disconnected from something that isn't merely recreation, but an important source of peace, perspective, and connection with ourselves. This episode explores why time outside matters, why we have to be relentlessly intentional about protecting it, and how to stay connected to fly fishing and the outdoors during seasons when getting out simply isn't possible. From tying flies and dialing in gear to planning future trips and simply finding ways to get outside, there are still ways to keep that connection alive. Most importantly, it's about gratitude. Our ability to hike, fish, explore, and disappear into wild places isn't guaranteed forever. Sometimes being forced away from them is exactly what reminds us how much they matter. Because when you spend too long moving from one confined space to another, it's surprisingly easy to get lost inside. ----- 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/

  5. Jul 9

    Closing Out Season 6 and Looking Ahead

    Season 6 Finale: More Than Fly Fishing As Season 6 comes to a close, Ross reflects on the incredible growth of the Backcountry Fly Fishing Podcast and the community that has formed around it. From hopper fishing and backpacking to wilderness philosophy and personal growth, this season has been about far more than simply catching trout.  The episode looks back at the lessons, stories, and listener experiences that defined the season—including first alpine lake trips, first solo camps, and first steps into the backcountry. More than anything, it's a reminder that backcountry fly fishing isn't just about becoming a better angler. It's about becoming a more resilient, self-reliant, and confident person.  Ross also shares what's next for the podcast, including upcoming adventures, Season 7, and the possibility of carefully chosen partnerships with companies that genuinely support the values of the show. Through it all, one thing remains unchanged: the commitment to authenticity, stewardship, and helping people build meaningful relationships with wild places.  Thank you for another incredible season. We'll see you back on the trail—and back here soon for Season 7. ----- 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/

  6. Jul 3

    Finding New Water: A Conversation with TroutRoutes

    Finding fishable water has never been the hard part. Finding the right water—and knowing how to access it—is where things get complicated. In this episode, Ross sits down with Erik Johnsen of TroutRoutes to talk about the evolution of digital mapping for fly anglers, the challenges of building a trout-specific navigation tool, and how better information can open the door to more exploration and more confidence on the water.  The conversation covers everything from the unique trout culture of Wisconsin’s Driftless region to the broader challenge of helping anglers understand public access, stream classifications, species data, river miles, and backcountry navigation. Ross and Erik also dive into one of fly fishing’s most divisive topics: spot burning, gatekeeping, and the balance between protecting special places and helping anglers discover the incredible public water available across the country.  This is a conversation about maps—but it’s really about opportunity, access, and the work it still takes to earn fish, even when the information is right in front of you. ----- 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/

  7. Jun 21

    Built for the Backcountry - A Conversation with Eric Bender of Kifaru

    What makes outdoor gear actually good? And what happens when the people designing it are the same people out there beating it up in wild places? In this episode, Ross sits down with Eric Bender, lead equipment designer at Kifaru International, to talk about what goes into building gear for serious backcountry use and why so much of the fly fishing world still misses the mark. From packs, shelters, and load systems to chest rigs, sidearm carry, and the importance of durability over gimmicks, this is a deep dive into the intersection of design, function, and wilderness use.  Eric shares the story behind Kifaru, how his own life in the outdoors shaped his approach to product design, and why truly good gear should disappear into the background and simply do its job when things get hard. The conversation also explores the growing overlap between hunting, backpacking, and backcountry fly fishing and why more companies are beginning to recognize that serious anglers need equipment built for more than just standing next to the road.  If you’ve ever cursed a zipper, broken a pack, or wondered why outdoor gear so often feels like it was designed by people who don’t actually use it, this one’s for you. Because in the backcountry, gear isn’t just gear. It’s part of whether the whole thing works. ----- 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/

  8. Jun 12

    Field Notes - Building Relationships with Wild Places

    Recorded from a tent somewhere in the Colorado backcountry, this first installment of Field Notes is an experiment in bringing the podcast out of the studio and into the places that inspire it. After a day spent exploring a rugged mountain creek full of small brook trout, deadfall, steep canyon walls, and hard-earned water, Ross reflects on why we return to wild places in the first place.  This episode explores the idea that backcountry fly fishing is about more than checking boxes, collecting destinations, or adding new waters to a list. Instead, it's about building relationships with landscapes—learning their character, understanding their challenges, and allowing them to become part of our personal stories.  From memory and meaning to connection and place, this is a quieter, more reflective conversation about why some streams stay with us long after we've left them behind. Because we're not just collecting places. We're building relationships with them. ----- 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/

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4.9
out of 5
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About

Tired of overcrowded water? In love with catching wild fish in wild places? Addicted to exploration? Awed by the rugged beauty of nature? Then this is the podcast for you.We aim to build a library that covers everything related to fly fishing in the backcountry--tactics, flies, gear, survival skills, hiking, weather, outdoor hazards, navigation, camping, ecology, and much more.Whether you're a hardcore backcountry fly fisher or a newbie interested in getting out there, we've got something for you. Come join us in the pursuit of trout and solitude.

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