In this episode of Waypoints, the focus is on technical gear and packing solutions for the traveling angler, with special guest Ben Kurtz, co-owner and President of Fishpond USA. Fishpond is a leading manufacturer of high-quality, packs, sustainable fly fishing travel solutions, and accessories designed for anglers who thrive on adventure, exploration, and the next great destination. The conversation delves into the evolution of luggage and gear construction, the most important features to co...

In this episode of Waypoints, we sit down with Peter Knox, the lead fly rod designer at Sage, a company renowned for its high-performance fly rods and innovation in rod technologies. Founded in 1980 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, Sage was the first to introduce fast-action, powerful graphite fly rods, and today, the company has grown into one of the most respected brands in the fishing industry. The discussion centers around Sage’s history, commitment to quality, and its evolution into a t...

Slovenia is renowned for its crystal-clear rivers, stunning alpine scenery, and diverse fish species – including the iconic marble trout and the hucho hucho taimen. With so much diversity and an incredible number of rivers, Slovenia offers fly anglers what may be the best freshwater fishing in all of Europe – in an area that without question delivers some of the most beautiful natural landscapes on the continent. Slovenia’s strong conservation efforts and the protection of native species like...

In this episode of Waypoints, we sit down with Chris Walker, the Lead Product Designer and R&D Manager at RIO Products – a brand recognized for its innovation and leadership in fly lines, leaders, and tippet. Chris addresses critical topics related to leaders and tippet set-ups, which are arguably the most significant elements directly connecting an angler to fish. He discusses common questions surrounding material options, performance metrics, and the confusion anglers often face when se...

Tom Kiernan is the President and CEO of American Rivers – the non-profit environmental advocacy group that has been a leader in protecting and restoring rivers throughout the United States for the past 50 years. There is no doubt that the rivers of our nation are currently facing severe threats and challenges due to climate change, unnecessary dams, pollution, floods, and outdated government policies – which is why American Rivers’ work and mission is more important than ever. Host Jim Klug t...

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of WAYPOINTS, Yellow Dog's Jim Klug is joined by Cosmoledo Atoll fly fishing guide Gary de Klerk and Yellow Dog's Alec Gerbec to discuss the art of fly fishing and hunting for giant trevally. Gary, a dedicated full-time guide in one of the premier locations in the world for giant trevally, is also an avid GT enthusiast. Together, they explore where anglers can find giant trevally around the world, their primary food sources, the best spots to find them o...

Send us a Text Message.On this episode of WAYPOINTS, Alec is joined by host Jim Klug to explore the intricacies of fly fishing at St. Brandon's Atoll, one of the most remote trips Yellow Dog offers. In May 2024, Yellow Dog's Alec Gerbec had the opportunity to visit St. Brandon’s Atoll, located 268 nautical miles north of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. The trip spanned from May 7 to 17, 2024, featuring seven full days of flats fishing, with additional days allocated for travel between Mauritiu...

Send us a Text Message.In part two of two of the “Bhutan Chronicles”, Waypoints host Jim Klug follows up his part one conversation with outfitter Bryant Dunn by sitting down with legendary angler and world traveler, Jeff Currier to talk about the fishing in Bhutan, the draw of mahseer as a species, and Jeff’s take-aways from a recent river expedition in the Kingdom. Recorded live from the field – on the banks of Bhutan’s Punatsang Chu river, Jim and Jeff break down the trip and discuss the dr...

Jim Klug is joined by Bryant Dunn, the international director and co-owner of Himalayan Fly Fishing Adventures, an outfitting operation that has been exploring the Kingdom of Bhutan for nearly two decades. Dunn's ventures include multi-day river excursions for golden and chocolate mahseer, shorter trips for brown trout and snow trout, a new lodge project set to open in 2025, and Bhutan's only fly shop located in the capital city of Thimphu. In addition to the Bhutan operation, Bryant also own...

In the second episode of this Belize podcast series, Waypoints host Jim Klug is joined once again by Yellow Dog’s Belize program director Matt Kelsic and industry veteran Bryan Gregson to discuss fly fishing throughout Belize. This episode focuses on the differences and offerings of specific fisheries and locations throughout the country, providing a tour of options and destinations from north to south. If you’re considering a first trip (or a return trip) to Belize, this two-part series is a...

Waypoints host Jim Klug is joined by Yellow Dog’s Belize program director Matt Kelsic and industry veteran Bryan Gregson to talk all things Belize. In episode one of this two-part series on Belize, Jim and guests discuss why Belize is such a popular and important angling destination, talk travel logistics and the best ways to get to Belize, break down the species found throughout the country, review relevant and effective gear and equipment, talk favorite flies, and discuss lodge packages and...

Stream access rights and regulations in the United States vary throughout the country, and depending on where exactly you’re fishing, the laws dealing with how you can enter a riverbed or step into the water can be wildly different. The subject is a complicated one, and with a growing number of anglers and a continued increase in the popularity of fishing, the stream access issue has dramatically heated up over the past several years. In the midst of the continuing and heated battle for...

At more than 850,000 square miles in size with a total population of less than 57,000 people, Greenland is the world’s largest island. While more than 80% of the country is covered with ice on a year-round basis, the summer months for the coastal areas bring ice-free arctic tundra, crystal-clear conditions on freestone rivers, and incredible numbers of sea-run Arctic Char. This episode of Waypoints – recorded on location in Greenland during a recent ten day trip – focuses on two different...

There’s no question that Patagonia is one of the premier freshwater fly fishing destinations in the world – a dynamic, one-of-a-kind region in South America that is home to dozens of world-class lodges, experienced and professional guides, and more rivers, streams, and lakes than can possibly be fished in a lifetime. The options and choices are both plentiful and varied, however, which is why deciding exactly where, when, and how to fish Patagonia can at times be confusing. This is especially...

In the spring of 2023, Montana’s media started to highlight the fact that wild trout populations in Montana’s Jefferson Basin – an area that includes the world-famous Big Hole, Ruby, Beaverhead and Jefferson Rivers – were in severe distress. Legendary for cold-water fisheries that have historically supported an abundance of wild trout, the rivers in Southwest Montana are currently experiencing what some are calling a population-level collapse. Is it too late to save Southwest Montana’s wild...

Mike Tayloe is the co-owner and Director of Operations of Finns West, an outdoor company that provides Wilderness First Aid courses and Emergency Action Plan development for fishing lodges, outfitters and guides. Tayloe has combined his profession as a paramedic with his extensive background as a professional international fly fishing guide to create a much-needed, oft-overlooked service for the travel industry. Tayloe joined us on an early episode of WAYPOINTS (Episode 2), and he’s back in...

Umpqua Feather Merchants is one of the biggest names in the fly fishing industry: a manufacturing powerhouse when it comes to innovative and effective flies, leader, tippet, premium hooks, and more. In this episode of Waypoints, we talk with Umpqua’s Director of Marketing, Russ Miller, to discuss the company’s position at the forefront of innovation for high-quality flies and accessories. When anglers grab a handful of patterns from the fly bins of a specialty fly shop, most are unaware of...

Christmas Island – the world’s largest coral atoll – has a legendary reputation as one of the top destinations in the world for saltwater flats fishing – especially when it comes to massive numbers of bonefish. Also known as Kiritimati Atoll, Christmas is an immense coral outcropping located in the tiny Pacific Ocean Republic of Kiribati. Christmas itself has the greatest land area of any atoll in the world, and the enormous flats system that surrounds this land mass and encompasses the...

In the second episode in our two-part series on Cuba, host Jim Klug is joined once again by Kristen Tripp – Yellow Dog Flyfishing’s program director for Cuba. Kristen is hands-down the most knowledgeable person in the game when it comes to both traveling in Cuba and fishing Cuba, and she’s an incredible resource when it comes to planning or researching a trip to this interesting and – at times –complicated island nation. In this second Cuba episode, we focus on the actual fishing details for...

With recent announcements that the U.S. and Cuban governments are – once again – taking steps to improve relations between the two countries, the logistics and intricacies that affect American fishing travel to Cuba are evolving and changing fast. In this first episode of a two-part series on Cuba, host Jim Klug sits down with Yellow Dog Flyfishing’s Cuba Program Director – Kristen Tripp – to talk about what’s involved in traveling to the country, and the logistical and legal challenges that...

In part two of the Irish episodes, WAYPOINTS host Jim Klug talks with Andrew Ryan – an incredible guide, outfitter, and angler who owns and operates Clononav Fly Fishing in the southern part of Ireland. Andrew has been guiding in Ireland and in other international destinations for over 20 years, and he’s developed a reputation as one of the best casting instructors, anglers, and operators in all of Europe. Andrew has built a business, fly shop and outfitting company that could easily compete...

Dominic O’Moron is the coordinator and chairman of a unique collection of historical fishing operations and angling destinations called “The Great Fishing Houses of Ireland.” This collection of 12 historical fishing lodges and sporting properties is unlike anything found in the world of fly fishing, and WAYPOINTS host Jim Klug talks with Dominic about how this network was created, what these destinations offer, and what types of anglers are typically drawn to these operations and lodges....

Dylan Tomine is a writer, Patagonia ambassador, conservationist, and an out-spoken wild fish advocate. He’s the producer of the film Artifishal, and one of the hottest authors in fly fishing. His work has appeared in The Flyfish Journal, The Drake, Fly Fisherman, and numerous other publications. Dylan joins us for this episode of Waypoints to discuss his new book, “Headwaters: The Adventures, Obsession and Evolution of a Fly Fisherman,” and to talk steelhead, the life of a fly fishing bum,...

Rob Neher is the founder and co-owner of East End Lodge – one of the most in-demand lodge operations in the entire Bahamas. In this episode of WAYPOINTS, host Jim Klug talks with Rob about the legendary fishing on Grand Bahama, the unique waters of the island’s eastern end, the history of bonefishing on Grand Bahama, tackle and techniques for trophy bonefish and permit, and the lodge’s resurrection and reopening after Hurricane Dorian in September of 2019. - View all podcast episodes by...