Captains Collective Fishing Podcast

In part two of the Back to School mini-series, I sit down with Austin Orr of Elevate Fly Casting to talk about casting as a real craft, not just something you “figure out” by spending time on the water. Austin is a full-time casting instructor and certified instructor through Fly Fishers International. We get into what beginners need to feel first, why most casters try too hard, how instruction should be built one piece at a time, and what it takes to prepare for real fishing situations where the shot matters. This conversation covers casting triage, loop control, double hauling, fishing under pressure, saltwater sight-casting, how often to practice, what to do if you cannot afford instruction, and why the work should happen before you step onto the bow with a guide calling out fish. Learn more about becoming Fit for Pursuit, and take the Hone Health Quiz HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Back to School episode, we sit down with Cameron Mortenson of The Fiberglass Manifesto to talk through fly rods from the ground up: line weight, length, action, budget, purpose, fiberglass versus graphite, and why the right rod is more than just a price tag or a cool color. Cameron has spent nearly eighteen years writing about fiberglass fly rods, rod builders, makers, and the small details that shape the way a rod fishes. We also talk about choosing rods for trout, bass, saltwater, small streams, streamers, dry flies, and destination trips; when custom rods make sense; why line choice can completely change how a rod feels; and why the best anglers tend to care about both the archer and the arrow. Learn about Fit for Pursuit, and take the Hone Health quiz, here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first episode of our Back to School series, Hunter sits down with Chase Hancock to talk about Fit for Pursuit: what it means to stay healthy, capable, and ready for the life you actually want to live. They cover Chase’s Ironman, Hunter’s own health momentum shift, why outdoor travel can be more physically demanding than people realize, what anglers should focus on first, and how tools like biomarker testing, training, recovery, and better habits can help you keep showing up on the water and at home. Take the Hone Health Test Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brandon “Eazy” White joins the Captains Collective to talk mentorship, business, duck hunting, saltwater fly fishing, and the courage to ask for help. It’s a conversation about doing the work, finding the right people, and finally chasing the life you wanted as a kid. TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP WITH HONE  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this short episode, Hunter shares a special hosted trip opportunity with Josh Schwartz of Travel Creel in Maine, August 24-29. The trip is built around chasing striped bass along the Maine coast, but the full experience is the point: good water, good meals, a strong crew, and a few days spent enjoying one of the best places in the country to travel and fish. To learn more, view the trip brochure here:⁠https://www.travelcreel.com/2026-maine-brochure⁠ To ask questions or save your spot, contact Josh at joshua@travelcreel.com or call/text (707) 299-8047. Learn more about hosted travel with Captains Collective and the Drifter Fish Club:⁠ www.drifterfishclub.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the end of Drifter’s Tarpon Camp in Homosassa, Hunter sat down with five members of the Homosassa Guides Association for a roundtable conversation on one of the most iconic tarpon fisheries in the world. Together, the group talks through what makes Homosassa so unique: the history, the rocks, the old Florida culture, the etiquette between guides, the evolution of the fishery, and why this place still holds so much weight in the world of saltwater fly fishing. Take the Hone Health Test Here: https://buy.honehealth.com/overview/3/?utm_source=Talent&utm_medium=Creator&utm_campaign=CaptainsCollective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Hunter Leavine sits down with Three Percent Co. for a conversation about strength, brotherhood, the outdoors, and the quiet things a lot of men carry but don’t always know how to talk about. They discuss what outdoor culture can teach us about grit, humility, responsibility, and friendship, while also exploring what it can miss: honesty, repair, asking for help, and learning how to bring those lessons home. This one is about becoming stronger in a fuller sense. Not just tougher, but more aware, more honest, and more whole. Take the Hone Health Test Here: https://buy.honehealth.com/overview/3/?utm_source=Talent&utm_medium=Creator&utm_campaign=CaptainsCollective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Hunter Leavine sits down with Tyler Sharp, founder of Modern Huntsman, to talk about hunting, fishing, storytelling, tradition, and the tension between old ways and new tools. They discuss how outdoor culture has always been shaped by innovation, why not every new tool should be accepted without question, and how hunters and anglers can think more carefully about what is worth preserving. The conversation explores technology, ethics, media, reverence for animals and place, and the difference between tools that deepen the pursuit and tools that quietly hollow it out. Take the Hone Health Test Here: https://buy.honehealth.com/overview/3/?utm_source=Talent&utm_medium=Creator&utm_campaign=CaptainsCollective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Hunter sits down with Eeland Stribling, a comedian, middle school science teacher, former wildlife biologist, and fly fishing guide. They talk about Eeland’s path into fishing and comedy, what bombing on stage has in common with getting skunked with clients, and why humor can help people step into harder conversations. They also get into race, identity, ego, social media, and the need for more spaces where people can think out loud, disagree, laugh, and stay in the room. Take the Hone Health Test Here: https://buy.honehealth.com/overview/3/?utm_source=Talent&utm_medium=Creator&utm_campaign=CaptainsCollective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we sit down with Captain Ben Whalley to talk about guiding on the coast of Maine, chasing striped bass, and the harder parts of Ben’s story: addiction, sobriety, faith, and rebuilding a life with honesty. They also discuss how time on the water can offer perspective, why fishing became a grounding force in Ben’s recovery, and how his own story shapes the way he guides and connects with people today. Fit for Pursuit: If you’re ready to take a more honest look at your health, energy, focus, and longevity, take the quiz with Hone Health here: https://buy.honehealth.com/overview/3/?utm_source=Talent&utm_medium=Creator&utm_campaign=CaptainsCollective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast we sit down with Captain Owen Gayler less than a year after his stage four cancer diagnosis to talk through what that journey has actually looked like. We cover the moment he got the call, the reality of treatment, and the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that came with it. We also talk about how the experience has changed the way he sees his life, his family, and his time on the water. The conversation moves through identity, ego, faith, and what it looks like to have everything stripped away and rebuilt. This isn’t a polished or overly structured interview—it’s an honest look at a difficult season and the perspective that’s come from it. For the full project—including writing, photos, and video—visit CaptainsCollective.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A reflection on the first year of Drifter Fish Club. In this episode, we talk through the trips, the lessons learned, and what’s surprised us most along the way. This isn’t a polished recap—it’s a real conversation about what it looks like to build something from the ground up, and what Drifter is starting to become. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with Joshua Schwartz of ⁠Travel Creel ⁠to talk about redefining fishing travel through food, culture, and intentional experience design. We dive into the idea of “controlling the controllables,” why hospitality matters more than ever, and what it really takes to run trips at a high level. This is a conversation about raising the bar—not just in fishing, but in how we travel, gather, and spend our time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a week fishing the backcountry around Everglades City, we sat down with the guide team for a laid-back roundtable conversation about the place, the people, and the stories that make the Everglades special. Joining the conversation are guides Eric Herstedt, Brian Esposito, and Junior Popfinger, who share decades of experience fishing and exploring one of the wildest fisheries left in the United States. We talk about: • What makes the Everglades such a unique place to fish• The lessons learned from decades of exploring the Everglades• Why the ride out each morning feels like stepping into another world• Camp life, wild stories, and the unpredictable nature of fishing trips• The balance between growing the sport and protecting the places we love More than anything, this episode captures the feeling of sitting around camp at the end of a long day on the water — swapping stories, laughing about the week, and reflecting on why wild places like the Everglades matter. This conversation pairs with our full episode with Eric Herstedt and offers a deeper look into the guides, culture, and philosophy behind fishing the Glades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everglades guide Eric Herstedt joins the podcast during a Drifter Fish Club trip to talk about the small details that make great anglers—from sight fishing strategy and casting mechanics to the mindset guides use to keep learning on the water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something good is happening in Charleston on May 16th at the Refinery. The idea is pretty simple. Bring people together around the things that make this community special. Music.Art.Conservation.Good food and good drinks.And a bunch of people who care about water and want to have a good time. Learn more at www.soulflyco.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we talk about crossroads — the moments when something that once felt right starts to shift. We talk about burnout, family, and the importance of paying attention when your priorities begin to change. Woody shares what it was like to build a band from nothing, win a Grammy, tour for more than two decades — and then step away at the right time. Not because things fell apart, but because he wanted something different. At its core, this conversation is about timing, perspective, and what it really means to build a life you love — and have the courage to adjust it when it no longer fits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Prince has spent years touring the world as a professional musician, but some of his most meaningful lessons have come far from the stage. In this conversation, Andy and I talk about what it means to be new at something as an adult—about ego, imposter syndrome, mentorship, jealousy, and the courage it takes to learn in public. We explore the overlap between music, fly fishing, skating, and craft—and why none of them reward bravado for very long. This episode isn’t about becoming the best.It’s about becoming honest—and learning to love the process along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Captains Collective Podcast, I sit down with artist and lodge owner Vaughn Cochran for a thoughtful conversation that moves from destination fishing to life design. We talk about building lodges, creating art, navigating failure, and the small decisions that shape a meaningful life. Vaughn shares perspective from decades of blending creativity, business, and time on the water—and why paying attention matters more than forcing outcomes. This episode isn’t a how-to guide. It’s a reflection on playing the long game and designing a life you actually want to live. To learn more about the show, and to sign up for weekly our weekly newsletter, head to www.captainscollective.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every few months, I’ll share where I’m headed, what I’m working on, and where our paths might cross—at festivals, events, and boat ramps. This Spring 2026 edition covers upcoming events and Drifter Fish Club trips, a look at what I’m building behind the scenes, and a short story at the end of "A Fish That Saved A Friendship." If you enjoy this episode, you can read the full written version—along with photo essays, short stories, and other caffeine-induced musings—over on my Substack. Thanks for listening. I’ll see you out there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices