1 00:00:03,825 --> 00:00:07,065 PJ: Hey folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of the Articulate Fly. 2 00:00:07,945 --> 00:00:12,365 PJ: On this episode, I'm joined by PJ Smith of PJ's Guide Service in the Driftless. 3 00:00:12,925 --> 00:00:16,905 PJ: PJ shares his fly fishing journey, what makes the Driftless a must fish, 4 00:00:17,145 --> 00:00:21,325 PJ: and his tips for cracking the Driftless code. I think you're really going to enjoy this one. 5 00:00:22,305 --> 00:00:25,325 PJ: But before we get to the interview, just a couple of housekeeping items. 6 00:00:25,325 --> 00:00:29,525 PJ: If you like the podcast, please tell a friend and please subscribe and leave 7 00:00:29,525 --> 00:00:33,205 PJ: us a rating or review in the podcatcher of your choice. It really helps us out. 8 00:00:33,905 --> 00:00:37,325 PJ: And we're excited to partner with our friends at Jesse Brown's to bring the 9 00:00:37,325 --> 00:00:39,725 PJ: Chocolate Factory to Charlotte on May 4th. 10 00:00:39,985 --> 00:00:43,945 PJ: Blaine will be teaching private tying classes, discussing predator and prey, 11 00:00:44,165 --> 00:00:46,745 PJ: and sharing his favorite rod, reel, and line combos. 12 00:00:47,065 --> 00:00:49,345 PJ: Check out the link in the show notes for more details. 13 00:00:50,385 --> 00:00:51,825 PJ: Now, on to our interview. 14 00:00:52,865 --> 00:00:54,925 Music: Well, PJ, welcome to the Articulate Fly. 15 00:00:55,945 --> 00:01:02,605 Intro: Thank you very much for having me uh looking forward to talking all about fly 16 00:01:02,605 --> 00:01:06,645 Intro: fishing and fishing here in the driftless so yeah thank you oh. 17 00:01:06,645 --> 00:01:11,065 Music: You bet uh me too and you know i we have a tradition on the articulate fly we like to ask. 18 00:01:11,065 --> 00:01:12,285 Intro: All of our guests to. 19 00:01:12,285 --> 00:01:13,825 Music: Share their earliest fishing memory. 20 00:01:13,825 --> 00:01:23,405 Intro: Earliest fishing memory um that one is probably uh fishing with my grandfather 21 00:01:23,405 --> 00:01:26,905 Intro: father at our farm in Missouri at a, uh, 22 00:01:27,685 --> 00:01:29,745 Intro: oh, we've got several farm ponds 23 00:01:29,745 --> 00:01:34,665 Intro: there and catching largemouth bass and bluegill, uh, conventional gear. 24 00:01:35,765 --> 00:01:40,865 Intro: And, uh, yeah, it was just, uh, one of those things, uh, you know, 25 00:01:40,865 --> 00:01:46,945 Intro: I, I got to spend my summers at the farm with my grandparents and, uh, got to fish a lot. 26 00:01:46,945 --> 00:01:53,965 Intro: And so, yeah, that's kind of the earliest that I can remember walking through the pasture. 27 00:01:54,105 --> 00:01:56,965 Intro: I think I was probably about two or three years old. 28 00:01:57,505 --> 00:02:03,145 Intro: And, yeah, just catching big bass on probably a Zepco. 29 00:02:03,665 --> 00:02:06,785 Music: Yeah, one of those green Zepco 33s probably. 30 00:02:07,825 --> 00:02:10,745 Intro: Yeah, more than likely that or I don't know. 31 00:02:10,765 --> 00:02:14,685 Intro: We had several different Zepcos, but they were all pretty much in that same 32 00:02:14,685 --> 00:02:21,305 Intro: line. uh the closed face uh spinning rails so yeah yeah i. 33 00:02:21,305 --> 00:02:23,205 Music: I had to uh call no moss. 34 00:02:23,205 --> 00:02:23,565 Intro: On the. 35 00:02:23,565 --> 00:02:25,685 Music: Bait casters i can never quite get the hang of those. 36 00:02:25,685 --> 00:02:28,845 Intro: Yeah as i 37 00:02:28,845 --> 00:02:31,545 Intro: as i got older i actually got into them for a little 38 00:02:31,545 --> 00:02:34,465 Intro: bit and uh yeah you can 39 00:02:34,465 --> 00:02:38,045 Intro: well nowadays they're so like i 40 00:02:38,045 --> 00:02:42,985 Intro: don't know they're almost engineered near where you can't backlash but back 41 00:02:42,985 --> 00:02:47,445 Intro: in my day it was definitely one that you had to keep your thumb there and uh 42 00:02:47,445 --> 00:02:52,645 Intro: throttle it down once you got casting in that but yeah it's uh things have come 43 00:02:52,645 --> 00:02:55,805 Intro: a long long way that's for sure so yeah. 44 00:02:55,805 --> 00:02:58,845 Music: So so pj when did you come to the dark side of fly fishing. 45 00:03:00,013 --> 00:03:07,313 Intro: Oh, the dark side. I had just finished up with college and had started working 46 00:03:07,313 --> 00:03:08,573 Intro: at the Morton Arboretum. 47 00:03:09,153 --> 00:03:15,613 Intro: And at that time, I was pretty much fishing ultralights, all kinds of stuff like that. 48 00:03:15,733 --> 00:03:22,573 Intro: And just really kind of was really intrigued by it. Had seen the movie River Runs Through It. 49 00:03:23,533 --> 00:03:26,853 Intro: So probably right around 95, 96. 50 00:03:28,193 --> 00:03:36,553 Intro: My mom had a friend that she worked with and he knew fly fishing and we tend 51 00:03:36,553 --> 00:03:43,873 Intro: to I had a place that I could fish and then he knew enough about fly fishing to kind of get me started, 52 00:03:44,693 --> 00:03:54,053 Intro: right at that same time I was dating my wife Donna and so we both fished we went out she kind 53 00:03:54,133 --> 00:03:56,973 Intro: of fell in love with the casting and i just fell in love with 54 00:03:56,973 --> 00:04:00,013 Intro: fly fishing and uh we just 55 00:04:00,013 --> 00:04:07,453 Intro: really i don't know i went head first full throttle do not stop do not pass 56 00:04:07,453 --> 00:04:13,673 Intro: go i just hammered down into fly fishing just loved it and uh got in with a 57 00:04:13,673 --> 00:04:17,513 Intro: great shop uh at that time I'm Marcos Varga, 58 00:04:17,613 --> 00:04:26,473 Intro: ran Flying Field in Glen Ellyn and met some great guys there that just kind of helped me out. 59 00:04:26,833 --> 00:04:33,073 Intro: Time flies and all that, but Marcos was a huge factor, helped me out greatly, 60 00:04:33,333 --> 00:04:40,613 Intro: hooked me up with gear that I could afford that was really good quality equipment. 61 00:04:41,153 --> 00:04:48,433 Intro: I think the first one that I had was a five-weight Orvis Rocky Mountain. 62 00:04:48,973 --> 00:04:52,413 Intro: That was the first one. I caught a lot of bass on it. I still have it. 63 00:04:52,493 --> 00:04:54,813 Intro: It's a two-piece. It's old school. 64 00:04:56,773 --> 00:05:03,913 Intro: So, yeah, that's kind of the start to it. And we just kind of kept going from there. 65 00:05:04,393 --> 00:05:08,893 Music: Yeah, pretty neat. And so, you know, obviously it's been, you know, 66 00:05:08,893 --> 00:05:12,333 Music: gosh, almost 30 years, you know, who are some other folks other than Marcos 67 00:05:12,333 --> 00:05:15,053 Music: that have mentored you on your fly fishing journey? What have they taught you? 68 00:05:16,642 --> 00:05:20,882 Intro: So, uh, another one that sticks out really well for me is Bill Harrell. 69 00:05:21,062 --> 00:05:24,622 Intro: Uh, he was a guide up here in the drift list. 70 00:05:26,322 --> 00:05:32,422 Intro: Um, you know, he really, I mean, that was kind of my first, uh, trip. 71 00:05:33,042 --> 00:05:40,562 Intro: We kind of took a, uh, um, a trout school up here, uh, in the drift list. 72 00:05:40,682 --> 00:05:43,642 Intro: And Bill Harrell was, uh, the teacher on that. 73 00:05:43,642 --> 00:05:46,382 Intro: And it just I don't know 74 00:05:46,382 --> 00:05:50,222 Intro: we just Don and I fell in love with this area um 75 00:05:50,222 --> 00:05:53,802 Intro: he kind of taught us to just uh take it 76 00:05:53,802 --> 00:05:57,542 Intro: all in not just focus on the fishing but take 77 00:05:57,542 --> 00:06:00,302 Intro: it all in like um you know 78 00:06:00,302 --> 00:06:03,042 Intro: you need to see what's coming off what 79 00:06:03,042 --> 00:06:06,242 Intro: bugs and his approach was super simple 80 00:06:06,242 --> 00:06:09,082 Intro: you just he's like you don't have to know what the name of the 81 00:06:09,082 --> 00:06:12,142 Intro: fly is you just have to know that there's 82 00:06:12,142 --> 00:06:15,962 Intro: flies coming off and they're about a size 10 or 83 00:06:15,962 --> 00:06:19,302 Intro: 12 or 20 whatever and then 84 00:06:19,302 --> 00:06:21,982 Intro: uh just look in your box and see if you got a fly 85 00:06:21,982 --> 00:06:29,282 Intro: that kind of matches and um so that was a really good way to learn for me um 86 00:06:29,282 --> 00:06:37,442 Intro: i'm kind of a visual learner um you know he also had a thing where uh uh he 87 00:06:37,442 --> 00:06:41,842 Intro: could cast pretty well uh again up here in the driftless, you'd have to cast fairly well, 88 00:06:41,962 --> 00:06:45,322 Intro: but he's like, it doesn't matter how it gets there. The fish don't care. 89 00:06:46,102 --> 00:06:52,002 Intro: Once it's on the water, that's when they care. So just kind of worked it that way. 90 00:06:54,102 --> 00:07:00,562 Intro: And then of course, Marcos at the shop is another guy that kind of mentored 91 00:07:00,562 --> 00:07:04,022 Intro: me quite a bit, Steve Finnelli. 92 00:07:05,135 --> 00:07:08,075 Intro: I hope i'm saying that name it's been a long time 93 00:07:08,075 --> 00:07:11,335 Intro: but uh he was a shop guy there at uh 94 00:07:11,335 --> 00:07:16,755 Intro: flying field and uh we always used to hang out and he was from montana just 95 00:07:16,755 --> 00:07:22,475 Intro: would tell awesome stories so i always took it in and that oh probably another 96 00:07:22,475 --> 00:07:28,495 Intro: real good mentor of mine has been uh vith uh he's He's a guide over in Minnesota. 97 00:07:29,895 --> 00:07:40,015 Intro: And, oh, we've done many, many trips with Kip, having him guide us for Smallmouth and Muskie. 98 00:07:40,275 --> 00:07:46,715 Intro: And so he's always been a great guy to just bounce ideas off. 99 00:07:46,935 --> 00:07:52,555 Intro: And when I decided to become Orvis Endorsed, he was already endorsed and kind 100 00:07:52,555 --> 00:07:58,055 Intro: of helped me get onto that track. So I'm pretty happy about having all those 101 00:07:58,055 --> 00:08:01,095 Intro: guys in my corner and kind of cheering me on. 102 00:08:01,175 --> 00:08:08,015 Intro: So I'm definitely helping out whenever I needed someone to at least listen to 103 00:08:08,015 --> 00:08:10,495 Intro: me and bounce some ideas off of them. 104 00:08:10,935 --> 00:08:14,075 Music: Yeah, very neat. And for folks that aren't familiar, you know, 105 00:08:14,095 --> 00:08:17,135 Music: I know your home waters are located in the Driftless. 106 00:08:17,175 --> 00:08:20,295 Music: You want to let folks kind of know a little bit more about the area and what 107 00:08:20,295 --> 00:08:22,395 Music: makes it such a special place to chase trout? out. 108 00:08:23,715 --> 00:08:30,055 Intro: So the Drupalist where we're at is basically southwest Wisconsin. 109 00:08:31,635 --> 00:08:36,615 Intro: It's affectionately called the Drupalist. It does go into other states. 110 00:08:38,235 --> 00:08:44,695 Intro: It goes into Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and a little bit of Illinois. 111 00:08:45,395 --> 00:08:49,895 Intro: So obviously it's split by the Mississippi River, 112 00:08:50,967 --> 00:08:56,627 Intro: And what it is, is it's an area that the glaciers basically missed. 113 00:08:56,947 --> 00:09:06,187 Intro: Every time that the glaciers would advance, this area was kind of like a big, giant rock in a stream. 114 00:09:06,767 --> 00:09:12,847 Intro: The glaciers just kind of went around. I do know on the Minnesota and Iowa side, 115 00:09:13,007 --> 00:09:18,787 Intro: there was either one or probably like one or two advancements that actually 116 00:09:18,787 --> 00:09:22,007 Intro: kind of got into their side. a little bit. 117 00:09:23,227 --> 00:09:28,207 Intro: But on the Wisconsin side, it's pretty much been untouched. 118 00:09:30,327 --> 00:09:39,227 Intro: It's an area that steep valleys, erosion is kind of the biggest thing. 119 00:09:39,347 --> 00:09:42,207 Intro: It kind of started off as a plateau 120 00:09:42,207 --> 00:09:48,107 Intro: type area and then erosion has kind of caused it to be what it is today. 121 00:09:48,107 --> 00:09:50,927 Intro: Um so down at the bottom of all these 122 00:09:50,927 --> 00:09:59,647 Intro: valleys is usually uh spring fred small creeks um and they can be just a few 123 00:09:59,647 --> 00:10:09,227 Intro: feet wide to 20 or 30 feet wide at the best um so they're pretty small intimate 124 00:10:09,467 --> 00:10:16,767 Intro: creeks that hold mostly brown and brook trout. 125 00:10:17,387 --> 00:10:25,467 Intro: The brookies are the natives here, and then obviously browns were brought in early on in that. 126 00:10:26,547 --> 00:10:30,767 Intro: But the spring-fed water helps keep the water clean and cold. 127 00:10:31,687 --> 00:10:37,487 Intro: There is a lot of natural reproducing trout, out, but they do some... 128 00:10:40,290 --> 00:10:47,590 Intro: Uh stocking at times uh it's just uh numbers and then um you know sometimes 129 00:10:47,590 --> 00:10:52,710 Intro: we've had some flood events that kind of change things up so um there is uh 130 00:10:52,710 --> 00:10:54,970 Intro: stocking that does go on in that, 131 00:10:55,710 --> 00:11:02,890 Intro: so yeah definitely very special uh there's areas around here that are like no other place on earth, 132 00:11:03,930 --> 00:11:10,350 Intro: um you know you can really look into it as you get towards the mississippi um 133 00:11:10,350 --> 00:11:15,630 Intro: you can definitely kind of see where it uh you know the tall bluffs and, 134 00:11:16,510 --> 00:11:21,710 Intro: just the sheer rock cliffs that are uh that are there it's pretty spectacular, 135 00:11:22,450 --> 00:11:27,210 Intro: and then all throughout this region you can just go up and down all the valleys 136 00:11:27,210 --> 00:11:33,710 Intro: and uh get lost but you always seem to find your way out of them so definitely very fun very. 137 00:11:33,710 --> 00:11:39,850 Music: Very neat and i would imagine too you know having relatively small low gradient 138 00:11:39,850 --> 00:11:44,230 Music: streams that don't have a lot of structure in them probably makes for a pretty 139 00:11:44,230 --> 00:11:45,390 Music: technical fishery right. 140 00:11:45,390 --> 00:11:52,230 Intro: Oh yeah it is uh i like to say it's it's definitely the hardest easiest place 141 00:11:52,230 --> 00:12:00,950 Intro: to catch trout um they uh they are spooky but yet there's so many of them uh 142 00:12:00,950 --> 00:12:03,870 Intro: you know if you can get your fly into the water you can, 143 00:12:04,550 --> 00:12:11,070 Intro: pretty much catch something um we just have the numbers uh per mile um i've 144 00:12:11,070 --> 00:12:13,030 Intro: heard as much as you know, 145 00:12:13,550 --> 00:12:15,590 Intro: 4,000 per mile, give or take, 146 00:12:16,470 --> 00:12:18,310 Intro: uh, which is quite a bit, um, 147 00:12:20,654 --> 00:12:23,574 Intro: on that same aspect we have uh with them 148 00:12:23,574 --> 00:12:27,094 Intro: being so small um the edges 149 00:12:27,094 --> 00:12:30,074 Intro: grow up uh that's why right now here 150 00:12:30,074 --> 00:12:32,954 Intro: in the springtime now that the snow and. 151 00:12:32,954 --> 00:12:36,114 Intro: Everything's kind of mushed all the uh the brush 152 00:12:36,114 --> 00:12:39,674 Intro: and weeds and stuff down it's. 153 00:12:39,674 --> 00:12:42,514 Intro: It's pretty easy to get around but at the same time that 154 00:12:42,514 --> 00:12:45,854 Intro: makes it really tough because they can see you coming from 155 00:12:45,854 --> 00:12:49,394 Intro: a long ways away um so yeah 156 00:12:49,394 --> 00:12:52,274 Intro: so is the is the year goes on uh the 157 00:12:52,274 --> 00:12:55,734 Intro: weeds and uh grass and all that 158 00:12:55,734 --> 00:12:58,854 Intro: brush starts growing pretty heavy and uh 159 00:12:58,854 --> 00:13:01,854 Intro: it just makes it tougher and tougher to get that cast 160 00:13:01,854 --> 00:13:05,094 Intro: in there um and that's where accuracy 161 00:13:05,094 --> 00:13:08,474 Intro: is a huge deal um being 162 00:13:08,474 --> 00:13:11,474 Intro: able to just understand like uh like 163 00:13:11,474 --> 00:13:16,154 Intro: a good roll cast bow and arrow cast um and 164 00:13:16,154 --> 00:13:19,714 Intro: i call it like my little flip cast even uh 165 00:13:19,714 --> 00:13:22,894 Intro: doing some downstream work just letting the 166 00:13:22,894 --> 00:13:25,674 Intro: fly kind of um trickle down and that 167 00:13:25,674 --> 00:13:28,614 Intro: is is definitely helpful um there 168 00:13:28,614 --> 00:13:31,974 Intro: are some open areas uh some of the some of 169 00:13:31,974 --> 00:13:34,774 Intro: the landowners are actually doing a little bit of mowing and that 170 00:13:34,774 --> 00:13:37,694 Intro: so uh you know there is 171 00:13:37,694 --> 00:13:40,574 Intro: there is some stuff that uh as a beginner you can 172 00:13:40,574 --> 00:13:43,874 Intro: get into uh i've been you 173 00:13:43,874 --> 00:13:47,774 Intro: know obviously fishing up here for so long you start learning all those areas 174 00:13:47,774 --> 00:13:55,454 Intro: and and that so uh we can go from fairly easy uh easy to get into not a lot 175 00:13:55,454 --> 00:14:00,774 Intro: of brush not a lot of trees to uh super technical if you want to get into that 176 00:14:00,774 --> 00:14:02,534 Intro: so there there's a lot of variety. 177 00:14:03,932 --> 00:14:06,812 Intro: For sure but it is uh it makes 178 00:14:06,812 --> 00:14:14,072 Intro: for fun fishing um and it'll just make you a better better fisher person all 179 00:14:14,072 --> 00:14:19,312 Intro: the way around because it uh once you can fish here and catch fish you can go 180 00:14:19,312 --> 00:14:26,172 Intro: anywhere and be able to cast and be accurate so it's definitely a helpful thing too yeah. 181 00:14:26,172 --> 00:14:30,712 Music: And so you know in terms of i understand you know the the challenge the casting 182 00:14:30,712 --> 00:14:32,852 Music: challenges you know when you've got tall brush and. 183 00:14:32,852 --> 00:14:33,212 Intro: You can't. 184 00:14:33,212 --> 00:14:38,472 Music: Really have a back cast, but, you know, what about some sort of on the water 185 00:14:38,472 --> 00:14:41,512 Music: strategies, you know, once you've got your fly in the water where you're, 186 00:14:41,532 --> 00:14:44,452 Music: I imagine you're fishing to really clear water. 187 00:14:44,852 --> 00:14:49,892 Music: Um, probably a lot of it's probably pretty shallow and it's also probably relatively smooth. 188 00:14:50,032 --> 00:14:54,512 Music: You know, what are some suggestions for folks to be a little bit more effective in those situations? 189 00:14:56,072 --> 00:14:58,832 Intro: So once you, uh, once you get that fly in 190 00:14:58,832 --> 00:15:01,792 Intro: the the water um you know 191 00:15:01,792 --> 00:15:05,872 Intro: everybody's heard of a dead drift um and 192 00:15:05,872 --> 00:15:12,192 Intro: that but we actually will find uh if we do our dry fly fishing actually adding 193 00:15:12,192 --> 00:15:18,632 Intro: a little uh oh we call it the i call it the dry fly shake um you kind of get 194 00:15:18,632 --> 00:15:25,092 Intro: that fly to kind of move a little bit um live bugs move so um. 195 00:15:26,634 --> 00:15:31,294 Intro: You know, you need to put a little action into them. So I don't mind skating 196 00:15:31,294 --> 00:15:33,974 Intro: a little bit on some of my flies. 197 00:15:35,274 --> 00:15:41,354 Intro: They'll take it on the swing, which is pretty cool. If you're doing like nymphing 198 00:15:41,354 --> 00:15:46,854 Intro: at that, just trying to like get those flies in without a huge splash. 199 00:15:47,254 --> 00:15:51,774 Intro: Again, it's pretty hard with the heavier tungsten and that. 200 00:15:51,774 --> 00:15:54,914 Intro: Um so i i try 201 00:15:54,914 --> 00:15:57,834 Intro: to limit um trying to 202 00:15:57,834 --> 00:16:03,454 Intro: do a huge splash sometimes just adding a little extra tippet to make that presentation 203 00:16:03,454 --> 00:16:11,554 Intro: a little softer um i do kind of i fall into the keep it really simple so all 204 00:16:11,554 --> 00:16:15,314 Intro: of my leaders start off at seven and a half foot either a three or a 205 00:16:15,394 --> 00:16:19,074 Intro: 4X and then I just add on tippet as I need it. 206 00:16:19,294 --> 00:16:24,974 Intro: That way I kind of know exactly how long my leaders are most of the time, 207 00:16:24,974 --> 00:16:30,374 Intro: unless I've had to cut them apart and make them super long and that. 208 00:16:30,454 --> 00:16:35,014 Intro: But most of the time you can get away with something like that. 209 00:16:35,354 --> 00:16:40,574 Intro: On a real open stream where the fish are being a little more finicky, 210 00:16:40,934 --> 00:16:46,434 Intro: adding a little more tippet is definitely helpful it doesn't have to be smaller 211 00:16:46,434 --> 00:16:53,334 Intro: but it just gives that a little easier presentation and then um i try to uh 212 00:16:53,334 --> 00:16:57,714 Intro: i'll use a more of a dry fly as opposed to an indicator. 213 00:16:58,714 --> 00:17:05,534 Intro: Um especially the harder indicators like um the ones that are like uh made of 214 00:17:05,534 --> 00:17:09,594 Intro: plastic and that they work good but they're just they're a little bit too much 215 00:17:09,594 --> 00:17:11,954 Intro: on these small creeks so i go with a. 216 00:17:13,109 --> 00:17:16,869 Intro: Um oh like a larger almost 217 00:17:16,869 --> 00:17:20,289 Intro: like a hopper a rubber leg stimulator uh we 218 00:17:20,289 --> 00:17:23,189 Intro: have a fly around here called the hippie stomp it's actually 219 00:17:23,189 --> 00:17:26,309 Intro: from out west uh highly effective around 220 00:17:26,309 --> 00:17:29,089 Intro: here and the nice thing about 221 00:17:29,089 --> 00:17:32,029 Intro: that is is like now you've actually put two hooks on 222 00:17:32,029 --> 00:17:34,829 Intro: the water so your chances of hooking a fish are 223 00:17:34,829 --> 00:17:37,869 Intro: uh are doubled now so uh it 224 00:17:37,869 --> 00:17:41,149 Intro: makes it pretty easy um those foam indicator 225 00:17:41,149 --> 00:17:44,789 Intro: style flies are uh really buoyant 226 00:17:44,789 --> 00:17:48,469 Intro: so they stay up pretty good so yeah so it's again 227 00:17:48,469 --> 00:17:51,149 Intro: i try to keep it pretty simple there's a lot of 228 00:17:51,149 --> 00:17:54,269 Intro: good techniques like anytime we 229 00:17:54,269 --> 00:17:57,329 Intro: get a a rain around here uh we 230 00:17:57,329 --> 00:18:00,329 Intro: usually will try to switch over to streamers as well 231 00:18:00,329 --> 00:18:03,349 Intro: um because once that water stains up boy 232 00:18:03,349 --> 00:18:06,249 Intro: they'll they'll actively go after streamers and stuff 233 00:18:06,249 --> 00:18:10,589 Intro: so it's kind of um there's 234 00:18:10,589 --> 00:18:13,729 Intro: a lot here you can learn a lot of different techniques a 235 00:18:13,729 --> 00:18:17,449 Intro: lot of euro guys around here uh and that 236 00:18:17,449 --> 00:18:20,589 Intro: and that's always something that we kind of dabble in 237 00:18:20,589 --> 00:18:23,669 Intro: a little bit it's something that is kind of on our to-do list 238 00:18:23,669 --> 00:18:31,389 Intro: around here as well uh learning that a little bit more but um yeah so it it's 239 00:18:31,389 --> 00:18:36,029 Intro: one of those that you can kind of run the gamut if you're a dry fly guy you 240 00:18:36,029 --> 00:18:41,029 Intro: can do really well nymph streamers so yeah Yeah. 241 00:18:41,129 --> 00:18:47,229 Music: What's not to like is they like to say, and, you know, PJ, when did you get the guide bug? 242 00:18:49,248 --> 00:18:56,408 Intro: Oh, the guide bug was probably not too long after I started fishing up here. 243 00:18:58,488 --> 00:19:02,888 Intro: I think I'm right now I'm in my 14th season, give or take. 244 00:19:04,108 --> 00:19:10,228 Intro: I'd have to look back and see if I can find my original guide license that I had. 245 00:19:10,488 --> 00:19:14,508 Intro: But yeah, I just we were coming up here so often. 246 00:19:14,508 --> 00:19:17,348 Intro: Uh you know we we would come 247 00:19:17,348 --> 00:19:20,828 Intro: up here throughout the summer and fish and every 248 00:19:20,828 --> 00:19:24,048 Intro: once in a while i'd run into bill and uh 249 00:19:24,048 --> 00:19:26,908 Intro: i you know i'd always talk about 250 00:19:26,908 --> 00:19:29,648 Intro: it like oh it'd be kind of cool to be a guide and all that 251 00:19:29,648 --> 00:19:32,568 Intro: and finally one day he kind of just told me 252 00:19:32,568 --> 00:19:35,288 Intro: he's like you know either do it or don't do 253 00:19:35,288 --> 00:19:38,168 Intro: it but he goes you just just shut up about it like 254 00:19:38,168 --> 00:19:41,548 Intro: he goes i don't care what you do but you've worked 255 00:19:41,548 --> 00:19:45,808 Intro: here you've done enough fishing in here um he 256 00:19:45,808 --> 00:19:49,288 Intro: goes just just do it so that was oh i 257 00:19:49,288 --> 00:19:52,968 Intro: think i had been fishing up here for almost 15 years 258 00:19:52,968 --> 00:20:01,588 Intro: uh so uh yeah that's what that was a push that i needed i'd always kind of helped 259 00:20:01,588 --> 00:20:06,608 Intro: friends when we were fishing together um so i I guess I was kind of guiding 260 00:20:06,608 --> 00:20:09,508 Intro: them without actually guiding them, you know, a friend trip. 261 00:20:09,868 --> 00:20:15,968 Intro: I always wanted to make sure that they caught fish and whether that was fishing 262 00:20:15,968 --> 00:20:18,328 Intro: for bass or panfish or trout, 263 00:20:18,448 --> 00:20:30,748 Intro: you know, I'd go on some of our trips with the club that we belong to in Illinois, Drift. 264 00:20:31,228 --> 00:20:36,008 Intro: And then I'd always just kind of help out the new guys that weren't totally 265 00:20:36,008 --> 00:20:37,648 Intro: sure how to do some stuff. 266 00:20:38,788 --> 00:20:43,988 Intro: So yeah, that kind of got me started into it and then I got my guide license 267 00:20:43,988 --> 00:20:48,868 Intro: for Wisconsin and yeah, just kind of, 268 00:20:50,271 --> 00:20:57,331 Intro: Went from there, was working a full-time job and pretty much driving up a lot 269 00:20:57,331 --> 00:20:59,591 Intro: of weekends and doing the guide thing. 270 00:21:00,791 --> 00:21:05,071 Music: Yeah. And so did you always just guide for yourself or did you kind of start 271 00:21:05,071 --> 00:21:07,451 Music: guiding through shops in the area? 272 00:21:08,351 --> 00:21:10,851 Intro: No, I've always just been an independent. 273 00:21:13,751 --> 00:21:19,371 Intro: At that time, I just didn't feel confident enough to go into a shop and that. 274 00:21:20,271 --> 00:21:23,971 Intro: Probably should have at times, but again, hindsight's always 20-20. 275 00:21:24,171 --> 00:21:30,591 Intro: And as far as things go now, I'm happy that I could do what I can do. 276 00:21:30,931 --> 00:21:36,591 Intro: I did it all on my own, but with a lot of help from friends and family and that. 277 00:21:37,671 --> 00:21:39,571 Intro: So I just stayed independent. 278 00:21:42,411 --> 00:21:47,991 Intro: 2018, I left my full-time job and went full-time into the guiding world. 279 00:21:47,991 --> 00:21:51,631 Intro: Uh at that same time i uh i 280 00:21:51,631 --> 00:21:54,351 Intro: decided i uh went out to 281 00:21:54,351 --> 00:21:57,411 Intro: an orvis guide rendezvous really liked 282 00:21:57,411 --> 00:22:00,891 Intro: their program and decided to uh become orvis 283 00:22:00,891 --> 00:22:07,151 Intro: endorsed so i guess that's kind of the thing there and my wife at the time was 284 00:22:07,151 --> 00:22:14,591 Intro: actually working for orvis in uh madison at their store so uh yeah so she she's 285 00:22:14,591 --> 00:22:17,591 Intro: kind of been on the the shop side of it i've been uh 286 00:22:17,991 --> 00:22:21,751 Intro: just the guide and the guy that ties the knots and rows the boat. 287 00:22:21,931 --> 00:22:27,951 Intro: So, um, yeah, I just, uh, you know, that's what I like doing. 288 00:22:28,091 --> 00:22:33,211 Intro: I, you know, that, yeah, just guiding and helping people, uh, 289 00:22:33,251 --> 00:22:36,811 Intro: get into some fish and all that and hoping they have a fun day. 290 00:22:37,391 --> 00:22:41,531 Music: So, you know, it's interesting. We're, I think, uh, we're of a similar vintage. 291 00:22:41,591 --> 00:22:44,891 Music: Tell me a little bit more about how you made the decision to kind of quit the 292 00:22:44,891 --> 00:22:47,331 Music: safe full-time thing and become a full-time fishing guide. 293 00:22:48,551 --> 00:22:51,391 Intro: Yeah that one is a good one yeah 294 00:22:51,391 --> 00:22:55,491 Intro: i uh i graduated college um and 295 00:22:55,491 --> 00:22:58,431 Intro: graduated college on a saturday drove 296 00:22:58,431 --> 00:23:06,351 Intro: home sunday started work monday at the morton arboretum and uh 26 years later 297 00:23:06,351 --> 00:23:16,691 Intro: uh the day before i turned 50 i left there and became a full-time guide um yeah i mean i had done a 298 00:23:16,751 --> 00:23:19,951 Intro: full-time job in the Chicagoland area. 299 00:23:20,731 --> 00:23:27,611 Intro: And I don't know, you just get to a point where you just need to make a change and you're. 300 00:23:29,235 --> 00:23:35,215 Intro: Yeah, I mean, I was, yeah, I just had that drawing to just become a guide. 301 00:23:35,335 --> 00:23:36,715 Intro: That's what I wanted to do. 302 00:23:37,335 --> 00:23:42,235 Intro: I figured if I didn't do it by the time I was 50, I wouldn't ever do it. 303 00:23:42,255 --> 00:23:43,495 Intro: And then I'd have that regret. 304 00:23:43,675 --> 00:23:47,275 Intro: So, yeah, it was a tough one. 305 00:23:47,975 --> 00:23:50,315 Intro: Stepping off that cliff was very tough. 306 00:23:51,815 --> 00:23:57,635 Intro: You know, I mean, we were smart enough to know that it wasn't going to be easy. 307 00:23:59,235 --> 00:24:04,495 Intro: You know, I had been guiding for many years part-time in that. 308 00:24:04,515 --> 00:24:07,835 Intro: And then all of a sudden, now I'm going to hopefully try to make a living out of it. 309 00:24:07,975 --> 00:24:15,855 Intro: But we had planned, we had savings, and we actually had a house up here in the Duraflis. 310 00:24:16,535 --> 00:24:20,035 Intro: So it kind of made things easy to transition. 311 00:24:21,235 --> 00:24:27,895 Intro: And that, so yeah, just kind of made that jump and hoped for the best. 312 00:24:27,895 --> 00:24:29,955 Intro: And I held on to a few things. 313 00:24:30,055 --> 00:24:35,255 Intro: I kept my CDL license just in case I needed to go back and be a truck driver, 314 00:24:35,415 --> 00:24:37,135 Intro: a heavy equipment operator. 315 00:24:37,795 --> 00:24:41,935 Intro: But yeah, I've never looked back. I've been happy after that. 316 00:24:42,735 --> 00:24:46,315 Intro: Wake up every day and feel kind of blessed to be here. 317 00:24:47,175 --> 00:24:52,355 Intro: Luckily with my wife being in the industry and being understanding, 318 00:24:52,455 --> 00:24:56,155 Intro: she was right there with me and said, yeah, let's do it. 319 00:24:56,175 --> 00:24:58,655 Intro: So, um, but it was tough. 320 00:24:58,835 --> 00:25:03,895 Intro: Uh, there's no doubt about it. There's days that I, I just hope that, 321 00:25:03,895 --> 00:25:06,515 Intro: uh, someone calls and books a trip. 322 00:25:06,615 --> 00:25:12,295 Music: So is that kind of the biggest challenge is just kind of keeping your plate 323 00:25:12,295 --> 00:25:15,495 Music: full or are there other things that have kind of surprised you kind of making 324 00:25:15,495 --> 00:25:19,875 Music: that transition from a kind of a safer gig to, you know, working for yourself? 325 00:25:21,406 --> 00:25:27,966 Intro: Um, yeah, I would definitely say just keeping busy, uh, you know, COVID didn't help. 326 00:25:28,026 --> 00:25:32,626 Intro: It, it helped, but it didn't help, uh, at the same time, uh, 327 00:25:32,726 --> 00:25:33,986 Intro: got a lot of people outside. 328 00:25:34,426 --> 00:25:45,206 Intro: Uh, so there are a lot of people that needed, uh, help in getting into fly fishing, uh, on that same thing. 329 00:25:45,426 --> 00:25:51,066 Intro: It, uh, it didn't help because we were shut down the entire time that COVID was, 330 00:25:52,306 --> 00:25:55,426 Intro: happening in that so uh so that 331 00:25:55,426 --> 00:25:58,326 Intro: was a little tough um right now we're just 332 00:25:58,326 --> 00:26:01,226 Intro: we're kind of really ramping back up we're doing 333 00:26:01,226 --> 00:26:04,706 Intro: a lot of shows doing uh programs at 334 00:26:04,706 --> 00:26:12,126 Intro: shop wherever we can go into uh uh like tu meetings and other uh clubs we're 335 00:26:12,126 --> 00:26:17,686 Intro: trying to do meetings and um i've got several uh PowerPoint programs that I 336 00:26:17,686 --> 00:26:21,666 Intro: give throughout kind of this upper Midwest area. 337 00:26:23,066 --> 00:26:28,186 Intro: So, yeah, so I kind of focus on that. That's how word of mouth kind of helps too. 338 00:26:28,306 --> 00:26:35,786 Intro: And then obviously being Orvis endorsed now is really big for us because that 339 00:26:35,786 --> 00:26:39,846 Intro: really has kind of pushed it a little bit more. but we're always, 340 00:26:39,886 --> 00:26:43,126 Intro: always looking to fill some more, more dates. 341 00:26:43,786 --> 00:26:48,406 Intro: Um, you know, there's, there's obviously, um. 342 00:26:49,866 --> 00:26:54,066 Intro: You know, the off season, we're looking at trying to fill some of those that 343 00:26:54,066 --> 00:26:57,346 Intro: time with some other stuff that we're looking into. 344 00:26:58,066 --> 00:27:02,186 Music: Yeah. And so, you know, it's interesting because, I mean, can you talk a little 345 00:27:02,186 --> 00:27:05,006 Music: bit more about kind of the process of becoming Orvis Endorsed? 346 00:27:05,006 --> 00:27:08,786 Music: I know, you know, it's kind of a little bit of a mystery, right? 347 00:27:08,906 --> 00:27:10,466 Music: And then there's a lot of lore around it. 348 00:27:11,546 --> 00:27:15,406 Music: But can you kind of tell us a little bit about the process and kind of why you 349 00:27:15,406 --> 00:27:17,306 Music: thought having that credential was so important? 350 00:27:18,506 --> 00:27:21,626 Intro: Um a lot of it had to do with uh kip 351 00:27:21,626 --> 00:27:24,586 Intro: v he uh oh i 352 00:27:24,586 --> 00:27:30,366 Intro: i kind of was talking to him about it and uh we ended up going to an ogr out 353 00:27:30,366 --> 00:27:38,286 Intro: in asheville um and just you know their their whole program the fact that they 354 00:27:38,286 --> 00:27:44,026 Intro: uh were letting at that time they were uh anybody that was kind of on a pro 355 00:27:44,106 --> 00:27:51,606 Intro: -staff, like a guide could come out and go to their stuff. 356 00:27:51,886 --> 00:27:55,666 Intro: And it just kind of made it nice and an easy transition. 357 00:27:57,126 --> 00:28:02,286 Intro: You know, they were pretty open and pretty forthcoming with all their information. 358 00:28:03,206 --> 00:28:09,066 Intro: You know, they talked about how they were revamping some of their program and 359 00:28:09,066 --> 00:28:12,806 Intro: they were going to kind of start putting guides first again. 360 00:28:14,026 --> 00:28:19,186 Intro: You know, if you needed help with some stuff, they would help you get that. 361 00:28:19,246 --> 00:28:23,686 Intro: You know, if you needed rods repaired and stuff like that, although now it's 362 00:28:23,686 --> 00:28:27,586 Intro: a little different, you know, it's easier to get parts and stuff now. 363 00:28:29,066 --> 00:28:32,326 Intro: So I just I and I enjoyed that part of it. 364 00:28:32,886 --> 00:28:37,566 Intro: Again, when I got back from that, that trip, I talked a little bit more with 365 00:28:37,566 --> 00:28:42,726 Intro: Kip and then I reached out to Orvis. And we basically set up a. 366 00:28:44,777 --> 00:28:48,017 Intro: A time to meet. So they, they actually kind of vetted me. 367 00:28:48,077 --> 00:28:54,657 Intro: Uh, I know there was other people that I'm sure were called and asked if I was, uh, legit. 368 00:28:55,797 --> 00:29:00,537 Intro: And, um, so yeah, it kind of, that kind of started it. 369 00:29:00,577 --> 00:29:05,657 Intro: And then I ended up having to basically do a trip, uh, with Pete Kutzer from 370 00:29:05,657 --> 00:29:12,537 Intro: Morris and, um, yeah, so it, it was kind of weird cause it was actually a musky trip. 371 00:29:12,537 --> 00:29:15,457 Intro: Um by the time he could get out 372 00:29:15,457 --> 00:29:18,177 Intro: uh it was 373 00:29:18,177 --> 00:29:21,277 Intro: muskie time uh trout fishing had already closed 374 00:29:21,277 --> 00:29:24,437 Intro: so we did a muskie trip and ironically that 375 00:29:24,437 --> 00:29:29,677 Intro: day the whole week before it was super nice weather and all that and then he 376 00:29:29,677 --> 00:29:34,677 Intro: comes out and the weather is absolutely terrible uh it rained so much there's 377 00:29:34,677 --> 00:29:40,157 Intro: probably eight inches of water in the bottom of my boat um so that made it fun 378 00:29:40,157 --> 00:29:43,257 Intro: uh but we moved some fish And, uh, yeah, 379 00:29:43,457 --> 00:29:45,637 Intro: it just, that's, uh. 380 00:29:45,877 --> 00:29:53,297 Intro: You know, it was fun and they realized that, uh, I was really just wanting to, 381 00:29:53,377 --> 00:29:58,757 Intro: uh, make trips, uh, an adventure and, uh, take care of clients. 382 00:29:58,937 --> 00:30:06,477 Intro: And, uh, I wasn't just some guy looking to just get into it all about the money or, or whatever. 383 00:30:06,597 --> 00:30:12,817 Intro: It's like, I, I want people to enjoy their trip. It's they're paying me to basically 384 00:30:12,817 --> 00:30:14,577 Intro: go on a vacation and that. 385 00:30:14,757 --> 00:30:25,797 Intro: So, so, yeah. So I was approved and I think my approval went through sometime in 2019 or early 2020. 386 00:30:25,957 --> 00:30:30,377 Intro: And so I became an enormous endorsed guide by then. 387 00:30:30,597 --> 00:30:33,137 Music: Yeah. So it's just in time for COVID, right? 388 00:30:34,077 --> 00:30:42,577 Intro: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah, not exciting, but, you know, that time was a little 389 00:30:42,577 --> 00:30:46,037 Intro: rough because I was like, wow, did I make a mistake? 390 00:30:46,577 --> 00:30:53,737 Intro: But we got through it. You know, it's stuff that I can't control. 391 00:30:53,837 --> 00:31:02,317 Intro: So I try to, you know, not focus on that and just focus on what I can control. 392 00:31:03,157 --> 00:31:06,177 Intro: It's kind of like the weather. I can't control the weather. 393 00:31:06,657 --> 00:31:12,537 Intro: I can't, you know, control stuff like that. So, I try to not dwell on that. 394 00:31:12,637 --> 00:31:19,017 Intro: It's hard not to, but that's what I try to at least strive for. 395 00:31:20,357 --> 00:31:24,997 Music: Yeah. And I guess, so, you know, they vet you and then, you know, 396 00:31:25,097 --> 00:31:26,397 Music: you're kind of put on the website. 397 00:31:26,497 --> 00:31:30,097 Music: And I know they have great support services because I've talked to other Orvis Endorse guides. 398 00:31:30,257 --> 00:31:33,417 Music: And it's like, if you break a rod, they're literally FedExing rides out to you. 399 00:31:35,257 --> 00:31:38,377 Music: And then I guess, right, there's an annual membership fee to kind of stay in 400 00:31:38,377 --> 00:31:39,997 Music: the program. Is that generally how it works? 401 00:31:40,377 --> 00:31:41,577 Intro: Yep. Yeah. Yeah. 402 00:31:42,814 --> 00:31:47,274 Intro: Yep. Yeah. And they, they do still make sure like they, they come out, 403 00:31:47,274 --> 00:31:52,594 Intro: um, or, you know, with COVID and that that's kind of changed some stuff up, but, um, 404 00:31:52,774 --> 00:31:59,314 Intro: you know, I, I talked to Pete Kutzer and, and that, uh, I wouldn't say frequently, 405 00:31:59,434 --> 00:32:03,054 Intro: but I talked to him pretty much, uh, yearly, if not more. 406 00:32:03,514 --> 00:32:07,054 Intro: Um, so we're just making sure things are on the right track. 407 00:32:07,374 --> 00:32:11,874 Intro: Um, you know, obviously Obviously, if there's any problems with clients and 408 00:32:11,874 --> 00:32:17,574 Intro: they call Orvis, you know, and it becomes a problem and they obviously talk 409 00:32:17,574 --> 00:32:19,674 Intro: to you, but not any of that, 410 00:32:19,934 --> 00:32:24,654 Intro: you know, we don't have problems with clients. 411 00:32:24,654 --> 00:32:32,034 Intro: They, uh, I, again, I try to work with them and do the best that I can, uh, for everybody. 412 00:32:32,234 --> 00:32:38,554 Intro: So, um, so yeah, if you, uh, if you strive to reach their goals, 413 00:32:38,754 --> 00:32:41,354 Intro: uh, you don't have problems. So, yeah. 414 00:32:41,894 --> 00:32:45,714 Music: And which, which is a great segue into my next question, PJ is what do you think 415 00:32:45,714 --> 00:32:47,274 Music: is the secret to being a good guide? 416 00:32:49,894 --> 00:32:53,694 Intro: Well, you know, everybody will be like, oh, you got to catch a ton of fish and 417 00:32:53,694 --> 00:33:00,554 Intro: all that. And I can tell you right now, you know, I do catch a lot of fish at times. 418 00:33:01,414 --> 00:33:07,054 Intro: But to be honest, to be a good guide, you have to be able to listen and kind 419 00:33:07,054 --> 00:33:12,714 Intro: of read people, understand them, understand what they're not saying to you, 420 00:33:12,814 --> 00:33:16,034 Intro: along with what they are saying to you. 421 00:33:17,114 --> 00:33:21,034 Intro: I've seen a lot of guys out there and they're like, oh, I, you know, 422 00:33:21,094 --> 00:33:25,034 Intro: 100 fish days and all that. And to be honest with you, when things are good, 423 00:33:25,134 --> 00:33:26,674 Intro: yeah, you can get a hundred fish day. 424 00:33:27,374 --> 00:33:33,274 Intro: It's not an impossibility, but it's the days that you don't catch any fish. 425 00:33:33,554 --> 00:33:36,214 Intro: That's when a true guide is going to shine. 426 00:33:38,014 --> 00:33:42,514 Intro: You know, most of the time, like I said, when it's easy, it's easy. 427 00:33:42,834 --> 00:33:47,514 Intro: When it's hard, that's when you'll find out who a real good guide is. 428 00:33:47,514 --> 00:33:55,134 Intro: Um, so I really try to strive for just, um, being the best I can be, 429 00:33:55,334 --> 00:33:59,954 Intro: uh, giving 110% of myself, uh, 430 00:34:00,788 --> 00:34:05,588 Intro: Uh, yeah, I mean, I just, you know, I want them to be happy. 431 00:34:05,628 --> 00:34:09,588 Intro: I want them to go home and feel like they had a good time. 432 00:34:10,208 --> 00:34:13,428 Intro: Um, yeah, I do try to get them fish. 433 00:34:14,828 --> 00:34:18,188 Intro: Uh, but some of it's not all about that. A lot of my clients, 434 00:34:18,288 --> 00:34:19,408 Intro: they want to learn something. 435 00:34:19,988 --> 00:34:23,888 Intro: So I try to teach them like, you know, we talk about the drift list or we talk 436 00:34:23,888 --> 00:34:28,788 Intro: about like casting or we talk about different whys and stuff like that. 437 00:34:28,788 --> 00:34:31,228 Intro: So it's not always about that. 438 00:34:31,268 --> 00:34:39,868 Intro: You just, you know, you try to help them kind of on their journey as well. 439 00:34:40,528 --> 00:34:44,248 Intro: They, you know, they've trusted you to take them out. 440 00:34:45,468 --> 00:34:50,388 Intro: So, yeah, so I try to teach and, you know, if anything goes wrong, 441 00:34:50,568 --> 00:34:54,668 Intro: I try to be there to help solve their problem. 442 00:34:55,328 --> 00:34:58,908 Intro: Them um so yeah so i just 443 00:34:58,908 --> 00:35:06,648 Intro: uh um yeah listen to their needs and uh that's kind of hard for some people 444 00:35:06,648 --> 00:35:11,308 Intro: because they they don't always like i'm a really i'm a good listener and i can 445 00:35:11,308 --> 00:35:16,648 Intro: i can sense when something's not going right even if they don't see anything you can just, 446 00:35:17,716 --> 00:35:23,236 Intro: I can just tell when something's not right and then I'll just kind of keep prying until I get it. 447 00:35:23,316 --> 00:35:28,516 Intro: And sometimes we just sit back a little bit, talk a little bit, 448 00:35:28,576 --> 00:35:34,656 Intro: you know, because sometimes it's not always about just the fishing part of it. 449 00:35:35,416 --> 00:35:40,356 Intro: I mean, I get a lot of people that have told me a lot more than I I wanted to know. 450 00:35:40,476 --> 00:35:44,676 Intro: You know, it's like, you know, people have outside lives. And, 451 00:35:44,716 --> 00:35:49,816 Intro: um, sometimes when you're fishing, it, it comes out quite a bit. 452 00:35:49,876 --> 00:35:53,616 Music: So yeah, it's like being a bartender on the water without a beer, right? 453 00:35:54,496 --> 00:35:59,036 Intro: Exactly. I'm a really cheap therapist. That's for sure. Yeah. 454 00:35:59,996 --> 00:36:04,316 Music: And so, you know, what do you think PJ is the biggest misconception that people 455 00:36:04,316 --> 00:36:05,976 Music: have about the life of a fishing guide? 456 00:36:07,956 --> 00:36:11,836 Intro: Oh, well, you know, if you look at Instagram, it's, it's all perfect. 457 00:36:11,836 --> 00:36:18,656 Intro: I think every day is a bluebird day and you catch tons of fish and you get free 458 00:36:18,656 --> 00:36:22,636 Intro: deals and everybody gives you a fly rod. 459 00:36:22,796 --> 00:36:32,376 Intro: And it's just super easy. And that is probably the biggest thing that is so untrue. 460 00:36:33,336 --> 00:36:39,316 Intro: There's a lot of days where, you know, like, well, I've got a trip tomorrow. 461 00:36:39,316 --> 00:36:44,396 Intro: And I've been working on this trip for the last two or three days now. 462 00:36:44,516 --> 00:36:51,876 Intro: So I I've scouted water, checked everything out, got my boat already, um, checked all my rods. 463 00:36:52,096 --> 00:36:56,556 Intro: So it it's, you know, it's not just the day that you're on the water. 464 00:36:56,596 --> 00:36:59,016 Intro: It's it's the days beforehand. 465 00:36:59,216 --> 00:37:02,336 Intro: I planned out a meal prep and all that. 466 00:37:03,314 --> 00:37:08,254 Intro: Um, you know, just making sure everything's ready, uh, going through flies. 467 00:37:10,074 --> 00:37:13,014 Intro: Um, so yeah, so it, it's, it's a lot more. 468 00:37:13,134 --> 00:37:18,214 Intro: And then on top of it, when, uh, you're not getting those calls or you got days 469 00:37:18,214 --> 00:37:26,094 Intro: off and, um, you know, you're, I'm, I'm going to the laundromat doing laundry and stuff like that. 470 00:37:26,194 --> 00:37:28,954 Intro: So it's, it's not all glamorous. risks there's a 471 00:37:28,954 --> 00:37:33,854 Intro: lot of uh can be downtime um and 472 00:37:33,854 --> 00:37:37,534 Intro: then you know the seasonal depression is 473 00:37:37,534 --> 00:37:40,454 Intro: kind of a weird one too uh during the winter 474 00:37:40,454 --> 00:37:44,214 Intro: when we're not fishing as much um that 475 00:37:44,214 --> 00:37:47,094 Intro: can kind of get to you know you get the gray days and 476 00:37:47,094 --> 00:37:50,214 Intro: you're just like oh my gosh and uh some days 477 00:37:50,214 --> 00:37:53,334 Intro: you're like i'm just gonna sleep in and other days 478 00:37:53,334 --> 00:37:56,334 Intro: you're like okay i need to get out of bed and get some work done so 479 00:37:56,334 --> 00:37:59,314 Intro: um but yeah it's not always uh 480 00:37:59,314 --> 00:38:02,114 Intro: what you see uh instagram's showing 481 00:38:02,114 --> 00:38:05,034 Intro: you just probably the smallest and just the best 482 00:38:05,034 --> 00:38:12,154 Intro: parts um you know it's tough i mean you know from paying all your insurance 483 00:38:12,154 --> 00:38:22,474 Intro: and guide fees and uh making sure that you're legal and all that it's it all adds up um So, again, 484 00:38:22,694 --> 00:38:27,574 Intro: it's not just calling yourself a guide. It's really working hard at it. 485 00:38:28,634 --> 00:38:31,874 Music: Yeah, it's funny you say that. I was talking to somebody earlier today and, 486 00:38:31,914 --> 00:38:35,214 Music: you know, I was trying to explain to them they don't really fly fish, 487 00:38:35,314 --> 00:38:37,874 Music: but we're kind of talking about the guide game and, you know, 488 00:38:37,894 --> 00:38:41,494 Music: that whole disconnect where, like, you know, the client is there to have fun, 489 00:38:41,554 --> 00:38:42,794 Music: but you're working, right? 490 00:38:44,094 --> 00:38:44,494 Intro: Yes. 491 00:38:44,494 --> 00:38:48,234 Music: And so that's a huge thing. And, you know, what they don't understand is, 492 00:38:48,294 --> 00:38:54,514 Music: you know, if you meet them at 730, you probably got up at 530 to get the boat ready to do lunches. 493 00:38:54,534 --> 00:38:58,254 Music: And then at the end of the day, you've got to go home and clean the boat out, 494 00:38:58,374 --> 00:39:00,574 Music: you know, maybe wash it and get ready for the next day. 495 00:39:00,674 --> 00:39:05,634 Music: And so, you know, a 10 or 12 day on the water is really a 16 hour day without doing anything. 496 00:39:05,794 --> 00:39:09,474 Music: And, you know, it's funny because I talked to my buddies that got out West and 497 00:39:09,474 --> 00:39:13,094 Music: it's like, you know, they got 13, 14 days in a row and they're so excited to 498 00:39:13,094 --> 00:39:14,214 Music: get a laundry day. It's crazy. 499 00:39:14,494 --> 00:39:17,534 Intro: Yeah exactly yeah i mean 500 00:39:17,534 --> 00:39:25,634 Intro: uh it is uh yeah it's it's it's a tough life it's it's fun there is definitely 501 00:39:25,634 --> 00:39:30,014 Intro: days where you're just like yeah this is exactly why i guide all the time and 502 00:39:30,014 --> 00:39:35,794 Intro: i've you know i you try to have more of those days than days you're like oh 503 00:39:35,794 --> 00:39:37,514 Intro: my gosh why did i decide to 504 00:39:37,594 --> 00:39:43,274 Intro: do this for a living um but i mean and i i'm definitely not at that point i've 505 00:39:43,274 --> 00:39:48,614 Intro: been doing this for a long time and every day i'm just happy to be out on the 506 00:39:48,614 --> 00:39:51,374 Intro: water and that but it's uh. 507 00:39:52,643 --> 00:39:57,783 Intro: Yeah. I mean, I have to do laundry and, uh, you know, we have some lodging at 508 00:39:57,783 --> 00:39:59,423 Intro: our house and, and stuff. 509 00:39:59,523 --> 00:40:04,603 Intro: And, uh, so yeah, I'm like making beds, all the glamorous stuff, 510 00:40:04,683 --> 00:40:09,303 Intro: you know, going to the grocery and getting groceries for the next week and making 511 00:40:09,303 --> 00:40:14,023 Intro: sure I've got everybody's, uh, uh, dietary needs taken care of, 512 00:40:14,283 --> 00:40:19,423 Intro: uh, you know, so, and then making lunches that, uh, we're all going to be happy with. 513 00:40:19,523 --> 00:40:24,583 Intro: I try to simplify it as best I can, but then sometimes I try to change it up 514 00:40:24,583 --> 00:40:26,723 Intro: and maybe a little more gourmet. 515 00:40:26,743 --> 00:40:31,063 Intro: If I got somebody that's like got a birthday or something special is going on, 516 00:40:31,163 --> 00:40:36,383 Intro: or, um, you know, I, I've had some clients that have, uh, uh, 517 00:40:36,383 --> 00:40:38,703 Intro: needs that, uh, you know, like celiac. 518 00:40:38,743 --> 00:40:42,543 Intro: So I got to make sure everything's cleaned out. And, uh, so they, 519 00:40:42,603 --> 00:40:47,923 Intro: you know, so they have a good day cause I don't want them to get sick or anything like that. 520 00:40:48,023 --> 00:40:52,443 Intro: So, um, yeah, so it, it's a lot of, uh, planning. 521 00:40:52,803 --> 00:40:59,923 Intro: Uh, I take a lot of notes, uh, with all my clients, so I know what's going on 522 00:40:59,923 --> 00:41:05,463 Intro: and, and that, so I just, uh, yeah, I mean, it's long days. 523 00:41:05,583 --> 00:41:11,623 Intro: I do try to, I'm definitely not doing the, uh, hours like I used to do when 524 00:41:11,623 --> 00:41:13,003 Intro: I was a heavy equipment operator. 525 00:41:13,663 --> 00:41:17,123 Intro: Some of those days were, almost 24 hours 526 00:41:17,123 --> 00:41:20,443 Intro: straight but uh um yeah there's 527 00:41:20,443 --> 00:41:24,643 Intro: days i get in late and then you know if you're hosting some 528 00:41:24,643 --> 00:41:30,003 Intro: people now you're also spending more time with them afterwards and that and 529 00:41:30,003 --> 00:41:33,983 Intro: i you know once you get done with that now you've got to come home and get ready 530 00:41:33,983 --> 00:41:37,843 Intro: for the next day so uh we try to 531 00:41:37,843 --> 00:41:43,663 Intro: be uh take care of ourselves though too because uh you don't want to get, 532 00:41:44,243 --> 00:41:48,723 Intro: too over the top uh so that you have a meltdown in that so yeah. 533 00:41:48,723 --> 00:41:52,563 Music: That's that's no good and you know the other thing too right is we talked about 534 00:41:52,563 --> 00:41:55,323 Music: it a little bit you also guide for smallmouth and muskie right. 535 00:41:55,323 --> 00:42:04,823 Intro: Yeah i i will run my boat for uh smallies pike and muskie um so i run a stealth 536 00:42:04,823 --> 00:42:12,303 Intro: craft uh drift boat and then i just added a stealth craft raft uh so i'm one of their ambassadors, 537 00:42:12,383 --> 00:42:15,783 Intro: and that's really broadened my... 538 00:42:18,285 --> 00:42:22,105 Intro: Um repertoire for for guiding for fish um 539 00:42:22,105 --> 00:42:25,465 Intro: you know the the driftless is awesome and 540 00:42:25,465 --> 00:42:29,405 Intro: and all that but we're starting to see uh summers 541 00:42:29,405 --> 00:42:32,405 Intro: where the temps are just getting way too hot for 542 00:42:32,405 --> 00:42:35,645 Intro: the trout so we uh you know 543 00:42:35,645 --> 00:42:38,385 Intro: years ago i was like you know i if i want 544 00:42:38,385 --> 00:42:42,025 Intro: to be a more rounded guide i need to add this uh 545 00:42:42,025 --> 00:42:45,345 Intro: aspect to fishing and and 546 00:42:45,345 --> 00:42:48,145 Intro: it's kind of cool i've even uh i even do a little bit 547 00:42:48,145 --> 00:42:51,205 Intro: of trout stuff early season i'll run 548 00:42:51,205 --> 00:42:54,085 Intro: my boat uh for trout here in 549 00:42:54,085 --> 00:42:56,805 Intro: the drift lists and one of the few spots you can get them 550 00:42:56,805 --> 00:43:04,145 Intro: but uh yeah i mean smallies pike and musky that they're super fun uh adds a 551 00:43:04,145 --> 00:43:09,225 Intro: whole new game to it uh the rods are much bigger you can uh you know the cool 552 00:43:09,225 --> 00:43:16,605 Intro: part Part is you're in a boat and you can see some pretty cool water and all of those fish are, boy, 553 00:43:16,685 --> 00:43:21,685 Intro: they love to eat and they put a good bend in your rod. So it's fun. 554 00:43:23,165 --> 00:43:27,185 Music: And so are you chasing those guys kind of in the middle of the summer when it's 555 00:43:27,185 --> 00:43:28,285 Music: kind of too hot for trout? 556 00:43:28,365 --> 00:43:31,665 Music: So it's kind of trout early and trout late and then smallmouth, 557 00:43:31,765 --> 00:43:34,905 Music: pike and muskie in the middle and maybe some muskie kind of at the end of the season? 558 00:43:35,825 --> 00:43:39,345 Intro: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. When it starts getting too warm here, 559 00:43:39,485 --> 00:43:42,785 Intro: it's an ideal time to switch over to smallmouths. 560 00:43:43,645 --> 00:43:50,785 Intro: I kind of tell people I'm and like this year, especially we were even though we just got some water. 561 00:43:52,665 --> 00:43:57,845 Intro: You know, I've got to make sure that the trout survive. So I will forego doing 562 00:43:57,845 --> 00:44:03,185 Intro: trips here in the Driftless, even though I could probably find water that's cold enough. 563 00:44:03,185 --> 00:44:09,905 Intro: But, um, so yeah, we'll definitely go after them, uh, during the hot months. 564 00:44:10,205 --> 00:44:15,365 Intro: Um, I do a little bit of musky stuff after I'm done with my trout. 565 00:44:15,525 --> 00:44:20,045 Intro: Like October 15th is the last day for trout in Wisconsin here. 566 00:44:20,305 --> 00:44:25,445 Intro: And then I'll switch over and we start chasing, uh, musky for a little bit. 567 00:44:25,605 --> 00:44:30,405 Intro: Uh, I usually go until about October, maybe a little bit into November. 568 00:44:30,405 --> 00:44:33,445 Intro: And then I usually just kind of take a break. 569 00:44:33,505 --> 00:44:38,245 Intro: I like to deer hunt in Missouri, so head to my grandparents' farm for that. 570 00:44:38,525 --> 00:44:42,985 Intro: So I just kind of wrap it up. Usually by then things are getting cold, 571 00:44:43,065 --> 00:44:45,805 Intro: and it's nice to take a break. 572 00:44:45,885 --> 00:44:51,105 Intro: I'm usually pretty fried from guiding the whole season and that, 573 00:44:51,225 --> 00:44:54,045 Intro: so it's good to take a break and rest. 574 00:44:55,975 --> 00:44:59,595 Intro: You know, head and just kind of do my own thing, sit in the, 575 00:44:59,595 --> 00:45:06,135 Intro: sit in the deer woods for a while and, and do that. So kind of a nice break. 576 00:45:06,435 --> 00:45:09,795 Music: Yeah, absolutely. I wait for some guys to come eat some acorns, right? 577 00:45:10,575 --> 00:45:15,895 Intro: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah. And, and they're pretty good eating too. 578 00:45:16,015 --> 00:45:19,135 Intro: So don't mind filling the freezer with them. 579 00:45:19,235 --> 00:45:23,215 Music: Yeah. And so, so PJ, what is a day on the water like like with you you want 580 00:45:23,215 --> 00:45:26,575 Music: to kind of give folks an idea of like you know what what it looks like to get 581 00:45:26,575 --> 00:45:28,115 Music: on a boat or to wade with you for a day. 582 00:45:28,115 --> 00:45:31,495 Intro: Sure um so my 583 00:45:31,495 --> 00:45:37,515 Intro: uh walk and wade stuff uh you know we'll just meet usually in the morning uh 584 00:45:37,515 --> 00:45:43,275 Intro: depending on you know i may meet you in town or uh you know if you're staying 585 00:45:43,275 --> 00:45:49,155 Intro: here at our place we get going we try to we may have breakfast i always try 586 00:45:49,155 --> 00:45:51,275 Intro: to start with a good breakfast, 587 00:45:51,495 --> 00:45:56,515 Intro: whether I've got to grab it at a gas station or something, but I always need 588 00:45:56,515 --> 00:45:57,895 Intro: a little breakfast to get going. 589 00:45:58,495 --> 00:46:04,775 Intro: So we'll either go to breakfast or make sure everybody's got breakfast. It's a good way to start. 590 00:46:05,055 --> 00:46:08,555 Intro: And then we'll talk over what's going on. 591 00:46:09,635 --> 00:46:12,895 Intro: And then we'll get out to the water fairly quick. 592 00:46:12,995 --> 00:46:17,195 Intro: Again, depends on the conditions. If it's a warm one, we try to start pretty 593 00:46:17,195 --> 00:46:21,475 Intro: early in the early, early season. 594 00:46:22,055 --> 00:46:27,935 Intro: If it's really cold, I have no problem waiting a while until it gets a little 595 00:46:27,935 --> 00:46:32,015 Intro: bit warmer out at 9.30, 10 o'clock time. 596 00:46:33,175 --> 00:46:39,415 Intro: But during the late spring into summer part, we're probably getting going by 597 00:46:39,415 --> 00:46:45,275 Intro: 7. And trying to get out to the water, I'll get everybody geared up. 598 00:46:45,315 --> 00:46:50,335 Intro: I usually try to run down and check water temps real quick just to make sure 599 00:46:50,335 --> 00:46:53,615 Intro: that the streams haven't warmed up too much. 600 00:46:55,237 --> 00:47:01,417 Intro: Uh, and then, uh, once everybody's kind of geared up, we just, uh, get started. 601 00:47:01,457 --> 00:47:06,637 Intro: We're, you know, we're rigging rods, uh, you know, starting in an area. 602 00:47:06,857 --> 00:47:11,417 Intro: And especially if you're someone that I don't know, we'll go to a spot that's 603 00:47:11,417 --> 00:47:12,517 Intro: maybe a little more open. 604 00:47:14,177 --> 00:47:20,157 Intro: Um, cause you know, some people, uh, like to exaggerate how good a caster they are. 605 00:47:21,397 --> 00:47:24,357 Intro: Um so yeah in about five minutes i can tell if 606 00:47:24,357 --> 00:47:28,217 Intro: you're a good caster not a good caster need a little work and 607 00:47:28,217 --> 00:47:31,677 Intro: need to get a little warmed up putting that but 608 00:47:31,677 --> 00:47:34,517 Intro: uh yeah we'll be hitting some water with that's got 609 00:47:34,517 --> 00:47:38,257 Intro: fish in it i kind of vary it up there's obviously 610 00:47:38,257 --> 00:47:45,397 Intro: a lot of water here on the wisconsin side uh so we'll we'll hit different areas 611 00:47:45,397 --> 00:47:51,357 Intro: uh then we usually break for lunch and then head back to the truck and we'll 612 00:47:51,357 --> 00:47:55,677 Intro: either move or we'll just tailgate and have lunch on the back of the truck. 613 00:47:56,577 --> 00:48:02,877 Intro: Or I've got a couple of spots that I can picnic and stuff like that. 614 00:48:03,677 --> 00:48:05,157 Intro: So we'll have a lunch. 615 00:48:06,037 --> 00:48:10,377 Intro: Again, I usually switch spots. It's kind of nice to vary it up. 616 00:48:10,697 --> 00:48:17,117 Intro: And then we'll get back on the water after lunch and basically chase trout some more. 617 00:48:17,117 --> 00:48:20,197 Intro: Um you know and we'll try to 618 00:48:20,197 --> 00:48:26,317 Intro: fish for about eight hours give or take um you know if i start seeing bugs coming 619 00:48:26,317 --> 00:48:32,557 Intro: off or we're getting to that uh you know almost like dark 30 time uh you know 620 00:48:32,557 --> 00:48:37,617 Intro: we may stay out a little bit longer um some guys ask for kind of doing some 621 00:48:37,617 --> 00:48:39,637 Intro: uh almost like night fishing, 622 00:48:40,177 --> 00:48:46,237 Intro: and we can bury that up too usually at lunchtime we'll uh head back in and then 623 00:48:46,237 --> 00:48:48,857 Intro: like kind of take a little siesta. 624 00:48:50,347 --> 00:48:53,327 Intro: Uh recharge a little bit and then head out later in 625 00:48:53,327 --> 00:48:56,007 Intro: the evening so there there's a lot of variable that we can 626 00:48:56,007 --> 00:48:58,887 Intro: do with uh with my 627 00:48:58,887 --> 00:49:03,207 Intro: kind of fishing uh obviously if we're in a boat we're doing it a little different 628 00:49:03,207 --> 00:49:07,367 Intro: we're getting in the boat we're going down and having lunch on the river and 629 00:49:07,367 --> 00:49:14,927 Intro: then you know so it's an a to b uh type trip um so yeah so once we're done we 630 00:49:14,927 --> 00:49:17,407 Intro: just kind of wrap things up, 631 00:49:18,567 --> 00:49:24,107 Intro: you know if someone's asking about flies we go over flies and stuff like that, 632 00:49:25,127 --> 00:49:30,407 Intro: and then depending on what their schedule is we may go out to dinner, 633 00:49:31,847 --> 00:49:35,087 Intro: you know maybe a cocktail on 634 00:49:35,087 --> 00:49:38,047 Intro: the back of the truck or whatever or just had 635 00:49:38,047 --> 00:49:45,167 Intro: our separate ways however people want it their day and often you know that's 636 00:49:45,167 --> 00:49:52,187 Intro: that's kind of how it is it And hopefully everybody walks away happy and feel 637 00:49:52,187 --> 00:49:55,907 Intro: they got fulfilled and doing some fishing with me. 638 00:49:56,487 --> 00:50:00,567 Music: Pretty neat. And I know you mentioned this earlier. You and your wife are teaching 639 00:50:00,567 --> 00:50:03,987 Music: some classes and workshops. You want to let folks know kind of what you have coming up? 640 00:50:06,127 --> 00:50:13,647 Intro: Sure. We are, again, the way we learned was doing a trout school. 641 00:50:13,647 --> 00:50:16,287 Intro: That's kind of how I met Bill Harrell. 642 00:50:16,447 --> 00:50:23,447 Intro: And now that we do guiding and stuff, we figured we wanted to kind of help give 643 00:50:23,447 --> 00:50:26,667 Intro: back and offer these classes as well. 644 00:50:28,567 --> 00:50:33,787 Intro: And my wife is a certified casting instructor, so we do some trout schools. 645 00:50:34,067 --> 00:50:37,567 Intro: We got a couple of basically beginner schools. 646 00:50:38,487 --> 00:50:41,887 Intro: We're doing two of them. uh may 647 00:50:41,887 --> 00:50:44,867 Intro: 4th and 5th is going to be a beginner class 648 00:50:44,867 --> 00:50:53,207 Intro: um and it's co-ed uh we've got i believe we have two two filled and we still 649 00:50:53,207 --> 00:50:59,907 Intro: have room for a couple more people and then may 18th and 19th my wife is doing 650 00:50:59,907 --> 00:51:04,807 Intro: a women's beginner school for uh trout fishing um, 651 00:51:06,020 --> 00:51:14,020 Intro: So, yeah, and then our program, we have lodging here, and then we also do breakfast and lunch for people. 652 00:51:15,560 --> 00:51:20,960 Intro: So it's kind of all-inclusive. Dinner is usually out on the town. 653 00:51:21,100 --> 00:51:27,940 Intro: That way we can help spread the wealth, and it helps show you what's around 654 00:51:27,940 --> 00:51:34,520 Intro: town and all the fun little restaurants that are around the Driftless here. 655 00:51:34,520 --> 00:51:44,120 Intro: And then we're hoping to do a smallmouth trip in July, get a couple of boats together and do that. 656 00:51:44,180 --> 00:51:46,960 Intro: That's going to be July 12th to the 15th. 657 00:51:47,600 --> 00:51:50,540 Intro: That one's still a little bit of a work in progress thing. 658 00:51:50,660 --> 00:51:57,200 Intro: And then in August, August is kind of a fun time here in the Driftless. 659 00:51:57,240 --> 00:52:01,220 Intro: We're going to do a hopper dropper mousing weekend. weekend 660 00:52:01,220 --> 00:52:04,180 Intro: uh and that's august 16th and 661 00:52:04,180 --> 00:52:07,160 Intro: 18th uh we hope people can 662 00:52:07,160 --> 00:52:14,840 Intro: get here early on friday so we head out friday evening uh try to get into a 663 00:52:14,840 --> 00:52:21,580 Intro: spot that's fairly easy to wade um it's close to the house and that and then 664 00:52:21,580 --> 00:52:24,520 Intro: uh so we'll do some mousing then, 665 00:52:25,720 --> 00:52:30,520 Intro: And then fish until it's pretty dark, until everybody's done, 666 00:52:30,700 --> 00:52:38,140 Intro: usually around 10 o'clock in the evening, kind of wrap it up, head back to the house. 667 00:52:39,431 --> 00:52:46,251 Intro: Get up early in the morning, do some hopper fishing, have lunch back at the 668 00:52:46,251 --> 00:52:50,191 Intro: house and just kind of chill for most of the day. 669 00:52:50,331 --> 00:52:56,271 Intro: And then we'll head out again in the evening after dinner and do some more mousing. 670 00:52:56,911 --> 00:53:02,711 Intro: So we go over like the hoppers in the morning and that and then the mousing 671 00:53:02,711 --> 00:53:10,451 Intro: in the evening. and then we finish up on Sunday, getting up and doing the hopper dropper game again. 672 00:53:10,691 --> 00:53:18,891 Intro: So just some trips that we offer here, and they're all kind of fun, kind of different. 673 00:53:19,891 --> 00:53:24,951 Intro: Again, the Smalley trip, again, we're trying to work with a couple other guides 674 00:53:24,951 --> 00:53:27,151 Intro: that we know to help out with that. 675 00:53:27,151 --> 00:53:31,831 Intro: That so it's uh hopefully gonna be that's one that we're kind of adding and 676 00:53:31,831 --> 00:53:36,251 Intro: hoping that will uh will go over pretty well but the trout schools we've been 677 00:53:36,251 --> 00:53:43,431 Intro: doing them for quite a while and they always uh it's always kind of fun so pretty. 678 00:53:43,431 --> 00:53:48,111 Music: Cool and i imagine if i remember correctly all those classes are on your website right. 679 00:53:48,111 --> 00:54:01,171 Intro: Yeah there's uh if you go to my website uh it's a pj guide or pjguideservice.com, you can look on there, 680 00:54:01,691 --> 00:54:07,711 Intro: and it's kind of got a rundown of all those classes and it's a way to connect with me too. 681 00:54:07,851 --> 00:54:12,751 Intro: You can, my phone number's there. 682 00:54:12,891 --> 00:54:19,671 Intro: You can call or text and then obviously email me. So, yeah. 683 00:54:19,771 --> 00:54:23,991 Music: And I'll drop a link to that in the show notes. And PJ, is there anything else 684 00:54:23,991 --> 00:54:26,011 Music: you want to share with our listeners before i'll let you go tonight. 685 00:54:26,011 --> 00:54:29,511 Intro: Um i don't 686 00:54:29,511 --> 00:54:35,211 Intro: know i mean fly fishing has just been super fun um i just encourage anybody 687 00:54:35,211 --> 00:54:42,491 Intro: that is into it just thinking about getting into it got into it over covid um 688 00:54:42,491 --> 00:54:48,831 Intro: if you're looking for a fun challenging time uh come fish with us here and the Driftless. 689 00:54:49,611 --> 00:54:53,951 Intro: But stick with it. It's definitely a sport that can... 690 00:54:55,602 --> 00:55:01,922 Intro: Just kind of change you. It's a great way to kind of just forget all your problems for a little bit. 691 00:55:02,562 --> 00:55:08,442 Intro: I definitely see that in myself, you know, when I need to get out there and 692 00:55:08,442 --> 00:55:14,222 Intro: kind of, you know, take a minute and breathe. It's always fun to get out. 693 00:55:15,382 --> 00:55:22,822 Intro: So, yeah, I mean, and fly fishing is definitely one of those sports that everybody is super helpful. 694 00:55:22,822 --> 00:55:25,542 Intro: Helpful um we may not 695 00:55:25,542 --> 00:55:29,262 Intro: always give you all our hot spots and that but we will 696 00:55:29,262 --> 00:55:32,282 Intro: definitely uh try to help you with your casting 697 00:55:32,282 --> 00:55:37,202 Intro: and everything so i mean that's that's the beauty of fly fishing it's just it's 698 00:55:37,202 --> 00:55:43,162 Intro: been an awesome journey and we just feel so privileged to be able to help and 699 00:55:43,162 --> 00:55:47,922 Intro: offer this and then also with my wife and i living here in the driftless is 700 00:55:47,922 --> 00:55:50,982 Intro: just it's kind of a dream come true. 701 00:55:51,242 --> 00:56:00,442 Intro: And we certainly didn't expect to be here when we first started dating. 702 00:56:00,542 --> 00:56:05,122 Intro: It was not one of those things. But once we got married, boy, 703 00:56:05,222 --> 00:56:06,642 Intro: we were into fly fishing then. 704 00:56:06,842 --> 00:56:12,782 Intro: So yeah, I just hope everybody can have a chance to come here to the Driftless. 705 00:56:13,262 --> 00:56:17,562 Music: Very, very neat. And I think I've got your website and I'll drop your phone 706 00:56:17,562 --> 00:56:20,582 Music: number in the show notes you want to let folks know i would imagine you're probably 707 00:56:20,582 --> 00:56:23,242 Music: an instagram guy you want to share your instagram handle before i let you go. 708 00:56:23,242 --> 00:56:29,642 Intro: Tonight yeah so instagram is pj guides um, 709 00:56:30,302 --> 00:56:39,062 Intro: on instagram there's there's yeah i think my logo is on there uh and that so 710 00:56:39,062 --> 00:56:47,082 Intro: it's uh kind of a brook trout coming out of a uh a small stream in a pasture and that so, 711 00:56:48,062 --> 00:56:51,562 Intro: So look us up. I try to post when I can. 712 00:56:52,982 --> 00:56:56,162 Intro: So it's not all grip and grins on there either. 713 00:56:56,262 --> 00:57:03,202 Intro: It's just, you know, some scenery and there's some cool pictures of trout now and again. 714 00:57:03,322 --> 00:57:08,902 Intro: And some small mouth pictures and then kind of just life here in the driftless. 715 00:57:11,042 --> 00:57:11,482 Intro: Yeah. 716 00:57:12,342 --> 00:57:15,662 Music: Yeah. Well, very cool. Well, listen, PJ, I really appreciate you spending some 717 00:57:15,662 --> 00:57:16,522 Music: time with me this evening. 718 00:57:17,862 --> 00:57:21,942 Intro: Well, thank you so much. It's been a pleasure. 719 00:57:22,322 --> 00:57:27,782 Intro: And yeah, I'm looking forward to talking some more with you at some point in time. 720 00:57:27,822 --> 00:57:31,782 Intro: And, you know, if you need fishing reports, just let me know. 721 00:57:31,942 --> 00:57:35,022 Music: Yeah, absolutely. And maybe our paths will cross on the water sometime soon. 722 00:57:36,082 --> 00:57:37,862 Intro: Absolutely. Sounds great. 723 00:57:38,142 --> 00:57:38,822 Music: Take care. 724 00:57:39,862 --> 00:57:40,862 Intro: All righty. 725 00:57:41,722 --> 00:57:45,322 PJ: Well, folks, I hope you enjoyed that as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. 726 00:57:45,742 --> 00:57:48,862 PJ: Don't forget to check out the show notes for more details on the Chocolate Factory 727 00:57:48,862 --> 00:57:51,882 PJ: coming to Charlotte on May 4th. Tight lines, everybody.