Joe Rotter and longtime pal Josh Potter reenact a classic spring-creek trip, sharing tactics for tightline nymphing, streamer work, and using New Zealand-style yarn indicators in windy, gin‑clear water. The episode mixes technical instruction—leader setups, cider material, long casts and stripping—with storytelling about a 25‑mile roadless backpack-fishing documentary, nostalgic memories, and finding joy in small, […]
In this episode, Eric Nickum, Bob Miller, and Joe Rotter sit down after each spending a full week fishing Christmas Island—but on different schedules, with different guides, different tides, and wildly different experiences. The crew compares notes on what worked, what surprised them, what they’d do again, and what they’d recommend for anyone heading to […]
Host Joe Rotter is joined by George Cook, longtime industry pro and guru of all things fly. Roger Shearer of Red’s Fly Shop joins Joe and George and they dive into fishing lore, covering the new Sage ARROW rod, decades of Sage rod development, and the evolution of Spey lines and techniques. They share Alaska […]
Jeremiah Houle joins the MEND podcast to share his 21‑year fly‑fishing journey from shop floor to guide to industry rep, plus event dates and insider gear talk. The episode covers his favorite flies and rods, guiding on the Deschutes and lakes, and a deep dive into carp fishing—tailing behavior, fly choices (crayfish, mussel patterns), presentation […]
On this episode of the MEND Podcast recorded at Red’s Fly Shop, hosts and guests (notably Jason Randall and TFO’s Nick Conklin) share a full day on the river focused on tightline/euro nymphing. The group breaks down practical coaching, leader setups, and when to choose tightline over indicators. They cover key techniques like back-roll (roll-jig) […]
Joe Rotter, Steve Joyce, Curtis Frisbie, Skyler Lancaster, Max Karns, and Eric Nickum recap recent saltwater trips to Crooked Island and Espiritu Santo Bay in Mexico, share fishing highlights (bonefish, permit, tarpon) and memorable moments from sportsman shows and upcoming Rendezvous events. They discuss gear and techniques — beads, poppers, leaders and sunglasses — guide […]
Welcome to the Mend Podcast with Joe Rotter, Eric Nickum and Jason Harwood. They recap trips to Patagonia (Estancia del Zorro and Cinco Rios) and Crooked Island, Bahamas, covering trout tactics (dry flies, beetles, caddis, streamers), sight fishing, gear choices, leader setups, sunglasses advice, and saltwater bonefish and permit experiences. The episode mixes trip stories, […]
The hosts open with Red’s Fly Shop news — upcoming shows, sold‑out Texas redfish dates and a local saltwater rendezvous — then recount a week in Patagonia with Patagonia Trout Outfitters with mixed fishing conditions, creative lodge pivots and memorable social moments. They cover fishing tactics (streamers, nymphs, padstone techniques), gear and packing advice, travel […]
In this episode Joe Rotter talks with Chris Walker from RIO Products about matching fly lines to rods and fishing situations, how fly lines are manufactured, and the materials and design choices (microballoons, densities, welded loops) that affect performance. They cover practical line recommendations for specific fisheries, temperature and taper considerations, line maintenance tips, and […]
Hosts Joe and Eric describe a quick, highly productive Redfish weekend at Bay Flats Lodge, sharing travel logistics, guide-led tips, and on-the-water highlights from two days of sight-fishing. The episode covers presentation techniques (gurglers, drag-and-drop, short strips), shallow-water sight-reading, gear and clothing recommendations, and why guided trips and provided gear make this an approachable fishery […]
