Episodes

  • Episode 30: Capt. Tim Carlile - Heart of Gold

    Episode 30: Capt. Tim Carlile - Heart of Gold
    Apr 12 2021
    Tim Carlile was born in San Diego, CA in 1949. His father, Cliff, introduced him to the outdoors at a very young age, and like many others, found a way to pursue a career out of his passion. Tim, following in his father’s footsteps, became a fishing guide out of Sugarloaf Marina in the Florida Keys from very early on. He recalls his first trip was at age 11 years old! Tim is now 72 years old and still puts in at that same marina every day. He has been guiding for 61 years and shows no sign of slowing down - the guy is a super human.  Tim not only is an incredible fishing guide, he is one of the funniest people you will ever meet. He loves pulling a good prank whether it’s hiding in the ice cooler, or putting a fake alligator in the shrimp tank. His laugh is infectious and the more you are around him, the more time you want to spend with him. It is a honor to call him a good friend and every time I see him, it’s hard not to smile and give him a big hug. Today, Tim speaks about his near death experience when him and his late wife, Gloria, sunk his Hewes Bonefisher while dolphin fishing. He also talks about what serving in the military meant to him, early backcountry fishing in the lower keys, and the one time he found a cuban refugee boat in the mangroves. This is one you won’t want to miss. Thank you so much for coming on, Tim. Can’t wait to see you again soon…
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Episode 29: Tim Mahaffey - Tournament Maestro

    Episode 29: Tim Mahaffey - Tournament Maestro
    Mar 29 2021
    Tim Mahaffey, without question, is one of our sport’s greatest anglers of all time. His tournament success is astounding having won six of the major invitational bonefish tournaments and all three major tarpon tournaments. His three tournament guides consisting of Mark Krowka, Rick Murphy, and Duane Baker systematically honed their skills and methodology to target success against the top anglers in the Keys. Their focused crosshairs didn't miss too often. Here too is an important foot note to all this; for decades the major fly events were the Spring and Fall Fly Bonefish Tournament, The Gold Cup, and The Don Hawley Tarpon Tournament. To this day, Tim is the only angler to win all four. He is not only a phenomenal angler but an outstanding person with a beautifully kind way about him. Once he decided to move on from the tournament scene and not wanting to be off the water, he became a guide. There too, he’s made his mark. He guided Heidi Nute to a monster 152 pound world record tarpon caught on 12lb test (that later over tested and fell into the 16lb class category) and finished runner up in the Fall Fly. From either end of the boat Tim Mahaffey is incredibly fishy. On todays podcast, we dive into his success on the water. We hope you enjoy!
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Episode 28: Capt. Doug Kilpatrick - Tireless Pursuit

    Episode 28: Capt. Doug Kilpatrick - Tireless Pursuit
    Mar 15 2021
    Every once in a while, amidst your life travels or daily routine, you will meet someone special. Someone who embodies integrity, passion, loyalty, and work ethic. They not only make you feel good when you are in their presence, but they make you a better person. Doug Kilpatrick is one of these people. He has been a brother ever since I met him and I deeply cherish our friendship. Ever since Doug was a little kid, he has been enamored with the water and the scaly creatures below. Doug worked on charter boats all throughout high school and college, and in 1994 received his captains license. He later moved down south to chase his dreams of becoming a flats fishing guide in the Florida Keys. Capt. Tim Carlile and Capt. Steve Huff would quickly become Doug’s idols who he'd look up to and try to emulate. Kilpatrick has become a role model for many of the younger guides. Throughout his career, he has accumulated over 45 world records and won many prestigious tournaments including: The Del Brown Permit Tournament, two March Merkin Permit Tournaments, The Key West Super Fly Tournament, and the 2004 Golden Fly Tarpon Tournament with myself as the angler. His accomplishments speak for themself. Today, Doug speaks about the early years in the Lower Keys, close calls with bear attacks, and the conservation efforts being put in place to protect the flats species. I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as Nicky and I did.
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    59 mins
  • Episode 27: Kat Vallilee - Raising the Bar

    Episode 27: Kat Vallilee - Raising the Bar
    Mar 1 2021
    In the Permit world, Kathryn Vallilee is a force to be reckoned with. In 2020 she set two incredible world records. With Capt. Nick Labadie she caught a 9.5 pound permit on 4 pound test and a 22 pound permit on 6 pound test with Capt. Brandon Cyr. She capped the year with a 3rd place finish in the IGFA permit tournament against a 19 angler field. 18 men and her! Too, against her husband, Nathaniel Linville, considered by many to be the best permit angler in the world. Capt. Doug Kilpatrick, her guide in that event, says she wasn't lucky, she's as good as anyone he fishes. He went on to say that Kat is the hardest working angler he knows and will win at some point soon! Kat is an inspiration to all. She is focused, determined, and incredibly talented.... And beautifully humble. Listen closely and many of your questions on how to succeed in the permit game will be answered.
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    40 mins
  • Episode 26: Capt. Paul Tejera - Zest For Life

    Episode 26: Capt. Paul Tejera - Zest For Life
    Feb 15 2021
    Paul Tejera is one of my closest friends on and off the water. His enthusiasm for life is second to none. He'll dive head first into anything that just appears to be fun and then he'll excel at it. Tennis, Golf, Snowboarding, Kite Boarding, Surfing, and Softball, but his fishing prowess is world class! Having won 6 tarpon tournaments (Paul is one of only a handful of guides to win all three major tarpon tournaments; The Gold Cup, The Don Hawley, and The Golden Fly), two All Tackles, The Spring Fly Bonefish tournament, The $25,000 Biggest Bonefish Shootout, and The Best of The West Casting tournament puts him among one of the world's most sought after guides. Paul and I won 5 of his 6 Tarpon tournaments together and he lived with me in my home is Aspen for a spell. If there's one person you can count on to have the time of your life with, it's Paul Tejera!! I hope you enjoy his stories...
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    49 mins
  • Episode 25: Capt. John O'Hearn - Rethinking the Game

    Episode 25: Capt. John O'Hearn - Rethinking the Game
    Feb 1 2021
    In all sports there are a handful of extremely talented, smart individuals who move the bar, inspiring others to chase that glass ceiling. In doing so they show the world the impossible is attainable. John O'Hearn has been "That Guy" for a long time now. He is the Dali Lama on the water. His cerebral intelligence is second to none. Along with his demeanor a day on the water with him is cherished like a diamond in your pocket. I have fished with John, taped shows with him and lost tournaments against him. He is a force to be reckoned with, challenging you as an angler, guide, and good person. I have 40 some years of looking for fish in skinny water behind me, and those handful of days I've spent on his bow are some of my favorites.  The sport, us anglers, guides, and his friends are privileged to be blessed by this special man! I hope you enjoy your time with John as much as we did.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Episode 24: Capt. Will Benson - Permit, Cruise Ships, & Conservation

    Episode 24: Capt. Will Benson - Permit, Cruise Ships, & Conservation
    Jan 18 2021
    Willy Benson grew up in Sugarloaf Key washing boats for old time guides after their day on the water. He was a marina kid soaking in all the information those salty guides would give. Soon after, Willy rocketed onto the flats of Key West like a comet shooting across the horizon, blowing rooster tails like contrails off a jetliner. His insatiable desire made Benson aggressive on the water, challenging the best fishing holes. He chased fish and dreams like he had one day left.As he matured, he went from Willy to Will and during that transition he began to find his calling. Time has done Benson well! He now has profound respect among his peers. Incredibly versed, he used his World Angling Company to showcase his love and Key West's resounding resource, and recently used its visual impact to show the destruction of the big money world of cruise ships. Will has filmed and produced some of the most amazing short films in fly fishing. From his famed Permit film, “Satori” to “Silver Lining,” Will has an incredible gift at telling a story through the lens of a camera. Whether you just want to see some “fish porn” or get pumped up for your last minute trip down to the Keys, I highly recommend you check out his World Angling Films. Today, Will speaks about the state of Permit fishing in Key West, fighting off cruise ships, and how science helps us paint a clear picture of what’s happening to our fisheries. World Angling 
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Episode 23: Norman Duncan - The Innovator

    Episode 23: Norman Duncan - The Innovator
    Jan 4 2021
    A few years ago I was making a presentation in a Miami fly shop when a man came to me and introduced himself. “Hey Andy, I’m Norman Duncan.” Oh my God, I thought, here he is! I was so excited, really. Here was one of the disciples. Flip Pallot, Chico Fernandez, Little John Emery, and Norman Duncan were as important as anyone in South Florida to initially grow the sport of Saltwater Fly Fishing. This group of four were something to behold. They had heart, passion, and creativity to catch fish, but without the sufficient tools to support their fire. They designed everything they needed because there was nothing available, and many of their innovations are still used today. We know the story of Flip and Chico, they became rock stars in the fly fishing world. “Little John,” as Emery was known, passed at a young age from melanoma after putting his stamp on history. But where did Norman go? What happened to him? He was smart and ingenious, pushed and shoved as hard as the others, but he stepped aside and the iconic fame the others attained passed Norman by, even though we all know his name. Today, Norman brought us out back to his porch and gave us an inside look into his eventful life.
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    1 hr and 19 mins