Before we can even start talking about fishing, we have to talk about staying warm and safe on the water during the coldest months of the year. After all, if you can't stay comfortable out there, you're not going to be catching up.

In this episode, Ross walks you through how to dress for cold-weather fly fishing from your head to your toes so you can stay as warm and as toasty as possible while you're out there ripping lips in a snowstorm.

You could do a lot of things in the colder months. You could hang up your waders and opt for a soft couch, a warm blanket, and a hot cup of coffee. Fly fishing can wait, right?

Well, not for everyone. If you're among the hardy souls who just have to be on the river regardless of the season, you're going to have to deal with the unique challenges of fly fishing in frigid water and below-freezing air temperatures. It's tough out there in the winter!

In this episode, Ross sets the stage for Season 2 by walking through the challenges of winter fly fishing--and talking about the reasons those challenges make it worth your while to get outside and make some tracks in the snow.

Happy Halloween! If you think ghosts and goblins are creepy, you should see what the backcountry can serve up. Anyone who has spent any time in the wilderness has creepy stories to share, and Ross is no exception.

In this episode, Ross recounts one scary encounter he had in a remote canyon far from home.

In the final episode of The BFF Podcast's first season, Ross walks you through what backcountry fly fishing looks like in October--the last solid month before deep fall and winter set in for real. He covers fishing tips, setups, and the basic gear you'll need to stay on the water and keep putting fish in the net as the weather gets colder.

This is the last episode of Season 1. Thanks to everyone for listening! It's been quite a learning experience. In a few weeks, we'll be back with Season 2, which will focus on surviving the winter (and planning for the spring and summer) as a backcountry angler.

Every time you head into the backcountry, there's a chance things could go wrong. No matter how experienced you are, how much training you have, or how long you've been fly fishing in the wilderness, you could find yourself in trouble out there. If that day ever comes, you'll be incredibly grateful for the amazing folks on your local search and rescue team.

One of those wonderful folks, Dave Arnett from Douglas County Search and Rescue in Colorado, joins Ross on this episode to give you an inside look at a search and rescue team. Dave also provides tips and information that could save your life if you ever do find yourself in a bad situation.

We are immensely grateful for Dave's work and the work of all wilderness search and rescue teams. THANK YOU for all you do to keep us safe as we chase beautiful fish in wild places.

There's a lot of stuff you don't know about backcountry fly fishing (or fly fishing in general), and in many cases, you may not even know you don't know it. That's true for every fly angler, no matter how many years you have under your belt. Perhaps the greatest thing about this sport is that it's all about constant learning.

In this episode, Ross provides ten tips that you probably didn't know you needed, but that could help you have a better, more successful day on the water the next time you decide to hit the trail or hop in the stream.

Don't forget your meat thermometer!

Everybody needs good gear, and that means everybody needs a good fly shop. Plus, it's always fun to have someplace to talk with other fly fishers, get some helpful advice, and maybe spend a little too much money on this crazy hobby we all love.

In this episode, Patrick Srebniak from AvidMax, a national online fly shop based in Denver, talks to us about how to find your shop and get geared up for a great time on the water. Whether you're hitting the backcountry, driving to your local stream for the first time, or looking for some obscure feathers for your latest fly pattern, this episode will help you think through where to get the stuff you need for the sport you love.

Backcountry fly fishing, by necessity, requires a lot of hiking. Your legs are the primary vehicle you'll use to access the wild places we love to fish, and that means it pays to know how to be a good hiker.

In this episode, Maggie Peikon from the American Hiking Society joins us to talk about what to bring, how to stay safe, how to share the trail, how to deal with wildlife, and various other topics that will help elevate your hiking game.

If you want to learn more about AHS and their amazing work, or if you want to get involved (and you should), you can visit the organization's website at https://americanhiking.org/.