Fin & Fire with Jeff Mishler

Dec Hogan was part of a triad which influenced and defined steelhead fishing with a two handed rod as we know it today. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Dec and I sit down for a chat during the 2025 Sandy River Spey and take a long "trip down memory lane" as Dec says, and rekindle a friendship 25 years in the making. 

Heather Hodson is on a mission to change society's assumptions and stereotypes about fishing by inviting everyone into the fold. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Heather and I discuss her angling past and efforts to change the world, one angler at a time.

A knife in your pocket is a personal thing.  It's a tool.  It's your persona. If it's a Benchmade knife it's also your legacy; it's going to be around a lot longer than you will be.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler I sit with John O'Connor, head of sales at Benchmade Knife Company and we discuss the brand, the market and how these quality knives remain in high demand. 

Kelly Warren is the Western Oregon regional Biologist for Ducks Unlimited. Kelly often works with local land owners to cooperatively design and develop thriving habitats for all wetland species. In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler we talk about the processes of teamwork required to transform acres into productive wildlife habitat.  We also share some duck hunting stories and a couple of hunting tips. 

In this rapid fire episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler I sit with participants of the annual Flash Tying Challenge, a friendly tying competition with a crazy twist. The day was filled with great conversation and creative approaches to the past time we love. 

Marena Gray is the manager of The Custom Shop at The Meating Place in Hillsboro, Oregon.  She breaks down thousands of animals each season and offers some solid advice for hunters if they want to get quality meat back from the butcher. It all starts with what you do in the field.

Calling mallards effectively requires practice, observations skills and creativity.  In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Mike and I sit down at DSD headquarters and dive deep into the process of improving your duck calling.  This podcast is much more than just another "How-To" lesson.  In fact, we break some molds and myths around the entire process of talking to ducks.

Bruce Kruk is the go-to expert for Swing the Fly Magazine when it comes to Spey Casting Techniques. His local waters are perfectly set up for utilizing the long line. In the this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Bruce and I discuss the subtle differences between casting shorter Skagit style lines and more traditional Spey set ups.  As Bruce says, "long lines don't lie".

Matt Davis is following his passion.  He loves to hunt and create the best American made upland gear available today. In this episode of Fin And Fire with Jeff Mishler I discover what makes Matt tick.  Where do his ideas come from? What does a day in the life look like?  Final Rise is a quality line of products and Matt tells his story while we share a common love for chasing upland birds.

What makes one boat manufacturer stand out from the others?  Two things come to mind.  On-the-water performance and customer service. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler, Joe Koffler dives into the details of his family business and the commitment of offer a quality product with the option to customize the details. 

Once Big Horn Sheep were all but exterminated in Oregon, restoring the population was more of a challenge than anyone imagined, for a number of reasons.  In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Vic Coggins takes me through his 47 year career with the State of Oregon and the processes involved to maintain a sustainable population of this iconic Big Game animal.

Jon Covich has been committed to the fly fishing industry for decades. Besides representing some of the industry's top brands, Jon is a travel liaison for Fly Water Travel. Exotic destinations are his specialty.  In this episode of Fin and Fire with Jeff Mishler, Jon and I discuss his the arc of his career and his favorite international destinations. 

Ted Fry is Raptor Archery and Raptor Archery is a reputable source for quality traditional archery gear. Ted's lifetime of outdoor experience fuels his passion to create traditional gear and teach others the joys we experience in the woods while carrying a bow. This long conversation is filled with life stories and discussions about the sport we love. It is one of my favorite podcasts.