The BackCast Podcast

We're back with an out of cycle treat for you.  Our guest for this episode is Amy Trotter who serves as the CEO for MUCC, the nation’s largest, most effective state-based conservation organization. Having served in this role since December 2018, Amy has been serving as Deputy Director since 2015 and on MUCC staff since 2007. She is responsible for carrying out the strategic objectives of the organization in all its phases: policy/p...

Richard and I are joined this week by Glen Blackwood.  Glen is our Regional Director of Development for the Ruffed Grouse Society.  He also sits on the Board of the Voelker Foundation.  When he is not tending to those duties, Glen also operates The Great Lakes Fly Fishing Company a wonderful fly shop and bookstore out of Rockford Michigan.  On top of that; Glen was recently named as the Fly Fishing colum...

Our guest, this week, is a gentleman named David Boerema.  David started the Voyager Canoe Trip program.  The Voyager Canoe Trips offer young men an opportunity to get away from the everyday world they live in.  This opportunity to learn about tools of the trade, include identifying stars such as the North Star, direction (orienteering), learning survival skills, methods on how to make camp or prepare a ...

This week, Richard and I are joined by Hunter Eurich and Logan Clark.  These young men are spending their summer working with Richard at the North Branch Outing Club.  More importantly, they are doing some great river work.  Logan is assisting with the trout telemetry study in conjunction with Mark Luttenton and Hunter is working with Steve Sendek to restore and create river habitat on our beloved North ...

As we head into our brief summer break (we’ll be back in early August) we’re joined by Brett Baer.  Brett is a Michigan native who now divides his time between Texas and California.  His primary business is construction, property management, and staging high properties to optimize marketability and revenue.  He is also the new owner of the North Branch Outing Club and joins us on the Podcast to talk about this Historical Venue and ...

With Grayrock just concluding; it seemed appropriate to sit down with one of the rod makers.  This week, we’re joined by Ron Barch.  Ron is the former editor/publisher of The Planing Form, an international newsletter for split bamboo rod enthusiasts. Ron also conducts rod making schools and seminars and has successfully instructed dozens of anglers and craftsmen in the art of split cane rod making.

We have a special guest this week.  Vanessa Perry (Richard’s daughter) is a glowing example of a successful woman in fly fishing and conservation.  She has a plethora of experience with both the Ohio and Minnesota DNR, the EPA, the National Park Service, the Peace Corps and a slew of others.  As icing on the cake, she is also a classically trained concert cellist.  Vanessa is a fantastic ypoung woman and...

This week, Richard and I are joined by special guest Dr. Ben Jones.  Ben is President and CEO of the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society. RGS & AWS unites conservationists to improve wildlife habitat and forest health for ALL forest wildlife. We promote forest stewardship for our forests, our wildlife and our future. We envision landscapes of diverse, functioning forest ecosystems that prov...

This week, Richard & I sit down with Tim Scott.  Tim and Terry Wittorp are the co-founders of the Tie-a-thon program which has gently nudged fly tyers from all over the world to donate over 200,000 flies, and counting, to various good causes over the past 16 years.

They have a very simple mission: “To provide quality flies tied by volunteers to no...

This week John & Richard are joined by Mitch Salhaney and Don Boyd of the Grayling Fish Hatchery.  There are a lot of very cool things happening at the Hatchery, including some breaking news.  We definitely feel you’ll want to hear what is going on.  Mitch and Don have a strong passion for this project and we’re happy to share that with you.

If yo...

Our guest this week is Jim Schottenham.  Jim is the curator of the American Museum of Fly Fishing.  Jim also has a passion for early American reels.  He can often be found hosting his own podcast (Reel Talk) through the American Museum of Fly Fishing.  As past president of the Old Reel Collectors Association and former reel expert for Lang’s Tackle Auction, Jim has spent decades collecting, studying, and...

We’re posting this episode a few days before the start of Michigan’s Trout Season (or Opener, as we like to call it).  Richard and I have the pleasure of sharing a conversation with Joan Wulff.  Almost everyone has heard her name and she is widely accepted as The First Lady of Fly Fishing.  At 96 years young, she is still super sharp and engaging.

Welcome to our first episode of 2023.  Trout Season is fast approaching and we’re ready for you.  For this episode Richard and John are joined by Glen Eberly, Dave Cozad and Tom Baird to recognize and remember Jim Schramm.  Jim is our newest inductee to the Unsung Heroes of the Au Sable.  Jim’s legal work on behalf of cold-water conservation is significant and we think you’ll enjoy learning more about th...