Fin & Fire's Podcast with Jeff Mishler

Episode 69 | 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.  

Episode 68 | Mia and Marty Sheppard are outfitters in Oregon and run a number of permits on various rivers. This allows them to diversify their programs and take advantage of prime time so their clients get the best possible experience.  In this episode of Fin And Fire with Jeff Mishler, Marty and I talk about his life path, the challenges of running the business, reconnecting with the spey community and the story behind his first bighorn sheep hunt.  

Episode 67 | 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.

Episode | 66 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.  

Episode | 65 Dave Dozer and Olivia Elia share a workspace, ideas and their passion for cane, but the finished products possess their respective fingerprints. Distinction in this timeless trade comes naturally when you are passionate about the craft and embrace the fact that each rod requires about 100 hours of work. In this episode of Fin And Fire With Jeff Mishler Dave and Olivia share their stories and offer insight into the Bamboo Rod making process.  

Episode | 64 Madi loves to hunt.  Rifle, Bow, doesn't matter. What does matter to her is that the hunter practices often and understands the limitations of equipment and skills. She has many trophy experiences, but prefers to  procure protein for her family and friends over chasing horns. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, Madi and I share hunting stories and discuss rifle shooting techniques. Then the podcast takes a turn and we discover our mutual love of calling and hunting Bull elk during the rut, with a bow.

Episode 63 | 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.

Episode 62 | 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. 

Episode 61 | 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.

Episode 60 |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.

Episode 59 | Where did our Chinook Salmon go?  The disappearance of this keystone species is a pressing issue affecting cultures and economies within the entire Pacific Rim. In this episode of Fin and Fire With Jeff Mishler, I chat with Dr. Will Atlas of the Wild Salmon Center, a man with his thumb on the pulse of the issue.  Will explains our current situation with salmon populations and what needs to change for them to recover.

Episode 58 | 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".