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Wild Life OutdoorsAuthor: Wild Life Outdoors
Jose and Russell, lifelong friends of over 15 years, united by a profound love for the great outdoors and an unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation. This captivating podcast paints a vivid picture of their shared adventures. Their camaraderie sets the stage for engaging discussions and reflections of the beauty of the natural world. With a Masters in Range and Wildlife Management, Jose brings a wealth of knowledge to the conservation conversation. Together with Russell, an engineer in the telecommunications industry, they delve into the crucial need for preserving wildlife habitats. Language: en Genres: Sports, Wilderness Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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He Went on a Whim… and Ended Up in a Wild Fly Film
Episode 89
Tuesday, 25 November, 2025
In this week’s episode of Wild Life Outdoors, Russell sits down with angler and Wild Fly Productions feature guest Willie Nelson to dive deep into his powerful journey into fly fishing and his life-changing trip to Maine for native brook trout.If you watched Wild Fly’s film from Maine, you’ve already seen Willie’s passion, grit, and gratitude on full display. In this long-form conversation, we unpack everything that didn’t make it into the film, from his upbringing, his introduction to fishing, and the often difficult transition into fly fishing, to how this trip fundamentally shifted his life and outlook on the outdoors.What We Cover:• Willie’s upbringing and how fishing shaped his early years• His tough introduction to fly fishing, failures, and breakthrough moments• The story behind being selected by Wild Fly Productions for his dream trip• His experience chasing native brook trout in the wild waters of Maine• How nature, solitude, and challenge became life-changing therapy• His growing passion for conservation and native species• The importance of “failing forward” in fishing and in life• How his community has grown since the film and the people he’s brought into fly fishing• Species he has caught since getting deeper into the sport• Plans for future fishing trips, species goals, and how the journey continuesThis episode is packed with inspiration, storytelling, conservation discussion, and the real human side of fly fishing. If you love Wild Fly, native fish, outdoor storytelling, or the meaning behind why people fish, this one is for you.🎣 If you enjoy the episode, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and drop a comment:What is your dream fly fishing trip? @WildFlyProductions Thank you for the introduction!Wild Fly Video with Willie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1v2w65b3mABucked Up- https://bckd.co/vnjzgTkForetold Coffee Co.- https://www.foretoldcoffeeco.com00:00 Intro01:10 Meeting Willie Nelson03:45 Willie’s upbringing and early fishing memories08:22 How he discovered fly fishing12:51 The struggles of learning the sport17:10 Applying for Wild Fly’s Maine trip20:02 What it felt like to be selected23:48 Behind-the-scenes of the Wild Fly film29:35 Chasing native brook trout in Maine34:12 How the trip changed his life40:44 Conservation and protecting native fish45:18 Fishing as therapy and personal growth50:02 New species he’s caught since the trip54:11 Fishing goals and dream adventures58:40 Advice for new fly anglers01:02:14 What’s next for Willie01:04:50 Closing thoughts#WillieNelsonWildFly #WildFlyProductionsMaine #NativeBrookTroutFishing #BrookTroutFlyFishing #MaineFlyFishing #FlyFishingDocumentary #WildLifeOutdoorsPodcast #LearningFlyFishing #FlyFishingStruggles #FlyFishingJourney #NativeFishConservation #EasternBrookTrout #TherapeuticFishingStories #OutdoorStorytellingPodcast #FishingChallenges #DreamFishingTrip #FishingMentalHealth #FlyFishingMistakes #WillieNelson #WildLifeOutdoors
