The BackCast Podcast

The BackCast Podcast with Chris Bogart episode 6 2022 season

This week, Richard and I are recording from Rod Makers at Grayrock.  This is an annual gathering of extremely talented cane rod makers.  Chris is active not only as a maker, but as a historian.  Chris is very involved with Rod Makers at Grayrock and with the folks at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum.  He runs the Catskills gathering and has endless stories about the craft of bamboo rod making.  Richard & I had a great time chatting with Chris and a fantastic time chatting with all of the Grayrock attendees.

The BackCast Podcast David Smith episode 5 2022 season

We’re back from an extended Memorial Day break and have a great guest for you.  David Smith is one of our Unsung Heroes of the Au Sable.  Having discovered the Au Sable as a young boy scout, it would be his post retirement years that mark David’s significant contributions to the watershed. 

 

Whether leading the crusade to purge Purple Loosestrife, serving on the Huron Pines board, contributing as a board member to Mason Griffith Founders TU, serving as a director for the Anglers of the Au Sable or leading his neighbors as head of the Au Sable River Property Owners Association; David is a force.  It’s not just deskwork leading organizations, it’s his tireless field work that sets the bar so high.  Richard and I had fun sitting down with David and we think you’ll enjoying listening!

The BackCast Podcast North Branch Outing Club episode 4 2022 season

This week Richard and John are joined by Dave McCool and John Nagel of the North Branch Outing Club.  NBOC has recently changed ownership and we'll get some insight as to what is in store for this historic building.

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Dave McCool - David is an avid sportsman with over 20 years of experience developing and operating outdoor programs, including private fishing and hunting expeditions.

David got his start in the marketing industry and after a few years, transitioned from the ad world to his real passion – the outdoor world – establishing and operating his own business, McCool Outdoor. David later became Director of Instruction for Orvis Michigan, the company’s tenth corporate fly-fishing school in the nation. At NBOC, David is responsible for overseeing operations, supervising guided tours and managing the fly shop. He is certified as a fly casting instructor by the International Federation of Fly Fishers and is active in land and cold-water resource protection efforts, having serving with the Grand Traverse Conservation District and on Trout Unlimited’s First Cast Program. David is also a distinguished upland guide with over 40 years of experience.

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John Nagel - John’s love of fly-fishing began at the age of nine when he was gifted his first fly rod and took to chasing panfish and bass while on family fishing trips to Canada. He would quickly graduate to trout in the limestone spring creeks of Pennsylvania and to steelhead in the Great Lakes tributaries. While an exchange student at UNC Asheville, he fished the mountain streams of North Carolina and tailwaters of Tennessee. In the summers, before graduating from Kent State University, John guided in Colorado and Alaska, honing his skills on western trout.

 

While those adventures were great experiences, John’s passion for the pursuit of trout and grouse eventually led him to settle in Northern Michigan with his English setter, Woodrow. John is particularly drawn to the Au Sable for its fabled hatches and legendary night fishing opportunities as well as its rich sporting history. John runs a classic 24-foot cedar Au Sable boat built by Billy Lowes as well as a drift boat.

 

The BackCast Podcast is a production of the Lovells Township Historical Society - home to Michigan’s only trout fishing museum. If you like Michigan rivers, trout fishing with a fly or just like hearing a good story; please join us.  LTHS is a 501c3 non-profit organization - please visit LTHSMuseums.org to help support us!

The BackCast Podcast Bamboo Bend episode 3 2022 season

This week Richard and John are joined by Mark Mackey and Rod Jenkins of the Bamboo Bend Project.  Last week we heard from Dave Jankowski, this week we get his illustrator!  We'll dig into more of the in's and out's of the Bamboo Bend gang, hear about living by oneself in Alaska and more.  This is a fun episode; we're confident you'll enjoy it!

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Mark Mackey - Raised in northern Wisconsin, a land rich in outdoor activities and forests laced with wild trout streams.  Received Biology degree from Northland College in Ashland, WI and worked as a biologist for the National Park Service from 1988-1990, and later Joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1990.  He Served well and faithfully in the Marines for 23 years as an Infantry Officer and attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

 

Rod Jenkins, aka Bald Eagle, is a retired airline pilot and former Air Force pilot.  He has witnessed many of the stories in this book and been a character in a few. In retirement, he has pursued his interest in drawing and watercolor painting.  Rod has enjoyed all things fly fishing for more than 50 years. He enjoys fly tying, bamboo rod making, and time spent sharing these skills with anyone interested.  One of his greatest joys is being an instructor in the Project Healing Waters/Bamboo Bend School that teaches military veterans how to make a bamboo fly rod.

 

You can learn more about Bamboo Bend by clicking this link: http://www.bamboobend.org

 

You can buy Dave Jankowski’s book (properly illustrated by Rod Jenkins) at Dave’s site: https://www.davejankowski.com

The BackCast Podcast episode 2 2022 season with guest Dave Jankowski

This week John & Richard sit down with rod maker, fly tyer, jet pilot and new author – our friend and north branch neighbor Dave Jankowski.  Dave’s new book, The Venerable Fly Tyers is available through his web site www.davejankowski.com, at the Lovells Historical Society Museums or on Amazon.  As the proceeds from Dave’s book are directed to assist disabled American veterans, please consider buying directly from his site or at the museum.  We had fun chatting with Dave and we think you’ll enjoy this episode.

 

Dave is a retired U. S. Air Force fighter pilot and Northwest Airlines captain. He is an ardent fly-fisherman, fly tyer, and bamboo rod maker. With a passion for veterans, he participates in Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and its affiliate, Bamboo Bend, where he serves as lead instructor. He lives in Traverse City, Michigan, with his wife, Mary. They enjoy a long marriage, have four grown daughters, and eight grandchildren who all love to go to “Grampy’s Cabin” on Michigan’s famed Au Sable River.

The BackCast Podcast episode 1 2022 season with guest Peter Jones

This week Glen, Richard and John sit down with Peter Jones to chat about cane rods, fishing and general north woods fun.  Peter is an excellent fly caster who has won the Rod Makers Demarest Challenge, and participated in the Hardy Cup competition.  Peter is Cane Rod Maker, a long time Rod Makers at Grayrock Board Member, MGTU Board Member, and he instructs at the Bamboo Bend Workshops.  

 

He clearly know his way around a fly rod. Peter is a very engaging and entertaining speaker so even if you are not a fly rod geek you will enjoy this episode.

The BackCast Podcast - ep 9 2021 with Howard Johnson

Happy weekend!  The BackCast Podcast is back with a new episode!  This week; John & Glen sit down with Howard Johnson.  Howard is responsible for the “Cedars for the Au Sable” program.  For 25 years, Howard has made it his passion to line the banks of the Au Sable & Manistee rivers with white cedar saplings.

 

“Key to the protection of the rivers as cold water fisheries is a special cedar seedling planting kit developed by Howard N. Johnson and Cedars for the Au Sable (CFAS). A restoration/reforestation project of the Au Sable River Property Owners Association (ARPOA) since 1997, CFAS and it’s many volunteers have partnered with private river property owners, river conservation organizations and the Michigan DNR to plant over 20,000 northern white cedar seedlings in protective enclosures on the Au Sable and Manistee rivers.”

 

Listen in to find out more ways that you can get involved.  You can always check out Howard’s web site https://cedarsfortheausable.org 

The BackCast Podcast - ep 8 2021 with Robb Smith

Join us as John & Glen sit down with Robb Smith.  Robb has devoted an enormous amount of time as a leader in cold water conservation.  He’s served as a leader and influencer for TU at the local state and national levels.  His passion is undeniable and if it involves cold water advocacy, fly fishing or perhaps chasing ruffed grouse; Robb is on the scene!

 

His national TU committee created a powerful document (A Case for the Great Lakes).  You may check it out, here:

Robb is a fantastic gentleman and we think you’ll enjoy this episode.

 

We’ll be back again next week with another fun episode!  As always, you can stay abreast of coming events by visiting our website at LTHSMuseums.org

The BackCast Podcast - ep 7 2021 with Steve Sendek

And the hits just keep coming…  This week, John and Richard sit down with Steve Sendek. 

 

Steve is a retired fisheries biologist.  Hailing from the western UP, Steve now resides in our neck of the woods and has done a fantastic job as a steward of our rivers.  We’ll spend some time talking about the North Branch, so this is one you’ll enjoy.

 

Stayed tuned as next week we’ll be speaking with Robb Smith.  As always, you can stay abreast of coming events by visiting our website at LTHSMuseums.org

The Backcast Podcast - ep 6 2021 with Steve Johnson

Greetings from the north and Happy Labor Day weekend!  We’re back from our summer hiatus and ready to continue our conversations with our Unsung Heroes of the Au Sable.

 

In this episode, John and Richard sit down with Steve Johnson.  Steve is a fantastic gentlemen.  Steve and his family have a long history in the area.  Whether bringing computerization to river mapping and redd surveys or serving in a leadership role for local organizations; Steve has generously given his time and knowledge to protect and improve our river system.

 

Stayed tuned for more podcasts in the coming weeks.  We’re delighted to be back and wish you all a wonderful holiday weekend.  As always, you can stay abreast of coming events by visiting our website at LTHSMuseums.org