The BackCast Podcast

In this episode; Richard Perry & John Porteous chat with Bryce Metcalfe.  Bryce is a commercial forester and talks about his career and experiences in forestry, along with interesting insights for northern Michigan property owners.  We hope you’ll find this to be an entertaining and educational episode!

During our long Michigan winters; residents of Lovells gather every other Thursday for a series of talks.  While we await the Trout season Opener, we bring in folks to share stories and presentations.  This episode is the first of this season's Hot Stove talks.  

Join John Porteous and Richard Perry as they host this year's "virtual" Hot Stove talks.

Our guest for episode one is Jim Renn, an archaeologist with the the US Forest Service.

Trout season ends today and so does our first season of the BackCast Podcast.  Glen and John have had a great time sharing conversations with all of you.  This week’s episode is an engaging chat with Dave Leonhard.  

Dave is a master casting instructor for Fly Fishers International, head of fly casting for the Michigan Trout Unlimited Fly Fishing School, a life member of TU, a former director and charter member of the Adams Chapter of Trout Unlimited in Traverse City, Michigan, former president of the Challenge Chapter of TU, owner of Orvis Streamside in Traverse City, and owner/director of the Orvis Michigan Fly Fishing School.

Even though this is our last show of the season; we’ll be back throughout the off-season with some special Hot Stove offerings. 

Well, we’re down to the last couple of weeks of the season, but we’re not done yet.  This week; Glen and John are joined by Al Borchers.  Here’s Al’s write up from the Old AuSable fly shop page…

Al was born and raised here in Grayling and literally grew up on the river.

He has deep roots in the fly fishing community, his Grandfather, Al Borchers, Sr. created the Borchers Special (he was also George Mason’s caretaker) and his Great Uncle, Ernie Borchers created the Borchers Drake.

An often heard question in the shop is – “if you could only have one fly what would it be”? The answer is always the same – a Borchers. It’s no wonder that Al starting fly fishing at the age of 6.

As you might expect, Al’s a pro behind the vice too…no one ties a Borchers like a Borchers.

As the leaves and the brook trout start to show their fall colors; Glen and John sit down with Gary and Doug Neumann for a fun chat.  Their father, Art, had a significant hand in the evolution of Trout Unlimited.  Join us as the guys share some stories about their dad.

This week, Glen and John sit down with Josh Greenberg.  While many know Josh as an accomplished angler, a passionate conservationist and generally great guy; this episode centers on the challenges of running a fly shop and lodge during a pandemic.  Josh and his wife, Katy, are the owners of Gates AuSable Lodge.  We hope you’ll find this episode insightful and thought provoking.

We’re back from a brief time out and we have a really fun show for you.  Rex Schlaybaugh joins Glen and John as we throw a little change up on our Guides and Their Stories theme.  This time we hear stories from the ‘sport’s’ seat.  Rex is a member of The Big Creek Lodge, an accomplished angler and a conservationist of note.  We think you’ll enjoy this episode.

While Glen enjoys some family time; John sits down with Tom and Alexis Brodhead.  The Brodheads operate 406 Fly Lines.  Their goal is to use traditional line tapers and grain weights to offer the perfect compliment to classic cane and glass rods.  

This week, Glen & John are joined by Bob Smock Jr.  Bob and his family hold a historical significance in Grayling and Bob has been kind enough to share some of that history along with some truly entertaining stories.  This was a really fun episode to put together - we hope you’ll enjoy it!  

This week, Glen & John are joined by John Walters.  John has served on the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, he's a past Chairman of Michigan Trout Unlimited, was a board member of the Anglers of the AuSable, a past president of the Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and past Chairman of the Pigeon River Country State Forest – Advisory Council.