Ryan Johnston | RJ’s Fly Trips | Ep. #978

I sit down with Ryan Johnston, a fly fishing guide with 22 years of experience and the founder of Cast Hope. In this episode, Ryan shares his journey of guiding across Northern California, Idaho, and Montana while discussing the evolution of his career and the impact of the 'A River Runs through it' movie on the fly fishing industry.  We explore Ryan's inspiring work with Cast Hope, a nonprofit organization that uses fly fishing to empower underserved youth. Ryan also recounts heartwarming and transformational stories from his guiding experiences, including mentoring a young guide who now works in Idaho.  This episode is packed with engaging tales and invaluable insights into the world of guiding and giving back through the sport we love. Tune in to hear how Ryan's personal experiences and passion for fly fishing have made a difference both on and off the water! 00:00 Introduction and Quick Turnaround 00:43 Guiding in Montana and Idaho 01:43 Memories of the South Fork 06:04 First Guided Trip Experiences 09:23 Becoming a Fly Fishing Guide 15:47 The Reality of Guiding 33:10 Hosted Trips and Exotic Destinations 39:55 The Legendary Guide Tim Babbage 40:29 Fishing in the Sey Shells 40:58 Unique Fishing Experiences 41:52 Eye-Opening Fishing Trips 42:57 Guiding Techniques and Challenges 46:28 The Journey of Writing Books 58:09 The Birth of Cast Hope 01:00:14 Impact and Growth of Cast Hope 01:12:58 Inspiring Stories and Future Plans 🚀 Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Star brite https://bit.ly/TomRowlandPodcast 👋 Stay Connected with Tom Rowland: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tomrowlandpodcast Website & Show Notes https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 Text: [phone] Email: [e-mail] 🔗 Explore More: All Socials and Links https://linktr.ee/TomRowlandPodcast 🎥 Discover More of Tom’s Shows: Saltwater Experience https://bit.ly/4by096g Into the Blue Fishing https://bit.ly/48VZYju Life on the Water https://bit.ly/3Pp9rbs 💬 Let’s Keep in Touch! Text: [phone] Email: [e-mail]