Max has now stepped into a new chapter: travelling, fishing full-time, filming his adventures, and chasing everything from Tasmanian trophy trout to permit and barra across northern Australia.

In this episode, Max talks through his early days learning to fly fish on Lake Eucumbene, the lessons competition fishing drilled into him, the rise of Euro nymphing, and how trout tactics have shaped the way he approaches saltwater fly fishing.

We also get into Tasmania’s backcountry lakes, the Whitsundays, Cape York, Western Australia, moon phases, tides, flats fishing, the Inshore Flats Project, and why Max believes Australia might have the best fly fishing in the world.

Raw, funny, technical and full of hard-earned perspective, this is a conversation with someone who has built his life around fly fishing and has no plans of slowing down.

As Max puts it: fish till I die.

From mahi mahi and kingfish smashing bait around the FADs, to estuary flats packed with bream and flatties, bass in Brogo Dam, surf salmon, and even world-class trout water only a short drive inland, Bermagui might just be one of Australia’s most versatile fishing destinations.

In this episode we chat road trips, boats, bluewater current charts, fly tackle for pelagics, overlooked shore-based options, seafood, conservation, and why Bermagui keeps pulling anglers back year after year.

If you’re the kind of flyfisher who loves variety, adventure, and figuring things out as you go, this one will fire you right up.

In this episode of Behind The Counter, we unpack the Tassie mission from start to finish. From rolling into Miena country and getting pointed in the right direction by Jim Allen, to early lessons at Little Pine, time on the boat at Penstock, and a foggy morning on Great Lake where everything finally lined up and the trout started sipping midges everywhere.

We also chat about how good the Victorian trout fishing has been lately, give Mick from the Yea store a shoutout for his CFA work protecting the catchments, and run through some new gear that’s landed in-store — including new Sage reels, fresh rod releases and the latest Airflo lines.

If you’ve ever wondered what Tassie flyfishing is like for a first-timer, this episode gives you a pretty honest look.

In this episode, Andrew is joined by Chris Burgess (FlyLife contributor and Inshore Flats Project advocate) to dig into tunnel nets: what they are, how they work, and why many anglers believe they pose a serious threat to flats fisheries from Hinchinbrook to the Whitsundays and beyond.

We get into:

• What a tunnel net actually is — and why it’s so effective
• Localised depletion: cleaning out a flat and the big question of how long until fish return
• What’s been observed during trials, including stress, crowding and mortality concerns
• The risk to iconic flats species like permit, golden trevally, GTs and queenfish
• The broader impact on guiding, tourism and why net-free flats matter
• What you can do right now to help protect these fisheries

If you love saltwater fly fishing — or you’ve ever dreamed of a Queensland permit — this one’s well worth a listen.

Get involved / learn more: Search Inshore Flats Project and follow their channels for updates and ways to support, or head to www.inshoreflatsproject.com.au

It’s a laid-back wrap of a big year at The Flyfisher, with plenty of stories, laughs, and a look toward more pods (and more fish) in 2026. Thanks for tuning in all year — we’re just getting warmed up.

Peter dives deep into:

• The importance of line management
• How loop shape ties directly to body mechanics
• What (and how often) to practice, including the three key stages of practice:
  1. Loop control
  2. Casting stroke angles
  3. Water landing effect

We also chat rod design — why Peter has a soft spot for fibreglass and bamboo rods, and how the kinetic whip effect in bamboo could inspire modern rod designs.

Plus, we cover:

• Why slack in your leader is essential for long, natural drifts
• How angling pressure and degraded waterways challenge us to become more skilful — and why the harder you work, the more rewarding those fish captures become.

If you’re serious about improving your fly casting and fishing, this is one you won’t want to miss.

From his early days representing Australia in both flyfishing and competition casting, through to building Hayes on Brumbys — a purpose-built flyfishing school in Tasmania — Peter’s journey is one of passion, innovation, and commitment.

Recorded while Peter was in Ballarat running casting clinics and guiding on Lake Wendouree, this chat dives into his career, the evolution of fly fishing in Australia, and his thoughts on where flyfishing is headed, both good and bad.

This is the first half of a long conversation — in Part 2, Peter shares practical tips to help you become a better fly caster and flyfisher.

Fly fish the Amazon with Untamed Angling https://www.uangling.com/

In this episode, we reveal what it takes to discover your own secret spot—and it’s easier than you might think. While we’ll focus on trout fishing, the insights from our guest apply no matter where or what you fish for.

Andrew is joined by Mick Hurren, a seasoned guide and cinematographer from Yea, North-East Victoria. Mick has the most extensive playbook of secret spots we’ve ever come across—so we’ve bribed him with beer to spill his secrets.

Whether you're after trophy trout or just looking for a little more water to yourself, this episode will give you the tools to find your own secret spot.

With expert local guides, top-tier rafts, and some of the most breathtaking fishing locations on the planet, this trip had it all. We’ll share the highlights, the lessons learned, and why Aotearoa Anglers should be on every fly fisher’s radar.

New Zealand's South Island is a mecca for fly fishing addicts, offering some of the most diverse and pristine waters in the world. From crystal-clear rivers and challenging backcountry streams to lush lakes and tarns, the South Island has it all. Whether you're an experienced flyfisher or a beginner, this podcast episode will help you navigate the best spots, essential gear, and travel tips for an unforgettable, cost effective, DIY fly fishing adventure.

While the idea of international travel might cause some anglers' wallets to tighten, a DIY fly-fishing trip to New Zealand can be surprisingly affordable—starting at just $2,500 for a week of chasing wild, trophy-sized brown and rainbow trout in some of the most pristine waters on the planet.

For more handy tips and tricks for the DIY North Island check out this article

Each season presents unique conditions, and this year’s low water levels and some fisheries impacted by cormorants could pose new challenges. To get you prepared, we reached out to our guide network for the latest updates on how their catchments are shaping up.

We start with Finn McDowell, who’s been on the water in Tasmania for a month already. Finn shares his experiences and what’s exciting him this early in the season, including targeting tailing trout and aggressive streamer takes.

Next, we chat with Scott Xanthoulakis from Wilderness Fly Fishing about the North-East region—Melbourne’s most accessible river fishing area and a favourite among Melbourne based anglers.

Moving to Bright, we talk with Cam McGregor about the Ovens, Kiewa, and the exceptional small stream options he guides through River Escapes.

Finally, we head north to catch up with Jimmy Barwick of Snowy Valleys Flyfishing. Although the NSW trout season is still a month away, the warm weather is already having an effect. Jimmy gives us insights into drift boating the Tumut and exploring the Snowy Mountains' best trout fisheries.

Rodney splits his time between guiding far north Queensland and the crystal clear flats of Cocos. We find out more about Rodney's flyfishing origins and the world-class areas he guides. For more information on Rodney and AFO, head to www.australianflyfishingoutfitters.com

As well as deciphering the gear and the flies, Craig explains the 5 basic things we can do during the retrieve, that will transform anyoneinto a lethal streamer angler.

Jim is a global flyfishing identity and is well respected in the trade as a great guy and gifted rod designer.

We reveal that the Session is a rod designed for everyone fishing freshwater. Bucking the trend of eyewateringly high prices, the Session is built to the highest standard, at a palatable price.

There's real passion behind the Scott fly rod family and this new model. Enjoy!

From the groundbreaking new Orvis Helios rods to cutting-edge wader technology, there's plenty of new gear on the scene to elevate your fly fishing to the next level. Andrew and Peter also share some bargains that are not to be missed.

Tune in to hear all this and more in the latest episode of The Flyfisher's Podcast!

For a more personalized touch, The Flyfisher team is ready to assist with bespoke flyfishing gift options. Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year from all of us at The Flyfisher!

Harrison has been a regular visitor at The Flyfisher, and we've keenly watched his passion develop and his experience grow. He's well-travelled and knows his way around a big two-handed fly rod as much as he does a 7'6" 3 weight.

Having recently returned from the ultimate nomadic flyfishing trip, Harrison has some sensational stories to tell. We hope you enjoy this latest episode!

Peter first came to our attention on the other side of the counter, regularly popping in to top up his fly box and absorb every bit of intel we could provide.

He finished school in 2021 and realised that to fuel the car and afford beer in a cost-of-living crises, he would have to hustle; so he got himself a job at JB Hifi. That customer service training had him hit the ground running when he started at The Flyfisher.

Of course, being so young, Peter looks at flyfishing through a fresh lens. His passion and ideas are pushing The Flyfisher to help flyfishers everywhere. We hope you enjoy learning more about Peter and what makes him tick in flyfishing.

As well as his involvement in Competitive flyfishing, Craig guides lucky anglers on the private waters of Millbrook Lakes.

Craig first fished loch style in 1994 while preparing for the Commonwealth championships. He found it to be deadly on our home waters and it rapidly became a preferred technique.

Craig is an authority on the technique, recently coaching the Australian team to success in the 2023 Commonwealth flyfishing champs in Islay.

In this episode we tap into Craig's extensive knowledge on this deadly technique.

Before this episode you should listen to Episode 2, and then Episode 34.

I fish with Jim in Tasmania and when you’re at his place, there’s one very strict rule, you have to write up the diary before you leave.

He is big on preserving the memories from days fishing and socialising at his shack in Miena and has kept a detailed diary since 1979.

Apart from the obvious fishing recollections that reveal great fishing from years gone by, Jim has had some incredible people visit and write up the diary during their stay.

We picked out some of the better entries in his diary to discuss them in more detail.

Before listening to this episode, have a listen to episode 2. We chat more broadly about Jim's life in flyfishing and it’s the perfect prelude to this episode.

Jim has been fishing Tasmania since 1960 and few people could claim to have had as many days on the water in Tassie as Jim has.

While building a small empire in mainland Australian fishing, Jim saw potential in fishing tourism being attracted to the central highlands of Tasmania. What eventuated was Jim owning the Central Highlands Lodge, the Great Lake Hotel, and Bridges Brother’s in Hobart.

In this part one chat with Jim, we talk about his love affair with Tasmania, and extract some hilarious stories. Jim's vivid memories reveal how the fishing used to be in Tasmania; and as we got going, we realised this had to be a two-part interview.

In part two we’ll be dusting off Jim's detailed fishing diaries to discuss some of the more memorable entries. So stay tuned after giving this one a listen.

To talk us through it, we sat down with competition flyfisher Erhan Cinar.

Erhan recently achieved two bronze medals at the Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships and guides with Wilderness Fly Fishing.

As well as learning more about the competition scene, we tap into Erhans comprehensive technique knowledge to reveal what you can do differently to catch more fish.

Competitive or not, this is one episode you don't want to miss.

Join Peter and Forbes for the usual banter as well as covering everything from exciting new additions to the fly-tying range, giving a few cracking trip reports and revealing some bargain end of season sale items!

In this feature-length episode we’re joined by expert guide and fishing film legend John Haenke. We tap into John’s deep knowledge gained over many decades to reveal the fundamentals of flats fishing, so you can get out there with confidence on your own, or with a guide.

For trouties this episode will open your mind to our wonderful flats opportunities, and to the more initiated there’s some gems that might challenge your own theories, and make you a better rounded saltwater flyfisher.

Today Peter sat Max Caruso down for a chat. Max is well known in fly fishing circles having written several articles on all things flyfishing and food. Max is devoted to our much-loved local Victorian rivers, lakes, estuaries and beaches. He has travelled to far-flung places such as the Gulf of Mexico and the trophy waters of New Zealand. Max is chafing at the bit to share his knowledge and travel tales with visitors (and maybe even his famous recipes!).

This episode was a lot of fun to put together and we hope you enjoy the listen!

Kiel covers all things bream fishing from what gear to use, and what sort of water to look for, to what flies to use in certain conditions. Join us as Kiel provides a fountain of information to get you on the water to target the ever-elusive bream successfully.

Scientific Anglers have been market leaders in fly lines for about as long as The Flyfisher has been in existence. We talk about this history and the direction of the company, including some recent developments and the exciting technology that's incorporated into their lines. We cover tapers, coatings, line cleaning, and discuss what it takes to bring a fly line to market. Jeff is an expert on all facets of flyfishing and his insights into the brand, and the industry, are both entertaining and enlightening!. We hope you enjoy this episode!

We thought we knew a lot about mayflies before chatting, but once Philip started, we realised just how much more there is to know.

Philip had our panel speechless as he reveals the best techniques and flies for the different stages of the hatch, and goes into detail on Victoria's best mayfly waters.

This one is a must listen. Enjoy!

Andrew has been a flyfisher since he was a young kid growing up in country New South Wales, and his love of flyfishing has since seen him travel all over the world.

He has worked in the flyfishing industry since 2004, and is the owner of The Flyfisher as you know and love it today.

Join us for this enjoyable and enlightening conversation as Andrew discusses where it all began, why he's passionate about what he does, and the mentors who have shaped him into the flyfisherman he is today. Keep your ears open for some great travel stories and flyfishing tips thrown in along the way.

We run through some exciting new gear such as the innovative C&F Design universal system fly boxes. We discuss our limited run of early season fly collections which aim to optimise your time on the water when flows are high. These boxes provide a range of carefully curated flies all the way from heavy Copper John nymphs to high-vis dries for when the fish start to look up.

Hear about our recent fishing adventures including Forbes's day fishing the rising waters of Tullaroop, and Andrew and Peter's Day on Lake Purrumbete.

In this episode, we cover all things Murray Cod: what flies to use, prime bite times, where to fish, and most importantly, how to maximize your time on the water and become a more efficent Murray Cod fly fisherman.

Tune in for all you need to know about Murray Cod fishing!

In this week's episode of behind the counter, we celebrate the return of Forbes Lindeman, a much-loved member of The Flyfisher team who has been away fishing for a month and has much to report on. In fact we've all been fishing and so theres heaps to discuss. We reveal what's new and exciting including our fly tying mystery boxes that are loaded with insane value. We hope you enjoy this week's Behind The Counter!

In this episode we talk reports, and reveal the best fishing opportunities right now. We talk favourite flies, and there's some exciting news about a celebrity in the flyfishing industry coming to visit. We also introduce a new segment about gear the we use ourselves and explain how it can make you a better flyfisher

We sat down with him during his Melbourne visit to discuss the intricacies of fly rod building, and what goes into creating one. We learn it takes more than just good materials to cook up a great rod, and the rod designer, like a good chef, plays a vital role. We also discuss some industry trends and technology you can expect to see in years to come.

We all buy into the glossy, cinematic fly rod marketing, but Rene puts all that to the side to provide rare insight into exactly what it takes to make a rod that flyfishers love to fish.

In this episode we talk reports, and reveal the best fishing opportunities right now. We talk favourite flies, and there's some exciting news about a celebrity in the flyfishing industry coming to visit. We also discuss the new Smith Optics Low Light Yellow polarised sunglasses, a game-changing piece of equipment that have revolutionised our fishing.

In this episode, we are joined by industry experts Rene Vaz from Manic Tackle Project, and Andy Summers from Mayfly Tackle, to discuss tapers, materials, and technologies from the biggest brands in fly lines.

We are also joined by spey fanatic Harrison Perrin to discuss grain weights, spey types and spey type applications.

It's a bit of a long one, but sit tight and you'll walk away a more informed flyfisher!

Gus and Sam have known each other since school but their shared interest in flyfishing is what's kept them close.

Early days Gus travelled South America and his flyfishing took a turn to obsession after being exposed to Argentina’s hard-fighting trout. For Sam it was breaking in horses at Helen Packers farm on the Bundarra, meeting the likes of Muz Wilson and other flyfishing tragics that walked through her doors. Later Sam and Gus developed as flyfishers with the challenging fishing on the Goulburn (and surrounds).

Both with young families, Sam shares a hilarious story of taking his son to the emergency with a lure hanging from his lip. We contemplate how to best spread the flyfishing bug to offspring, and in Sam’s case, he’s succeeded and offers some useful tips.

This episode was an absolute joy to put together and if you lead a busy flyfishing life like Gus and Sam, we're sure you'll get some laughs!

Andrew and Peter chat with local guides and expert Victorian lake anglers, Kiel Jones and Scott Xanthoulakis. They reveal the techniques, best time of year, reading the water, flies, and so much more.

With the lakes being your only option through Winter, and your best bet when targeting trophy trout, this is the podcast episode you've been looking for!