Mill House Podcast

Landon Mayer is a Colorado fly-fishing guide, fly designer, author, and educator known for his expertise in hunting and sight-fishing large, selective trout. Based on the South Platte River, Landon has spent decades studying trout behavior, water dynamics, and the subtle details that separate a good presentation from a great one.

He has built a reputation for pursuing difficult fish in technical water, particularly large trout that demand precision, patience, and a deep understanding of their environment. His approach combines careful observation with highly refined tactics, from reading water and spotting fish to choosing the right fly and making the perfect presentation.

Landon is also the author of five books and has contributed countless articles to fly-fishing magazines and publications. Through his writing, guiding, fly design, and teaching, he has helped anglers around the world become more effective and thoughtful on the water.

But among all of his accomplishments, what Landon is most proud of may be Clean the Dream, an annual community cleanup along the Dream Stream stretch of the South Platte River. The event brings anglers and members of the community together to care for and protect one of Colorado's most treasured fisheries. For Landon, it’s a chance to give back to the waters that have given so much to all of us.

Whether he's behind the vise, teaching on the river, writing, or chasing a trophy trout, Landon's passion goes beyond simply catching fish. It's about understanding the river, sharing that knowledge with others, and leaving the places he loves better than he found them.

On today’s podcast, we answer a wide range of listener-submitted questions, including whether top-of-the-line rods are really worth it, how far you actually need to cast, advice for aspiring fishing guides, and how our tarpon season has gone so far. Along the way, we cover plenty of other topics and share stories, insights, and practical tips from the water.

These Q&A episodes are always fun for us to record, so if you enjoy them, let us know and we’ll definitely keep doing more!

Have a question you’d like us to answer in a future episode? Email us at Nicky@millhousepodcast.com or send us a DM on social.

Hope you enjoy!

Paul Puckett is an acclaimed sporting artist, illustrator, and lifelong angler whose work captures the beauty, adventure, and emotion of life on the water. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Puckett developed an early passion for fishing, art and music, spending countless summers on the bass lakes of East Texas with his father and grandfathers—experiences that continue to inspire his work today. He earned a degree in advertising design from the University of North Texas before embarking on a career that blended his artistic talents with his love of fly fishing.

After working in fly shops in Dallas, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Atlanta, Puckett relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, where he committed himself full-time to creating fine sporting art. His paintings are recognized for their expressive brushwork, vibrant color, and remarkable ability to capture not only the likeness of fish and wildlife but also the memories and stories behind every catch.

Puckett's signature "Catch and Release" paintings have become especially sought after by anglers. These highly personalized works often incorporate the fish, the fly used, the location, and handwritten notes that commemorate a memorable day on the water. In addition to fine art, he is widely known for his humorous fishing illustrations, editorial artwork, and graphic design, bringing personality and authenticity to the outdoor lifestyle.

His artwork has appeared in leading angling publications, galleries, conservation organizations, and sporting events throughout the United States. One of his original works is part of the permanent collection of the American Museum of Fly Fishing, a testament to his enduring contribution to the sport and its artistic heritage. In 2025, Puckett was also the subject of the acclaimed short film Time Will Tell, directed by Hilton Graham. The film chronicles his journey as an artist and fly fisherman and, in 2025, Paul and Hilton Graham's Time Will Tell received an Emmy Award, further recognizing the impact of Puckett's story and creative legacy.

An avid traveler and dedicated fly fisherman, Puckett has pursued fish across North and South America, the Caribbean, the Seychelles, and beyond, drawing inspiration from each destination and translating those experiences into paintings that resonate with anglers and art collectors alike.

Today, Paul Puckett continues to paint from his studio in Charleston, creating original oils, watercolors, illustrations, and commissioned works that celebrate the enduring connection between anglers, wildlife, and the waters they cherish. His art reflects a simple philosophy: the greatest fishing stories are about far more than the fish—they are about the places, the people, and the memories that last a lifetime.

I first heard the name Tommy Robinson nearly 38 years ago while fishing in Key West. Time and again, anglers spoke about Tommy and his brother, Chris—their reputation as exceptional fishermen extending far beyond Key West to the waters around Apalachicola on Florida's Forgotten Coast.

Tommy was born in Richmond, VA but soon moved to Key West where the ocean shaped everyday life. His father, an OB-GYN, famously delivered renowned flats angler Will Benson, but it was the Robinson family's shared passions—diving and fishing—that truly defined Tommy's upbringing.

Tommy and Chris began poling the flats at an early age, developing skills that would eventually become second nature. Tommy always knew he wanted to be a fishing guide, earning his captain's license at just 18 years old. He has never looked back.

Many of his earliest clients came as referrals from the legendary guide Bob Montgomery, one of the true pioneers of flats fishing in Key West. Before long, Tommy had become captivated by tarpon and permit, dedicating himself to mastering two of the sport's most challenging gamefish.

Eventually, another opportunity beckoned. Tommy learned to fly and went to work for Jimmy Buffett, transporting anglers throughout the Bahamas in search of vast schools of bonefish. It was a fitting chapter for someone whose life had always revolved around shallow water and adventure.

When that chapter closed, Tommy moved into real estate in northern Florida. Yet fishing remained at the center of his life. He spent years guiding and exploring the waters around Apalachicola long before the area became widely recognized as one of Florida's premier fisheries. Today, he may be every bit as well known there as he is in Key West.

More than 45 years after earning his captain's license, Tommy Robinson has never strayed far from the bow of a skiff. Guiding, fishing, and the sea remain woven into the fabric of his life—a lifetime spent chasing tides, reading water, and sharing some of the finest fisheries in the world with those fortunate enough to step aboard.

I believe the driving force behind all great human triumphs is an insatiable desire to win. Some people are propelled by an internal storm—a relentless urge to push farther, dream bigger, and pursue the extraordinary. George VanDercook and Rudy Babikian are two young men who embody that spirit.

They continue to show the rest of us that chasing fish in faraway places can be more than a passion—it can be a life worth pursuing.

Both cut their teeth in the Northeast, targeting striped bass that eagerly ate flies in shallow water. Something about those early experiences struck a deep chord. Fishing wasn't just a pastime; it moved them. Years later, their paths crossed in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where they became obsessed with hunting big trout throughout the West.

Eventually, they hitched an 18-foot Boston Whaler to a truck and hauled it from the East Coast to Jackson, then across the American West and south to San Carlos, Mexico. There, the waters of Magdalena Bay and the Pacific Ocean became both their home and their new frontier.

Striped marlin, roosterfish, golden trevally, permit, snook—the sheer diversity of species they encountered expanded their horizons and changed the course of their lives. Their long runs offshore in a small center-console boat quickly became the subject of local conversation. People wondered what these crazy Americans were doing 30 miles offshore, chasing striped marlin alongside 80-foot Viking sportfishing yachts.

The locals gave them a fitting nickname: Los Locos.

And the name stuck.

Today, Rudy and George have built a highly successful operation that caters to fly anglers pursuing some of the world's most prized game fish. The experience they offer is unlike anything else in the sport—one of the most extraordinary fishing adventures imaginable.

I know because I've experienced it myself.

On this podcast, you'll hear stories of relentless ambition, hard-earned lessons, danger, risk, and the pursuit of a dream that many would consider impossible. It's a story about finding the promised land—and having the courage to chase it.