Mudfish Adventures

Inside the Hunt Fish Podcast Summit | Derek York on Outdoor Media and Fishing

Recorded at the 2026 Hunt Fish Podcast Summit at Pintail Hunting Club in Garwood, Texas, this episode of the Mudfish Adventures Podcast features Derek York, founder of the Hunt Fish Podcast Summit, host of the Impact Outdoors Podcast, and owner of Spot Stalker Guide Service along the Texas coast. Derek shares the story behind the Hunt Fish Podcast Summit, a unique gathering that brings together podcasters, filmmakers, conservation leaders, and outdoor storytellers from across North America. Over several days, guests collaborate, record podcasts, fish, shoot skeet, and showcase films during the Hunt Fish Podcast Film Festival, highlighting some of the most compelling conservation and outdoor stories being produced today. The conversation explores how the summit has grown into a hub for outdoor media collaboration, featuring guests from organizations like Wild Sheep Foundation, Women Hunt, Heroes on the Water, and Texas coastal conservation groups. Filmmakers and conservation storytellers gather to share new documentaries, short films, and stories that highlight wildlife conservation, outdoor heritage, and the people working to protect natural resources. Beyond podcasting and media, Derek also discusses his life as a Texas coastal fishing guide, running Spot Stalker Guide Service in the Galveston Bay complex. The episode dives into redfish fishing, speckled trout conservation, tarpon along the Texas coast, and the importance of responsible boating and habitat protection in fragile coastal ecosystems. From outdoor storytelling and filmmaking to conservation issues and fishing adventures, this episode provides a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most unique gatherings in the outdoor media world. Topics covered in this episode * The origin of the Hunt Fish Podcast Summit * Bringing outdoor podcasters and filmmakers together * The Hunt Fish Podcast Film Festival * Conservation storytelling and outdoor media collaboration * Texas coastal conservation and oyster reef restoration * Redfish, trout, tarpon, and nearshore fishing in the Gulf * Life as a fishing guide on the Texas coast * Why outdoor media matters for conservation awareness Whether you're a podcaster, angler, hunter, filmmaker, or conservationist, this episode highlights the power of storytelling, collaboration, and community in the outdoor industry.

Hunting and Fishing Without Limits | Chad Waligura and Able Outdoors

Recorded at the 2026 Hunt Fish Podcast Summit, this episode of the Mudfish Adventures Podcast features Chad Waligura, founder of Able Outdoors, a television series and media platform dedicated to helping people with disabilities experience hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. Chad's life changed dramatically in 1986 when a diving accident left him a quadriplegic, but rather than stepping away from the outdoors he loved, he found new ways to stay involved. Through determination, supportive friends and family, and adaptive equipment, Chad rediscovered how to hunt, fish, and continue living a life connected to nature. Today, Chad shares that journey through Able Outdoors, a show streaming on CarbonTV and YouTube that highlights adaptive outdoor adventures and the inspiring stories of other hunters and anglers living with disabilities. The program demonstrates that with creativity, persistence, and the right mindset, the outdoors is accessible to everyone. In this conversation, Chad shares stories from the field, including guiding and hunting with people facing a wide range of physical challenges, filming hunts with adaptive equipment, and even taking a blind hunter duck hunting—an experience that showed how different senses can transform the way someone experiences the outdoors. The episode also dives into Chad's goals for the future of Able Outdoors, including expanding the show, mentoring other adaptive hunters, and documenting an ambitious wheelchair Grand Slam turkey hunt across North America. From duck hunting and fly fishing to adaptive equipment and inspiring stories of resilience, this episode highlights how the outdoors can change lives and bring people back to nature—no matter the obstacles. Topics covered in this episode * Chad Waligura's journey after becoming a quadriplegic * The mission behind the Able Outdoors TV series * Adaptive hunting and fishing techniques * Filming outdoor adventures for CarbonTV * Hunting and fishing with disabilities * A blind hunter's first duck hunt * The adaptive Grand Slam turkey hunting goal * Inspiring others to reconnect with nature Whether you are a hunter, angler, conservationist, or simply someone who believes in the power of perseverance, this episode shows how the outdoors can inspire resilience, purpose, and community.

Saving Texas Oyster Reefs & Fly Fishing History | Chuck Naiser on Conservation and the Future of the Gulf

Recorded at the 2026 Hunt Fish Podcast Summit at Pintail Hunting Club in Garwood, Texas, this episode of the Mudfish Adventures Podcast features legendary Texas fly fishing guide Chuck Naiser, founder of the nonprofit conservation organization FlatsWorthy. Chuck has been fishing the Texas coast since the late 1960s and guiding anglers for decades out of Rockport, Texas, where he became known for pioneering shallow-water sight casting for redfish on fly rods. His work helped shape modern fly fishing along the Texas coast and earned him recognition in the Perry R. Bass Marine Fishing Hall of Fame at the Rockport Maritime Museum. In this conversation, Chuck shares stories from the early days of coastal fly fishing—when anglers explored remote islands on foot, discovered untouched flats, and learned the behavior of redfish through experience rather than technology. But the discussion goes far beyond fishing. Chuck dives into the growing challenges facing Texas coastal ecosystems and explains why protecting habitat is critical to the future of fisheries. Through his nonprofit FlatsWorthy, Chuck has worked to address issues like habitat damage, fishing pressure, and oyster reef destruction in Texas bays. One of the most significant conservation victories discussed in the episode is the protection of the Mesquite Bay complex, where efforts led by Chuck and conservation partners helped establish a 75,000-acre oyster sanctuary designed to protect vital reef habitat that supports fish populations and stabilizes coastal ecosystems. Chuck also shares his philosophy of "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," a simple way to think about conservation by asking what the ecosystem looked like in the past, what it looks like today, and what it will become if current trends continue. From fly fishing history and redfish on the flats to large-scale conservation battles along the Texas coast, this episode offers a powerful look at what it takes to protect the waters we love. Topics covered in this episode * The early days of fly fishing for redfish in Texas * Exploring untouched coastal flats before modern technology * The impact of fishing pressure and habitat loss * Oyster reef destruction and the Mesquite Bay conservation effort * The mission of the FlatsWorthy nonprofit organization * Why habitat protection is critical for the future of fisheries * Chuck Naiser's conservation philosophy: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Whether you are a fly angler, saltwater fisherman, conservationist, or outdoor enthusiast, this episode highlights why protecting habitat today ensures that future generations will still have fish to chase tomorrow.

From Farm-to-Table to Hunting | Dana Dykema on Women Hunt, Wild Sheep Foundation & Wild Food

Recorded at the 2026 Hunt Fish Podcast Summit, this episode of the Mudfish Adventures Podcast features Dana Dykema of Vancouver, British Columbia, host of the Ignite Podcast for the Women Hunt program at the Wild Sheep Foundation. Dana shares her journey from a young mother learning to cook real food for her family to becoming deeply involved in the hunting and conservation community. What began with making homemade baby food and sourcing ingredients locally eventually led her to launch a business focused on connecting families with locally grown, seasonal food and regenerative agriculture. Through that journey, Dana began exploring the deeper connection between food and the outdoors. Wanting to know exactly where her meat came from led her into hunting, where she discovered the value of wild food and the role hunters play in conservation. The conversation dives into the Women Hunt program, a unique initiative created by the Wild Sheep Foundation that introduces women to hunting through a field-to-fork educational experience in Texas. Participants receive hands-on training in firearms, hunting ethics, meat processing, and conservation, helping them build the confidence and knowledge needed to continue their journey in the outdoors. Dana also discusses the realities of living and hunting in Canada, including bear hunting, salmon fishing regulations, and the challenges surrounding wildlife management and food sourcing. From regenerative agriculture and clean eating to hunting, conservation, and women in the outdoors, this episode explores how knowing where your food comes from can transform the way people think about hunting and conservation. Topics covered in this episode * The Women Hunt program and the Wild Sheep Foundation * Dana Dykema's Ignite Podcast and conservation storytelling * The connection between farm-to-table food and hunting * Regenerative farming and sourcing local food * Bear hunting and wild game meat in Canada * Salmon fishing regulations and conservation issues in British Columbia * Why knowing where your food comes from matters Whether you're a hunter, angler, conservationist, or someone interested in sustainable food systems, this episode highlights the growing movement of people reconnecting with wild food, conservation, and the outdoors.

Ranch Fairy Explains Lethal Arrow Systems | Bowhunting, Big Pigs & Precision Fishing Tactics

Recorded at the 2026 Hunt Fish Podcast Summit at Pintail Hunting Club in Garwood, Texas, this episode of the Mudfish Adventures Podcast features Troy Fowler, better known as the Ranch Fairy—a bowhunting researcher, YouTuber, and creator known for his deep dive into arrow lethality and heavy arrow systems. Troy explains the research behind his approach to bowhunting, inspired by the Ashby Bowhunting Study, one of the most detailed studies ever conducted on arrow lethality and penetration. Through years of experimentation and real-world hunting, Troy discovered that arrow weight, broadhead design, and structural integrity of the arrow system can dramatically impact penetration and overall effectiveness in the field. The conversation explores Troy's journey from traditional bowhunting frustrations—losing animals due to poor penetration or equipment failure—to developing a system designed for maximum lethality and pass-through performance. His philosophy is simple: an arrow should pass completely through the animal and never remain inside it, maximizing blood trails and ethical harvests. Beyond archery, the episode shifts into hunting strategy and fishing philosophy. Troy shares lessons learned from pursuing large feral hogs in Texas, explaining why mature boars behave very differently than younger pigs and how patience, scent control, and understanding animal behavior are key to success. The conversation also dives into fishing tactics, gear experimentation, and the mindset required to constantly improve as an outdoorsman. Troy discusses how anglers and hunters can benefit from testing equipment, questioning conventional wisdom, and focusing on systems that increase success rather than simply following trends. From bowhunting science and pig hunting strategies to bass fishing techniques and gear experimentation, this episode is packed with insights for hunters and anglers who want to take their craft to the next level. Topics covered in this episode * The Ashby Study and arrow lethality research * Why heavy arrows improve penetration in bowhunting * Designing the ultimate arrow system for hogs and deer * Hunting mature feral hogs in Texas * Scent control and hunting strategy for pressured animals * The Ranch Fairy YouTube channel and research approach * Fishing techniques, rod design, and learning through experimentation Whether you're a bowhunter, hog hunter, bass angler, or outdoor gear enthusiast, this episode highlights how testing, experimentation, and curiosity lead to better results in the field.