On the latest episode of The Sustainable Angler podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with New York Times bestselling author Monte Burke, who is also a contributing editor at Forbes, Garden & Gun, and The Drake. His past works includes Saban: The Making of a Coach, Lords of the Fly, and now Rivers Always Reach the Sea. His writing consistently shines a light on the human side of sport and the natural world. Monte also wrote an article titled ‘The Greenest Companies in Fly Fishing‘ that I influenced me when I was debating on whether or not to launch a sustainability consulting business targeting fly fishing brands because it showed me that aside from a few, most brands were lagging in their sustainability efforts. Long story short, I launched Emerger Strategies in 2016, but that’s another story altogether.
Monte’s writing captures the soul of fly fishing — the quiet moments, the lifelong obsessions, and the deep connections we forge with the waters we fish and the people we meet along the way. In our conversation, we dive into the stories behind his latest book and explore how storytelling can be a powerful tool for protecting the places we love. If you love fly fishing, conservation, or just a good story well told, this episode is for you.
Legendary Anglers & Wild Places
In Rivers Always Reach the Sea, Monte shares intimate stories of fishing with legendary figures like:
- Captain Steve Huff – widely regarded as one of the greatest guides of all time
- Lefty Kreh – a pioneer of modern fly fishing
- Andy Mill – world-class tarpon angler and Olympic skier
- Yvon Chouinard – Patagonia founder and environmentalist
Monte’s reflections on fishing in Patagonia, the fight to save Atlantic Salmon, and the role of outdoor writing in conservation are both inspiring and urgent.
Why Storytelling Matters for Conservation
We often talk about data and science when it comes to environmental protection — and those are critical. But stories move people. Stories connect us emotionally to the rivers, fish, and ecosystems we care about. And as Monte puts it in the episode, “Stories are the primary way to get people to care.”
This episode reminds us that conservation isn’t just about policy or science — it’s also about passion. And stories help us share that passion. For example, Monte references the incredible work of the Atlantic Salmon Federation who is “dedicated to the conservation & restoration of wild Atlantic salmon.”
🎧 Listen Now:
👉 Listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.
💬 Final Thoughts
At The Sustainable Angler, we believe in using every tool we have — science, policy, action, and yes, storytelling — to protect what we love. Monte Burke’s work is a brilliant example of how words can inspire conservation.
Support Monte’s work by purchasing a copy of Rivers Always Reach the Sea anywhere books are sold, but Monte and I both recommend buying from your local book store to support small, local business, or Bookshop.org which is similar to Amazon, but they get it through your local book store.
Subscribe, share, and help us spread the word about the power of storytelling for a more just and sustainable planet. If you like what you are hearing, please consider leaving a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This episode is brought to you by Emerger Strategies, and A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging.