Is Hunting and Fishing A Constitutional Right?⎟Ep. #927
Should hunting and fishing be constitutional rights in Florida? This isn't just theoretical—on November 5, 2024, Floridians will vote on Amendment Two, a measure that could change everything about how these traditions are protected. Travis Thompson, executive director of All Florida and fifth-generation Floridian, walks us through what this amendment really means, cuts through the misinformation, and explains why hundreds of thousands of fishing and hunting license holders in Florida don't even vote. If you care about water quality, public lands, boat ramps, or the Florida Wildlife Corridor, this conversation reveals surprising truths about who actually funds conservation in this state and what's at stake this November.
How To Know If You Are Dragging Your Anchor
I sit down with Captain Harley Hunt to break down a simple GPS waypoint method for knowing if you are dragging anchor, plus how scope and chain keep you holding. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Captain Harley Hunt's Beginner Guide to Boating
I talk with Captain Harley Hunt about getting familiar with a new boat, the one-engine method, and building confidence in safe water. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Mike Mehlmann: Can the BassForecast App Help You Catch More Bass?
Mike Mehlmann is the founder of BassForecast, billed as the number one bass fishing app in the world. He joins Tom Rowland to explain the data behind the app, how it forecasts the bass bite using weather and conditions, and how both recreational anglers and pros use it to catch more fish.
The Best Knots to Tie Braid to Fluorocarbon
I test four braid-to-fluoro knots and the FG knot wins so big the 40 pound leader breaks before the knot does. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Taylor Somerville: Breathwork Techniques to Control Stress and Anxiety
Taylor Somerville is the founder of Symmetry, a Memphis-based coaching company that teaches breathwork and nervous-system tools to manage stress and anxiety. A longtime XPT coach, he joins Tom Rowland to break down practical breathing techniques anyone can use, how breath drives the nervous system, and how he brings stress management into corporate settings.
How To Boating: Insights from Captain Harley Hunt | Ep. #921
Captain Harley Hunt, founder of How To Boating, joins Tom to break down the fundamental boating skills that every captain should master. From understanding your boat's pivot point to reading navigation aids and mastering VHF radio protocols, Harley shares the practical knowledge he gained as a dive boat captain in Key West and yacht captain in Fort Lauderdale.
Taylor Somerville: Managing Stress as a New Parent With Breath and the Nervous System
Taylor Somerville is the founder of Symmetry, a Memphis-based coaching company that helps high-achieving people manage stress through breath, cold exposure, and nervous-system training. A longtime XPT coach, he joins Tom Rowland to talk about taking his own medicine as a new parent, why breath is the foundation of everything he teaches, and how to get back control of your time and energy.
The Fastest Tying Knots
I break down the two fastest knots I tie, the clinch at 9.31 seconds and the blood knot at 19.64, and why speed beats strength under pressure. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
How To Safely Release Fish
I break down healthy fish handling: shorten the fight, never touch the fish, and unhook with a dehooker so it swims off strong. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Major Thornton: Fishing, Social Media, and Staying Grounded
Major Thornton, known on social media as majorgator95, is a tournament redfish angler and fishing content creator. In this episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast he continues the conversation on fishing, building an audience online, and keeping perspective as a creator.
Major Thornton: How to Get Famous Doing What You Love
Major Thornton, known on social media as majorgator95, is a tournament redfish angler and fishing content creator. He joins Tom Rowland for a conversation across an age gap about what gets people started in fishing, how a self-described introvert found his voice on camera, using fishing to get through hard times, and where social media is heading for anglers and their kids.
Testing Instagram's Most VIRAL Fishing Knot
I test Instagram's most viral fishing knot and it breaks at just 74 percent, below the original it copies. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Aaron Benjamin: Abenz Fishing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Building a Content Business
Aaron Benjamin, known online as Abenz Fishing, is a fishing content creator and entrepreneur with a background in competitive Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He joins Tom Rowland to talk about his path from training under five-time world champion Bernardo Faria to building a content business, the obsessive mindset behind mastery, and how he turned a love of fishing into a brand.
Which Fishing Knot is Worth Tying?
I test the five most popular hook knots and the Palomar wins at 97 percent, with the improved clinch at 90.5. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
This Knot is GUARANTEED to be Stronger Than Your Line
I tie the Bimini twist step by step and prove the doubled loop is stronger than your single line, breaking in the single strand every time. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Sting Ray Robb: IndyCar Racing, Backcountry Elk Hunting, and Growing Up in Idaho
Sting Ray Robb is a professional NTT IndyCar Series driver for AJ Foyt Racing and an avid hunter and fisherman from Payette, Idaho. He joins Tom Rowland to explain how a kid from Idaho reached the top tier of American open-wheel racing through the Road to Indy ladder, how he balances backcountry hunting with a racing schedule, and the surprising parallels between motorsport and the outdoors.
Is Saint Croix Fishing's Best Kept Secret? — Carter Smith-Wellman
Charter captain Carter Smith-Wellman on why Saint Croix may be fishing's best-kept secret—bonefish caught on Rapalas and swimbaits, and a flats fishery that collapsed and recovered.
San Diego Jam Vs. Double San Diego Jam
I tie the single and double San Diego Jam and put both on the machine. The single broke at 26.91 pounds and the double at 30.93. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Clay Cowart: From Media Professional to YouTube Fishing Fame with Life by the Bow
Clay Cowart is the creator and host of Life by the Bow, a fishing YouTube channel he runs with his wife Stephanie. A University of Miami graduate who started a media company before going full-time on YouTube, he joins Tom Rowland to talk about building a fishing channel, why The Bahamas drives his best content, balancing creative work with a new baby, and the craft of fishing videography.
My Everyday Carry
I open my everyday carry box and walk through the inexpensive items and safety gear that can be total day enders if you forget them. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Peter Kaminsky: A Writing Life Between Fishing and Food
Writer Peter Kaminsky joins Tom Rowland to reflect on a career spanning National Lampoon, the New York Times, fly fishing, and food, and on why the catches and stories that stay with an angler are rarely the biggest.
3 Essential Lowrance Screens to Make You a Better Fisherman
I walk through setting up three essential Lowrance screens so the data that matters most, remaining hours, state of charge, battery voltage, time, and water temperature, stays in front of you on the chart, the sonar, and a dedicated battery screen. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
How to Display Battery Info on a Lowrance With Lithium Pros
I show how to display real-time battery information on a Lowrance using the NEMA connection on my Lithium Pros battery and Power-Pole Move trolling motor, so I always know my remaining hours, voltage, and state of charge. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
HOW TO SCALE A BUSINESS! ADVICE FROM CAREER CEO Jeff Dudan! | TRP Ep. #905
Jeff Dudan is a seasoned career CEO who shares invaluable insights on business scaling and growth strategies in this episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast.
Peter Kaminsky: From National Lampoon to the New York Times and a Life in Fishing
Writer Peter Kaminsky joins Tom Rowland to talk about his years at National Lampoon, 35 years writing for the New York Times, how a $54 grouper hooked him on fishing, his food writing, and his book The Catch of a Lifetime.
The Homer Rhode vs. The Non-Slip Mono Loop Knot Test
I test the Homer Rhode against the non-slip mono loop, and it is a no-brainer. The non-slip mono loop broke at 100.13 percent of line strength while the Homer Rhode came in at 68.14 percent. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Ryan Hanks: From Lake Lanier to Chasing Giant Trevally in Australia
Ryan Hanks joins Tom Rowland to talk about fishing Georgia's Lake Lanier, traveling to Australia to chase giant trevally, and how the contrast between freshwater and brutal saltwater fishing sharpens an angler.
Marina Gibson: How Fishing Can Change a Life
Fly fishing instructor, author, and conservationist Marina Gibson joins Tom Rowland to talk about how fishing helped change her life, founding a fishing school, why conservation drives her, and making the sport welcoming to everyone.
The Non-Slip Mono Loop vs. The Double Figure 8 Knot Test
I test the non-slip mono loop against the Steve Huff double figure 8. The non-slip won on strength at 100.13 percent versus 77.2 percent, but the double figure 8 is still my pick for the loop that pulls the straightest. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Kirk Martin: Calm Parenting and Emotional Regulation
Kirk Martin, founder of Celebrate Calm, joins Tom Rowland to talk about staying calm with strong-willed kids, why a parent's emotional regulation sets the tone at home, and practical tools that change the dynamic right away.
The Loop Knot Showdown: Steve Huff Double Figure 8 vs. Homer Rhode
I run a loop knot showdown between two of the most important loop knots in my fishing, the Steve Huff double figure 8 and the Homer Rhode. The double figure 8 won at 77.2 percent versus 68.14 percent. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
The Palomar Knot vs. The Improved Clinch Strength Test
I run the battle of beginner knots, the Palomar against the improved clinch. The Palomar edged it out at 91.36 percent of line strength versus 85.15 percent for the improved clinch. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Michael Ronquillo: Inside Florida's Invasive Iguana Problem
Michael Ronquillo joins Tom Rowland to break down Florida's invasive iguana problem, why the population exploded, how their burrows damage seawalls and infrastructure, and what it takes to manage the species.
Improved Clinch vs. Palomar Knot - Which Is Stronger? | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 629
In this How 2 Tuesday episode, Tom Rowland continues his knot wars series by testing two of the most common line-to-lure connections: the improved clinch knot versus the palomar knot.
Michael Waddell: The Bone Collector on Hunting and Outdoor TV
Michael Waddell of Bone Collector joins Tom Rowland to talk about his rise from Realtree to outdoor television fame, what filming hunts is really like, and why the culture and community of hunting mean so much to him.
Michael Chandler: A UFC Champion on Mental Toughness and Elite Performance
UFC star and former Bellator champion Michael Chandler joins Tom Rowland to talk about mental toughness, the daily discipline behind elite performance, faith and family, and the mindset that drives a fighter.
The Uni Knot vs. The San Diego Jam Knot Strength Test
I run an East Coast versus West Coast knot battle: the uni knot (five turns) against the San Diego Jam (seven turns) in 20-pound Daiwa J Braid fluorocarbon. The San Diego Jam broke at 20.08 and the uni edged it at 20.24. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Shaw Grigsby: A Bass Fishing Legend on a Lifetime of Tournaments
Bass fishing legend Shaw Grigsby joins Tom Rowland to talk about decades on the tournament circuit, the demanding art of sight fishing, hosting One More Cast, and what it takes to build a lasting career in a brutal sport.
The Clinch Knot vs. The Improved Clinch Knot Strength Test
I tie and test the basic clinch knot against the improved clinch knot to see if that one extra step is worth it. With 20-pound Daiwa J Fluoro the clinch held 84.25 percent and the improved clinch edged it at 85.15 percent. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Toby Hansen: From Forum Posts to a Career in the Fishing Industry
Toby Hansen joins Tom Rowland to talk about how online fishing forums launched his career in the tackle industry, what the business side of fishing really looks like, and why some fishing content connects while other content disappears.
Flip Pallot's Snell Knot vs. My Nail Knot for Fly Line
I tie and test what Flip Pallot calls a snell knot against my own nail knot for connecting fly line to leader. Both broke at about 21.75 pounds by slipping off the fly line coating, which tells you everything about where these connections work and where they don't. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
The Nail Knot with a Lock: Tie It and Test It
I tie the nail knot with a lock, a fly line to leader connection with a figure-eight lock that keeps it from slipping on big fish, then test it. It broke at 28.58 pounds. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Mark the Shark: Becoming Miami's Most Notorious Shark Hunter
Mark Quartiano, known as Mark the Shark, joins Tom Rowland to talk about decades of big-game shark fishing out of Miami, building his notorious name, and the controversy that follows the sport.
Manufacturer's Welded Loop vs. The Nail Knot Loop: Which Is Stronger?
I put the manufacturer's welded loop head-to-head against a nail-knot loop I tied myself. The welded loop won, stronger than the line itself, while my loop slipped. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Diamond Dallas Page: WWE Hall of Famer Turned Transformation Coach
Diamond Dallas Page, WWE Hall of Famer and founder of DDP Yoga, joins Tom Rowland to talk about starting wrestling at 35, recovering from a near career-ending back injury, and the mindset behind real physical transformation.
Whipping a Loop in Fly Line with Double Nail Knots: How Strong Is It?
I show how to whip your own loop in a fly line using double nail knots and the Tie Fast tool, then test it. The loop slipped at 39.81 pounds, still plenty for tarpon. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Bill Dance | How to Build a Fishing TV Empire Without a Big Budget | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 881
Bill Dance is an iconic American fishing TV personality, professional angler, and conservation advocate who pioneered televised fishing entertainment when there were only three channels on television and nobody wanted to fish. In this conversation, Bill reveals how he built the longest-running fishing show in television history by focusing on one simple rule that most modern shows ignore. He shares the surprising truth about what made fishing exciting to audiences in the early days, the specific teaching approach that helped him connect with millions of viewers, and the philosophy behind catching fish on camera that still drives his show today. This is a rare look inside the mind of the man who made bass fishing a household passion.
