Bouncer Smith: A Legendary Miami Charter Captain on Bottom Fishing Tactics
Bouncer Smith is a legendary Miami charter captain with decades on the water. He breaks down bottom fishing tactics for snapper and grouper, his approach to bait and rigging, reading depth and current, and the lessons a long charter career taught him.
Tom Rowland | FG Knot Super Glue Test: 2% Stronger or Not Worth It? | Ep. 785
I test whether super glue makes the FG knot stronger on this How 2 Tuesday. I tied three FG knots with no glue and three with a dot of Krazy Glue super glue in 40 pound Daiwa J Fluoro to 20 pound Daiwa J Braid. No glue averaged 102.4 percent of line strength, glued averaged 104.8 percent, about a 2 percent gain on an already great knot.
Tom Rowland | Double Uni Knot Super Glue Test: 67% vs 75% | Ep. 785
I test the double uni knot with and without super glue on this How 2 Tuesday. Tied from 20 pound braid to 40 pound fluorocarbon, the no glue knots averaged just 67.4 percent of line strength, weaker than I expected, while a dot of super glue raised the glued knots to 75 percent.
Mindset of a Champion Part 2: How to Go From Working Out to Competing
In part two of Mindset of a Champion on Physical Friday, I talk with three-time CrossFit Games Masters champion Kevin Koester about how to go from just getting your workouts in to actually competing — following a structured program and mastering the small details like transitions and efficiency.
Jason Grubb: 265 Pounds to CrossFit Games Champion
Jason Grubb is a seven-time CrossFit Games Masters champion who went from 265 pounds and a sedentary lifestyle to one of the fittest athletes in the world. He shares the catalyst, the brutal first 90 days, competition psychology, and the nutrition and recovery work behind the transformation.
Should You Super Glue Your Knots? Tie It and Test It | How 2 Tuesday
I test whether super glue makes a knot stronger by tying clinch knots with and without a dot of Krazy Glue. No glue averaged 79.61% and glued averaged 89.42% in 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro, nearly 10% more. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Mindset of a Champion, Part 1: Consistency With Kevin Kester
I kick off the Mindset of a Champion series with four-time CrossFit Games champion Kevin Kester on why consistency and personal commitment, not a magic formula, get you back in shape. A Physical Friday episode.
Paul Bourcq: Drift Media, Black Rifle Coffee, and Building Outdoor Media
Paul Bourcq returns to the Tom Rowland Podcast to continue his story about building a career in outdoor media, from his early days in the fishing industry to his journey with Black Rifle Coffee Company and Drift Media. He shares lessons on building media companies in the outdoor space, taking calculated career risks, and what makes outdoor content succeed.
Spit on Your Knot, Or Not? Does Lubrication Matter? | How 2 Tuesday
I test the old advice to spit on your knot before pulling it tight. I tied three clinch knots dry and three lubricated in 15 pound fluorocarbon. Dry averaged 82.47% and lubricated 84.67%, a near dead heat. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
No-Equipment Home Workout: Deck of Cards Plus a Cooler
I break down a no-equipment home workout: the deck of cards upgraded with a cooler for burpee step overs, decline push-ups, and step-ups, so you stay fit for life. A Physical Friday workout.
Paul Bourcq: From North Carolina Guide to Costa Rica Opportunity
Paul Bourcq started his fly fishing journey on the New River in North Carolina, developing as a fly fisherman while worrying he would end up a fly-fishing beach bum. He joins Tom Rowland to talk about building a guiding business on the New River, the question that changed everything, and how a childhood passion became a professional pursuit that led to Costa Rica.
The Pitzen Knot Put to the Test | How 2 Tuesday
I put the Pitzen knot to the test, a fast, tiny-profile knot for attaching flies and lures that I first saw from Matty Rich on Instagram. Three knots in 15 pound fluorocarbon averaged 64% breaking strength. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Travel Workout: No Excuses, Use What You Have
I break down a no-excuses travel workout using your cooler: burpee box jump overs and step overs, paired with pull-ups in a descending ladder. Use what you have. A Physical Friday workout.
Kevin Koester: A 3x CrossFit Champion on Mindset and Consistency
Kevin Koester is a three-time CrossFit champion who built his success on mindset, consistency, and an unwavering commitment to the work. He joins Tom Rowland to break down the mental game that separates champions, the consistency problem most athletes never solve, what training at the highest level actually looks like, and how to perform when the pressure is on.
The Uni Knot to the Hook: How to Tie It and Test It | How 2 Tuesday
I tie the uni knot snug to the hook, then test three of them to failure in 12 pound monofilament. The average came out to a very impressive 124% breaking strength. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Travel Workout for Hunters and Fishermen: You Already Have the Equipment
I break down a travel workout for hunters and fishermen using gear you already carry: step-ups onto your cooler loaded with a cast net or bucket, programmed for time or reps. A Physical Friday workout.
Eric Regnart: The Alaska King Salmon Crisis and Pollock Bycatch
Eric Regnart is the executive director of the board at Golden Alaska, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring wild king salmon populations in Alaska. He joins Tom Rowland to explain the scope of the king salmon crisis, the pollock fishery's role in bycatch, why a bycatch cap is so controversial, and what anglers can do to help.
The Palomar Knot Revisited: How to Tie It and Test It | How 2 Tuesday
I revisit the Palomar knot, tie it step by step, and test three of them to failure in 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro. The average came out to 10.9 pounds, or 91.3% breaking strength. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
The Ultimate Cooler Workout: Tabata Skiers
I break down the cooler workout and my favorite move, Tabata Skiers: step over your Yeti side to side, twenty seconds on, ten off, eight rounds for four minutes. A Physical Friday workout.
Andy Stockett: Managing Money as a Fishing Guide
Andy Stockett is a fishing guide with roughly 15 years of guiding experience who grew up in an outdoor family. He joins Tom Rowland to talk about the financial side of guiding most people never address: tracking income and expenses, setting up bank accounts so taxes are painless, pricing trips correctly, and building a business that survives slow months.
The Homer Rhode Loop With Braided Wire: How to Tie It and Test It | How 2 Tuesday
I tie the Homer Rhode loop knot in braided coated wire this time, then test three of them to failure in 30 pound Berkley braided coated wire. The average came out to a remarkable 101% breaking strength. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Elevens and 21s: The No-Equipment Countdown Workout
I break down elevens and 21s, a no-equipment countdown workout from F3: two exercises trade reps that always total the same number. Easy to remember, do it anywhere. A Physical Friday workout.
Capt. Sergio Atanes: Fishing in Espanol
Captain Sergio Atanes joins the Tom Rowland Podcast for an episode conducted entirely in Spanish, breaking new ground for the show's reach into the Spanish-speaking fishing community. Sergio and Tom talk fishing in Spanish, opening the conversation to an underserved audience and pointing toward the future of fishing media.
The Homer Rhode Loop Knot: How to Tie It and Test It | How 2 Tuesday
I tie the Homer Rhode loop knot, an old-school loop knot for heavy mono, then test three of them to failure in 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro. The average came out to 68.1% breaking strength. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
10x10 With Cardio Travel Workout
I break down the 10x10, my favorite travel workout besides the deck of cards: mark ten yards, run between two exercises, descend from ten reps to one. Zero equipment. A Physical Friday workout.
Tom Rowland | 10x10 with Cardio Travel Workout - No Equipment Needed | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 762
The 10x10 with cardio protocol combines ten sets of ten repetitions of bodyweight exercises with cardiovascular intervals between sets.
The Improved Clinch Knot: How to Tie It and Test It | How 2 Tuesday
I tie the improved clinch knot, the clinch with one extra tuck, then test three of them to failure in 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro. The average came out to 82.1% breaking strength. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
500 Kettlebell Swing Travel Workout
I break down a 500 kettlebell swing travel workout borrowed from Dan John: pair swings with a press, run a 10-15-25-50 ladder, repeat five times. One kettlebell, done in a parking lot. A Physical Friday workout.
Tom Rowland: Regenerative Farming and Grass-Finished Beef at Ramstead Ranch
In this solo episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, Tom Rowland explores regenerative agriculture, grass-fed versus grass-finished beef, and sustainable farming after a visit to Ramstead Ranch. He explains the critical distinction most consumers miss, what regenerative farming actually means, and the nutritional case for grass-finished beef.
The Clinch Knot: How to Tie It and Test It | How 2 Tuesday
I tie the clinch knot, the first knot most anglers ever learn, then test three of them to failure in 12 pound Daiwa fluorocarbon. The average came out to 89% breaking strength. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
The Ultimate No-Equipment Travel Workout: Deck of Cards
I break down the deck of cards workout, my favorite no-equipment travel routine: assign an exercise to each suit, flip cards, do the reps. Scales to any fitness level. A Physical Friday workout.
Dr. Mike Larkin: What to Do After Buying a Used Boat
Dr. Mike Larkin joins Tom Rowland to share hard-won lessons on what to do after buying a used boat. After his diesel engine shut down 150 miles offshore, he breaks down how boat cooling systems work, why a stuck seacock can cause a thermal event, the monthly maintenance most owners overlook, and the safety equipment that can save your life.
The Palomar Knot: How to Tie It and Test It | How 2 Tuesday
I tie the Palomar knot step by step, then test three of them to failure in 12 pound Daiwa J fluoro. The average came out to 10.9 pounds, or 91.3% breaking strength. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
30 Minute Clock Challenge: The Simplest Way to Start Exercising
I break down my 30 Minute Clock Challenge: set a clock, walk out fifteen minutes, turn around, walk back, every day. The simplest way to start exercising again, with no equipment. A Physical Friday workout.
Angelo Poli: Aaron Rodgers and the 3 Pillars of Elite Nutrition
Angelo Poli is a nutrition and fitness expert who has worked with elite athletes including Aaron Rodgers. He joins Tom Rowland to break down the three pillars of elite nutrition: good carbohydrates, high-quality protein, and healthy fats. He explains why you can't out-exercise a bad diet and what the first practical step toward eating better really is.
The Steve Huff Double Figure 8 Knot: Tie It and Test It
The Steve Huff double figure 8 is a loop knot that hangs perfectly straight, great for tarpon when you run heavy line to a light fly, jig, or lure. I tie it and test 12 pound mono, averaging 11.47 pounds, 95.5 percent breaking strength. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Skip a Day? Penalty Workouts With Greg McHale
Greg McHale reveals his group’s brutal penalty workout for anyone who skips posting the daily training, and we trade strategies for knocking out the 10,000 push-up challenge. A Physical Friday episode.
Dr. Mike Larkin: Why Jacks Are the Most Underrated Gamefish
Dr. Mike Larkin is a fisheries scientist and lifelong angler who has studied jacks around the world. He joins Tom Rowland to make the case that jacks are the most underrated gamefish in tropical and subtropical waters, breaking down the power of the African pompano, the acrobatic fight of the golden trevally, and the baits, lures, and conservation that matter.
The Non Slip Mono Loop: Tie It and Test It
The non slip mono loop is a great loop knot for bonefish and trout flies, leaving a loop so the fly moves naturally. I tie it and test 12 pound mono, averaging 10.13 pounds, 84.4 percent breaking strength. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
No Excuses: Ten-Minute Workout With Greg McHale
Greg McHale returns to Physical Friday with a no-excuses ten-minute AMRAP — 20 wide push-ups, 15 box-over burpees, 20 squat jumps, and 15 lying leg raises — and the team accountability behind it. A Physical Friday episode.
Chris Rodack: Why Strong Fathers Are Needed in Today's Society
Chris Rodack is a fatherhood advocate who joins Tom Rowland to discuss why strong, engaged fathers are critically needed in today's society. He talks about the shifting role of fathers, what children lose when a dad is absent, his own journey through fatherhood, and how men who grew up without strong fathers can still become great ones.
The Blood Knot: Tie It and Test It
The blood knot joins two lines for trout, tarpon, and bonefish leaders. I walk through tying it and test 15 pound to 20 pound fluorocarbon, breaking it three times for an average of 9.95 pounds, 66.3 percent breaking strength. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
EP 746 - Double Strand vs Single Strand Uni Knot Data
Tom Rowland tests the blood knot for connecting 15 pound fluorocarbon to 20 pound fluorocarbon, revealing 66.3% breaking strength at 9.95 pounds average across three tests.
Pushing the Limits in Ten Minutes With Greg McHale
Greg McHale joins Physical Friday to share his ten-minute daily bodyweight workout — five exercises at 50 seconds on, 10 off, twice through — and the sweaty-selfie accountability that keeps his community doing the work. A Physical Friday workout.
Nick Haddad: Descending Devices, Barotrauma, and How to Get One Free
Nick Haddad is the Sustainable Fisheries Communications Manager for Return 'Em Right, a program tackling catch-and-release mortality from barotrauma in the Gulf of Mexico. He joins Tom Rowland to explain why released reef fish often die, how a simple weighted descending device reverses pressure injuries, and how anglers can get a free device.
Double Strand vs Single Strand Uni Knot: Which Is Stronger?
My partner Rich Tudor doubles the braid over before tying his double uni, while I tie a single strand. His knots look fuzzy, mine look clean, so we tested both braid-to-fluorocarbon. The doubled line edged out the single. A How 2 Tuesday tutorial.
Travel Workouts With the Tabata Protocol
I break down the Tabata protocol: 20 seconds of all-out work, 10 seconds rest, eight rounds, four minutes total. It works with any exercise and no equipment, which is why it is the workout I take on the road. A Physical Friday workout.
Zeb Hogan: Chasing Giants and the World's Largest Freshwater Fish
Fish biologist and National Geographic Monster Fish host Zeb Hogan joins Tom Rowland to discuss his book Chasing Giants, the 646-pound Mekong giant catfish that started his quest, and the surprisingly complicated search for the world's largest freshwater fish.
