Capt. Angie Scott - The Woman Angler & Adventurer

Miles Burghoff is the co-host of Sweetwater Television with Joey Nenea, traveling the country to fish for freshwater and saltwater species while building the show's dedicated following. In this conversation with Tom Rowland, Miles opens up about the realities of building a career in the fishing industry — from the loneliness of constant travel to the real relationship work behind landing and keeping sponsors. They discuss what it actually takes to serve sponsors effectively, the mentorship that shaped their careers, and what Miles does on the road to stay sane. If you've ever wondered how someone breaks into this world or what the day-to-day actually looks like, this episode pulls back the curtain on the fishing media business.

The Mentorship That Shaped Their Sponsorship Philosophy

Miles and Tom both credit their success in the sponsorship world to mentors who gave them advice that fundamentally changed how they approached relationships with brands. The core lesson revolved around understanding what you're trying to accomplish as an angler in order to best serve the sponsor — not just taking gear and money. This philosophy shapes how they both approach content creation, relationship building, and delivering value back to the companies that support them. They discuss how this guidance helped them navigate the often confusing world of fishing industry sponsorships and what separates anglers who maintain long-term partnerships from those who don't. The full conversation about mentorship and sponsor relationships begins early in the episode.

Breaking Into the Fishing Media World

Miles shares the story of how he got started in fishing media and what the path looked like from the outside looking in. The conversation covers the most common questions people ask about getting into this world — questions Miles has heard repeatedly from anglers who want to follow a similar path. Tom and Miles discuss what's realistic, what's romanticized, and what the actual day-to-day work involves. If you've ever thought about pursuing fishing media as a career, this section offers a reality check mixed with genuine encouragement for those willing to put in the work. Miles explains how he got started in the fishing industry and what he learned along the way.

Life on the Road as a Bass Fisherman

What does a bass fisherman actually do while traveling around the country? Miles opens up about the reality of road life — including the loneliness that comes with constant travel. He discusses what he listens to, how he structures his time, and the challenges of maintaining relationships and sanity while spending weeks away from home. This isn't the glamorous side of fishing media that makes it onto Instagram. It's the hotel rooms, the long drives, the solitude, and the discipline required to keep showing up when the lifestyle loses its novelty. Tom relates from his own experience, and together they paint an honest picture of what this life actually demands. The honest conversation about road life and its challenges unfolds in the middle of the episode.

Creating Compelling Content and Building a Following

Miles and Tom discuss the evolution of fishing media from traditional television to digital platforms and what it takes to create outdoor content that actually builds an audience. They talk about the Sweetwater TV show, how they've developed their following, and what goes into producing content that resonates with viewers while serving sponsors effectively. The conversation touches on the changing landscape of fishing media, where attention spans are shorter and platforms are multiplying. Miles shares insights on what works, what doesn't, and how he and Joey have built Sweetwater Television into a show with a dedicated following across multiple platforms. Their discussion about content creation and the media landscape continues throughout the episode.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I really enjoyed this conversation with Miles. He's thoughtful about the business side of fishing in a way that a lot of people aren't, and he's willing to talk honestly about the parts of this lifestyle that aren't glamorous. We both came up in this industry learning from people who emphasized service over self-promotion, and I think that shows in how Miles approaches his work with Sweetwater.

If you've ever thought about pursuing fishing media or sponsorships, this episode will give you a realistic picture of what that path looks like. Miles doesn't sugarcoat the challenges — the travel, the loneliness, the constant work of maintaining relationships and creating content. But he also shares what makes it worth it and how he and Joey have built something meaningful with their show.

Whether you're interested in the business side of fishing or just want to hear an honest conversation between two people who love what they do, this one's worth your time. Listen to the whole thing.