Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 412 is a conversation with Jared Zissu, founder of Flylords, one of the biggest names in fly fishing media. He tells me how a college freshman fly fishing the Elk River near the University of the South turned an Instagram account into a media empire, how Flylords works to bring new people into the sport responsibly around issues like spot burning and etiquette, and how he made a film centered on the legendary Lefty Kreh featuring Flip Pallot, Blaine Chocklett, and Bob Clouser.
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Jared Zissu is the founder of Flylords, a leading fly fishing media brand. He started the platform as a college freshman at the University of the South while discovering a deep passion for fly fishing on the Elk River, and he has grown it into one of the most influential outlets in the sport, with a focus on bringing new people in responsibly.
Flylords began without much of a vision. As a freshman in college, right as Instagram was gaining popularity, Jared was trying to fly fish every single day and did not want to annoy his friends with daily fish pictures, so he created a platform to share general fly fishing content. They were among the first to do it, and it grew from there into a media empire.
Jared learned on the Elk River, a tailwater about thirty minutes from the University of the South, where he went to school. The river became an outlet to disconnect from school and the place his passion for the sport took root, first wading secret spots like one they called Red Barn and later floating it in a FlyCraft boat.
The film centers on the legendary fly fisherman Lefty Kreh and his impact on the sport. Jared and his team spent a couple of days at Flip Pallot's home, brought in Blaine Chocklett, who idolized Lefty and credits him as a main reason he became a guide, and featured Bob Clouser, capturing powerful, emotional conversations about Lefty's legacy.
The film features fly fishing legends including Flip Pallot, Blaine Chocklett, and Bob Clouser, all reflecting on Lefty Kreh's influence. Jared describes deeply moving moments during filming, and notes they handed the footage to an editor who had never picked up a fly rod and let him work his magic.
Flylords works to bring a large number of people into fly fishing while doing it responsibly. Jared talks about navigating issues like spot burning, ethics, and etiquette as the sport grows, trying to grow participation in a way that protects fisheries and the culture around them.
Lefty Kreh had a huge impact on my life and my fishing career, and if you are like me, he shaped you too. When I learned Jared and Flylords had made a film about Lefty featuring Flip Pallot, Blaine Chocklett, and Bob Clouser, I wanted the full story of how it came together. I also wanted to understand how a college kid turned an Instagram account into a media empire and how he thinks about growing the sport the right way. Press play in the YouTube player above.
Jared is honest that there was no master plan at the start. As a freshman fly fishing every day on the Elk River, he just did not want to spam his friends with fish photos, so he made a page to share fly fishing content, and they happened to be among the first there. He traces how that simple impulse grew into Flylords. For anyone building something online, the origin story is instructive. Listen to it in the episode.
The Elk, a tailwater thirty minutes from the University of the South, was where Jared's passion took hold, an outlet to disconnect from school. He describes wading secret spots like the one they called Red Barn, paying a few dollars into a worm can from the owners, and later talking FlyCraft into a deal on a boat that changed how he could access the river. It is a great picture of how obsession starts. Hear it in the player above.
This is the heart of the conversation. Jared describes spending a couple of days at Flip Pallot's home talking about Lefty, bringing in Blaine Chocklett, who idolized Lefty and credits him as a main reason he became a guide, and featuring Bob Clouser. He recalls a powerful moment where Flip teared up and his wife had to step in. Then they handed the footage to an editor who had never held a fly rod. Listen to how the film came together in the episode.
Flylords has brought a huge number of people into fly fishing, and Jared takes seriously the responsibility that comes with that. He gets into spot burning, ethics, and etiquette, the tensions of growing participation while protecting fisheries and the culture. It is a thoughtful take on a debate every outdoor pursuit is having right now. Press play to hear his approach.
▶ Watch on YouTube · 🎧 Listen now
What I appreciate about Jared is that he built something massive without losing sight of the soul of the sport. Making a film about Lefty Kreh, and treating it with the care he did, says a lot about where his head is.
Lefty meant a great deal to so many of us, and this conversation honors that while showing how the next generation is carrying it forward. Listen to the whole thing.
The Tom Rowland Podcast brings you long-form conversations with the most accomplished anglers, hunters, conservationists, and outdoor professionals in the game. Listen to every full-length Tom Rowland Podcast interview.
Jared Zissu is the founder of Flylords, one of the biggest names in fly fishing media. He started the platform as a freshman at the University of the South while building a passion for fly fishing on the Elk River, and grew it from an Instagram account into an influential media brand focused on bringing new people into the sport responsibly. He produced a documentary centered on the legendary Lefty Kreh featuring Flip Pallot, Blaine Chocklett, and Bob Clouser, and he is an advocate for fishing ethics and etiquette as the sport grows.
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