This week Reid and Ed talk with Thomas Watts, the passionate fly fisherman behind Canadian Trout Bum, who joins us from his ultimate fly tying sanctuary in Ottawa, Canada. Thomas shares his journey from being inspired by “A River Runs Through It” to teaching himself fly fishing without YouTube tutorials, demonstrating the persistence that defines his approach to life. From his unwavering devotion to brook trout (“All hail the Brook Trout Church!”) to the touching stories of fishing adventures with his teenage son in British Columbia, Thomas blends humor with profound insights about finding joy in imperfection.

The conversation takes meaningful turns as Thomas candidly discusses mental health challenges and how fly fishing provides therapeutic escape. His creative side shines through stories of designing logos, creating popular fishing stickers, and writing poetry—all while balancing a career in high-tech security software. Practical fishing tips emerge too, especially about his favorite smallmouth bass river in Ottawa with crystal-clear water and perfect wading conditions for summer evenings. Throughout the episode, Thomas’s infectious laugh and irreverent humor (including his amusing distrust of “Euro nymphing” and Brad Pitt’s shadow casting) remind us that fishing is as much about laughter as it is about catching fish.