Kaatscast: the Catskills Podcast

Fishing And Hunting Episodes

161
Jan. 27, 2026

Casting Stories: Nick Lyons on Fishing and Writing

In this special long‑form conversation, Brett Barry sits down with legendary angler‑writer and publisher Nick Lyons, now 93, whose life has been shaped by water, words, and the Catskills. From a childhood spent catching frogs for pocket money to founding one of the most influential fishing imprints in America, Nick’s story is a rare blend of grit, curiosity, and literary devotion. Recorded in Nick’s home in Woodstock, this episode traces his journey from the Bronx to the Beaverkill, from boar...
88
April 11, 2023

Remembering Hank Rope

Just two weeks before the start of trout season, the Catskills lost a paragon of angling. Henry "Hank" Rope, Jr. wore out a pair of wading shoes every year, fishing Catskills creeks and tributaries. Hank shared his love of the sport through his Big Indian Guide Service and volunteered his time with Trout in the Classroom at a community elementary school. We recorded Mr. Rope on several occasions over the years, and this week we're joined by two friends –– Bethia Waterman and Jane Wolfrom –– w...
78
Nov. 22, 2022

Getting the Lead Out: Making a Case for Copper Bullets

Whether you're a human who enjoys venison, or a bald eagle that scavenges a hunter's kill, lead = poison. And as it turns out, common lead bullets fragment on impact into hundreds of pepper-sized flakes that can be devastating to wildlife (and not so great for humans, either!). Michael DiBenedetto is a lifelong Catskiller, a longtime hunter, and a passionate advocate for copper bullets. If his experience rehabilitating lead-poisoned eagles isn't reason enough to make the switch, there are ple...
69
July 19, 2022

Protecting What You Love: with Author/Angler Stephen Sautner

Stephen Sautner is a lifelong fisherman, environmental activist, and the author of several books on those topics. And while his passion for fishing has taken him to the Falkland Islands, Cuba, the Zambezi River, and even ... New Jersey, a rustic fishing cabin in Hancock, New York, is Stephen's happy place. Tune it to hear Stephen's thoughts on trout, Catskills living, and being a steward of the places we love. Thanks to our sponsors: Hanford Mills Museum Central Catskills Chamber of Commer...
61
March 29, 2022

Beaverkill Trout Hatchery: Farming Trout for 5 Generations

Beaverkill Trout Hatchery is family owned and operated by the Shaver family since 1963. We met Sherry Shaver and a few of her relatives on a recent visit to the hatchery, where they were preparing for their busiest season, as fishing clubs order thousands of fish to stock streams and ponds, plus direct sales to area restaurants, and the public. Thanks to our sponsors: The Mountain Eagle and the Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kaatscast/sup...
51
Nov. 23, 2021

Fins, Feathers, Furs and the Great Outdoors with Tim Byron

It's hunting season in the Catskills, and even if you're not a hunter, you'll want to hear our interview with Tim Byron, a longtime friend with an infectious love for hunting, fishing, camping, and observing Catskills wildlife. A few years back, he started a YouTube series called "Fins - feathers -furs - and the great outdoors"-- documenting hunting and fishing trips, family excursions, birding, cooking, and lots more. Thanks to our sponsors: The Mountain Eagle, and the Catskill Mts. Scenic b...
25
Nov. 24, 2020

Voices from the Central Catskills

This week, we highlight four segments from our original "Experience the Central Catskills" audio driving guide, for a westward drive from Olive to Andes on NYS Route 28. DEC Natural Resources Supervisor Bill Rudge and an overview of the Catskill Park past and present Historian Diane Galusha on the Ashokan Reservoir and the New York City water supply Fly fishing the Esopus creek with Mark Loete Reminiscences of John Burroughs, with Bill Birns, Steve Koester, and Rolland Smith Tha...
15
July 7, 2020

Nick Lyons: A Life Well Fished

We recorded 85-year-old Nick Lyons at the Jerry Bartlett Angling Collection in Phoenicia, NY, as part of its "Sporting Legends of The Catskills" series. From that event: "Nick began to fish as a child during summers at the Laurel House in Haines Falls, when the hotel was owned by his grandfather. He went on to wet a line just about everywhere he could find water — from Steeplechase Pier in Brooklyn to the Catskill Mountains, and beyond. Nick is widely known for his popular “Seasonable Angl...
11
May 12, 2020

Joan Wulff: “First Lady of Fly Fishing”

On October 27, 2018, at the Phoenicia Library's Jerry Bartlett Angling Collection, “First Lady” Joan Wulff and her associate Jen Grossman took the floor to tell the story of Joan's remarkable life and career in the angling world. Hooked on fishing at a very early age, she rose to prominence as a National Casting Champion, winning competitions for both distance (161 feet!) and accuracy from 1943-1960. In the late 1970s, she and her husband, Lee Wulff, opened the Wulff School of Fly Fishing in Lew...
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