Anchored Podcast Ep. 286: Mike Lawson, Fifty Years on the Henry’s Fork

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Lawson — a legendary guide, fly tyer, educator, and one of the founding forces behind Henry’s Fork Anglers. What began in the early 1970s as a young schoolteacher tying flies at the kitchen table with his wife Sheralee eventually grew into one of the most iconic fly fishing businesses in the world. Mike shares the story of building Henry’s Fork Anglers from the ground up — the lean early years, the friendships and mentors that shaped him, the explosion of fly fishing after A River Runs Through It, and the deep family roots behind a business that has now spanned nearly fifty years. We talk about guiding, fly tying, loyalty, legacy, and what it really means to dedicate your life to rivers, people, and the craft of fly fishing. This conversation is thoughtful, nostalgic, and full of hard-earned wisdom from someone who helped shape modern fly fishing as we know it. You may have noticed me wearing Skwala fishing apparel for the past year or so, and I gotta say, I’ve been really impressed with everything I’ve tried. I love the way they design gear. They manage to strike a perfect balance between durable and functional but also comfortable and mobile. I stay warm and dry, but never feel cramped or restricted when I’m wading, casting, or rowing. I’ve enjoyed fishing in their apparel so much, I recently joined their team as an ambassador. We’ve even been working together on ways to translate their expertise with technical fly fishing apparel into gear that’s specifically designed for women, and I’m really excited about the progress we’ve made. If you haven’t already done so, go check them out at skwalafishing.com and see what they’re all about. Anchored listeners can get 10% off their first order with Skwala by using the code “anchored10” at check out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices