EP 220 Joe Conrad, Reel Designer for Sage

Joe Conrad is a mechanical engineer whose passion for fly fishing has led him to a career designing some of the gear anglers rely on every day. Based out of Sage's research and development facility on Bainbridge Island, Washington, Joe specializes in fly reel design and plays a key role in bringing new products from concept to reality. Most recently, he worked on Sage's new Shift series, helping develop equipment built to perform across a wide range of fishing situations. When he's not in the shop engineering fly reels, Joe spends his time chasing fish in both fresh and saltwater, or exploring technical rock climbs, and tackling the occasional mountaineering objective. His curiosity and creativity extend well beyond the outdoors. Joe is also a musician, and a weaver - he brings the same thoughtful approach to his creative pursuits that he does to engineering. Whether he's designing gear, fishing, scaling rock faces, or creating something with his hands, Joe is driven by a love of craftsmanship, problem-solving, and adventure. Today, we're excited to dive into the intersection of engineering, creativity, and fly fishing.   HOW TO HELP SO FLY: Please go leave us a review on APPLE PODCASTS. It really helps our show get out there, which means we get to make MORE episodes.  Thank you to our sponsors: Drift Outfitters Redington Chums Costa Muskoka Brewery Hooké   Podcast Intro Theme Song Music: “Favela Beat“ by Birocratic (www.birocratic.com) The song used in our podcast was licensed via Birocratic License v05.2016. For info on how you can use this music in your project, check out ⁠http://www.birocratic.com/license-app.⁠ To download Birocratic’s 60+ song discography, visit http:// birocratic.bandcamp.com. Thanks to all our listeners.