Episode 98 - DARREN CALHOUN - On The Side of the Fish

Ask Us A Question!Few people are as deeply connected to a river, a landscape, and a community as Darren Calhoun. A lifelong resident of Wyoming’s Wind River Indian Reservation, Darren is an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe, a descendant of the Eastern Shoshone, and someone whose family roots in the region stretch back generations. For more than three decades, he has worked as a guide, outfitter, business owner, conservationist, and advocate for the Wind River and the people who call it home. In this episode of Waypoints, we sit down with Darren to talk about growing up on the reservation, building Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing with his father, Pete, and the unlikely path that also led him to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.But at its heart, this conversation is about something bigger than fishing. Darren has built his life and business around a remarkably simple philosophy: protect the resource first. We talk about his decision to intentionally limit guided fishing in the Wind River Canyon, the responsibilities outfitters have to the waters that sustain their livelihoods, and what the broader flyfishing world can learn from the conservation traditions and resource management of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes. Darren also talks about the evolution of the Wind River Canyon Lodge, his new fly shop in Thermopolis, and what more than 30 years on the same river have taught him about stewardship, restraint, and leaving special places better than we found them. It’s a thoughtful conversation with someone who has spent a lifetime proving that sometimes the best way to build something is knowing when not to grow.Waypoints is brought to you by PatagoniaTo bring their gear to life, Patagonia is motivated by relentless curiosity and a passion for the wild. They evaluate hundreds of materials, build dozens of prototypes and spend seasons punishing them in the world’s most extreme conditions. The work is the guide, and Patagonia never tires of exploring, learning and improving. For the past two years, the Yellow Dog Flyfishing travel team has worked closely with Patagonia to test and refine the all-new Patagonia River Salt Wading Boots II in destinations ranging from New Zealand to the Seychelles. Featured throughout the Yellow Dog Field Reports series, these boots have become the go to choice for our team thanks to their Vibram® Megagrip soles, durable quick drying construction, speed to get on and off, and support built for both freshwater and saltwater environments.- Follow us on Instagram- Follow us on Facebook- Check out our YouTube Page- View the official Yellow Dog w...