PODCAST · comedy
The Struggle Is Reel
by Eric Leininger, Zachary Carothers and Matt Thorton
Super duper serious podcast about fishing, sometimes.
Episodes
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Shia Le Boof
Ep. 49 In this motherfucking economy Matt Thornton, Eric, and Zach cover a wide-ranging shop-and-river conversation that jumps from steelhead fishing updates to guide-life logistics, gear etiquette, podcasting, and a few deeply questionable side quests. It’s mostly a three-way hang, but the…
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Wind Dicksock
Ep. 48 This episode is a loose, funny catch-up with Eric, Zach, and Matt centered on recent steelhead trips, a knuckle injury, and the kind of river stories that only happen when a camera crew shows up. It mixes practical guide talk, trip logistics, and a few real-deal moments about resilience,...
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Eatsy
Ep: 47
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SuidSize me
Ep. 46
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Countdown To Skynet: Might As Well Go Fish
Ep. 45 Steelhead, pattern recognition, and accepting what you can’t controlEric, Zach, and Matt spend most of this episode unpacking the weird psychology of steelhead fishing, especially how much of it comes down to patience, consistency, and accepting randomness. They also compare steelhead to...
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I'm Fly Fishing?
Ep. 44
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Lord Give Me A Lobotomy
Ep.43
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Your Dads A Numbers Guy
Episode 42 Matt, Eric, and Zach catch up on river life, trailer-backing disasters, and the eternal debate between bead fishing and “real” fishing. The episode moves from neighborhood parking rage to steelhead and trout tactics, with Zach sharing what it’s like guiding the Deschutes post steelhead...
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The Gang Goes Bonkers
Episode 41
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Rage Relapse
Episode 40
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Beads B4 Bros
Episode 40
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King Of The Beaver Bar
Episode 39
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Shadow Sides
Episode 38
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Ziggy Starlink
Episode 37
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THEY who?
Episode 36
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Jeff Arnold Chronicles Vol.2
Episode 35
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Bass>Bass
Episode 34
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Jeff Arnold: Alaska Chronicles Vol. 1
Episode 33
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Countdown To Matt’s 12th Season in Alaska.
Episode 32
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Back To The Future
Episode 31 We thought we lost an episode. But then found it. So yes. This episode was prior to Matt going to Belize. That’s on us. We fucked up, it’s on us. We fucked up it’s on us. We fucked up. We’re taking accountability 1000% we’re not gonna play games.
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It’s a Reservation, dawg
Episode 30
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Spey Clave
Episode 28
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American Lipo
Episode 27
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Bonus Episode: In The Bucket with Brian Niska and Adrienne Comeau
I pitch my theory to Brian and Adrienne of Nothing Matters when Steelhead aren’t pressured and water temps are warm. My epiphany on the Skeena last Fall. This may be a recurring series with different Steelhead Guides.
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M.A.T.com
Episode 26
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Trout Set Steelhead
Episode 25
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Love Is Grime
Episode 24
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Keep Calm Everyone. We’re About To Die. Episode 23.
You’ve probably almost died and had no idea. But we did.
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Long Blinks and Strong Sinks. Episode 22.
Misery loves company especially in audio texts at 5AM. PSA: Sir you are in 2” of water. And The Angle Of The Dangle.
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Anadromous Anonymous. Episode 21
Who knows. Pull the pin and take a listen.
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Metal. Gear. Solid. Episode 20.
The Winter March continues.
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Sexual Tension. Episode 19.
Another week of fishing and BS.
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Alpha Males vs Beta Blockers. Episode 18
Have you ever had a day where you’re just one more bad thing happening away from burning it all down? Yeah, we had one of those mornings.
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Attachment Issues: Episode 17
Eric crashes a jet boat. A grown man cartwheels through the air. F3T recap.
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Zyn Master Episode 15
Design the new TSIR logo and win a free Guide Trip. The story of how Eric realized he has face blindness, Zach can’t lie, and Matt has a wardrobe malfunction. Also, to wait or to set on steelhead grabs, Kelly Galloup looks great at 67, Zach’s poker face, and how Eric got caught red handed lying...
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From Heros To Zeros
Peak Guide moments from 2025. Flashbacks to the ones that got away that will haunt us until our deaths. Fred Durst is cool, full stop. How is it legal to kill wild steelhead in 2026, and dating has never been easier for normal dudes.
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Going Postal and Going Coastal Episode 13
The gang recaps the best day ever. Lots of laughs on a small coastal stream. Eric almost Bo Jacksons his spey rod.
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The Best Idea For A Maxima Ad Episode 12
Current steelhead report. Coast & Sandy. Portland Fly Shop Pod: it’s great go listen, dogs make an appearance (audibly) Adam Corolla sucks, what’s going on with public bathrooms at parks, and quite possibly the greatest ad idea for maxima ever created.
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Winter Steelhead Q&A. Episode 11
We answer a bunch of questions submitted via IG. Spoiler; it’s mostly Steelhead talk. Odd and various subjects are peppered in as well.
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Do Not Tell Me Where You Fish Ep 10
Current changes in our local rivers after the floods. Don’t ever tell a fly shop employee anything. Steelhead fishing and things we’ve learned. Also, an idea to create a universal hand signal for “we know the etiquete” when encountering other fishermen on the river.
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Older Than Pizza Ep 9
Again, are you actually reading this? I’m not even sure what we talked about. There’s definitely some fishing in there, Zach‘s grandma having the first pizza in America ever, and also my deep dive into eating a large amount of mushrooms last winter.
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Winter Steelhead Talk, Sort of Ep 8
Does anyone read these? Our buddy Matt Thorton joins us and the usual bs continues this week.
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And we’re back Ep 7
After wrapping up our Summer and Fall seasons, Zach and I catch up to talk about how bad this podcast is and why I only took mdma once.
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Colby Enters The Chat Ep 6
Carp Fishing, why people hold on to their hats while the power boat is running instead of just taking it off, boat shenanigans in. the dark and more.
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ACAB: All Carp Are Bastards Ep 5
In this conversation, Mykizha and Zach discuss various aspects of their lives, including frustrations with yard work, fishing experiences, movie reviews, and the challenges of guiding. They touch on personal struggles with finances, physical injuries, and the joys of cooking with a new Traeger...
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Why Isn't Starlink Free. Episode 4
In this engaging conversation, Eric and Zach explore the joys and challenges of fishing once again. They discuss the allure of off-grid living, and the pros and cons of technology in outdoor experiences. The duo shares personal fishing stories, techniques, and the nuances of guiding others in the...
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The Truth about Guiding In Alaska Ep:1
Episode 1 we dive into guiding in Alaska, Zach and I's background, and other tom foolerys.
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The Struggle Of Guiding Ep: 3
In this conversation, Eric and Zach discuss the life of a fishing guide, sharing their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the field. They delve into the emotional aspects of guiding, the impact of weather and conditions on fishing success, and the joy of witnessing clients catch their first...
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Tiger Musky High & Lows Ep:2
In this episode, Eric and Zach discuss their recent fishing adventures, focusing on musky fishing, bass fishing, and the community events surrounding these activities. They share insights on fishing techniques, client experiences, and the psychology behind fishing. The conversation also touches…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Super duper serious podcast about fishing, sometimes.
HOSTED BY
Eric Leininger, Zachary Carothers and Matt Thorton
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Struggle Is Reel have?
The Struggle Is Reel currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Struggle Is Reel about?
Super duper serious podcast about fishing, sometimes.
How often does The Struggle Is Reel release new episodes?
The Struggle Is Reel has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Struggle Is Reel?
You can listen to The Struggle Is Reel on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Struggle Is Reel?
The Struggle Is Reel is created and hosted by Eric Leininger, Zachary Carothers and Matt Thorton.
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