Favorite OB Beer and why?

It’s a hard toss up between Dale’s Pale Ale and Oskar’s Lager I’d say. Dale’s being the original and first craft beer in a can is a complex ale that I love with most foods. The lager on the other hand is a working souls can of beer that I could enjoy anytime of the day

Who do you look up to? Who are your heroes?

I look to my family and mentors as my heroes. Of course dear ol dad, my grandfathers and mothers and my brothers but my son and my wife come first and foremost. They are the ones who drive me everyday to be a better person, dad or husband than I was yesterday.

You have a whole day off. What are you doing?

The first thing I think of would be taking my son somewhere. Days off don’t really exist in my world. Or at least the type of days off most people on the planet relate to with that phrase. There are days where I am getting paid and there are days I am not. No matter what is happening, I’m always maintaining the life we lead. I may be on the boat fishing, scouting, studying or hosting friends or family. I may be tending to our orchard or property. Working on the boats, the motors, the trailers. Dead limbing, pond maintenance, garden prep, etc.  when I walk the property or set foot in the boat barn or music studio, everywhere I look is a chore or multiple duties to attend to.  With that in front of me 24/7 it’s very rare that I make the time to not deal with any of it.

If you weren’t fly fishing what do you think you’d be doing? 

If we’re talking occupations and passions it would most likely be hunting, growing/raising food, music or woodworking.  

What is your favorite part about fly fishing? What are some of the hardest parts?

My favorite parts are the places it brings us and the people we meet along the journey. There’s a focus within it that I feel is now an important part of my life.  The process of casting, process of the hunt, the process and challenges of playing and fighting fish with our hands. It’s a true connection with the animal. The hardest parts are easy to deal with if we have patience and an understanding that most of this is muscle memory. Learned behavior if you will as well as staying in tune with the cycles of Mother Nature. 

How do you balance fishing, your band, family life, and other hobbies/passions?

I have to plan and book a year or so in advance. Sometimes more sometimes less.  Everything I’m doing today was either booked last year or at least place held on a calendar.  With how far ahead shows and tours must be planned and with so many other moving pieces and people in the mix, we have to lay it out well ahead for it to work.  Even then it imposes challenges as things always shift here and there.  As an independent worker and contractor in the fishing industry and music world, planning and preparation is really the only job security we have.

Tell us about your passion for cooking. What are some favorite meals/recipes you like to share with others?  Since we started the Dandy Sauce Company, a lot of what we cook has our sauces or rubs incorporated in with it. We always love spicing it up! I’m a big fan of smoked meats on our Traeger, cooking over open fire, fresh fruit and veggies.  I grew up with a Cajun family and much of the cooking was very simple.  The older I get the more I appreciate simple recipes. We can do a lot with some fresh fish or meat, good veggies, some oil and a handful of seasoning.