On today’s episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, we sit down with Simon Valencia, one of the minds behind Current Culture Fly, to talk fly fishing, teaching, community, and life on the bay.

We start with Simon’s fishing journey — where it began, when he transitioned to a fly rod, and how living in multiple places with very different fisheries helped shape his approach to fly fishing. From there, Simon breaks down his current home waters, explaining what makes his part of the bay unique and why it offers such a special fishery.

We dive into the inspiration behind Current Culture Fly, its mission, and the community Simon and his crew are building in Richmond and beyond. Simon shares how they balance introducing total beginners to fly fishing while still pushing experienced anglers to grow and refine their skills.

Teaching is a major focus of this episode — from Simon’s key casting fundamentals for first-time anglers to stories from the water, including memorable trips, wild experiences, and guiding interesting clients. We also talk about the current state of the striped bass fishery, how it compares to New England, and what concerns anglers should be paying attention to.

We wrap things up with five songs for the Trout Tunes Playlist, followed by final thanks and plugs.