Intro
Meet Eric Leininger. Fly fishing guide, fly tier, trip host, podcast host, and someone who genuinely can't stop moving. Eric stumbled into fly fishing at 29, a late by most standards, but a year later he was guiding in Alaska, and he hasn't slowed down since. For the past 15 years he's been living on the water, and for 12 of those he's called Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters home. On his days off you'll find him searching out new bodies of water, chasing new species, and tweaking fly patterns to match whatever the season is throwing at him. He also hosts groups to fisheries around the world, because there's always more water worth exploring. And when he's not on the water, Eric co-hosts The Struggle Is Reel, a fly fishing adjacent podcast with his buddies. We're proud to welcome Eric to the family, who’s always chasing the next river, the next fish, and the next adventure.
Q&A
What is your profession? And did you always know this is what you would end up doing, or was it something you stumbled into?
I've been a fly fishing guide for the past 15 years and I definitely stumbled into it. I got a pretty late start as far as fly fishing goes — I was 29 the first time I ever tried it, but a year later I was guiding in Alaska. I just loved being on the water, and once I started I kind of couldn't stop. After a few years I was asked to work at a shop, Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters, and I've been there for 12 years.
When you’re not doing your core pursuit, what else do you enjoy doing?
There are so many itches that guiding scratches, I don't really have time for anything else. I tend to scout new bodies of water on my days off, and with new water comes new species and new flies. I still tie flies almost every day, and with the seasonal changes, the flies go through different tweaks and variations depending on conditions. I also enjoy planning and hosting groups to different parts of the world to experience their fisheries and lifestyle. There's nothing else I would rather be doing, so I'm extremely grateful. The latest venture has been starting a podcast with my good friends Zach Carothers and Matt Thornton. It's fly fishing adjacent, but we definitely go off the rails weekly. It's called The Struggle Is Reel. It's been a ton of fun and it really helps me, since I'm prone to falling into compulsive habits of running 24/7, not sleeping much, and not resting between weeks on the river. Being locked into a weekly schedule to hang out with my friends isn't a bad thing.
How do you incorporate music into your life?
Music seems to coincide with the weather and whatever season it is.
Winter: Weyes Blood, Elliott Smith, Youth Lagoon, Beach House.
Spring: Tune-Yards, Pinback, Natalia LaFourcade.
Summer: Mac Miller and a lot of Drum & Bass, NOFX, The Thermals.
Fall: Marlon Craft, RTJ, Flatbush Zombies.
Any guilty pleasures?
Cheese and Crack in PDX. Hands down the best sundae.
What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you in the wild/on tour?
One of the craziest things that ever happened to me was when I spent some time in Utah at a wilderness camp. Something grabbed hold and attempted to yank the stick out of my hands from behind — the one I was using to poke the fire. I immediately backflipped out of harm's way and army crawled into my tarp shelter, scanning the camp. Didn't see anything. Didn't hear anything. I was the only person for at least a few miles in either direction and hadn't seen any signs of civilization in over a month. I still can't explain it, and needless to say, I did not sleep that night.
Who is your favorite musical artist? Or what are you listening to right now?
My current favorite is probably Natalia LaFourcade. My Spanish is no bueno, but it just sounds so good.
Favorite Turtlebox speaker and why? How do you use it?
The Ranger is my go-to. It's small enough to throw in a pack or attach to just about any metal surface nearby. The battery life is unreal and that thing cranks.
