John Rogers is a seasoned guide whose journey began in Freeport, Maine, and has taken him from the cool waters of the North Woods to the sunlit flats of the Florida Keys. His passion for fishing was sparked during childhood and grew through years of hands-on work, from ship timber harvesting as a Sawyer to operating a traditional Maine sporting camp.
In this episode, John shares stories from a lifetime on the water, including the founding of his guide school in 1997. In partnership with the state, the school offers a robust curriculum focused not only on navigation and canoe skills, but also on the core principles of stewardship and resource conservation. With graduates like Randy Spencer, Aldro French, and Nate Bacon; John has helped shape the future of guiding in Maine.
John also reflects on expanding his guiding career to the Florida Keys, where he built a thriving winter business grounded in the same work ethic and love for the outdoors that defines his career. Throughout our conversation, he reminds us that being a guide is about more than catching fish—it’s about protecting the places we love and creating lasting memories on the water.
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Host: Michael Jones
Producer: Sheri Maines
Fly Line Podcast is distributed by Podbean.
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