In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, we sit down with Captain Rob Ayers to uncover Lake Almanor’s fishing secrets, light tackle strategies, and inspiring community stories. After losing everything in the Camp Fire, Captain Rob rebuilt his life around Lake Almanor’s legendary brown trout and salmon fishery, sharing how the lake’s 365-day feeding cycle and diverse hatch patterns make it a year-round angler’s paradise.

Discover light tackle fishing techniques like the “naked crawler,” seasonal hatch insights, and tips for fishing Lake Almanor’s clear waters. Rob shares why “the tug is a drug” and how fishing becomes more than a hobby when it connects you with local businesses, veterans’ fishing days, and a supportive mountain community.

Whether you’re planning your first Lake Almanor fishing trip, looking to refine your light tackle skills, or seeking inspiration from Rob’s story of resilience and outdoor passion, this episode is packed with insights for your next Sierra adventure.

• Why Lake Almanor offers year-round fishing opportunities with brown trout and salmon.

• Captain Rob’s light tackle philosophy for more rewarding fishing.

• Seasonal hatch patterns and how to match your technique.

• How the Lake Almanor fishing community supports veterans and local businesses.

• The best times and places to fish Lake Almanor for your next trip.

🎧 Listen now and discover why Lake Almanor is a fisherman’s paradise and a place of healing, adventure, and connection.

#LakeAlmanor #FishingLakeAlmanor #CaptainRob #LightTackleFishing #SierraRecNow #OutdoorAdventures #CaliforniaFishing #FlyFishing

Discover more Sierra at sierrarecmagazine.com

What does it mean to truly find your true nature in the Sierra Nevada? In this conversation, author Lisa Michelle joins Charlie on the Sierra Rec Now Podcast to share her journey from rodeo cowgirl to wilderness writer and the lessons learned along the way in the High Sierra.

Lisa’s new book, True Nature, blends memoir, adventure, and the emotional tug-of-war of sharing hidden places in a landscape that both challenges and heals. We explore what it’s like to paddleboard around Lake Tahoe, how encounters with strangers can change our paths, and why the Sierra continues to shape who we are.

From stories of connection on the trail to lessons about risk and safety, Lisa’s insights will resonate with hikers, writers, and anyone who has ever felt the quiet pull of the mountains. If you love the Sierra, this episode will inspire you to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover the power of wild places to transform your life.

• Lisa’s journey from rodeo to wilderness writing

• Paddleboarding solo around Lake Tahoe

• The challenges of sharing sacred Sierra places

• Connection and community on the trail

• Safety and lessons from close calls in the wilderness

• Finding self-discovery through nature and quiet moments

• Hidden gems and bucket-list dreams in the Sierra

• Why the Sierra matters for future generations

🔗 Get True Nature by Lisa Michelle: LisaMichelleStories.com
🔗 Discover more Sierra adventures: SierraRecMagazine.com

If you enjoy Sierra stories, please follow, rate, and share this episode to help us grow our community of outdoor adventurers and storytellers.

What do legends, eagles, and climbing dreams all have in common? They converge at Lover’s Leap near Lake Tahoe.

This week, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Petch, a longtime climber and guide who lives just steps from the base of this iconic Sierra cliff. Together, they explore:

• The history and mythology behind Lover’s Leap (Did they jump?)

• Climbing for beginners and advanced climbers alike

• The unique geology that makes the Leap feel like “climbing a ladder”

• Tales of guiding first-timers and watching them soar

• Stewardship and wildlife, including peregrine falcons and golden eagles

• Other climbing gems in the area like Phantom Spires, Sugarloaf, and Calaveras Dome

• What to expect at this summer’s Lover’s Leap Festival

• And the joy of sharing climbing with community

Whether you're a climber, hiker, or Sierra explorer, this episode delivers a rare inside look at a place where adventure and story meet.

🧗‍♂️ Learn more or book a guided climb: https://www.loversleap.net
🎧 Subscribe to hear more Sierra stories: Sierra Rec Now Podcast

Spotify Chapters:

• [00:00] Welcome + “Did They Jump?”

• [02:59] Petch’s Climbing Origins

• [05:44] Lover’s Leap Routes & Ratings

• [08:55] Phantom Spires, Sugarloaf, Calaveras Dome

• [12:01] Wildlife & Falcon Conservation

• [15:40] First-Time Climbers & Guiding Joy

• [17:30] The Climbing Community

• [20:23] History: Pony Express to Present

• [22:37] Exploring the Area Around the Leap

• [25:28] Guide Services + Lover’s Leap Festival

• [28:12] Popcorn, Gear, & Where Petch Climbs When He’s Off Duty