915 | How a Music Producer Built a Fly Fishing Podcast from Scratch with Pablo Signori
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Pablo Signori, a former commercial composer and musician behind the indie band Malbec, didn’t just pivot into fly fishing—he reinvented the way beginners learn it. His podcast, *The Noob and the Knower*, is a meticulously crafted, step-by-step educational journey that started as a pandemic project and evolved into a respected institution in the fly fishing world. What sets it apart isn’t just its format, but its origin: a composer’s analytical mind applied to fly fishing, treating each episode like a musical composition. Pablo’s journey took him from Chicago’s lakes to Spain’s elite Euro-nymphing circles, where he studied under top-tier anglers and absorbed a mindset that prioritizes mental discipline and precision. Now, he’s channeling that same creativity into building *Criojo Camp Outfitters*, a boutique travel brand that’s redefining remote fly fishing with a mobile base camp—a massive, hydraulically raised, Dakar Rally support truck turned floating lodge. This isn’t just about access; it’s about democratizing elite fishing experiences for people from all walks of life, from mechanics to artists, while embedding sustainable, community-driven tourism into every trip. From permit fishing on dry flies in the sargasso-choked flats of Ishgalak, Mexico, to high-altitude trout fishing in the Argentine Altiplano, Pablo’s mission is clear: make the wild accessible, meaningful, and unforgettable. The episode reveals a rare convergence of art, sport, and ethics.
Start a fly fishing podcast from zero by treating it like a course: release episodes in 8-10 episode seasons, focus on one concept per episode, and aim for 10 episodes before deciding to continue.
Use a 'jig streamer' technique where you actively set the fly down instead of letting it free-fall—this increases takes and fish counts by up to 100%.
The key to modern Euro-nymphing isn’t just gear—it’s maintaining constant contact with the fly during the drop, especially on micro leaders.
Build a mobile base camp using a modified Dakar Rally support truck with a hydraulically raised second floor to create a fully self-contained, remote fishing lodge.
Prioritize sustainable, community-driven tourism: partner with local guides, pay fair wages, and offer trips at lower price points to make remote fishing accessible to non-wealthy anglers.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
From Music to Fly Fishing: The Pandemic Origin Story
“This was a random pandemic sort of occurrence. So I was living in Los Angeles at the time and I'm a commercial composer. It was like sort of my main gig for many, many years. And of course during the pandemic everything started to shut down. So I was like, what am I going to do? Like, this is nuts. There's no work.”
The Birth of 'The Noob and the Knower' Podcast
“I was like, well, no one gives a crap about me. So I got to find someone cool to have on the show. And coming from the music world, you know, with that sort of pedigree, it was kind of easy to get people's attention in the fly fishing space when I would just randomly like cold DM them.”
From Chicago Lakes to Spain’s Euro-Nymphing Elite
“He saw my rig and he was like, this is an abomination. And he was kind of mean. Right, right. But it helped because it really kept me focused. There was a certain point actually in the lesson where he got frustrated and he's like... you're not focused we're leaving and he literally just picked up and we started walking.”
The Mental Game: Fly Fishing as Therapy
Pablo reveals how fly fishing and rock climbing became mental anchors during his creative burnout. He shares how both activities helped him manage anxiety and ADHD-like symptoms, allowing him to return to work with renewed focus and energy. The podcast’s success is tied to this personal transformation.
From Music to Commercials: A Composer’s Career Shift
Pablo traces his music career from forming the indie band Malbec in LA to co-writing hits like Alan Stone’s 'Unaware' and landing a viral Fruit of the Loom commercial that won an Addy Award. His ability to produce music for TV and ads became the foundation for his podcast production skills.
“The key to jig streamer fishing is when you jig the fly as it's coming down, you're not letting it drop. that's the thing that I think a lot of people miss and no one says properly.”
“The main thing about it that's so special is that you're not beholden to one place. So you basically, we take this to the riverside. We camp, we fish, and then we jump in a 4x4 and we zip.”
“We're trying to share that with as many people as we can. I've also tried to... for better or for worse. I have a whole mindset around like how you build a business and I know who I am and I want to work with people that align with who I am.”
Host
Guest
Pablo Signori
person
Criojo Camp Outfitters
organization
Lance
person
The Noob and the Knower
media
Ishgalak
place
George Daniel
person
Fly Fish Food
organization
Cheech
person
Dan Santoro
person
Forrest Outdoors
organization
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