The 'fisherman’s tale' is a tale worth telling: Andy Mill

While these portrayals are often somewhat comedic and mostly harmless, they certainly haven’t done any favors to the credibility and value of stories from the water. Over the years, certain folks have championed the fight against the societal depreciation of angler wisdom, and for good reason. Notably, Ted Ames — a commercial fisherman from coastal Maine — knew his fleet had invaluable information to improve local fisheries management. However, he was consistently criticized for not being a “scientists.” Motivated by declining fish stocks, Ted started interviewing his fellow fishermen. He used these insights to pioneer a nuanced understanding of fish populations that is crucial to modern fisheries science — an undertaking that even earned him a coveted MacArthur Genius Grant to continue his research.

In recreational fishing, some folks have similarly worked hard to rekindle an appreciation of angler insights. One such person who has been crucial in rewriting the narrative on angling and storytelling is Olympic-ski-racer turned tarpon-whisperer Andy Mill. With a lifetime of impressive angling accolades under his belt, Andy now spends much of his time at his house in South Florida where he has easy access to some of the best flats fishing in the U.S. With the help of his son, Nicky, Andy launched the Mill House Podcast in February of 2020 to showcase stories from the angling community — and is helping set the record straight on the value of fishermen and their “tall tales.”

Andy credits Nicky with the conception of Mill House. “Nicky may disagree with this, but I remember very clearly when he was trying to sell it to me,” Andy recounts:

From the very beginning, the Mills’ steadfast commitment to deep discussion of personal ideologies and unique fishing experiences has been central to the success of the podcast. “That’s the only way people will care about our guest,” Andy explains. “And in doing that, their influence on our sport will be recognized and history will be preserved.” Historical preservation of angling stories holds numerous upsides. Mill House guests have included the likes of Steve Huff, Flip Pallot, Stu Apte, and Chico Fernandez — all pioneers of saltwater fishing in their own right. Through this shared history, listeners learn about the evolution of practices, changes in resources, and lenses for coping with the decisions of yesterday. Andy believes that fishing naturally breeds great storytellers — perhaps even some of the best — as it is ingrained into the fabric of the sport.

Andy's characterization acknowledges that, yes, hyperbole may sneak into a narrative here or there. However, the embellishment is not meant to deceive, but rather to get at the truth that certain moments on the water are simply ineffable. Andy believes that “storytelling is everything in fishing, as it is in life. Stories are about the moments that made our hearts race.”

A large part of Andy’s own interest in fishing stems from a love for crafting and interpreting narratives. In fact, he feels that reframing the angling process from the fish’s perspective is for him the most consuming part of the sport.

Indeed, every fish has a story, and internalizing what motivates their behavior is perhaps the surest way to catch more fish. Andy remembers realizing the value of this cerebral exercise at a young age. “When I was 9 years old, I caught a fish on a fly I had just learned to tie,” he recounts. “That was a lightning bolt for me because it confirmed a narrative I had in my head on what the fish wanted to eat.” Understanding the fish is certainly a good foundation for any angling story, but years on the water showed Andy that there is so much more to great stories than just the fishing. “Hunting down the biggest fish and bringing it boat-side used to be everything for me,” he admits. “Nothing else mattered, and I missed out on everything great in between. The sunrises, the rainbows — I was blinded by my target, but that was a very important stage in my fishing life. Now, as a seventy-year-old man reflecting over my many decades on the water, I feel differently about my time fishing. Every time I go out now, it’s all about having a sense of freedom and being aware of everything that comes at me — whatever it is. I’m now whole.”

Time on the water certainly helps reframe our time on land, and Andy acknowledges fishing’s monumental influence on understanding himself more fully off the water. “It always led me to silence,” he explains:

Admittedly, Andy has spent hours listening to the sounds of words as they're spun into tales from the water, so his realization may seem somewhat paradoxical. But perhaps Andy just understands better than most that complete presence and immersion in our angling adventures is the dirty little secret to the very best fishing stories.