Riverside with Eeland Stribling
The river has a friend in Eeland Stribling.
A wildlife biologist, environmental educator, and comedian, Eeland is the consummate multihyphenate.
When he’s not winning awards for his standup, he’s creating opportunities for BIPOC to feel at home in the fly fishing community through his organization, BrownFolksFishing.
Our day together along the Big Thompson River was too good for words, so we’ll let Eeland speak for himself.
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First off, who are ya, where are you from, and what do you do for a living?
My name is Eeland Stribling, Denver local. I am a stand-up comedian, wildlife and environmental educator, conservationist, and fly-fishing guide.
How did you get into fly-fishing and, eventually, guiding and teaching people how to fish?
I got into fly-fishing in college when a girl I was dating asked if I wanted to "experiment and try something new.” I said, “Absolutely.” Turns out, she wanted me to join a fly-tying class at Colorado State University for extra credit. I needed extra credit, so I did it. I immediately fell in love with tying flies, and fly-fishing. Soon, I was fishing any chance I could—before and after work and class. I was watching YouTube videos and asking questions.
“A girl I was dating asked if I wanted to experiment and try something new.”
I quickly felt a lack of community, so I helped start BrownFolksFishing to ensure a safe space to stoke joy for fishing. Then, as I got into environmental education, I started teaching kids watershed science and fly fishing. After traveling to Mexico, Belize, Honduras, South Africa, and New Zealand to chase fish, I wanted to start guiding to share my joy in fly fishing.
How is climate affecting your profession as a fly-fishing guide?
Climate’s impact on the environment is complex and multifaceted, but here are just a few examples:
Extended Summers and Warmer Waters: Rising temperatures have led to extended summer seasons, causing water temperatures to rise. Warmer waters can stress fish populations and make fish more susceptible to diseases. It even influences migration patterns and behavior. Seeking cooler waters, fish move to different areas or deeper parts of rivers and lakes, making them harder to locate and catch.
Earlier Snowmelt: Warmer temperatures can cause snow to melt earlier in the spring, leading to earlier runoff. This can result in higher water levels and stronger currents earlier in the year, shortening the fishing seasons. Earlier runoff means less water in rivers and streams during the summer months, leading to lower water levels and warmer temperatures, which impacts fish habitats.
Reduced Clientele: Unpredictable weather and changing fish patterns can lead to fewer clients booking fishing trips, impacting the livelihoods of guides and outfitters.
How does fly fishing make you feel? Why do you love it so much?
Fly-fishing is all about the simple joys of exploration and connection with nature. There’s a unique peace in standing in a river and casting with the hope of the catch of a lifetime. It’s not just about the fish, though; it’s about the tranquility and the challenge, the art of the cast. I love the unpredictability, the moments of solitude, and the chance to escape the rush of everyday life. Every outing is a new adventure, a chance to learn something new about the water, the fish, and myself. It’s a humble pursuit, but it’s where I find joy and a sense of belonging.
“There’s a unique peace in standing in a river and casting with the hope of the catch of a lifetime.”
You’re passionate about introducing fly fishing to the BIPOC community. Tell us a bit about that. What are you actively doing to get more folks out in nature?
If I had two personal missions, they’d be:
- You can’t be what you can’t see.
- Create a safe space to explore.
I’m actively trying to support and encourage people who have felt alone, unsafe, and like they’re the only ones like them.
What are your favorite flies to use?
Dungeon Steamer, Film Critic, RS2, Balanced Leech, Walt’s Worm, Thunder Hopper, and Parachute Adams.
What do you love most about living and growing up in Colorado?
The views, the clean air, and the water. (Most days, the water is actually getting worse, unfortunately.) Oh, and Mary’s Mountain Cookies. Those are always good.
What is one epic tale you could tell about your adventures as an angler?
Getting lost in the mountains on a backpacking trip. I thought we were taking a human-made trail, but we took a game trail, got turned around, and I believe we went in the wrong direction. (Of course, my friend swore we were on the right trail.) After hiking well into the dark, we set up our tents at night and woke the next morning near an alpine lake that was not on our maps. We stumbled onto this lake with trophy-sized cutthroat trout. Biggest cutties I have ever seen. All eating hoppers and dry flies. My friends and I vowed to never take a picture, never tell anyone where it is, and never go back.
“My friends and I vowed to never take a picture, never tell anyone where it is, and never go back.”
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The world is changing, and not all for the better. Nature and the most vulnerable communities bear the brunt of environmental injustice. From his knee-deep vantage point, Eeland sees climate change’s impact first-hand.
Still, his efforts prove that a better world is possible. By helping people fall in love with fly fishing, Eeland is building the next generation of conservationists.
Through laughter and education, he’s spreading joy and knowledge—with an ever-widening ripple effect.
Eeland proves that our unified, daily commitment to kindness and hope has the power to change the world. And while his name may not make the history books, he’ll always be a Local Legend.
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