Episode #183: William Blair

Guest Bio

William “Will” Blair is the manager of Best of the Wild, a pioneering explorer, conservation-minded fly-fishing guide, and destination developer whose career has been shaped by remote rivers, wild fisheries, and a deep respect for places few travelers ever reach. Through his work with Best of the Wild and Best of Kamchatka, Will has spent decades helping anglers experience some of the world’s most extraordinary wilderness destinations, from Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula to the southern Bahamas and the Amazon Basin.

Will is best known for his long history in Kamchatka, a volcanic peninsula in Russia’s Far East where unroaded wilderness, native rainbow trout, Pacific salmon, brown bears, and active volcanoes define the landscape. After first being drawn to Kamchatka through the fly-fishing world in the 1990s, he went on to help establish and manage programs on legendary waters such as the Ozernaya and Two Yurt rivers, as well as flyout programs based from Two Yurt Lake. His approach has always combined adventure with stewardship, including catch-and-release practices, careful access, and a long-term commitment to protecting fragile wild fisheries.

Will’s work eventually expanded beyond Russia to the Jumento Cays and Ragged Island chain in the southern Bahamas, where he helped create access to one of the Caribbean’s most remote flats fisheries. In Brazil, his travels and guiding connections opened another chapter among Amazonian river systems known for species such as peacock bass, arowana, and pacu. Across every destination, Will’s work is grounded in immersion, strong local partnerships, and the belief that the world’s last wild places are worth experiencing with humility, patience, and care.

Show Summary

In this episode of the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Will Blair about a life spent following fish into some of the most remote corners of the planet. Will shares how a childhood shaped by boats, rivers, lakes, and curiosity eventually led him from the Midwest to Alaska, and then to the far reaches of Kamchatka, where he found a wilderness fishery unlike anything he had experienced before.

The conversation explores what makes Kamchatka so unique, from its active volcanoes and vast salmon runs to its native rainbow trout, brown bears, helicopters, hot springs, and deep sense of solitude. Will explains how travel to the region has changed over the years, why misconceptions about Russia have affected demand, and what it means to guide in a place where anglers may fish rivers that have seen little or no pressure for years.

Jason and Will also talk about the realities of building adventure travel programs in wild places, including logistics, aviation, food, cultural relationships, and the importance of earning trust with local partners. Will’s stories offer a rare look at what it takes to create meaningful wilderness experiences while honoring the people, landscapes, and fisheries that make those journeys possible.

Key Takeaways

• ✓ Kamchatka is one of the world’s great wilderness destinations, known for volcanoes, bears, salmon, native rainbow trout, and vast unroaded landscapes.
• ✓ Will Blair’s career began with a lifelong love of fishing and boating, eventually leading him into guiding in Alaska and then Russia’s Far East.
• ✓ Best of the Wild reflects Will’s hands-on approach to travel, where he is directly involved in the places, people, and programs he represents.
• ✓ Remote fly-fishing programs require far more than selling trips; they depend on logistics, local relationships, aviation, timing, and trust.
• ✓ Kamchatka’s helicopter-access fisheries allow anglers to reach rivers and trout waters that would be nearly impossible to access otherwise.
• ✓ Reduced travel demand has created rare opportunities for small groups to experience lightly pressured fisheries in extraordinary settings.
• ✓ Will’s partnerships in Kamchatka have lasted for decades, showing the value of patience, consistency, and mutual respect across cultures.
• ✓ Conservation-minded angling practices, including catch-and-release and careful destination development, have been central to Will’s work.
• ✓ Adventure travel often depends on the people behind the scenes, from guides and pilots to cooks, mechanics, managers, and local hosts.
• ✓ Will’s work in Kamchatka, the Bahamas, and Brazil shows how fishing can become a pathway to deeper exploration, cultural connection, and stewardship.

What You’ll Find on Best of the Wild

• Remote fly-fishing adventures in Kamchatka, the Bahamas, Brazil, and other wild destinations
• Hands-on destination knowledge from a guide and operator with decades of field experience
• Small-group wilderness fishing programs built around solitude, quality, and immersion
• Access to unique fisheries for rainbow trout, bonefish, permit, barracuda, peacock bass, and more
• Travel experiences shaped by long-standing local partnerships and conservation-minded practices
• Detailed insight into logistics, timing, fisheries, and what to expect in remote adventure settings