Brian Beckstead is the co-founder of Altra, a running shoe company that champions zero drop trail shoes. While he’s still involved in the business, these days you’re just as likely to find him fly fishing in the jungles of South America for payara and peacock bass. As featured in The Mission Issue 50 (March/April 2025).

THE TRAIL BLAZER

Some of the first vivid memories of my life were camping and fishing in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. I was 5 years old and I remember wanting so badly to catch more fish. And trying, mostly unsuccessfully, to cast. We caught loads of brook and cutthroat trout with my dad casting and me reeling them in! I was hooked for life!

I now live in a wonderful little city in the mountains of Utah called Heber. The world famous Provo River flows through it but Heber also has quick access to Idaho and Wyoming. Within three hours there are more world class trout streams and lakes than you can count. Large brown trout, rainbow trout, multiple species of native cutthroat trout, high alpine lakes with brook trout, tiger trout and even small mouth bass, tiger musky, stripers, carp and catfish live in the area too. However I like hunting big fish with streamers in the spring and fall and with dry flies (mostly grasshoppers) in the summer. I love a stiff 6-weight rod and going after the extra-large brown trout and cutthroat trout near my home. Getting a large grasshopper sipped up on the edge of a bank is my absolute favourite. Keeps me happy.

“People are odd, nature makes much more sense to me.”

As a creative person and avid adventurer I ended up in Colombia in January 2021 (it was the only country that would allow us in during Covid).  I was blown away by how amazing it was and how few flies there were for these giant fish species. So, I started PayaraFlyFishing (payaraflyfishing.com) out of boredom. Now, I get to create unique patterns that smash, and help people experience these amazing places. I take a lot of joy out of other people catching fish on my flies.

At this point in my career I love startups.  I miss those early days of Altra and have started several new companies in the last few years. None are more fun than PayaraFlyFishing, but it’s very much a side-hustle. We will see if I expand but right now, tying flies and hosting a few trips a year is perfect.

Although Altra has no plans for fishing/wading shoes, I do put my Altra trail shoes to use while fishing! As a young broke ultrarunning entrepreneur I didn’t have the time to train for my ultramarathons, fly fish, and backpack, so I found an 8-piece 4-weight rod and began doing 30-60km runs in the mountains while taking short fly fishing breaks. It was amazing and it’s still something I do each summer.

Payara are an apex predator found in the headwaters of the Amazon River and throughout the Orinoco River basins of South America. They are a fairly unknown and underfished sportfish just coming into the social media feeds of the greater fishing community. They live and feed primarily in fast water and come from the depth to smash migrating baitfish. With their teeth they regularly try to weaken or stun the fish then come back to finish the job, so once you get a hit, prepare for a second or third. Their power and initial run are spectacular! Once the first run is halted, which can be very difficult because they use the current to their advantage, they go airborne. The first 30-60 seconds of the fight are pure chaos!  Multiple jumps are normal and for every 3-5 hits you might land one. They love using the rocks or trees to pin or ambush large baitfish. Sweeping the rock or boat at the end of every cast is highly recommended. A 10-15 lb payara regularly breaks 40 lb wire so bring your 10-12-weight rods. You’ll need them if you get a big fish. 20+ lb is considered trophy size. An underarm retrieve with constant pressure on the fly along with a stinger or trailer hook is virtually mandatory. Their gill plates are as hard as medieval armour and their teeth as gnarly and as sharp as they look.  8-12 inch flies are needed with quality #4/0-#6/0 hooks. These fish are a sportfishers dream!

The best advice I have ever been given was, “This too shall pass”. I remember that during the high and lows of life. Enjoy the highs, but they are temporary as are the lows. It keeps me grounded whether fishing, work or kids. 

More than anything else I’ve done in life I’m most proud of my kids. I have three all-star children who have kept me grounded and humble, but have also brought me so much joy. Love those kiddos more than anything else in life.

The wildest party trick I’ve seen from my buddy Andy in the UK is ( after an entire evening of drinking mind you), he can do a headstand against a wall and with no hands on the glass grab the pint with his teeth and chug the pint of beer in three seconds upside down. I’ve never seen anything like it!

Something that many people think I’m good at is social situations. However I hate them and I’ve had to work very hard at it. I can be affable and outgoing but it’s something I have to focus on and work on. I feel much more at home in nature. Camping, fishing and adventuring is something that has been part of life from an early age and I don’t feel like it’s ever been a struggle. People are odd, nature makes much more sense to me.

Trying to pin the best fish I ever caught down to just one is so tough. It might be my big musky in Wisconsin. It had been a grind. There was this beautiful backdrop and I just got a new GoPro. For the first time ever I wanted a timelapse of my casting. Well, I had a swipe on my second cast so I threw the fly right back in and watched this huge musky eat my fly in full view! My head exploded and I happened to get a photo every three seconds of the whole experience! 

One place I have to return to is New Zealand. It’s just a magical place. The crystal clear waters, green mountains, picky yet massive fish. I really love New Zealand.

The handiest survival skill I have is that I can run forever through the mountains. It helps to have a running shoe company, but I’ve run over 15+ marathons, 50+ ultramarathon races including 14 100 mile races, all of which had over 22,000 ft of elevation gain and loss.  Moving long distances through rugged terrain is a skill I’ve honed over my 43 years on this beautiful planet!

“Whatever you do, don’t half ass it. Plan + execute + effort.”

A skill I would like to master is patience. I’m good at learning, going, and doing. I struggle sitting still. I’m not great at relaxing and I want to be better at that. A morning meditation practice has helped, but I am trying to be happy when I’m not on the go.

I’ve been on so many adventures it’s hard to pin down one as the biggest. I’d say it was when I was 21 years old, I packed my old Toyota 4Runner to the brim and drove to Alaska. It changed the whole world for me. Caught my first salmon that summer, backpacked below Denali, sea kayaked next to whales, and had an amazing time working and exploring. My mind was blown. It kicked off the big fish/big adventure/risk-taking behaviour that has moulded my life. I spent the next several summers doing that and I visit Alaska regularly. Took the kids four years ago for the first time and I’m going back again this coming summer. It’s a special place for me.

If you are to face your fears it’s best to do a moderate amount of planning then dive straight in. You don’t want to be stupid and rush it but you also don’t want to overthink. Whatever you do, don’t half ass it. Plan + execute + effort.

Something I’d like to do before I die is explore Tibet. I’ve become partial to Buddhist philosophy and there is such a mysterious beauty and remoteness in both the Tibetan Himalayas and the rich religious history of that region. Definitely want to get there before I die.

As I’ve explored many facets of fly fishing and caught loads of fish over the years, I feel like a kid again when I catch that targeted fish every single time. I get that same sense of awe and accomplishment, excitement and a dopamine rush. The fish species and location might change but that feeling of catching a fish is the same and never gets old.

I’d love to find fewer ways to kill the fish. I always feel terrible when a hook gets in an eye or a fish’s gills are bleeding. Making every effort to protect the fisheries so our grandkids can have similar experiences is very important to me.

As I look back on life I’m very proud of who I was and who I’ve become. If I could go back in life I’d show more acts of simple kindness to those around me. I’d judge others and myself less for mistakes. Life is messy but you got to enjoy it as much as you can. Go easy on yourself and others.

Changing one’s mind is very difficult for most people, including myself. I grew up in a very religious household with very strict notions of right and wrong. I don’t consider myself religious anymore although I have levels of spirituality. It was difficult but my eyes were opened as I’ve travelled and seen so many cultures, races and religions. I don’t judge very harshly anymore unless someone is directly harming another person. Be open to the world. It’s an incredible place!

As I’m writing this in a hotel fresh off back-to-back jungle trips in Colombia, it’s fitting that the last fish I caught was an average-sized yet beautiful Payara!

This interview first appeared in The Mission Issue 50 (March/April 2025). You can read the whole thing below, for free, forever.

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