About
Robert Field is more than a YouTuber. He is the architect of a vertically integrated outdoor lifestyle empire built on the bedrock of an aspirational narrative: the corporate man who escaped. With a master’s degree in finance, Field traded a predictable career path for a nomadic existence in a travel trailer, carefully documenting his transformation into a professional angler and entrepreneur for his channel, “Field Trips with Robert Field.” This journey, followed by over 272,000 subscribers, is more than a collection of fishing vlogs; it’s a example of building a modern, multi-faceted creator business that extends into manufacturing, high-end tourism, and the leadership of a competitive sport.
Field Trips with Robert Field: History and Growth
Born in London, England, Field’s life took a transatlantic turn at age 11 when he moved to Plano, Texas. His early career followed a conventional trajectory, culminating in a Master’s degree in Finance and a corporate job. The foundation for his digital presence was laid on May 15, 2013, with the creation of his YouTube channel, but the catalyst for his profound life change would not arrive for another two years.
November 2015 marked a pivotal and traumatic inflection point. A confluence of personal hardships—a job termination, a breakup, and the suicide of his uncle—forced a fundamental re-evaluation of his life’s priorities. Inspired by a kayak fishing video that merged his passions for fishing, camping, and videography, Field committed to a new path. By 2016, at age 28, he was operating from Dallas, Texas, under his production brand, YakFish TV.
The final severance from a stationary life came in December 2017, when he fully embraced a nomadic existence, moving into an RV to facilitate his ambitious project of fishing and filming across the country. This commitment to the lifestyle became a core tenet of his brand. The most significant evolution from creator to industrialist occurred in 2018 when he co-founded Lightning Kayaks, embedding himself directly into the supply chain of the sport he championed.
Field Trips with Robert Field: Content and Style
The content on “Field Trips with Robert Field” is structured around long-form vlogs that document his fishing expeditions with a cinematic quality. His style is a potent blend of adventure travelogue and practical instruction. The channel is organized into distinct seasons based on geographic location, chronicling journeys to international destinations like Panama, Mexico, and New Zealand, alongside comprehensive tours of the United States.
A signature element of his programming is the “Catch Clean Cook” segment, where he demonstrates how to prepare and cook his catch. This feature does more than provide a recipe; it reinforces the brand’s core message of self-sufficiency and a direct connection to the natural world. The overarching narrative—escaping an unfulfilling corporate grind for a life of passion—is woven through every episode, creating an aspirational bond with his audience that elevates his content beyond simple entertainment.
How Field Trips with Robert Field Makes Money
Field has engineered a well-organized and diversified business model where his YouTube channel acts as the primary marketing engine for a suite of interconnected revenue streams.
His most significant venture is Lightning Kayaks, the company he co-founded in 2018. Holding an equity stake and serving in a sales and marketing capacity, Field has created a powerful, self-reinforcing marketing loop. By declaring they are “the only kayaks I use” and featuring them prominently in his adventures, his content serves as authentic, high-impact advertising that directly drives sales for a company he owns.
The YakFish TV brand, initially his video production company, has strategically pivoted to become his primary e-commerce storefront. The domain yakfish.tv now hosts his direct-to-consumer merchandise line, selling branded apparel and decals. A secondary YouTube channel, @yakfishtv, remains as a B2B portal, explicitly for “Promotional media services for outdoor brands and tourism departments.”
Field monetizes his expertise through high-ticket guided services. He partners with the Los Buzos Kayak Fishing Resort in Panama, where he acts as a guest guide, marketing exclusive experiences like an “Offshore Kayak Fishing University.” These trips, booked through a dedicated email address, [email protected], offer fans the chance to fish alongside him, transforming his influencer status into a premium, service-based business.
This network is supported by a mature affiliate marketing strategy. His video descriptions are populated with tracked links and unique discount codes for a curated list of brands, including KastKing fishing gear (with the code ROBERTKK10), the guide-booking service FishingBooker, and kayak accessory outfitter BerleyPro.
Field Trips with Robert Field's Collaborations
Deeply embedded in the sport fishing community, Field actively collaborates with other creators and holds significant leadership positions within the sport’s formal governing bodies. He frequently cross-promotes peers like Sean Lawless of “The LawlessTide” and Jack Moran of “Yakin with Jack” in his video descriptions.
Beyond these informal collaborations, Field’s authority is cemented by his institutional roles. He is the Team Captain for the USA Kayak Fishing Saltwater team and serves as the Gulf Coast Regional Director for USAngling, the sport’s national governing body. His history of leadership also includes a tenure as the President of the Kayak Bass Series, a nationwide fishing tournament circuit. This dual status as both a popular media figure and a formal leader gives him a unique and powerful platform, lending institutional credibility to his brand while bringing mainstream visibility to the organized sport.
Field Trips with Robert Field: Public Reception
Field’s work has earned him both media attention and industry accolades. He is a three-time winner of the “Video of the Year” award from the Kayak Anglers’ Choice Awards, a peer-voted honor. He has been profiled in niche publications like Kayak Angler Magazine and appeared on the Salt Strong Podcast, with coverage often focusing on his dramatic career transition.
The dossier reveals no evidence of significant public controversy. The few notable incidents are minor and transparently addressed. In early 2019, his professional separation from collaborator James Lee Costa was announced as “amicable,” attributed by Costa to differing work ethics. Furthermore, an online discussion on Reddit alleging staged animal rescues by a fishing YouTuber was found to be incorrectly associated with the “YakFish TV” brand name—a clear case of misattributed identity. The primary challenges noted are the inherent operational risks of his lifestyle, including personal injuries sustained on trips and the logistical hurdles of maintaining productivity while living on the road.
Field Trips with Robert Field Today
Robert Field has successfully transcended the role of a digital content creator to become a modern outdoor lifestyle entrepreneur. His current status is that of a vertically integrated brand architect, leveraging his authentic narrative to build an network that includes media production, e-commerce, high-end guided services, and an equity stake in a manufacturing company. By combining a compelling personal story with a well-organized business strategy and a leadership position within his sport’s institutional framework, Field has established a durable and influential presence in the outdoor adventure world.