Big Russian Leopard Rainbows

18 minutes of surface fishing for bows.

If you can't see the video link, go to flyfishingfantasies.blogspot.com.

The Very Best of Kamchatka from Will Blair on Vimeo.

November Steelhead in Idaho

Bamboozled

The history of fly fishing started way back when with the handcrafted bamboo fly rod.  It's pretty nostalgic to see a bit of what goes in to fashioning one.  Check it out.

Huge Brown

The brown at the close of this video is an absolute "pig".  Hopefully Einar will invest in a new HD camera for his future videos but the quality of the fish is awesome.

Wyoming Trout

Oregon Steelhead--November 2011

Atlantic Salmon--Iceland

Wyoming Brown Trout--Laramie & Platte edition

Sweet scenery and brownies.

Australian Permit, Sailfish, & More

Although there are some slow bits, the sailfish portion is worth the wait.  See what you think.

If you can't see the video link, go to flyfishingfantasies.blogspot.com.

Steelhead, Golden, Bonefish Montage

Todd Moen puts together some of his best bits of 2011--fishy, scenic,...sweet!

If you can't see the video link, go to flyfishingfantasies.blogspot.com.

Atlantic Salmon Norway

Big Bow's & Browns

Plus some great scenery as well.

If you can't see the video link, go to flyfishingfantasies.blogspot.com.

Deschutes River Steelhead Fly Fishing

Ever listened to an angler with decades of experience and been mesmerized by their comments?

The Graphite Anniversary

My First

Not sure exactly when I bought my first Sage rod, but it may be over twenty years ago.  It was an eight weight (896-4 RPL) intended for fishing winter steelhead.  Sage rods were among the very best of rods at the time and still are.

Completion

My next purchase was a five weight (590-4 RPL +) that I bought in 1996 in preparation for five months in New Zealand fishing trout and playing rugby.  Okay it was also my honeymoon.  This was intended to be the rod that, like my wife, completed me.  I had a steelhead rod and a trout rod and being a river fanatic in the Pacific Northwest, I needed nothing more--or so I thought.

The Graphite Anniversary

For our tenth anniversary, I got my wife's ring redone.  She loved it and wears it every day.  I on the other hand, got a Sage 9140-4 two handed rod.  Funny how you never regret spending a sizeable chunk of your disposable income on things you love--yes, I mean you honey.  Honey can refer to multiple things right?  Apparently the rod that completed me ten years previous didn't.  How was I to know the two handed revolution would change the face of steelhead fly fishing.  Some of those formerly nasty to fish places have become great producers.

Living the Dream

Fitting that this blog entry is just days after our fifteenth anniversary.  When I play it all back, there seems to be a link between anniversaries and great gifts.  Somebody obviously knows me well.  Last year I had a taste of the dream.  I've been working hard the last couple of years to complete a dry line focused steelhead fly fishing video.  I put myself out there at a fly fishing symposium in Victoria and happened to cross paths with Sage's Western Canadian rep, Peter Morrison.  In response to seeing excerpts from our video,  Peter offered me a Sage sponsorship arrangement where I could purchase Sage products at reduced rates--kinda the employee family pricing type of deal.  As a friend said, you're living the fly fisher's dream.

Starving Artist

Although money is very tight being a start up operation with a dream, I still managed to squeeze out enough money to purchase two new rods to test drive in our video.  I've wanted a lighter two hander for summer run fishing ever since I realized the massive benefits of the two handed rod for winter steelhead.  Although the 8129-4 Z -Axis I purchased is also a sweet rod, the rod that gets all the work these days is the 7119-4 TCX.  It's light but easily handled the biggest steelies we were able to throw at it this year.  It's also a dream to cast with a dry line.

The Ultimate Dream

I've always wanted to fish the Dean River.  I'm hoping a wealthy donor will come my way soon, purchase all the filming, editing, and fishing equipment my little heart could desire and cover the cost of a trip to the Dean for me and a few buddies.  The donor is of course invited too.  Although the lodge experience would likely be awesome, I'd be overjoyed to be heli-dropped on the bar of a great run with my camping and fishing gear.  When it comes right down to it, it'll likely be the fishing, scenery and time with great friends that I remember most fondly.

Jerry Siem

I know Jerry Siem is Sage's legendary rod designer but can he talk to the powers that be and have them man up the designs of anniversary gifts a little.  I propose the tenth anniversary becomes the graphite anniversary.  Of course we'll need the aluminum bar stock anniversary, the drift boat anniversary, etc., etc.
Happy anniversary honey!

More Steelies!

Steelheading Oregon

Some great scenery and fish by Marty Sheppard.

Peeler

After a slow start to the video, this chrome bright steelie picks up the fly and peels a fair bit of line.

Silver King vs Golden Dorado

Could it be that golden dorado's are more fun than tarpon?  Watching the dorado chase a surface presented fly was a ton of fun and the reels were losing line at an extreme pace.  Check it out and see what YOU think.

Huge New Zealand Browns

Spent some time in NZ in 96 & 97.  Awesome trout fishing.

Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

The mossy trees, the steelhead, the spey casting...it all reminds me of home.


If you can't see the video link, go to flyfishingfantasies.blogspot.com.

Big Brown Redefined

Brownies like this don't come along very often.  When you splash it like the big boss man to make sure it doesn't get outa yer net it makes the video that much better.  Why didn't I think of that?

Next Cast

Dry fly steelheading piece created for one of our awesome sponsors, RIO Products International, makers of outstanding fly lines.

Big Skeena Steelhead

Some specimens here.

Oregon Steelhead

Styria Lane

No, I didn't watch that show...much.


Incredibly pretty Austrian water, taimen, grayling, etc.


If you can't see the video link, go to flyfishingfantasies.blogspot.com.

Holy Carp

Who knew carp could be a good gamefish?


If you can't see the video link, go to flyfishingfantasies.blogspot.com.