Russia's Kola Peninsula--Rynda River

A little shaky, go pro camera work but great Atlantic Salmon fishing.

Wild Steelhead versus Hatchery Steelhead

Some great footage in this sequence.  It also trumpets my personal belief system of improving habitat for wild fish.  This also requires that hatchery fish are phased out to allow the wild fish to fully recover.  Hatchery fish just mask problems while creating more problems for wild fish.  You can only shoot an injured warrior up on drugs for so long before the underlying problems work their way to the surface.

Scotland Atlantic Salmon

The birthplace of spey fishing seems a great place for an Atlantic Salmon fishing video.

Atlantic Salmon--Russia's Kola Peninsula Edition

Spey Casting Tips--Using the Bottom Hand

Russian Atlantic Salmon--Umba Edition

Salmon Junkies strike again.

Skate Trailer

Our trailer went to The Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) and all it brought us back was this rotten T-shirt.  Well okay, not totally true, it actually brought us back a very nice bottle of bourbon (collectors quality really) and a pretty sweet hat.  Thanks for that F3T.  The part that was true was that my edits were unsuccessful in making both the F3T and the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4) cuts.


Here’s the trailer for Skate--Fly Fishing Fantasies’ unsuccessful entry into the 2012 F3T.  What do you think is missing?  If you’ve ever attended either of the festivals and have some insight into the type of videos that make it in or the type of fishing you’d like to see make it in, please share your thoughts in the comment box on Vimeo or in the comment link on my blog at flyfishingfantasies.blogspot.com.  Much appreciated for any constructive criticism you have.  I’m hoping to make improvements and make the grade in the future.  

Fly Fishing Fantasies' 62 minute January 2012 dry fly steelheading DVD release, Paid in Full, can be purchased now at flyfishingfantasies.com or your local fly shop.  If they don't have it, ask them to get it or get it direct through us.

Jurassic Lake Rainbows Argentina

Loved this piece!  The close-ups on the rainbows taking a run at surface patterns is a major highlight for me.  The wind and cold appear to be drawbacks in this area but the fishing looks like it more than makes up for it.

Steelhead--Ontario Edition

Steelhead--Winter Edition

Pretty darn good stuff for  D Loop Media's first post to vimeo!  Of course, I am an admitted steelhead and trout addict.

Oregon Steelhead--November 2011

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!

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

Steelhead Rising in Huge Numbers

ETA


Paid in Full boasts over twenty dry fly steelhead rises and they're coming your way in a matter of hours.  If all website work goes according to plan tomorrow, our steelhead sight fishing and dry fly fishing masterpiece, as voted by me, will be available for purchase by late tomorrow.  I'm ecstatic with the final product and given the feedback we've received from several fly fishing industry insiders, many other people will be just as impressed.


The Difference


Unlike some fishing videographers, we keep the camera running by packing lots of batteries.  The result?  You get to see the rise, the take, the hook set, that initial frenetic run and all the incredible surroundings that steelhead call home.  You also get to see steelhead approaching twenty pounds that fell victim to a well presented dry fly and the xxxx-eating grin on the face of the guy that presented that fly.  In addition to carrying lots of batteries, we also use wireless lapel microphones to bring the authentic sounds of a screaming Islander Reel.


I can't wait!


Take your last look at our previous trailer below if you choose as it'll be replaced by Paid in Full's official trailer within hours.


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

Islander Reels Reinvests

After viewing Fly Fishing Fantasies' dry fly steelheading video Paid in Full, which is due out in a matter of days, Islander Reels gives a vote of confidence by agreeing to a substantial future sponsorship agreement.  Islander staff characterized the video as "Awesome!!!!!".


Right back at ya Islander, your reels are also awesome!!!!!  Just ask Rory whose previous reel melted down and seized on two separate steelhead the year before Islander sponsored Fly Fishing Fantasies.  Trust me, a steelhead can move out when it wants to.


To order Paid in Full, contact info@flyfishingfantasies.com.

Atlantic Salmon Lithuania Style

What a quiet, peaceful river for salmon fishing.  Awesome!

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

Big Steel Man!

BC steelhead fly fishing.  Great spey casting and some big steelies.


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