“After being inspired by Flip at the BTT symposium, I had to give it a try. catching my first fish( a snook) on fly with no rod was super exciting and challenging at the same time. Now it’s time for a big one!” Captain Elmer Pillon
Angler Story of the Week from Captain Elmer Pillon, be sure to follow Elmer’s instagram at @captainelmerpillon!
“Sight Fishing Tigers on the Faro Flats?
Ever heard of fishing in Cameroon? The Gassa Camp, or the Faro Flats?
It is not—despite what the name might suggest—anywhere near the ocean. So, no need to pack the saltwater kit.
Back in 2018, after over a decade of searching for a feasible Nile Perch destination (yes African Waters were that determined), finally led the first of two exploratory trips. What we found? One of the last remaining, ecologically intact west African fisheries that has Giant Nile Perch that you can catch on foot and on fly, a rare sight these days is an understatement !
But here’s where it gets really interesting. As the videos show, the daytime fishing here is spectacular, with most of it done by sight. And if that wasn’t enough, this place also offers sight fishing for three different species of Tiger Fish all of which, rather conveniently, seem to have developed a taste for flies.
So, if stalking aggressive predators in crystal-clear water sounds like your kind of thing, you might just want to put the African Waters – Gassa Camp on your list.”
Angler Story of the Week from Blaede Russel at African Waters, be sure to follow Blaede’s instagram at @blaede_russel!
The 2025 Fly Fishing Film Tour is fast approaching, bringing another exciting lineup of captivating stories from the water. To get you pumped for this year’s films, we’re sharing an exclusive look at the filmmaking process through our F3T Behind the Lens series. Be sure to check out the full 2025 schedule HERE and grab your tickets today!
In this Behind the Lens article, we sit down with filmmaker Jack Beaudoin to discuss his newest film, Mouse Trap. The film dives into the obsession of hunting trophy brown trout at night with mouse flies. Set on the White River in Arkansas—a giant brown trout factory—the story embraces the grind of trophy hunting. We sat down with Jack to learn more about the film, the grind of night fishing, and his journey into filmmaking in this exclusive interview. Check out the full interview below!
Jack: “Thank you! My name is Jack Beaudoin, and I grew up outside of Detroit. My journey into filmmaking started about ten years ago when I started freelancing. In 2019, I hit the reset button on the direction my work was going and began to pour it all into building a fishing portfolio. It was a big leap, but I couldn’t be happier with that decision. This latest film, Mouse Trap, is a culmination of this journey and the friends met along the way.”
Jack: “As is the catalyst for many friendships these days, Trevor, Westley, and I met through Instagram in 2021. With Trevor running Stealthcraft boats in Baldwin, Michigan, Westley guiding on the river that’s right next to the boat shop, and me a couple of hours away with a camera, it was only right we team up. Through fishing and filming, they are now some of my best friends.”
Jack: “The White River is a trip that Westley, Trevor, and some of their friends have taken for the last five years. These guys are true mousing and brown trout addicts; if there is a river with both quality AND quantity like that, they’ll be there to fish it. Creating a film around it was the next natural progression. They had the experience on the White, so it was up to me to tell the story.”
Jack: “This was by far the most challenging and taxing film I have ever shot… from 9 pm to 6 am every night, sitting in the pitch black..waiting and waiting and waiting. Shooting at night is a very restrictive feeling. There are no natural light sources, so you have to get creative. Unfortunately, there is only so much that can be done, and when you are just trying to stay awake, having nothing to shoot is not ideal. Despite all that, we were able to get the shots and tell the story we were after.”
Jack: “For me personally, I had just returned from Alaska for a job, so I was already in fishing film mode rolling into this Arkansas trip. The equipment was ready to go, so I really didn’t have too much prep work. Westley, on the other hand, spent countless hours tying mice flies in every variation. You can even see in the film that the tinkering never ends. Throughout the week, he was constantly altering patterns, sizes, and colors until we had it dialed in.”
Jack: “When you’re filming a fishing film, there’s always pressure to catch fish. After the first week, we caught some nice fish, but not the one we were after; the pressure absolutely started to mount. I questioned what the hell I was doing in a boat in the dark for nine hours every night. Is this worth it? Is this river overhyped? Should I go back to school and get a desk job? You begin thinking about the time, money, and effort this is all taking. Those thoughts got louder and louder with each unsuccessful night that passed.”
Flylords: Looking back, were there any fish that got away that the crew thought might have been true giants, and if so, tell us a little more about it.
Jack: “The first few nights, we were losing a lot of fish, but we believe that’s because they were small. Once we dialed in our tactics and switched up flies, we weeded those out. From then on, it seemed like every fish that ate and was hooked stayed hooked. That being said, there were absolutely some rolls and attempts to eat that sounded like boulders hitting the water…Hey, at least they let us know they’re around!”
Flylords: At the end of the film, Trevor finally hooks the giant you were after. Take us through what was going through your head from a filmmaker’s standpoint.
Jack: “When Trevor hooked that fish, it was absolutely the most surreal handful of minutes that I have been a part of on the water. I don’t think more than a few words were said by any of us during the whole fight. Our trip, film, and what felt like our lives were in Trevor’s hands! The initial moments of ‘Oh my God, it’s actually happening,’ to ‘Oh my God, he could lose this fish,’ to the most relieved and excited I’ve ever been when it hit the net. It was a top life moment for all of us, and the question of ‘did that really just happen?’ was repeated often as we passed a bottle around.”
Jack: “Surprisingly, adjusting after coming home wasn’t too bad. My internal alarm woke me up at 4:30 for about a week, but that was about it. That said, getting adjusted at the start was much tougher. Staying up all night for a moment’s notice to get the shot was definitely tricky.”
Jack: “The fact that you have a chance at a fish of true trophy proportions, in my opinion, makes a trip to the White River worth it. But would I go down to mouse it? Absolutely not. I think that’s a one-and-done mission for me. That trip took years off my life.”
Jack: “The trickiest thing about the White River is one hundred percent its extreme fluctuations in flows from the dam. It’s a tailwater fishery, but unlike most Western trout rivers, flows can change in an instant. You could catch a fish at noon in a 10-foot pool, and at night, that same spot is now barely covered by water. We saw multiple boats stranded on the riverbed who had no choice but to wait for them to raise the water.”
Jack: “I would like to give a huge thank you to Scientific Anglers for always backing us on our adventures and Stealthcraft Boats for making sure we get around on those adventurers. I also have to give a special thank you to Westly and Trevor. Without these two and their dedication, this film would not have been possible.
For more F3T Behind the Lens content, check out these articles below:
For the first time in over 90 years, Arctic grayling are swimming in Michigan waters again! Thanks to a collaborative effort by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and other conservation partners, this historic species is making a comeback in the Manistee River.
The grayling’s reintroduction hit a major milestone in the Fall of 2023 when more than 4,000 juvenile fish raised at the Marquette State Fish Hatchery were released into a controlled stream in the Manistee River watershed. Earlier this month, an additional 4,000 grayling were stocked, with more releases planned for 2025.
These fish aren’t just beautiful—they’re important. To the Odawa, Ottawa, and Chippewa peoples, Arctic grayling are a sacred part of their heritage, symbolizing the balance and abundance of Michigan’s natural world. Their involvement has been key, offering traditional knowledge to help ensure the project’s success.
Bringing grayling back is also great news for Michigan’s rivers. Their return signals healthier waters and restored habitats, which benefit all the wildlife in these ecosystems. The project aims to establish a thriving grayling population by improving cold-water habitats and educating the public about protecting these environments for the future.
Of course, challenges remain. Ensuring the grayling’s survival and adapting the ecosystem to support them will take time. However, this project demonstrates the power of collaboration. Conservation groups, tribal communities, and state agencies have joined forces to bring Arctic grayling back—a major win for Michigan’s rivers and for anyone who loves the outdoors.
Want to learn more about Michigan’s Arctic grayling comeback? Check out the full story on Lansing State Journal.
Chances are you’ll never need to know how to clean or eat a fish made entirely out of LEGOs, but if you do, we have you covered. Recently, we stumbled upon Youtuber “I Like Home,” showing just how to clean a LEGO salmon. This calming stop-motion short film shows how to clean a chinook salmon at home, and it’s quite a treat to watch. Check it out!
Peacock Bass were introduced to Florida in the 80s to aid in invasive species management and to create a sport fishery. Since then, they have taken control of these new waters, growing to impressive sizes (the state record is a whopping 9.11 pounds). While plenty of fish are around in the 10 to 14-inch range, true trophies are out there. While you may not get as many bites, throwing larger flies will help target trophy caliber fish. They are ambush predators and find it hard to resist a tasty big bug zooming past them.
Peacock bass are predatory fish and will turn on their aggression at a moment’s notice. The key to triggering this response is moving your fly fast, taking it away from them. If you see a fish following your fly but not committing, burn it back to you; chances are this will cue the response you are looking for. A good two-hand strip is a handy tool to have in your quiver of tricks.
Keep in mind that man-made canals are often pretty deep, so something with a little bit of weight will yield the best results. Flies like Clouser minnows, deceivers, and other small baitfish patterns are a good place to start. For colors, chartreuse, yellow, and white with added flash are the go-tos. When the opportunity presents itself, try to work the fly so it tracks under the fish instead of over the fish. When the fly comes up from under them and shoots away, more often than not, it will draw a strike.
As for gear, a good 6-wt, like the Lamson Cobalt, will handle most fish. If you are strictly targeting trophy fish, then opt for an 8-wt. For leaders, a standard 7.5 to 9-ft bass leader with a 12 to 20-lb fluorocarbon tippet is what you want. The fluoro is key here, as peacocks have an incredibly abrasive mouth.
The man-made canals of Miami and South Florida are square-cut canals with little structure. These unnatural, disturbed habitats were perfect for non-native peacock bass to colonize and call home. That said, peacocks are like any fish and still prefer some form of structure. The best things to look for in canals are bridges, pipes, or even a shopping cart. In these deep-cut canals, the littlest piece of structure will attract peacocks looking for a spot to ambush bait. Peacocks also prefer rock piles over natural structures like weed beds. If you find a pile of rocks, chances are bass will be lurking off of it.
Mapping tools like onWater Fish or Google Maps are your best friends for finding new fishing spots. A quick glance at satellite imagery will reveal countless canals and ponds within a short drive. Unfortunately, much of the water in South Florida is in private communities, which means no fishing. Scan the map for canals near malls, industrial areas, and parks with good access and public parking. Scout maps prior to fishing so you have several spots and backup plans in case your first spots don’t pan out. For bank access, look for canals with grassy edges, sidewalks, or bridges.
Peacock bass have a tendency to short-strike flies. The best thing we have found to stop this from happening is to shorten the tail of your fly. With a knife or scissors, trim off excess material so that the hook bend is about an inch from the tail of the fly. If you continue to get short strikes, trim it more. You can also add a stinger hook if needed, but the trimming technique is a quick way to make any fly fishable.
Peacock bass are an Amazonian fish, and they love warm water. Contrary to what most trout anglers know, the warmer the water, the better the fishing. The peacock bite typically starts to pick back up in February as spring is around the corner. That said, be careful of the occasional cold front. Even a two-day front will chill the water temperatures and make peacock bass incredibly lethargic. Ideally, bright sunny days with water temps in the 80s will produce the most active fish.
Peacock bass fishing is some of the most fun you can have fishing in freshwater. These fish are colored up, uber-aggressive, and pull hard. A trip to Miami and a little time on the water will set you up for a new species on the board (and save you from heading to the jungle). Peacock bass can be caught throughout the year, but spring to summer are some of the best times to get out and chase these exotics. These 6 tips for catching peacock bass will give you a good starting point for solving the Miami fishery.
If you can understand the term “future water” and apply it to your fishing approach, you will undoubtedly catch more fish. Check out this video from the Huge Fly Fisherman for his take on “future water.”
You know you’re a fly angler when your car’s interior smells like wet waders, your hands are perpetually glittered with UV resin, and your friends have to remind you to take a shower after being on a boat all day. Fly fishing isn’t just a hobby—it’s a personality trait and obsession—just ask anyone on the Flylords team. That’s why we decided to share our curated list of the 20 Reasons You Know You’re A Fly Angler.
You might get a laugh or just realize how deep into the fly-fishing rabbit hole you’ve gone. From finding stray flies in your laundry to secretly enjoying the smell of a freshly opened fly box, this list captures the quirks, habits, and outright obsessions that come with chasing fish on the fly. If you’ve ever named your favorite rod or consider a rising trout the most romantic thing you’ve ever seen, keep reading—you’re in good company.
These tips for big winter brown trout will help you locate, fool, and land trophy-class browns this winter.
When it comes to winter fishing, smaller is almost always better. Small natural patterns like midges, small pheasant tails, and even micro eggs should be in every winter angler box. This time of year, bug activity is at a minimum, and the bugs that are around are, you guessed it, small. Most of our winter trout flies range from size 18 down to size 24, but there are some instances where you may need to go smaller. With fish sitting in slow, deep pools, they have ample time to stare down your flies and tippet. Luckily, fishing these small patterns means lighter tippet, giving you an overall better presentation to these smart fish. The only downside is fighting a large brown on light tippet.
Winter water temperatures not only control where the fish sit but also how actively they eat. If you aren’t getting a bite, chances are the water may be too cold. During winter, it may only take a few degrees to alter how fish are feeding. If they aren’t biting in the morning, try again in the afternoon. The sun hitting the water for a few more hours may be exactly what the fish need to wake up and start actively feeding.
If you’re not one to fish microscopically small fly patterns, don’t worry. From fall and into winter, leech and egg patterns will consistently fool big browns, especially lake run fish. For the best success, fish these patterns under a standard indicator rig. Target the deep pools and pockets we mentioned earlier and watch keenly for even the slightest tick on your indicator. It may be a giant brown sluggishly slurping your fly down.
For more winter trout fishing tips check out these articles below:
