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 Tyler Soares to discuss his newest documentary, Left Field. The film delves into the unique story of the Iorg family, a tight-knit crew of anglers who left suburban life behind to embrace a journey of growth, healing, and connection on the open road. From heartfelt moments to life lessons learned on the water, Tyler shares the creative process, profound themes of fatherhood, and why this story is about so much more than just fishing. Check out the full interview below!
Flylords: Tyler, tell us a little bit about yourself. How long have you been making films, and what is your personal relationship with fly fishing?
Tyler: I’ve been making films for the last 6 or 7 years, but fly fishing films more recently in the last 3. I’m living in Florida at the moment and love the documentary space. I actually met Camden, my partner on this film, at last year’s F3T. He’s a real salt-of-the-earth guy, and we became best buds. We went from Instagram messaging to bunking together in London 5 months later, where I first pitched him on this film.
I really suck at catching fish, if I’m being honest, but I show up!
Flylords: What was it about this family’s story that grabbed you, and at what point did you realize it was something that needed to be told on film?
Tyler: One day, I was scrolling the internet, and this 8-year-old girl with a massive personality popped on my Instagram feed. It was obvious that she was fishing better than most grown adults.
And then you realize there’s a second tiny human on the same path as his sister. To see a 7 and 8-year-old rowing the boat and overcoming fear at that age was very special. You just want to see this family win together.
What I was watching felt very authentic. Like something you can’t manufacture, and that’s what really caught my attention.
Flylords: How did you first connect with the family, and what was the process like of getting them comfortable enough to share their lives and struggles on camera?
Tyler: I slid into Eli’s direct messages. A modern day love story. The way Eli describes it, I reached out a few days after he and his wife were thinking about sharing their story. But they were waiting for the right person to help tell it.
I’ve stopped trying to make sense of this world and how timing works. But it lined up perfectly. From that point on I was really just trying to make a friend, keep up with him and keep the line open. I was super transparent from the beginning about the type of storyteller I am and my intentions. And from there it was all about showing up, being a friend, and building trust.
As far as getting comfortable, the minute we arrived at the RV Park where the Iorg family was staying, they welcomed us with open arms. We met the kids and immediately got along. S’mores around a campfire was the bonding moment. When you can have fun with the kids, and they genuinely want to be around you, then it’s never forced. We were there for five days, that’s five breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, and all that time on the boat too. We became comfortable very quickly, to the point when we were leaving it was like saying goodbye to family.
As for some of the sensitive topics, Nina, Eli’s wife, was very open to helping me navigate the best way to communicate with Eli and what to focus on.
Even though they’ve been around the camera for a while, a big cinema camera is different from their “set it and forget it” Insta-360. We showed the kids the gear and got them used to it, then they forgot all about it when they were fishing on the river.
Flylords: The film dives into some heavy themes—family dynamics and learning how to feel whole again. Was it challenging to address those topics while keeping it a “fishing film”?
Tyler: As far as addressing these topics and keeping it a fishing film, no, that wasn’t challenging. Fishing and the outdoors have been the center of gravity for the Iorg family.
The most challenging part of this film was the baseball scene that we filmed on day four. Camden and I showed up that night as friends, not the director and DP. After spending so much time with the family, we were so sensitive to their feelings and listened instead of over-directing.
Flylords: The idea of leaving the suburbs for a year and hitting the road is a big leap. How did their decision to do that resonate with you or speak to any bigger cultural shifts you’ve noticed?
Tyler: The Iorg family is paving their own way to live, completely leaving behind society’s ideals for success. Generationally, the blueprint has been to have a job, feed your family, and then you can explore when you retire. I’ve come to reject the idea of finding time for fun things later. With remote work in today’s world, it still takes a level of trust and risk to make a big decision like this.
It’s inspiring to see them take advantage of the now and as parents to live their lives in a more creative way, and also give their children an entirely untraditional childhood.
Flylords: The father’s approach with his kids is really unique—he treats them like equals, doesn’t sugarcoat things, and trusts them with real responsibilities. How did you go about capturing those dynamics naturally, and why do you think this approach worked so well for their family?
Tyler: I think the approach works for their family because it’s what he and his wife decided on. I’m not a father yet but after speaking with Eli, he’s the first one to say it’s not a one size fits all model.
As far as capturing that, Camden and I wanted to show up and first immerse ourselves in the family dynamic. No cameras. We didn’t want to introduce something new to them that would take them out of their groove or force some unnatural behaviors.
Eli has his own way of filming on the water, so we just followed them from behind and had them mic’d up. The family kept business as usual and did their chores and errands. We didn’t want to manufacture anything, and we didn’t want to impose on private moments that the family wanted to keep for themselves.
Flylords: What was the best, worst, or weirdest part of creating this film? Take your pick.
Tyler: The best part was the southern hospitality. The Iorgs treated us like family. Camden and I were fully prepared to eat ramen noodles, sleep in his camper van, and dirtbag it. But we were welcomed with open arms, home-cooked meals, and genuine quality time.
The second best part was watching Isla teach my wife how to cast a fly rod and then putting her on her first trout. You can’t beat that.
Flylords: This story is incredibly personal but also feels universal for anyone who’s struggled with finding—or re-finding—themselves. What kind of impact are you hoping the film has on audiences?
Tyler: We went into this film thinking it would be about a family on the water and it became so much deeper and turned out to be more of a story about fatherhood. I hope it inspires people to show up and be present for their kids. And that life is fragile, we aren’t owed anything, and we all have a lot to learn.
Flylords: It’s clear that fly fishing and time spent outside were major turning points for Eli. What do you think it is about fishing and the outdoors that has such a healing effect?
Tyler: From what I saw, the healing comes from experiencing the outdoors through his kids. And seeing how they handle that environment. The curiosity he sees in them, the thrill they get, the frustration, and the growth. Eli is an incredible teacher, but his kids, in their own way, are doing a lot of the teaching as well.
Flylords: Is there anything else you’d like to mention about the filmmaking process, the Iorg family, fly fishing in general, or other details you think people should know about Left Field?
Tyler: This is a fatherhood piece, but Nina, Eli’s wife, played such a vital role in his journey to recovery. Nina and I had a lot of conversations together; she’s a very kind soul, and he’ll be the first one to praise her. I thought that was incredibly special.
At its core, Left Field is a story about showing up—showing up for your family, for yourself, and for the moments that make life truly meaningful. Tyler’s film peels back the layers of a family charting their own course. It isn’t just about casting flies; it’s about casting off societal expectations and embracing a life well-lived. Give it a watch—you’ll be glad you did.
Photography courtesy of Lexi Soares (@lc_real).
Article by Flylords Food Editor Kirk Marks, an angler, photographer, and culinary aficionado based in Kent Island, Maryland. Give him a follow at @kirkymarks.
WOW..I have quite a few of these traits except for the Winston and Sage names. I am retired so PTO is not a concern. Thanks for the article and It is scary how close this article is to me. YUP you can not have too many flies except ( other than the ones that get hung up) I use the same fly type.