Day 31 of the partial government shutdown has come and something about it feels normal. We’ve been seeing the same talking points on the news for a month now. Wall funding, crime, federal employees not receiving their paychecks, these are the topics that have dominated the news cycles. But within more niche groups the talking points have involved different government shutdown topics: National Parks, fisheries, and local recreation-dependent economies.
Throughout the past 31 days, National Parks have endured a turbulent battle to operate as effectively as possible, despite a weakened National Park Service workforce and uncertainty over when the government will re-open. National Parks around the country hoped to remain open and accessible to the public this winter. However, the shutdown resulted in furloughs and lack of funding for the National Park Service, leaving many National Parks in disarray and in certain extreme cases destroyed.
Visually, the effects of the government shutdown for National Parks have been large. Images of overflowing trash cans and expansive litter have made their way into newspapers throughout the country, inciting outrage and volunteer campaigns. The limited National Park Service workforce has translated into less employees for maintaining the millions of acres of National Parks. In addition, to trash and litter, certain National Parks have become relatively unmonitored. This has led to general irresponsible activities and destruction within various National Parks. Examples include, but are not limited to, illegal off-roading and camping, which have long-lasting negative effects on certain vulnerable soil types.
Some National Parks have felt more reckless acts than others. The reports out of Joshua Tree National Park are astonishing. Vandalism throughout the park has been documented. The trees Joshua Tree are known for, the yucca palms, are being destroyed by unconscionable park-goers, because of the limited National Park Service staff.
Photo credit: Gina Ferazzi/LA Times
The overall unlawfulness has been felt and documented in National Parks all around the country, but the negative effects go further. Fisheries are also feeling the effects of the partially shutdown government. The shutdown has left much of the National Marine Fisheries Service closed, which is having far-reaching consequences on commercial and recreational fishing. For example, Idaho’s steelhead season is in question, again. This past December, an agreement was forged between disputing parties, which allowed Idaho’s steelhead season to remain open. However, without an approved permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service, which remains understaffed because of the shutdown, the future of Idaho’s season is again in question.
The shutdown has also placed one of the longest National Park monitoring studies on hold. The Shenandoah Watershed Study, which has operated since 1979, studies the effects of acid rain, biogeochemical cycles, native trout populations, and more in streams throughout the National Park. However, since the shutdown, the study has not collected data for more than three weeks (according to an article published on January 8, 2019), which is the longest gap in data throughout the study’s history.
Certain local economies are also hurting, due to the shutdown’s effects on National Parks. According to the National Park Conservation Association, “on an average day in January, 425,000 park visitors spend $20 million in nearby communities”. However, much of this revenue is now being lost, harming local communities and businesses–not to mention the estimated 16,000 National Park Service employees currently furloughed. For communities surrounding Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, the Denver Post reported that local businesses have experienced noticeable drops in sales and tourism.
Photo Credit: Nolan Dahlberg
It is not clear when the longest government shutdown in United States history will come to an end, but one thing is for certain: the harmful effects on our National Parks are being felt. Hopefully, bipartisan efforts can find a solution, because this partisan standoff over wall funding is having devastating consequences on many of our Nation’s remaining wild and preserved lands.
In our latest video of the week, we take a look at one of the films being featured in the IF4 this year. “Rio de Vida” is a film about a backcountry river in South America and the massive brown trout that inhabit it.
Catching trout on streamers is one of my favorite ways to catch fish, and in this film we get to see the results of an incredible day out streamer fishing.
South America also presents some amazing scenery. Although I’m sure there is no better way than seeing it in person, the film crew did a great job of capturing the beauty that South America has to offer.
If you would like to see the full film, be sure to attend the International Fly Fishing Film Festival. You can see the dates and locations here.
We had the honor to sit down with legendary photographer Val Atkinson. He has been a flyfishing and travel photographer for over 45 years. From continent to continent, Val has had the chance to catch the unique beauty in landscape and the fish that live there.
Flylords: Who is R. Valentine Atkinson?
Val: A towhead kid from a small rural town in Ohio called Zanesville which has the distinction of being the birthplace of Zane Grey the famous writer of western novels like “New Riders of the Purple Sage”. He also loved to fish. All over the world.
I grew up reading and daydreaming about the destinations in those books. After finishing high school I applied and was accepted to Columbus College of Art and Design in the big city of Columbus Ohio. After studying fine art and photography for 5 years I packed up and moved west in 1970 to try and make a living as a photographer and fished the beautiful western rivers which I had been reading about.
Flylords: Why are you called “The longest full-time fly fishing lifestyle photographer on the planet”?
Val: After trying to make a living photographing in San Francisco dabbling in everything from weddings to architecture to fine art and not being emotionally satisfied or financially rewarded, I happened to go on a fishing trip with friends to Hat Creek in Northern California where I documented our camping trip and sent the pictures to a Flyfishing Magazine and astonishingly they bought them all for a photo essay. (Actually paid me money). Bingo, I inadvertently discovered what I was to become: a flyfishing photographer. In those days there were maybe only 4 or 5 others doing the same thing. It was mostly black and white film then and because I had taken an Ansel Adams course I learned some of his secrets in the darkroom- how to make the blacks black and the whites white. That combined with good composition and lighting that I learned in art school helped to dazzle magazine editors with quality images.
After doing this for maybe 10 years I signed a contract with Frontiers International Travel as their staff photographer. They were a brand new travel agency just starting up and they represented fine lodges from all over the world with both flyfishing and wing shooting. That was an extremely fortuitous break for me as I was soon jetting around the world to exotic flyfishing destinations.
In the 18 years that I worked with them, I went through 4 separate passports and visited 29 countries which obviously changed my life dramatically. These days I have a site that has more recent images from the last 5 or 6 years of destinations that can be viewed at valatkinsonphotos.smugmug.co,
Flylords: Who or what influences your work most?
Val: I’m a romantic at heart and learned to love the English landscape painters in art school.
I’ve always tried to impart particular emotions in my imagery with light, composition and content.
I‘m definitely not a “grip and grin” guy – they make me “grit and grimace”. There are so many very creative photographers today producing fine work that I could name dozens if not hundreds.
Flylords: Do you have a favorite photo you’ve taken?
Val: I have many favorite images taken over the years. I guess a couple of them would be: “Jumping Mullet”. which was taken in the Seychelles when a huge school of mullet started porpoising in and out of the water headed straight for me. Probably spooked by a cuda or shark, several bumped right into me as they passed by. It all happened in about 3 seconds. I had my camera around my neck and just grabbed a shot. The amazing thing is that it’s in focus.
Another picture I like very much is the mayfly in the Guinness beer. This happened in Ireland on an assignment for my book “Trout & Salmon”. A group of us were sitting around in a little smokey pub having a beer when a mayfly fluttered in off the river and landed on the table. Someone picked it up and chucked it in the foam of the beer. It promptly fluttered its wings and sank. Define a photo op with a challenge. We needed a particularly thick foam head to support another bug and the bar tender was only to happy to attend. Needless to say we all had fun and most importantly got the shot.
Flylords: When was the first time you picked up a fly rod?
Val: I’ve been a “bend pin” fisherman since 6 or 7 years old. My first fly rod trout came along at age 15 when my father took me to Penn’s Creek in PA. I can still remember the whole event just like it was yesterday. It was a brown trout and I was using a St Croix rod and a Yellow Sally wet fly. He was about 16 inches long, came out from under a big rock and inhaled my fly. We ate him.
Flylords: Favorite species to shoot photos of?
Val: Everything that swims…
Flylords:Other than fly fishing, what else do you like to shoot photos of?
Val: I’m in love with making images no matter what the subject matter. As the famous photographer, Galen Rowell once said: “Learn to recognize good light and go photograph something in it”.
Although my reputation was made in the world of flyfishing and I continue to shoot it – these days I also like making pure landscapes. The short answer is I shoot everything.
Flylords: What is your ideal camera setup?
Val: I’m a firm believer in the adage that “less is more”. Too many folks today are hung up with way too much gear. I usually go out with my Nikon and 2 or 3 prime lenses – 24mm and 85mm. Maybe a 180. Of course, I have the full armament but I like to travel light when I can.
Flylords: What are the toughest challenges you encounter as a photographer?
Val: Time and weather.
Rained out- time for lunch in Boca paila with Susan Rockrise
Flylords: Name a beer you would recommend to all fly fishers.
Val: Anything with an I and a P and an A.
Flylords: Where is your favorite place to shoot and what is the landscape like?
Val: I’m in love with the old farmhouse that Susan Rockrise and I purchased on Fall River. It’s now my home river and I love Susan, the house and the river very much. Fall River is one of the largest and finest spring creeks in the world full of big hungry selective rainbows.
A very pastoral setting with cows in the meadows and old red barns on the banks. Other than Fall River I love shooting and visiting in New Zealand and Argentina.
Flylords:Would you rather catch a fish of a lifetime or shoot a photo of someone’s trophy fish?
Val: I’m sorry but I’ll have to plead the 5th on this one. I’d rather do both and I have.
Flylords: What’s next for you?
Val: I’ve been giving photography workshops at my farmhouse in Fall River which has been very successful. We are also making fine art prints on Metal which is a relatively new technique that is truly stunning.
The 5 books I’ve had published have sold out by now, but you can get good used copies on Amazon. My favorites are “Distant Waters” and “The Greatest Flyfishing Around the World”.
Thank you Val for the time and be sure to follow him @val_atkinson and check out his website.
This article is written by Michael “Sal” Salomone a trout fly fishing guide and writer based in the mountains of Colorado at Vail Valley Anglers. Photos by Nolan Dahlberg. Follow along with them at @vailvalleyanglers for the latest in trout fishing in the west.
Approaching the river in winter can be an intimidating fly-fishing experience when the water is as clear as glass. However, it can be extremely productive if an angler is aware of the conditions and presents flies with focused intention. An understanding of the river and the bugs that inhabit the local watershed provides a helpful start. Deciphering the day-to-day conditions as the sun warms the river leads to stellar winter fly-fishing.
River Conditions
Wintertime slows growth down to a sluggish pace. Narrowed by bank ice and covered with shelf ice, river levels are at the lowest of the year. Bugs are held for an extended period of time at immature stages of development. Midge larvae become primary food items for hungry trout.
Anchor ice accumulates on the river bottom smothering the rocks and detritus. A foundation in anchor ice prevents bugs from becoming dislodged in watery currents. Extended periods of anchor ice can stifle fishing in an area for days.
Trout congregate in deep pools below oxygen infusing riffles. Spending a few extra minutes observing the behaviors trout are exhibiting leads to more productive winter outings. Trout that are suspended in the mid-column of the river during the winter months are feeding trout. Activity will be centered on a small feeding lane making accurate, controlled drifts a necessity for success.
Winter conditions are more technical when dealing with your presentation. Dialing in your rig to present tiny flies within a specific zone often calls on some trial and error. Micro-shot assists in adding or subtracting weight to present flies correctly. Tossing on a heavy, single weight results in poor, unnatural drifts that hinge and fold around a rock. Instead, employ a series of smaller weights spread out over a short distance equaling the same amount. A string of weights has a tendency to mold around the rock and roll over. Think about Mardi Gras beads and how they roll over curves, get the picture?
Techniques
Concentrate on locating fish bankside before entering the river or beginning to cast. Blind-casting announces your presence and will inadvertently spook fish from a feeding lane. Wait and watch, read the trout’s reactions and how it is feeding to optimize your first few casts.
Winter is all about the nymph. Dry fly opportunities can occur, although they are few and far between. Sun on open water can create the correct set of magical circumstances for a dry fly bite; otherwise, head subsurface.
Midges rule the stage. As a year round protein source, midges become the only food source available in the winter months. Popular colors include red, green (chartreuse), white, brown and black. Productive patterns for winter nymphing would be the zebra midge, juju midge, black beauties, miracle nymphs and top secrets. Ultraviolet fibers breathe life into such miniscule offerings. Any small fly tied with UV materials looks like bubbles or gives the illusion of movement.
Subsurface presentations require a lot of mending and attention to line management, set on anything. Bites are subtle in the winter and cause little disturbance. Light tippets and dialed in weights equal a good presentation where flies are suspended exactly in the feeding lane at the same height and speed as the feeding trout.
You have to earn it in the winter. Bites are fewer in the cold weather. Be prepared for the bite and turn every chance into a catch rather than a missed opportunity. Trying a larger lead fly such as a size 12 beadhead followed by a smaller offering like a size 22 midge larva can be a productive presentation. Surprisingly, often the large tempting morsel is eaten.
When fishing streamers try to retrieve with a low and slow pace, fished deep in the water column. Short hopping retrieves imitate a dying minnow, baitfish or trout. White is a great choice for the winter months. Keeping the streamer close to the bottom is critical to success in wintertime. It is not a chase scenario we are trying to create but rather a slow moving, “dead drift.”
Fishing a streamer in tandem with a midge larva imitation can be the ticket to success when winter bites become hard to come by. Often referred to as a Happy Meal, a streamer and nymph rig covers all the bases for tempting hungry trout. A small dark-colored stonefly also works effectively in tandem with a streamer. Here again, it is the dead drift we are trying to achieve for proper presentation of a Happy Meal.
Gear
When it comes down to cold temperatures, the choice of reel becomes more important. Click and Pawl reels have a tendency to freeze up more than disc drag reels. Sealed drag reels could be the ultimate choice for dealing with cold weather and freezing water. Whatever your choice is a reel dunked into the river for any reason will begin to give you problems in the cold.
Wintery conditions routinely cause guides to freeze on your rod and coat fly lines with an icy sheath. Both will create frigid fingers when combined with the river water temperature. Hand warming hot chocolate kept in a thermos bankside works wonders.
Ask around and you will get numerous homemade remedies for preventing ice from forming in your guides. Stanley’s Ice Off Paste has been the best performer for preventing ice on my rods.
Winter water conditions require anglers to size down in tippet. Smaller diameter tippet, especially fluorocarbon, results in a more stealthy presentation. The slow, clear water demands low visibility to help prevent trout from detecting imitations. Lighter tippet also aids in presenting a natural drift.
Once again, Micro-shot is a key component for dialing in desired results on thin tippets. The lighter pound tippet also aids in tying on the ultra small nymphs in sizes 22 and 24. Sizes 18 and 20 become too large. The cold water holds midge larva for an extended period of time in the premature stage, accounting for the success found with teeny nymphs.
Helpful Hints
Avoid brightly colored clothing like red hats, which stick out in the stark conditions found during winter. Dull earth tones assist anglers in being undetected.
Along the same path, shy away from brightly colored indicators. Spooking fish, especially timid winter fish happens easily with large, colored indicators. Bright pink is good for you but bad for your nymphing, causing fish to avoid your rig. Small white or clear indicators are easy to adjust and won’t appear as obtrusive during your drift.
The best window for opportunity typically falls after the 10:30 a.m. time period. Stay as late as the sun allows. Careful planning and positioning can have you lined up for late afternoon sunshine. The angle of the sun will increase productivity and your warmth and also extend feeding activity for a longer period of time.
Winter’s sun casts long shadows that penetrate the tumultuous surface currents all the way to the riverbed, spooking fish. Anglers who inadvertently cast their shadow across productive water need to reposition to achieve success. Repositioning also is a key component in preventing the ice shelf from cutting your line while fighting a fish. Long-handled landing nets assist in preventing the same problem and reach over obstacles to land your well deserved winter trout.
You will fall at some point. How gracefully you do it depends on how you approach the frozen river. Falling and cracking an elbow on the ice can result in a broken arm or rod. Studded rubber-soled boots work wonders but any type of felt will accumulate ice dangerously. Many winter anglers are prepared with slip-saving footwear such as inexpensive ice cleats that easily attach to your boots. Your wading staff from the summertime can double as a good support on the ice too.
Catch and Release Tips.
Avoid excessive handling in the cold temperatures especially when wearing any type of glove. Rubber nets are an asset for successful catch and release fly fishing allowing the angler ample time to revive lethargic winter trout after the fight. However, both nets and gloves remove the protective coating trout need for a healthy existence.
Minimize the extended amount of time trout spend out of the water. Soft tissue like gills and eyes begin to freeze relatively quickly when removed from the safety of the river water. Keeping a hooked trout in the water and in your net is the responsible way to remove flies.
Arming yourself with the appropriate gear and knowledge removes a lot of the anxiety fly anglers have surrounding winter fly-fishing. Approaching the river with an understanding of the bug life that is present in the cold and the techniques used to present those flies will lead to repeatable winter fly-fishing success. Remaining aware of the hazards winter fly-fishing can present is another step in preparing yourself for a successful winter fly-fishing experience.
Mike “Sal” Salomone is longtime fishing guide and writer based in Vail, Colorado. He can be reached at adventuresal@yahoo.com or by calling Vail Valley Anglers at 970-926-0900. Photos courtesy of Nolan Dahlberg, @dahlberg.digital.
You can check out Mike’s other recent article below:
Flylords presents “Mosquitos & Mayflies,” a short video series by Swedish fly fishing filmmaker Rolf Nylinder. He has been producing unique fly fishing films for some time now. With an extremely creative and oddball approach to portraying this beautiful sport, Rolf has quickly created a name for himself in the fly fishing industry. Here is Episode III: Finnmark
Finnmark is a dry fly fishing paradise at the very northern edge of Europe. When Håvard and I arrived there was a strong wind blowing from the north and 7 degrees Celsius. We tried to handle the situation with a whiskey bottle and a cheap cabin. It turned out to be more difficult than I expected. You have different friends for different occasions, and Håvard is a good friend while fishing, but after two days in the tiny cabin I started to get fed up with the endless flow of jazz-references. Only an unexpected mayfly hatch could save our friendship.
This is episode 3. Here areepisode 1 and episode 2
I go way back with this mayfly, Ephemera Vulgata,
To watch the mosquitoes die a slow death is perhaps the most satisfying part of the day.
2018 has come and gone, but many of the environmental issues that plague our planet’s fisheries will continue and even worsen in 2019. With this mentality, the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, and other partners launched a project to start the new year on the right foot: The International Year of the Salmon (IYS). The groups behind this project began this initiative several years ago, and now the project is in full swing.
IYS hopes to spread global awareness and knowledge of ways to restore the strong, abundant, and healthy salmon runs that once were, to benefit salmon and also the northern-hemisphere peoples who rely on them. Some of IYS respectable goals include but are not limited to: “encouraging scientists, decision-makers and the public to work towards solutions that overcome the challenges salmon face; supporting conservation and restoration strategies to help manage salmon in the face of climate change; inspiring and supporting a new generation of researchers and managers, and conservationists; and helping to create a greater awareness of the ecological, social, cultural and economic value of salmon”.
This project is not limited to North America either; IYS spans the entire globe with individual projects in Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Russia. In Canada, one IYS project is Urban Salmon, which seeks to bring attention to urban salmonids and habitats through professional photography.
Global initiatives like the IYS are important for the preservation and restoration of anadromous salmonids that utilize vast stretches of water, often through many countries. We will be following this project closely and hoping for the best–salmon all around the world need all the help they can get. For more information on the International Year of the Salmon, check out their website.
For this installment of Video of the Week, we had the chance to ask Nerijus Rupciauskas of Black Fly Eyes a few questions about one of their newest films, ANTHONY. Fly Lords: There are some amazing shots in this film that capture top water insect eats. Did it take a while to film this, or is it just happening that often?
Nerijus: We used a few shots of rising fish that we had filmed before but usually if you are at Rena river at the good hatch, water is boiling from rising fish everywhere and to catch those shots on camera is way easier when you have a bunch of rises around you.
FL: Can you tell us a little bit about how important tippet size and fly selection is for these fish?
N: Day time and sunny weather tippet size might be important (like for Anthony we went down to 0.13) but as usual we are using 5X tippet and in the evening when the sun is down we go with 4X. Rena river is rich in insects and some of the fish might be very selective and eat just one type of them so fly selection and size can be very important. Some other fish might be feeding on every bug floating pass by and they are way more easy to catch.
FL: Do these fish move much during the season? Do you expect Anthony to be in the same spot next year?
N: I actually don’t know how much they move. We filmed Anthony in 2017 and the plan was to get back to the same spot in 2018 for to find him again to continue the story. So we did that and visited the same spot twice but never found Anthony there. Instead there was a nice 1kg brown trout sitting all the time there. Not sure if he moved somewhere else or this brownie pushed him away or some angler caught him.
FL: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting to target fish with a dry fly?
N: GO TO THE RIVER! Meet people, talk to them, try to fish with someone who is already in the dry fly game and learn from them. Don’t do that on youtube, google, films, etc. I don’t say its bad cause i did it my self too but you lose so much time. From the angler who fishes dries you can learn so much more in few fishing trips together and it would take for you maybe a few years if you study it by PC.
Black Fly Eyes has some amazing films in addition to the one that we featured this week. Be sure to check out their Vimeo and Instagram page to stay up to date with their latest releases.
The video of the week is selected and written by FlyLords team member Conner Grimes.
Flylords caught up with Eduardo Garcia host of Yeti’s short video series called “Hungry Life.” Where he makes memorable meals with what’s on-hand, learning from the land and local pros, and making food an integral part of every adventure.
Flylords: I feel like whenever you’re shooting a fishing or a hunting film, you never really know what to expect because there are so many variables. Anything from bad weather, fish not biting, to the bighorn sheep not showing up to play. What were some of the challenges that you faced, and maybe the crew faced, filming the show?
Eduardo: Yeah, I guess that is one of the challenges with documentary-style content, so specifically for the show Hungry Life, we were shooting a non-scripted series. What that means is, everybody from the audio technician to the film guys, to the director, to even the camera assistant, everyone just needs to be ready, because you don’t know when the fish will bite. You don’t know when the sheep will be present. You don’t know when anything will happen. Whereas a scripted show, you kind of plan it, one, two, three execute, right? So that’s probably one of the greatest challenges.
Flylords: Where did the inspiration for the show Hungry Life come from?
Eduardo: The genesis for the show really came from my business partner Jenny Jane. When we were dating, she just witnessed the way that I cooked naturally at home, over a fire on our adventures. She noted that other people as passerby’s were very interested in what I was doing over a fire, and that was the genesis of like, “Huh, maybe people had an interest in cooking over coals. This is cool, maybe we should talk to them about it.”
The original concept came in 2011 when we filmed a sizzle reel for an outdoor cooking show called Active Ingredient. The Food Network actually wanted the first right of a refusal on the show. And bittersweet but true is, I was electrocuted just five days before we were supposed to have a meeting to sign that contract. So that idea was incubated for many years. And then in 2016, I pitched the idea to Yeti, and they took a bite. So we renamed it Hungry Life and that’s where we’re at.
Not a lot of people know that.
Flylords: How long did it take to film each episode, and what was the crew size?
Eduardo: You know what, our crew really moved from a nimble crew of like six people, to larger crews of 8 to 10. We gave ourselves around four to five days, not including travel, for each episode.
Flylords: How long have you been fly fishing for, and what was it like coming back to the sport after your accident?
Eduardo: I’ve been fly fishing since I was 15. And coming back to fly fishing after my injury was far more challenging than I thought it would be. I swear I cried the first time I broke my tippet and had to retie some tippet on. I could have just thrown on a new leader, but you know, you don’t just throw it away because you break the first 12 inches, you tie on some new tippet right? I remember sitting on the riverbank figuring out how to tie that knot, and it took about 40 minutes, it was a pain in the ass. But I did it, I got it. Just last fall did I finally have a chance to get back on a drift boat…
I was on the Jefferson, and it just looked like a streamer day, dark, misty, cloudy. It looked and just felt like a streamer day, the fish had to be aggressive. So I threw on a big bug and a sinking tip, and caught a beautiful brown, and then didn’t look back. And I chucked that streamer all day long. So likely it took me seven years just to get back to a place where I could strip and get the hand hook coordination to strip line in. So yeah, I’m getting there and still learning.
Flylords: Is there any way you can compare cooking with fishing and hunting?
Eduardo: Well, cooking is maybe not something that I would compare, but rather that I would partner as both being collaborative efforts, right? So what I mean by that is, for me, when I hunt and fish, I fly fish in preparation of eating. I’m aware of what I may be catching and have an idea of how to prepare it if I do decide to eat it. Like a major league ballplayer, he doesn’t just show up on game day not having swung a bat all year. He’s swinging bats all the time so that on game day he can execute, same thing for cooking. I’m preparing to cook a meal as I prepare for a hunt or day of fishing.
I’ve got 10 people coming over, so I’m looking for a 5-pound fish, or it’s just me in my little pup tent so I need a half pound brook trout. The cooking element is a continuation, and really one of the final parts of the hunting/fishing process. It’s what you do after you successfully hunt and fish.
In the Hungry Life, Yucatan episode, Oliver and Hillary are professional fly anglers and come from this place where everything is catch and release. It was really kind of fun and cool to be out there catching to keep. They really enjoyed understanding this aspect of the fishing as they don’t really partake in it normally.
Flylords: For people who are horrible at cooking, myself included, this show really inspired me to put more effort into cooking a meal. There’s a quote in one of the episodes where you say, “The most forgettable meals are the ones that require no effort.” Do you have any advice for someone who maybe wants to get more into cooking and has no idea where to start?
Eduardo: Yeah, I would tell them to start with me and start following the recipes that I’m posting and go to @MontanaMex or montanamex.com and check out those recipes and I’m hoping, fingers crossed, to have a series of hungry life inspired recipes that I’ll be posting to my site, which is chefeduardo.com. I’m super psyched to share my stoke of food with others and hunting and fishing and I have a ton of great recipes you can start with.
Another great place to start is to bring some seasoning with you on your adventure.
If you know you’re going after red drum, if you know you’re going after trout, if you know you’re going after tuna or whatever the species might be, think about how you would want to eat that fish or how you’ve had that fish in restaurants. Then put together a little spice kit – a little packet of spices or seasonings that is in your little go bag, so that when you do get a fish, and if you’re inspired, you can filet that thing right there and throw just a little bit of a citrus salt a half ounce container of soy sauce a little jalapeno seasoning maybe, and boom – You’ve got a great tasty little snack that totally just transformed that day of fishing into like the most memorable thing you’ve ever done and then hopefully you do it again next time.
Flylords: One of the most interesting parts of this show for me was the foraging aspect and so many of the ingredients that you were using, I feel like 99.99 percent of people would just walk over all these ingredients. Tell me about where you acquire that knowledge and then also, if you had to study the fauna before going to these locations on these shoots.
Eduardo: It’s all about the books. Get yourself one two if not three guides, foraging guidebooks for wild edible plants in your specific region… These books have hundreds of varieties. So, flip through and there’s a high chance that if you connect the dots on your location, and what time of year is it, you’ll be able to hone in a small subset of plants that are available during that specific time of year.
In Florida, there may be hundreds of varieties of edibles, but if you get a book about foraging Florida and you’re like, “All right, I’m going down there to chase tarpon in May,” then take your book and say, “Okay, what is edible in May in Florida?” And then look at those varieties and make yourself a goal, saying, “Cool, I want to focus on finding just five of these or just one of them.” And go find one. And then, boom, now you’ve recognized it, now you know it and now you see it. And then, next time you’re out, do another one, right?
Flylords: Do you have a favorite dish or style of cooking?
Eduardo: Directly in the coals or over the coals, yeah. If there’s an opportunity to not use a pot or a pan but rather just crack a lobster in half and throw it in the shell right on some medium heat coals and let that meat cook in the shell? Oh, yeah. That’s what I’m talking about. That’s super, super rad.
Flylords: Tell us a little bit about what Montana Mex is?
Eduardo: Montana Mex is a national food brand that focuses on organic, preservative-free, clean-label natural condiments. So, we have three sauces, three seasonings and an avocado oil, and more than just being a company that makes really tasty, killer, healthy foods, we’re also just a human company. We like to include our human lifestyle messaging in our branding. We like folks to know who we are on the back end and then we also are an organization that gives back to a group called the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which supports people with physical disabilities to be active in sports and athletics. So, we’re a human brand that likes to give back and has an impact. Beyond all that, we’re a brand that makes a really killer habanero sauce for your grouper sandwich, ketchup for your french fries and a jalapeno seasoning for your tuna sashimi that doesn’t have preservatives or any bullshit in it.
Flylords: One of our favorite quotes in the Laguna Madre episode was, “The best meal you’re going to have is what’s unoffered.” Tell me us a little bit about this quote.
Eduardo: That means everyone one of us would be well-served at some point to be put in a position of hunger, where we’re hungry, genuinely hungry, and find ourselves in that place where we have nothing in our hands and nothing in our fridge and nothing in our cooler and go for some period of time knowing what hunger is. The 99.9 percent of us, to your point, have no idea what real hunger is like and are blessed to have unlimited opportunities to eat such a diverse array of foods, and that’s rad. That’s badass. That’s what the world is today and let’s do it, right?
But, my point is, is there should be a certain element of gratitude for whatever you do have, right? Because it’s not always the case that you have something in front of you. So, the best meal you’re going to have is the one that feeds you and puts you in a position to stay alive, right? You’re lucky if you get to have the brand of beer you like with your burger and you get to have it be grass-fed, or medium rare, or with … You know what I’m saying? That’s kind of my point.
Flylords: What was it like filming with Oliver and Hillary?
Eduardo: Oh my gosh, like hanging out with rock stars. To watch Oliver cast is an incredible thing. Hillary is no slouch either. What I loved about these episodes is that everyone brings a different skill to the table it’s a pleasant opportunity to witness that you are there to learn, and that the others around you have a lot to offer that you can pick up from them. So the comradery and friendship of like-minded individuals is huge, and that’s basically what we had going on there.
Flylords: Tell us about catching your first permit, and what did the scorpion taste like?
Eduardo: Well, my first permit, as I’ve been told by folks at the lodge, it’s what you would call a learner’s permit, because it was a little guy. But whatever man, I’ll take it, you know what I’m saying? A permit is a permit, anyone who has fished for them knows this.
I’ll take it, as Oliver White said, “Most people can count on one hand how many permit they’ve caught in their lifetime.” So I was extremely excited when that happened.
Dude, the scorpion tasted gnarly man. If anyone has eaten a grasshopper, it was like a little bit acrid, a little bit like eating kind of soggy popcorn you know it was soaked in tequila so thankfully my passion for tequila is so strong that it didn’t put me off.
Flylords: What was it like being thrown into new environments in these episodes. Were you ever genuinely scared during the filming of any of them?
Eduardo: There were two moments we had a huge weather system come in during Laguna Madre and it was like all systems go, pack the boats and we would have to run for the boat ramp which is like a thirty minute run on a flatboat before that huge storm cell hits us so that was like a little, never worried for my life but that was a moment were you just wouldn’t have wanted to been out in a huge body of water in a flatboat, you know.
And then on the Big Horn sheep hunt, there was a moment where Ben and another of our team members had taken all eight horses and mules to the water to drink and they were supposed to be back at x time and they were like two to three hours late and it was dark, and we’re in this grizzly bear rich zone in southwest Montana. After three hours I made the call. I said alright, I need one able-bodied individual, we need a ditch bag that has first aid, that has emergency gear to survive overnight, and we got to go see what’s up.
A guy volunteered and I threw the pack on him and we ran down the hillside and found our crew. Little did we know that horses don’t like to drink muddy water and the spring’s flow was so low that one horse would get in there and drink and muddy it up and the next horse wouldn’t drink for thirty minutes until it cleared up again. So it took these guys like ten times the time.
Flylords: Why do you think people should watch this series?
Eduardo: I believe that everybody has the opportunity to become inspired by watching Hungry Life because it serves as a battle cry for how to be hungrier in your life, how to take more advantage of your day in the outdoors.
Flylords: What’s next for Eduardo? What are you up to?
Eduardo: You know, I am focused on the food brand Montana Mex and inspiring people to eat food, eat better food, eat clean food, and get cooking. I am actively setting my sights on creating a platform through partnerships and collaborations to inspire people to protect their public lands and get outside and know where their food comes from and know how to go get it.
If you haven’t checked out my documentary, please do. It is called Charged, you can view at chargedfilm.com and you can download it on any online platform. It’s a motivational film just about what happens when shit goes south and how to resurrect the situation and yourself and the community.
When people ask me what the best part of fly fishing is, I automatically think of my husband. For the past 4 years, he has been my greatest supporter and cheerleader– always making sure I’m enjoying what I do. That increased exponentially when he introduced me to fly fishing.
He’d been fishing with his dad since he was in diapers, and has always fiddled with the idea of getting back into fly fishing. So finally I asked the big question that I had bouncing around in my head, Will you teach me what fly fishing is all about?
It was as if fireworks lit up in his eyes, sort of like Pepe Lè Pew in love. Over the past several weeks this spring I briefly played with a fly rod but could not, for the life of me, figure out the finesse with false casting. Frustrated enough, I put it down for several weeks. It wasn’t until our next trip where it seemed like everything clicked and I was hooked. Below are three points that I believe makes a great fishing partner.
#1: They Teach You New Things and Find Great Enjoyment in Seeing You Thrive.
You have your own teacher/personal guide who will ultimately be curious enough to go out of their way and research fly methods or gear and locations. One morning after working a 12 hour night shift we decided to take a 4.5 hour drive to Shenandoah Valley to fish for native Brookies. That was one of the best days, besides running into a bear cub climbing a tree about a mile and a half into our trek. I had told Chandler that my first fish on the fly would be a Brookie, and so it was.
A couple of weeks after that, I dabbled more into fly fishing but it wasn’t until I caught my biggest brown trout near our house in Southwest Virginia. That’s when I realized that life doesn’t get better any than having your life partner be your fishing partner as well.
#2: Celebrate Every Fish.
Not only do we get to rant and geek out over gear and methods, but he gets to see my best accomplishments. I couldn’t imagine having had anyone else with me when I landed my 15.5″ Brown Trout. I looked at him as soon as the hook set and gave him the “holy cow this is huge” look. As soon as I had it in the net, I didn’t know whether to laugh, scream, or cry. Regardless, it didn’t matter because we were jumping and high-fiving like little kids. At that moment, I knew this is what I was made for.
#3:Your Wins Are Their Wins.
I don’t think that a fishing partner should be envious or severely competitive when out enjoying what you both love to do. That’s not to mention that some friendly competition isn’t welcomed, because I’d be lying if I didn’t try to catch larger fish, or higher quantities just to keep him on his toes. Usually, though, he has no problem admitting that I usually catch more fish than him. But, when he does get the fish of the day, he definitely leaves me in his dust trail.
So you see, I got lucky when I became his wife. But I won the jackpot the day we stepped out in the river to fish together. Now, it’s literally all we do and talk about. If everyone had a fishing partner like we have in each other, I do believe people would be way happier and stress-free. And if you don’t have a lifelong fishing partner yet, even if it’s a buddy you work with or your best girlfriend, it’ll happen. You never know who you’ll run into on the river, or even on social media!
You can follow along with Kayla Dickenson and her husband on Instagram at @theflyfishingwife or get in touch with her via email theflyfishingwife@gmail.com. Photos courtesy of Thea Maddox @theamaddoxphotography.
This article was written by Juan Biott, an experienced fly fishing guide down in Patagonia. Himself, Claudio Martin and Pollo make up @tresamigosoutfitters. Juan has guided brook trout for decades and is passionate about getting clients down to experience the beauty of the brook trout of Patagonia. Learn more about the fisheries and opportunities they have for these trophy-sized brook trout.
The word is out, after the epic movie called “finding fontinalis” there has been a lot of attention to the hidden Patagonic waters of Chubut, Santa Cruz, and Tierra del Fuego provinces.
The monster brook trout swimming around lakes and creeks in these regions are, by all means, not an easy task to hook. There is a ton of water, so finding these trophy fish can take some prior experience. Often these fish have never seen a fly or a person. The fishing guides in the area are lucky enough to share some of these treasures to the fishing world.
The history: It was an odyssey back to 1904-1930’s when efforts brought salmonids to Patagonian waters by the Agriculture Ministry and specialists from EEUU. Mr. Titcomb directed the first projects along with other Argentinean professionals.
A century after this event, brook trout among other kinds of trout and salmon have
found the perfect place to live quite undisturbed. And have been able to grow to their full potential weight due to favorable environmental conditions and sustainable food supply. It is my intention to tell you about some of these places to add to your
bucket list.
Esquel Area
At the heart of Chubut province in Patagonia, there are a few rivers and lakes that hold some trophy brook trout if not the world record. Each year some of my colleagues guide a few groups of fishermen into these waters. They are very careful with keeping these spots safe and under the radar, as it has some truly big fish. The biggest caught to date is 12 pounds and told they have seen bigger fish but did not move from the ground. The amount of food sources in some of these lakes is amazing and the brook trout grow as fat as long. The main lake called Vintter is famous for its big brookies and also huge rainbows. It’s filled up by the main tributary, the Corcovado river which offers some of the most amazing and huge runs of brook trout that are available in Patagonia. This phenomenon occurs right at the end of the season and is complemented by a few lakes and creeks that only wise guides and locals know and are simply insane.
Southern Santa Cruz:
The province is known for its legendary Strobel Lake (Jurassic Lake) and Gallegos
River. It is home to huge sea trout and also not far in quality for its few brook trout treasures. There is a system known as the Coyle with some brook trout and brown trout that can reach up to 4 pounds and a real treasure called Chico Sur.
This last river/creek flows west to east from Chile and ends up in the sea sharing the estuary with the Gallegos River. It’s delightful to fish with a #4 weight rod and a floating line. Brookies up to 8 pounds in skinny water with slower flows are common. At some of the pools, the big brookies get really picky and demand a lot of effort to hook them. All these creeks are fished inside a boutique-style operation known as The Route of the Spring Creeks run by a local family lodging in three different estancias.
Tierra del Fuego
What else other than the Rio Grande could we find at this island? Well, the amazing Lenga Woods and lake system located at the heart of the island. It has a lot to offer and yet is not fished hard. There are a few lakes and some tributaries with very little information about them. They have an insane late-season run of brookies.
These brookies are really big, they get up to 10 pounds. Some of the guides in TDF after a hard sea trout season end up chasing these colorful big males that get together before the ritual during the beginning of the autumn. Most of this fishing is done with streamers and sinking lines, but when it comes to creeks a 5 weight is the best choice.
Juan Biott is an experienced fly fishing guide down in Patagoina. Himself, Claudio Martin and Pollo make up @tresamigosoutfitters. For contacting any of the operations, you can email patagonguide@gmail.com for more information.
You have different friends for different occasions, and Håvard is a good friend while fishing, but after two days in the tiny cabin I started to get fed up with the endless flow of jazz-references. Only an unexpected mayfly hatch could save our friendship.
Fly Lords: There are some amazing shots in this film that capture top water insect eats. Did it take a while to film this, or is it just happening that often?
A century after this event, brook trout among other kinds of trout and salmon have
Esquel Area
The amount of food sources in some of these lakes is amazing and the brook trout grow as fat as long. The main lake called Vintter is famous for its big brookies and also huge rainbows. It’s filled up by the main tributary, the Corcovado river which offers some of the most amazing and huge runs of brook trout that are available in Patagonia. This phenomenon occurs right at the end of the season and is complemented by a few lakes and creeks that only wise guides and locals know and are simply insane.
Southern Santa Cruz:
Tierra del Fuego
These brookies are really big, they get up to 10 pounds. Some of the guides in TDF after a hard sea trout season end up chasing these colorful big males that get together before the ritual during the beginning of the autumn. Most of this fishing is done with streamers and sinking lines, but when it comes to creeks a 5 weight is the best choice.