Nestled along the rugged shores of the North Atlantic, Newfoundland emerges as a haven for anglers. In the heart of this maritime province, a passion for fly fishing intertwines with the storied tales of salmon leaping against the backdrop of rugged mountain landscapes. As the rivers weave through the untamed wilderness and the scent of salt hangs in the air, anglers immerse themselves in an experience laden with lore. In Episode 7 of Far From Home, the Flylords crew joins Jeroen Wohe at Salmon Hole Lodge on the Lapoile River to pit the new Sage Spey R8 rods against Newfoundland’s esteemed Atlantic salmon.
How this episode came to be
Our friends at Sage hinted they had some exciting new two handed rods and wanted to join forces again to bring them to the water and test them against Atlantic salmon. After assessing locations around the globe we settled on Newfoundland, a place where delicacy and precision are a must, and we could really put these new double-handers through their paces from technical presentations to fighting large acrobatic fish on light lines.
Jeroen Wohe, owner of Salmon Hole Lodge, has Atlantic salmon in his blood. Although Jerone purchased the lodge recently, the operation has a storied history dating back over 50 years. He spent the first season fishing the river daily, learning its movements and flows, as well as the habits of the fish migrating into it. His historic experience with Atlantic salmon fishing brought a wealth of knowledge to these fabled waters.
The Lodge
Nestled along the enchanting Lapoile River in Newfoundland, the Salmon Hole Lodge stands as a testament to the allure of pristine wilderness and the pursuit of world-class salmon fishing. The lodge feels quaint and historic; an aura of history is baked into the wood. Small cabins are scattered among the property surrounding a central building with a dining room for guests to enjoy meals and recount tales of the day. Encapsulated in lush boreal forests and embraced by the serenity of nature, this lodge offers anglers an unparalleled escape into the heart of Newfoundland’s fishing paradise. The Lapoile River flows gracefully past the lodge, presenting a captivating backdrop for morning coffee on the front porch. Salmon Hole Lodge not only provides comfortable accommodations but also serves as a gateway to a fishing haven.
Dry Flies and Two Handers, a Chess Game
During the summer months, as the water warms, the salmon in the Lapoile River tend to look to the sky. Without rhyme or reason, these fish are prone to attack offerings drifted, skated, or stripped overhead, reacting most aggressively to flies sitting in the surface film.
When you think dry flies, your mind probably goes to catskill or parachute flies, imitating insects. The ‘match the hatch’ ideology. This couldn’t be further from reality in the world of Atlantic salmon fishing. The flies used look more like a cigar butt than an insect. It’s not about entomology, but rather precision and presentation.
Jeroen and his Guides know the river intimately and have a wealth of knowledge regarding the lies these fish hold in on certain flows. That means one part of the equation – where are the fish? – is taken care of. The part we need to figure out is fly choice and presentation. Often, these mid-summer fish responded best to dead drifted dries. Equipped with a 13’ 7wt and a midbelly integrated spey line, we would present flies at distance. The precision and control required for this style of fishing was a new and exciting challenge and the SPEY R8 rods handled it with grace.
The Takeaway
The fishing in Newfoundland feels less like science and more like art. From the weather to the river to the angler’s relation to the emotional state of the fish, It’s a connection with the natural world. Artful impressionistic flies meant to draw attention from a curious quarry and elegant two-handed fishing that brings feel and grace to the forefront of an angler’s mind. It’s serenity and connection unique to Atlantic salmon, it’s why Atlantic salmon are aptly named the “king of fish”.
Thank you to the team at Sage Fly Fishing and Fly Water Travel for making this episode possible. If you are looking for a rod setup suited for this Far From Home adventure, look no further than the new Sage SPEY R8. If you want to do this trip, you can book through Fly Water Travel HERE.
You’re always one step away from setting up a streamer leader. Check out this video from Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing to make sure you’re ready when the time’s right.
Breaking down barriers to entry and fostering self-reliance on the water, onWater Fish, the all-in-one fishing app, just made a bold statement with a game-changing move: offering free public land data to all anglers, regardless of experience or target species. This move underscores a broader rebrand and refocused mission to make fishing information and opportunities more accessible to everyone.
This commitment to inclusivity is evident in onWater Fish’s newly unlocked offering of free fishing access information, a first in the industry. This data, now available at no cost to all users, includes nationwide public land data and over 108,000 map points, including fishing access points, boat ramps, rapids, fly and gear shops, water hazards, and more. In addition, onWater’s other features (some of which are part of the onWater+ subscription) include real-time weather and water conditions monitoring, float and distance estimator, offline tools, species distribution layers, private waypoints, journals, and more. All are designed to help users make informed decisions and maximize their chances of success and enjoyment on the water. This move empowers anglers of all levels to confidently explore new waters and discover hidden gems, fostering a sense of adventure and self-reliance.
“It’s been our belief since the inception of onWater Fish that everyone belongs on the water. Now we’re making efforts to ensure that’s possible,” says Alex Maier, Chief Marketing Officer at onWater. “Our goal is to provide everyone with the information they need to safely and ethically enjoy fishing, and our rebrand and newest changes reflect that commitment. We’re also dedicated to protecting the waterways we all cherish, and we’re actively working with partners and undertaking novel initiatives that support conservation efforts across the country.”
A commitment to self-reliance and conservation: onWater Fish recognizes that informed anglers are responsible anglers. By providing readily accessible data and tools, the app encourages responsible fishing practices and dispersal across the vast landscape of public waters. This helps prevent overcrowding and protect sensitive ecosystems, ultimately fostering a culture of conservation. In turn, providing a voice for one of our most precious and imperiled resources.
To learn more about what’s to come for onWater Fish, visit our website at onwaterfish.com or explore the onWater Fish app here.
In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Charlie Craven ties a Pat Dorsey pattern every angler should be carrying this winter, Dorsey’s Top Secret Baetis.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Easy
Pat Dorsey is a name that most anglers know and for good reason. He is a renowned guide, author, and fly tyer who has added immense value to our industry over a lifetime on the water. Many of his patterns take on simple, yet effective, profiles and are deadly for trout in streams all over the United States and beyond. If the Dorsey name is connected to a pattern, its best to put it in your fly box and Dorsey’s Top Secret Baetis is no exception.
For winter patterns, midges and baetis are often a go to menu option for trout. Keeping a good selection in your box is more than wise and an even better way to practice for novice tyers. This fly won’t give you problems if you have experience on the vise but will be good for a batch at the end of the day. Dorsey’s Top Secret Baetis is one that both novices and veterans can enjoy tying, then translating directly into productivity on the river.
If the name sounds familiar, you’re probably thinking of Dorsey’s Top Secret Midge, a highly productive midge pattern perfect for the winter months. For either fly you decided to fish, dropping down in tippet sizes will be best for tricking finicky winter trout. Slight changes to color will allow you to imitate nearly any baetis species, something that can make or break a day on the water. Dorsey’s Top Secret Baetis should be in every winter anglers fly box and tied on the end of your line with confidence.
What’s cooler than fishing for half-ton sharks off the coast of California? Doing it with a fly rod. No need to adjust your television sets folks, you read that right – big, nasty, neat-eating, flesh-shredding, Mako sharks on the fly. The typical angler might ask how that’s even possible… but if you’re Costa Endorsed Guide, Conway Bowman, your only question is, who’s taking the first cast? In our latest Costa“Behind the Guides” Activation, we get up close and personal with 12 rows of razor-sharp teeth and the man who dares to bring them to his boat. This isn’t one you’re going to want to miss.
Flylords:Who is Conway Bowman?
Conway: My name’s Conway Bowman. I live in Encinitas, California, just North of San Diego County or San Diego, California. I’m a Husband to my wife Michelle, a father of 2 wild boys, and a guide for Mako sharks on the fly, based out of Mission Bay.
Flylords: Going back to the beginning of your story, what was your life like growing up? Did you spend a lot of time outdoors?
Conway: I’m a third-generation San Diegan, so I grew up right here in San Diego. My father and I, from an early age, were always out fishing. Every weekend, my father would take me fishing somewhere. By the time I was two years old, I caught my first – a Rainbow Trout. My Father was a big outdoorsman. He loved to bird hunt, he loved to fly fish, he loved to conventional fish – he loved it all.
Conway (Right) and his Dad (Left).
He had a small skiff that we would take out into the bay and I would watch him fly fish for bonito and barracuda as a young kid. I would watch him up on the bow casting, and I would just marvel and look at him going, “Wow.” He actually looked just like Ernest Hemingway, which was fitting for who he was. [With him] is where the seed was planted. However, I didn’t get into saltwater fly fishing until many years later, but those early experiences on trout streams really molded me into who I am today.
Flylords: So, when did you start to dabble in saltwater fly fishing?
Conway: Well, I started dabbling in saltwater fly fishing, when I was probably in my early 20s. Growing up, I fished everywhere I could; I fished the ocean, I fished the lakes, I fished the rivers… I fished anywhere there could be fish. In the Summers, my dad and I would spend our summers in Stanley, Idaho. He was a schoolteacher, so I was fortunate that every summer, we spent two months in Stanley, Idaho fly fishing. During that time I got to fish all the great Western rivers and creeks, including Henry’s Fork, and Silver Creek. Then we would come back to San Diego during the school year anyway.
Young Cinway with a stringer of trout.
But with all that fishing, I still didn’t really start fishing Saltwater until I was in my early 20s, and I had a friend who was a commercial fisherman. He was like, “Hey, man. You got to try this.” So he took me out. Instead of paying for trips, I taught him how to fly cast. In exchange, he took me out and showed me the ropes of sort of nearshore saltwater fishing on a fly. He was a guy who knew where the fish were.
And I remember the first fish I caught on a fly was a six-pound Calico Bass, which is a pretty big, big fish for a fly rod on the West Coast. And then from there, it just took off. I just got totally hooked. And I mean, I haven’t stopped since. But when I was a kid, I used to sit in my dad’s library. He had these great books about saltwater fly fishing around the world, big pictures of tarpon and marlin, and I would look at that and go, “That’s something I want to do one day”. Now, I do it for a living.
Flylords: Outside of fishing, what did your early 20’s look like?
Conway on tour, on a different set of sticks.
Conway: In my 20’s, I was kind of in and out of school. I was going to college, but I didn’t really like it. I was also playing in a band. I was the drummer, and we would tour every Fall and every Spring break. I was really involved in the band, and during that period, I kind of got out of fishing. I had an aspiration to be a drummer in a punk band.
But I’ll tell you, I had this moment. We were in this van driving into Vancouver, British Columbia. We crossed this bridge and I looked down and there was a guy fly fishing. And at that moment, I go, “You know what? I need to be doing that and not sitting in a van wanting to be a drummer.” And so right after that tour, I came home and that was it. That’s when I really got back into fishing. That’s also when the saltwater fly fishing bug really got going. From there, I never really looked back.
Flylords: Moving from that very moment through learning how to fly fish in the salt and uncovering yourself there, what were the formative steps that got you in the headspace that you might want to do this for a living?
Conway: My first guide trip, no joke, was when I was nine years old in Stanley, Idaho. My dad was a guide in the summertime, and this guy came in from New York City to this lodge called Redfish Lake Lodge. The guy walks in and asks, “Hey, can I get a fishing guide for tomorrow?” My dad’s like, “Well, I’m booked, but you can take that guy right there”, and pointed to me – a nine-year-old standing on the front porch of the lodge. And the guy goes, “That guy?” My dad’s like, “That guy will put you on fish.” So I took this guy from New York up to my honey hole that was loaded with bull trout – I mean loaded. So I took him up there and we smoked ’em. He handed me $40 bucks and that blew my mind.
And so we go back to the lodge. My dad’s sitting in there and asks the guy how it went, and he goes, “You know what? That was the best day of fishing I’ve ever had.” I count that as my first guide day. So I think that moment really built the foundation, and from there, it was natural to me.
By the time I was 16, I bought a boat and my dad said, “Okay, man. Keep it in the bay.” It was a small, little, aluminum boat. He’s like, “You can put it in the bay, but don’t go outside the jetty where the open surf is,” right?
Of course, the first day I had the boat, I launched it and I went out into the bay. I could have made a right turn that would’ve taken me back into the bay, while a left turn would’ve taken me out in the open ocean. Well, guess what? I took the left turn and went out into the surf and over the surf against my dad’s will. Once I broke the plane of those jetties and got over that surf line, man, that was a moment that changed my life. I realized then that this was a much bigger universe than I had realized, and that I needed to be a part of it. It was a weird feeling and it had nothing to do with fishing. It was just sort of being in that environment – in that open ocean clinging to a small boat.
Flash forward to my 20’s, and I got another aluminum boat but was now exploring the waters, looking for fish. In that pursuit, I began running into Mako sharks taking my catch. Sure enough, they were taking my flies too. I realized quickly, knowing Makos were a common target for anglers in my area, “This, for me, is the greatest game fish…” I remember the first Mako I ever saw. It came into the boat and it circled the boat and I’m like, “Holy moly.” That thing wanted to attack the boat. And then if I fell overboard, it was going to attack me. But, at the same time, there was a connection to that fish, and all I could think was, “That’s what I want to target on a fly rod.”
So I just worked through that. I tried different methods, new flies, new gear – everything in hopes of figuring out how to catch this big game fish. It took me three years to get my first Mako on a fly out of that little, stinking, 17-foot aluminum boat. From there, I was totally obsessed, and after reflecting, really stupid. But, after all that, I’m still here today.
Funny stories aside, it was still probably three or four years after starting to explore shark fishing that I finally had the confidence to take people out fly fishing in the saltwater for Makos. I wanted to make sure that I had it wired because it’s not like fishing a trout stream where the fish are there every day, every year. These fish move around. It’s cyclical. So I wanted to do my research first. During this process I worked with a lot of commercial fishermen who knew the shark’s routes, and where they commonly fed. That was a big part of the puzzle coming together for me. Since then, which was around ’95, I’ve been holding strong in that pursuit.
Flylords: What did your first year of guiding look like?
Conway: My first trip ever, was with this really super high-end dude. On our first morning, he, naturally, shows up late. So I’m left standing there at the boat, all high and tight – extremely nervous. He was late because his polo horses needed to be washed or something – something weird. When he gets on the boat, I quickly realize this guy is kind of an A-hole.
But, I put that aside and I get him out there for sure enough, a really hard day with no fish. We were winding down our day when all of a sudden, I see this big boil of yellowtail come up. Yellowtail is like an Amberjack – very hard to catch on a fly. And at that point, only a few guys I knew of had caught one. So I just said, “Hey, dude. Throw a cast into these yellowtail,” and in seconds, he hooked like a 20-pound yellowtail.
Flylords: What did you take away from that that you applied to the rest of your guide career?
Conway: With my first-ever trip ending on an absolute unicorn of a catch, I quickly realized I must be the luckiest guy on earth. Luckily, over all my years, it seems that luck has stuck with me.
Luck aside, the most important thing I learned was to just be resilient. Don’t let somebody get in your head. Just stick to your plan. Just, “Hey, this is how it is.” Fishing is fishing, right? We’re either going to catch some or we are not, but you have to have a very solid foundation, you have to be mentally prepared to handle that. Don’t get rattled. Just have confidence. It’s all confidence.
Flylords: So, your initial shark encounter aside, why did you choose to stick to Makos?
Conway: The first thing I always tell people is: I live in San Diego. I don’t have Tarpon. I have the Mako sharks, and they’re within just a very short boat ride from my back porch.
They are, in my opinion, and the opinion of many big-game anglers and anglers in general, the greatest game fish in the blue water. No matter where you go in the world, whether it’s Panama, whether it’s Africa, the East Coast, the West Coast, and they’re right here in San Diego. They have great eyesight. They can swim up to 40 miles an hour in the water. They are an apex predator.
A Mako shark Chasing a topwater fly.
Because of their predatory nature, they instinctually attack stuff. But what makes them so great for a fly angler is it’s the only fish that you can sight fish to in California. They come right up to the boat, and you’re connected to that figure while making that cast. You’re engaged with that fish as they take that fly. You have a personal connection with them at the end of that line. Then, when they grab that fly and run, they run out from the boat and they do these leaps three times their body length. They’re going 20 feet in the air, and they’re doing that several times as they’re screaming away from the boat.
A mako jumping in the air. Photo courtesy of Gregory Stutzer
And I always say fly fishing for Mako sharks is kind of the equivalent of scaling Mount Everest in surf trunks. You can hook a really big one, sure, but the odds of getting a really big one to the boat are fairly slim. But you know what you’re going to get? You’re going to get the most amazing aerial display you’ve ever seen anywhere in the world. And that’s it. In a small skiff, with you’re right there, right in front of them – that’s what makes it so special.
Flylords: What are some of the main differences between targeting Makos on bait vs. a fly?
Conway: The main thing is with bait, typically you’re setting the bait out away from the boat and you’re not engaged. You’re not bringing them in 20 feet, then picking a fight. With a fly, it’s right at the boat most of the time. A lot of bait guys will fish balloon rigs and let them sit out there. That feels a little too impersonal to me.
With a fly rod, you have to size up the fish to your tackle. So you have a 12 weight? Well, you’re set up to catch an 80-pounder. But, when you have a 500-pounder’s coming around the boat, that’s when we’re going to go to the big stuff: the custom rods and all that stuff. That’s where you build a personal connection. You’re watching that fish come right at you.
That’s the thing about Makos, unlike any other game fish in the world, they are hunting you down. You’re not hunting them. They have no fear, and they come around the boat and they circle the boat, they roll up and they look at you. They want to attack the boat. You are a food item for them, and they want you more than you want them. That’s a dynamic you don’t get with any other fish – it’s horrifying and exhilarating.
Flylords: What are some techniques you’ve developed to be able to find and catch these fish, safely and successfully?
Conway: Well, first off, you have to adapt to the take. It takes a lot of patience to even hook these fish. It’s not a violent take. Makos sip flies off the surface like a brown trout rising on a big fat hopper. Then, when they realize it’s not what they thought it was, they turn away from the boat and they run away with it. That’s when you set the hook. You can’t set the hook coming out when they’re coming at the boat. If you do, they’ll jump in the boat….that’s where it gets really dangerous.
That being said, Makos aren’t touchy. They can be a little weird, but they’re not touchy. What’s cool about that is because they’re such curious predators, I can actually call them in. I have this little PVC pipe, and I’ll go, “Bump, bump, bump,” and I’ll hit certain things on the deck – it brings them in. It’s like calling in an elk, really. Interestingly enough, the big ones respond to that really well because you’ll have a big Mako out in the slick, let’s say 100 yards, finning back and forth, that won’t come to the boat. I’ll just take that PVC pipe and I’ll hit the deck of my boat and you’ll see the fin turn and start to come right down the slick towards the boat.
Flylords: What’s the biggest Mako you’ve ever hooked?
Conway: Probably 1,300 pounds – but it was on conventional gear. Still, it took me five and a half hours to get it in. It was a pretty scary experience, actually…
See, I hooked it on a whole bluefin tuna head on very heavy tackle, and I was hooked into a fighting harness belt, and it was on stand-up gear. Immediately once I hooked into this shark, I realized this thing was mean – and it was angry.
So, over the course of five and a half hours, we chased it down for 10 miles, 9.5, 10 miles. Four hours into the battle, I slipped on the deck and almost went overboard. And the only thing that saved me was the deckhand grabbed that belt, and as I was hanging on the gunnel rail of the boat. I could have gone over, and if I had, I would’ve been dead. That weighted belt would have pulled me right to the bottom of the ocean, if the shark didn’t get me first… I have dreams about that moment pretty often, still.
But, I do know It’s a dangerous game. With clients, I’ve had big ones almost jump in the boat. A few years ago, had a really big one almost do so. The client hooked it. It went under the boat. I had to take the guy’s rod out of his hand to kind of handle the fish. This thing was probably 600-700 pounds. There were three guys on the boat. Two guys were up on the bow, and they ran to the stern, but the angler got pinned to the rail.
It was then the fish went under the boat, and then jumped on the starboard corner where those two guys were standing, and it went straight up. If it would’ve leaned into the boat, it would’ve landed on those guys. But thank God it leaned out and then it winged out and swam away. That was pretty freaking scary.
Flylords: In terms of gear, can you talk about which Sunglasses, and why they’re important to the success of your craft?
Conway: I’m dedicated to my Costa Diegos (not because I’m from San Diego). They have Insanely good coverage, and they fit my head great. Costa’s done a great job with those. I need that coverage. I need to be able to see down into a heavy glare, or I need to be able to see those fish coming from a long distance.
The lenses I use are the Green Mirror Polarized Glass lenses. They just cut up the ocean glare better than any pair of sunglasses I’ve ever used – which is extremely important to me, as these sharks can camouflage themselves really well in the water. I need to be able to pick up on tiny details. Plus, I’m a total bozo. I drop my glasses all the time, and the glass lens is so durable. I love them.
It’s also just great to see Costa making a push into West Coast because I know they have a great presence in so many other places, but I think out here, it’s time people really started seeing what a great product it is.
Flylords: If you were to give advice to some up-and-coming guides, young kids who just wanted to get out and not necessarily target Makos, but wanted to just break the mold and do something different, just like you did, what’s some advice that you’d give to them?
Conway: My best advice is to just do it. Don’t listen to people. Don’t listen to anybody that says, “You can’t do that,” because people used to say that to me. Don’t listen to them – just do it. If you need to buy a boat, go buy a boat. If you want to target whatever species, go do it, because there are no boundaries.
And the Mako shark for me was a fish that was never even really thought of. And now, at least for me, it’s kind of defined what I do. But many people said, “Oh, man, you don’t want to do this. It’s too dangerous,” or, “it’s not this,” or, “it’s not that”. I just found that sticking with that plan, not getting diverted by other people’s opinions or anything like that and it’s paid off.
Flylords: What’s next for you? Anything big?
Conway: I’m just gearing up for Mako season. I’m repowering my boat next week, getting everything dialed in for that. The opening day is May 1st, so first thing that morning, I’m hitting the ground running.
Thank you to Conway Bowman for spending the time to sit down with us and talk through his one-of-a-kind pursuit. To learn more about Conway or book a trip, you can check out his website, here. Thank you to Costa for keeping this series running over the years, and allowing us to go behind the scenes with some of the best guides in the world. To check out Conways’ select setup, you can CLICK HERE. Lastly, make sure to be on the lookout for more “Behind the Guides” features coming soon.
Florida’s coasts are bracing for what could be another devastating environmental disaster, as Lake Okeechobee discharges began earlier this week. The United States Army Corps of Engineers announced that it would begin releasing high-volumes of nutrient laden Lake O water to Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers (4,000 and 1,600 cfs, respectively), which poses a huge threat to these communities and ecosystems.
Theses discharges are largely due to the high lake levels, which should have been avoided but was, unfortunately, not. According to Col. James Booth, USACE’s Jacksonville District Commander, “The intent behind the pending releases is to move as much water as possible out of Lake Okeechobee, before the beginning of oyster spawning, before the start of blue green algal blooms on the lake, and before the start of the wet season.”
However, the problem remains: billions of gallons of polluted, nutrient loaded water will inundate already struggling estuaries and likely have a harmful effect on the estuarine fisheries, habitats, and all the dependent communities.
Captains for Clean Water’s message was simple: “This is really frustrating news, situations like these are why we founded CFCW in the first place—to put an end to the damaging discharges that wreak havoc on our ecosystem, our communities, and our economy. Restoring the natural flow of water south, through Everglades restoration, is still the solution to this ongoing crisis. And although we’ve seen a lot of progress in recent years, there’s still a lot of work left to do to get critical projects, like the EAA Reservoir, to the finish line.”
We’ll be following the potential impacts of these discharges over the coming months and hoping that these sensitive coasts can weather the effects. But, we also know groups like Captains for Clean Water will be on the ground monitoring these impacts and will activate the community when, or if, the time comes. If you want to learn more about South Florida’s water issues and the solutions, be sure to check out Captains for Clean Water!
“Ever look at the juicy run on the other side of the river, but you forgot your waders and felt hopeless? Well, those dusty garbage bags in the back seat might come into use. A man’s dedication met redneck ingenuity on a quick pit stop after work… it paid off with 4 brown trout to show for it!” – Evan Martens
Reel of the Week by Evan Martens, be sure to follow him on Instagram at @fishing4trophies.
For this F3T Behind the Lens profile, we venture across the Atlantic to Slovenia’s scenic Soča River. Rok Rozman, director and writer of Rods, Rolls & Reality on the Soča, spoke with Flylords to share the story behind the film. Fueled by local moonshine, this eclectic ensemble of paddlers-turned-anglers pursue hooksets and serenity on their beloved Soča River – all to shine light on the value of this unique Balkan fishery. Check out the full interview below.
Flylords: Tell us about yourself and your team.
Rok Rozman: My name is Rok, and I used to be an Olympic rower, but now I spend my time more wisely as a biologist, a whitewater kayaker, a fly fishing guide, and as the director of a river conservation NGO in Slovenia. I’m also a filmmaker/director. Film production is one of five fields of work we do with Leeway Collective, Institute for Promotion and Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems. All of our work is united in the mission to promote and protect our aquatic ecosystems. We started in 2014 as a small crew of whitewater kayakers and fly fishermen who wanted to share our adventures with broad audiences, but soon realized that the conventional ways of telling stories through the concept of a “hero” didn’t work for us. Instead, we decided to use an element of nature – most often a river – as the main character.
Flylords: What inspired you to make this film?
Rok Rozman: We make films to either bring an important topic to the public or to provoke thought about topics we think are important. This time, we wanted to dissolve the myths that kayakers and anglers don’t get along, and that being a nature conservationist means belonging to a certain political party and/or having a PhD. In reality, it is the contrary – nature conservation was “invented” by hunters as they realized, as they spent more time outdoors, things were not right and (if they wanted to continue hunting and sustaining themselves and their families) something needed to be done. The same goes for fly fishermen and kayakers. Since I am both, I can tell you it’s the best combination out there: I know the spots, I can reach places no one else can, and I can learn about the fish from different perspectives. These experiences made me realize that these two communities don’t need to clash like they have historically here in Europe. There is enough space for both demographics as long as a tiny bit of mutual understanding can evolve into respect later. Also, since I am a fly fishing guide on my home river, the Soča, and am mostly guiding clients from far away countries, it felt right to take my kayaking friends out on the river and show them what goes on under the surface of this stunning river.
Flylords: Can you explain why the Soča River is important?
Rok Rozman: The Soča River is a pearl amongst European rivers. It flows into the Adriatic Sea, similar to many Balkan rivers belonging to the Adriatic or Black Sea drainages, but what makes it special is its emerald color, the scenic landscape surrounding it, the famous endemic Marble Trout that reaches immense size here, and above all, its free-running and unchanged nature. The vast majority of Europe’s upper stretches of other iconic alpine rivers have been dammed or diverted in the last 60 years. Still, the Soča, due to successful resistance by locals, wars, and a ton of luck, retains its wild flow today. The river’s history, combined with its drop/pool character and gin-clear water, makes it world-famous for kayaking and fly fishing.
In recent years, mass tourism and poor management practices have started taking their toll on the river and the valley. Luckily, there are still people standing up for the river and common sense to ensure this valley remains a paradise for good. The Soča River is an example of how threats to the river change over time and how what saved it (tourism) can become its demise if not regulated correctly. Above all, it proves that you can’t rely on governments, protected areas, etc., to provide protection, but solely on the determination of people with vision and spine.
Flylords: What stood out as the most memorable moment during the film’s production?
Rok Rozman: The luck we had with catching fish. When a camera is pointed at you, and you are expected to catch a fish, the fish usually don’t cooperate. But not this time; we had a great day fishing, and every crew member caught a fish, including the elusive Marble Trout.
Flylords: What challenges did you encounter while creating this film?
Rok Rozman: Our production team specializes in making documentary films with loose plans or scripts; that’s why we like to go with the flow of things. Enriched with some locally distilled goods, the ideas were popping up at the right time, and the only challenge was picking out the best ones. The post-production phase was a different story, as it took a lot of office time and a technical approach. But in the end, that’s the combination required to deliver something meaningful.
Flylords: What message are you hoping to convey through this film?
Rok Rozman: The simple message is that you will only understand something if you spend enough time exploring it. The same goes for a fellow human, a car engine, or a river. Once you understand it, you can form an opinion based on your experience. If the opinion is good, it might produce nice feelings, which can become ammo to defend what you’ve come to care about. In other words, the field of conservation should consist of people who understand the resource, spend time in it, and feel a part of it. Only then can we make decisions that make sense for both nature and humans.
Flylords: Can you tell us more about the work of Leeway Collective and Balkan River Defence?
Rok Rozman: Leeway Collective manages Balkan River Defence as our most significant initiative; more or less, all of our other activities revolve around it. In 2015, we learned about plans to build 2,700 dams on the last wild European rivers in the Balkans, and we wanted to do something. In 2016, we organized what ended up being the biggest direct action for wild rivers in Europe called the Balkan Rivers Tour, which then evolved into Balkan River Defence – an initiative combining sports, science, partying, and common sense into a mixture that has been successful in keeping unnecessary dams away from pristine rivers.
Balkan River Defence connects international conservation organizations with local groups, deters corrupt investments by bringing international media attention to hydro development and dam building, and invites people who understand rivers through experience (fly fishermen, kayakers, etc.) to join. You can learn more about the initiative in the video This is Balkan River Defence and more about the problem we are trying to solve in the documentary film The Undamaged.
Flylords: As both a kayaker and a fly fisher, how would you describe your relationship with the river?
Rok Rozman: I started fishing when I was five and became a kayaker when I was 15. Since then, both ways of experiencing a river have become a regular part of my life. I can say that I understand the river better with each outing. It’s hard to imagine ever having to stop fishing or kayaking as they’re so interconnected. Every time I kayak, I look out for fish; every time I fish, I check possible lines for when I’m in a kayak. They complement and exclude each other; when the rivers are high and flooded and fly fishing is out of the question is when it’s prime kayaking, and vice versa. The combination of these passions has tied me to the river in all possible conditions, and while the water is my church, many others consider it their home. For these reasons, I will do just about anything to protect it.
Flylords: The film is very playfully edited; where did your team draw inspiration?
Rok Rozman: Mostly from the comic characters and local moonshine, but there are also some Wes Anderson frames in there, let’s be honest.
Flylords: Is there anything else you’d like to include or anyone you’d like to acknowledge for their role in this project?
Rok Rozman: As with most other things, this project results from many months of work. Even though it’s just a short and comical video, it includes some philosophies and experiences we acquired and developed through many years of fighting for these stunning rivers, shoulder to shoulder with many other organizations and initiatives, both big and small. So thanks to them, thanks to NRS for keeping us above the water, thanks to the Tolmin Fishing Club for cooperating with us and finding ways to protect the Marble Trout, and above all, big thanks to the old boys that saved the Soča River from being flooded with hydro dams in the ‘60s and ‘80s. If everything goes well, our next feature film will be about them!
Special thanks to Rok Rozman for taking the time for an interview. Be sure to follow along with Rok (@rok.flyfishing) and Balkan River Defence (@balkanriverdefence) on Instagram. Stay tuned for more iterations of the Fly Fishing Film Tour, F3T Behind the Lens series by clicking here.
In our latest Gear Review, we had the chance to test out the new Grundens Boundary Wader Line. Check out what we had to say below or in our first-ever YouTube Gear Review!
Waders are a piece of gear almost every angler utilizes throughout the year. When you are looking for a pair of waders, whether it is your first pair or you are looking to upgrade or replace your existing pair, you have a plethora of options to look over. In 2023, Grundens launched their waders into the market with the Grundens Boundary Wader, Boundary Zip, and Women’s Boundary Wader.
We have taken these waders all over the world since their release; here are our findings.
Upon Opening:
Before we hit the water with the new Grundens Boundary Waders, we had to unpackage the surprise shipment we had received from Grundens before the release of the wader. One major thing I noticed when unboxing the waders and any Grundens gear is the sustainable packaging. Everything Grundens sends comes in packaging which is recyclable. It is a small detail that does not go unnoticed by me.
When unboxing and holding the waders, I noticed they were exceptionally light. Not only weight, but the material felt light. The other noticeable detail out of the box was the straps on the waders. From Grundens’ website, they say this strap system drew inspiration from a climbing harness.
Field Testing:
First Impressions
When I first put the waders on, my thoughts during the unboxing about the waders being light were confirmed. The boundary waders definitely were lighter than the other normal waders I owned (excluding the specifically marketed lightweight waders from Simms and Orvis). It’s a good middle ground of having a 4 layer of Gore-Tex Pro on the lower half without feeling bound by having waders on. Another initial impression I had was that these waders do run big. So make sure to reference the sizing chart or try some pairs at your local fly shop before pulling the trigger on a size. Two things I did not like about the wader are the location of the fly patch on the Boundary Wader and the buckles for the suspension straps not being alternating male and female.
Performance
The first place we tested these waders was a steelhead mission in Southeast Alaska with Rick Matney. We spent a week chasing Rick throughout the Alaskan wilderness in search of steelhead. You can check out more about that trip in our film Chrome Chasers. Alaska was a great test for the waders’ performance. Hiking multiple miles daily in variable rain, snow, and sun conditions, I was comfortable the entire trip. The Gore-Tex Pro shed the sweat and moisture build-up inside the waders but kept the elements out. I was also able to traverse rocks, downed trees, and anything in the Alaskan wilderness with my full mobility. I will note that after testing the waders in many other environments, I need to focus on layering under my waders in colder climates to keep my legs warm.
Durability
From Alaska, we took the waders to a handful of other destinations around the world. Newfoundland, striper fishing in the salt in the Northeast, Argentina, Oregon, and our home state of Colorado. As you can see in the YouTube gear review linked above, these waders have held up to every test we have put them up to. Durability might be the most important factor for me in a pair of waders. When most high-end waders on the market are retailing above $500, you want them to last. I was concerned about the durability, considering how light they are. However, they have been surprisingly durable, and I beat the s#*% out of my gear.
Overall Specs and Features:
Body mapped GORE-TEX Pro Wader laminate- 4 layers in the lower body for abrasion resistance and 3 layers in the upper body for breathability.
Inspired by premium climbing harnesses, the fused contour suspension system moves with you through casting and rowing motions. Integrated D-Ring net holder and fully customizable fit for all day comfort.
Neoprene booties use two layers of Titanium-Alpha to increase heat retention back to the body up to 40%.
Double weave stretch woven gravel guards stay secure to the boot while wading, removing the need for a boot hook.
Anatomically placed seams reduce wear in critical areas.
Fleece lined chest pass through hand warmer pocket.
Drop in chest storage pocket designed for three large fly boxes and oversized tippet spools.
2 inch elastic wading belt included.
Final Review:
Mobility:
Durability:
Comfort:
Warmth:
Price:
(MSRP: $599-$899)
Conclusion:
In conclusion, if I were to break down this entire review into a few bullets, they would be…
Surprisingly Durable
Lots of Mobility
Lightweight and Breathable (great for warmer weather)
Click HERE to check out the full Grundens Boundary Wader line, or find them at your local fly shop.
It may be wintertime, but the bug life is still going strong. Check out this video from Fly Fish food for an in depth look at winter fly fishing entomology.
How this episode came to be
Jeroen Wohe, owner of Salmon Hole Lodge, has Atlantic salmon in his blood. Although Jerone purchased the lodge recently, the operation has a storied history dating back over 50 years. He spent the first season fishing the river daily, learning its movements and flows, as well as the habits of the fish migrating into it. His historic experience with Atlantic salmon fishing brought a wealth of knowledge to these fabled waters.
When you think dry flies, your mind probably goes to catskill or parachute flies, imitating insects. The ‘match the hatch’ ideology. This couldn’t be further from reality in the world of Atlantic salmon fishing. The flies used look more like a cigar butt than an insect. It’s not about entomology, but rather precision and presentation.
