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2022 F3T Behind the Lens: The Legend of Casa Mar

Joseph Berney
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2022 F3T Behind the Lens: The Legend of Casa Mar

Next up on the 2022 F3T Behind the Lens… We had the privilege of interviewing Jesse Males about his film “The Legend of Casa Mar”. The Legend of Casa Mar details the history of one of the most legendary tarpon fisheries on planet earth.

Photo Courtesy of Jesse Males

The film dances back and forth from past to present with a breathtaking interview from fly fishing legend Peter Gorinsky, IGFA archive footage, and supporting footage taken during the production of the film in 2021. This film follows anglers Jesse Males, Mark Evans, Micah Baly, and Thony Nunez as they uncover what the jungle has now been hiding for decades. Vibes of jungle exploration mixed with stunning tarpon action make this film run full-throttle from start to finish.

CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR FLY FISHING FILM TOUR TICKETS!

Flylords: So, who are you? 

Jesse: As simple as this question may sound it certainly isn’t an easy one. Haha. By trade, you can describe me as an international fly fishing guide and a freelance outdoor photographer/videographer. I am also a writer, custom fly tyer, and fly designer. My main focus for the past 6 years has been growing my main business, Backwater Fly Fishing. Backwater Fly Fishing is the main hub in which my other businesses, Backwater Media Productions, and Backwater Flies both stems. I am also one of the founding members of 506 Outdoors which provides unique fishing opportunities throughout Costa Rica. As if that wasn’t enough of a mouthful I am also the husband to a wonderful wife and the father of two boys.

Film Producer Jesse Males
Photo Courtesy of Jesse Males

Flylords: What inspired you to make a film about Casa Mar? 

Jesse: After living in Costa Rica for the past 6 years and growing our guiding business, my team and I decided to start looking at running some tour options for jungle tarpon fishing. We knew areas where tarpon could be fished but we wanted something that would stand out and really liked what we had seen on the ocean side of the country versus some of the jungle river opportunities. After exploring a number of areas, we landed at the mouth of the Colorado river and things immediately made sense. After spending some time in the area we felt we had a good grasp on the fishery and were beginning to figure out how we could open it up to some of our clients. During this process of exploration, we end up filming some amazing tarpon action and the film began to develop from there. It really picked up after talking with my good friend Peter Gorinsky and hearing his stories of the area’s history. The place certainly became more compelling and the story for the film began to grow. After making a few more trips to the area we knew we had to put the film together because the story was just too special.

Film Tour drone boat
Photo Courtesy of Jesse Males

Flylords: How did it feel when you finally were able to go back and continue making the film after COVID restrictions were lifted? 

Jesse: We were thrilled beyond belief. Diving headfirst into a fishery like that and then having it be so close but still inaccessible due to the restrictions was very difficult for us. Needless to say, we were pumped up to get back out there and keep working on the project.

Tarpon Back
Photo Courtesy of Jesse Males

Flylords: Did you have a favorite shot from the film, can you give us a little backstory on it? 

Jesse: Undoubtedly one of my favorite shots is at the very end of the film when the last tarpon jumps right before the credits. The fish clears the horizon and does a wild backflip. This shot was huge for us because it was one of the last things we filmed on the very last day of filming. What makes the shot so crazy is that the day of fishing was a bit slow and we were all worried we may not get the shots we needed to close out the video. Then my friend Mark stands up in the boat and says. “It can happen at any moment…LIKE RIGHT NOW! Then he strips his line two more times and a 90lb tarpon slams his fly and goes absolutely crazy! We all couldn’t believe he called that fish the way he did.

Film Tour Tarpon Upside Down
Photo Courtesy of Jesse Males

Flylords: What equipment were you using to shoot the film? Did you have other videographers with you? 

Jesse: Believe it or not, we shot this entire film on the Sony A7siii. No external monitors or anything. Just run and gun style through the EVF. I had a small pelican case containing that camera and a DJI Mavic Air. That was all.

Aside from some shots of me in the video, the entire project was filmed, edited, and produced all by myself. My good friends Mark, Micah, and Thony did most of the fishing and helped with keeping my spirits up when it seemed like things just weren’t coming together.

Film Tour Friends
Photo Courtesy of Jesse Males

Flylords: What was it like getting to spend time and interview Peter Gorinsky? 

Jesse: Peter has been a great friend of mine for a number of years now and someone that is an outright legend in the world of fly fishing. Any of the moments that I have spent with him are precious to me and I am very grateful for them. For those who don’t know much about Peter, he pioneered fly fishing in Central and South America back in the ’60s-’70s. Peter was born in Guyana but it has been said by many anglers that if Peter had been born in the USA he would have been a household name. He is a charismatic storyteller that really helped add to the film in a monumental way.

Photo Courtesy of Jesse Males

Flylords: What do you think the future holds for that fishery in Costa Rica? 

Jesse: As of right now, I would have to say that the amount of fish we have on the oceanside here is likely to be the largest congregation of tarpon on planet earth. The fish have been there for decades and I like to think they will continue visiting those areas as long as there remains plenty of food for them to eat. It is estimated that these large ocean fish are coming from Columbia or Venezuela straight to Costa Rica and then kicking off towards Cuba/Puerto Rico etc. Then repeating the circle. We are very excited to open the place up for guided trips in the years to come.

Film Tour Tarpon in Water
Photo Courtesy of Jesse Males

Flylords: Is there anyone you would like to thank for helping this film come to life? 

Jesse: I would certainly like to thank all my friends that spent time out there with me during the film’s production. Those were some of the best moments of my life and times that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Film Tour Friends
Photo Courtesy of Jesse Males

Flylords: What is next for Backwater Fly Fishing? 

Jesse: Backwater Fly Fishing does so many different things so it is hard to say. I think I will continue to focus on growing the guiding operation in Costa Rica, as well as also look for more professional freelance photo/video opportunities to be involved with moving forward. I have been very much a “lone wolf” in most of my efforts in the fly fishing industry so I think it would be nice to change that up a bit and find a group of people I enjoyed working with more professionally.  As always, through platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube I will continue posting rad photo/video content from my trips, fly tying information, and continue to do what I can to keep the fly fishing industry moving in the right direction.

Photo Courtesy of Jesse Males

Thank you Jesse Males for taking the time to talk about your incredible film. Make sure to follow up on Jesse’s social account @backwaterflyfishing.

Follow along with the film tour @flyfishingfilmtour on Instagram.

Buy your tickets to the 2022 Fly Fishing Film Tour here!

2022 F3T Behind the Lens: Phoenix

2022 F3T Behind the Lens: Cicada Hatch

Flavor on the Fly: Shellfish Side Mission – Oysters

Kirk Marks
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Flavor on the Fly: Shellfish Side Mission – Oysters

I’m sure most of us can agree; keeping your eyes on the prize is a respectable notion. But when it comes to fly-fishing, sometimes knowing when to shift gears can be equally as important. We’ve all been there. For some reason or another, the target species isn’t cooperating and you’re forced to make a game-time decision. Keep grinding despite stacked odds, or set your sights on a more attainable goal? However you look at it, there are some options. I’m here to advocate for one option in particular – the shellfish side mission.

fishing flyfishing oyster bar
Side mission territory. Photo: Chasing Tides Collective (@chasingtidesco)

While on the hunt for stripers, specks, reds, or any number of inshore species, two main things are on my mind – clean water & structure. Lucky for me (and virtually the whole damn ecosystem), oysters provide both. Oysters are a keystone species, which means they play a vital role in keeping various ecosystems in check. They filter an astonishing amount of water and provide excellent habitat for a variety of marine animals. As if that wasn’t enough, they also happen to be one of the most delicious bivalves on the planet.

oyster food fishing shuck
Making quick work of a fresh one. Photo: Kirk Marks (@kirkymarks)

Reinventing the wheel is not my intention here. Rather, this article serves as a personal take on a few classic recipes; oysters Rockefeller, fried oysters, and oysters on the half shell. But before we get to those, let’s take a gander at some interesting facts from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation that’ll make you want an oyster tattoo as much as I do:

  1. A single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water daily. That’s approximately the same amount of water used in a 10 minute shower.

  2. Oysters can change their sex. In fact, they will often do it more than once.

  3. An oyster becomes an adult when it turns one year old and can live as long as 20 years.

  4. Juvenile oysters are called spat.

  5. As oyster generations settle on one another and grow, they form reefs that provide shelter for other animals, like fish and crabs.

  6. Oyster shells can be recycled to help grow spat and establish new reefs.

oyster, bars, tide, low tide
An oyster bar becomes visible as the tide falls. Photos: Kirk Marks (@kirkymarks)

Yup, oysters are pretty much magic. Before you go rooting around for your next meal, please review your local recreational harvest laws. Truth be told, shellfish regulations can be tricky. Often there are specified seasons, size limits, creel limits, and means of take, as well as restricted areas, off-limit sanctuaries, and additional regionally specific regulations. Let’s all do our part in respecting the resource and harvesting sustainably.

fish, trout, specklled, fishing
Speckled trout, sometimes called “yellow mouths,” can often be caught near oyster bars. Photo: Kirk Marks (@kirkymarks)

Until next time, enjoy and good luck out there!

Ingredient quantities and ratios will vary depending on the amount of oysters, size of oysters, and personal taste. The ingredient list is intended to serve as a guide, not an exact formula. Use your best judgment.

Oysters Rockefeller Recipe:

Ingredients:
  • Oysters, shucked on the half shell
  • Bacon, cut into 1.5 inch squares
  • Spinach, fresh or frozen
  • Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • Parmesan cheese, shredded
  • Fresh garlic, minced
Method:
  1. Pre-heat oven to 300.
  2. Lay oysters on a baking sheet. Keep as much liquor in the shell as possible.
  3. Layer spinach, minced garlic, cheddar cheese, and bacon (in that order) on-top of the oyster.
  4. Place oysters in the oven for approximately 10-12 minutes.
  5. Remove oysters from the oven. Add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
  6. Broil the oysters for an additional 3-5 minutes, then remove. Serve immediately.
oysters cooking oven rockefeller
Oysters Rockefeller, just after broiling. Photo: Kirk Marks (@kirkymarks)

Fried Oysters Recipe:

Ingredients:
  • Oysters, shucked (these ratios are for 1 pint of oysters – scale your mix accordingly)
  • 1 cup white flour
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 1.5 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning
  • Mild frying oil (vegetable, canola, peanut, etc.)
  • Cocktail sauce, for dipping (optional)
  • Hot sauce, for dipping (optional)
Method:
  1. Combine flour, corn starch, and Old Bay Seasoning in a bowl. Dredge oysters in the mix.
  2. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or pan to 350. Flash fry oysters until they are golden brown.
  3. Serve immediately. Dip in cocktail sauce or hot sauce if you’d like.
Heating some oil in the waterfowl blind. Photo: Kirk Marks (@kirkymarks)

Oysters on the Half Shell (Raw) Recipe:

Ingredients:
  • Oysters, shucked on the half shell
  • Cocktail sauce (optional)
  • Lemon juice (optional)
  • Horseradish (optional)
  • Hot sauce (optional)
Method:
  1. Throw some toppings on if you’d like, then down the hatch. Personally, I like a dollop of cocktail sauce, a squeeze of lemon, and a couple drops of hot sauce. It doesn’t get much simpler.
fishing, beer, fly fishing
En route to the (oyster) bar. Photo: Kirk Marks (@kirkymarks)

Article by Flylords Food Editor Kirk Marks, an angler, photographer, and culinary aficionado based in Kent Island, Maryland. Give him a follow at @kirkymarks. 

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Leap Year, Full Film Available To Stream

Patrick Perry
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Leap Year, Full Film Available To Stream

The 2021 Fly Fishing Film Tour Selection, Leap Year: A Story About Fish & People is now available to stream. Check out the full film from Topo Productions below. “Leap Year” explores the river and the colorful characters of this culture as it begs the question: who will carry on these traditions if the migrations come to a screeching halt?

Last year we caught up with filmmakers Chase White & Jordie Lepage to discuss their film Leap Year. Check out the interview below and be sure to get your F3T Tickets for this year here, Chase and Jordie may have another film in the tour….

2021 F3T Behind the Lens: Leap Year

Wild Steelhead Coalition Launches “The Adipose Podcast”

Dan Zazworsky
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Wild Steelhead Coalition Launches “The Adipose Podcast”

Our friends at the Wild Steelhead Coalition have jumped into the podcast game, and we are stoked to see them entering the space. Wild steelhead need as much conservation attention and support as they can get while their number continue to dwindle. We hope that the passion communicated in the podcast will catch on with more anglers and conservationists as the fight to save wild steelhead continues along the Pacific Coast.

From Wild Steelhead Coalition:

In the 21st Century, a steelheader must be an angler, conservationist, and advocate. The Adipose is a place for the important, authentic conversations that educate and inspire anglers, members of the public, and the fishing industry to take action on behalf of wild steelhead and their home waters. Join us as we share the stories of the passionate community of steelheaders fighting to help ensure these incredible fish thrive long into the future.

Listen to the debut episode, “Firsts and Lasts,” here!

Adipose Podcast on Spotify

Adipose Podcast on Apple Podcasts

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NFTs Have Officially Entered the Fly Fishing World

Dan Zazworsky
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NFTs Have Officially Entered the Fly Fishing World

Whelp, the worlds of fly fishing and NFT’s have collided, which may irk some folks, but at least the proceeds from these will benefit coldwater conservation. According to their OpenSea page, “A collection created by two brothers, The Trippytroutclub intends to help conservation and restoration efforts of native Southern Appalachian Brook Trout populations. A percentage of proceeds from the project will be donated to a nonprofit based in conservation.”

What do you think? Do NFTs have a place in fly fishing?

From Catchflo:

“Catchflo, fly fishing’s only fly fishing-themed casual footwear brand, has partnered with the fly fishing NFT (non-fungible token) pioneering company Trippytroutclub on their NFT collection. Catchflo and Trippytroutclub will collaborate on a new Trippytroutclub footwear series showcasing Trippytroutclub’s NFT collection in real life. Catchflo’s Trippytroutclub footwear series will feature Catchflo’s highly popular canvas slip-on shoe style in three (3) designs of the trout species that comprise Trippytroutclub’s NFT collection; brook, brown, and rainbow trout. NFT holders within Trippytroutclub’s NFT project will also have the opportunity to customize their pair of Catchflo’s, by being able to add their personal NFT to their pair of Catchflo Trippytroutclubs which allows NFT holders to own and wear a physical world item reflection of their digital NFT holding.

Founded in May 2021, Catchflo is the fly fishing industry’s only fly fishing-themed casual footwear brand. Catchflo founder, Dan Moyers, created the brand and company to address a fly fishing market void of fun casual fly fishing themed footwear that allows folks to express their passion off the water.

Founded by two brothers in 2021, Trippytroutclub is an NFT collection whose mission is to help in the conservation and restoration efforts of native Southern Appalachian Brook Trout populations. Trippytroutclub’s NFT collection showcases 4,444 hand-drawn and completely unique “Trippy Trout”, with a percentage of its NFT sales being donated to a nonprofit working in conservation and restoration.

Through their partnership, Catchflo is supporting Trippytroutclub as it pioneers NFT’s within the fly fishing industry and is doing so with an extra unique angle through conservation. In partnering with and supporting Tripptroutclub, Catchflo is excited to be teaming with the company in raising awareness around conservation and restoration, and introducing the fly fishing industry to NFT’s for the first time as Trippytroutclub showcases the potential of NFT’s in fly fishing.”

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Video of the Week: Winter Smallmouth with Huge Fly Fisherman

Landen German
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Video of the Week: Winter Smallmouth with Huge Fly Fisherman

In this week’s episode of Video of the Week, we catch up with Ben Sittig otherwise known as @hugeflyfisherman, on a winter fly fishing trip for Smallmouth Bass. Alongside Ben are his buddies Kyle, Cody, Larry, & Lewis all in search of the elusive winter smallmouth. The boys were fishing what is called a “white wiggle minnow” which swims as a crankbait would. After their first day on the water, the boys head over to a new fly shop called The Fly Box in Bristol, Tennessee. What makes The Fly Box so special is that it’s a fly shop with all the bells and whistles but also serves food and has a bar. So as Ben put it, “it’s Heaven.” So sit down and enjoy as Ben and the crew experience the sights, sounds, smells, and fish of Suessville.

And remember Stay Huge!

Check out these other awesome articles as well! And don’t forget to buy you Fly Fishing Film Tour Tickets here: flyfilmtour.com

Huge Fly Fisherman’s Redemption in Alaska

Huge Fly Fisherman – East Tennessee Bass and Bycatch

Video of the Week: Wild Fly Productions and Fly Fishing for Giant Smallmouth

How to Tie: The Blacked Out Pheasant Tail

Greg Stohrer
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How to Tie: The Blacked Out Pheasant Tail

In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Cheech from Fly Fish Food ties a pheasant tail nymph variation that every angler should have in their fly box, the Blacked Out Pheasant Tail.

Difficulty: Easy

Pheasant tail nymphs are a classic nymph that everyone from beginners to experts will swear by. They produce fish consistently and are relatively simple to tie, making it a true staple in any anglers fly box. The Blacked Out Pheasant Tail is a simple, beadless, nymph that takes on a more natural profile in the water. During a BWO or smaller sized stonefly hatch, this fly could be the ticket to fooling those finicky trout.

Getting the proportions and profile right on pheasant tail nymphs is not top priority, but it certainly does not hurt. For the legs, wrapping the pheasant tail fibers forward to the eye allows you space to create your thorax, legs, and wing casing using all the same fibers. This is a trick that I wish I knew earlier and will make the process of tying this fly even more simple for beginners. The Blacked Out Pheasant Tail is a nymph that will continue to produce even after several fish if tied properly due to the counter wrapped wire holding the body together.

This nymph will fit perfectly into a double nymph rig as a dropper, or even in a dry dropper rig on small streams. Pairing this with a dry fly during a hatch allows you to cover those rising trout, as well as the ones subsurface picking off emergers. Versatility in all pheasant tail nymphs is why they have been a top producer for decades. Adding a hot spot just behind the eye of this fly is a way to have another variation in your box that will attract more aggressive fish. The Blacked Out Pheasant Tail is a nymph that every angler should have in their box, no matter the time of year.

Ingredients:

Now you know how to tie Blacked Out Pheasant Tail!

Video and ingredients courtesy of Fly Fish Food.

BTT Finds Pharmaceutical Contaminants in Florida Bonefish

Will Poston
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BTT Finds Pharmaceutical Contaminants in Florida Bonefish

A recent study, conducted by Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and Florida International University, sampled 93 bonefish in South Florida, finding seven pharmaceutical contaminants per fish on average. The three-year study raises pressing questions about the state’s water quality, how this pharmaceutical pollution may be impacting Florida’s recreational fisheries, its economic impacts, and remediation. The fact remains, however, “these findings are truly alarming,” said Dr. Jennifer Rehage, the lead researcher.

Among the pharmaceutical contaminants found in these bonefish were antidepressants, pain relievers, blood pressure meds, prostate treatments, and antibiotics. The researchers conducted this work by taking blood samples from bonefish and later analyzing that blood for 104 different pharmaceuticals. In one of the bonefish sampled, researchers found 16 different pharmaceutical contaminants, including eight antidepressants ranging from 10-300 times higher than the comparative levels found in humans.

PhD Candidate Nick Castillo and Dr. Jennifer Rehage, both BTT Research Associations, sampling a bonefish. Photo Credit: Florida International University

“Coastal fisheries face increasing threats associated with human-based contaminants,” said Jim McDuffie, BTT President and CEO. “Pharmaceuticals are an often overlooked dimension of water quality and their presence in South Florida bonefish is cause for concern. These contaminants pose a significant threat to the flats fishery, an important part of Florida’s recreational saltwater fishery, which has an annual economic impact of $9.2 billion and directly supports 88,500 jobs.”

In Florida and nationally, wastewater treatment plants do not remove pharmaceuticals and there are no regulations characterizing pharmaceuticals as harmful contaminants. However, research in the United States and throughout the world has demonstrated pharmaceuticals affecting all aspects of the life of fish. Further work will be needed to determine the real effects for bonefish and other important fish in Florida’s waters.

That’s just what BTT plans to do. During a live-streamed presentation in Tallahassee, BTT’s Director of Science and Conservation, Dr. Aaron Adams, noted that the next step in research is to determine how and if these pharmaceutical contaminants are impacting a bonefish’s ability to successfully spawn and their migratory patterns in the Keys.

Additionally, these findings highlight the many ways humans impact waterways and marine ecosystems. For example, these pharmaceutical contaminants often enter waterways directly from household sewage, and wastewater treatment plants that cannot remove the contaminants.

“These troubling findings underscore the urgent need for Florida to expand and modernize wastewater treatment facilities and sewage infrastructure statewide,” said McDuffie. “Governor DeSantis’s leadership and historic funding for water quality improvements, along with legislative support and funding, have set us on the right path. Now we must expedite those efforts, increase investment over the long term, and pursue innovative solutions. We must accelerate septic to sewer conversion, and in those places where sewage is not available, require the use of advanced septic technology. The health of our citizens and the coastal resources that support Florida’s economy depend on it.”

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Gear Review: YETI Crossroads Backpack

Wills Donaldson
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Gear Review: YETI Crossroads Backpack

In this gear review, we’ll be highlighting a piece of gear that is essential to our team’s lifestyle: the YETI Crossroads Backpack. In our line of work, we spend just as much time on planes, cars, and water vessels as we do in the office. During our travels where you never know just what to expect, the only constant is that the adventure is going to be memorable. It’s the YETI crossroads series that inspired our Flylords original series: A2B, and these backpacks and accompanying luggage are now a necessity for carrying all of our gear from where we are, to where we need to be. In this review, we’ll break down exactly why.

walking up plane steps

Initial Thoughts:

From meandering Belizian jungle streams to the plains of Argentina; Flylords has covered the globe in the pursuit of fly fishing and storytelling. For years, we’ve been trusting the safety of our gear to the integrity of YETI’s Panga Duffels and backpacks. However, once word came down the wire to reach our little Colorado office that YETI was going to be launching a travel-focused luggage line, we were immediately itching to get our hands on some for our next trip.

yeti in blue

It was a few weeks before a flight to Sweden that the ever-welcomed, oh-so-familiar cardboard box labeled “YETI” hit our doorstep. Beneath a sea of packing peanuts were 3 22L bags; one in black, one in a light blue, and one in navy.

What we noticed off the bat was how sturdy these bags were. On the outside, a nylon, abrasion-resistant skin encompassed the entirety of the bag. At the base of the bag, a harder, reinforced bottom could be felt, which led up to some water-resistant coating that lined the zippers until you reached the brain which boasted an easily accessible, spacious pocket up top. Inside of the pack was filled with extra compartments including a side pocket that could be accessed from the outside, a laptop pocket, and the main compartment which featured two additional zipped pockets within. The back was lined with padded support, which was separated from the pack itself with a luggage sleeve.

yeti luggage

The build of the backpack was enough to get us excited, something that can be hard to do when facing over 20 hours of international air travel. Over the course of our adventure, as well as a few more we’ve undergone since, we’ve noticed a lot about these packs, which we’ll go into now.

Field Testing:

Unfortunately, our experiences with the Crossroads backpack don’t include heaving in the fish of a lifetime or a near-death experience with a hungry Alaskan Grizzley. No, the main highlights of our time spent with these bags revolves more around time spent listening to babies cry at 30,000 feet in the air, or sprinting through airports in an attempt to make a connecting flight. While these experiences certainly got our blood pumping, we figured the best way to exemplify the bag’s capabilities was by expanding on a couple of our favorite aforementioned features.

spacious design

Storage:

When it comes to storage capacity, this backpack allows you to utilize every inch of the inside of the pack. Because you can basically fold this pack inside out with its clamshell opening (available in all models), you can stuff as much as you need to, and then some, into the main pouch and still zip it closed with ease. The different pockets and compartments are positioned in a way where every inch of your load works in symbiosis and none of your gear is cramped or squished. Not to mention, because of the optimized compartments, reaching the contents of your bag is still a breeze.

storage

Cross Luggage Compatibility:

One of the most discrete, yet helpful features of the bag is the luggage run-through. This allows you to ditch your backpack and run your luggage handle through the back. While it might not seem like much, this feature is a lifesaver when making long walks from airport parking to the terminal, and a great way to stack and add on more carry-on luggage.

luggage together

Comfort:

First and foremost, when you’re traveling – especially long distances, comfort is a priority. One of our favorite features of this bag is how damn comfortable it is to wear. When we’re moving from the airport, to taxi, to the airport, to a shuttle down a long dirt road, the last thing you want is a backpack that’s going to dig into your shoulders or back? Luckily, something we noticed right away is that these bags are not only reinforced with padded back support but are actually built with a slight curvature that compliments your spine. Alongside this and their bulletproof nylon exterior, even the most stuffed bags (which ours usually are) aren’t biting into you, no matter how long you’re in transit for.

walking the tarmac

Built Tough:

Speaking of the overall build itself, these things are just plain and simple: sturdy. First, The exterior of the bag is rugged and water-resistant and creates a shell over your goods. Next, the bottom of the bag is reinforced, protecting whatever you have in there, be it a drone or camera, from any less than graceful set-downs. Lastly, there’s an internal laptop case that is elevated just above the bottom of the ground to further cushion any further bumps along the ride. Need I say more?

bag in the dirt

Final Review:

Durability:

5 star rating

Capacity: 

4 star rating

Practicality: 

4 star rating

Comfort: 

4 star rating

Looks: 

5 star rating

Price: 

3 stars

Conclusion:

looking out over the water

In short, if you’re looking for a reliable travel bag – there aren’t really any bags that compete with the YETI Crossroads Backpack. For all that we need it for, and a little more, this backpack outperforms in all facets. Great for those who are moving around with expensive camera gear, laptops and journals, or just want a backpack they can depend on in transit. In final summation, it certainly measures up to the YETI standard we have grown to expect, and will absolutely be our go-to bag for all of our adventures for a long time to come.

Check out the YETI Crossroads Backpack HERE.
yeti backpack

 

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Mighty Waters – Full Film Released

Dan Zazworsky
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Mighty Waters – Full Film Released

Since Mighty Waters premiered in the 2021 Fly Fishing Film Tour, we’ve been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to watch the film again in its entirety. The film focuses on Ansil Saunders and his time with Dr. Martin Luther King. Four days before the assassination of MLK, they sat in Ansil’s boat, sharing psalms while Dr. King worked on his final speech – “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” In the newest Cold Collaborative film, “Mighty Waters,” Ansil visits the spot he had taken MLK as well as visits the global change he’s seen and hopes to see in the world.

From the American Museum of Fly Fishing:

“The American Museum of Fly Fishing has partnered with Simms, Costa, Shannon Vandivier, and his team at Cold Collaborative to create a film that tells the extraordinary story of Ansil Saunders, a legendary Bimini bonefish guide. Martin Luther King Jr. found a friend in Saunders. Just four days before his assassination, Dr. King was sitting in Ansil’s boat, sharing psalms and working on “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”—his final speech. In Mighty Waters, Ansil Saunders visits the spot where he’d taken MLK that day and discusses the global change he’s seen and hopes to see in the world. Mighty Waters was selected for the 2021 F3T film tour, the Mountain Film Festival, and has won the Social Awareness Award presented by the Wasatch Mountain Film Festival.

Please help the American Museum of Fly Fishing bring Ansil Saunders’ extraordinary story to the Museum. Your donation will contribute to the purchase of Ansil’s boat and other memorabilia, as well as a screening of Mighty Waters for Ansil’s local community. His history will become part of AMFF’s permanent collection, further memorializing Ansil’s civil, societal, and fly fishing legacy.

Learn more about the film and its impact on AMFF.org!

Mighty Waters is presented by Simms Fishing and Costa Del Mar Sunglasses in conjunction with the American Museum of Fly Fishing.

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