Frigate birds patrol above the water, while the high-speed mahi-mahi slice through the water below, all escape routes have been cut off for these flying fish. David Attenborough narrates this spectacular chase scenes from “Hunger at Sea”, an episode of the BBC nature documentary series The Hunt.Â
Finally a waterproof backpack worth the money…
This weekend I had the pleasure of testing out the brand new Storm front backpack from Patagonia. We were targeting brook trout in the beautiful fall scenery of the Pennsylvanian mountains.
The Storm front series has been delivering badass products for a while now and this backpack is the perfect addition to the line up.
Here are a few things that I like about the bag:
Simplicity
The simple design of this backpack is perfect for the run and gun angler. Essentially the backpack has three compartments. A front (non waterproof) pocket for items you want close to the hand. A very roomy main compartment which can fit an SLR Camera and Computer with ease, and one final mesh pocket inside the main compartment.
Fully Waterproof
If you are going to spend $300 bucks on a backpack you want it to be 100% waterproof. The TIZIP® closure zipper is one that you can trust. Whether you are swimming across a pancake flat in the middle of the south pacific, or caught in a torrential downpour in the rivers of Mongolia, this bag will keep your shit dry.
Size
One huge problem with the previous Stormfront backpack was the sizing (Just check out the review below). Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a great backpack, but for a long day on the water it just doesn’t have enough room for me.Â
I was able to fit all of my essentials into the 30L backpack, with no problem.
Look
A lot of people will claim “who cares about the lookâ€â€¦ But let’s be honest, for this price you want a backpack that looks badass. You can be the judge, but I think these look pretty killer.
Flaws
The first flaw will probably just be the price. I would love to see a waterproof backpack of this quality in the $200 range. That being said, these are not cheap backpacks to manufacture (I hope) and other options for a zipper sealed submersible backpacks are also overpriced. On this topic, the roll top backpacks come in at half the price and are honestly a great deal!
I would also like to see this style with an optional laptop divider. When you put a computer in the bag it seems to just flop around, unless you have some clothes in there holding it tight.
Overall, I am very happy with the bag, and if you are in the market for a new backpack and have the $$$ to drop, this is a really solid option! We also had a great day of Brook Trout fishing… So maybe that’s why I like the bag so much…
Click Here For Info On Buying This Bag!Â
Today we decided to use the boat and give our legs a rest after some strenuous hiking the last couple weekends. We originally set out to target some lake run cut throats, where we find success by trolling stone fly patterns off the back of the boat. Right off the hop we smashed two Cutty’s, making us think this was gonna be a productive day. We were wrong, and the bites quickly came to a halt. Time for plan B… We pull the fly rods in and twisted the throttle to go explore the rest of the lake. We came up upon a beautiful stream which entered the lake, a good place to target trout with increased oxygen and food levels. We beached the boat and hiked our way up the river.  After a few minutes I decided to re-rig my stonefly pattern, and switched to a nymph rig. Sure enough first cast this bull trout hit my line, it scrapped hard taking me down two pools until I finally landed it. I hoisted it up for a quick snap, heard the waterfalls pouring in, smelt the crisp mountain air and admired the chunk or char I had my hands wrapped around.
For more Content check us out @BackCountry_Poolz
Joshua Hutchins is the mind behind @AussieFlyfisher – Publishing some of the best content in the entire Fly Fishing industry. Since catching his first trout on fly at the age of 13, Josh has spent years traveling the globe in search of the best, and often most exotic, fly-fishing experiences. An incredibly humble, talented, and passionate angler, we are pleased to introduce Josh as our first feature in the “Faces of Fly Fishing” original blog series from flylords.
How old were you when you picked up a fly rod? Do you remember the first fish you caught?
I was first introduced to fly fishing when I was 13 years old on the Ovens River in Bright, three hours from Melbourne, Australia. I was trying my luck spin fishing until a friend of my grandfathers showed me a fish he had caught on what seemed like an impossibly small fly. I was instantly intrigued. That Christmas, I asked my parents for a fly rod. Along with the fly kit, came an instructional video on VHS. I studied that video meticulously and then finally caught my first fish on fly one year later. It was a 25cm (10-inch) brown trout from the Macquarie River, near my hometown of Bathurst. We didn’t have cameras on our phones in those days so I don’t have a photo, but the memory will never leave me!
When did you start getting interested in photography?
In early 2013, a friend of a friend, named Filippo, joined our annual New Zealand fishing adventure. Filippo was a professional photographer and videographer and now produces all our fly fishing short films. Upon returning home I began comparing my photos with Filippo’s from the trip, and realized I would love to learn more about photography. I told my wife I would only buy one camera and one lens to support my guiding business. Three years later, my equipment family has exploded to include three camera bodies, six lenses, underwater housing, tripods, filters and everything in between. Obsessed is probably an understatement.
Do you ever find it hard to juggle being the photographer and being the guy doing the fishing?
I am constantly juggling the decision about when to fish and when to take photos. I will always love fly fishing, but as my enjoyment of photography grows, it seems to be increasingly more of the latter. I enjoy capturing other people’s stories and sharing them through quality photos. The more I guide clients in beautiful places, the more I realize that I get as much joy from watching them catch a memorable fish as if I caught it myself.
In a recent Facebook post, you exclaimed: “Leaving my real job to fly fish full time is the best decision I have ever madeâ€. Tell us a little bit about this decision. Did something happen in your life that told you to just go for it?
I’d been running my fly fishing guiding business part-time for three years while still working full time. I was grateful to have a job that paid me to travel to some of the world’s best fly fishing locations, so I was constantly tagging fishing adventures onto the end of my business trips.
As can happen with something you are passionate about, the fly fishing began to overtake my life (in a good way!), and I found myself trying to squeeze my day job around the Aussie Fly Fisher business.
I had thought about (…ok dreamt of) full time guiding and photography but I wasn’t sure of its financial viability and the risk of giving up a well-paid and well-traveled job. But in Feb 2015, my work approached me with two different choices: move to Melbourne and continue your role, or accept a generous redundancy and payout. The decision was easy – it was time to follow my dreams. I gratefully accepted the payout, left my job and started Aussie Fly Fisher Guiding and Photography full time in August 2015.
Congrats on your new son! Is it challenging to juggle life as a father and husband while pursuing your career as a professional photographer?
Thanks for the congratulations! It’s been awesome. Becoming a Dad was almost as good as catching my first trophy brown trout. Just kidding, it was way better. Before becoming a Dad everyone told me my life would change dramatically, and they were right – it got so much better.
In the early days, instead of an alarm, I had a baby to wake me up for my early-morning fishing trips. But I’ve been loving being a Dad. And now it’s just twice as hard to leave when I travel overseas.
You have hands down some of the best photography in the industry. How did you get so good? Is there any advice you could give to some younger photographers?Â
Thanks for your compliment, I really appreciate that. I still feel like a bit of a newbie just getting out there, having fun and trying to capture the moment. But I’m grateful that people are enjoying the pictures and that it’s inspiring anglers to get outdoors and embrace the adventure.
I’ve built my skills practicing shots on the water, spending time with great photographers, and asking lots of questions from people who are better than me. I’m also not afraid to have a crack at new things and I keep trying until I am happy with it.
When I look back at my photos from even a few years ago, I realize how much I’ve learnt just by slowly taking in more information and skills from the people around me.
My advice to young photographers would be to save up and invest in good gear. GoPro and wide angle shots are not always the best choices. Get out there and find your own style. Editing goes beyond an Instagram filter, and you don’t need to copy what other people might be doing with their shots. Find people whose photos you like and then ask them specific questions. Photographers normally can’t help talking about their gear and decisions around a shot. And, it may be cliché, but it’s important – have fun.
If you were stranded on an island and had one camera set up, and one lens, what would they be?
My current favorite camera body and lens are the Canon 5D III, and 70-200 2.8 Canon L series respectively. However, if I could only have one lens I would probably take my 35mm as it looks natural to the eye and is a good all-rounder.
Do you have a favorite photo that you have taken?
I have plenty of favorite photos. Most of which include my wife Anna, and my son Hunter.
Do you have any idols in the fly fishing world?
I tend to think people can sometimes compare themselves to others too much and so in general, I try to run my own race. I rarely idolize anyone for their fishing skills as I don’t think fly fishing is about how well you cast, tie flies or what camera you own, but rather about enjoying the moment and having fun.
In saying that, there are photographers in the fly fishing scene who I definitely look up to and admire. For example, Tim Pask was one of the first guys I saw taking underwater half-half photography and it inspired me to try that out.
Dave Anderson and Brad Harris are two other Australian fly fishing photographers with great skills and experience. They have shared so much knowledge and helpful advice with me. I look up to these guys for not only taking great images but for being willing to help me on my journey.
Two other fly fishing legends I admire are Phil Weigall and Greg French.
Phil is one of the all-round nice guys of Australian fly fishing. The ultimate trout addict of Australia, Phil still gets just as excited for a catch as a giddy school boy, and that passion and enjoyment of the sport inspires me.
Greg French, another Australian fly fisherman, is also the real deal. Greg is the type of guy that will hike into the hills, endure extreme temperatures, eat snakes and kangaroo, all in the hope of finding a new fishing spot.
Traveling the world and photographing epic fly fishing content can’t be as easy as it sounds. What are some of the challenges you have faced in this industry?
No, actually it is easy – it’s awesome.
Kidding. There are definitely some challenges amidst the great moments. It’s tough to manage the finances of the business and ensure that I can still put food on the table for my family. When your hobby becomes your job, there is an inevitable grey area between your leisure and work time.
I’ve been pretty committed to ensuring that I don’t give away my images or articles for free. Not because I don’t want to, but because every photo costs something, and we need people to understand that using (or asking for) photos for free actually devalues the whole industry. Magazines hunting free content generally die out. Quality content usually comes at a price.
The other challenges are just the unavoidable side effects of travel: lost luggage, living out of a suitcase, finding WiFi overseas and missing my family.
But even the early mornings and cold days are all in the name of fly fishing, and I love it.
Favorite Movie?
Shawshank redemption & Cool Runnings. I still clap the Jamaican team over the line every time I watch it, quality!
Favorite Book?
The Bible.
Favorite Drink?
Caramel and Lime Milkshake – don’t knock it till you try it.
Favorite Food?
Malaysian Laksa
Do you have a bucket list trip that you still want to take?
Unfortunately, I have many. Two species I’d love to catch next are Rooster Fish and Tarpon.
What’s next in the world of the Aussie Fly Fisher?
Between local guiding for trout and murray cod, I have a bunch of hosted trips to New Zealand, Argentina, Tasmania, Mongolia and Tahiti. I am most excited to head to Seychelles for the first time in December.
Make sure to check out the AussieFlyFisher on Instagram for some more epic content!
And stay tuned for our next guest in the “Faces of Fly Fishing” original blog series from Flylords.
I grew up in a culture where fishing was everything. Where the Tarpon swarmed every season and the Permit and Bonefish were plentiful year round. Where rust was your biggest enemy, and the ocean your best friend. Where judgement was based on how many tournaments you won, and character was based on how many days you spent on the water. I grew up in Key West.
My father was a fishing guide, and everyday after school I would sit on our dock, overlooking our canal with a spinning rod in hand, practicing casting over and over again until he returned from work. On days when the fishing was good, he would unload his client and finish business. Then he would take me out on the water, right to where the fish were. You can say I got pretty spoiled. Countless nights were spent out on the water until dark, and our excuse for being late for dinner was that we had a hundred pound tarpon on the line that we just had to land.
When the fishing wasn’t good, or maybe there wasn’t enough time to go out, we would play a game. He called it the ring game. It was pretty simple; I would cast a jig out in our canal, making a splash that creates a ring. Immediately afterwards, he would cast his jig into that ring. We started playing this game when I was around 3 years old, and as I got more and more practice, our roles switched, and I was the one placing my jig in his ring.
At the tender age of 5, my dad decided that it was time that I caught a permit for myself. Ever since I was born, he would take me out on the water to watch, or he would hook them and I would reel them in. But now it was my turn. And when the weather was finally right, he took me to one of my favorite places in the world: the Marquesas Islands.
The conditions were picture perfect for permit fishing. Sun at our back, a light breeze and no clouds. But more importantly, the fish were there, and it was happening. I was seeing the fish, casting to the fish, and hooking them on my own, fighting them on my own and landing them. A 5-year-old kid doing what most strive to do just once in their life.
Some of my greatest memories have been out on the water with my dad. We would go out every year for the annual worm hatch, where the tarpon would swarm in schools of hundreds, and even a kid could catch as many tarpon as he could physically fight.
When I made my choice for college, I wanted to get out west as soon as possible, so I got a job as a Wrangler in the Park at Roosevelt Lodge, guiding horseback rides through the backcountry. Working in the park was a mind-blowing experience. Being so close to so many great trout rivers and streams, I was like a kid in a candy store. On my off days, me and my friends would take our horses on a half day ride, going up mountains and racing down dirt roads. We’d come back to the corrals, turn our horses out and jump in the truck to go fish the Yellowstone.
Fishing outside of the park was different than inside the park. I actually like it better for some reason. I think it might be because working in the park ruined it for me in a way. When you have to deal with guests complaining about their butt and knees hurting all day, it can get old, but it was definitely worth it. There was a week of no responsibility during the time in between moving in the dorms and school starting where we were fishing every day. During this time is when my friend Connor caught this monster of a brown on the East Gallatin.
After four flights and twenty sleepless hours of travel time we finally arrived in Sweden at Lulea’s airport. Greeted by lost baggage and four days of rain in the forecast. We scrambled to find rain gear and waders. Our guides Ted Logardt and Calle Lundqvist gathered all the gear they had laying around in an attempt to outfit a few of us to get on the water. After settling into our camp and unloading the little baggage we had a pleasant knock on the door caught us off-guard at 2am. There lay our 6 bags filled with waders, boots, rain jackets, marino wool, and everything else you don’t want to loose on a fishing trip halfway across the world.
Our first destination was the Byske River. It was there that we realized how challenging the following days would become. Baltic Salmon had proven to be the older brother of Atlantic’s. Showing themselves in every pool, mocking us around every corner as they broke the surface rejecting our flies one after another. A bump or grab did not come easy, never mind having the chance to hold a piece of silver that belongs to the Baltic Sea.
 The Byske had gotten the best of us as we left with our tails between our legs now heading in the direction of the Torne River. North of the Artic Polar Circle the difference between night and day was so minimal it allowed us to travel throughout the night. Furthermore we could fish endlessly until our bodies objected.
After arriving in Kengis and meeting with Lars Munk we headed directly to the Torne River. There was no time for sleep, for the prime time drop started at 3:30 am and we had arrived at 3:00 am.
As we stepped foot into the Torne for the first time we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. It marked the border between Finland and Sweden as one of the biggest rivers in the Lapland. With over 52,000 Salmon in the system at this point in the season, and an estimated 100,000 salmon in the system each year. We found a new confidence in a river we could hardly see across.Â
The rain continued and the river rose. At this point, we had decided it was best if we stayed at the run for the following 24 hours. We took turns making coffee over the fire and grilling sausages for one another.
After fishing the run for almost a full day the rain broke and finally persistence had paid off as we landed our first Baltic Salmon. Soon two more were hooked and lost as these salmon demonstrated their rigorous attitude tearing line from our spools as we ran down the river in a hopeless attempt to turn them back towards the bank.Â
After sleeping for what felt like the first time in a week, we returned to Kengis Bruk. For the first time the clouds had broken, the sun was shining, the water was stabilizing, and fresh fish were moving up the river at an exponential rate. We made the decision to spend one last morning fishing the Torne before heading to the Lainio River. To date, it was the best decision we have ever made. Over the course of the next eight hours, we hooked salmon after salmon. Each drop yielding another fish, we laughed as the sun warmed our soul and we screamed as the salmon tore into our flies. We had fallen into the perfect rotation: Coffee, Sausage, Salmon, Repeat. Never in our lives had we seen or experienced anything like it, as we may very well never see fishing like that again.Â
The sun held high overhead at noon. Memories had been made, and bags had been packed as we headed even further north to the Lainio River to explore Lars Camp Onka. We rested our heads for the night at Pinetree Lodge we headed off first thing in the morning. A short hike, followed by a quick ride in an old rowboat full of character brought us to some of the nicest water we had seen all trip. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before our host Charles was hooked up. As lines tightened hearts raced. Overwhelmed with euphoria Charles took his most beautiful salmon of the trip and we celebrated with yet another sausage by the fire, a few whiskeys and memorable stories from our past.Â
Loading up the van once again, we headed to Jackfall to meet with Ronny Landin where we would celebrate midsummer’s eve and take in a number of cultural events. One of which happened to be a can of surströmming: fermented herring. The only thing worse than the taste was the smell. The locals laughed as we tested our gag reflex’s in an attempt to stomach the herring.
The fun and games had come to an end and it was time to test our luck on the Kalix River. We fished with Calle, Ted, Ronny, Andreas, Jay and a few other our friends we had met along the way. Once again persistence paid off as Calle lifted one last fish before our eyes. The last pot of coffee was brewed over the fire as the midnight sun glistened overhead. It was all too good to be true. We packed up our gear and headed back to Lulea to board our flight back to Quebec City. Our trip was concluded as we headed home with nothing but surreal memories of the best fishing we had ever seen complimented by new friendships that will last a lifetime.
This story and incredible photography was brought to you by Stuart Davis @adiposefishing
Stuart is the talented photographer and photojournalist behind the lens of the @hooke adventures. Make sure to give him a follow for some more incredible content! And check out hooke.ca for more adventures!
New Zealand’s south island is often the place traveling anglers come to for its summertime fishing, working well against the alternating hemispheres of the globe. Very few anglers get to see or experience what the depths of a New Zealand winter can offer a fly angler.
 A vast majority of water is closed to all fishing restricting anglers to a small range of lakes and a few of the bigger rivers, mainly areas where trout spawning is limited. You also have to deal with cold winter conditions, dirty rivers are more frequent and fish are more interested in reproducing than eating a fly…
So on the back end of a snowstorm we went fishing into one of the harder to reach lakes in the Canterbury high country, a couple of hours drive north of Christchurch. The road was completely buried under snowdrifts, making the drive in a little sketchy and the hike a little more demanding than usual. Once at the location I headed to an area of flooded tussock and starting throwing a variety of streamers in around the grasses.
King salmon spawn in the lakes feeder streams so there is a large number of salmon smolt kicking around the margins to add it being winter, insect activity (Caddis, Mayfly) is down compared to the summer so a streamer was the fly of choice. 10 minutes later my fly was DEMOLISHED by a nice 5 1/2lb brown, stoked!
 Throughout the day I continued wading around the shoreline stripping flies over stream mouths and weed beds having my fly engulfed by more epic browns in the 3-5lb range! Sick day!
NZ winter is tough but put the effort in, fish hard, pick your flies accordingly and you will get the results.
Matt Jones is a Flylords Content Creator. He is our “Go To” guy out in New Zealand. Make sure to give him a follow on Instagram!
Featured image from Brien Hansen (@brienedwardh)
Fly fishing for carp has totally changed my fly fishing mindset. To be honest, it’s very hard for me to think about fly fishing for anything else. There is something special about seeing a 15-25 pound fish swimming in skinny water that you can sight cast to! With a lot of patience and persistence, you might just find your new favorite fish to fly fish for!
If you are just testing the waters to see if you really want to start going for these fish, you will be glad to know that you don’t have to have expensive, high-end equipment nor a boat to land a lot of carp. Here’s a list of things I would start off with:
A 7-8 weight fly rod (you can use lighter tackle for accurate casting but just be aware these fish are powerful and can run like the devil and braking power is needed)
A large arbor reel to hold a lot of fly line and backing, which is nice to have (you can use what is available to you, but again be aware these fish are capable of running yards and yards into your backing)
Floating line that has a delicate presentation (these fish are extremely spooky and too hard of presentation can make them all spook)
For leader and tippet, I use 0x to 1x (13-15 pound) but you can use as little as 4x (6 pounds)! I use super strong line because my home waters have a lot of log jams where I have to put the brakes on
Waders, wading shoes, or boat that can perform in shallow water (utilize what you can, whether that is wading in a little urban river or on a boat at a lake)
Polarized sunglasses (glare is a big issue with murky freshwater so get some, it is pointless going without them)
A large net with a long handle (preferably I would get a net that you can reach a long way out without having to double your fly rod over because these fish are heavy)
Some sort of bag or vest to hold your flies and accessories! The more convenience you have, the more time you will be fishing
What is so awesome about carp is that they are everywhere! If you have permanent freshwater systems near you, chances are, there are carp eager to bite your fly! Get to know your area and really start to scout for carp. Take the time to check under bridges, the shallows of lakes, and nice long shallow stretches of river water. I start seeing carp as early as April and into the fall season.
Usually, when I am scouting out a new area the number one thing I look for is DUST CLOUDS. I emphasize this because carp are known for their huge plumes of muddy or sandy dust. If you see any unusually large dust clouds, then that means one of two things:
You have crept up on a school of carp that have detected you and are fleeing leaving huge clouds of dust with their big tails.
You are really close to a feeding carp that has its face in the dirt sucking up the ground and filtering dust through its gills.
If this is your first time seeing these signs, then stop the boat or whatever it is your doing, and find the source. Gather as much information as possible. Hopefully, it is a feeding carp, and if this is the case then get a fly 2-3 feet in front of its nose ASAP!
One of the biggest learning processes that I went through when I started chasing carp was reading their body language. Once you figure out their body language, then you will know which carp are more willing to take a fly or not. For the basics, I will break up the body languages into 3 categories:
The first type of carp I will talk about is the cruising carp. This is the carp that is swimming very fast or moderately fast. These carp are pointless to throw a fly at! These fish on are a mission to get somewhere and are not even thinking about eating at the moment!
The second type of carp is the slow-moving carp. A slow-moving carp is a relaxed carp that is not feeding and might be sunbathing. There is a possibility it will take a well-placed fly. If you can cast a fly gently 2-3 feet in front of its nose, let it sink in line with its eyes, the carp might go for it and suck it up! If it does, GAME ON!
Lastly, the third type of body language is my favorite, and that is the feeding carp. If anything, always go for this type of carp! A feeding carp is one that is in the shallows with its face in the ground dining on whatever forage it’s looking for! 90% of the time, if your fly is well placed, this carp will not turn down your fly! Its main focus is to EAT, so if given that opportunity, it’s going to do just that! Cast 2-3 feet in front of it with a GENTLE cast and with your fly hitting the water softly and sinking at a moderately slow rate. Even though this fish is relaxed, it will still spook easily! Stealth is key when fly fishing for these giants.
Probably the most asked question I get from curious people is “what do you use?†The primary idea of carp flies is to imitate crawfish or buggy-like flies (at least in my home waters in Indiana). These flies are generally smaller because they need to eaten by carp with smaller mouths. A lot of my flies are from size 8 to size 14 hooks, and there are hooks specifically designed for carp which are probably better for hook-sets and not losing fish! Here is a small list of flies that I tie which all can be found on Youtube:
John Montana’s Hybrid Carp Fly
The Backstabber
Common Craw
Any type of crawfish pattern
Barr’s Spork Carp Fly
McTage’s Trouser Worm
Smaller Woolly Bugger
Carp are very picky, so if your fly is just not working, move on to another.
If any of you have seen my videos I post on Instagram, then you have probably noticed my crazy boat platforms. The biggest problem when I first started fishing was just being able to see these fish before they saw me. I have a 14’ Smoker Craft Jon boat with two 30†platforms that I stand on and push pole off of, and a 1989 Bass Tracker. It was amazing to see how fast I started seeing results as far as catching numbers. In my opinion, the higher up you are, the better. Glare is a huge issue here in my home waters when you have trees and clouds blocking sunlight, so the platforms help take that horizontal glare effect away.
The first thing I want to say about my tips is that some of them do not apply to certain waters. For example, when fly fishing up near Beaver Island and Traverse City, Michigan, fly fishermen are chucking big sculpin streamers at schools of meat-eating monsters just like bonefish. Where I live, it is more of smaller and close quarters fishing. Each environment has different situations, but generally, I would follow the tips I have provided then go from there.
The number one tip I would give anyone who is just getting into this lifestyle is to BE PATIENT!!!! Do not expect to have your first cast to produce a record Carp… Although it could happen (and I hope it does). I would guess it probably won’t because it takes time to find that sweet spot in front of a feeding carp. Another huge piece of advice I want to give is I went through a huge dry spell where these fish made me look stupid. I probably went over 30 times before finally getting hooked up again. The biggest reason this happened was, as spring progresses into summer, you will find out quickly that vegetation and the number of people on the water explodes. These both have huge effects on landing carp effectively.
If you need more information, feel free to follow me on Instagram @dane_s_gopro and message me! Also check out carponthefly.blogspot.com and www.flycarpin.com for more awesome tips, information, and great content!
We are excited to announce that Matt Jones will be joining the Flylords Team. Matt will be our New Zealand Content Specialist!
We wanted to ask Matt a few questions to make sure he was right for the job:
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from and how long have you been fly fishing for?Â
My name is Matt Jones, I’m 21 years old and I live in Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island. I’ve been Fly fishing since I was roughly 4 or 5 years old…and that’s when the addiction started!
2. What was the last fish you caught?
Last fish I caught! Ahh I think it was a 12lb Rainbow Trout that couldn’t say no to a little bit of streamer.Â
3. Can you tell us a little bit about your MOST memorable fishing experience?
To pinpoint my most memorable fishing experience is difficult!
I’ve had so many amazing days and experiences but if I was to say one was a standout. It would be a red letter backcountry day a couple of hours from home with a good mate of mine, Joshua Hutchins (Aussie Fly Fisher). It started with an 8lb brown I picked up blind in a run, followed by Josh landing a tank 13lb mouse munching bow sight fish in the tail out of a pool (at this point we were pretty darn happy). About 15 mins later Josh got another 8lb Rainbow! After hiking up the river another mile or so I spotted an absolute PIG of a brown trout sipping size 8-10 Mayflies off the top. The first cast I gave it he slurped my dry down and tail walked around in a full circle. Having an 11lb trout tail walking under my rod tip was crazy I’ll never forget that!Â
4. Tell us a little bit about living in New Zealand. How is the lady life? Are most kids your age into fly fishing?
Living in New Zealand is as good as it gets! If I get a spare day I’m off right into some of the best trout fishing this planet has to offer! After work, I can drive 7 minutes from home and be swinging for Chinook salmon. If the tides are right a 20-minute drive from home has me chucking poppers for Kahawai. If it’s good I can have one every cast for a couple of hours (average 5-8lb) -Lady life- I’m 21, you could say they come and go! ☺ -Most kids show an interest in fly fishing if you have a chat with them about it. Very few actually fish though, although there is certainly an increase in the number of young guys fly fishing over here.
 5. Do you have any role models in the Fly Fishing Industry?
Jared Zissu, That guy is legit. Carl McNeil. That guy is walking talent. Everything he does, he does well.
6. If you were stuck on a deserted island and had one fly rod and one fly, what would they be? You can also choose one celebrity to accompany you…
I would pick 9ft #8. Such a versatile GP rod. Brands should be marketing them specifically for the deserted island market. One fly, Olive woolly bugger- everything eats those. Celeb, Matt Damon… He can grow potatoes.
7. If you could choose one destination trip to go on, where would it be?
Anaa Atoll– That’s on my immediate to-do list right now. Give me some of that salt!
9. Favorite Movie?
Palm Trees in the Snow– I hated it, but loved it. Long Story.
10. Favorite Drink?
Up&Go. Unsure if the rest of the world knows what it is. It’s pretty much, flavored milk that has a bit of goodness in it. Sold as a liquid breakfast product.
11. Favorite Artist?
Ronan Keating. His voice makes me cry.
I’d love to tick off a few more destinations around the world, Taimen, Golden Dorado and Atlantic salmon I would be down for! I’m really keen to explore deeper into more of the saltwater fish species NZ has to offer, there are heaps. Life’s too short. Fish.
Photos Provided By Joshua Hutchins
With the explosion of Social Media, the bar continues to be raised when it comes to getting “epic” fish pictures. One photo that continues to catch the attention of audiences, is the 1/2 underwater perspective. It’s the type of photo that pulls the attention of a viewer, giving them a glimpse of the world down under, along with the passion and background of the angler above.
But how hard is it to get this shot?
As the technology for getting this shot is relatively new, you have two solid options…
Option number one:Â KNEKT USAÂ -Â This is going to be your best option if you are not trying to drop “an arm and a leg”…
We contacted our friends @tuglifetrio from Utah to give you an extensive review (and some tips) on this product: “I have always been intrigued by the artistic, unique perspective of a good over/under shot. I spent countless hours trying to get one of these coveted shots using my GoPro only to come home with no precise 50/50 water line and sheer disappointment.  I scoured the internet in search of a dome port attachment for my DSLR camera only to find products well out of my budget. After nearly accepting the fact that this over/under shot I sought after was impossible I found out about KNEKT Dome Ports. With a much more affordable price tag, I immediately ordered one. After experimenting with my new purchase learned very quickly this dome port is the real deal. These shots truly showcase the underwater world and the above water world all in one capture. With a KNEKT dome port, you are provided with a plethora of options for that killer shot! With the optically correct acrylic dome, complete access and visibility to the GoPro buttons/settings, and many other highlights I am well equipped to get the shots I could only dream of.
After experimenting with this dome port I came to a quick realization that well sought after shots don’t come automatically. This has brought about a lot of trial and error. While I am still learning about all of the options here are a few tips to get that shot that will leave you fully satisfied and your friends in awe:”
1. Ensure that the dome is clear of debris inside and out. This includes smudge marks, lint, and other unwanted particles. Â
 2. Seek after areas of the river where the current is not too much. If the current is too strong you will find your dome quickly submerged in water. Glassy areas with a little current are ideal. This will provide you with a standard 50/50 straight across split shot as well as some chances to get the water in some other areas on the dome to get a unique waterline.Â
3. Watch the sun! I cannot stress this fact enough. Make sure that the sun is at a minimum overhead of you. It is most ideal to have the sun at your back. Never point the dome toward the sun. This will eliminate the chance of reflection from the dome itself as well as particles underwater.Â
4. Expect to keep the dome in the water longer than one shot. This is critical. I like to have my GoPro set at continuous shots every 0.5 seconds. Try one spot/angle combo for 5-10 seconds holding the dome as still as you can (too much movement can cause too much blurriness). Then move to another spot/angle combo. This will give you the greatest chance of getting some good options to choose from.Â
5. When specifically taking pictures with fish in a river positioning of the person holding the fish and the person taking pictures is important. Communicate with each other and make sure the “picture zone†is not clouded up with turbidity from you moving around the targeted area. This will give you the greatest chance of getting that gin clear look we all like. Â
6. Don’t be afraid to play around with angles and distances. Get creative! Make sure to have enough memory to give you some freedom with this and have fun!
Option Number 2:Â Aquatech Imaging Solutions
Pros: Quality… When you invest in an Aquatech housing you are most likely a professional photographer or an eccentric hobbyist with too much money… These housings are made for quality DSLR cameras, and the results are truly incredible.
Cons: The Price… With only a few options for quality water housings, you are going to have to drop at least 1,500 to make this work… On top of the DSLR, I’m guessing you already own?
KNEKT Photos Courtesy of @Tuglifetrio – Aquatech Photo Courtesy @theflyfishingnation
