Leap Year

Fishwest is stoked to be a part in bringing you access to the 15th annual Fly Fishing Film Tour is streaming March 10th with a net full of amazing films. This year, don’t miss some of the most exciting, story-driven official selections so epic you’ll want to rig your rod right in the living room. The stories span the globe from the remote wilds of Eastern Russia to the Guyana rainforest, the flats of French Polynesia, and all the way to Utah’s Flaming Gorge and the downhome waters of Wisconsin. Tune in March 2021 for unforgettable storytelling, camaraderie, premium free giveaways, swag, trips, and more. The F3T aims to inspire, feed your fishing addiction and build awareness for conservation efforts around the world, so join our community of like-minded anglers to celebrate 15 years of the largest fly fishing film event of its kind. Get tickets for this virtual event when you come into Fishwest plus some great F3T swag while it lasts!! Upgrade to Active Pass to enjoy the 2021 F3T for free, plus more great perks. Follow the F3T on social @flyfishingfilmtour for more. BUY TICKETS HERE Check out the 2021 F3T Film Highlights and Descriptions Hardlined A KGB Production Directed by Chris Kitchen Produced by KGB Productions and Rex Messing Every year, a migration of epic proportions takes place along the Eastern Seaboard of America. From the Carolinas to Canada, anglers flock to the rocky coastlines, estuaries, rivers and inshore waters to target one of America’s most iconic gamefish, the Striped Bass. Despite its popularity and significance to the coastal communities in the Northeast, the fishery is once again in major jeopardy. The last time this happened, we witnessed one of the greatest conservation success stories of all time, restoring the stock to astronomical numbers. Today, the question on everyone’s mind is can we do it again? Watch the trailer: https://vimeo.com/510385472 Leap Year A Topo Films Production Directed by Jordie Lepage and Chase White Produced by Patrick Henry and Chase White Edited by Jordie Lepage On the surface, spey fishing for steelhead is a sporting pursuit steeped in tradition. Every year, these anglers and the wild fish they pursue both migrate to the same rivers at the same time. Now, from issues like global pandemics to global warming, there are countless ways in which this tradition can be broken. In swinging flies for wild steelhead in British Columbia's famed Bulkley-Skeena Valley, 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 screeching to a halt? Watch the trailer: https://vimeo.com/507285368 Escape A Green River Fly Fisher Production Directed and Produced by Ryan Kelly and Gilbert Trowley Life isn’t about what happens to us, it’s how we react. Follow avid angler Ryan Kelly as he documents the management of a disease that requires him to move constantly to cope with the pain. Living in the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, he logs over 1500 miles on the “heal-toe express” and another 1000+ on the sticks. Through the process he finds the most extraordinary Escape. https://vimeo.com/503566323 Rewa Rodeo A Creative Passion Project Production Directed and Produced by Johann Du Preez This is the story of a small village in the heart of Guyana that conserves fish and wildlife of the Rewa River. Not only did their efforts bring a fish back from the brink of extinction but it created the finest arapaima fishery on the planet. Watch the trailer: https://vimeo.com/500525876 Mighty Waters A Cold Collaborative Production Directed by Shannon Vandivier In Bimini, an island in the Bahamas, Martin Luther King Jr found a friend in Ansil Saunders. Ansil is a bonefish guide and community leader who speaks of MLK as a friend as genuine to your face as he was to millions on a stage. Dr. King enjoyed the solitude of Bimini to write and think. Four days before his assassination, they sat in Ansil’s boat, sharing psalms while Dr. King worked on his final speech - “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” MLK had a great influence on Ansil and the community of Bimini, inspiring freedom in the Bahamas from colonial rule and for equality. https://vimeo.com/513961635 Spot B. A Meateater Production Directed and Produced by RA Beattie We were torn about this one. Is it acceptable to tell the world about an uncrowded river with big smallmouth that slurp topwater flies if a mine threatens to ruin the whole thing? We’re all sick of spot burning, but we’re more sick of sulfide mines threatening iconic fisheries. This is a soul-cleansing spot burn. https://vimeo.com/515718057 Tetiaroa An Aussie Fly Fisher Production Directed and Produced by Kane Chenoweth and Josh Hutchins Tetiaroa is a special place. Nestled among the Society Islands of French Polynesia, it offers a promised land of giant bonefish, GTs and Trigger fish. 40 miles from Tahiti, owned by the Brando estate, Tetiaroa is an untapped yet vulnerable beauty, deserving of protection. Join Joshua Hutchins of Aussie Fly Fisher and the team from Fly Oddssey as they explore the endless flats and unbelievable fishing. Double figure bonefish and cruisy island vibes make this a once-in-a-lifetime trip. https://vimeo.com/512179023 Dropped In The Pacific A Jessica Haydahl Photography Production Directed and Produced by Jessica Haydahl Seven women are on an adventure of a lifetime; dropped in the Pacific to fish the famous Christmas Island coral atoll. The women experience the remote nature and unforgiving weather that Christmas Island can be known for. Together as a group, they share their experiences, the difficulties and joys they encountered, as well as what the sport of fly fishing brings to their lives. Watch the trailer: https://vimeo.com/501010736 River Tigers A Yonder Content Production Directed by Andy Maser and Adam Bagger Produced by Guido Rahr and Oakley Brooks An unlikely trio is lured to a remote river in the wilderness of the Russian Far East in search of a mythical 55-kilogram (120-pound) trout. The adventurers — a billionaire Russian businessman, an American fly fisherman, and a Russian scientist — must join forces to unlock the river’s secrets in order to save it. Watch the trailer: https://vimeo.com/499383363 Denny’s Fly Box A PMD Production Directed and Produced by Matt Devlin This is the story of unknown legend Denny Waln. Waln is a master flytier and angler. He's one of a kind. Cut from the cloth of a bygone era, his humble, no-nonsense nature leaves an indelible imprint on those he crosses paths with. Join us as we peek inside Denny's fly box. From filmmaker Matt Devlin of PMD productions in Missoula, MT. Featuring Denny Waln and Erin Noordermeer. Just Like Mac A Dorsal Outdoors Production Directed and Produced by Ben Meadows Uncle Mac left a deep imprint on Tommy. Join us as we retrace Tommy’s steps-- from farm ponds to tarpon flats-- to understand why. Watch the trailer: https://vimeo.com/498464682 A Journey Upstream A Motion Digital Production Directed by The Braker Brothers “A Journey Upstream” is the tale of two seemingly unrelated fish species that helps us understand the connectivity within our environment and the importance of a healthy Chesapeake Bay watershed. Watch the trailer: https://vimeo.com/503509807

Leap Year

F3T Goes Virtual for 2021