Steelhead & Trout: A Fly Fishing Video Reflection

by | Fresh Water

Steelhead & Trout Video

There is very little you think about while you’re on a river. The last few nights, however, while I’ve been out chasing trout during the evening hatch a few things have entered my mind. First, I realized when I’m not fly fishing I wish I were and when I am fly fishing, I forget everything else in life. It is amazing how fly fishing transcends time, memories, bills, pains, etc… All of those things seem to disappear and they all go away if only for that short period of time I am on the water. I feel lucky for that. I don’t think many people who don’t fly fish have such an opportunity to achieve that level of mental freedom. Maybe that explains the reasons why we strive to be on the water more? Fly fishing and time spent on the water is the best form of therapy on this planet. Second, I wondered how many people don’t actually realize what takes place on any given river and how every river is alive. I stepped back and just watched and was stunned by what a massive (but tiny) ecosystem a river is in itself; moving water, rocks, bugs and fish. I watched a small brown trout feed in a lane for about 30 minutes. Towards the end of that 30 minutes of time I could almost predict the exact second the trout would rise. I never did throw a fly in it’s direction. I finally decided to give the video thing a try and it turned out ok. The video that accompanies this fish tale is a great reflection on the first half of the fly fishing season. Now, after doing this video, I find myself thinking of new angles to shoot video and take pictures. Fun stuff.

10 Comments

  1. jeremy on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    awesome stuff colehatch … it is amazing how time takes on a whole new dimension when i am on the water … hours just fly by and even days too .. and rather than actual time dictating things it’s more the cycles of things .. whether it’s a 2 o’clock hendrickson hatch or even cadis or high tide or low tides in the ocean … it is also amazing how i find that even though i don’t have a watch, nor do i want one, that the more time i spend on the water i get better at just kinda knowing the time as it relates to that natural cycle of things … anyone else ever notice this? … anyway .. great fishtale and video and fish! … i really enjoy the filming aspect of fly fishing because as you now know .. it’s not so much the “raw” content that you capture .. it’s how you put it together … and that is a totally unique thing and a representation of how the person putting it together sees things … so, i like workign with video because it is an extension of my time on the water … and it enables me to share with people my perception of that time spent on the water .. i also enjoy seeing other fly fishermens perspectives and the angles and things they see … nice work .. look forward to seeing more in the future .. where are you from?

  2. waterwhippa on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Nice job. I enjoyed the story and vid. Nice chrome in there too, is that Mich.?

  3. NiC on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Nice vid.
    Really liked flow of it..
    Hope 2 see more vids from you 😉

  4. Curro on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Watching that made me for a few minutes forget about everything else in life. I want to thank you for that. Great Vid!

  5. colehatch on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Thanks Whip. Yeah it’s NW Michigan…my stomping grounds for the last 5 yrs. I was in CO for the 8 yrs before that. We have such a tremendous variety of fish here it’s incredible…it’s worth the long cold winters.

  6. colehatch on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Thanks Jeremy.

    I couldn’t agree more on the time thing. Time just disappears when I’m on the river. I spent 3 hours in the bush on a tiny trib today with my dog, fishing big stimulators to small, aggresive brook trout and it seemed like 10 minutes. What a perfect day.

    I’m in NW Michigan. I mostly spend my time on NW MI rivers from the Pere Marquette, Manistee and the Au Sable. I’ve been here for about 5 years And really haven’t spent any time in the UP. I need to get up there and chase some of those brook trout.

    Jeff

  7. wrh on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    great video. Makes me pumped up for the season that is upon us and it’s been a good one.

  8. joey on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    My dad used to say the same thing to me “when I am on the water I think of nothing esle…no work, no headaches, just fishing.” It wasn’t until I was older that I fully understood what he was saying. I love being on the water everything else, like you put it, is just washed away. Good read and nice video.

    j-

  9. HauntedbyWater on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Love the little wild ones. That is what it’s all about. couldn’t help but noticing the scenery while driving. Are you in Ohio or Michigan or PA by chance. we should fish. Steelies look big and bright like Michigan. Great work or great play either way it’s sweet.

  10. colehatch on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    You must know you steel because those are MI fish. I spend alot of time on the PM and a few other NW MI streams for steel. If you ever get up this way let me know.