IF4 Original | The Wanderer
Our world is constantly changing, moving from one beat to the next like a massive and unceasing machine. How do we find respite from the noise? Where do we go to escape? The Wanderer, the 2021 IF4 Original, takes us to an unspoiled, natural sanctuary in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West, full of high-mountain lakes, eager fish, and endless beauty. Take a breath, relax, and enjoy the solitude.
Be sure to get your tickets to your local IF4 viewing and check out the trailers for all the IF4 Official Selections!
IF4 Official Selection | Turbo Giants
Have you ever tried to stop a vehicle with a fly rod? That’s about what it feels like to challenge the giant trevally of the Seychelles. Getting them to eat a fly is only half the challenge. From there, it takes every ounce of energy and guile you can muster.
Intents Media grappled with these gargantuan brutes and lived to tell the tale in their latest film, and a 2021 IF4 Official Selection, Turbo Giants.
Grab your tickets at the IF4 website, and check out trailers for the rest of the selections!
IF4 Official Selection | Out There
Next up in our 2021 IF4 Official Selections is Out There, by Hooké.
From the filmmaker: 2020 was a difficult year for everyone, and let’s hope we can all put this behind us. But as funny as it is, the past year ended up being quite memorable for Fred and the crew. You want to know why? Because fly fishing is the best remedy out there. Follow Hooké’s journey through the wild rivers of Terrace, British Columbia, the lakes and rivers of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, and the magnificent Matapedia river in Gaspésie. They get out there in search of big pike, Atlantic salmon, steelhead, and Coho salmon. Follow Hooké on this expedition in some of the most beautiful places on earth!
Don’t forget to visit the IF4 website to check out all the trailers and buy tickets to your local virtual showing!
IF4 Official Selection | Fuerte
Fly fishing and the west coast of Colombia don’t typically go hand-and-hand. There’s a jungle, four transportation shifts, and an unrelenting coast of jagged waves. Good thing the crew at PopFizz wouldn’t have it any other way. Join the guys as they go deep into the wild and come out with a story worth telling. Law enforcement included.
Be sure to check out all this year’s IF4 selections and buy tickets to your local showing the IF4 website.
IF4 Official Selection | Raised on Rainbows
The 2021 Virtual IF4 is here! This year, we’ve got an awesome lineup of films that run the gamut from amazing to unbelievable, with a generous side of “Did you see that?!?”
Our featured film today, Raised on Rainbows from Matt Coddaire, tells the story of a couple attempting to navigate their lives as both parents and fly anglers. Hint: it’s not easy.
Be sure to buy tickets for your local showing at the IF4 website, and check out the other films in this year’s lineup!
IF4 Official Selection | Baltics
IF4 Film Trailer | The Art of Fly Fishing
The next selection for the 2021 Virtual IF4 is The Art of Fly Fishing, by Bluff Line Media. This film was the winner of the inaugural Stimmie Awards, earning its place in the 2021 IF4. From the filmmakers:
Brooke Belohlavek is an artist and educator in remote Baggs, Wyoming, who found a love for fly fishing one day after an ascent atop Grand Teton. Before long, her newfound passion made its way to her canvas. Today, Brooke paints trout for folks all over the country who want to enjoy a beautiful reminder of their fly-fishing experiences. This summer, we joined Brooke to fish and film some high-country creeks and rivers that are close to her heart for The Art of Fly Fishing.
Be sure to check out the rest of the films and buy tickets for your local show at the IF4 website.
IF4™ 2021 Film Trailer | Northbound
Welcome to the 2021 Virtual IF4! We’re extremely excited for the lineup of films this year, and will be rolling out trailers for each over the next few weeks. Our first trailer is for a film about the singular focus of one steelhead guide in British Columbia: Northbound, by Bouva Media.
Todd Scharf, a lifelong Spey fishing guide, relocates his business and family to the northern frontier of British Columbia to chase one of the most sought-after fish in the world: the steelhead. At an early age, Todd was obsessed with steelhead and could not veer away from the inevitable fact that hunting for them would be his lifelong career. He decided to move to Terrace, B.C., to chase the biggest and baddest salmonid species and open up a new door of adventure for his clients that he considers family. A decade later, he has settled into his new environment and understands the water he fishes better than anyone. The sacrifice he made to move up north has paid off as he is constantly finding new opportunities in the unknown waters of the remote northern frontier of British Columbia. Todd now wonders if the reason for moving north wasn’t a pull from the fish, but perhaps an escape from the craziness of the urban world.
Be sure to visit the IF4 website to purchase tickets to your local virtual screening and view trailers for all of the films!
The Winter Collection: Solitude
From everyone here at Fly Fusion, we want to wish you an amazing holiday season and an awesome 2021. With our most recent entry into the Winter Collection, we explore something we’ve grown all too familiar with in 2020: Solitude. But in this case, it’s a good thing.
Episode Overview: A long drive down backcountry logging roads places Jim, Derek and Paula (Fly Fusion’s former social media editor) into a basin where no other soul exists. They travel the proverbial extra mile and find large trout that have not seen artificial flies in years. The eager trout make for stunning cinematography and an unforgettable day on the water.
The Winter Collection: Blown Away
We want to welcome you back to the Winter Collection, Happy Holidays Edition! We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. Enjoy “Blown Away,” from season three of Fly Fusion TV.
Fly Fusion Magazine editors Derek Bird and Jim McLennan show up at one of Jim’s favorite stretches of river just as major windstorm blows down the valley. They set up the rods in hopes that the wind will push terrestrials onto the water. When the wind finally dies down, their persistence is rewarded with a number of spectacular trout.
The Winter Collection: Secrets
Welcome back to the Winter Collection. Up next is one of our favorite episodes from Fly Fusion TV. Check out “Secrets” right here.
With over 7 billion people on the planet, it’s difficult to find places where the water runs cold and clear and where the human footprint is nearly non-existent. Jim, Derek, and Paula (Fly Fusion’s former social media editor) helicopter into one of these places, and what they find far exceeds their expectations. In fact, the fly fishing is so good they can’t help but keep it a secret.
The Humpy | Dana Harrison
The Humpy, an absolute true classic when it comes to dry flies and yet it strikes fear into our hearts when we think about tying it. The original method of tying the Humpy was unforgiving, as the same portion of Elk hair was used for both the hump and the wings. If you were off, even by a small amount, the proportion would be out of whack and you were left with another fly to give to a friend. I personally still tie it this way as I think it looks cleaner in the end, but I cut away some of the Elk hair for the hump. I find I want a lot of hair for the big wings, but then the hump ends up being too large.
There are other ways to tie this pattern as well which can be seen in the photo. The wings are actually Mallard flank and not Elk hair at all. This can be a great way to get some nicely coloured split wings while not having to battle the Elk hair. The hump and tail still remain true to the original though.
The Humpy should not be overlooked as it is one of the great Trout flies that exist today. The fly may not be as popular as some of the fancy patterns springing up these days and it certainly isn’t matching any hatches. All in all, it does have fish catching power and that is something some flies will never have.
Recipe: Humpy
Hook: TMC 100SP-BL
Thread: UTC 70
Tail: Nature’s Spirit Select Cow Elk
Body: Floss
Hump: Nature’s Spirit Select Cow Elk
Wings: Mallard Flank
Hackle: Whiting Farms Furnace Brown