Stuck at home like us? We know how that feels. To help pass the time, we asked our field reporter and videographer Michael Wier for his top 10 video recommendations and put together this list. We hope you enjoy these films at home during these strange times. Stay healthy and safe.
1. The River Brings Everything
Between 1918 and 1965 five dams were built on the Klamath River, cutting off access to the upstream spawning habitat for Steelhead, lamprey and five species of Pacific Salmon. In 2021 crews will begin removing four of the five dams, reestablishing access to the upper Klamath for anadromous fish and restoring natural flows to one of the largest salmon and steelhead ecosystems on the West Coast of the U.S.
Video by The FlyFish Journal and Liam Gallagher.
2. Enough is Enough
Enough is Enough is a story about the fabled McCloud River in Northern California. This movie follows the stories of three anglers and the river they love. Follow CalTrout Conservation Director Curtis Knight, CalTrout Ambassador Craig Ballenger and McCloud River fishing guide Ron Heart on a soulful and heartfelt journey into on of America's premier rivers.
Produced by Keith Braunies and California Trout.
3. Swing North
Hidden behind deep gray fog, California’s North Coast is one of the most pristine habitats in the state. Once hosting runs of more than a million salmon and steelhead, the annual fish counts on the Eel River now often number less than 1,000. Yet, the salmonids persist. In recent years, signs of a recovery ripple through the waters. In Swing North, fishermen Mikey Wier and Jason Hartwick hook into the growing population of wild winter run steelhead on the Eel. With appearances by Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia and Shane Anderson, director of Wild Reverence: The Wild Steelheads’ Last Stand, the two discover a river that holds hope for one of California’s great remaining wild fisheries. The full movie was featured in the 2014 International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4). To learn more about what CalTrout is doing on the Eel River and other rivers on the north coast, visit caltrout.org
Produced by Michael Wier and California Trout.
4. Liquid Gold
Liquid Gold is an Adventure into the High Sierra in search of California Golden Trout.
Produced by Keith Braunies and California Trout.
5. Return to Abundance
A suite of films about the Eel River watershed and CalTrout's headwaters to sea approach to restoration.
Produced by Michael Wier and California Trout.
6. Casa De Grandes
A film about how fly-fishing for Peacock Bass is helping save the Amazon Rainforest.
Produced by Michael Wier and Burl Productions.
7. DIYAK
A film about a DIY float trip down a 100 mile wilderness river deep in the heart of Alaska.
Produced by Michael Wier and Burl Productions.
8. Gold Fever
Gold Fever is when you get the taste of gold and you will stop at nothing to get more! Jobs, relationships, obligations are disregarded. The only thing you can think about is another nugget. In this case those nuggets are huge wild brown trout from the heart of the Mother Lode in the Sierra Foothills of California. Gold Fever was an official selection of the 2016 International Fly Fishing Film Festival(IF4).
Produced by Michael Wier and Burl Productions.
9. The River Time Forgot
A film about Fly-Fishing for giant Taimen in Mongolia. After visiting Mongolia in 2006 I vowed to return and some day float a remote river we got to fish and explore. This is the story of that trip. In 2008, A small group of American Anglers with the help of a group of skilled Mongolian's became the first to float fish this remote river in the Northern Steps of Mongolia. We covered 140 miles and had some great fishing.
Produced by Michael Wier and Burl Productions.
10. Against All Odds: Southern California Steelhead
Against All Odds is a documentary about one of California's most magnificent and endangered native fish species. Once numbering in the tens of thousands, these resilient fish are now on the brink of extinction. Dams, development, water extraction, pollution, and climate change have all taken their toll. However, these fish are not doomed to extinction and a small number of people can make a big difference in helping recover this iconic species. Please visit CalTrout.org for more information on what CalTrout and its partners are doing to help recover these beautiful fish.
Produced by Michael Wier and California Trout.
4 Comments
Thank you for this. These films will surely help to pass the time during this quarantine. I am sure to learn from them also.
Love it. We even made a video of our dog watching. Thanks
I enjoyed these videos. Thanks for making these videos available during our shelter-in-place time. Will watch them again.
I love CalTrout, wilderness and fishing! Your videos are so good, They take me back to all the wilderness trips that us old guys have taken over the years. Thanks for doing what you are doing to keep our streams and rivers pristine.