A note from the camera guy: This episode is particularly important for me. My mother is from northeast Arkansas, and I have deep family roots in this state. Although I grew up in neighboring Mississippi, my wife and I moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2016, and it felt like coming home. That was also when my interest in fly fishing really started to grow. How could it not? Fly fishing is a cornerstone of outdoor recreation in the "Natural State" and throughout the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. The year before our move, I spent time practicing my casting with a Wal-Mart kit in the farm ponds back in Mississippi. Now it was time to see if I could actually become a decent fisherman…
For our first European angling adventure, we met up with guide Stefano Sabbatelli and angler Pete Erickson. Pete, a former member of the U.S. Fly Fishing Team, is a guide in Idaho and Wyoming. Stefano famously guided the U.S. team to victory in the Dolomites in 2022, much to the chagrin of Team Italia I bet! This summer, they reunited for a relaxing, non-competitive morning of fishing on the famous Tiber River, proving that there are indeed trout in Tuscany!
While filming Fly Fish America: MINNESOTA, we crossed the border to visit some friends in Wisconsin at their family cabin. Many families are fortunate to inherit property, but Pete’s cabin happens to have a pristine, spring-fed pond full of brook trout. Aware of the land’s unique natural significance, Pete, its humble steward, is passing on his wisdom and vision for its continued maintenance to future generations.
For this episode, we visited the northern most state in the lower 48, Minnesota. Due to its diverse ecosystems and abundance of water, any angler will find ample opportunities for amazing fishing. From tannin-stained streams along the North Shore of Lake Superior to the gin-clear creeks of the bucolic Driftless region, we hope you enjoy this fishy journey across the "Land of 10,000 Lakes".
For our second installment of "Fly Fish America" we're joining the Midcurrent Travel crew for a trip to the fly fishing capital of the Bahamas, Andros Island. There we meet Prescott Smith to discuss his lodge, what makes Andros so special, and why it's worth protecting.
Welcome to "FLY FISH AMERICA" presented by Bluff Line Media. This new series will feature both short and long-form documentary films sharing anglers’ stories and exploring unique habitats across the western hemisphere. We’re excited to share EP1 showcasing America’s first federally protected river systems, the prolific Taneycomo tailwater and native smallmouth waters deep in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks.
