Ep 69: Telling the Fly Fishing Story, with Yilma Campbell
Yilma Campbell is one of the creative minds behind the So Fly Podcast and other So Fly digital media. This is the second episode in a series of three I’m doing with the crew from So Fly. In this episode, Yilma tells me about what draws him to different species and techniques, how focusing on nothing but streamers for a whole year has made him a better angler, and what it’s like to produce high-quality fly fishing videos with some of his closest friends.
So Fly Website: link
So Fly Youtube: link
Instagram: @thesoflycrew
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Katie
You're listening to the Fish Untamed podcast, your home for fly fishing the backcountry. This is episode 69 with Yilma Campbell on telling the fly fishing story. Yeah, I usually just start off with a bit of a background on how you got into fishing. So I'd love to hear how you got into fishing and then specifically fly fishing. If that didn't, you know, happen at the same time.
Yilma
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I think I've always been, I mean I was born in Trinidad, so my dad always took me to the water, you know, to the water, to different waterways, to the river to show me the little Cayman alligators. He would, you know, just basically keep me outdoors. I've always had this, you know, outdoorsy kind of mindset, even as a young kid. But I never fished until I moved to Canada. I moved to Canada when I was about six. So, but luckily when we moved, you know, we were, you know, we were right beside the Credit River. So, and that got me into sort of, you know, just spin fishing, always being, always being on the river during the weekends or in the evenings after school. So I just took to it really naturally. And I really got into it, you know, I was one of those kids that We watched Bill dance outdoors, Roland Martin, Bob Azumi, you know, just to name a few. And I just loved how those gentlemen would fish for largemouth bass and have always had, I'm gonna go to Texas to catch a huge largemouth and, you know, one day be a part of that scene. And I just, I don't know, something about Sunday morning fishing shows is just, you know, really caught my attention. So I've just been fishing my whole life, but fly fishing, I mean, I never really, I mean, I saw it and I always thought, obviously it's a challenging looking thing and I never really got into it. Never dabbled, never really researched up until about six, I think it's six years ago, just before I met Mitch. I just woke up one morning and it really was this, I just woke up and I think it was a Wednesday you know, it's weird to call the day out because it's such a specific thing, but I just woke up and I said I wanted to fly fish. This is the weirdest thing. I'm like, I want to try fly fishing. It's like, it's like I just wanted to do something new or something different. I guess from the mundane sort of, you know, nine to five work that I've been doing at an ad agency at the time. It wasn't nine to five, it was more like nine to nine. Yeah, and I think that's really what it was. It's working so, so much that I just needed something different. I stopped playing soccer. I started doing things. So I just tried, you know, I called up Murray's fly fishing school a couple of days after that, and, you know, he taught me how to cast. And then from there, I mean, the rest was history, really. So I'm pretty, pretty new to the whole fly fishing game.
Katie
Yeah. I don't think I realized that you had picked it up so recently. I think it kind of rings a bell now. maybe you've mentioned on your show that it sounds familiar at this point but I guess I thought that you had done it for a lot longer than that. You're just so seamless with the rest of the guys that it just sounds like you've been doing it forever.
Yilma
That's because I just let Mitch do most of the talking so I sound smarter than I or more knowledgeable than I should be.
Katie
A bunch of questions about what you said there though. What prompted the move from Trinidad to Canada? Normally I'm not really asking like why people moved around as a kid but that seems like a bigger move than most.
Yilma
I don't think there was… I think my parents just felt, I mean Trinidad is a Commonwealth country and the educational system is amazing. So it's not about that, it's where a lot of people do move to Canada. I think my dad felt there was more opportunity for me to grow, being in a bigger pond than something like Trinidad. And I think he just wanted that for myself and my sister and my brother. And yeah, and then we, and he was right. Definitely, definitely. Yeah, that was the biggest move. I mean, I've been back a few times, quite a bit, and I've actually got a couple of job offers to work in an ad agency in Trinidad. And I just, you know, I don't know if I could, as much as I love Trinidad and I love being there amongst my family, I don't know if I could work there. I think I would just get bored. I love the fact that, I don't know, something about Canada just feels a little bit more free terms of my design career.
Katie
Have you done any fishing since you've gone back to visit? Have you done any like saltwater while you're there or anything?
Yilma
Yes, so Aldo and I went to Tobago and we fished for, well, we were targeting permit mostly, but we fished for tarpon permit and bonefish there. So there's a little beach called, well, an area called Pigeon Point And it's a strip of beach that you can fish for permit. I would say it's about a quarter mile, even a little bit longer. And you can just go back and forth down this strip. And you see tailing permit and bonefish all the time.
Katie
That sounds fun. I haven't gotten to do the saltwater yet. But I've heard that once you do it, you just get sucked in. And I feel like I know that for myself. If it ever happens, that I'm just going to be dying to go back as soon as possible.
Yilma
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. it's just so warm and just it's a comfortable type of fishing you know. Yeah.
Katie
Would you consider yourself like a pretty avid saltwater angler at this point? Like is Canada what's keeping you there because you kind of like that like it's like a bigger pond but are you are you more of a fan of freshwater fishing too or if you had your choice would you live in Canada and still be able to you know saltwater fish there just like plop a plop a tropical ocean right next to it and target the permit and stuff all the time.
Yilma
Oh, if that was the case, if that was the case, uh, no, I think it's 50/50.
Katie
Really?
Yilma
I like it both. Yeah, I like it both equally. I would say, I mean, I think my double haul is pretty strong and I think I can hit distances and I can cut through the wind. So I think, you know, I'm pretty comfortable with saltwater, but I still need more experience. You know what I mean?
Katie
Yeah.
Yilma
You know what I mean? I think there's something about freshwater, as soon as trout season hits in Ontario, that it's just such a, the smell is different, the air is different, and it's just so exciting. And I think if I just saltwater fished for my whole life, I'll just miss that. So I'd have to say 50/50 for sure.
Katie
So are you mostly a trout guy?
Yilma
Yeah, I think, yeah. I've been spoiled catching some pretty big brookies Browns in this part of Canada and yeah, it's safe to say that I would consider myself a trout guy, but at the same time I have a soft spot for pike.
Katie
Really? Okay.
Yilma
Yeah, yeah. I think when I first started fly fishing I loved small mouth. I just feel like there's such acrobats in the water and that was the biggest, that was my my fave, but then now since I've been, you know, targeting so many different species of freshwater. It's between the Browns and a Pike for a tie, neck and neck, but my favorite freshwater at the moment.
Katie
What about those species really gets you excited?
Yilma
For Pike, it's that aggressive surprise of a hit would be Pike. I just, it's funny, I could be stripping and then all of a sudden there's this big, just aggressive hit that just gets me every time and I'm just so unaware and I get scared every time. (laughing) So yeah, so I definitely think that's white pike. And then for trout, I think it's the, I think it's everything about fishing for trout in terms of like where you go for trout. It's the babbling brooks, it's the soft, slow, fresh, clean smelling rivers. It's the type of flies, the attention to detail when you're fishing, especially when you're dry fishing for trout that is needed, especially in a river that's heavily populated with anglers. They're just so used to fishermen. It's just such a challenging thing. And then when you catch one, it's just that much more rewarding, I think.
Katie
Yeah. I guess I would classify brown trout in the trout world as being probably the closest to pike. Is that why you kind of favor them having that kind of more aggressive- like you think of them chasing streamers more so than gently sipping dry flies. But it also seems like you kind of like that other side of trout fishing, which is the delicate dry fly, beautiful presentation, the gentle sip on the surface. So I don't know it sounds like you kind of like the whole the whole package on trout.
Yilma
Yeah yeah that's a good, you connected those dots really nicely yeah I'd say that you're pretty correct. Funny enough this year that passed or that's almost finished is I really I didn't dry fly fish at all it was just streamers.
Katie
Oh really?
Yilma
Because of that same excitement because you know I'm like okay well been nymphing the year before and you know I matched the hatch a couple years back and you know I'm not done but this year I'm really gonna hone in on using a streamer so that's what I did I got a nice sage six way and went out to the river and caught a lot of browns on that big yellow robust streamer.
Katie
So are you are you the type to kind of pick a technique like that and really work on it because I find that I always tell myself I'm gonna do this I'm like okay I'm gonna work on like swinging wet flies or gonna work on streamers and I get out there I see one rise and I just like throw that out the window immediately and just go straight to dry fly fishing because that's my favorite but I sometimes wish I were more inclined to actually follow through with my plans of like okay I'm not gonna put on anything but a fill-in-the-blank today. Being a newer angler do you are you able to commit yourself to like a specific technique?
Yilma
Yeah yeah I have that that sort of brain or that discipline to kind of just yeah keep at it until until until I'm satisfied with that technique yeah I think the only thing that I made change a little bit more frequently is just you know if I'm if a fly isn't working for a specific reason if I feel like like it's not I don't have confidence in it then I'll switch it up a little bit more frequently but in terms of the style, yeah. I did not dry fly fish once this year for trout. It was only streamers.
Katie
Do you feel like you made a lot of progress in that year? Do you feel like you went in with a mild understanding of streamer fishing and you came out really feeling solid on it? Or do you still feel like it's a lot of luck? How do you feel that went, dedicating yourself to it like that?
Yilma
I actually did feel like I learned something that, because if I didn't dedicate the time, and it's specific to One River, really. It is, yes, there is luck, obviously, when it comes to this, because, but to kind of hone in on a specific technique. Because if a brown isn't hungry, if you hit him on the head with that streamer at the right time, the right twitch, he's gonna get angry and he's gonna be like, "get out of my house" and he's gonna hit that fly. So, or she. So, yeah. So, so yeah, I feel like that technique in particular, it did, it did feel like it was, you know, I progressed, for lack of a better word.
Katie
And how did you measure that? Was it just in number of fish caught? Did you notice like, "Oh, okay, I moved a fish there that normally I wouldn't," or like what sort of like measurable difference was there from the beginning to the end where you were able to say like, "I'm really proud that, you know, I stuck with it and made such and such happen." Like was it just number of fish or...?
Yilma
Yeah, I feel like... Okay, so yeah, that's a good question. I think... Actually, okay, give me one One sec, one sec. The stove was on and I'm back. The random Yilma is back.
Katie
Okay. Okay, hold on. Before you go on, I just have to tell you, I was listening to a podcast just yesterday and they were talking about how they're always worried when they leave their house, they left their stove on, but it's never actually happened. And they had to cut off the recording because someone had to go check if their stove was on. So this is kind of hilarious that one day later you actually had the stove on.
Yilma
It's funny because when we were on our little break, that cast iron pot, I used it yesterday to cook something. And I'm kind of seasoning it again. And to do that, I have to put a little bit of heat on, let that olive oil kind of sit in. And I just put it on for a second. I just forgot that I had it on. So I just-- never a dumb moment, I guess, when I'm on a podcast. It's always funny. I am the comic relief, so that's good. OK, yeah, so sorry. Repeat that question one more time.
Katie
Oh, I was just asking how you measure your success in this case. Like what were you able to see from the beginning of the year to the end of the year? I guess I'd also throw out like maybe you were just, you know, you felt more confident. Maybe you felt more confident casting. You actually had confidence in your fly. So like how did you measure that success?
Yilma
I think reading, pulling out, I think for me it was pulling out fish in places that I didn't think would carry fish.
Katie
Oh that's really interesting.
Yilma
Yeah. So and I guess it comes down to like reading the the river a little bit better and going up and down it more and more. And so I had uh I had the person who taught me the most out of fishing you know fishing for these browns with streamers was Josh on the Fly. He's he's another avid fly angler that we hang out with. Um and he He took me up and down the river quite a bit this year. And having him by my side kind of helped with my confidence in order to know or possibly know where those fish are kind of holding. And if he wasn't there, yeah, I wouldn't have hit those holes. I wouldn't have hit those pockets or those log jams. And yeah, and then because of that, the success rate went up this year quite a bit.
Katie
That's a really interesting point. I'm just thinking of my own fishing. There's times where I feel like I should fish every part of the river because at the end of the day, there are fish throughout the river. They're not only in the places that look the best. There could be fish in mediocre water, but I always am trying to weigh the pros and cons of like, do I really hit every part of the river thinking that way I know I touched everything that I could? Or do I spend my time in the places that seem like the biggest bang for their buck? Like, should I really cast into this water that looks eh when I could keep walking and maybe find a good pocket? I never really know. It kind of depends on the day, like which one I choose to do. But it sounds like you've kind of started to pick apart those seemingly mediocre spots. Maybe they weren't, maybe you just didn't know they were good. they were good spots and you just weren't aware of it but have you noticed that have you noticed yourself not passing up water before water now that you would have before just saying like I doubt it
Yilma
yeah exactly hundred percent so and I that is in funny you you know funny hit this because that's exactly my mentality this year I you know for example I was up there you know on the credit the other day or not the other day just before trout season closed and I was with Aedas another one of my buddies that I fish with and I'm like right there that's got it it's got to be brown there and I would never have pointed to that spot if I didn't have this year of focusing on those that those that certain type of water you know what I mean so I was able to really to see like oh that's you know and that could possibly have a brown and you know what you know sometimes there was and sometimes I wouldn't catch and I would just move a fish and honestly moving a brown in that water is success in itself.
Katie
Well it sounds like your mindset also isn't just I should try to hit this water because there might be a fish like you actually are seeing this water and saying I bet there's a fish there which I think is different from how my mindset has been in a lot of these situations which is give it a try you're like you never know but I'm not usually thinking like there's there's got to be a fish there it sounds like you've kind of shifted a a little bit your perspective on, you know, that mediocre water like might not be that mediocre.
Yilma
Yeah, exactly, exactly. Just yeah, and then yeah, I say that a lot and I say that with the team a lot, you know, there's got to be fish there and there usually is. You know, they're just so camouflaged, you know, they're so, they're in six inches of water sometimes and you're just, what is happening? You know, and with the naked eye, you'll never know unless you try. So yeah.
Katie
So do you have another technique in the hopper now that you're like, okay I've got stream like I've done my year of streamers paid my dues and now I want to try something else and yeah You're gonna lay off streamers for the next year and I don't know swing wet flies or fishy mergers during that time of the day Or what's what's next? What's next?
Yilma
I don't know if I want to move off streamers just yet. success rates been pretty good but But I think I think I got I mean there's times of the year as you know, that certain types of hatches are happening. And I kind of miss those days. I don't really push myself to go out and fish those days properly and really dive into the science behind it. When I first started fly fishing, I really tried to get into that. And my success rate wasn't that great, but that's because I was learning. So I think I need to go back to that eventually and just really, really capitalize on that sort of skill, skill set. But for now, I think I'm going to stick to streamers for a little bit.
Katie
Okay. So are you attracted to the "nerdier" side of fly fishing, the entomology and matching the hatch? Or are you more of a, like, I just want to catch fish and I'll do what I need to to like learn the basics, but I don't... Like some people just really, really love diving into like every different species of mayfly and stuff like that. And a lot of people are just like, "I want to know my mayflies, roughly, but as long as I'm catching fish, I don't need to know the scientific name of all the bugs I'm using."
Yilma
Well, yeah, I guess I never really thought about it, but I'm not as detailed as Aldo. So Aldo's the other crew member that you're going to be speaking to next week. really into the, he and Mitch are very much into the science or the nerding out as I would like to call it. I personally don't see myself at the moment being excited about it as much as they are. But that's, and I think that's only because I'm still a novice. You know, I consider myself pretty good because of how much I fish during those six, seven years. But I think eventually, I think this is something that's going to happen because I'm going to start tying more and I'm going to want to sort of hone in on specific skills. I think at this moment though, I'm enjoying just being outdoors, I think.
Katie
Yeah.
Yilma
I think that's kind of a natural progression for a lot of people. It's like you want to catch fish.
Katie
Once you're good enough at catching fish, you kind of look for something else. And I actually have an episode coming up about the progression of wanting to catch fish to wanting to catch a lot of fish and big fish and stuff like that. But there's also a level of, I want to expand my knowledge in some way. I can catch fish now, I want to tie flies or I want to build rods. And I feel like this is another one of those where it's like, I can already catch fish. How can I still make fly fishing feel engaging and feel like it's something new and I'm learning? Because there's just something about being in that learning space where everything's so exciting. Everything's such a big milestone. And I feel like when you've been fishing for a couple years you start to lose that Feeling of newness where you kind of feel like I don't know I've I've peaked you know I can catch fish when I go out but that's about it Second I can see that happening It's like a natural progression for a lot of people being like all right It's time to kind of learn where all these flies are
Yilma
Yeah, exactly and I think my time will come I feel that way I think the people I hung out with when I first started were so But the introduction to fly fishing that I got, I think I was lucky because I was hanging out with a few people that were just exceptionally smart and experienced behind this. But I didn't take to it as much as I should have at the time because it was just so difficult. And learning all these, oh my god. But eventually, for sure, eventually.
Katie
Yeah. So I want to switch things up and ask you a little bit about your media. I was looking at your website and it seems like similar to Mitch, if I understood correctly, like you guys are both, you have a media background both within and outside fly fishing. How'd you get into that? I know you said you had a degree kind of in that space, that marketing space, but what got you into media and what kind of media are you working on these days, like fly fishing and non fly fishing related?
Yilma
Yeah So yeah, I just I think I think I just naturally You know a draw a drawer. I draw and I do perspective, right? And you know and make babies look like babies and adults look like adults when I draw people so I kind of My father was you know, I think architecture and I want to be a veterinarian and I want to get into architecture Those are the only two things I really want to do in high school, but then you know, my father just said you know, what if you because he's a marketer and he was he was the general manager at Nestle and in Trinidad, so He said what about advertising, you know and becoming an art director So I said, hey, that's an interesting, you know Path and yeah, I went to the art school here in Ontario called the Ontario College of Art and Design and got my degree in design and Yeah, my first job was as a graphic artist, not even an art director, an advertising graphic artist, just to get my feet wet. And then I made my portfolio nice and pretty. And then I went for my first internship at Saatchi & Saatchi, which is a global agency. And I just fell in love with art direction and coming up with ideas for commercials and ad campaigns. Yeah, so that was my introduction to it. And I've always kind of been sort of a visual person. I mean, that's why I like fly fishing. And people always ask me, oh, you're so visual. Why don't you tie? But I mean, tying is different. It takes time. And yeah, and then I used that skill set when I met Mitch to design our logo. And we both came up with the idea behind it, and the look and feel, the colors, and made sure that our photos were somewhat consistent in terms of quality, that even the photos and the writing behind all of our posts has somewhat of a brand recognition. So when you read our posts, there should be a tone that says, oh, that must be SoFly. I think all that's sort of important when it comes to branding something.
Katie
I feel like I've noticed that. Not to cut you off, but I feel like I've noticed- I often will see a picture, probably kind of with the caption included, and I will think, oh, is this SoFly? And it often is.
Yilma
Awesome. That's great to hear. That's great feedback. Because you're a focus group. This is a focus group that we're having right now. So yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, and I think that's important. So that's sort of my history behind it. And Mitch was actually my partner in crime at an ad agency a few years back where he wrote the ads and I made it look visually pleasing. And we both came up with the idea behind the campaign. So that's sort of like our background.
Katie
So are you behind the camera much? Or like the photos I'm seeing, photos that you've taken, or are you more of the creative mind behind all this? Like, do you enjoy creating the story more or are you actually wanting to be behind the lens and getting the image itself? What part of it really draws you in? Is it the whole thing?
Yilma
It is actually the ground level stuff, right? Getting my hands dirty and being behind the camera really gets me excited. Yeah, I think, you know, when Mitch and Aldo and I come together, the ideas come from, we try to have the ideas come from all three of us in terms of what's next for SoFly, in terms of the bigger picture. But then when it comes down to actually making the things happen, Aldo and I usually split the camera work. And then lately we've been meeting better photographers and better filmmakers than ourselves that have been coming with us on these trips and really helping us out. So we, all the night, yeah, as much as we still shoot a lot and photograph a lot, we do bring with us other stylized photographers and filmmakers to help bring the story together because they're bringing another eye. You know, like I think the whole point of SoFly really is to bring everyone together, you know, inclusive of all even talented, different talents and experience of designers, photographers, filmmakers, but also like people who wanna get into the sport, quote unquote sport. So we like to deal with it that way as well. But yes, to answer your point, yeah, I love just being at the ground level with things, getting my hands dirty, designing, putting colors together, logos together, filming, you know, and then once that stuff's done, and Mitch and Aldo edit the footage. And then I plaster on some beautiful text and copy. And hopefully you guys or everyone likes it. I guess, yeah.
Katie
Now is this on YouTube mostly? Is that your primary platform for the video stuff?
Yilma
Yes, that's correct. So we started with Vimeo, but we feel YouTube is obviously a way better platform in terms of sharing the content and making a nice, you know, cohesive channel for ourselves. And I think it hits our target a little bit better than Vimeo did in the past. So yeah, we use YouTube for our videos. And then we use Spotify and Apple Music for our podcasts as well.
Katie
Okay, so yeah, I've actually not really watched many of your videos. I see you guys on Instagram. I listen to your podcast every episode. But I'm not as familiar with the video stuff. What kind of, what's your, do you have like a theme around it all? Is it going on travel trips? Is it featuring different anglers from around the continent? What's your theme if you've got one? Or is it just kind of, I don't know, any fishy opportunity that comes up, you take it and run with it?
Yilma
Yeah, I mean, the theme happens once we book a job. I hate that word. But anyways, yeah, once we book a project, that's a better word. Yeah, we tend to think about what this specific region has in store and kind of hone in and come up with an insight to come up with an idea behind it. So it's not necessarily as random, but like, for instance, you know, I think one of my favorites was Tulum. You know, we kind of deconstructed the video into three parts and it was all about the specific fish. So we heroized a specific fish per video for that. So it's like, this one's about the bonefish, this one's about the jack, and this I was about to snook. And that was the theme behind it. It was like a place where there's a lot of different species. So each video capitalized on one fish. So yeah, it depends. And I think we changed it each time. The first one we did, the first big one we did, was the Attawapiskat trip. And that was called first of many, because it was a first for all of us. It was a first float plane. It was a first giant pike, like 45 inch pike for all of us. It was a first, you know, Northern, really Northern Ontario experience. So for all of us that were there, all, you know, it was, that was the main crux of the idea, first of many. So yeah, it just depends. For my long winded answer.
Katie
Basically, so like, whatever situation you're trying to cover, that's gonna kind of dictate the best format to, how you'd arrange that video. Because it sounds like in Tulum you're chasing multiple species, so it kind of made sense to break it up that way. But somewhere else it might be the local culture around this tiny area that only, maybe they only fish for one species, but there's this local heritage that has been passed down or something. And it might just not fit the same mold as another trip because it just can't. Exactly. So what are the logistics of doing this on a fishing trip? Because I could see myself being like, I'll be sick to make a movie about this. But then the whole time I'm like, I just want to be fishing, you know? Does the camera work ever get in the way? Or does it enhance the experience? Do you get joy out of having to film? What's it like to have that be going on while you're fishing?
Yilma
Yeah, I think, I mean, I think if you're, if all, you know, for an example, if Aldo, Mitch, and I are going out. And the first day- it's the first day of, let's say, Brennan Harbor. We organize it in such a way where we say, Yilma, you're shooting. You're not fishing today. So then we capture Mitch and Aldo fishing. So the video's on a specific person. And then we switch it up the next day. So that way, we still get to fish, and we still get to- and we're shooting at the same time. Then everybody gets to be involved. So if we don't bring another photographer or filmmaker with us, that's how we kind of divvy it up. And yeah, and then I think it works really well. And no one really minds. Sometimes we're tired, and we just want to shoot. And then focus on the creative part of it. And we don't want to be standing- and our quads are hurting. We don't be standing the whole time. So yeah, no one complains. Everybody knows-- it's quite lovely, those trips, to be honest. quite a really wonderful organized bonding experience between the three of us. So and yeah it's worked out so far.
Katie
It sounds like maybe the fact that you can acknowledge that you're just on camera that day makes it easier to not feel the jealousy of fishing. Because I feel like if you're okay I'm gonna do camera for a little bit but then I'm gonna fish you see them catching fish you're like okay I really want to be done with this so I can start fishing. But if you've already acknowledged that that's just not your role for the day I I feel like it's gotta be a lot easier to disconnect from that and be like it's just it is what it is and then tomorrow I get to enjoy it and not have to feel the stress of like man I really want to put this camera down and take a cast or two.
Yilma
Yeah exactly. Exactly.
Katie
Do you have to be on pretty much like full time? Like I assume you also want to capture you know things that aren't fishing related. You know maybe you're camping you want to capture the camp life or whatever. Like when you're on camera duty do you get a lot of downtime or you is the mindset that want to be filming all the time to capture the entire experience and you know you don't want to miss something?
Yilma
Yeah cameras on all the time.
Katie
All the time.
Yilma
Yeah yeah yeah pretty much just because anything could happen you know and I think I think I think that was a learning experience. In the beginning yeah we were missing a few things. Like oh we didn't get this? No. All right well let's just keep the camera on next time and that's it. Yeah so if you're the cameraman yeah it's better to just keep it on. I remember we were with Jeff Jackson, he's a guy down in Southern Ontario on the Mississippi, we were on the Mississippi River and not the one in the States but the one up here. And yeah, I remember one time Mitch was, I was holding the camera now and Mitch was like, "Listen, we got to capture him saying these things so just keep the camera on the whole time." And literally the record button was the entire drift and we got every single thing and we were able to cut what we needed and it was just that much more successful.
Katie
Is there a trip that stands out to you as your favorite fishing but also the product you were able to make from it? Your kind of crown jewel of like this is my if I can only show one one video to somebody who wants to see like my best work what would what would you point people to or what comes to mind as their favorite trip?
Yilma
Favorite video or Or favorite trip?
Katie
Oh, let's do both.
Yilma
Let's do both. Yeah, I still think my favorite trip is the very first one, Attawapiskat trip. It's hard to say favorites 'cause they're all so special, you know, and they all have their own unique sort of thing, but I think the Attawapiskat trip was just so mind-blowing because of just the scenic, You know, like we saw the Northern Lights, we caught 45 inch pike. It was comfortable, it wasn't too hot, it wasn't too cold. It was, you know, we were the only ones on the river in that section. There were so many things that just made that trip just unreal. Every trip has their own merits, so it's hard to compare because they're such great trips. But I would say, first of many, Attawapiskat trip would be my number one. And video would be Elk Lake, wilderness resort video. We did, and it was just such a fun day where we just went out and just kept the camera on and had fun and we just made this sort of like just energetic video, which I just kind of just loved. It was just a lot of energy throughout the whole video. It was just every time someone asks me, "What do you guys do?" "Can you show me, share a video?" That's the one I share.
Katie
Okay, I'll have to look that one up because your answer for that one was like right away. You know, the first one you could tell there's a lot of trips that come to mind, but this one you're like, "But this is the trip "that I know had the best video." So I'll have to check that out.
Yilma
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. If you see a bear in the video, that's the one.
Katie
Okay. Do you prefer video or podcasting?
Yilma
Video.
Katie
Really? A very quick answer. Is that just because of the added creativity that you could put into a video versus the limited nature of an audio format? Or is there something else that really draws you to the video?
Yilma
I just think, yeah, I just love making, I think I love just the visual aspect of video and photos and design. I just gravitate towards just coming up with the really cool angles and the shots a little bit more than I do in terms of the audio.
Katie
Yeah, I could see video being more of a deliberate creation podcasting, at least the style of your show and mine, which is a lot more, I don't want to say reactive, but it's, there's not a big plan going into it and there's not a lot of creativity beyond, like I don't do much editing apart from just taking out things that need to be taken out. I don't, I feel like there'd be a different, a different feeling around it if it were something like This American Life, where they've curated interviews and put it together with music and everything like that becomes, I feel like, closer to to the type of video you're creating. Whereas both of our podcasts are more just, it feels like you're sitting around, shooting a shit with somebody. And it's just not the same type of creativity at least.
Yilma
Yeah, it's different, definitely. I think, this is me speaking out of turn, but yeah, I feel if I were to say, when Mitch gets into the podcasting and like everything about it, his eyes really shine. He loves the side of our gig for sure. Yeah, and he's a musician. So sound is like a big thing for him right and playing with all the you know the different What do you call it
Katie
like the equalizer
Yilma
Thank you This is why I shoot camera not not anyways. Yes. So he yeah, his eyes really get excited for that. So Yeah, and I think there's a bit of instant gratification when it comes to video as well for me anyways. As soon as I shoot I get to just look back at it and it's just like, "Oh yeah, that's the shot I wanted."
Katie
Yeah. Well, it's cool that you guys found each other in that you both have the same desire for that creative control and being able to express yourselves that way, but kind of focusing on two different aspects of it. So you both get to participate in both, but you kind of each shine in a different way. I feel like that's got to be just a really nice compliment to each other.
Yilma
Yeah, absolutely. And yeah, I appreciate that. Yeah, I would like to think so. Definitely come, three of us come from different, three different backgrounds and bring that, and we bring something to the table together for sure.
Katie
Are there any goals to, you know, take your films to the film tour or anything like that? Or have you had any films in the Fly Fishing Film Tour?
Yilma
We try. We tried like four times I guess, and we're gonna keep trying. We got an honorable mention of the IA4 which is really nice but yeah we're just gonna keep trying and try to get into them yeah that'll just make us better and better.
Katie
Is it just a matter of submitting and you know they just choose the best ones based on I mean I assume it's not just straight up the best ones because they probably also want a good mix like they don't want to show they might get 20 fantastic trout films but they're they're not gonna want to just show trout films they're gonna want to show a variety so not to say that you're not good enough enough to get in but like it might just not be what they're looking for at the time. So is that just kind of keep submitting keep trying to improve and hoping that at some point you just fill the need that they're looking for that year?
Yilma
Yeah exactly definitely because it's it definitely think that they're not picking based on a subjective decision it's definitely something that they need to require to showcase so yeah just keep doing it.
Katie
I mean at least it works out that if if you can't submit or if you don't get chosen for that it's not like the video goes to waste like you can put it out on your own channel and stuff. So it's not it's not an all-for-nothing type of venture I guess.
Yilma
Yeah yeah exactly.
Katie
Cool well we can get wrapped up here. I know I just talked to Mitch so he probably shared most of your links but again if you want to plug where people can find you I think he focused mostly on the like the Instagram and podcast side so feel free to plug YouTube or wherever else people can find you.
Yilma
Yeah for sure you can find us at SoFly... oh my god what are the plugs give me one sec I don't I never do the plugs and you can keep this all in for a bunch of laughs
Katie
Perfect you did say you're the comedic relief.
Yilma
Yeah so SoFly.ca that's our website you can find everything SoFly related on that site including our Instagram and YouTube and Facebook and all our merchandise is all on there. But on Instagram it's @thesoflycrew and I think that's our main sort of hub. Not that I think but I know that it's our main hub to check us out. I would use Mitch's plug.
Katie
Okay, I'll just insert that here. Huh, his voice changed. Well, this has been a lot of fun. Despite the technical issues and the stove being left on, it turned out pretty well. So I just thank you for coming on and I look forward to chatting with Aldo and getting his perspective next week. I think that'll be fun to compare everybody.
Yilma
Amazing. Thank you so much. I'm very honored to be on this on your podcast and it was great to work with you too.
Katie
Alright guys, thanks for listening. Don't forget to head over to the website fishuntamed.com for all episodes and show notes. And also please subscribe on your favorite podcasting app. That'll get my episodes delivered straight to your phone. And also if you have not yet, please consider going over to Apple Podcasts and leaving a rating or review. That's very helpful for me and I'd greatly appreciate it. Other than that, thank you guys again for listening and I will be back in two weeks. Bye everybody.
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