Making of the WSF DVD Series
“Going for smallmouths again?”
“Does this guy ever catch fish?”
“What the heck are they talking about?”
Ever since Nick (aka Brown Trout) brought over a video tape loaded
with 6 hours of cable TV fishing shows some 8 years ago, these
questions have become commonplace in what seems to be a vicious
cycle of fishing show disasters. Anyone remember a show called
“Fishing with Laddin” ? Didn’t think so, now let’s move on.
We’d record fishing show after fishing
show and would be giddy as a school girl to show off an episode or
two that was recorded while the other guys were sleeping…..hey,
there wasn’t much better to do during winter in Fort Saskatchewan
anyways. Over the years we would point out both positives and
negatives about certain shows: everything from music, to the host’s
commentaries were analyzed.
Through high school and college, Tim Trevor, Nick, and I would take
handy-cams with us and jokingly make little fishing videos, some of
which appeared on our old “Tripod” website. After tinkering with
some editing software for a few years and purchasing some underwater
equipment just last year, we noticed that our fishing shows were
getting pretty decent. Tim had also purchased a pretty good camera a
few years ago, and with the use of portable microphones bought off
Ebay, I proposed that rather than trying to get our show approved by
public TV, we would produce a DVD series.
You won’t find hosts like the ones from out east or down south who
look like NASCAR drivers with
all of their sponsors on these discs.
The 2-Disc set was filmed throughout Alberta and BC with
instruction, entertainment, and capturing the fishing experience in
mind. No sponsors, no big companies, just me and my fishing buddies
capturing memorable trips in some of our favourite destinations, and
having fun while doing it.
I believe that underwater video is
essential in making a good show. Not only can the viewer see what
the fish is doing while it is fighting, but they can also see the
style of fight that different species put up. Whether it be the
reel-screaming run of a heavy lake rainbow or the rolling of a big
cutthroat, we captured it.
The filming of the series started during May, with some monster lake
rainbows, and it continued into
the fall, where we finished off fly
fishing for some Red Deer River walleye. The DVD series is a 2-Disc
set that includes 5-full length episodes, one never-seen classic
episode, as well as out-takes! One of the out-takes is video magic
that will always be known as “the perfect beer crack” at the end of
a fishing day. It’s been fun filming and producing the DVD’s and
they have been completed in a limited supply.
Tight lines to all!
Written by: Andy Tchir