The Trout Bum Diaries

Whilst we always try to promote the salty vein type of fishing on WSF it doesn’t mean that some of us don’t dabble in a spot of puddle dunking or go on the occasional jolly up a river. The usual picture of a freshwater lover to a sea angler is one of a Rambo wannabie plasted in cammo clothing who lives in a tent and calls everybody “dude”. At the end of the day they are all anglers and there is plenty we can learn from our freshwater leaning friends. But if you are still not convinced and you get off by sitting on a beach, freezing your unspeakables off and getting plasted in manci old lug juice, then I reckon I’ve found some freshies that may well be on the same wave length.

Enter, the Trout Bums, filmed by the slightly crazy bunch of anglers called the Anglers Exploration Group. Founded by Ryan Davey, Chris Owens and Brian Jill the AEG is a group of trout anglers that produce fly fishing entertainment for the adventure angler, with the help of nine other equally mad anglers. The footage shot shows a raw account of their angling exploration and experiences. These guys live in the wild, hiking to distant streams and sleeping in the dirt when they have to. They are passionate about angling and all their films portray this in a manner never seen on any DVD before.

Yes these DVDs are about fly fishing and yes they involve trout rods, trout, and adrenalin junkie anglers, but they also contain some of the best angling action you are likely to see. Forget the instructional sequences and stale dialogue (there is none) and welcome 140 minutes of travel, adventure, tears, laughter, joy and despair all put together with a classy sound track and in your face camera work. The Trout Bums series is shot like an extreme sports video with changing video quality, black and white inserts and the occasional slow-mo playback all put together to give the viewer an outstanding visual performance of rod bending action.

Not only do you get the fishing but you get all the other problems and encounters a roving angler might face, from car breakdowns and near death experiences to drinking far too much beer than is healthy. Such is their enthusiasm that even when the car breaks down a member of the group sets up his fly tying table on the roadside and starts working on new flies ready for the next day! This is all combined with non-stop fishing action sequences that contain both the joy and frustration that we all suffer when trying to catch an uncooperative fish, no matter what discipline we belong to.

Volume 1 follows the group on a six month fishing expedition to the South American region of Patagonia. The gang fish in waters from small ditches to large rivers and lakes and it doesn’t matter what size of fish these waters contain, the group fish on regardless. Such is their love of angling; they sleep in their waders and wading jackets with their rods beside them, when they wake, they pick up their rods, zip up their jackets and wander off in search of more fishing action! Mad maybe, but you can’t help but admire their sheer enthusiasm for all things fishy. Some of the sequences in the first volume are unreal with wild trout runs to some stunning shots of a leaping fish. The way the guys have managed to capture the essence of fly fishing off the beaten track is outstanding, from fishing in clear streams in the shadow of snow capped mountains to unpleasantly muddy, insect infested inner forest streams, the film shows the lengths these anglers are willing to take, to do something different and exciting.

In Volume 2 the AEG head for New Zealand undertaking four months of fish filled exploration. Now being a bit of a fly fishing junkie myself I’ve read plenty of things about New Zealand, in particular about how technically difficult the fishing can be. Thankfully this DVD takes you right into the action and portrays the frustrations and passions of the anglers as they hook and lose some incredible fish. For a change we see the progress in the anglers as they turn up raw to the art of hooking up kiwi trout, to becoming more proficient and less frustrated. Just like in the first DVD we get a mixture of angling and every day trip adventures. The trusty jeep is gone and is replaced with a Toyota Camping van which the team give a new camo paint job and mounted a skull on the front! This volume does have an air of “Sequel” about it. It’s less frantic and more relaxed than the first, but it still captures the essence of how these guys’ fish. Whilst this DVD is slightly shorter at 75minutes they still manage to pack in some stunning angling scenes, with underwater trout fighting footage that has to be seen to believed, it will make any serious angler beg for more.

You could say this is a positively glowing review, well it is! These DVDs are brilliant and most anglers will find them interesting and fun. It might not be for the more traditional angler or the angler that just doesn’t think there is life outside of the briny, but they are certainly worth a watch (many times over).

I had to buy these DVDs direct from the states as I couldn’t find anywhere stocking them in the UK, they are Region Free so will play on most DVD players. Each DVD costs around $25 each plus postage, with the exchange rate in February I paid around £33 for the two including postage.

Web: http://www.aegmedia.com/

Trout Bums Trailers

Volume1: Patagonia