Jungle Fish - A YGF Review

Jungle Fish from Costa Films takes place in the depths of Guyana’s rain forest. It stars Oliver White, Nathan Webber, and friend of YGF Matt Breuer as they attempt to prove that arapaima (the largest freshwater fish in the world) can be caught with a fly rod with the hopes that angling success will lead to a hopefully profitable sport fishing/eco-tourism industry in poverty stricken Guyana.



The 29 minute long film is engaging, entertaining and eventually very rewarding. It is more nature documentary than fish porn and it is a very refreshing change from the norm. No pulsing, high energy soundtrack. Instead, sounds of the rain forest, casting of the fly rods, rowing of boats, arapaima breaching the surface to breath, and ultimately explosive thrashing of extremely large fish. The full-on rain forest experience with a medley of species of fish (arawana, peacock bass, and piranha), river otter, and caiman.

The anglers stay at Rewa Lodge, an eco-tourism lodge in Guyana’s rainforest that employs an entire village. Arapaima, which are endangered, hadn’t previously been caught on the fly. The three anglers go through their fair share of failure prior to catching a beast or four. But, the payoff is huge. Arapaima are powerful, unique, air-breathing, brightly colored, 300 hundred plus pound monsters. The sequence of the first arapaima being landed on a doubled over 12 weight is worth the price of admission alone. Matt Breuer proudly boasted to me in person that he was the first to land one. All in all, the film is well-worth a half hour of your time and is a bargain at $14.95.

Costa Film’s Jungle Fish is available here and comes with the imaginary YGF seal of approval. It’s like being on Oprah’s Book Club...except more distinguished.

Ponoi River Company - Job Posting

Fresh Atlantic Salmon from the Ponoi

Friend of YGF, Matt Breuer of the Ponoi River Company is looking to fill a hostess/assistant manager for the Ryabaga camp for this upcoming season. He wanted to let the small section of the internets that follows YGF know about a very unique and interesting opportunity to work in the Kola Peninsula this year. Spread the word.

Here is the official job posting:

Internship / Seasonal Job Posting

Job Title: Ryabaga Camp Assistant Manageress/Hostess

Location: Kola Peninsula, Murmansk Region, Russian Federation

Salary Range: $1200 - $1800 per month, depending on qualifications

Gratuities: $350 - $500 per week average

Duration: June to mid - October

Job Summary:

For 22 years, Ponoi River Company and Ryabaga Camp have successfully operated the finest fly fishing camp in the world in terms of service, hospitality, and quality of fishing - attracting 80% of clients to return. The invaluable and interactive role of Camp Assistant Manageress/Hostess is crucial to the success of a quality experience for clients at Ryabaga Camp. Client service and satisfaction are of critical importance to ensure repeat business.

Serving as Camp Assistant Manageress /Hostess, your duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Participating in hosting efforts to achieve maximum client satisfaction.

• Analyzing staff activities and client feedback to provide input for strategic planning and camp management.

• Functioning as a liaison between management, staff, camp, and clients.

• Directly supervising staff including those involved in the operation of kitchen and camp infrastructure.

• Prioritizing the client by extending all amenities to make each client’s trip as valuable as possible.

• Delegating and monitoring workflow and directing the staff involved.

• Maintaining the highest level of customer service and resolving conflict as required.

• Engaging in communications with Murmansk, Helsinki, UK, and US offices when necessary and as required.

Analytical / Interpersonal Skills Needed:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to interact with staff, clients, and suppliers in an effective, professional, and pleasant manner.

• Ability to prioritize and manage simultaneously.

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree; ideally in the area(s) of Outdoor Leadership, Outdoor Education, Recreation Management, Hotel Management, or Service Industry.

• Strong knowledge of hotel, bar, and kitchen operations.

• Knowledge of international travel and fly fishing.

• Proficiency and experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, data entry, etc.

• First Aid and CPR certifications.

Valid US Passport with at least 4 clean pages, and a validity of at least six months past October 2012.

Drug screening.

HIV screening and medical testing (required by Russian Federation in order to be granted a work visa).

How to Apply: Please submit a current resume, cover letter, and list of references to:

Matthew Breuer

Ryabaga Camp Operations Manager

+1 (252) 414 - 0047

matt@ponoiriver.com

www.ponoiriver.com

Hey, Steelhead, let me catch you.

Two weekends ago, I went steelheading over in Idaho with Matt Breuer and LG. For the past two weeks, I have been trying to muster up some grand post about how going fish-less (whitefish don't count, this isn't baseball) over the course of two, windy, cold, and rainy days was the cat's meow. It wasn't. It was like self-flagellation in the church of the Clearwater. Eventually, it started to feel kind of good. So, instead of more words, I will sum it up in FISH JERKS style.

What I thought my first steelheading trip would look like - that's how it works. First trip, big wild buck. Amirite?

What my trip actually looked like. Empty handed. For reference, BWO.

I'd do it again.

Calling Hogs

Spent this past Saturday on the Bitterroot with Matt Breuer and Blakely. Floating in the Breuer's skiff, we enjoyed the slightly seasonally warm temperatures, and to a lesser degree, the biting winds. While the float was a little hurried, we were able to stick some fish, including two solid rainbows who were both caught on streamers. Icing on the cake. As always, watch it in HD on vimeo.

Music: Diplo "Sarah"

Calling Hogs from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.

In other news, I now have a friend with a boat. It's nice.

Steaming Piles of Thread, Feathers, and Fur

AKA - my first tied flies

After a sushi-rolling, Argentinian techno musicing, snowball fighting dinner party went later than expected on Friday night, Saturday morning was spent sleeping and not fishing. Shame shame on me. I had every intention on getting out on the water this weekend, but Argentinian techno music is a confusing, exhausting, and apparently cruel mistress.

So, Plan B was tying my first flies with Matt Breuer. Matt lent me one of two vises and put me to work. It took me a whopping five hours to make four flies. Mostly because of all the guffawing, storytelling, and phone calls, but also because of my lack of fly tying ability and aptitude.

First fly - bunny leech of some sort.

Second and thirdflies - zebra midges

Fourth and final fly - the ugliest woolly (or is it wooly) bugger known to man kind

So, there it is, my first venture into fly tying. I can't wait to tie my next piece of crap.

Ponoi, Salmon, and the Matt Breuer

Friend of YGF, Matt Breuer of the Ponoi River Company, is making it a habit of appearing in videos on Moldy Chum. First, Breuer was dropping spey bombs in the unprofessionally done YGF video Sleep, Dreams, and Birthday Donuts. A video that was posted on the Chum in mid-December.

Now, he is appearing in the very professionally shot The Incomparable Ponoi. If I am to believe Matt (which I am trying not to make a habit of), this promo for his company was shot by Gin Clear Media on the RED camera. That is 25k for a camera.

Breuer should be back in town in the next couple days, so expect him to make several appearances in upcoming YGF projects.

The stories Matt has about the Ponoi are a little ridiculous. Stories of 40-50 fish days. All of those fish being Atlantic Salmon caught on the swing. Sign me up.

Check out The Incomparable Ponoi.