Friday night, the equestrian center barn at The Lodge at Blue Sky echoed with the light chatter of fly fishing enthusiasts hooked for a night to celebrate a shared passion.
For the fifth year, Blue Sky Ranch held a watch party for the annual International Fly Fishing Film Festival, or IF4. And sold out at over 100 people, this was the biggest year yet.
“We never thought I would have to run down to go grab more chairs because we have such a good turnout,” Carter Kuehn, the manager and lead guide of Blue Sky’s adventure program, said to the crowd in advance of the films.
He explained there would be eight films total. After watching the first four, he would distribute raffle prizes during a short intermission and then resume with the last four.
“To be able to do this is awesome because we bring so many different facets of what makes Blue Sky, Blue Sky,” said Kuehn. “What’s fun about this event is the community outreach. We’d love to expand it and get even more anglers here. It’s very relaxed.”
He emphasized the “relaxed” concept with the food, too — buffet-style comfort food like beef or chicken sliders, a nacho bar, french fries and tater tots, popcorn and movie-theater candy, T.F. Brewing beers and a few sodas.
“Fly fishing is one of those activities where most people go to relax,” he said. “We don’t need the extravagant foods.”
The relaxed energy wasn’t hard to capture, as people mingled with friends they’d seen out on the river, exchanging stories.
Husband and wife Kris and Andrea Clemons said this was the reason they made the drive from Heber for the event.
“I think it’s fun to get around people that are like-minded in the fly fishing community,” said Andrea. “People that love fly fishing, they’re probably people that live locally, that like to get on the water, that maybe you haven’t connected with on the river organically before.”
Kris, a fly-fishing guide with Fishwest/Jans Fly Fishing, said events like these give him a chance to reconnect with old friends.
“The guy that was sitting right here, I guide him. And we had been talking on the drive here, ‘Do you think Brian’s going to be here?’ And we’re like, ‘No …,’ and no kidding, turn around, ‘No way, Brian’s right there!'” he said with a laugh. “It’s just fun to see people you haven’t seen in a while since fishing season’s starting.
For Kuehn, these connections are the best part.
“We have so many people that are coming together for this event. It’s neat because I start seeing faces and I’m like, ‘I know you two people from completely different outlets of life,'” he said.
The Clemonses had seen showings of previous year’s festival films at other venues, like the Egyptian Theatre and Heber City Brewing. Each venue makes the viewings unique, said Kris, which makes it fun to try out new locations.
The film festival, the reason for the night’s event, goes on tour with 175 shows around the globe, according to its website. For most of this tour, the directors will travel in person to represent their short film. While the showing at Blue Sky was not part of the official tour, and directors were not present in person, each film was introduced with a recorded message from its director.
Lights were dimmed and the first four films played on the hall’s projector screen. An introduction first: “The fly fishing culture, it thrives on you creating your own stories from your own adventures and these guys tonight are going to inspire you and your fishing buddies to add new fish and new locations to your bucket list.”
This year’s selections were Phil Tuttle and Gilbert Rowley’s “South Caicos,” Jako Lucas and Dani Bayer’s “Pinawaca,” Nic Heslop’s “Vivid Dreams,” Fred Campbell’s “Tunulik,” Jesse Males’ “The Runaround,” Hilton Graham and Lucas Krost’s “Tension,” Andrew Gilbert’s “A Ride with Clyde,” Helmut Zaderer and Vaidas Uselis’ “Kendjam” and Travis Bradford’s “The Golden Ride.”
In the night’s five- to 10-minute short films, fly fishers traveled to coveted fishing spots like the Amazon’s Rio de Gigantes, the gem-like waters of Walker’s Cay, Bahamas and autumn-colored Jackson Hole with the Grand Tetons looming behind.
Knowledgeable groans, cheers and laughs followed the fly fishing scenes, as fish leapt in the air, flies got caught in trees, and adventurers went jumping overboard after a hard-won fish.
Sponsor-donated prizes were raffled off during a short intermission — a half-day fly fishing guide for two, a basket of Flywest goods, a free pocket knife, a kit of fishing tools..
For Kuhen and his team, the night was a record success. Now to plan for next year.
For more about the International Fly Fishing Film Festival at flyfilmfest.com. For more about Blue Sky Utah’s adventure program at aubergeresorts.com/bluesky/experiences or call 866-296-8998.
