The Save Wild Steelhead Festival is an event to raise money and awareness for wild steelhead. Considered one of the most revered and allusive freshwater game sh on the planet, wild stocks are at an all time low. The purpose of the Save Wild Steelhead Festival is to unite anglers, filmmakers, photographers and conservation groups in an effort to educate the community on hard-hitting issues regarding wild steelhead. With a tasteful blend of entertainment and conservation, we hope this event will successfully bring together all those who enjoy fly fishing and the outdoors, for it is up to us to preserve the fish, their habitat and the sport for future generations.
The Save Wild Steelhead Festival will feature two slide show presentations focused on preserving wild steelhead. The first presentation, by Patagonia’s Dylan Tomine, is entitled “The Steelhead Tragedy.” The presentation will discuss the many issues that have caused the decline of wild steelhead up and down the Pacific Coast. The second slide show, “In the House of Mykiss,” presented by San Francisco-based photographer Jeff Bright, embodies the connection between angler and fish. Though mankind has damaged many of the steelhead’s rivers throughout the Pacific Northwest, there are a handful of places that remain almost untouched.
Bright invites us along as his breathtaking images show wild steelhead in their most pristine environments while poetically touching on themes like beauty, fish, passion and environment.
The film portion of the Save Wild Steelhead Festival will feature multiple short films including “Steelhead Yawning,” an underwater journey into the life cycle of wild steelhead, and “Pass Creek,” which tells the story of the devastating effects of logging on the North Umpqua River in Oregon.
A 30-minute cut of the evening’s premier film, “Raising the Ghost,” will conclude the festival’s events. The film chronicles six days of angling adventure in the Skeena River drainage of Northern British Columbia where Team Fly Boys captured the unlikely take of wild steelhead rising to dead-drift dry flies. “Raising the Ghost” captures the true essence of fly fishing for wild steelhead and educates its audience on why we need to protect the fish and their environment.
Furthering the discussion on wild steelhead preservation will be keynote speakers from our conservation partners including Trout Unlimited’s Rob Masonis.
The Save Wild Steelhead Festival will be held at the Emerson Cultural Center in Bozeman, Montana, on Nov. 5. The Emerson ballroom will house photographs and artwork dedicated to wild steelhead. Booth space is available for company reservations. Wine and food will be served. A fund-raising raffle will be held for numerous fishing products and related materials with all proceeds donated to wild steelhead conservation efforts. Free items will be given away during interludes. Tickets for the event will be $10.
