NEW FILM RELEASE: DOOR MAN

Enjoy the latest short film from Waist Deep Media by clicking play below.

Learn more about the film and go behind the scenes in our latest blog post below.
Author: Joey Mara

Leaf Seaburg is the door man of the Methow. A guide, a father, a steward, a good friend, and a great fishing buddy. This film is a window into a single season on the river Leaf's called home for over 40 years. After suffering a devastating loss of his families home from the Carlton Complex wildfires, Leaf has been pushing forward pursuing what he loves to do and staying the course as he works to better his hometown fishery.

At the start of the season, fishing the spring high water meant few anglers around and a few exceptional specimens to hand. Piscivorous hybrid beasts and bull trout fattened on salmon smolt. High velocity floats and meat stripped downstream off the bank.

In late summer and early fall we returned for what remained of the short (June-September) fishing season. Pre-dawn wakeups to beat the other fisherman to public access required. Long hours, spot hopping, and toting camera/audio gear began to test my resolve.

Actually witnessing someone hook and land a fish is a difficult enough thing to witness with your own two eyes. Add having to frame/focus a shot, two hot lav mics on the talent, not forgetting to press record...and you’ve got a challenge.

My plan of capturing the ultimate shot in my mind - a steelhead rising to a October caddis pattern seen from the drone above - never materialized. But, keeping my eye to the lens and enlisting the help of Leaf and our fishing partners paid off in high definition gold!

Adfluvial fish were in the system and we were finding bows and cutties on dries, streamers, and nymphs. Best of all, a flawless summer run hen hammered a swung/stripped streamer gracing us with an appearance!