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The Upper Columbia River’s 255,000 cubic feet per second of cold trout water and a massive brown drake hatch sets the stage for the film Twilight Drakes. In a flow 160 times larger than Montana’s Madison River, the currents and incredible power remind an angler of the absolute authority of moving water. But, big rainbows thrive in this environment and when the brown drakes hatch it becomes an experience few have ever seen. My featured anglers are Jack and Jennifer Mitchell (remember the film Spey Style) and they own Black Bear Lodge in the northeast corner of Washington State. Each evening of this hatch, they set out with headlamps on, prepared to fish the brown drake hatch well into the dark of night.
For me, this was a challenging shoot. First, the hatch is concentrated into about twenty days, and the emergence dates can vary, year to year. Second, they hatch late in the evening, in very low light and that is always tough to film. It was a waiting game each evening and as time ticked on, my window of opportunity was slowly closing. Then, the hatch started and the trout feasted as the summer sun went behind the hills, to be replaced by stars and a black sky.
The lighting was very difficult, but this test was met by Jack and Jennifer and eventually myself and my video camera. The edit was wrapped around the low light fishing action and the massive river and hatch. Thanks to the Mitchell’s and their Black Bear Lodge for giving me the opportunity to film the brown drakes in such an incredible setting. Contact Jack Mitchell for more info about guided trips on the Upper Columbia River. Bring a headlamp!
Twilight Drakes by Todd Moen
Filmed July 17, 2012 at Black Bear Lodge – http://www.theeveninghatch.com
Contact Jack Mitchell – [email protected] – to secure the best dates for the this upcoming dry fly season – 509.773.3460 – http://www.theeveninghatch.com
