Behind the Lens: Aaron’s Approach to Filming the Emotion and Rhythm of Fly Fishing
With : leaky_waderz
We caught up with Aaron on a rare off-day—somewhere between editing reels, packing for a Baja trip, and chasing golden light through his viewfinder. I’ve followed his work for a while now, and what always strikes me is how honest it feels. The guy doesn’t just point a camera at a fish and call it good. He’s in it for the rhythm, the grit, and those fleeting moments we all chase but rarely capture. In this conversation, we dug into how fly fishing hooked him, how photography gave him a whole new lens on life, and where he’s heading next with PMD Fly Fishing and Three Tails Media in tow.
Aaron, what first sparked your love for fly fishing, and how did that passion transition into a focus on filming and photography?
I came to both fly fishing and photography on my own—completely self-taught.
One summer, struggling with my conventional rod, I watched a guy upstream effortlessly catch fish on dry flies. I finally asked what he was doing, and right there in the river, he gave me a quick lesson. That night, I dove into YouTube tutorials, rigged up my basic Cabela’s outfit, and hit the river again. Crazy enough, the same gentleman was there, fishing the same beat. He saw me and let me fish just below him (bless his soul). Not long after, I was hooked into my first fish on a dry fly. That moment—seeing the fish eat, feeling the connection—I was completely consumed. From then on, I was obsessed. Fly fishing became a core part of my life.
Photography came later, but it was a pretty natural progression. Photography unlocked a whole new aspect of the sport for me. It changed how I looked at everything. Now, I rarely leave the house without my camera. Fly fishing gave me the purpose to be out there, but photography gave me a way to hold onto those moments. Together, they’ve completely shaped how I see the world.
Working with Three Tails Media and PMD Fly Fishing, how do you approach capturing the emotion and rhythm of fly fishing through a lens?
For me, it’s all about feeling. Fly fishing has this rhythm—it’s quiet, almost meditative—that’s hard to describe unless you’ve lived it. When I’m behind the lens, I’m not always just trying to take a “cool shot.” Fly fishing has this natural flow to it, and I want my images to feel like part of that rhythm. It’s about telling the story of a day on the water, and not just the highlights. Through composition, natural light, and a sensitivity to the environment.
I like to be in the moment with the subject. Whether I’m filming or shooting stills, I try to disappear a bit. I want to capture the raw, unfiltered experience. It’s about honesty. Fly fishing isn’t always glamorous, but it’s always beautiful if you know where to look. My goal is to make people pause. Maybe it reminds them of their own experience on the water—or inspires them to chase it for the first time. Either way, if I can translate that emotion into an image or a film, then I’ve done my job.
You’ve clearly got an eye for moments on the water—what are your top five tips for getting the perfect shot while filming or photographing fly fishing?
“Perfect” is totally subjective. What speaks to one person might not move another, and that’s the beauty of it. That said, here are five things I always keep in mind when I’m out there with a camera:
1. Be camera ready- Some of my favorite shots have happened at time when I least expected it. Light changes, weather rolls in, a fish rises, someone laughs mid-cast—those unscripted moments are gold, but you’ve got to be ready.
2. Think outside the box – There are enough grip-and-grin shots to last a lifetime. I try to find angles or perspectives that feel fresh. Shoot from the water, behind the angler, or focus on details others might overlook.
3. Capture the environment – As cliche as it sounds, Fly fishing isn’t just about the fish, it’s about where it takes you—The environment is part of the story.
4. Let your feelings show & do not be afraid to fail—
I shoot based on what I feel in the moment. If the light is soft and quiet, I lean into that. If it’s windy and chaotic, I’ll let that energy show through. Emotion is everything. Photography shouldn’t be forced it should reflect on what you’re feeling in that moment.
5. Be patient – Don’t chase every moment. Let some of them come to you. Some of my favorite frames are the ones where I just waited and watched.
What’s next for you, Aaron? Any upcoming projects, trips, or creative directions you’re excited about in the fly fishing world?
Besides the usual roadtrips out West for trout, I’ve got some exciting saltwater trips lined up to Baja Mexico, Belize, and the Everglades—places that have long inspired me for their energy, their light, their culture, and the raw beauty of these special places. It’s a mix of personal exploration and work with PMD Fly Fishing and Three Tails Media. I’m bringing my usual storytelling approach into these trips and I’m especially excited to dive deeper (literally) into underwater photography. The underwater world offers an entirely new way to tell these stories, from below the surface, where so much of the action and anticipation lives. I would say this is my absolute favorite thing to capture on my camera so I’m very excited to learn more.
