From Stream to Studio: How Fly Fishing Shapes Sarah’s Art and Life
with: sarah_landstrom
Every now and then, you cross paths with someone who just gets it—that feeling you get knee-deep in a cold stream, eyes locked on a rising trout, heart beating like it’s the first cast of the season. We caught up with Sarah, an artist and angler who’s carved out her own trail from the banks of Montana to the waters of northern Michigan. Over a cup of camp coffee and stories swapped like flies in a tackle box, she let us in on how fly fishing isn’t just a sport—it’s her canvas.
Sarah, how did you first get into fly fishing, and what was it about the sport that hooked you?
I was living in Montana, hiking, and stumbled across a group of friends fishing. I found the practice far more intriguing than the worm on a bobber. I was very stubborn at first about letting people (specifically men) teach me, and I wish I hadn’t. I would have developed those skills a lot faster had I listened.
What’s your favorite aspect of fly fishing, and how has it influenced your approach to the outdoors?
I think my biggest influence was working with Lost Coat Outfitters. Both Steve Slater and Steve Adachi were incredible guides and influences. I would have never done some of the things I’ve had the courage to do both in art and fishing without them. Adachi in surf fishing and tying and Slater in all things sierra arcades and beyond.
Is there a particular fishing spot that’s close to your heart, one that has had a significant impact on both your fly fishing journey and your art?
I would have to say, northern Michigan. I can’t believe the diversity. And it’s been so exciting to get to know the area I came from in a different way. I know people poke fun at Michigan, but the fishing is immaculate
Your artwork is incredible! How do you draw inspiration from your fly fishing experiences when creating new pieces?
Definitely under certain circumstances. It’s usually the fight, the colors, or surrounding environment that inspire me.
Can you walk us through your creative process—how does a day on the water translate into a piece of artwork?
A day on the water is ideally wading. Sort of on the hunt. And you find that special fish. And before its colors start to shift, you take a mental image. Because painting directly from frozen images isn’t the same. And you decide it’s one worth showing through your own lense.
