Welcome to Week CXLI of ‘Fishing Parkland Shorelines’. Like most of us I am a novice fisherman, loving to fish, but far from an expert. In the following weeks I’ll attempt to give those anglers who love to fish but just don’t have access to a boat, a look at some of the options in the Yorkton area where you can fish from shore, and hopefully catch some fish.
As I sometimes find myself doing, I recently spent some time web surfing in search of anything of interest as a fisherman. That process isn’t exactly a difficult one. There are thousands of sites and a search engine puts you a click away from all of them.
That is not to say all websites on fishing are created equal.
I tend to think of websites as falling into three categories. The first are those selling a product. Nice to look at, but this close to the after holidays thin wallet time of year, they are simply too frustrating to look at.
The second are educational sites. They provide information on fish and fishing which may help you catch more fish. It’s too far from open water to remember anything I might read right now, so again I passed on those.
Finally there are sites which show fishing videos. Those where you can escape into a place you are never likely to fish and simply enjoy the experience by living vicariously through those in the pictures, videos and story text.
And that brings me to www.brothersonthefly.com
As the website states; ‘Three brothers, two countries, one passion – Fly Fishing!’
The site is the effort of Jan, Lukas and Jonas Borinski. It started out when the trio decided to create a film about three brothers fly fishing Swedish Lapland together.
That film, which is on their website, and is a complete joy to watch, led the trio to create follow-up short films, an effort now into its third season, and so while there is a library of material to watch already, there is also the lure of new material on the horizon too.
Now the great thing about our electronically connected world is that a modest fishing scribe in Yorkton, SK., can reach out to fishing brothers in Germany and get their story for local readers.
So why a film in the first place, we all fish, but most of us don’t haul a camera around to capture it?
“That was Jonas idea actually. A good one for once,” said Lukas.
“Jan moved to Lapland in 2002 to work in the dogsledding business,” explained Jonas via email. “Lukas and I were teenagers at the time and fishing wasn’t really a priority for us. We always did some spin fishing when visiting him, but that was it. In 2010 I spent six months in New Zealand with my girlfriend and I quickly realized, if I wanted to pick up fly fishing, now was the time. I came back to Germany totally hooked, and my enthusiasm soon convinced my brothers to dive deeper into fly fishing as well. We agreed on doing our first ‘fly fishing only’ trip in Lapland in 2011 and have done it every year since then.”
Of course adding a camera to a fishing trip does insert a new dynamic into the equation of fishing.
“Well Jonas fishes less, that is for sure,” offered Lukas. “I find myself behind the camera too from time to time, but I don’t think it takes away anything. I sometimes enjoy filming and keeping the moments on tape. It sure is some “work” too but it adds the fun of watching and experiencing the fishing again later at home.
Jonas does most of the camera work for the brothers.
“I don’t want to lie: Filmmaking is hard work sometimes, especially in places far from civilization,” he said. “Not only do I have to carry much more gear when going on trips, it also decreases my time of actually fishing by a lot.
“However, as I said, I love both fishing and filmmaking so I don’t want to complain. By now, my brothers are used to the fact that fishing means being filmed and for all of us it’s really worth the extra hassle.
“Additionally, who wouldn’t want to have his greatest memories on video?”
The two brothers, oldest brother Jan was too busy in Lapland for an interview to happen on my timeframe, said they had not expected the response they received to the film.
“Totally,” said Lukas. “I still cannot believe how far the videos have spread and how many people watch and comment on them.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Jonas.
“I was totally surprised that people really watched the film all the way since it was over 35-minutes long.” he said. “After all it was just about three German brothers fishing together.
“Of course, I really appreciate all the support and we are really grateful for all the great feedback we get.”
Jonas said the interest in their initial film certainly spurred them to do more.
“About at the same time I picked up fly fishing, I became interested in filmmaking,” he said. “Our first film was supposed to be more of a family video, something we would watch many years later. After uploading it, however, it was shared on many major fishing blogs and people seemed to love it. Since making fly fishing videos combines my two passions, continuing to do it was a no-brainer.”
Of course the films all go back to the brother’s general love of fishing, something they have done from early childhood.
“As long as I can remember, fishing has always been a part of our lives,” said Jonas. “Growing up in Germany, my parents used to take us camping in Scandinavia almost every summer, where we were introduced into the ‘art’ of flounder fishing with rock worms. These were times when fish were still abundant. I remember catching my first one when I was just four years old - and I was as proud as can be. I clearly remember how it was the biggest fish of the day - and nobody has convinced me otherwise since.”
Such early memories resonate with Lukas too.
“My earliest memory took place in Sweden when I was eight-year-old and caught my first fish, a pretty small perch, which of course was eaten. So proud! That summer’s vacation on a little island deep in the middle of nowhere holds a lot of good fishing memories actually,” he said.
As avid fishermen the brothers do have their favoured fish.
“If I had to pick one species I could fish for, it would be Brown Trout,” said Jonas. “Not only is it the native trout in Europe, fishing for it comes in all the flavours you can think of. No matter if you fancy small streams, big rivers, still water or saltwater: You can find browns everywhere.
“In addition, all sizes are just plain beautiful and browns always give you a challenge since they are much more easily spooked than other fish.”
Lukas likes browns too, but went a different direction for his favourite fish, or at least the most elusive.
“Wild and native arctic char,” he said. “We searched and fished a lot for them, even took a helicopter trip to get one of these beautiful fish, but still haven’t caught any (except for stocked char in Germany). Maybe that is another reason, next to the sheer beauty and strength, for why I so desperately want to catch one.
“If I had to pick a species that I actually have caught, it would be Brown Trout.”
And what about that spot the brothers love to fish most?
“This is a difficult question to answer, since favourite water doesn’t necessarily mean best fishing water,” said Jonas. “Fly fishing is so much more than just catching fish. If I had to pick one, it would be a particular forest river in Swedish Lapland. Although it does offer decent Grayling fishing as well as some trout that is not what makes me choose it. This river is one of the most beautiful places I know, and some of my best fishing memories are connected with it. It’s the only river us brothers visit every year when we meet in Lapland and a trip without it just wouldn’t be the same. It is also a great place for filming and thus has been shown in every Season so far.”
“I love small and mid-sized rivers and creeks,” contributed Lukas. “Moving Water has always attracted me and my senses. I love stealthy fishing and searching for fish in natural waters.
“And I think rivers in general are some of the best parts of nature almost anywhere.”
The big thing for the trio is to experience fishing together whenever possible, a trip enhanced by the family connection.
“No doubt! Being with family is always a bit different than fishing with other people since you know each other’s every quality and flaw,” said Jonas. “After all blood is thicker than water. When you have been raised the same way, you are likely to enjoy the same things, experience them similarly.
“Sometimes we fish together for hours without saying a single word, knowing that some things just don’t need to be said. It sometimes feels like decisions are made simultaneously without having to talk about it.
“Fishing with other people is different and sometimes makes me realize how simple and uncomplicated it is to fish with my brothers.”
Lukas said explaining the attraction of fishing as brothers is something that is inherent.
“(It’s) hard to explain,” he said. “I guess everybody who has siblings knows the answer.
“Maybe it’s because we have always fished together, but there is a certain understanding and feeling while fishing with my brothers. It is perfection for me really. As it is also in other situations with my brothers: Camp life, having a beer, playing guitar and so on. I think that’s why people say: ‘Blood is thicker than water’.”
But what among all the fishing stands out the clearest?
“Catching predatory Brown trout on a popper in the Swedish Mountains in 2013 (Season II) is definitely one of my favourite fishing memories,” said Jonas. “But really, there are so many more, since fly fishing is more than just catching fish.”
“Every moment with my brothers in a river, sunshine, caddis and rises around,” added Lukas.
