KWF Builds Momentum at ICAST/IFTD

The Keepemwet Fishing Leadership team from left: Bryan Huskey, Sascha Clark Danylchuk, Dr. Andy Danylchuk kick off the ICAST/IFTD trade show in Orlando, Fl.

Andy Danylchuk, Sascha Clark Danylchuk and Jen Lavine of Waterworks Lamson ham it up in Orlando.

Keepemwet Fishing Ambassador Jako Lucas talks shop with KWF Operations Manager Sascha Clark Danylchuk.

Keepemwet Fishing Brand Partner Smith Optics helped distribute our info materials to the conventional tackle portion of the ICAST/IFTD event.

The Keepemwet fish bowls!

Inside the Keepemwet fish bowls info cards and pins shared our catch-and-release best practices and tips.

Kristen Mustad of Nautilus reels gets it.

Artist Ed Anderson brought KWF love to life on canvas at the Realtree Outdoors Fishing booth site.

Sascha Clark Danylchuk and Nick Roberts of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust talk science and fish.

From left: KWF Ambassadors Captain Tony Digulian and photographer Adrian Gray grin along side Neil Horton and Eric Combast of IGFA. Keepemwet founder Bryan Huskey on the end.

Keepemwet Fishing Supporting Partner Castaway Films took home some hardware in the Drake Film Awards. “Atlanticus” features KWF Science Advisor Dr. ANdy Danylchuk.

Old friends. Chris Keig and Ryan Thompson of The Fly Fishing Film Tour pose for grip and grin with Bryan Huskey and a Keepemwet fish bowl.

Catwalk. Dr. Andy Danylchuk and Sascha Clark Danlylchuk cruse to the ICAST/IFTD convention floor in Orlando, Fl.

Christin Kruger of Kast King interviews Sascha Clark Danylchuk and Bryan Huskey for the Million Dollar Ralley supporting a variety of cause-oriented efforts in the fishing community.

Big time. Jim Klug and Paula Shearer of Yellowdog Adventures hang with KWF Ambassador and legendary fish-bum Brian O’Keefe.

The Branding of Catch and Release discussion panel featured a mix of angling industry and science professionals. You can find the discussion recorded and linked in the paragraph below.

Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis chats Keepemwet science and angling culture with Sascha Clark Danylchuk and Dr. Andy Danylchuk.

The Keepemwet Fishing team spent last week at the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, ICAST/IFTD, in Orlando, FL.  The highlight of the show for us was hosting a panel discussion on the branding of catch-and-release.  We were joined by Brian O’Keefe, Jako Lucas, Jennifer Lavigne, Mark Harbaugh, Dr. Aaron Adams, Capt. Tony DiGiulian, and Dr. Jake Brownscombe to talk about fishing, fish science, and the roll of anglers, guides, and the industry in creating sustainable fisheries.  You can watch a recording of the discussion here.

The show was also an opportunity to for us to meet with current partners and establish new connections with likeminded individuals and companies.  While Keepemwet Fishing did not have a booth of our own, some of our partners were kind enough to give us space at their booths.  A huge thanks to Patagonia, Nautilus Reels, Thomas & Thomas, Alphonse Fishing Co, KastKing, Smith, Sight Line Provisions, and Ed Anderson for lending us some real estate.  We also debuted our new principles cards, which we will make available to a wider audience soon.  

Ambassador Profile: Jeremy Koreski

Born and raised in Tofino, B.C., Jeremy Koreski has been working as an outdoor photographer and cinematographer since the early 2000s. "Basically, I've just always loved the journey and the simple adventure of getting there. I love exploring new places and being outdoors all the time, and I hope to inspire people, through my work, to do the same." With a focus on surfing, fishing, adventure travel, nature and the environment, his work has appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times, Outside, Surfer, The Surfer's Journal and Condé Nast.

Clients include: Patagonia, Clifbar, Ransom Holding Co. Adidas, Nautilus Lifeline, Hurley, Billabong, Quiksilver, Ripcurl, Fox Head Inc., Google, Monster Energy, Sitka, Stussy, Waiola, CondeNast UK, SURFER, The Surfers Journal, SURFING, SBC Surf, Coast Mountain Culture, Explore Magazine, Outside Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, ESPN.

Website

Instagram

Jeremy alongside friend and fellow Keep Fish Wet Ambassador Jeff Hickman.

Ambassador Profile: John McMillan

John was raised along the banks of the Washougal River in Southwest Washington where he spent most of his youth fly fishing for trout, steelhead and salmon.    His favorite fish were the summer steelhead, from the early June rains through the late Indian Summers. All other interests were set aside during this period.  Only steelhead mattered.

His early interest to steelhead carried over to adulthood.  He has lived much of the past twenty years on the west-side of the Olympic Peninsula, and for over a decade he fished an average of 340 days a year.  He spent that time adapting a style of casting and fishing in isolation -- wading deep, casting far, and swimming the fly broadside rather than solely swinging -- to solve the unique challenges of catching large winter steelhead in the brawling rainforest rivers.

He also spent 100's of days snorkeling the rivers, not only to inform his angling but also because he is a fisheries scientist. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, the vast majority of which has focused on the biology and ecology of steelhead and rainbow trout.  In addition, he has authored two books and several book chapters on steelhead and other topics, and his underwater photography and videography has been broadly published in books, magazines, newspapers, movies and television.  His latest publication is the book May the Rivers Never Sleep, which was a collaboration with his father Bill McMillan and pays homage to the strong conservation influence of Roderick Haig-Brown. 

He now works as the Science Director for Trout Unlimited's Wild Steelhead Initiative after spending the previous five years studying steelhead and salmon recolonization in the Elwha River. Much of his professional scientific study has focused on the biology, behavior and ecology of steelhead and rainbow trout, with a particular interest in the mechanisms influencing why individual fish adopt particular life history strategies -- such as anadromy and residency.

He also focuses on educating citizens about science and believes that every angler owes it to themselves – and the fish – to minimize their impacts by handling fish well.  That is why he is so excited to be an Ambassador for the Keep Fish Wet.  Not only does the movement include some of the best scientists and advocates, but it also focuses on doing what we can as anglers to ensure that the fish swims away in the best shape possible.  That is something he fully supports the movement, because it is up to each generation to do what they can to ensure the next generation has a chance to fish for the incredible wild steelhead.

John McMillan's Instagram page (@rainforest_steel) is perhaps the most fascinating, interesting and inspiring as anything we've ever seen. View his underwater adventures and captivating narratives here.

Ever thankful for his understanding and lovely wife, Laurel, and his sidekick Gordon Setter, Honey, much of his free time is spent casting Burkheimer spey rods, snorkeling and taking underwater photographs of juvenile and adult steelhead.

Ambassador Profile: April Vokey

April Vokey began fishing as a toddler. By the sixth grade, she was saving her allowance for weekend visits to the local tackle shop where she eventually stocked her ‘hand-me-down’ Plano box with every lure and bait she could afford.

After discovering a passion for fly fishing in her teens, April Vokey soon dedicated her entire life to the pursuit, eventually culminating in her founding Fly Gal Ventures in 2007 at age 24.  The company was built on the basis of the promotion of both education and encouragement to those who looked to chase their dreams.  She has since established herself as a respected authority in the sport and has traveled the globe in pursuit of gamefish on a fly rod.
 
Her writing has appeared in numerous industry leading publications including Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel, and Fly Fusion magazines. Also a popular TV personality, April has been featured on the Outdoor Channel’s Buccaneers and Bones series, 60 Minutes Sports, The Steve Harvey show, Discovery Channel’s Refined, Discovery’s/OLN’s Close Up Kings, and WFN’s Fly Nation TV.  

Most recently, Vokey proudly wrote and hosted her own exclusive series, ShoreLines with April Vokey, as shown on the World Fishing Network.  The series focuses on fly-fishing’s rich history and the people it consists of.  Feeling limited by airtime, she has since branched out with her podcast, Anchored with April Vokey, a series dedicated to archiving the stories and personalities from some of fly-fishing’s most influential people. The show is one of the only fishing podcasts solely recorded in a face to face environment where April ensures to ask questions apart from the norm.

“I’ve been a fan of the 'fish in water' movement for quite some time now, so I was excited to learn more about Keep Fish Wet. I think we are constantly learning how to be better stewards of the sport, and I’m proud to be a part of this team of like-minded people."

April is a Patagonia ambassador and co-owner of Epic Fly Rods.

Website.  Instagram.