A YEAR IN REVIEW
Photos & Text By Aaron Goodis
Wow I can’t believe it’s been a year since my last blog post! It’s crazy, it feels like time is flying by! I’m sure I’m not the only one. In this post I want share some of my personal photographs from the year. I was able to do some cool shoots! From winter Steelhead fly fishing and trout fishing the Thompson with my dad to a couple of epic solo backpacking missions through the summer and one amazing night at Mt. Baker with Jasmin! Then I did one of my most memorable trips with a great friend in search of King Salmon on the Spey! I shot a couple of commercial properties as well as some brand work for Hardy Fly Fishing. Some highlights from the year including a couple of recent cover photos along with a published photo essay in Fly Fusion as well as one of my best steelhead articles in the resent BC Sports Fishing Magazine! Also I had two incredible events with Aurora Borealis right here in Vancouver and Jasmin and I went to Campbell River and Strathcona Provincial Park to hike, relax and shoot some film! I won’t be sharing all of these photos here now as I should leave room for another blog post in the upcoming months!
I hope you can enjoy the photos and I’ll try to give you some insight into how they were made, what settings were used and the camera equipment shot with. Maybe a little background story as well!
Beautiful sunset light on the Vedder River at the end of a great day Steelhead fly fishing.
35mm F1.8 @35mm F2.2 1/400s iso 200
An amazing sight, I actually caught a Steelhead! Lots of days put in for this one!
35mm F1.8 @35mm F2.8 1/400s iso 200
I am hooked up!
35mm F1.8 @35mm F2.8 1/2000 iso 200
This past winter Steelhead season I spent a lot of days out with my Dad, the fun fact is these last two shot were actually him taking the photo with my gear! Gear used was my old (over 12 years) trusty Nikon d300s camera and a Nikon DX 35mm F1.8 Lens.
Next up was an epic trip with my Dad to one of my faverite trout fisheries - The Thompson River! This was the trip I wanted to introduce my Dad to fly fishing the wonderful rainbow trout of the Thompson. I have blogged this before solo so this time I would shoot photos and hopefully get my dad into a few trout. Do some camping as well and just relax!
My dad takes a few last casts as the sun goes down in the Thompson Valley.
24-120mm F4 @75mm F4 1/400s iso 200
Rainbow Trout!
20mm F1.8 @20mm F5 1/160s iso 200
My Dad, Phil Goodis whom you have probably met behind the counter at My Fly Shop Vancouver!
24-120mm F4 @35mm F4 1/180s iso 200
Tools of the trade!
24-120mm F4 @52mm F4 1/160s iso 200
All photos shot with a Nikon d750 camera and Nikon 24-120mm F4 + Nikon 20mm F1.8 Lens.
Next up I did a little backpacking in Garibaldi Provincial Park. First I spent 2 nights solo hiking the helm creek traverse, a 30 Km through hike that takes you from Cheakamus Lake trail to Helm Creek campground then across the traverse down to Garibaldi Lake ending at Rubble Creek parking area. It was challenging and super fun!
Sunset over the Tusk!
28-70mm F2.8 @70mm F2.8 1/100s iso 800
My tent in camp after a long uphill hike.
24-70mm F2.8 @28mm F2.8 1/500s iso 800
When doing long backcountry missions I am trying to keep the camera gear light so in this case I brought a Sony a6400 camera with a Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 its a nice light setup for backpacking.
Next I challenged the Russet Lake overnighter, a 15km one way out and back mission, yup 30k in two days with gear! It was a bit much!
The views around Russet Lake were incredible and it almost made hiking that far worth it!
28-70mm F2.8 @28mm F2.8 1/400s iso 320
Refections in Russet Lake are incredible!
28-70mm F2.8 @28mm F2.8 1/20s iso 800
My tent and Russet Lake.
28-70mm F2.8 @28mm F2.8 1/200s iso 640
On the Russet Lek hike I brought a Sony a7iii camera with the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 Lens. Its a little heavier but the full frame advantage is awesome especially in low light.
The last backpacking trip of the season was Chain Lales Loop, Mt Baker wilderness. It is a special zone anmd this time I wasnt alone. Jasmin came with me on this one!
Mt. Baker looking super in the afternoon light as we hiked in.
28-70mm F2.8 @28mm F2.8 1/640s iso 100
Taking in the view and resting in camp.
28-70mm F2.8 @28mm F2.8 1/500s iso 200
Stars over our little cozy tent.
28-70mm F2.8 @28mm F2.8 5.0s iso 8000
All shot with the Sony a7iii camera and Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 lens.
So I wont be going through all the photos here as there is just to many and some trips will be best left for their own post so I will leave it with a couple photos from an amazing trip back to Campbell River with a great buddy! We were shooting photos and spey casting for Chinook Salmon. It was an incredible experience! And one I wont soon forget!
Teddy blasting a laser to the other side of the wedding run.
24-120mm F4 @34mm F4 1/2000s iso 500
Classic wedding run scene - can spot the angler in the shot?
24-120mm F4 @40mm F4 1/30s iso 2500
The classic bridge and black bear shot!
24-120mm F4 @120mm F4 1/160s iso 640
The goal was accomplished, Teddy with a King on the Hardy King Coronation Reel!
24-120mm F4 @30mm F4 1/160s iso 2000
Shots from Campbell River, Nikon d750 camera anf Nikon 24-120mm F4 Lens.
So there you have it, the better part of a year in review! I left out images from the crazy Aurora and the other Campbell River trip but those can be another post! If you made it this far thank you! Cheers!
MOUNT BAKER ROAD TRIP
Photos & Text By Aaron Goodis
Mount Shuksan at sunset.
Last fall in September Jasmin and I went on a short road trip to Mount Baker. It would be great to get away, do some hiking, Camping, and photography.
Jasmin taking in the breath taking view.
The nights are cold, but the days are warm, perfect hiking weather! We would stay just outside of glacier in a beautiful forest and campsite that just happened to be right along the Nooksak river. The trees are covered in thick moss and the river ran clear.
Mount Baker peaking out in the background. The clouds kept it hidden most of our hike.
We would wake up make coffee and oatmeal and then take the drive up the mountain right to the top parking zone.
Mount Baker looking spectacular but unfortunately this is the closest we came to seeing the peak.
We would start our hikes from here. It was quite cold in the morning, but when the sun starts to hit the peaks, it would start to warm up.
We started our hiking as soon as the sun warmed us up.
We would hike all day, taking in the beautiful scenery. Big breathtaking mountains in every direction.
Mount Shuksan.
Beautiful glacier melt lake.
They do not call it Picture Lake for nothing!
On the way back down, we would make a point to stop at Picture lake for sunset. That evenings sunset was spectacular!
Wild flowers were blooming in the meadows.
Big old trees in the valley.
All in all it was a spectacular trip, and one we can do in three days. Highly recommend!
SUMMER ON THE THOMPSON
Photos & Text By Aaron Goodis
Thompson River at Martel Islands.
So what can I say the Thompson is truly spectacular. It’s a very special river that has a significant meaning to me.
Driving past Frog Rock, Thompson River.
I have spent many years fishing for steelhead on the Thompson River. But unfortunately in the past years it has closed early, ending the season at the end of September.
A beautiful wild Rainbow Trout that took a large stonefly on the surface.
Luckily, the beautiful rainbow trout has survived and flourished. The Thompson has always been known for a great summer trout fishery. Large rainbow trout eager to chomp a dry fly.
A large stonefly casing.
Stoneflies and caddis are the main menu items and we fish in July and August. This summer was different. The river dropped down to fishable levels early. The river was fishable in late June. By July and August the water levels were very low.
The van at Cal Woods Rec Site.
Iron Diesel in Aschcroft.
I made the trip for three days in late July and was rewarded with great trout fishing but also unfortunately a broken down van. After a quick but expensive repair in Ashcroft, I was back on my way.
The Thompson River looking up river from the Ashcroft bridge.
Tools of the trade.
I Camped in Ashcroft and fished the section above town. I was rewarded with beautiful rainbows, willing and ready to eat a dry fly. At the end of the day I watched a beautiful sunset from camp, had a beer and went to bed.
The pub.
Beautiful sunset over the Thompson River.
All in all it was a very rewarding trip. I caught lots of fish, drank some good coffee, had a couple of beers, Van was fixed and made it home safe!
Photography in Ashcroft was super fun!
Beautiful pastel colours in the small town of Ashcroft.
I am looking forward to next year already!
EPIC BIKE ADVENTURE
Photos & Text By Aaron Goodis
Aaron at Fir Creek.
This title is a bit of a joke, however this bike ride was an epic adventure for me!
One of the many creeks that flow into the Seymour River.
The plan was for myself and Jasmin to bike up the Seymour River along the paved bike path to the hatchery and headwaters.
Jasmin riding along the paved bike path.
The ride is long but fairly easy, it starts at Rice Lake and follows a paved bike path for just about 13 km one-way. It’s a great ride without too many hills but it is a slow gradual climb. It’s super fun coming back!
Old growth forest near the Seymour Headwaters.
It takes only about an hour maybe an hour and a half and then you end up lost in a truly epic old growth forest! Huge trees and moss covering everything and of course a beautiful river on the side. The Seymour Headwaters is truly spectacular!
An ancient tree up in the headwaters.
Upper Seymour River.
We slowly walked through the old growth trail Imagining what it must’ve been like over 100 years ago when there was nothing else up here but the river and trees. We ate lunch at the Seymour River hatchery and it was super cool to see all the steelhead Smolts that were being raised here.
Steelhead Molts at Seymour River Hatchery.
Then it was time for the journey back to the car it’s much quicker going back after the first hill climb.
Biking through the old growth forest of the Seymour Headwaters.
Our trusty bikes, they may be old but they get the job done!
I hope you enjoy the photos and if you’re interested in a beautiful bike ride close to Vancouver I would highly recommend this bike path! It does get busy on the weekends but there’s lots of room!
Moss covered trees.
The bikes.
Riding along the Seymour River.
RETURN TO THE THOMPSON
Photography and Trout Fly Fishing trip to the Thompson River.
Photos & Text By Aaron Goodis
The Log Cabin Pub in Spences Bridge.
The Thompson River has always felt like a home away from home especially in the fall during steelhead season.
The Cal Woods Rec Site.
Above image and this image are in the Cal Woods Rec Site in Spences Bridge.
These days the river remains closed from the end of September through the end of April to protect the last remaining steelhead that attempt to spawn in the Thompson’s tributary’s.
The old pillars that held up Spences Bridge.
However in the summer the Thompson has always been known for a large rainbow trout population. These rainbow trout are known to eat large adult stonefly’s straight from the waters surface! In other words the fly fishing can be spectacular!
Great trout water near Cache Creek.
I recently spent three days on the Thompson fly fishing and documenting the old town of Spences Bridge, Cash Creek and the surrounding area in both still photos and video.
Tree and camper in Cache Creek.
I wanted to find a balance between actually fly fishing but also documenting the area in black-and-white photography.
Truck in front of apartments in Ashcroft.
I hope you enjoy the images that I am sharing with you and please see the link below for the video that I’ve posted to my YouTube channel, cheers!
YOUTUBE/THOMPSON TROUT & PHOTOGRAPHY