HowardFilms Blog: News & Features

We have been scouring the globe

I have been scouring the globe looking for a new film subject. Above are the Seychelle Islands and one of the best escapes I know…..

After our first 5 films, I think a new film project however is not decided.

Bass: The Movie was one of the most satisfying and ambitious things I ever did because it was all new and a long way from home - in many ways.

How could a bass compete with a tarpon for one’s interest, I wondered. Then, after being around people who chase them for a living you see a whole new game.

Big bass are tough to catch. And big bass consistently? Damn near impossible unless you really study them, and that’s what out CA angler’s have done their whole lives. In the place that

has the world’s most perfect bass environment: California. Mexico and Texas and Florida are good, but CA is a freak zone for the bass over 15 lbs. and our buddy Larry Kurosaki showed

us how it was done. I hope you get to see it all one day if you haven’t yet. The DVD is 2 discs  and we made shipping free so everyone could grab one before winter comes and drives us

inside  - and in need of premium escape entertainment. This year I think the salt may be the place our cameras go again….And the decision will be made by the end of the year.

Also, please note that I update the facebook fan page all the time, and it just may end up replacing this blog, so just in case you don’t have it. Cut and paste this into your URL address box

and then just hit “like” and you are in!  CUT AND PASTE:   http://www.facebook.com/#!/HowardFilmsFans?ref=sgm

All the best and just remember what is said on the boat, stays on the boat.

That’s why we love the water so much.  JH

Summer Road trip 2010

Despite droughts of year’s past and winters that are anything but predictable I am glad to report that the West is alive and well.

Our fishing safari is taking us to the madisio, the beaverhead, the ruby, silvercreek, the snake and more….so far hatches

strong and the fish (25″ yesterday on a dry in middle of day) are healthy and willing. Stay cool, wherever you are and send

any pix from your Summer. We will be glad to post em!!

Jamie

tarpon off of key west 2010

tarpon comes to boat 2010

tarpon gulps for air 2010

Hands on the prize..then the revive....

Congrats to Blane Woodfin on a job well done! He was kind enough to send us detailed notes on the catch (also posted on our Facebook fan page).

Catch notes: Somewhere a bit West of Key West, oceanside sand flat.  14-ft.  Frog  Hair
Fluoro-Carbon leader w/ 40 pound bite tippet, Sage  RPLXi 11- weight, Tibor
Gulfstream, Rio CamoTip, guided by Captain  Dean  Burton of Jackson Hole and WestBank
Anglers, 90-pound female  tarpon  migrating east-bound taken on an olive splayed tail
fly  sparsely  tied on a 2/0 Gamakatsu hook.  Leader in the rod tip in  15  minutes.
Took another 25 minutes to wear her down enough for  the  release and to retrieve the
fly.  7 nice jumps.  Addicting  sport.  — BW

Indeed.

Photo: John Sherman

Photo: John Sherman

Some images before the oil. Needless to say the Gulf isn’t ugly.

Needless to say we are looking at an environmental Hiroshima on our shores. The biggest potential environmental disaster in a generation.

Shrimp, oysters, tarpon, bonefish, redfish, sharks, migratory birds, snook, turtles, you name it….They are all on the clock.

Prayers for the vulnerable. Hoping for the best. To say the least. If you have any photos or links of ways to stay informed or to help,

please let me know and I’ll post (my email dvdorders@howardfilms.com)

This is a link to a daily chart of the oil by the NOAA:

Copy and paste: (pardon the length of the entry) http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/topic_subtopic_entry.php?RECORD_KEY(entry_subtopic_topic)=entry_id,subtopic_id,topic_id&entry_id(entry_subtopic_topic)=809&subtopic_id(entry_subtopic_topic)=2&topic_id(entry_subtopic_topic)=1

Who says girls can't tame a tarpon?

Rachel looks pretty good with her silver accessory, even if the water cops don’t encourage tarpon coddling.

That's Andy Mill. The tarpon's name we didn't get.

This is the poster we shoulda made for Chasing Silver!

Perfect day in the Bahamas.

This scene confirmed for me that a camera does belong around saltwater, despite what the manufacturer says!

The Bahamas are the supermodel of the Caribbean. But don’t expect the weather to be like this every time. It’s a roll of the dice.

TARPON TUNES (Cut and paste into your URL or grab it off of itunes):

A couple of acquantances continue to amaze me with their talent. I shoulda seen it coming!

“Moses”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieu6zu0pcJs

Also, couldn’t resist this title:  “Dead in the water”

David Grey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwJb_caT2xE

Enjoy….

JH

Starskey and Hutch?

Every sport has an icon and Lefty deserves his place. One day I may just hit record and save something too valuable to be forgotten.

tarpon tracks continued:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8bDpzpDVu4

BONUS: BOAT THEME (Not for kids. Recommended for those who have seen one too many yacht-themed hip hop videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8F3UE9qFsg

Lefty makes a kid's day

I haven’t known lefty forever, but I know him well enough to say that he is the type of guy that no one could ever say anything bad about.         The guy gives more than he gets - even at 85! Lucky Kid. Lucky World. (PS - Wish I could repeat the stories on here we shared, but this is a G-rated Blog :-)  One funny Son of a gun….If he comes to your town - go.

More tarpon tunes as promised:

COPY AND PASTE in URL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Gy_0H-ka8

Super fly in tan

Tarpon at 12. Storm at 12 too....

What good is paradise if you are just a passive viewer?

That’s why we scour the flats. In hopes of connecting with a creature 100’s of millions of years old, that if all goes right, we can convince to eat a fly. The Florida keys are just starting to warm up. The tarpon in windy Spring often hover in deeper channels or ocean drop-offs.

If they appear out of the deep, cast a body length ahead. Give it a twitch and see if he heads towards it. If not, give it another. Pull it in front of that powerful silver face if you have to. He’s looking up. Hope he kicks towards you. Set it with your left hand. Let the hook find a seat and then let it pass through loosened fingers onto your reel as he explodes and makes you wonder if you have any chance…..By the way, you don’t. He just threw the hook! :-)  Back for more! How do we explain this great addiction to club-bound folks. Yes, it really is like all your best nights out - all at once - just way better. If you can, let em see it in person….It’s quite a privilege.

Good Luck out there.  You know something a lot of folks don’t. The seductive powers of the Silver King.  The odds are on his side, but that’s what makes it so powerful. Bow to Bastardo numero uno. Ha!

In our first installment of tarpon music here’s a little song for the flats. Depending on the day you had,  it will mean different things…But it is passionate. We first heard this song at banff….good stuff.

COPY AND PASTE IN URL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrMmr1oMPGA

All the Best,

Jamie

Soundtrack for Bass: The Movie including artists and links to more information.

http://www.howardfilms.com/soundtracksBass.html

Finding the right music to make a scene come alive keeps me up late during the year. But once we find the songs and cut them into the footage, it makes it all worthwhile. We have taken the time to list every song - in order of appearance in the movie - in the Bass: The Movie music page. These musicians have worked hard, often under the radar, to create unusual and powerful tunes. It was an honor to be able to share their music in the movie and I hope you get a chance to listen to their tunes in the movie or on CD or MP3 or ipod or iphone or… If you have trouble locating a song, or have a question about a specific scene or artist, just email me anytime at info@howardfilms.com

Cheers! Jamie

Manteca, Ca. 5-9pm (feb. 26)
Rancho Cucamonga, Ca. 1-5pm (feb. 27)
and Denver. Co. 1-5pm (feb. 28)

Feb. 26-2b… I’ll be showing movie highlights and telling stories with anglers from the movie and even 2-time (and current) world-record holder, Larry Kurosaki, who will share tips on how to get big…really big….really really big….bass.

Seeya there! Check your local store listings to confirm all times!