VIDEO: The River Doesn’t Owe You Anything

by | Oct 12, 2020 | 53 comments

Today, I’m proud to announce the launch of Troutbitten videos, in collaboration with Wilds Media.

The journey begins with a video adaptation of, “The River Doesn’t Owe You Anything.”  This story has been a Troutbitten favorite since it was published in the spring of 2019.

** NOTE ** Video appears at the end of this short article.

Future Troutbitten videos will cover techniques, gear and many of the things we love about fly fishing. We’ll dig deep into tactics, detailing not just the standard 100-level stuff, but the kind of things a seasoned angler is ready for.

“The river gives you what you need. The river gives you what you earn.”

This video launch is the culmination of Troutbitten’s growth, starting from its humble beginnings as a fishing blog in 2014. At the same time, this video stands at the outset of what lies ahead, with the doors of possibility wide open and the independence to move in any direction.

I’m in a new house and a new neighborhood. We have a new dog, and back in February I bought a new 4Runner. A book deal is in the works, and I’ve developed more relationships with some of the leading companies in our industry. Throughout a tumultuous year, Troutbitten has continued the steady, organic growth that has given it a buzz in the fly fishing world.

Troutbitten (and fishing, it seems) is pandemic proof. And I’m enormously thankful for your support. I’m grateful for the donations, for the Troutbitten Shop purchases and for the kind emails about how Troutbitten has benefited your life.

I’m thankful for my guided guests. You fish hard. And in a year where seemingly everything was falling apart, I’ll still finish 2020 with over a hundred guided days on the water. Thank you.

Thanks also to Josh Darling of Wilds Media. Josh had the vision to start this video endeavor with me. And he’s the perfect partner, with the eyes, the heart and the courage to do things a little differently. Josh and I are looking forward to producing these videos as much as we hope you’re looking forward to watching them.

So here’s our first video, The River Doesn’t Owe You Anything. We hope you’ll enjoy it. Then share it with someone who’s as fishy as you are.

** Be sure to select HD 1080p for best quality. (Find the small gear icon.) **

** Please subscribe to the Troutbitten YouTube Channel and follow along **

Fish hard, friends.

 

Enjoy the day.
Domenick Swentosky
T R O U T B I T T E N
domenick@troutbitten.com

 

Share This Article . . .

Since 2014 and 1000+ articles deep
Troutbitten is a free resource for all anglers.
Your support is greatly appreciated.

– Explore These Post Tags –

Domenick Swentosky

Central Pennsylvania

Hi. I’m a father of two young boys, a husband, author, fly fishing guide and a musician. I fish for wild brown trout in the cool limestone waters of Central Pennsylvania year round. This is my home, and I love it. Friends. Family. And the river.

More from this Category

Fish and Film — One Morning For Versatility (VIDEO)

Fish and Film — One Morning For Versatility (VIDEO)

Fishing is a story . . . On a cool morning in August, I visited a favorite stretch of Class A water, with no plan but to see what the trout wanted to eat. In a few hours of fishing for wild trout, I fooled fish with nymphs, dry flies and streamers. This versatile approach is not only enjoyable, it’s often necessary. Because meeting trout on their own terms is the only way to make the most of a river. Cover water. Find feeding fish. Test theories . . . every day.

The Fish & Film Series Begins – VIDEO Trailer

The Fish & Film Series Begins – VIDEO Trailer

The Troutbitten Fish and Film series is here. Fishing is a story. It’s the woods and the water. It’s the trout, and the rivers that draw us streamside. And at its best, good fishing is a mystery to be solved with observation, theory and technique.

The new Fish & Film series from Troutbitten aims to tell that story.

Seven Seasons and Then Peace — Lessons From the Salt, Summer 2024

Seven Seasons and Then Peace — Lessons From the Salt, Summer 2024

There’s a process of evolution in our fishing that cannot be rushed. It’s better off being accepted. And yet, it might take the wisdom of age to ever understand that.

I’d argue that most anglers pursue fishing for the time-out-of-mind experience. Many styles of fishing allow for it, but surfcasting draws me in unlike anything I’ve ever done.

I think it’s the waves . . .

VIDEO: HOW You Set the Hook Matters Most! — Hook Sets for  Dry Flies, Nymphs, Streamers and Wets

VIDEO: HOW You Set the Hook Matters Most! — Hook Sets for Dry Flies, Nymphs, Streamers and Wets

This video breaks down all of the important things about hook set direction, hook set distance and hook set timing.

Setting the hooks is the most exciting part of the day. For all the time we spend planning, prepping, wading, tying, casting and drifting, it’s all in anticipation of that brief moment when a trout eats the fly. You fooled a trout. So, don’t screw it up. That’s why the hook set matters most. And planning for the hookset, thinking about how a trout might eat the fly and how we will respond, makes all the difference.

This Is Real Silence

This Is Real Silence

. . . It can be dead silent on that mountain, quiet enough to remember a place in time with no interruptions, a day that started in a bustling, wide valley and finished in stillness on top of a mountain.

. . . . . . The guitar amp, the voices, the conversations, the laughing and arguing, the engine noise and the truck’s rattles, the NPR opinion and the crackly speakers — it’s all gone. And it’ll stay gone for as long as I’m here on the mountaintop. This is real silence.

VIDEO: The Dorsey Yarn Indicator —  Our Best and Most Versatile Indy Choice — Building It and Fishing It

VIDEO: The Dorsey Yarn Indicator — Our Best and Most Versatile Indy Choice — Building It and Fishing It

For over a decade, my Troutbitten friends and I have fished a small yarn indicator that weighs nothing, is extremely sensitive, versatile, cheap, doesn’t affect the cast, and flat out catches more trout than any other indicator we’ve ever used. What we call “the Dorsey” is a daily-use tool that is integral to our nymphing system. We mount it on a tight line rig or a traditional leader with fly line. It floats like crazy. It signals takes and information about the drift like no other indy we’ve ever used, and it’s an unstoppable fish catcher.

What do you think?

Be part of the Troutbitten community of ideas.
Be helpful. And be nice.

53 Comments

  1. Nice work Dom! Can’t wait for more!

    Reply
    • Sweet! I love how the water sings.

      Reply
  2. This is awesome. Beautiful film built on the backbone of a beautifully crafted story. Congratulations to you and Wilds Media! Excited for more already

    Reply
  3. I was excited to see that Troutbitten was making videos. I enjoy all aspects of your site, the stories, the tips and instruction. Good luck

    Reply
  4. Beautiful! Thank you.

    Reply
  5. Thanks Dom! Very well done….and one of my favorite spots on the ******. That gurgling background will haunt me all day . A veritable encumbrance on my mind trying to accomplish some semblance of “work.”

    Reply
    • Awesome video. This promises to be a great video collaboration. Great work, looking forward to more.

      Reply
  6. Spectacular. Keep the good stuff coming. Your work is paying off!

    Reply
  7. Beautifully done, well done Dom and the team at Wilds Media. Cannot wait to see what’s next.

    Reply
  8. Outstanding! I am always impressed…

    Reply
  9. Well done; very enjoyable!

    Reply
  10. Gonna be hard to focus on work after that… god bless

    Reply
  11. I like it.

    Reply
  12. love it love it love it….thanks for taking me out on the stream with you!!

    Reply
    • Its brilliant!. You are a true inspiration to me.

      Reply
  13. Congratulations, Dom and Josh! Looks like it will be a thoughtful, thought-provoking partnership. Thank you

    Reply
  14. What a terrific video and story… put into heartfelt words and a visual endorsement of why we fish.

    Reply
  15. Nice work Dom very relaxing to watch with a breakfast coffee. Looking forward to the next one.

    By the way searching in my shed the other day I found a map of all the streams in Pennsylvania. I bought it years ago when I lived in Northern Virginian. I can now get a better picture of the places you frequently fish.

    Tight lines AJ

    Reply
  16. Whoa! That was terrific!

    Reply
  17. You’ve captured it beautifully, Dom

    Reply
  18. Nice. Just makes your website that much better than it already is.

    Reply
  19. Excellent! Can’t wait for more.

    Reply
  20. No the river it doesn’t owe you anything. It gives what it gives. Always offers something, even on fish-less days. Just being there to witness it is a blessing and treasure.

    Reply
  21. This is good stuff. I can’t wait to see more.

    Reply
  22. Love the video! What’s your rod holder setup in the 4Runner?

    Reply
    • Hi Jason. That’s a Smith Creek Rod Rack. It’s a little pricey. But it’s the best solution out there, in my opinion. I love it.

      Reply
  23. Fantastic video. Like others have said, can’t wait for the next one.

    Reply
  24. Brilliant Dom. That is all.

    Reply
  25. There is an old Irish saying, “Ask the river and it will give you a trout.”
    Your video goes to the essence of that wisdom eloquently.

    Reply
  26. Nicely done!

    Reply
  27. Great video

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Articles

Recent Posts

Domenick Swentosky

Central Pennsylvania

Hi. I’m a father of two young boys, a husband, author, fly fishing guide and a musician. I fish for wild brown trout in the cool limestone waters of Central Pennsylvania year round. This is my home, and I love it. Friends. Family. And the river.

Pin It on Pinterest