Film Review: The Steelhead Quest

Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time fishing for steelhead knows just how elusive they can be. Cast after cast drifts away with little indication that our targeted quarry is even there.  It's that element to steelheading that makes the The Steelhead Quest such a memorable film as Terry Myers sets out to catch a steelhead every month of the year. 

Trying to catch a wild steelhead every month of the year is a tall task that Terry sets before her, but the journey along the way makes for captivating film.  As she and her husband travel from their Idaho home to Alaska, Canada, and Oregon, they hunt for the rare chrome gems that spend a fleeting amount of time in freshwater.

​Watching their eloquent casts is as mesmerizing as the colors on the fish that come to hand.  If the scenes of lush rain forests or high desert cliffs aren't enough, the "lumberjack breakfast" and frequent nips at the flask make it feel like a fishing trip we all have been on once or twice before.

We wrote a piece some time ago about the Wild Steelhead Coalition, and The Steelhead Quest highlights some of the pressing issues facing these fish. With wild runs dwindling in number, it's imperative that the watersheds and the creatures that swim in them receive protection. The evidence of diminishing fish returns can be felt in this film, but not in a way that feels preachy or over-the-top. 

​Despite all of the challenges facing her, Terry just about accomplishes what she set out to do. As she comes up one month short, there is no regret or sadness in her tone, but rather hope and excitement. Having a part of this journey left for the following year brings her elation as she plans for besting one of these fish the following July. 

Excitement, hope, and looking ahead to the next run, pool, or season is what steelheading is all about, and it's what makes The Steelhead Quest such a tremendous watch! 

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Speaking of steelhead, you can book your day on the PA or OH streams today!  Trips for these supersized fish can be scheduled in either the spring or fall. 

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