The 2025 Fly Fishing Film Tour is almost underway, but before you see the films, get an inside look into what went into making each film in this year’s “F3T Behind the Lens” series. Also, be sure to check out the 2025 Film Tour Dates HERE to see the schedule and get tickets! .
First in this year’s F3T Behind the Lens line-up is Dan’s Pain 2, a film by Ben Meadows highlighting the struggles and realities of musky fishing. We sat down with Ben to learn more about capturing this story and turning it into a film. From the various challenges faced to the inevitable hardship of musky fishing, this film captures it all. Check out the full interview below.
Flylords: How did this film turn into a reality?
Ben Meadows: “During the premier of Dan’s Pain in Austin, Texas; Austin Conrad of Virginia Trophy Guides found us after the show and said how much he enjoyed the film. The fact that it was literally a project about a guy who sucked at fishing made it unique and refreshing.
Fast forward a few years later, he hit us up and said that Dan’s Pain deserved a sequel, and that there’d be nothing funnier than going from foaming schools of tuna (Dan’s Pain 1) to the toughest fish in freshwater (Dan’s Pain 2). To be honest? We believed him. There was something so simple and hilarious about the original Dan’s Pain (one fish actually jumped into the boat… yet Dan didn’t hook one), which would set up a crazy contrast with the fish of 10,000 casts. At the same point, I also wonder if Dan hooking himself in the head in the first film, and the necessity to cast 18” flies to musky… might have had a part to play in his idea.
Regardless, we put the plan into motion last fall on getting dates and seasons organized to hopefully put us all in a successful position. We arrived on the idea of March being an ambitious and early start, which would coincide with some good brook trout fishing. It’s important to note that Dan… had never caught a trout either.”
Flylords: What is the biggest challenge you faced while creating this film?
Ben Meadows: “I really don’t think there was a “biggest” challenge here. Everything was challenging. Scheduling? We were at the mercy of musky patterning and movements, Dan’s construction calendar, and then a bunch of young family dynamics. That’s a scheduling nightmare. Weather? Not only did the rivers max out as we drove up to Virginia, but some of it was warm rain which moved some musky out of different holding patterns. Coordination? Extremely difficult– you want to cover as much water as possible to maximize 30,000 casts (3 boats in the water) but how are you going to make sure chase boat and “talent” boat are in the same place? And of course… musky are beyond difficult.”
Flylords: What made you choose to target musky?
Ben Meadows: “Thankfully, we can wave our hands on this one! We didn’t. We only agreed to Austin’s hilarious proposition that taking Dan from the easiest saltwater situation to the most difficult freshwater challenge would be a fantastic contrast. There will be a story no matter what.”
Flylords: Can you tell us more about the characters in the film?
Ben Meadows: “Blane Chocklett probably needs no introduction to the fly audience– he’s the guy who built his life around the most difficult fly quarry… and the best flies to chase them with. But the truth is, we actually got introduced at the last second.
The guys from Virginia Trophy Guides said that they had an “ace up their sleeve.” When Blane drove up, we all kicked the ground a bit grumbling “Please, Dan. Please tell us you’ve been practicing your casts”
And to be fair– we were doubly wrong. Dan had been practicing and anticipating this moment and Blane was a humble and intentional coach. He very quickly caught on to Dan’s bass and redfish instincts… and to his fishing curse.
Now, to introduce Dan Lantrip? Man. He’s probably the most cursed fly fisherman we know. And that’s coming from a bunch of curse-of-the-camera touting dudes.
If there’s an easy shot in the world? Nature will flip over to make sure it doesn’t go Dan’s way. We have honestly seen so many things go wrong that there’s no other way to describe it – he’s cursed. Just wait for the last clip of the film. Cursed.
Flylords: What is one thing that you learned while creating this film that can apply to others looking to get into musky fishing?
Ben Meadows: “As Blane says in the film– “embrace the suck.” From my angle, this style of fishing is 99% pain and 1% madness. You push and push and push, hoping that one cast will be the one. As a filmmaker, you’re trying to make sure you’re burning tape so you don’t miss that moment since you’re not promised more than one. (Honestly are you even promised one? ) And that sets up the 1% madness. You’re either ready for it, and are praying that it all stays together… or, you’re not ready for it and you’re staring at the sky, kicking yourself for not being prepared.”
Flylords: Do you have any exciting films currently in the works?
Ben Meadows: “We’ve been overwhelmed by some wonderful stories recently. There’s the story of the fight to make Jack Crevalle a legitimately managed gamefish with the ASGA team. Then the craziest combination we’ve stumbled upon – Vic – an ex-special forces soldier who’s fighting for ecological restoration between jaguars, sea turtles, and dogs on the beaches of Mexico. Then there’s Chris’s story– a guy who emerged from a traumatic childhood in North Alabama who ponders what it means to find peace in chaos – picking up a fly rod for the first time and following him from Alabama to Alaska.
Also coming down the pipe is a heli-kayaking steelheading adventure, a reflection about redfish, and a personal passion project/bonus about my own labrador retriever, Riggins, and his journey from couch potato to duck dog, to bass dog, to trout dog… all because I missed out on the first couple years of his life not realizing how talented he was.
So yeah. Not enough coffee and hours of sleep in the world!”
Flylords: What is the key message that you hope viewers take away from this film?
Ben Meadows: ” We’ve had other projects that have a distinct message or punch point. For instance, our first F3T film “Just Like Mac” had a deep resonance about what it means to pass along something your passionate about when… time isn’t on your side. With “The Holy Well” we wanted to share the passion of a unique fishery and an epic experience.
But with Dan’s Pain 1 and 2, they are just fun reflections of a guy who’s willing to be the butt of the joke. To laugh at themselves. To literally be cool with an entire production (and sequel) about how bad you are at fishing.
And I dunno. Maybe there’s some relevant resonance there? In a sport where everyone is committed to be the most serious, the most focused, the most die-hard… maybe we should all take ourselves a little less seriously?
Thanks so much to Ben for taking the time to sit down with us, and be on the look out for more “behind the lens” features, and be sure to check out when the film tour is coming through your neck of the woods! Get info and tickets, BELOW.
Buy your Fly Fishing Film Tour Tickets HERE!
Share this post
