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!
Second, in this year’s F3T Behind the Lens series is “Shadow People at The Falls” by Backwater Fly Fishing. In this compelling and mystical story, April Vokey, Sam Lungren, & Jesse Males travel deep into the wilds of Guyana in search of arapaima. We sat down with Jesse to discuss how the film got its name and how eerie the Jungle can be. Check out the full interview below!
Flylords: Jesse, what a story and what an amazing crew. April, you, and Sam Lungren. How long did you guys plan this trip before actually going on it?
Jesse: “I think the real question is how the heck they got me to join in on the fun. Sam had been on that trip a year prior and invited April to join in this go-around. Sam gave me a call, and it was off to the races. We had about two months to plan this thing before we were in the jungle.”
Flylords: Was there a story in mind before the film? Or did the story unfold as you guys were in the jungle hearing these stories?
Jesse: “April hadn’t been down there before, and Sam had this idea for an Amazon film about the stories of these uncontacted tribes in that area. The idea for the film was to be more focused on the unknown and the spookiness of the jungle instead of just a straight fish porn film, which I think we did. We got there with no shot lists and a general idea. All we had was Sam’s title Shadow People of The Falls.”
Flylords: The whole film has an ominous feel to it. Was there anything spooky that happened to you and the crew while you were out there?
Jesse: “Once we were out there, we saw petroglyphs and signs from these uncontacted tribes that just made it really unique but uneasy as well. We were hammock camping in that zone, and the guides were educating us on the sights and sounds of the bush and what not to do. We were in proximity to these uncontacted people, and you’d hear a sound at night across the river, and the guides would tell you that’s them. It was really eerie. The guides told us plenty of stories off-camera of different things that had happened on trips, and it definitely put you on edge.”
Flylords: Was the cameraman able to cast a few flies on the trip? If so, what did you catch?
Jesse: “Well, fishing was slow, and I was the only guy filming, so not a ton. But I did catch a few peacocks, and I actually hooked the largest arapaima on the trip off-camera. I think April has some cell phone clips of it, but it was massive. It pulled us from one end to the lake and back. We got it boatside eventually, and the leader popped, unfortunately, but the guide estimated it to be around 425 lbs. It was massive. The curse of the cameraman, haha.”
Flylords: How long were you guys in the Jungle?
Jesse: “It was a two-week trip. It took 5 days of travel and 9 days of fishing. It took 3 days to get in that zone and 2 days out. It was tough. We had so much stuff, but I think we crushed it with what we had. We did a really good job capturing the fishery, the vibes of the jungle, and being so desolate.”
Flylords: How far of a portage did you guys have to get into the lagoon to target arapaima?
Jesse: “Some of the portages were upwards of a mile and a half to the lagoon. The guides on the past trip had cut rollers down so we could carry the boats more easily. But they weren’t easy walks; I had about 35 lbs of camera gear in my backpack, and I was carrying another Yeti GoBox with my camera and drone under my arms. The worst part was I was barefoot because I only brought sandals on the trip, so I was getting thorns and whatnot stuck in my feet.”
Flylords: Can you give us more of a breakdown on that huge arapaima Sam caught?
Jesse: “April and I were actually filming an interview with one of the guides, but you could hear Sam fighting that fish through the bush. It was tough to pack up all of the interview gear and run through the woods to make sure we got there in time.”
Flylords: It looks like you guys got into butterfly peacock bass. Did you catch any of the other types of peacocks on the trip?
Jesse: “Yup, in the basin we were in, they only have those butterfly peacocks. Other basins and other river systems have those big ones that you see. But they were tons of fun, and what was even cooler, in my opinion, was the arawana. They were such awesome fish. We didn’t get to fish for them until the 8th and 9th day, and we only caught the two that you see in the film. So it was really cool to get those shots on only two fish.”
Flylords: How were the filming conditions?
Jesse: “It wasn’t easy. You can’t rely on the sun for anything cause you are in the jungle. But it’s so tough you have to try and pack light because you’re in canoes, but also pack enough batteries for the whole trip. Battery life and being super selective about filming were the main two focuses for me. Fishing gear was tough, too. We had to pack everything from a 5wt to a 12wt.”
Flylords: How were the meals being so far out there?
Jesse: “The meals were great. It was definitely rugged. It was basically rice and beans and some meat and a lot of rum. We had to fish for our meals every night. We caught a bunch of different types of catfish, and we ate some piranha, too. Actually, our guides shot some turkey-looking bird that we ate as well. Typically, we’d eat a big breakfast and then go fish for 12 hours. Basically, at that point, you would just eat anything that was in front of you.”
Flylords: Lastly, What’s next for you and Backwater Fly Fishing? Do you have any trips on the books right now?
Jesse: “I’ve been working with a buddy of mine Koji Sumalde, he’s an awesome photographer/videographer. We’ve been working on client projects for the last year. We have another film project coming up this winter and then a few more in Q1 and Q2 this upcoming year. We’re super stoked; we’re also sitting on a lot of cool stories and projects from the past that we are working on getting out of. So be on the lookout for those!”
Extras:
Flylords: Is there a tip or lesson you’ve learned traveling, filming, or fishing that you wish you had known before?
Jesse: “I think if you’re going solo on a project like I was. Have a plan of how and when you’re going to execute each shot. And then grind it out, man. Don’t waste battery and memory card space with B-roll until you have fulfilled your A-roll shot list. Having that at the forefront of your mind is the best thing you can do on a trip like this. The biggest concern for me wasn’t memory cards. It was battery life.”
Flylords: Was there a drink of choice out there in the jungle?
Jesse: “It’s rum all day. We had bought a bottle of rum from a local liquor store. It was a $11 bottle, and I don’t remember the name. If it’s hot like that out there, rum is the way to go.”
If you are interested in experiencing the jungles of Guyana and targeting arapaima with Sam Lungren, check out his hosted trips HERE.
Buy your Fly Fishing Film Tour Tickets HERE!
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