Growing up in Bridgeport, Curtis Fleming flipped through a lot of fishing magazines and specifically remembers an article catching his attention. It was about fishing the Feather River for steelhead trout. In recent years, he’s kept in his back pocket plans to fly fish the tributary of the Sacramento in northern California. Last month, he had that opportunity. Partnering with Westervelt Ecological Services, Fleming and his Fly Rod Chronicles crew traveled almost 3,000 miles to the west coast for a fly fishing excursion he would never forget.

 

He knows for a fact he will not.

 

On the morning of Nov. 8, Fleming and his camera guys rose well before 5 a.m. to drive from their hotel in Chico, Calif. 20-some miles to Paradise, where they, a Westervelt rep and fishing guide Ryan Johnston would venture out onto the Feather before daybreak.

 

Fleming’s memories of the glossy pages in the fishing magazine didn’t even do it justice. It was breathtaking, he said. Mist was rising from the water and as the fog broke, so did daylight as blue skies and sunshine dominated. The guys reeled in and released one beautiful steelhead after another. As an added treat, the salmon were swimming upstream to spawn; their tails slapping the water as they jumped in unison with the river waves.

 

It was Paradise indeed. But in a moment, it all changed.

 

Suddenly appearing was an odd cloud. Just after Ryan said it was likely from an area wildfire, his phone rang and on the other end was his wife, telling him she had received notification that the family was to evaluate as the fire was traveling fast in the direction of their home. The fishing trip came to a quick halt as the mission fiercely switched to getting Ryan to his family.

 

By early afternoon, heavy smoke blocked the sun, creating nighttime darkness. As the hours unfolded, the crew drove across roadways – heavy flames engulfing both sides, the sound of sirens and chaos everywhere. Ryan was safely reunited with his family and he and the rest of the fishermen were finally out of danger. 

 

But the fire traveled to Chico faster than the FRC crew. As did thousands of other individuals, they moved on to Sacramento. Hotel rooms were - as you might imagine - in great demand within a radius of hundreds of miles. 

 

This will all be included in a new episode of “Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Fleming” to air the third week of January on Pursuit Channel. I’ve seen some of the footage. Both the beauty of the river scenes and of the fury of flames are quite incredible.

What you won’t see on the episode, however, is the rest of this story. Although their anticipated week-long shoot lasted only a few hours, Curtis and his guys stayed in California several days, helping to move folks to safety, buying pizzas and carrying children, pets and belongings – from family photos and documents to sentimental items. From elderly people on walkers to tiny little children, the individuals had only what they could grab in the face of disaster. Some wore charred clothing. Curtis said he’ll never forget the looks on their faces.

The trip to fish the Feather was as lifechanging as he dreamed it would be – but in a very different way.

 

Ryan Johnston of is also co-founder of Cast Hope, a non-profit organization that takes kids – who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance – out on guided fly fishing trips. Cast Hope was founded on the belief that it only takes one trip outdoors to create a pivotal point in a young person’s life. Curtis knows that is true.

 

Learn more HERE.

 

Visit the Fly Rod Chronicles Web site HERE.

 

The wildfire which leveled the city of Paradise, Calif. was the deadliest fire in state history. Ninety people have been confirmed dead with hundreds still missing.