Salmon TV

thanks Lee. I definitely did look into fishing trips/tours, but they rob the authenticity of the experience, you know? If there were 2 fishermen with a huge Hatfield/McCoy rivalry... that would be another story! Would looove to find that.

OK, I'll be that dude...

And take this for what it's worth; I'm certainly not as skilled or active as the posters above.  I really shouldn't take on such a guard dog role.

But before we all get excited and pitch our uniqueness and willingness to be the next Snooki, let's make sure that we're not feeding the beast that is contemporary American reality television.  You know, the fluffy, irrelevant, brain cell-chomping trash buried deep on your teenage daughter's DVR account.  Toddlers, Kayak Anglers, and Tiaras.  With me now?

Simone, your agenda seems pure, clean, and honest.  I like where you're headed with this, and welcome you into our strange little world.  These are kind, passionate, and embracing people; you'd be hard pressed to find a more worthy bunch with which to represent our sport.  "Sport," I say?  Yeah, I suppose it is.  But it's one that is in a relative infancy; it can grow to be whatever we wish it to become.  We're solid parents, and protective of this baby of ours.  So, Simone, promise us that you're not going to dip said child in gloss and add to its life a slew of GNARLY EXTREME sound clips.  In short, we want to be seen for what we are, not next of kin to fabulous designers, predatory tow truck drivers, ghost hunters, or bridesmaids.  Speaking of, have you all embarked on a project like this?

http://www.northsouth.tv/shows/

Oh.  OK.  Again, promise us that you'll be kind.  Sorry to growl, and sorry if I misrepresented anyone's thoughts, feelings, or desire to be fabulous.

AJ, you didn't say anything that anyone with a brain wasn't already thinking.

None of us mind sharing our world really, but we don't want to be snooki or Dawg the Bounty Hunter style 'entertainment' types.

I appreciate you raising that concern, which is a valid one. I'm actually brand new to the company, and they brought me on with the specific mission of creating a show about true Americana for Discovery, Nat Geo or History Channel. If you've seen their programming, they're pretty true to their lives. Still, there is a bifurcation between people who are just themselves on camera and let their true lives be shown, and a separate group of people who really ham it up on camera. It is what you make of it, but no one wants to ostracize the "talent" (which is what you call anyone on camera). The idea for TV is to have several seasons of a show, and you'll never get that if the talent isn't happy with a show and drops out. Make sense? Also, feel free to drop me a line at [email protected] I'm an open book. We just want to showcase interesting stories that haven't been told yet. It's all about escapism for a viewer who, after a long day, wants to turn on the TV and see a bunch of badasses who the viewer wishes he could be and/or hang out with.

Make sense?

If you need a 30-something newbie yakker for the show with a malfunctioning risk meter (according to my wife anyway) let me know.

...a huge Hatfield/McCoy rivalry... that would be another story! Would looove to find that.

How about you strap a camera to a sea lion as he rips a fish off the line 10 ft from the yak of a fisherman who's put in years of effort to catch his first ever Springer salmon. As long as you can edit for language - it'd show the only real drama in this sport.

OR...do something like ABC's WipeOut. Give a bunch of Newbs kayaks and film them trying to paddle through heavy surf or up river in a class III while the veterans throw dodgeballs from the sidelines. Only problem is trying to work the "Big Balls" into the equation.

This could work... LOL

In all seriousness there are great stories involved in the pacific salmon runs.  For myself I can get the kayak fishing urge filled by actually going fishing or watching the tons of videos freely available online to see the kinds of fishing things i find interesting.

There are tons of real human interest stories going on involving salmon.  The stories of people who devote their lives to restoring wild salmon are fascinating.  A History Channel show about the massive decline of west coast salmon and the human impacts would be a great story.  There has to be more than fishing to tell a story.

Chris

There are tons of real human interest stories going on involving salmon.  The stories of people who devote their lives to restoring wild salmon are fascinating.  A History Channel show about the massive decline of west coast salmon and the human impacts would be a great story.  There has to be more than fishing to tell a story.

+1.

-Allen

+2

There are truly some interesting stories about how the 'salmon' fishing way of life has manifested with declining fish stocks. From the subsistence community / culture to commercial fisheries to sport fisheries. Throw the the scientists trying to bring fish stocks back from the brink of extinction to the high seas poaching community and law enforcement trying to curb it all.  It's certainly a complex equation with many facets.

I'd watch it if it were a multi-part series that explored all of those cultures rather than for a cast of characters. It's far more important of an issue than that.

Agreed. Simone you literally could end up with another Planet Earth or Blue Planet type series on your hands. Thats how complex Salmon Life can be and is.

Between the native fishing rights vs. sporties vs. commercial, wild salmon vs. hatchery, various methods of chasing fish (fly vs. gear, shore vs. boat), things like the Elwha River's dam removal, etc. you could make one helluva series that ties together fishing, social and environmental issues.  Your drama can come from the various groups and their battles and barbs thrown at each other with the common thread being they are all dependent on the salmon and one another for their recreation or careers

That said it all, no salmon, nothing for any body and we'll fish for what's left, or until that's all gone also!

Moderation must be used by all, only way!

I know that action scenes and the challenge of the elements make sexy scenes. How about a look at the State of Oregon's STEP program. Their Eggs to Fry program where students raise and release Salmon is amazing.  Or BC's focus on Salmon recovery. There are so many cool things going on with so many diverse groups working together.

Yeah, I know boring TV, but cool stuff!

Wobbler

I know that action scenes and the challenge of the elements make sexy scenes. How about a look at the State of Oregon's STEP program. Their Eggs to Fry program where students raise and release Salmon is amazing.  Or BC's focus on Salmon recovery. There are so many cool things going on with so many diverse groups working together.

Yeah, I know boring TV, but cool stuff!

Wobbler

Salmon Wars!

-Allen

... Dawg the Bounty Hunter style 'entertainment' types.

Do not dis the Dawg.

How about you strap a camera to a sea lion as he rips a fish off the line 10 ft from the yak of a fisherman who's put in years of effort to catch his first ever Springer salmon. As long as you can edit for language - it'd show the only real drama in this sport...

Au contraire, there is plenty of other drama to be found. 

For example I found THIS fairly dramatic.  And, yes, it involved non-FCC approved language. 

The end of the story is that in all the distraction from the oil tug horn and the guys yelling at me from the fantail, I did something I NEVER do.  I removed the hook from the salmon before removing it from the net and let sit under my knees while I tried to pedal away from the scene.  Fish starts flopping, I start grabbing, fish flops forward of pedals, fish flops, I lunge, get fish, juggle fish, fish flips overboard.

That is drama.

I also found being charged by a Stellar sea lion dramatic, as was hooking the flipper of the CA Sea Lion with the buzz bomb, as was my first (and to date, only) wali.