Backyard Bronze | Filmmaker: Michael Robert Thienes

Welcome to the 2026 Stimmies Angler’s Choice Awards, presented by Scientific Anglers, Fly Fusion Magazine and IF4™. After being selected as finalists by our panel of judges, these outstanding films are now in your hands. Voting opens July 27 and closes August 31.

This year, The Stimmies features two award categories, and you may cast one vote in each category. Simply click on each film to watch it, then vote for your favourite in that category. Each category winner will be recognized, and the film receiving the most votes overall will be crowned the 2026 Angler’s Choice winner, earning the Grand Prize, including consideration as an Official Selection in the 2027 International Fly Fishing Film Festival.

As an added bonus, every voter is automatically entered into our weekly draws for incredible fly fishing gear and prizes throughout the voting period.

In Backyard Bronze, Midwest based artist Jake Keeler and photographer T.C. Worley are out to document the smallmouth playground of Jake’s backyard, the Upper Mississippi River.Many have to search far and wide to find quality smallmouth fishing; for Jake and T.C., exploring Jake’s childhood haunts and overlooked spots provides endless opportunities on world class water.The late Summer brings a chance to meet these bronze bombers on their turf without long drives, flights, logistics, or even boats. Backyard Bronze is a love-letter of sorts to smallmouth and this epic fishery!