Finn Allan is a go-getter. An avid fly fisher, Allan helped bring the renowned International Fly Fishing Festival (IF4) for a single screening to the CineLux Los Gatos Theatre on Aug. 23 at 10am. This is the lone IF4 showing in the Bay Area–the next closest screening location is Redding on Nov. 6.
That was the impetus for Allan–an incoming Los Gatos High School junior–to become the de facto liaison between IF4 and Los Gatos Theatre.
“I really wanted to watch the film and noticed there wasn’t one anywhere near the area,” Allan said. “The closest screening was four hours away. I was looking at the (IF4) website and saw a link to host a film and was thinking, ‘I should really host one.’”
Allan got to work, making an online submission to Los Gatos Theatre on Jan. 4. He eventually got in contact with Peter Ross and Chris Gunsky—the Gunsky family own the Theatre–-and they were gracious in providing a venue for the IF4 screening.
“They were kind enough to donate usage of the Theatre as their contribution to conservation,” Allan said.
From January to April, Allan was in contact with the Theatre and IF4 to figure out and organize the details to bring a screening to Los Gatos. When the final details were hammered out in May, Allan was ecstatic. In addition to Gunsky and Ross, Allan credited his dad, Grant, the IF4 and San Jose Flycasters Committee Chair Dick Powers for helping him reach his goal.
“It’s international so it’s a pretty big thing to bring this to the town of Los Gatos,” he said. “I was pretty proud. Going through this really helped me practice my communication (skills).”
IF4 celebrates fly fishing through film and cinematography from independent filmmakers worldwide. Tickets can be purchased at flyfilmfest.com. Proceeds from the event screening in Los Gatos will be directed to youth programs in conservation and stewardship of the San Jose Flycasters Fishing Club and the Flycasters Conservation and Education Foundation, Inc.
The 16-year-old Allan has been a member of the San Jose Flycasters for six years. His younger brother, Casey, an incoming sophomore at LGHS, is also a member of the club. The Allan brothers are the youngest members of the organization, but have shown a precociousness belying their youth.
Finn makes custom lures, flies and builds custom rods, too.
“I used to make a lot of lures from wood, but lately I’ve been making my own rods and the flies,” he said. “It’s just a skill you kind of practice. I got into rodmaking through San Jose Flycasters and since then have made six of them. On average, it takes five days to a week to make one. Just need a lot of patience.”
Allan started fishing when he was 9 years old. His dad and grandfather introduced him to the sport, and the family goes out of the area for a fishing trip at least once a year. Allan took up fly fishing four years ago, and he’s been hooked ever since. In fly fishing, the weight of the line carries a weightless fly (lure) to the target.
“Fly fishing will generally take you to more remote places,” Allan said. “Generally, you’ll be in different places compared to traditional fishing. I find fly fishing a lot more enjoyable.”
Allan said his biggest catch was a 23-inch brown trout which happened as part of a backpacking trip in Desolation Wilderness last summer. For Allan, nothing beats the serenity of being out in the wilderness.
“Since I took up fishing, I’m more appreciative of wildlife,” he said. “The land, how pristine it is, it’s a place you want to be.”
Allan loves being a part of the Flycasters because of their conservation efforts.
“Conservation is keeping the wildlife clean, keeping it wild,” he said. “I want to leave a place clean and wild so other people can go see it and feel it. I just think it changes the way you view wildlife and the land.”
When Allan is not fly fishing, you can probably find him on the track or trail. He competes for the Wildcats’ track and cross country teams, and was a key cog for the latter program in his freshman and sophomore year.
“I love running because you can always do more, you can always go faster,” he said. “It just gives you something to do and some goals to set.”
