Joel Stewart - Montana Fly Anger-Turned-Sailor
On May 1st, 2005, a Montana fly angler-turned-sailor arrived in the desert nation of Iraq as part of a coalition of forces working to bring peace to a war-torn countryside. A naval officer assigned to the Multi-National Corps Iraq, Joel Stewart found himself based in Camp Victory on the grounds of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's former Al Faw Palace. With numerous man-made lakes stocked by the former dictator with a variety of sport fish, in the down hours from a stressful job in a war zone, Commander Stewart did what any good fisherman would do -- he went fishing. With the foresight to have packed a fly rod in his sea bag, in a desert oasis built by a brutal dictator, Stewart began an odyssey unparalleled in the history of fishing. As he discovered the strange fish inhabiting the lakes in the Camp Victory compound, he began to share his catches with friends via the internet. Others, fascinated by Commander Stewart's catches, began to join him, and soon he was teaching numerous others how to fly fish. Thus, the Baghdad School of Fly Fishing was born, an angling club that remained in existence for the remainder of the time American troops were in Iraq.
From the many tales of fish caught and released and hooked and lost, to the struggles of finding fishing equipment and how numerous individuals and companies stepped up to the plate, to the growth of the Baghdad Angler's Club, the story of fly fishing in Iraq will fascinate fishermen and non-anglers alike.
David Long: A Journey from Corporate America to Aysen Patagonia's Wild Waters
Sometimes the fish that gets away isn’t a fish at all—it’s the life you’re meant to live.
Join David Long as he shares his remarkable journey from Portland tech executive to Patagonian lodge owner, a transformation that began with a single Rotary exchange to Chile in 1991 and culminated in the creation of Eko Patagonia a remote premier boutique adventure lodge in the remote Aysen region near Coyhaique, Chile.
David’s presentation weaves together a sort of hero’s journey and the profound sense of belonging found in Patagonia’s pristine waters. He’ll explore how fly fishing and immersion in nature become gateways to deeper personal transformation, mindfulness and authentic connection.
From teaching his Chilean host father Jorge to cast his first fly to creating a boutique lodge and cabins focused on mindfulness adventure in one of the world’s most remote locations, David’s story demonstrates how disconnecting from our familiar world can help us reconnect with our authentic selves.
David will share his “Alive Awake Aware” mantra while exploring the transformative benefits of fly fishing and what it means to truly follow your dreams.
ABOUT DAVID LONG
David’s love affair with Chile began in 1991 as a Rotary International exchange student, where he discovered not just incredible fly fishing, but a second family and a culture that would forever change his life’s trajectory. What started as a gap year became a decades-long journey that would eventually lead him to leave a successful career in Portland’s technology sector to establish Eko Patagonia (www.ekopatagonia.com) near Coyhaique in the remote Aysen region of Chilean Patagonia.
Growing up on Oregon’s legendary McKenzie River and cutting his teeth on the technical waters of the Metolius, David was already an experienced angler when he first cast a line in Chilean waters. After earning degrees in International Studies, Business, and Spanish, David built a successful career in Portland’s tech industry but found himself repeatedly drawn back to Chile’s southern reaches.
His Chilean host father Jorge, a former military helicopter mechanic, became both fishing partner and mentor, teaching David that life is short and following your dreams isn’t just important—it’s essential.
This wisdom would prove prophetic when David made the ultimate leap of faith in 2018, purchasing lakefront property near Coyhaique in the Aysen region of Chile.
The resulting Eko Patagonia showcases innovative sustainable design, with premier accommodations created from recycled shipping containers that blend modern comfort with environmental stewardship. The project required navigating remote construction challenges, like hand-mixing concrete when cement trucks couldn’t access the location, all while preserving the pristine wilderness that makes the region so special.
David’s approach centers on what he calls being “Alive Awake Aware”—a philosophy that uses the natural mindfulness inherent in fly fishing and in nature as a gateway to personal transformation and positive changes that can make the world a better place.
As past Chair of the Outdoor Activities Committee at the Multnomah Athletic Club and current Lead Mentor for The Mayfly Project Portland Metro, David is passionate about introducing others to fly fishing’s transformative power, particularly in helping others discover confidence and purpose through angling.
He’s currently working on a memoir (and short documentary) about his transformational journey, and he may offer to read excerpts during his presentation.
David calls Castle Rock, Washington, basecamp in the northern hemisphere summer months, while continuing to develop Eko Patagonia.
Through his unique working relationships with area fly fishing guides and ranching/farming families, David has created what has become one of the most intriguing eco-tourism and fly fishing opportunities in Patagonia Chile. This community partnership approach has been a huge success, with the lodge now providing operational jobs for many locals, sourcing foods from area producers, and actively helping to protect the pristine environment that makes the region so special.
David’s future vision centers on continuing to build a truly unique adventure, fly fishing and eco-tour lodge that offers “trip of a lifetime” experiences while deepening his commitment to conservation, regenerative tourism and environmental sustainability.
At Eko Patagonia, he continues to explore the intersection of fly fishing, mindfulness, and authentic human connection—demonstrating how being “Alive Awake Aware” can create ripple effects that transform not just individual lives, but entire communities and ecosystems.