About the project
As an avid fly, kayak, and saltwater angler, as well as a self-proclaimed master of truck camping, Ryan Burch has long dreamt of fishing all of the lower 48 states. Tales of the 48 is documentary project that spans the entirety of this cross country road trip and shares this epic, once in a lifetime journey with the world. Over the course of 18 months, Ryan, his dog Wes, and a select group of co-pilots will travel to all 48 contiguous US states with the goal of catching at least a single fish in each state. This 15,000-mile adventure will be documented from start to finish. Their experiences on the road, from the most glorious successes to the most dismal failures, will depict the fish caught, the land traveled, and the cast of characters encountered.
While Tales of the 48 highlights the many facets of fishing in America, its true purpose lies in sharing the richness that life on the road entails. Whether it’s fly fishing for native brook trout in remote high elevation lakes, or playing cards with a local fishing legend at a truck stop in Louisiana, all of the incredible moments from this journey will be compiled into a feel-good documentary that will make you laugh, cry, and leave you wanting to drop everything and pack up the car. Tales of the 48 will be as much a series about the fish and water of this country as it will be about the people, land, and culture that lie just around the next bend.