backyard bronze (2025)

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!

featuring: Jake Keeler and TC Worley | film + edit: Mike Thienes | presented by: Water Sabbath | graphics: Ken Nyberg | media: The Flyfish Journal | sponsors: Skawala Fishing, Coal Headwear

sando chunk (2024)

We need stories about the mundane things, like sandwiches. Films based on something small, and even poorly defined, but nonetheless enough to spur creativity.

In fact, the stickiest memories may actually come from the small things found in the margins of each adventure. Those margins can border on the sacred in terms of providing hidden meaning; for stories, memories and elusive lessons.

It’s just a chunk of sando….

featuring: Ethan Deiss, Erik Ralles, Krister Ralles, Jake Keeler, Drew Poganski | presented by: Water Sabbath | production co: Rubinski Visual | film + edit: Mike Thienes | description: Jake Keeler | music: Patrick Sweany "After Awhile" | Tiko Tiko "Against all Odds" | Liars “Against the Rush” | media partner: The Flyfish Journal

great sea (2023)

What is the push and pull of big water? Why does it capture the souls of so many?

As someone that was born and raised on Lake Superior, Luke Kavajecz has known it as something of a dance partner. Sometimes Luke leads in a dance of sun, glassy surfaces, shallow depths, and bronzebacks. Other times the Lake rages and moshes while Luke succumbs to simply keeping up and maintaining a sense of balance. There is a seasonal give and take; a time of reflection and tranquility, and a time of severity and instinctual survival. Through fly fishing and surfing, Luke has learned to embrace both.

Lake Superior has seen many souls. It pulled at the heart and mind of notable Lake Superior surf pioneer Tom Blake, as well as Luke’s big water fly fishing mentor Rodger LaPentor. They connected with the lake and left their mark, like the seiche that moves water back and forth under the surface.

If one is driven enough to find devices and ways to understand and interact with Lake Superior, they may consider themselves lucky. These souls have found a way to keep the conversation and the dance alive, as a small entity into vast expanse, present at every turn of the seasons. Luke is one of these lucky souls.

featuring: Luke Kavajecz | presented by: Water Sabbath | production co: Rubinski Visual | film + edit: Mike Thienes | aerial footage: Steve Fines | description: Jake Keeler | artwork: Madison Holler | music: Aquartos "The Misty Wonderer" | music: David Kilgour "Looks Like I'm Running Out" | music: Zac Marben "In The Tree"

water sabbath (2022)

Water Sabbath is the collaborative project between Mike Thienes (Filmmaker) and Jake Keeler (Visual Artist) It explores the idea of water and the outdoors as filters that generate creativity, peace, and meaning beyond the daily grind.

Alongside the film, the project explores these ideas through artwork based on the chapters of the film. The art reflects the experiences, essence, and imagery of each location; weaving with Keeler's imagination to capture his life of fly-fishing and art-making in a way that only his style and brand can convey.

Chapter 1 - Spark. | Music: Northern Hammer "Runestone" | Chapter 2 - Grind. | Music: Flavor Crystals "Alpha Dawn" | Chapter 3 - Joy. | Music: Abstract Artimus | Song: "When The Beast Is After Me" | Chapter 4 - Search. | Music: King Buffalo "Morning Song" 

featuring | Jake Keeler | film + edit: Mike Thienes | aerial footage: Steve Fines | graphic design: Ken Nyberg | media: The Flyfish Journal