Bert on the Fly
”We protect what we love!”
"Through every cast and every frame, we discover not just the beauty of nature, but our responsibility to protect this planet for generations to come."
Welcome to Bert on the Fly.
I’m Roberto Schmidl — fly fisherman, visual storyteller, and explorer drawn to wild water and the people who live close to it. My work follows rivers, tides, and the winding paths of those who seek connection — with fish, with nature, with themselves.
From alpine streams to coastal flats, I travel with a fly rod and a camera, chasing not just the thrill of the cast or the perfect light, but the quiet, often overlooked moments in between.
Out there, time stretches. Noise gives way to water. And whether I’m photographing a rising trout, a weathered hand gripping a rod, or a moment of stillness between casts, the goal is the same: to tell honest stories. Of wild places. Of those who explore them. And of what we stand to lose.
Because the places that move us — the ones we photograph, protect, and return to — are under threat. Pollution, warming waters, vanishing fish — even the most remote ecosystems are changing. Conservation is no longer optional; it’s part of the story.
Through environmental storytelling, fly fishing, and portraiture, I aim to capture what’s real — the beauty, fragility, and human spirit tied to water. From a jungle guide to a child learning to cast, these moments reveal what’s at stake — and worth protecting.
Bert on the Fly is where these stories come together — stories for those who fish with purpose, shoot with intention, and fight to protect the waters we love.
Join me. Follow the current. Feel the pull. And help protect what we love!
Fishing Adventures
Environmental News
About
I have been drawn to the water for as long as I can remember. From small streams to wide open oceans, that is where I feel truly at home. Fly fishing has never been just a hobby for me. It's both calm and difficult, interesting and exciting at the same time. Every cast has its own small rhythm, its moment.
Over the years this passion grew into something bigger. Travel, photography, and environmental conservation became part of my ordinary life. I love capturing the wild places we move through, but just as much I love capturing the people who share those moments. Faces lit by sun and wind. Friends laughing on a boat. Someone completely lost in the surrounding beauty. Nature is not only landscapes and wildlife. It is the people brought together by it.
And with every journey I am reminded that this connection comes with responsibility. Protecting the water and the wildlife it sustains, the land, and also supporting the communities and guides who depend on these places. Enjoying nature and caring for it belong together. There can be no environmental justice without social justice!
What I share is meant to show how beautiful this planet can be and why it deserves our respect. I want my work to inspire others to get outside, to feel the same pull toward wild places, and to help keep them alive. We get to experience these moments today, so we should make sure they are still here for everyone tomorrow.
Remember! We protect what we love!
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