FISH WILD & explore

If you’ve ever wanted to know what’s out there...

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU GO FIND OUT!

LAEL PAUL JOHNSON

FORD AMBASSADOR | FLY FISHERMAN | TRAVELER

fishwildexplore.com
IG & TikTok - @fishwildexplore
YouTube - @laelpauljohnson FISH WILD & EXPLORE w/ Lael Paul Johnson

FISH WILD & EXPLORE is a cinematic adventure series following Capt. Lael Johnson as he drives thousands of miles across North America in his Ford truck, chasing fish through iconic fisheries, remote landscapes, and the people who know them best.

From rain-soaked steelhead rivers in the Pacific Northwest to sun-baked tarpon flats in Florida, each episode blends high-level fly fishing with raw exploration, long-haul travel, and real-world truck capability.

The main character

FORD | F-250 | SUPER DUTY TREMOR

AT THE CENTER OF THE JOURNEY IS A SOUL BUILT FOR ADVENTURE AND A VEHICLE MADE TO TAKE US THERE. HAULING GEAR, TOWING BOATS, NAVIGATING BACKROADS, CROSSING BORDERS, AND POWERING THROUGH LONG DAYS AND LONGER NIGHTS.

THE TRUCK ISN’T A PROP; IT’S THE BACKBONE OF THE STORY, ENABLING ACCESS TO PLACES MOST PEOPLE NEVER REACH AND MOMENTS MOST NEVER SEE.

fly fishing adventure travel in 4 wheel drive!

This isn’t staged. It’s earned with every highway mile, dirt road driven, and every fish chased the hard way.

FISH WILD & EXPLORE IS more than fishing.

It’s about freedom, movement, and what becomes possible when opportunity, people & equipment meet the right purpose. Loading up, pointing the hood toward the horizon, and letting the curiosity for connection lead the way.

Some journeys are about the destination. This one is about everything in between.

As the Showrunner and Lead Talent, I serve as the creative and operational anchor for FISH WILD & EXPLORE. My responsibility is to manage the intersection of high-end cinematography, logistical precision, and brand integration. I personally oversee the project’s lifecycle from scouting remote locations and securing professional guides to managing a equipment suite and the post-production pipeline.

Beyond the technical, I am the guardian of the show’s "Earned" ethos, ensuring that every frame remains authentic to the mission while meeting the strict delivery milestones required for Ford’s marketing cycle.

I am not just the face of the journey; I am the project manager ensuring that every mile driven translates into measurable brand equity.

ACT 1: THE COLD OPEN & THE MISSION (0:00 – 3:30)

The Hook: Start with the "climax" or a high-tension moment (e.g., the truck tires spinning in Maine mud or a Tarpon jumping).
The Stakes: Fast-cut montage of the 8,000-mile map. Lael’s voiceover: "We’re 3,000 miles in, the weather is turning, and we have 24 hours to find the fish."
The Goal: Define the specific species and the geographical challenge of this episode.

ACT 2: THE JOURNEY & THE CAPABILITY (3:30 – 8:00)

The "Road Movie" element: This is where the Ford Super Duty shines. Focus on the long-haul: towing the Wooldridge through BC or the off-road approach in Idaho.
The Tech/Gear: Subtly showcase the SuperPacific setup or Dakota Lithium power while prepping for the morning.
The Build-up: Arriving at the location and meeting the local guide (e.g., Tyler Nash or Tom Schaeffer).

ACT 3: THE FIRST STRIKE & THE SETBACK (8:00 – 12:00)

The Action: Getting on the water. Initial success or "the one that got away."
The Conflict: Something goes wrong. Weather shifts, a road is washed out, or the fish aren't biting. This creates "The Gap," the distance between where Lael is and where he needs to be.

ACT 4: THE PIVOT & THE HUMAN CONNECTION (12:00 – 16:00)

The Heart: This is where the "Soul Built for Adventure" comes in. A campfire conversation or a moment in the truck cabin reflecting on the FYSH Foundation or the "Anything is Possible" mantra.
The Strategy: A change in tactics or a push into a more remote area (requiring the truck’s capability) to find the fish.

ACT 5: THE PAYOFF & THE HORIZON (16:00 – 20:00)

The Catch: The cinematic, high-speed climax of the fish being landed.
The Resolution: Loading the gear back into the Ford. A sense of "Earned" success.
The Kicker: A teaser for the next leg of the 8,000-mile journey. "Next week, we trade the mountains for the marsh."

Creating VISUALS that gives the VIEWER inspiration to extend their range and boost brand legacy is the goal of FISH WILD & EXPLORE

1. PACIFIC NORTHWEST - STEELHEAD

2. MOUNTAIN WEST - TROUT

3. MIDWEST - ACCESSIBLE LAKES

4. NORTHEAST - STRIPERS

5. SOUTHERN - REDFISH

THE CONNECTION

strategic, desirablE, content

BRAND SUPPORT BUDGET ANALYSIS

The $25,000 commitment from Ford, with an already generous extension to use a F-250 Super Duty supporting FISH WILD & EXPLORE, is a show of faith in my ability to deliver assets and operational efficiency. Leveraging my experience, industry contacts, photography/videography equipment, and a drive to explore will deliver production value that generates sales and an audience eager for SEASON 2. Ford's budget is strictly allocated to the high-velocity logistics of an 8,000-mile shoot: travel, professional guide fees, on-location production costs, and the grueling post-production schedule required for a September launch. The remaining budget is dedicated to the "Growth Engine". It is spent on creating targeted digital ads to be whitelisted leading up to the show's launch, ensuring the series not only exists but also dominates its niche. This strategic budgeting is visible on screen, maximizing ROI by converting raw adventure into high-retention marketing assets for all involved partners.

Your brand’s voice is also the heartbeat of the story!

sponsorship support tiers

EXPEDITION PARTNER

TITLE SUPPORT: $20,000

The Expedition Partner level is reserved for brands that are foundational to the journey’s survival and success. As a Title Partner, your brand is woven into the very "DNA" of the series, receiving premium logo placement in the opening title sequence, verbal "presented by" credits, and deep-tier product integration in every episode. This is a 360-degree partnership: your gear or services are showcased as essential tools for 8,000 miles of extreme travel. This tier includes dedicated "feature beats" where your product’s specific utility is demonstrated in high-stakes environments, whether that is the literal backbone of the Ford Super Duty or the power reliability of Dakota Lithium.

The Expedition partnership is an investment in a season-long narrative arc that ensures your brand is synonymous with the spirit of the entire North American expedition.

YOU AREN'T JUST A LOGO ON SCREEN; YOU ARE THE REASON WE MADE IT TO THE NEXT location. YOUR BRAND IS THE HERO of an 8,000-MILE on & off-road travel STORY.

trailhead PARTNER

KEY SUPPORT: $10,000

The Trailhead Partners represent the essential gear that enables the "pivot" from the highway to the wilderness. Support at this level secures consistent visibility across the five-episode flagship series, including mid-roll brand acknowledgments and high-impact B-roll placement (Mavic 4 Pro aerials and cinematic macros). Your brand will be featured during the preparation and execution phases of each leg, think Super Pacific camp setups or the deployment of Alpacka Rafts in remote waters.

The Trailhead partnership is designed for partners who want to reach a high-intent outdoor audience through visual storytelling that emphasizes durability and field performance, backed by the credibility of a Captain-led expedition.

WE SHOWCASE YOUR GEAR EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS MEANT TO BE: AT THE EDGE OF THE MAP, BRIDGE-BUILDING BETWEEN THE ROAD, THE water & the drive to move forward for connection.

featured PARTNER

EPISODE SUPPORT: $5,000

The Featured Partner tier offers a surgical strike for brands looking to align with specific regions, species, or mission-driven moments. This support covers a targeted 1–2 episode integration, placing your product directly in the hands of Capt. Lael Johnson or his expert guides during a specific "push" such as the high-velocity Tarpon chase in Florida or the community-focused FYSH Foundation event in Kansas.

The Featured partnership is the ideal entry point for brands like Loon Outdoors or Pecos Tables, providing high-quality, "earned" content assets that can be repurposed for your own social channels, showcasing your gear in a professional, cinematic TV-quality environment without the overhead of a solo production.

GET HIGH-PRODUCTION-VALUE ASSETS OF YOUR PRODUCT USED BY PROFESSIONALS IN THE MOST ICONIC FISHERIES IN NORTH AMERICA FOR A FRACTION OF A SOLO SHOOT.

Brand Assets on the move

Consumers don’t just want marketing, they demand connection with wild spaces and how it makes them feel. That’s why personalized strategies to relay that feeling are no longer optional, they’re the growth engine.

Partners will receive a dedicated library of high-velocity assets, including cinematic B-roll, professional stills, and vertical shorts, for the exclusive commercial use of their respective brands. The sole exception is a shared-usage license granted to Ford Motor Company, allowing our Title Partner to integrate these assets into their global marketing efforts. This creates a powerful Co-Marketing Force Multiplier: your brand doesn't just live on our channels; it also receives potential secondary exposure through Ford’s official advertising, positioning your gear as the 'equipment of choice' alongside the F-250 Super Duty on a national stage.

The Flagship Series - Long-Form

5 Cinematic Episodes (18–22 mins): 4K High-Bitrate, color-graded, and sound-mixed.
Integrated Storytelling: Not just a "shoutout," but your product solving a specific problem
in a high-stakes environment (e.g., the Ford Super Duty navigating a washed-out road in BC).

The Social Dominance Pack - Short-Form

Trailers: High-velocity, mobile-optimized trailers designed for seamless 'Collab' posting
on your main feed and high-retention engagement through YouTube Shorts, Instagram, and TikTok.
Vertical Assets: Optimized 9:16 reels/TikToks. These are high-retention "hooks" designed
for the algorithm.
Whitelisted Ad Access: Ready-to-use ad creative assets that can be boosted through your handle to capture your audience’s trust while using their targeting power.
The "Legacy" Library (Static & B-Roll)
High-Res Professional Stills: Shot by myself and the photography support team (Dylan Marek & Rick Griffiths). These are commercial-quality images for use in carousels, catalogs, websites, and print ads.
The "B-Roll Vault": 15+ minutes of raw, cinematic 4K "Golden Hour" driving and fishing footage. Great for creating content for own ads & social channels.