Welcome to another edition of the OrvisNews.com Friday Film Festival, in which we scour the Web for the best fly-fishing footage available. (Sorry it’s a bit late, but a computer glitch ate my homework.) This week’s collection is very trouty, but given that many of us are eagerly awaiting Opening Day (where it applies), I think there can’t be too much trout. Strangely, there’s nothing from the Southern Hemisphere, which I find odd, given that their fishing seasons should be in full swing autumn mode. But we make up for it with lots of great U.S. videos, and a couple from Europe. Keep suggesting your favorite videos in the comments section, and they may make it into a future edition of the FFF. And continue letting us know which kinds of videos you prefer, and which you could do without. See you next week with a fresh set of films!
WHERE THE WILD FISH ARE from Bobby Foster on Vimeo.
We kick things off with an absolutely gorgeous video of steelheading in the Pacific Northwest. Shot along the Washington Coast, it features beautiful scenery, some nice slow-motion footage, and some sweet fish.
Sticking with the anadromous species, here’s a video that explores why Atlantic salmon produce such passion for some anglers. Following one angler around the world for two years, the film offers great evidence of the lengths some fishermen will go to for the chance to land a big salmon.
Reef Donkey VS Long Rod from FishbuzzTV on Vimeo.
I’m not sure we’ve ever featured amberjack on the FFF, so I had to include this one. But I really like this video for the shark scene, which would certainly be enough to get any angler’s heart pumping.
Hooking and landing a big, beautiful rainbow trout in Alaska is a wonderful thing. But the feeling of putting that lovely creature back in the water and watching it swim away offers its own rewards. Here’s a video focused on that moment of release.
Alpinespey Barbel & Trout Flyfishing from ALPINESPEY on Vimeo.
Another new species! This time, it’s barbel, which is a species that European bait fishermen pursue regularly, but apparently these fish will take flies, as well. These scenes are followed up with some stillwater fishing for trout using two-handed rods, which is also a new one for the FFF.
The Pescado Part 1 from Matt Parker on Vimeo.
I had to include this one for the music alone. I mean, I like Iron maiden as much as the next guy, but I can’t think of any way in which this song is appropriate for the video; can anyone out there enlighten me? Is it the steel-iron connection? But the fishing footage is pretty good, too.
In the Land of the Cutthroats – Trailer from Reel Escape Films on Vimeo.
Here’s an older trailer for “In the Land of the Cutthroats,” a short film that tells the story of three native trout species that evolved along the Continental Divide in Colorado. The footage of the scenery and trout is wonderful, especially the shots of feeding fish.
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Smells like trout from meefischli on Vimeo.
Here’s a video about winter fishing for trout in Germany (I think). It does a nice job of capturing the rhythms of a day on the water when all is brown and gray, except for the fish.
Walk from Outside Bend Productions on Vimeo.
Speaking of releasing fish, here’s a cool video from Oregon that features many big browns heading back into the water. Seeing a big tail waving goodbye is a sign of a job well done. The comedy bit at the end is a nice twist.
F11: Finnmark, serr from Vak Magasin on Vimeo.
This video is long a features a lot of talking in some form of Swedewegian, but it also has really beautiful shots of fly-fishing in Finnmark, in the far north of Norway. Cameos from our old friends Rolf and Håvard are nice to see, as well, even if we can’t understand them. So skip the talking if you want, but don’t miss the angling footage.
Fly Fishing 2011 from stein on Vimeo.
There’s not much info on this video, which is clearly a wrap-up of 2011’s great fly fishing. Shot in Alberta, I believe, it features the kinds of clear Rocky Mountain trout rivers that those of us who live in the East dream about all the time.
Changing the World One Fish at a Time from Matt Wormell on Vimeo.
We end with something special, even if the quality of the filmmaking doesn’t match those videos above. This short turns an old cliche on its head. Instead of a father teaching his son to fish, young Matt Wormell teaches his dad, his mom, and his best friend about the joys of fly fishing. Hearing the friend talk about how the sport has made him more environmentally conscious gives one hope for the future.. Have a great weekend!