Welcome to another edition of the OrvisNews.com Friday Film Festival, in which we scour the Web for the best fly-fishing footage available. This week’s collection builds on the theme established in Toby Swank’s essay in the previous post: the joys of being in the backcountry. We’ve even got a couple of videos with very little fishing in them, but their portrayal of the landscapes we anglers love are well worth your time. For the salty crowd, we’ve got a video from The Maldives that will have you dreaming of the Indian Ocean, and you’ll discover the new sport of Irish Cliff Angling. We finish up with a trio of Icelandic adventures that offer great scenes from this magical land. Remember, we surf so you don’t have to. But if you do stumble upon something great that you think is worthy of inclusion in a future FFF, please post it in the comments below. See you next week with a fresh set of films!
Hiking and Fishing in the James Peak Wildernerss from Justin Timblin on Vimeo.
We kick things off with a video that highlights a trip into the Colorado backcountry. This footage features some small streams, gorgeous terrain, a sweet slow jam, and a bunch of Tenkara-caught cutties.
The Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the tip of the Indian subcontinent. As we’ve seen before in the FFF, they’ve got some killer flats fishing for bonefish and trevally, and it’s cool the way the flats are right off the beach. And when you need a little a shade, a thatched hut is just the ticket.
Thinking Outside the Box from beau fredlund on Vimeo.
This video packs a lot into one package: backcountry travel, a history lesson, some fly fishing, and a Neil Young soundtrack. It’s ambitious, and it pulls it all together nicely.
Fly Fishing for Summer Smallmouth from Capt. Steven Kuieck on Vimeo.
The Muskegon River is best known for its runs of salmon and steelhead, as well as its giant brown trout. But there’s also a killer summertime smallmouth fishery. Banging the banks with topwater bugs is a blast, and that fish at the end is a real slob.
Hump Days Trailer from Adipose Productions on Vimeo.
When I was a guide in Alaska, I loved “humpy years,” when the pink salmon runs were on. Lots of anglers complain about these fish taking flies meant for other species, but my theory was always that a tug is a tug.
The peacock bass is definitely on my bucket list; I just can’t get over the colors and exotic markings. I’ve never fished for them, even in Florida, and this video makes it look pretty fun. However, the gator fishing at the end I can do without.
Follow The River from Steve Robert on Vimeo.
This video has almost zero fly fishing in it, but it’s got all of the other stuff that makes a backcountry expedition so enthralling. Plus, it’s just gorgeous. Eye candy for the soul.
Taiwan small stream fly fishing from losanfo on Vimeo.
This here video is Made in Taiwan. I had no idea that such waters were even available there, but it’s great to see a couple of anglers so excited about the pursuit of such tiny fish. It’s all about the chase, yo.
This guy cracks me up, and he’s obviously addicted to his newfound sport of “cliff fishing.” I’m gonn start saying to the fish i catch, “You’re the business” like he does. It just goes to show that you can cast a fly just about anywhere, and i applaud this dude’s ingenuity.
Iceland Part 1: Driving dirt roads, getting lost and some fishing on the way from Espen Olsen on Vimeo.
Finally, here are three parts of a film about fly fishing in Iceland. I could look at that scenery all day, and the fishing seems spectacular. I didn’t find any of this “too much of a good thing,” and I don’t think you will, either.
Have a great weekend!