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 starts off slow and thoughtful, builds to some serious excitement, and then ends with a video that just may haunt your dreams—especially if you’re an ophidiophobe. At this shoulder season, we’re still pretty US-centric, with films from the Rockies, the Keys, the Southwest, and the Northeast. But we do venture a bit to Europe and lands beyond. (Although I’m sure our New Zealand and South American friends are polishing their lenses and waxing their ferrules in anticipation of the season to come.) There’s a bit of a toothy theme here, as well, so watch your fingers. 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!
Sea Run Ghosts – Trailer – Río Grande – AFVideos from AFVideos on Vimeo.
If you knew that you had a chance to catch a double-digit, sea-run brown trout, would you be willing to endure some of the worst weather conditions an angler can face? We’re talking wind, rain, and cold…all at the same time. That’s what these anglers find on Argentina’s Rio Grande, at the bottom of the South American continent. But just look at the girth of that fish netted at 3:00!
Cuba is still a travel problem for American anglers, but there’s no shortage of great fly-fishing footage coming from the expansive flats around the isolated island. Plenty of great tarpon, bonefish, and permit action here…even an underwater kiss.
wrong turns from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.
Apparently, the machete is the culinary tool of choice for some fly fishers. This video combines humor, surprise, and great fish to offer a fresh look at some Montana adventures. And the “pike” he catches at the end is impressive, indeed.
This is just a gorgeous piece of filmmaking, and you must watch it at full-screen in high definition. I have never seen this part of the eastern Sierra, which offers stunning vistas and equally beautiful trout waters.
Mirage Reel from SHALLOW WATER EXPEDITIONS on Vimeo.
Okay, this is promotional video (which we don’t usually include in the FFF), but it also features some wicked cool tarpon action and my friend Steve. Guide David Mangum is somehow able to get amazing fishing footage while guiding and poling.
Second Chance from Samuel Ebersole on Vimeo.
This video is a year old, but I just stumbled upon it. It stars Ed Engle fishing a big hatch on the South Platte, faced with a bunch of rising brown trout who are being quite picky. I love Ed’s attitude.
We end with an epic tale of man vs. fish in the far-off land of the Maldives. It’s hardly Moby Dick, but the angler seems excited, as he should be. Have a great weekend!