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 is very trouty, with tons of great winter action from Montana, Ohio, and the southeast. The guys from Southern Culture on the Fly also may have set a new IGFA underwear record, which must be seen to be believed. Saltwater fans will enjoy some sweet Hawaii bonefish action, giant trevally in the Seychelles, and even a little English dry-fly action. Although they’re still not coming in at the rate we hoped, films from the Southern Hemisphere are represented by Argentina and New Zealand.
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!
It’s always cool to discover new fly-fishing styles and venues, and out friend Matt Dunkinson (whose “The Shadow of the Town Bridge” we reposted on Tuesday) has just finished this great film about fishing the southern coast of Hampshire for mullet and sea bass. Who knew you could throw just walk down to the marina to throw dry flies for saltwater species in England?
Cutties are for Suckers from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.
Ivan of Yukon Goes Fishing headed out on the Bitterroot River with some friends, but all they could find were suckers at first. Of course, a bent rod is a bent rod, right? Luckily, the cutthroats and rainbows came through in the end.
trout from the other side of the tracks from southern culture on the fly on Vimeo.
We’re big fans of Southern Culture on the Fly, an online magazine not to be confused with the fine, trashy band Southern Culture on the Skids. In this video, the SCoF boys partake in a little urban fishing, in what looks to be not the best neighborhood. Apparently, the fish don’t care. And the lingerie is top-class.
Hawaii Bonefish January 16, 2012 from Michael Schoder on Vimeo.
This isn’t the greatest-quality video, but the payoff at the end is certainly impressive. Hawaii is gaining a reputation as a big-bonefish destination—albeit one that can be difficult to fish—and shots of beasties like this one will only encourage would-be travelers to give the islands a try.
Argentina’s Jurassic Lake is known for producing giant trout, but as you’ll see here, she doesn’t give them up easily. Often-brutal winds, waves, and big water present challenges a fly fisher must overcome. But the chance to land a double-digit trout just may be worth it.
GT Madness @ Alphonse Island from Roy Vinje on Vimeo.
So, you’ve traveled halfway around the world, spent hours searching and casting in the surf, and you finally hook a giant trevally. What’s one thing you don’t want to happen? WARNING: There’s some adult language here, but who can blame the guy? Luckily, his buddies have an answer for him.
In New Zealand, a helicopter opens up a whole new world of backcountry angling, providing access to waters that would require days of hiking to reach otherwise. And the trout that live there need no introduction. Any of us would be pround to hoist one of the browns caught here.
2011 Best of the Blue Skiff from Evolution Anglers on Vimeo.
And speaking of browns, the series of trophy trout at the end of this video speak to the quality of the fishing around Twin Bridges, Montana. This video also features more female anglers than the last five FFFs combined, which is nice to see.
First trout of ’12 from Echo Productions on Vimeo.
Ohio actually has some trout, too, and this video features a couple of anglers hitting the water for the first time in the new year. While there are hardly any trophies landed, it’s a nice look at small-stream fishing and the joys of just being in the water. The first time I saw the guy with the GoPro on top of his rod, I thought it was a baitcasting reel, which would have been very innovative on his part.
Fly fishing winter streams from Lane Nygren on Vimeo.
Once you get through the minute of driving footage, a convention that some viewers are apparently sick of, there’s some excellent footage of winter trout fishing outside Salt Lake City. It’s especially cool to see these fish taking to the air even in midwinter.
We end with another episode of The New Fly Fisher, shot in Newfoundland. I chose this one as a follow-up to the vintage Lee Wulff film posted earlier in the week. As you’ll see here, this film was shot where Wulff kept a cabin from 1951-58, so we get a look at what half a century has done to the fishery. Plus, you might learn something. Have a great weekend!