Fly-fishing film tour hooks viewers with action
Fly fishers can leave their wading belts at home, but they might need seat belts for the 2007 Fly Fishing Film Tour coming Wednesday to the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane.
The contemplative angler by the stream is passe. These films feature the young and restless letting their emotions run like the monster browns they hook and the tarpon that sizzle line off their reels.
They might sneak and stalk a wily fish in clear New Zealand stream in one film and then roar to South American waters in the next flick with a nuclear plume of dust billowing up behind their dune buggy in a scene that makes bass boats look passé.
Not since “A River Runs Through It” has fly fishing looked this cool, say the promoters of the tour, which is sponsored by the likes of Patagonia, Scientific Anglers, Sage, Wilderness Systems and Fly Rod and Reel magazine.
Spokane is one of more than 30 cities on the adventure fly fishing film tour that started Jan. 12 at the Patagonia World Headquarters in Ventura, Calif. Six feature films and a couple of short flicks have been edited down into one 90-minute package of innovative fishing action that splashes the screen with footage from Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Mongolia, Iceland, New Zealand, as well as the good ol’ USA.
Showcased films include:
“Trout Bum Diaries, Volume 1” follows a five-month, 7,000-mile journey down the spine of South America in search of adventure and big fish in some of Patagonia’s most remote and pristine trout waters. Filmmaker: Angling Exploration Group (AEG).
“Trout Bum Diaries, Volume 2” revisits the life of a trout bum on a four-month road trip exploring the gin-clear waters of New Zealand’s South Island in search of lunker browns (AEG).
“Running Down the Man” explores the arcane pursuit of fly-fishing for Rooster fish from the beaches of Baja Mexico and the zealotry and commitment required to hook them. Filmmaker: Felt Soul Media.
“Chasing Silver” takes viewers tarpon fishing, first with the hand lines and row-boat of an 1880s saltwater angling pioneer to the fly rods and flats skiffs of today’s great tarpon fishermen. Filmmaker: Howard Films.
“The Hatch” focuses on fly fishing the amazing stonefly hatch in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and the threats to this sensitive riparian eco-system (Felt Soul).
“Feeding Time” highlights the fly-fishing passion of “Bonefish Follie” and son as they search for bonefish on the flats of the Bahamas. Filmmaker: Tight Loops Films.
The program is flushed out with two short films, “Angling Addiction” (Tight Loops) and “Why Do We Fish?” (Rage Productions).
“When we took Volume 1 of the “Trout Bum Diaries” on a national marketing tour last year, we were absolutely amazed by the response,” said Ryan Davey, one of the founding partners of the Angling Exploration Group. “A sport that had become a little stale and stagnant suddenly had inspiration. Based on that success, the Fly Fishing Film Tour was born.”
“While this tour appeals to fishermen, it’s really more about being entertained than anything else,” said Chris Owens, AEG videography director.
The Wednesday event also features a gear giveaway.
Advance tickets are available at Silver Bow Fly Shop and Sportsman’s Warehouse in the Valley and NW Outfitters and Castaway fly shops near Coeur d’Alene.