The 2016 Fly Fishing Film Tour posterIf you go
› What: Fly Fishing Film Tour.› When: 7:30 p.m. today, Nov. 10; doors open at 6:30 p.m.› Where: The Camp House, 149 E. M.L. King Blvd.› Admission: $15 in advance (Trekka Outfitters, 3992 Dayton Blvd.), $20 at the door; $50 VIP.› Phone: 423-838-1197.› Website: www.flyfilmtour.com.
The world's largest brook trout in Patagonia. Marlin off the coast of Virginia. The turbo-charged milkfish of Seychelles.
They're all on-screen in Chattanooga tonight, Nov. 10, as the 2016 Fly Fishing Film Tour brings its latest collection of world-class fishing films - "without question the best the tour has ever presented" - to The Camp House.
Considered the pre-eminent exhibition of fly-fishing cinema, the F3T, the original and largest tour of its kind, travels through the U.S. and Canada each year showing never-before-seen footage from waterways worldwide.
The F3T is on its 10th lap around North America, and organizers say this year's lineup is "some of the best fishing footage that has ever been shot. Period."
"This was the most competitive submission season we've ever had, and we had to say no to several films that we really liked," according to a news release. "The quality of the best films we received this year is simply a cut above anything we've ever seen before."
Viewers will meet notable characters and see unparalleled fishing in storylines that hop from Bolivia to the Seychelles, British Columbia to Patagonia, Saskatchewan to Zambia, Virginia to Montana.
The F3T gives "fishy folk of all ages" a chance to "soak up films from around the world, spin a few yarns amongst friends and dream about casts still unmade," says the news release.
Gatherings have a party atmosphere. Prize giveaways are part of the fun.
A portion of ticket sales goes directly to support fishing and habitat-related conservation groups, the backbone of the sport's educational and environmental efforts.
"In 2015, we raised over $300,000 for our conservation partners and have used our voice to bring greater attention and support to groups like Trout Unlimited, Wild Steelhead Coalition, Bonefish Tarpon Trust, Utah Stream Access Coalition, Stop Pebble Mine and many more," says the news release.
The Chattanooga screening will benefit the Appalachian 137 Chapter of Trout Unlimited, particularly its native brook trout restoration efforts and its partnership with Project Healing Waters, which uses fly fishing to address the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans.
Advance tickets are available for $15 today at Trekka Outfitters, 3992 Dayton Blvd. Tickets will cost $20 at the door. A limited number of VIP tickets also are available for $50. These include a T-shirt, hat, drink, 10 raffle tickets, early entry and priority seating.
About the films
* “Finding Fontinalis” (Patagonia): Spurred by rumors from local guides and gauchos, a group of intrepid anglers, including Yvon Chouinard, Brian Gregson and Bart Bonime, heads to Patagonia in search of the world’s largest brook trout. This film explores the story behind a famed 16-pound brook trout caught on Canada’s Nipigon River, then goes to the opposite end of the globe, likely the only other place that such a fish still swims, in pursuit of its equal. From director Travis Lowe.* “Jungle Angler: Legend of El Dorado” (Bolivia): Recent trips deep into Bolivia have brought R.A. Beattie and his crew a new perspective on the uniqueness of fly fishing in the jungle. With each step deeper beneath the canopy, with every cast into unexplored pools, they journey toward the last real savage border to be explored by fly anglers. Their pursuit of golden dorado helps build a bond with the local people who have a unique connection to and reverence for this incredible freshwater predator. From Beattie Outdoor Productions.* “Tidewater” (Virginia): Three years ago, adrenaline junkie Art Webb barely escaped death from a rock climbing fall. During his recovery, Webb found a substitute thrill: pursuing marlin and other billfish with a fly rod off the coast of his hometown, Virginia Beach. As Webb began to tell his friends about his experiences offshore, two fellow fishing fanatics, Brian and Colby Trow, could not resist. This is a story of these three anglers on a fly fishing adventure to catch marlin in their backyard waters of Virginia. From Two Fisted Heard Productions.* “Water Is Life” (Argentina, Seychelles, Zambia): Filmmaker Grant Wiswell has spent the last two years circling the globe attempting to showcase how water connects three incredibly diverse fisheries, at the same time capturing the best fishing available in each location. From Argentina’s Jurassic Lake and 30-inch rainbows that will readily eat a dry fly to the bull-headed GTs of the Seychelles and the carnivorous tiger fish of the Zambezi River, this film contains some of the most remarkable fishing ever caught on film. From Castaway Films.* “Chanos Chanos (Milkfish)” (Seychelles): Perhaps the most challenging fish to catch in the Seychelles is the fabled milkfish, a turbo-charged algae eater growing to 40 pounds. A team of South African anglers have not only caught these amazing and very secretive fish but also pioneered the techniques that have allowed these vegetarian and notoriously difficult fish to be caught. It’s hard to accurately describe the sheer speed, breathtaking acrobatics and technical prowess needed to convert a fly cast to a connection with this greatly unknown species. From Cpt. Jack Films.* “Turning Points North” (Saskatchewan): While Jeff Currier and Ron Striker were raised in completely different places and followed completely different paths to “live the dream,” they hold in common a history of taking a leap to shape their lives. Ron stacked shelves in a grocery store for 17 years before becoming a bush pilot. Jeff started in a fly shop, working for $4.75 an hour. Since that time, he’s shaped himself into one of the foremost angling authorities, fishing in more than 50 countries and landing more than 300 species on the fly in salt and freshwater. Both men describe how they went from the bottom rung to doing exactly what they wanted to do in life. Woven with these human stories is some of the most predatory pike fishing footage ever captured. From Beattie Outdoor Productions.* “Chrome” (British Columbia): This film, featuring Kate Taylor, Dylan Tomine, Tim Romano and Tom Rosenbauer, is the story of friends gathered in the effort to pursue and protect wild steelhead. From Conservation Media.* “The Scandinavian Way” (Montana): A battle between nations breaks out on the banks of a Montana spring creek. A group of European anglers is convinced that their American counterparts have lost any connection with the traditions of fly fishing’s past, while the American’s believe the Europeans are still fishing in the Stone Age. Hilarious trash talking ensues as these groups square off and attempt to prove which methods are best served to fool wily Montana trout. From In Waders Media.* “Geobass: Best of the Worst” (anywhere there’s bass): The Motive crew returns with never-before-seen footage and stories of their efforts to pursue any bass anywhere anytime. From Motiv Fishing.Source: flyfilmtour.com