2017 Film Selections

At the End of a Rainbow


Filmmaker: Peter Christensen/Rolf Nylinder

Location: Kamchatka

Species: Trout/Salmon

The Ozernaya River winds serpentine-like through a remote corner of Kamchatka in Far East Russia. In one of the most intact eco-systems left in the Northern Pacific, rainbow trout eat mice for breakfast, and the salmon run in the hundreds of thousands. This bounty attracts two kinds of people; those who want to protect, and those who want to exploit. Rampant salmon poaching is big business on Kamchatka, and once the salmon are gone, entire eco-systems collapse."At the End of a Rainbow" explores how fly fishing can help protect the wilderness, and celebrates the beauty and wonder of one of the most vibrant places on Earth.

120 Days

Filmmaker: Felt Soul Media

Location: Florida

Species: Tarpon

David magnum is obsessed with Tarpon fishing. So obsessed he built himself a paraglider to scout new locations. So obsessed that he has a skull for a buoy to serve as message for any neighboring boats. Keep your distance, he’s earned that spot. Travis Rummel and Ben Knight of Felt Soul Media capture beautifully why fisherman are obsessed with tarpon and the dedication it takes to become an expert like Mangum.

Corazón

Filmmaker: RA Beattie

Loction: Mexico

Species: Tarpon/Permit

On the tiny island of Holbox, a stone's throw from the Mexico mainland, lives a legendary angler named Sandflea. People from all over the world travel here to fish with him. One such gringo is Mike Dawes, who stumbled into Sandflea's welcoming home years ago and quickly became family. On land, Sandflea's a dad, a grandfather, the unofficial mayor, a teacher, and the main source of dinner for his neighbors and friends. On the water, he's as schooled as they come when it comes to permit and tarpon. But a childhood bout of Scarlet fever weakened Sandflea's heart and has led him to multiple surgeries.His willingness to share with all of us makes it all the more ironic . . . the guy with the biggest heart needs a new one. This is the story of the unlikely friendship between two anglers and the willingness of the fly fishing industry to rally around a guide in need.

Odd Man Out

Filmmaker: Seacat Creative

Location: Alaska/Montana

Species: Trout

Fly fishing is Camille Egdorf’s life. From her early days at her family’s fishing lodge in Alaska to her current angling adventures around the globe, she has carved her own a path through a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Yakutia

Filmmaker: Jako Lucas

Location: Siberia

Species: Taimen

In 2005 Ilya Sherbovich began exploring rivers deep within Siberia. His first trip was a successful mission but Ilya and his mates knew they had barely scratched the surface of a vast fishery. 11 years later Ilya amassed a crew of a dozen anglers and explorers with the goal of surveying further into the Yakutia province than ever before.

Yakutia is the story of this intrepid group and their adventure across 10 far-flung rivers. Within these distant watersheds they found taimen, lennok, grayling and monster pike while engaging in an ultimate pursuit for Russian Nelma… a giant predatory fish which had never been caught on a fly.

Old Friends New Fish

Filmmaker: Sophie Danison

Location: Montana

Species: Trout

Sam Schmidt, Jennifer Thoman and Jorjena Barring aren't like the anglers you often see in F3T films. They're not exploring far-flung locations in search of exotic species. They don't spend 200 days a year with a rod in hand. They're mothers, friends, and hard-working professionals reunited on the Montana rivers where they first met 20 years before. Much has changed for them over two decades, but on this trip they find that belly laughs and wily trout offer the same refreshment for the soul that they always have.

"Old Friends, New Fish" by Sophie Danison in association with Unicorn Picnic is the recipient of the Trout Unlimited Women in Fly Fishing Film Grant.

Convergence

Filmmaker: Conservation Media

Location: Montana/Idaho

Species: Trout

Convergence explores our relationships with our favorite waters as well as the importance of family & friends andour responsibility to share healthy landscapes with future generations. It is a collaborative effort between Conservation Hawks and the creative & technical team at Conservation Media.It was was filmed on location in Montana and Idaho in September, 2016.The cast includes Hilary Hutcheson,Ella Hutcheson, Delaney Hutcheson, Travis Swartz (aka Hank Patterson), Perk Perkins, Simon Perkins, Els Van Woert and Pippa Perkins.

Geofish: Fanning Island Expedition

For most folks a trip to Christmas Island is/would be an epic trip to a remote corner of the globe, but for the Motiv Fishing crew it’s just a pit stop. In 2016 the guys decided to see how much farther they could go and embarked on a four-day boat ride from Christmas to Fanning Island, a rarely visited atoll that is home to some of the best saltwater flats fishing in the Pacific.