Instead of spacing out and searching for solitude on lakes and rivers this weekend, the fly fishing community will come together for what has become an annual event in Durango.
The Fly Fishing Film Tour will make a stop Saturday in Durango with two showings of this year’s selections at the Durango Arts Center. Along with the film tour, Duranglers Flies & Supplies will also host a loaded schedule of events beginning Friday and ending Saturday night with the second and final showing of this year’s films.
Tickets are still available for the Fly Fishing Film Tour, with one showing set for 4 p.m. Saturday and another for 8 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online for $17 or at Duranglers for a discount rate of $14. Seating is general admission, and doors will open to the theater one hour before each show.
This year’s film tour, which will be held across the nation and even made a stop in London, features eight films ranging from North American destinations such as Alaska, Florida and Montana, to remote areas of the world such as Kamchatka and Siberia. Trout fishermen have their day as the featured catch in four of the films along with films on permit, salmon, taimen and tarpon.
“Odd Man Out” chronicles Camille Egdorf’s life in fishing starting from her family’s fishing lodge in Alaska an onward with her pursuits around the globe as she’s made her way in a male-dominated industry.
“Old Friends, New Fish” follows every-day people united by their love of fishing and a reunion 20 years in the making for a group along the rivers of Montana. Though life changes for all of them, a day spent chasing trout brings back memories and the feelings that brought them together years earlier.
There are also films for the die-hard fishermen with the adventurous spirit, as anglers go further than ever before in pursuit of the next catch. This year’s tour truly offers something for every angler.
Duranglers also boasts a full weekend of activities with every fishing demographic in mind. Friday features a social beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel’s Animas Room. A presentation will be held for 90 minutes beginning at 7 p.m., as Henderson’s Fly Fishing owner Steve Henderson will speak about fishing the Yampa River in Steamboat Springs.
The action will begin early at 8 a.m. Saturday at Duranglers with prize giveaways and sales throughout the shop. Free drawings will also be held all the weekend. Participants will receive one raffle ticket at every event they attend, with the grand prize drawing at 4 p.m. Saturday at Duranglers for a float trip on the Rio Grande.
From 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Mike Sulkoski will offer a fly-tying demo at Duranglers. Sam Spillane will offer a presentation on Hatch Reels from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. Zack Dalton will follow from 9:45 to 10:30 a.m. with a presentation on Rio Fly Lines and how to select the right fly line.
Chad Harkins and Carly Kolsted will speak from 11 to 11:30 a.m. on how to equip for fishing in extreme conditions in winter and summer.
Then the event switches venues to get on the Animas River at Santa Rita Park. Lunch will be provided at noon along with three clinics and demo opportunities.
From noon to 2 p.m., Erik Johnson and Jake McKittrick will offer a casting demo and provide tips on using a range of single and two-handed Sage and Scott rods.
Dave Allen, a sales representative for Patagonia, will offer a wading boots demo from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Anglers are asked to bring their own waders.
Kolstedt will return from 1 to 1:30 p.m. to teach women the basics of fly fishing. The Simms representative will be ready to answer questions.
Before the first film begins, one more event will be held at Duranglers, as Josh Graffam will discuss his ideas on “Euro Nymphing” and show off tools to help become a better angler.
It’s a great weekend of events to help sharpen up skills and snag some new gear to take out on the water this season.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
If you go
What: Fly Fishing Film Tour
When: 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Durango Arts Center
Tickets: Tickets may be purchased at Duranglers Flies & Supplies for $14 or at www.flyfilmtour.com for $17.
