Nothing is better for us fly fishermen than sitting back and watching a fly fishing film when we don’t have the time to be on the water or the weather is saying no. It is a way for us to connect with the great outdoors and get pumped up for the next fishing trip.
Now, you can scour YouTube for clips of incredible fly fishing, but there isn’t anything quite like watching the best fly fishing film.
I’m sure you have a list of the best fishing movies you like to watch, and the next best thing might be to look at our list of the best fly fishing movies.
Join me as we dive into the best fly fishing films in the fishing world that you can enjoy with your fishing buddies on those foul-weather days.
Our Best Fly Fishing Movies
A River Runs Through It
A River Runs Through It is, without doubt, one of the best fly fishing films ever made and probably the most iconic simultaneously! Based on a book by John Maclean, directed by Robert Redford, and starring Brad Pitt and Tom Skerritt, this fishing movie is about two brothers who grow up fly fishing in Montana under their father’s instruction.
The beautiful scenery of Montana captured in this fly-fishing movie is simply stunning, to the point that I flew to Montana to go fly fishing there because of it. This movie has, without a doubt, inspired thousands of fishing trips to Montana, but there is more to it than brown & rainbow trout and the rivers that go with them.
This movie is about the connection between the two brothers formed by fly fishing, which can not be broken. No matter where they are, fly fishing brings them together. It also tells the history of that time in Montana, how family life worked back then, and fly fishing’s connection to religion.
This is a must-watch film for all fly fishermen. It is based on a true story, a semi-autobiographical book by John Maclean.
Where The Yellowstone Goes
Another of my favorite fly fishing films is “Where the Yellowstone Goes,” which is about a 30-day float fishing trip down the longest undammed river in the contiguous United States.
The anglers fly fish their way down the river, capturing all the fantastic scenery while stopping and meeting the locals in the towns and booming cities the river passes through.
The movie is stunningly filmed with a single camera, which provides consistent, intimate portraits of all the action. It is one of those fishing movies that makes you feel like you are there, and it gets anglers pumped to be on the water.
This isn’t just a movie for fly anglers, though. It showcases how stunning the river and the scenery around it are and discusses its future and what that may look like.
The River Why
The River Why is another of the most amazing fly-fishing movies out there. It tells a story that probably all fly anglers on the planet can relate to. You have probably heard of the book if you didn’t know it was already a movie, as the book is very famous and is much better than the film in most opinions.
The River Why is about a young man coming of age who leaves home with his fly rod and engages in a life of solitude and fly fishing, doing things his way.
Along the way, he enjoys excellent trout and salmon fishing and stumbles upon a love interest skinny dipping while flying. By the end of his journey, he sees the world in a new light. He gains a new appreciation for his family, love, and life.
This is an excellent movie for fishermen and non-anglers alike, as it is as much about life as it is about fly fishing.
Salmon Fishing In Yemen
Salmon Fishing In Yemen was also a book before it became a film. Written by Paul Torday, the book and film follow the story of a Yemeni sheik’s connection to fly fishing and how he believes it removes the class system while being on the river.
He wants to fill the wadis of Yemen with Scottish salmon so that his people can enjoy the peace that fly fishing brings to one’s life. He ends up working with a fisheries scientist, played by Ewan McGregor, who initially is immensely negative about the idea but eventually comes around.
It is a great story filled with love, fly fishing in Scotland, politics, London, and lots more, making it perfect for both anglers and non-anglers alike. I would have to say that the book is much better than the film, but they are both great overall, so be sure to read and watch them.
The Old Man And The Sea
While this is not about fly fishing, I couldn’t leave it out of the article. The book, written by Ernest Hemingway, is a book every angler has read growing up. It tells the story of Santiago, a local fisherman in Cuba who fishes alone and ends up hooking up with a giant marlin.
The film and book tell the story of the ensuing battle and the connection made between fish and fishermen during the fight. In the end, Santiago wins the war against the massive marlin after fighting it through the night, but then he has sharks to deal with, and he utilizes the marlin’s bill to protect them both.
This is one of the most famous fishing stories ever told, and I recommend reading the book and watching the film when you get the chance.
Providence
Providence is a film that showcases some of the most incredible fly fishing on the planet. If you don’t know, Providence is a remote atoll in the outer islands of Seychelles, home to astonishing saltwater fly fishing.
Providence has no settlement, and the operation is run from a liveaboard boat with skiffs that take anglers into the atoll each day. The flats are covered with bonefish, permit, triggerfish, and GTs, while the deeper edges are home to milkfish and sailfish.
Watching Providence is like going into fly fishing nirvana heaven as you see the incredible charging eats of GTs taking the fly, understand the movements of the tide of the atoll, how vast the place is, and more.
By the film’s end, you will be ready to book a fishing trip to Seychelles. It truly is a mesmerizing place, both in terms of its pristine state, the species on offer, and the abundance of nature. I have never experienced an ocean so alive, and I didn’t live in Providence, which could only have been a step up.
Low And Clear
Low And Clear is another great fly fishing film that tells the story of two friends who used to go on fishing trips together all the time but have lost touch over the years. They decide to go on one last adventure together to catch up in their home waters of Colorado.
What they discover during their trip is how different they have become over the years. Their views on the world and fly fishing are now very different.
During the film, you will be taken through the stunning scenery of Colorado and witness excellent fly fishing as the fishermen catch trout in some of the prettiest waters around.
Atlantic Salmon – Lost At Sea
It is no secret in the fly fishing world that Atlantic Salmon are at risk of becoming extinct, as their numbers seem to be dropping yearly. Atlantic Salmon—Lost At Sea is about trying to figure out what is happening. It is an extraordinary documentary that uncovers a lot.
It took six years to film, and it follows what happens to young salmon on their way out of the rivers and into the sea. Filming this was a major operation that involved both land and sea vessels working across a wide range of different locations.
In the end, this documentary film does give us some great information about what is happening to the young salmon and how we can save them. It is worth a watch whether you are into fly fishing, as a species on the line here needs saving.
Conclusion
Thank you very much for reading my article. I hope you enjoyed my list of excellent fly fishing movies to watch and maybe re-watch on those nights after work while waiting for that weekend cast.
Please share the article with your fishing buddies and why not look at some of our others below.
