Top 10 Fly Fishing Videos (Part Two)

So last week I shared numbers 6-10 of my favorite fly fishing videos and this week is all about the top five!  In the top five you'll see some more focus on conservation, cinematography, and plot.  I've also included one last fish porn type video as well.  Again, feel free to comment and share the videos you love best!

(Warning: Explicit language included in this video) Two days to film and one day to edit with the infamous Dan "Rooster" Leavens. All nighters, Monsters, numerous pots of coffee and the constant hum of computers and chargers running at full steam was our daily routine during the 2013 Simms SHOOT OUT film event. Rooster proved his worth bringing in big fish after big fish, with hilarious comments thrown into the mix. Here is our winning Simms Shoot Out film submission, BENT. Big thanks to Simms for giving us the opportunity to compete against some of the best filmmakers in the industry and an extra special thanks to Rooster, Dayna, Grey, Bubba, and Dave out at the Stonefly Inn & Outfitters (http://www.thestoneflyinn.com/). For more check out our website @ www.montana-wild.com Or catch us @ www.facebook.com/Montana.Wild.Productions Instagram: @montanawild Music: CCR - "run through the jungle" (instrumental) Metaform - "it's gotta be"

#5 Bent

I've got to admit, I feel a little guilty about putting this one on the list, let alone in the top five.  The guys from Montana Wild are getting a lot of bad press lately.  They've be charged with over 50 counts of wildlife code violations for targeting bull trout and filming without permits.  This video doesn't seem to violate those codes so I decided to keep it on the list.  It's got some monster fish in one of my favorite places (Montana) and I was lucky enough to go on a guided trip with Rooster, the star of the video, two years ago.  

The massive Clark Fork watershed comprises an area of over 14 million acres, with its vast network of streams and rivers cascading and meandering for over 28,000 miles through the rugged, mountainous landscape of western Montana. This hard-working watershed supports an intricately woven ecosystem of plants and wildlife in its upper reaches; steep slopes of dense, mixed coniferous forest line the banks of cold, clear streams, with Montana’s native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi), and wild brown and rainbow trout holding in almost every lie. Unfortunately, this beautiful system is also heavily relied upon downstream by the agricultural industry in the region. Many cold water tributaries that would otherwise provide suitable spawning habitat, or adequate refuge for native and game fish species during warmer summer months, actually run dry prior to their confluence with the Clark Fork; their flows having been critically reduced by increasing irrigation demands. In an effort to learn more about some of the issues at hand, we connected with Andy Fischer, a Project Manager for the Clark Fork Coalition, to fish a recently restored headwaters stream and discuss some of his organization’s innovative and effective approaches toward conservation and cleanup within the Clark Fork watershed. Join us as we embark on a week long, self-guided fly fishing trip to explore the unbelievably beautiful, natural landscapes that characterize the headwaters of the immense Clark Fork watershed, and document the sights and sounds of the abundance of wildlife that inhabits this ever-shrinking expanse of western wilderness – an area that many have come to call, The Last Great Place. To learn more about how you can contribute to much-needed and ongoing conservation efforts in this alluring slice of western Montana, feel free to visit the Clark Fork Coalition’s website below: http://clarkfork.org Behind the scenes and more info on our blog: http://zangsfilms.com/blog/2015/10/the-last-great-place-behind-the-scenes/ Featuring: Jason Fitzgibbon, Sage Brown, Andy Fisher and Octave Zangs Directors: Octave Zangs & Jason Fitzgibbon Cinematography/Editing/Color Grading: Octave Zangs Aerial cinematography: Sage Brown Voice Over and Words: Jason Fitzgibbon Original Soundtrack: The Last Great Place by Octave Zangs Shot on RED Epic Dragon and DJI Phantom 3 Pro. http://zangsfilms.com Thanks to all our sponsors for their support: http://orvis.com | http://westernrise.com | https://mpowerd.com | http://topodesigns.com

#4 The Last Great Place

Octave Zangs and Jason Fitzgibbon did a great job with this video featuring the Clark Fork Watershed and the restoration work that's been going on there over the last few years.  There's some great music, wonderful cinematography, and a strong focus on conservation. Any video featuring one of my favorite places always gets a nod and Montana ranks really high on that list.  They're going to be putting out some more exciting work this year, so keep an eye out for Zangs Films. 

Liquid Gold is an Adventure into the High Sierra in search of California Golden Trout.

#3 Liquid Gold

This is a fantastic video from California Trout, an organization doing some massively important conservation work here in California.  Here, the subjects of the video head out on a trip through the Golden Trout Wilderness.  This is one of my favorite places on earth.   The fish are amazing, the wilderness is breathtaking, and there's some major solitude in this park. As fishermen, sometimes we get too wrapped up in big fish.  Sometimes the little ones and the places they live are just as fun!

This little edit follows Peter's streak of bad luck and not-so-pro fuck ups during a recent New Zealand trip with the Nylinder brothers.

#2 Oh My God!

Another amazing location!  I haven't been to New Zealand but would absolutely love to get there some day.  This video has great music and a perfect plot line.   There's huge fish, struggle, and victory.  All things we encounter on most fishing trips.  It's really nice to see a video share some of the reality with fishing, rather than massive fish after massive fish.  I'm not sure about you, but that's not what it's like when I'm on the river. This one is an absolute must see.

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#1 Low and Clear

If you haven't seen it, stop reading and go watch this.  It's pretty cheap online and well worth it.  The first week I bought it, I watched it a dozen times.  Again, great plot, strong music, and a majestic setting.  This one appeals to me on a personal level because I can identify with both main characters.  The intensity and competitiveness I feel on the river brings out the worst in me sometimes and the zen aspects of flowing water and nature bring out the best.  This is the best fly fishing movie out there, hands down.