A new film about the rivers of the Catskill Mountains and the birthplace of American fly fishing debuts online this evening and features some of the best-known fly fishers in world.
The “Land of Little Rivers” is the name of both the film and a network of tributaries in the Catskills that’s a Mecca for resident and visiting anglers obsessed with the sport. Fishing legends such as Joan Wulff, the “first lady of fly fishing,” and Dave Brandt, the preeminent fly tier and authority on traditional Catskill fly tying, convey the angler’s passion, from the art of casting the perfect loop, to the sport’s origins where secrets are fiercely guarded by local anglers.
Other personalities include Rachel Finn, head-guide at the Hungry Trout Fly Shop in the Adirondacks, who enjoys whiskey and cigars while instructing both men and women on the famed Ausable River.
Expert Delaware River guides, Robert Lewis and Ben Rinker, offer insights into the sport. Marty Yi, an Iraq War veteran and wounded warrior, speaks to how the sport literally saved his life. Mike Canazon, who crafts custom bamboo rods, is driven both by a search for excellence and the one that got away.
The “Land of Little Rivers” is uplifting and warm, this beautifully shot documentary delves into the lives of fly fishers, the wounds they heal,
the bonds they form and the history and conservation they preserve for the sport they love.
The film debuts at 8 p.m ET. You can watch it here.