Several movies have been made about fly fishing, but only the best make it into our list of the top five fly fishing movies of all time. Here are our top picks when it comes to fly fishing movies.
The Old Man and The Sea
Based on a classic tale from Ernest Hemingway, this was originally a TV mini-series but was created into a film in 1958. The film has become a classic about a Cuban fisherman who finally hooks a huge marlin after 84 days without catching anything. The fish drags him out into the sea and he battles it for quite some time. He even has to fight off sharks!
The movie was nominated for Oscars for Best Actor, Best Music, and Best Cinematography.
A River Runs Through It
An amazing story nominated for three Academy Awards, A River Runs Through It is one of the finest fly fishing movies ever made. It’s based on a novella with the same name and follows the journey of the two sons of a minister. It’s based in the first half of the 20th century and fly fishing is used at a metaphor for love, life, and religion.
Low & Clear
Winner of many awards at film festivals, Low & Clear is a documentary done by Kahlil Hudson and Tyler Hughen. It’s a story about a winter fly fishing trip to Canada with two old friends playing the main characters. One of the characters believes there is more to fishing than just catching fish, while the other character thinks fishing is more of a race against the clock. They take different approaches, which plays out throughout the film.
Only the River Knows
An 84-minute journey through multiple countries, this film is a mixture of documentary and fiction. It’s based in 1988 and follows one of the most iconic fly fishers of the time, Lars Lenth. He spends his time fishing for a very large trout.
A Backyard in Nowhere
An independent film mixing Gonzo and Western elements with fly fishing, A Backyard in Nowhere is a great choice. It’s about three fly fishers looking to explore the Innoko River in Alaska.
They get into much more than they bargained for and the story has many twists and turns. It’s not an average film and does contain nudity, swearing, drug use, and violence.
These are our five top picks for the best fly fishing movies ever made. Whether you just love good movies or you love fly fishing, you’re sure to enjoy each of these movies about fly fishing.