Like most anglers I have attributed the birth of a new generation fly fishing films to the boys from Angling Exploration Group and their Trout Bum Diaries DVD. Until recently I have never heard of the 1974 film "Tarpon," which was shot in Key West, Florida by UYA Films and I would guess that I am not alone in my ignorance of its existence. For 30+ years this film seemingly disappeared from the public gaining a cult like status amongst the select few that were lucky enough to own or know somebody that owns a bootleg copy.
For me, the fact that this film was filmed in the early 70s only adds to the fascination I have with it. This is all before my time and to see the casts they made, the fish they caught and the gear they used was simply amazing. Everything from the clothing and hair styles to the film scratches during the film absolutely scream the 70s and gave me a glimpse into the fly fishing world before I was even born and almost 30 years before I first picked up a fly rod.
The film also dives into the fishing culture of the 70s, a time when catch and release was not as common of a practice as it is today. During one sequence of the film a fishing vessel was gaffing dozens of sharks, permit and other species throwing them into a barrel which leads into this group of guides discussing the importance of releasing and protecting this magnificent species for future generations. While we still have a long way to go to promote the importance of catch and release (even more so in the oceans) this films shows us some of the pioneers that paved the way and lit the torch that we all most carry.
Today, for a few thousand dollars anybody can produce their own fly fishing DVD and while it is exciting to see this new chapter emerge "Tarpon" may be the film that all other films are measured against. "Tarpon" shows us what real professional filmmakers can accomplish and the result was epic and should be the source of inspiration for today's videographers. Some of the battle scenes between the angler and silver king are legendary and the slow motion captures of aerial displays and simply astonishing. If all of this wasn't enough "Tarpon" can boast the fact that Jimmy Buffet is credited as the composer of the soundtrack that blends beautifully with film. Everything about this film is first class. I may be thousands of miles from the nearest tarpon and may never experience casting and hooking one of these massive silver beasts but through "Tarpon" I can live the experience for a few short moments and those few short moments was spectacular and exhilirating.
In closing, I could not be more excited about this film finally being released on DVD simply because I doubt that I would have ever known of its existance otherwise. After seeing this I have to wonder where would fly fishing be today if more people had seen this film over the years. Today, we read about the doom and gloom of fly fishing not being embraced by the new generations of young people. If 30 years ago other companies and filmmakers built upon the foundation that UYA Films laid perhaps fly fishing would be enjoying the success that snowboarding is today.
"Tarpon" delivers incredible insight from a few of the pioneers of fly fishing for tarpon, an important message for conservation during a time catch and release was not a common practice and stunning gratutious fish porn that has not been duplicated in the thirty years since this film was made. A big "thank you" to everyone involved with bringing this film out of the basement and into the public. This film deserves the recognition of being the first modern fly fishing films.
"Tarpon" is a timeless and beautifully executed film about life, sport and culture. You'll be moved, amused, outraged and, most of all, entertained. - Tom Brokaw
Here is a description of the film from their website The film was born from a 1972 visit to the Florida Keys by filmmaker Christian Odasso and Guy de la Valdéne, an avid angler who already had a few years of experience in fly fishing for Keys tarpon. Enraptured by the aesthetics and ethics of the catch-and-release fishing, Odasso paired with de la Valdéne to co-direct the film. With a mostly French crew, the shoot took approximately seven weeks and the resulting film was edited in Paris. Saved by the filmmaker's daughter from a dripping barn in the Normandy countryside where it lay untouched for the last 35 years, the film was recently restored and digitized for DVD by Guy de la Valdéne.
