An escape, a hobby or a source of exploration, fly fishing can have varying depths of meaning or significance for sportsmen.
But for those who live in the Yampa Valley, they see it as a way of life.
“Once you start to learn more about the craft, you start to care more about the river,” said Scott Warner, current president of the Yampa Valley Fly Fishers Chapter 929 of Trout Unlimited. “It’s an incredible resource for Steamboat whether you fish, kayak, etc. People take it for granted because it hasn’t always been the way it is now.”
What: The COSTA Fly Fishing Film Tour
When: 7 p.m. Friday, March 13
Where: Chief Theater, 813 Lincoln Ave.
With a mission to enhance and conserve cold water fisheries through education and outreach, the Yampa Valley Fly Fishers Chapter takes part in volunteer and fundraising efforts within the community. The group has helped with improvements at the Churck Lewis State Wildlife Area on the Yampa River in addition to the Stagecoach Tailwaters project. Other projects the chapter takes part in include donating materials for local schools' fishing clubs and providing funds to allow local teens to attend the Colorado Trout Unlimited youth camp.
Aside from efforts to maintain the Yampa River as a viable resource for the community, a major component to the local group is camaraderie.
“When I first moved to Steamboat eight years ago, I didn’t really know anyone or have any local fishing buddies,” Warner said about his initial involvement with the group. “I think when you bring the fly fishing community together, it helps to bond people, and once people start caring about the fishing, it leads from the fishing to the fish habitat to conservation to caring about the river.”
With the intent to get the community of fly fishers together in one place, the Yampa Valley Fly Fishers will be hosting the COSTA Fly Fishing Film Tour at 7 p.m. Friday at the Chief Theater.
The 2015 tour features 11 captivating films showcasing fly fishing characters and ambitious pursuits in locations such as Cuba, Florida, Louisiana, Mongolia, Alaska, British Columbia and more. Blending cinematography and poignant commentary, the films also showcase species of fish like the tarpon, redfish, trout, steelhead, Dorado and Taimen.
A few of the featured segments this year include pursuing tarpon in Cuba with WorldANGLING, surfing and fly fishing in Iceland with RC Cone and hunting for steelhead in British Columbia with Peter Christensen.
“The whole goal is to inspire people to get out there and go fishing, especially this time of year when the weather starts to warm up,” said Chris Keig, owner of the Fly Fishing Film Tour and avid fly fisherman for 20 years.
Since the film tour’s inception in 2007, it continues to grow. Last year, the tour traveled to over 175 North American locations and was seen by 50,000 anglers or newfound enthusiasts.
Keig explained that showcasing high caliber “epic” films is not the tour’s only priority. Supporting conservation and local fly fishing shops that provide education and environmental programs is another part of the organization’s mission.
“It’s a way to give back to the community and see different aspects of fly fishing,” said Dan Chovan, one of the board members for Yampa Valley Fly Fishers. “A few of the films are in very exotic places. It’s nice to see what’s out there and to know that you can fly fish anywhere you go in the world.”
Tickets are $15 each and are available at Bucking Rainbow, Henderson Fly Fishing, Straightline and Steamboat Fly Fisher or online here. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event for $18.
All proceeds will benefit the Yampa Valley Fly Fishers Chapter 929 of Trout Unlimited.
To reach Audrey Dwyer, call 970-871-4229, email adwyer@ExploreSteamboat.com or follow her on Twitter @Audrey_Dwyer1