Thompson Falls Rex Theatre to host Fly Fishing Film Tour Saturday

The Rex Theatre in Thompson Falls is set to showcase the 12th annual Fly Fishing Film Tour for local anglers on April 28.

The film will explore the world of fly fishing from Honduras to Alaska, Dubai to Africa for those enthusiasts here in Sanders County.

This will be the first year the international film festival will be held in Thompson Falls, and organizers promise it will be both an entertaining and informative evening for locals who enjoy fly fishing or for those that just enjoy a good film.

“The stories are compelling and the locations are stunning,” said Reg Crawford, a project leader with Panhandle Trout Unlimited.

The Panhandle Trout Unlimited has hosted the Fly Fishing Film Tour in Sandpoint, Idaho, for the past seven years.

“You don’t need to be a fly fisherman to enjoy these movies,” he said.

The tour is being brought to Thompson Falls by the Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group, Sanders County Flycasters, the Panhandle chapter of Trout Unlimited, and the Kaniksu Land Trust.

In addition to films about pack-rafting in Alaska’s wilderness, and fishing in Central America, the collection of films will feature “Roots; Bringing Back the Bull River,” a short video about revegetation efforts in the Bull River Valley.

The film was produced by the Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group and Green Mountain Conservation District to educate the public about collaborative water quality work that’s underway in the Bull River to benefit fish and wildlife.

Those attending the Fly Fishing Film Tour will have a chance to win door prizes, and can enter a raffle to win a fly rod and reel, Costa Slack Tide sunglasses, a Simms hip pack, a Yeti load-out bucket and other great prizes.

Beer and concessions will be served in the lobby, where information from participating organizations will be on display.

Among the organizations sharing information at the film fest will be the Mayfly Project, which teams up foster children with fly fishing mentors and gets them outdoors to have fun, feel supported and learn a rewarding new hobby.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the films will roll at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased in Thompson Falls at Minnie’s Cafe, the D&D Liquor Store or online from links on the Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group’s website (look for the Calendar) or the Fly Fishing Film Tour’s website (look for Schedule & Tickets).

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Rex Theater.