Fly Fishing For Striped Bass

Now that Norman McLean's novella (and the movie) A River Runs Through It have raised fly-fishing from being something that good old boys did on weekends to something more closely resembling a major religion (Christianity, Buddhism, Fly-Fishing, etc.), angling is not a sport to be taken lightly. Five minutes into Fly Fishing for Striped Bass with its beautiful cinematography and epic-style narration, we realize that this is no ordinary fishing video with simple, straightforward instruction and tips for fisherfolk. Nope, this is more Spielbergian in scope. Shot in lovely Montauk, NY, the film features Jeff Mancini and guests Tom Piccolo and Eric Peterson on a saltwater fly-fishing quest for record (or at least respectable-sized) striped bass. Using lightweight rods, reels, and line, Mancini & Co. put the sport back into fly-fishing, landing (and releasing) fish that require a considerable amount of body English so as not to break the line. Topics covered include: best times for fishing, recommended equipment, casting, knotting (how to create a strong leader system), fly-tying, and a few unusual segments, including one on the biological and psychological aspects of the striped bass, and an interesting look at a large and successful striped bass conservation program being conducted on the Eastern seaboard. A couple quibbles: the prominence of L.L. Bean products is anything but subtle, and narration is a little on the lavender side at times (on the other hand, this reverential tone will appeal to serious aficionados of the sport). Nevertheless, Fly Fishing for Striped Bass is a very good tape that belongs in most sports and recreation collections. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)