Common Waters



Told from the perspective of 3rd generation Jackson Hole fly fishing guide Boots Allen, Iconic Rises conveys the reverence the local fly fishing community has for the native Snake River Fine Spotted Cutthroat Trout and the upper Snake River fishery.

From the Blackfoot near Missoula to a spring creek outside Bozeman, the Madison at Three Dollar Bridge, and a drift down the Missouri River by Craig, she chases the legendary early-season Salmon Fly and Pale Morning Duns (PMDs) hatches. Along the way, she discovers Montana’s vibrant fly fishing culture - visiting fly shops, meeting passionate anglers, and immersing herself in a community where wild rivers and trout are part of everyday life.

Throughout the course of Oliver White’s life fly fishing has been at the root of a series of once-in-a-lifetime events. What started as physical therapy led to the financial district, a business opportunity, and a near-death situation. His pursuit of fish on the fly now takes him to the mythical, magical country of Bhutan to do what he does best – figure things out.

Tom Derry is the connection between wild fish and the activists striving to protect them. A lifelong angler and the director of wild steelhead funding for the Native Fish Society, Tom embodies the commitment behind countless conservation efforts all with a single goal: more wild fish. Filmed along British Columbia’s Babine River, Tom captures the essence of angling for wild steelhead and provides insight into what motivates a motivator.