Casting the Light

When the Fly Fishing Film Tour came to Chagford

Last Thursday, in the glow of the projector, nearly fifty people gathered in Chagford to witness something special: the Fly Fishing Film Tour, screening in Devon for the very first time as part of the Chagford Film Festival.

But for me, this was more than an evening of film. It felt like a kind of homecoming - a moment when global stories of rivers, people, and conservation intersected with our own river, the Teign.

Scenes, Stories & Shared Rivers

From the opening reel, the audience was taken across frosty headwaters, through sunlit flats, and into rainforest reaches. For the past 19 years, these short films have been celebrated globally, screening in over 100 locations every year - and on that night, I’m proud to say that the circuit paused for a moment, right here on Dartmoor.

Yet as the films unfolded, it became clear that these pieces were never just about the fishing. They are love letters to rivers, to wild places, and to the communities that depend on them. And they ask us a simple, but poignant question: what exactly is our role in these stories?

Our Why, Our Mission

That’s why we, TACA, hosted the evening. All of us, all of you, are a local network of anglers, conservationists, and passionate volunteers. We’re often spotted on the riverbank restoring habitats, carrying out Riverfly surveys, or conducting electrofishing assessments like the one recently undertaken on the Leat at Chagford to monitor migratory fish health.

But beneath those actions lies a deeper purpose: to ensure that species like wild brown trout, sea trout, and the endangered Atlantic salmon aren’t just part of Dartmoor’s past - but a thriving part of its future.

On the night, I was lucky enough to introduce that mission to the audience before the first film rolled: our vision to take the Teign from great to truly exceptional.

Rivers, Passion & Belonging

As someone who spends much of my life alongside or in these Dartmoor rivers, I know they carry a sense of belonging and purpose. Many of you reading this will know these waters too - your favourite bends, your secret pools and fishing spots - and you’ll understand their balance and fragile nature. These rivers hold more than fish; they carry stories, memories, and heritage.

Earlier this year, local fishing associations voted to ban the killing of line-caught Atlantic salmon on the Teign. That decision was a turning point - a shift from harvest to stewardship, choosing conservation where once tradition was dominant. It shows we are ready to unite and make difficult, aligned choices for the long view - for the future.

From Film to Action

After the final credits - culminating with Buo Apjo by Tom Enderlin - the room was quiet, but the air was thick with possibility. Like many of the short films, it left us with threads: people, water, and place. The question was clear: how do those threads weave into the Teign story?

We want to continue building - right here - the network of volunteers, advocates, and storytellers who become pillars within our catchment. Whether through restoration, monitoring, education, or advocacy, every action, great or small, strengthens the fabric.

Already, I’m looking ahead to 2026, when the Fly Fishing Film Tour will embark on its 20th anniversary journey around the globe. Currently, there are only two UK venues on their official schedule. And I hope that in 2026, Dartmoor will join them, with the Teign recognised as part of a global map of iconic fishing destinations. A place where people travel to bring their eyes, their feet, and their hearts to our streams.

A Shared Invitation

As we drew the curtain on the last short film within the feature, I invited the audience to see them not just as entertainment, but as catalysts - for connection, for curiosity, and for conviction.

And before I close, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers. None of what we do happens without you: the surveys, the restoration days, the countless hours given freely to keep our rivers alive and thriving. With autumn approaching, we’ve got even more pockets of habitat restoration to complete. So watch this space, roll up your sleeves, and get involved. Every single hour of someone’s precious time really does make a difference.

Because rivers don’t wait. The work is ours. This landscape is ours. And its future depends on what we choose to return to it.