+ + TOLEDO MAGAZINE toledoBlade.com THE BLADE, TOLEDO, OHIO SUNDAY, A UGUST 26, 2012 S E C TION B, PAG E 6 THE OUTDOORS PAGE Still flying high A River Runs Through It celebrates its 20th anniversary Norman Maclean’s book ‘A River Runs Through It’ and Rob- ert Redford’s 1992 film about the story. By MATT MARKEY and JEFF BASTING LIVINGSTON, Mont. — We my attention was directed at never set out to make a trout the logistical side of the pro- fishing movie. Director Rob- duction — transportation — ert Redford made that clear and assisting in the process from the start. of moving a lengthy caravan But a couple of decades of people and equipment to ago, I was part of the cast and remote locations on the Boul- crew of about 90 that Redford der, Gallatin, and Yellowstone took to this rugged area just Rivers, in a timely and effi- north of Yellowstone National cient manner. Park, and spent three months Before Redford, Pitt, and here intent on making a film Tom Skerritt, who played the about a family in conflict. role of the minister, showed up He did that with A River on the set each morning, a vir- Runs Through It, a true story tual city was already in place. centered on a Montana Pres- Generators, large trucks hold- byterian minister and his two ing all of the cameras, lighting, sons — one a troubled free props, and catering equip- spirit, the other a stoic tradi- ment, trailers that housed tionalist. the actors’ dressing rooms, The only solid link con- and the on-set bathrooms, necting the trio is their pas- all had to be positioned close sion for fly fishing, and with enough to the shooting site to this Promised Land for the be convenient, but far enough American trout fisherman as away that they were out of the the backdrop, the movie won background and did not pose an Oscar for its gorgeous cin- a sound problem. ematography. Very little of the fishing The film debuted 20 years footage was shot near a paved ago next month, and besides road, so most days it was helping launch the career of a tedious, difficult slog, a charismatic young actor but in keeping with the named Brad Pitt, it also sent a most basic principle new wave of trout fishermen of the sport of fishing, into the streams, fly rods in we went where the fish hand. are, and beautiful trout “The movie had a streams are rarely located huge effect on fly fish- close to anything resembling ing,” said John Bailey, civilization. a Montana trout fishing Before shooting began, guide who worked as a Mr. Bailey spent a lot of time consultant on the film, and schooling Pitt and Craig the owner of the iconic Dan Sheffer, who played the lead Bailey’s Fly Shop character Nor- here, just north of man Maclean, picturesque Para- in fly fishing SONY PICTURES dise Valley. t e c h n i q u e s. Craig Sheffer, as the older brother Norman Maclean in ‘A River Runs Through It’. “Locally, re- He said those gionally, nation- two young ac- ally — the effect tors made the was the same. film appeal to People who a whole new maybe had heard crop of fly fish- about fly fishing ermen. but had never “No one done it saw these John Bailey, Montana expected it at beautiful sur- fly fishing guide. the time, but roundings, these the movie also great trout streams, and re- brought a lot of women into ally got a look at the essence fly fishing, because they saw of fly fishing. There were a lot the beauty in it,” Bailey said. “I of converts as a direct result of think people could also relate that movie.” to the fact that this was a re- Dennis Aig, the head of the ally dysfunctional family and School of Film and Photogra- the only time they were really phy at Montana State Univer- communicating was when sity in nearby Bozeman, was they were fishing. That hap- SONY PICTURES along for every arbor knot, pens in real life.” ORVIS dead drift, and roll cast during Orvis, a leader in the man- Tom Skeritt, who played Reverend Maclean, father of Nor- Brad Pitt, as the younger brother Paul Maclean. the filming, which took place ufacturing and sale of fly fish- man and Paul in the movie, still enjoys trout fishing. in the summer months when ing gear, supplied equipment typical Montana weather was and instruction to the film- served up. It could be 35 de- makers. Tom Rosenbauer, grees just before dawn, then marketing director for Orvis close to 90 by late afternoon. Rod & Tackle, said that both Mr. Aig, an Ohio State Uni- Orvis and the fly fishing in- versity graduate and a PhD, dustry experienced a spike in produced the documentary their business of 25-30 per- Whitefish Point Shadow Casting: The Mak- cent that he attributed to the Upper Michigan Two Hearted ing of ‘A River Runs Through popularity of the film. Iron River River Iron River It’ as Redford led the movie During the project, the Au Sable company through a series of director had a lot of appre- River problematic locations near hension about how the trout Manistee Manistee Oscoda the Absaroka-Beartooth Wil- fishing scenes were shot, so River derness to get the scene set- there were countless retakes Ludington Pere Marquette River tings he desired. on many of them. Michigan “The movie really brought “Redford was scared that trout fishing into the national the hard-core trout fisher- Detroit consciousness,” Mr. Aig said. man wouldn’t approve of the Toledo “Before that, if you told most movie, if the fly fishing scenes The best trout Cleveland people ‘I’m a fly fisherman’ were not near perfect,” Mr. Chagrin they wouldn’t know exactly Bailey said. “But I think a lot streams with Ohio River what you meant, but the of people ended up loving it. some public ac- Mad Bellefontaine River movie turned trout fish- cess in Ohio and Columbus They still see it as a fly fishing Michigan, from Dayton ing into something movie based on a great family the experts at with a lot of grace and story. The family really came Outdoors editor Matt Markey caught this brown trout on the beauty.” Orvis. together when they went trout Yellowstone River during location work in Montana. While on location fishing, and there’s certainly a in Montana, most of lot to like about that.” Contact Matt Markey at: [email protected] or 419-724-6068. Fly fishing is a more difficult art to master, with some of the most unique and varied tackle in the angling world. Rainbow Trout. + + Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Cyan Magenta Yellow Black.