There's Always A River Somewhere

As part of my Fly Fishing travels around the world, I have been lucky enough to tick off several of the destinations featured on the TV show A River Somewhere. For those unfamiliar with the show, it was produced by Working Dog Productions in the mid nineties and featured comedians Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch, travelling and Fly Fishing in various salt and fresh water fishing destinations around the world. As a fan of The Late Show and Front Line, I already loved Tom and Rob’s sense of humour, so coupling this with Fly Fishing made it unmissable for me in my early teens, as I was at the time. I vividly remember watching each episode on TV as they were released, and barely being able to stand the week-long wait for the next one. Each episode finished with the catchphrase “…but then, there’s always a river somewhere”. A line that I dreaded hearing, because it meant that the show was over for another week.

A River Somewhere was completely different to any other fishing shows, even to this date. There were no lairy fishing shirts or over excited ex-footy players. It exhibited a refreshing sophistication, which ultimately helped form the foundation of my bond with Fly Fishing over other styles. It focussed on the places that Fly Fishing takes you, more than the fishing itself, and it was a noticeably high quality production, particularly for its time. In fact, I read somewhere that in order to write off some tax from their enormous hit film The Castle, Working Dog made the show as a passion project. I hope that’s a true story, although apparently this is also why there will never be any more episodes.

The more I reflect on it, the more I realise how deeply important A River Somewhere was to me. It just seemed to encapsulate the beauty of fly fishing entirely. Helped immensely by its soundtrack, the show really 'took you there'. Whether it was the wild light of the afternoon sun in the Victorian Highlands, or the slow motion shots of line being pulled from a fly reel, just watching A River Somewhere felt like a form of mediation. The next best thing to actually going fishing. In fact, I have never seen a more accurate onscreen representation of the moments in fly fishing that make all else in life seem so insignificant.

In the 25 years since it first aired, I must have watched each episode hundreds of times (seriously). I own two copies of the DVD boxset, one for myself (that must be on the brink of being warn out) and another that I lend to friends who express an interest in learning to fly fish. I have watch it so much that I can recite the corny jokes off by heart, however each time I revisit Rob and Tom on the D’Urville River in New Zealand or on the Bonefish flats of Los Roques, I feel the same sense of calm and peace that I would get if were there myself.

Without any doubt, A River Somewhere ignited my passion for Fly Fishing and provided me with a reference point throughout my life. By throwing it on the TV throughout my teens, twenties, and thirties, I was and still am reminded that Fly Fishing is more than a hobby and a pastime. It is something that is deeply engrained in me and a hugely important part of who I am.

I hope that A River Somewhere has had this effect on others, and that by lending out the DVD Boxset I can continue to pass on just how much Fly Fishing means to me. I also hope that someone makes another show just like it really soon!

“If I fished only to capture fish, my fishing trips would have ended long ago.”  ~Zane Grey

Following in the footsteps of Rob & Tom on the Tongariro River, New Zealand

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