The 2024 International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4) is coming to Dakota Stage Ltd in Bismarck on March 9, 2024 at 6pm, featuring nine official selections.
F4 is the world’s leading fly-fishing film event, consisting of films produced by professional filmmakers from all corners of the globe and showcases the passion, lifestyle, and culture of fly fishing. “It’s exciting to bring this film series to Bismarck.” says local event organizer Chris Nyhus, whose law firm is co-sponsoring the event along with his colleague, Steve Liebel. “North Dakota isn’t a traditional fly-fishing destination, but it has a lot of people who are passionate about it. We have some quality trout lakes in western North Dakota, as well as many unique opportunities to fly-fish for non-traditional species, such as northern pike, bass, carp, and sunfish throughout the state. Chasing our local species is a great way to learn this sport. This event is an opportunity for people to get together to see some cool films from all over the world, learn what others are doing locally, and raise some funds for some great causes at the same time.”
The doors open at 5:30 pm and the films will start at 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at flyfilmfest.com and are priced at $15. Total running time of the film is one hour and forty-five minutes, which includes all nine selections. Laughing Sun Brewery will be on-site selling their craft beers. There will be two brief intermissions as well as a raffle. “We’ve been very fortunate that two regional fly shops, East Rosebud Fly and Tackle out of Billings, MT, and Dakota Angler & Outfitter based in Rapid City, SD, have donated thousands of dollars of gear and Endeavor North Design has added items that will be raffled off at the event. We have two very nice rod/reel packages, as well as flies, hats, and other merchandise that people can win.”
All profits from the raffle and ticket sales will be split between two charities. One charity is Project Healing Waters, which serves active military members and veterans through fly fishing, including hands-on instruction for fly tying, rod building, and therapeutic time on the water for disabled veterans. North Dakota has an active chapter led by Marc Taylor, who will briefly speak about the organization. The second charity is Clydehurst Christian Ranch, which hosts a Bible camp for families and kids in the summer. In the early fall it hosts a men’s retreat. “They bring in fly-fishing instructors from around the country as well as local pastors to lead devotions and worship, and there is plenty of time to fish the Boulder River south of Big Timber, MT. The camp is a great way to get into fly fishing.” A free registration for the four-day fly fishing retreat is also included as a raffle prize.
Come join us for an evening with the fly-fishing community and a celebration of friendship, fly-fishing stories! Spread the word to others that may be interested!
