buy salmon films online

Reviews and testimonials about - A life on the edge

Trout & Salmon magazine - November 2004

How do you make a DVD of the highest quality? This one is about that mysterious and fascinating fish, the salmon, the ones who live in and yearly return to “the edge” – in this case the Western Isles, the Outer Hebrides.

The stunning background can of course be taken for granted, and with a genuinely creative expert with a camera such as Ged Yeates its power to enchant is trebled. At last in such recordings we have, thanks to Richard Davies, a high-quality, pleasantly literate script, attractive, informative and quietly attention-holding. Nothing grates.

The delivery of that script is by a skilled actor and experienced broadcaster, former Scottish champion angler, Paul Young, whose warmth of personality and attractive diction fit perfectly into the atmosphere of this unique production.

We are taken through the near-unique experience of catching salmon on the fly in the sea off the west coast of Lewis, then more conventionally following the fish upriver to the lochs and the spawning redds under conditions rather tougher than in large salmon rivers. Techniques and tactics are fully dealt with and happily include the principle of catch-and-release. Nor is the importance of well-run salmon fisheries on the fragile economy of the area neglected, especially in employment.

The overriding impression given by this splendid production is intelligence – applied to everything it touches. The experience is, well, inspiring. The underwater photography is stunning. Anyone interested in salmon fishing who sees this DVD will play it again and again.

The same goes for those with responsibility for preserving the best in our threatened communities, fish and humans, “on the edge”

Very strongly recommended.

Stornoway Gazette - December 2004

Every so often a fishing book or film comes on the market that immediately catches the imagination of the keen angler. This brilliant DVD by Ged Yeates and Richard Davies does this and more. I cannot imagine a more appropriate title than that chosen by the film makers and the result is a classic that should be on the shopping list of every dedicated angler.

The main photography is by Yeates with first class underwater sequences by Davies. The whole film is linked together by an excellent commentary written by Davies and narrated by Paul Young, whose relaxed and attractive style is well known through his own series of angling programmes. The film runs for 55 minutes but the viewer is never bored and thanks to modern technology, sequences can be returned to time and again by use of the in-built menu in the DVD.

With so many angling documentaries on the market what is it that makes this one different? Apart from details mentioned above the main setting is on the scenic coast of Uig in the west of Lewis, with stunning sequences backed by haunting music, and in the foreground many dramatic action shots of fresh salmon being stalked, tempted to the fly and skilfully played and netted. Most of this takes place in the estuarial waters of the river and will certainly be an eye-opener for many viewers. Personally I like to see the moment of the 'take' in an angling film and this film does not disappoint. The late Charles Maclaren regarded the 'take' as the supreme moment in angling, and few would disagree. Maclaren used to observe that once he had hooked his sea-trout on Loch Maree he would hand the rod to his ghillie to play and land the fish. Here we are taken through the whole sequence from start to finish. It is very exciting. The 'song of the sea' is never far away and the film contains perhaps the best sequence of underwater shots the writer has ever seen, including a brilliant sequence as the king of game fish comes to the end of the road and ensures the future of the species in the spawning redds.
The authors have created much more, however. This is a superb educational film with a very sensible and sensitive approach to many topical issues including conservation and the importance of the environment. We observe the salmon assembling in the estuary after their mysterious sojourn in the deep, their instinctive patience as they wait for fresh water and the strength-sapping effort they put into running the falls. These are excellent sequences, as is the brief sequence that encapsulates the early life of the young salmon.

At the end of a fishing season that reports that many Scottish rivers have enjoyed their best season for many years there is much of encouragement in this film and the authors have given us a most unusual insight into a method of approach to the sport that is itself unique. They have married this to a first class description of the life cycle of this unique game-fish, in a setting that makes us realise what great natural beauty we have on our own doorsteps. The dramatic closing photography takes the breath away and the sequences of aerial shots throughout are awesome. Paul Young observes at one stage as an angler fails to tempt a fish in tricky circumstances, "What a beautiful way to be frustrated!"

The film makers are to be congratulated on a magnificent piece of work which stands out among many mediocre attempts to catch the imagination of the angler. This is a film that deserves great acclaim and it is destined to become one of the angling classics. Throughout the film the authors have used interviews with well-known anglers to illustrate points of view. The mysterious ways of Salmo Salar have captured our imaginations for countless generations. Eddie Young, in one sequence, observes, "I hope it will never be solved". This seems to capture the haunting mystique that the film illustrates so well. Make sure you get a copy. It's brilliant.

Graham Ritchie, Fraserburgh.

Wonderful film, beautifully filmed, one of the best fishing films I have ever watched. Makes me want to go back to the Hebrides again.

Paddy Doherty, Northern Ireland

I have viewed and thoroughly enjoyed your first class production.

Ian King, Edinburgh

The DVD is excellent

Jayne McMillan & Sam Valentine

The film was a great reflection on Hebridean life and the journey of the salmon from sea to their redds. We particularly liked the way you captured the salmon in the sea and the river mouth waiting to run the rivers. We have never seen anything like it in any other videos available. The underwater filming was astonishing. Ten out of ten for your perseverance, patience and filming skills for bringing together a beautiful production.

Adrian Latham, Preston

I have just finished watching it from start to finish and really enjoyed every minute of it! Both you and Richard Davies deserve every credit for a true masterpiece, along with everyone else involved in the making of the film. I truly hope this will not be your last effort on the subject and I’d like to wish you all every success with this venture. I will recommend the DVD to all I know keen on the subject. No doubt I will watch it over and over so thanks once again for the enjoyment it has given me now and in the future.

Jimmy Forbes, Bonnybridge

I received the DVD first thing this morning that’s what I call first class!

Colin Watterson, Northern Ireland.

Congratulations on an absolute masterpiece! I watched the film straightaway and was absolutely captivated by the stunning camera work. I am sure I am not alone in wishing more work of this calibre was available… perhaps a sequel is due? You both really should do one about the sea trout.

S. Pyrves, Middlesborough

I have just watched the DVD I bought and I thought I should just tell you what a wonderful film to watch.

James Munro, Aberdeen

I thoroughly enjoyed the film with plenty of well filmed action…great!

Review for The institute of fisheries management magazine Jan 2005

For the second time in my life, I’m a virgin (easy ladies) – I’ve never reviewed a DVD before. And one on fishing at that…

So, what to make of it? Well, to start with, I know both the location of the action (the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides) and the maker (Richard Davies, a good friend from many years back). So, lets be honest, I’m not exactly an independent reviewer.
That said, I’ll do my best to remain entirely objective.

This is a slightly odd production, straddling the neutral territory between a pure angling film (is this the right term – doesn’t film imply something celluloid rather the biscuit hardness of a DVD?), a Western Isles tourist board production and a GCSE set text on salmon biology. And it is none the worst for its indecision.
As would be expected of the Hebrides the scenery is spectacular, with some sharp camera work adding to the beauty of the landscape. The camera work is also to the fore in the fishing and biology sequences. Excellent close ups show clearly the key stages in the salmon’s life cycle and equally clearly the (often dramatic) reaction of salmon to anglers’ flies.

The Hebrides are unusual in that it is possible to catch Atlantic salmon on fly in saltwater at a few locations. One of these is the Bruton Stream on the Uig Estate (it was here that the famous Norse carved ivory chess pieces were discovered in the sand of the beach, finally scotching the rumour that all the raiding hordes did was rape, pillage and drink possibly the best lager in the world). Having fished there and caught a salmon, I can confirm the slightly surreal feeling of wading waist deep in kelp, sight casting into a shoal of salmon more than a hundred strong. And the blind panic and confusion that ensues amongst both angler and fish when the former hooks one of the latter. I swear it was at least 20 seconds before I could work out which of the jumping, fleeing horde I was actually attached too. The DVD captures the excitement of the moment, and subsequent others when the salmon have entered the freshwater environment.

In the same way that it is difficult to label this production, so it is difficult to tie down who would buy it and for whom. I’ll stick my neck out here. It would make an excellent present for a salmon mad friend or relative, Equally, it would get my vote as a good purchase for a biology or geography class from late primary age to GCSE. Teachers: Never mind the national curriculum. Stick this on one wet Friday afternoon, let the kids watch in awe the mighty leaper, and get yourself some well deserved shut eye in a quiet corner of the classroom. Value for money? I should say so.

Paul, Wales

My copy arrived yesterday in the post and so far I've only watched it 3 times!

It is a truly beautiful piece of work - the photography does justice to one of the most beautiful and unspoilt areas left in the UK.

The film is a great 'mouthpiece' for the life (and the fragility of the life) of the Atlantic Salmon - it is not a 'salmon and how to catch them' DVD - no flies, no techniques, no tactics - just incredible footage of salmon as an integral part of the environment.

Buy it.

Paul Hopwood

This video is a must, a must - it is fantastic viewing. It is best described as 'Fishing Pornography'

I have never seen a film which left me with such a desire to go fishing. The filming is truly awesome a credit to its makers Ged Yeates & Richard Davies.

The sequences of Salmon coming to the fly are spectacular.