Video review: Turning Tail

This is another DVD, which lies in the span between the typical fishing video and the documentary or environmental feature. It reminds me in many ways of the DVD Rivers of a Lost Coast, which I reviewed late 2011. It's an account of the natural and cultural history of a fish and a fishing. Then it was the Steelhead of the US west coast, here it's the salmon of the east coast of the US and Canada.

In many ways it also follows the track of the DVD A Passion Called Salmon, which I also reviewed recently. It discusses the implications of changes to rivers, damming, environment and commercial fishing, and the effort done by different organizations in buying up commercial quotas and protecting the wild fish through an economic effort.
But this DVD takes a less adventurous and much more practical approach to the subject. It doesn't indulge in the best and most expensive fishing in the world, but sketches the history of the fishing for salmon in north America particularly through old B/W and faded color photos and interviews with people who know their history and have experienced the fishing while it was still fantastic.

There's lots of contemporary fishing and lots of beautiful scenery and nice fish caught, but the cornerstone in the video is the long row of interviews with people from the area: anglers, guides, environmental workers and many more, who all know what they are talking about and can express both facts and feelings about the fish and the fishing.

They can express both facts and feelings about the fish and the fishing.

Altogether a very educating and entertaining DVD that manages to mix the documentary and environmental side with the fishing and natural scenery side in an excellent way.
The bad conscience won't necessarily haunt you after having watched it, because it very much runs with positive notes and has an optimistic tone, You will know quite a bit about why the Atlantic salmon is struggling, but also be left with a good feeling that something can be done and is done by enthusiastic and knowledgeable people.