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Some 200 local trout bums let their fish flags fly as they gathered Tuesday night for a premiere screening of the annual nationwide Fly Fishing Film Tour.

The fly fishing enthusiasts — of all ages — filled Grandstreet Theatre, sipping on local beers, cheering and jeering as they watched pros’ rods tug in eight short movies filmed all over the world.

The screening, the third annual in Helena, was sponsored by the Pat Barnes Missouri River Chapter of Trout Unlimited. The organization promotes ecological education and conservation work on the Missouri, Little Blackfoot and Smith rivers, according to current President Garrett Fawaz.

Organizers said they used to host the screening in June, near the end of the tour season. By that time, many of the die-hards had already traveled to other cities in Montana to see the films.

Tuesday’s event, meanwhile, was the first public screening on the “F3T” circuit that runs through April and stops in every corner of the country.

“People love watching it for some crazy reason,” CrossCurrents Fly Shop owner Chris Strainer said, himself included.

“It’s kind of the precursor to the fishing season,” said Jake Leeper, a part-time fishing guide who attended the screening.