While much of the fly fishing industry seemingly drives the sport towards a bland middle ground – complete with unwritten, label-driven dress codes and uniform expectations of pellet-fed big fish – it’s refreshing to realize fly fishing’s past is not the commercial enterprise it now is.

In fact, western fly fishing’s history is filled with crazies and malcontents, and Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” TV show touches on that when it visits Livingston, Montana (tip of the hat to Midcurrent for the video link).

Bourdain – a chef turned travel show host – visits Livingston, Montana, taking the opportunity to fulfil what’s clearly a long-simmering dream: hang with artist Russell Chatham and writer Jim Harrison.

This is not – by the way – a fly fishing show packed with fish porn.

Instead, it’s a look at a town where fly fishing is woven into the fabric of the place, including residents like famous writer and “degenerate” fly fisherman Jim Harrison.

You can see the show’s five segments on YouTube (a couple embedded below), and while the first segment is all about the West’s newest icon – the barely viable, largely unsustainable family cattle ranch – the subsequent four segments focus on Harrison, Chatham, fly fishing, and food.

And maybe not even in that order.

Bourdain actually does go fly fishing in segment 3 – and does a more than passable job of it – but the history of Livingston and its eccentric residents is more interesting than the shape of Bourdain’s loop.

High points for the Underground?

Russel Chatham talks about his creative process, and if you ever wanted to hang around in the studio of a great writer or painter, then you’ll want to play the Chatham segment twice.

Bourdain – whose show sometimes descends into a peculiar self-centeredness – is at his best when confronted by people he clearly admires; his willingness to be a part of the scene instead of dominate it makes for interesting video.

I’ve embedded several segments below. Enjoy it, Undergrounders.

Segment #2: Russel Chatham, pasties, and a visit to Dan Bailey’s

Segment #3: More Dan Bailey’s, fly fishing, and Jim Harrison