Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Festival

On March 11-12, 2017, the first annual Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Festival (TFFF) comes to the Plano Centre.

The director of the Texas Fly & Brew’s sister event, the venerable Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival, said today that he hopes to simultaneously raise awareness among Texans of the region’s incredible fishing diversity and introduce them to amazing fishing alternatives available to them across the country.

“If even one parent leaves our event understanding for the first time that he or she can haul the kids down to a Texas farm pond after work and have a blast just landing largemouth bass until dusk, I call that a win,” said festival director Beau Beasley. “At the same time, the region and the country offer opportunities to land every imaginable species–from reds on the Gulf Coast to trout in Tennessee’s South Holston River to every variety of salmon in Alaska. Contrary to popular belief, fly fishing is easy, affordable, family friendly, and fun. It’s my mission in life to communicate that message as widely as possible. It’s the mission of these events to grow the next generation of fly anglers.”

Dallas-based fly rod manufacturer Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) are early sponsors of the festival. “The region has been waiting for an event just like this one–for a new approach to fly fishing,” said TFO owner Rick Pope.

“Texas is an important state to the fishing community and we’re pleased to support the TFFF,” said Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) President and CEO Frank Peterson. “We need to encourage the next generation of anglers and boaters – a key source for wildlife conservation efforts – to get out on the water, and this festival is a great vehicle for doing just that.”

Much like its sister event, the Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival, RBFF will be sponsoring the “Family Fly Fishing Classes” where Entire families can learn the basics of fly fishing free of charge, in a family setting.

In addition to the 3FC series, the Texas Fly & Brew will feature lectures and classes throughout the weekend on techniques and tactics for novices and advanced casters alike, exotic fishing locales, fishing etiquette, and much more. Also offered are free Women-Only Casting Classes as well as one-on-one instruction in basic knot-tying skills. Attendees can sit down at the vise for hands-on fly-tying instruction from members of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a nonprofit organization that helps rehabilitate wounded veterans through fly fishing and fly tying. Experienced anglers may consider enrolling in more advanced distance-casting or Spey-casting classes with expert specialized instructors. Fly fishing icon Lefty Kreh will speak as well as cast at the event; the names of additional fly fishing luminaries will be forthcoming.

Unique to the Texas festival is local micro-breweries. Festival attendees 21 years and older will receive a series of tasting tickets with their paid admission. Local brewers will offer free classes on what sets micro brewed beer apart, why and how certain ingredients yield different flavors, and how to brew and taste different types of beer. Beer will also be available for purchase during the festival.

“I know I’m a broken record,” Beasley joked, “but it’s really true: fly fishing is easy, affordable, family friendly, and fun. I’m an evangelist with that message. Put down the cell phones, grab the kids and minimal gear, go outside, and get on the water. It’s really that easy. For far too long folks have perceived fly fishing as expensive, exclusive, and difficult. It’s the sport for rich, tweed-wearing old men, right? Well, sure–but it’s not only for them. It’s for women. It’s for families. It’s for everyone.

 

The inaugural Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Festival will be held at the Plano Center on March 11-12, 2017. For more information, visit www.txflyfishingfestival.org or call 703-402-8338.