Official 2011 Virginia Fly Fishing Festival poster and tee shirt designed by artist Maurice Mahler.
Did you know the largest fly fishing festival in the United States takes place right here in Virginia? Held in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the 11th Annual Virginia Fly Fishing Festival (VFFF) will be this weekend, April 16-17, on the banks of the South River in Waynesboro. The peaceful setting located in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains attracts anglers from across the nation.
This year’s festival will feature Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, an avid fly fishersman, as the keynote speaker at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival Foundation Dinner that will recognize the “Virginia Fly Angler of the Year.” Held on Saturday night at the Waynesboro Country Club, the dinner will highlight progress toward conservation goals on the South River and promote fishing in Virginia while raising funds to help turn the South River into a healthy, thriving cold water trout stream.
With events scheduled Saturday and Sunday in tents with names like the South River Tent, Shenandoah River Tent, James River Tent, and Mossy Creek Tent, as well as along the banks of the river, festival goers from beginners to experts can learn how to make flies, rig a kayak, watch casting demonstrations, and learn the best fishing in a variety of locations from Idaho to Argentina to the Chesapeake Bay to Alaska.
In a cooperative effort with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Shenandoah Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and private land owners, VFFF’s goal is to open four miles of the river for public fishing. At the same time, they hope to introduce the sport of fly fishing to more people while stressing the importance of a healthy river. An eventual goal is to turn the South River into Virginia’s first trophy brook trout stream.
In addition to the fly fishing clinics, the festival will offer a variety of vendors, wine tasting from some of Virginia’s finest wineries, and live music as well as some good fishing. There will also be raffle tickets available for the chance to win a fly fishing trip to Alaska.
For information about festival activities throughout the weekend and tickets to attend the dinner, visit Virginia Fly Fishing Festival.
