The Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Festival brings best of both worlds to Plano

North Texas fly anglers and others looking to take up the sport can mark their calendars for March 11 and 12, 2017, when the Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Festival makes its debut in Plano. The two-day event will raise awareness of the region’s incredible fishing diversity, help experienced anglers up their game, and introduce new generations of enthusiasts to this irresistible and surprisingly accessible pastime. It will all be washed down with samples of locally crafted microbrews.

The Texas Fly Fishing and Brew Festival will feature lectures and classes on techniques and tactics for novices and advanced casters, as well as provide information on exotic fishing locales and fishing etiquette. Also offered are free women-only casting classes as well as one-on-one instruction in basic knot-tying skills. Experienced anglers may consider enrolling in more advanced distance-casting or Spey-casting classes with expert specialized instructors.

“Contrary to popular belief, fly fishing is easy, affordable, and fun,” said festival director Beau Beasley. “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.”

The festival is not the first of its kind. The Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival has been encouraging people for 16 years to put down their cell phones, grab minimal gear, go outside and get on the water. But unique to the Texas festival is local micro-brewery beer. A select group of brewmeisters will offer free classes on what sets microbrewed beer apart, why and how certain ingredients yield different flavors, and how to brew and taste different types of beer.

Festival attendees 21 years and older will receive a series of tasting tickets with their paid admission. Beer will also be available for purchase during the festival.

“In Virginia and now in Plano, Texas, we’re set to change the fly fishing paradigm,” said Beasley. “Fishing together is great for families and friends. Think of the effects on local ecology if we raise a generation of Texans who care about the health of what swims because they spend time on local waterways.”