The Virginia Fly Fishing Festival is the largest event of its kind in the country and attracts fly anglers from across the United States and the Mid-Atlantic in particular. Nowhere else can anglers learn about the quiet sport in such a beginner-friendly environment. Our unique event combines fine wine tasting, microbrewery beer, and everything you ever wanted to know about fly fishing but were afraid to ask.

Bring your family, relax, take a casting class, and pick up a new sport that the entire family can enjoy. Several new classes for beginners for both adults and children have been added. We've also added a bourbon tasting class for adults.

The festival - the largest event of its kind in the country, drawing fly anglers from as far away as New York and Georgia - appeals to anglers of all ages and stages.

Festival attendees listen to lectures from various experts and practice hands-on skills at the two-day, family-friendly event. Several wineries from throughout the Old Dominion provide free wine tastings for those 21 and older.

Schedule of Events

January 13, 2023

Beyond the Cast Women's Fly Fishing Symposium
9-9:15am: Stephanie Vatalaro Sign In and Welcome
9:15-10:15am: Charity Rutter Mountain Trout Tactics
10:30-11:50am: Kim Ranalla All About Wading
12-12:50pm: Wilmot/Dunlap/Lewis Industry Leader Panel Discussion / Lunch
1-1:50pm: Braziel/Nevel Interacting with Wildlife
2-2:50pm: Ashley Wilmot Packs and Gear Selection

Rapidan River Lecture Area (Pre-paid, women only)
3-3:50pm: Luong Tam From Zero to Hero with Tenkara
4-4:50pm: Julie Mattson What is Competitive Fly Fishing

Specialty Instruction Lecture Area
9:30-10:50am: Jim Bensinger Beginner Fly Tying [FEE]
11-12:30am: Captain Gary Dubiel Advanced Tactics for Reds and Speckled Trout [FEE]
1-2:30pm: George Daniel Fishing Streamers Effectively [FEE]
3-4:30pm: Tom Rosenbauer Reading the Water [FEE]

James River Lecture Area
9:30-11:20am: Landon Mayer Trophy Trout Tactics for All Seasons [FEE]
12-12:50pm: Beau Beasley Who Owns the River: What Is and Isn't Public Water
1-1:50pm: Jamie Aponte All About Peacock Bass
2-2:50pm: Matt Miles Fly Fishing for Smallies in Virginia
3-3:50pm: Ian & Charity Rutter Trout Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
4-4:50pm: Alex Wise Taking on Virginia's Smith River Browns

Shenandoah River Lecture Area

9:30-10:50am: Tom Rosenbauer Hatch Strategies: More Than Just Choosing a Fly [FEE]
11-11:50am: Kirk Deeter 25 Tips to Make You a Better Fly Angler
12-12:50pm: Shannon Young The History of Fly Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains
1-1:50pm: Tom Rosenbauer Taking Your Trout Fishing to the Next Level
2-2:50pm: Captain Gary Dubiel Fly Fishing in Poland
3-3:50pm: Chris Thompson Fishing for Albies off the North Carolina Coast
4-4:50pm: Tim Urtiaga Landing Pike on the Fly

New River Lecture Area
10-10:50am: George Daniel Introduction to Euro-Nymphing
11-11:50am: Colby Trow Fly Fishing the Shenandoah Valley
12-12:50pm: Mike Heck Learning to Fish Spring Creeks the Easy Way
1-1:50pm: Wayne McGee Discovering Alaska's Fabled Alagnak River
2-2:50pm: Landon Mayer Year-Round Tips for Catching Quality Trout on the Fly
3-3:50pm: Cilla Johnson All About Fishing from a Kayak
4-4:50pm: Austin Conrad All About Musky on the Fly

Author's Booth
11-11:50am: George Daniel
12-12:50pm: Kirk Deeter
1-1:50pm: Beau Beasley
2-2:50pm: Tom Rosenbauer
3-3:50pm: Landon Mayer

Paid Casting Classes [Paid Casting Classes Area B]
9:30-11am: Mark Signorino Beginner Casting Instruction
11:15-12:45pm: Ian & Charity Rutter Casting for Accuracy: Brook Trout to Bonefish
1-2:30pm: Julie Mattson Beginner Casting Instruction
4-5:30pm: Landon Mayer Intermediate to Advanced Casting Instruction

Free Casting Classes Area A
10:30-11:30am: FFI Instructors Co-Ed Casting Class (Meets at FFI-Chesapeake Council booth before moving to Casting Area A)
12-1:30pm: Casting Competition
3-4pm: Star Nolan Women-Only Casting Class (meets at Casting Carolinas booth before moving to Casting Area A)

Casting Pond 1
9:30-10am: Captain Gary Dubiel Casting Demo
1:30-2pm: Luong Tam Tenkara Demo
3:30-4:15pm: George Daniel Casting Demo

Casting Pond 2
10-10:30am: Ian Rutter Casting Demo
1:15-1:45pm: Landon Mayer Mastering the Short Game
3-3:30pm: Rachel Bernard Casting Demo

Featured Fly Tyers
9:30-10:25am: Troy Basso Basso's Cicada
10:30-11:25am: Allen Rupp Whitlock's Near Nuff Crayfish
11:30-12:25pm: Landon Mayer Tying Guide Flies
12:30-1:25pm: George Sabol The Comet
1:30-2:35pm: Bob Linquist Briny Muddler
2:30-3:25pm: Howie Fischer Micro Streamers
3:30-4:25pm: Gary Dubiel Lil'haden
4:30-5:25pm: Steve Maldonado Jungle Junkie

January 14, 2024

Beyond the Cast Women's Fly Fishing Symposium
9-9:50am: Tom Rosenbauer Ask an Expert Anything
10-10:50am: Cilla Johnson All About Fishing from a Kayak
11-11:50am: Julie Mattson Basic Flies and Rigging Up
12:00pm: Ashley Wilmot Survey and Follow-Up Support

Specialty Instruction Lecture Area (Pre-paid, women only)
8-8:45pm: Howie Fischer Chapel Services (vendors/instructors only)
9:30-10:50pm: Captain Gary Dubiel Advanced Tactics for Reds and Speckled Trout [FEE]
11-12:30pm: Tom Rosenbauer Hatch Strategies: More Than Just Choosing a Fly [FEE]
1-2:30pm: George Daniel Fishing Streamers Effectively [FEE]
2:35-4:30pm: Allen Rupp Advanced Saltwater Fly Tying Techniques [FEE]

James River Lecture Area
9:30-11:20am: Landon Mayer Trophy Trout Tactics for All Seasons [FEE]
12-12:50pm: Simon Valencia Stripers, Shad, and More on Virginia's James River
1-1:50pm: Matt Miles Fly Fishing for Smallies in Virginia
2-2:50pm: Tom Rosenbauer Taking Your Trout Fishing to the Next Level

Shenandoah River Lecture Area
10-10:50am: George Daniel Introduction to Euro-Nymphing
11-11:50am: Jamie Aponte All About Peacock Bass
12-12:50pm: Austin Conrad All About Musky on the Fly
1-1:50pm: Colby Trow Fly Fishing the Shenandoah Valley
2-2:50pm: Ian & Charity Rutter Trout Fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

New River Lecture Area
10-10:50am: Tim Urtiaga Landing Pike on the Fly
11-11:50am: Alex Wise Taking on Virginia's Smith River Browns
12-12:50pm: Shannon Young The History of Fly Fishing in the Smoky Mountains
1-1:50pm: Chris Thompson Fishing for Albies off the North Carolina Coast
2-2:50pm: Landon Mayer Year-Round Tips for Catching Quality Trout on the Fly

Author's Booth
10-10:30am: Tom Rosenbauer
11-11:50am: George Daniel
12-12:50pm: Kirk Deeter
1-1:50pm: Beau Beasley
3-3:30pm: Landon Mayer

Paid Casting Classes [FEE; Casting Area B]
9:30-11am: Mark Signorino Beginner Casting Instruction
11:15-12:45pm: Ian & Charity Rutter Casting for Accuracy: Brook Trout to Bonefish
1-2:30pm: Julie Mattson Beginner Casting Instruction

Free Casting Classes Area A
10-11:30am: FFI Instructors Co-Ed Casting Class meets at FFI-Chesapeake Council booth before moving to Casting Area A
12-1:30pm: Casting Competition Finals
3-4pm: Star Nolan Women-Only Casting Class meets at Casting Carolinas booth before moving to Casting Area A

Casting Pond 1
9:30-10:15am: Captain Gary Dubiel Casting Demo
1:15-1:45pm: Landon Mayer Mastering the Short Game
2:30-3:15pm: Ian & Charity Rutter Casting Demo

Casting Pond 2
11:15-12:00pm: Rachel Bernard Casting Demo
3-3:30pm: Luong Tam Tenkara Casting Demo

Featured Fly Tyers
9:30-10:25am: Steve Maldonado Jungle Junkie
10:30-11:25am: Bob Lindquist Briny Muddler
11:30am-12:25pm: Landon Mayer Guide Flies
12:30-1:25pm: Allen Rupp Whitlock's Near Nuff Sculpin
1:30-2:25pm: George SabolThe Comet
2:30-3:25pm: Troy Basso Basso's Cicada

Date: January 13-14, 2024

Location:
Meadows Event Park,
13191 Dawn Blvd,
Doswell, VA 23047.

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