24th Annual Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival

Includes wine tasting for those 21 and over with valid ID

Includes wine tasting for those 21 and over with valid ID

Includes wine tasting for those 21 and over with valid ID

The Women's Wine & Fly Tying Meet & Greet is the kick off for our Women's Beyond the Cast Symposium held on Thursday eveing January 9th at Meadow Event Park in the PAVILION BUILDING located at 13191 Dawn Boulvard, Doswell VA, from 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM. If you have already registered for the Beyond the Cast Symposium, this is included in your registration. 

Women fly anglers who are not signed up for the Beyond the Cast Symposium can attend this informal event which includes free fly tying with members of the USA Women's Fly Fishing Team, followed by food and wine as well as micro brewery beer. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Women's USA Fly Fishing Team to help with travel costs during their competitions in 2025.  

Wine and food will be made available to all attendees. Only 60 tickets are available for this special meet and greet so don't wait to make your reservations. 

Back by Popular Demand:
Beyond the Cast Women's Fly Fishing Symposium

Our Beyond the Cast Women's Fly Fishing Symposium returns in 2024, with two main aims: (1) to bring the quiet sport of fly fishing to every woman from every walk of life, and (2) to build networks among women so that they may enjoy the outdoors together.

Beyond the Cast offers a variety of beginner to intermediate classes for every outdoors- or outdoors-interested woman. Don't know what you don't know about the outdoors? Beyond the Cast is your comfort zone. Love to fish but never made the leap to fly angling? Check us out. An experienced fly angler looking for like-minded fishing partners? Come network with us. 

Pick up confidence and know-how--or take what you already know to the next level--with expert instructors who are passionate about fly fishing and fellow Symposium members who are as eager as you are to get outside and connect with nature and with one another.

Beyond the Cast kicks off on Thursday , January 9, 2025--the evening before the 2025 Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival--with a specail Women, Wine & Fly Tying mixer at Meadow Event Paviliion from 5:30-7:30 pm. This Symposium Meet & Greet includes food and beverages (including adult libations for those over 21).

For the rest of the weekend, Beyond the Cast is held entirely indoors and runs concurrently with the venerable Virginia Fly & Wine Festival from 9 am - 4 pm on Friday January 10. The Festival will be open for two additional hours until 6:00 PM on Friday so you can enjoy the broader event for the rest of day. Beyond the Cast Symposium goers attend the festival all day Saturday at no additinoal charge.  

The 2025 Beyond the Cast will be moderated by members of the USA Women's Fly Fishing Team and feature angling and outdoor experts from all walks of life.  
Our 2025 Beyond the Cast lineup includes: 
     * History of Women in Fly Fishing- Jen Ripple
     * Understanding Bugs 101- Callie Freeman
     * Prospecting For Trout When Nothing is Happening -Tom Rosenbauer
     * Sling packs, fly boxes, outfits, and more-Ashley Wilmot

     * Symposium "working lunch" panel discussion

    * Rigging Ins and Outs -Julie Mattson

    * Fine Tune Your Fly Casting - USA Women's Fly Fishing Team

    * Wine Tasting 101- Wind Vineyard Staff (Yes Private Wine Tasting!)

Additional courses are still under development and will be announced as we launch them.

Beyond the Cast Women's Fly Fishing Symposium is suitable for both fresh and saltwater anglers and will feature numerous national and regional instructors and special guests throughout the weekend.

Your Symposium fee includes:
     * Thursday evening Symposium Meet & Greet mixer
     * All Symposium events, courses, and materials
     * Virginia Fly & Wine entrance fee
     * A boxed lunch on Friday for our "working lunch"
     * A one-year new membership subscription to Trout Unlimited


We hope to see you Beyond!

PLEASE NOTE:
(1) Because one of our primary goals is to develop a tight-knit community of outdoorswomen, seating for Beyond the Cast is limited to 35 female students, ages 16 and over.
(2) Please consider your participation carefully, because your ticket is nonrefundable.
(3) Finally, please print out your receipt and bring it with you to Beyond the Cast to smooth our check-in process. Thank you!

Sunday Class: The hands-on, intermediate-to-advanced-level Complete NearNuff Fly-Tying School teaches students to expertly tie and fish Dave Whitlock’s incomparable NearNuff Sculpin and NearNuff Crayfish patterns. 

NearNuff Instructor Allen Rupp was a close friend of the late Dave Whitlock for many years. To ensure his legacy and keep his innovations alive, Dave passed his NearNuff skills to Allen over many years. Now Allen is prepared to pass the baton again to the next generation of experienced fly tyers.   

Students will learn how and why Dave Whitlock tied his NearNuff flies and what materials he used. They will delve into the realm of stream-bottom fish and crustaceans, focusing on the main species that these flies imitate: darters, mad toms, sculpins, stone cats, and crayfish. Insights into the characteristics and habitats of these food forms will help students understand when and where the NearNuff Sculpin and NearNuff Crayfish patterns can be most effectively fished. 

This limited-seating course, with space for only 10 students, will be held on SUNDAY, January 12, 2025, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, the day after the Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival weekend, in a classroom at the Fairfield Inn & Suites (11625 Lakeridge Parkway, Ashland, VA 23005). Students may reserve hotel rooms at the special, reduced Virginia Fly & Wine rate if they are staying for the festival.

                                                         SUNDAY, January 12, 2025 Schedule

●        Meet and Greet

●        NearNuff Sculpin Tying Instruction

o   Allen Rupp fly-tying demo

o   Student fly-tying session with step-by-step assistance from Allen Rupp

o   Student independent fly-tying session

 ●        How, Why, and Where to Fish the NearNuff Series

●        Lunch Break

●        NearNuff Crayfish Tying Instruction

o   Allen Rupp fly-tying demo

o   Student fly-tying session with step-by-step assistance from Allen Rupp

o   Student independent fly-tying session

 Students will need to bring their own tying tools: vise, small file or emery board, bobbin, scissors, small flat nose pliers, bodkin, Velcro dubbing brush, and rotating hackle pliers. All other tying materials will be provided.

 Each NearNuff School student will receive:

●        One NearNuff Sculpin and one NearNuff Crayfish personally tied by Allen Rupp to take home as a reference.

●        A bottle of Zap-A-Gap to keep.

●        A one-year membership to Trout Unlimited (students who are already TU memberswill have their memberships extended for one year).

 These perks have a combined retail value of $75.

  Please note: Registration in the Complete Near Nuff Fly-Tying School does not include admission to the festival. 

Join author and nationally recognized fly fishing expert Tom Rosenbauer for this informative class. Knowing where the fish are and aren’t is the key to a successful day on the water. Many anglers see a rising fish and immediately jump to the conclusion that this is where they should place their first cast. Rosenbauer explains why this may not be the case. Students will go over basic dos and don’ts on their approach and be instructed on how to gauge what is going on in a particular body of water before making their first cast. They will learn to understand current movements as well as the effects of structure like rocks, logjams, and even shade on fishing.  Designed for more experienced anglers, new fly anglers will also benefit from this class. All materials for the course will be provided, and no fly casting is involved.

 This class has limited seating, and once purchased, no refunds will be offered. Please print out your receipt and bring it to the festival.

Please print out your receipt and bring it to the festival.

This class does does not include admission.

Class held: 3:00 PM-4:30 PM on Friday & 1:00-2:30 on Saturday. This class is held indoors.

Join author and nationally recognized fly fishing expert Tom Rosenbauer for this new class. If anglers consistently make one mistake, it believes that their favorite fly will work everywhere, and under all conditions. This is simply not the case, and Rosenbauer will explain why. Students will delve into common myths and mistakes and will learn how to assess their hatch strategy correctly. Let Tom teach you all his tricks of the trade so you spend more time fishing and less time wasted digging through your fly box. Designed for more experienced anglers, new fly anglers will also benefit from this class. All materials for the course will be provided, and no fly casting is involved.

This class has limited seating and once purchased, no refunds will be offered. Please print out your receipt and bring it to the festival.

Class held: 10:30 AM-11:50 PM Friday & 11:00-12:30 PM Sunday.  Check for class location once on festival grounds. This class is held indoors.

This class does does not include admission.

New Class !

Perennially popular with fly anglers, smallmouth bass are hard fighting and willing to strike both surface and subsurface patterns. And yet there is so much more to fishing for smallies than just casting a popper and hoping for a bite. In this 90-minute class, Relentless Fly Fishing owner and head guide Jake Villwock, author of the popular Smallmouth Bass Flies Top to Bottom, instructs students on the proper techniques and dos and don’ts of smallmouth bass fishing. Learn what it takes to land one of the country’s most beloved species.  

PLEASE NOTE: 

●      This class has limited seating, and once purchased, no refunds will be offered. Please print out your receipt and bring it to the festival.

●      This class does not include admission.  

Class held: 10:30-11:50 AM Friday.

Class held: 9:30-10:50 AM Saturday.

New Class! Join author and nationally recognized fly fishing expert Josh Miiler for this new class offering. This class will focus on teaching fly anglers how to use Hopper-Dropper Rigs and employing good nymphing techniques to land larger fish. Knowing where the fish are and aren’t is the key to a successful day on the water. Many anglers see a rising fish and immediately jump to the conclusion that this is where they should place their first cast. Miiler explains why this may not be the case, and how using this set up can allow you to fish more water, and more effectively than blind casing dries or streamers. Students will go over basic dos and don’ts on their approach and be instructed on how to gauge what is going on in a particular body of water before making their first cast. They will learn to understand current movements as well as the effects of structure like rocks, logjams, and how these natural occurrences can be best approached from a fishing standpoint. Designed for more experienced anglers, new fly anglers will also benefit from this class. All materials for the course will be provided, and no fly casting is involved. This class has limited seating, and once purchased, no refunds will be offered. Please print out your receipt and bring it to the festival.  

Please print out your receipt and bring it to the festival. 

Class held Friday 1:30-2:55 PM.

Class held Saturday 2:35-4:00 PM.

This class does not include admission. 

New Class! This one-of-a-kind specialty class will be co-taught by two of the best fly tyers in the nation. Both Joe Jackson (Sgt Bass Master) and his close friend Jeff Rowley (Rowley Benchworks) have helped thousands of fly tyers become more efficient tiers.  Both instructors will spend time demonstrating at the vise and will go over the most common mistake tyers make. Most importantly they will teach you how to avoid them, or fix them during the tying process. Various techniques which can be unique to tying with deer hair will  be demonstrated and projected onto a screen where students can easily observe what is being done. 

This class DOES NOT REQUIRE fly tying by the student. Instead, this course will consist of observing how each tyer stacks, shapes and works with deer hair to create just the right bug. Student who take this class should be ready to ask questions, and be involved in back and forth discussions with the instructors.

Each student will receive a “Fly Tyer’s Goodie Bag” from Joe and Jeff's sponsors valued at $30 which the student may keep.

This class has limited seating, and once purchased no refunds will be offered. This class does not include admission.  

This interactive observation class will be offered  Friday 1:30-2:50 and Saturday 11:00-12:20. Should the class fill we will consider waiting lists and you can request to be on that list by e-mail Fishutopia@comcast.net 

NEW CLASS!  Join author and veteran guide Captain Gary Dubiel as he explains the ins and outs of fishing for redfish and speckled trout. These are two of the most sought after saltwater species and they can found in bays, estuaries and even brackish water from Maine to Florida. Sure, you can "blind cast", but wouldn't it be better to know precisely what to look for when you're on the water seeking out these species? Things like current, drop offs, oyster beds, moon phases, sea grasses and wind all play an intricate role in how these fish behave. Captain Dubiel as spent  thousands of days on the bays and estuaries chasing these species from Texas to Maine and in particular he's dialed into what it takes to be successful when fishing both in Virginia and North Carolina.

Let Captain Dubiel tell you how best to approach these two iconic species, as well as the dos and don'ts of what it takes to be successful. Learn his tricks of the trade. as well as how and when you should change your approach. If you're seeking an edge to this year's fishing season, or simply want to consider a different approach to landing more, or lager redfish and speckled trout.... this might be just the class you're looking for.            

This specialty class does not include admission to the festival for the day of the class. Should the class sell out and you wish to be placed on a “wait list” send an e-mail to Fishutopia@comcast.net.

Due to limited seating, no refunds for this class will be offered. This class does not include admission.   

This limited seating class is available Friday 12:00-1:20 and Saturday 9:30-11:50 

New Class! Did you know: All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon? Our unique, two-part course is designed for adults (ages 21 and over) interested in great stories and great spirits. First, Beau Beasley imparts incredible true stories from his latest book Healing Waters: Veterans’ Stories of Recovery in Their Own Words. Participants discover the book’s own origin story and learn about the badasses who served our country valiantly in war and struggled to reintegrate here at home. Next, Jason Hardy of J.H. Bards Spirit Co. introduces participants to distilled spirits and leads a taste test of five Virginia bourbons. 

PLEASE NOTE: 

●      All materials for the course are provided.-Books can be personalized at the Author's Booth or after class.

●      Students must have alcohol ID bracelets to attend.

●      Students will meet at the Jame River Lecture Area.

●      This class has limited seating, and once purchased, no refunds will be offered. Please print out your receipt and bring it to the festival. 

Special Note: At the conclusion of this class, each participant receives a complimenatry autographed copy of Beasley’s latest book Healing Waters (retail value $30), courtesy of J.H. Bards.

This class is held Friday 12:00-1:20 and Saturday 2:00-3:25. 

This class does not include admission to the festival.

New Class! This specialty class is co-taught by fly fishing guide Bubba Holt, and vintner Shannon Horton, owner of Horton Vineyards.  Students who take this class will spend 45 minutes going over the most common and versatile trout flies. Holt has fly fished widely across the U.S. and has fished his home state of West Virginia from an early age. His portion of the class will go over in detail 6 great patterns among them the humble Woolly Bugger. Students will learn why each pattern was created, and techniques on how to effectively fish them and where. 

In the second part of this class Vintner Shannon Horton will go over 5 of her unique wines. Most people simply know what “they like” but probably not why they like it. Spend 45 minutes with this wine expert and come away with a much better understanding of how some wines are created and taste the way they do. Each student will receive a tasting of the 5 wines, and a dozen trout flies (retail value $25) to take home with them at the conclusion of the class.  

All materials for the course will be provided. 

This class has limited seating, and once purchased no refunds will be offered. Please print out your receipt and bring it with you to the festival. Students must have alcohol ID bracelets to attend. This class does not include admission.  

Class held 12:30-1:55  Saturday.

This co-ed class is specifically for beginners with little to no experience in fly fishing. Mark Siginorino is a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor from Erie, PA. Mark teaches different aspects of fly across the state of PA and volunteers with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. He's passionate, but laid back and wants his students to feel comfortable and at ease. His goal is to take them to the next level of their casting abilities no matter where they are currently. Students will learn all the basic mechanics of fly casting. The lecture portion of the class is done in a group; each student will receive individualized instruction. Students should bring their own rods; rods can be provided with advance notice if needed. The class will meet and be held in the Paid Casting Area. All classes will be held inside. 

This class has limited capacity, and once purchased, no refunds will be offered. Please print out your receipt and bring it with you to the festival.

The class will meet and be held in Paid Casting Class Area. All classes will be held inside. Limited to 6. 

Class held: 10:30-12:00  Friday

Class held 9:30-11:00  Saturday.

This class does not include admission.

Back by popular demand!   Are you a saltwater fly angler who creates your own patterns? Still need a few pointers? Then you need Allen Rupp from Fly On The Water. Allen will teach "Advanced Saltwater Fly Tying Techniques" at our 2025 festival. The objective of Rupp's class is to move fly tyers from average to advanced. Students will leave knowing the proper techniques for tailing, collars, dumbbell eyes, stick-on eyes, bead chain, mono eyes, and so much more. Learning how to properly tie your own flies is gratifying; reinforcing them so they are durable and can withstand strike after strike saves money and earns bragging rights. Please note that this is not a beginner fly tying class. This class is designed for intermediate fly tyers who hope to take their skills to the next level. 

Students must bring their own fly-tying vise, scissors, bodkin, bobbin, and mono nippers. All hooks and other materials will be provided.

All attendees will receive a Tuffleye Resin kit and a bottle of Brush-on Zap-a-Gap (retail value $115)

Limited to 12. Class held: 10:30 -11:50 AM Friday Only. Please print out your receipt and bring it to the festival.      

Beginners Fly Tying Class! Tying your own flies is very rewarding—and lots of fun! The question is, Where do you start? What kind of vise do you need? What materials should you use? If you’re looking for answers to questions like these, look no further: We’ve got answers.

Jim Bensinger, Program Lead for Project Healing Waters at Marine Corps Base Quantico and Norvise National Fly Tying Pro-Staffer, will lead our 2024 beginner fly tying class. A demonstration tyer at events across the country, Bensinger has taught fly tying to many hundreds of students and excels at helping fly tyers develop competence at the vise.

This class covers all the basics, including thread selection, tools needed, setting up your vise, and other tying considerations and techniques. Tyers may bring their own vises and tools; however, class sponsor Norvise will provide vises and materials.

The class has limited seating; once purchased, no refunds will be offered. Please print out your receipt and bring it with you to the festival. This class does not include admission to the festival.

Only 10 spots are available. Class held: 3:00-4:30 PM Friday Only.