COVID-19 had a silver lining as it caused folks to trade indoor screen time to the great outdoors. Numbers in most disciplines-fishing, hunting, boating, biking, camping, kayaking, and the like-are off the chain. Swollen participation numbers in consumptive sports help fund Pittman-Robertson and Sportfish Restoration, and that means agencies have more money for education programs, stocking and habitat initiatives and clean water programs.
When it comes to fishing and hunting, we’re all one big fraternity, and that’s where COVID-19’s impact was negative; fraternity parties, the kind that come from fishing and hunting trade and consumer shows, were shuttered. A few shooting sports went on late in 2020, but virtually all of the fishing shows were scrapped, and all of the fly-fishing shows were put on hold.
A variety of paid and free casting classes were offered to festival attendees.
But phoenix’ do rise from the ashes, and that’s what made Beau Beasley’s 4th Annual Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Festival such a smash hit. Not only was Beasley’s show the first fly fishing industry to resume from the COVID backwash, but his did so in style. Beasley created a mixed-use event, with both indoor and outdoor activities. Mandatory safety precautions did not detract from his event. Sure there were wider aisles and limited attendance to meet state recommended levels. Classrooms were jumbo sized and required the wearing of masks and social distancing. Other sanitizing activities were arranged throughout the show space, and they all worked seamlessly together to give fly-rodders the one thing they craved: Hope.
Guide Karlie Roland spoke several times, and is seen here giving a casting demo.
The Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Festival brought together like-minded people for a two-day event at the end of February 2021. The event was the first since 2019 to showcase new product from over 60 manufacturers including major rod brands like Thomas & Thomas and Mystic Outdoors. Clothing companies like Kermode Outdoors and Dagon Apparel we also on hand as were multiple lodges and outfitters from Alaska, Canada, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Bolivia. Various non-profits like Fly Fishers International, Casting for Recovery, Altar Fly Fishing as well as Back Country Hunters & Anglers also participated. Programing was fun and festive. The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing helped sponsor pro guide Karlie Roland who offered a women’s focused seminar, Chris Johnson from the Living Waters Fly Shop talked about angling specific to Texas, while Executive Chef Jon Bonnell of the Bonnell Restaurant Group demonstrated cooking a favorite Texas fish, the redfish. Dallas-based Mariner-Sails offered one-on-one kayak fishing demos, and when it was all over, Master Brewer Peter Boettcher offered a DIY home brewing program.
This year’s Bourbon & Bass Bug Class was sponsored by Treaty Oak Distilling.
Beer goes well with fly fishing, so much so that a hatch of microbrews from Four Corners, Hop & Sting Brewing Company, SweetWater Brewery, and Tupps Brewery were on hand to “field test” their products. Beasley over-delivered by welcoming his first distillery, Treaty Oak Distilling. Jamie Biel, the Director of Science and Sustainability conducted a creative seminar called ‘Bourbon and Bass Bugs,’ which was the perfect way to learn about brown liquor while catching largemouths on the fly.
Les Gray from Southeast Productions orchestrates over a dozen consumer outdoor shows per year. After watching the cancellation of show after show, he’s happy to see a show like the Texas Fly Fishing and Brew Fest open for business. “In our industry for any event to have taken place the past 12 months has been a logistical feat that very few promotion companies have had the resources to tackle,” he said. “To have an event and be successful for the exhibitors while all the while keeping it safe for everyone… is and was a great accomplishment. Beau and his staff did a great job for his vendors and as the fly fishing enthusiasts showed… they were ready to support.”
Various lodges and guides both foreign and domestic were at this
year’s festival.
The show must go on, and the show did go on, but not without hitting a few speed bumps. According to Festival Director Beau Beasley, “We pushed forward against some pretty rough opposition from nay sayers, but in the end I think we helped restore a sense of normalcy thanks to the City of Mesquite’s Convention and Visitors Bureau and all those hearty Texans who showed up. The fly-fishing industry thrives on strong personal relationships, and it is those relationships that saved the festival. I knew my sponsors and vendors were counting on me, and I wasn’t about to let them down.”
Now that the show is over, we’re all ready to fish. Spring is here, hatches are coming off, and saltwater fish are moving around. Maybe in 2021 we’ll have a little more normal year ahead. And if we don’t, we’ll look forward to Beasley’s next show. After all, we’re a fraternity, one that likes talking about fly-fishing with like-minded people over a beer. For more information on next year’s festivals, you can check out www.vaflyfishingfestival.org or www.txflyfishingfestival.org.
Tom Keer
Upland Editor (yes, he fishes too)
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