Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival Dates Set

Accommodating beginning and advanced anglers with an impressive lineup of speakers and exhibitors, The Southeastern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers has announced its 2013 Fly Fishing Festival, set to be held May 17-18 in Jackson County, North Carolina.

Read more in the press release below.

Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival Comes to Jackson Co., May 17-18

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Southeastern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers has selected Jackson County to host its 2013 Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival.

The two-day event, May 17-18, takes place in the Ramsey Center arena at Western Carolina University. The Ramsey Center is centrally located in Jackson County, a popular destination for fly fishing enthusiasts and home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail.

The festival is designed to attract both experienced and beginning anglers. There’s an extensive lineup of guest speakers, fly-tying experts and industry exhibitors, as well as a strong educational component for novices who wish to learn more about the sport.

“If you’ve ever been to fly fishing shows, they’re more commercialized and do not have nearly as much instruction,” says Marvin Cash, president of the FFF’s Southeastern Council. “Conserving resources and teaching people to fish is really what we’re all about.”

Headlining presenters at the festival include: expert guides Ian and Charity Rutter from Townsend, Tenn.; Bryson City native Jim Casada, a noted author and outdoorsman;
and two-handed fly rod guru Al Buhr of Welches, Ore.

There’s also a Friday barbecue dinner, in conjunction with Trout Unlimited, to support brook trout restoration in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The evening includes a screening of this year’s Fly Fishing Film Tour, a contest for short films about fly fishing.

Opportunities to fish the WNC Fly Fishing Trail will be available all weekend long.

“We intentionally scheduled the show on a Friday and Saturday to let people have the opportunity to fish on Sunday. That’s a big draw, particularly for fishing clubs,” Cash says. “The great thing about being in Jackson County at that time of year is the fishing will be good.”

The festival moves to Cullowhee this year after taking place in Helen, Ga., last year.

Festival hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Daily admission price is $5 for individuals and $10 for families. Admission price includes free presentations and programs, along with the opportunity to sign up for paid instruction in casting and fly-tying.

Complete details and registration info are available online at: SoutheastFFF.org

Lodging info is available at: MountainLovers.com, or by calling (800) 962-1911.