Lead photo by Cece Liekar
The 4th Annual Texas fly-fishing & Brew Festival took place on February 27-28 in Mesquite. The global pandemic derailed the 2020 event just eight days before it opened, so organizers were eager to get the festival back on track as quickly as possible in 2021. As a result the Texas Fly & Brew was the first in-person fly-fishing event to take place in the country since the outbreak.
“The response was astounding,” said Texas Fly & Brew Director Beau Beasley. “We were confident that folks were eager to get out of their houses and talk fly-fishing—and boy, were they ever. Anglers of all stripes were standing in line before the doors opened; some had traveled from as far away as Kentucky to take part in our festival. Every single space in every one of our paid beginner fly-fishing classes was sold out. Vendors from all over the country—lodges, guides, clothing manufacturers, fly shops—did a brisk business.”
Among many bright spots, says Beasley, was enthusiastic participation by those brand-new to the sport. “We were flooded with female attendees, both novices and experienced anglers. Karlie Roland taught our first women-only paid class—and it was completely sold out. Pat Dorsey, Landon Mayer, and Chris Johnson also taught paid specialty classes for us; nearly all of them were sold out, too. It was an unprecedented response.”
Unique to the Texas Fly & Brew is a focus on microbrewery beer. With their paid admission, festival attendees 21 years and older receive tasting tickets to sample a variety of locally handcrafted brews; the 2021 festival included a local distillery as well. From bourbon tasting to a gourmet redfish cooking class to how to fish for everything that swims, attendees were invited to experience fly-fishing and outdoor living on their own terms.
“The prevailing comment I heard from people was, ‘It is so nice to see everyone in person again!’” says Chris Johnson, owner of Living Waters fly-fishing. “I truly believe that digital marketing and remote education has its place, but they are no replacement for in-person contact. It was wonderful to see the excitement on everyone’s face who walked into the event, some of whom were seeing their fly-fishing friends for the first time in almost a year!”
Jerry Hamon, owner of River Crossing fly-fishing School & Guide Service, which serves the Brazos River, agrees. “The buzz at the festival was almost palpable. I mean, you could see it in people’s faces. Texans love fly-fishing and microbrewery beer, so an event like this is custom-made for our state. We’re sociable people, and we need to keep connected as a community.”
Lodges and outfitters from Alaska, Canada, Bolivia, and Belize were in attendance, as were rod manufacturers like Colorado-based Mystic Outdoors and Massachusetts-based Thomas & Thomas. Dallas-based Mariner-Sails, a mainstay of the Texas Fly & Brew since the festival’s inception, had an extensive line of kayaks on display. Both Tailwaters fly-fishing Company, perhaps the best-known fly shop in Texas, and Grapevine fly-fishing, the state’s newest fly shop, were on hand. Also participating were clothing manufacturers Dagon Apparel and Kermode Outdoors. Rounding out the local Texas brands were Mudfish Adventures, Private Water Fishing, The Fly Hair Company, and Whiskey Morning Coffee.
“I’m the lucky one who gets to receive accolades from all over the country for going forward with the 2021 Texas Fly & Brew,” says Beasley, “but the truth is that the real thanks goes to our sponsors, vendors, speakers, and attendees. It sounds trite, but it’s truer than ever: There’s no festival without them. We particularly want to extend heartfelt thanks to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, Norvise, Fly Tyer, Texas Lifestyle Magazine, and The City of Mesquite. They all went above and beyond to support the 2021 Texas Fly & Brew. And we’re already looking forward to next year.”
To watch a video recap of the 2021 Texas Fly & Brew, click here.
