4 days ago
2nd Annual Appalachian Fly Fishing Festival returns to Thomas
THOMAS, (WBOY) — The second annual Appalachian Fly Fishing Festival was held in Thomas over the weekend, where fly fishing enthusiasts could come and talk to other fishermen, check out gear, look at some crafts, and of course fly fish.
Event organizer Tyler Waldo said that the major reason they have the festival is to pass on fly fishing to the next generation and 'bringing out the community that is fly fishing from fly shops, fly casters, to the conservation agencies that make West Virginia special as it is for the resources that we have.'
How your fishing license helps conservation efforts
Waldo explained that people can get a lot out of fly fishing, such as learning patience and a hobby that you can enjoy throughout your life. 12 News talked to one expert fly fisher, Christa Clasgens, who was at the festival to promote her guide business, about what she gets out of fly fishing.
'It's very therapeutic in that you get down to the motion of things and your focus on the fish,' Clasgens said. 'I almost feel like I have a lot going on and my head constantly and when I go flying fishing it calms everything down. Everything goes quiet and I can just focus on the water and the fish.'
Waldo said that they plan on having the event again next year, and that it'll be May 30 and May 31.
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