From friendly farm ponds to hidden mountain streams to big saltwater, from largemouth bass to native brook trout to stripers, Virginia is for anglers. But like so many great American pastimes, fishing has fallen on hard times. For generations, children spent their summers with a fishing pole in one hand and a tackle box in the other; today, too many of them—and us—are glued to smartphones and social media.
Ready to change all that?
On January 10 and 11, 2025, the 24th Annual Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival will draw attendees from throughout the Commonwealth and Mid-Atlantic as well as from Ohio, Georgia, South Carolina, New York, and even Vermont. Held at the Meadow Event Park, just 15 miles north of Richmond on the site of the state fairgrounds, the Virginia Fly & Wine is the first event of its kind to combine fly fishing and wine tasting. Fly fishing manufacturers, lodges, guides, artists, fly tyers, wineries, distilleries, and specialty food companies are among the more than 90 vendors who hail from all over the country.
All Skill Levels Welcome
The Virginia Fly & Wine is for novices and experienced anglers alike. “Today, many people have never fished before,” says festival director Beau Beasley, author of Healing Waters: Veterans’ Stories of Recovery in Their Own Words. “They’ve certainly never considered picking up a fly rod. We work hard to demystify the quiet sport of fly fishing. Many novices are too intimidated by their conception of fly fishing and fly tying to even give them a try. I can relate: I felt exactly the same way before someone took the time to introduce me to the sport. At the Virginia Fly & Wine, we have scoured the country to bring together the experts—the welcoming, approachable experts—who make fly fishing simple and rewarding for anglers of every level.”
One such angling whiz is Julie Mattson, member of the USA Women’s Fly Fishing Team and owner of Oklahoma-based On the Rivers Fly Fishing Company. “Fly fishing is like everything else,” insists Mattson, who is passionate about bringing others into the sport. “Once you learn some basic skills, it’s not hard at all.”
Get Tips from the Experts
Mattson is one of several acclaimed instructors heading up the 2025 Beyond the Cast Women’s Fly Fishing Symposium, the Virginia Fly & Wine’s popular show-within-a-show taught by and for women and sponsored by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing program. In 2025, for the first time, Beyond the Cast will be held in its own building (Meadow Pavilion) on festival grounds. Beyond the Cast will kick off with a women’s wine-and-fly-tying mixer on Thursday night, January 9, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Symposium programming continues on Friday, January 10, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and covers numerous topics of interest to outdoor women of any angling skill level.
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced angler hoping to level up, the Virginia Fly & Wine has something for everyone. Fly fishing legend, Tom Rosenbauer, will teach classes on reading the water and matching the hatch. Josh Miller, Jake Villwock, Captain Gary Dubiel, Beau Beasley, and many more will teach specialty classes on everything from fly tying to casting to fishing for red drum in saltwater. New in 2025 are classes that combine fly fishing topics with wine and bourbon tasting. In all, more than two dozen instructors will teach more than 50 classes, most of which are included with festival admission.
Fish and Sip!
For those who merely love someone else who fishes, ten of the Commonwealth’s best wineries will be at the 2025 Virginia Fly & Wine, along with Goochland-based Midnight Brewing and three Virginia distilleries. Best of all, wine tasting is included in festival admission (for patrons 21 years and older). Landlubbers will also enjoy checking out specialty food vendors, artists, and jewelers.
Festival attendees can also enter a drawing to win a week’s fishing with Nomadic Waters on the Amazon River for peacock bass. This trip of a lifetime includes all meals, professional guiding, and accommodation. Other Virginia Fly & Wine sponsors include the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, Shenk Capital Management, Harman’s North Fork Cottages, Midnight Brewing, Norvise, TrailHead Creative, and Trout Unlimited.
To see this year’s promo video click here.
To learn more about the 2025 Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival click here.
