Appalachain Fly Fishing Festival

Appalachian Fly Fishing Festival May 30 - June 1, 2025

About Us

The 2nd Annual Appalachian Fly Fishing Festival, May 30 - June 1, 2025, is a FREE festival set to celebrate the art of fly fishing in the beautiful setting of Thomas, West Virginia located in the heart of the Appalachian highlands for a weekend full of education, activities and community spirit.

Organized by local fly fishermen Robby McClung and Tyler Waldo, the Appalachian Fly Fishing Festival will be gearing up to become the center of attraction for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts and invites you to join us. The event will showcase the community that makes fly fishing a destination here in Appalachia through educational classes and fly fishing demonstrations, all free to the public. We encourage and welcome all ages to be amongst the crowd and take part in the AFFF.

Festival Event Schedule

Meet and Greet - Stay Tuned More To Be Announced

Saturday May 31

10:00 - Open
11am – Terry Cummings of the Chesapeake Chapter of FFI Intro to Casting - on the casting pond
12 pm – Jack Bell and Joe Messenger - Fly Fishing Appalachia under State Council TU Tent
1 pm – Christa Clasgens of Silver Hen Fly Co
Women's Casting - On the casting pond
2 pm – Jimmy Glaspell of Natives – Fishing for Musky under the TU tent
3 pm – Jared Renner w/ Blennerhasset Chapter of TU – Fly tying for Musky under the TU tent
4 pm –Darrell Hensley of Tory Camp Outfitters Situational Casting - on the casting pond
5 pm - David Thorne Cold Water
Fisheries Biologist for DNR - Stream Hydrology and Restoration under the TU Tent.
6:00 – CLOSE FOR DAY
Casting Clinics first and last 15 minutes of every hour All Day when there isn't a Demo.
Fly Tying under the State Council of TU tent All Day. All flies tied will go to Operation Thornwood.
Sunday June 1

10:00 – OPEN
11 am – Terry Cummings of Chesapeake Council of FFI - Casts that Catch Fish - Advanced Technique - on the casting pond
12 pm – Kelly Smalley of Save the Tygart Watershed Association - Little Bugs, Big Impact - Micro-invertebrates under the TU tent
1 pm – Paula Voldeck formerly of the DNR's Becoming and Outdoor Woman - Intro to Fly Fishing on the casting pond
2 pm – Fly Tying Demonstration - Flies to fish with under the TU Tent
2 pm – 3 pm – Fishing Rodeo on the Thomas Lake presented by Mountain Top
Realty and Canaan Valley BBQ
Bring the spirit of fly fishing and your rod to catch some fish And a few prizes.(limited rods available)
3:00 - CLOSE
Casting Clinics first and last 15 minutes of every hour All Day when there isn't a Demo.
Fly Tying under the State Council of TU tent All Day. All flies tied will go to Operation Thornwood.