Yes! You can enjoy the Trinity on a beautiful spring day fishing the Fort at Flyfest!

On Saturday, March 12, the Trinity River between Bryant Irvin and the Chisolm Trail Parkway will come alive with anglers of all ages as they cast for native species like catfish, crappie, bluegill, and sunfish, as well as some of the 1800 rainbow trout that the TRWD stocks. This unique urban fishing event great (and free!) start to Spring Break!

There’s something for fishers of every level of experience and skill. Expert anglers will give presentations on fly fishing topics ranging from fishing the Trinity to saltwater fly fishing to fishing destinations around Texas. For the do-it-yourself angler, there will be fly tying demonstrations in the Coffee & Caddis Fly Tying Area. For the curious, there are casting classes and demonstrations throughout the day. There are also casting contests for distance and accuracy where you can show off your skills. And open fishing along the river is encouraged throughout the day. (A fishing license is required for anglers over 17 years old.)

Anglers of all skills are invited to sign up for the Orvis Big Trout Contest. This fun and exciting contest is open to all (but pre-registration is required!), with prizes given for most fish caught, longest fish caught, and catching and official “Golden Palomino Trout.” Grab a partner and some flies (only hand-tied flies are permitted) and register now. Or simply grab a spot on the bank of the Trinity on March 12, hang out and enjoy watching the fun and energetic competition!

Not a fisher? No problem! Flyfest is the ultimate family outdoor event with something for everyone.

Kids will enjoy the rock wall, the kids’ fishing area, face painting, and other free activities. There will be live music all day, provided by local favorite, Chattahoochee Music. Chef Stefon Rishel of Wishbone & Flynt, The Amber Room, Parker County Ice House, and the soon-to-open Tremogli will be giving cooking demonstrations. Learn how to make smoked trout dip and ruby trout ceviche – yum!

No outdoor fest is complete without food and drink! Martin House Brewing Company, Panther Island Brewing, HopFusion Ale Works, and other breweries will be on site for tasting and purchasing. If your taste doesn’t run to beer, try some wine from Lost Oak Winery, Cowtown Winery, Rancho Loma Vineyards and more. Acadia Parish Crawfish, Gepetto’s Pizza Truck, and Red’s Bar B Que will be onsite to provide fuel for more fishing or simply a delicious break from the fun.

Of course, the best part of Flyfest is spending time with family and friends outdoors. Walk or bike to Flyfest along Trinity Trails. Bring your dog and a picnic blanket and soak up the sun. Get outside, have fun, and “Fish-the-Fort!”

FLYFEST INFO

When: Saturday, March 12, 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Trinity Trails River Park Trailhead, 3100 Bryant Irvin Road
How Much? Admission is free. Parking at the River Park Trailhead is $5. Registration for the Orvis Big Trout Contest is $40 with pre-registration required. For rules and registration for the Big Trout Contest, go to trwdflyfest.com/activities/orvis-big-trout-contest
Fishing License? A fishing license is required for fishers over 17.
For More Information: Go to trwdflyfest.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TRWDFlyfest
Instagram: @trwdflyfest

The post The Ultimate Family Outdoor Experience Has Something for Everyone first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Wouldn’t you just love to catch rainbow trout on a fly without having to drive for hours or catch a plane somewhere? Believe it or not, you’ve come to the right place. On March 13th Tarrant Regional Water District will host its annual TRWD Flyfest, “a celebration of urban fishing in and along the Clear Fork of the Trinity River in Southwest Fort Worth.”

The family-friendly day of fun and fishing will have something for everyone, from the most experienced angler to the complete fly-fishing neophyte. Throughout the day fly fishing experts will host casting and fly-tying classes and demonstrations. There will be live music, food trucks, wine, craft beer, outdoor sports retail vendors, a climbing wall, a stocked fishing tank for the kids, cooking demonstrations by Reata’s Restaurant’s executive chef, James Gaines, as well as open fishing for fly and bait fishing in designated areas.   Featured Texas wineries who will be onsite for wine tastings will be Lost Oak Winery, Bull Lion Ranch and Vineyard and Pemberton Cellars Winery.

The biggest draw for the event though will be the release of 1,800 pounds of hungry rainbow trout and the ORVIS Big Trout Contest. This is a truly unique experience for anyone who doesn’t live in trout country. To be able to fish for rainbow trout right in our backyard is a special treat for the Fort Worth fisherman, and anglers of all ages will compete to land the biggest and the most fish in the allotted time. Something different this year from years past is that ORVIS Big Trout contestants will need to register online prior to the festival. There will be no onsite registrations.

The festival will be held on March 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and of course health and safety protocols will be in place allowing for social distancing and enhanced sanitation measures. Typically, the festival draws about 2,500 people and according to TRWD Director of Programming, Shanna Cate, they expect similar numbers this year. According to Cate, “We are also making modifications to the event site to spread things out and create social distancing.  For example, Fly Tying will be moved into a large tent and the presentation room will be larger so that attendees can spread out.”

TRWD Flyfest is a part of TRWD’s Fish-the-Fort, “an urban fishing initiative to restore the natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit the Trinity River. The initiative includes enhancing recreational fishing opportunities, re-establishing native species and educating the community on stewardship, environmental quality, and environmental conservation to protect a precious natural resource”.

For more information on TRWD Flyfest, visit www.trwdflyfest.com

The post Fly, Wine, and Dine at TRWD’s Flyfest first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.