Always wanted to learn how to fly fish—or finally nail your cast? This free riverside festival is your excuse to spend the day on the water with your crew, your kids, or your favorite 5-weight.
On Saturday, August 24, Asheville’s riverfront will become ground zero for a fly fishing revival. Whether you’re an experienced angler or just curious about what makes the French Broad such a beloved trout water, RISE: A Fly Fishing Festival invites you to spend the day outdoors with local guides, conservationists, outfitters, and plenty of new friends.
Hosted by Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins and creative studio Uproar Concept, this free, one-day event combines the heart of a community comeback with the energy of a laid-back river gathering. The festival arrives just weeks before the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, a tropical storm that hit in September 2024 and severely impacted river access and shut down much of Western North Carolina’s guide season…