Beau Beasley was working as a firefighter and paramedic when he discovered fly fishing.
“It was my therapy,” Beasley said. “Fly fishing helped me relax and get out of my head. From a mental health perspective, it saved my life.”
Wanting to help others find the same thrill in the sport, Beasley launched the Texas Fly Fishing and Brew Festival, an outgrowth of a similar festival he started in Virginia, where he lives.
The 4th annual Texas festival will open this weekend at the Mesquite Convention Center with classes, beer and bourbon tastings and vendors.
Classes cover a variety of topics, including beginners’ fly fishing, fishing Texas’ Guadalupe River, catching trout, cooking fish and brewing bourbon. The festival also will offer women-only specialty classes.
Families and beginners are encouraged to attend, Beasley said.
“If you don’t know anything about fly fishing, come on out,” he said. “We want to share our passion for this great sport and introduce it to the next generation.”
Texas Fly Fishing and Brew Festival is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Mesquite Convention Center, 1700 Rodeo Drive.
Tickets cost $20 per day or $30 for the entire weekend, with some classes requiring additional fees. Children 16 and under get in free. Social distancing guidelines and mask wearing will be followed.
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