After heavy rain flooded the grounds of the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival the day before, Sunday brought a “terrific recovery,” one casting instructor said.Linda Heller pointed out several children practicing newly learned casting techniques in the grass of Waynesboro’s Constitution Park as the most thrilling part of the event.
“I always love to see young people out and wanting to learn,” she said.
It’s a sentiment she shared with fellow instructors and parents at the festival.
Bryan Kelly spoke enthusiastically about fishing with his son, Zachary, 10, who took his first lesson in fly fishing at the festival.
“We started with a worm and bobber when he was five and then progressed to a spinning rod,” he said. “He out-fishes me now all the time. Now we’ll go to the next step this summer and see if he can’t progress into fly fishing.”
Zachary said he especially enjoys fishing with his father.“He helps me along the way,” Zachary said.
Developing enthusiasm for the sport in young people is important, said casting instructor Alex Colonna.
“It’s everything to us to be able to pass on the sport to the next generation,” he said. “Without them there’s no guarantee that the things we enjoy today will be here tomorrow.”
Colonna recalled learning to fish as a child.
“I fished any way and every way I could until I was 13 and was able to buy my first fly rod from a local hardware store,” he said. “It’s implanted so many wonderful memories.”
Now the sport represents an opportunity for Colonna to bond with his children.
“The most wonderful thing is hearing, ‘Daddy can I tie flies with you?’ or ‘Daddy let’s go fishing,’ ” he said. “You just can’t say no.”
Fellow instructor Gary Dubiel said he’s enjoyed similar experiences with his young stepdaughter.
“Getting to watch a 5-year-old jump around a boat all excited is an amazing thing,” he said. “That was a couple weeks ago and I’m still hearing about it.”
In addition to a love of fly fishing, Dubiel said he hopes to instill an appreciation for the environment in the children he teaches.
“It’s more than just fishing,” he said. “Outdoors, a child’s learning about different types of insects, the fish in the water and trees. He gets to see the birds. He’s constantly learning many, many things.”
Dubiel said he believes the sport will also encourage the next generation toward continued conservation efforts.
“The more participants we have outdoors, the more interest and money that’s invested,” he said. “The more that’s invested, the clearer the water stays and the more fish are stocked. It influences how the outdoors is viewed.”
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