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The Allure of Lures
Issue: March 2024
The Three River Fly Fishing Festival, set for May 2-4, is looking to reel in anglers of all stripes – from new-wadered beginners to seasoned vets with a preternatural Zen chill.
Chief among the many allures of Highlands is its vast network of waterways, spanning 2,200 miles within an hour’s drive.
The Three River Fly Fishing Festival, from May 2 – 4, celebrates the area’s natural bounty and intoxicating clear waters. Given the ease of fishing and abundance of fish here, few places are as ideally suited for such a contest.
Festival Chairman Chris Wilkes and co-chairs Pat Gleeson, Drew Townes, and Bryan Lewis just might be the fishingest people on the Plateau: skilled anglers all with a passion for the sport.
Wilkes is proprietor of the Highland Hiker, a longtime local outfitter and resource for fishermen – the store is one of the festival sponsors. Gleeson, an associate at Christie’s International Real Estate, sponsors the Saturday night wrap-up party, and Lewis’s Highlands Smokehouse throws the Friday party. Other benefactors include Old Edwards Hospitality Group, Kayak Manufacturing, State Farm Insurance, and Coca-Cola.
Over the course of the three-day festival handlers of flies and rods will test their skills and have a chance to win prizes in two categories, guided and unguided.
The festival launches on Thursday night with a cocktail party at The Spring House at Old Edwards where attendees receive an overview of the rules and maps detailing the 2,500 square miles of fishing territory within contest boundaries.
Friday night features a festive gathering at the Highlands Smokehouse where participants share their day’s results. Since “catch and release” is practiced, anglers are equipped with measuring devices to photograph their catch for submission.
Saturday features a free casting clinic from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., led by David and Chris Wilkes and Steve Perry.
The highlight of the festival is the Saturday night wrap-up party at a private Highlands residence, where the prestigious Jack Cabe Cup is awarded to the team with the highest total inches caught.
Now in its 13th year, the festival was the brainchild of Chris Wilkes, David Wilkes, and Steve Perry, and serves as a fundraiser for the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund. Through the years, it’s raised nearly $40,000. The $500 entry fee per team does not include a guide, but arrangements can be made through Highlands Hiker.
For more information or to register call Chris Wilkes at (828) 526-5298 or email him at [email protected] or stop in at any of the Highland Hiker stores (highlandhiker.com).
