Three Days on The Fly

Issue: May 2024

There are those among us who believe that fly fishing in a mountain stream is just about as close to Heaven on earth as you can get. And if you find yourself casting amid the cascading waters of a waterfall during the 3 Rivers Fly Fishing Festival, you’re getting even closer to that heavenly experience.

It’s not just about being in an unbelievably beautiful and serene spot, surrounded by nature, the fresh air, and experiencing the vanishingly rare chance to concentrate on just one thing in the world. It’s also about the fact that your entry fee and dollars spent are contributing to the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund.

The annual 3 Rivers Fly Fishing Festival will take place for the 13th time from May 2- 4. Over the course of the weekend, two-person teams (guided and unguided) will compete for prizes, fishing the 2200 miles of fishing territory withing contest boundaries. They will do so while exploring the designated waterways categorized into wild streams, hatchery-supported and delayed harvest. But the truth is it really doesn’t matter if you and your teammate are actually rubbish at the act of catching fish. For the real aim of the event is to have fun while raising money for the Town of Highlands scholarship fund.

Since 1975, the Town of Highlands has been granting college scholarships to around two dozen graduates of Highlands High School, with awards ranging from $300 to $1500. What sets this scholarship fund apart is its unique criteria: grants are neither need nor achievement based. Students can request assistance at any time post-graduation, regardless of their current stage of higher education—whether pursuing a two-year degree, postgraduate studies, or a trade program.

The fund’s inception was the vision of several Highlanders, including Jack Taylor and Jack Brockaway. The first scholarship recipient, Leigh James, vividly recalls feeling overwhelmed by the opportunity it afforded her—to attend her dream college, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. ‘It was the icing on the cake that completed my financial aid package.”

The 3 Rivers Fly Fishing Festival plays a pivotal role in supporting this fund. All proceeds from entry fees and the silent auction go directly to the scholarship fund. Over the years, the festival has raised over $150,000. Chris Wilkes, the owner of Highlands Hiker and one of the festival sponsors, leads the event alongside co-chairs Bryan Lewis, Pat Gleeson, and Drew Townes. Wilkes shared with me his excitement for this year’s festival, “We’re aiming to raise over $30,000,” he said. The auction features enticing items, including a trout taxidermy table, rods, reels, clothing, and gear, with hopes of doubling the funds raised through entry fees.

For more information or to register visit, 3riverflyfish.com or call Chris Wilkes at The Highland Hiker, (828) 526-5298.