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Join an evening of stories, practical tips, and local food during the Women in Fly Fishing Celebration Symposium at Deerwoode Reserve. Meet speakers Brita Fordice, Wanda Taylor, and Yolanda Edwards, connect with guides and conservation groups, and make plans for morning river sessions in the Blue Ridge foothills.
Join an evening of stories, practical tips, and local food during the Women in Fly Fishing Celebration Symposium at Deerwoode Reserve. Meet speakers Brita Fordice, Wanda Taylor, and Yolanda Edwards, connect with guides and conservation groups, and make plans for morning river sessions in the Blue Ridge foothills.
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Operated by Headwaters Outfitters · Brevard, North Carolina
On a cool March evening at Deerwoode Reserve in Brevard, North Carolina, the Women in Fly Fishing Celebration Symposium gathers anglers, conservationists, and storytellers at the heart of the Forks of the River Fly Fishing & Music Festival. This two-hour dinner and discussion brings together three respected voices—Brita Fordice, Wanda Taylor, and Yolanda Edwards—to share practical tips, personal journeys, and visions for greater inclusion in angling. Brevard sits in the Blue Ridge foothills, a short drive from trout-rich freestone streams and the hardwood forests of Pisgah National Forest. Deerwoode Reserve’s event space opens onto wooded slopes, giving the symposium a calm, outdoorsy presence even while seated indoors. The program is simple and focused: doors open at 5:30 p.m., a locally sourced buffet dinner begins at 6:00, speakers take the stage from 6:15 to 7:15, and a round-table discussion follows. Attendees can extend the night with a bonfire afterward—an informal opportunity to trade knot tips, gear recommendations, and fishing spots with new friends. What makes this symposium special is its blend of storytelling and practical connection. The speakers represent different approaches to fly fishing, from conservation leadership to community-building and on-stream coaching. The buffet emphasizes local producers, reflecting the region’s farm-to-table culture and tying the evening to Brevard’s outdoors economy. Beer and wine are available for purchase, and the event explicitly welcomes anglers of all backgrounds and experience levels. For travelers, the symposium is more than a single program. It’s a launch point into a weekend of small-scale festivals, bluegrass and folk music, and short morning wade sessions on nearby rivers. The meeting point is 395 Riversedge Road, Brevard, NC 28712; the event’s timing makes it easy to combine with an afternoon hike in Pisgah or a sunrise session with a local guide. Practical notes: no fly-fishing experience is required, and the evening is family-friendly. Accessibility is marked as available. Parking, local lodging, and gear shops are a short drive from the reserve, making Brevard an efficient base. Whether you want to learn new casting techniques, find a mentor, or simply be part of a growing community of women anglers, this symposium offers an approachable, conversation-driven way in. It’s a reminder that fly fishing here is as much about the people on the riverbank as it is about the fish beneath the surface. Scheduled for Friday, March 6 as part of the Fifth Annual Forks of the River Fly Fishing & Music Festival, the symposium also doubles as a practical networking hub: vendors, local guides and conservation groups set up nearby, making evening ideal to book river trips, find a guide, or learn about volunteer habitat projects. Expect a mix of beginner questions, advanced tactics, and local trail and stream recommendations.
easy.
2 hours.
No special fitness required beyond the ability to sit and stand during an evening event; accessible entry is noted.
No experience is required; the symposium welcomes beginners and experienced anglers alike.
Yes—the event includes a locally sourced buffet dinner; beer and wine are available for purchase.
The meeting point is 395 Riversedge Road, Brevard, NC 28712 at Deerwoode Reserve.
Accessibility is listed as available; contact organizers ahead of time for specific accommodations.
Speakers participate in a round-table and a post-event bonfire—there are informal opportunities to chat and network.
This edition is scheduled for Friday, March 6 as part of the Fifth Annual Forks of the River Fly Fishing & Music Festival.
The event is part of the Fifth Annual Forks of the River Fly Fishing & Music Festival, a local celebration of angling and music that supports regional conservation and community programs.
Local groups often attend to share habitat restoration projects and volunteer opportunities; supporting local vendors helps fund conservation and trail maintenance.
Headwaters Outfitters, based in Rosman, NC, operates guided fishing, paddling, camping and outdoor education on the French Broad River and surrounding lakes. The outfitter offers a wide range of experiences including guided fly-fishing lessons, trout wade trips on private waters, smallmouth and bass float trips, musky targeting adventures, and multi-hour self-guided paddling options like Hap Simpson and Island Ford runs. Classes and workshops include Fly Fishing Foundations, Advanced Casting, Spey Casting, Angler Entomology and Selecting a Fly, all taught with low student-to-instructor ratios for personalized skill-building. Paddling-focused offerings include guided Bear Lake sea kayaking trips to Sols Creek Waterfall, overnight canoe camping trips on the Upper French Broad, family-friendly floats, and festival paddles like Paddle to the Pork. Headwaters Outfitters also coordinates collaborative events with local breweries — Paddle then Pints with Ecusta Brewing Company and Cruise then Booze with Oskar Blues — and hosts seasonal community programs such as the Annual Upper French Broad River Clean-Up and Appalachian Santa Night. The business manages the first private campground on the French Broad Paddle Trail, featuring six primitive riverside campsites and options for full campground rental. Gear, shuttles and guided instruction are provided on many trips, and experienced guides such as local captains lead species-specific charters. Emphasis is placed on safety, Leave No Trace ethics, environmental stewardship and authentic local partnerships, making the outfitter a resource for anglers, paddlers and outdoor learners visiting Western North Carolina.
Book with Headwaters Outfitters