Saturday 5/4/24
FLY FISHING FESTIVITIES
MORNING
9am- 7pm
“Sporting Traditions; Fields and Streams”, Art Exhibit
Watkins House, Arlington Common Campus
9 am-5 pm
Fly-Tyers Under the Tent (Open to the public and does not require a wristband purchase to enter)
The BFFF3 will feature some of the best fly-tyers in the Northeast, focusing on the classic patterns of Maine, the Catskills, and the Battenkill. During the day, they'll be set up in the main tent, and hourly presentations and seminars will be held in the Fly-Tying Discovery Center, with projection and audio to follow along.
9am - 5pm
Vendor Village (Open to the public and does not require a wristband purchase to enter.)
The Village features both bamboo and graphite rod makers, antique rod and tackle sellers, antique book sellers, fly fishing artists, destination lodges, and fly fishing organizations from all over the US. Many other vendors, too!
Vendor Village, Arlington Common Campus
10 am (Festival Wrist Band Required to enter following morning events)
Official Welcome to the 3rd Annual BFFF - Bill Bullock and Jared Carpenter
Official Welcome to the Battenkill Fly Fishing Festival and TU Regional Meeting - Bill Bullock, Arlington Common Treasurer and BFFF Chair and Jared Carpenter, VT TU Council Chair
10-10:45 am
State of the Battenkill presentation
Jacob Fetterman, TU Battenkill Home Rivers Initiative; NY Project Coordinator
Performing Arts Center, Arlington Common Campus
10am
American Fly Fishing Tours (festival wristband will give you entrance to the American Museum of Fly Fishing)
Guided Tour of the American Museum of Fly Fishing (located at 4070 Main Street, Manchester, VT – 8 miles north of Arlington)
AMFF is home to the world’s largest collection of angling and angling-related items, numbering in the thousands. The collections and exhibits thoroughly document the evolution of fly fishing as a sport, art form, craft, and industry in the United States and abroad, dating as far back as the sixteenth century.
American Fly Fishing Museum, Manchester
10 am-3 pm
Casting Lessons & Demonstrations (Festival Wrist Band Required to enter)
Join a dream team of certified fly fishing instructors from Fly Fishers International, Orvis Professionals, and local Battenkill Anglers for free casting lessons and troubleshooting expertise on common fly casting mistakes.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tom Rosenbauer
Chief Enthusiast, Orvis
Finding Trout - Taking Your Trout Fishing to the Next Level.
FLY FISHING FESTIVITIES AFTERNOON
12:00 PM - 5 PM
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Lawson’s Microbrew Tent
Arguably Vermont's finest brewery, Lawson’s, will be the exclusive beer provider for the BFFF3. Come talk to the brewers, sample an array of their award-winning beers, and enjoy an incredible weekend in SW Vermont.
Lunch: Crooked Barn Charcuterie, LLC, is a chef-inspired charcuterie and sausage production company with one goal - create a wide range of charcuterie items featuring locally and sustainably farmed raw ingredients. No presold tickets.
Non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
Tent, Arlington Common Campus
1:00 - 5:00 pm
(Festival Wrist Band Required to enter following events)
Fly-Tyer Discovery Center
Hour-long presentations with renowned fly-tyers. The hourly presentations and seminars will be held with projection and audio to follow along.
LINK TO FLY TYERS
Fitness Center Studio, Arlington Common
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
"The Peculiar Impressionistic Fly Patterns of Illustrator John Atherton"
Mike Valla - Noted Author & Battenkill Expert
Performing Arts Center, Arlington Common Campus
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
The State of Atlantic Salmon in Maine - John Burrows - Vice President of U.S. Operations for the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF)
John Burrows, Vice President, US Operations, Atlantic Salmon Federation
Performing Arts Center, Arlington Common Campus
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
John Shaner, Angling Historian and renowned Catskill fly-tyer.
Traditional British fly tying and how it inspired American trout fly design.
Performing Arts Center, Arlington Common Campus
4:00 pm- 4:45 pm
Preserving Patagonia's Fly Fishing Legacy: Max Knüll and Javier Rivara at Estancia Caleufu
In the heart of Patagonia, amidst the rugged beauty of Neuquén province, lies Estancia Caleufu. Max Knüll and Javier Rivara stand as guardians of a legacy that stretches back over a century.
Max and his family's stewardship of this 80,000-acre cattle ranch has shaped not only the landscape but also the culture of fly fishing in the area. Estancia Caleufu is the oldest fly fishing lodge in northern Patagonia. For over four decades, its gates have opened exclusively guest referrals.
Under the expert guidance of Javier Rivara, Estancia Caleufu's fly fishing operation flourishes. With over 30 kilometers of private water, including stretches along the Caleufu River, Chilchiuma River, and two spring creeks, anglers are offered a sanctuary where the pursuit of trout is as pure as the landscape that surrounds them. Estancia Caleufu embodies a spirit of authenticity. It is a place where time slows, allowing visitors to reconnect with nature and the essence of fly fishing. For Estancia Caleufu is not just a lodge; it is a living testament to the enduring passion for fly fishing that has echoed through Patagonia since the early 1900s.
A photographic journey to one of the finest fly fishing destinations in Patagonia.
Max Knull & Javier Rivera
Performing Arts Center, Arlington Common Campus
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Biking Tour of the Battenkill
Gather at the Gardens at Yellow Barn Farm on the north bank of the Battenkill.
Bring your bike for a family-friendly, 12-mile, mostly flat, guided ride along River Road adjacent to the Battenkill. Learn the merits of reaching Battenkill fishing spots on two wheels with someone who knows the river’s access points. See the sights of West Arlington at a casual pace. Experience first-hand why bike tourism featuring Arlington’s gravel roads is growing more popular by the year. Hear about this newly conserved and improved river access before heading out.
Meet at the Yellow Barn off 313 West
5:00 pm
Keith Curley –TU National VP Eastern Conservation- The State of Eastern TU
Performing Arts Center, Arlington Common Campus
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dinner with Hound Dogs
A local food truck company will serve dinner with a choice of three entrees.
Choose from their signature Philly Cheesesteaks, loaded with peppers, onions & garlic. The dinner comes with a choice of French fries or onion rings. $20; Bacon cheeseburger with lettuce & tomato, also comes with a choice of French fries or onion rings $20; or Veggie burger with lettuce & tomato. Choice of French fries or onion rings.$17
There are two seatings: 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets purchased in advance guarantee seating in the dinner tent.
Under the Tent, Arlington Common Campus
7:30 pm-10 pm
LIVE MUSIC | Saints & Liars Band
Live Music with Saints and Liars
Saints & Liars is a Vermont-based Americana band who has been blending their own variants of honky tonk, folk, bluegrass, and rock n roll since 2012.
Tickets cost $10 and are not included in the festival's general admission price.
Performing Arts Center, Arlington Common Campus
