Guadalupe River's Trout Fest [Feb 17 - 19]

GRTU’s Troutfest will be held February 17, 18 and 19 at The Lazy L&L Campground on the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels. The Banquet, to be held on the 17th at the Lazy L&L Pavilion, has sold out for the first time in the history of the event. Auction and raffle prizes for the banquet  include some amazing items, like a four night/three day trip for two at the Pira Lodge in Argentina, a six night/five day trip for two to Alaska’s Bear Claw Lodge in the Bristol Bay area and other great trips  and gear.

Kirk Deeter, Editor of Trout Magazine and Vice President of Trout Media for Trout Unlimited is the key note speaker and will be talking about the best tips around the country for catching trout. “I’ve been to visit GRTU a couple of times now, and it’s one of my favorite stops. Great people and great enthusiasm,” said Deeter.

The free weekend exposition will include fly tying and fly casting instruction from International Federation of Fly Fishers Master Certified Casting Instructors and Certified Casting Instructors.  This year, Troutfest will add casting seminars just for women and kids conducted by Wanda Taylor. Taylor is the first woman in the world certified by the IFFF as a Master Certified Casting Instructor. Other Celebrity Presenters on the docket include George Daniel of Living on the Fly and author of “Strip Set”, Jen Ripple, Editor and Chief of Dun Magazine, Duane Redford of Minturn Anglers and author of “Fly Fisher’s Playbook” and Steve Galleta, owner of the Bighorn Angler. They will be conducting seminars and presentations on specific fly fishing tactics and regions including: Trout Tactics for Dry, Wet, Nymph and Streamer Flies, fishing for Steelhead, fishing the Driftless Region of Wisconsin and fishing the Bighorn River in Montana.

In conjunction with Texas Parks and Wildlife, Troutfest will offer kids fly casting instruction, a fishing pond, archery instruction and air gun instruction. Dakus Geeslin is the Youth Program Chair for GRTU and will be overseeing the Youth Programs at Troutfest “Bringing a new generation into our conservation efforts and the sport of fly fishing is one of our key goals” said Geeslin.

The exposition will also include a wide range of top-tier exhibitors including local fly shops, guides and outfitters from around the world, local craftsman and some of the most recognizable names in the fly fishing industry.

This year, Troutfest proceeds will be primarily allocated to directly support GRTU’s Youth Programs, including Youth Trout Camp. Youth Trout Camp is the only one of its kind in Texas and a phenomenal outdoor experience for youths 12-17 years old. Troutfest additionally helps us support Project Healing Waters, Casting for Recovery and Reel Recovery. 

For more information or to purchase your ticket please visit http://www.grtu.org/troutfest/