Try fly fishing at the Hoosier Outdoor Experience

Indiana DNR Release:

If fly fishing looks like fun but you don’t know where to begin learning the sport, here’s your chance. Fly fishing will be one of more than 50 events you can try at the Hoosier Outdoor Experience, Sept. 26-27 at Fort Harrison State Park.

Instructors from Reel Women-Reel Men, Indy Flycasters and Tippecanoe Fly Fishers will be on hand at the Hoosier Outdoor Experience to guide participants through the basics of fly fishing, including casting, equipment, and fly tying. Plus you’ll have the chance to catch a fish.

“Each participant will have an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, and hopefully experience the joy of catching a fish on a fly,” said Patti Beasley, president of Reel Women-Reel Men, an Indianapolis-based fly fishing club.

Fly fishing isn’t as difficult as it looks, and it isn’t limited to trout or western locales.

“I’ve been fly fishing my whole life, and I’ve never lived outside Indiana,” said Ben Shadley, managing editor of Outdoor Indiana magazine. “Most Hoosiers have great fly fishing opportunities for bass, bluegill, wipers or other warm-water fish species within a short drive of home.”

The Hoosier Outdoor Experience is a family friendly event that is the first of its kind in Indiana. Unlike traditional trade shows, visitors will be able to enjoy hands-on experiences in a wide range of outdoor activities, such as fly fishing, target shooting, archery, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, camping and much more.

The Hoosier Outdoor Experience is presented by the Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, with sponsorship support from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Ball Brothers Foundation, WXIN-Fox 59, Indianapolis, and numerous other sponsors.

Parking, admission, activities, demonstrations and seminars are free to the public, but online registration is required. To register, go to hoosieroutdoorexperience.IN.gov and click on the yellow registration icon.

Event updates can be found at hoosieroutdoorexperience.IN.gov or on Facebook.