The Fly Fishing Film Tour kicked off on Friday at the Schaefer Center with proceeds benefiting the Appalachian State Fly Fishing Club.
Shea Tuberty, co-chair of sustainability counsel at Appalachian, described the film tour as “like a one day version of the [Banff Mountain Film Festival] with a focus in Fly Fishing.”
Tuberty described the central theme as sustainability, also a central focus of Appalachian State University. The films took place all over the U.S. and around the world in Cuba, Honduras, Mongolia and other countries. They encouraged the audience to get outside and “find your wild,” Tuberty said.
Boone is home to the majority of fly-fishing spots in North Carolina, Tuberty said.
“There are over 15 fly fishing shops and guide services in or around Boone, so there is definitely a need for that field,” he said.
Project Healing Waters, a national non-profit organization, was one of the beneficiaries of the Film tour. Project Healing Waters creates “camps” for veterans or active military servicemen struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Tuberty said.
According to the organization’s website, Project Healing Waters “Provides basic fly fishing, fly casting, fly tying and rod building classes, along with clinics … All fly fishing and tying equipment is provided to the participants at no cost. Fishing trips, both one day and multi-day, are also provided free of charge to participants.”
“One of the things that is so wonderful about fly fishing is that it calms you down and takes your mind off your worries- it is almost hypnotic,” said Tuberty.
Boone is currently trying to create their own “camp” with Project Healing Waters called Trout Unlimited, ASU fly fishing club member Jeremy Barnes said.
Funding and recruitment for the project is handled by Project Healing Waters while the Boone and Blowing Rock area provides space, timing and fly-fishing guide services, Barnes said. Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock will also provide rooms free of charge for a week so the veterans have a place to stay.
According to Barnes, the fly fishing film tour hopes to accumulate more attendees at next year’s film tour as well as more awareness about Camp Healing Waters in Boone.
Katie Murawski, A&E Reporter