TRWD Flyfest 2023: A Fort Worth Fishing Tradition

When you stock a river full of rainbow trout people will come. Throw in a few food trucks, kids activities, live music, and some vendors and it turns into a celebration.
That's the story of the 8th Annual TRWD Flyfest, held on the banks of the Clear Fork of the Trinity River. More than 2,000 people dropped by Saturday, March 11 to test their luck or refine their skills.
The free event featured fly tying demonstrations, casting classes, expert presentations, culinary demonstrations, and an open fishing area.
But, some people were there to just kick back on the banks of the Trinity River and enjoy the Coffee and Caddis Big Trout Contest. They weren't disappointed.
The contest features a series of fishing heats where 10 angling teams compete against one another. Prizes are awarded to teams that catch the most fish and the biggest fish in each heat, which last an hour.
This year, anglers netted several huge rainbow trout in the 23-25 inch range, with some teams netting more than 20 fish in their heat. Fishing can be hit or miss, but this was more like "catching."
This year's Flyfest was produced by Tarrant Regional Water District and Streams & Valleys, Inc.