Since its 1954 founding, the National Sporting Library Museum in Middleburg has provided area outdoorsmen and women with art, literature and education about equestrian, fishing and turf and field sports.
“Although we are often first thought of for our equestrian connection, NSLM houses the country’s fifth largest public collection of fly-fishing books,” Anne Marie Barnes, NSLM’s Clarice and Robert H. Smith educator, says. “Fly-fishing has a fascinating history in literature, and we are proud to have six centuries of fly-fishing in our collections.”
NSLM will celebrate the sport with a fly-fishing program called Hooked!,which will take place March 18 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
“Hooked! will be a unique program for us in that it is a whole day dedicated to this sport, which is both ancient in its origins and modern in terms of technology, audiences and popularity,” Barnes says. “It will be our largest program to date, featuring a fly-tying demo, fly-casting demo and an expert round table that will discuss the changing audiences and trends in fly-fishing here in Virginia and nationally.”
Round table speakers include Cody Barber (Snake River Angler guide from Jackson, Wyoming) Scott Osborne (guide and destination travel ambassador for The Albermarle Angler and contributor to Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine), James Aliff (manager of Orvis in Leesburg) and Jessica Callihan (Navy veteran, artist, angler and veteran ambassador for Project Healing Waters).
Angling items that date back to 1523 will be on display during the round table discussion.
Cody Barber will also lead a casting demonstration on the NSLM lawn, while Alan Short, a Virginia native who works with District Angling, will lead a fly-tying demonstration.
For $10, guests can either attend one of the demos or the round table discussion. Non-NSLM members can gain access to all three by purchasing a $25 all-inclusive ticket, while members can get the same perks for only $15. Tickets are available online.
