On September 26, 2026, we hosted RISE, our second annual fly fishing festival celebrating the French Broad River community and its stewards: the guides, outfitters and conservation advocates who keep this river running wild and healthy. Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins co-hosted the day with our friends at Uproar Concept, and the gates were free and open to everyone.
RISE started in 2025 as a way to celebrate this community one year after Hurricane Helene. For Year Two, the theme was "RISE Together," and the whole property lived up to it. Casting and fly-tying competitions ran alongside kids' activities, gear pop-ups, an artist market, live music in the Meadow and the Fish Flash Tattoo Studio inside the River Lodge. A portion of the day's proceeds went to RiverLink, which is celebrating 40 years of caring for the French Broad and its watershed.
A Glorious September Saturday on the River
"Sunshine + Big Smiles! RISE Year Two was truly a celebration of this French Broad River community. Fishermen, families, friends, and fellowship; sharing stories, BBQ lunches, belly laughs, cold drinks, real deal tattoos and fish revelry. A glorious September Saturday!"
That's the spirit we built Wrong Way around. RISE is made for the novice and the expert alike, with first-timers and seasoned guides sharing the same riverbank. The casting demos, fly-tying clinics and kids' activities kept the Meadow busy all afternoon, and the 3pm raffle sent more support RiverLink's way. Ten lucky folks also left with river-inspired ink from the Fish Flash Tattoo Studio.
RISE by the Numbers
- $3,500 raised for RiverLink
- 350+ attendees
- 15+ local businesses supported
- 10 tattoos inked on site (sold out!)
Thank You to Our Partners
There are so many layers in this community, and RISE only happens because all of them show up.
Presenting sponsors. Thank you to Explore Asheville, the North Carolina Outdoor Economy Office and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority for believing in this river party.
Our fish partners. Big thanks to Hunter Banks, Davidson River Outfitters, and Headwaters Outfitters for bringing gear, guides and good advice to the riverbank.
Brands and vendors. Y'all packed the property with gear, art, merch and more. Thank you to Blue Ridge Boatworks, Temple Fork Outfitters, NRS, Rambler Angler & Blade Co., Clayborn & Co., North Fly Apparel, Fixed Line Appalachia, Food for Adventures, local artist Greg Vaeth, and tattoo artists Sarah Roach and Reign Takata, who kept the Fish Flash Tattoo Studio buzzing until the last design was gone. Thanks also to The Chop Shop Butchery for the smoked BBQ.
Our media sponsor. Big props to the Dads on the Fly Podcast for anchoring as our media sponsor and capturing stories from the day. Here's the Dads on the Fly Podcast RISE recap!
The nonprofits. A big ol' thank you to RiverLink, the Land O' Sky and Pisgah chapters of Trout Unlimited, Casting Carolinas, Project Healing Waters, Asheville Parks & Recreation, and the Outdoor Business Alliance. Your work on and off the water is the reason there's a river worth celebrating.
Save the Date: September 25, 2027
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 25, 2027, when Year Three of this raucous fish party returns to Wrong Way. Follow @risefishfest for announcements as the lineup comes together.
Want to wake up steps from the action next year? Our A-frame cabins sit right on the French Broad River Greenway, so your morning cast is a short walk from your front door. New to the area's fishing scene? Start with our guide to Asheville's fishing culture. Bringing your fishing club, shop team or nonprofit? We host group retreats all year, with the Meadow and the River Lodge ready for your crew.
Snapshots from RISE
All photos by Derek DiLuzio / Uproar Concept.
