Beau Beasley
Fly Fisher/Fly Tier/Author
Beau Beasley has fished the waters of Virginia for over 35 years with his travels taking him from the briny waters of the Chesapeake Bay seeking stripers, to the cold water trout streams of the Shenandoah National Park in search of native brookies.
His writing career began in the mid-1990s with a small article in Virginia Outdoor Weekly and has since been published in American Angler, Mid-Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide, Virginia Sportsman, Richmond Magazine, The Baltimore Sun and Fly Tyer. His work has also appeared in Virgina Wildlife, Blue Ridge Outdoors, Trout and On the Fly. He’s also known for his investigative work on public access and use and specialized in determining river bottom ownership. His latest investigative article on access was on New York’s Delaware River and appeared in Fly Fisherman.
Listen to Beau Beasley's Shows...
Fly Fishing for Shad on the Rappahannock River
Beau has fished the waters of Virginia for over 30 years and finds the shad of the Rappahannock River as challenging a fish as any other. Listen to Beau share his tips and techniques for hooking up with one of Virgina's great sport fish.
How Many Menhaden Do We Really Need, and Why Fly Anglers Should Care?
Beau Beasley an award-winning outdoor writer answers your questions on the importance of menhaden also known as bunker, pogie, and fatback to our coastal fisheries. These forage fish are eaten by almost every predator species in the sea and are threaten by over fishing. If you fish coastal river systems and saltwater coastlines from Texas to Maine, the fate of these crucial forage fish should matter to you.
Healing Waters
Beau Beasley unveils the profound journey of veterans healing through fly fishing. Drawing from his book, Healing Waters, we explore heartfelt stories of recovery from the battlefield to the riverbank. Hear how the serenity of casting lines and the camaraderie among veterans nurture both body and soul, offering a powerful testament to the therapeutic wonders of nature. Don't miss this deeply moving episode—where every cast brings a step toward healing.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What is the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) organization, and how did it come about?
- How has it helped veterans recover from their experience in the service?
- Has there been recognition from physicians that PHWFF can have a positive impact on the lives of participants?
- How did your book Healing Waters come to be?
- What do you hope to accomplish with your book?
- What guidelines did you set for your interviews, and how did you decide to convey their stories?
- How many interviews did you do?
- Did you include all the interviews in your book?
- You chose to honor Brian Mancini at the beginning of your book. Who was Brian?
- Alvin Shell served in Iraq. What can you tell us about Alvin?
- Jessica Callihan was injured when she was very young. How did PHWFF help her?
- Jerry Mirron served with his companion dog in Vietnam. What was his experience?
- How can you learn more if you want to volunteer to help Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing?
Beau is the Director of the Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival and retired as a career Captain with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department where he as assigned to Engine Company 27.
His first book Fly Fishing Virginia: A No Nonsense Guide to Top Waters was released in May of 2007, his second book Fly Fishing the Mid-Atlantic: A No Nonsense Guide to Top Waters was published in 2011 and his latest book Healing Waters: Veteran’s Stories of Recovery in Their Own Words was released in 2023.
For more information on Beau or his book, go to his web-site www.beaubeasley.com or contact your local fly shop.
