1st Annual Reel Hope Invitational

Thanks for your support of the first-ever Reel Hope Invitational, a private fundraiser benefitting Casting for Hope hosted by Alex Johnson, taking place on Monday, June 23rd.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene and the disastrous impact it had on the Bakersville area and our Retreat Center, we are still recovering from unexpected cleanup costs to repair the damages we faced from the storm. To help buoy the losses in funding we’ve seen, this one-day private fundraiser is an exclusive, fun outing of fishing, feasting, and fellowship at the Casting for Hope Retreat Center. All proceeds will go towards Casting for Hope’s mission of financially and emotionally assisting women and families in North Carolina faced with a gynecological cancer diagnosis.

Pledge Info - Where Every Fish Caught Fights Cancer

If you made a "Total Amount" pledge, you will be immediately prompted to complete your donation. If you make a "Per Fish" pledge toward an angler's fish count, we will follow up with an invoice in the days following the event. We appreciate your support of our mission.

Event Format

This event will be a two-person team event and be limited to eight teams. Partners will fish together across four of the river's eight beats throughout the course of the day. During each fishing session, each angler will be allowed to officially score 4 fish. To score or not to score a fish will be made at the time of releasing the fish, so part of the strategy is determining if you should count that fish at the point of measuring it. A 9th fish for the team will be allowed to be scored (if) both anglers have scored their four fish. So again, strategy will be important! Scoring will be based purely on fish length in centimeters, with final score based on total centimeters tallied per team. For fundraising purposes, we will input all caught fish into the system to help keep track of $ earned by any angler who has per fish pledges made.

The website leaderboard at the bottom of this page will showcase an accurate overall fish count and fundraising total for each angler, but the medalists for team performance as well as the individual big fish category will be posted here in text at the end of the event. So for final leaderboard purposes for this event, please use the text below which will be updated following the end of the event :)

Rules

This event will use Casting for Hope Retreat Center fishing rules, as opposed to the Fips-Mouche rules that apply at some of our other events –so strike indicators, splitshot, any flies you want to use (except pellet flies.) It’s all fair game as long as the hooks are barbless! You can even fish at the same time and choose to net each other's fish. You will have a scoring packet to keep track of the amount of fish you catch and the length of the fish you choose to officially scored.

Meals

Lunch will be provided by the Casting for Hope team. The group will be treated to BBQ Sandwiches, Beef Brisket, Mac and Cheese, Slaw, Crispy Potato Salad, Peach and Burrata Summer Salad with Prosciutto, Brown Butter Miso Chocolate Chop Cookies, and Peanut Butter Pie. Chicken Wings will also be prepared stream side for a late afternoon snack before the drive home.

Retreat Center Info

The Retreat Center is located at 1596 Rockdale Road, Bakersville, NC. Our farmhouse and bunkhouse will be made available for competing anglers' usage on Sunday, June 22nd. Camping on property is also allowed. Guests can arrive on property anytime after 5pm.

Prize Offerings

Team with the highest fundraising total as of 8pm ET on Wed, July 2nd will receive a voucher to return to the Retreat Center for a day of fly fishing for two people in the fall or winter months (Courtesy of Casting for Hope)

Schedule for Monday, June 23rd

7:30am: Opening Talk and Walk to Beats

8:00-9:45am: Fishing Session 1

9:45:-10:00am: Walk to Beats and Scout

10:00-11:45am: Fishing Session 2

Noon: Gourmet Lunch prepared by CFH Team

1:30-3:45pm: Fishing Session 3

3:45-4:00pm: Walk and Scout Beats

4:00-5:45pm: Fishing Session 4

6:00pm: Awards Ceremony and Closing Talk

7:00pm: All Guests Departed from Retreat Center for CFH Team to Close Down Property

FINAL STANDINGS

Gold - Team Idabros (316cm)

Silver - Team K&B (287cm)

Bronze - Team McCruby (254cm)

Big Fish - Alex Johnson (48cm)