Organizers of the festival are saying, despite the slow economic climate, they are seeing a great turnout.

Organizers of the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival say they lost nearly 20 percent of their sponsorships going into the event the year.

However, nearly 1,000 people came out Saturday to the banks of the South River in Waynesboro for food, wine tasting and fly fishing.

Co-Chair of the festival, Len Poulin, says, "We are really excited that people did show up and are supporting the event and that we will continue to make our conservation grants with the money that we collect here."

Local businesses say they're glad to have the festival in town. They say they're seeing a much needed boost in sales.