Local anglers get personal instruction from three times World Spey Casting Champion Gordon Armstrong from Inverness, Scotland demonstrating his skills on the River Mourne at Strabane during the NW Angling Fair at the weekend.
THE wait is almost over for fishing fanatics as the biggest event on the local angling calendar returns to the Melvin Sports Complex in Strabane this weekend.
The 2017 North West Angling Fair is being hosted by Derry City and Strabane District Council and takes place on Saturday April 8th and Sunday April 9th between 10am and 5pm.
The family orientated event will feature appearances, talks and demonstrations from some of the biggest names in fishing as well as interactive demonstrations for the public to get involved in.
The main hall at the Melvin Sports Complex will be a hive of activity with stalls from retailers, fly tiers and guest speakers while outside on the Mourne River some of the best casters in the world will impart their wisdom through demonstrations.
An extensive youth coaching programme ‘UFish’ will be provided offering professional instruction to any young people wishing to learn the art of angling from fly and bait fishing to spinning with lure.
Looking ahead to the event, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Hilary McClintock, encouraged local people to take advantage of the world class event on their doorstep and noted that it also attracts thousands of visitors to the Council area.
“I’d like to congratulate the Festival and Events team at Council for assembling such an impressive line up of special guests and an action packed programme for what is set to be the biggest and best North West Angling Fair yet,” she said,
“The Melvin Sports Complex proved an excellent venue for last year’s event and will allow us to showcase our local angling offering not only to the many visitors that the Fair will attract but also for local people who may be considering taking up fishing as a hobby.
“The programme is family orientated and allows people of all ages to get involved and learn more about the art of angling all for free so I’d encourage as many people as possible to come along and sample what it has to offer.”
Festival and Events Officer with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Liz Cunningham, noted the Fair has something to suit all levels and tastes.
“We are particularly excited about this year’s fair which has lots to offer experienced anglers and beginners alike,” she said.
“There is so much to see and do with top fishing experts in attendance and lots of demonstrations and talks to choose from.
“The event is free of charge but people can buy the best equipment and supplies for their fishing needs at the trade stands in the main hall which include stalls from The Bridge Gun and Tackle, Mourne Gun and Tackle, Cookshill Fly Tying, Franc N Snaelda, Salmologic to name a few.
“On the UFish youth coaching programme you can learn to tie your own fishing fly, get to know the fish that live in your local pond or lake and take part in a fishing game that will test if you are ready for the real thing.”
Among the high calibre lineup in attendance at the fair will be well-known and much loved Scottish television actor and presenter Paul Young of Hooked on Scotland fame; fly dressing specialists, Ali Hutchens, George Barron, Peter O’Reilly, best known for his books Flies of Ireland and books on Irish rivers and lakes, Luxembourg fly tying specialist Jang Quintus and Belgian expert Ben Weytjens.
There will be a series of outdoor casting demonstrations with double handed demonstrations on the River Mourne under the Pedestrian Bridge from world class casters Henrik Mortensen, Robert Gillespie, Scott MacKenzie, Andrew Toft and Gordon Armstrong and single handed casting demonstration within the grounds of Melvin from Stevie Munn, Steve Peterson, Mark Patterson, Michael Rebholz, Maurice Cahill and Thomas Thaarup.
Among the speakers will be Dr Ken Whelan who runs his own fisheries consultancy and has written extensively on angling topics and has also produced, scripted and presented many films and videos on various aspects of Irish fisheries and Jason O’Riordan who gives talks on fishing techniques at the leading angling shows through Ireland and the UK and is an IFFF Qualified Fly Casting Instructor.
While there is no parking available at the Melvin Sports Complex this year, cars can be parked at nearby Upper Main Street, from where visitors can walk over the pedestrian bridge to the venue.
Pay and Display carparks at Butcher Street and John Wesley Street are also open as well as Canal Street Carpark. For anyone with accessibility issues, blue badges can park at the venue.
The full lineup for the North West Angling Fair is available at www.derrystrabane.com/anglingfair.
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